I loved everything about this book! Scarlett’s writing style is superior. I loved the slow burn of this storyline and I also loved the plot. It’s a unique and refreshing romantasy! I think this can be triggering for some with religion trauma but I had no issues with this book personally! Thank you so much for an ARC of Terror At The Gates!

***Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for this ARC. *** First of all, I enjoy Scarlett St. Clair's books and was excited to see that she had written a new book about Lilith. It does not disappoint. I appreciate the modern take on this biblical character as she was resurrected in St. Clair's world of religious corruption and treachery. This setting follows the black sheep of an opulent family as she lives in another family's territory under the watchful eye of Zahariev. Lilith is a bit of a hot mess, but he's always there to pick up the pieces and their back and forth is quite entertaining. Women are the only one's that have magic and they're suppressed to use it only with the permission of their husband or father, but Lilith decides that her magic, sex magic, could be useful as she strikes out on her own. A powerful thief, she is a menace to the men that lust after her, but when she's faced with her abuser, the head of the church, she is frozen with panic. Will she be able to fiaght back against those who would make her submit to an arranged marriage and worse? As with St. Clair's other books, this is is spicy and she does a great job drawing out the inevitable. Well written from both perspectives. Very enjoyable read.

The book hangover this left me with….

This has very quickly become my favourite Scarlett book. It’s twisty and turny, it’s sexy and sassy, it made me laugh, it made me cry and that ending just straight up made my jaw drop.
It stuck in my head for a good while after finishing and left me twitchy to read the next book.

Tropes & themes:
🩸 Lilith vibes
🐈‍⬛ Urban Fantasy
🔥 Slow Burn, He Falls First
⚔️ Frenemies-to-Lovers
🌆 Noir / Sin City Vibes
⛪ Religious Corruption & Rebellion
💔 Female Rage, Trauma, & Healing
👁️ Morally Gray Protector MMC


If you’re looking for your new obsession book, she’s right here.

How can I love this book so much? Thank god, past Eva was smart and preordered the edition with the overlays. I need to reread this the moment that hardcover gets in my hands.

Me after chapter one ended and before chapter two began: “WHAT WAS THAT?” The pacing of the book was incredible, it gave the characters time to grow and change, to show is different sides of themselves in a multitude of situations. It gave the reader time to get attached...and then Scarlett decided 'oop- I did do that? Good luck!' because this world takes no prisoners and it doesn't care about feelings. It's a wild ride I'll get on again and again because I trust Scarlett to make it all better in the end.

Lilith and Zahariev were the best couple. The chemistry between them was already palpable by chapter three, and I was already hot and bothered by these two. I don't know how they lasted so long as frenemies when both of them were itching to rip the clothes off the other. I lived for the little moments, the looks, the silent connection, even the fucking 'i hate you' s from Lilith were giving me life.

Now, Zahariev was hot and incredibly smart and cunning. He was everything I wanted and more...but he's not the one who had me in love from page one. That was Lilith and Cherub. She was everything I needed. The rage, the logic, but emotion, the questioning, but still trying to maintain an open door to her father, how she needed to escape and be her own person, in a world that was designed to make it impossible. She found a way, and I know Zahariev played a huge role in that, but she took that leap, she made her escape, made a new life for herself, and grew real connections and friendships with people that weren't forced on her. I loved her mind, her actions, her thinking. She was raw, real, and a mess, which is what made her feel human.

And the plot? I was hooked from the very first page. Questioning, connecting, and scheming like I was part of the story. Needing answers that created more questions. The way my heart was racing the whole book. This plot was unique and perfection. What more could you want than heartbreak, mystery, religious trauma, gods and monsters, and a slow burn, filled with tension and longing?

The religious setting/history was the right choice. There's so much that lies on blind faith that was crafted to fit the male desires and cage women. And Lilith was one of those things, but the funny thing? Other women clocked that and called it out. Making Lilith the real and iconic figure we know today.
As a girl named Eva (Eve in Spanish) who has had to learn about religion exclusively to defend my name, I have never once doubted that Eve didn’t bite the apple, or that if she did, she didn’t doom us. Men wrote the book, men controlled the book, and men edited and changed the book to fit their desires. And you mean to tell me, they wouldn’t erase or change anything, maybe even write it like that, to benefit them and their control over women? Yeah, Eve and Lilith were the first women, and I’m sure beyond belief their rage is still alive today.

