FIVE FREAKING STARS! The dark fantasy romance I didn't know I needed!

From the very first page, this book gripped me with its intoxicating blend of sin-soaked neo-noir mythical undercurrents and scorching romance. Lilith, an icon of rebellion, is a whip-smart and fierce heroine who refuses to stay silent (or pious) in a world built to contain her.

It's a gritty journey complete with mafia intrigue, religious hypocrisy, and a heroine who refuses to bow down. Set the in the morally bankrupt district of Nineveh, Lilith Leviathan makes her living stealing and trading in forbidden relics, until she's thrust into the orbit of Zahariev, the Zareth family's powerful ruler.

This novel was everything I didn't realize I needed - it's dark, fierce, enthralling, and impossible to put down!

Easy 4 stars!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor audio for the ALC copy of this book!

The narration was excellent! I think both narrators fit the characters extremely well. My only issue with the narration was when they were narrating side characters they gave them weird voices, but that was easy to overlook. I did appreciate them giving the characters different voices though because it helped the story stay straight since this book had A LOT going on!!!!

This story has everything:

• Forbidden/taboo magic 🪄
• Feminine rage 🔥❤️‍🔥
• Forbidden romance ❤️
• Age gap
• Slow burn 🌶️🌶️.5/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
• Religious trauma
• Urban Fantasy
• Flirty banter
• Touch her and 💀
• Mafia vibes

Tbh there was A LOT going on in this book and it moved fast and the pacing was chaotic (in a good way), but the ending had me SCREAMING I NEED MORE 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

Thank you to NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for a honest review.

3.75⭐️
Terror At the Gates was a really unique take on a story about Gods and religion. I listened to the whole thing in one sitting. The audio was so easy to get sucked into, but I did find some things lacking about the book itself. I absolutely loved the first half, but as I got further in there wasn’t much more detail for world building or the magic system. There was a plot twist at the end that eludes to getting more info in book 2, so hopefully that happens. Also, the plot speed was inconsistent. It felt more like a really long novella for some reason. (Super side note-“This is so hot” was repeated way too many times during spicy scenes). Overall, I did really enjoy the characters, the romance, and the found family aspect, so I’ll definitely read the sequel.

Of all of Scarlett St. Clair's books, this is my new favorite!

I did not expect to love this one the way that I did, but this is far and beyond her best book yet! Lilith is such a strong FMC, and I enjoyed the banter she initiated with those in this dark world around her (especially Zahariev). The romance was there but it was such a good "will they this time or won't they" slow burn til finally the match was struck.

This world was so dark, but the pacing helped it to not be suffocating like some darker romantasy books tend to feel at times with how heavy they can feel. Laura Horowitz's narration is always phenomenal, and the emotion that she brought to the role of Lilith was breathtaking. I especially enjoyed hearing her bring Lilith's sarcasm to life. Some of the more emotional scenes were so beautifully heartbreaking to hear.

Cannot WAIT for the next book in the series!

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook for review. All opinions are my own.

Laura Horowitz as narrator is phenomenal as always! I'm not familiar with the male narrator, and he had sort of interludes between chapters, so there wasn't much to go on, but he also did an excellent job.

Content Warnings:
patriarchal, misogynistic culture
religious iconography and zealotry (it's like fantasy version catholicism)
mentions of child abuse and sexual assualt (off-page)
death of multiple minor characters
gore
drug use
sexual content
alcohol use
generally shitty parents
demons

Lilith is the daughter of House Leviathan, hiding from her duty to marry and produce heirs in a patriarchal, religious society. (Honestly, without the magic, this is a frightening look at a potential future, and yikes.) Zahariev is the sexy older man of a neighboring territory who keeps an eye on her and ignores his feelings for her. They come across a magical knife and people start dying.

Y'all this is a sloooooow burn. We get a kiss earlier, and there might have been one kind of handsy scene, but the real spicy stuff doesn't happen until like...80% in I think. You're in it for the long haul with this one! BUT I think it's worth it. I hope we get more of Zahariev's POV in the next book, especially after that ending (WTF??).

