Thank you for the ARC! Sadly unable to read as this was downloaded onto a device I no longer have access to and the book has since been archived.

From the premise, I was completely hooked. Did this book deliver on the premise? Yep…ish.
As a lover of anything gothic, throw in your classic enemies-to-lovers, some slow burn, a morally grey (vampire) man and fantasy and I’m there for it with bells on. This book certainly had all of those elements, I’m just not sure that they worked all that well for the storyline. Sometimes, the developing relationship between Stefan and Irina was brilliant with the banter and endearing awkward interactions. Other times, it was just, well, awkward.
As we follow their journey in the afterlife, I found myself skipping over some paragraphs that were description heavy or where the action was repetitive. I won’t give spoilers as to which parts.
On saying that, I did enjoy the plot twist near the end of the book and did find myself crying a few tears at the choice faced by Irina.

Thank you to JJA Harwood, Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Beautiful and painful. When Irina agrees to marry a dead man to save a village from a monster, what they don't realise is that she has an agenda of her own.
She is planning on using the dead man to enter the land of the dead to bring back her sister's soul.
What follows is a detailed and engaging journey into the heart of the underworld combining myth, legend, fantastic story and world building and the most wonderful character growth.
I got a Netgalley copy but will be buying my own as soon as possible.
Grimm's fairy tales as written by Naomi Novak, this author just brings that childhood horror to life.
Will highly recommend.

A Steep and Savage Path was a book I almost inhaled. As soon as I picked it up I was swept into the fantasy world, dragged into the underworld and fully invested in Irina and Stefan. The story draws heavily on vampire lore, Greek mythology and what the afterlife has in store. I could really picture the scenes throughout in vivid colour.
I would say this is generally a cozy read but there are some chilling parts that created that classic vampire novel feel. Especially at the start. The romance is a central theme throughout and the banter really balances with more tender moments. I loved the couple and felt the marriage of convenience trope was done uniquely. The overall plot of a perilous journey to save a sister was lovely to read. I think if you are a fan of T. Kingfisher this is one to read as a comparison. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

I adored this book. Right from the beginning, Irina’s sass and irreverence made fall in love with her. I became attached to her and Stefan immediately and their banter was so fun to read that I wish I could have taken a day off from work to keep reading it all night.
However, this was not just a fun read, this was also very emotional in some parts. I almost cried a few times, some of the characters and situations were especially moving. Irina and Stefan’s journey through the land of the dead was easy to follow, eerie and haunting, but also familiar thanks to the references to mythology.
I don’t think there was a single thing that disappointed me in this book, beginning to end, and it was such a nice surprise. I can’t recommend it enough.

A bride marries the village vamp so she can gain access to the underworld to rescue her sister's soul.....

I absolutely loved the premise of this story and I absolutely adored how the underworld was described, monsters aside!

Irina was so determined and Stefan really tried to come off as a monster because he was a vamp.....but there's a story there too. The 2 of them together made my heart sing! (My little cauliflower!!!!)

It did fall a bit flat for me in places because their journey was just so long and repetitive but overall, I enjoyed it.

I'd say 3.5/5 but I have to decide whether to go high or low.

I was really unconvinced by some of the dialogue in many places. Things like, "Maybe it's only visible to the annoying..." which was just not a good line. And after the MMC goes on about being dead, he's suddenly questioning why the FMC can't see the doorway to the land of the dead. Then they just spend a quarter of the book bickering like children. Or MMC asking "What makes you think they will be so eager to intervene on your behalf?" immediately after a scene where some soldiers in the land of the dead literally just intervened on her behalf. And then the random appearance of "The bad place." and "sweetheart," which had me looking like I'd eaten an entire lemon.

I'm also not really a fan of these cagey little hints about an MCs age. And we pretty much only got that with Irina.

