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The House of Teeth #1
Innamorata
A visionary and atmospheric gothic fantasy about necromancy, vengeance, and soul-consuming love, the first in a duology from the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning and Lady Macbeth.
'A gorgeously gruesome Gothic romance.' Jacqueline Carey
'Reid is a singular, extraordinary talent.' Sasha Peyton Smith
'A powerful and essential voice.' Samantha Shannon
________________________________________________
Once there was an island where the dead walked the earth, and seven noble houses ruled by the arcane secrets of necromancy.
A conqueror’s blade brought them low, burning their libraries, killing their lords, and extinguishing their eldritch magic.
But defiant against the new order stands the House of Teeth and its last living beautiful Marozia, the heiress to the House, and her cousin, the uncanny Lady Agnes.
Though she has not spoken a word in seven years, Agnes is the true carrier of the House’s legacy. And she has her orders. She must recapture the secrets of death magic and avenge her family’s fallen honour. She must arrange the betrothal of her beloved cousin Marozia to Liuprand, heir to the conqueror’s throne, for access to the forbidden library in his grotesquely grand castle.
Revenge burns in Agnes’s heart, but so do stranger passions – and it is Liuprand, the golden prince, who speaks to her soul. This passion is as treasonous as it is powerful, poisoning the kingdom’s roots and threatening to tear the already shattered realm in two.
For Agnes’s final order is the She must not fall in love.
Book One of The House of Teeth Duology
'A gorgeously gruesome Gothic romance.' Jacqueline Carey
'Reid is a singular, extraordinary talent.' Sasha Peyton Smith
'A powerful and essential voice.' Samantha Shannon
________________________________________________
Once there was an island where the dead walked the earth, and seven noble houses ruled by the arcane secrets of necromancy.
A conqueror’s blade brought them low, burning their libraries, killing their lords, and extinguishing their eldritch magic.
But defiant against the new order stands the House of Teeth and its last living beautiful Marozia, the heiress to the House, and her cousin, the uncanny Lady Agnes.
Though she has not spoken a word in seven years, Agnes is the true carrier of the House’s legacy. And she has her orders. She must recapture the secrets of death magic and avenge her family’s fallen honour. She must arrange the betrothal of her beloved cousin Marozia to Liuprand, heir to the conqueror’s throne, for access to the forbidden library in his grotesquely grand castle.
Revenge burns in Agnes’s heart, but so do stranger passions – and it is Liuprand, the golden prince, who speaks to her soul. This passion is as treasonous as it is powerful, poisoning the kingdom’s roots and threatening to tear the already shattered realm in two.
For Agnes’s final order is the She must not fall in love.
Book One of The House of Teeth Duology
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2026
262 people are currently reading
37329 people want to read
About the author
Ava Reid
13 books8,261 followersAva Reid is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of gothic fantasies, including A Study in Drowning, Juniper & Thorn, and Lady Macbeth. She lives in California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 634 reviews
February 9, 2026
Never has a book left me feeling the way this one has. On one hand, the story and its execution are quite brilliant, on the other, it’s very unsettling to read.
This book is DARK. It’s gory; it’s creepy. It wants to make you uncomfortable; it wants to get under your skin. Yet, the story is so well told that it almost endears you to it. This is largely due to Ava Reid’s writing, which is beautiful and haunting. She can so easily ensnare you in a single, vividly told moment, while simultaneously laying brick-by-brick a story that you can’t fully appreciate until you reach its conclusion.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, but not to everyone. If you’re looking for a dark, gothic-horror read with betrayal, revenge, and politics that feels somewhat reminiscent of the tv series House of the Dragon, with a sprinkle of necromancy, then this is the story for you. Please check the content warnings though!
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
This book is DARK. It’s gory; it’s creepy. It wants to make you uncomfortable; it wants to get under your skin. Yet, the story is so well told that it almost endears you to it. This is largely due to Ava Reid’s writing, which is beautiful and haunting. She can so easily ensnare you in a single, vividly told moment, while simultaneously laying brick-by-brick a story that you can’t fully appreciate until you reach its conclusion.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, but not to everyone. If you’re looking for a dark, gothic-horror read with betrayal, revenge, and politics that feels somewhat reminiscent of the tv series House of the Dragon, with a sprinkle of necromancy, then this is the story for you. Please check the content warnings though!
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
March 17, 2026
A towering, gothic feast of ruin, longing, and forbidden power.
Ava Reid has crafted a novel that feels less like a story and more like a cursed relic you were never meant to touch—beautiful, treacherous, and humming with old magic. Innamorata is a gothic fantasy that doesn’t just flirt with darkness; it marries it, buries it, resurrects it, and invites you to kneel before it.
From the very first page, the book sinks its claws into you with an atmosphere so thick you could bottle it. Reid’s world—an island once ruled by necromantic houses now crushed under a conqueror’s heel—is horrifyingly alive. Everything feels haunted: the crumbling estates, the restless history, even the silences between characters. It’s the kind of setting where the walls seem to breathe and the shadows feel just a little too curious.
But it’s Lady Agnes who steals the show.
Agnes is one of the most mesmerizing, unnerving heroines I’ve read in years. Her seven-year silence isn’t just a character trait—it becomes a weapon, a curse, a form of devotion, a haunting. She moves through the book like a revenant, bound by her family’s final command: reclaim death magic and avenge their destroyed house. The tragedy is that her heart betrays her long before her mission does.
The tension between fate, duty, and desire coils itself through the pages with exquisite cruelty. Her dangerous connection with Liuprand—the heir of the very man who destroyed her world—is not framed as a fairy-tale romance but as something unsettling, inevitable, and soul-deep. It smolders with the feverish intensity of a love that feels like a sin, one capable of burning down kingdoms and unraveling the self.
But what struck me most is how the book treats legacy. Every character is shaped by the ghosts of their houses—the ones who died and the ones who lived long enough to wish they hadn’t. In this world, ancestry is both armor and shackle, and revenge is a language everyone speaks whether they want to or not.
Reid’s prose is lush, decadent, and merciless. She paints horror with elegance and beauty with rot. Even at its most grotesque, the writing feels hypnotic—like a lullaby whispered in a crypt. It’s visionary, atmospheric, and unflinching in the best possible way.
And then there’s the ending.
I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say I sat in stunned silence for a full minute. It’s shocking without being cheap, bold without being chaotic, the kind of ending that forces you to reconsider everything that came before. This is one of those rare books where the last chapters feel like stepping through a door you can’t walk back out of.
Innamorata is brutal, intoxicating, and deliciously gothic—a story of vengeance, resurrection, and the unraveling power of forbidden love. It’s the type of book you don’t read so much as surrender to.
I am aching for the sequel already.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for sharing one of the most anticipated romantasies of 2026 in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Ava Reid has crafted a novel that feels less like a story and more like a cursed relic you were never meant to touch—beautiful, treacherous, and humming with old magic. Innamorata is a gothic fantasy that doesn’t just flirt with darkness; it marries it, buries it, resurrects it, and invites you to kneel before it.
From the very first page, the book sinks its claws into you with an atmosphere so thick you could bottle it. Reid’s world—an island once ruled by necromantic houses now crushed under a conqueror’s heel—is horrifyingly alive. Everything feels haunted: the crumbling estates, the restless history, even the silences between characters. It’s the kind of setting where the walls seem to breathe and the shadows feel just a little too curious.
But it’s Lady Agnes who steals the show.
Agnes is one of the most mesmerizing, unnerving heroines I’ve read in years. Her seven-year silence isn’t just a character trait—it becomes a weapon, a curse, a form of devotion, a haunting. She moves through the book like a revenant, bound by her family’s final command: reclaim death magic and avenge their destroyed house. The tragedy is that her heart betrays her long before her mission does.
The tension between fate, duty, and desire coils itself through the pages with exquisite cruelty. Her dangerous connection with Liuprand—the heir of the very man who destroyed her world—is not framed as a fairy-tale romance but as something unsettling, inevitable, and soul-deep. It smolders with the feverish intensity of a love that feels like a sin, one capable of burning down kingdoms and unraveling the self.
But what struck me most is how the book treats legacy. Every character is shaped by the ghosts of their houses—the ones who died and the ones who lived long enough to wish they hadn’t. In this world, ancestry is both armor and shackle, and revenge is a language everyone speaks whether they want to or not.
Reid’s prose is lush, decadent, and merciless. She paints horror with elegance and beauty with rot. Even at its most grotesque, the writing feels hypnotic—like a lullaby whispered in a crypt. It’s visionary, atmospheric, and unflinching in the best possible way.
And then there’s the ending.
I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say I sat in stunned silence for a full minute. It’s shocking without being cheap, bold without being chaotic, the kind of ending that forces you to reconsider everything that came before. This is one of those rare books where the last chapters feel like stepping through a door you can’t walk back out of.
Innamorata is brutal, intoxicating, and deliciously gothic—a story of vengeance, resurrection, and the unraveling power of forbidden love. It’s the type of book you don’t read so much as surrender to.
I am aching for the sequel already.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for sharing one of the most anticipated romantasies of 2026 in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium blog
December 17, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey UK for the ARC!
🌟🌟/5
(Disclaimer: Please check out the content warnings before reading. I really can't stress this enough. Also, make sure to read this on an empty stomach.)
Ava Reid's epic fantasy 'Innamorata' has every single ingredient necessary to create an incredible gothic novel. It's got immaculate vibes, tension and a sense of dread, and wonderful prose. I was thrilled when AR said that it's the book that's most similar to 'Juniper & Thorn', which is not only my favourite of Ava's works but one of my favourite books of all time. And yet, here we are.
The first quarter was everything I hoped this book would be. I thought I'd finally get what I'd been expecting from Reid ever since I read J&T. The characters were fascinating, and I loved the richly detailed world and history, the interesting rituals/practices and the complex political landscape. I still believe that Reid is a master of metaphor and imagery and I could really appreciate that initially. Unfortunately, everything gradually went downhill.
I understand that making the reader uncomfortable is a hallmark of a gothic novel. I don't consider myself particularly squeamish and can, in most cases, tolerate gore and violence. As far as 'Innamorata' is concerned, I feel like AR went a bit too overboard with the...details. This book has almost every single content warning imaginable. I was more annoyed and bored than repulsed, though. Reading this reminded me of my terrible experience with Susan Cokal's 'The Kingdom of Little Wounds', another unnecessarily long book that goes on incessantly about diseases, bodily fluids and other anatomical horrors (that was even worse than Innamorata, imo). Even the prose started feeling too dense and repetitive, the sentences too long-winded, and the word 'quotidian' too overused after a while. Slow pacing often complements a gothic novel, but it didn't work for me here.
The premise made it sound like necromancy would be a crucial plot device but that wasn't the case at all, at least for the first book in this duology. Agnes completely forgets about her mission to find the texts about magic in the library of Castle Crudele after a certain event. I'd say that the book focuses a lot more on political intrigue than anything else, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but made the plot quite uneventful.