This does end on a massive cliffhanger that will leave you wanting more! I think Lilith is interesting because she's not a super badass like most of these characters seem to be, and other than having been raised rich, she's just an early 20's girl trying to make it in a rough town. I think it'll be interesting to see where the next one goes, because this had that sort of fantasy book thing where stuff happens in the first 3/4, but the final hundred pages are ALL THE THINGS.

Thanks to Tantor Audio for the ALC!

3.5/5 rounded up

4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher for the ALC.

This book was such a refreshing change of pace. The rage about women having the powers but still being controlled by the men, the noir and mafia vibes, the tension, the magic? Yes please.

I listened to this in the midst of a reading slump and it helped cure my slump.

I loved Lillith, Zahariev, Cherub, and most of the other side characters.

I will be continuing the series!

Characters: 3⭐️
Setting: 2.5⭐️ Where is the world building?
Plot: 3⭐️
Themes: 3⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3⭐️
Emotional Impact: 2⭐️
Overall rating: 3/5⭐️
Spice 4/5 🌶️

It’s giving rinse & repeat of Hades X Persephone (which I enjoyed) but with Lilith and Zahariev. I mean literally EXACTLY SAME CHARACTERS… same personalities… same dynamic.. I guess if it’s not broke don’t fix it? I mean there’s another night club. Her best friend gets hurt just like in Persephone’s friend.. it was incredibly predictable.
It would have been refreshing to see a more aggressive Lilith, she’s often known for being subservient and assertive in mythology. This doesn’t give that energy at all. This isn’t serving feminist or female rage as marketed.
Very minimal world building. Eden but it’s sandy and there’s a church?
Also the dual POV is very minimal. I wanted more of Zahariev.

As always, Scarlett St Clair delivers on the spice. One of the best things about this book honestly.

I enjoyed the audiobook, Laura Harrowitz, always does an amazing job bringing these female romantasy characters to life.

“She is terror knocking at the gates.”

3.5🌶🌶🌶

First, I will preface this with the fact that I do not know the original story of Lilith or that this was a retelling, so that may be a factor in this review.

The vibes are perfect! I loved the sin noir, dark urban setting. I could visualize everything as I was reading.

I liked Lilith's character. She was very multidimensional. She was a bad ass but also felt so deeply. Her magic was super unique. I thought that she was relatable but also, at times, a little frustrating. Some of her decisions didn't always feel well thought out but I know that it being the first book in the series there is time for her character to develop.

Zahariev's was quiet and yet commanding. He accepted and protected Lilith. I love the touch her and die vibes. I still don't know much I about him. His pov's were short paragraphs or sentences at the end of the chapter. I wished they were a little longer but at the same time I enjoy learning about him through the fmc perspective.

I liked the side characters but again there was a lot of off page development and relationship building we didn't see so I didn't connect to things that happened as much as I feel like I should have. I am looking forward to getting more in book 2.

I liked that we had a true slow burn, but the last few chapters were just spice after spice, almost like we had to make up for not having any up until then. It took me out of the story a bit because the plot was just starting to move.

Between the world building, magic, and plot, there was a lot going on. We had mafia families intermingled with religious corruption, demons, witches, and a murder mystery. Towards the end, it did come together with a little twist. It ended abruptly and I can definitely see how it is setting us up for the next book. There were a few critical moments that felt really rushed, and I had to go back and re listen because it moved on to another scene so quickly.


Please check your triggers before starting. SA. Child abuse. Religious trauma.

I received an ALC. I loved the female narrator, Laura Horowitz. The male narrator didn't feel like it fit the mmc. At first, it took me out of the story, but it was easy to get used to. the male POV is only a few sentences at the end of each chapter.

Urban fantasy
Friends to lovers
Mafia vibes
Murder mystery
Religious trauma
Touch her and die
Slow burn


Overall, I was entertained and had a good time listening to it. I would recommend to certain types of readers in my community. And I will most likely be continuing the series.


Thank you, Netgalley and Tantor audio for the gifted ALC. All opinions are my own.

I had the opportunity to listen to the ALC of this book and though it started off super fun and intriguing, it ultimately fell flat for me by the end. I think part of it was I found the characters to be lacking in anything that could connect me to them or their relationship: our main MMC and FMC are operating on, what felt like, solely physical attraction and for me I just need more than that to care about what happens to them. Lilith also just overall rubbed me the wrong way as she’s always so rude and abrasive and constantly yelling at our MMC, never speaking calmly or kindly and I just couldn’t stand her by the end. It’s hard for me to say if this was my impression based on the narration alone because once I recognized this pattern I paid attention, and most times after the narrator yelled a line, it would follow with something akin to “I yelled.” I’m all for stories of female rage and empowerment but there should be no need to rage against the ones you (allegedly) care for most?

While I give credit to the author for the themes they were trying to present and the world they were trying to create, it just missed the mark for me on too many fronts. I wanted to love this so much more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the ALC of this book!

I don’t know what kind of drug Scarlett St. Clair put into this book, but I could not put it down. I’m going to be thinking about Terror at the Gates for a long time.

We follow Lilith, the daughter of one of Eden’s ruling families, who’s run away to another district to escape the life and the marriage she knows she’ll being forced into. But when a stolen dagger draws the wrong kind of attention, she turns to Zahariev, the head of the district’s ruling family, for help. They know they can’t be together... but the more time they spend around each other, the harder it is to resist the pull.

I loved every second of this book. The worldbuilding, the characters, the romance, it all hit exactly right. Scarlett St. Clair is known for her myth retellings, but here she’s reimagining biblical figures, and she does it in such a smart and compelling way. The book digs into classism, religion, and patriarchy with sharp insight, without ever feeling heavy-handed.

The chemistry between Lilith and Zahariev was electric, it practically leapt off the page (or headphones, in my case). I loved watching them slowly give in to their attraction and realize there was something deeper there all along. Zahariev’s devotion to Lilith? Top-tier fictional love interest material.

And the atmosphere? Absolutely nailed it. I felt like I was walking through Nineveh and the other districts of Eden myself.

There’s a solid underlying mystery that adds depth to the world and keeps the tension high. With that ending, I need the next book yesterday.

And as always Laura Horowitz does an excellent job with the audiobook, I love her.

Sexy. That’s the only word for this audiobook.

Can I just start by saying that Laura Horowitz and her enticing portrayal of my new book girlfriend, Lilith, were pure perfection? I’ve followed Laura for a while, but this was my first time hearing her narration—and damn. She had the hair standing up on the back of my neck in the most delicious way. Sensual. Sharp. Seductive. Yeah… definitely sexy.

In a world where women wield all the magic and power, Lilith uses hers to survive. It’s worked well, until she steals the wrong thing. A bit of magical persuasion and a shiny dagger seem like the payday she needs… but death follows that dagger. Now, hunted for it, her world begins to crumble.

Then the dreams start. Prophetic. Dark. Too real. As terrifying myths bleed into reality, Lilith needs answers. Zahariev is the only one she can turn to: her friend, her new boss, and her greatest weakness. He’s by her side, protecting her, helping her… resisting her. Lilith has always wanted him, but Zahariev is just too stubborn for his own good. Maybe it’s time she took that carefully drawn line of his… and made him cross it.

The addiction was instant. Lilith is fierce, magnetic, and unapologetically headstrong, but it’s her quiet insecurities that make her so compelling.

And Zahariev? Dark. Powerful. Utterly intoxicating. His silent devotion to Lilith had my heart pounding. Their connection is electric. And the slow burn between them? One of the best I’ve ever read. The banter, the tension, the pining—and then the payoff. Oh yes… that was some toe-curling payoff.

Beyond my obsession with my new book boyfriend and girlfriend, the worldbuilding was stunning. I saw Nineveh in deep shades of black and red: dark, gritty, and decadently vivid. The plot flowed with precision, pulling me in deeper with every chapter.

And that ending?
I did not see it coming—and it changes everything.
I feel an immediate reread coming on!

“𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝕸𝖎𝖘𝖘 𝕷𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝕷𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖓.” ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

This bad boy is one of my most highly anticipated reads this year. And the story truly left a resounding effect on me.

“𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚎.”
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈.”

