Do you love Hades and Persephone retellings? Do you crave darkly romantic vampire tales with a gothic edge? Then this book is absolutely for you!

A Steep and Savage Path marks J.J.A. Harwood’s stunning debut, and it’s a haunting blend of myth, romance, and the macabre. Our heroine, Irina, finds herself in an arranged marriage to a corpse—yes, a blood-drinking, murderous corpse who’s feared by the townspeople. But there’s more to Stefan than meets the eye… or in this case, the teeth.

Irina’s marriage isn’t for love or duty—it’s part of a greater mission. She’s determined to retrieve her sister’s lost soul after a tragic accident, and Stefan may be her only chance. Together, they embark on a perilous journey through the underworld, passing through three harrowing gates where the line between life and death blurs—and so does the line between duty and desire.

Harwood’s lush, gothic prose evokes the eerie romance of Erin A. Craig and the dark enchantment of Hannah Whitten. Expect one-room tension, a “he falls first” dynamic, and even a touch of queer representation that adds depth to an already atmospheric story.

A story of love, loss, and the lengths we’ll go for redemption—A Steep and Savage Path will sink its teeth into your heart and not let go.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper 360 for sending me an Arc ro review

Short review:
Overall I did enjoy this story, however there were a couple eye rolls (but my opinion will be different than others)

Longer review:
I liked the story and was able to finish in under 2 days. I enjoyed the world it took place in and that there are non human characters. I also enjoyed that there was lgbtq representation (not main relationship). There's enemies (forced allies?) to lovers, an emotional ending, and a sisterly bond that drives one sister to go to the underworld to save the other.

My eye rolling...
The beginning seemed too unrealistic in the sense that the mmc went with the plan too easily. The middle-ish dragged a little (but did pick back up quick). I would have preferred more rage from the fmc in retribution for the mmc towards the end. The ending wasn't explained very well, more details would have been nice as to how it came about.

Amazing book. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

First, thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC opportunity!

One of my favorite movies has always been What Dreams May Come with Robin Williams, and this book, while a little lighter in the topics around death, brought that same feeling back for me. The world was so vivid and atmospheric that it pulled me in right away.

The story follows Irina, who agrees to marry a dead man as part of a ritual meant to end the reign of a vampire named Stefan. But really, she’s doing it to save her sister, whose soul is trapped in the land of the dead. To get there, she makes a deal with Stefan: he’ll guide her through the underworld, and in return, he can drink her blood.

What I loved most was how that relationship evolved. Stefan isn’t the monster everyone says he is, and as Irina starts to see him for who he truly is, her mission, and her choices, get a lot more complicated.

The worldbuilding is gorgeous without ever feeling heavy, and the premise felt fresh and different. The pacing slowed down a bit in the middle, but the emotional pull and the writing style kept me hooked the whole way through.

If you like YA fantasy that’s emotional, romantic, and just a little haunting, this one’s for you.

This one took me a bit to get into. This was a deeply sad, but heartfelt book. It did come with a we'll call it mythologically related "happy" ending. But the 3 characters in this series went through a lot.
They all have an individual journey in this book, both in life, and in the afterlife.

The only thing I greatly dislike as a reader is that this is split into five giant parts with fully run on chapters, no placements, or even visual separations, just an entire wad of text. It made it very hard to read as a digital reader from one device to the other, even with trying to bookmark. But any delineations here would be very helpful.

Irina's young sister (Catalina) has had an accident- where her body lives, but she has no awareness in the world around her. A local witch told her that while her body goes on, her soul is trapped in the afterlife. Irina is determined to save her sister, and pull her out of the beyond, at great risk and detriment to herself.
She is hunting for a guide, had heard rumors of a vampire attacking a village- knowing that they'd eventually need to wed the 'dead' to a living woman to soothe his unrested soul because he was unmarried in life- volunteers herself to be his living bride. Stefan a fairly dangerous vampire is strong-armed by her and a wooden chair into an agreement. She feeds him and he guides her into the place beyond the living.

Stefan and Irina will face all the things that souls must go through to move on together and find Catalina. They begin as reluctant agreement, to eventually friends and truly learn to trust and care for each other. But the truth of their lives will spill out, and secrets will get out.
I did enjoy this, but it was an emotional story. I truly did feel especially for Stefan and what was done to him by his family and village. And was glad there was a good resolution for them both.

A journey into the Underworld with a vampire? Say less. The gothic, eerie atmosphere of this book is everything.

This folklore-inspired gothic fantasy is haunting, emotional, and one of the saddest (yet most beautiful) stories I’ve read. I teared up more than once—sexy and sad, yes, I’m talking about the book but also maybe me 😇.

