(Thank you so much Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the ARC)

I LOVED this book!! The world building, the suspense, the romance and emotions were all perfect.

Lilith is one of my top FMC’s of the year!! I love how badass she is but also totally in tune with her emotions. She lets herself cry, mourn and feel her feelings and if anything they just make her more determined to do what’s right.

Zahariev? Smash. The perfect MMC. I love that even though the book isn’t technically POV we get little snippets of him between chapters. And the mouth on that man?? The stamina?? The determination?? Yes please.

The ending had me gnawing at the bars of my enclosure and I cannot wait to see where this story goes!!

This is a MUST READ! I am not over this book and I need the next one like right now. I am entranced with this world and its originality.

Lilith and Zahariev live in world that they thought they understood but one fateful night throws them into a chain of events that has them questioning EVERYTHING.

I love how open, raw, real and kick butt Lilith is. She fight for herself and for the truth. This world is unlike anything I have ever read, experience and I need more. Zahariev is…I don’t even know if I words to truly explain how magnificent he is. The way he knows Lilith, doesn’t try to chain her but allow her to be who she needs to be…SWOON WORTHY!

Terror At The Gates by Scarlett St. Clair

⭐️Rating: 4/5

❤️‍🔥Slow Burn
❤️‍🔥Frenemies To Lovers
❤️‍🔥Forbidden Romance
❤️‍🔥Found Family

Book Overview:
Female rage, political power and religious trauma, all things you can expect from this book! Strong willed Lilith leaves her family & the church to find solace in the district of sins, Nineveh. She makes a living by stealing artifacts and selling them. One day Lilith steals a blade that will forever change the course of her life.

Zahariev Zareth, ruler of Nineveh and head of his family. Zahariev is the hot shot heartthrob who watches over Lilith in the district of sins.

When Lilith takes the blade to her usual buyer to inspect it, he suddenly dies. Anxious for help and clarity on the blade, Lilith seeks out Zahariev for help. As Zahariev and Lilith spend more time together seeking out information on the blade, more mysterious deaths start arising and they are left to try and figure out what the true power is that is ruling their world.

My Reveiw:
Lilith had severe trauma with the church and her family, I truly felt like that was very raw and real and it was truly a powerhouse move to make in this book because this is something that unfortunately happens in society. The plot was FANTASTIC and the ending left me yearning for more! While the story is not a full dual pov, I did appreciate that every chapter we did get a snippet pov from Zahariev. I would say the pacing for this book is slow but it never failed to deliver something interesting in every chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bloom Books for this E-ARC copy! All opinions are my own.

#terroratthegates #bookstagram #books #BookReview

I think that this story has a lot of potential. I loved the weird dystopian like world revolving around religion but also magic and how they have “acceptable” magic and “not acceptable” as if magic doesn’t typically go against religion especially lust magic. I loved the relationship between Lilith and Z and how that unfolds and how just down bad he is.

I really hope the rest of the series stays interesting because I’ve had it happen with King of Blood and Battle that I loved the first book and DNF the series after book two. So I’m personally staying hesitant for the next book

Please be sure to check your trigger warnings for this book as well because it can be a heavy hitter

When I tell you I have read and loved all of Scarlett’s books. This MASTERPIECE right here blows it all out of the water! Lilith is such a powerful woman filled with female rage. She stands up for what’s right and doesn’t fit the typical mold of her society and I absolutely love her for it. Don’t even get me started on the slow burn between Lilith and Zahariev 🥵 This man means business when it comes to her. The relationships and friendships will have your wanting to throw the book but cry all at the same time. I don’t know what Scarlett put in this book but I’m obsessed. The cliffhanger ending leaves me needing book two immediately.

I thought this book was very unique! I rated it 5 stars because the plot kept me intrigued, the urban fantasy landscape was cool and I LOVED the slow burn romance. The characters are very sarcastic and snappy. The magic system is interesting where only women can inherit power. Towards the end of the book I started catching on to things that I think will be interesting in a book 2. It deffinitely sets itself up well with the cliff hanger ending. I would strongly recommend to read the trigger warnings. Thank you NetGalley and BloomBooks for the the ARC

ONE OF MY TOP READS OF THE YEAR!!!

I am thoroughly destroyed by this book - how am I supposed to wait until book 2?!?! I knew from chapter 3 that I’d love this book so despite me receiving a free ebook ARC from the publisher & NetGalley, I went ahead and preordered a hard copy because I HAVE to have this book in my collection.

This book was so complex - from the world building, the romance, the multifaceted characters, the magic system, the religious institution, the mystery, it really has it ALL. This is a book where if you go back in for a reread, you’ll pick up on new things and develop new theories.

Lilith, the FMC, is the embodiment of female rage in a world where women are nothing but subservient tools. A world in which religious teachings are used to keep women submissive and keep the people misinformed. The urban fantasy setting made this story all the more interesting and I just truly appreciated the authors unique world and characters. Aside from all the awesomeness that is this world, we also had the hottest slow burn known to mankind. The tension, the teasing, the “will they/wont they,” *CHEFS KISS* IT WAS DONE SO WELL!! The pay off is incredible and devilishly satisfying.

One of my favorite things about the writing in this book is that while I wouldn’t necessarily consider this a dual POV book (at least in the traditional sense), we had a brief POV from the MMC prior to every single chapter. It was a refreshing look into the mind of our broody, mysterious and down bad hottie, Mr. Zareth himself.

This is shockingly my first read from the author, Scarlett St Claire, but oh my goodness I’m so blown away I’ll definitely be reading her other works!

I’m actually so sad this book is over and I can’t wait to not only see the reactions after the publication but the discourse surrounding these topics, especially considering the current state of our world. This is a read that will sit with me for a while to come.

This book is the epitome of female rage. I love the unique urban fantasy setting that includes lots of elements from the Old Testament and the Book of Revelations. Some Christians might find this story a bit sacrilegious, but I think it’s really important how the author tackles the tough topics of institutionalized misogyny and religious trauma. The only reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 is because the cliffhanger at the end is super abrupt and gave me whiplash. Other than that though, I loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Some people journal. Me? When I want to punch a wall, I reach for a book full of feral, feminine rage.

𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 is an ode to the 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧™—the ones too loud, too stubborn, too angry to be silenced by internalized misogyny or relentless gaslighting. It’s fantasy, sure, but the injustices in St. Clair’s world are all too real.

Here, a woman is only valued in how she—and her power—can serve a man. Religious zealots. Political dynasties. Daughters treated like bargaining chips. It’s a brutal world that often hit far too close to home.

The backdrop? Eden is gritty, raw, urban. St. Clair wires the city with thick, electric tension; you feel the watchful eyes of the mafia-esque ruling families on the back of your neck. Drama—and trauma—lurks in back alley shadows, seeps through every crack in the pavement.

In Lilith, we get a feral, furious FMC with first rate Fuck You energy. She’s Tory Vega but more brat. Bryce Quinlan with extra bite and a looser grip. She’s reckless, vulnerable, tenacious—and for all her magic, deeply human. She made choices that made me want to scream. Somehow, I kept rooting for her. As she figured her shit out, she grew on me—and by the end, I was all in.

Though no one is as all in on Lilith as Zahariev. This broody man is beyond down bad. His protectiveness? Pure touch-her-and-die devotion. I loved every searing moment of tension—and their collision when they finally caved to the heat.

𝑨𝒍𝒔𝒐:

✨ A unique magic system that’s just starting to reveal its layers

🩸 Mystery, intrigue, and gut-punch twists that keep you hooked—even when the pace slows

🐍 Authority figures you’ll want to rage against

❤️ Found family and besties who bring just the right touch of levity and softness to the story’s sharp edges

🐈‍⬛ Proof that kittens make everything better (though honestly, I just wanted to cuddle Cherub)

💥 A HOLY SH*T ending that’ll leave you desperate for the next book

𝑻𝑳;𝑫𝑹: If you crave gritty, urban fantasy soaked in neo-noir tension—and a heroine who refuses to be tamed—𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 will fuel your feminine rage against a brutal, twisted world. This story grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until the final, jaw-dropping moment.