Great research with references and statistics to back up the arguments. Scarlett, you are giving a powerful voice to those who have gone unheard. I know I already told you this, but you should be proud, beyond proud, because this book is not only a great fictional story, but also a powerful message in the times we are living in.

Beyond thankful to Netgalley, Scarlett, and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the opportunity to read this ARC, best believe I'll be first in line for whatever comes next!

Quotes:

Forgiveness is an invitation to sin. It will be our ruin.
I'd rather be a sinner than a hypocrite.

We were not responsible for lust in men. We existed, and they desired.

Don't give away your secrets, Lilith, Zahariev had advised me long ago, so I didn't, even when they involved him.

"You were on a list. Untouchable."

“Will you…hold me? I just…”
“You don’t have to ask,”

Smoking kept my mind busy. Occupied.
Without it, I craved other things.
Untouchable things.

Fucking brat.
She meant everything.

"If you harm one hair on her head, I'll end you. And just so we're clear, that's not a threat. It's a promise."

"What are you thinking?"
"That you've fucked me up, little love."

That was a lie.
It was never going to be easy.

But I would break every rule for her if she said she wanted more.

"Hold me tighter, Zahariev,"
"Anything for you, little love,"

"I knew you'd be greedy,"

There was nothing in the world like hearing unfiltered pleasure from Zahariev Zareth's mouth and being the one responsible.

This pleasure was unholy, and I was possessed, utterly altered from the inside out.

"I'd follow you anywhere."

"Touch is a rather tame word for what I want to do to you."

"That's not true. I pay attention to you,"

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

Thank you netgalley & sourcebooks for the e-arc.

WOW WOW WOW... As a huge Scarlett St Clair fan and having read all of Hades x Persephone, I went in with huge expectations and she delivered!!! Terror had plot, tension, and suspense. I loved the ode paid to different religions but also the call out to how religion can be traumatic and leave scars. The relationship with Zahariev and Lilith was **chefs kiss**. He was in many ways her best friend without even realizing it. The sexual tension between the two of them, I was desperate for them to get together. Lilith was an absolute bad ass all on her own. She fought for herself & her friends. The found family aspect of this book tugged at my heartstrings. Found family is one of my favorite tropes and this book definitely delivered in that aspect. I truly loved this book and I'm already feral for book 2.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book. Below is my honest review!

I've read Scarlett St. Clair's books before and hoped that this one would be the one for me. Alas, it was not. I felt like the world building fell short. IT's somewhat explained, but maybe you need a religious background to have a better understanding on how everything works? In this story, women have magic and it's passed down to the daughters of every generation, but somehow men siphon magic from their wives... This is somewhat important because Lilith has magic (but no one else??)

Speaking of Lilith, I don't know what her age is but she gives me "I just turned 18 so I'm an adult now" but also "my daddy is a lawyer" but also "I'm a bad bitch and no one gets in my way". She gives off bratty vibes in a very bad way. Something I thought was off about her too was that she knew what object permanence was but she didn't understand was sacred was... I liked that she understood how women are treated like objects and wanted to do something about it. Also, her relationship with Zahariev is also very weird because he gives me 35 year old vibes. So maybe this is an age-gap romance. It felt like a horny immature 18 year old girl trying to bang a mature (but equally horny) adult. The romance felt rushed and it felt only like a physical connection between them.

This book definitely has room to grow, especially with the politics. But I don't think I'll pick it up. Scarlett St. Clair isn't an author for me, I suppose.

Definitely brush up on your biblical references before reading this, or honestly read the authors note first. I’m not super familiar with biblical history (didn’t grow up super religious), and I had no idea who Lilith was. Honestly I was here for the vibes, but the authors note at the end helped a lot!

Okay to start off it was a little confusing. There wasn’t much world building, just that we were in Ninevah which is ruled by Zahariev. There are other districts that are ruled but other families but we don’t meet them. A few pop up and we are told they rule the other districts but that’s it. There are also barriers between the districts, but we don’t know much else.

Lilith was a spoiled brat the entire time! She was honestly so freaking annoying. I get she was trying to be independent and “helpful,” but 99% of the things that happened wouldn’t have happened if she would have stayed at home and “rested” like she was supposed to.

I enjoyed the side characters, but we didn’t get too much information on them. Maybe that’s what is coming for the next book since this is book one? I’d like to know more about Gabriel, Cassius and Coco. I think Coco would be a great FMC for one of the upcoming books.

