Dreams of Darkness and Desire

This was the perfect dark fantasy romance with urban witches and warlocks. The plot is so fascinating based around a young woman who doesn't yet know she is a highly powerful witch who's power others want to steal. I was absolutely captivated by the characters and world. The pacing was perfect - I could not put it down because I had to keep reading to try to figure out the mystery behind the main character's nightmares intersecting with her real life. I really felt for the main character's trauma and empathized with all of her emotions throughout her journey of trying to discover what is happening to her. I loved how this book made me want to root for some of the "bad guys". I highly recommend this book! It ended on a huge cliff hanger and I cannot wait for the other books in the series to figure out what is going to happen!

HOLEY CRAP ON A CRACKER!!!

Have you ever read a book that was so good you could not wait to tell everyone you know… and don’t, about how good it was?

I can now officially say that! Which is why I am writing this review in the middle of the night while everyone in my house is asleep. Because, it was that damn good!

That ending?!?! Oh my heart. I need book two more than I need air to breath. If I could give this book ten stars, instead of five, I would!!! Why you ask? Ohhhhhhh how I can’t wait to tell you!

Reading this book is like watching inception for the first time. After you finish reading it, you want to start it again just so you can go back and catch everything you missed the first time. It’s bloody brilliant! It makes you question what is real and what is a dream…. Or if it was ever a dream at all. AHHHHH!!!!

And these characters!!! Kira is a sweet, hardworking dancer and Blake is a 400 year old baddie. First can I just say Blake is my new favorite book boyfriend of all time. (He gives off that Anti-Hero vibe like a freaking lover.) Also, I really want to see this series continue past Kira and Blake because I want to see what happens with another certain pair in the book. O_o

All I want to do is gush about this book and then rave about needing book two NOW. So, just do yourself a favor and go read it. THEN we will talk. I have so many feelings that need to be shared!!!

Dreams of Darkness and Desire follows Kira as she both comes into her power as Supra Virtutem and discovering who she wants to be as a person. As a Debut novel it was both mysterious and captivating, you couldn't help fall for the "bad" guy and I can't wait to see where Cagle takes the sequel.

Wow, oke where to start. I loved how the plot was holding my attention the whole time. Even with the slow-burn at the beginning I still wanted to read further. The story is interesting and I definitely here for the next book! I see this book as a base to the rest of the story.

I wish the book was written in first person from dual perspective of Kira and Blake though. And I was a bit disappointed in lack of spice... From the descriptions on the back of the book I was expecting spice to be a bit.. more...

Nevertheless, it was a. perfect read for a spooky & witchy October!

This book was delicious. It was dark, creepy and magical with great writing and even better characters and storyline. I loved it and I couldnt put it down and more importantly I didnt want too

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

Wow! This had me hooked from the very beginning until the very end… I’m still processing that ending!
This was a dark paranormal thriller/romance. It was sometimes creepy, sometimes smutty and had me laughing out loud at the banter between characters. All the characters were really fleshed out and although this was a pretty big book, at no point was I bored because the story was so intriguing! I have so many questions about that ending, I need the second book now!!

OK! OK I’m going to need a hot minute to process what I just read!

This book was a wild ride, from the first chapter right up until the last sentence in the Epilogue and I loved every single minute of it.
So now how to describe it? Well imagine is Inception and Alice in Wonderland had a lovechild cloaked in darkness with elements of horror thrown in. Be warned this book will mess with your mind and leave you with more questions than answers. Every time I thought I knew what was going on the author would pull that rug out from under me.

Essentially the story is set half in reality and half in a trippy dream world/ alternate reality. Kira our MFC is drag racing ballerina orphan who lost her parents a few years back. She’s a tortured souls used to shielding herself behind a mask. She’s not aware of the supernatural world let alone the enormity of the power that she has hidden within the depths of her being.
Blake our MMC is a devastatingly beautiful 400 year old warlock who is dark and mysterious while also charming as all hell. The chemistry between him and Kira is everything, but at the same time he’s also fighting these feelings because she is his ultimate sacrifice to gain immortality.

