Thank you to Netgalley and Bloom Books for the arc of this book. Terror at the Gates is the first book of the Blood of Lilith series. I was not sure what to expect with this book but I absolutely loved it. I could not put this book down and I read this book in one sitting. This book is a dark feminist retelling of Lilith's story. The plot and world building in this book was amazing. I was already a fan of this author from her Hades and Persephone retelling series but I think this is now my favorite series by this author. I highly recommend reading this book.

This has easily became one of my favorite urban fantasy books I’ve ever read!! The world just sucks you in from the very beginning. I LOVE Lilith!!!! She is so badass and I just love her so much. And 🖤 Zahariev 🖤 😛 Everything was just 5 stars. The plot, characters, pacing, plot twists EVERYTHING.
Thank you NetGalley, Scarlett St. Clair and Bloom Books for an Arc in exchange for my honest review.

This ending was wild?! When I read Lily grew wings my jaw dropped. The tension was amazing between Lily and Z and I loved how true of a slow burn this really was!

Terror at the Gates by Scarlett St. Clair
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ | When defiance becomes divine
Sometimes a book finds you exactly when you need it most. I wasn't prepared for how deeply this neo-noir mafia fantasy would burrow into my chest and make itself at home. St. Clair has crafted something that feels less like fiction and more like a mirror held up to every woman who's ever been called "too much" for refusing to shrink.
This book arrived exactly when I needed to feel seen in my own rage. Lilith's refusal to be digestible, her absolute commitment to being "difficult," hit something primal in me. The way St. Clair dismantles patriarchal power structures while building this gorgeous, brutal world? Chef's kiss.
Vibes We Are Tracking:
🗡️ Weaponized femininity
⚡ Religious rebellion done right
🖤 Morally gray king worship
🔥 Slow burn that scalds
👑 Unapologetically difficult heroines
Zahariev owns my entire soul. He's darkness incarnate but treats Lilith like she's holy, and their chemistry burns through every page. The audiobook performance elevated this to transcendent levels—Laura Horowitz understood the assignment completely.
Please check trigger warnings before diving in—this tackles heavy content around religious trauma, abuse, and violence.
Fair warning: this will rewire your brain chemistry. The theology feels dangerously relevant, and that cliffhanger? Actual violence. I need book 2 immediately because this ending has me unhinged!

Terror At The Gates
Genre: Urban Romantasy
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m begging everyone to go buy this book!

Read if you want:
🗡️ Strong FMC
🥀 A love letter to women
🗡️ Secret societies & mafia
🥀 Morally Grey MMC
🗡️ Spicy Scenes

Before reading please be aware to read trigger warnings this book does include dark topics.

Scarlett St. Clair has outdone herself, she beautifully writes an urban fantasy story while tying in religious political commentary. She shows how strong women are through her book and how they deserve to be in positions of power.
This book has utterly captured my heart and altered my brain chemistry. I feel so seen in the pages of this book. The authors writing was engaging and her characters were extremely well developed.
Perfect for fans of Katee Robert or anyone who loves a unique story with a strong female main character.
.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! 💖

This was feminine rage and vengeance wrapped into a book and I absolutely loved it. With how things have been in the world lately, it was therapeutic to read a story where the FMC wants to just absolutely destroy the powers that be. This sets up to what should be a hell of a fun series and I will be eagerly awaiting for Lillith to kick everyone's shit in.

I absolutely adored this book and I cannot wait to read more!

In a society where the church and men expect women to be silent and devout, Lilith refuses to play by the rules. She has run away from her family and obligations into Nineveh where she uses her inherited magic to steal in order to pay her bills. When Lilith obtains a blade which seems to kill almost anyone who handles it, she turns to Zahariev, head of the Zareth family and ruler of Nineveh. Together, they must find out what power is behind the blade and why so many are hunting it. As they embark on this mission, their friendship evolves into more, but the truth will shake the very foundations on which the church and society are built.

The characters in this book were amazing and I loved them! Lilith is the perfect combination of sassy, stubborn, and soft. Her strong will fuels her desire to be independent from her family and she has a bratty side that comes out especially when she is around Zahariev. I loved that some of her struggles were so relatable. Since she grew up wealthy, she never learned things like how to cook or how to drive. Zahariev was an incredible character! He was patient and caring particularly with Lilith, but he was also sarcastic and determined. I was absolutely feral for the banter between Lilith and Zahariev! The tension was so thick between them and the slowburn really made the moment that they gave in so much sweeter. I loved how the author was able to portray the evolution of their relationship not only over the course of the book, but also from the flashbacks of their past.

The book is written in dual POV, but most of the book is written from Lilith's perspective. The little snippets of Zahariev's perspective had me hooked though and I could not wait to get to the next one. The society was structured in such a way that women inherited magic through their bloodlines, but they were banned from using it unless it was in service to the church or their father or husband. Lilith's refusal to be subservient to the men in her life was fantastic and it was so fascinating to see how her trauma impacted not only her, but also the people around her. I felt like the worldbuilding was done really well as it was built into the story in a seamless fashion. The action towards the end of the book had me on the edge of my seat and I cannot wait for the next book! Also, Zahariev's last comment? *chef's kiss* Perfection

Scarlett St Clair has done it once again - another addictive fantasy series filled with forbidden romance with lots of sexual tension , alternative folklore, magic, dark urban settings and female rage.

We have a retelling of Lilith’s story which is done so freaking well. Lilith is such a freaking badass & Scarlett nails the female empowerment in this one. I had a hard time putting this one down and was so captivated for every twist and turn. The spice is so satisfying as well as feeling emotionally invested in the friendships.

If you’re a romantasy girly jump right in -

Thanks so much Sourebooks & NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honor review!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (5 stars)
Steam: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 (multiple scenes with graphic description)
Out: Now!

No Spoiler Review 👇🏻

This is a brand new romantasy series from an author I’ve read (and loved!) before, so I was really excited to dive in. And honestly? I think this might be my favourite book by her yet.

It’s a retelling inspired by the story of Lilith. While I’m not super familiar with the mythology, I found the concept really intriguing.

From the very first page, I was hooked. The story is unique, the writing is captivating, and the worldbuilding is good. Think urban fantasy with mafia style family dynamics, church power structures, and a deeply misogynistic society….then throw in a main character burning with feminine rage and a love interest I adored. Their relationship and character growth? Incredible.

This story is full of twists and turns, and the slow burn romance had me absolutely glued. I don’t want to spoil anything because the way the mystery unfolds is half the fun, but if you’re a fan of fantasy romance with depth and edge, you need to pick this up. I want to know more about these characters, magic and world.

I’m already counting down the days for the next book in the series (even though we don’t know when that will be)

⚠️ Content Warnings: This book deals with themes of religious trauma, family trauma, and past abuse. Please check trigger warnings before reading.

Thanks to Bloom Books and Netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Yet again another phenomenal book by Scarlett. But seriously tho this is the first retelling where I haven’t heard of the original tale so I wasn’t sure what to expect but oh my gosh was it a whirlwind. First of all- Lily is one of the best FMCs ever she may even be joint with Isolde (whom I Adore) I loved seeing her adventures and her eternal bickering with Zahariev was just hilarious to read, second - Zahariev!!!! Talk about freaking hot af. No seriously I was swooning over him. The chemistry between them both was insane I was screaming at them to get together.

The plot was just as equally angsty- I teared up so many times reading this book because it will tug on heart strings. I kind of expected something bad would happen but when it did it still took me by surprise and I was shocked and extremely sad. Just whyyyyyy. Scarlett whyyyyyyyy. I’m gonna need a happy book after this one. One filled with happy vibes cuz this broke me. It went from hilarious scenes to utter heartbreak and I couldn’t cope.

But also towards the end the reveals??? I did not expect the twisty turns this book would take us in. I literally was so scared to turn the page but at the same time I needed to find out what happens next.

Just an overall absolute phenomenal read that I highly recommend. I cannot wait to see where the next book takes us especially after that cliffhanger.

this was a 6 star read for me!

I absolutely loved Lilith and Zahariev. They had such amazing chemistry. Lilith was a strong badass woman who didn't shy away from trouble and while she might have drove him crazy, he never shamed her for being who she is. And he always showed up for her on her hard days. I wish we would have gotten more of Zahariev's POV

I really enjoyed the plot and felt intrigued throughout the whole story. It had a really good balance of storyline and character building.

If you like badass FMCs, overprotective MMCs, slow burn, forbidden romance with lots of tension and spice in an urban fantasy setting, this is for you!

This book is such a viiiiiiibee! Ugh! I could barely put it down!! There were twists, there was heartbreak, there was a found family that I didn't know I needed in my life. I enjoyed the commentary on religion becoming corrupted by those who are supposed to protect it. I loved the feminine-rage fighting against the patriarchy. This book gave me exactly what I was looking for in an urban romantasy! It needs to be on your TBR!

First and foremost, Lilith is a badass who finds her strength and takes back her power from those who stole it from her. She went through so much trauma and instead of letting it break her, she goes out and fights against it!

We cannot ignore the 10000° boiling hot sexual tension between Lilith and Zahariev 🥵🌶 Zahariev has that BDE where he supports Lilith in making her own decisions, but never lets her fall. Sir, you had me at the beginning, but you had me even more when you said “I'd go to war for you” 🙀 🥵

And the ending?! I need book two like now! Because WHAT DO YOU MEAAAAANNNN??? I can’t wrap my head around it!