The relationship was weird. For 80% of the books Zarariev wanted nothing to do with Lilith then all of a sudden they are a thing? Not random because he was down bad for her, but how it happened was random. He just said he would never and then he did.

All in all it was a little confusing at times, but I think it has potential. The first books in series are never usually the best anyway so maybe the next one?

Thank you Netgalley and Bloom Books for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

P.S. Check ALLLLL the trigger warnings, and stay safe 🖤

I LOVED this book. Absolutely adored it from start to finish.

I have read Scarlett's other series and while I also love them, I feel that Terror at the Gates is very different from the rest of her backlist. Honestly, I feel like it might be her best book yet.

Terror at the Gates:
- FEMALE RAGE
- Down with the Patriarchy
- Fantasy Mafia Families
- Forbidden Love (Rival Families)
- Age Gap (8 years)
- Religious Trauma/Abuse
- Mystery + Witchy Stuff

Lilith is a really interesting character - she is sarcastic and witty (and a brat if you ask Zahariev lol) but also emotional and vulnerable when needed. I will say, a few people pointed out some Mary Sue tendencies that Lilith has and while I didn't necessarily notice while reading, I do agree with their points. The world does seem to revolve around her, every random person is obsessed with her and even when she makes a mistake people bend over backwards to make it seem okay.

Zahariev is the epitome of "touch her and die" (literally). He worships the ground Lilith walks on and bends over backwards to make sure she's safe and out of harms way whenever possible. But, in a patriarchal society where Zahariev should view Lilith as "less" than him - he doesn't. He recognizes her strengths and power and isn't afraid to nurture it and let her be who she is. As he says in the book: he is not afraid of her freedom.

The story itself has a lot of similar vibes to the first Crescent City book (HOEAB), there aren't really any direct similarities but the same vibes with the setting, stakes, and types of characters. The mystery and drama surrounding the dagger and the church/gods is intriguing and draws you in immediately.

The banter between characters, especially Lilith and Zahariev, is amazing and effortlessly amusing. I love the interactions between everyone because while they were fun, they were also realisitic to the characterizations of each person.

The TENSION. I cannot believe what an obnoxiously slow burn it was (okay, there are definitely slower, but still). It was so so good, but I can't wait to see where we go in book 2 once things are a little more established.

Overall, I truly adore this book and can't wait to read book 2 (and also read book 1 again tbh)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 4.5 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via Colored Pages Book Tours in exchange for an honest review!
Terror at the Gates is a feminist retelling of Lilith’s story. Lilith is estranged from her family, and after she comes in possession of an enchanted blade, she and Zahariev embark on a mission to discover the truth about the blade.

“No one handles you, Lilith,” he said. “Good fucking luck to the man who tries.”


This book is an anticipated release for me, and I couldn’t wait to dive into this story, once the galley landed in my inbox! And I am so glad this book lived up to my anticipation!!

The opening is awesome, and I loved how I was immediately thrown into the story! it showed off Lilith, showed off the bits of magic/power she has and takes off from the beginning with the first suspicious death happening! A great opening that had me hooked and didn’t let go until the end.

The plot is action-packed and very entertaining! I loved the writing style and I loved how we got Zahariev’s POV at the end of each chapter! It was so fun to see bits of his thoughts and what he thinks in the situations that happened!

Lilith is an amazing independent woman, who doesn’t let herself be fitted into the box that the very patriarchal society tries. I love how strong she is and how fierce. Zahariev is a morally grey character, who will do anything to keep Lilith save. I loved his stance and his actions.

The romance was just perfectly written, and it felt very satisfying to reach the conclusion! It felt like it was perfectly timed, and I loved the growth and progression. I also love how Zahariev didn’t try to put Lilith in a box at all but let her be herself.

The ending was great! I loved the conclusion to this book and how it makes me all the more exciting for the future sequels!

In the end, I did hope to get to see a bit more of the magic Lilith has and how it all ties together to the story, but I can only hope that will be explored in the sequel!

Overall, Terror at the Gates is an amazing start to a brand-new series!

(Thank you so much Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the ARC)

I LOVED this book!! The world building, the suspense, the romance and emotions were all perfect.

Lilith is one of my top FMC’s of the year!! I love how badass she is but also totally in tune with her emotions. She lets herself cry, mourn and feel her feelings and if anything they just make her more determined to do what’s right.

