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Aconite
OUT OF PRINT: Re-released as Botanica Obscura in July 2025
Paperback
First published September 1, 2023
4 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Brittany Styx
5 books3 followersBrittany Styx is a romance and fantasy author. She lives in Eastern Canada with her husband, two children, and their cat. When she’s not writing or devouring books, she can be found in her garden.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 16, 2024
This book was the perfect combination of every single thing I admire in a book. There was the perfect combination of romance, thriller, mystery, and heat (spicyyy). I absolutely loved the dark, gothic vibes that were portrayed through the entire book. Also, the end twist is something I never saw coming which I ALWAYS appreciate in a book. When I can't guess what is going to happen in a book it automatically adds stars for me. I really appreciate how this amazing author writes. Her words painted a picture perfectly in my head, which I also always extremely appreciate. One of my favorite parts about books is being able to escape to another world. There is just something about the way the author paints the words in my head. I truly hope there is more for Jordan and Scarlett, a sequel if you will because I feel like I did not get enough, but I am also very grateful for what I did get to read. I think everyone who likes romance, thriller, mystery, and heat should give this book a read for sure. Below are some of my FAVORITE quotes from the book:
"Lightning lashes out across the sky, accompanied by a warning rumble of thunder."
"My heart flutters in my chest like a moth caught between two palms."
"The air between us is buzzing with something I don't care to give any power to."
"Pale indigo light seeps through the slats in the blinds, illuminating the dust motes suspended in the room."
"My reflection squints back at me, hair dispersed in every direction. Faint shadows have blossomed beneath the skin of my under-eyes after a night of terrible sleep."
"The scent of coffee and the crackle of grease draw me down to the main floor."
"Light reflects on the pale frosted tiles of the greenhouse, tiny trails of morning condensation leaving luminescent streaks down the glass."
"The grass is still laced with dew and birds whistle their morning song overhead as I twist the key into the padlock."
"I'm greeted by a wave of fragrance when I step through the door. Meadow death, oleander, and belladonna are in bloom this week."
"I start with a quick watering of the hanging baskets that hold my string of pearls, english ivy and maidenhair ferns. The leaves are at their full vibrancy, splashes of greens creating a canopy above me."
"The process lulls me into a meditative state."
"A thick layer of bulbous, grey clouds have overtaken the blue sky."
"As if he can hear me spiraling into myself;"
"The aggressive, sparking energy radiating off of him is intoxicating."
"Twigs and stones tear at the bottom of my feet as I take off running deeper into the forest."
"The ocean rages, waves lapping up at the side of the road and spilling over the guard rail as I navigate back home."
"I think about my response, taking another sip of the wine. The slight sting at the back of my throat is pleasant, the alcohol warming my body."
"We fall into an awkward silence, only broken up by the occasional snap of a log in the fireplace."
"The ocean, deep navy and thrashing against the coastline, is perfectly visible above the tree line."
"My name falls from her lips like a prayer."
"The fireplace casts a pale orange glow over her skin, making her appear as if she is dripping in gold."
"In the quiet of the room, reality begins to pick at the edges of the mental bandaid I put over it."
"That ripples with her body like liquid midnight."
"My heart sinks to my stomach at his words."
"My eyes blink open to a chorus of water dripping around me."
Thank you Brittany and I am looking forward to reading even more of your amazing books!!!
"Lightning lashes out across the sky, accompanied by a warning rumble of thunder."
"My heart flutters in my chest like a moth caught between two palms."
"The air between us is buzzing with something I don't care to give any power to."
"Pale indigo light seeps through the slats in the blinds, illuminating the dust motes suspended in the room."
"My reflection squints back at me, hair dispersed in every direction. Faint shadows have blossomed beneath the skin of my under-eyes after a night of terrible sleep."
"The scent of coffee and the crackle of grease draw me down to the main floor."
"Light reflects on the pale frosted tiles of the greenhouse, tiny trails of morning condensation leaving luminescent streaks down the glass."
"The grass is still laced with dew and birds whistle their morning song overhead as I twist the key into the padlock."
"I'm greeted by a wave of fragrance when I step through the door. Meadow death, oleander, and belladonna are in bloom this week."
"I start with a quick watering of the hanging baskets that hold my string of pearls, english ivy and maidenhair ferns. The leaves are at their full vibrancy, splashes of greens creating a canopy above me."
"The process lulls me into a meditative state."
"A thick layer of bulbous, grey clouds have overtaken the blue sky."
