I loved this one, highly recommend if you like:
✨ Friends to lovers
✨ Touch her and die
✨ Feminine rage
✨ Strong, independent, short tempered FMC
✨ Caring, mafia MMC
✨ Banter and tension
✨ Animal sidekick 🐈‍⬛
✨ Found family / friendship circles
✨ World building with biblical references
✨ Urban fantasy / modern day world but with magic and demons
✨ Spicy 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
TW: parental issues, abuse, death

Zahariev and Lilith are from different powerful families in Eden. Lilly, the heir of Hiram, is bit of a rebel and currently estranged from her family and living under the protection of Zahareiv, head of Nineveh. Her one year is up and should be called back home anytime now. Only the females of these families have magic, but they can't utilise it as per rule and are subservient to men of their family. But she doesn't want to be pawn to be used by others. She is trying to make a living by using her power to 'procure' artefacts and selling it. Zahareiv while pretending not to see this also protects her as instructed by her father. They are trapped in some trouble after procures a beautiful knife, which has the tendency to leave a trail of deaths in its wake.
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I loved it, the writing and the characters. I was intrigued by the twists that were happening and didn't want to put it down. By the end, I was holding my breath to see what will happen. And it was amazing. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Terror at the Gates is a dark, atmospheric dive into a new romantasy world, brimming with forbidden magic, political intrigue, and sensual tension. Scarlett St. Clair delivers what many fans have come to expect, high-stakes drama, seductive romance, and strong-willed female leads. But while the premise is undeniably enticing, the execution occasionally stumbles.

The world-building is one of the book’s strongest aspects. Eden and its sin-riddled districts, especially Nineveh, feel alive with danger and decadence. The power dynamics between the church, the ruling families, and the underworld create a compelling backdrop. Lilith, the protagonist, is fierce and unapologetically flawed—traits that make her both interesting and sometimes frustrating. Her dynamic with Zahariev simmers with tension, and their chemistry is palpable, though the romance can feel more told than earned in moments.

That said, Terror at the Gates leans heavily on tropes that may feel overused to seasoned romantasy readers: the brooding male protector, the mysterious magical artifact, the chosen-one undertones. The pacing is uneven, some parts fly by, while others linger too long without much payoff. Secondary characters often blur together, and key plot twists are predictable rather than shocking.

Still, for fans of St. Clair’s brand of dark fantasy romance, there’s enough here to enjoy. It sets the stage for a promising series, even if this first installment doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential.

Final verdict: A steamy and intriguing start with great world-building, but it struggles with pacing and originality. A solid read for romantasy lovers, but not a standout.

Scarlett St. Clair you have done it again -- THANK YOU <3

Diving into this book was such a fun journey, if you've read any other of Scarlett's books or want to dive into them for the first time I cannot recommend this one enough. It's a first book in a series but it does not read like a first book typically does -- ya know with all the character intros and world building -- the way that the world building, character intro and development are weaved together was just... amazing.

Don't even get me started on daddy, I mean Zahareiv. The chemistry between Lilith and him had me down bad. All the characters had great development and backstories and I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on book two.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to NetGalley & Bloom Books for the advanced copy and a HUGE thank you to Scarlett St. Clair for writing yet another amazing story.

"That’s because you do not like to be contained.” ----- paused and then added, “Most wild things don’t.”

Terror At The Gates is my most highlighted book to date (outside of text books). Scarlett just nailed it with the characters, the mafia style vibes, detailed world building, plot points, the emotions, sizzling slow burn--- I knew I would love it. What I didn't expect was to resonate so deeply with Lilith. She was everything I needed in this moment when the world is so uncertain and our rights are being stripped away so callously.

And then there's Zahariev. F*ck this man is hot. Their chemistry is off the charts, and this poor man in out of his depths. Scarlett did these little sections from his POV between Lilith's chapters. I was LIVING for those!!!

This story is such a great reminder to know your worth, straighten that spine, and live your truth.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity ti read the ARC. Terror at the Gates by Scarlett St. Clair. I love anything Scarlett writes she is an amazing author. Lilith is full of so much rage and is bound and determined to take down those who betrayed her. She has to steal to be able to eat she had nothing and was determined to make those pay. Zahariev is protective and different with Lilith than anyone else. He is the you touch what’s mine and you die. The romance is a slow burn and what attracted me to this book is the biblical standpoint. I love how she was able to put her spin on it. 5 out of 5 stars.