There were so many layers to this story as well as twists and turns and it was actually refreshing that it wasn’t even remotely predictable. I’m not sure how long we’ll have to wait for the next instalment but I hope it won’t be too long (you know no pressure!).
As much as I loved the book and couldn’t put it down, there were a few things I struggled with. While I really enjoyed B.L. Cagles unique writing style I did struggle with the third person perspective, it took a while to get into it and there were parts that were hard to follow (in particular the start of the book while learning the character’s names).
Also while I don’t really have any triggers, I don’t particularly enjoy love triangles and cheating. While it wasn’t exactly proper love triangles and cheating here it still made me cringe a little and was hard to get my mind around it.
All in all, a fantastic read which I’ll be recommending. It’s probably one of the best debut novels I’ve read from any author so far and perfectly timed with Halloween (I know quite a few people who are looking for exactly this kind of read).
B.L. Cagle you’ve got yourself a new fan and I can’t wait to see what you have in store with book 2!!!

I would recommend this for fans of Harley Laroux (Her Soul to Take), RuNyx (Gothikana), & Nicole Fiorina (Hollow Heathens).

I was lucky enough to get an ARC from the author through NetGalley.

My brain is angry at me right now and demanding to know just what the heck I've put it through.

Speechless. I'm speechless. Honestly, I'm not someone who really minds cliffhangers, but I still like getting a heads up. So, here's my PSA for you: THIS BOOK ENDS ON A CLIFFY. There was even a chapter called "How Will This End" near the end, right around the time when I started losing my mind because there was less than 10% left and things just kept escalating. I legit though B.L. was actively trolling us readers. That chapter title was such a tease. I legitimately stopped and laughed when I saw it.

This book had me hooked right from the beginning. I'd been wanting to read something spooky (it *is* spooky season after all), so I couldn't have stumbled upon this title at a more opportune time. It was not overly scary, but had more of a psychological horror vibe to it, which is the type I prefer.

All throughout the book there were these instances where Kira, our MC, was just out and about, doing her thing, only for something horrible to happen. It was very Inception like. I wouldn't know anything was amiss until reality turned into a nightmare. There was a slight, constant undercurrent of tension bred from the fact that at any given point it was impossible to know whether Kira was inside a dream or not. And that really helped in feeding and building a sense of dread, and keeping me on edge. It was all very unsettling.

At the same time, the pacing had a very sinuous quality to it, like it meandered along–it very nicely matched the New Orleans hot, humid summer setting–almost imperceptibly building momentum. It was like the writing was trying to lull me into a false sense of security, make me lower my guard, only to catch me by surprise all over again when normalcy devolved into nightmare. Of course, eventually the build-up reached its peak, everything went to actual Hell, and then–the dreaded cliffhanger.

The contrast between the moseying quality of the pacing and the adrenaline and implausibility of the dreams and nightmares, paired very well with the mysterious air of the plot. The writing was uncomplicated, straight forward, flowed well. No complaints there.

The questions to answers ratio was definitely skewered toward the former, but that's precisely was a good mystery is supposed to be like. Feed you little morsels along the way, but ultimately keep you guessing until the bitter end. I think that is what'll also give this book great re-read potential. It's gonna be interesting to go back and experience the story again with a clearer picture of what's going on.

Now let's discuss characters. Our two main ones, Blake and Kira were very tortured. This book had no shortage of angst and guilt. You can't have a dark novel with happy-go-lucky leads. They were both deliciously emotionally tormented. I also really liked how Blake was unapologetic about his murderous ways–and in complete denial when it came to his feelings for Kira. Kira herself was a very hardworking, independent, very selflessly selfish girl. She was kind and generous to everyone but herself, unwilling to share her darkness and struggles lest she transfer part of her burden onto her loved ones. But her reluctance to open up only ended up hurting those closest to her. I found the emotional struggles of both main characters very compelling and that it humanized them a lot. Even the side characters were all unique and satisfactorily fleshed out.

There were some major things that happened that I feel were very much swept under the rug and left unexplained, so that's why I'm docking a star from this otherwise fantastic book. But the ending alone deserves a half star bump, so the final rating is 4.5.

So, remember: breathe in, breathe out and be sure to hold on. This book is a roller coaster bound to leave you hanging upside down when you least expect it.

**I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and the author for the opportunity**

Just wow!!

24hr and my brain is still coming to terms with this books.

I've read reviews where this book is being compared to the movie inception, at the time I couldn't wrap my head around how an author could take us the reader on a ride like that. . . .after reading it I 100% agree, while also happily eating my thoughts that I wouldn't be "tricked".