"As if he can hear me spiraling into myself;"
"The aggressive, sparking energy radiating off of him is intoxicating."
"Twigs and stones tear at the bottom of my feet as I take off running deeper into the forest."
"The ocean rages, waves lapping up at the side of the road and spilling over the guard rail as I navigate back home."
"I think about my response, taking another sip of the wine. The slight sting at the back of my throat is pleasant, the alcohol warming my body."
"We fall into an awkward silence, only broken up by the occasional snap of a log in the fireplace."
"The ocean, deep navy and thrashing against the coastline, is perfectly visible above the tree line."
"My name falls from her lips like a prayer."
"The fireplace casts a pale orange glow over her skin, making her appear as if she is dripping in gold."
"In the quiet of the room, reality begins to pick at the edges of the mental bandaid I put over it."
"That ripples with her body like liquid midnight."
"My heart sinks to my stomach at his words."
"My eyes blink open to a chorus of water dripping around me."
Thank you Brittany and I am looking forward to reading even more of your amazing books!!!
August 24, 2023
Small Business BookTok ARC Reviews: “Aconite ” by Brittany Styx
Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.
Pressured into an arranged marriage to her wealthy, abusive fiance by her parents, Scarlett Owens has always felt like she's never had any control over her life. Jordan Wilde is a reclusive billionaire from Scarlett's past who's secret life and vendetta against a sinister underground ring leaves a trail of bloodshed in his wake. When the two reunite and Jordan uncovers a sinister secret about her fiance, Scarlett is taken in under the protection of the vigilante billionaire. Will she escape her fiancée's grasp and get her revenge on him? If the fiance is out of the picture, where would that leave Scarlett and Jordan's chemistry?
This is Brittany Styx's debut Dark Romance book, and it's brilliant! Inspired loosely on the mythology that is "Hades and Persephone", this narrative got everything you would want in a Dark Romance narrative:
World-building filled with action-packed tension and the uncovering of underground secret societies!
A complex, morally gray protagonist who's every move will leave you on the edge of your seat!
A complex, yet empowering heroine who progresses from a reluctant protagonist to someone who fights for her own power and control!
Fast-paced action and tension!
A plethora of spicy moments.
Not only does this book tick off all of the boxes for a Dark Romance narrative, but it thoughtfully addresses serious issues such as domestic abuse and the inhumanity and harmfulness of sex trafficking. If you love a gritty, tension-packed, and informative narrative reminiscent of "Hades and Persephone" and other Dark Romance stories such as "Phantom" by Greer Rivers, then don't miss out on this book when it reaches online shelves September 1st, 2023!
Spice Meter: 5/5🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
Rating: 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Tropes to Expect: Strangers-To-Lovers, Secret Underground Societies, Billionaire Vigilante With A Vengeance, Missing Person Case Narrative, He Falls First, and Secrets and Lies.
- Trigger Warnings: Domestic Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Neglectful Parenting, Trafficking, Assault and Harassment, Branding, Stalking, and Graphic Deaths.
Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.
Pressured into an arranged marriage to her wealthy, abusive fiance by her parents, Scarlett Owens has always felt like she's never had any control over her life. Jordan Wilde is a reclusive billionaire from Scarlett's past who's secret life and vendetta against a sinister underground ring leaves a trail of bloodshed in his wake. When the two reunite and Jordan uncovers a sinister secret about her fiance, Scarlett is taken in under the protection of the vigilante billionaire. Will she escape her fiancée's grasp and get her revenge on him? If the fiance is out of the picture, where would that leave Scarlett and Jordan's chemistry?
This is Brittany Styx's debut Dark Romance book, and it's brilliant! Inspired loosely on the mythology that is "Hades and Persephone", this narrative got everything you would want in a Dark Romance narrative:
World-building filled with action-packed tension and the uncovering of underground secret societies!
A complex, morally gray protagonist who's every move will leave you on the edge of your seat!
A complex, yet empowering heroine who progresses from a reluctant protagonist to someone who fights for her own power and control!
Fast-paced action and tension!
A plethora of spicy moments.
Not only does this book tick off all of the boxes for a Dark Romance narrative, but it thoughtfully addresses serious issues such as domestic abuse and the inhumanity and harmfulness of sex trafficking. If you love a gritty, tension-packed, and informative narrative reminiscent of "Hades and Persephone" and other Dark Romance stories such as "Phantom" by Greer Rivers, then don't miss out on this book when it reaches online shelves September 1st, 2023!
