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The Poisoner #2
The Arachnid
Not yet published
Expected 14 Apr 26The hauntingly beautiful second book in the gothic romance Poisoner series, where Alina Lis finds herself the prey of her vampiric ex-lover, Silas. They’re a couple deadly as sin, and as intoxicating as a sip of poison...
Return to the world of The Poisoner...
In the shadows of 1890s Buffalo, a poisoner’s bite leaves more than just scars—even for the undead.
Two years after fleeing London, Alina Lis has built something she never thought a home. Leading a commune of women like herself, she's found a new, greater purpose; experimenting on the Vipera. But peace, she learns, is as fragile as a spider's web in winter.
Silas Forbes, the Vipera she escaped, hasn’t forgotten. But his thirst for Alina threatens everything he's created in her absence. And he's brought another along for the Luka Novikov, the man who once betrayed her, now bound to them both by wounds that won't heal and debts that can't be paid.
As human and Vipera worlds violently collide, old poisons surface and new alliances form. In a society where survival means choosing sides, Alina must protect the family she’s built, Silas must decide what price he’ll pay for his obsession, and Luka—marked forever by the poisoner’s kiss—must survive the clash of an immortal’s longing and a woman’s fury.
Some venoms have no antidote. Some hungers can never be satisfied.
The Arachnid is the second installment of the darkly seductive Poisoner series, where humans and Vipera twist together like lovers in the dark.
Return to the world of The Poisoner...
In the shadows of 1890s Buffalo, a poisoner’s bite leaves more than just scars—even for the undead.
Two years after fleeing London, Alina Lis has built something she never thought a home. Leading a commune of women like herself, she's found a new, greater purpose; experimenting on the Vipera. But peace, she learns, is as fragile as a spider's web in winter.
Silas Forbes, the Vipera she escaped, hasn’t forgotten. But his thirst for Alina threatens everything he's created in her absence. And he's brought another along for the Luka Novikov, the man who once betrayed her, now bound to them both by wounds that won't heal and debts that can't be paid.
As human and Vipera worlds violently collide, old poisons surface and new alliances form. In a society where survival means choosing sides, Alina must protect the family she’s built, Silas must decide what price he’ll pay for his obsession, and Luka—marked forever by the poisoner’s kiss—must survive the clash of an immortal’s longing and a woman’s fury.
Some venoms have no antidote. Some hungers can never be satisfied.
The Arachnid is the second installment of the darkly seductive Poisoner series, where humans and Vipera twist together like lovers in the dark.
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 14, 2026
9001 people want to read
About the author
I.V. Ophelia
5 books1,981 followersUSA Today Bestselling author I.V. Ophelia is known for the gothic vampire series The Poisoner. Born in small-town New England, she now haunts the streets of New York City, writing the most unhinged tales she can conjure. When not crafting gothic romance, she works as a full-time artist, hoards nineteenth-century gowns and antique furniture, dotes on her menagerie of pets, and plots her next literary transgression.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Want to read
June 6, 2025FINALLY BOOK TWO!!!
July 7, 2025
loved book one, very excited
hoping this isn’t a “why choose” moment…
hoping this isn’t a “why choose” moment…
July 2, 2025
Sooooo excited to see our dearest shadow and her favorite vampire once more! Alina, honey, make it hurt!
Want to read
August 6, 2025Guys, synopsis has been released and I am scared 😟. Please don’t make a why choose romance out of this masterpiece now 😭. I need a grovelling trope done RIGHT
Want to read
June 7, 2025back at it again with the unhinged excitement mwahahaha
we finally get more silas and alina content AHHHHH. IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONEEE😩🙂↕️
october 7th come quick please. i miss you autumn and it’ll be the arachnid month 😩
be prepared for the unhingedness that will ensue ;)
we finally get more silas and alina content AHHHHH. IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONEEE😩🙂↕️
october 7th come quick please. i miss you autumn and it’ll be the arachnid month 😩
be prepared for the unhingedness that will ensue ;)
Currently reading
June 6, 2025Silas Forbes has quickly become one of my all time favorite vampires! The Poisoner has changed me. I look forward to learning everything I can about the Vipera species. And seeing what journey I.V. Ophelia takes us on. It's gonna be incredible!
