Best read of 2025 so far! Obsessed with Lilith and Zahariev. Their story is hot. 🥵🥵 if you’re into a strong female main character, this story is for you! Nothing I love more than an angry woman who gets her revenge. I received this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I finished this book in a just a few days because I was loving the plot and setting so much. I loved how strong our main character, Lillith, was and how she took control of her own destiny. The banter between Lillith and our older MMC, Zahariev, was top notch!! The way this man cares for this woman- YES, PLEASE! I love a good age gap romance and this one was executed perfectly.

The end had my jaw dropped and I can’t WAIT for the next book in the series.

received this book as an eARC and am giving my review!
To say I devoured this book would be an understatement! Scarlett St. Clair has done it again!
New story, new characters, gritty environment, fun and sexy slow burn! Cannot wait for the next book!

As a lover of all things Scarlett St. Clair, I was so excited to be able to read the book book in her newest series and I can say that Terror at the Gates delivered everything I was hoping for and more. It's definitely one of my favorite romantasy reads of 2025! If I had to comp it to another book, I would definitely say that it reminded me at times of Crescent City, especially A House of Earth and Blood, however it definitely had unique aspects and is its own amazing story.

Lilith was an amazing FMC and embodied feminine rage. Having grown up in a repressive religious society where women are used for child birthing and have their powers stolen from them, being able to see Lilith living on her own and being able to make her own decisions seems very cathartic. She's 100% a character who's hard on the outside and soft on the inside, feeling like she has to portray herself as tough and dangerous to protect herself. Watching her grow and being more comfortable being herself around the people she grow to trust is super rewarding.

Zahariev was everything and more that I want out of a protective, morally grey MMC. The pining and brooding that he experiences when it comes to Lilith, despite his efforts to hide his desire from her, was SO good. While the story is dual POV, we don't get a lot from Zahariev's perspective (the length of his chapters increases throughout the story) but the snippets we do see show us how down bad he truly is for Lilith and the lengths he's willing to go to help protect her. He's a very well thought out character as well, with his own motivations and personal struggles, so while he is, of course, very hot and an amazing romantic interest, he stands on his own as a character even without those aspects.

The relationship between Lilith and Zahariev is so slow-burn that it almost hurts, but it's definitely worth it to watch it play out and finally be rewarded at the end. The obviousness of Zahariev's feelings for Lilith mixed with her obliviousness wasn't frustrating, but rather helped their relationship develop and made the pay-off so good.

There were some amazing side characters that were equally well developed as Lilith and Zahariev and contributed to some of the most tragic and heartwarming moments of the story. Whether they were friends of enemies to the MCs, the side characters truly helped make the plot intriguing and realistic (or, as realistic as possible lol).

The plot and the worldbuilding were immaculate and I loved every aspect of it. The world felt very rich and full of imagery, with an amazing almost gritty urban backdrop mixed with fantasy elements. The plot kept me hooked the entire time and it felt so unique. There are a lot of religious references and depictions of how religion can be used to oppress people which felt very raw while be dealt with, in my opinion, well.

In terms of the audiobook, I loved Laura Horowitz's narration of Phantasma by Kaylie Smith, so I was super excited to have the chance to listen to her narration again. She knocked it out of the park, of course, and I could 100% feel Lilith's energy and personality in her voice. Since most of the story is in Lilith's POV, most of the narration was Laura's, which was amazing. I don't think that I've listened to Tristan Warden narrate prior to this, but I thought he did a great voice voicing Zahariev. He definitely had the right tone for Zahariev's character and really brought him to life. I'd definitely listen to more books narrated by them in the future.

All in all, I loved Terror at the Gates and, while I'm waiting for Scarlett St. Clair's next book, I'll definitely be recommending it to others!

“I would go to war for you.” 🥵

I had mixed feelings at the start of this book because the religious undertones were heavy. But wow this turned into such a good read! Zahariev is that delicious bad boy with power, danger, and just enough softness to make you melt. He’d burn down the world for Lilith, and I love that energy 🔥.

Lilith? She’s strong, bold, and doesn’t take crap from anyone especially not men 😏. That ending??? Ma’am. I need MORE immediately.

This book follows Lilith, who lives in a male-run society. Women have powers but are controlled by men and can only use their powers for men. She is apart of one of the ruling families but wants to experience the “real world”, so she goes off on her own and is under the care of Zahariev, the leader of another ruling family.

In a way, this book reminded me of Crescent City. Just in the way that there is a sassy main character that is perusing a grungy city with a gun, but there are fantastical elements involved (in this case, demons).

