Let me tell you what sold me on this; "Horror Romance meets Science Fiction in this dark and delicious gothic psychological thriller." I mean?! Talk about an epic combination of genres, I just knew I had to read it asap. I went into it blind beyond that one sense and wow wow wow. What a ride. From the jump the vibes are so eerie and as more questions were raised I just had to know what the heck was going on. In the middle I started to lose it and get really aggravated by what I *thought* was going on but I stuck it out and I'm glad I did because it all made sense. But also made no sense cause WHAT?! Truly could not have predicted those plot twists if I tried. At one point, my heart was racing and I was looking over my shoulder while reading in the dark. Loved the eerie vibes so much!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early access.

This book gives off so many creepy and spooky vibes. You only have the POV of the FMC, so you only know what she does, and that is just so perfect. Trying to figure it all out as she does.

The author does an incredible job of describing the setting and making everything feel so dark and cryptic. I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Wes is perfection personified. What an incredible book boyfriend. I was floored by this man. I wish I could say more but I don’t want to give any spoilers.

The author says she hopes you read it and think wtf. She has succeeded. Just read this book. Be creeped out. Be shocked. Enjoy.

𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
✰ 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘹 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳
✰ 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯
✰ 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 & 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳
✰ 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳
✰ 𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘱

This book was phenomenal! Karina managed to deliver such a unique, cool, spooky and atmospheric world.
Madrona is scary and intriguing and keeps you guessing all the time.
And our main characters Wes and Sydney are so great together! Their chemistry was esplosive and the twist in the end made me adore their romance even more.
Definetely a great read for the Fall and October. I highly recommend it!

*arc kindly provided in exchange of an honest review

Sci-fi, gothic horror, romance, secrets, ghosts, and a remote location? Just the description alone had me sold. The twists and turns in this book were fantastic! Fair warning, this is a slow burn horror, however I am a patient person. Once you get about halfway in, the real craziness begins. I absolutely loved this book and its buildup to the ending. I recommend this to anyone who likes a bit of strangeness.

umm what did I just read?
Hands down one of the weirdest, wackiest, unputdownable reads I’ve ever read!
The whole book you’re wondering what the hell is happening and why, it makes you want to keep reading till you hit the twist and that twist is twisty!
If you love Karina Halle’s books you’ll love this psychological thriller slash horror about the dark world of fungi science/research, and why not chuck a bit of smutty romance in Karina style!
I definitely enjoyed this book to the point of getting anxious reading it at night before bed 😅 although not sure horror genre is for me! Loved the Vancouver setting!
4/5 stars

gorgeously spooky/gothic work with a lot of awesome ideas and some very fun fungal themes. i'm VERY into the whole mushroom/mycelium aesthetic and this one pulls it off in such darkly cool ways. You will be surprised by the twists in this work and the entire way the setting works. 5 stars, tysm for the arc.

"Grave Matter by Karina Halle is an absolute gem! This book has everything I crave in a dark romance—intense emotions, gripping suspense, and characters that feel so real they practically jump off the page. Halle’s storytelling is hauntingly beautiful, weaving a tale of love and redemption with a dark edge that kept me hooked from the very first page. The chemistry between the characters is electric, and the twists are perfectly timed. If you're looking for a read that’s both thrilling and deeply heartfelt, Grave Matter will not disappoint. Highly recommend!"

Grave Matter is a fabulous gothic twist of genres. It's 2 parts science fiction, 1 part horror, 1 part dark romance.

The vibes I loved about this book and why you should read it:
- foggy west coast island
- spooky forest
- creepy wild animals
- science fiction mystery
- sketchy research
- 'can't escape' genre horror
- great plot twists
- fungal horror
- stormy atmosphere

The first third is a slower pace and then it ramps up. I found myself mostly driven to know what was going on with the mushroom research. I HAD to know. I was not as motivated by the horror and even less so by the dark romance between Sydney and Kincaid. I found the relationship unconvincing, which is explained later in the book. But until those last few chapters, the two had no chemistry. So I wouldn't consider this a romance. The horror does pick up the pace towards the middle of the book. I was nail bitingly nervous for Syd! It might be more 2 parts horror, 1 part science fiction though. Because I didn't think the plot twist was as well explained as it might have been in, leaving me feeling there were plot holes.

Overall, four stars! I enjoyed it and I didn't see the plot twist coming!

I went into this book completely blind and suggest you do the same! At no point did I know how the book was going to end. The plot twist completely took me by surprise. That rarely happens for me! I was confused right alongside Sydney. I’m still reeling quite honestly. The mystery of the gloomy Madrona Foundation was broken up by extremely hot scenes of Sydney and Dr. Kincaid. I was getting whiplash. Sometimes, I wanted to shake Sydney. Focus, girl! What’s going on?! This book kept me engaged and on my toes. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a mystery that is also a spicy romance story.