Drawn in by the retelling of Lilith, set in a modern, deeply urban and gritty fantasy world. Though with elements that are so real for the world’s current status, I loved it and I think it’s the perfect book for a big ‘fyou to the system.’

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

Since I had the audiobook, there needs to be praise to 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘇 for bringing Lilith to life! Her tone, sensuality, and at times crazed AND controlled feminine rage as Lilith was perfect! The perfect cast! I was lured in by her voice then taken by 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 as Zahariev. This was a dual narration, with the story being told mostly in Lilith’s POV- And when we got to Z’s POV, I was itching to know where he stood in it all!
Both brought great emphasis and emotion to the MCs.

Lilith in all her unabashed feminist, hustling, emotional and powerful energy is a beauty in her own damn right! I love her, I felt her, and I cannot wait to see how her character evolves in the next book. She’s steadfast on what she wants and not willing to backdown from injustice!

Zahariev. This man, is built to last the turmoils of the world’s politics, corrupted ethics and protect those under his care. Some more passionately than others.
P.S Have you guys SEEN the character for these two! ❤️‍🔥

The romance was a wicked, jab for jab, slowww burn. I am LOVING my slow burns at the moment and TATG brought me another great one! Once the spice hit, it hit alright. Though this did not stop the continuous flow of the storyline, that was all high stakes and I appreciated that.

Heavy on religious trauma, the power hungry elites and corruption that’s spread into the preachings/philosophies, was hitting the nail on the head for me. I eat these type of stories up fr!!

Thank you RBmedia and Scarlett St. Clair for the ALC through NetGalley!! 🫶🏽 Out now for the Aussies, 8th July for US!!

[ ✩ 4.5 ]
[ 🌶️ 3 ]
[ 🎧 4.5 ]

*Thank you to to Scarlett St Clair, Tantor Audio and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

4.5⭐

As soon as I heard about this book I knew I HAD to read it, especially since it was written by Scarlett St Clair, and it definitely lived up to my expectations!!

Firstly, the narrators did an amazing job at bringing the book to life. Laura Horowitz and Tristan Warden, chef's kiss Lilith is the embodiment of female rage, and although she can be quite frustrating at times, I fell in love with her from the very beginning. Her relationship with Zahariev was so much fun to read, the flirty banter and yearning to the slow burn coming to fruition was soooo hot!! Bonus points for his "touch her and die" mentality
The way that Scarlett writes about all the religious trauma is very relatable, and she did such a stand up job of addressing it. The ending had me shook though. bring on book 2!!

This is my new favorite novel by Scarlett St. Clair! I loved the romance, the mystery, the religious trauma, and especially Cherub the cat sidekick! Trigger warnings should definitely be checked before reading, but I think the heavy topics that were addressed throughout the book were addressed beautifully. I can’t wait to see what happens next after the giant cliffhanger ending!

The narrators both did an excellent job, their voice acting made it feel like I was in the scenes with them.

Thank you to Tantor audio for an early copy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

Thank you Scarlett St. Clair, Sourcebooks and Tantor Audio for an Advanced Reader Copy via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I will start by saying, I have previously read and enjoyed Scarlett St. Clair's previous publications, however, I believe this may be my favourite yet!

Terror at the Gates, is a slightly dual POV (with the majority being from the fmc's perspective) dark urban fantasy. And follows Lilith Leviathan - the black sheep of one of the most notorious govening families in Eden. As the only female "heir" in her family, her role is to marry the a chosen heir - picked by her father to carry on the family legacy. The governing families are second only to the church; who oversee, enforce and ensure morality is upheld in their society. This involves ensuring women are pius and silent, despite holding the power and magic gifted by GOD. Regardless, it is the husband who holds the authority and dominance in this society, encouraged and expected by the church.
Lilith, reeling from religious trauma, flees to Nineveh, the district of Eden dovted to Sin. Where she uses her magic, steeped in sex and femininity, to steal for a living - overseen and protected by Zahariev, head of the Zareth family and ruler of Nineveh. Zahariev deals in information, and his power is extortion, though he's always had a soft spot for Lilith. As the only governing five, viewed to be an outsider, Lilith and Zahariev find kinship in each other (Lilith rather reluctantly).
When Lilith steals an blade, she gains more than she bargained for and she must work with Zahariev, the only person she can trust to help her in discovering the true power running their world.

