Thank you Scarlett for writing this masterpiece. Straight off the bat this is giving an F you to those that think women should be in “traditional” roles. So yes from the beginning I knew I was going to absolutely love this. This book does not keep you waiting. It is immediately addicting. I did not want to put it down. The MMC is a tattooed chain smoker who is sexy! And the FMC is a strong independent woman. It has a type of murder mystery which I always love. I cried, laughed, and awwed through out this book! This may be Scarlett’s best book and I’ve rated all her books five stars. She is my absolute favorite. This gives Crescent City vibes but darker and with a church in power that is corrupt. I need to know what happens next!!!!

“Forgiveness is an invitation to sin…I’d rather be a sinner than a hypocrite”

4.25 stars! This book has everything: religious trauma, demon blobs, a cat carried in a sling, maybe a war over a woman, revenge, love, and a mysterious blade that continues to reappear…and that’s just the half of it!!

Lilith Leviathan and Zahariev Zareth, two wonderfully alliteratively named characters and top tier literary leads, come from the leaders’ of Eden’s bloodlines, but both refuse to play into the games of foolish, selfish men. When people they love start getting targeted and the city seems to be falling apart, it’s a race against time for them to stop the end of the world…and end the evil archbishop running the town.

I absolutely was so so so bought in right from the start. As someone who attended 13 years of Catholic school, the religious indoctrination is REAL and once you start asking questions, you can’t go back to the blind faith that raised you. Lilith knows that all too well, and lucky for her she was able to get out (much harder in her world than just stopping going to church). Her fierce defiance, love for her chosen family, and desire to seek the truth make her a compelling lady to follow. The world she lives in, another stellar world from Scarlett St. Clair’s mind, with the historical and religious ties across faiths was understandable and fascinating!! I am so in on this story and desperately will be waiting for more!!!

Thanks so much to Scarlett St. Clair, Bloom, and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Terror at the Gates
Blood of Lilith Book #1
by Scarlett St. Clair

***Every. Single. Star. Ever.***

Please. I have NEVER had a MMC ruin me the way that Zahariev has ruined me. I am absolutely IN-FREAKING-LOVE. It doesn't stop there though, Lilith is PERFECT. I love her so much.

Lilith has had enough. Her mother is HORRIBLE. She loves her father but his willful ignorance is just too much. She's decided she's out and moves into another district under the "care" of Zahariev. A man who is 8 years older and she has had a crush on since she can remember. He doesn't look at her like that though, and she would know because when her magic manifested at 18 it was sex magic. She can now use people's lust to control them.

Zahariev will do anything for Lilith, if she would only ask. Her father asked him to keep an eye on her and so he does but the feelings he has for her are forbidden. As leaders of districts they cannot match. He is supposed to marry a woman for her power and Lilith's father is to choose a man to marry her and control her power and district.

Forbidden love, an EFF YOU to the patriarchy, and some pretty typical sketchy "church" stuff.

THAT ENDING! OMG I am going to think about it until I can read more. I'm honestly not sure why I continue to let Scarlett do this to me. She left me with Hades in a cave for like 37 years and I still forgave her. This is probably classified as an abusive relationship at this point. I'm not leaving her though.

Where to start with this book. It was everything and so so addictive. I read a lot of fantasy takes on mythology and religion and this book felt so so fresh.

Lilith is such an enticing character. Her backstory, and really even her present, is so tragic. Her family is making her choices for her. She is warring with wanting her family’s love and approval but also not giving a fu¢k. She is edgy and raw and cool, all while also being sweet and broken and kind. She is the kind of character I go back and forth between wanting to hug and wanting to slap.

Zahariev is just pure sin as a person. He tries so hard to portray himself as scary and menacing and dark but he feels like the perfect puppy of a guy (if that puppy was a Rottweiler, but also still wanting affection). He is so soft for Lilith and everyone can tell except for him (and Lilith). I mean he’s protecting her “becuase her father asked him to.” Yeah, my guy, you aren’t lying to anyone. And every time she gets hurt? Ughh MELTING. I love a good taking care of her moment, but he just made me melt.

This story was dark and gritty and action packed from page one. The magic system feels so unique yet I had no trouble figuring out what was happening. The story balanced dark and light so well and I was engrossed from the very first page. This book feels perfect for fans of Crescent City, and other high fantasy/ urban fantasy crossovers. Make sure you have tons of time when you sit down with this book because you won’t want to put it down.