Terror at the Gates was the book I didn’t know I needed. I love how Scarlett St. Clair has this amazing ability to build and twist mythology into stories like this one.

As someone who is the granddaughter of two pastors, was raised in the church, forced into a religion I didn’t choose until I was able to leave on my own, I really resonated with Lilith in this book. I felt myself applauding her way of thinking and feeling so empathetic to how she was raised and her religious trauma.

I loved her resilience throughout the book and her growth as she found her strength to be unapologetically who she is.

This book was healing in a way and is for those of us who were raised in the church and were silenced when we questioned the foundations of the religion.

Scarlett St. Clair is an auto buy author for me, so I was so so excited to be approved for an ARC by Bloom Books through NetGalley and can’t say thank you enough.

Absolute masterpiece as usual. Scarlett really knocked it out of the park with this one. From page one, I was hooked. The characters were great. The plot was great. The slow burn was just enough and when it finally reached an inferno I was giggling and kicking my feet. I laughed, I sobbed, I had a great time honestly.

Oh man, this was so good!! I loved this author’s series about Persephone and Hades and while I read a few other books from her other series, they definitely didn’t grab me like her Greek myth one did. But then I heard about this one. Inspired by Lilith for a whole new urban fantasy series? And with the teasers he kept releasing, I was more than intrigued. And I’m so happy it lived up to the expectations I set because it was so good! We have an interesting new world with a whole bunch of interesting new characters. Our main characters Lilith and Zahariev are fantastic. Lilith lives in this world where the church and their mission has too much power as well as the men who rule each distract of their slice of the world. And even though Lilith’s family holds power and she has magical power, like women do in the high status part of society, it doesn’t matter. Expectations come down to being married off so someone else can use her power. So she runs to Zahariev and his territory. He lets her stay and keeps her safe, for the most part and against her wishes. But things soon change when Lilith comes across a magical dagger. Death follows, new creatures appear, and the dreams she keeps having get more confusing by the night. There is just so much more going on than anything Lilith could have imagined. And when tragedy strikes, she will do whatever she can to find out the true source of this horror. I loved this book. The world building was so interesting and I loved Lilith! She is such a great character who just gets stronger and stronger as the story goes. And I adored her relationship with Zahariev. I loved seeing it slowly turn into more as the story went on. It was clear there was something sparking between them and it was only a matter of time until something snapped. Their banter was great and I loved getting these one page snippets of his point of view. I would love just a whole book with his point of view to be honest. He respected and loved Lilith exactly as she was and didn’t seek to change her even when she drives him crazy. We also got a pretty crazy ending and I will be demanding the next book to come asap! I cannot wait to see where this story goes.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was amazing. The concept was so fresh and unlike anything I’ve ever read before. The magic system and culture of the world revolving around religion was very interesting. I also loved the feminist themes and felt they were very fitting to today’s day and age. The romance in this book was so good - a slower burn filled with yearning until finally the characters got together with Scarlett St Clair’s signature spicy flair. Can’t wait for the next instalment in this series!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I loved this book so much more than I expected to. It was such a unique story. The writing and the world building kept me so invested that even when I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it.

This book is female rage coded, so I can’t wait until the next couple of books to see Lilith really stick it to the man. Though, this is a fairly forward and critical commentary on the church, so if you aren’t comfortable with that, you may not like this. I, however, thought it was an interesting take.

The couple in this book has so many great quotes and moments together, that had me squealing and blushing. Zahariev and Lilith will always have my heart. I also really liked that Zahariev’s point of view in between the regular chapters were so short. It gave you a look into what he was thinking, without having to reread the same scenes just in his POV.

As far as the first book in a series goes, this one does a great job at setting the scene and enticing the reader and the fact that we have to wait for the next book to come out may actually kill me.

*A special thank you to Bloom Books and Netgalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Terror at the Gates is the first book in the Blood of Lilith series written by Scarlett St. Clair.