This book had me SWEATING for more reasons than one. 🔥

This was such a wonderful mash-up of genres. It's a creepy, atmospheric - and at times downright weird - blend of sci-fi, horror, thriller, and romance... that is also unmistakably hot.

Sydney arrives on Vancouver Island at Madrona Lodge with pretty much nowhere else to go. As a poor student with no remaining family, she's seized what seems like a lifetime opportunity to study at the tight-lipped research facility.

Early on, you can tell that our FMC is a bit of an unreliable narrator. She's a little bit in the dark, but what she does know is that she has an intense and insatiable desire for Professor Kincaid... the hot neurosurgeon and resident psychologist.

Professor Kincaid is just *fans self*.... Karina Halle sure can write a MMC. The steamy scenes are perfect and throughout the entire book, there are no dull moments.

Some of the happenings are a little bit far-fetched, but the author writes it in a way that you don't question what is happening (although I had a lot of OMG & WTF moments). I would've finished this one sooner if I wasn't too scared to read it after dark.

Overall I thought this story felt reminiscent of "What Moves The Dead" by T. Kingfisher but with a sexy student × professor trope and set in the modern day on Vancouver Island. Also - fungal Horror is quickly becoming one of my favourite story elements.

𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓚𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓪 𝓗𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓷 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓲𝓷 𝓮𝔁𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓶𝔂 𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀.

A aspiring mycologist gets a dream opportunity to work for a prestigious foundation looking to cure Alzheimers... but on this exclusive trip to the island she soon finds herself in over her head as dead bodies begin dropping, her sanity is tested, and her connection to the mysterious professor runs deeper than she could have ever imagined. Sydney Denik just lost her scholarship to Stanford... but that's not going to stop her from going to the exclusive research trup for the Madrona Foundation she was accepted into while she had her scholarship.. she just has to hope no one finds out. Yet from the moment Sydney lands at the foundation students begin disappearing and she also finds herself strangely attracted to the extremely off limits but hot psychologist/professor, Wes. Sydney and Wes have a connection but she can't figure out why she is constantly drawn to a man who she knows she can't be with. Then theres the matter of the voices and visions Sydney has begun hearing and seeing, the dead students that appear, and the horrors that have begun to unfold around her... but is it all in her head or is the foundation doing something to her. Can Sydeny find the truth... and when she gets it can she survive it? This was definitely a really fun gothic horror romance with a fun mystery at the heart of it. I am a sucker for a horror romance and this one was such a fun read. I loved the nature horror and the gothic mystery with a mysterious island setting. The romance was also fun to read and honestly I just had a great time reading this and would absolutely recommend this book for fans of horror romances with a bit of mystery!!

Release Date: October 23,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Metal Blonde Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Because of the author, I went in assuming this was romance, but though it had a romance at the core, it was more of a thriller. And I'm not usually into gothic either, but because I have really enjoyed so many Karina Halle books, I decided to give it a try. and wow, I'm glad I did. One of the most surprising plot twists I've seen this year - unexpected, but I totally saw the clues once I knew. She really made the story thrilling. It started a little bit slow for me, in terms of my interest in reading (though I never really considered putting it down), but it gathered steam until being unputdownable by the 2nd half or last 1/3 or so. very enjoyable!

Wow, one of the best books I've read this season.
It kept me sitting in my chair so deeply into the story that any noise around it startled me. An awesome read, like everything else that comes out of Karina's hands.

"The Madrona Foundation harbors more than brilliant minds. Everyone around her is hiding a terrible secret—including the resident psychologist she’s falling in love with"

“Don’t try to change the lodge. Let the lodge change you.” 🍄


Enchanting. Lush. Moody as hell. Stepping into The Entire Compound known as Madrona Lodge, is like stepping into a Grimm fairy tale. It’s a biologist’s fever dream. And exactly why Sydney is there. Then there’s a phrase that she's heard at least three times since she's been there: 'This place can play tricks on you.'
🍄 Another spin on fungi/fungal horror. You'll enjoy this if shroomy horror doesn't give you the ick. Timely since I just recently finished Mexican Gothic and I am obsessed with it. Also loved T Kingfisher's 'What Moves The Dead' (reimagining of The Fall of The House of Usher). This also has strong Shutter Island Vibes - iykyn
Darkly sensual , atmospheric, and inventive.
Deep and complex characters. Trippy and experimental. Dripping with mystery, secrets and dread. Will have you in a chokehold.
Tropes:
🍄 Slow burn WTF did I just read
🍄 Women in STEM
🍄Research and findings on dark fungi ; mycelia
🍄 Nature VS Nurture
🍄 Neurodivergent Issues and topics / ADHD rep
🍄 Morally gray characters
🍄 Elements of Body horror / sci-fi
🍄 🌶️Cy / forbidden romance / cottagecore
🍄 Professor x student
🍄 Forced proximity / isolated PNW setting
🍄 Ghosts / haunted forest

