Wow. This book was amazing!!!! I absolutely loved the gothic vibes and spooky undertones. The witchy aunts were my favorite and Ronan....oh man.

First, can we talk about that trigger warnings page. That alone got me invested in this book. I've been craving something gothic and strange, and this book gave it to me 🫠.

The story follows Maven (love that name), who is coming back to her childhood town for her grandmother's funeral. You can tell from the first chapter that there is a strange and spooky history there. I love the paranormal aspect of this book and I devoured this in one sitting.

Maven has history with Ronan, who you can tell is not over Maven. Their love is forbidden due to family feuds. This is like a gothic Romeo and Juliet. The story kept me on my toes and I cannot wait for you guys to read this.

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC.

Wow! That was a roller coaster of a ride! I absolutely loved the dark gothic setting and vibe of this book. Maven was a fantastic FMC. The twists and turns this book takes you through is crazy. My only complaint is that I’m still not sure what exactly happened and didn’t happen at the end of this book. Was any of it real? All in all a great read!

You never forget your first love

I went into the book as one of my most anticipated reads for 2025. If you have ever been mind twisted by Jt Gessinger before-buckle up. She takes it to another level. And I was not disappointed or prepared for that story.

The women of Blackthorn descendants are strong, fierce and admittedly a little scary to the towns people of Solstice.
When Maven Blackthorn returns to attend the funeral of her grandmother she stirs up more than just old memories.
Birds attacking men in wheelchairs, homes catching fire of old bullies and piercing blue-eyed men who won't let you go.


The spice in this book is some next level. I would say her spiciest yet.

The banter between Maven and Rowan had me kicking my feet and giggling. One of my favorites without spoilers to the plot: "Are you going to invite me in or what?” He morphs from teasing to solemn in a snap. “Oh, that’s right. Dracula needs an invitation to enter someone’s home. Please, Princess of Darkness, come in.”


While I had suspicion what the twist would be I still did not full guess it correctly which I love as a thriller reader
Pacing of the story was great. Part 3 I read in one sitting! I needed to know what in the heck was happening!!
I cannot wait to have this copy on my JT shelf.

**Okay, let's start off with, take the trigger warnings to heart. We know that J.T. Geissinger does all genres amazingly, so when it say it's dark, it's dark. Not Morally Grey, we mean Black. (At least by my standards)**

I have been impatiently waiting for this book for the last six months so when I got the email saying I was approved for an ARC reading, I dropped everything for it. Literally, I was holding my daughters next outfit at her senior pictures and dropped it on the dirt road. No regrets.

It has been a long time since I finished the book and had to sit for hours analyzing what I just read and work through it all. This book could definitely be considered a dark psychological thriller as well. Ms. Geissinger, you are amazing as always!

"Blackthorn" drew me in from the first page. Maven "May" Blackthorn returning to Solstice, her hometown, after twelve years away. She is bringing with her Bea, her twelve year old daughter. Her Grandmother has died and she is returning to her Auntie's house for the funeral. Only problem, Grandma goes missing.

Also still in her hometown is Ronan, her first love, who is shadier than a shadow. His family, shadier than the night sky. Try as she might, Maven just can't stay away from him. Is his family involved in her missing Grandmother's body though?

The first 85% of this book gives vibes of almost a cozy, paranormal, spicy read. You question everything you read because you are not really certain where the twist is going to take you next. The last 15% has you sitting up straight starring at the wall for hours.

Highly recommend if you are a dark, gothic book lover!

Ms.Geissinger, I love you and all you write. Might look into some therapy though.

Thank you Netalley, J.T. Geissinger, and Tor Publishing Group for this advanced copy of "Blackthorn." All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In true twisting J.T. Geissinger fashion, Blackthorn is a thrilling tale with paranormal aspects in a beautifully grim and gothic setting. I couldn’t put this one down and I found myself questioning the main character’s sanity up until the very last word. The pacing, twists, and shady characters keep your heart racing and your mind reeling. I found myself reading faster just to find out what would happen at the end and I was not disappointed!