I was so excited to receive this ARC just in time to finish it before the book’s release to the public! All in all, I would give this book a solid 4.5/5 stars and I round up for Goodreads. This world is super interesting—I love the concept of it being based around the Garden of Eden and the circles of Hell sort of. I hope we get more into the magic system in the next book because it wasn’t entirely clear exactly how that worked or what the various powers are. I enjoyed Lilith as the FMC and found her funny and genuine. I love Zahariev as the MMC, I loved and wanted more Cherub and Coco. My heart totally broke for Gabriel and Liam in losing Esther. I was not expecting the plot twist at the end with Lilith’s mother and I’m excited to see where that and Lilith’s transformation takes the story in the next book.

Thank you to the Terror team and Bloom Books for this ARC opportunity!

Wow I am left utterly speechless, the TENSION?! The build-up? The banter?? AHHHH I AM IN LOVE. I sat down on my reading chair and did not get up until l finished it, it was THAT good.

Our FMC Lilith is spicy, fiery, and takes NO BS from no body as she does not want to be married off and runs away from her family to a neighboring district which is termed City of Sin.

There she is under the watchful eye of its ruler Zahariev, who is a ruthless, broody tall and muscled man. He somehow always comes to her rescue with some high annoyance lol. I LOVED their banter, their tension, EVERYTHING. I will not go further into detail because this book deserves to be read blind, dive in and enjoy!
10/10 stars one of my top reads of the year. Thank you to
Sourcebooks and Bloom for the E-Arc.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book and provide a review.

Happy Release Day! This was just a good read and I’ll be thrilled when the next book is released. The only complaint I have is that it wasn’t long enough and didn’t go into more depth in some places that I might have expected. Other than that, I loved our main character and the shifting pov’s, even though these were slightly more subtle than a traditional pov shift. Highly recommend ☺️.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I was lucky to receive an ARC of Terror at the Gates through NetGalley.

This is an excellent start to Scarlett St. Clair‘s lastest romantasy series. I loved absolutely everything about Lilith and she is definitely in the running for favorite FMC that I have read this year. Her sass, originality, and determination were addictive. And Zahariev was a top tier book boyfriend with the way that he would drop everything for Lilith. The little glimpses into his mind at the end of each chapter had me swooning. The spice between them was also incredibly well done. I need book two ASAP because I need to know what’s to come for Lilith and Zahariev as they battle for their relationship and humanity as a whole.

ARC Review – Terror at the Gates by Scarlett St. Clair

Do you understand how long I’ve been feening for this book??? When I got the ARC, I was losing my mind in the best way.

Terror at the Gates gave everything it needed to give. It’s dark, seductive, emotional, and had me clinging to every page like it owed me something. Lilith is THAT girl. She’s powerful, unbothered, and never the one to mess with. And the man? Whew. He falls hard. I was seated.

✨ What it gave me:
🖤 Frenemies to lovers
💋 He falls first (and she lets him)
🐍 Touch her & die energy
💔 Found family and betrayal
🔥 Slow burn that hurt in the soul

Scarlett St. Clair came for my throat with this one. I finished it and just sat there like… now what? I’m emotionally damaged and obsessed.

Five stars, obviously.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Net Galley and Scarlett St Clair for an ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 5/5 Stars!

Wow oh WOW! I loved this so so much! I do love this author’s precious books and writing so I was very excited for this one. Definitely lived up to the hype!

This book was not for me. I could tell from the first few chapters that I did not like the FMC or writing. If this were not an ARC and I were not motivated to give honest feedback I would have stopped reading very early on.

I think there is a good and interesting plot in there, but to me it felt like it was trying to peak out from behind the romance.
I did not like the writing. I did not like the nicknames and “I love you”s. It felt out of place in a world that's supposed to be harsher? I also felt a lot of the writing was crass and vulgar( to me! I know some people like it). I understand the FMC was supposed to be rage filled and dark but I found her incredibly unlikable and immature. Her relationship and banter with MMC was a little cringe, I found MMC to be one dimensional – he’s just a hot older guy who will’ burn the world down for her’ with almost no backstory or motivation other than he loves her? I did not feel tension build. We knew immediately she wants him and it was just matter of time until it happened. I rolled my eyes at the flirting.
I would have liked more world building and plot development. I never got a clear idea of the setting, the history of the civilization, any backstory of key players. Things were just explained as they needed to be and then they were gone.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

You need to drop everything and read this book now! I read this book in one day because I couldn’t put it down! As a fellow Okie I’ve read every Scarlett St. Clair book but I think this might have been my favorite. And it has Laura Horowitz as the narrator! Perfection!

I had already started recommending this book when I was only 20% in and it only got better from there.

Add this to your TBR immediately!!

5/5 stars and I will be buying a physical copy for my shelf and recommending this to everyone.