Bred by Midnight: An Erotic Horror Novella

by Karleigh Kiss

𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗈𝗇 𝖻𝗅𝖾𝖾𝖽𝗌, 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖲𝖺𝗇𝖼𝗍𝗎𝗆 𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗇𝗌.

𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝖤𝗅𝖾𝗇𝖺 𝖬𝗈𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗎𝗑 𝗋𝖾𝖼𝖾𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗇 𝗂𝗇𝗏𝗂𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝖺𝗇 𝖾𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗆𝗂𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝗇 𝖭𝖾𝗐 𝖸𝖾𝖺𝗋’𝗌 𝖤𝗏𝖾, 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝖼𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾. 𝖬𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 𝖽𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋. 𝖲𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝗈𝖾𝗌𝗇’𝗍 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆—𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝗌𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗆𝖾𝗇 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗐𝖺𝗂𝗍 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗌, 𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗅 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗋𝖾, 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝗎𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝗀𝗂𝗇𝗌 𝖺𝗍 𝗆𝗂𝖽𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍.

Genres: Novella, Dark Romance

116 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2025

About the author

Karleigh Kiss is a dark romance author who writes stories that explore love in its rawest, messiest form - scars and all. She has a soft spot for villains, survivors, and happily-ever-afters that are a little messy but worth fighting for. When she’s not writing, Karleigh can usually be found drinking way too much caffeine, watching true crime documentaries, or baking sweet treats!

Reviews

[D.3.b.0.r.a.h · Rating 5 out of 5]

16 masked men… whew. Damn, girl. 🥵
And yes — that pretty much sets the tone.

Bred By Midnight was such a surprisingly fun and addictive read. From the moment Elena receives the mysterious invitation and steps onto that mist-shrouded estate, I knew this story was going to be dark, seductive, and completely consuming.

The atmosphere is everything: fog, masks, rituals, danger, and desire all woven together into a decadent, almost hypnotic experience. The masked men are dangerous, dominant, and utterly unforgettable. The tension never lets up, and the constant push and pull between fear and temptation kept me hooked the entire time.

And the spice? There is a lot of it — bold, explicit, and unapologetic — yet it fits perfectly within the story and never feels out of place. It only deepens the ritualistic, forbidden vibe rather than overpowering it.

I couldn’t put this book down and honestly flew through it way too fast.

This was a highly enjoyable, spicy dark romance that left a lasting impression. If you love masked men, ritualistic themes, heavy atmosphere, and unapologetic spice, this book is absolutely worth picking up.

Zero regrets. Highly recommended. 🖤🔥

[Onyx Reads Smut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, hot, and oh so steamy! If you love a book that's 10% plot, and 90% smut, this is the book for you. Theres a chase, breeding, and breeding, and more breeding, skull masks, multiple, and yes I mean multiple men. Its a super quick read, I devoured it in 2 hours or less.
Please make sure you read the triggers because there are many to watch for.

[Arely · Rating 5 out of 5]

“They will hunt you. They will catch you. They will breed you."

I’m having so much fun stretching my horizons on just how wild, unhinged, and unexpectedly entertaining dark reads can be.

This one delivered. 🌟

Quick, intense and exactly the kind of dark little detour I needed. 🤭

ARC kindly provided for review purposes.
All thoughts are my own.

[Freya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Thornewoood Manor!!! A New Year’s event that will forever change you.

Elena has been walking through life feeling empty in every way. Constantly feeling hungry for something she can not name. She receives an invitation to an exclusive New Years event that she feels might be the answer to her unnamed hunger.

Let me just tell you that Elena gets fed…by 16 masked men. Super steamy!! 🥵 This novella is like 90% spice and 10% plot. Hunting and breeding. Then more hunting and breeding. Very primal and dark in all the best ways.

🐺Primal Play
🦌Branding
🦊Secret Society
🐦‍⬛Breeding
🐗Masked Men
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to the author for this eARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this Novella more than 5 stars.
This is pure smut. 90% smut and 10% plot. If you love dark, primal, secret society and pages upon pages of breeding. Than this is for you. Even when your reading it for the smut, your not going to get confused on the FMC POV because the storyline is still there and was written perfectly.
This is the perfect pallet cleanser in-between the lighter books and when your looking for that quick read to help bring you out of a reading slump.
I highly recommend checking triggers and content warnings prior to reading 🖤
Also definitely recommend to all my dark/erotica romance reader friends

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elena
*
Please read trigger warnings before reading the novella.
*
They will hunt you. They will catch you. They will breed you.
*
Elena receives an invitation to Thornewood Manor withouth knowing she was the chosen one. The Sanctum performs an ancient ritual every year on 31. December, under a bleeding moon. She chooses to be a part of it, a part of something bigger. She is hunted and thoroughly bred by 16 hunters. Several at the same time (fill all the holes, you know). She is marked, claimed, used and filled. She is broken down and comes out as something new. After all she chose this. She chose to become a part of the Sanctum.
The ritual is completed by a successful breeding. She becomes a mother.
This novella was quite the read on new year's eve and the first day of the year. If you are triggered by any of the intimate scenes I do not suggest reading it. But if you're not bothered by it - go for it. It's an experience. Theres masked men, big O's and surrender to it all. After all...the prey runs and the hunters pursue. She was going to be caught no matter how fast she ran.