Bonus:
I love and appreciate it when an author includes a Spotify playlist of various songs or soundtracks they listen to for inspiration whilst writing the book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and Karina Mackenzie for the arc 🖤

First off thank you Karina Halle and NetGalley, I am so grateful for this ARC! I loved this book and it was perfect for the spooky season. If "The Last of Us' was turned into a spicy romance, this would be it! I now have an irrational fear of fungi/mushrooms, and permanent goosebumps. Sydney was such a great character and really connected with her. Kincaid is spicy, enough said! The research that must have been involved to bring out the scientific vibe of this book is chef's kiss. Go into this read blind, the twist will keep you up at night! Loved this so much and can not wait to see what Karina comes up with next! Definitely going to recommend this book to dark romance/suspense readers.

EASIEST five stars I’ve ever given for a thriller/horror. This book had me SAT. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, couldn’t put it down, couldn’t stop theorizing. Every twist was perfectly executed and I was incredibly creeped out SEVERAL times.

It takes a lot to scare me in books but the eerie, unsettling vibes were immaculate. the PNW setting made it even creepier and I just…I wish I could rewire my brain to read this again for the first time.

And the ENDING was so well done that I feel so much relief and safety while also still being unsettled.

AMAZING work, Karina Halle 👏🏼

Endless thank yous to the author for an advanced copy!! This baby is out officially so go read it!!! (Check triggers just in case! The romance gets a bit dark and there is some body/animal horror! Karina has a content warning page right at the beginning of the book to make this easier!)

Absolutely haunting and chilling story! I could not put it down! This book was the perfect spooky, twisty, and thrilling read. Karina Halle has the most amazing way of really pulling readers into her settings and making forget I am reading. This is no exception!

In the remote Canadian wilderness, Sydney accepts a summer study at a mysterious, but innovative, mycology research facility. The minute she steps off the plane she is having creepy experiences. She meets her handsome professor Wes and immediately she is drawn to him. She begins to realize things are not quite what they appear to be after seeing Wes watching her at night, odd run ins with another student, and a creepy encounter with a wolf in the woods. Sydney starts to untangle a very dangerous and scary web that changes everything she thinks she knows.

RUN! Do not walk. You need this immediately. I absolutely DEVOURED it. Hella moody and so vibey. It’s The White Lotus meets The Last of Us but make it dark academia. Karina Halle’s prose is so descriptive and beautifully grotesque when the story calls for it. And we all know I do love supporting a fellow Canadian. Thank you NetGally for the ARC copy! Highly recommend 🍄

Where do I begin? This book had me stressing so much! This was a great spooky read that left me shocked and surprised with all the twists and turns. This one definitely had me double guessing myself because every time I thought I knew the direction the plot was going, it snaked in a different direction. I don’t want to give too much away but I would highly recommend you go in blind with this one if you like dark academia, psychological thrillers, and suspense.

Thank you Metal Blond Books and Karina Halle for the arc.

Grave Matter by Karina Halle
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all I want to TRULY thank Karina & Netgalley for the opportunity to read this beautiful masterpiece before release. (Thanking the book gods hard for this one because everytime Karina posted a teaser I was on my knees already begging for it)

This was incredible and I’m not over exaggerating. Like truly such a great read all the way through.
This was the perfect gothic psychological thriller spooky romance vibes for this lovely spooky season. I was soo captivated and engaged in this whole mindfuck and loving the romance (& smut) in this book very much.
I can’t fully say a lot because I truly don’t want to give away anything and I want y’all to experience this read yourselves!

Tropes include:
🍄Professsor x Student
🍄‍🟫Forced Proximity
🍄Fun with Fungi
🍄‍🟫Only one tent
🍄Isolated PNW Setting
🍄‍🟫BDSM elements
🍄Slow Burn
🍄‍🟫Degradation (and some Praise) Kink
🍄Dark Cottagecore and Academia
🍄‍🟫Obsessed Hero
🍄Stalker
🍄‍🟫WTF did I just read
🍄 Haunted Forest
🍄‍🟫Massive Dynamic Vibes (ifykyk)
🍄Morally Grey Characters
🍄‍🟫He Falls First
🍄Woman in STEM

I have read one other book by Karina Halle & after the opportunity of reading this one I am so definitely going to read many of her books now because her writing was so addicting and just wow.