The 'soul-consuming love' the blurb mentions was also a huge disappointment. Agnes and Liuprand's relationship was almost entirely based on telling and not showing. Agnes herself was a compelling character but I couldn't care less about the love story. I'm always peeved when characters make declarations of undying love when said love doesn't feel believable.
I don't have too many thoughts about the ending. Perhaps I was desensitized by certain events to the point that I wasn't too shocked by it. I suppose it's fitting for a book like this. I was insanely excited for 'Innamorata' ever since it was announced and I was hoping it would rekindle my love for Ava Reid after lots of lackluster works. Although I desperately tried loving this book, it just ended up being yet another addition to the list of AR novels I was sorely disappointed by.
🌟🌟/5
(Disclaimer: Please check out the content warnings before reading. I really can't stress this enough. Also, make sure to read this on an empty stomach.)
Ava Reid's epic fantasy 'Innamorata' has every single ingredient necessary to create an incredible gothic novel. It's got immaculate vibes, tension and a sense of dread, and wonderful prose. I was thrilled when AR said that it's the book that's most similar to 'Juniper & Thorn', which is not only my favourite of Ava's works but one of my favourite books of all time. And yet, here we are.
The first quarter was everything I hoped this book would be. I thought I'd finally get what I'd been expecting from Reid ever since I read J&T. The characters were fascinating, and I loved the richly detailed world and history, the interesting rituals/practices and the complex political landscape. I still believe that Reid is a master of metaphor and imagery and I could really appreciate that initially. Unfortunately, everything gradually went downhill.
I understand that making the reader uncomfortable is a hallmark of a gothic novel. I don't consider myself particularly squeamish and can, in most cases, tolerate gore and violence. As far as 'Innamorata' is concerned, I feel like AR went a bit too overboard with the...details. This book has almost every single content warning imaginable. I was more annoyed and bored than repulsed, though. Reading this reminded me of my terrible experience with Susan Cokal's 'The Kingdom of Little Wounds', another unnecessarily long book that goes on incessantly about diseases, bodily fluids and other anatomical horrors (that was even worse than Innamorata, imo). Even the prose started feeling too dense and repetitive, the sentences too long-winded, and the word 'quotidian' too overused after a while. Slow pacing often complements a gothic novel, but it didn't work for me here.
The premise made it sound like necromancy would be a crucial plot device but that wasn't the case at all, at least for the first book in this duology. Agnes completely forgets about her mission to find the texts about magic in the library of Castle Crudele after a certain event. I'd say that the book focuses a lot more on political intrigue than anything else, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but made the plot quite uneventful.
The 'soul-consuming love' the blurb mentions was also a huge disappointment. Agnes and Liuprand's relationship was almost entirely based on telling and not showing. Agnes herself was a compelling character but I couldn't care less about the love story. I'm always peeved when characters make declarations of undying love when said love doesn't feel believable.
I don't have too many thoughts about the ending. Perhaps I was desensitized by certain events to the point that I wasn't too shocked by it. I suppose it's fitting for a book like this. I was insanely excited for 'Innamorata' ever since it was announced and I was hoping it would rekindle my love for Ava Reid after lots of lackluster works. Although I desperately tried loving this book, it just ended up being yet another addition to the list of AR novels I was sorely disappointed by.
February 15, 2026
WE ARE BACK. This is peculiar and unhinged.
The silent Lady Agnes, more akin to the dead than to the living, is the cousin to the heiress to the House of Teeth, the shadow to her beauty. When her cousin is betrothed to the Prince, heir to the conqueror’s throne, Agnes joins her cousin and tries to find revenge in the tomes of the library. However, their creepily close relationship is strained as the cousins of the House of Teeth learn to survive the darkness and horrors of Castle Peake.
Her silence was as much a choice as any speech had ever been. It was not withdrawal, not cowering. As she had discovered, silence was not the absence of a thing. It was a force in and of itself. She brandished it like a sword. She impressed it upon the world.
First of all, this has a richly dark and grotesque history and covenant that is made more intricate by the politics of the Houses.
The relationships (familiar, friendships, husbands, royalty) are at the heart of this depraved book. Every character is restrained, confined, and defined by who they can associate with.
Ava Reid’s writing is what makes this so callously cruel, crude, vile, and depraved. Passages of obsession, of lust, of vengeance. Certain parts made me feel filthy just reading it which is the intent. Others made my heart ache.
“I would give you all you wish for,” she whispered, “if there were not half the world between us.”
His lips pressed to her ear again. “I feel nothing between us now.”
Agnes felt herself dripping for him. “You are reckless with your desire, and all my reason is undone by your mouth.”
This is Reid returning back to their roots. This is ugly, bleak, and garish - a folktale filed with blood.
I didn’t looove how thinness was elevated as a beauty standard. Can we excuse/forgive this due to its gothic aesthetic? I’d struggle to accept it to this extreme.
The ending was disgusting and heartbreaking. What other books can you say manage to pull that off?
P.S. this is definitely adult.
I did not realise this was a first of a duology.
I read book one six months before release and now have to wait for book two?!! RIP. Quite literally.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
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The silent Lady Agnes, more akin to the dead than to the living, is the cousin to the heiress to the House of Teeth, the shadow to her beauty. When her cousin is betrothed to the Prince, heir to the conqueror’s throne, Agnes joins her cousin and tries to find revenge in the tomes of the library. However, their creepily close relationship is strained as the cousins of the House of Teeth learn to survive the darkness and horrors of Castle Peake.
Her silence was as much a choice as any speech had ever been. It was not withdrawal, not cowering. As she had discovered, silence was not the absence of a thing. It was a force in and of itself. She brandished it like a sword. She impressed it upon the world.
First of all, this has a richly dark and grotesque history and covenant that is made more intricate by the politics of the Houses.
The relationships (familiar, friendships, husbands, royalty) are at the heart of this depraved book. Every character is restrained, confined, and defined by who they can associate with.
Ava Reid’s writing is what makes this so callously cruel, crude, vile, and depraved. Passages of obsession, of lust, of vengeance. Certain parts made me feel filthy just reading it which is the intent. Others made my heart ache.
“I would give you all you wish for,” she whispered, “if there were not half the world between us.”
His lips pressed to her ear again. “I feel nothing between us now.”
Agnes felt herself dripping for him. “You are reckless with your desire, and all my reason is undone by your mouth.”
This is Reid returning back to their roots. This is ugly, bleak, and garish - a folktale filed with blood.
I didn’t looove how thinness was elevated as a beauty standard. Can we excuse/forgive this due to its gothic aesthetic? I’d struggle to accept it to this extreme.
The ending was disgusting and heartbreaking. What other books can you say manage to pull that off?
P.S. this is definitely adult.
I did not realise this was a first of a duology.
I read book one six months before release and now have to wait for book two?!! RIP. Quite literally.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
October 7, 2025
Innamorata by Ava Reid is the first in an adult dark fantasy duology, focusing on Agnes of the House of Teeth and her cousin Marozia, as Marozia is married off to Prince Liuprand Berengar and Anges works to fulfill her deceased grandmother Adele-Blanche’s plans to bring down the House of Berengar. Written in third person multi-PoV, Agnes is our main PoV, though several other characters have chapters interspersed.
The island of Deprane was conquered by the continental nation of Seraph after a devastating plague swept the island and the nobles engaged in necromancy, raising their loved from the dead and birthing terrible monsters that ravaged the coasts of Seraph. A Seraphine noble, Berengar conquered the island and slaughtered everyone who engaged in necromancy, burning libraries to ensure the knowledge was lost forever, and implementing strict rules to prevent it from happening again. Each House is responsible for a part of the body, and everyone who dies is subject to an elaborate desecration of dismemberment, with the relevant pieces going to each house. The House of Blood gets the blood, the House of Teeth gets the teeth, etc. The staging is dark and gothic, with plenty of crumbling edifices and moody skies galore.
I enjoyed the macabre mood of the setting for the first half of the book or so, but Reid’s writing is so unnecessarily overwrought that it started to lose its impact and I became bored by the countless elaborate comparisons and depictions, and the flowery word choices. She used quotidian ten times. Ten.
Not every paragraph needs to be a poem or some tortured ode, and language that would have been beautiful in scarcity became florid in abundance. Her phrasing lost its impact and I had to fight the urge to skim whenever the author launched into another rhapsody over “his rather quotidian doublet with navy and braids of gold” or “the rose before its rot” - a phrase employed several times.
An example, when Agnes first views Castle Crudele, the seat of House Berengar:
“It was a colossal thing, and — christened with the blood of his enemies — Berengar Who-Fights-Alone had seen his castle rise like mushrooms in a rainstorm in the age immediately following his conquest. It was a palace that had no infancy, no floundering juvenile years, only the maturity that had bleached its walls with accumulations of salt, scruffy and pale as a septuagenarian’s beard.”
Every paragraph is like that: bloated, overdone, elaborate. Reid is very concerned with imagery, and she is able to turn a beautiful phrase, but her writing gets lost under the weight of her word choices and insistence that each selection be perfectly polished.
Marozia and Agnes are cousins of an age - daughters of twins - who are raised together in a strange sort of creepy symbiosis, with Marozia the bright sun and Agnes the ascetic shadow. Marozia is raised to be the heiress to the House of Teeth as she was the daughter of the elder twin, despite being born after Agnes, and is beautiful, accomplished, vibrant and dominant. She is Mistress of the House of Teeth upon Adele-Blanche’s death and wed to the Prince.
Agnes is raised to be Adele-Blanche’s instrument, tasked with recovering the knowledge of necromancy from the royal palace after Marozia is wed to the Prince, and raising Adele-Blanche from the dead (despite the desecration). Agnes speaks to no one, having been silent since her grandmother had her body mutilated in service to this goal, and consumes only bread and watered wine, regularly poisoning herself with mandrake and henbane and experiencing visions.
This section sums up their dynamic in the first portion of the book:
“Instinctually, Agnes drew her arms around her cousin, pulling Marozia to her chest. The notches of Marozia’s spine prodded at her breasts. Agnes slowed her breathing until they were inhaling and exhaling in tandem.
“And then, as she did every night, Marozia took Agnes tenderly by the wrist and drew her hand upward towards her mouth. Agnes felt a shiver dance across her skin, first cold, and then warm, settling into a heavy need at the bottom of her belly. Marozia put Agnes’s thumb to her lips and sucked until they were lulled into twin slumbers.”
After they move to Castle Crudele, they start to separate as Liuprand comes between them. He’s portrayed as a shining golden monument of a man while his father King Nicephorus the Sluggard is the opposite. Despite marrying Marozia, he is drawn to Agnes. Agnes is mutilated by the King in an attempt to get her to break her silence, and then is made Mistress of the House of Teeth and sent to wed the Lord Fredegar Master of the House of Blood. This stripping of Marozia’s title causing an irreparable breach between the cousins.
Unfortunately, shortly after their wedding, Fredegar is killed by his son Unruoching. Agnes breaks her silence to scream and call for Liuprand, and after Liuprand kills Unruoching for patricide in front of Unruoching’s wife and son (launching a fresh generation cycle of vengeance), they sleep together, kicking off a whole set of consequences.
The back half of the book covers Agnes’s flowering as she rejects the silence, asceticism, and mission of Adele-Blanche and becomes her own person. She secretly weds Liuprand as the Seraph people believe the bond of love is separate and more sacred than a bond of marriage, and they conduct their affair over the years. He is forced by the King to impregnate Marozia, and Marozia bears twin children: a girl, Meriope, who Marozia loves fiercely and rears in her image; and a boy, Tisander, who is reared by Agnes after Marozia rejects him. Meriope is betrothed from infancy to Unruoching’s son Gamelyn, to repair the damage done when Liuprand killed Unruoching. Gamelyn is both of the House of Blood and the House of Eyes through his mother Ygraine, and the crown needs their loyalty to persist.
Flowerly language, stupid choices, and hatred ensue. The day of the betrothal arrives and Ygraine, her father lord Thrasamund, his son Childeric, her son Gamelyn, all arrive. Gamelyn marries Meriope, and Ygraine and Marozia start plotting, because Ygraine hates Agnes for refusing to plead for mercy for Unruoching, and Marozia has figured out that Agnes and Liuprand love each other. Liuprand gets drunk and beats Childeric to a pulp after he asks Agnes to wed him, causing a fresh rift. Marozia throttles Agnes in a rage. Eyes and Blood leave in outrage, but Agnes agrees to wed Childeric even after he has been disabled to try and repair the rift. When they return, Agnes is caught by Thrasamund in the tower chamber where she and Liuprand tryst, and her throat is cut. When Liuprand arrives, they force him to copulate with her corpse - an event which is vividly described. They throw her body in the empty vault instead of desecrating it, and the book ends with:
“Agnes was expired, extinct, forever gone, and her soul had departed from her stiffly preserved body. That much without a doubt was known.”
“The only inexorable fact was this: that, in the darkness of her makeshift tomb, while her body was held in the otherwise imperturbable rictus of death, something stirred, at last, in the Lady Agnes’s once barren womb.”
This whole book is full of messy, toxic people, overblown imagery, and predictable backstabbing. Normally that isn’t enough to break a book for me, but I draw the line at cannibalism. There are several mentions of Agnes being forced to engage in the cannibalism of her infant brother by Adele-Blanche. The first mention is opaque enough to obscure what happened but it is reinforced several times later on.
“The not-child’s fleshy arms were riddled with bite marks.”
“Agnes could still taste the blood of her infant brother on her tongue.”
“…she would never cease to taste newborn flesh on her tongue.”
I found Juniper and Thorn distasteful for its use of adult cannibalism and find this book disgusting for its use of infant cannibalism.
Another line draw moment which I’m assuming will be a key plot point for book 2 is the necrophilia resulting in strange after-death conception.
Reid wants to craft this grand Shakespearean tragedy redolent with the macabre and the gothic, but it falls flat under its own weight. I didn’t find any of the characters compelling, and had no reaction to Agnes’s death other than a mild relief that the book was finally over. The excessively elaborate prose, the odd repetition of uncommonly used words and phrases, and the naming conventions bludgeoned my interest to a death more final than Adele-Blanche’s.
The plot felt like an aside to the imagery, and what plot (that wasn’t cribbed from other works) did manage to claw its way to the surface was heavy-handed in its foreshadowing. The pacing was consistent, though slow, having to also battle segments of text like:
““Offal-Eater,” he yelled, over the sound of this frenzied feasting, “would you eat a kitchen cat?”
Offal-Eater paused, a string of intestines hanging from his mouth. “Yes, yes,” he said, “and again, yes.”
…So it went on like that, almost interminably. Truss wrangled a kitchen cat and Offal-Eater ripped its abdomen open with his teeth. He drank its blood and ate it, bones and all, before proceeding to vomit up its fur and skin. A fetal puppy could not be procured so easily, but Mordaunt swore he would marshal one up before the day was through.”
The entire book reads as pretentious and gross, and I do not recommend it at all. I am honestly surprised that an editor didn’t take Reid aside and say maybe lay off the baby cannibalism. Instead of being impressed with her knowledge and smiling at the multiple references to other works (having a mad character call two others Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is excessively on the nose for a book partially inspired by Hamlet), I rolled my eyes and skimmed my way past the last quarter of the book in a combination of boredom, annoyance, and desperation to be done. This is my final attempt at reading Ava Reid, and have added her to my never-buy list.
The island of Deprane was conquered by the continental nation of Seraph after a devastating plague swept the island and the nobles engaged in necromancy, raising their loved from the dead and birthing terrible monsters that ravaged the coasts of Seraph. A Seraphine noble, Berengar conquered the island and slaughtered everyone who engaged in necromancy, burning libraries to ensure the knowledge was lost forever, and implementing strict rules to prevent it from happening again. Each House is responsible for a part of the body, and everyone who dies is subject to an elaborate desecration of dismemberment, with the relevant pieces going to each house. The House of Blood gets the blood, the House of Teeth gets the teeth, etc. The staging is dark and gothic, with plenty of crumbling edifices and moody skies galore.
I enjoyed the macabre mood of the setting for the first half of the book or so, but Reid’s writing is so unnecessarily overwrought that it started to lose its impact and I became bored by the countless elaborate comparisons and depictions, and the flowery word choices. She used quotidian ten times. Ten.
Not every paragraph needs to be a poem or some tortured ode, and language that would have been beautiful in scarcity became florid in abundance. Her phrasing lost its impact and I had to fight the urge to skim whenever the author launched into another rhapsody over “his rather quotidian doublet with navy and braids of gold” or “the rose before its rot” - a phrase employed several times.
An example, when Agnes first views Castle Crudele, the seat of House Berengar:
“It was a colossal thing, and — christened with the blood of his enemies — Berengar Who-Fights-Alone had seen his castle rise like mushrooms in a rainstorm in the age immediately following his conquest. It was a palace that had no infancy, no floundering juvenile years, only the maturity that had bleached its walls with accumulations of salt, scruffy and pale as a septuagenarian’s beard.”
Every paragraph is like that: bloated, overdone, elaborate. Reid is very concerned with imagery, and she is able to turn a beautiful phrase, but her writing gets lost under the weight of her word choices and insistence that each selection be perfectly polished.
Marozia and Agnes are cousins of an age - daughters of twins - who are raised together in a strange sort of creepy symbiosis, with Marozia the bright sun and Agnes the ascetic shadow. Marozia is raised to be the heiress to the House of Teeth as she was the daughter of the elder twin, despite being born after Agnes, and is beautiful, accomplished, vibrant and dominant. She is Mistress of the House of Teeth upon Adele-Blanche’s death and wed to the Prince.
Agnes is raised to be Adele-Blanche’s instrument, tasked with recovering the knowledge of necromancy from the royal palace after Marozia is wed to the Prince, and raising Adele-Blanche from the dead (despite the desecration). Agnes speaks to no one, having been silent since her grandmother had her body mutilated in service to this goal, and consumes only bread and watered wine, regularly poisoning herself with mandrake and henbane and experiencing visions.
This section sums up their dynamic in the first portion of the book:
“Instinctually, Agnes drew her arms around her cousin, pulling Marozia to her chest. The notches of Marozia’s spine prodded at her breasts. Agnes slowed her breathing until they were inhaling and exhaling in tandem.
“And then, as she did every night, Marozia took Agnes tenderly by the wrist and drew her hand upward towards her mouth. Agnes felt a shiver dance across her skin, first cold, and then warm, settling into a heavy need at the bottom of her belly. Marozia put Agnes’s thumb to her lips and sucked until they were lulled into twin slumbers.”
After they move to Castle Crudele, they start to separate as Liuprand comes between them. He’s portrayed as a shining golden monument of a man while his father King Nicephorus the Sluggard is the opposite. Despite marrying Marozia, he is drawn to Agnes. Agnes is mutilated by the King in an attempt to get her to break her silence, and then is made Mistress of the House of Teeth and sent to wed the Lord Fredegar Master of the House of Blood. This stripping of Marozia’s title causing an irreparable breach between the cousins.
Unfortunately, shortly after their wedding, Fredegar is killed by his son Unruoching. Agnes breaks her silence to scream and call for Liuprand, and after Liuprand kills Unruoching for patricide in front of Unruoching’s wife and son (launching a fresh generation cycle of vengeance), they sleep together, kicking off a whole set of consequences.
The back half of the book covers Agnes’s flowering as she rejects the silence, asceticism, and mission of Adele-Blanche and becomes her own person. She secretly weds Liuprand as the Seraph people believe the bond of love is separate and more sacred than a bond of marriage, and they conduct their affair over the years. He is forced by the King to impregnate Marozia, and Marozia bears twin children: a girl, Meriope, who Marozia loves fiercely and rears in her image; and a boy, Tisander, who is reared by Agnes after Marozia rejects him. Meriope is betrothed from infancy to Unruoching’s son Gamelyn, to repair the damage done when Liuprand killed Unruoching. Gamelyn is both of the House of Blood and the House of Eyes through his mother Ygraine, and the crown needs their loyalty to persist.
Flowerly language, stupid choices, and hatred ensue. The day of the betrothal arrives and Ygraine, her father lord Thrasamund, his son Childeric, her son Gamelyn, all arrive. Gamelyn marries Meriope, and Ygraine and Marozia start plotting, because Ygraine hates Agnes for refusing to plead for mercy for Unruoching, and Marozia has figured out that Agnes and Liuprand love each other. Liuprand gets drunk and beats Childeric to a pulp after he asks Agnes to wed him, causing a fresh rift. Marozia throttles Agnes in a rage. Eyes and Blood leave in outrage, but Agnes agrees to wed Childeric even after he has been disabled to try and repair the rift. When they return, Agnes is caught by Thrasamund in the tower chamber where she and Liuprand tryst, and her throat is cut. When Liuprand arrives, they force him to copulate with her corpse - an event which is vividly described. They throw her body in the empty vault instead of desecrating it, and the book ends with:
“Agnes was expired, extinct, forever gone, and her soul had departed from her stiffly preserved body. That much without a doubt was known.”
“The only inexorable fact was this: that, in the darkness of her makeshift tomb, while her body was held in the otherwise imperturbable rictus of death, something stirred, at last, in the Lady Agnes’s once barren womb.”
This whole book is full of messy, toxic people, overblown imagery, and predictable backstabbing. Normally that isn’t enough to break a book for me, but I draw the line at cannibalism. There are several mentions of Agnes being forced to engage in the cannibalism of her infant brother by Adele-Blanche. The first mention is opaque enough to obscure what happened but it is reinforced several times later on.