What to expect:
*Forbidden romance
*Religious trauma
*Slow burn / Touch her and ☠️

Another absolutely fantastic book written by this author! I am not normally a fan of religious material written into books but this storyline had a unique twist to it without being “preachy.”

Lilith was a strong, independent FMC without being reckless, Zahariev was a supportive MMC that was more than willing to assist the FMC with her secret excursions.

Book does end on a cliffhanger, no cheating or third act breakup.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the opportunity to read and review this title!

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: Lilith (FMC) & Zahariev (MMC)

4 stars — Powerful, bold, and emotionally gutting.

This is a dark feminist fantasy steeped in religious trauma, political power, and female rage. It’s a modernized retelling of the story of Lilith.

In this alternate world, only women have magic, but are still completely subjugated by men and the Church. Lilith, a daughter of one of the five most powerful families, grew up facing horrific abuse from the Church’s highest-ranking authority. When she comes of age, she refuses to marry and instead runs, finding refuge under the protection of Zahariev, a morally gray mafia-style leader who becomes her protector.

🔥 What to expect:
• Witchcraft & forbidden magic
• Fantasy mafia vibes
• Only women wielding power
• Slow-burn, forbidden romance
• Female rage simmering beneath the surface
• Powerful religious and feminist themes

Lilith is a deeply flawed but fierce protagonist. Her choices don’t always make sense, but they feel honest. I cried more than once for her. Zahariev, while not as fully developed yet, feels like the perfect grounding force in her life. I loved their complicated, intimate dynamic.

There are tough topics throughout: assault, oppression, systemic abuse, and control of women’s bodies. Please read content warnings carefully before diving in.

If you love mythological retellings, rage-filled women reclaiming power, and stories that aren't afraid to challenge religious and societal norms, this one’s for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the opportunity to read Terror at the Gates.

I’ve waited a long time for a Lilith retelling, and this did not disappoint. If you are a student of the lore behind the story of Lilith, then you will be in for a treat! Set in a modern city backdrop under the ruthless rule of a corrupt and abusive caste system controlled by the church, Lilith is trying her best to navigate her world and try to figure out how she can stay free and alive. This is a dizzying world of power, corruption, and magic seething beneath the surface. This world is lush and stands on the bones of major mythos and a forbidden love story that will shift the world. Zahariev Zareth is the man to help her forge her own path without forcing her into submission, he should be her enemy, but he has other plans. Beware, the cliffhanger is a banger, and you will have to sit with it. I cannot wait to see this power couple rise up in the next book and what demons they face together! What would you give for love? Readers of this genre will love the mystery, adventure and slow burn romance between the main characters.

OK SCARLETT ST CLAIR!!!!! i was unfamiliar with your game but girl you sure have my attention now 🙂‍↕️🫡

i knew 5% in that this was going to be a five star read — omg this book is F A N T A S T I C 👏👏👏 scarlett sets a fast paced plot and the fantasy elements felt fresh and unique.

the tension between zahariev & lilith is juicy and TAUT and their banter was BANTERING. i fell in love with their dry sense of humor and the way they interacted. zahariev is my new favorite book boyfriend. he is PERFECT. the burn is slooooow but damn, when it hits…. 🔥

easily one of my favorite reads of the year. please pick this book up, it was stunning!!! thank you bloom books for my e-arc!

So good! St. Clair is on my must-read list now! I read her A Touch of Darkness after finishing the Crescent City series and loved it. This new book about Lilith gives the same modern take on female rage in a fantasy world with excellent romance that builds to spice. The tension will keep you turning the page and Cherub will warm your raging heart.

The slow burn. The tension. The STORYLINE. Obsessed.

I found part of myself in Lilith and her badass self, her determination, perseverance and drive to break chains. I absolutely loved her.

Zahariev is perfection and I ate up every bit of his and Lilith’s interactions. The banter was also top tier and I was living for every second.

I’m actually not sure what Scarlett put in this book, but it’s beautiful, and I cannot wait for book 2!

The cliffhanger will have you picking your jaw off the floor.