Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC of Grave Matter, in exchange for an honest review.

In Grave Matter, Sydney, a curious graduate student, embarks on a research program at the isolated Madrona Foundation, nestled deep in the Pacific Northwest. The location itself is so remote that much of its plant and fungal life remains a mystery to science. The Foundation, secretive and enigmatic in nature, has been conducting experiments on the local fungi—but Sydney quickly discovers that their work may be far more sinister than it appears. As she delves deeper into the strange happenings around her, she begins to suspect that the fungi might not only be affecting her mind, but possibly even bringing the dead back to life.

This novel marks a departure from Karina Halle’s usual style, blending her signature intrigue with an eerie, atmospheric setting that keeps readers on edge. Though Grave Matter is a departure from her more typical works, it still delivers on the tension and romance that fans of Halle have come to expect. With its unique plot and chilling undertones, it’s a refreshing and thrilling addition to her repertoire. I’m eager to see where she takes this new direction in future books!
4.5 Stars!

I went in blind with this book and boy was I surprised. It’s a good mix of horror, spice, mystery and a subject I never thought would interest me, fungi. Syd, our main character is an unreliable narrator and finds herself at an isolated research compound studying her the uses of fungi for the treatment of Alzheimer’s. She immediately starts seeing things and becomes paranoid it’s all in her head. It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not, but something definitely isn’t right with this place and the people running it.

Incredible! I'd never read a horror romance, and Grave Matter has me on the search for more.

Sydney is an aspiring mycologist who wins the chance to study Alzheimer’s research at a mysterious research foundation, She arrives on Vancouver Island with a dozen other grad students and they all realize that something is off about the Madrona Foundation.

I absolutely loved the atmosphere at the Madrona Foundation. Halle is truly talented in describing the setting; I felt like I was there. The various fungi and wildlife were so *aware* and creepy and that was really enjoyable and scary. There were some moments where I was genuinely scared and the body horror felt so real.

The characters felt so real and flawed. To be honest, Sydney annoyed me at first, but I came to understand her and why she made the choices she did. Kincaid was interesting and I was worried that their relationship was going to be "insta-love", but I was really happy with what ended up happening.

This is such an atmospheric and suspenseful horror romance. I'd recommend it to horror fans, thriller fans, and romance fans alike!

I loved this books immensely! This was my first gothic dark romance and the level of thrills, chills and mix of spice was absolutely the perfect concoction to pull me out of a reading slump! The descriptions were incredibly written and really brought the setting to life, pulling me into the story. I would say this is one of the most unputdownable books I’ve read in a while!

I had so many friends recommend this book to me and when I asked them what they could tell me about it, they said... just go with it and expect to be disturbed (but in a fun / spooky way). This isn't typically the type of books I read but I enjoyed Halles writing and how immersed in the story I felt. Wasn't a huge fan of the FMC, but she wasn't so awful that I DNF'd the book (although I was tempted at the beginning). Thankful I pushed to the end, because it all did tie it all together and made me happy I read it and will be thinking about it for a while.

This book had me from the first moment as in did that just happen. You know something is up when instantly those around Sydney are acting weird. And it doesn't stop there things are not as they appear and the mind games continue throughout until the end when everything comes to light. Grave Matter was trippy in the best way possible and to have to have smart and determined FMC in Sydney and Wes trying to bring back the love of his life and knowing that their love is always going to find them no matter how many obstacles are placed in front of them, so good! It was nothing short of mystery, a little dash of terror and spice. All characters you didn't know who to trust and what was actually in those woods. Definitely add this to the TBR even if its not spooky season!

Wow, what did I just read? I started thinking I knew what had happened, changing my mind halfway through the book and at the end it left me with my mouth open.
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I read some reviews that said it was slow at first, but I don't know what they're talking about. the pace is perfect, because you need to read every feeling and idea that goes through Sydney's head. You need the suspense to be built slowly, to makes it become a thriller of those that you cannot get out of your head and that after the last plot twist you are left in shock wanting more chapters and imagining what happens to the characters later.
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Yes, it is that incredible and you need to read it if you love horror, suspense and all the genres it touches on before becoming an unforgettable love story.
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It is one of those books where you don't know it is in their head and what is happening in real time, what is a hallucination and who is telling the truth. Sydney has ADH and is going through a stressful situation, entering the Madrona Foundation is her only way, her salvation but when strange things start happening it is difficult to know what is real or even who to trust with so many people acting strangely around her
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The place, the characters and the dialogues are so well put together that it is difficult not to feel trapped but it is true that it becomes impossible to put down when you are in the middle of the book, and then you should sit back and enjoy where it takes you.
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Another book impossible to get out of your head by Karina Halle I can’t wait to see what comes next.
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Thanks to Karina Halle and her team for give me a copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion.

This was a ride. I loved the visuals throughout the whole book, Karina made it so you could really see what she was thinking when she wrote it. The whole time I was wondering what the hell was going on… and I wasn’t even CLOSE! It did get spicy but for some reason Sydney and Wes’s relationship fell a little flat for me. Maybe it’s because I had my guard up a little.

WOW! Once again Karina Hale has blown me away! I couldn’t wait to dig in to this book after enjoying her Sleepy Hollow retelling and I was NOT disappointed! Intriguing, delightful, beautiful characters full of depth make you fall in love with them as they navigate their way through the plot that just… 🤯 Do not pass this one up!

Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this novel through NetGalley in return for my honest review

Grave Matter by Karina Halle is a dark, gothic psychological thriller that mixes suspense and romance in a haunting setting. The story follows Sydney Denik, a neurodivergent mycologist who, after losing her Stanford scholarship, joins the mysterious Madrona Foundation on Vancouver Island, where they’re researching Alzheimer’s cures.