You don't know what is a dream and what is real until it reveals which is which, you then think you have figured out the pattern, your then thrown a curve ball that throws you completely.
Not to mention that cliffhanger!

I rate B.L up with the queen of cliffhangers (Lynette Noni)

The only negative I have about this book it that I have to wait so long for book 2.


Special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.


Dreams of Darkness and Desire follows Kira, a young woman who is plagued by disturbing dreams featuring a menacing presence. Unbeknownst to her, she is a very powerful witch, one whose power has caught the attention of Blake, a darkly handsome warlock.

This book deals with dark themes and is full of trigger warnings, which is not something I generally seek out. That being said, I did enjoy this book very much. It drew me in from the first chapter and kept me hooked for perhaps the first 60%, at which point I’m afraid I started to feel it dragging. The constant dream sequences started to become a bit repetitive and Kira’s refusal to confide in anyone about her experiences was frustrating. The story did pick up again after a few slow chapters and ended on a big cliffhanger.

The book is told from both Kira’s and Blake’s points of view. Kira herself felt a bit flat as a protagonist - she is an orphan who is studying dance at university; she didn’t come across as a fully three-dimensional character. I have seen people comparing her to Bella from Twilight and I can appreciate this comparison - it’s as if she is left as a blank slate for readers to project themselves onto her. I honestly can’t even remember a description of her appearance, let alone any mention of her interests outside of ballet. I also found her constant crying a bit tiring, as well as the fact that she was constantly the damsel in distress. I wish she had had more agency. As the morally grey love interest, Blake is of course tall, dark and extremely handsome with piercing blue eyes. We get a bit more of his backstory and motivations and I hope we get some flashbacks from his life in the next book.

The story was interesting, but I wish we had been given more information about how the magic works. All that being said, I liked it and will be keeping an eye out for the sequel. I think this was a very strong debut novel and commend the author on her work!

Thank you to NetGalley & BooksGoSocial for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
3.5/5
Man this book was such a trip!

The premise of this story is so interesting, and I really loved the semi-enemies to lovers with Blake and Kira. The setting and vibe of this book were great - you can’t go wrong with witches in New Orleans.

I loved the creepy-magic-dream scenes with Kira. The line between what was a dream and what was a reality was so blurred it was hard to tell what was actually happening, even if something seemed completely unlikely, I still couldn’t tell if Kira was imagining it or if it was true, and I liked the way it messed with my head!

The main character Kira was kind of frustrating, and I think she had her priorities off for most of this book. She was constantly beating herself up over the smallest things, yet just blindly accepted the new magic and sensations as truth without question. And she had this whole thing with her ex about drinking but then would continuously get drunk throughout the book. I understand she had her reasons for these things and there were other people influencing her but it still bugged me.

The pacing was a bit off. The first 40% of the book was very very slow, and it took me quite a while to get into it, but the second half of the book flowed better. I feel like this book had the arc and pacing of the first half of a whole book. There was a lot of closure we didn’t get to see that I really hope is wrapped up in the next book. That being said, the ending blew my mind - I usually hate cliffhangers, but this one was really well done. I have high hopes for the next books, now that the world is set up and we will be jumping in after that crazy ending!

****4 stars!

“Dark is not evil and good is not nice.”

First I would like to thank BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book. I am honored to be given a chance to read it and give an honest review.

Kira Lockwood appears to be living a normal life; rooming with her best friend, developing a loving relationship with her long time boyfriend Colin, and is excelling in her dance classes. Everything in her life appears to be perfect until she is suddenly plagued by unusual dreams and nightmares that feel more real than a dream should be. Her life only becomes even more complicated when the very man who haunts those dreams moves just down the street.

Blake Michaelson is a handsome and very powerful centuries-old warlock, he and his three brothers moved to New Orleans for one thing--Kira Lockwood. While she does not know it, she is a descendant of the first Supra Virtutem; a witch with the ability to harness the ultimate power. Blake and his brothers have spent a lifetime hunting others like them and claiming their magic as their own.

The attraction between Kira and Blake is undeniable and yet to ensure immortality, Blake and his brothers must complete the Order of Three: claim her body, take her blood, and end her life. Kira will not ascend and harness her ultimate power until her 21st birthday but her magic is alive and powerful and her light recognizes the darkness. Now the question is, will the magic within her be enough to save her? Or will Blake complete his mission and steal her power before she steals his heart?