I enjoyed following Maven through her twisty, topsy-turvy time in her small hometown. Uncovering dark deeds and twisted secrets, she struggles between keeping her and her daughter Bea safe all the while trying to keep herself from Ronan for her heart’s sake. Forbidden love, gothic cult vibes, and a mysterious death bring Ronan and Maven closer together, but it will have you questioning: was it real?

I…don’t even know where to begin! J.T. Geissinger knocked it out the freaking park with Blackthorn!

I am a huge fan of her writing and have yet to be let down by her incredible stories. Blackthorn though-it’s so very special. Beautifully haunting, deeply tragic, and yet simultaneously perfect and lovely.

J.T. Geissinger is a master of descriptions and encompassing the vibe of the story. Blackthorn’s gothic, enticing darkness is another beautiful example of this.

I really hope there is more to this story because I am hooked on Blackthorn and this creepy, disturbingly quaint town with its oddities and characters.

Magnificent! I can’t wait for more!

JT Geissinger is my favorite author and NEVER disappoints. This book, like always, is the perfect amount of spice, mystery and shock factor. She is truly talented at drawing you in and keeping you engaged. I had so many theories from the beginning on what was going to happen and the book debunked them one after another. I have never read a book quite like this.

The main characters are generational sworn enemies, but have a magnetic connection that is hard to fight when Maven comes back to town. Nothing is quite as it seems and both carry secrets with them. As Maven tries to unravel secrets around their families pasts, she becomes increasingly more confused about the past, the present and Ronan's role in both.

The ending will shock you, and leave you wanting more.

Blackthorn is a dark and twisted tale full of things that go bump in the night. The type of stuff that nightmares are made of. Believe me....it is one scary, sick, twisted tale. I definitely did not expect the story that I just read. I was prepared for a dark and sinful read, but got something entirely out of this world. I had so many emotions as the plot thickened and the book flipped on so many levels. Just when you think you have it all figured out, bam! Another plot twist to throw you off your game. The way the story ended was crazy mad. It really was a jaw dropper. So unexpected. It leaves me wondering if there will be more books after.

Although this book was considered a dark romance, it was more on the Gothic horror side with a dose or dark romance. I didn't know if I should be scared or turned on. It was very unique and intriguing all the same. I love JT Geissinger and how she has a unique way of story telling that is out of this world. She weaves magic in her stories that makes them highly addictive and entertaining. This book is no different with it's dark context and sinful romance. It was hard to put down once I started and even after finishing I am still reeling. I can't wait to see what is next from this author.

I had the amazing opportunity to be a ARC reader for this book and one of my top favorite authors!

In true J.T. Geissinger this book was a rollercoaster!!
So much so that I’m truly speechless and don’t know how to go about writing this review 😂

It will keep you on the edge of your seat, having you cursing, sighing in relief, just to turn around and make you feel as confused as Maven does through out the book.

I absolutely loved Maven though!! Her comebacks are great! The banter between Maven and Ronan is the best!!

As always make sure you check the trigger and content warnings of this book! This is a Gothic Dark Romance book!

Blackthorn 🐦‍⬛💜🖤
by J.T. Geissinger

“Like Dracula, Ronan Croft has an uncanny ability to appear wherever he likes as if manifesting from thin air.”

“If there’s one thing Blackthorns are not, it’s docile. We’re the outcasts and the troublemakers, the malcontents and the misunderstood, the proudly, defiantly other.”

Release Date: 11/4/25
5⭐️
3🌶️

🤯WTF did I just read! J.T. Geissinger really knows how to write some
mind-bending stories and this one had me staring at the wall and questioning my sanity!
Loved every single second of this book!! ♾️🖤

Blackthorn is a diabolical Gothic psychological thriller / paranormal fantasy with dark romance elements that will sink its teeth into you and wouldn’t let go!
This book was Spooky and Mysterious but it also had a “ Practical Magic” feel to it with the two eccentric witchy Aunts “Esme & Davina” living in a spooky house that the citizens of the small town of “Solstice” Vermont avoid because of the strange and mysterious happenings.

After many years …MFC Maven Blackthorn returns to Solstice with her young daughter Bea, after her grandmother’s sudden passing. Strange and mysterious events start happening and Maven is caught in a battle of what is real or if she’s just imagining all of it.