[OooLaLa Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rituals, Desire, No Turning Back

OMG besties… let’s talk about "Bred By Midnight" because WOW. 🥵 The prologue being in 3rd person immediately sets an ominous, creeping tone... and trust me, it works. From there, slipping into Elena’s 1st person POV pulls you straight into the fog-drenched estate and refuses to let you leave. Karleigh Kiss’s descriptive writing is utterly unhing€d perfection... rich, immersive, and dripping with dark atmosphere.

The Sanctum... Masked, ritualistic, powerful, and absolutely unhing€d. The predator x prey dynamic is intense, the power exchanges are extreme, and the spice level is truly enter-at-your-own-risk. This book doesn’t flirt with darkness... it commits. And BESTIES… that epilogue? 👀 Let’s just say I sat there staring at the page and immediately wanting more. My Dark €rotica Lovers, add this to your TBR now!

My Ratings:  ⭐ 4.5/5  ▪︎  🥵 5/5

🥀 For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤

[Her Dark Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

*•ARC Review•*

Bred By Midnight - Karleigh Kiss

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes
💋Primal Play
🐺Branding
💋Secret Society
🐺Breeding
💋Masked Men

"I've survived something that should have destroyed me, and instead it has remade me into something new. Something that belongs to them."

I devoured this book! Masked men, so many masked men.

One invitation, one ritual on a blood moon in December. All you have to do is "Run" and let them Breed you when they catch you.

Brilliant story line, straight to it and lots of Smut with many masked men!

I recommend this little novella as a perfect space filler, quick read and so fun. But as always please read the trigger warning as your mental health matters. And what I like you may not.

Now I'm patiently waiting for my little black invitation to come through!

[Madison Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I'm speechless. Elena is the opposite of me....I actively avoid getting pregnant, and she ran to it, or technically away from it, but got captured, and I couldn't stop reading. 🤣

There is more than plenty of spice, so your spice needs will definitely be met. If you like reading about breeding, then this is the book for you, because there is plenty of breeding happening. 16:1 ratio to be exact, and yes you read that right. Like hot damn.

Also, everyone is wearing masks, so if you like Masked men, this will give you 16 of them to make all of your desires come true, well Elena's desires, but thats just a technicality. 🤣

If you need a spicy breeding, masked men novella to start off the new year right, this is the one for you!

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bred by Midnight is a quick extra spicy read. This is 95% filthy fun time with a few story building interludes. Labelled as an erotic horror novel, I found it more on the dark side than horror. The story is the POV of the FMC. The atmosphere is dark, mysterious and a wee bit culty. Descriptions leave little to the imagination which we love for a novella! The short of it… An ancient secret society of masked men hunt down consenting women under the blood moon…. Can’t seem much more than that without ruining the story. I don’t have triggers, but this one has some heavy one’s so be good to yourself

[hails · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great read if you want something fast and smutty. Personally, this seemed more dark rather than horror, but definitely read the trigger warnings before proceeding nonetheless. The storyline is straightforward with very little plot or character development, so it’s perfect if you just need an hour or two to shut your brain off and read. The only aspect I didn’t quite enjoy was the writing: the vocabulary was extremely repetitive. Though this book is only ~115 pages, I feel it could’ve been cut down even further if some things weren’t restated over and over.

Final rating: 3 stars

I received an ARC for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[S G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 3/5
Spice: 5/5
Genre: Horror Novella
Content Warnings:
I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thoughts: Bred by Midnight by Karleigh Kiss opens with an intriguing premise that quickly draws you in. Regrettably, the novella does not fully capitalize on this potential. Rather than deepening its plot, it places too much emphasis on the smut instead. Compounding this issue is the repetitive use of certain terms and phrases, which becomes distracting and further undermines the already minimal plot. If you’re feeling in the mood for a smutty novella then maybe Bred by Midnight is for you.

[Pretty_Poisons_Dark_Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO AMAZING!! First off … the spice … I’m pretty sure it deserves more than 5 🌶️s!! I finished this novella in one sitting. I literally couldn’t put it down. This is an erotic horror novella. It is DARK so if you have triggers, make sure to read the TW. Karleigh Kiss did such a an amazing job with this story. The way she puts so much detail, exactly where it needed to be, it was like you were there! I would love for another novella/story of what comes after this story!

Tropes -
Masked Men
Primal Play
Breeding … SO much breeding!
Branding
Secret Society

🌶️ - 5+
⭐️ - 5

[Vickyy.readss · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖𝙱𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝙼𝚒𝚍𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝙱𝚢 𝙺𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑 𝙺𝚒𝚜𝚜
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.𝟻/𝟻
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/𝟻

𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚑 𝚋𝚘𝚢 𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚒𝚍!! 𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚢𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚖*𝚝𝚝𝚢, 𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍, 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝟷𝟼 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚊 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜, 𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚐𝚕𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚙𝚘𝚟 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚛𝚊𝚙 𝚞𝚙 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢.

