An excellent read, I picked this up expecting the focus to be a vampire romantasy and was thrilled to find the repeated references to The Aeneid. While the slow burn, enemies to lovers romance was excellent, I particularly loved the depictions of the underworld, and how their journey through the realms of Death bought Stefan and Irina closer together. Irina slowly piecing together Stefan's history, and recognising that perhaps he wasn't the monster she had originally thought, was beautifully done, the characters getting to know each other at the same pace as the reader. While by no means a ground-breaking depiction of the Underworld, it was a vision not commonly explored in modern fantasy and I love that Harwood drew bits from several mythologies to create something a little bit different, but still recognisable.

And the ending - excellent! I was sobbing my eyes out after the meeting with Death, unable to see a way for everybody to return to life, and so the final twist was the absolute high point of the book for me! Drawing parallels with Hades and Persephone in the seasonal return to life, having Irina's blood be the key to that meant that our plucky heroine had saved everyone, which was fully deserved after everything she'd been through!
My only complaint is that the villagers didn't get more confrontation! I would have liked to see her fully address the villagers for their role in Stefan's death, and while the perpetrators had been brutally murdered by Stefan, some open acknowledgment of what they had done would have been fitting. Their behaviour was just another type of monstrous, and they should have been confronted with that.
Still, I suppose we know their judgement awaits on the other side!

On the whole a charming romantasy that I can't wait to add to my shelves!
Thanks to Harwood, NetGalley and HarperCollins/Magpie for the chance to read ahead of release.

A Steep and Savage Path blends gothic fantasy with Eastern European folklore, following a woman's journey through the underworld to reclaim her sister’s soul. The writing is atmospheric and rich in detail, creating an immersive and emotionally resonant reading experience.

If I could give six stars, I would.

ASteep and Savage Path is nothing short of spellbinding. I’ve been obsessed with this book since the very first proof was teased online, and when I got approved for the ARC over the weekend, I absolutely inhaled it in two days. What I expected to be beautifully eerie ended up being so much more—layered, emotional, vividly atmospheric, and genuinely funny.

From the very first page, Harwood’s writing style swept me away. It’s lyrical, haunting, and so deeply immersive that I felt like I was walking beside Irina through every eerie corridor and across every chilling threshold of the underworld. The worldbuilding is chef’s kiss—dark and rich and weirdly comforting in the most uncanny way, kind of like The Good Place but more folkloric and deeply emotional.

Irina and Stefan’s relationship absolutely melted me. Their connection is so seamless, so earned—one of the most natural and rewarding love stories I’ve read in a while. Stefan is the softest, purest soul and we must protect him at all costs. And Irina—what a compelling, layered lead. Their banter was everything, and it added the perfect levity to a story that still managed to rip my heart out by the end (yes, I cried—no, I don’t usually cry. Shocker).

The supporting cast is just as vivid: Catarina was adorable, the inn’s landlady was an icon, and I would read an entire novella on Irina’s mum alone. And the priest? The priest made me want to reach through my Kindle and shake him. I haven’t had that kind of visceral reaction to a character in a while. All that is to say that I grew very attached to the characters and I cared about all of the leads, anxiously reading the last few parts waiting to see how everything unfolded.

Also—as someone who grew up in Hungary just a short drive from the Romanian border, this book felt like home. The cultural touches, the humour, the folklore-infused setting, and the salty pork moment (!!!)—I have never felt so seen. That Hungarian name drop at the end had me screaming. This is representation.

Favourite quotes? “All those love songs that had never seemed to apply to her suddenly made sense” broke me. And “Please someone come and get this child. It’s sticky”—I haven’t laughed that hard at a book in ages.

This story was eerie, emotional, and completely unforgettable. I already can’t wait to hold the finished copy in my hands. J.J.A. Harwood, you are a legend—this is one of my favourite reads of the year.

A story mixing Romanian and Greek myths, with vampires, the Underworld, a long journey and lost souls.

The start was really great and so promising. Instead of playing the victim, Irina has a strong will and a clear agenda, as she lets herself get married to a dead groom.

Stefan is a vampire with a tragic backstory, and willing to help Irina in exchange for her blood.

Their path through the underworld and through portals starts intriguing, but soon gets repetitive and has lost me in the process.

There's romance and finding yourself and others, but ultimately it didn't grip me.

It still has its strong moments though, and it's way more soft and heartwarming than I thought.

3,5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @harpervoyager_uk and @rachelquinmarketing for the eARC!

#ASteepAndSavagePath #Netgalley #Bookstagram

"It was never a good idea to make conversation with a monster; it only let you forget about their teeth.“

I went into A Steep and Savage Path without knowing quite what to expect, but the moment the story ventured into the underworld, I was completely swept away. It’s a beautifully crafted tale—one that lingers long after the final page, the kind you find yourself wanting to revisit just to experience it all over again.