She is also trying to avoid her “first love “ the morally grey, mysterious billionaire Ronan Croft . The Croft’s and the Blackthorn family are mortal enemies, they have a generational feud of bad blood and mysterious 💀between them.

But Ronan & Maven have a secret forbidden love affair when they are younger. And have so many more secrets and lies between them.
Ronan in his creepy way starts to persuade/sta*k Maven again and is trying to uncover a “secret” that Maven’s been protecting.

Ronan and Maven’s relationship is so toxic, they definitely have a love/hate relationship ,and the perfect Enemies to lovers scenario!! And their constant bickering and morbid banter was just hilarious!
And let’s not forget the toxic se*ual chemistry between these two! Phew 😮‍💨
Ronan Croft😍 is definitely one of my top tier “book boyfriends “

The story was definitely a mindf*ck roll coaster of what is real or if it’s just a really bad fever dream. It had be guessing til the very end!
I definitely 100% recommend you check out this book! It will forever be embedded in my twisted mind! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤


Thank you to JT Geissinger, Bramble/ Tor Publishing Group & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Mind blown! What can I say about J.T. Geissinger's writing? Expect the unexpected! Blackthorn begins with single mother Maven Blackthorn and her young daughter returning to her family home in Solstice, Vermont. Maven had vowed to never return to the town of so many bad memories but her grandmother has passed away, and she wants to be there to support her beloved aunts. The Blackthorn women have a difficult relationship with the town's residents but no one will cause them to cower and hide. Maven also would like to avoid seeing Ronan Croft. Ronan is the town's golden boy but for Maven, he has always been the sharpest thorn in her side. Ronan has been searching for May for years. He has questions and he also needs to make amends. He treated May horribly as a teenager but now he's an adult and he needs to right his wrongs and hopefully they can both move into the future together. Sounds simple right? A second chance at romance? Wrong! There are many twists and turns in Blackthorn. What is real and what isn't? Is this contemporary or is this a fantasy? Is it dark and twisted or is it something entirely explainable? Blackthorn has the feel of a "film noir" and it will be up to the reader to decide which path leads to the answers. It was told mostly from Maven's POV but Ronan will get his thoughts in too. Read the trigger warnings because there are many dark and to some, disturbing elements. For me, Blackthorn was perfection!

What the hell was even that?
I just finished ARC reading this and I honestly don't even know what to say. It was everything I could have wanted in a book. It was strange and different and incredible and unnerving all in one. It was HOT, too! This may be my #1 read for 2025.
I'm a J.T. fan through and through but this book pushed it over the edge. If I could rate it higher than 5 starts I would.
Amazing work, J.T. 🖤

It’s been a minute since I read a dark romance! I love the way this book blends the genre with gothic romance, horror themes and paranormal fantasy.. what a stunning mix!

Set in a town called solstice (phenomenal name), the FMC Maven returns home to attend her grandmothers funeral only to find out her body has mysteriously vanished (ooh creepy).

Maven has a romantic history with Ronan and can’t seem to steer clear of him during her trip. There is seriously intense tension between them and their chemistry is definitely off the charts, sprinkle in some forbidden love due to family feuds we have a magical gothic darker Romeo and Juliet vibe (if Romeo was 100x more intense 😂)

I haven’t read pen pal but I’ve heard if you liked it you are likely to enjoy this. Be sure to check triggers, as mentioned there are dark themes!!

Thank you for the NetGalley gifted copy!

Blackthorn is a (very) dark, gothic romance in true Geissinger fashion. Intrigued from the beginning, the eerie and dark atmosphere continued with Geissinger's deliberate prose, progressively getting darker and more sinister upon Maven's return to her small home town.

Incredibly dark, but I couldn't put this down because I was so in shock, I needed to keep reading. Not wanting to give anything away, I'll stay a bit vague, but know that this will hit you hard and make you question everything.

While I tried to piece things together, Geissinger weaves threads of doubt throughout, she confronts us with the fine line and question of what is real and what is not
Blackthorn leaves you absolutely reeling and with so many questions. Even after finishing this so fast, I want to know more. But I think that's something so fitting for dark, gothic romance, that some things are left unsaid, unsolved, unknown and that forces us to feel uncomfortable--which is the point, isn't it?

