ARC REVIEW

First of all I wanna thank @blcagleauthor for giving me the chance to read Dream Of Darkness And Desire before its publication

I really loved the plot and the characters. I don’t know how I feel about Colin, he was just annoying but let‘s talk about Blake… The book was sometimes thrilling, sometimes mysterious, sometimes spooky, sometimes sad and sometimes funny. Also I enjoyed the chemistry between Kira and Blake and wished they had more scenes

What I personally didn‘t like about the book was how slow things got going (I’m impatient) and the amount of time some words/sentences were repeated such as the blue eyes of Blake or saying „Soon“ from the first until the last chapter.

3.5/5

This is a NA, Sci-Fi & Fantasy book which obviously contains some spicy scenes and I enjoyed it

Well done to the author with her debut novel, it‘s surely a success (the cover looks so good!!)

Review from my bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CVYrmmrglm7/

OKAY first of all - that ending??? I need book two right this minute, thank you very much!

I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review but I will most definitely be picking up a physical copy to add to my collection soon!

I didn’t even realise this was a debut novel until after I had finished and went looking for more information on the next instalment. It had me gripped from the very first chapter, and the dark and mysterious vibes were the perfect addition to my October reading line up.

Several other reviewers refer to this as a book version of Inception and I can see the similarities, with blurred lines between reality and the MC’s mind nearly giving me whiplash at several times. This is such a great example of where the author achieved a perfect blend of a plot that is both character and story driven, with neither aspect outshining the other. Without Kira and Blake, as well as their incredibly valuable cohort of supporting characters, being so intriguing this book could have very easily fallen flat. Instead, we’re gifted with a superb line up of new book besties who make sure we’re invested in the complex, and sometimes downright confusing, storyline.

I adored both Blake & Larz, who will end up being your new anti heroes, and I’m really looking forward to hopefully seeing more from Nadia in the rest of the series since there seems to be more there than we see at the surface.

I am confused over my feelings for this book. I was in love with the idea of it from the synopsis but it didn't live up to the expectation.

It was almost a none starter for me and I contemplated DNFing this at 23% because it wasn't getting anywhere fast. However, I proceeded and it stays at the same pace until about 70% in. I felt like I had been reading forever yet was still no clearer on what was going on other than Kira's tingles and wanting to get off constantly.

I don't even understand the need for Colin. He's a drunk who is there to cause drama, friction and drive Kira into the arms of Blake. I also felt that Kira was a hypocrite as she's not talking to Colin because he had 4 drinks then proceeds to get drunk when she is with Blake. If you are not happy with your boyfriend don't keep going back to him. It's not fair on either party.

I'm not sure what else to say on this but I feel this is a 2* book.

This book is one heck of a supernatural thriller!

There are so many twists and turns, you won’t be bored at all.

Kira is quite a likable character, though I wish she was a bit older considering the more adult content.

Now Blake, I don’t know how to feel. He’s clearly not a “good” guy but he had his moments. He sacrifices innocent witches and he manipulates Kira’s life in order to get what he wants. Is he going to end up being a good guy or at least the best of Kira’s options? I honestly cannot tell! I’m not sure where this story is headed as far as love interests go.

Now what really turned me off of this book is that it had many elements similar to The Vampire Diaries, just with witches. I’m really hoping the next book will steer away from those elements because I enjoyed the rest of the plot lines, especially the mirror aspect. Though if the shadow man is Blake’s brother or we in fact have a doppleganger situation, I might have to stop reading…

The ending was intense. There are A LOT of unanswered questions by the end of the book, so be prepared to be in agony with me until the next one comes out!

(Side note: missing a word here:
loc 4754 “Blake and Larz lied to the.”)

*thank you to B.L. Cagle and Sonder Press for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley and BookGoSocial and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!



First of all, I have to say that I NEED the second book right now! That ending, that CLIFFHANGER... I really thought someone did something, but it turns out it wasn't him, yeah I need answers!!


Besides that, this book was really really good!

I absolutely LOVED the concept of the book, I was hooked from the beginning, something which immediately makes me appreciate a book more.