[Jody Reads Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, let me just say I LOVE masked men, they are my vibe. Now, what the hell did I just read... and why am I still stuck on it?

I was looking forward to a chilly New Year’s Eve atmosphere, but Karleigh Kiss has simply plunged me into this foggy estate, given me a glass of sheer danger, and said, Midnight changes everything. Yeah, it totally does. The masked men, the ritual, the hunt, it is a little frightening and yet so good, as your brain is screaming NOPE and your eyes are eating the next page.

WTF. Dark, twisted, addictive. I need a sec. 🥂🌫️😈

[Patricia Nenno · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️ Review ✨️

4/5 🌟's

Tropes:
Breeding
Masked Men
Secret Society
Primal Play
Branding
Pregnancy

I would recommend reading this and suggest you add to your TBR if you like yourself a dark romance.

LOTS of spice and the title was perfect for this book. There is no hidden plot or agenda there. Lol

"They will hunt you. They will catch you. They will breed you."

Short and quick read and straight to the point.

Again, plenty of spice. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Please watch for and read the triggers.

#BredByMidnight #KarleighKiss #darkromance #review

[Lizzie Czyzniewski · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice enough yet, it felt like it lacked any real MEAT. I would’ve liked more world building with the sanctum and whatnot and the end felt like it very glorified trauma. Just so you know… I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The constant reminder of choice and consent felt like the author was trying to say “she chose this” as a justification a TAD too much. Other than that, it was great primal play, good spice.

[Holls UnderCovers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is an intense, feral sprint from start to finish. The masked men ritual under the blood moon creates a dark, addictive atmosphere that grabs you immediately. The Sanctum’s secret society world is twisted, primal, and surprisingly well crafted for such a short read. The plot takes a back seat, but the heat and the tension absolutely carry it. If you’re in the mood for something fast, wild, and unapologetically dark with a mysterious edge, this one delivers a wickedly fun escape.

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

16 masked men.. breeding.. branded.. and a baby?

At least there was consent and she knew what she was getting into

Plenty of spice so you’re covered there ya filthy animals

But my favorite part? How she explains to her son how he came to be and to not be ashamed so he could understand when it was his time to become one of the “breeders”

Highly recommend

[HisDarkReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this Novella. The plot was right up my street and the smut was just fantastic! It’s rare that you get a smut heavy book with a good plot too.
The sanctum and its members were dark and mysterious.

“I'm being bred. Truly, thoroughly bred. And some deep, dark part of me loves it. Craves it. Needs it.”

I will certainly be looking out for more books written by Karleigh Kiss.

[Holly Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love a good breeding trope and you’re craving a novella that’s basically 99% smut… this one is absolutely for you. The title is the story. The story is the title. No pretenses just vibes. I loved the FMC’s it is what it is energy and how she simply lets the plot ride.

Sometimes you don’t need depth.

Sometimes you need commitment.

She was def all in. This was spicy fun.

[Candis Arnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Masked men in a secret society? Yes please! The Sanctum is a primal secret society that breeds chosen women who consent to being branded, hunted, and bred by the members. Bred By Midnight is full of so much spice the FMC isn't sure she can take it all, or all of them (16 masked men btw!!)! If breeding trope is your thing this one is definitely for you!!

[Fey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a wild ride. I loved the understanding Elena came to for herself through her journey. I wish I could read more about the Sanctum and other parts of that! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kalene · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an amazing debut!!!!!! I definitely wanted more of this and I kept going. mostly smut and I don't mind because it was worth it being mostly smut because a story was still told and I can't wait to see what Karleigh does next!!!!

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sanctum is a secret group that gathers every ten years and invites people to a hidden manor, choosing women for their strength. Whooo, intriguing!! Elena is pushed to her limits and quickly changes as she learns who she really is while playing the Sanctum’s dangerous games.

[Taylor Proulx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masked men. So many masked men. May I repeat so many!!!

If you’re craving something short, dark, and deliciously dirty, this is it. Think very little plot and so much smut and it absolutely delivers. It was the perfect book to get me out of my book slump

[Michelle Alyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense, steamy and a short read.

Masked men, 16 of them to be exact 😮‍💨.

Walking in, wondering what you’re accepting. To be hunted, and bred 🤌🏼.

Becoming part of the ritual but most importantly part of the blood line. It’s something deeper something primal. Well worth it in the end.

[Katie Gilroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok this one was pretty good. The story is interesting. I enjoyed the whole secret society aspect of it. The spice is super spicy! And then it’s nice how the story all wraps together. I’m glad there was that epilogue. I was wondering how that whole situation would end up. Enjoyable read!

[Heather Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was a ride…. Not my fav ride but I KNOW it’s some people’s ride 😂.

[Reading4_Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book from start to finish. Minimal plot but if you are looking for a quick spicy read to get you out of a slump or just to read. I highly recommend this book.