Dark botany and obsessive academia, toxic sapphic intentions in a languishing poisonous garden. I read the blurb and thought, what’s not to like?

Fundamentally, everything is there. The writing is absolutely gorgeous. The planning and story begin beautifully. There are haunting gothic undertones with shadows of horror lurking everywhere. However, the story then drags and continues to drag as the style becomes too thick, too overstated, like the overgrown poisonous garden. It led this reader to boredom. Which is really a shame, as otherwise I liked the book. And the ending? Argh! Seriously, argh!

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A gothic fantasy with strong horror elements towards the end of the book, This Vicious Hunger follows Thora and her desire to be free, through slow, creeping dread and unease, until she finds herself ensnared by obsession and toxicity so deep that she may never escape. All of this, coupled with sapphic yearning, dark academia vibes, and set within the confines of a poison garden, where everything has the potential to kill you with a single touch. Sounds pretty good!

If you're a fan of titles like The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue or Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab, or The Familiar or Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, I would urge you to give this book a go - you might very well find a new favourite!

Francesca May's writing is gorgeous - lush and vibrant, while also eerie and haunting. The world she builds is intriguing and deep, and I would love to read more about it in future books. The love story between Thora and the mysterious Olea is beautiful and deadly, rendered expertly in May's lyrical writing style, exploring the depths of their love and lust; their desire and obsession. It's a true gothic love story, in the sense that it reminds us that not all love stories are good and pure, or have happy endings.

I’ve read a bit of that book but it seemed like the story wasn’t developed well enough and I struggled with reading it and wanting to read it. Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to access this book early but unfortunately this isn’t the one for me. I think that the story developed somewhere where I didn’t think it would go. Maybe it’s just not something I’d normally read or had different expectations.

This Vicious Hunger had me completely engrossed from start to finish. It gave me Rapunzel meets academic fantasy elements. The characters of Olea, Petaccia, and Thora are so richly developed, each with their own unique struggles and desires that can be easily recognised in today’s society. Dr. Petaccia is a women who has always been over shadowed by men for the medical research she has performed and when she finds Thora and discovers they share similarities within that narrative she befriends her with the notion of becoming a scholar but there is a darker hidden agenda here of which I did not see coming!

The relationship between Olea and Thora is beautifully written, filled with tender moments and raw emotions whilst exploring the struggles of feminine sexuality and the complexities of any romantic relationship.

While the book is labeled as a dark gothic fantasy, and I am in no way qualified to argue this, I found it to be more of a dark academia fantasy that gradually darkened as the story progressed, I’d say around 80%.

In conclusion, the shocking revelations, the depth of the narrative and complexity of the characters made it a stand out read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a compelling and thought-provoking story.
Thank you NetGally, Francesca May and LittleBrownBookGroup_UK for this arc read.

A gothic fantasy with strong horror elements towards the end of the book, This Vicious Hunger follows Thora and her desire to be free, through slow, creeping dread and unease, until she finds herself ensnared by obsession and toxicity so deep that she may never escape. All of this, coupled with sapphic yearning, dark academia vibes, and set within the confines of a poison garden, where everything has the potential to kill you with a single touch. Sounds pretty good!

I will, however, start with a caveat to this review - I don't necessarily think this book will be for everyone. The pace of this story is often slow and meandering, with a fair amount of repetition towards the end. For me, this only added to the sense of horror and the corrupting effect the garden had on Thora. Despite the pace, I was never bored - it suits the gothic genre, the slow-building worries and the feeling of wrongness. If you're more of a fast-paced, questions answered kind of person, this might not be for you.

If, however, you're a fan of titles like The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue or Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab, or The Familiar or Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, I would urge you to give this book a go - you might very well find a new favourite!

Francesca May's writing is gorgeous - lush and vibrant, while also eerie and haunting. The world she builds is intriguing and deep, and I would love to read more about it in future books. The love story between Thora and the mysterious Olea is beautiful and deadly, rendered expertly in May's lyrical writing style, exploring the depths of their love and lust; their desire and obsession. It's a true gothic love story, in the sense that it reminds us that not all love stories are good and pure, or have happy endings.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Book Group UK/Orbit for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a bit of a let down!

I loved the beginning - the transition from the grief and control of her former life to the freedom of the university and garden was gorgeous. The care that went into describing her life with her father and the rituals surrounding death really set up a rich backstory and a promising evolution.

But then it fell apart. Almost nothing happens for the last third of the book besides repetitive descriptions of hunger and desire. And then the end provides no closure - no satisfaction. Very disappointing to have such a promising set up and never have it deliver.

Received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I thought this was beautifully written, the language is rich and vivid and it was so easy to picture the plot playing out. This was a truly stunning ode to sapphic gothic and the descriptions of the verdant garden will stay with me.

Having said that, I do wish there had been more about the garden, as I felt this was almost a sideline and not the actual reason as to why they were all there. I felt that a lot of the story could be cut out and it wouldn't have made a massive difference to the plot. A lot of the Doctor's work had very little to do with the overall outcome of the story and all of the characters were left at a loose end.

Being familiar with gothic writing, I was expecting some meandering tension with an ever growing, brooding presence, but this was a little too repetitive. One of the characters even comments about going over the same thing again and again.

I enjoyed so many elements of this book, but they didn't necessarily feel cohesive, one minute I'd be really enjoying it and the next I felt like I was reading the same bit again.

I think this has a lot of promise and it truly is beautifully written, even the plot itself is good, there was just a bit too much unnecessary filler for me.

I really wanted to enjoy This Vicious Hunger. The gothic vibes, the morally gray characters, and the promise of dark academia with sapphic tension were all right up my alley. Unfortunately, it didn’t meet my expectations.

Despise the lush prose, the pacing felt sluggish, I often felt confused instead of intrigued. The worldbuilding lacked clarity, which made it hard for me to feel connected to the setting or the characters. While the central mystery seemed interesting, the slow reveal of answers and lack of excitement made it hard to stay engaged. I kept waiting for that “hook” moment to reel me in, but it never really came

I also struggled to connect with the main character; her motivations were unclear. Even though the story tried to be complex, it often felt unfocused.

That said, I think this book will appeal to readers who enjoy a slow burn and are okay with some ambiguity in the story. However, it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Francesca May read and when I originally read the blurb, I was drawn to the idea of a dark, gothic world with a poison garden.

The descriptions of the garden and the various plants are beautiful. I felt that I could clearly picture my versions and this was made so easy by how well written they were.

I didn’t love any of the characters and in fact, I think I downright disliked all of them. I don’t think there was any redeeming qualities to any of them and I was over the lying and repetitive dialogue and repetitive situations they found themselves in.

Unfortunately I felt that the story was incredibly slow to get going and then all of a sudden… just ends.
The ending was incredibly anticlimactic and could be the set up for a sequel but I don’t see how a full book could be made out of the plan to hunt down the doctor.

The author notes in the acknowledgments that this is not the story they wanted to write and much of the writing process was marred by illness. Sadly, I do think that shows but I would give Francesca May’s other book and any future offerings a try.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK/Orbit and Francesca May for the eARC.

DNF at 75%

I really could not do this anymore that I stopped at 75%, don’t get me wrong I’m all for toxic sapphics but I draw the line at being utterly stupid.
At first I really liked, I loved the gothic atmosphere and the academic setting (with actual learning being involved in the beginning). This novel also reminded me of why I hate men but that’s beside the point really. I would say that the first few chapters give off a very different vibe than the rest of the book and what is promised to us in the synopsis does not really happen until 16%.
Science is a really big part of the book and I loved that until the « romance » overshadowed everything else. And yes I put romance between quotation marks because there’s nothing romantic about their relationship, it’s much more about how Thora wants to fuck Olea.

Could have been for fans of Rappaccini’s Daughter if it wasn’t so dang long.

A lush, moody gothic fantasy with intoxicating queer tension — even if it occasionally drags.

Francesca May masterfully conjures a haunting, gothic atmosphere, blending dark academia and historical fantasy. Set in a Victorian-like London infused with magic, the story follows Thora, a widow turned botany student obsessed with Olea—and the poisonous garden that links them .

What I loved:
• Atmosphere & prose — richly immersive, full of creeping dread and detailed botanical lore ().
• Queer romance — a sapphic, morally grey relationship dripping with slow-burn tension and obsession ().

Where it falters:
• Pacing issues — the first half moves slowly, and some eye-glazing repetition (like Thora’s sweating) held me back .
• Character depth — Thora occasionally felt one-note in her obsession, and Olea remained frustratingly aloof .

⸻

Verdict:
This Vicious Hunger is a seductive blend of beauty and poison, perfect for fans of gothic sapphic fantasy. The evocative setting, morally complex romance, and intoxicating prose more than compensate for its slower pacing and underdeveloped secondary characterization. A haunting read that lingers — and I’m eagerly awaiting what May writes next.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’ll admit I was initially lured in by the cover, and then the blurb - I mean, a haunting, sapphic gothic story sounded so promising but sadly, this wasn’t for me.

The first chapter really hooked me in but it starts off slow and maintains that pace for quite a large chunk of the book.

There was always this feeling like ‘something’ dark was going on in the background and things didn’t really pick up until the last 80%, by which point the repetition was so obvious it got quite dull.
And then when those ‘somethings’ are finally revealed, they didn’t really have the shock/revulsion factor I was expecting.

And then there’s the ending, which couldn’t have been more abrupt. At first I didn’t believe that was the ending and I must have missed a page, but no. It left me questioning what I’d just read and whether I was supposed to have reached a specific conclusion.

That being said, I like the concept and the themes explored, but overall, this wasn’t for me.

I was intrigued to start reading this book as the description sounded unusual.
The first half of the book read quite slow but, once it started to increase the pace, it finally got interesting.
The elements of botany and dark academia drew me into the story.
I feel there were a few missed opportunities around world building and where the story was going as it is not clear where and when the book is set, and I feel this could have been explored more.
I didn’t connect much with the characters but you could see their growth throughout the book. You could really feel the passion and hunger thanks to some beautiful descriptions.
Unfortunately this book didn’t live up to my expectations, with a very anticlimactic ending which was quite disappointing.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for this ARC.

3⭐️ eARC
Thank you to Little Brown Book Group, Francesa May & NetGalley for the ARC.

A gothic fantasy that leans more towards a romance which hints of dark academia - it’s hard to place a what genre this book would be.
It’s also hard for me to review without spoilers but the start of this story had a lot of promise and intrigue. Thora was struggling with grief but had her own secrets and dark history that we come to uncover. I had no idea this would turn into the beginning of a vampire-esque story and the reveal of that was really fun. The pacing slowed right down at about 50% and honestly from 60/70% the repetitiveness was hard to get through. Olea and Thora’s constant arguments then rage/passion filled making up got boring and everytime either snapped I thought ‘oh not this again’.
Pretty much all characters apart from the 2 FMC’s drop off at 60% and maybe some different POV’s would have kept the story going?
I think it lacked world building deeper than the first 20% and would have liked a lot more of this.
Overall it was a good read but I don’t think I’d continue a series

Full to the brim with romance. This book takes you on a journey of longing, curiosity and pride. Thora has so much to give and wants to prove to everyone women can work and been seen in the science/botany world. Reading about these 3 morally grey women will keep you reading well into the night wondering what will happen next. I devoured it

This Vicious Hunger by Francesca May is a gorgeously dark and intoxicating gothic fantasy that pulls you in from the first page and doesn’t let go. May’s worldbuilding is immersive and haunting, expertly blending elements of the familiar with the eerie and fantastical. The intricate exploration of Thora’s life—steeped in loss, isolation, and a desperate thirst for knowledge—provides the perfect backdrop for a gripping narrative about obsession, poison, and sapphic love.

The chemistry between Thora and Olea is electric, their relationship equally alluring and unsettling. The tension builds slowly, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, May throws in a twist that leaves you breathless. The vivid descriptions of the garden, both beautiful and deadly, echo the emotional and psychological turmoil the characters experience.

While the plot takes a slight dip in pace around the three-quarter mark, the payoff is absolutely worth it. The book explores themes of overconsumption—whether it’s love, knowledge, or poison—and the consequences that come with losing oneself in a dangerous craving. If you’re a fan of gothic romance with a touch of the macabre and a whole lot of emotional complexity, this is one book you won’t want to miss. It’s definitely one of my favorite reads of 2025.

Thanks to NetGalley & Orbit for the chance to review early.

Unfortunately this book was a DNF for me - which is really annoying because it sounds like it would be right up my alley. Sapphic, botany and dark themes? Normally a big yes!

I felt like the book was poorly done and repetitive - maybe it gets better further in but I ended up getting 83 pages in and couldn't do it anymore.

The world-building takes the lead early in the story, with a strong focus on scene-setting. I didn’t fall in love with it straight away, but I really enjoyed the concept and would definitely be open to reading more from this author in the future.
At times, I felt confused about where the plot was heading, but there were a few solid mic drop moments that kept me engaged and curious enough to keep going.
One standout element was the LGBTQ+ representation—it was woven into the story naturally and added depth without feeling tokenistic.

Wow! What a book, such a gripping read, I couldn’t put it down. A perfect mix of gothic and romance,
Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc, can’t wait to read more Francesca May books

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

What a compelling and disturbing story. It’s so utterly beautiful and yet there’s a strange and constant undercurrent of the macabre throughout. The novel is so insidious, with the main character constantly at risk, even where she herself doesn’t know it. We see a grasping, cruel desire to use her from multiple characters. Her deceased husband disregarding anything that matters to her, a well-meaning friend that still has an agenda, and others who seek to fulfil their own desires. I felt so nervous for the main character. That tension never let up, only grew worse throughout the book.

This novel blends botany and academia seamlessly and saturates itself in gothic themes. A core focus of this book is a secret and forbidden garden, set against a backdrop of academic experimentation. What I found particularly insidious was the main character’s obliviousness to slow and creeping changes around her.

There was so much conflict in this novel, beauty and danger. It was quite thought-provoking as we seek to understand the perspectives of the different characters and the actions they take that perhaps aren’t entirely ethical.

This was a compelling read that was hard to put down. I look forward to reading more from this author.