Zahariev? Smash. The perfect MMC. I love that even though the book isn’t technically POV we get little snippets of him between chapters. And the mouth on that man?? The stamina?? The determination?? Yes please.

The ending had me gnawing at the bars of my enclosure and I cannot wait to see where this story goes!!

This is a MUST READ! I am not over this book and I need the next one like right now. I am entranced with this world and its originality.

Lilith and Zahariev live in world that they thought they understood but one fateful night throws them into a chain of events that has them questioning EVERYTHING.

I love how open, raw, real and kick butt Lilith is. She fight for herself and for the truth. This world is unlike anything I have ever read, experience and I need more. Zahariev is…I don’t even know if I words to truly explain how magnificent he is. The way he knows Lilith, doesn’t try to chain her but allow her to be who she needs to be…SWOON WORTHY!

Terror At The Gates by Scarlett St. Clair

⭐️Rating: 4/5

❤️‍🔥Slow Burn
❤️‍🔥Frenemies To Lovers
❤️‍🔥Forbidden Romance
❤️‍🔥Found Family

Book Overview:
Female rage, political power and religious trauma, all things you can expect from this book! Strong willed Lilith leaves her family & the church to find solace in the district of sins, Nineveh. She makes a living by stealing artifacts and selling them. One day Lilith steals a blade that will forever change the course of her life.

Zahariev Zareth, ruler of Nineveh and head of his family. Zahariev is the hot shot heartthrob who watches over Lilith in the district of sins.

When Lilith takes the blade to her usual buyer to inspect it, he suddenly dies. Anxious for help and clarity on the blade, Lilith seeks out Zahariev for help. As Zahariev and Lilith spend more time together seeking out information on the blade, more mysterious deaths start arising and they are left to try and figure out what the true power is that is ruling their world.

My Reveiw:
Lilith had severe trauma with the church and her family, I truly felt like that was very raw and real and it was truly a powerhouse move to make in this book because this is something that unfortunately happens in society. The plot was FANTASTIC and the ending left me yearning for more! While the story is not a full dual pov, I did appreciate that every chapter we did get a snippet pov from Zahariev. I would say the pacing for this book is slow but it never failed to deliver something interesting in every chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bloom Books for this E-ARC copy! All opinions are my own.

#terroratthegates #bookstagram #books #BookReview

I think that this story has a lot of potential. I loved the weird dystopian like world revolving around religion but also magic and how they have “acceptable” magic and “not acceptable” as if magic doesn’t typically go against religion especially lust magic. I loved the relationship between Lilith and Z and how that unfolds and how just down bad he is.

I really hope the rest of the series stays interesting because I’ve had it happen with King of Blood and Battle that I loved the first book and DNF the series after book two. So I’m personally staying hesitant for the next book

Please be sure to check your trigger warnings for this book as well because it can be a heavy hitter

When I tell you I have read and loved all of Scarlett’s books. This MASTERPIECE right here blows it all out of the water! Lilith is such a powerful woman filled with female rage. She stands up for what’s right and doesn’t fit the typical mold of her society and I absolutely love her for it. Don’t even get me started on the slow burn between Lilith and Zahariev 🥵 This man means business when it comes to her. The relationships and friendships will have your wanting to throw the book but cry all at the same time. I don’t know what Scarlett put in this book but I’m obsessed. The cliffhanger ending leaves me needing book two immediately.

I thought this book was very unique! I rated it 5 stars because the plot kept me intrigued, the urban fantasy landscape was cool and I LOVED the slow burn romance. The characters are very sarcastic and snappy. The magic system is interesting where only women can inherit power. Towards the end of the book I started catching on to things that I think will be interesting in a book 2. It deffinitely sets itself up well with the cliff hanger ending. I would strongly recommend to read the trigger warnings. Thank you NetGalley and BloomBooks for the the ARC

ONE OF MY TOP READS OF THE YEAR!!!

I am thoroughly destroyed by this book - how am I supposed to wait until book 2?!?! I knew from chapter 3 that I’d love this book so despite me receiving a free ebook ARC from the publisher & NetGalley, I went ahead and preordered a hard copy because I HAVE to have this book in my collection.

This book was so complex - from the world building, the romance, the multifaceted characters, the magic system, the religious institution, the mystery, it really has it ALL. This is a book where if you go back in for a reread, you’ll pick up on new things and develop new theories.