That said, I loved the folklore woven throughout. I am a massive sucker for old folklore, and there was just massive amounts of it. Irina's touch making the dead relive their deaths, being haunted by lingering questions, Navigating the land of the dead was great. I loved the different gates, landscapes, the conversation with death. There were also moments of pure, heart racing horror which were so good. I almost wish this was properly adult fiction instead of hovering in YA. But we're talking about this book, not the book I wish it could have been.

On the whole, I enjoyed it. I hope we get more folklore-rich, old world monster filled, works from Harwood. And if they are more solidly adult targeted, Maybe something in Catalina's later life because surely spending time in the land of the dead will leave its mark on her.

Sadly I did have to DNF this book. I was so excited for it but I just lost interest due to the long parts instead of chapters, I find it extremely difficult to keep focused on the story when it’s set out like this and it ruins the experience for me.

this was probably my favourite book I read last month. It's a slow burner that takes and blends Slavic folk belief and greek katabasis myths and puts a brilliant twist on another myth that would be a massive spoiler to mention.

I found myself gripped and ever more attached to Irina and Stefan. Irina agrees to marry a monster to get a guide to take her to the underworld and rescue her sister's soul to return it to her vegetative body.

They strike a deal, he will take her to the land of the dead and she will let him drink the blood he needs to survive from her. But the journey will have her questioning whether the Vampire she married is truly a monster as they navigate the neverending danger of the underworld that will present Irina with an impossible choice.

I loved the slow burn romance, I was devastated by the impossible situation Irina found herself in at the end and the lush world building of the land of the dead with it's world's within worlds and portals between realms and the rivers Styx, Lethe, Phlegethon, and Cocytus. @jjaharwood has written a beautiful lush story that I will definitely return to.

Massive thanks to @harpercollinsuk and @rachelquinmarketing for sending me an eARC via Netgalley - it has not affected my opinion

A truly wonderful story that I couldn't put down. From the very first sentence I was hooked and as we got to know Irina, her motivations, her character, I just became more and more absorbed. Stefan, flawed, dangerous, and hurting makes for a compelling character too. The way these two interact with each other, especially at the very beginning, when trust is nonexistent and they're testing each other, the push and pull was fantastic. JJA Harwood takes us along on a journey through the underworld, bringing in myth and magic, and plenty of danger along the way. It's a completely unique story, with magnificent world building, and I loved to see how Stefan and Irina's relationship changes over their time in the land of the dead, as they get to know each other and we get to know them.

There are a few twists and turns along the way, keeping us on our toes, as we explore alongside the characters, and watch them try to find Irina's missing sister in a place where nothing is quite as it seems. I found this story fascinating and adored Irina and Stefan. I'll be seeking out more of JJA Harwood's books immediately!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

This book started with a bang.
We have a very reluctant bride forced to be in a marriage of convenience with a dead man (vampire).
Irina and Stefan disliked each other so much. Because of that their banter was hilarious.
I loved the sarcastic side of stefan. In fact I loved him period. He had a heartbreaking childhood and I was so glad to see Irina standing up for him and being protective of him. He was such a sweetheart to Irina.
Their love and relationship had a certain sweetness to it. Last part made me emotional and happy.

The story had that dark undertone going on. It dragged a bit in the middle especially as I wasn’t that invested in the underworld adventures but I loved the last part. But I wish the last part wasn’t hurried. I needed an epilogue for them.
Overall a good romantasy and recommended.
Safe.

-Marriage of convenience.
-Vampire x mortal.
-My Wife, forced proximity,
-Morally grey.

I picked up A Steep and Savage Path by J.J.A. Harwood after being blown away by the author’s other novel, The Thorns Remain. Once again, Harwood has written a beautifully dark fantasy that will tug at your heartstrings. A Steep and Savage Path tells the story of Irina, a young woman who agrees to wed a dead man. The groom is a vampire who has been mercilessly preying on the village, and the wedding is a desperate attempt to lay the man to rest.