Please check trigger warnings because this is DARK.

This. Was. Insane.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Every theory I had while reading this was so far off, and that’s exactly what J.T. Geissinger excels at with her storytelling. Blackthorn is perfect for anyone who loves a suspenseful and atmospherically gothic setting. I will not say much about the overall story because (besides checking trigger warnings) this book should be gone into blind. No, seriously - don’t spoil this book for yourself! I loved our main character, Maven, and her daughter, Bea. Our MMC, Ronan… whew! I’m kind of obsessed with him. Maven’s cooky aunts were hilarious and reminded me so much of Practical Magic. This book is HEAVY on the “what’s real, what’s not real?”, and I’m honestly still not sure. This would be the perfect bookclub read - it would need to be a specific type of bookclub, but this is a book you want to discuss when you finish because everyone is going to have a different opinion, and I LOVE that.

What you’ll get:
-Gothic Small-Town Setting
-Enemies to (Forbidden) Lovers
-Dark Romance
-Witchy Vibes
-🐈‍⬛ FMC
-Grumpy / Protective MMC
-What the hell is happening?

Thank you so much to J.T. Geissinger, Tor Publishing Group I Bramble, and NetGalley for the providing me with the arc for this book in exchange for an honest review.

I will be purchasing the shelf trophy for this one!

2 ⭐️ | 4 🌶️

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Tor /Bramble publishing group for the opportunity to read this ebook.

What did I just read?!

From the beginning, I thought the premise sounded incredibly interesting. It is dark, gothic, and an intense romance. The story is graphic in nature and feels reminiscent of witchy tales released before. The writing style is simplistic and easy to follow along with. I enjoyed the banter and character's dynamic’s. The dialogue was choppy at times but also entertaining to read. I believe that the multilayered plot added dimension to this story that could have easily been a much shorter read.

I struggled with the various different story lines and complicated relationships. I felt like I was missing a lot of context that was necessary. We are essentially thrown into a very complicated town history with little prior knowledge. I was also under the impression that this was going to be about solving her mother’s murder but it also involved a missing dead body, a curse, and star crossed lovers. Interesting right? That’s what kept me going! The timeline was hard for me to place and from the beginning I couldn’t help but question some things. The timeline of her mom’s death and then the birth of her child feels disjointed. Though it is all explained in the end I can’t help but feel like it doesn’t make sense. I left this story with even more questions than I started and that might have been the intention.

Let’s talk about the relationship between Maven and Ronan. It’s tension filled and complicated from their past history. Their banter is equal parts entertaining and frustrating. I had a hard time rooting for their relationship. The “enemies to lovers” element didn’t feel like true enemies to lovers. It felt more or less like two former lovers who became disconnected after a series of life changing events. Mavens supposed hatred of him feels bigger than what she claims it is caused by. This is also explained but still left me feeling eh about it all. Overall all though their story is what kept me coming back for more. I knew I needed to know how this all ended and let me tell you it was a journey.

Please be mindful of the trigger warnings listed in the beginning of the book. This book isn’t for everyone but it might just be the book for you if you like…
🖤 Second chance romance
👻 Gothic romance
🫆 Mystery
🌶️🥵 Graphic spice (with monsters?)

Should this spill into your TBR? Eh, it’s a no for me but it could be a yes for you!

This was one of my most anticipated reads, and I was thrilled to get my hands on an ARC. As always, JT delivers sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud banter, and an immersive setting. The connection between Maven and Ronan is electric and I couldn’t get enough of them. I absolutely loved the gothic, witchy atmosphere, and both main characters were strong, compelling leads.

I had such a great time with this book that I genuinely didn’t want it to end. While it wasn’t a flawless read, the vibes were immaculate.

I’m giving this one 5 stars because I truly enjoyed the experience, even if I didn’t love every single aspect. There’s definitely room to expand the story and deepen some threads, and I hope JT continues to write and build this world. The ending left me a bit uncertain and it felt a little ambiguous to me. I still have questions and was hoping for a bit more resolution, but I’m crossing my fingers for some interconnected novels down the line that may answer some lingering thoughts/questions I had.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC Review & Vibes: Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger out November 4th, 2025!