Spice Meter: 5/5🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
Rating: 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Tropes to Expect: Strangers-To-Lovers, Secret Underground Societies, Billionaire Vigilante With A Vengeance, Missing Person Case Narrative, He Falls First, and Secrets and Lies.
- Trigger Warnings: Domestic Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Neglectful Parenting, Trafficking, Assault and Harassment, Branding, Stalking, and Graphic Deaths.
September 1, 2023
💀 dark romance
🔪 vigilante unaliver
🏃🏽♀️ chase scenes
🌚 lowkey stalker
🥀 hades x persephone inspired
👀 he's obsessed w/ her
I really enjoyed this debut novella. There are so many gorgeous highlightable quotes, Brittany's writing has a beautiful poetic style to it that I absolutely loved. The knowledge and passion for botany is so evident and ultimately became the supporting hero of the story.
In Aconite we meet Scarlett who is trapped in an engagement she's not entirely thrilled about but is going through the motions of what is expected of her. I found her personality relatable and likeable, she has gumption and was witty at times. She felt like someone I would absolutely be friends with. Her strength and tenacity in the situations she finds herself are commendable and well written.
Jordan. Oh, Jordan Wilde. The morally grey, vigilante kïller, lowkey stalker that we all make romantic excuses for. Is he a red flag disguised as talk, dark and brooding? Absolutely. But he does what he does out of love and loyalty and this is exactly what secures him a spot on the book boyfriend list. He's the Hades to Scarlett's Persephone and, whilst she fights him (as she should) at times, the spice between them was also delicious.
TW:
▪︎ attempted SA
▪︎ domestic abuse (verbal + emotional)
▪︎ human trafficking
▪︎ abduction
🔪 vigilante unaliver
🏃🏽♀️ chase scenes
🌚 lowkey stalker
🥀 hades x persephone inspired
👀 he's obsessed w/ her
I really enjoyed this debut novella. There are so many gorgeous highlightable quotes, Brittany's writing has a beautiful poetic style to it that I absolutely loved. The knowledge and passion for botany is so evident and ultimately became the supporting hero of the story.
In Aconite we meet Scarlett who is trapped in an engagement she's not entirely thrilled about but is going through the motions of what is expected of her. I found her personality relatable and likeable, she has gumption and was witty at times. She felt like someone I would absolutely be friends with. Her strength and tenacity in the situations she finds herself are commendable and well written.
Jordan. Oh, Jordan Wilde. The morally grey, vigilante kïller, lowkey stalker that we all make romantic excuses for. Is he a red flag disguised as talk, dark and brooding? Absolutely. But he does what he does out of love and loyalty and this is exactly what secures him a spot on the book boyfriend list. He's the Hades to Scarlett's Persephone and, whilst she fights him (as she should) at times, the spice between them was also delicious.
TW:
▪︎ attempted SA
▪︎ domestic abuse (verbal + emotional)
▪︎ human trafficking
▪︎ abduction
June 22, 2024
ACONITE, gave me all the feels.
I really love books that are written like this, and with like this I mean , giving a poetic feel to it.
In this way I feel more connected to the characters and story.
And, I love this one.
_
10 years ago Scarlett and Jordan had a brief encounter. 10 years later they crosses their path again but only this time she is engaged with another man and he is here finding and killing the culprits behind his sister's death.
It has mention of abuse, trafficking, stalking, gore, murder . Please read through the TW's.
As a Novella this was a bit fast pace, but the writing was able to hold the story altogether.
As I said, the whole vibe and feel of this book and the characters kept me so hooked that I literally completed it in a day.
I loved Scarlett and Jordan. Their chemistry, the intensity and the pull they had for each other was tooo goood. I love to see lead characters with chemistry this intense. They make the story 10 times better.
In short, I loved this one. ACONITE was such an amazing read, and it took me out of my reading slump. So thank you.
Being her debut book, Brittany did a great work and I wish her all the best.
I really love books that are written like this, and with like this I mean , giving a poetic feel to it.
In this way I feel more connected to the characters and story.
And, I love this one.
_
10 years ago Scarlett and Jordan had a brief encounter. 10 years later they crosses their path again but only this time she is engaged with another man and he is here finding and killing the culprits behind his sister's death.
It has mention of abuse, trafficking, stalking, gore, murder . Please read through the TW's.
As a Novella this was a bit fast pace, but the writing was able to hold the story altogether.