"Terror at the Gates" is a thrilling and darkly captivating read that perfectly blends intense emotion, suspense, and steamy romance. Scarlett St. Clair delivers complex characters whose passion and struggles leap off the page, making it impossible to put down. With its gripping plot and richly layered world, this book is a must for fans of paranormal romance and enemies-to-lovers stories with a bite.

This book had no right being this amazing!!! I'm obsessed; I will not accept any criticism of it, only praise, because the way I devoured it should be studied.

I loved everything about this story, how fresh it felt, how empowering the characters were, and how intriguing the plot was. I need more, I could've read 2000 pages of this book, and still feel like it wasn't enough. I want to know more about the side characters, as they were intrinsic to the story, especially Gabriel, I kind of fell in love with him a little.

The main characters were so good. Lilith is such a strong character, a little frustrating at times, but considering how her life has been so far, I understand her attitude towards life and her ways to survive. ZAHARIEV IS THE MOST PRECIOUS MMC AND MUST BE DEFENDED AT ALL COSTS. Also, the little snippets of his POV: chef's kiss, perfection! His devotion to Lilith was everything. I'll love him forever (what about the murders? WHAT MURDERS??).

I want to know what comes next. I can't be left with that little information, so Scarlett, give me book 2 ASAP, please and thank you.

I’m a huge fan of Scarlett’s writing style, it’s very vivid. She truly paints a picture with her words!

This is a retelling inspired by Lilith.

I did enjoy the story although at some points it did feel a bit slow. Over all a great read!

"Terror at the Gates" is St. Clair's best book yet! I pre-ordered this title, and absolutely recommend this to all readers - fantasy, action, adventure, contemporary, thriller, romance. Truly, this book has everything. It was so easy to get sucked in, that suddenly hours passed and it felt like no time at all.

TATG explores themes of religion, oppression, "othering", sex and gender, while telling a phenomenal and emotional story of Lilith Leviathan, a young woman who is learning how to live on her terms after surviving a traumatic childhood. Zahariev is the ultimate MMC, always in Lilith's corner, but she has to determine if it's because of who she is or what she means to him. This book, and these characters, put readers through an emotional roller coaster, making me want to flip a table in anger, while also pump my fist in the air for Lilith taking charge of her own destiny.

I think a lot of people, women in particular, can relate to Lilith - growing up being told to follow orders, be quiet, and take a back seat to let the men run the show. We see this today, as no nation has achieved gender parity in 2025 (although Iceland is the closest). I love the growth and strength of Lilith, who is constantly trying to decide the best way forward while staying true to who she is at her core.

Again, I recommend this for everyone. I will be re-reading this. This title could easily be used in academic courses to explore religion, gender, Mythology, and oppression, as well as what it means to be free. I will be recommending this to everyone.

Another amazing read by Scarlett st. Clair.
I LOVE a strong bada$$ FMC and Scarlett definitely delivered. I loved the age gap and forbidden romance aspect!

I cannot wait for book two!

I DNFed this at 20%. Usually I try to give books a fair shot - 30% or so - but I could barely make it this far. I liked one of SSC's other books, and have read the feedback about her writing and thought maybe I just enjoyed it regardless. But this entire book was written in a way that killed my reading pace. The staccato sentences, the way the main character's POV explained the world around her rather than true world building... it was excrutiating. It seemed cool, and I am bummed I couldn't finish.

I loved this book, This is exactly what I needed to get out of my reading slump and Scarlett's books always pull me out of them. Loved the characters, their dynamics and just all the world building that happened in the beginning of this book.

Another solid book from Scarlett st. Clair! I forgot how much I love her writing style. The fmc was so good and I loved how she intense and fearsome she was. And another top tier mmc that I was obsessed with. This was such a fast paced read for me and the banter was absolutely phenomenal.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed the story's pacing. It was a fast, easy read that kept me turning pages and Lilith goes through some crazy trauma just in the first book! The age gap and "father's friend?" "father’s enemy?" trope added tension. Zahariev definitely had chemistry with Lilith but I found him a bit two-dimensional, likely due to the intentional mystery surrounding his character. I think that mystery could have been handled without flattening his personality so much.

The ending is meant to be a cliffhanger, but it was very cliffy for more. I don't feel that strong urge to immediately reach for the next book. That said, I’d still recommend this to readers who enjoy their fantasy with a heavy dose of romance.