Irina is forced to marry a vampire to save her village, but her real mission is to journey into the Underworld to reclaim her sister’s stolen soul. Stefan (major Salvatore vibes) agrees to help—for a price: her blood. The world-building is vivid and haunting, and the romance? Chef’s kiss. Forced proximity, enemies to lovers, slow burn, and a surprising tenderness that wrecked me in the best way.

The pacing dips here and there, but it’s worth the ride. Perfect for older YA readers who love dark romantasy with heart and heartbreak.

This was such a unique look at the afterlife and a fun concept of a human and vampire striking a deal to travel the land of the dead to find a sister's lost soul.

The romance was nice and slow, it felt incredibly rewarding when things started to pick up and the ending was just...ugh rip my heart out (yet satisfying).
I very much enjoyed the writing, it was easy to read and I felt like I flew through the book. The imagery and parallels made me really stop and think about things. The descriptions were often incredibly beautiful one moment then dark and sinister the next, really hammering home the stark difference between life and death. And our heros journey through the afterlife fraught with dangerous perils and joyful encounters was engaging and kept me glued to the pages.

vampires are always a great idea for these, and the vibes are generally really well-done here. characters are great. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

A Steep and Savage Path has such an interesting premise. It begins with Irina, the protagonist, marrying a vampire named Stefan so she can travel to the underworld and bring back her sister’s soul. She and Stefan have a difficult journey as they traverse this wholly new and dangerous world in search of Irina’s younger sibling.

Irina is a brave and determined protagonist. She is pretty fierce, and she loves deeply. I enjoyed her sharp wit and how discerning she is. I loved Stefan too, even more so as we learn more about him and his heartbreaking backstory. The banter between Irina and Stefan is fantastic! Ever aware, Irina sees the good underneath the monster. And Stefan is menacing when he needs to be, but there’s so much more to him, which Irina helps him see. They had a unique enemies to reluctant partners to lovers relationship that was so lovely. There are even some laugh-out-loud moments between them that were just perfect, especially because they contrast all the tension and danger surrounding them.

At its core, this is a story about sisterly love and the lengths we are willing to go for those we love. It’s about ignorance and the effects of abuse, ambivalence, and complicity. There are some powerful messages and thought-provoking plot points that added so much depth to the story. For me though, there was a bit too much religion. I’m not a religious person, and often when books delve into religion, I lose interest. Also, there’s one plot point that I didn’t overly enjoy. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

This feels like being dropped into a full-on dark fairy tale: hungry vampire, cursed village, and a bride who volunteers to walk straight into the land of the dead. The underworld is vivid and weird and dangerous

A Steep and Savage Path is a story filled with many different folklore from around the world, all combined together to create a unique world. There is some Greek influence, as well as some Eastern European also. In this book the main character, Irina, is forced to work with a vampire in order to go to the underworld and get her sister back.

I am not always a fan of vampires in books and I was a bit apprehensive about how they would be in this, but I was pleasantly surprised and found the vampire to be done in a way that really worked for me.

The romance also surprised me. I was expecting a more dark and broody love interest, but by the end I found him to be very sweet and endearing. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I liked it more honestly.

A few things are keeping me from rating this book higher though. I think the pace was a bit off. There were parts I was very engaged with and others where it dragged a bit and I struggled to pick it up. There was also a point near the end where I thought it was going to go one way and it didn’t end up going that way, but I kind of wish it had… The ending that actually happened felt a bit too convenient to me.

I really enjoyed this book overall though and for the most part enjoyed it a lot. It was different than I expected, and I would recommend going into it with an open mind. Final rating is a 3.5 rounded up for goodreads.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A Steep and Savage Path by JJA Harwood weaves a haunting romance in Transylvania's shadows, where mortal Irina weds immortal vampire Stefan in a desperate ritual.
She trades her blood for his guidance through the perilous underworld to rescue her sister's soul, amid beasts and corpses.
Their enemies-to-lovers journey transforms terror into passion. Irina's fierce resolve clashes with Stefan's menace, evolving into steamy tension and tender revelations amid afterlife horrors.
The vivid underworld pulses with gothic suspense, leading to Irina's heart-wrenching choice between love and family. This unique quest blends thriller chills with romantic heat, leaving a lingering thrill of unbreakable vows.

Irina agrees to be married to a vampire in a village's desperate attempt to save themselves, but she's far from selfless. She wants Stefan to take her to the land of the dead to find her sister's soul, which was knocked loose from her body when she had a terrible fall and didn't return when she woke from her coma. Irina and Stefan are reluctant allies at best, but as their journey forces them to rely on the other, they grow closer and she begins to see the man behind the monster.