As I said, the whole vibe and feel of this book and the characters kept me so hooked that I literally completed it in a day.
I loved Scarlett and Jordan. Their chemistry, the intensity and the pull they had for each other was tooo goood. I love to see lead characters with chemistry this intense. They make the story 10 times better.
In short, I loved this one. ACONITE was such an amazing read, and it took me out of my reading slump. So thank you.
Being her debut book, Brittany did a great work and I wish her all the best.
September 1, 2023
Grumpy/sunshine and a dark romance? I am so in.
The twists and turns in this story kept me on my toes. Happy moment, sad moment, angry moment, and then, just for fun, a naughty moment. 😉 Phew. Let me catch my breathe.
Scarlett and Mason’s relationship was a whirlwind. It escalated quickly which made me question all the good that can come with it. So many things were happening in this story that, because of the dark romance promise this book offered, all the bad what ifs were running through my mind. Yay for so, so many of them to not happen.
If you need a kinda smutty, grumpy/sunshine novella as a pallet cleanser, this would be the one.
The twists and turns in this story kept me on my toes. Happy moment, sad moment, angry moment, and then, just for fun, a naughty moment. 😉 Phew. Let me catch my breathe.
Scarlett and Mason’s relationship was a whirlwind. It escalated quickly which made me question all the good that can come with it. So many things were happening in this story that, because of the dark romance promise this book offered, all the bad what ifs were running through my mind. Yay for so, so many of them to not happen.
If you need a kinda smutty, grumpy/sunshine novella as a pallet cleanser, this would be the one.
August 25, 2023
This is Brittany’s debut novella and I was lucky to receive an arc for it!
I was hooked from the first page, I loved Scarlett’s and Jordan’s story. He is the morally grey villain I didn’t know I needed and this story gave me all the gothic vibes that I love.
Jordan reminded me of Zade and I didn’t mind it one bit. I’m not going to say too much about this one, I wouldn’t want to spoil all the fun.
If you like a dark romance with gothic vibes, where he’s a stalker and unaliver, gives good spice and keeps you entertained - read this 🖤
I was hooked from the first page, I loved Scarlett’s and Jordan’s story. He is the morally grey villain I didn’t know I needed and this story gave me all the gothic vibes that I love.
Jordan reminded me of Zade and I didn’t mind it one bit. I’m not going to say too much about this one, I wouldn’t want to spoil all the fun.
If you like a dark romance with gothic vibes, where he’s a stalker and unaliver, gives good spice and keeps you entertained - read this 🖤
August 28, 2023
Read if you like
🦋Underworld secret society
🦋references to Hades and Persephone mythology
🦋Novella
🦋Badass FMC
🦋Vigilante MMC
🦋Morally grey characters
It was a short and sweet read . It's set in a small town and the descriptions were so aesthetically pleasing kinda like gothikana( I’m obsessed with that aesthetic and now with this as well)I loved the gothic vibes. The overall writing is incredible, doesn't seem like a debut novella (but it is)I enjoyed the stroy and the ending even more so. I literally gasped reading the last few pages. The characters are lovable and amazing.
🦋Underworld secret society
🦋references to Hades and Persephone mythology
🦋Novella
🦋Badass FMC
🦋Vigilante MMC
🦋Morally grey characters
It was a short and sweet read . It's set in a small town and the descriptions were so aesthetically pleasing kinda like gothikana( I’m obsessed with that aesthetic and now with this as well)I loved the gothic vibes. The overall writing is incredible, doesn't seem like a debut novella (but it is)I enjoyed the stroy and the ending even more so. I literally gasped reading the last few pages. The characters are lovable and amazing.
August 29, 2023
This is my first time reading a novella. And I want to thank brittany for choosing me as an Arc reader. I truly loved this book, I loved scarlet's personality and the brooding of the MMC jordan. Jordan, could 100% be a vampire in a fantasy setting 🤌🏾✨ I love the pace of the book, it didn't feel too rushed and the side characters were very loveable. Shout out to Sunny 😅🤣
Overall I think this is a great book, as always check the TW as this is a dark romance 🫶🏾
Overall I think this is a great book, as always check the TW as this is a dark romance 🫶🏾
September 1, 2023
an EXCELLENT debut novella from brittany! i loved jordan and scarlet and their journey. the suspense in this was so so good too, i loved not knowing what was coming!!
i can’t wait to read more by brittany!!
i can’t wait to read more by brittany!!