Irina has ulterior motives; she needs to save her sister’s soul from the Underworld after she fell into a coma. To do so, she needs a guide to journey to the Underworld, and as a vampire, her new husband can do just that. He agrees to guide her there and back with her blood as payment. As they head into the Underworld, it quickly becomes apparent to both that they have no idea what to expect or where to find her sister. The ins and outs of life after death are not the only learning curve; they find themselves learning about each other, casting aside their preconceptions.

A Steep and Savage Path is a beautiful tribute to life and death, incorporating Slavic vampire myths and a powerful sibling bond. I enjoyed the adventure in the Underworld and how Harwood interpreted life after death while including familiar concepts. Irina and Stefan are intriguing characters, and I loved how their relationship developed. The banter between them was perfect, and I was chuckling frequently as these two enemies journeyed towards lovers. This book deals with some very serious and dark topics, and the banter helped to balance things quite nicely. It was also great to have two LGBTQIA+ main characters, one demisexual and one bisexual or pansexual (specifically sexualities aren’t specified in the book).

A beautiful refreshing take on a story you’ll think you’ve heard before. The author carried this story in a jaw dropping way and I couldn’t get enough!

This book gripped me from start to finish and didn't let go once. Literally. I read this in one sitting. It has vampire lore, underworlds, gothic vibes, incredible descriptive language, and a MMC to die for. I am a huge fan of slow burn romances, and this did not disappoint. I was almost ripping my hair out by the end, which is exactly the way it should be written. I feel the enemies-to-lovers trope was more "enemies that learn to trust each other" and leant way more into the slow burn, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

As the outsider, Irina is chosen as the bride for an immortal vampire who has been terrorising her remote Transylvanian village. But Irina has agreed to this Wedding of the Dead for her own purpose: her sister's soul has become trapped in the land of the dead, and Irina is in need of a guide who can walk between the living and the dead.
On her wedding night, she strikes a bargain with her new husband, agreeing to let him drink her blood if he serves as her guide. The two journey into the afterlife to search for Catalina. But it turns out that getting back from the land of the dead may be the real challenge.

Harwood has written an atmospheric tale of a journey into the underworld. The writing is steeped in folklore and the underworld is modelled on Greek mythology, which helped to make it feel familiar, even though the author put her own twist on it. The descriptions were very visual - I could easily picture the characters in their surroundings in my mind.

I liked Irina's strength of conviction and her determination to save her sister, and I enjoyed following the development of the relationships between her and Stefan and found their bickering, which gradually turned into banter, entertaining. Stefan's backstory was divulged slowly and definitely made me question who the monster was in this novel.

In terms of structure, the story was divided into five parts of unequal length - this may be entirely irrelevant to some, but if you don't like putting a book down between chapters, know that there are none, and that you'll need a decent chunk of time for part 2, which takes up about half of the book.

The Thorns Remain was one of my favourite reads of 2025. I was therefore very excited when I discovered that the author was gonna release a new book. I pre-ordered my copy and when I got an e-mail from Magpie to invite me to grab a digital review copy through Netgalley I didn't hesitate. With the release day coming closer it was finally time to dive in last week!

This book doesn't even have a very spectacular plot. The heroine is determined to save her sister's soul from the Underworld and everything that's happening is because of that. And yet, this read is insanely atmospheric. There were so many scenes I read without breathing. So many times I forgot the world around me because I was focussed on the characters and their journey. It felt like I was there with them. it felt like I was on the same journey with them.

That's partly because the author did an amazing job with the mythology and lore of the Underworld. Since I'm a lover of the classic Greek stories I could predict quite a few elements, but there were also quite a few nice and well thought out surprises! The descriptions were also really amazing and vivid. I could feel the pain and agony every time our heroine had to walk through another door. I could feel the fear and the excitement. I even, and this happens rarely, saw some vague images!

I also loved the characters, their dynamic and how they're growing and learning throughout the story. Both characters are quite complicated and layered. Neither of them is good. Neither of them is bad. Mistakes were made, terrible things were done and yet it's so clear they have a heart. It's even clearer that throughout the story they're growing closer and closer. However, this is not the kind of book where a happily ever after for everyone is guaranteed and that made the finale even more emotional!

