As the new year begins, the nights are long and the forests whisper with secrets. These aren’t gentle tales — they’re shadow‑drenched escapes, full of curses, forbidden desires, and the kind of passion that burns brightest in the dark. Step with me into five retellings that twist familiar fairytales into intense journeys of lust, danger, and transformation. Perfect for keeping the fire alive in the cold of January.”
The Salt Grows Heavy
Cassandra Khaw
Khaw’s novella is a fever dream of blood, desire, and survival. The mermaid, no longer a passive victim, is a mother of monsters whose children consume her husband’s kingdom. On the run, she encounters a plague doctor with secrets as dark as her own. Together they traverse a forest ruled by ageless children and cruel saints. This is a tale of forbidden companionship, lust threaded through horror, and the reclamation of agency in a world that punishes difference. Khaw’s prose is lush, lyrical, and unflinching, making this book perfect for readers who crave intensity and shadow‑drenched passion.
I can scarecly wait! Its in the mail!
Thornhedge
T. Kingfisher
Kingfisher flips the familiar tale: the “princess” is a monster, and the curse is a safeguard. Toadling, raised in Faerieland, must guard the thorn‑choked tower to prevent disaster. This is a story of duty, desire, and the loneliness of being misunderstood. While not erotica, the book pulses with dark passion and forbidden longing, set against forests and curses. Kingfisher’s trademark wit softens the shadows, but the atmosphere is rich with danger and yearning.
I've added this one to my TBR list. Care to join me?
Burning Roses
S.L. Huang
This novella blends Western and Chinese folklore into a tale of redemption, curses, and forbidden forests. Rosa, scarred by her past as a monster hunter, joins Hou Yi in a desperate quest. Their journey is shadowed by regret, lust, and the weight of choices. Huang’s writing is sharp and emotional, weaving passion into battles against beasts and inner demons. It’s a story about finding love and forgiveness in the darkest places.
A fresh take on folklore?! Count me in!
The Shadow in the Glass
J.J.A. Harwood
Harwood’s novel is gothic‑tinged dark fantasy: Eleanor, a servant girl, makes a wish to escape her life, but each wish comes at a terrible cost. The faerie bargains are seductive, shadowed, and laced with lust. This is a story of ambition, curses, and passion that consumes. Harwood’s prose is atmospheric, with forbidden forests and shadow‑drenched escapes that will resonate with readers craving intensity.
One more for the TBR pile! January is looking hotter by the minute!
After the Forest
Kell Woods
This adult fantasy explores what happens after the fairytale ends. Greta and Hans are haunted by their past, their village mistrustful, and the forest still dangerous. Greta’s gingerbread holds addictive magic, and whispers of curses linger. Woods crafts a tale of forbidden desire, survival, and shadowed forests. The book balances eerie atmosphere with sensual undertones, perfect for readers who want passion entwined with danger.
After the Happily Ever After? You had me at "hello"...
These stories are not happily‑ever‑afters — they’re the ones that linger, haunting and intoxicating. Each book is a doorway into a darker world, where passion and peril entwine. Grab your copy and a mug of mulled wine. I will meet you by the fire.
Which twisted tale will you fall into first?
With Love,
Grab your copy of Snow: The Complete Erotic Series now!
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With Love,
Check out her books:
Snow White and the Wicked Queen: Chapter 1
Snow White and the Vicious Curse: Chapter 2
Snow White and the Seven Thieves: Chapter 3
Snow White and the Poisoned Apple: The Final Chapter
Prefer to read the whole story at once? Grab your copy of Snow: The Complete Erotic Series now! All five books are available now as ebooks and paperbacks. Coming soon in Large Print format!
2nd edition coming 2025!
