Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?
Slavic mythology meets monster romance with teeth—Jaga is a force of nature and Woland is the kind of morally bankrupt devil you can't stop rooting for even when he's terrible. The worldbuilding pulls from Polish folklore in ways that feel genuinely fresh.
book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden
At a Glance
This is not a book for the faint of heart. Layla Fae writes dark romance that actually commits to being dark—the content warnings are extensive and earned. But underneath the brutality is a genuinely compelling power struggle between two characters who refuse to be tamed. The Slavic mythology worldbuilding sets it apart from the usual Western European fantasy settings, and adding Woland's POV in this installment deepens the dynamic considerably. Read the trigger warnings carefully, and if you're in, strap in. Book 2 of a trilogy with a cliffhanger ending.
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Book Details
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Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?
Romantasy
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.
Slow 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.
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.
Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.
Intensely graphic and boundary-pushing. Heavy on power dynamics, pain play, blood play, dubcon, and dark kink. The spice is inseparable from the power struggle between the leads.
Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.
possessive/protectivetensionrough but consensualdirty talk (sweet/playful)growling / possessive sounds
Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.
rough/aggressive intimacypower exchangedominancebondage/restraintclaimingdegradation (light)primal play (hunting/chasing)overstimulation
sexual assault (on page, fading to black, not between MCs)suicide attempt (graphic)SA traumagraphic violence and goretorturedeath of an infanteating disorders (magical)dubious consent between MCssuicidal ideationgroomingcheating (on page, graphic)blood playforced orgasmsbody horror (plants/insects inside bodies)
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.
mythological
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.
Slavic mythology-inspired world spanning mortal and divine realms rooted in Polish folklore
Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.
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.