“The not-child’s fleshy arms were riddled with bite marks.”
“Agnes could still taste the blood of her infant brother on her tongue.”
“…she would never cease to taste newborn flesh on her tongue.”
I found Juniper and Thorn distasteful for its use of adult cannibalism and find this book disgusting for its use of infant cannibalism.
Another line draw moment which I’m assuming will be a key plot point for book 2 is the necrophilia resulting in strange after-death conception.
Reid wants to craft this grand Shakespearean tragedy redolent with the macabre and the gothic, but it falls flat under its own weight. I didn’t find any of the characters compelling, and had no reaction to Agnes’s death other than a mild relief that the book was finally over. The excessively elaborate prose, the odd repetition of uncommonly used words and phrases, and the naming conventions bludgeoned my interest to a death more final than Adele-Blanche’s.
The plot felt like an aside to the imagery, and what plot (that wasn’t cribbed from other works) did manage to claw its way to the surface was heavy-handed in its foreshadowing. The pacing was consistent, though slow, having to also battle segments of text like:
““Offal-Eater,” he yelled, over the sound of this frenzied feasting, “would you eat a kitchen cat?”
Offal-Eater paused, a string of intestines hanging from his mouth. “Yes, yes,” he said, “and again, yes.”
…So it went on like that, almost interminably. Truss wrangled a kitchen cat and Offal-Eater ripped its abdomen open with his teeth. He drank its blood and ate it, bones and all, before proceeding to vomit up its fur and skin. A fetal puppy could not be procured so easily, but Mordaunt swore he would marshal one up before the day was through.”
The entire book reads as pretentious and gross, and I do not recommend it at all. I am honestly surprised that an editor didn’t take Reid aside and say maybe lay off the baby cannibalism. Instead of being impressed with her knowledge and smiling at the multiple references to other works (having a mad character call two others Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is excessively on the nose for a book partially inspired by Hamlet), I rolled my eyes and skimmed my way past the last quarter of the book in a combination of boredom, annoyance, and desperation to be done. This is my final attempt at reading Ava Reid, and have added her to my never-buy list.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
August 20, 2025- preread 🖤 -
yall. GUESS WHO GOT THE ARC?!? i’m so excited to start this one!
>> thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc - all thoughts are my own <3
yall. GUESS WHO GOT THE ARC?!? i’m so excited to start this one!
>> thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc - all thoughts are my own <3
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars.
I couldn't take any of this shit seriously. This is so bad, it's good!
I keep flip-flopping on my rating for this book, but goddamn, this was such a disgusting read that it's slowly turning into a guilty pleasure. It's Gothic, but make it splatterpunk. As a lover of sick, perverted reads, I honestly couldn't put it down. It was like watching a train wreck. I hadn't been so riveted in a while.
This might be the only Ava Reid book that I've actually enjoyed. (Is "enjoyed" even the right word?)
I'd rate this even higher if Ava Reid didn't take herself so seriously. The prose was trying way too hard to be literary and philosophical. With the amount of blood and cum that was mentioned (either as a mixed cocktail or separately), it was hard to have actual deep thoughts about either the characters or the plot.
If you came here for the gore, then this book delivered on all fronts. Expect characters stomping dead characters' guts, a character eating live animals and garbage, more descriptions of viscera and bodily fluids, and weird and nonsensical similes about said viscera and bodily fluids (comparing bile to wine, blood to cum [????], and a tumor to... jam [???????]).
If you came here for the incest, it was all right. Just some cousin stuff. Nothing like A Game of Thrones or Flowers in the Attic. Sorry to disappoint you. There's a couple of finger sucking scenes and bloody sex with mutual biting if you're into that. But they're more flowery descriptions than anything hardcore line-by-line explicit.
And if you came here for the necrophilia, well, this isn't the Exquisite Corpse you're looking for. But the tiny bit of necrophilia was well worth the wait imo. Disturbing and depraved, yet strangely effective in combining a plot point with shock value. It was so fucking gross that I wanna experience it again. Aurally. (My preferred method.) Good lord.
The story itself was mid as hell. Caricatures everywhere. The fat guy is evil. The hot guy is the good guy. The kissing cousins (literally and metaphorically) grow apart and one begins to resent the other. Ensue court politics and forbidden love. Basic shit. Honestly, I forgot what the crux of the story was even about. Hell, even the characters, especially the FMC, forgot about the main plotline. Everyone just went off and did their own thing.
But I've read most of Ava Reid's work to know that this isn't her strong suit anyway. Her novels are more character studies than plot-driven. (It's actually kinda funny to see how she just ends up forgetting the main plot of her stories and just goes with the vibes. It's like watching a beachfront house collapsing into the ocean due to erosion. It's so hard to look away.)
As a sicko and a pervert, I'm seated for book 2. It better be as disgusting as this one, or I'm gonna throw a fit.
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for this arc.
Pre-read:
I told myself that I wouldn't request another Ava Reid arc, but she had me at necrophilia, cannibalism, and incest. 😔😔😔
I couldn't take any of this shit seriously. This is so bad, it's good!
I keep flip-flopping on my rating for this book, but goddamn, this was such a disgusting read that it's slowly turning into a guilty pleasure. It's Gothic, but make it splatterpunk. As a lover of sick, perverted reads, I honestly couldn't put it down. It was like watching a train wreck. I hadn't been so riveted in a while.
This might be the only Ava Reid book that I've actually enjoyed. (Is "enjoyed" even the right word?)
I'd rate this even higher if Ava Reid didn't take herself so seriously. The prose was trying way too hard to be literary and philosophical. With the amount of blood and cum that was mentioned (either as a mixed cocktail or separately), it was hard to have actual deep thoughts about either the characters or the plot.
If you came here for the gore, then this book delivered on all fronts. Expect characters stomping dead characters' guts, a character eating live animals and garbage, more descriptions of viscera and bodily fluids, and weird and nonsensical similes about said viscera and bodily fluids (comparing bile to wine, blood to cum [????], and a tumor to... jam [???????]).
If you came here for the incest, it was all right. Just some cousin stuff. Nothing like A Game of Thrones or Flowers in the Attic. Sorry to disappoint you. There's a couple of finger sucking scenes and bloody sex with mutual biting if you're into that. But they're more flowery descriptions than anything hardcore line-by-line explicit.
And if you came here for the necrophilia, well, this isn't the Exquisite Corpse you're looking for. But the tiny bit of necrophilia was well worth the wait imo. Disturbing and depraved, yet strangely effective in combining a plot point with shock value. It was so fucking gross that I wanna experience it again. Aurally. (My preferred method.) Good lord.
The story itself was mid as hell. Caricatures everywhere. The fat guy is evil. The hot guy is the good guy. The kissing cousins (literally and metaphorically) grow apart and one begins to resent the other. Ensue court politics and forbidden love. Basic shit. Honestly, I forgot what the crux of the story was even about. Hell, even the characters, especially the FMC, forgot about the main plotline. Everyone just went off and did their own thing.
But I've read most of Ava Reid's work to know that this isn't her strong suit anyway. Her novels are more character studies than plot-driven. (It's actually kinda funny to see how she just ends up forgetting the main plot of her stories and just goes with the vibes. It's like watching a beachfront house collapsing into the ocean due to erosion. It's so hard to look away.)
As a sicko and a pervert, I'm seated for book 2. It better be as disgusting as this one, or I'm gonna throw a fit.
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for this arc.
Pre-read:
I told myself that I wouldn't request another Ava Reid arc, but she had me at necrophilia, cannibalism, and incest. 😔😔😔
Read
March 16, 2026
November 13, 2025
The Most Ava Reid Book ever, with everything that entails.
In many ways I loved this. I appreciate a big swing, and Reid is cracking a bat at this thing. The story is dark, the prose is purple, the vibes are indulgent almost to the point of camp. If you enjoy the kind of atmosphere of, like, 'the pungent sweetness of a rose just before its petals wither' and 'the cold unforgiving bleak stone of the castle' (not real quotes, but they might as well be), you will enjoy this. Bloodborne is my favorite game, and Reid has discussed taking inspiration from it for Innamorata; I appreciated the nods to similar themes of monstrous femininity and motherhood. All my love for the relationship between Agnes and Marozia, whose codependency and strangeness was the most interesting part of the book.
But also...where are the editors?? The writing is extremely repetitive (you WILL know the word quotidian) and borderline nonsensical, the romance is distracting and generic, and I cannot overstate the amount of fatphobia in this book, which is cruel to a degree that is legitimately shocking. Agnes is not as beautiful as her cousin but she is ALSO not ugly, but most importantly she IS thin. And also has a huge rack.
Innamorata is spiritually most similar to Juniper & Thorn (and likewise much more in the tradition of gothic fiction than grimdark - in fact would not recommend to grimdark readers), and in the same way people will love it or hate it depending on how well they resonate with the ideas Reid is presenting. This worked better for me than J&T because I prefer this sandbox we're playing in, but I still wouldn't recommend it to everyone.
In many ways I loved this. I appreciate a big swing, and Reid is cracking a bat at this thing. The story is dark, the prose is purple, the vibes are indulgent almost to the point of camp. If you enjoy the kind of atmosphere of, like, 'the pungent sweetness of a rose just before its petals wither' and 'the cold unforgiving bleak stone of the castle' (not real quotes, but they might as well be), you will enjoy this. Bloodborne is my favorite game, and Reid has discussed taking inspiration from it for Innamorata; I appreciated the nods to similar themes of monstrous femininity and motherhood. All my love for the relationship between Agnes and Marozia, whose codependency and strangeness was the most interesting part of the book.
But also...where are the editors?? The writing is extremely repetitive (you WILL know the word quotidian) and borderline nonsensical, the romance is distracting and generic, and I cannot overstate the amount of fatphobia in this book, which is cruel to a degree that is legitimately shocking. Agnes is not as beautiful as her cousin but she is ALSO not ugly, but most importantly she IS thin. And also has a huge rack.
Innamorata is spiritually most similar to Juniper & Thorn (and likewise much more in the tradition of gothic fiction than grimdark - in fact would not recommend to grimdark readers), and in the same way people will love it or hate it depending on how well they resonate with the ideas Reid is presenting. This worked better for me than J&T because I prefer this sandbox we're playing in, but I still wouldn't recommend it to everyone.
October 20, 2025
A brilliant yet nauseating tale, INNAMORATA is Ava Reid leaning into her best type of writing: the most fucked up narrative shit you can think of, adorned with rich prose.