This book includes a lot of biblical references and stories (Adam, Eve, Morgenstern, the idea of the ark, etc), so if that bothers you, I would probably avoid this. If that is fine, then I would def recommend this to romantasy lovers. I really enjoyed the fantasy elements, and the quest to figure out why the blade Lilith found does strange things. There isn’t a strong magic system, in my opinion, but the history of the people and a society that is run by the church in lieu of gods was very interesting by to me.

I did listen to this on audio, and I feel like the narrator did a great job at the different voices and told the story in a way that was compelling. I especially liked the narrator change for the little snippets of Zahariev’s POV at the end of each chapter. That was a really nice touch!

As with all romantasy, there is a cliffhanger at the end. I do think I’ll continue with the series just to see what happens next and what else Lilith can learn about her powers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is girl power/feminine rage at its finest. The story hooked me in immediately, the spice is good and the end had my jaw on the floor!

TERROR AT THE GATES is a book I couldn’t put down. It’s rich world building, its characters, the tropes, and the story were all incredibly engaging. I truly think this is the author’s best yet.

The story has this noir urban fantasy feel with some mafia influence. That blend created a really unique reading experience and kept me engaged. And I do think the execution of it was almost flawless. While I do think there is a bit too much of the FMC, Lilith, getting into trouble as a plot device to bring her and the MMC together, I didn’t mind it as much because the rest of it was just so good. There’s mystery, murder, mayhem, whispers of the apocalypse? Sign me up.

And I really enjoyed Lilith’s character. I LOVE an angry FMC. I thought that her journey to self discover and growth was realistic and her anger was valid and just. Who doesn’t like a down with the patriarchy main character? I can’t wait to see her growth continue.

Overall, this is definitely a romantasy series to watch. If you like he falls first, touch her and die, urban fantasy, angry FMC, slow burns, and spice, pick this one up. You won’t regret it.

Thank you to Bloom Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Wow.

♾️✨

After 10% of this book, I dropped it and ran to Instagram and was raving about this book.
RAVING and PRAISING and already obsessed. I couldn't stop thinking about it until I picked it back up.
Then, when I finished the first part of the book, I went back to Instagram and lost my mind all over again.
I need to note: I am obsessed with Greek mythology *like was in university as a classics major*, and Hades x Persephone are two of my FAVOURITES. So when your favourite author writes about your favourite Greek gods, you become unhinged. And you think no couple will ever compare... until Scarlett drops TERROR AT THE GATES.
This is my favourite now. I cannot WAIT to see where Lilith and Zahariev go now. They are officially Roman Empire status.
I don't want to give anything as far as spoilers, but just know that the world-building is phenomenal. The settings and the religious magic are so visibly set in my mind because of the way Scarlett sets up her story.
The characters are so developed, and their relationships were easy to establish really quickly. AND THE EMOTION and TENSION.
I wish I could read this again...
Which I will do once I get the audiobook on release day <3

Thank you, Scarlett, Netgalley and Bloom Books for my advance ARC.

READ IT <3

⭐️∞ INFINITY STARS ∞⭐️
🗣️ THIS BOOK??? LITERALLY ALTERED MY BRAIN CHEMISTRY.

I don’t know how to function anymore. My soul? SCORCHED. My standards? SKYROCKETED. My heart? Held hostage by Zahari-freaking-ev and Lilith. Scarlett didn’t just write a book, she penned a full-body experience that left me trembling, sobbing, grinning, and whispering “one more chapter” until the sun rose. This rivaled her Hades and Persephone saga which was a God Tier series for me… so that honestly says something! (“God” tier though.. lol get it?)

🩸 Lilith — My angry little bratty queen. The embodiment of messy strength, all claws and bite with a soft, shattered heart buried underneath. I would die for her. Actually, I’d kill for her and THEN die for her. My Roman Empire. This woman can turn any straight woman like they’re spaghetti soaking in a pot. & Watching her trauma unravel and then her absolute rage be seen? Devastating. Healing. Beautiful. I am on my knees for this woman.

🔥 Zahariev. YES with a capital Z, A, H, A- listen. He is the blueprint. The “touch her and be deleted” protector. The morally grey menace with banter so elite I had to physically put the book down and scream into a pillow. The tenderness. The restraint. The quiet, all-consuming devotion. The quotes?? I will never recover. He falls first and HARD! It’s so PAINFULLY obvious.