I really liked our main character Kira, but my favourite was her bestfriend, Kat! I think we all need a Kat in our lives, she is such a great friend :)

The wrting style was most of the time easy to follow and I quite enjoyed it! This being the author's first work is literally amazing.


If I have to mention something I didn't like, it's probably the age gap! I am sorry but for some reason I cannot accept it that she is 20ish and he is 400+ years old... even though he looks like he is 20.

Also, sometimes I got confused about whether what I was reading was the MC's dream or it was the reality.


However, THIS BOOK IS THRILLING! I am sure it will appeal to many people when it is published and it definitely deserves love and recognition! I'm interested in reading more of the author's work in the future.

Defintely recommend this book if you like spooky, supernatural reads with dark romances 📚✨

So… I’m honestly speechless because I have no idea what I just read. It wasn’t bad but this is not my area of expertise so I’m confused. The area is, Inception if it was shot for Pornhub. I am not kidding.

So looking at the name and the description of this book you’d expect two things. Witches and smut. Well, you get both of them, kinda. It was like sleeping with a man, you know what I mean? It was done but it wasn’t done properly so to speak. First of all, the magic and the use of it were in the background. I would like it more, and would probably give it a four-star rating if we got more in-depth info about the magic system and saw it on the action. I honestly don’t know the limits of their powers which is a problem.

Second, the smut. Cut to the chase, you don’t get any action until the 70% mark. The only action you get before that is Blake masturbating to the ‘memory’ of Kira masturbating to the thought of him. This sentence alone can be used as a tagline for this book. Then you come to the real deal and guess what? There is no foreplay. They just get to it. He puts his sausage on her bread. Straight up. Sir, if I wanted to know about a relationship without foreplay I wouldn’t dump my ex.

There is not much to talk about the characters. Vincent and Armand, part of Blake’s witch-hunting boyband, were absent for most of the book. You only meet them once and they are gone. I honestly have no idea why they are a part of this story. Nadia, Kira’s friend, was the same. She was just there.

Then there is Larz who is Blake’s closest ‘brother’ since he is always around him and inside his head. He was a joy to be around and if he wasn’t a blondie, I’d marry his ass. Then there is Kat who is dating Larz but she just doesn’t know it yet. Like there are some certain things in life like gravity, death, how everyone is an Adele stan by default, and how Kat is the biggest simp for Larz. They were just so cute I want to scream my head off.

Moving on to the main characters; Blake. He was hot. I couldn’t help but imagine him as Damon Salvatore so naturally, I was head over heels in love with him. He was also villain gone good which could’ve been handled better in the book. Then there is our horny heroine, Kira. I honestly do think she has some loose screws. First of all, she is horny all the time. My girl was not afraid to ride Casper the not-so-friendly ghost in the middle of the road. No, my friends, not in the car. Literally on the road. She was so horny, I’d feel uncomfortable if I was in the same room with her and an electric toothbrush. After reading about her and her fantasies and how she was down to anything just to get some, I’m changing my contact lens solution to holy water.

She is also weird. She sees dreams and loses her shit about hiding them? They are just dreams! Surely Kira’s closest friend in the whole world and her boyfriend of years won't judge her because of them? The dreams were mostly gruesome and scary as fuck so the worst-case scenario would be them suggesting Kira to go to therapy. But no, she just stressed over them and hide her tears and whatever. I saw no reason for her to keep her traumatic dreams a secret especially since she lost her parents and probably need therapy anyway.

But truth to be told, I actually liked this book. It was fast and fun to read. Plus after the plot twist at the end, I just have to read the second book.

Out of those who have reviewed this book so far, I am going to have the unpopular opinion which I’ll share below.

When I first read the description, I knew this book was for me! It was dark, there was romance, magic, and mystery. I loved the vibe I was getting so I knew I had to read it. But as I kept reading my opinion changed.

