This is my first book by this author and i absolutely loved it! Great flow, character development. I just wanted to keep reading it! Thanks for the ARC!

4⭐ / 1.25 🌶️

The standout element for me was the two main characters, Ophelia and Alex. Ophelia is one of the most relatable FMCs I’ve read in a long time—her grief and loneliness were portrayed so well. Both characters felt incredibly real. I also loved the humor—some moments had me laughing out loud, and the author balanced the light and serious themes beautifully.

The book was not without flaws. The writing was a little disjointed and unclear at times. The actual story itself was super unrealistic, so you’ll definitely need to suspend your disbelief. On top of that, the plot was fairly predictable.

Four stars because I loved the main characters and I thought the slow burn romance was written very well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for advanced copy.

4.5 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Autumn Woods for the ARC of Nightshade in return for an honest review.

What a vibe! Set in Scotland, Dark Academia, Slow Burn Enemies to Lovers

I hoovered this book up in less than a day. So easy to read... kept you invested in the enemies to lovers and the mystery.

What he said when she found the photo of him with his choice of clothing poking out of his jacket pocket had me mouth opened and slapping myself in the face. I bloody love books that make me have such a visceral reaction 🤣

I don't really think plain contemporary romance is for me... but actually this had enough in it to keep me not only interested but invested. The characters back stories and experiences were well written and made the book an emotional experience.

It had me high, low, shocked, giggling... and despite guessing the twist still found it checked that box for me. I am a sucker for a misunderstood MMC so I may have added on a star for that 🤣

Really enjoyed the writing style and story planning by the author so will 100% be looking for more of Autumns work in future. I'm especially looking forward to book two now I've just been left on that cliffhanger!

• Dark Academic Romance
• Enemies to Lovers
• Slow Burn
• Schmurder
• Stalking
• Rich Mafia x Working Class
• Family Secrets

Huge thank you to Zando and Autumn Woods for letting me get my little gremlin hands on this one early!

“One down. Seven letters. First letter O. I’ve had a long day, and I want her for dinner.”

I - SIT. DOWN.

Now listen. I knew this was book one in a duet. I knew that. And yet, SOMEONE could’ve reminded me before the ending hit me like a truck and left me sitting there in emotional shambles.

I absolutely adore Ophelia. I want to wrap her in a heated blanket burrito and protect that soft, loyal little heart of hers. And Alex? That sweet, feral, too-tired-for-this 23-year-old boy has been holding it together for way too long. I just - I love them. Broken, bruised, constantly spiraling, and clinging to each other like they’re the last good thing on Earth. Delicious.

The murder mystery + stalker vibes? So good. The slow burn tension? Oof. The spice? Minimal, but it’s good when it’s there because the vibes demand it. And the twisty plot? I thought I had it. I did not. (To be fair, I’m not here to solve crimes. I’m here to highlight unhinged quotes and scream into the void.)

Anyway. 5 stars. No notes. Autumn, if you're looking for an early reader for book two, my calendar is wide open.

I am at a loss for words here. This was just phenomenal.

If you are looking to be sucked into a book that will emotionally ruin you? This is the book for you.

The MFC Ophelia is hellbent on revenge after her parent's tragically pass away. The MMC Alex is a rugby player who is struggling with his mental health and juggling sports, school and a tragic family situation. This one is a slow burn romance that had me SQUIRMING in my seat with anticipation. But wait-there's a twist. Alex is the son of the person Ophelia blames for her parents death.

Alex is everything a girl could want-- tall, dark, handsome and BROODY. He is a tortured soul who is fiercely protective of his loved ones and he will do absolutely anything for his family. Ophelia is resilient, vulnerable and her story and home life? Heart breaking. I just wanted to wrap her up in a blanket and hug her while I was reading this.

--

I love myself a dark academia with creepy mysteries and secrets lurking in the shadows. There's the enemies to lovers trope that I died for and the characters are just the perfect pair. They're complex but seem to bring out the best in one another. The banter was *chefs kiss* and had me giggling and kicking my lil feet. The characters made it impossible to have a favorite imo. I connected with and loved both of them for very different reasons.

Additional tropes I loved: slow burn and he falls first

BUT warning...the ending WILL WRECK YOU. I honestly cried and I don't know what to do with myself. What a cliffhanger like WHAT.

Overall, I loved the writing style and I highlighted the heck out of this. This book is a must read and I NEED book 2 nooooow. But I will settle for my physical trophy copy soon.

Wow, wow, wow... WOW. This book was just phenomenal. It exceeded every nonexistent expectation that I had. The emotions? Raw. The angst? 🥵.

Ophelia is probably one of the MOST relatable characters I've read about in a hot minute. I felt like I was on the page with the abandonment problems, trust issues, and a need/craving for validation.

The character development was incredible. It was elegantly crafted, so utterly raw, and progressive. Woods created such layers in her characters. I just wanted more and more, and she gave it.