September 3, 2023
3.75⭐️
October 11, 2023
This was a quick read but oh my gosh I loved it! It's super spicy and Jordan Wilde is ohmygooodddd. I love him. Honestly I wanted more, but I am happy with what we got 😂 Would definitely recommend!
September 12, 2023
🪻Aconite by Brittany Styx 🪻
did I finish this book?: yes ✔️
format: physical arc
rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I’m one of the few that were lucky enough to be chosen for an ARC.
I really enjoyed this debut novella! It was so well written, it was a quick read, I quickly got absorbed into the story. There’s a type of poetic prose to it that I just adored, I annotated so much in my copy!
What you can expect from this story:
👀 mc obsessed with fmc
🔪 vigilante un-aliver mc / stalker mc
🏃🏻♀️ chase scenes and stalking scenes
🥀 hades/persephone dynamic
☠️ dark romance
🌶️ spicy scenes
🐦⬛ gothic vibes
🪻 appreciation for botany
🦋 badass fmc
🖤 morally grey cast of characters
🤫 underworld secret society
This reminded me of Gothikana interestingly enough, the descriptions are so lyrical and aesthetically pleasing. There’s an obvious love for botany that’s transmitted from the page, I loved to see that. If you liked Gothikana, and you liked Zade from the Cat&Mouse duet, I’m sure you’d love this!
The characters are so lovable I adored reading about them, it’s a grumpy/sunshine dynamic as well in my opinion; Scarlet is precious I love her personality, and Jordan is so broody. Their banter was 👩🏻🍳 💋 The secondary characters were also great to read about. The pacing was perfect, and I loved the ending. Highly recommend!
did I finish this book?: yes ✔️
format: physical arc
rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I’m one of the few that were lucky enough to be chosen for an ARC.
I really enjoyed this debut novella! It was so well written, it was a quick read, I quickly got absorbed into the story. There’s a type of poetic prose to it that I just adored, I annotated so much in my copy!
What you can expect from this story:
👀 mc obsessed with fmc
🔪 vigilante un-aliver mc / stalker mc
🏃🏻♀️ chase scenes and stalking scenes
🥀 hades/persephone dynamic
☠️ dark romance
🌶️ spicy scenes
🐦⬛ gothic vibes
🪻 appreciation for botany
🦋 badass fmc
🖤 morally grey cast of characters
🤫 underworld secret society
This reminded me of Gothikana interestingly enough, the descriptions are so lyrical and aesthetically pleasing. There’s an obvious love for botany that’s transmitted from the page, I loved to see that. If you liked Gothikana, and you liked Zade from the Cat&Mouse duet, I’m sure you’d love this!
The characters are so lovable I adored reading about them, it’s a grumpy/sunshine dynamic as well in my opinion; Scarlet is precious I love her personality, and Jordan is so broody. Their banter was 👩🏻🍳 💋 The secondary characters were also great to read about. The pacing was perfect, and I loved the ending. Highly recommend!
September 1, 2023
🪻Aconite by Brittany Styx🪻
MC: Jordan Wilde & Scarlett Owen
While I did love this story. The main characters stole the show. They were so fun with great banter and really added to the story!
I loved the aconite, floral theme weaved throughout this story. It also gave me Haunting/Hunting Adeline vibes but had a beautiful dark academia theme strung through the book 🖤
The beginning of the story hooked me right away. The dynamic with Jordan, Theo, and Scarlett was tense but done so well! I like the inkling of defiance from Scarlett, but I wanted even more of it.
Again, loved our secondary characters, Harper and Sunny 🩶 and I’m a sucker for an obsessed MMC and Jordan came ready to meet that mark.
A great, quick read with some fun twists along the way!
4 ⭐️
MC: Jordan Wilde & Scarlett Owen
While I did love this story. The main characters stole the show. They were so fun with great banter and really added to the story!
I loved the aconite, floral theme weaved throughout this story. It also gave me Haunting/Hunting Adeline vibes but had a beautiful dark academia theme strung through the book 🖤
The beginning of the story hooked me right away. The dynamic with Jordan, Theo, and Scarlett was tense but done so well! I like the inkling of defiance from Scarlett, but I wanted even more of it.
Again, loved our secondary characters, Harper and Sunny 🩶 and I’m a sucker for an obsessed MMC and Jordan came ready to meet that mark.
A great, quick read with some fun twists along the way!
4 ⭐️
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews