I’m giving this book a 2.5 ⭐️ rating because I liked the story but I couldn’t connect with Sydney, the FMC. I found her to be unreliable in her thought process and some of the things she said when she was referring to intimate details was just… not for me. Some of the spicey scenes seemed to happen at a time when they shouldn’t. They were just thrown in at random.
I didn’t find this story to be scary, gross in some places sure, but not scary. By the end of the book, I found myself not caring what happened to Sydney or Kincaid.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book.

Looking for a gothic, romance, mystery, thriller - wow, could I find anymore book descriptors 😁 - well this book seems to have in all and in spaces. It will even throw in a level of steam that I would recommend not reading it at work (can you say 'awkward', let me tell you😏).

The island of Winter Harbor has an Island of Dr. Moreau vibe with the feeling that something sinister going on just beneath the surface, of things not being as quite as they appear, but like a half remembered dream you can't put your finger on or trust that it's real and not a figment of your imagination.

Sydney is graduate student who has lost almost everything but this chance to work with a prestigious and cutting-edge research organization that is trying to cure Alzheimer's with the use of a rare fungus that only grows on a remote part of a certain island, thus begins our strange trip into a world where ghosts roam and the dead walk, trees whisper secrets while the humans tell nothing but lies. Who is friend and who is foe? What is truth or lie? Can any of it be real or is it a psychotic break due to inhaling toxic spores?

This story, like walking thru the woods, can seem to meander and have no real purpose, other times to be like stumbling wildly about, then there are the fearful panic-stricken times through the woods where things are too sharp, colors, sounds only for everything to become clear. This story has that feel, those ups and downs, moments that seem to have no purpose only for that purpose to slam you in the face. I will say that ending felt like resolution and very anticlimactic at the same time. I guess I want more after all the build up instead of a soft landing that I got. That's just me

** Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to review this advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion **

This book was absolutely amazing. Once I started reading I didn’t want to stop. The characters were absolutely phenomenal. The story was unputadownable. I was so into this book that I read it in one sitting. Truly another brilliant read with characters that I will never forget

Summary:
Landing a dream internship in the field of mycology, Sydney joins a prestigious foundation for an intense summer of field work. But when she arrives, she begins to see apparitions, someone is watching her from her window and the internship feels more like busy work that the prestigious opportunity it should be. When another student starts to crack under pressure and goes missing, Sydney has to try to figure out what is reality and what may just be happening inside her own head.

Rating: 4/5
Spice: 2/5

Tropes:
Dark academia
Everyone has a secret
Paranormal entities

Triggers:
Psychological trauma
Death
Hallucinations

My thoughts:
This books feels very disjointed in the beginning, which now that I’ve read the entire story, I think is intentional. A good mix of dark academia, things that go bump in the night and an insane plot twist all equal a great spooky (and sexy!) read.

5.0

5 Dirty Little Pet Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level:🌶️🌶️/5

You ever have a book, that when you finished reading it your brain felt like it had exploded and you were just trying to play catchup… I have been sitting on this review for a while because my mind is completely reeling with trying to put together thoughts and words. Its mushroom and blowing in the air like millions of spores.

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Sydney Denik is a graduate mycology student who’s life is falling to pieces. However she is given this once in a lifetime opportunity to work at the secretive prestigious Madrona Foundation as part of a summer research program studying Alzheimer’s.

However once she arrives in rural Vancouver things start to get weird. She starts seeing things and she starts wondering is she having visions, seeing ghosts. Or is she going mad with her mind playing tricks on her. While dealing with that she also has to struggle with the growing attraction she has towards one of the professors at the facility, who also happens to be her psychologist. All that she knows the longer she stays at the Madrona Foundation – the less things make sense.
If you want a book that is the epitome of “spooky creepy” vibes with a dash of dark academia and makes you yourself question your own sanity, then this is it for you! You find yourself just as confused and befuddled as Sydney…but YOU LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT!

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I ADORED Sydney, mostly because she's pretty brash at times and is pretty snarky and sarcastic. She speaks her mind very easily, often in places that I myself would never be caught dead speaking. I was giggling “listening” to her internal monologue and some of the things that she said. I personally related to a lot of her references and the pop culture she comments on. She just felt like someone I would like to be friends with. I also adored that she is so driven, tenacious, smart and intelligent. This entire book is told from her POV so there are aspects of unreliable narration which is handled so well that it keeps you engrossed but it is also done very tactfully as a display to the mental illness and neurodivergent characteristics Sydney has.

I was also super impressed by the depth of research Karina Halle put into this book. I am always apprehensive of books that feature a woman in STEM romances because they can often portray the field and representation of women very badly. However this is the type of book that does it justice! Karina Halle did such a good job. The research that went into the different mushrooms, their types, their pharmacology, and their toxicity, it felt like this was written by somebody who was an expert in the field but never felt overly technical. Its presence in the story added to the richness and the way the science was portrayed felt natural. It takes a very unique skill to blend and blur science and fantasy and make it feel like it could happen in our world.

I don't want to say too much about this BECAUSE I HONESTLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO IN BLIND!!!

BUT KNOW the reason this made such an impact is because I didn't see the twists and turns coming and the way that everything interconnected. I almost want to go back and reread it again to catch the things I missed.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Obsession
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Forbidden Romance
▶ Obsessive MMC
▶ TeacherXStudent
▶ PsychologistXPateint
▶ Age Gap
▶ Dark Academia
▶ Chronic Illness Rep
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ Burn the World for You

𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨:
➢ BDSM
➢ Hand Necklaces
➢ Bondage
➢ Degradation and Praise

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▷ Use Me
▷ Good Girl
▷ Beg Me

THIS BOOK left such a lasting impression on my mind. It was perfection how everything came together! It's the type of thing that should be made a movie as it has all the elements that movies need: drama, suspense, romance, mystery/thriller allure, and just spooky vibes. Absolutely fantastic and the best book I have read from Karina Halle!

Thank you to Netgalley, Metal Blonde Books and Karina Halle for the gifted copy!
All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This book will pull you right out of any reading slump! It was so twisty and spooky and I just couldn't stop turning the pages, so eager to find out what happens next. The writing was so atmospheric! A very good level of spice as well. Would highly recommend to anyone especially fans of Mexican Gothic.

Wow, I totally loved this book! It is a bit out of my comfort zone, but i loved Karina Halle’s romcoms and i saw so many positive reviews for this one so I knew I had to read it, i’m so glad I did now!!
Grave Matter is one of those absolutely unputdownable books, with a mix of horror, gothic, romance and sci-fi.
The romance was sizzling and steamy but it didn’t take anything away from the plot and I really related to the fmc Sydney, since she was one of the best portrayals of ADHD i’ve read about so far.
Karina Halle just never disappoints🥰

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

A really weird but intriguing book!!! I couldn't put this book down! It centers around a girl who shows up at a foundation that does research on how to treat Alzheimer's. The lodge she arrives at is very secluded and the students there are not allowed phones, TV's, or any communication outside of the foundation due to the research they are doing. She finds herself drawn to her professor/therapist and doesn't know why and things start to happen at the foundation making her feel like she may be going crazy. Things are not what they seem and the Madrona foundation has many secrets that unfold throughout the story. This is a perfect gothic phycological thriller!!

Thank you for letting me read this early Netgalley

This book is a wild ride packed with horror, romance, and psychological twists, all set in an isolated research facility on Vancouver Island. The story follows Sydney Denik, an aspiring mycologist (mushrooms) trying to leave her messy past behind. But things get creepy fast—think missing students, zombie animals, and a lodge full of secrets.

The vibe is super gothic, with foggy forests and an eerie atmosphere that pulls you right in. Plus, the spicy romance between Sydney and the broody resident psychologist adds some forbidden spice to the mix. It’s moody, intense, and keeps you guessing.