A great read for a great author. Perfect for fans of gothic romance and vampires. The world building is excellent and the characters are well developed. Irina makes a deal with a vampire to save her village but she's really looking to rescue her sister's soul. This is an enemy to lovers romance and there were some really heart wrenching moments. This book was hard to put down once I started and the ending is beautiful.

This book was a fantastic surprise, and I devoured it in almost one sitting!

J.J.A. Harwood crafted a beautiful and daunting journey through the underworld, that becomes increasingly emotional the farther we go in.

A Steep and Savage Path is not the typical vampire romance. Instead, it’s a deeply touching story about Irina, a strong female lead who selflessly risks her life to recover her younger sister’s soul, and Stefan, a dear boy who just needed to discover that kindness and gentleness still exist in the world.

“I started seeing her differently. I realized how kind she was. She can be so gentle, but there’s a core of granite to her. Everyone else just… faded away.”

Irina and Stefan’s relationship is sweet and tender. While parts of their story broke my heart, I loved watching them grow closer and fall for each other. I had a feeling from the beginning that I’d care deeply about Stefan—and I couldn’t have been more right. I just wanted to hold him and tell him he deserved love and care.

The romance, though central and beautifully written, does not overshadow the story. The beautiful prose, immersive world-building, and compelling interactions—both between the main characters and the supporting cast—are what truly made this book shine for me.

I also loved the unique perspective this book offers regarding the stages souls undergo before passing into the true afterlife. Although a dark theme, I found Irina’s interactions with death deeply reassuring.

Highly recommended for YA readers and anyone who enjoys dark, gothic settings.

<i>I would like to thank HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Magpie and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review</i>

This one surprised me in the best way. I went in not knowing the author, but the premise—a journey into the underworld guided by a vampire—felt super interesting!

To be fair, I’m pretty picky when it comes to YA, but this didn’t feel like your typical supernatural adventure. It leans more introspective, slower-paced, and emotionally weighty. At its core, it’s about a girl trying to do the impossible: recover her sister’s soul after a tragic accident. That personal, emotional focus is what really grounded the story for me.

I liked Irina as a protagonist—she’s compelling, and her motivation never feels forced. The male lead took more time to grow on me. His introduction felt a bit too casual and banter-heavy for the tone the story was setting up. I enjoy character banter, but here it felt a little too fast out of the gate.

The writing is clean, emotionally evocative when it needs to be, and flows effortlessly. The different settings we pass through are vivid and well-built, especially the underworld, which felt eerie and weighty in the right ways.

The book also draws loosely from the Aeneid, both in atmosphere and structure. With nods to the rivers Acheron and Lethe, a three-headed dog, and the hazy existence of the dead, the underworld feels distinctly Virgilian. Like Aeneas, the protagonist undertakes a descent guided by a liminal figure—not for prophecy or glory, but for something far more personal.

Now, while this story features a vampire, I wouldn’t call it a vampire story. The character’s presence is crucial, yes, but if you’re expecting fangs-and-blood drama, you’ll probably be surprised. He drinks blood occasionally, and that’s about it—which honestly worked just fine for me.

A note for readers: this isn’t a breezy, plot-driven YA read. The pacing is slower, the atmosphere heavier, and there are some genuinely sad and even gruesome moments. But if you’re into character-driven narratives that explore grief, guilt, and the blurry line between life and death, I’d say this one’s worth your time.

DNF at 30%
I was really intrigued by the premise of A Steep and Savage Path—a girl marrying a terrifying vampire to save her village and enter the land of the dead? Yes, please! Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t work for me. I struggled to connect with the characters or find much chemistry between them, and the pacing felt slow and repetitive. Irina’s motivation didn’t quite land for me either, and the book's structure (very long sections, no chapters) made it harder to stay engaged. That said, the Eastern European folklore and Gothic atmosphere were beautifully done, and I can absolutely see this working for readers who enjoy moody, folkloric fantasy with a darker edge. Just not the right fit for me!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.