Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own :)

Your Knife, My Heart is the kind of book that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between Cameron and Emery. Their connection is raw, emotional, and full of yearning. Not the sweet, sappy kind, but the intense, dark romance kind that makes your heart race. The chemistry between them is immaculate. Cameron is torn between the urge to care and the brutality his past has carved into him, while Emery sees straight through the madness and recognizes the man beneath. Their relationship is chaotic, dangerous and completely addictive.

The concept of the Trials was brilliant. I loved how they weren’t just physical tests of survival, but also a way of forcing the characters closer together. It’s not a typical romance setting, but the author handled it perfectly, turning danger into intimacy in a way that felt fresh and electrifying.

And the ending? I did not see that coming. It was bold, shocking, and left me desperate for the second book in the duology. Honestly, I needed it yesterday.

If you’re looking for a dark, twisted, yet beautifully written romance that balances violence with vulnerability, Your Knife, My Heart will blow you away.

The way I need the next book because I am HURTING!!

This drags you in and doesnt let you go until the last page, its living rent free in my head.

I came for the dark romance and even darker storyline… with Dark Forces, under trials, and a dangerously compelling MMC. It should have been my perfect book—just not quite.

The dedication instantly hooked me: “For those who always fall in love with a fictional man who may or may not unalive you.” Definitely felt like a book that would fit the vibe I was looking for. Something dark and gritty.

This was my first read from this author (though I knew of Leave Me Behind), and Your Heart, My Knife is set in the same Dark Forces military world. It’s a quick, dark read packed with psychological trauma that constantly made me question my morals as I went.

Cameron was easily the most intriguing character—dark, damaged, and entirely focused on keeping Emery alive. I enjoyed how unapologetically messed up he was. Emery, though, really disappointed me. On paper she’s the family executioner, which should have made her a total badass FMC, but instead she often felt weak and in constant need of saving.

The tension between Emery and Cameron also fell flat for me. I typically love a good enemies-to-lovers with lots of angst and slow-burn tension, but Emery just read more like a lust-driven teenager. She’d get turned on by Cameron’s violence one moment, then frustrated by his hot-and-cold behavior the next—it got repetitive fast. I found myself far more invested in the under trials and the survival elements of the story than in their romance.

And then there’s the ending… a cliffhanger with more questions than answers. That’s on me, though—I didn’t realize this was book one of a duology. I’m hoping book two delivers more closure, deeper world-building, and ties up all the loose threads (especially the constant mentions of Reed, who never actually appears here). Honestly, the Dark Forces concept itself was the most fascinating part of this story, and I’d love to see it fleshed out more in the sequel

I was giggling and kicking my feet in excitement that I got to read this book early. It did not disappoint! It's good to be back in the Dark Forces world and Em and Cam are fantastic.

They are both multilayered characters and I loved the progression of their personalities and relationship throughout the story.

There was never a dull moment and throughout the book I laughed, I cried, I gasped in shock, and I loved every second of it. I can't wait to read the second book!

This is a lot darker than most of my other reads and while I did devour it, I found certain elements a little harder to adjust too.
I find myself with a death appreciation for book that’s explore the darker emotions. As much as I adore soft and cosy, there’s a liberating feeling when reading about the trials of heartbreak and psychological pain.
I enjoyed the story immensely and found the writing to be evocative and smooth.
I can not wait for the second part of this book.

This was so good! I love a tortured man who hates everyone but her and this book absolutely delivered.

Your Knife, My Heart is dark, violent, a little toxic, and a lot spicy, while also being genuinely emotional and sweet. The story follows Emery and Cameron, two morally gray (morally black if we’re being honest) professional killers who are forced to be partners and thrown into the Under Trials, a deadly boot camp that only the best of the best can survive. The catch: Cameron has a habit of killing his partners.

I genuinely wish this book was longer because I’m in desperate need for more. I will absolutely be picking up book two!

Thank you NetGalley, Bloom Books, and K.M. Moronova for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

What a fantastic book, so well written and easy to follow along these 2, Cameron, definitely one of my favourite unhinged MMC.

The way they gravitated towards each other, push and pull from Cameron, poor boy was so confused about what was happening. It was so interesting seeing his POV, seeing how he developed throughout the book, how his feelings grew.

Oh Emery...poor Emery dumped into this without a choice. The way she had to get into the groove of how things ran or die, just dumped into these deadly trials, while needing to make sure the ticking bomb of a person that Cameron was wouldn't kill her (like he has all his other partners...)

The ending....I.... I need book 2 right now. Its a romance so we know how it should end but I can't be tortured like this until book 2! 😭

ARC via Netgalley, thank you for the ARC, in exchange for honest review

This book was FIRE. I loved Leave Me Behind, but it definitely left something to be desired. That's where this book comes in.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

I hate to say it, but I think Cameron is now my favorite DF MMC boyfriend (sorry Bones forever in my heart <3). He is a platinum blonde, tattooed, unhinged, lethal man that I have added to my list of top tier book boyfriends.

The pacing for me was *chef's kiss.* The plot didn't feel rushed and the characters' development feels natural. Cameron is so broken and knows it. Emery comes into his life and doesn't try to fix what is broken, but finds the good in him amidst the chaos (also knowing that she's an experiment whose life is in his hands).

Emery's patience makes him pause at times and really evaluate his feelings for her, coming to the realization that she may be good for him and what he needs to feel like he has a purpose other than being a lab rat for the Dark Forces. I was kicking my feet and giggling at how perfect they are for each other.

The ending. I was so hopeful...And then CLIFFHANGER. I'm going to throw myself off a cliff now ;)

Wow. Well, I quite enjoyed this - I have some critiques, but first and foremost what I'll say is that I read this in a single sitting. I started it and really couldn't put it down. It was enthralling and fascinating.

Cameron is everything I want in a morally grey (*cough* read: red flag) character - a little insane, fearless, and ruthless, especially in protecting what he cares about. Emery was a little bit of a weaker character for me - on one hand, I admire her. She did not have it easy growing up and did the best with what she had. But on the other hand, I feel like she is a bit too trusting too easily - even when she claims she isn't, and knows she shouldn't.

The story was interesting. I feel like there's a lot of potential for the next book - understandably, 98% of the setting of this story was either the underground training facility or the wilderness of the trials. I still don't feel like I have a great handle on the background of the Dark Forces. And again, that is totally ok for this first book - I didn't need any more context than what I got. But I hope more is to come with the next book!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Leave Me Behind was my favorite read this year so I had slightly high expectations for Your Knife My Heart. It did NOT disappoint!!! Immediately thrown back into the dark forces & all things wicked & murderous, this book was an incredibly fun, insane, sorrowful, & spicyyyy! Honestly sad it’s over, I could’ve devoured another 800 pages about this duo easily. Cannot wait for whatever comes next in this series!

‘I guess the darkest minds are packaged in cute boxes sometimes.’

I’m giving dark romances another shot, and honestly this wasn’t a bad first pick! Your Knife, My Heart definitely had Joker/Harley Quinn vibes, that and the dual POV between Em and Cam kept me hooked. That said, the writing leaned a smidge too much on telling instead of showing for my preference. Em is supposed to be this lethal killer, yet Cam is constantly saving her, which got old fast. The big reveal about why she’s even in the underground was also pretty underwhelming. I did enjoy some of Cam’s moments, even if they were a little cringe and cliché at times. Boy oh boy, the cliffhanger ending though… yeah, that didn’t work for me at all. A quick, entertaining read, but not one I’d pick up again.

Thank you for the ARC!

Had to take a second to breathe after finishing this book. Once again, K.M. Moronova has left me speechless, wrung out, and in tears. K.M. Moronova writes darkness so beautifully it hurts to breathe. The writing is achingly beautiful, at times almost poetic, but it never softens the darkness of the story or the raw edges of its characters.

Cameron, Mori… you poor, toxic, misunderstood man. The world insists on making you a monster, and most days you believe them. But still, you claw toward something better, something almost human. And then she makes you remember what it feels like to feel at all.

“Something tells me you’ve never known anything but wicked men. I am no exception.”

Emery, Maves… they tried to shape you into a weapon, to use you up and discard you. They trained you to destroy and called it survival. But you broke that mold. You care. Fiercely, recklessly, sometimes even against your will.

“You are the bearer of my soul.”
“What a heavy thing to hold.”

The writing is achingly beautiful, almost poetic, yet never softens the raw grit of the story.

And the spice? 10/10. Was it always love? Absolutely not. Was it laced with hate? More often than not. The spice is a 10/10 blend of love, hate, and everything in between. But that is what makes it cut so deep. Because this is not the end, and I am already desperate for the next book.

6 stars. Infinity stars. Whatever the rating scale is, it’s broken now.
🌶️🌶️

KM Moranova is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me. She’s the queen of perfect pacing, and Your Knife, My Heart had me hooked from page one. Cameron and Emery’s quick wit is hilarious right off the bat, and somehow she manages to make the most deplorable characters completely endearing.

A morally black man with a British accent? Sign me up. An executioner with bright pink hair? Yes, please. These characters feel so real you forget you’re reading a book—they live and breathe off the page.

This story is an origin point in the Dark Forces world. If you’ve read Leave Me Behind, you’ll recognize the elite, ultra-secret military branch that thrives on brutality and silence. This one takes place a decade before those events, dropping us right into the Under Trials—where 101 criminals are forced into brutal, Hunger Games–style challenges until only the most ruthless survive.

I was completely gripped, horrified, and delighted in equal measure. The tension, the chaos, the pull between Cameron and Emery—it’s intoxicating. And then THAT CLIFFHANGER? I’m feral waiting for what’s next.

If you love dark romance that dares to go there, with characters you shouldn’t root for but absolutely do, Moranova owns this lane.

this may be the easiest 5 star I read this year

Yup, another ARC review. This one iv been dying for because I absolutely devoured leave me behind and fell in love with bones & bunny so of course it's would love another dark forces book although this one is set 10 years prior it was just as perfect K.M. Moronova know how to drag you in and keep you intrigued i felt like I needed something much more then I got this was raw in the best way although both characters where twisted in there own way i couldn't help but fall in love with them they baught out so many emotions in me.
Cameron is not morally gray hes pitch black but he had me addicted to him instantly I loved that under all that violence and brutality was a tender boy who just needed the right kinda love from an equally unstable woman. Emery was just as twisted but is a saviour to her bones, she faught back but also seen beyond Camerons darkness to the boy we knew was there. This book had me at the edge of my seat the whole time I couldn't put it down quite literally was up till 5am 😴 and that ending WHAT was that! I think i may need therapy again from the emotional damage this has caused me!

*check in from 75%* What are you doing to me? im absolutely sobbing, aghhhh!!

What the hell did K.M. Just do to me?

This was incredible! Completely different than leave me behind. When I heard we were getting more to dark forces I was unsure how she would make this work with how leave me behind was left off but this was a work of art.

I love how she took us through a journey of how people get into the dark forces and what it takes to becoming apart of them.

I love these characters. They were just as unhinged as the main characters from leave me behind.

That ending was absolutely insane!

I’m now depressed I have to wait for the next book to come out.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom for this ARC!

This. Was. So. Good.

I ate this book up in one sitting and left no crumbs.

I absolutely loved these unhinged characters. We start the book in Cameron’s unhinged POV and I was instantly sucked in to the story. The romance between Em and Cam was delicious. There was so much good tension and banter between them. This book had me feeling all the emotions and that ending was cruel. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC!

Arc Review !!

Tropes: dark military forces, enemies-to-lovers, deadly trials, forced proximity

THAT ENDING ARE YOU JOKING!
When I saw that I got approved for this arc, I was so so excited from hearing so many good things about "Leave Me Behind" (still really need to read this) and this book did not disappoint. I was locked onto this book until the very last page wondering what was going to happen next!

It follows Emery (our fmc) who was forced into a violent role by her family and sentenced to death when captured only to escape as a candidate for the dark forces (a brutal underground military operation) where she must compete in lethal trials for a spot and hopefully freedom. As Emery goes through these trails she is paired up with Cameron who suffers bloodlust due to experimental drugs -- a bloodlust that makes him kill all of his partners.

Moronova broke my heart with this book and I'm still thanking her for it!
Thank you so much NetGalley + Bloom Books for this e-ARC!

This book was every bit as captivating as Leave Me Behind. Cameron and Emory’s chemistry was incredible, and their “games” were so intriguing that I couldn’t put the book down. The twist with her dad knowing completely shocked me, and Cameron’s love for her was both beautiful and heartbreaking—especially when she woke up not remembering him. And that cliffhanger? Absolutely jaw-dropping. This was a solid 5-star read, and I cannot wait for book two!

I did not go in knowing this was a duet or series so that was a bummer. Cameron was really the only one who acted like they’d be in some super special branch of an armed forces. The rest just acted like grown up bullies??? Kind of silly at times. And the injuries not getting infected without care was unrealistic, as well as being able to carry on after being stabbed in the thigh?? And I groaned at the ending.

I don’t know what K.M Moronova puts in these books but I devour them. Her characters are broken, full of darkness, yet love so hard get me every time. I love Cameron and Em so much. The push and pull between them was fantastic and made you feel for both of them for what they were going through. I knew the ending because I had read the description for the second book (so obviously not surprised) but I am SO mad at Nolan for what he had really been doing.