This book was not what I expected and unfortunately fell short of my expectations. I had expected a more mature female character given she was running a big criminal organisation, instead this felt more like a young adult read with characters in their late teens or early twenties, and I just didn’t buy the fact that hear characters could be involved in organised crime. The romantic storyline felt one-dimensional and not very developed, although the characters had good chemistry. I can see the appeal for younger readers but unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

This is a spin off circle to the Madison Kate series. It is a standalone series however you will be more into it if you read this series afterwards because the build up to Hades makes this book SHOCKING and exciting. I am straight obsessed with this series just like was with the Madison Kate one
. I am straight obsessed with this series . more more more.. the love interests, the heat, the violence, the murders all of it. Delicious

HOLY SMOKES- 7th Circle is nothing like I expected- so pretty much the total Tate James experience. This is Shadow Grove like we’ve never seen it - and I am obsessed. Entertaining and sexy- of course. But what has me most enamored with 7th Circle are the deeply complicated character dynamics and the artful contrasts that make up this story. By far Tate’s most psychologically interesting series to date- and we’ve only just begun!

I’ve written and deleted this review so many times, because when it comes down to it, I don’t want to spoil a single thing. That is part of what makes this story so incredible- the anticipation of discovering the much teased identity of the mythic Hades. And the only way to REALLY absorb this story as it is meant to be told is to just dive in.

This story is BRILLIANT- and I’m convinced that this is going to be Tate’s most complex, most revolutionary series yet. Most certainly, this is her strongest writing to date. But unlike my normal review approach, I can’t really dive into the literary magic with much specificity without risking inadvertent allusions to our namesake's identity- so, this review will be shorter than normal and incredibly vague. But know this- this story is literary genius. Tate is going somewhere here that is incredibly inventive, radically fresh, and so cleverly constructed. (and hey- Once you read, join the spoiler room- you’ll find my more thorough/specific analysis speckled throughout comments, haha)

What I love so much about Tate James as an author is that she always sees the big picture- not just the story in the moment. Remember this, dear reader, because each book in her series advances the story in a very meticulous and artfully crafted way. 7th Circle is about foundations- helping us understand the players, understand the landscape, and re-orienting us as readers to a world we think we know. We’ve seen Shadow Grove through MK’s eyes- but MK is no longer our protagonist. We now see Shadow Grove, and some of the characters we’ve met before, through very different eyes. And Tate lays this out brilliantly, because this world, these people, feel somehow both familiar and entirely new. Oh, we have the same gritty darkness, the urgent intensity and explosive chemistry we loved about MK’s version of the world, but we also get to experience it in a whole new light. And Tate is so clever in how she uses tone, character voice, and pacing to establish this series as a world of its own. This is one of the most interesting, compelling, and original character voices I’ve read in a while. But the pacing is what I loved most here- Tate takes her time laying the foundation. The “action”/ the suspense and drama we know is coming builds slowly- so that we can REALLY immerse ourselves in this new Shadow Grove, but most importantly so we can really immerse ourselves in this harem. Because their dynamics are what steal the show.

I want to talk about this creative genius of this harem SO much, but I can’t say too much without spoiling anything, but I will say this- this harem feels very different than MK’s, or any other harem I’ve read. The foundation of this harem, the connective tissue is radically different- and SO interesting. There are so many complexities to the relationship dynamics. The role of history and power is going to be a huge factor in how this story evolves, I think, and it is going to make things messy and fluid in ways that are so energizing. The way these characters are matched is just insanely brilliant writing- the way Tate has gotten to the core of the characters and understood the harem’s construction through that lens, WOW- I just can’t wait to see where it goes. And the parts she focuses on in this story in the harem progression- not at all what you’d expect, but turns out to be just such smart character writing. Remember, we have books to go, so Tate makes an important investment in this story- she's establishing our main character, the heart of this series. So I can already see the writing on the wall- this harem is going to be original, and dynamic.

For those wondering, I LOVE HADES. Though I loved every character in this story. Regardless of whether your theories were right or wrong (I was wrong…), buckle up for this ride, because Hades is 10x better than I ever imagined. This is a revolutionary character in many ways- and Tate is letting this character breathe in gritty glory.

This is going to be a wild ride- and most certainly Tate’s most inventive series yet. The first few chapters alone establish just what this story alone established this- and, of course, in typical Tate fashion, she leaves us with a cliffhanger that has been battered, bruised, and mystified. I am ALL in!

A gorgeous start to the Hayes series.

Zed, the white knight and best friend.
Lucus, the innocent golden retriever new to town.
Cass, the grumpy and broody leader of the Reapers.
Hades, the feared leader of the Timberwolves.

Together, they’re even more powerful and all types of hot. A best friend. A newbie. A rival. What could go wrong? Everything, but it’s all types of perfect.

Hades always puts business, the Timberwolves, first. Enter Lucas, who makes her let loose for one night. The start of something powerful.

I loved Hades. She’s strong. She’s independent. She’s a boss bitch, and I love it. We need more strong women like her in romance, especially when they’re in a position of power like Hades. She rules so well.

When a body pops up in her territory and the circumstances are suspicious as hell, Hades is forced to confront the ghost of her past that haunts her.

Hades is addictive, just ask any of the men. She has this air about her that draws you in until she gets her claws on you. Regardless, I don’t think anyone would want her to let you go.

This is probably one of my favourite why choose dark romances. The dynamic between Hades, Cass, Zed and Lucas is so angsty and sexy 🔥🔥

Definitely eager for the rest of the series to see how the dynamic progresses and I can’t wait!!

I loved the Madison Kate series so this spin off esc series in the same town is also good too. Hades was hot and spicy.

This is a new series from Tate James. Following brand new characters, however I want to start my review was saying that you will want to read the Madison Kate series if you want to be extremely involved into this world that Tate James has created for us! Hades is mentioned quite a few times in the Madison Kate series yet we never knew who exactly this person was. In 7th Circle, you find out very quickly who it is and it is someone that I don’t think anyone has guessed that I have seen. It certainly wasn’t my guess at all!

This is a series about Hades and their side of this world.
“To everyone who met me or heard of me in the years since my family’s near massacre, I was all of those things rolled into one intimidating, fear-inducing name. Hades. The leader of the tri-state Timberwolves.”

Get ready to buckle up and sit in a comfy ass chair because this book starts off fast paced in headfirst into some major drama. And the book doesn’t stop with the suspense, hot sex, and drama full force.

Someone is after Hades. And it’s taking everything they can do to figure out who it is and what their end game is.
Really hard to do this review when I can’t really say who Hades is but y’all just have to read this book.

“I wouldn’t fall. Because the second I did, someone would be there to slit my throat and toss me to the sharks. After all, it’s what I would do.”

When it comes to the romance aspect of this series, we are just at the beginning of figuring out who’s going to be a part of this RH aka Why Choose family. Their is no RH in book one. Relationships are still being questioned and established.

This book leaves off on complete mayhem. Blood guts and all. Which is honestly pretty typical for this author. LOL however the second book will be out in March which will come up faster than we know!

I didn't realize this book was between a teenager and a man in his twenties. I just couldn’t get into that. I know other people might enjoy that, but it wasn’t for me.

I loved this book! I read it in less than a day, I couldn’t put it down. After loving Madison Kate I was excited to jump into this series, and this first book was such a great start to this series. I like how most of the relationship development was with Lucas, but her relationship with Cass has begun to develop as well and we’re just seeing tiny hints of her and Zed so far. Hades is such a badass and such a great heroine to follow. This is fast paced and has an equally good plot and romance.

Steamy and I love a why choose (cause with James’ characters honestly who COULD choose?). I was super excited for this read. I love Tate James, the Madison Kate and Kit Davenport series are both ones I completely devoured when I was pregnant.

I loved to see the crossover between this book and the Madison Kate series. James writes her MFCs they’re just so strong and badass. Her men are perfectly complementary for her and to each other and I can’t wait to see how the rest of this series unfolds. There’s always such a cliffhanging subplot going and it keeps you so engaged throughout to enhance the story and characters situations.

I. AM. OBSESSED! Gosh, this book/series has been on my TBR ever since reading and thoroughly enjoying Tate’s Madisen Kate series and I am thrilled to say it did not disappoint. Heck, if anything, I think I loved this one even more!

Hades is such a bad*ss and I love it! Takes morally gray to a whole new level. Or maybe it’d be morally black as there are few that get a free pass to her wrath once unleashed and loved ones threatened? Hmm something to ponder. But anywho: loved her attitude, her take-no-nonsense leadership role of all the gangs in the surrounding area and somehow being only 23?? What even!? But yet it never once seemed unbelievable given the background info and the way she held herself. To put it mildly, she’s one tough chick and I love her as a main character.

Now the why choose aspect: I got hints of Cass and Hades interest in the MK series but seeing that grump wrestle with feeling/not feeling whatever he feels was fun. Maddening of course, but I know the drill after reading MK. He may be a jerk now, but there’s hope for redemption. Actually, I completely enjoyed how each love interest dynamic was different. All of them age gap but one reverse which was intriguing to see develop. Lucas a fairly quick burn, Cass has been slow burning for a while as a rival gang leader, and now Zed with the hints so yet another slowburn but best friend style. Lucas is good for her in connecting to the girl she’d lost, Cass can match her, and I mean, a bestie like Zed? With what they’ve been through, I’m interested to see it develop beyond the subtle moments that Lucas’s presence has stirred up. A good opener for the romance development so far.

And the suspense?? Holy crap!! Every little hint, every slow build of paranoia and wondering who could be making a play for not just the Timberwolves, but Hades directly, had me furiously flipping pages to see what would happen next. I didn’t even want to set the book down to sleep! I mean that ending alone blew my mind and had me staring off into space trying to both process and be sad that I didn’t have the second book to immediately jump into. But rest assured: preordered the first three ASAP after finishing because I know this series is going to be one I want physicals for.

Basically all this to say: I loved and cannot wait to read on!

Wow what a stunning five-star read. I will be honest I don’t know why it took me so long to check this out, as I love Tate James other writing, but man am I sorry I did, I am so excited to see what next for Hades, as man she is a rocking woman. (I have major girl crushage there) I am so excited to see what will happen next, I literally read this in one go, I so wanted to call in sick, as I was so knackered as I just couldn’t put this down. There is action, and drama and heat a plenty, and the story just keeps giving and giving.

7th Circle shows exactly why Tate James is a beloved author in the (dark) romance community! This books was delightful and exciting to read from start to finish. Hades is a lovable, strong, independent female main character that anyone would be able to connect with. The love interests were perfection which is rare in reverse harems; usually there is at least one love interest you end up not being a fan of! This book is an equal mix of violence, smut, and suspense that will have you running to download book two as soon as you’re done!

Hades 👏🏼 Zed 👏🏼 Gumdrop 👏🏼 Daddy Cass- such squad goals🖤

If Madison Kate is the GOAT of a why choose romance series for me, Hades is soooo close to tying it and 7th Circle is an amazing start to this series!

I absolutely adore Hades character - she’s so strong and independent (I wanna be her when I grow up) and I loved that this book doesn’t have the enemies to lovers trope. We get a why choose where Hades wants/ pines after these men without the hate and I loved it! Plus the early spice?! Instantly hooked! I just cant say enough amazing things about this series 🖤😍

5⭐️, 3.25🌶️

7th Circle is the first book in the Hades series. I loved the Madison Kate series and was excited to see this one coming. You do not need to read Madison Kate to read this series, but I love that some of the characters in Madison Kate turned up in this book.

This book was awesome! I loved Hades and the three love interests. We find out who Hades is, and why she is important to the Timberwolves, as well as other stuff she's in charge of. She is a strong heroine and doesn't need anyone to get in her way.

She has three love interests. Two of them are slow burning, although there have been feelings for some for a while. One of his love interests is new and comes in hot and heavy. However, there are twists and turns around every corner.

I absolutely loved this book, and can not wait for the next one in the series. I knew there was a cliffhanger coming as there usually is with Tate James books, however I was not expecting what it was in this book. It sure keeps readers hanging. What a great book for the first in what I'm guessing will be another great series!

If you know Tate James, you know this is going to end on an epic cliffhanger. Luckily since this is a re-release of an existing series, I can go down the rabbit hole to see what happens next. I also loved hearing mention of Madison Kate in this book because I loved that series as well. I'm really enjoying the storyline for this one and love that Hades is such a strong character that does what she wants, when she wants and deals with the consequences as they come. I am going to eat this series up like popcorn on movie night. I can't wait to see what happens next. Oh, and, did I mention this book is sexy and tantalizing? That is the cherry on top!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED the Madison Kate series so much, and I was so excited to read 7th Circle. Unfortunately this series didn’t grab me as much, I wasn’t as immediately obsessed with the characters as I was for Madison Kate. But 7th Circle was still a solid why choose read, I love how Tate James adds mystery and a “can’t put it down” element to her books. 3.5 stars

ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THIS NEW COVER?!! I’m obsessed. This is my absolute favorite series by Tate James! Obsessed with the story line and characters!
a super suspenseful novel. I truly believed that Hades was a bad bitch. I’ve seen in the past female heroine who are portrayed that way but they don’t fully come off that way. I felt like i was semi bored at the beginning, it seemed kind of predictable. The mysterious new dancer that ended up being her sisters age, and occasionally I felt Hades was giving people too many chances when she was supposed to be the big boss. With that, by midway i was super into it. I was KILLED at to be continued at the end - you’ll want to start book 2 IMMEDIATELY! A super good read and would def recommend.

Thank you to Sourcebook Blooms Books and Tate James for a chance to read and review this book.

Now let’s begin with my actual review. This is my third Tate James book. I started reading the Kit Davenport series before I received the arc for this book. I was looking for something different to read (mood reader) and found my was to this book.
With a lot of my reviews, I write them as I am reading the book. It can be chaotic but I’m taking you along for the ride with this book.
Already, I am liking Hades in this book. You have to love a strong FMC that isn’t afraid to fight any challenge on her own. It’s why I liked the dynamic of her with Lucas from the get go. She is the stronger one in the relationship but sometimes you need that kind of relationship to keep her status throughout the book. Especially when you throw in her relationship with Cass and Zed.
I even like her relationship with her sister. You can tell the two love each other and aim to pick at each other. It’s a true sibling dynamic and I am here for it. Anything to balance out Hades and keep her from getting a large head.

At that point I was a third of the way through the book but I quickly finished it shortly after that. It consumed me and I forgot that I was writing this review. I loved this book. The ending made me super glad that I could easily pick up the next book in the series.
And I did.

Loved it and would definitely recommend this!

I read the Madison Kate series in just a few days, so I was really excited to jump into this series. 7th Circle is in the same universe as her her previous series, but you definitely don't need to have read it to enjoy 7th Circle. We do see some familiar faces and names pop up, but besides that, there wasn't really any thing from Madison Kate you need to know.
I have to say, I did like Hades as a main character, since she is portrayed as this kind of bad ass gang leader, but I did find the whole dynamic with Lucas a little weird at time. It did sometimes feel a little icky, and I was a little more interested in Zed and Cass, even though I did feel like they could some backbones at time. Still, I'm looking forward more to see the dynamic evolve with those two then with Lucas.
Overall, it was honestly a fun read. It's the kind of book that I just can devoured in a matter of hours. It was just perfect for me when I was feeling under the weather and just wanted to read something to escape. Definitely reading Anarchy as soon as possible.

"7th Circle" by Tate James is an exceptional start to the Hades series, earning its full five-star rating. This gripping novel introduces a dark and captivating world filled with intense romance, suspense, and unforgettable characters.

From the beginning, "7th Circle" immerses you in its twisted narrative. The protagonist, Hades, is a refreshing take on dark romance—a fierce, cunning, and powerful character who commands every scene. Tate James has crafted Hades with such depth that you can't help but root for her as she navigates through her perilous world.

The chemistry between Hades and the male leads is electric, filled with tension and passion. Tate James excels at creating steamy yet emotionally charged interactions. The romantic dynamics add depth to the story, keeping you invested in the characters' journeys.

The plot is a thrilling mix of suspense and unpredictability. Tate James masterfully weaves a tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat with its twists and turns. The pacing is perfect, ensuring the story never loses momentum, and each chapter builds to an exciting climax.

Tate James' writing is sharp and vivid, with witty dialogue and immersive descriptions. She expertly balances dark scenes with moments of levity, creating a well-rounded narrative. The world-building is exceptional, painting a vivid picture of Hades' domain and the dangerous world she rules.

The secondary characters are equally compelling, adding depth to the story with their own arcs and interactions with Hades. They contribute significantly to the overall narrative, making the world of "7th Circle" feel fully realized.

"7th Circle" by Tate James is a must-read for fans of dark romance and suspense. It's a captivating and addictive novel that will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series. Highly recommended!