Lilith, the FMC, is the embodiment of female rage in a world where women are nothing but subservient tools. A world in which religious teachings are used to keep women submissive and keep the people misinformed. The urban fantasy setting made this story all the more interesting and I just truly appreciated the authors unique world and characters. Aside from all the awesomeness that is this world, we also had the hottest slow burn known to mankind. The tension, the teasing, the “will they/wont they,” *CHEFS KISS* IT WAS DONE SO WELL!! The pay off is incredible and devilishly satisfying.

One of my favorite things about the writing in this book is that while I wouldn’t necessarily consider this a dual POV book (at least in the traditional sense), we had a brief POV from the MMC prior to every single chapter. It was a refreshing look into the mind of our broody, mysterious and down bad hottie, Mr. Zareth himself.

This is shockingly my first read from the author, Scarlett St Claire, but oh my goodness I’m so blown away I’ll definitely be reading her other works!

I’m actually so sad this book is over and I can’t wait to not only see the reactions after the publication but the discourse surrounding these topics, especially considering the current state of our world. This is a read that will sit with me for a while to come.

This book is the epitome of female rage. I love the unique urban fantasy setting that includes lots of elements from the Old Testament and the Book of Revelations. Some Christians might find this story a bit sacrilegious, but I think it’s really important how the author tackles the tough topics of institutionalized misogyny and religious trauma. The only reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 is because the cliffhanger at the end is super abrupt and gave me whiplash. Other than that though, I loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Some people journal. Me? When I want to punch a wall, I reach for a book full of feral, feminine rage.

𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 is an ode to the 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧™—the ones too loud, too stubborn, too angry to be silenced by internalized misogyny or relentless gaslighting. It’s fantasy, sure, but the injustices in St. Clair’s world are all too real.

Here, a woman is only valued in how she—and her power—can serve a man. Religious zealots. Political dynasties. Daughters treated like bargaining chips. It’s a brutal world that often hit far too close to home.

The backdrop? Eden is gritty, raw, urban. St. Clair wires the city with thick, electric tension; you feel the watchful eyes of the mafia-esque ruling families on the back of your neck. Drama—and trauma—lurks in back alley shadows, seeps through every crack in the pavement.

In Lilith, we get a feral, furious FMC with first rate Fuck You energy. She’s Tory Vega but more brat. Bryce Quinlan with extra bite and a looser grip. She’s reckless, vulnerable, tenacious—and for all her magic, deeply human. She made choices that made me want to scream. Somehow, I kept rooting for her. As she figured her shit out, she grew on me—and by the end, I was all in.

Though no one is as all in on Lilith as Zahariev. This broody man is beyond down bad. His protectiveness? Pure touch-her-and-die devotion. I loved every searing moment of tension—and their collision when they finally caved to the heat.

𝑨𝒍𝒔𝒐:

✨ A unique magic system that’s just starting to reveal its layers

🩸 Mystery, intrigue, and gut-punch twists that keep you hooked—even when the pace slows

🐍 Authority figures you’ll want to rage against

❤️ Found family and besties who bring just the right touch of levity and softness to the story’s sharp edges

🐈‍⬛ Proof that kittens make everything better (though honestly, I just wanted to cuddle Cherub)

💥 A HOLY SH*T ending that’ll leave you desperate for the next book

𝑻𝑳;𝑫𝑹: If you crave gritty, urban fantasy soaked in neo-noir tension—and a heroine who refuses to be tamed—𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 will fuel your feminine rage against a brutal, twisted world. This story grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until the final, jaw-dropping moment.

Terror at the Gates was the book I didn’t know I needed. I love how Scarlett St. Clair has this amazing ability to build and twist mythology into stories like this one.

As someone who is the granddaughter of two pastors, was raised in the church, forced into a religion I didn’t choose until I was able to leave on my own, I really resonated with Lilith in this book. I felt myself applauding her way of thinking and feeling so empathetic to how she was raised and her religious trauma.

I loved her resilience throughout the book and her growth as she found her strength to be unapologetically who she is.

This book was healing in a way and is for those of us who were raised in the church and were silenced when we questioned the foundations of the religion.

Scarlett St. Clair is an auto buy author for me, so I was so so excited to be approved for an ARC by Bloom Books through NetGalley and can’t say thank you enough.

Absolute masterpiece as usual. Scarlett really knocked it out of the park with this one. From page one, I was hooked. The characters were great. The plot was great. The slow burn was just enough and when it finally reached an inferno I was giggling and kicking my feet. I laughed, I sobbed, I had a great time honestly.