INNAMORATA is certainly not an easily-digestible read and those who use consumability (speed, ease of comprehension, straight-forwardness) as a main qualifier of their literary taste will spit this one right out. But for me, I want my gothic grimdark fantasies to be as difficult to stomach as possible. I absolutely loved this. I won't lie, I held my breath for a significant part of it, but Reid sticks the landing with this introduction to their first duology. If I wasn't so brain-fried from grad school, I'd be writing essays about the brilliance of this narrative and its structural pacing, its parallels, and its imagery. Ava has worked laboriously on this book, and it shines through. This just might be my new favorite of Reid's work.
I do want to warn people to be cautious going into this one. Reid has gained a great amount of attention through their gothic romances, and though there is a romantic element to this story, readers should not be expecting a genre romance by ANY means. The word grimdark is easily the most apt descriptor; I would place this on a similar level to Titus Andronicus in terms of difficult content. (Content warnings are below. If you can't handle the worst of the ones mentioned, I would skip this one.)
CW: blood & gore, violence, sexual violence, sexual assault, rape, cannibalism, necrophilia, physical assault, childbirth, torture, self-harm, dead bodies, animal death and cruelty, arranged marriage, child marriage, emesis, alcohol, drug use, hallucinations, infidelity, character death, grief
INNAMORATA is certainly not an easily-digestible read and those who use consumability (speed, ease of comprehension, straight-forwardness) as a main qualifier of their literary taste will spit this one right out. But for me, I want my gothic grimdark fantasies to be as difficult to stomach as possible. I absolutely loved this. I won't lie, I held my breath for a significant part of it, but Reid sticks the landing with this introduction to their first duology. If I wasn't so brain-fried from grad school, I'd be writing essays about the brilliance of this narrative and its structural pacing, its parallels, and its imagery. Ava has worked laboriously on this book, and it shines through. This just might be my new favorite of Reid's work.
I do want to warn people to be cautious going into this one. Reid has gained a great amount of attention through their gothic romances, and though there is a romantic element to this story, readers should not be expecting a genre romance by ANY means. The word grimdark is easily the most apt descriptor; I would place this on a similar level to Titus Andronicus in terms of difficult content. (Content warnings are below. If you can't handle the worst of the ones mentioned, I would skip this one.)
CW: blood & gore, violence, sexual violence, sexual assault, rape, cannibalism, necrophilia, physical assault, childbirth, torture, self-harm, dead bodies, animal death and cruelty, arranged marriage, child marriage, emesis, alcohol, drug use, hallucinations, infidelity, character death, grief
October 25, 2025
I am so insanely confused. I have never not liked an Ava Reid book so this is so upsetting but like wtf. The first half of the book really had me, the plot was promising and gothic and the characters were interesting, but then it just completely lost the plot? Like what happened to Agnes mission, did she just forget about it? And the time skip was so random. Anyway I was fine with all of that, thinking it was all going to make sense near the end but somehow it got worse. I can’t believe I read that ending scene without puking, WHY DID YOU WRITE THAT?. Anyway I read the last word and sighed, idk what the next book is going to entail. I’m so upset right now, I have no idea what to rate this. I love you Ava I promise.
Thank you for the arc NetGalley!
Thank you for the arc NetGalley!
January 7, 2026
The actual plot of Innamorata could be summed up thusly: Two girls seek revenge for generational trauma and get distracted by a boy. Mayhem ensues twice in the five-year timeline. This is a novel that wants to be a metafictional, gothic, grimdark take on Renaissance revenge dramas, but it lands firmly in the realm of edgelord cringe with heaping doses of fatphobia and classism. The prose reads like both the following are true: 1) it feels like it should have been given the Archive of Our Own tag ‘no beta we die like men’, and 2) Ava Reid has a thesaurus and she’s not afraid to misuse it. Thanks to the excessive descriptions of everything that’s irrelevant to the story, the reader would be forgiven for thinking that the most important things in it are actually people’s clothes, how pretty the lead female character is, and the prince’s blue eyes. Truly, it’s an egregious amount of detail. It feels like there are 500 pages of description and 60 pages of plot, with dashes of “what is the most taboo thing I can mention to make things extra disgusting?”, but in a way that feels like a teenage boy was trying to gross someone out, rather than an author trying to examine the darker side of human nature. If you must read a bloated tome where very little happens and the color of the love interest’s eyes are of primary importance, just remember that Innamorata will retail for $32.99 USD, and that AO3 is free.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the advance ebook for review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the advance ebook for review.
Currently reading
March 17, 2026oh, this is a book I've been waiting to get into the mood for!
_____________
Thank you to Del Rey for the ARC.
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Thank you to Del Rey for the ARC.
February 9, 2026
Thank you so much Random House UK | Cornerstone for the arc!
„And then there was the truth within the truth, which was as poisonous as it was sweet, the secret at the heart of it all that not even the threat of the kingdom's ruin would make them regret what had been done.“
🦷 necromancy
🪦 political intrigue
🦷 body horror
🪦 toxic relationships
🦷 trigger heavy
What I liked:
- The atmosphere was outstanding, especially in Castle Peake, the home of the protagonist. I could almost feel the dampness and the mud lingering between the pages. Everything in the old castle felt dark and eroded by the constant mist and rain. The gory traditions of the House of Teeth, along with the loneliness of the protagonist and her cousin, only added to the unsettling feeling of the place.
- The protagonist Agnes is so intriguing! She isn’t the heir of the House of Teeth, that is her cousin Lady Marozia, but she is the one secretly tasked with restoring her family’s legacy. She hasn’t spoken for many years, yet she manages to command a room with a single look. She’s cunning and a bit feral, while at the same time vulnerable and burdened by her task and her horrible past. She is by far the most interesting character.
What I didn’t like:
- Some gory descriptions felt like they were included purely for shock value, rather than adding to the atmosphere or benefiting the story. Weirdly they largely disappear after the first half of the book, with the author focusing more on the characters’ horrible behavior instead.
- I wished for more complex characters besides the protagonist. Other than her, the next most intriguing character for me was her dead grandmother. The love interest lacked a bit of personality beyond his love for the main character and her cousin’s character only became prominent quite late in the book.
Be prepared for:
This book is dark, gruesome, horrifying, and the themes break many taboos. The characters endure severe trauma and are not especially likable. Their actions are often selfish and driven by the need to put themselves first because of the trauma each of them has endured. No one is without fault and everyone inflicts horrors on others. There is a lot of disgusting and depraved behavior. It’s like Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon but with necromancy. Please read the trigger warnings and take them seriously. There is an on-page child marriage, which I find especially disturbing to read, as well as forced necrophilia.
Writing style: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Worldbuilding: 4/5
Story & Plot: 4/5
Vibes: 4/5
Will I buy a physical copy: yes already preordered
Will I read more books by the author: 100%
Where would I place it on my bookshelf: I don’t have any similar books on my shelf. I probably have to build a section for Ava Reid‘s books.
„And then there was the truth within the truth, which was as poisonous as it was sweet, the secret at the heart of it all that not even the threat of the kingdom's ruin would make them regret what had been done.“
🦷 necromancy
🪦 political intrigue
🦷 body horror
🪦 toxic relationships
🦷 trigger heavy
What I liked:
- The atmosphere was outstanding, especially in Castle Peake, the home of the protagonist. I could almost feel the dampness and the mud lingering between the pages. Everything in the old castle felt dark and eroded by the constant mist and rain. The gory traditions of the House of Teeth, along with the loneliness of the protagonist and her cousin, only added to the unsettling feeling of the place.
- The protagonist Agnes is so intriguing! She isn’t the heir of the House of Teeth, that is her cousin Lady Marozia, but she is the one secretly tasked with restoring her family’s legacy. She hasn’t spoken for many years, yet she manages to command a room with a single look. She’s cunning and a bit feral, while at the same time vulnerable and burdened by her task and her horrible past. She is by far the most interesting character.
What I didn’t like:
- Some gory descriptions felt like they were included purely for shock value, rather than adding to the atmosphere or benefiting the story. Weirdly they largely disappear after the first half of the book, with the author focusing more on the characters’ horrible behavior instead.
- I wished for more complex characters besides the protagonist. Other than her, the next most intriguing character for me was her dead grandmother. The love interest lacked a bit of personality beyond his love for the main character and her cousin’s character only became prominent quite late in the book.
Be prepared for:
This book is dark, gruesome, horrifying, and the themes break many taboos. The characters endure severe trauma and are not especially likable. Their actions are often selfish and driven by the need to put themselves first because of the trauma each of them has endured. No one is without fault and everyone inflicts horrors on others. There is a lot of disgusting and depraved behavior. It’s like Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon but with necromancy. Please read the trigger warnings and take them seriously. There is an on-page child marriage, which I find especially disturbing to read, as well as forced necrophilia.
Writing style: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Worldbuilding: 4/5
Story & Plot: 4/5
Vibes: 4/5
Will I buy a physical copy: yes already preordered
Will I read more books by the author: 100%
Where would I place it on my bookshelf: I don’t have any similar books on my shelf. I probably have to build a section for Ava Reid‘s books.
November 19, 2025
── .★ 5 stars
Beautiful, haunting, and unsettling.
I loved this book but it won’t be for everyone. It's dark, bleak, grotesque, disturbing, with lots of gore and graphic scenes (content warnings at the bottom).
Ava's writing is stunning—her prose is lyrical and lush, drawing you into its eerie, macabre world. That said, I think some readers might find it overdone at times with the flowery descriptions; I personally really enjoyed the writing and was captivated from start to finish. All characters are flawed, messy, and toxic but I could not stop reading and caring for them.
I’d describe this book as got/house of the dragon politics mixed with dark souls aesthetic and would only recommend if you’re into very dark, gothic fantasy/horror, but definitely check triggers first!!
⸝⸝
[content warnings: blood, gore, violence, torture, murder, death, body horror, sexual assault/violence, rape, abuse, child cannibalism, child death, child marriage, animal death, necrophilia, infidelity, incest/incestous behaviour]
Beautiful, haunting, and unsettling.
I loved this book but it won’t be for everyone. It's dark, bleak, grotesque, disturbing, with lots of gore and graphic scenes (content warnings at the bottom).
Ava's writing is stunning—her prose is lyrical and lush, drawing you into its eerie, macabre world. That said, I think some readers might find it overdone at times with the flowery descriptions; I personally really enjoyed the writing and was captivated from start to finish. All characters are flawed, messy, and toxic but I could not stop reading and caring for them.
I’d describe this book as got/house of the dragon politics mixed with dark souls aesthetic and would only recommend if you’re into very dark, gothic fantasy/horror, but definitely check triggers first!!
I am your servant and I am your shield. My soul has been fashioned for the purpose of loving you, and I would sooner welcome death than be stripped of this duty, this design.
⸝⸝
[content warnings: blood, gore, violence, torture, murder, death, body horror, sexual assault/violence, rape, abuse, child cannibalism, child death, child marriage, animal death, necrophilia, infidelity, incest/incestous behaviour]
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you netgalley and Del Rey , Random House Worlds, Inklore for the arc.