This was a very interesting read with many twists and turns I did not expect. One of the things I really liked about the book was the fact that it took place in New Orleans and the magic the witches and warlocks used; it had vibe to it that reminded me a lot of The Originals, which was one of the things that kept me really compelled to keep reading. This book really knew how to keep you on your toes, there were many moments when you didn’t know what was real and what was a dream and caused you to second guess everything as you read.

I also did not expect the cliffhanger at the end, not only was it very compelling but it made you rethink everything you first read! If you like dark fantasy and a book filled with unexpected twists and turns, then this is a book I would highly recommend! I’m very curious to see what direction the next book leads!

Ooooooh I’d say that this is a rollercoaster but blooming heck! There’s far too many twists, turns, moving floors and trick mirrors for this to have been merely a rollercoaster. This book kept me guessing all the way through and left me desperate for more.

Who is the ‘Shadow man’? Is it Blake? Is it someone else entirely?

The name Kane has become stuck in my head for whatever reason!

I love our core team of female characters; Kira, Kat, Jade and Nadia they embody the nature of friendship in my eyes.

We follow Kia as she ascends to her power, unbeknownst to her. Four ancient Warlocks plan to steal her power, in order to do this she must relinquish three things:
Her blood, willingly
Her body, willingly
She must die.

I love the use of Latin as ‘spells’ throughout the book, it adds to the mystery and alure of the magic.

New Orleans is the perfect setting for this supernatural tale with its long standing links to otherworldly and magical creatures.

Cannot wait for the next instalment.

5 stars

#witches #warlocks #NewOrleans #NOLA #YA #YoungAdult #SupernaturalRomace #NewAdult #Romace #Magic #Ballet #BestFriends

Dreams of Darkness and Desire is a really good debut novel. It was really fast paced with great characters and really good worldbuilding. I liked it a lot and I'll definitely pick up the sequel, I can't wait to know where the story goes next.

I have been wanting to get into the paranormal romance genre, and this was the perfect path into it. This steamy romance between a girl who has no idea she is a witch and a centuries warlock was so enticing.

Kira's life is going phenomenally well. She has moved in with her best friend, developed a loving relationship with her boyfriend, and is excelling in her dance classes. Everything is going perfectly for her until she is thrown into unusual dreams and nightmares while she is sleeping. It's even more unnerving for her when the man who haunts those dreams and nightmares just moved in down the street. He isn't just some phantom figure of a dream. He is very real and very powerful.

As the dreams continue to happen she tiptoes along the line of whether they are truly just dreams. Each moment the dreams continue and the longer Blake is around she starts questioning everything she has come to know including her attraction to him.

Dark secrets lurk around every corner, and the sole reason Blake and his three brothers are in New Orleans shakes the foundation of everything Kira knows. What she feels for Blake and her newly discovered power could save her life or cost her everything.

This dark paranormal romance had been immediately wrapped into the story and wanting to know more from the first page. I never wanted to put this book down. The suspense, and drama, and romance were amazing. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.

Thank you to NetGallery, BookSprout, and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a wild ride all in one. I'm still taking time to truly comprehend what I've just read. I would describe it as Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets Inception and Alice in Wonderland. It combines the world of witches and warlocks with the land of dreams and worlds hidden behind looking glasses. Kira is an extremely likable character-a dreamer and a dancer who has a heart of gold. Her opposite, Blake, is a 400-year old warlock who hunts younger witches for power. They shouldn't work together but they do in some twisted way. There is something undeniable about the connection built throughout the story. If you like dark fantasy mixed with strangers-to-lovers, you would enjoy this book!

I admit I was a bit confused (which is why the rating is 3.5-3.75) but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The unexpected twist at the end literally had me screaming at the cliffhanger and wishing I could read more!

OKAY first of all - that ending??? I need book two right this minute, thank you very much!

I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review but I will most definitely be picking up a physical copy to add to my collection soon!

I didn’t even realise this was a debut novel until after I had finished and went looking for more information on the next instalment. It had me gripped from the very first chapter, and the dark and mysterious vibes were the perfect addition to my October reading line up.