While the pacing might feel a bit uneven sometimes, the SHOCKING twists and dark vibes make it totally worth it.

If you’re into chilling mysteries with a side of romance, Grave Matter will definitely keep you hooked until the last page! I can't tell you more without spoiling it as I thing it's best to go into this book blind!!

Spooky weird vibes to die for.
I love the book so much.
One of my best reads of the year.
Couldn't put it done.
It was so unique.

I really enjoy Karina Halle's writing! This was a really good book and was something unexpected! I really enjoyed this.

Just wow! This one was a bit of a slow starter and I had to power through because even with the slow start I could tell it was gonna be interesting. Little bits and pieces at the start peaked my curiosity and gave the push to continue on and HOLY PLOT TWISTS am I glad I did!!
As soon as I felt like I knew what was going on this book basically told me "sit the F down , I'm not done yet"
I literally had to pick my jaw up off the floor numerous times. The whole storyline was amazing and by the end had me up all night reading because I needed all the answers.

This book had potential but didn’t quite deliver for me. While the premise was intriguing, the characters felt underdeveloped, making it difficult to fully connect with them. Unfortunately, I also predicted the big reveal fairly early, which diminished the impact of the story’s twists.

The inclusion of the spice felt out of place, as it didn’t contribute much to the narrative outside of its occurrence in dream-like sequences. Additionally, the conclusion felt rushed, leaving me wanting more depth and resolution.

That said, I can see how this book might appeal to readers looking for lighter, surface-level storytelling with a bit of mystery and fantasy. It just wasn’t a match for me personally.

Dark, unsettling, and unexpectedly spicy, Grave Matter is a wild ride that had me questioning everything—right along with the protagonist, Sydney Denik. Karina Halle blends gothic horror, psychological thriller, and a dash of sci-fi into a twisted tale set in the fog-drenched forests of Vancouver Island.

The atmosphere is hands-down one of the best parts of this book. From the moment Sydney arrives at the secluded Madrona Foundation, you can feel the tension in the air—the cold, damp lodge, the eerie forest, and the strange happenings that make you wonder if it’s all in her head. The setting practically breathes, and Halle’s descriptive writing makes it easy to picture every unsettling moment, from the snow falling in summer to the disconcerting movement of dead animals.

Sydney is a compelling protagonist—flawed, vulnerable, and caught between her ambition as an aspiring mycologist and the creeping sense that something is very, very wrong. Her descent into paranoia (or is it reality?) mirrors the reader’s journey perfectly. And let’s talk about Wes, the enigmatic psychologist. Their relationship is as intoxicating as it is questionable, with a power dynamic that toes the line between seductive and dangerous. If you like your romance dark and a little messy, Wes will have you drooling.

The horror elements are deliciously creepy, especially if you’re into body horror and fungi taking on a life of their own. Halle does an excellent job weaving the scientific with the supernatural, leaving you constantly guessing whether the Foundation’s research is groundbreaking or something far more sinister.

That said, the pacing was a little uneven. The story kicks off with Sydney’s suspicions almost immediately, which makes it feel like it skips over some of the slow-burn buildup typical of thrillers. And while the twists are chef’s kiss—seriously, I didn’t see a few of them coming—the climax felt a bit rushed. I would have loved more time to sit with the reveals and explore the fallout in greater depth. It was like being on a rollercoaster that suddenly ends just when you’re fully strapped in for the ride.

Despite the rushed ending, Grave Matter kept me hooked from start to finish. If you’re a fan of thrillers with a heavy dose of gothic vibes, psychological mind games, and steamy romance, this one’s for you. Just be prepared to lose sleep—and maybe look at mushrooms a little differently.

Holy Moly!! What an adventure this was! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time wondering what the hell was going on and what was going to happen next. It was intriguing and creepy and believe it or not, super spicy. Completely addicting! The jaw-dropping twists had me saying OMG and WTF. I’ll be honest, the sci-fi aspect had me second guessing whether I even wanted to pick this up. But it was so unique and interesting. Nothing like what I was expecting. I’m sooo glad I ignored myself and gave this a chance! This was my first Karina Halle experience and will definitely not be my last!!