The banter between Ophelia and Alex? Yes yes yes yes!

I didn't want it to end! It was such an incredible book. I just wanted to keep going!🖤

4.5
AUTUMN!?? AUTUMN WOODS!!

How dare you??? I’m gonna need serious damage control after that cliffhanger. My therapy bills will be hitting your inbox in the near future.

Alex?? ALEX!! He’s on my top book boyfriend list. Number 1, I’m not even joking. I made a whole list just to put him on top.

“Wherever you want, love. It’s home if we’re there.”

Guys I’m actually feral for him you don’t understand. Get you a man who will punch someone and do unspeakable things to them for even UTTERING your name. He understands how broken and fragile Ophelia feels and treats her with nothing but gentleness and pure devotion.

“I’d stop at nothing to see her happy.”

Please pleas please please tell me they’re alright!?? My babies. Ophelia and Alex. Their love is beyond what I could have expected. He loves her so much I physically ACHED me when they couldn’t fully be together because of circumstances ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 Love love love them.

I kept flipping the pages thinking I couldn’t possibly be more surprised, but Autumn really had me reeling. Gasping, choking, crying, all of the above. She doesn’t hold back the plot twists.

PLEASE GO READ THIS AMAZING BOOK ASAP!!

Thank you to Zando for the earc. Will definitely be getting a physical copy and the second book as soon as it’s out.
I will be updating with my Instagram review as soon as I post it.

This book forms the first half of a duet and the story will be completed in the second book.

This book had me hooked almost instantly, and if I wasn’t busy, I wouldn’t be putting it down.

There were a few moments where it kind of jumped from idea/place/scene to another which was a little bit confusing and made me have to reread some parts this could just be because it’s the ARC.

I had such a fun time reading this!! I need the second part ASAP!!

Thank you for the ARC :)

I found it hard to get into the very beginning of this book but honestly I don’t know how much of it was solely based on the actual words of the book and how much was just the god awful formatting of the earc I had but by a few chapters in I was so invested that I couldn’t put it down, even with the formatting that was actually giving me a headache. I fell in love with all the characters and I can’t wait for the next book in the series! If yall are fans of romance books with murder and mystery then I’d recommend this one

tropes:
hate to love
mystery
forced proximity
man obsessed
dual pov
who did this to you?

Honestly, even though it was a little predictable at times, I still really enjoyed it! The writing was super satisfying, and the banter between the characters was top tier. Autumn has a really natural, original voice, and I’m definitely curious to check out more of her books.

Was it a bit familiar? Sure. But it was one of those books where even if you can see where it’s going, you’re still fully along for the ride. I loved the dark academia vibes, the mafia drama, and the fact that both main characters had way more depth than you expect at first glance.

If you like dark romance, broody love interests, and a heroine who refuses to be anyone’s victim, Nightshade is worth picking up. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Autumn Woods.

Think gothic, moody dark vibes - with academia/murder mystery and slow burn romance sprinkled in there, and this is the book for you!
Gumpy sunshine Alex lives up to his name but is fiercely protective of Ophelia and she in turn is slow to trust and lonely. The banter is great, the book could do with a little bit polishing but overall I really enjoyed this!

This was so good!!!! Can I give it six stars?!?

I DEVOURED this ! A dark academia with a revenge plot that will have you on the edge of your seat! With the best romance I’ve read in a while! Cannot wait for the next book!

Romantic suspense has a new bar for me and this was it! It was so angsty and emotionally raw but it was also INSANELY hot. I’m already ready for the next one and can’t wait to request it for my grubby little hands.

"One down. Seven letters. First letter O. I've had a long day, and I want her for dinner."

This book has my heart and I truly think it's my top read of the year, and one of my most favourite books I've read in my life. I finished this a few weeks ago but haven't been able to articulate just how much I enjoyed this book.

We follow Ophelia, our FMC, whose parents die in a helicopter crash, and she’s determined to avenge those responsible. She’s fortunate to be invited to study at a prestigious university where the son of an aviation tycoon — the man behind the company responsible for her parent's deaths — also attends. As she begins to uncover more of the truth, she realises Alex is nothing like his father, and she finds herself falling for him despite every fibre in her being begging her not to. And he feels the same way.

This is a gripping dark academia romance, filled with suspense and stalking and a whimsical, mysterious atmosphere that takes place in a castle. I love the email and text exchanges - it just broke the story up and added a lot of fun to the already great banter between the characters, and really intensified the growth and connection of Alex and Ophelia. I am a huge Sudoku and Crossword geek, and this book just hit the spot playing on that theme. The email exchanges were hilarious, with definitions of words as the subject line in a passive aggressive show of defiance and annoyance towards one another. It's truly just such a fun book, and it will not disappoint readers.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✨ romantic suspense
✨ mystery
✨ dark academia
✨ hate-to-love
✨ slow burn
✨ he falls first

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Zando Projects for the eARC of this book. Truly a 5/5 ✨ read and I adored it so much!

