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Member Reviews

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sadly, this was mostly underwhelming. I had high hopes after reading the synopsis, but I just didn't feel fulfilled after reading the book.

The writing style was descriptive, and I enjoyed the ending and the last 30% overall, but for the majority of the book I felt bored. The journey seemed repetitive, and I found myself skimming some long paragraphs of descriptions to get to the good parts.

I found Irina annoying, she kept rushing into danger and the unknown headfirst without any planning or prior research. I liked Stefan, but he wasn’t fleshed out enough. I didn’t find myself overly invested in the romance, I wish there was more buildup and subtle details leading to it.

I also don't think it's an enemies-to-lovers story. I saw no enemies, just two individuals who didn’t know how to communicate. There was no hatred nor big conflict between them, only weak bickering and some occasional banter.

The book doesn’t have any chapters, and it also negatively impacted my reading experience.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, but unfortunately, it was a disappointment for me.

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A Steep and Savage Path begins with a captivatingly dark fairytale atmosphere, filled with whispers, rituals, and the enigmatic folklore of the villagers. I was enchanted by how vividly this was brought to life—it made the opening feel atmospheric and immersive.

The protagonist’s journey to save her little sister had me hooked. The plot itself is clever and refreshingly unique, which is quite a feat in this genre. The pacing in the early chapters kept me engaged, balancing action and story development beautifully. That said, as the story progressed, I felt the momentum faltered, and certain sections dragged more than I’d have liked.

The worldbuilding is one of the novel’s strongest points. It wasn’t overwhelming or heavy-handed—instead, it was intricately woven into the narrative, enhancing the story without detracting from the characters or the plot.

I’d recommend A Steep and Savage Path to fans of books like Kingdom of the Wicked or The Cruel Prince. Its blend of a unique plot, compelling characters, and richly detailed setting makes it a pleasure to read.

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A book where the vibes are as immaculate as the front cover. I fell in love with Harwood’s writing when I first read The Shadow In The Glass- I’m a huge lover of fairytales for adults.
Harwood’s writing is just as lyrical in this and blends romantasy and Romanian folklore beautifully.
I’m a sucker for anything that travels to the underworld and if there’s vampires involved, I don’t even need to know what the book is about; I’ll be reading this. This also has tropes that will appeal to a lot of readers, although I think Stefan and Irina are so much more than ‘enemies to lovers’.
A couple of issues I had; I felt like I needed more time with Irina at the beginning before she meets Stefan and consequently travels to the underworld. I love a fast-paced plot, but I love an eerie, gothic setting more and the first few pages were *chef’s kiss*. I would have really loved a bit more time with the town and the folklore surrounding there to begin with.
My second issue was the structure of parts, rather than chapters. This is totally personal preference.
However, overall I will definitely be recommending this one. I loved that this was a standalone and it had enough emotion and heart to match a series. (I wasn’t expecting to need tissues!)

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A Steep and Savage Path is an utterly captivating read. The slow build up of Irina and Stefan’s relationship was so much fun., the banter, the peril, the atmospheric world building was top notch. I hope there’s more from this universe. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this.

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Welcome to a tale of a journey through the Underworld to retrieve a wandering Soul.

When we meet Irina she is entering into a marriage to a Man she's never met who also happens to be Dead. What we think is a mercy mission to help save the village being haunted by a Vampire is actually a desperate need to enter the Underworld and retrieve the Soul she needs to find to help her own family.

This is a creative and illustrative story, told beautifully as it races through the realms of the Dead, through gateways and amongst the Underworld's inhabitants, good and bad.
Irina and Stefan's tales merge and dance around each other, each needing help in their own way only to meet a heart-breaking condition set by Death itself.

I loved this book, I read it in one sitting. The World woven is gorgeously descriptive and draws you in completely, I felt my heart breaking as the book neared it's end and Irina's choices were laid out before her.

Thank you so much to Rachel Quin and Harper Collins for sending me this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

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This was enjoyable but I wasn’t riveted by it. I found myself skimming long paragraphs of descriptions and internal monologues because I just wanted to get to the real action of the story— which was Irina traversing the depths of the land of the dead in hunt of her younger sister, alongside the romance with her vampire husband Stefan.

I actually enjoyed their dynamic but I think we didn’t get enough of them, strangely enough, despite them literally spending every moment together as they travelled. But I found the speech exchanges to be quite short and limited, oftentimes them having the same conversations over and over, so I didn’t find myself overly invested in their romance but I was curious to see how it all played out. So, the story kept me curious enough to continue and finish it, but not enough for me to be excited while I read.

The story was definitely unique but I was underwhelmed mostly. It was just missing something for me to be completely invested in the story.

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*Actual rating is 4.5 stars*

A Steep and Savage Path is a fantasy romance inspired by Greek myths and Romanian folklore. It's a gothic and at times eerie story about a young woman determined to bring her sister’s soul back from the underworld and the vampire she has enlisted to be her guide. Their search takes them through many different parts and lands of the underworld, and it was so exciting to discover them alongside the two main characters.

While the enemies to lovers trope could be used to describe the relationship between Irina and Stefan, I can’t help but feel that it sells their relationship short. The pair were never really enemies, and instead more like two individuals striking an uneasy truce based on beneficial aspects. What ensues is a tender love story about a platonic relationship grown out of a desperate need evolves into something deeper. It’s about healing from the past and striving to better yourself. It’s the best kind of slow-burn romance where the pay-off is worth the wait. Not to mention that both the main characters are queer coded.

It’s a book about journeys, both outside in the world but also inside yourself. In case you couldn’t tell, I really enjoyed this book and the characters in it. Some part of me is a bit sad that it’s a standalone, but on the other hand I don't think I could handle another book with an ending that made me really emotional. My only big negative thing about the book is that it doesn’t have any chapters. Instead it’s divided into five parts of various lengths. Something that made my reading experience less than ideal at times.

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This is imaginative fantasy about a girl marrying a vampire to gain access to the underworld to save her still living sisters soul. For fans of this its excellent.

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A Steep and Savage Path by JJA Harwood is a captivating and haunting tale that blends supernatural elements with a forbidden romance. The story follows Irina, a woman who must become the bride of a vampire to save her sister’s soul from the underworld. In exchange for his help, Irina offers her blood to Stefan, her new husband, and they embark on a perilous journey through a world of nightmarish creatures and twisted landscapes.

The book is rich in eerie imagery, from three-headed beasts to winged horrors and walking corpses, creating an atmospheric setting that immerses readers in a realm both dangerous and otherworldly. The dynamic between Irina and Stefan is one of mutual distrust that slowly evolves into a powerful, unexpected love, making the enemies-to-lovers trope both fresh and compelling. The forced proximity between them heightens the tension, creating a bond that feels both inevitable and fraught with danger.

As someone with a teenage obsession with vampire fiction, I found this book particularly enthralling. Harwood’s take on the genre is unique, blending the thrill of the supernatural with an emotional depth that adds complexity to the characters and their relationships. Irina’s journey to the underworld is not just physically perilous but also emotionally transformative, with the stakes growing ever higher. The choice she faces at the end is heart-wrenching and leaves a lasting impact.

For anyone who enjoys dark, atmospheric stories with a strong female lead, A Steep and Savage Path is a must-read. The romance between Irina and Stefan is passionate and intense, while the world-building is both eerie and captivating. This book is a unique and unforgettable journey that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

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This book was absolutely mesmerizing—a dark, haunting, and beautifully written tale that completely pulled me in. Irina’s journey is full of sacrifice, determination, and quiet strength, making her such a compelling protagonist. The eerie, atmospheric world-building was stunning, and I felt fully immersed in the folklore and magic woven throughout the story.

The dynamic between Irina and Stefan was everything I love in an enemies-to-lovers romance—tense, electric, and full of slow-burning intensity. Their relationship unfolded so naturally, layered with trust, danger, and longing. Every twist and turn had me on edge, and the emotional depth made it all so satisfying.

If you love gothic fantasy, haunting myths, and romances that simmer with tension and passion, A Steep and Savage Path is an absolute must-read. It’s the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

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Oh my, oh my!
YA Gothic horror meets Romanian folklore meets Aeneid & some Persephone. Could I ask for more?

The back and forth between Irina (a very mortal, live bride) and Stefan (a haunting vampire) is incredible, oh the trauma, all the growth. Their journey through the shadowy underworld was so engaging that I didn’t want them to reach the end 🖤

I dove straight in the atmosphere, and finished it in less than 24h..

If you love eerie stories, a strong FMC that is fair, being surprised by a monster and you’re a big sister that would go through hell for your little one: you won’t want to miss this! ✨

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Magpie for the ARC. 🙌🏼

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This book was SO good! I loved the romance and how it was written, the character were fascinating to read about and I loved the setting of this book.
Absolutely will be reading more from this author! Such a beautiful read.

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5⭐️ I absolutely love love 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬𝑫 A Steep and Savage Path.

As part of a desperate ritual to rid their Transylvanian village of a vampire, Irina is sacrificed to be his bride. But when Irina has to travel to the Underworld to retrieve her sister’s trapped soul, could the vampire that she was forced to wed be the one who saves them both?

immortal mmc x mortal fmc
forced proximity
vampires
forbidden love
enemies to lovers

This was heart-warming, beautiful, tragic, moving and all of the above, 5x over. I don’t cry at books often but this one made me SOB. Vivid and vibrant world-building, believable and well-rounded main characters and an ending that if I think about too much, I’ll start crying again.

Thank you endlessly to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

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A gothic, atmospheric historical mystery that perfectly balances eerie suspense with emotional depth. The lyrical writing style creates a haunting, immersive world, and the journey is compelling. The slow-burn tension and intricate character work shine, though the pacing may feel sluggish at times. A beautifully dark tale that fans of gothic fiction will appreciate.

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I'd love to write a long review about A Steep and Savage Path but I find it hard to write long reviews about books I love! So we'll just go with:
1. I cried for 30 minutes straight while reading this. Automatic 5 stars.
2. I didn't think it was going to be sweet and emotional! I wasn't prepared.

The description/blurb likens this book to The Crimson Moth and The Cruel Prince. I've only read one of those, but in my mental library I've placed A Steep and Savage Path with Olivia Atwater's Half A Soul - no-spice romantic fantasy full of emotion and heart that will stay with me and definitely be reread when my heart needs to be wrung out! This book took me completely by surprise - I have a post-cry photo as evidence lol.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.

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Irina & Stefan
Enemies to lovers
Forced Proximity
Vampire
Forbidden Love
Journey to the underworld

Irina finds herself making a deal with Stefan, help her on a journey to the underworld to retrieve her sister's soul and he can drink her blood in exchange.

My teenage self was obsessed with vampire books so as soon as I saw the blurb for this one, I was intrigued!

This is different from anything I've ever read before but I really enjoyed it!

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