“Wants to stay right here, in this crack of light. In the space between change, before whatever’s coming next.”

Well, for hours I couldn’t find the right angle to write about this book... So this will be exactly how it comes.

It’s the first book in a series, and I won’t spoil anything.

I want to stay with my very first impression, because there are no other words to describe this book: WILD. PSYCHOLOGICAL. ICE. SHOWER.

The blurb didn’t prepare me. At all.

Sometimes I crave a good, dark, spicy romance to refresh my mind. The best way is to pick an ARC: no reviews, no spoilers, just a fresh start. And a debut? Even better! No background.

And so I picked this one. With a smile on my face I read the first bit - the ‘reader’s contract’ and thought, hell yeah, this will be fun. But the deeper I got, the more my smile dropped and not because I didn’t like it, but because I was in awe of it.

The way it’s written… hard to describe. As someone who rarely enjoys third-person POV, I have to say: this is one of those times it works perfectly. You can see and feel every character at once. It’s like traveling through bodies by magic, while watching the whole room through your own eyes, through a microscope. There’s not much dialogue, but when words do come, they hit in exactly the right place at the right time. The narration is detailed, so the dialogue feels like a climax.

Sometimes it reads like poetry. Like a secret diary. A whisper. Experience. Erotic.

I have a tiny hope that in the printed version, all the words, lines, and spaces stay exactly as they are - because this form holds its magic.

This world is dark, seductive, inviting, cryptic. No chapters of history lessons - just minimal hints, just enough to lead you deeper. And still, you’re blindfolded.

The story is about Daisy. Turning eighteen. A young woman wanting ‘things’ to happen. Finding the parts of herself that scare her. Challenges. Finding the doors that invite her. Again and again.

All those things could live inside any woman, at any age. What do You desire? What do You feel? Can You be honest with yourself, or with someone else?

I feel like this story says: Keep digging. Find Your true desires. Maybe keep it just for you, like a confession.

What stood out to me is how women are described here and how the men are written, too. These male characters are still mysteries, distant enigmas with a power far deeper. This can be a wake-up call for women. And a lesson for men. Though honestly, I want some of those lessons for myself.

This psychological way of telling the story shows Why we crave dark and spicy romance - how it builds, how it breaks you open.

And to rate the spice level… Yes, there is an open-door scene, but the whole book is so intimate, so thick with sexual tension, hunger, lust, and raw, painful wanting that the system just… doesn’t work here.

My suggestion: don’t try to chase the plot. Look deeper. Take your time and think between the lines.

The other books in the series are coming soon too, and I feel like a starving celibate waiting for them.

I got this ARC via @Booksirens, and I cannot wait to see what’s behind those other doors. For Daisy. For me.

⭐5/5

🌶️?/5

Dark Romance ∙ Psychological Thriller ∙ Forbidden Love ∙ Obsession ∙ Slow Burn ∙ Good Girl ∙ Hot & Steamy ∙ 18+/Trigger Warnings" 
- Dark Bedroom Books (102 reviews)

Launch Date: June 21, 2025 (Books 1–3)

Format: eBook, Paperback, and Audiobook (Audible)

Promotions:

• NetGalley ARC distribution

• Goodreads and Amazon review push

• Influencer outreach via Instagram and BookTok

• Targeted launch campaign via author newsletter

• Author website, www.francescablack.com, updated for launch

• Amazon KDP keywords and metadata optimized for high-traffic romance and thriller terms.