Unfortunately this was not my cup of tea. I just couldn't get into it. I feel like her writing style is not for me. The mood and setting were fine. The gloominess and macabre was a solid 10. Not everything needs to be explained in such fine detail. Yes sometimes it's needed for imagery.....but she overdid it.😭
The relationship between Agnes and Marozia was deeply concerning! Disturbing to say the least. Don't get me started on what Alice (the grandmother) did to poor Agnes!!! When I read that part I was disgusted!! 💀
I understand that making the reader uncomfortable is the plan while writing a dark gothic fantasy but that was too much for me 💀.
Where was the necromancy??? Agnes forgot about the plans she made with her grandmother which was the whole point of the book. The plot was there but then it got lost. 💀 The ending was tragic to say the least but it still didn't make me want to give this more than 2 stars💀.
Unfortunately this was not my cup of tea. I just couldn't get into it. I feel like her writing style is not for me. The mood and setting were fine. The gloominess and macabre was a solid 10. Not everything needs to be explained in such fine detail. Yes sometimes it's needed for imagery.....but she overdid it.😭
The relationship between Agnes and Marozia was deeply concerning! Disturbing to say the least. Don't get me started on what Alice (the grandmother) did to poor Agnes!!! When I read that part I was disgusted!! 💀
I understand that making the reader uncomfortable is the plan while writing a dark gothic fantasy but that was too much for me 💀.
Where was the necromancy??? Agnes forgot about the plans she made with her grandmother which was the whole point of the book. The plot was there but then it got lost. 💀 The ending was tragic to say the least but it still didn't make me want to give this more than 2 stars💀.
March 13, 2026
Necromancy, political intrigue, and forbidden love in a gothic fantasy world where the dead walk. This is dark, gory, and atmospheric - but it's also a slow burn that runs long.
Agnes carried her fallen House's legacy. Her orders: recapture death magic, avenge her family, and arrange her cousin Marozia's betrothal to Liuprand, the golden heir to their conqueror's throne. Access to his forbidden library was crucial. But Agnes fell for Liuprand - the one thing she was forbidden to do.
I have a complicated relationship with Agnes. I could empathize with her bleak situation, but her choices made me uncomfortable in ways I'm still processing. You'll either love her or hate her.
The political intrigue among the noble houses and their necromantic practices created an atmospheric, dark world. The world-building around death and power felt lived-in and unsettling. And surprisingly? This got spicy.
What held this back: The length. The slow burn worked, but the book felt longer than necessary.
Audio experience: I listened exclusively to this, and Moniqua Plante delivered a one-woman show. Her nuanced performance for each character was so distinct that even without the print or digital copy, I knew exactly who was speaking.
You'll love this if: You want dark gothic fantasy with necromancy, political intrigue, morally complicated protagonists, and forbidden romance - and you don't mind a slow, lengthy burn.
Fair warning: This is the first in a duology and ends on a cliffhanger.
Thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the advance audio copy.
Agnes carried her fallen House's legacy. Her orders: recapture death magic, avenge her family, and arrange her cousin Marozia's betrothal to Liuprand, the golden heir to their conqueror's throne. Access to his forbidden library was crucial. But Agnes fell for Liuprand - the one thing she was forbidden to do.
I have a complicated relationship with Agnes. I could empathize with her bleak situation, but her choices made me uncomfortable in ways I'm still processing. You'll either love her or hate her.
The political intrigue among the noble houses and their necromantic practices created an atmospheric, dark world. The world-building around death and power felt lived-in and unsettling. And surprisingly? This got spicy.
What held this back: The length. The slow burn worked, but the book felt longer than necessary.
Audio experience: I listened exclusively to this, and Moniqua Plante delivered a one-woman show. Her nuanced performance for each character was so distinct that even without the print or digital copy, I knew exactly who was speaking.
You'll love this if: You want dark gothic fantasy with necromancy, political intrigue, morally complicated protagonists, and forbidden romance - and you don't mind a slow, lengthy burn.
Fair warning: This is the first in a duology and ends on a cliffhanger.
Thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the advance audio copy.
December 10, 2025
I'm utterly sorry to give such a low rating to a book from one of my favourite authors but I still cannot believe I've read what I've read.
The topics mentioned in the story were absolutely disgusting to me and the whole reading process gave me exactly the opposite of enjoyment.
I have to say it was extremely atmospheric, Ava Reid knows how to add a true gothic tone to her books. However, the whole story wouldn't be anything exceptional if it wasn't for the parts I disliked the most.
Without giving many spoilers I will just say that I could never imagine she could write something like this. The characters' minds were so twisted that they were okay with doing a lot of things that are not socially or morally (judging by my morality) accepted. I feel like the author wanted to write some very dark and deeply controversial fantasy with romance but it just crossed my line far too much.
I read books to either relax after a hard day and entertain myself or to move my heart by some deeper feelings. I didn't get any of those from "Innamorata", I just felt disgusted, especially after the last scene...
With this being said, I won't be continuing with this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The topics mentioned in the story were absolutely disgusting to me and the whole reading process gave me exactly the opposite of enjoyment.
I have to say it was extremely atmospheric, Ava Reid knows how to add a true gothic tone to her books. However, the whole story wouldn't be anything exceptional if it wasn't for the parts I disliked the most.
Without giving many spoilers I will just say that I could never imagine she could write something like this. The characters' minds were so twisted that they were okay with doing a lot of things that are not socially or morally (judging by my morality) accepted. I feel like the author wanted to write some very dark and deeply controversial fantasy with romance but it just crossed my line far too much.
I read books to either relax after a hard day and entertain myself or to move my heart by some deeper feelings. I didn't get any of those from "Innamorata", I just felt disgusted, especially after the last scene...
With this being said, I won't be continuing with this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a ride! I will have to come back later after I thought about it and do the review
Update: well my brain tossed this book around a bit and I've made my decisions on how I feel.
I see this being a book that either works for people or doesn't.
I enjoyed this book. It was a wild ride when it was in its darker moments. I do feel the book was a little bloated. There was a lot of down time where I don't think the book earned it pages.
This book is dark dark at times. Highly recommend checking triggers and being aware of the content before diving in. I personally enjoy very dark material so this was a hit for me in that department. But I can fully understand why it would not work for a lot of people. I've seen a lot of people down reading this book for the darkness level in the content warnings, which are clearly stated, so I don't quite understand that.
The storyline interesting and the themes of obsession and duty really came through in the writing. The writing was very verbose and descriptive. While I liked that I can see why it might not work for others. I found it added to the atmosphere and general feel of the novel.
The characters were the stars of the show. A very character driven story that sticks with you after the book ends. I was staring at the wall at the end. Needless to say I'll be continuing into the second book.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy
Update: well my brain tossed this book around a bit and I've made my decisions on how I feel.
I see this being a book that either works for people or doesn't.
I enjoyed this book. It was a wild ride when it was in its darker moments. I do feel the book was a little bloated. There was a lot of down time where I don't think the book earned it pages.
This book is dark dark at times. Highly recommend checking triggers and being aware of the content before diving in. I personally enjoy very dark material so this was a hit for me in that department. But I can fully understand why it would not work for a lot of people. I've seen a lot of people down reading this book for the darkness level in the content warnings, which are clearly stated, so I don't quite understand that.
The storyline interesting and the themes of obsession and duty really came through in the writing. The writing was very verbose and descriptive. While I liked that I can see why it might not work for others. I found it added to the atmosphere and general feel of the novel.
The characters were the stars of the show. A very character driven story that sticks with you after the book ends. I was staring at the wall at the end. Needless to say I'll be continuing into the second book.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy
Want to read
August 10, 2025You say the words "gothic fantasy" and im instantly summoned
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I need to gather my thoughts still, but WOW. This was DARK and definitely not for the faint of heart. Dark, depraved, tragic and yet hauntingly beautiful.
edit:
To preface, this is NOT a romantasy and not your usual fantasy. This is an adult gothic fantasy filled with vengeance and body horror, and you should absolutely read the trigger warnings before going in... or you might end up having a bad time.
𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐚 is deliciously dark, depraved, tragic (even vile at times), and yet hauntingly beautiful. Obviously rated it a solid 5 stars. 🖤
Ava's writing is immersive, beautifully descriptive, and simply captivating. I genuinely couldn't put the book down despite the horrors the characters go through.
If you like:
🖤 gothic literature
🥀 lyrical prose with beautiful descriptions
🖤 morally grey characters
🥀 betrayal and vengeance
🖤 a world of ancient dark magic
🥀 an ending that will have you staring at a wall in pure SHOCK
🖤 descriptive body horror
🥀 lots of WTF moments
🖤 forbidden love full of yearning
Then you absolutely need to pick this up.
edit:
To preface, this is NOT a romantasy and not your usual fantasy. This is an adult gothic fantasy filled with vengeance and body horror, and you should absolutely read the trigger warnings before going in... or you might end up having a bad time.
𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐚 is deliciously dark, depraved, tragic (even vile at times), and yet hauntingly beautiful. Obviously rated it a solid 5 stars. 🖤
Ava's writing is immersive, beautifully descriptive, and simply captivating. I genuinely couldn't put the book down despite the horrors the characters go through.
If you like:
🖤 gothic literature
🥀 lyrical prose with beautiful descriptions
🖤 morally grey characters
🥀 betrayal and vengeance
🖤 a world of ancient dark magic
🥀 an ending that will have you staring at a wall in pure SHOCK
🖤 descriptive body horror
🥀 lots of WTF moments
🖤 forbidden love full of yearning
Then you absolutely need to pick this up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
innamorata ꒱ 2.5 stars
⌗ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: dec 11, ‘25 ⌇ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: jan 11, ‘26
── review with very light spoilers
this is likely the darkest fantasy i have read, and i encourage everyone who wishes to read this to read trigger warning for this book. my issue with this book isn’t so much the dark aspect/content of it, it was one of the reasons i requested it but much more the way in which the plot was handled.
i really wish necromancy had a more prominent role in book, as that was what it was advertised and drew me in to begin with. necromancy wasn’t really an important aspect in most of the story as we really lead to believe from the first chapters of this book.
as for the pacing of the book, the first and second parts of this book where the most enjoyable and kept me really intrigued with the way in which the book was headed. my problem truly started with the third part of this book.
it is where i felt the characters began to feel very disconnected from where the started especially with that 6 year time skip. while it’s obvious that growth would have taken place, i don’t really believe that agnes and luiptand’s characters had continuity or stayed true to the people they were in the first tow parts of the story before the timeskip.
the pacing isn’t this past also didn’t seem to really flow. around the last 5 chapters really took an unexpected turn, and possibly even before that considering the continuity issue i mentioned before, saying more about this part of the story would be major spoilers for the plot of this book.
while i was disturbed by the ending of the story i cannot say that i do not wish to know what is next to come in this story, if only to fulfill my morbid curiosity. while i enjoyed majority of the book, rating it higher than 2.5 just feels wrong.