Several other reviewers refer to this as a book version of Inception and I can see the similarities, with blurred lines between reality and the MC’s mind nearly giving me whiplash at several times. This is such a great example of where the author achieved a perfect blend of a plot that is both character and story driven, with neither aspect outshining the other. Without Kira and Blake, as well as their incredibly valuable cohort of supporting characters, being so intriguing this book could have very easily fallen flat. Instead, we’re gifted with a superb line up of new book besties who make sure we’re invested in the complex, and sometimes downright confusing, storyline.

I adored both Blake & Larz, who will end up being your new anti heroes, and I’m really looking forward to hopefully seeing more from Nadia in the rest of the series since there seems to be more there than we see at the surface.

Thank you to NetGalley and BookGoSocial and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!



First of all, I have to say that I NEED the second book right now! That ending, that CLIFFHANGER... I really thought someone did something, but it turns out it wasn't him, yeah I need answers!!


Besides that, this book was really really good!

I absolutely LOVED the concept of the book, I was hooked from the beginning, something which immediately makes me appreciate a book more.

I really liked our main character Kira, but my favourite was her bestfriend, Kat! I think we all need a Kat in our lives, she is such a great friend :)

The wrting style was most of the time easy to follow and I quite enjoyed it! This being the author's first work is literally amazing.


If I have to mention something I didn't like, it's probably the age gap! I am sorry but for some reason I cannot accept it that she is 20ish and he is 400+ years old... even though he looks like he is 20.

Also, sometimes I got confused about whether what I was reading was the MC's dream or it was the reality.


However, THIS BOOK IS THRILLING! I am sure it will appeal to many people when it is published and it definitely deserves love and recognition! I'm interested in reading more of the author's work in the future.

Defintely recommend this book if you like spooky, supernatural reads with dark romances 📚✨

My goodness!!!!!...
Where do I start??
The book is heavenly... I gulped the first half in a day but then the remaining half i took my sweet time finishing it. I didn't want to part ways with it just yet. The story is full of mystery and ends with a mystery. I can't wait to read the next book of it.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TW: This book has some sexual explicit scenes, killing, self harm (for magic purposes), abuse, rape and substance abuse.

How do I begin to explain how much I hated and loved this book. It left me a bittersweet feeling, CAUSE IT HAS A SUPER PLOT TWIST AND A CLIFFHANGER. Which we hate, but it was good. And before I leave my guts out, let me give you the tropes:

🖤Forbidden love
🖤Supernatural romance
🖤Age gap
🖤Dark romance
🖤Strangers to Lovers to enemies

"If he was already lost in her light, did it matter if he never found himself again?"

If you like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Supernatural, this book is for you. The book was good, weird, bizarre, creepy and great. All at the same time.

I'm still processing the ending, it really left me without words. The whole time I was not pining for the protagonist and the love interest because of something I thought he did, to find out I WAS PLAYED AND IT WASN'T HIM. (read it to understand muhaha).

The story follows Kira, she's a 20 yo girl who lives in New Orleans with her childhood friend Kat. Her parents died when she was 17. Since her purchase of an old mirror she's been having strange dreams, feeling exhausted and in a bad place. Her relationship with her boyfriend Collin has been rocky, resulting in him falling to the alcoholic lifestyle, which does not suite Kira at all, (her parents died in a car accident provoked by a drunk driver). One night in a club out, Collin is drunk once again, she decides that's enough and escapes the club, she's done with that, she need something else, she need excitement. Then he meet a mysterious man that makes her feel everything and nothing just with the touch of his finger on her palm, but he dissipates promising to be with her soon . Kira returns to her normal life, feeling the need to see that mysterious man once again, but she can't, she has a boyfriend and a life to sort throw, that's what she tells herself until she find out, the mysterious man is her new neighbor...

This book has suspense, it creeped me the hell out many many times. I have to admit I wasn't sure if the book was for me particularly, at the beginning it was hard to grasp on the plot, I was not feeling it really. But it got more suspenseful and interesting as the story went on.