Want to read
June 30, 2025WAIT…..Is it gonna be a Why choose????
December 4, 2025
[I was provided an ALC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
screaming into the void about these books and these characters!!!
the narrators ate this UP and I would genuinely listen to any of them read a grocery list. they did an incredible job with the characters, their nuances and personalities. it did not feel like they were reading off words from a book, but felt more like genuine thoughts, feelings, and conversations.
can’t wait to find out what happens next because the cliffhanger ending sent me into a spiral🙂↕️
5/5 ⭐️
2/5 spice rating🌶️
screaming into the void about these books and these characters!!!
the narrators ate this UP and I would genuinely listen to any of them read a grocery list. they did an incredible job with the characters, their nuances and personalities. it did not feel like they were reading off words from a book, but felt more like genuine thoughts, feelings, and conversations.
can’t wait to find out what happens next because the cliffhanger ending sent me into a spiral🙂↕️
5/5 ⭐️
2/5 spice rating🌶️
not-for-me-do-not-read
October 8, 2025
June 18, 2025
I'm so excited 😊
June 7, 2025
You have no idea how much I LOVED THE POISONER and how bad I needed book 2 - almost as much as I need my next breath
and here we are!!!! I CAN NOT WAIT
and here we are!!!! I CAN NOT WAIT
January 24, 2026
Victorian-era, dark, velvety, and a little bit sinister. This is what you’ll get with this series.
I.V. Ophelia is a master of non-cringy dialogue. I don’t know how she does it but the dialogue between the characters is so refreshing and the banter so perfect!
She has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. Her prose is beautiful. Her characters are morally grey but oh so loveable. You are rooting for them and you want them to have a happy ever after.
We also love a man who is pathetically obsessed and the MMC is DOWN bad for the FMC.
Needless to say, I ate this book up and book 3 can’t come soon enough. This series has absolutely consumed me. I fear I may be entering a reading slump 🥲
I.V. Ophelia is a master of non-cringy dialogue. I don’t know how she does it but the dialogue between the characters is so refreshing and the banter so perfect!
She has quickly become an auto-buy author for me. Her prose is beautiful. Her characters are morally grey but oh so loveable. You are rooting for them and you want them to have a happy ever after.
We also love a man who is pathetically obsessed and the MMC is DOWN bad for the FMC.
Needless to say, I ate this book up and book 3 can’t come soon enough. This series has absolutely consumed me. I fear I may be entering a reading slump 🥲
January 24, 2026
I have one question for you, I.V. Ophelia: WHY CAN’T WE HAVE NICE THINGS?! 😭😭
Another hauntingly & devastatingly beautiful book in The Poisoner series - Silas is the king of down bad yearning and no love that he has NO SHAME in the game.
The dialogue between all characters is always whip smart and cutting & the banter between Silas and Alina and also Alina and Luka is top tier. I absolutely adore Luka and I loved that we got to explore more of his depth in this book, and I really hope we get even more in The Cannibal!
This series has consumed my every thought and I’m so grateful I received an eARC of this book - thank you Simon Maverick!
Another hauntingly & devastatingly beautiful book in The Poisoner series - Silas is the king of down bad yearning and no love that he has NO SHAME in the game.
The dialogue between all characters is always whip smart and cutting & the banter between Silas and Alina and also Alina and Luka is top tier. I absolutely adore Luka and I loved that we got to explore more of his depth in this book, and I really hope we get even more in The Cannibal!
This series has consumed my every thought and I’m so grateful I received an eARC of this book - thank you Simon Maverick!
January 25, 2026
ARC Review:
If “The Poisoner” is a velvet merlot served in crystal etched glass, “The Arachnid” is mead ale in the working man’s cup. Ophelia’s talent shines in transporting her characters from gilded comforts to the maw of a land that curdles and kills in slow rotting death. To me, the vibrancy of this work lies in the fact that it takes bites of plot devices from “Romancing the Beat” and twists them in the Horror Genre.