The world-building is immersive and richly imagined, and the characters gradually won me over with their depth and growth. What struck me most was the story’s ability to blend heartbreak with joy, sorrow with hope. It made my heart ache and soar in equal measure. And just when I thought I had it figured out, the book surprised me in the best way.

This novel has it all—emotion, atmosphere, and that rare kind of magic that makes you want to hold onto every word.

4
The story centers around Irina, who is getting married to a vampire who is dead and unaware of the wedding. This is so that she has a guide through the underworld to help complete a task to find her sister's soul.


I don't agree that it's an enemies-to-lovers story. I saw no enemies, just two individuals who didn't know how to communicate. There was no hatred nor big conflict between them, only weak bickering and some occasional banter.

The book doesn't have any chapters which was a little irritating to be honest

netgalley ARC

I enjoyed this so.ewgat slow burn romance, the plot of finding the curse to end was interesting. Could have had more depth and felt a little too basic and I love YA.

I was asked by NetGalley to review this book. I was intrigued by the cover initially.

I loved the Romanian folklore and the historical setting of the small rural village.
There are gothic and scary threads throughout this story as a young woman is intent on bringing her the soul of her sister from the underworld and a vampire to guide her.

This was a interesting slant on vampires and gothic themes and interesting that there was no chapters but five sections again different.

Scary and quite a sad story so get the tissues out.

Recommended read due for publication May 8th 2025.

I wasn’t too sure what to expect from this book at the start, but as soon as they entered the underworld I was hooked! I thought the world building was done so well and the characters really grew on me. I also always love a book that can surprise me and this definitely did that!

I really wanted to like this. The book started off strong. I liked our main character, Irina, and I liked the writing. The concept was intriguing, but once we got the land of the dead the whole story just fell flat. It became so repetitive, and a little boring. I don't know if it was just a badly formatted ARC, but this book also didn't have any chapters, only parts. That made it seem longer than it actually was. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it.

I can never resist a journey to the underworld and when you team it with a vampire it’s a yes from me. I was pulled in from the beginning and was intrigued by the lore and legends about the vampires.
I liked the pacing and the plot kept me engaged throughout.

Lush, lyrical, and emotionally devastating. A gothic fantasy masterpiece.

A Steep and Savage Path is an unforgettable descent into darkness—equal parts romantic, eerie, and mythologically rich. With her signature gothic flair, JJA Harwood weaves a story of grief, forbidden love, and impossible bargains that readers will devour in one sitting and mourn long after the final page.

Irina is a standout heroine—fierce, flawed, and heartbreakingly human. Her willingness to face death in exchange for a chance to save her sister’s soul sets the tone for a narrative filled with high emotional stakes. When she’s married off to a vampire in a chilling ritual meant to appease an ancient evil, she makes a deal that changes everything: he’ll guide her into the land of the dead if she allows him to drink her blood.

The underworld journey that follows is mesmerizing. Harwood’s world-building is rich and immersive, filled with haunting imagery, mythological creatures, and eerie rituals. The romance between Irina and Stefan is a slow burn with exquisite tension. There’s no rush here—only longing, pain, and the slow unfolding of trust. Their dynamic is beautifully layered, filled with mutual respect and quiet moments that cut deep.

This novel explores themes of loss, loyalty, and what it means to choose love in the face of death. For readers seeking lush prose, emotional stakes, and a refreshing twist on vampire lore, A Steep and Savage Path delivers on every level.

Highly recommended for fans of The Cruel Prince, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and gothic retellings with teeth.

A Steep and Savage Path by JJA Harwood is the kind of book that sinks its teeth into you and doesn’t let go. If you love gothic romance, vampire lore, and heart-wrenching choices, this one’s for you.

The story follows Irina, a woman forced into a nightmare deal—marry a vampire to save her village. But her real mission is even more dangerous: journeying into the Underworld to rescue her sister’s stolen soul. In exchange for his help, Stefan, her new undead husband, demands one thing—her blood. What starts as a desperate bargain slowly turns into something deeper, more dangerous, and impossible to resist.

The world-building is stunning. Harwood paints a haunting, vivid Underworld filled with monsters, ghosts, and landscapes that feel alive (or, well, dead). Every step of Irina’s journey is dripping with atmosphere—you can practically feel the chill of the shadows and the weight of Death’s gaze.

But the real magic is in Irina and Stefan’s relationship. Enemies-to-lovers? Yes!!!!. Forced proximity? Absolutely!!!!. Forbidden, slow-burn tension that makes your chest ache? Oh, 100%. Their dynamic is electric—full of distrust, reluctant respect, and a pull neither can fight. Watching them go from adversaries to something far more tender (and tragic) is what makes this book unforgettable.