Wow, this book was phenomenal! I loved how it was both a romance and a suspense. The murder mystery aspect of the story really held my attention. I was invested in Ophelia’s love story but also wanted to know what happened to her parents!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | dark academia, daddy issues, and a little murder

This was toxic in the best way. Ophelia heads to a moody Scottish university to prove her parents’ deaths were the fault of billionaire Cain Green… only to immediately run into his son, Alex, who nearly kills her (by accident!) on day one. So yeah, things escalate.

Think: murder alibis, forced proximity, anonymous threats, enemies-to-trauma-bonded. It’s giving gothic romance meets mafia-adjacent conspiracy and I ate it up.

Alex is all brooding tension and family baggage. Ophelia? lonely, determined, and ready to burn the world down—until feelings get in the way. The angst?? Immaculate.

for fans of:
• dark academia with actual danger
• “he’s awful but he’s my awful”
• morally gray boys who bleed soft once per book

Would I survive Sorrowsong? no. Would I still go? absolutely.

I am SCREECHING over the ending and so ready for book two!!!!! Ophelia Winters accepts a scholarship to Sorrowsong in Scotland in order to prove that her parents were murd3r3d. Sorrowsong is university to the mega rich, the famous, and the infamous. The old school has lots of dark secrets. On day one she meets Alex, sexy rugby player who happens to be son of the man Ophelia blames for her parents de3th. She thinks he’s just like his father and makes him an enemy, but they’re drawn to each other constantly. Alex doesn’t like her at first, but does have a bit of an obsession. This one is a boy falls first and harder story and I LOVE Alex!!! He’s got so much darkness in him, but thrives on caring for others. I was so sad for him when he was dealing with his own d3mons, he had so much on his plate. I swooned so hard for this man 😮‍💨 The banter was really fun between them two. There’s lots of mystery involved and Ophelia has a stalker. Loved the story and the writing so much. It’s incredibly atmospheric.

I had such a good time with this book! The vibes are immaculate — dark academia meets slow-burn romance with a hint of the supernatural. The setting at Sorrowsong University in the Scottish Highlands was moody and atmospheric in the best way.

Ophelia is a great main character — determined, grieving, a little guarded — and I was instantly pulled into her search for the truth about her parents. And then there’s Alex… broody, brilliant, and totally suspicious. Their chemistry had me flipping pages late into the night.

It’s a slower build, but I never felt bored. The mystery kept me hooked, and the emotional tension (romantic and otherwise) made it really engaging. It gave me just the right mix of gothic vibes, secrets, and heart.

Can’t wait for book two — that ending left me needing more ASAP.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.

Rating: 4.5/5

- college romance
- dark academia romance
- she's a swimmer, he plays rugby
- hate to love
- he falls first
- grumpy x grumpy
- romantic suspense
- slower burn
- cliffhanger ending
- 🌶️.5/5
- dual pov

Nightshade wraps so many of my favourite things into one dark, addictive read. The moody Sorrowsong setting and a dash of dark academia perfectly frame the layers of murder and mystery that unfold.

Our main characters actually hate each other—like, she believes his father murdered her parents, levels of hate. It doesn't get more enemies-to-lovers than that. Their banter is razor-sharp, and the forced proximity only turns up the tension. Don't even get me started on the flirty emails—I lived for every single one.

Then there's Alex. He's carrying the weight of the world, but allows himself one selfish thing: Ophelia. Once they give in to the pull between them, he's protective, caring, and sweet in a way that'll have your heart aching. I swear I swooned every time he moved. And the way he steps up as a father figure to his six younger sisters? Game over.

The suspense subplot adds another layer of intrigue and ends in a killer cliffhanger. I saw one twist coming, but by the end, I didn't know what to believe. Bring on book two—I need more of Ophelia, Alex, and their chaotic, lovable friend group.

Huge thanks to Zando for the early copy!

Thank you, NetGalley and Zando Projects, for the ARC of this book. Creepy, gothic, dark academia, a complicated love story and the Scottish Highlands - this one is just delicious. Ophelia's tragic life and the mystery that surrounds it are a storyline that is interesting enough on its own. But when you add the attraction of the guy she knows she should hate but can't seem to stay away from, it makes the story a page-turner.

The ultra rich students at the uber exclusive Sorrowsong University have lives most people couldn't even begin to imagine. But when Ophelia gets a special scholarship to attend, she could really care less about anyone other than the son of the man she holds responsible for the tragedy of her life. She doesn't realize the scholarship comes with a stalker set on driving her mad and making her disappear. But what she really doesn't count on is falling for the son of the man she despises and him falling for her even harder.

This is just the first part of their story but I already can't wait for the second part to be published.