A Steep and Savage Path sounded so interesting. I requested this book as an ARC on NetGalley as the premise intrigued me and I haven't read many Vampire Books

But unfortunately, I had to DNF at 42%.

My first issue is the lack of Chapters. It has Parts and no Chapters but at 42% in I was still in Part 2.

Part 1 had me reeled in. I was invested in the quest of going to the Underworld to save Irina Sister and using her new Vampire Husband to lead the way. But then the story just halted in Part 2. It was so repetitive.
It was just a lot of walking through darks spaces towards glimmers of light just because her sisters necklace was seemingly pointing that way. I'm sorry but I didn't buy into it and I couldn't force myself to continue.

3.5 stars.
After losing her sister, the main character is willing to do whatever it takes to find her again, even if that means doing a deal with a vampire to travel to the land of the dead and back (she marries him- love sm that trope tbh!!!) . With him as her guide, she dives into a world where the lines between life, death, love, and grief blur.
The whole premise gave me Hadestown vibes (which I absolutely adore, one of my favourites musicals from Broadway), and from the very beginning, I was hooked. You need to go hell and back to recover your sister's soul? YES PLEASE.
What stood out to me the most was the incredibly immersive atmosphere. The author has a true gift for creating a setting that wraps around you like a fog-heavy, haunting, and impossible to escape. It’s one of those books that makes the real world disappear, and I was completely in love with that feeling.
However, I did find myself wanting a bit more when it came to the characters. While they were intriguing and had strong introductions, their development didn’t always meet the expectations that were set up ( this is completly my opinion, obviously). I wished I could’ve seen deeper into their minds and hearts. Some trauma dump don't fix their lack of deepness.
Oh, and the MMC is a vampire called stefan... I'M NOT THAT TYPE OF GIRL ALWAYS OKEY?, but i'm not going to lie, my first though was "like in Vampire diaries, seriously?" - I'm watching that serie rn lol so I'm a little bit biased lol-
Tbh this Stefan from ASASP is so much better tho!!
Also, full honesty,...this was my fourth vampire book in a row, so I didn’t connect with that aspect as much as I might have otherwise. me-problem, not the book’s fault at all. Not in the mood you know.
Still, despite those small things, I really enjoyed the read. The atmosphere alone makes it worth picking up, especially if you’re in the mood for something dark, emotional, and beautifully written <3
Also, the book vibes in general reminds me a lot of my family and The invisible life of Addie LaRue- (that catholic vibe huh...) in the best/worst way possible. It makes Irina, the FMC more relatable

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A dangerous journey to the Underworld drenched in Hungarian folklore, and a forbidden, seemingly hopeless romance that blossoms treacherously. Irina sets out to rescue the soul of her not-quite-dead little sister, but doesn't realise she's going to discover a lot about herself on the way. Stefan appears to be nothing more than a monster, but it takes a living girl and the swathes of the dead to make him realise he's so much more. This was darkly beautiful and strangely touching. I didn't really know what to expect from it and went in pretty blind, but thoroughly enjoyed the journey!

Recommended for anyone who liked The Thirteenth Child, Bride of Death and The Wolf And The Woodsman.

🌑✨ A Steep and Savage Letdown 🧛‍♂️🚪 ✨🌑

Okay… deep breath 😮‍💨 I wanted to love this book so bad. Vampire groom? Tragic sacrifice? Afterlife quests? Literally sounded like a gothic fever dream and I was READY for it 😩🩸

But y'all … this one tested me. 💀 I was out here fighting for my life trying to finish it.

Let’s break it down:

📚 STRUCTURE CHAOS ALERT
No chapters. Just ✨parts✨. Which would’ve been fine… if Part Two didn’t last 47% of the book. FORTY. SEVEN. PERCENT. 😭 I was genuinely concerned my Kindle was broken. Like, how are we still walking through the land of the dead???