The characters are a bit bittersweet. The whole plot is Kira not knowing she is the Supra Virtutem, so the thing that happens to her where so frustrating, her passing out all the time and having this dreams, it was so frustrating to me. It made her seem weak, WHICH I know she is not. She is the most power supernatural creature but her not knowing about it didn't suited me. I hope on the second book she finally gets the chance to train in some way her powers.
Then we have the gorgeous Blake (love interest), who I wanted to punch in the face so many times, for reasons I won't tell because of spoilers, but at the same time, loved him so much. BUT I was so conflicted with Blake's behavior, towards Kira. I wasn't even sure how they where gonna resolve things. The main plot, which is no spoiler it's in the synopsis, is that he is meant to kill her in order to have her powers, and I was so frustrated for them I was shipping them so hard, he was so sweet with her. HE EVEN MADE HER A FREAKING DANCE STUDIO IN HIS HOUSE IN ORDER TO KEEP HER COMFORTABLE. WHO DOES THAT? No real man does that, that's why I want him please.

I also was so afraid this was gonna have a cheat trope, I can't stand them, fortunately it didn't. But yes, this is a great spooky season read, the ending really had me so shocked, I need the second book YESTERDAY.

Totally recommend it if you like spooky books, supernatural romance and dark romance.
Enjoy your reading. 📚✨

Thank you, NetGalley for sending me an ARC of Dreams of Darkness and Desire in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this novel, I was immediately enthralled by the premise of knowing someone in your dreams. And unfortunately or fortunately meeting that person in real life.

I cannot believe that this is B.L. Cagle's debut novel because she nailed it on her first attempt. I cannot wait for her second one.

We follow Kira as her life is turned upside down when her relationship with her long-term boyfriend comes to an end suddenly and a tall, dark, handsome stranger comes into her life. While that is happening the 20-year-old is being plagued by nightmares and dreams of said stranger.

If you loved Fortuna Sworn then I think this debut novel and first in the series is perfect for you.

Oh and the ENDING I cannot wait for the second book!

A very good read, enjoyable and the storyline is very gripping, this is a must read and book 1 in what I think will be a very very gripping series

I will say, the book wasn't quite what I was expecting from when I read the blurb, I felt a little lost and confused at first and found myself struggling initially to get into the story. After Kira and Blake really started their interactions I found myself being drawn more deeply into the story and enthralled by what was happening with Kira. By the end of the story, I was totally on edge, and completely not expecting what happened! I can't wait to read the next book!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I am reviewing of my own free will and all opinions in my review are my own.

This book was a roller coaster! And like our MC Kira I was often confused between her reality and her dreams. The dark romance was steamy and the magic superb. More Blake and Kira soon please!!!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dreams of Darkness and Desire was really freaking good but confusing. Seriously, I had so many questions the entire time. In it, you will meet Kira. She seems like your normal girl who loves to dance. The only bad thing she has going for her right now are the constant nightmares. Then there's the not knowing what's real or not on top of that.

Honestly, this girl needs a good night of sleep with zero dreams or nightmares. Which she really doesn't get the entire book. Other than her, you meet Blake. The mysterious guy who seems slightly obsessed with her. Him and his roommates are observing her due to her magic. Which she knows nothing about.

With each twist, turn, and betrayal the pages just flew by. I wasn't quite sure who I should or shouldn't trust. Heck, I'm still unsure after reading that ending. It's definitely interesting that we kept thinking someone was the bad guy when something much worst was lurking in the shadows.

I'm very intrigued to figure out who it is and I'm excited to jump into the sequel.

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️


Dreams of Darkness and Desire by B. L Cagle is a New Adult (I would say Adult) paranormal romance that keeps you at the edge of your seat.

Before I go deeper into the review, thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an independent and honest review.

This review comes a bit late as a massive reading slump hit me in October and didn't leave me till December…but I can say that you need a seatbelt while reading this book. The tension, the anxiety and the darkness is there and if you bite your nails, then you will with this book. The book has dark academia vibes so if you like that aesthetic then you will enjoy it.
This is her debut novel and the beginning is quite confusing. I think the magic system needs a bit more explanation and, as a personal preference, more magic as it feels more as a background element. However, B.L Cagle described the scenes so well that you feel the anxiety, the fear, the love and the passion that the characters are living.
I mentioned above but I think we need to highlight that this book is New Adult or even adult romance, full stop. The book talks about some dark stuff. A warning could be used as this may trigger people who has experienced toxic relationships, alcohol abuse, rape and violence.
The ending?! Excuse me, I need the next book immediately! There are cliffhangers and cliffhangers and this one is huge!
The story mixed dreams with reality so well that you will question yourself what was real and what wasn’t. If you like thrillers and mystery, this book has those vibes and you will enjoy it.
The smut…well the book has plenty. From dreaming about it to the characters doing it. If you are new to adult romance, you may find that is a lot of it.
The plot…is a bit slow but once you get into it, you can’t put the book down.