༉‧₊˚. pre - read
ava reid is an author i’ve been wanting to read and the synopsis for this book sounded amazing. i’m super excited to get to read this !!
ⓘ thank you netgalley & del rey books for this arc in exchange for an honest review
⌗ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: dec 11, ‘25 ⌇ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: jan 11, ‘26
── review with very light spoilers
this is likely the darkest fantasy i have read, and i encourage everyone who wishes to read this to read trigger warning for this book. my issue with this book isn’t so much the dark aspect/content of it, it was one of the reasons i requested it but much more the way in which the plot was handled.
i really wish necromancy had a more prominent role in book, as that was what it was advertised and drew me in to begin with. necromancy wasn’t really an important aspect in most of the story as we really lead to believe from the first chapters of this book.
as for the pacing of the book, the first and second parts of this book where the most enjoyable and kept me really intrigued with the way in which the book was headed. my problem truly started with the third part of this book.
it is where i felt the characters began to feel very disconnected from where the started especially with that 6 year time skip. while it’s obvious that growth would have taken place, i don’t really believe that agnes and luiptand’s characters had continuity or stayed true to the people they were in the first tow parts of the story before the timeskip.
the pacing isn’t this past also didn’t seem to really flow. around the last 5 chapters really took an unexpected turn, and possibly even before that considering the continuity issue i mentioned before, saying more about this part of the story would be major spoilers for the plot of this book.
while i was disturbed by the ending of the story i cannot say that i do not wish to know what is next to come in this story, if only to fulfill my morbid curiosity. while i enjoyed majority of the book, rating it higher than 2.5 just feels wrong.
༉‧₊˚. pre - read
ava reid is an author i’ve been wanting to read and the synopsis for this book sounded amazing. i’m super excited to get to read this !!
ⓘ thank you netgalley & del rey books for this arc in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.75 stars ・❥・Ava Reid heard I was in my blonde guy era and decided to shut me the fuck up 🎀🖤 Nothing can prepare you for the second last chapter. Or that last line. And I fucking mean it because what the fuck—
Innamorata tells the story of Agnes, one of the last two living members of the House of Teeth. Agnes is a cold, silent, cunning creature, groomed by her late grandmother to be an unsuspecting weapon of destruction to the crown. When her cousin, Marozia, is to be wed to the Prince, she will finally have access to the Forbidden Library in this grotesque royal castle, which hold the answers to restoring the House of Teeth's glory before Berengar's take over. However, despite her vengeful heart, she finds something else in it— passion, love, lust for the man who is to wed her cousin. Prince Liuprand.
As a whole, this book was a horrifyingly, stunning masterpiece. Innamorata took me on an unexpected journey that I loved every moment of. I can't get over the the lush, atmospheric writing style Ava Reid effortlessly adopts like she herself is from the medieval era, no joke. This is the writing I want when I read a fantasy novel, (not a flipping contemporary style of writing lol) because it makes everything so cinematic, which is what it felt like. The way Ava Reid tells stories is mesmerising and I want to read her entire backlog now ngl. I don't know how to review this book without spoilers cause half of my love for this book is how grotesque and UNRULY the characters could be.
I thought I was prepared for that ending. I've read much stuff that has made me believe I was going to be prepared. I was wrong. Very very wrong.
There were many dark elements in this book: cannibalism, incest, abuse, murder, coercion, sexual assault to say the least. So if anyone does decide to read this book you need to take this seriously because even the author herself has said she knows this book is not for the masses. That being said, I feel like these dark, taboo elements were handled with care and appropriately in a way where they were not dropped in carelessly or for shock factor. They were integral to the characters themselves and to building this gothic, gory environment.
The world building was perfect, while I obviously had questions at the start, I barely questioned the quality of it as I read the book (not even once I think) because it was so easy to comprehend. The plot unravelled in a slow satisfying way, despite straying a fair, fair bit but in a good way. A good way because it made everything that followed unexpected and a mystery because I had no idea where the book would go in the end.
Lady Agnes was a phenomenal character to read about. (This is where I need to hold my tongue) She was such a well crafted character and there was this one big milestone where I did question if the author had made the right decision in navigating this character development but Lady Agnes has so much depth, I realised after thinking that Ava's choice in this matter couldn't be more aligned. The way she and Marozia developed throughout the book was a swift dagger to the stomach, because as you come to the end of the book you realise the sheer INTELLIGENCE of this author AAAAAA. The parallels. The way they became one another.
Marioza, oh sweet girl, suffered so much. Because she was from House of Teeth, she had barbaric, incestuous habits llike Agnes did but even then the way she was so glazed over by Liuprand & Agnes, made me feel so remorseful for her. Even to the point where I'm realising maybe this book is an antagonist's POV.
Liuprand... oh, never have I read a man so poetic. At times it was so poetic, I could help how it flew over my head because am I really gonna find a man so devoted as Prince Liuprand? The way his character slowly came together near the end— Waltrude's chapter before hand, was the cherry on top. There were some points in the book where I did not know how to feel about him and where I was so emotional by his love for Agnes, but now that I read the ending... I don't know what I feel... I don't even know what I would even categorise it.
Offal-Eater made me GAG. Mordaunt & Truss reminds me of those two evil sidekicks that are underestimated because they just goof around. Pliny and Waltrude, I loved them :) The King however! Hah! Die. Rot in HELLLLLLL.
The moths!! The moths!! I do not like moths, yet this is the second book that lowkey romanticises them so IDK what to do now. I thought it was a beautiful elemnt to Agnes and Liuprand's love and I wish it carried on until the very end because in my option it was a beautiful motif. I felt as if they were Agnes' mirror and loved how it became a way her and Liuprand communicated.
Criticisms:
╰►marriage was overly weaponised. Throughout the book, I feel like it was mentioned too many times to the point where it devalued any events that had already happened and future marriage related events. I just became numb to it like 'oh not again!'
╰►the pacing felt slightly off 🤏. The book experiences a big time pass somewhere in the 70% mark. I feel like a bit more needed to happen before this passage of time and I also think we should have gotten a bit more of a montage when it came to the time skip, because we missed a fair bit!
╰►erm, the blurb? I'm not too irked by this one because of how Agnes and Marozia unravel but I still do believe it was discarded too quickly at the start.
╰►hey so where was the necromancy or am I dumb ?
I know people are disgusted by the ending, icluding me. I saw the reviews before even starting but then I'm seeing people rate this book lowly because of that and to that I say- are you rating it because you're disgusted by the fact it was written? If so, why would you want a writer as eloquent as this one to censor themselves. It's not even as if this book was gratuitous in the scenes it had, it's probably the furthest thing from gratuitious violence because of how Ava makes us so aware of the depravity her characters commit.
What was comitted at the end, in my opinion, perfectly concluded [character name]'s true character - idk why I'm using the word concluded cause they didn't even die. I didn't fully trust [character name] and they always seemed somewhat good, somewhat something else. And the ambiguity Ava conveys in her writing when describing this this action kind of summarises them for me because you genuinely don't know what to think.
I have a side that I'm leaning to of course because I didn't trust them, but I also think there will be people who will defend. We shall see and I genuinely can;t wait for this book to release so I can read everyone's opinions!!!
Release date: March 17th
My rating: 4.75 🌟
Thank you to the publishers & Netgalley for giving me an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
“I killed one man and they called me just. I near to killed another and they called me cruel. Yet they will say that my greatest crime is loving you.”
Innamorata tells the story of Agnes, one of the last two living members of the House of Teeth. Agnes is a cold, silent, cunning creature, groomed by her late grandmother to be an unsuspecting weapon of destruction to the crown. When her cousin, Marozia, is to be wed to the Prince, she will finally have access to the Forbidden Library in this grotesque royal castle, which hold the answers to restoring the House of Teeth's glory before Berengar's take over. However, despite her vengeful heart, she finds something else in it— passion, love, lust for the man who is to wed her cousin. Prince Liuprand.
As a whole, this book was a horrifyingly, stunning masterpiece. Innamorata took me on an unexpected journey that I loved every moment of. I can't get over the the lush, atmospheric writing style Ava Reid effortlessly adopts like she herself is from the medieval era, no joke. This is the writing I want when I read a fantasy novel, (not a flipping contemporary style of writing lol) because it makes everything so cinematic, which is what it felt like. The way Ava Reid tells stories is mesmerising and I want to read her entire backlog now ngl. I don't know how to review this book without spoilers cause half of my love for this book is how grotesque and UNRULY the characters could be.
I thought I was prepared for that ending. I've read much stuff that has made me believe I was going to be prepared. I was wrong. Very very wrong.
There were many dark elements in this book: cannibalism, incest, abuse, murder, coercion, sexual assault to say the least. So if anyone does decide to read this book you need to take this seriously because even the author herself has said she knows this book is not for the masses. That being said, I feel like these dark, taboo elements were handled with care and appropriately in a way where they were not dropped in carelessly or for shock factor. They were integral to the characters themselves and to building this gothic, gory environment.
The world building was perfect, while I obviously had questions at the start, I barely questioned the quality of it as I read the book (not even once I think) because it was so easy to comprehend. The plot unravelled in a slow satisfying way, despite straying a fair, fair bit but in a good way. A good way because it made everything that followed unexpected and a mystery because I had no idea where the book would go in the end.
Lady Agnes was a phenomenal character to read about. (This is where I need to hold my tongue) She was such a well crafted character and there was this one big milestone where I did question if the author had made the right decision in navigating this character development but Lady Agnes has so much depth, I realised after thinking that Ava's choice in this matter couldn't be more aligned. The way she and Marozia developed throughout the book was a swift dagger to the stomach, because as you come to the end of the book you realise the sheer INTELLIGENCE of this author AAAAAA. The parallels. The way they became one another.
Marioza, oh sweet girl, suffered so much. Because she was from House of Teeth, she had barbaric, incestuous habits llike Agnes did but even then the way she was so glazed over by Liuprand & Agnes, made me feel so remorseful for her. Even to the point where I'm realising maybe this book is an antagonist's POV.
Liuprand... oh, never have I read a man so poetic. At times it was so poetic, I could help how it flew over my head because am I really gonna find a man so devoted as Prince Liuprand? The way his character slowly came together near the end— Waltrude's chapter before hand, was the cherry on top. There were some points in the book where I did not know how to feel about him and where I was so emotional by his love for Agnes, but now that I read the ending... I don't know what I feel... I don't even know what I would even categorise it.
Offal-Eater made me GAG. Mordaunt & Truss reminds me of those two evil sidekicks that are underestimated because they just goof around. Pliny and Waltrude, I loved them :) The King however! Hah! Die. Rot in HELLLLLLL.
The moths!! The moths!! I do not like moths, yet this is the second book that lowkey romanticises them so IDK what to do now. I thought it was a beautiful elemnt to Agnes and Liuprand's love and I wish it carried on until the very end because in my option it was a beautiful motif. I felt as if they were Agnes' mirror and loved how it became a way her and Liuprand communicated.