If “The Poisoner” is a velvet merlot served in crystal etched glass, “The Arachnid” is mead ale in the working man’s cup. Ophelia’s talent shines in transporting her characters from gilded comforts to the maw of a land that curdles and kills in slow rotting death. To me, the vibrancy of this work lies in the fact that it takes bites of plot devices from “Romancing the Beat” and twists them in the Horror Genre.
January 24, 2026
Initial review:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Full review to come.
Thank you Simon Maverick for the ALC!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Full review to come.
Thank you Simon Maverick for the ALC!
June 11, 2025
sooo sooo excited!!! The first book is one of my absolute favorites!! I read it on Kindle and then had to have it for my shelf ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 ⭐️
I.V. Ophelia's writing is nothing short of imaginative with lush descriptions that paint a vivid picture of the scene at hand. The setting was it's own character in The Arachnid and provided the perfect atmosphere for the characters. The landscape of London has now become Buffalo, NY, and the riches have been traded for cozy necessities like the quaint, but tattered, farmhouse. I loved the shift in scenery but also how the characters sought to preserve the old life they once led in the quaintest ways.
“Love is too weak a word to describe what I feel for you, but simultaneously the only word I have to describe it.”
Book two is filled with the most delicious groveling from Silas, leading to some of my favorite declarations of love. Alina, traumatized and scarred from the betrayal, struggles to reconcile her love for Silas throughout the pages. Their banter and sharp tongues were better than ever, and had me swooning that their love stems from hatred and harsh fights: I truly reveled in their verbal sparring.
“I feel that if you left this earth, the stars would die, and the flame within me would smother along with them. I would stay by your side, even in death, until I, too, started to decay where I stood. I would gladly feed the birds, the bugs, and become foliage as nature intended, right beside you.”
I loved that this book included the new POV of "The Fixer," aka Luka. His perspectives were refreshing as an added layer to the complexities of this plot. At the core of all these "monsters" is just someone wanting to be loved and accepted. I enjoyed his groveling as well, and appreciated Alina's restitution. His scenes had even deeper meaning than I anticipated, especially with the plot twist at the end of the book. I think in a re-read I will catch even more than the first read.
“A soft brush of ease washed over me, filling me with an unfamiliar peace; just one spark of bliss.”
I struggled at first to fully get into this book as the pacing was a little slow and I was waiting for bigger plot moments to occur. Around halfway, I was steadily invested in the plot and by the end I was holding myself back from absolutely tearing through the end of the book. I suspected certain parts of the ending would come to fruition, but how it all happened, I did not expect at ALL. The Arachnid has me itching for The Cannibal and I cannot wait to see where this all goes.
“I’m tired of this. I’m tired of bearing the cost of being decent, of being honorable, and only rewarded with hardship.”
The Arachnid will be a favorite of yours as well if you enjoy:
✨ intense groveling and second chance romances
✨ strong FMC who makes the world cower at her feet
✨ compelling relationships and found family
✨ lush sceneries and poetic language
✨ unique twist on vampires
Thank you to Simon Maverick Books | Simon Maverick for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I.V. Ophelia's writing is nothing short of imaginative with lush descriptions that paint a vivid picture of the scene at hand. The setting was it's own character in The Arachnid and provided the perfect atmosphere for the characters. The landscape of London has now become Buffalo, NY, and the riches have been traded for cozy necessities like the quaint, but tattered, farmhouse. I loved the shift in scenery but also how the characters sought to preserve the old life they once led in the quaintest ways.
“Love is too weak a word to describe what I feel for you, but simultaneously the only word I have to describe it.”
Book two is filled with the most delicious groveling from Silas, leading to some of my favorite declarations of love. Alina, traumatized and scarred from the betrayal, struggles to reconcile her love for Silas throughout the pages. Their banter and sharp tongues were better than ever, and had me swooning that their love stems from hatred and harsh fights: I truly reveled in their verbal sparring.
“I feel that if you left this earth, the stars would die, and the flame within me would smother along with them. I would stay by your side, even in death, until I, too, started to decay where I stood. I would gladly feed the birds, the bugs, and become foliage as nature intended, right beside you.”