🫀Their chemistry? SICKENING.
When she said “you can’t, not without starting a war” and he said “I would go to war for you”??? I blacked out. This is the kind of tension that makes your spine vibrate and your soul combust. It’s not just spice (because we wait until we were 80% in for action), no, it’s yearning. It’s emotional foreplay. It’s connection laced in fire and a longtime of aching.

⛓️ The themes: religion, trauma, patriarchy, power… they were handled with surgical precision. Scarlett doesn’t just write fantasy. She writes truth wrapped in daggers (literally) and silk. As someone with religious trauma? This hit in ways I didn’t expect. I cried angry tears. Then grateful ones.

💥 The plot? Sharp. The worldbuilding? Rich and textured. The magic system? Chefs kiss. And the pacing? A slow burn ( and I mean SLLLLLOOOOOWWWWW BURN) masterpiece. I was hooked from the first dagger stabbed in the bed and never let go.

💬 And let’s not even talk about the QUOTES that ruined my life:

“I’ll always be here, following in your shadow. I am not afraid of your freedom.”
I—just—how am I supposed to go back to real men??

📚 Bonus points:
• Dual POV but 80% in her voice? ICONIC. And his snippets had me reeling!
• Found family energy that healed my inner child.
• An animal sidekick! I loved cherub so much!
• Banter that had me kicking my feet and giggling!
• A dagger, a forbidden romance, and the stakes of the world on the line? YES.

⸻

✨ This isn’t a review. It’s a love letter. A scream into the void. An altar I’ve built to a book that didn’t just raise the bar—it vaporized it. I need book two like I need oxygen. I am BEGGING for a physical ARC because I need that shelf trophy like it’s nobodies business, okay? Okay!

Scarlett St. Clair, you are my villain origin story. This book is easily in my top 5 of the year! I can’t stop geeking. The way people will be sick of me from how much I will be talking about this book… and do I care? No.

Go read this book. Inject it into your veins. Tattoo Zahariev quotes on your ribs. Join the cult. You won’t regret it.

Scarlett St Clair is one of my go to authors when it comes to spicy romance and she did not disappoint with Terror at the Gates. Part urban fantasy, part mafia romance Terror on the Gates offers a fresh new take on the myth of Lilith. With phenomenal world building and the mix of plot and spice Scarlett is known for, this was a great read and I’m looking forward to seeing what is in store next for Zachariev and Lilith

4.5 stars

This book was so very, very good. I loved the noir feel of the urban fantasy with the kind of mafia feel.

Zahariev was perfection for me. I LOVE a good "he falls first" and when it's OBVIOUS and the girl is in denial despite the fact everyone knows and the TENSION they have. I gobbled up that tension! Not to mention, he's totally out there willing to unalive people for her without question. I loved how towards the end he just upfront tells her that he always does things for her and puts her in her place. We do get some small POV chapters from Zahariev and they were the perfect amount of look behind the scenes with him without having to be a whole other plot line.

Lilith was sass and attitude and I loved it. I love a strong female that gives attitude to the man and the man loves that about her. The whole patriarchal aspect of the world was so-so for me so every time Lilith goes on about it, I was a little "meh" about it, but I also understood where her feelings were coming from and the reason why she ran from her own home. I liked the relationships we saw that Lilith had. They were few and she's definitely trying to be independent, but I felt they were mostly meaningful to help her navigate the world. I did cry with the one death that occurred in the book. I mean, honestly, how could you not?

The story with the mystery of the dagger was interesting and I enjoyed the mystery and sleuthing with the feeling of the world. It worked really well. I also LOVED the animal companion we get! Cherub was adorable and who'd of thunk I'd need an animal companion in this world, but I did.

The overall world was, I think, not as well-developed as it could have been. We focus a lot on Lilith and the patriarchal/religion more than anything so the world could use more flushing out and the magic system too. And, frankly, I have a feeling we'll get more in the next book with the ending we got.

...That ENDING! Just like...Oh man, we are getting so much more history and explanations in book 2 after that ending! Crazy!

I cannot wait till the next book!

Omg this was amazing!!! I think this may be the best thing I’ve read from Scarlett St Clair to date and the touch of darkness series is one of my all time favorites. That freaking ending…I can’t wait for book 2. Check your triggers before reading this as there is a lot of heavy stuff. All the characters, including the side characters have this story so much depth. This is my favorite read so far of 2025.

