Wicked Hearts

by Rachel Waterlow

They are five years old the first time the nightmare creeps into their minds and settles there, a silent curse they cannot yet understand.

For over twenty years, twin siblings Calla and Valentine Archeon have been haunted by the same flashing images: a dark forest path, a beating heart nestled in a bed of flowers, and a monster lurking in the shadows.

As the curse grows stronger and their humanity begins to fray, Calla and Valentine—alongside a warlock who walks the line between dreams and waking life, an outcast warrior bent on revenge, and the charming captain of a rogue ship—embark on a journey to find the one god who can reverse their curse.

518 pages, Paperback

First published November 7, 2025

Reviews

[Rachel Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

You HAVE to read this book if you love: found family, loveable-messed up characters, unique magic and god systems. This was everything I had hoped for in a book— it was so hard to put down once I started. Am I now a little pissed that I have to wait until the second? Yes. But in the best way possible. I can’t wait to spend more time in this world!!

[C J S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to get this book as an arc. I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was such a gripping story. I would recommend it to anyone

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I would like to thank the author, Rachel, for sending me an eARC of Wicked Hearts in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

When I first started reading Wicked Hearts, it took me a bit to get used to the writing style. For someone who has read a lot of passive voice this year, the active voice made it seem like the book was being narrated. In a way it helped me picture what was happening as I read on my Kindle and it added some substance to the characters and their arcs.

There is a lot of action throughout the book which kept me interested. I also loved the plot and journey the main characters took throughout the book. Another thing that I really liked about Wicked Hearts was the dialogue was between the characters. It showed emotion and how each character was affected by the other. I also liked that there was LGBTQ+ representation in it.

What I didn't like was the fact that the ending seemed to be unfinished. I haven't seen anything about if there will be another book, but I definitely do not think the story is over. While I was mostly satisfied with what it did end on, I feel like there's room to expand on it.

Overall, 4/5 stars. While some may say that this is a "dark romance", I feel that the romance is more of a subplot and it is very limited. I highly recommend this book to those who like adventures, a strong female protagonist, found family, LGBTQ representation, and fantasy.

[Asulley4785 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wicked Hearts by Rachel Waterlow is an absolutely gripping read that kept me hooked from the first page to the last. Waterlow’s storytelling is both intense and immersive, blending dark romance with suspense in a way that feels fresh and compelling. The characters are complex and layered, each with their own secrets and desires, which made me genuinely care about their fates.
The chemistry between the protagonists is electric, and the tension is perfectly balanced with emotional depth. The pacing is excellent—there are enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, yet Waterlow never sacrifices character development for plot.
If you’re a fan of dark romance with high stakes, passionate connections, and a story that lingers long after you’ve finished, Wicked Hearts is a must-read. I can’t wait to see what Rachel Waterlow writes next!

I received an ARC copy and this is my honest review.

[Mandy Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Waterlow’s Wicked Hearts is a dark, mesmerizing tale that expertly navigates the fine line between romance and nightmare.
​This book is an absolutely gripping journey, blending supernatural suspense with high-stakes dark romance. Waterlow creates a truly immersive world around the cursed Archeon twins, Calla and Valentine, whose haunted past drives them on a desperate quest.
​The plot is relentlessly paced, full of sharp twists and relentless tension as the twins gather a fascinating crew—from an outcast warrior to a charming rogue captain. The author’s strength lies in giving us complex, layered characters whose chemistry is electric, making you deeply invested in their impossible mission to confront the god who abandoned them.
​If you love a story with a rich, dark atmosphere, challenging moral gray areas, and an ending that will leave you reeling, Wicked Hearts is a must-read.
​Disclosure: I received an ARC copy and this is my honest review.

[Charlys Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 ARC Review 📖

Wicked Hearts by Rachel Waterlow is dark fantasy done right.

It’s lush, lyrical, and quietly devastating, a story about curses, gods, and the fragile thread of humanity that holds people together even as the darkness tries to tear them apart.

Calla and Valentine Archeon are unforgettable, twin souls bound by a curse that feels alive, pulsing through every page like a second heartbeat.
Their journey with the warlock, the outcast, and the weary captain had me completely enthralled. Every character feels carved from grief and hope in equal measure.

Rachel’s writing is cinematic and poetic, it lingers, the way the best nightmares do. It’s about faith and fear, love and ruin, and the price of wanting answers from the gods who never listened.

If you love dark fantasy that’s rich in emotion, aching with found family, and tinged with horror and beauty, Wicked Hearts will claim a piece of you.

[Patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark romance leaps off the page and lives rent free in your mind because you wont forget these characters or their story.

Author Rachel Wateflow's writing is descriptive and immersive. Her writing is so raw that the characters feel like individuals in your life. You are rooting for them, crying with them and even become angry with them. Their struggles are your stuggles. Thats when you know an author has written something truly spectacular.

The side characters are just as great as the main characters. The family that they built was a great read. This book combines dark romance with suspence, love and pain.

I vould say so much but I wont spoil it for you. What I will say, is read it!

This is 4 out of 5 stars for me.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful story filled with so much adventure. I lived the characters and the venture they went in to find the curse that had been plaguing them since childhood. The world built around this story was fantastic. The elements were perfect. This story has a wonderfully descriptive nature to it that really helped keep you interested throughout. It was definitely a page turner and I just wanted to know what was going to happen next at every turn.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. I hope to read more by you soon.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued from the start! If you're looking for a dark, complex, and gripping read, then this is definitely for you. You follow the two main characters as they seek to find the remedy to the curse that's plagued them since childhood. There is a definite found/chosen family element in the cast of characters. Each one willing to give everything for each other.

This was my first book by Rachel Waterlow. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for what she does next.

[Farya A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the world that Rachel Waterlow built in this book. This is the most fun I have had reading a book in a while. The world is full of interesting, unique descriptions straight out of a dungeon masters notebook.

The characters in this are so strong and I loved the relationships between the characters and their chosen families. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dark fantasy, a little bit of romance, and/or dungeons and dragons. I can’t wait for the next one!

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Dayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a little bit of everything!

I was captivated (although it did take a second for the story to pick up imo) and thought this story was written nicely. The characters gave what they needed to. The representation was done very well. The supernatural/paranormal aspect really added that extra touch to the read. The plot hooks you and gives you twist and turns and more!

I’d recommend this!

[Clouds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good found family, DND inspired adventure!!!

Must read in time for the sequel to come out!