Terror at the Gates features:
🗡️ Frenemies to Lovers
🩸 He Falls First
🗡️ Touch Her and Die (Literally)
🩸 Mafia-esq Vibes
🗡️ Slow Burn
🩸 Found Family
🗡️ Strong FMC
🩸 Forbidden Romance
🗡️ Magic
🩸 Feminist Themes - Feminine Rage

Potential Triggers:
🩸 Sexual Assault (Mentioned - Past)
🗡️ Religious Trauma
🩸 Corrupt Religious Leaders
🗡️ Religious fundamentalism
🩸 Murder
🗡️ Grief and Death

I cannot recommend this book enough. Terror at the Gates is a gritty, mafia inspired urban fantasy; a fast-paced mystery, neo-noir culminating in a biblically inspired Lilith retelling.

The Magic System and World Building are unique and rich. Terror at the Gates does something I believe many authors would be at least tentative to attempt, if not avoid entirely. The themes of religious corruption and the inherent politics involved within the church, are mirrors of the corruption seen within our own world. The world itself, is heavily influenced by the Old Testament, however we also see some more modern religious influences. In addition to the primary GOD, there is also mention and vast discussion of the OLD GODS, which are reminscent of the pagan polytheistic religions that existed prior to organised monotheism.

In regards to the magic system; the magic within this world is either learnt (and attached to the OLD GODS) which persecuted and hunted to near extinction; or inhereted through the five governing families and is solely inhereted by WOMEN. Despite this, world is purely Patriarchal, with women only permitted to use said magic with the permission of their husbands and fathers and only for the betterment of their religious society. The suppression of magic and by extension female power and matriachalism plays heavily throughout this book. Lilith's power specifically, was unique, direct contradiction to the rules and parameters of their society. Her manipulation and use of it was equally as interesting and I hope we get to see her use it more in the sequel.

Lilith is a strong, slightly bratty (to Zahariev obviously), opinionated yet soft fmc. She is the embodiment of everything the church fears. She has a strong sense of her feminity and owns her individual strength and sexuality, despite being told that doing so is wrong - that she is essentially the property of her father and eventually her husband. She has a complicated relationship with her family which is abundantly clear - she is recovering from SA missed and ignored by both her parents at the hands of Lisk. She is also coming to terms with the abuse she was subjected to by her mother. That being said, she has an intense love for her father despite his role in stifling her power and freedom; this in part is quelled by the fact he is the reason she was able to leave the family "on a temporary basis" to go to Ninevaeh.

In this first book, we only start to see Lilith come to terms with the corruption within society and religion, which in turn sees her start to embrace her own power as belonging to HER. The feminine rage and feminist themes, while present are budding and will most definitely feature more heavily in book 2.

Zahariev is the perfect mafia-esq, badass mmc. Outwardly he is perceived first and foremost as a no-nonsense leader - however, there is far more to him than meets the eye. He is fiercly loyal to his "family" consisting of his brother, but also select employees and of course Lilith. He is the ideal morally grey mmc, with a strong sense of justice while not giving into the corruption of politics and the religion which are inherent to the society he oversees. Even more, there is a soft and gentle side to him, which predominantly is seen in his interactions with Lilith - he is her safe place in a world that has been nothing but cruel to her; all along, he has been her biggest supporter and encourages her to embody her rage and revenge.

The side characters were equally as rich and diverse. Coco (Lilith's roommate and best friend) is a dancer at Zahariev's club; and is one of the first and only true friends Lilith makes when she comes to Ninevaeh. She is intensely protective of Lilith but also encourages her to LIVE the life she deserves. She is also the reason Lilith gains her familiar Cherub <3
Gabriel is the sweet older brother Lilith needed, but also the friend and family Zahariev adopted. His girlfriend Esther is equally as sweet and wholesome.

The audiobook was enjoyable, I LOVE Laura Horowitz, she was the perfect narrator for Lilith's character; embracing the sassy fmc, while also being able to convey emotion beautifully. I was less keen on the male narrator, Tristan Warden. I found his parts to be overly-exaggerated and the change between fmc and mmc was rather abrupt and could have been made clearer. That being said, the pacing was perfect; the overall audiobook was easy to listen to and understand.

Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone looking for a darker, grittier urban fantasy, with a hot and spicy romance. The mystery elements are gripping and unqiue, while retaining the "magic" of the worldbuilding. The characters are well-developed, loveable and mulitfaceted. In regards to the plot, I had a number of predictions, but I DID NOT see the plot-twist at the end coming! I cannot recommend enough.

this is my first book from this author, but i've been familiar with her hades x persephone retellings (which i've heard great things, by the way). also, this is my second time reading an urban fantasy book.

i love the setting. i giggled at lilith and zahariev's banter. but i'm sad that some of my favorite characters are passed. and i love how the ending wrapped up.

but there are some parts that are lacking. for example, lilith's past. i mean she mentioned it, but it didn't tell the whole story so i've been expecting for the next book.

for the audiobook, they did good. at first i thought this is narrated in duet (since at the start of chapter is fmc's point of view). well i'm wrong

Note: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book felt like a reset of sorts with my current reading schedule. It was everything I didn’t know I was looking for. Dark, spicy, well-constructed: feminine rage.

The story itself was thought out well and came together very nicely. You can tell Scarlett St. Clair enjoyed writing this book. The storyline was enough to grab my attention but as things continued, I was still just as interested at the end of the book as I was with the synopsis of it. That was a little surprising because fantasy can be a hard genre to get right but that’s exactly what was done here. Also, I just need to express somewhere here that I loved the ending.

I found myself very much drawn to our main character, Lilith. She possesses an interesting magic ability that she uses in a somewhat divisive way. She’s a powerful woman and that is what was so enthralling. Unlike some books, this main character is no shrinking-flower; nowhere near it. She lives her life the way she wants to, much to her parents’ dismay and my delight. Morally grey in a world built on sin; quite literally.

There is romance and a fair amount of steamy spice in this book. However, it did feel like somewhat of a slow burn, which threw me off a little, so keep that in mind. There was definitely a lot more spice towards the end of the book and it wasn’t holding back. I’m not usually drawn into romance a lot, but I did enjoy what played out in that area. The “bad-boy protector” vibes are strong in this one.

I found this novel to be everything it promised to be and more. I will be keeping up with this series and checking out this author’s other works. I suggest others do the same if any of this interests you.

Driven by unapologetic, fierce feminine rage—if you love a heroine who refuses to play by the rules, this book is for you!

I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did, but it turned out to be one of the most entertaining romantasy books I’ve read this year.

Set in an urban fantasy world, the story follows Lilith, a woman cast aside, stripped of everything, and hell-bent on taking down those who betrayed her. Surviving in the dangerous district of Nineveh in the city of Eden, she resorts to stealing to get by. When she stumbles upon a powerful blade with dangerous consequences, she’s thrust into a world of secrets, magic, and political intrigue. Forced to ally with Zahariev, the ruthless leader of the Zareth family, their search for hidden power sparks a tense, slow-burning chemistry between them.

I wasn’t familiar with the biblical Lilith before diving into this book, but the reimagining is brilliant. In traditional lore, Lilith refuses to be subservient to Adam, leading to her exile. This version, however, is more than just a victim—her anger is deeply personal, stemming from a fierce desire to reclaim what was taken from her. This isn’t a simple quest for revenge; it’s about breaking free from chains, reclaiming her identity, and toppling the system that oppressed her. Her journey is both empowering and cathartic, as she evolves from a broken survivor to an unstoppable force. That transformation is one of the most satisfying aspects of the story.

Zahariev is sooo hot. The embodiment of "touch her and die," an intense, calculated man who manipulates people to bend to his will and is probably one of the hottest MMCs I’ve ever come across. But with Lilith, he’s something else entirely. His protective nature and tender moments with her provide a perfect contrast to his darker, more controlling side.

Their slow-burn romance is electric, with tension that builds beautifully. What I loved most was how their connection evolved from reluctant allies to something much deeper. Every moment between them feels earned, and the gradual development of their relationship is one of the book’s highlights.