Another amazing book from Scarlett St. Clair. I have enjoyed every book she has written. Terror At The Gates was full of depth and power and female rage. I was here for it all! Religion plays a huge part in this book. I don't think there was a moment that I wasn't thinking about how religion affects me (good and bad) and how I view life especially as a woman.
I absolutely loved Lilith. She was such a strong character and I felt like she was really relatable. She did not have an easy journey in this book but I loved her strength and her resilience. She had so much depth to her character and I loved getting to know her. And I can't wait to see where her journey takes her in the next book.
Zahariev was so mysterious and he really drew me in. I loved his fierceness and how he protects those you are important to him especially Lilith. He really got her and knew what she needed and how to care for her. He let her be herself and gave her the space to learn and grow and that in turn gave her confidence.
The tension, yearning and slow burn of their relationship was epic. I'm not always a fan of a slow slow burn but this one was done so well and I adored it. It just felt right. Chef's kiss to Scarlett St. Clair.
I have a feeling that I will be thinking about this book all the time. It really drew me and I can't wait to see what the next book will bring.

Thank you Sourcebooks, Bloom Books, NetGalley and Scarlett St. Clair for the eARC.

ARC REVIEW!!

4.5⭐️

A Lilith retelling in an urban fantasy setting was not something I thought I need but now I need the whole series. This is perfect for slow burn, mafia romance lovers with some fantasy aspects to it. Who doesn’t love a strong independent FMC and a yearning, would do anything for you MMC.

I finished this book on audio after going back and forth with reading the digital version and I am so glad the ending was in audio. This entire book was amazing from the romance to the politics and religion themes. I did not want to stop reading and listening so I did both to accommodate my surroundings. The main characters as well as the side characters were fantastic and relatable. Even though it is a fictional world with present day sprinkled in. I have not been able to stop thinking of all the possibilities for the next book and how the characters will react.

This is Scarlett St. Clair’s best yet! The world building is so interesting with all of the religious references, and I went on a Wikipedia deep dive to understand some of the lore behind these characters. The author knows how to build up a relationship for maximum emotional investment and then rip your heart out…Esther’s storyline absolutely gutted me.

The story tackles several dark and deep themes in an innovative way. Triggers include religious trauma, parental abuse, sexual assault, and rape. Lilith was the embodiment of feminine rage, and it was so satisfying to see her journey to being able to confront her abusers.

Zahariev is definitely going on my permanent book boyfriend list. His devotion to Lilith was everything, and his morally grey side was almost black. Let’s just say he likes to be the boss in multiple settings!

There were several huge reveals at the end of the book, and I am already dying to read the next installment!

Read this if you love: urban fantasy, neo-noir mafia vibes, slow burn romance, tension & banter, animal sidekicks, he falls first, frenemies to lovers

Thank you to Sourcebooks, Bloom Books, and Tantor Audio for providing me with copies of this book. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.

I absolutely adored this book! It was SO good!

I really liked the characters, the story, and I was just hooked! Highly highly recommend! Y'all just really need to read this book!

a searing feminist retelling of Lilith’s myth that crackles with rebellion, magic, and heartbreak. This is not the Lilith we were warned about in whispers — this is Lilith Leviathan, sharpened by loss and cloaked in chaos, rising from the ashes of her past to burn down a world built to silence her.St. Clair’s writing is lush and lyrical, full of sharp edges and soft defiance. She doesn’t just retell a myth. she tears it open, rewrites it in blood and flame, and hands it back to us with teeth bared.
Perfect for fans of dark fantasy, mythic retellings, and witches who won’t stay silent. Lilith is no longer the villain in someone else’s story — she’s the storm writing her own

First and foremost I’d like thank NetGalley, Tantor Audio & Bloom Books for an Audio ARC and EARC of this book. I am forever thankful and my review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.
This is my first introduction into the world of Scarlett St. Clair and boy was it an introduction.
I’m for sure a fan of any spin on anything religious that shows the dark side of what is holy. And in this biting, feminist retelling of Lilith’s story, Lilith will rise from the ashes of her former life to destroy the ancient power that stole everything from her…
I absolutely adored getting to know
Lilith “Lilly” Leviathan & Zahariev as they fight their attraction to each other while also facing down the threat they pose to the church,the truth and to those who want to tear it all down.
Laura Horowitz is an absolute icon in the audiobook community and knocks it out of the park bringing our fierce and flawed Lilith to life.
Tristan Warden as Zahari brought the sexy and heat that had me adding him to my new bf registry.
The plot with the church was electric and engaging that was like raging river that dragged you down. Spinning you around and around in the current that left you whiplashed in the best way possible.
Memorable , unique, & engaging and just one of the best books of 2025.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, Yes & Yes! If you love fierce FMC and a unique and badass feminist retelling, this book is for you.