The format had me like:
➡️ Enter gate
➡️ Face spooky problem
➡️ Spin three times like we’re in a haunted fairy circle
➡️ Repeat for 200+ pages 😵‍💫

It felt like being stuck in a gothic goosebumps choose-your-own-adventure that never ended, but without the fun.

🧤 The Glove Saga™
Listen. The idea that Irina couldn’t touch anyone without sending them into a trauma spiral? 🔥 Concept. Super creepy. But do I need to watch this exact thing happen like every 10 pages until we magically find gloves?? No. No, I do not. I got it the first couple of times (ok maybe 5), but by the last, I was ready to climb into the book and just HAND HER SOME MITTENS MYSELF 🧤🤡

🧛‍♂️ Stefan: The Deadpan Delight
Okay here’s a bright spot 🌟 Stefan was entertaining in the beginning. The dry banter? ICONIC.

When Irina’s like “I’ll starve without food and water” and this undead sass king hits her with:
“Imagine being driven mad by hunger. Truly, no one knows how you have suffered.”
💀💀💀 Sir. That’s comedy.

And don’t get me STARTED on him calling her “my little cauliflower” 😭 Like…why is that weirdly cute??? Who let him be funny AND brooding???

💔 Romance? Or Trauma Bond?
Now… the “romance.” 👀
I’m sorry but you’ve known this man for like 5 business days, and suddenly you’re contemplating giving up your SEVEN-YEAR-OLD SISTER to save him??? BABE. NO. BE SO SERIOUS RIGHT NOW 🤨

You don’t even LIKE him until like 60% in. Before that it’s just him being gloomy and her being like “ugh he’s annoying” 🙄 Then suddenly it’s:
"Irina, I don't want to forget you. You're the only thing that's going to get me through Hell."
AND NOW WE’RE IN LOVE?? The whiplash 😵‍♀️

⚰️ The Ending… Girl What
After all the angst, grief, impossible choices and emotional build-up… the ending just felt like the author went:
“nvm ❤️ happy ending time!”
LIKE NO. Make it HURT. Make it mean something.
I would've respected the tragic ending. Let it break me!!! Don’t hit me with this soft wrap-up and call it closure 😩

📉 Overall Vibes
The premise had SO much potential. The haunting afterlife world? The sacrifice bride trope? The poetic quotes?? It should’ve devoured me like Stefan devours blood. But instead, I felt like I was wading through narrative molasses while yelling “HELLO??? PLOT???”

🧛‍♀️ I almost DNF’d halfway through, and honestly… I probably wouldn’t have missed much. The last 40% does pick up slightly, but not enough to redeem the rest for me.

🚪 Final Verdict:
An aesthetic vibe with a killer premise… but very little payoff. Needed tighter pacing, more tension, and honestly, better gloves.

2 stars. I stayed for the banter and the cauliflower.🥀

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Unfortunatly, a DNF (28%) for me. The main character were lacking chemistry and their dialogues felt flat. In addition, the book doesn't have chapters, so I had a hard time keeping my attention.

Thanks NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the arc!

You think a mix of vampires, the underworld of Greek mythology and a general mood and rural setting slightly reminiscent of Marissa Meyer`s Gilded sounds interesting? Well congratulations, you found another addition to your (probably already overflowing) tbr!

A steep and savage path follows the journey of our brave, stubborn and lovable main character Irina into the underworld in hopes of finding her not-quite-dead sister and bringing her back. But as we all know, living things do not belong to the land of death, so in order to have a chance at succeeding in her mission, she needs a guide - a guide dead enough to bring her into the underworld yet alive enough to be of any use for, well, guiding. Fortunately for her (and only her), a nearby village is terrorized by a monstrous vampire, slaying villagers in cold blood and spreading carnage and fear. Whilst any person with a healthy survival instinct would stay at least a days march away from such a place, Irina sees a chance of finding someone to take her to her sister in this circumstance. Together, they embark on a journey through the land of the death reminiscent of the tales of Alice in Wonderland, meeting all kinds of odd creatures and impossible situations whilst maybe realizing that a monster is often not born, but made.