I loved that this book included the new POV of "The Fixer," aka Luka. His perspectives were refreshing as an added layer to the complexities of this plot. At the core of all these "monsters" is just someone wanting to be loved and accepted. I enjoyed his groveling as well, and appreciated Alina's restitution. His scenes had even deeper meaning than I anticipated, especially with the plot twist at the end of the book. I think in a re-read I will catch even more than the first read.
“A soft brush of ease washed over me, filling me with an unfamiliar peace; just one spark of bliss.”
I struggled at first to fully get into this book as the pacing was a little slow and I was waiting for bigger plot moments to occur. Around halfway, I was steadily invested in the plot and by the end I was holding myself back from absolutely tearing through the end of the book. I suspected certain parts of the ending would come to fruition, but how it all happened, I did not expect at ALL. The Arachnid has me itching for The Cannibal and I cannot wait to see where this all goes.
“I’m tired of this. I’m tired of bearing the cost of being decent, of being honorable, and only rewarded with hardship.”
The Arachnid will be a favorite of yours as well if you enjoy:
✨ intense groveling and second chance romances
✨ strong FMC who makes the world cower at her feet
✨ compelling relationships and found family
✨ lush sceneries and poetic language
✨ unique twist on vampires
Thank you to Simon Maverick Books | Simon Maverick for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 12, 2025
I started this book in the early hours of the morning thinking it was gonna be a simple read about vampires and that’s it. I get halfway through it and then I got curious. I’m like I know that there’s a second book a coming out in October. Is it like in the same universe type scenario then I go on TikTok and I search about it and I find some Things that might deteriorate me from continuing the book and waiting till the second book comes on October I knew what the ending I knew it was gonna happen and certain things that were gonna happen, but I continue to read it knowing for what the ending was I’m getting towards the ending and I’m getting to those chapters where you’re like poor girl why is she going through this??? And I feel pity for her and then we get to the last chapter where it’s the most open ending besides the giver and I’m crying tears running down my cheeks and us have a mental breakdown, not knowing what happens and having to wait till October. so yes, I would recommend that 100%. It’s a great book. It’s amazing. It’s fantastic. Look the characters love the character development of the ark. Everything love the setting love the words they use their diction and syntax everything except I would recommend you wait till October to the second book comes out because what the ending of this book does to. You ain’t very pretty. It’s not pretty at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon Maverick for the e-arc.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
While I enjoyed this continuation of Alina and Silas' journey, this unfortunately suffered a good bit of sequel syndrome for me.
The good:
-Silas retribution/yearning
-Smooth continuation from the last book
-Found Family
The not so great:
-Luka- his role felt uneeded I'm my opinion. I didn't feel like his pov really offered a whole lot. (My mind could definitely be changed in book 3)
-Alina- while I really appreciate the way her PTSD was presented and the way she coped with trauma, it felt sloppy in places. Her sleep walking/vivid dreams/venom dependency felt inconsistent. Very hopeful for resolution in book 3.
-Levi- while I'm sure the mention of letters from Silas' father are used to set up the plot for book 3, it felt very out of place without more of a bridge.
Story conclusion- the pacing shift at the end was jarring. I wish the ending felt a little more developed instead of an abrupt wrap up.
Overall thoughts- I will absolutely be continuing the series, but I am a little underwhelmed by this one.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
While I enjoyed this continuation of Alina and Silas' journey, this unfortunately suffered a good bit of sequel syndrome for me.
The good:
-Silas retribution/yearning
-Smooth continuation from the last book
-Found Family
The not so great:
-Luka- his role felt uneeded I'm my opinion. I didn't feel like his pov really offered a whole lot. (My mind could definitely be changed in book 3)
-Alina- while I really appreciate the way her PTSD was presented and the way she coped with trauma, it felt sloppy in places. Her sleep walking/vivid dreams/venom dependency felt inconsistent. Very hopeful for resolution in book 3.
-Levi- while I'm sure the mention of letters from Silas' father are used to set up the plot for book 3, it felt very out of place without more of a bridge.
Story conclusion- the pacing shift at the end was jarring. I wish the ending felt a little more developed instead of an abrupt wrap up.