The characters; We have Kira, our heroine. She is sweet and has some unresolved trauma that makes her the perfect victim. She annoyed me at times, especially when she refused to talk to her best friend. I get it, but girl a lot could have been avoided if you talked to Kat, especially as Kat is sweetie and supports her a lot. She has all the sunshine vibes, she is light while Blake is darkness.
Kira starts having weird dreams after she gets an old mirror and, holly moly, some of those dreams are scary! She writes them in her diary as she is unable to record things at times. She has “black out” episodes and when she is back she discovers little details that tell her what she experienced was real.
Blake, our villain turning to hero, has all the Damon Salvatore vibes. He is a warlock with a mission. However, the mission becomes blurry when feelings get involved and you can see he has the potential to be Kira’s hero. He is 400 years old, rich, hot and mysterious. As the story advances, you can see he is caring, with a story that was deep in his memory and now is coming back and questioning if the “dark side” is what he wants.
Mr. Dark…well he is creepy and scary, the anxiety of some of the scenes.
The friends or support characters bring a bit of comic relief. I wonder what is going on between Katia and Drake…

Overall, I’ve enjoyed this book and I’m really looking forward to the next book. I have lots of questions that need answers after that ending.

This dark paranormal romance had been immediately wrapped into the story and wanting to know more from the first page. I never wanted to put this book down. The suspense, and drama, and romance were amazing

Loved this book, the story was great!
The characters were amazing. Will be recommending to my reading friends!

Wrong Review was added.... the correct one will be added once am done reading the book.... i clicked on the wrong book.
So sorry

I was swept up in this book from page one and it turned out to be exactly what I wanted to read this week.
I loved the fact that this story took me in directions I was not expecting, and I really enjoyed the constant confusion between Kira’s dreams (or are they?) and reality, the merging of the two was really well done. Yes, it was confusing, but I think that was exactly the point. From the beginning, Cagle manages to make us feel the same as Kira does, which is a really nice touch, considering that her point of view is not the only one. I’m honestly still in awe of the writing in the dream scenes.
I only docked a star because there were a few times when I rolled my eyes when it got a little too cliché or a little too much.
There were many characters that I loved and that I can’t wait to see again.
I wish I could write a longer review, but I might need a while to process this book. All I can say right now is that I can’t wait to read the next one.

I absolutely loved this book. I never knew what was going to happen and when Kira would find her powers. I dislike Colin so much, but their relationship was not healthy even when they were happy. Colin did everything he could to go against what Kira wanted and what he promised her. I have a feeling that he was being controlled in some way, but there is nothing in the book that proves it. Her relationship with Blake is interesting and a lot more stable than I thought it would be. I can tell that even though he has bad intentions, he truly cares about her and wants to make sure that she is okay. Poor Kira went through so much in this book, I feel so bad for her. With her parents already being gone and having the stress of being a college student studying dance, she did not deserve all of the chaos that this book brought. I wish some of the description was shorter, but I loved how the book progressed and how all of her friends were there for her and did not think she was crazy.

This book did not disappoint!
This book had everything a urban fantasy needs. Witches, warlocks, murder, mystery, and hot slow romance. Definitely spicy! It just blown my mind!

This dark romance keeps the reader hooked! The relationship between Kira and Blake is full of sexual attraction and promise. But this is not a surface fantasy with no depth, there is a complexity to both the storyline and character development.

Also, it is beautifully written!
I. Could. Not. Put. This. Down.

A really good book that keeps you on edge!

Dreams of Darkness and Desire starts off slow but it picks up fast. The story in the book is really strong and there is always things in the story that makes you want to continue reading. I could hardly put the book down.

We get to follow a group of characters throught the book although the story involves specifically two characters that I got attached to right away. What started of as a mission to get immortality ended up in a completely different way.

This book is as of right now a standalone. Although I hope the auther writes more books because I really liked the writingstyle, the way she created characters and the plot and worldbuilding. But most of all the twists and turns, all the feelings this book made me feel!

I can highly recommend this book! It was fantastic!