🍄‍🟫Dark Psychological Romance
🍄‍🟫Gothic Academia
🍄‍🟫Thriller/Horror
🍄‍🟫Sci-fi/Paranormal
🍄‍🟫Professor/Student
🍄‍🟫ADHD Rep
🍄‍🟫Spicyyy
🍄‍🟫WTF Twists

I highly recommend if you are looking for a wild ride! Be sure to check content warnings!

Thank you Karina Halle and NetGalley for the opportunity to devour this amazing story!

Before reading Grave Matter, I had never read a psychological thriller before. I don‘t like the genre when it comes to films or series, but I figured I’d give it a shot. And it surprised me a bit how much I enjoyed it.

Some things in Grave Matter felt rushed. In the very first few pages, Sydney, our main character, is suspicious about certain things happening. It makes sense in the story later on, but her being suspicious right away kind of ruins the slow building of tension that you usually get in this genre. It felt a bit like the book screamed ‘hello I’m a thriller!’ in my face.

That being said, from that part on, the tension was building slowly. The descriptive way the author wrote really helped me imagine both the beauty and the horror Sydney encountered in the book. And I very much enjoyed the plot twists throughout and at the ending of the book.

Also, fungi are frikkin’ awesome.

I devoured this book. It was spooky, woodsy, dark academia engrossed in the world of science and fungi. I was NOT expecting a few of the twists that happen near the end and it made all the little things I was questioning that didn’t really make sense, make sense. I think the author did an amazing job keeping you guessing about who to trust and what’s the truth behind the entire operation at Madrona, just as Sydney had been confused and questioning everything, too.

My only critique is that once the climax begun, everything was unfolding so quickly that it felt like the dialogue was going quickly too. I wish there was a bit more depth once everything started falling apart and Sydney started revealing the truth of it all. As the reader, I would’ve loved to be able to sit and simmer with the twists and learned more about it all. It seemed a tad rushed near the end.

All in all I loved the book and Wes, all I have to say is “Yes Doctor.” 😊

Most readers are going to go into this expecting the very nonserious blurb for a good time and but will also be subjected to lectures and discourse about mental illness and ADHD.

The exposition here is remarkably unatural for a book apparently filled with a main cast of biologist and biologist-adjacent fields. We're never really shown how the main character is in the situations presented in the narrative, instead we have these asides where it seems like the character pauses the story to fill us in on background information that could have been delivered to the reader in a non-interruptive way.

After that rough first quarter though it does open up to a more entertaining reading experience. It's twisty and it's got the general ambiance that I would expect from a read. It stands out against the realistic fiction dark romances so readers will likely appreciate having something new to look at that isn't mafia men or masked serial killers.

I know readers who are definitely going to enjoy this and the avid Booktok readers at my branch are always clamoring for more so I'll be purchase requesting this one for sure.

I had really high hopes for this book, not really knowing what I was getting myself into. The synopsis was very intriguing, but overall slower than I anticipated.

The last 30-35% of the book really had me sitting on the edge of my seat, making me skip precious hours of sleep to finish the book :D

There were definitely a few things that sticked, but more that just sadly didn’t - also I couldn’t connect to any of the characters, which is normally really important for y reading experience.

Forget romantasy, I need more horrormance in my life 🍄♥️

(4.5/5⭐️)

What do you get if you cross mushroom horror in an isolated setting with a suspenseful romance? A deliciously dark and compulsively unputdownable mindfuck of a book that will play on your thoughts until the final pages.

It’s so easy to get pulled in to this story and Karina Halle’s writing is definitely a part of this! With rich, wild imagery that alternately masks and amplifies the buildup of tension, as well as a unique method for drip feeding information that constantly leaves you feeling on the back foot, it’s so hard to put this book down!

The atmosphere, the plot twists, the writing *chefs kiss*