This one is DARK. If you are into dark romance or romance with a horror element, this one is for you. Talk about a rollercoaster of plot twists and insane gut wrenching moments. If you get easily spooked, read this one during the day.

That being said, the romance element of this one pairs nicely with the horror plot. It was enjoyable and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You have a feeling of general unease and foreboding for the majority of the book. But - don't we all just love something thst makes us a little uncomfortable sometimes?

I came across #GraveMatter by #KarinaHalle after reading another book What Moves The Dead which also has to do with Fungi. Of course the idea of these organisms being able to do things we have never imagined is fascinating. So I was very much looking forward to reading this.

First off the book really truly is very good but it is a slow start. I almost DNF'd it more than once but I kept looking at the other reviews and several mentioned that it was a slow start but then it really picks up traction so I figured why not keep going and I am sooo thrilled that I did.

Syd has landed the chance of a lifetime being offered a spot with the Madrona company. Finding herself transported to a remote island with no outside intrusions she believes this is exactly where she will find her claim to fame. Of course she also hopes it will take while for them to find out that her scholarship from her school has been revoked and because of that she really shouldn't even be there. At least that's what she thinks until she lays eyes on the sexy Professor Kincaid.
She finds herself drawn into his orbit immediately and gets the feeling that maybe she somehow knows him. Not long after arriving though she begins to feel as if she is losing her mind.

She hears her name being whispered in the dark, someone stands outside her apartment window at night watching her. She believes she is seeing the ghosts of those that have died on the property and worst of all she swears that corpse's aren't staying dead.

Is she losing it or does Madrona Pharmaceuticals have something to hide?

I would like to thank #Netgalley for the chance to read #GraveMatter by #KarinaHalle in return for a fair and honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

The book started solid. I was intrigued and I wanted to keep reading and know what would happen.
I do think the story dragged a little mid-book, but then it picked up again and I was hooked once more. As a woman in STEM I loved the representation and the unique aspect of the story. The author clearly did her research, which I also appreciate.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC. I LOVED this book. It was creepy and moody, and the scientific aspect of the story fully drew me in. I was absolutely onboard for the romance, and the plot kept me guessing for most of the book. Would highly recommend!!!

𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝘆𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆

"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘭𝘥, 𝘐 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦."

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 🌱📚
Sydney Denik, an aspiring mycologist, lands a dream gig at the mysterious Madrona Foundation on Vancouver Island. This place is all about cutting-edge Alzheimer's research, but things get weird fast. Students vanish, snow falls in summer, and dead animals don't stay put. Sydney's drawn to the enigmatic Professor Kincaid, but as she digs deeper, she starts questioning her sanity and the true motives of the foundation.

𝗧𝗲𝗮 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀🍵🪽
Yo, this book had me hooked! It's got that dark academia vibe mixed with some serious creepiness. Sydney's journey is a wild ride, blending horror, sci-fi, and a steamy, forbidden romance. The twists kept me guessing, and just when I thought I had it figured out—bam! Total curveball.

The mental health rep, especially around ADHD, felt real and added depth. If you're into stories that mess with your head and keep you up at night, then this might be your jam.

This is a stand alone, but if you're craving more of Halle's dark and twisty tales, check out 𝙉𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙖. Both books serve up that eerie, gothic atmosphere with a side of romance that'll keep you turning pages.

Grave Matter is hauntingly eerie gothic romance, perfect for fans of dark academia with a side of suspense. 🖤 I’ve been in a reading slump for a while and this book dragged me out within its first couple of chapters. The setting is perfectly spooky - secluded, haunting and suffocating. The side characters are fantastic, be it the new friends that the FMC makes or maybe some enemies? 👀 The mystery is so well rounded I felt invested right of the bat!! I loved Sydney, she was hilarious and her one liners cracked me up. It’s not easy to write a witty and cheeky character without making it cheesy but Syd stole my heart ♥️ and the MMC Kincaid… He’s a complete mystery from the very beginning. He’s got a gruff exterior and he tries hard to keep Syd at arms length but what is he hiding? Does he want to help her or is he messing with their head???