Omg do we know when book two comes out because I need it like the air I breathe! What an epic ride we love a badass FMC that knows what she wants and takes it. This book had a fresh new look on the biblical story of Lilith, with beautiful world building, sprinkling in some female rage.

4.25 ⭐️
2 🌶🌶

Before we begin, I would like to thank Bloom Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.


What to expect:
✨Forbidden Romance
✨Slow Burn
✨Found Family
✨Feminine Rage
✨Men who yearn
✨Women with magical abilities
‼️Please check trigger warnings before reading, as there are mentions of past and present physical trauma and SA ‼️

“I could have remained invisible to you, and my devotion to you would be unchanging.”

“Terror at the Gates” by Scarlett St. Clair is a looking glass into religious fanaticism, abuse of power, and the unfair and unequal pressure that women are put under every day to fit a conservative society’s perception of the perfect, obedient woman.

The story itself is heavy on world-building, introducing us to our FMC, Lilith Leviathon, and exploring the world in which she lives through her personal experiences.

Lilith is strong, intelligent, defiant, and willful, having become disillusioned to the world around her from past abuse and religious trauma. Only women from the most powerful bloodlines have magical powers, but they cannot use their magic without permission and supervision from a man. Lilitih is unmarried, independent, and determined to stay that way for as long as possible, seeking solace and safety outside of her family’s territory.

Enter Zahariev Zareth, her assigned supervisor/protector while she resides within his family’s territory.

Things take a turn for Lilith when she comes across a gilded gold knife that she has the unshakeable urge to acquire. Lilith uses her power of twisting desire to her advantage and secures the blade, only to be caught by Zahariev and have it confiscated. When the person she steals it from turns up dead with a mysterious substance oozing from their body, Lilith starts to believe that maybe something bigger is at play and she has unwittingly made herself a player in a larger game.

The question is, will she be able to save herself from her fate, or will she watch everyone and everything she loves burn to the ground with her?

What I loved:

Lilith’s character arc throughout the story. Lily starts the book in survival mode, doing what she can to escape the trauma of her past and ongoing turmoil in the present, while trying to pay rent, maintain normal relationships, and build a new life for herself for as long as she can get away with it. Her new life has an expiration date and she is desperate to hold out for as long as possible. She goes from a survivor to a complete badass throughout the story in a steady and believable fashion, using her pain and trauma to grow stronger and find her own power.

The slow burn and banter between our FMC and MMC. When I’m talking about slow burn, I mean our FMC and MMC do not come together until about 75% of the way through the story, but that 75% is full of tantalizing, heated banter that escalates until it reaches a breaking point. When they finally come together, the chemistry and passion is explosive! After all of that build-up Scarlett did not disappoint nor skimp on the details. I knew our MMC had some Dom in him, and our FMC was the perfect little brat for him. We are talking about at least two very detailed scenes that span several pages, so be prepared to simp for MMC, because that man has yearned the entire story and does not waste any time he is given to make up for what they resisted for so long.

The underlying religious corruption and highlight of the extremely unfair expectations placed on women vs. men in religious societies. I will say from my own personal experience, religion does not always treat women and men equally, often imposing the highest of standards on women, while men are given far more leniency and power. Women are expected to be the prime example of the perfect religious follower, often degraded and judged for not meeting the highest of standards, while men are given far more grace when they make a mistake or break away from their religious values. I related to Lilith quite a bit, especially to her anger towards men of “virtue” who acted like she was a demon for questioning the status quo.

Why not 5 ⭐️?

The only reason why this was not a five star read for me was the pacing. I love a good slow burn romance, but I do need a little more spice sprinkled throughout the story, a little more physical build-up/tension to keep me sucked in. I’m trying to be pickier about my 5 star reads, and if I find that I could put a book down and not feel the need to pick it back up right away, then it cannot be a perfect 5 star read for me.

Reading is subjective, and someone else may find that this pacing is perfect for them, but I personally needed something more physical a little earlier to keep me hooked.

Overall, I plan on recommending this book to my book bestie and book clubs, as well as continuing the series! After that cliffhanger, I need to know what happens to Lilith, Zahariev, and the rest of their gang.

If I had to describe this book, I would describe it as Handmaid’s Tale meets a magical dystopian romantasy with mafia romance vibes.

#netgalley #terroratthegates #scarlettstclair #bloombooks

Scarlett St. Clair is back with another HIT series. This book had me hooked on the first page. The world building and characters in this book made it for me, SCC can do no wrong!