And that ending? I sobbed. No spoilers, but the choice Irina has to make destroyed me. It’s the kind of emotional gut-punch that lingers long after you finish reading.

If you grew up obsessed with vampire romances (hello, teenage me), this feels like a fresh, darker twist on the genre. It’s got everything—danger, sacrifice, a fierce heroine, and a love story that feels both inevitable and doomed.

Final Verdict: Haunting, beautiful, and impossible to put down. This is a must-read for fans of gothic fantasy and romances that hurt so good. Just keep tissues nearby.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy!

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Oooooh, this was a good one! Strong female lead, a vampire, romance, a quest... even a twist at the end.

I'm sure our students will enjoy it too :)

FMC (human) needs MMC (vampire) help to journey to the underworld and find the soul of her little sister, and return it to the land of the living.

The premise was good, but I think quite a few things could have been better fleshed out.

The underworld was just… a regular world. I’m not saying I was expecting skeletons walking around, but at times you could also forget they were in the underworld. The world building was a little bit lacking.

I liked that it was set in Romania - but why was everyone in the underworld that they speak to also Romanian? There’s mention of Austrian soldiers so it’s clearly not one underworld per country, so it’s a massive coincidence that everyone they speak to is also Romanian. Again, I think this just ties into the world building being a bit lacking at times.

FMC is actually really unlikeable for the first half of the book. I was struggling to read it because I didn’t like her. However in the second half her character does become likeable, so the second half of the book was definitely easier to read than the first.

I did like the ending (literally like the last two pages) - it was hinted at a bit in the last 10% or so, so I had an idea it was coming, but it tied in well and didn’t feel like the author had just tried to shoehorn in a happy ending.

Overall I liked it - the writing was good (although a few things were left under-explained), the plot was good, and the relationship between the two main characters developed nicely.

3.5/5, but rated 3 because of how much of a slog the first 50% of the book was.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC

This was one of those unique books that is amazing and difficult, but a wonderful journey that is totally worth it. The romance is slow-burn and such a great payoff. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Well, I am crying.
Which I think is probably the most impactful review I could give.
This was a beautiful and haunting tapestry of mythos and folklore.
I'd recommend for fans of Starling House, it had the same bittersweetness.

(Pretty clean romance as well, nothing beyond a steamy set of kisses. Suitable for teens and adults alike.)

At the beginning of the story we meet Irina who is marrying a ‘dead man’, aka a vampire named Stefan, to help a village get rid of a vampire who’s tormenting them. Irina’s true motive is to make a deal with Stefan: she will let him feed off her regularly in exchange for him being her guide in the underworld. She wants to go there to bring back a part of her little sister’s soul who is trapped there.

Let me first say that I loved the premise of this book and wanted to love the story so so much. Sadly, it didn’t happened.

Structurally, I really struggle with the fact that this book has no chapters but big ‘parts’ and, story wise, I found it very repetitive. I was very curious about how the underworld would be, who they will meet there, etc. but sadly it was very ‘meh’.

We discover early on that Irina can’t touch any of the dead because they will be reminded of the fact that they are dead and they will also start decaying etc. that was an interesting concept, but quickly turned in Irina being afraid to touch anyone and got repetitive.

I sadly didn’t connect with Stefan or Irina and wasn’t a fan of their dialogues. Those character were very ‘flat’ to me and I wasn’t invested in their stories or romance.

I’m sure this book will find its public but sadly it wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!

I loved this so much- fantasy/horror with Eastern European flavour is a crowded market but this manages to stand out with really well drawn characters that show their vulnerability by degrees as they descend into the underworld. The slow burn romance is done very well and by the end I was close to tears. Incredible work.

4.5⭐

A Steep and Savage Path is one of those books that as soon as I started reading I couldn't put it down. It is split into five parts without any chapters so I found this a little hard to get into at first but once I did i flew through it. The writing is so beautiful and weaves together a rather hauntingly beautiful yet eerie story that even though at times it can feel morbid it is actually such a beautiful story of a young woman's love and the journey she undertakes to the underworld to bring back her sister's soul and the vampire she has enlisted not only to be her guide but also finds herself married to him.

The writing pulls you in straight away with how descriptive and vivid in details it is as it takes you along on the many different paths and lands of the underworld and I loved discovering them along with the main two characters and the host of different souls they meet along the way. The enemies to lovers is more like two individuals who find themselves relying on the other and the circumstances they find themselves in and what starts as a platonic yet tentative friendship grows into a really sweet and beautiful slow burn- romance between them that pays off in the best way as it is mainly about a journey of healing from the past and striving to be better.

The ending had me in tears and I found it so heartbreaking and also so beautiful at the same time. It really is such a beautiful story that will stay with me for a very long time.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.