Criticisms:
╰►marriage was overly weaponised. Throughout the book, I feel like it was mentioned too many times to the point where it devalued any events that had already happened and future marriage related events. I just became numb to it like 'oh not again!'
╰►the pacing felt slightly off 🤏. The book experiences a big time pass somewhere in the 70% mark. I feel like a bit more needed to happen before this passage of time and I also think we should have gotten a bit more of a montage when it came to the time skip, because we missed a fair bit!
╰►erm, the blurb? I'm not too irked by this one because of how Agnes and Marozia unravel but I still do believe it was discarded too quickly at the start.
╰►hey so where was the necromancy or am I dumb ?
I know people are disgusted by the ending, icluding me. I saw the reviews before even starting but then I'm seeing people rate this book lowly because of that and to that I say- are you rating it because you're disgusted by the fact it was written? If so, why would you want a writer as eloquent as this one to censor themselves. It's not even as if this book was gratuitous in the scenes it had, it's probably the furthest thing from gratuitious violence because of how Ava makes us so aware of the depravity her characters commit.
What was comitted at the end, in my opinion, perfectly concluded [character name]'s true character - idk why I'm using the word concluded cause they didn't even die. I didn't fully trust [character name] and they always seemed somewhat good, somewhat something else. And the ambiguity Ava conveys in her writing when describing this this action kind of summarises them for me because you genuinely don't know what to think.
I have a side that I'm leaning to of course because I didn't trust them, but I also think there will be people who will defend. We shall see and I genuinely can;t wait for this book to release so I can read everyone's opinions!!!
Release date: March 17th
My rating: 4.75 🌟
Thank you to the publishers & Netgalley for giving me an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
March 18, 2026
This is an extremely dark book: violence, horror, a ruinous love story, devastation and betrayal, something bleak, shocking, and entirely emotionally unsafe—all while being incredibly beautiful, moving, gothic, and filled with palpable yearning.
I’m completely enamored by this book. I am in awe, I am disturbed, and I cannot look away. However, I had a few issues that I will detail in my full review.
Today is release day, and if you love reading gothic at its bleakest and most disturbing, I highly recommend picking this one up.
Many thanks to Del Rey for the ARC copy. Even through my disturbance, I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to read such a stunning book in advance.
More thoughts/a full review coming soon. I need some time to collect myself.
🖤🥀
4.5 stars from me, with love.
I’m completely enamored by this book. I am in awe, I am disturbed, and I cannot look away. However, I had a few issues that I will detail in my full review.
Today is release day, and if you love reading gothic at its bleakest and most disturbing, I highly recommend picking this one up.
Many thanks to Del Rey for the ARC copy. Even through my disturbance, I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to read such a stunning book in advance.
More thoughts/a full review coming soon. I need some time to collect myself.
🖤🥀
4.5 stars from me, with love.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Firstly I want to stress that it is so important to read the trigger warnings. This is not a romance it is not a romantasy and nowhere should this be classed as either, it is a book about obsession, toxic relationships and the unraveling of that love both between the two cousins and between Agnes and Liuprand. This is the kind of book where you are made to feel uncomfortable throughout, it is dark and very disturbing and also very graphic, I wasn't prepared for the last 2-3% of this book. It's a very hard book for me to rate because on one hand the execution of the story and the lives of the characters is done in such brilliant way but it's also very unsettling to read.
I have always been a fan of the way Ava writes and the writing is always so beautiful and haunting, the prose is so lovely and poetic and that there is always such a way that within the first few pages you are instantly pulled into and gripped by the story and these characters who are so very flawed. The story is intriguing as are the characters and it had a lot of interesting aspects and especially the plot twists that I wasn't expecting but when it comes to the plot and the way it develops, Ava sets up the world building and it's gothic vibes perfectly. It's very atmospheric, dark and moody sometimes it does feel that parts of it are never followed through thoroughly and leads into one horrific event to another but for the most part it's the way everything is so carefully planned until you get to the conclusion.
Is it a book that I would recommend? Yes but only to those that have read up and fully understand the content warnings as it's a very dark, gritty, gothic horror and also a very graphic story of betrayal, revenge, and politics with a touch of necromancy.
Please check the content warnings.
I have always been a fan of the way Ava writes and the writing is always so beautiful and haunting, the prose is so lovely and poetic and that there is always such a way that within the first few pages you are instantly pulled into and gripped by the story and these characters who are so very flawed. The story is intriguing as are the characters and it had a lot of interesting aspects and especially the plot twists that I wasn't expecting but when it comes to the plot and the way it develops, Ava sets up the world building and it's gothic vibes perfectly. It's very atmospheric, dark and moody sometimes it does feel that parts of it are never followed through thoroughly and leads into one horrific event to another but for the most part it's the way everything is so carefully planned until you get to the conclusion.
Is it a book that I would recommend? Yes but only to those that have read up and fully understand the content warnings as it's a very dark, gritty, gothic horror and also a very graphic story of betrayal, revenge, and politics with a touch of necromancy.
Please check the content warnings.
Read
October 17, 2025some people are going to hate this for the right reasons, it’s sagging under the weight of the attempts at gothic language, it gets lost in said language causing it to meander aimlessly far longer than any editor should allow, the fatphobia. but there will be some who hate it for the wrong reasons and ava, ava please listen to me when i say do not let the cowards stop you from writing really really deranged relationships between cousins and baby cannibalism
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
July 16, 2025
September 13, 2025
Ok honestly I struggled what to rate this. The book is good, it’s a dark gothic horror and the world building is so top tier. Ava’s writing style is stunning and sucks you in. The story is unique and the court intrigue and romance are well done. You can definitely feel the love they have for each other and the lengths they are willing to and do go to. Here’s where it gets tricky. TRIGGER WARNINGs , I am not squeamish. This is a book you’ll absolutely want to read the warnings and be aware of them before you start. The ending , it’s just well, I just finished bleaching my brain but the cliff hanger also has me yearning for book two and hopefully a righting to some of these wrongs. It’s DARK. Be prepared and have a cutesy hallmark style rom com to palate cleanse with after. 🤣 Also I know this is just petty but the names in this book are all just god awful. I ended up just referring to everyone as lady a, lady m, L etc 🤣 thanks to netgalley, the publisher and the author for this arc 💜
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ava really said "hmmm what if I wrote like, a Shakespeare-Esque gothic fantasy but made it kinda gruesome and dark and really horrible???"
LOVED THIS. FULL REVIEW SOON
LOVED THIS. FULL REVIEW SOON
August 28, 2025
4/5 stars
Innamorata by THE Ava Reid was my biggest pull from NetGalley so far and oh my… what a glorious, gruesome book it is. We follow Agnes, the granddaughter of the freshly deceased Mistress of Teeth, as she orchestrates her cousin’s marriage to the future king of Drepane, cementing her house’s power for generations and also seeking to bring back the depraved, necromantic customs of their land. That synopsis had me GAGGED. Alas … it was not perfect, but I’ll get to that.
The characters were so interesting and multifaceted, with the exception of the prince, Liuprand. I think Ava Reid writes the most compelling female characters, but her men leave something to be desired, especially if they are romantic leads. Liuprand was okay, but I wasn’t as connected to him as I was with Agnes and Marozia. Agnes is a mute girl crafted by the abusive hands of her grandmother for vengeance, and ONLY vengeance. She loves her beautiful and vibrant cousin Marozia as though they were twin sisters, connected by something more than blood, more than flesh. Watching their relationship evolve and change was both beautiful and heartbreaking, and I adored the dynamic here.
The romance that dominates the second half of this book was not my favourite. I could tell they were deeply in love, but … I just didn’t care as much as they did. Move it along people, we have dead bodies to reanimate! Sadly this love story heavily carries the plot from the second half, all the way to the book’s grisly and disgusting ending (which I LOVED). I could have done with less romance and sex, but Reid’s writing is so gorgeous that I can forgive it. The lush, gothic world we have here is so interesting that I can forgive almost anything.
And the ending … I cannot wait to see what everyone thinks. I loved this ending. This is the first book in a duology, and the ending is simply stunning. I read it through breakfast (worst decision ever) and was sick to my stomach, terribly sad, and also deeply satisfied. It felt so deserved and fucked up and I cannot wait to see what happens in book 2. We finished on a high note of gore and horror that this book desperately needed after a romance-heavy second half.
Overall, Ava Reid kills it again (as usual) with Innamorata. I absolutely NEED the second book but awaiting the physical release of this one will keep me going. A depraved and fucked up book, if you like gothic horror with (admittedly) some romance, you will need this book.
Innamorata releases March 17, 2026!
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey publishing for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
Innamorata by THE Ava Reid was my biggest pull from NetGalley so far and oh my… what a glorious, gruesome book it is. We follow Agnes, the granddaughter of the freshly deceased Mistress of Teeth, as she orchestrates her cousin’s marriage to the future king of Drepane, cementing her house’s power for generations and also seeking to bring back the depraved, necromantic customs of their land. That synopsis had me GAGGED. Alas … it was not perfect, but I’ll get to that.
The characters were so interesting and multifaceted, with the exception of the prince, Liuprand. I think Ava Reid writes the most compelling female characters, but her men leave something to be desired, especially if they are romantic leads. Liuprand was okay, but I wasn’t as connected to him as I was with Agnes and Marozia. Agnes is a mute girl crafted by the abusive hands of her grandmother for vengeance, and ONLY vengeance. She loves her beautiful and vibrant cousin Marozia as though they were twin sisters, connected by something more than blood, more than flesh. Watching their relationship evolve and change was both beautiful and heartbreaking, and I adored the dynamic here.
The romance that dominates the second half of this book was not my favourite. I could tell they were deeply in love, but … I just didn’t care as much as they did. Move it along people, we have dead bodies to reanimate! Sadly this love story heavily carries the plot from the second half, all the way to the book’s grisly and disgusting ending (which I LOVED). I could have done with less romance and sex, but Reid’s writing is so gorgeous that I can forgive it. The lush, gothic world we have here is so interesting that I can forgive almost anything.
And the ending … I cannot wait to see what everyone thinks. I loved this ending. This is the first book in a duology, and the ending is simply stunning. I read it through breakfast (worst decision ever) and was sick to my stomach, terribly sad, and also deeply satisfied. It felt so deserved and fucked up and I cannot wait to see what happens in book 2. We finished on a high note of gore and horror that this book desperately needed after a romance-heavy second half.
Overall, Ava Reid kills it again (as usual) with Innamorata. I absolutely NEED the second book but awaiting the physical release of this one will keep me going. A depraved and fucked up book, if you like gothic horror with (admittedly) some romance, you will need this book.
Innamorata releases March 17, 2026!
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey publishing for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
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