❤️I absolutely loved this book. If you are someone like me who is obsessed with Supernatural and Lucifer , the aspect of angels and demons and a different take on biblical stories this is your book! Also Scarlett gives us a pronunciation guide for all the people, places and things! Finally I’m not having to make up names in my head for what I think the name would be 🤣


🖤I honestly can’t get over this book and all the easter eggs/ references to real life/biblical stories. I have no words for how good it is. The ending had me almost throwing the book because I did not want this story to end. Do we know when book 2 comes out? I needed it yesterday. I loved the different relationships and the found family Lillith finds for herself. Be prepared for rollercoaster of a ride as I went through all the emotions reading this book


❤️To the women who were told they must submit to the dominance of man


🖤Ahh we all love a morally grey man and Zahariev is my new favorite. A dark hair, tall like a tree, tatted, hot af man who would end anyone who hurt his girl. We do love a little bit of an obsessed man who would do anything for her. Zahariev is the head of the Zareth family who rules over Nineveh the district in the city of Eden completely devoted to sin and the place Lillith finds refuge after running away from home.


❤️Lilith may be one of my new favorite FMC, she’s strong headed, knows what she wants (even when she is scared to take it), fights for the ones she loves and what she believes is the right thing to do. Growing up in a very religious household led by the wants and needs of the church. Even then Lillith knew that the ways of the church were not for her, as they put women down and made it so men held all the control over their wives and daughters.


⁉️Are you ready to find out what the Terror is at the gates?
She is the beginning and the end.


She is peace and chaos.


She is terror knocking at the gates.

✨🌻Tropes🌻✨
🩶Morally Grey MMC
🔪Touch her and ☠️
❤️‍🔥Slow Burn
❣️Frenemies to Lovers
🖤Mafia
💛Age Gap
✝️Biblical Retelling
🩵He Falls First
🐈‍⬛Neo-Noir Vibes

Thank you so much @coloredpagesbt for letting me be a part of your book tour and @read_bloom for the gifted copy for an honest review.

Welcome to your new Romantasy obsession 👌.
Scarlett St. Clair outdid herself with this one ! I loved it so much !

The world building was epic ! I absolutely loved this Urban Fantasy world where it feels like we were reading a Mafia but it's in a world where religion governs everyone, especially women.

Lilith was such a strong and brave character. She's resilient, she knows what she wants and she isn't scared to go after it.

Zahariev is my new obsession. OMG THAT MEN ! He loves her so much, he would do ANYTHING to protect her. This is gonna be your next favorite morally grey MMC.

Between chapters of Lilith's point of view, we get snippets of his point of view and I couldn't get enough.

His devotion knows no bounds. With him, she can finally be safe to be herself.

⚠️ You should definitely read the triggers before reading. The author wrote the chapters where SA is mentioned.

Read this if you love :

✨ Urban Fantasy ;
✨ Romantasy;
✨ Touch her and Die ;
✨ Magic ;
✨ Gods ;
✨ Spicy ;
✨ Age Gap ;
✨ He would do anything to keep her safe;
✨ Found Family.

The story follows Lilith Leviathan, estranged from her formidable family, Lilith finds refuge and a means to survive in Nineveh, a district within the city of Eden that is a glorious ode to sin. Here, far from the church's oppressive gaze that demands women be "pious and silent," Lilith wields her magic for less-than-pious ends – stealing to live. Her defiance and potent magic naturally draw the dangerous attention of Eden's five governing families and the ever-watchful church. When Lilith's usual buyer meets a sudden, grisly end inspecting it, she's thrust into a desperate scramble for survival. Her only recourse? Zahariev, the formidable head of the Zareth family and the undisputed ruler of Nineveh. Zahariev, a man whose empire is built on information and extortion, has always harbored a surprising "soft spot" for Lilith. But with this cursed dagger, his ability to protect her is thrown into question, signaling stakes higher than either of them could have imagined.
Their forced alliance is set to be the cornerstone of the narrative. As Lilith and Zahariev embark on a perilous quest to uncover the true power running their world, their lives inevitably intertwine. However, in a world dominated by secrets and oppressive forces, their growing devotion isn't a solace but a threat – to the truth, to the church, and to those who want to tear it all down.
This story is for fans of strong female leads, dangerous alliances, simmering romance under immense pressure, and a world where sin and secrets reign.