Read if you like:
-Vampire Romance
-Quest
-Marriage of Convenience
-Banter
-Impossible Decisions
-Life and Death
-Family

Pardon me while I scream. First, because the slow build of this book completely sucked me in until I was way too obsessed that the third act left me in a spiral. And second because I don't know how to properly review and recommend this book without dropping a million and one spoilers for that same third act. All I can say is you need to read this one. I loved the quest through the land of the dead just as much as I loved the banter and slow build of a real connection under their marriage of convenience.

A Steep and Savage Path by J.J.A. Harwood is a dark, atmospheric fantasy novel that blends folklore, mystery, and emotional depth. The story follows Irina, who volunteers to be a vampire’s bride in order to save her sister’s soul. Harwood creates a setting that feels eerie and immersive, drawing me into a landscape shaped as much by fear and grief as by physical danger.

I loved the mood and vibe. The writing is vivid and descriptive, often giving the story a haunting, almost fairy-tale-like quality. Harwood does an excellent job of building tension, and the sense of unease grows steadily as the plot unfolds. The themes of loss, courage, and survival are handled thoughtfully, making the story feel emotionally grounded rather than just suspenseful.

The characters are complex and believable. Irina and Stefan’s relationship growth is slow and steady. They slowly learn each other and unfold hurt and tragedies.

At times, the pacing can feel slow, especially in sections that focus heavily on atmosphere and internal reflection. Plus, there are no chapters. This book is broken down into 5 sections. This added to a sense of drag.

The ending was underwhelming, and I didn’t feel any closure. I wish there was an epilogue or an extra chapter of their lives.

I am not sure why this was geared towards fans of THE CRIMSON MOTH and THE CRUEL PRINCE...I didn’t find many similarities. Stefan is a vampire, but he was not cruel nor a true enemy. He was a tragic hero that you can’t help but love from the beginning. Does he have monster tendencies? Yes. But towards Irina, no. This was definitely more of reluctant allies to lovers.


Overall, A Steep and Savage Path is a compelling read for lovers of dark fantasy and folklore-inspired stories. Its rich atmosphere, strong character development, and emotional themes make it a high recommend for me.

Thank you, Harper 360, for my free e-ARC 💕

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper, and Ms. Harwood for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

This book was such a pleasant surprise. I’ve had a run of underwhelming books of late and it was nice to find one that I enjoyed so much.

The book is set in a sort of general Romanian/Hungarian historical time period. Irina, the female MC, is trying to find a guide to take her to the underworld to find her sister’s soul, which has become separated from her physical body. To that end she has traveled to a village with a rumored undead entity and agreed to “marry” the (un)dead man. That undead man turns out to be Stefan, who isn’t much older than Irina. Irina is feisty and prickly and likes to be right (who doesn’t?!). Stefan is defensive and wounded and takes out his hurt on Irina in the form of first acerbicness and later sarcasm. The two of them bicker quite a bit but that’s what happens when you force two sharp-tongued people together, a la Beatrice and Benedict.

Irina and Stefan journey through the land of the dead looking through Irina’s sister and gradually their secrets come out as they begin to work together. The underworld was very interestingly portrayed, a mix of folklore and Greek-derived mythology which was a little unusual considering the Romanian-esque influences in the rest of the book. I liked the way Death described the process that souls must undergo in order to let go of their physical lives and attachments. I will admit that I felt more invested in Stefan’s story arc, which focused on overcoming what had happened to him in life, than in Irina’s (finding her sister). The ending was pretty heart-wrenching but I thought it was fitting.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and would be more than happy to try other books by Ms. Harwood. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was a pretty fun time. Our main character is traveling to the land of the dead with her undead husband on a rescue mission. I thought that the book did a good job of developing the romance, and it was authentic feeling enough that there was an impact at the end of the book. I thought parts of the middle were a little slow, but it wasnt slow long enough that I lost interest in the book. Overall a fun read with loveable characters.

“It was never a good idea to make conversation with a monster; it only let you forget about their teeth.”

“A Steep and Savage Path,” by JJA Harwood

This was a really good book. It gave me the vibe of going into the deep dark forest Grimm style fairytales, but this one was in the underworld instead. I really liked both main characters; they were both so sweet and constantly light bantering between them. The FMC is on a mission to get her sister’s soul from the underworld, and MMC is roped into the plot. The plot was simple, but the imagery was fresh and unique from how I normally see it written, so that was really nice. I think this is a good book for readers who want a lighter dark fantasy book on the young adult type of relationship side of books. 4 out of 5 stars.

-Marriage of Convenience
-Vampire X Human
-Journey Narrative
-Underworld

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

“Life isn’t something you give! It’s something you make.”

Lovely cover, but I'm a sucker for leaves and layers!
I am coming out of a certain video game with vampires and traveling. So this was right up my alley. A sad and emotional book as you get into the story. The marriage to a dead man is interesting since I saw it in a chinese drama webtoon and the idea is niche enough to make me want to read them when I come across it!

📚A Steep and Savage Path
✍🏻JJA Harwood
Blurb:
From the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of THE THORNS REMAIN comes an enemies-to-lovers journey to the underworld unlike any other, for fans of THE CRIMSON MOTH and THE CRUEL PRINCE

An immortal vampire. A mortal bride. A vow that even death can’t break.

Irina is about to be married to a dead man. She is the willing village sacrifice for the Wedding of the a desperate ritual designed to lay the hungry vampire that has been terrorising her Transylvanian village to rest. Irina’s beloved sister’s soul is trapped in the land of the dead. If Irina can retrieve it, she could bring her back – but Irina would need a guide, one who can walk between the living and the dead.

Irina strikes up a deal with her new husband – if he agrees to get her safely there and back again, then he can drink her blood as much as he wants.

They begin a perilous journey through the afterlife together, in which Irina realises Stefan isn’t the cruel and terrifying monster that she thought. In a land of three-headed beasts, winged creatures and walking corpses, the last thing Irina would have expected was to fall in love.

Only, Irina learns that by bringing Stefan to the land of the dead she has put him in grave danger, and will be faced with an impossible choice. Will they be able to make it out, undead or alive?
My Thoughts:
This was such a unique look at the afterlife and a fun concept of a human and vampire striking a deal to travel the land of the dead to find a sister's lost soul. A Steep and Savage Path by J.J.A. Harwood is a dark, atmospheric fantasy novel that blends folklore, mystery, and emotional depth. The story follows Irina, who volunteers to be a vampire’s bride in order to save her sister’s soul. Harwood creates a setting that feels eerie and immersive, drawing me into a landscape shaped as much by fear and grief as by physical danger. This was a fun read. A vampire and human in a marriage of convenience team up to save the FMC’s sister in the land of the dead. It had all the feelings of a quest-based adventure, with obstacles galore, and this fake relationship blooming into something beautiful. The ending was devastating but ultimately I love how it turned out
Thanks NetGalley, Magpie Publisher and Author JJA Harwood for the advanced copy of "A Steep and Savage Path" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#MagpiePublisher
#JJHarwood
#ASteepandSavagePath
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a really enjoyable read with a strong gothic atmosphere and a premise that pulled me in right away. The idea of a mortal bride willingly marrying a vampire to save her sister is compelling, and the story leans fully into its dark, fairytale-like tone, especially during the journey through the afterlife. The worldbuilding is vivid and imaginative, though at times I found myself wanting a bit more depth in certain scenes. Still, the emotional core of the story carries it through, and the stakes remain engaging throughout.Overall, this is a solid, atmospheric gothic romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy dark fantasy, slow-burn love stories, and mythic, otherworldly settings.

This was my first book my this author and I really enjoyed it. A Steep and Savage Path is not the typical vampire romance. Instead, it’s a deeply touching story about Irina, a strong female lead who selflessly risks her life to recover her younger sister’s soul, and Stefan, a dear boy who just needed to discover that kindness and gentleness still exist in the world. I would definitely recommend this.

This gothic fantasy weaves together Greek mythology, vampiric lore, and fairy-tale melancholy into something that feels both familiar and strikingly new. Lyrical, resilient, and deeply moving, this story breaks your heart, leaving you utterly wrecked and sobbing by the end. A devastatingly beautiful and yet ultimately hopeful read for anyone who loves gothic fantasy with teeth and soul.

Thank you to Harper 360 for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

wowwww this was a 4 star book from the beginning but it jumped to 5 star when I couldn't stop CRYING at the end!! truly a fun tale and twist on vampires and the land of the dead. very sweet sibling love representation and a cute and painful slow burn romance. a lot of the book is just Walking but that time is used well to explore the main characters inner monologue and really see her dive into her thoughts and weigh out choices. I also liked the very sad tortured meow meow vampire husband and I wanted to give him a blanket and a hug.

recommend for fans of all things vampire, Eldest Daughter Trials, and eastern European fairy tales (very Naomi Novik-esque)!

thanks netgalley for ARC access!

A sacrificial bride meant to appease the undead, a husband with a thirst for blood, and a journey into the underworld to find a living soul—what’s not to adore? The story carries you through the layered depths of the underworld as you learn more about a ceremonial couple who begin as strangers and slowly grow to trust one another. The pacing is steady in this strangers-to-lovers tale, rich with emotion. It’s a journey of growth, trust, and understanding. A visually beautiful, yet sometimes unnerving read. This book is easy to recommend—engaging, atmospheric, and lingering gently in your thoughts long after the final page.