Overall thoughts- I will absolutely be continuing the series, but I am a little underwhelmed by this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2026
Thank you so much to IV Ophelia and her team, Simon Maverick, and Astoria Book Shop for the won physical ARC and gifted ARC.
I quite literally have no words. I ate this story up from beginning to end. This was the best story I have read in a very, very long time and I have a feeling it will sit on my top 5 books ever read for life. The story is AMAZING, truly unique and unlike anything I have ever read before. The found family within these pages, the character growth and trauma, the romance… everything was so perfect. The writing is absolutely beautiful and I cannot wait for this book to officially be out to the public so I can talk about it with EVERYONE I know. 10/10 I cannot wait for book 3 to see how everything ends. IV, you are a gift to readers and I’m so happy you decided to start writing.
I quite literally have no words. I ate this story up from beginning to end. This was the best story I have read in a very, very long time and I have a feeling it will sit on my top 5 books ever read for life. The story is AMAZING, truly unique and unlike anything I have ever read before. The found family within these pages, the character growth and trauma, the romance… everything was so perfect. The writing is absolutely beautiful and I cannot wait for this book to officially be out to the public so I can talk about it with EVERYONE I know. 10/10 I cannot wait for book 3 to see how everything ends. IV, you are a gift to readers and I’m so happy you decided to start writing.
January 22, 2026
I have enjoyed the series so far, it is told in a multi POV (Like 4+) so it is very dynamic in getting a wide variety of character development and personalities. I did get a little bit lost sometimes because there was so much going on. I did however find my way back to it at the end and it definitely ties it all together.
Definitely read your trigger warnings with this book because there are some themes that could be triggering for some people. I enjoyed the year paranormal fantasy vibes and the world building. It is definitely a different take on vampirism that was a little bit more political in nature when it came to dynamics of nests.
4.25 🌟 3 🌶️
Definitely read your trigger warnings with this book because there are some themes that could be triggering for some people. I enjoyed the year paranormal fantasy vibes and the world building. It is definitely a different take on vampirism that was a little bit more political in nature when it came to dynamics of nests.
4.25 🌟 3 🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Arachnid by I.V. Ophelia is dark, seductive, and quietly terrifying in the best way. This story creeps under your skin and lives there, weaving tension, obsession, and danger into every page. The main character is complex and morally gray, and watching the web of manipulation tighten is both fascinating and horrifying. The atmosphere is thick, moody, and addictive, and the writing has that signature I.V. Ophelia bite—beautiful, sharp, and ruthless. If you love twisted minds, psychological tension, and stories that feel like a slow, elegant descent into darkness, this one will absolutely consume you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed the continuation of this story, but not as much as book 1. The romance in this book felt like a step up, with plenty of grovelling, and seeing Alina come more into her power as a strong FMC was a highlight. I enjoyed the characters, but the plot in this book was a bit hard to follow. There were some unnecessary characters, and there were so many things happening that it was hard to tell which was supposed to be the main plot, and I still felt confused by the end of the story about certain aspects.
June 29, 2025
The first book has already wrecked me twice: once as an e-book, most recently, the audiobook, and it will be thrice when I order my hardcover version.
Just reading the description for the second book has me choked up. I simultaneously cannot wait, but am also afraid, to read it.
for honesty’s sake, I did not even mean to hit the stars at all, since obviously I’ve not read it yet. My opinion stands & and I’ll fairly update later.
Just reading the description for the second book has me choked up. I simultaneously cannot wait, but am also afraid, to read it.
for honesty’s sake, I did not even mean to hit the stars at all, since obviously I’ve not read it yet. My opinion stands & and I’ll fairly update later.
June 18, 2025
IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
July 6, 2025
I cannot wait for the story to continue!
August 22, 2025
I NEED MY ALINA BACK. I NEED SILAS TO GROVEL AND BEG!!!
September 22, 2025
Can't wait to read book 2!
Read
January 20, 2026dnf @ 78% not necessarily bad but i didn't care to finish the story and one of my new year's resolutions was to not waste my time finishing books that i lost interest in so.... womp womp
Want to read
January 23, 2026god pls let me get the arc
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews