Given the basic premise of this book, I expected it to be pretty dark—and it did not disappoint. Lots of very spicy content (as expected) but an equally interesting storyline. Come for the spice, but stay to see where the story leads.

this is my first book by stasia black and WILL not be my last. domhnall helps host a virgin auction for his friend who owns a sex club when a girl from his past steps out. brooke has amnesia after being attacked and doesn’t remember domnhall, but boy does he remember her. the journey these two go on, even in the beginning of the book when he’s training her to be his sub. i didn’t expect the amount of angst in this book and was thoroughly shocked. the twists? oh god get outta here with that! i’m not sure how i was expecting the last 20ish% to go but that wasn’t even on the radar. i thoroughly enjoyed this and had such a fun time listening to this. the narrators did a phenomenal job bringing all the angst to life as well as these characters.

This book has such an intense and gripping storyline to make it a dark and angsty love story. The character development that occurs throughout the story is wonderful — watching them navigate the traumas they endured was nice to see.

The chemistry between these two characters was next-level and hard to look away from. The whole enemies-to-lovers premise was heavily present and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Please note that there are many trigger warnings for the story!

This book was a little all over the place, but definitely a spicy dark romance. There were all sorts of trigger warnings so keep that in mind. The amnesia trope was a lot and the Irish brogue didn't feel super genuine. Overall this seems like it is a debut but I would read more from this author in the future.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

Spice and a good story always a good combination and I learned something about myself, although this is not my kink, I really did enjoy the story. If Dom Sub is your thing you'll love it

I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review. I love dark romance and the auction theme but this felt like such a mix of so many tropes. I won’t mention them here because spoilers but let’s just say it was a lot and could have used some editing to streamline.

This book was very predictable and all over the place. Lots of triggers if people need it. I felt like to many trope themes were put in that it added to the unbelievable factor to me. If the story was shortened condensed would have been better.

This was such a twisted dark book that was just so captivating. Dark and Twisted are perfect ways to describe this one. It will not be a book for everyone check the trigger warnings. Brooke has amnesia and just trying to figure out who she is. The connection and relationship she forms with Domhnall is very interesting. It’s a wild emotional ride with several twists.

I both loved this and didn't love it at the same time.
It is great dark romance but the amnesia trope is so cliché I found myself rolling my eyes at the predictability of where this was going to go, but it saved itself with the spice that was spicing in all the right places.

Cherry Auction by Stasia Black is a dark, twisted romance that delves into themes of lies, revenge, and obsession. The story centers around a man who buys a woman named Brooke at a high-stakes auction for fifty million dollars. He believes she is responsible for ruining his life and is determined to exact his revenge. However, Brooke claims to have amnesia, adding a layer of mystery to her character.
As the plot unfolds, their relationship becomes a complex and dangerous game of hate and desire. The man struggles to untangle his thirst for vengeance from his growing attraction to Brooke. The novel explores the psychological dynamics between the characters, making readers question the fine line between love and hate.

This story is as advertised: a dark romance with triggers galore. I liked and didn't like this story. The premise was interesting, she has amnesia so has no memory of her past. Then she decided to auction herself off and the person who buys her not only knows her, he's the one who could tell her about the things she can't remember. But first he has to punish her, and the triggers appear. I love dark romance but the sometimes it feels like triggers are in the story more for having it in the story than because it fits the story. That's what these triggers seemed to be for me.
One of the other issues is it's so freaking long, if half of the story was cut, I'm almost certain it wouldn't be missed. It doesn't deliver on the premise.
Was it awful, no? Will I read it again? Not unless someone paid me.

This premise sounded good but it expired before I could download and review this title.
Rating it 3 stars because I can't submit this without giving a star rating.

Cherry Auction by Stasia Black is a wild, dark ride filled with psychological tension, intense chemistry, and a hero teetering on the edge of obsession. Domhnall is deeply damaged, channeling his past trauma into a rigid world of control and sadism—until Brooke, a woman from his past, unknowingly walks back into his life through an auction. What follows is a twisted, possessive, and volatile journey between two broken people trying to make sense of their pain, desires, and the undeniable pull between them.

This book leans into its darkness, featuring heavy BDSM elements, impact play, humiliation, degradation, and even light pet play, balanced by moments of aftercare and tenderness. However, the true darkness lies in the characters’ pasts, which are revealed in layers as the story unfolds. The amnesia aspect adds intrigue, but some plot choices in the second half feel inconsistent, making certain character actions difficult to reconcile.