I really liked this one! It was a wonderful combination of so many lovely elements, from the east European villages to the fantastical settings in the underworld. It was a creative yet eerie approach to the life beyond dead which I am sure will keep me thinking. The writing style was extremely pleasant without lingering too long on descriptions whilst also painting a clear picture of everything going on. I was surprised to like Irina so much, as I feared she just was a naive, hot headed hero trying to save her sister at any cost, but the author managed to create great character depth for both her and Stefan - and honestly every other character

The ending felt a tiny bit rushed and the division in 5 parts felt a little bit unnatural to me. Also, I think this book would have worked really great without a romance plot, instead experiencing friendship and trust between two likely yet so unlikely people in an impossible situation - but that might just be my taste.

Overall, I would definitely recommend for fantastical world building, lovable characters and a fun spin on classic concepts.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.0 stars.

This is a fun adventure with the purest intentions (on the FMC’s part). I love the way this involves vampires and death, it takes fantasy using mythical creatures and lands we’ve read about before but gives it a fresh twist, and I really like the motivations that set the FMC on her path.

This is a fun and somewhat fast paced romantasy, the world building and dangerous scenarios kept me hooked.

A STEEP AND SAVAGE PATH is a vampiric quest to the underworld.

This book combines largely Greek mythology on the underworld with Eastern European vampire folklore. I liked that it never committed exactly to which versions of the tales were being used, instead using them as a starting point for the author's own interpretation of them. It's not the Greek underworld as we know it, but it's familiar enough to feel like the Greek myths are the tales that escaped, warped and misremembered.

It's quite fun to try and spot the different myths that have made it into the book, but also to see the other elements that have been added. The town walls made of tombstones was particularly unsettling because it's so benign on the surface but super creepy when you spend any amount of time thinking about it.

There are a fair few "descent into the underworld" stories being published right now, but the fact this one is married with a vampire trope helps it stand out. The pair have an antagonist relationship but have something the other wants, forcing them into an alliance. It was a lot of fun watching that push and pull turn into desire as they're forced to rely on one another.

The climax of this book is an emotional choice rather than a big fight sequence. It's a really nasty choice and I liked watching Irina wrestle with it. I wasn't sure which way she was going to go with the choice until she did it - there were arguments to be made for each, which I liked.

The book has no chapters, only five parts (which are the only points the book is split at.) It does make it harder to find points to stop and put the book down. If you have a decent chunk of time and can read from section to section, it's great as it means you don't have anything stopping you. If you do need to put it down (say there are chores to do) it's a little harder.

A Steep and Savage Path is a breathtaking, heart-shattering story that I know will stay with me for a long time. Inspired by Greek mythology and Romanian folklore, it follows Irina, a young woman willing to risk everything to bring her sister’s soul back from the underworld, and Stefan, the reluctant vampire she enlists to guide her. Together, they navigate the eerie and beautifully detailed underworld—a setting so vivid and original it feels like a character in its own right.

The writing is haunting and atmospheric, weaving together gut-wrenching grief, tender hope, and flashes of dark beauty. Every step through the underworld revealed new lands and new trials, and the depth of the world-building blew me away. From the crumbling cobblestones to the chilling details of each realm, you can feel how much love and thought went into crafting this story.

Irina and Stefan’s relationship is everything. While you could call it enemies-to-lovers, that description hardly does it justice. Their bond is born from mutual need and wariness, slowly blossoming into something so genuine and tender it completely broke my heart. It’s a slow-burn romance built on healing, vulnerability, and learning to truly see and accept each other. Both characters carry so much pain, and watching them grow together was both beautiful and devastating. I also loved the quiet, subtle ways they were queer-coded—it added another layer of depth to an already rich and emotional story.

This book isn't just a journey through the underworld; it’s a journey through grief, forgiveness, and self-discovery. It explores the desperate, reckless love we have for those we’ve lost and the difficult path toward letting go and moving forward. I laughed, I ached, and by the final pages, I was ugly crying in a way that very few books have ever made me. It absolutely gutted me—and I loved every second of it.

If I have any complaint, it’s only that the book is structured into five long parts without traditional chapters, which sometimes made it harder to find natural stopping points. But honestly, I didn’t want to stop reading anyway. I was so invested that the real world just disappeared around me.

A Steep and Savage Path is a rare, beautiful story that left me feeling hollow and full at the same time. I can’t recommend it enough.

The premise of this story had a lot of potential: a young woman marrying a "dead man" to make a dangerous bargain with a vampire, all in the hopes of rescuing her sister’s soul. However, the execution didn’t fully deliver for me.

The romance between Irina and Stefan felt rushed and lacked emotional build-up. Their dialogue leaned heavily on modern colloquialisms, which felt jarring against the supposed 19th-century Romanian setting. The world-building also struggled; the underworld, a setting that could have been rich and atmospheric, ended up feeling repetitive and lacking depth. Similarly, while Irina was somewhat more fleshed out, Stefan came across as a fairly flat character, making it hard to invest in their relationship.

There were some creative ideas throughout, and the ending showed flashes of strong storytelling—although a last-minute twist felt unnecessary and somewhat confusing. Ultimately, while I found parts of the concept intriguing enough to finish the book, the overall experience didn’t meet my expectations

This was a brilliant book. It felt different to the past vampire books that I have read, it's refreshing to find a new take on a vampire story.

Irina needs to get to the world of the dead. Her sister has had an accident which has caused her living soul to become trapped in the afterlife. Meanwhile, a vampire is terrorising a local village and they believe that if they marry someone off to the vampire, then perhaps it would lay their soul to rest. Irina takes this opportunity as she believes that if anyone can help her find her way to the world of the dead, a vampire would be able to do so.

I loved it! It's an urban/folklore fantasy, set in Transylvania, Romania. I enjoyed the characters and the slow build of information. Not everything is revealed straight away, and this really helped with getting to know Irina and Stefan. The characters have strong arcs and they've definitely been on a personal journey as well as a physical one. Also the twists keep on coming, I feel like I've been on a journey with the characters.

The description of the settings were also riveting. It gave a slight Labyrinth movie vibe. Irina travels from area to area searching for her sister in an unknown, unusual world. I found it very interesting and I bet it would look amazing visually in a tv show or movie.

DNF @ 60% - YA fantasy

Irina agrees to marry the vampire, Stefan, who is tormenting a village in an effort to go to the underworld to find her sister’s soul. Stefan is unaware of the marriage but agrees to help her if she lets him into the villagers homes after he helps her.

I really tried to give this one a chance after previously DNFing my last two arcs but it was not meant to be. I have read in other reviews it picks up in the last 30% but I don’t think this would have increased my rating significantly.

I had several issues with this story:
No chapters - this made the story feel really slow paced.

Lots of description but lack of dialogue /plot progression - I felt myself skim reading paragraphs of descriptions just to get to the dialogue of the characters.

Strange underworld setting - markets and villages? No mention of Hades or the devil etc. It genuinely could have been a village in the normal world and it wouldn’t have made much of a difference.

Irina made no effort of trying to find out Stefans background - she instantly judged him and at 60% there was very little in terms of romance or even friendship.

Overall, again a brilliant sounding premise but poor execution for me personally.

I really like JJA Harwood books as she takes fairy tales/folklore and gives it a real twist and makes it ok for adults to read them. "A Steep and Savage Path" is loosely based on the Persephone myth (although I enjoyed this much more than my experience of Hadestown). The lead character is to marry a vampire so that the village can stop his killings. However Irina has other motives and before you know it she's being led into the land of the dead. Yes, there is a vampire/romance element but I likened it more to "His Dark Materials" when Lyra and Will enter the land of the dead so they can find Roger. Loved it!

This sounded like something I would really enjoy. But sadly I found myself unable to become invested. I didnt care for any sort of relationship forming between the two characters either.

What do you think of vampire stories - garlic, daylight, holy water, terror? Well, once again JJA Harwood takes everything that is traditional, does their research and then shakes it all up to deliver a story that is unique, engaging, and truly emotional!

Irina’s is in a mission, she’s pledged to marry a dead man to give him a better death and help direct him towards a better death rather than his current vampire death and the terror he us inflicting on his village.

Irina isn’t just doing this to save the villagers or her dead husband, Irina has her own objective, she wants to save her sister and for that, she needs to marry a vampire and persuade him to take her to the land of the dead.

What can I say? This book totally drew me in, from the fractured, patchwork landscape of the land of the dead, to the poppies/red flowers that bloomed from drops of Irina’s blood to the weaving of myths and legends that surround Death, dying and the underworld, Harwood created a world within which a vampire and a human woman would cross the underworld to save a child’s soul that totally pulled me in.

This compact story packs a punch, weaving a romance founded on opposition, self-interest, loss and desperation that flowers into a beautiful, selfless, partnership of trust and mutual support. I absolutely fell for Irina and Stefan, and the land in which their romance truly blossomed.

Thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I do love a gothic novel but this one surprised me by how much I enjoyed it. You felt as though you were going on the dangerous journey yourself and the characters and places were so well written you felt very much involved in the story.

I was initially drawn to this after seeing it being compared to The Cruel Prince and Crimson Moth, both of which I adored, so I went into this excited but also sceptical as those are big names to live up to. However, this was an enchanting read, and quite emotional too, which I was not expecting. I liked the greek mythology and romanian folklore woven throughout the book.

There's a beautiful vivid world building, and I really enjoyed the author's writing style. Yes, it's very descriptive, but in a way that lures you in rather than bombards you with detail.

It's hard to describe, and I'm sure I'll edit my review later to provide more clarity, but this isn't like other books on the market currently, and I highly recommend this one for lovers of romantasy.

I was really intrigued by the premise behind this book and it did not disappoint! I loved that it had me hooked from the start by getting straight into the action, and my attention was immediately captured by starting in this way.
Our FMC wants to find her sisters soul after she’s had an accident and she offers herself as a human bride to our dead vampire MMC so she can use his help. They make a deal to travel to the land of the dead in exchange for her letting him drink her blood.
The story is well written, with plenty of world building and explanation's so you can picture everything going on. There is emotional depth in the characters development throughout the story which makes you care for the main characters. It was also emotional so as long as you don’t mind feeling sad!
Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it and would definitely read it again.
Tropes
- marriage of convenience
- enemies to lovers
- vampires
- forced proximity

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

shooketh

- Vampire
- Death
- Land of the dead
- Mystery
- Romance M/F

This book had me crying and laughing.

The World building

This is only a short book so the world building isn't indepth but thats fine for this. Learning all the intricate details of the land of the dead was so interesting and had me gripped. I was trying to make a map of it in my head as I read.

The Romance

This was a nice slow build to it from basically enemies to being in love. The slow build of trust and fondness in their relationship was so nice to see develop and watching them fall for each other was so cute. The main characters are young so if you're looking for fully fledged adults this isn't for you.

The plot

The plot is A girl trying to bring back her little sisters soul and getting help from a murderess vampire to do it. It is such a fun ride and not always a happy one. The idea of her living blood causing red flowers to bloom from the floor I feel like echos the poppies after ww1, giving a sad but hopeful undertone. The idea that after you die you will never want for anything and that you will be reunited with your family when the time comes is so sweet and hopeful.

I reccomend this book aslong as you like vampires, romance and are fine being a bit sad.

Thank you to HaperCollins and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Written in five parts, without any chapters, this book could feel like a slog at times, but ultimately I loved it. Vampires + Hades/Persephone + a long journey and a heartbreaking quest. The development of Irina and Stefan's bargain-to-friendship-to-romance was so sweet and well-written. I would not consider this enemies-to-lovers, but there is a bit of some version of fake dating, as a treat! Happily, I can report that their behavior and interactions were suitable for their age and experiences. The ending was pitch perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing my ARC in exchange for an honest review.