MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery
The Stacks
DiscoverMy ShelvesReading Stats
Sign upLog in
MoodReads - Romantasy Book Discovery

because goodreads doesn't
have a spice filter

Discover

  • Discover Page
  • Reading Stacks
  • Tropes
  • Moods
  • Creatures
  • Spicy Books

Get MoodReads

  • so what is it.
  • iOS App
  • Browser Extension
  • MoodReads Premium
  • Gift a Subscription
  • For Creators
  • Share MoodReads

Go Deeper

  • FAQ
  • Roadmap
  • Request a Feature
  • vs Goodreads
  • vs StoryGraph
  • Who Built This?

The Serious Stuff

  • Values
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Support

get emails when something big happens. no spam, just news.

© 2026 MoodReads. Built by a romantasy reader for romantasy readers.

rattle the stars, bitches.

Cover of A Curse in Darkness

A Curse in Darkness

by Sherilee Gray

🌶️🌶️mild·The Thornheart Trials #1
4.0 on Goodreads (1,818)

Rate this book

sign in to add to shelves, track reading status, and see your stats

find similar →
ReportSpoiler settings

Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

A powerful witch hunting a possessed hellhound finds herself claimed by its domineering alpha in this action-packed paranormal romance dripping with fated mates tension and primal energy.

Synopsis

Willow I once faced evil…and lost. With the fate of my family—and our magic—suddenly in my hands, I vow to protect them no matter what. But the coven trials have claimed many witches, and vanquishing malevolent spirits, while hunting a possessed hellhound on a killing spree, is far more than I bargained for. Now the hellhound’s domineering alpha is shadowing me. More beast than man, Warrick both tempts and terrifies. Still, I can’t resist our overwhelming attraction and when a twisted enemy makes their move and I’m faced with an impossible choice, I need him more than ever. But fortune is fickle, and in a world full of monsters, falling in love can be hazardous to your health—and your heart.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

A Curse in Darkness launches Sherilee Grays Thornheart Trials series with a witch-meets-hellhound-alpha setup that delivers on both the paranormal action and the steamy romance. Willow is a genuinely powerful FMC who holds her own against Warrick, and their fated mates chemistry crackles with predator-prey tension. The coven trials and demonic threats provide solid stakes beyond the romance. First in a six-book series set in the Knights of Hell world, so expect an expanding supernatural mythology.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.03 ★ (1.8k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

374 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2021

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Fantasy Romance

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Dual POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Medium Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

No audiobook yet

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
fated matesshifter romancecursed love interestgames/trials romanceforbidden lovetouch her and diehe falls first
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

intensedarkromanticadventurousdangerous

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

suspensefulengagingdarkdramatic

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

moderate

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

deadly trialspage turner

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

witch/magegeneral badassprotector

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

possessive alphashifter alphabeast / monster MMCsecretly softdark/tortured soul

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

fated matespossessive love interestgrumpy sunshinepredator x preyonly soft for themprotective love interest

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 2

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

Erotic paranormal romance with intense, primal intimacy. The shifter-witch dynamic creates charged power play with a possessive alpha and claiming energy.

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

None

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (4)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
graphic violencedeath of secondary charactersgraphic sexual contentdemonic possession
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

paranormal

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

Dark fantasy world with covens and hellhound packs

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

witches/wizards/warlocksshiftersdemons

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

feral brain activatedtension finally satisfiedromantic fulfillment

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

at nightcozy evening

this page is just the start

  • import your Goodreads or StoryGraph TBR. we tag every book with spice, tropes, CWs, mood, all of it
  • tell us a vibe (“enemies to lovers fae, high spice”) and BookMatch finds the book
  • 4,000+ romantasy books searchable by 45 fields
  • book clubs, reading challenges, and a community of readers who get it
free account

Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.374
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2021
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.03 ★ (1.8k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

The Thornheart Trials #1
Similar picks →

My Notes

Loading...

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

live reactions, hot takes, screaming into the void about A Curse in Darkness

Similar Books

Cover of White Hot Kiss

White Hot Kiss

The Dark Elements, #1

Jennifer L. Armentrout

🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
love triangleforbidden loveenemies to lovers
Cover of The Wolf KingKU

The Wolf King

The Wolf King, #1

Lauren Palphreyman

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
enemies to loversforced proximitycaptive romance
Cover of Dark Lover

Dark Lover

Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1

J.R. Ward

🌶️🌶️·multi-POV
fated matessoulmate/destined bondforced proximity
Cover of First Drop of Crimson

First Drop of Crimson

Night Huntress World, #1

Jeaniene Frost

🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
forced proximitybodyguard/protection detailwho hurt you
Cover of Hunting Ground

Hunting Ground

Alpha & Omega, #2

Patricia Briggs

🌶️🌶️·multi-POV
fated matesshifter romanceforced proximity
Cover of Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures

Caster Chronicles, #1

Kami Garcia

🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
forbidden lovecursed love interestfated mates
Cover of Feral SinsKU

Feral Sins

The Phoenix Pack, #1

Suzanne Wright

🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
forced proximityforced to marrymarriage of convenience
Cover of Magic Strikes

Magic Strikes

Kate Daniels, #3

Ilona Andrews

🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
forced proximitycompetition romancegames/trials romance