Starting with what the author did well, she hooks you in talking about this mysterious “him” and quick tension building up making you want to find out who this man is and why Kira is so attracted to him. She also creates this character that we don’t know anything about yet, but are Hooked and wanting to learn more. She has these dreams that are mysterious and her mystery man leaves a phantom touch in her palm every now and then. Its sets up the book nicely. The author also leaves us with a cliff hanger, but it is done in a way that is well written. Not making you mad that you don’t know what is going to happen next, but knowing there will be a next book where you find out.

However, what I did not enjoy about the book outweighed what I did enjoy. One being that the pace was very, very, slow. It ended up being hard to get into because you really have no idea what is going on. And when I say you don’t know what is going on, you pretty much don’t know the purpose or plot of the story. From the book description I feel that sums up the book right there. All we know is that Kira is super powerful, Blake is a warlock that develops feelings for Kira, Kira develops feelings for him, they do this frustrating flirting dance that is slow, Blake has to take her body, blood, and kill her to complete the oath, there is a shadow man (who is it Blake or is it not Blake), and that Kira is having weird dreams but we don't know if they are real or not. In no way am I trying to beat this book up, but there is nothing keeping the reader wanting to read because we get nothing. I could not wait for the book to be finished because I felt I was reading forever and that it was never ending with unwanted details. The book could have been 200 pages shorter if some parts that were repeated were taken out.

I just wish something spectacular would have happened that would have made this book worth the read. I give it 2 out of 5 stars because the beginning and ending were written nicely, but it was disappointing as a reader that I did not get any answers from the million questions I had. Even though I know there will probably be a sequel, this book didn't grab my attention enough to want to read the next one.

The premise of this story sounded right up my alley: a gorgeous centuries-old warlock hunting a witch so he can kill her and claim her magic as his own? This was supposed to be the dark urban fantasy stuff of dreams! Alas, for me, it was not.

The heroine Kira is supposed to be a college student who has it all. She's supposedly strong, smart and talented, but is either dramatically crying or confused, constantly keeping secrets and lying to everyone. She has zero personality, but she makes a few witty remarks and the 400-year old warlock falls for her? And she always gets into situations where she needs someone to save her *eye roll*.

Like, she gets mad at her boyfriend for drinking, then later in the book proceeds to get drunk herself, and she's underage. Hypocrite much?

Speaking of the boyfriend, seriously why was Colin even in this book? He was the source of so much needless drama that ultimately added absolutely nothing to the story. Seriously, he totally could have been edited completely out with no meaningful effect on the story.

And Blake is the supernatural warlock, predictably wealthy and handsome, with a "wicked grin", motivated by his quest for power, but not much else. We actually don't really learn about how witches and warlocks get or use their power. There are "strong" and "weak" ones, and they just say incantations for spells, and can speak to one another telepathically (Seriously, I think Larz tells Blake to "put up the walls around his thoughts" like 25 times).

This book could easily have been cut by like 200 pages. Kira's dream sequences were waaay too repetitive and confusing. It got to the point where I skimmed scenes because I knew that they would just turn out to be dreams anyway.

And after slogging through almost 600 pages of all of that, we get no closure, just a huge cliffhanger at the end; at this point I don't plan on reading the next one.

This book was so confusing, maybe it’s my fault for not reading the overview properly but still there’s no detail about the plot. Also the beginning is very confusing and keeps getting repetitive with her nightmares taking place. I just did not get the concept of this book and things just did not flow. Also its written in third person which just put me off even more. Some books that are written in third person can get away with it because they’re written so well that you actually forget about it being written in that style but I can’t say the same for this one. I got up to 32% and just DNF’d it I just found myself skimming a lot because too much was happening and it wasn’t making sense. The plot of this story sounded so good I just wish it was written in a better way. The writing style was just not it for me

Just wow!!

24hr and my brain is still coming to terms with this books.

I've read reviews where this book is being compared to the movie inception, at the time I couldn't wrap my head around how an author could take us the reader on a ride like that. . . .after reading it I 100% agree, while also happily eating my thoughts that I wouldn't be "tricked".

You don't know what is a dream and what is real until it reveals which is which, you then think you have figured out the pattern, your then thrown a curve ball that throws you completely.
Not to mention that cliffhanger!

I rate B.L up with the queen of cliffhangers (Lynette Noni)

The only negative I have about this book it that I have to wait so long for book 2.


Special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review

OK! OK I’m going to need a hot minute to process what I just read!

This book was a wild ride, from the first chapter right up until the last sentence in the Epilogue and I loved every single minute of it.
So now how to describe it? Well imagine is Inception and Alice in Wonderland had a lovechild cloaked in darkness with elements of horror thrown in. Be warned this book will mess with your mind and leave you with more questions than answers. Every time I thought I knew what was going on the author would pull that rug out from under me.

Essentially the story is set half in reality and half in a trippy dream world/ alternate reality. Kira our MFC is drag racing ballerina orphan who lost her parents a few years back. She’s a tortured souls used to shielding herself behind a mask. She’s not aware of the supernatural world let alone the enormity of the power that she has hidden within the depths of her being.
Blake our MMC is a devastatingly beautiful 400 year old warlock who is dark and mysterious while also charming as all hell. The chemistry between him and Kira is everything, but at the same time he’s also fighting these feelings because she is his ultimate sacrifice to gain immortality.

There were so many layers to this story as well as twists and turns and it was actually refreshing that it wasn’t even remotely predictable. I’m not sure how long we’ll have to wait for the next instalment but I hope it won’t be too long (you know no pressure!).
As much as I loved the book and couldn’t put it down, there were a few things I struggled with. While I really enjoyed B.L. Cagles unique writing style I did struggle with the third person perspective, it took a while to get into it and there were parts that were hard to follow (in particular the start of the book while learning the character’s names).
Also while I don’t really have any triggers, I don’t particularly enjoy love triangles and cheating. While it wasn’t exactly proper love triangles and cheating here it still made me cringe a little and was hard to get my mind around it.
All in all, a fantastic read which I’ll be recommending. It’s probably one of the best debut novels I’ve read from any author so far and perfectly timed with Halloween (I know quite a few people who are looking for exactly this kind of read).
B.L. Cagle you’ve got yourself a new fan and I can’t wait to see what you have in store with book 2!!!

I would recommend this for fans of Harley Laroux (Her Soul to Take), RuNyx (Gothikana), & Nicole Fiorina (Hollow Heathens).

I was lucky enough to get an ARC from the author through NetGalley.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

Wow! This had me hooked from the very beginning until the very end… I’m still processing that ending!
This was a dark paranormal thriller/romance. It was sometimes creepy, sometimes smutty and had me laughing out loud at the banter between characters. All the characters were really fleshed out and although this was a pretty big book, at no point was I bored because the story was so intriguing! I have so many questions about that ending, I need the second book now!!

My brain is angry at me right now and demanding to know just what the heck I've put it through.

Speechless. I'm speechless. Honestly, I'm not someone who really minds cliffhangers, but I still like getting a heads up. So, here's my PSA for you: THIS BOOK ENDS ON A CLIFFY. There was even a chapter called "How Will This End" near the end, right around the time when I started losing my mind because there was less than 10% left and things just kept escalating. I legit though B.L. was actively trolling us readers. That chapter title was such a tease. I legitimately stopped and laughed when I saw it.

This book had me hooked right from the beginning. I'd been wanting to read something spooky (it *is* spooky season after all), so I couldn't have stumbled upon this title at a more opportune time. It was not overly scary, but had more of a psychological horror vibe to it, which is the type I prefer.

All throughout the book there were these instances where Kira, our MC, was just out and about, doing her thing, only for something horrible to happen. It was very Inception like. I wouldn't know anything was amiss until reality turned into a nightmare. There was a slight, constant undercurrent of tension bred from the fact that at any given point it was impossible to know whether Kira was inside a dream or not. And that really helped in feeding and building a sense of dread, and keeping me on edge. It was all very unsettling.

At the same time, the pacing had a very sinuous quality to it, like it meandered along–it very nicely matched the New Orleans hot, humid summer setting–almost imperceptibly building momentum. It was like the writing was trying to lull me into a false sense of security, make me lower my guard, only to catch me by surprise all over again when normalcy devolved into nightmare. Of course, eventually the build-up reached its peak, everything went to actual Hell, and then–the dreaded cliffhanger.

The contrast between the moseying quality of the pacing and the adrenaline and implausibility of the dreams and nightmares, paired very well with the mysterious air of the plot. The writing was uncomplicated, straight forward, flowed well. No complaints there.

The questions to answers ratio was definitely skewered toward the former, but that's precisely was a good mystery is supposed to be like. Feed you little morsels along the way, but ultimately keep you guessing until the bitter end. I think that is what'll also give this book great re-read potential. It's gonna be interesting to go back and experience the story again with a clearer picture of what's going on.

Now let's discuss characters. Our two main ones, Blake and Kira were very tortured. This book had no shortage of angst and guilt. You can't have a dark novel with happy-go-lucky leads. They were both deliciously emotionally tormented. I also really liked how Blake was unapologetic about his murderous ways–and in complete denial when it came to his feelings for Kira. Kira herself was a very hardworking, independent, very selflessly selfish girl. She was kind and generous to everyone but herself, unwilling to share her darkness and struggles lest she transfer part of her burden onto her loved ones. But her reluctance to open up only ended up hurting those closest to her. I found the emotional struggles of both main characters very compelling and that it humanized them a lot. Even the side characters were all unique and satisfactorily fleshed out.

There were some major things that happened that I feel were very much swept under the rug and left unexplained, so that's why I'm docking a star from this otherwise fantastic book. But the ending alone deserves a half star bump, so the final rating is 4.5.

So, remember: breathe in, breathe out and be sure to hold on. This book is a roller coaster bound to leave you hanging upside down when you least expect it.

**I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and the author for the opportunity**

My goodness!!!!!...
Where do I start??
The book is heavenly... I gulped the first half in a day but then the remaining half i took my sweet time finishing it. I didn't want to part ways with it just yet. The story is full of mystery and ends with a mystery. I can't wait to read the next book of it.

This book was delicious. It was dark, creepy and magical with great writing and even better characters and storyline. I loved it and I couldnt put it down and more importantly I didnt want too

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TW: This book has some sexual explicit scenes, killing, self harm (for magic purposes), abuse, rape and substance abuse.

How do I begin to explain how much I hated and loved this book. It left me a bittersweet feeling, CAUSE IT HAS A SUPER PLOT TWIST AND A CLIFFHANGER. Which we hate, but it was good. And before I leave my guts out, let me give you the tropes:

🖤Forbidden love
🖤Supernatural romance
🖤Age gap
🖤Dark romance
🖤Strangers to Lovers to enemies

"If he was already lost in her light, did it matter if he never found himself again?"

If you like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Supernatural, this book is for you. The book was good, weird, bizarre, creepy and great. All at the same time.

I'm still processing the ending, it really left me without words. The whole time I was not pining for the protagonist and the love interest because of something I thought he did, to find out I WAS PLAYED AND IT WASN'T HIM. (read it to understand muhaha).

The story follows Kira, she's a 20 yo girl who lives in New Orleans with her childhood friend Kat. Her parents died when she was 17. Since her purchase of an old mirror she's been having strange dreams, feeling exhausted and in a bad place. Her relationship with her boyfriend Collin has been rocky, resulting in him falling to the alcoholic lifestyle, which does not suite Kira at all, (her parents died in a car accident provoked by a drunk driver). One night in a club out, Collin is drunk once again, she decides that's enough and escapes the club, she's done with that, she need something else, she need excitement. Then he meet a mysterious man that makes her feel everything and nothing just with the touch of his finger on her palm, but he dissipates promising to be with her soon . Kira returns to her normal life, feeling the need to see that mysterious man once again, but she can't, she has a boyfriend and a life to sort throw, that's what she tells herself until she find out, the mysterious man is her new neighbor...

This book has suspense, it creeped me the hell out many many times. I have to admit I wasn't sure if the book was for me particularly, at the beginning it was hard to grasp on the plot, I was not feeling it really. But it got more suspenseful and interesting as the story went on.

The characters are a bit bittersweet. The whole plot is Kira not knowing she is the Supra Virtutem, so the thing that happens to her where so frustrating, her passing out all the time and having this dreams, it was so frustrating to me. It made her seem weak, WHICH I know she is not. She is the most power supernatural creature but her not knowing about it didn't suited me. I hope on the second book she finally gets the chance to train in some way her powers.
Then we have the gorgeous Blake (love interest), who I wanted to punch in the face so many times, for reasons I won't tell because of spoilers, but at the same time, loved him so much. BUT I was so conflicted with Blake's behavior, towards Kira. I wasn't even sure how they where gonna resolve things. The main plot, which is no spoiler it's in the synopsis, is that he is meant to kill her in order to have her powers, and I was so frustrated for them I was shipping them so hard, he was so sweet with her. HE EVEN MADE HER A FREAKING DANCE STUDIO IN HIS HOUSE IN ORDER TO KEEP HER COMFORTABLE. WHO DOES THAT? No real man does that, that's why I want him please.

I also was so afraid this was gonna have a cheat trope, I can't stand them, fortunately it didn't. But yes, this is a great spooky season read, the ending really had me so shocked, I need the second book YESTERDAY.

Totally recommend it if you like spooky books, supernatural romance and dark romance.
Enjoy your reading. 📚✨

Wow, oke where to start. I loved how the plot was holding my attention the whole time. Even with the slow-burn at the beginning I still wanted to read further. The story is interesting and I definitely here for the next book! I see this book as a base to the rest of the story.

I wish the book was written in first person from dual perspective of Kira and Blake though. And I was a bit disappointed in lack of spice... From the descriptions on the back of the book I was expecting spice to be a bit.. more...

Nevertheless, it was a. perfect read for a spooky & witchy October!

HOLEY CRAP ON A CRACKER!!!

Have you ever read a book that was so good you could not wait to tell everyone you know… and don’t, about how good it was?

I can now officially say that! Which is why I am writing this review in the middle of the night while everyone in my house is asleep. Because, it was that damn good!

That ending?!?! Oh my heart. I need book two more than I need air to breath. If I could give this book ten stars, instead of five, I would!!! Why you ask? Ohhhhhhh how I can’t wait to tell you!

Reading this book is like watching inception for the first time. After you finish reading it, you want to start it again just so you can go back and catch everything you missed the first time. It’s bloody brilliant! It makes you question what is real and what is a dream…. Or if it was ever a dream at all. AHHHHH!!!!

And these characters!!! Kira is a sweet, hardworking dancer and Blake is a 400 year old baddie. First can I just say Blake is my new favorite book boyfriend of all time. (He gives off that Anti-Hero vibe like a freaking lover.) Also, I really want to see this series continue past Kira and Blake because I want to see what happens with another certain pair in the book. O_o

All I want to do is gush about this book and then rave about needing book two NOW. So, just do yourself a favor and go read it. THEN we will talk. I have so many feelings that need to be shared!!!

Dreams of Darkness and Desire follows Kira as she both comes into her power as Supra Virtutem and discovering who she wants to be as a person. As a Debut novel it was both mysterious and captivating, you couldn't help fall for the "bad" guy and I can't wait to see where Cagle takes the sequel.

Vampire Diary vibes but swap out vampires for witches and warlocks.

This book follows Kira as she is tormented by varying nightmares. Soon it becomes for Kira to distinguish what is real and what is a dream. Then, the mysterious figure she believes to be in her nightmares and dreams moves in down the street.

This could be categorized as a paranormal/fantasy romance. There were some parts of this book that were beautifully written and allowed you to feel submerged in the scenes. There were other parts that I felt were slightly repetitive. Sometimes it was a little hard to get into the chapters. I’m not sure if it was because I wasn’t a fan of the main character, Kira, or if the writing style just wasn’t for me. I would’ve loved to have characters that were slightly more developed so I could feel more invested in the story. There were pieces of the story that do have you fully intrigued though, and the twist at the end may be enough to encourage me to read the next book that will be in the series.