“Diabolical” indeed

An atypical book from our beloved J.T. Geissinger, but consistent in her unmatched quality.

Spooky & Mysterious. Think Practical Magic meets Fairydale, but “darker and more f*cked-up.”

Blackthorn is a standalone novel that follows Maven Blackthorn, a single mom in her late 20’s who left her home town 12 years ago after her mother’s baffling death. Now, she reluctantly returns to the spooky Solstice, Vermont after the passing of her grandmother, with her young daughter Beatrix in tow. As soon as their feet hit the platform of the train station, Maven starts to be reminded of the numerous reasons she left. She returns to her gothic childhood home to introduce her daughter to her two aunts, and to begin preparations for her grandmothers funeral. When her grandmothers body mysteriously disappears from the funeral home, Maven starts to investigate her grandmothers disappearance along with other strange occurrences of the town. It appears that her forbidden first love-turned enemy Ronan Croft, is in the middle of it all. Now, she’s got the added inconvenience of trying to avoid him while also attempting to unravel the web of secrets, lies, and disturbing history of the town and the Croft/Blackthorn family feud that has gone on for generations. What Maven doesn’t know is how tangled the web really is, how hard it will be to stay away from her old flame, and how hard it will be to get her and her daughter out safely.

💜 Perfect Spooky/Fall Read
💜 Gothic Dark Romance
💜 Forbidden Romance
💜 Black Cat FMC 🖤
💜 Morally Grey MMC
💜 Grumpy/Grumpy
💜 Touch her and 🪦
💜 Enemies-to-Lovers
💜 “Fuck-it” moment 🖤🙌🏻

*Check the trigger warnings!*

Much like a few of her other amazing books, It will keep you thinking “what in the actual f*ck!?” right up until the very end. I could not put this book down last night so I’m writing this review on the fumes of very strong coffee and willpower alone, but it was so worth the loss of sleep! I will definitely be doing a re-read when I get my physical book in November.

Last, but not least I want to shout a huge THANK YOU to J.T. Geissinger. I love letting you “traumatize [me] with your disturbing imagination.” Also, thank you for allowing me to be an ARC reader for you! 🖤 😘

Preorder your copy here: https://www.jtgeissinger.com/project/blackthorn/

I also shared this on J.T. Geissinger’s Facebook group called Geissinger’s Gang, and I will share my review on Amazon as soon as I am able to.

ARC Review
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️.5

OMFG this book was SO good I could not put it down! It gave me a few Practical Magic vibes with the quirky aunts and the small New England town outcasts. And the freaking banter and sexual tension between Maven & Ronan?! 🥵 gimme more! This book was the perfect spooky, mysterious, thriller mind trip. But for real, those plot twists? I was freaking HOOKED! I could not put this book down, I was so entranced I needed to know what happened. I just absolutely devoured this book and I really hope there will be another one coming because I have so so many questions, like what was real?! Gahh omg, definitely add this one to your spooky TBR, you will not be disappointed!

Thank you to JT Geissinger, Bramble & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Fav Quotes:

“Never be ashamed of the things that make you different. That’s where your true power lies.”

“Everything has meaning. The universe doesn’t deal in coincidence.”

“He’s so handsome, it’s evil. The devil himself doesn’t have half this man’s charm.”

“I might have done as he asked, but as it was a command, not a request, I’m obligated to refuse it. I won’t disrespect the generations of Blackthorn women who came before me by bowing to the will of a demanding man.”

This book is dark and I mean pitch-black dark. Definitely not for the faint of heart. The story pulls you in instantly and before you know it, you’re binge-reading in one sitting. Just when you think you’ve figured things out, Geissinger twists the knife and leaves you reeling. I know I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Maven Blackthorn left her small town twelve years ago, but when her grandmother passes away, she returns to the gothic home she grew up in and to her two eccentric aunts. Coming back also means facing the boy who was once her first love.

What follows is a tangled web of secrets, shocking revelations, haunting atmosphere, and yes, a generous dose of steam. Geissinger’s imagination never fails to blow me away, but wow… this ride was intense.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — I have so many unanswered questions! (I can’t wait to talk about this with other readers after its release!)

Thank you NetGalley and Tor/Forge for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!