The spice is undeniably scorching, and the tension between Domhnall and Brooke is ultimately what kept me reading, even when I considered DNFing. However, pacing issues and some third-act developments detract from the experience, which accounts for my 3.5-star rating. If you enjoy truly dark romance with morally gray characters, obsessive love, and a psychological edge, this one may be worth diving into—just be sure to check the trigger warnings first.

Story: 3.5⭐
Spice: 3.5🌶️

This book kept me engaged and turning the pages to see what happened next.

Favorite Quote: "In the shards of the mirror, I think I begin to see the light grow brighter on the room that is us."

First of all, thank you NetGalley and Stasia Black for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own!

Summary:
I woke up in a hospital with no memory of my name, my past, or the darkness that haunts my every step.

Then a new friend introduced me to Carnal, an exclusive club where secrets are currency, and fantasies come with a price. When I agreed to auction off my vrginity, it seemed like the perfect solution to rebuild my life. A one-night transaction for the chance to start fresh.

But I didn’t expect him.

Domhnall.

He’s cold, calculating, and commands the room with a dangerous allure. One look and I’m a deer caught in the headlights. One touch, and I’m at his mercy. He bought me for a price no one else dared match, and now he’s dragging me into his shadowed world—where the lines between desire and fear blur into a sinister game I can’t escape.

He says I betrayed him. He swears I’ll pay.

But as his darkness consumes me, I can’t help but wonder if he’s the only one who can uncover the truth of who I really am.

I'm just not sure either of us will survive it.

Review & Opinions:

3.5/5 ⭐️
4.5/5 🌶️

It was good in the beginning and then it went in a direction I was expecting and then a twist, with an interesting ending. I did enjoy the book, I just didn’t know where it was going. Surprise mental health represented, sexual abuse/assault (and it’s graphic), unaliving, and dungeons (not the medieval kind either). Be sure you look up the rest of the trigger warnings.

I believe this book just needed more structure. It was an easy read and it had me speeding through the book, but I got lost at the end. I like how it ended. Definitely a HEA. I do look forward to reading more of Stasia Black’s books!

Super spicy read! Definitely important to read triggers before diving into this one. With all that being said, I found this an easy read! Pacing was a bit fast, and storyline was a bit expected. But I still really enjoyed the writing style and overall book!

Oh my god, what did I just read? That was one of the best dark romances I’ve read all year. I would even go as far as to say it’s the best dark romance I’ve read in the last 120 days. It is seriously such a good book. The story was clearly detailed and well-planned, and I absolutely loved the dynamic between Original Mads and Donny.

The twist—how she wasn’t as bad as he thought she was—and the way she took back her power was incredible. And that ultimate surprise at the end? Chef’s kiss. I’m really hoping we get future installments because their story was my absolute favorite. All of it was so dysfunctional and I ate that shit up.

It’s one of the most beautifully written relationships in a dark romance. Stasia Black does an amazing job with her writing—it’s captivating, well-paced, and never overdone. I was completely entertained from start to finish. It wasn’t trashy or overly punctuated; it was just so good. I really enjoyed this book!

This was much darker than I expected, so please note that before going in. Here are some of the tropes/things to expect in Cherry Auction:

- they're childhood sweethearts getting a second chance, with a side of amnesia and revenge. It's giving it's always been you/first love vibes turned enemies turned lovers.
- it's dark and angsty AF (tragic pasts included).
- while she begins the book as a virgin, please note it's heavy on the spice. Check TWs before reading.
- he's a billionaire alpha anti-hero.

This book honestly gave me the ick and I ended up DNF’ing it. I only made it 40% and ended up just closing my kindle app and saying I’m done. I love dark romance but this just wasn’t it. First of all, it jumped right into the story without much backstory which is ok whatever. But how cliche for a swingers club to be auctioning off a virgin, that would NEVER happen in real life and that whole opening part of the story was so cringy I almost stopped immediately. The other thing is the way the sexual talk goes between brother and sister, gross and borderline cuck incest. Was not a fan and unfortunately won’t finish the book.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC! I have to say, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book. It is erotic, kinky, and definitely fucked up but I still got sucked in and finished reading it in less than 24 hours. The subject matter is very sensitive and explores themes that I didn’t know I would be able to stomach. Definitely check Trigger Warning before starting this. This is a dark book but it has a light at the end of the tunnel, plus I really liked the MMC and FMC together. Overall, I’m not mad at it and I am questioning my life now.