Evangeline will never forgive the murderer of her twin brother who will be released after ten years in prison. When Valdemar invites her to visit him in prison, she has no choice but to go if she wants to know the motives behind the murder.
‘We Become Ravens’ has charismatic characters and a narrative pace that immerses you in a story that brings together romance, fantasy and mystery.
Clearly a novel that will fascinate you.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!! I was so excited I binged this in one go!

We Become Ravens is an atmospheric and fast-paced fantasy romance that hooks you from the start. Evangeline, a journalist grappling with her twin brother's murder, is drawn into a dark and dangerous game when she begins meeting with Valdemar, her brother's alleged killer. Over six weeks, their conversations unravel the corruption in Amontillado and reveal deeper truths about her brother, the gang, and even herself.

The romance between Evangeline and Valdemar is intense, especially with those DREAMS. I mean, it's fairly obvious to me those aren't just mere dreams as Evangeline believes (or that she's going insane) but they were so STEAMY and kept me on my toes.

Nevertheless, there remains twists in the last act that are especially gripping, keeping you guessing until the very end.

Whether you're a fan of dark romance (though I will say Valdemar isn't that dark for me), or just looking for a quick, thrilling read, this book strikes the perfect balance between action, mystery, and steamy romance. Highly recommended for anyone who loves erotic romance and high-stakes storytelling.

We Become Ravens follows our main character Evangeline, a journalist, who gets a message from her twin brother's killer, Valdemar, who's also the notorious leader of the Raven Hands gang. He has been imprisoned for 10 years following the murder, and asks Evangeline to meet with him over the course of six weeks before his release to explain his story.

Through her weekly visits with Valdemar, he begins to paint a picture of just how corrupt Amontillado is, and how her brother was caught up in the underbelly. The stakes really begin to mount. We also find out each member of the Raven Hands was chosen for having a "unique ability", and she herself seems to have one. Simultaneously, the attraction between Evangeline and Valdemar simmers. This is a spicy, age-gap romance with a bit of insta-lust, but I think it was fairly well done in this case. It was pretty easy to guess what Valdemar's ability was, but it made the romance extra interesting and unique. I will say that Valdemar was a little corny sometimes, though.

Once Valdemar is out of prison, the slower pace of the story amps up. As the two of them grow closer, another more sinister threat emerges that puts both of them in danger and a race to unravel everything. The book is perfectly paced and the tension and chemistry leaps off the page. I literally flew through this book. This was an excellent fantasy romance!

Thank you so much to Hot Tree and NetGalley for this ARC! 📚

Thank you to Hot Tree Publishing, Maria Dean, and NetGalley for this ARC!

I don’t normally read dark romances but this one was described as gothic fiction/romance with influences of Edgar Allan Poe so I had to give it a shot. It’s a quick read, perfect for in between longer novels or book series. The story picks up very quickly after some exposition in chapter one.

I like how the chapters are set up in a short, fast-paced way where each chapter reads like a scene in a movie. Except for a few story elements from Poe’s work, the narrative style wasn’t as atmospheric in a gothic story way. But the story was still very enjoyable and very sexy.

I was a little thrown in the beginning but everything came together in the end. The last hundred pages were filled with twists and turns. I liked how the romance was not as dark as I feared and the ending was nicer than a typical gothic story.