The pacing is slower at the beginning, and I can see why it might not work for everyone. It takes its time to build the world, introduce the characters, and set up the stakes. But for me, that was necessary—it allowed the story to breathe and made the payoff all the more rewarding when it picks up. Once the plot gains momentum, the emotional stakes follow suit, and I was so hooked.

The world-building, the author’s depiction of Eden, specifically Nineveh—is fantastic. Nineveh is a place of darkness and danger, where survival is intertwined with power and sin. The city feels on the verge of collapse, and the political intrigue between the ruling families, the church, and the oppressed masses raises the stakes. There’s an ever-present sense of danger that kept me on edge from start to finish. The world-building felt a bit underdeveloped at first, but considering this is the first book in the series, I’m excited to see how it’ll expand.

One of the book’s most striking aspects is its exploration of religious and political themes. In Eden, the church isn’t just a religious institution—it’s a mechanism of control. The way magic is passed down through bloodlines but seized off by men through marriage is a brilliant commentary on how power structures, particularly those rooted in religion, oppress women.

The book critiques how religion is often twisted by those in power to manipulate and control, especially the vulnerable. It’s not an anti-religious stance, but rather an anti-manipulation one, exposing how faith is weaponised for personal gain. If you’re not prepared to think critically about how religion can be exploited to oppress, this book may be hard to digest. But for those who are open to it, the political and religious commentary is sharp and well-executed.

Overall, if you’re a fan of grimdark fantasy with heavy political and religious themes, this book is a must-read. Definitely approved by me—now go read this book!! 🫵🏻

Thank you Tantor Audio for the ALC.

Adored the narration for this story!

Having read Scarlett St Clair before, I was expecting this to be dark, gritty, full of emotional depth but with plenty of fun and of course some spice in there as well, and that’s exactly what I got.

I’ve never read a retelling of the story of Lilith so I was so intrigued to see what she would do with the story. I adored Lilith as a character, and very quickly rooted for her to succeed. I loved her tenacity and refusal to back down in a patriarchal society constantly pushing for her to fit into the box they’ve assigned for her.

One person who doesn’t do that is the MMC Zahariev, the chemistry between them is electric from the start and it’s almost painful how slow burn this one is, but the pay off is totally worth it.

The mystery in the narrative was so interesting and kept me hooked to the story the entire way through, and the way this book needed makes me need book two yesterday!

If you love a dark mafia style urban setting, with an air of retelling and fantasy mixed in, I think you’ll definitely enjoy this one. I would say to check some trigger warnings before diving in as some of the themes do get pretty dark.

What. Did. I. Just. Read?!?!
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

That. Ending?!!!!

I’m unwell. And trying to put the pieces of myself back together to give this book a proper review.

First of all let me say: I experienced Terror at the Gates in its audiobook format. And what an experience it was! Laura Horowitz did such a phenomenal job narrating and she really embodied Lilith!!! I especially love her commitment to the spicy bits in the book. 🥵🥵🥵 LAWD. There are few narrators like Laura and I know this book wouldn’t have been the same without her! Tristan Warden was excellent as Zahariev despite not getting very much from his POV.

And gosh. ZAHARIEEEEEEEV!!!!! 🥵🔥 Absolutely feral for both him and Lilith! Their slow burn was so GOOD.

We got an absolute banger of a line from Lilith right out of the gates with this book — “I’d rather be a sinner than a hypocrite.” Not only is that such a great line but it really does set the tone for the book early on! And I absolutely agree with her… I’d rather be a sinner than a hypocrite.

This book causes you to pick critically think about the role of religion in our society and in our lives. It causes you to critically think about the way you were raised and the things you’ve endured (or others have endured) at the hands of the self-righteous.

Especially with lines like this one:

“Forgiveness is overrated. It’s just something church-goers shove down your throat so they can beg for it when they sin.”

So while there was so much to consider inside the storyline and how it relates to the characters therein… it will have you questioning and thinking deeply about how it applies to the world you live in, too. I loved that.

What a great book. What an insane ending! I can’t wait for the next book! Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an ALC of Terror at the Gates in exchange for my honest review!