I honestly can’t express how much i enjoyed it! One of the best reads of the year so far and I recommend it to everyone who loves gothic romance 🌹

I love this book!! So twisty in the way that you have to turn back and figure out what clues you missed! FMC was smart and complicated. Botanical horror is one of my favorite genres and this delivered!

I loved this so so much. It kept me gripped on every page and I couldn’t put it down. I adore Karina’s work anyway, but this might be a competitor for new favourite!

This one had all the dark, moody vibes I love with just the right touch of heat and heartbreak. The atmosphere was intense, the chemistry was electric, and the emotional tension was real. It pulled me in fast and kept me hooked until the very end. A deliciously haunting read with bite.

Honestly, I had never read anything like this book. Really enjoyed it interesting story. Ending that I did not see coming in 1 million years.

IThe vibe was vibing. It was moody dark and mysterious. It was like watching a horror movie. If you like T Kingfisher’s What Mices the Dead, you might like this!

I really loved this. I was hooked on the atmosphere from the beginning, the main characters had a lot of chemistry and the setting was impeccable. I loved the fungi focus and just wait until that ending…..

Definitely a great one if you’re into spicy contemporary romance with thriller/horror vibes and an isolated forest setting.

Grave Matter by Karina Halle is haunting, emotional, and completely unputdownable. It’s got that signature Karina mix of dark romance and supernatural vibes, with just enough heartbreak to keep you feeling it long after the last page. The chemistry? Off the charts. The grief and healing arc? So well done. If you like your romance a little eerie and a lot intense, this one’s for you.

Grave Matter is a moody, atmospheric read with some really compelling ideas. I liked the dark, almost gothic vibe throughout, and Bram is definitely a broody, haunted character—which totally fits the tone. The premise had me hooked: grief, magic, and a desperate attempt to bring someone back from the dead? Yes, please.

That said, the novella length made it feel a bit rushed. I wanted more time to connect with the characters and let the emotions breathe. There were moments that hit hard, but others felt like they skimmed the surface. Also, I think I would've appreciated this more if I had read Veiled first—there were a few references that went over my head.

Overall, it’s a solid, dark paranormal read with a unique twist, but I wish it had been a little longer to really dig into the characters and world. If you’re a Karina Halle fan or into emotionally heavy, supernatural stories, you’ll probably enjoy this one.

Sydney doesn't mean to be an unreliable narrator. She can't help it. Her first-person voice imparts a closeness to this title that really works. Readers who love mycological horror will do well with this one if they appreciate uneven power dynamics and don't mind explicit sex scenes. Corporate greed, colonialism, and a critical ecosystem form the basis for Grave Matter: Sydney's running from her past toward an exciting scientific opportunity. But not everything at the Madrona Foundation is as it seems, and neither is Sydney. Best suited for those who love thrillers.

The way I devoured this book! I have had the attention span of a fruit fly as of late and this is the first book I have read in a very long time that had me SAT. I went into this blind but a fan of the author and this did not disappoint. I would recommend this book if you enjoyed Ninth House. Very VERY wild ride.

I enjoyed this dark and twisted stoey that centers around Sydney, who is studying mycology. It was darker and heavier than anything I’d read lately, which was actually a good change up.

*many thanks to Metal Blonde Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

_Grave Matter_ by Karina Halle is a steamy dark romance with disturbing elements. Sydney Denik is studying mycology when she is offered an opportunity to be a part of ground-breaking Alzheimer’s research with the Madrona Foundation on a remote Vancouver Island. Strange occurrences begin from the moment of Sydney’s arrival, including the disappearance of one of her fellow grad students. As she spends more time on the island, she is also drawn to the older and mysterious resident psychologist. Readers of dark romance will appreciate this spicy read.

I really enjoyed this book. It was dark and twisty and full of amazing suspense. Karina doesn’t disappoint. The characters were well done too.

This book was outside of my comfort zone but I thoroughly enjoyed it! This book was dark, twisted, suspenseful and a total mindfuck. It really kept me on my toes the entire way through. I highly recommend checking it out.

Thank you NetGalley, Metal Blonde Books, and Karina Halle for the gifted copy!