Soon after arriving, Sydney notices strange happenings—her fellow student, Amina, goes missing and no one seems to care. Sydney starts experiencing unsettling visions and dreams, leaving her unsure if she’s losing her mind or if something darker is at play. Her mandatory sessions with Professor Kincaid only add to the tension, especially as their complicated, obsessive relationship deepens.

As the strange events pile up, Sydney believes the secrets of the Madrona Foundation are far more dangerous than she could have imagined. Either that or she really is losing her mind.

This book was my introduction to thriller, and I absolutely loved it. The twists kept me hooked, and the suspense grew with every chapter. The eerie atmosphere and complex characters made it an unforgettable read.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers, dark secrets, forbidden romance, a love that transcends all else, morally black characters and a gripping mystery, Grave Matter is a must-read!

Trust Karina Halle to deliver on a dark psychological horror/romance story that keeps you guessing and trying to figure out what in the world is going on. The twists in this book just keep punching one after the other. Who knew you ever needed a twist on The Last of Us but make it from the view of scientists? The level of morals questioned in this book, the horror of animal testing and what a god complex can cause are shadows slowly closing in on you as you follow Sydney through what she thinks is an exciting opportunity to help the world.

The medical gaslighting, a creepy isolated fog ridden island. The ghosts and unnatural nature lurking just out the periphery of your view, stalking you. You can really feel Sydney (and yourself) questioning what is real and what is just your brain driving you insane from isolation.

I felt the pacing was a bit too slow originally, it felt like nothing was truly happening in the first half of the book, but you have to stick with it because as the reveals finally come, hitting you and hitting you till you're a mess on the floor, you find yourself going back over every encounter, every sight of supernatural, and realize it was all there before you all along. This is a book where you have to trust the process and really focus on the psychological. You can't get frustrated, which is probably what happened to me and made me think it was moving slow. I'm honestly still reeling from this book even as I'm writing this and fully struggling to put into words just how I feel.

This is such a fantastic book for spooky season and I only wish I had gotten to it before Halloween. This book is best going in blind and letting the plot lay itself before you as you go. Question everything, Sydney is the perfect unreliable narrator. The payoff of this book is completely worth the journey.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Metal Blonde Books for approving me to ARC read this book.

This book was AMAZING!
I didn’t know I would ever like a Dark Gothic Romance but man do I want more.
I am not one who likes mixing horror and romance but, this was hands down the book of the year for me!
I highly recommend this book and I cannot say enough good things about it! It’s eerie and dark but, leaves you wanting so much more!
Thank you netgalley for the arc!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I couldn't really get past the writing type of this book, and it didn't draw me in enough to keep digging in.

An excellent gothic horror that literally keeps you guessing til the very last page. This is an amazing novel and I definitely couldn't put it down. Always love reading Ms Halle!

I was hooked from the beginning! This book blends all of the things that I love reading about; horror, mystery and smutty romance. Like wow! And the ending was so good! I highly recommend this book!

at no point did i know where this was going but 10/10 especially for haunting, spooky, thriller, halloween-y romance vibes

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6987494993Now that was a first! I never expected much from it since it's my first psych thriller dark romance (which is a great mix of genres btw, might look into more of it soon 🤭) but I enjoyed reading this one! I really start reading it for the vibes, but stayed because the plot really makes it hard for me to put the book down!

With the right amount of thrill, horror, plot twists and turns, and of course spice 🤪 Grave Matter works well for me and really scratched this part of my bookish brain on reading something dark and different but still familiar with steam and romance, this book delivered at that ✨️

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a digital copy of this book! ❤️

“Don’t try to change the lodge. Let the lodge change you.”


Sydney is a very ambitious stundent who just got accepted to be a part of the team for Madrona Fundation. After the 'accident' with her professor and losing a scholarship she thinks she just got a second chance in life - a second chance where she can prove that she is capable of something - that something being helping find a cure to Alzheimer.

But there is something wrong with Madrona - she doesn't know yet what, but there is definitely something going on, she just cannot grasp it yet.
Meeting her new professor and falling for him was not her plan but she can't help the feeling that she knows him - and that he knows what is wrong with this place.
She can't trust anyone there - but will she be able to find out what is so bothering about the lodge? Or will this place become her death?






I really like it when books (especially 'romance' books) have some plot to them. Like smut is good, but i want to get wrapped into a story where i won't be able to put the book down and it will stay in my head for a while after i finish it.
This is one of those books. I loved the relationship between Syd and her love interest but i was glad smut was not the main part of it. It was a whole, terrorizing story with a big plot twist which i didn't see coming. I've had my thoughts of what is going on there but i could't figure out how will it ends. And i love when book has me staying on my toes the whole time.

But the smut was soooooo good also. It would be a crime not to mention the smut. And kinky Doctor Sincaid? Well, having a psychologist like that would cure me from any disease. just saying.
and the whole student-teacher trope? one of my favs!

It was my first meeting with this author but i will definitely not be the last, now i am very tempted to check out all of their work!

Spicy, male female, professor x student (both are adults), dark-ish, sci-fi element, psychological thriller, contemporary romance. Check your trigger warnings - there are horror elements like gore among other things. Very suspenseful, steamy, and creepy with an original plot.

this book is such an intriguing read! the atmosphere is superb. it’s spooky and gothic and weird and i loved every bit of it.

karina halle excels at what she does. and for this being her first psychological thriller? insane. i need more please.

i loved the unease of never really knowing what’s going on and if things that were happening to the main character sydney were real. the neurodivergent rep with sydney’s character was also amazing to read.

and of course the spice was *chefs kiss* because it’s a karina halle book and it always hits.