I fear I will be thinking about this book for the foreseeable future because it completely blew me away. Scarlett has created a true work of art with how undeniably hot and intriguing this book is. The tension and banter between our two main characters makes for a slow burn with a perfect payoff. The ways the themes of corruption in politics and religion are woven in with the fantasy aspect of this book were masterful. I am in awe of the complexity of this world and I cannot wait to see where this series will lead readers.
The romance in this book was undeniable such a tender dynamic between Zarahiev, who is the calm, and Lilith, who is the chaos. All of their moments were filled with this yearning for each other and it was so intensely magnetic. I will be recommending this book to everyone who will listen!

I ate this up. Dark, messy, mysterious — exactly the kind of romantasy I love sinking my teeth into. The world-building is super rich (even if the pacing was slow at times) and the religious lore + feminist rage vibes? Immaculate. Lilith is chaotic, stubborn, and the definition of “I will be so annoying until I get what I deserve” and I love her for that. And Zahariev??? Don’t even get me started. Tall, tattooed, morally grey, says exactly what needs to be said and then shuts up. A king. The tension between them??? Criminal. That said, the romance is a slow burn, the plot is very setup-heavy, and yeah… the ending left me staring at the wall like “you’re joking.” Not perfect — there are definitely things that didn’t fully click for me — but I had so much fun and I need book two immediately.

FANTASTIC! Rich world building, compelling characters, and fantastic pacing!

Thanks so much for this ARC! This is my first read by this author and I went in fairly blind! I saw the cover and some art and really felt drawn to this book! The world we step into is modern but with deep religious roots and families holding the power on the world. Women are second rate citizens used mostly for their magic and breeding. As many of us understand our FMC was not interested in following that path set out for her. The dark fantasy plot took a front seat for most of the book but the romance was simmering the entire time! Our MMC is a fantastic balance to the current world and a character that makes you want to know more. Our FMC is the opposite and seems to be an open book to everyone and doesn’t hide her emotions or opinions well. Makes for delicious combination! I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

y’all this series is gonna be AMAZING. i am a huge stan of Scarlett’s and this book has left me speechless, in the best way possible!

since this is the first on the series there is a lot of world building but along with that Lilith and Zahariev’s story is told. lilith is such a badass and i love her so much. she is woman hear her roar! and zahariev, he is THE man. the morally grey mmc who we all love.

i can’t wait for the rest of this series!

Men written by Scarlett St. Clair.

That's it. That's the review.

...just kidding, I'm more long winded than that. But honestly? That's really all you need.

Being said, Lilith is also MY GIRL. Pretty sure we have the same mother, if I'm being honest. If you grew up in a super religious house and ran away the first chance you get--you're going to feel seen. And angry. And will absolutely be cheering Lilith on in her revenge arc. This is the story her namesake deserves, and this is the agency she was denied all throughout history. I love her and I REALLY hope Scarlett lets her catch a break in the next one because LORD knows she deserves one!!!

And Zahariev?? His chapters are literally only a paragraph or two at the most, but YOUR HONOR I LOVE HIM. I will take my own personal mafia boss who puts up with my brat behavior and will follow me into the Devil's Den, thank YOU! Truly a master class, and I will fight ALL of you to make him my book husband. I would leave my actual husband for him, if I'm being honest.

I both read this AND listened to the audiobook (because I am simply obsessed), and I really enjoyed both formats! Laura is always a great narrator, and I think she did justice for our girl Lilith. As usual with her books, I do find the narration a bit slow compared to "normal" listening speeds--I generally listen to books on 2x, and even at 2x this one felt slowish to me. I probably would have done it at 2.25 or 2.5 if that had been an option with the ALC copy I listened to.

Overall this is a great time, and I LOVE The way this ended and set up the next book. We support women's rights, but most importantly, we support women's wrongs.

This was a wonderful first installment of St Clair’s new fantasy series. A captivating mafia-style fantasy filled with feminine rage and religious themes to retell the story of Lilith. This story follows Lilith Leviathan, a rebellious daughter of a powerful family, as she stumbles upon an artifact that kills her usual buyer upon inspection. Teamed up with Zahariev, the head of the Zareth family who has a soft spot for Lilith, she must discover the truth about this artifact and the true powers of their world.

This story was truly intriguing from page one. I always love a female empowerment/feminine rage story so this was perfect for me. The world that St Clair builds is very interesting and captured my attention very quickly. I found myself in love with the characters and the family Lilith found. Overall, the mystery in this story kept me on the edge of my seat and I was truly not sure what was going to happen next, which was a pleasant surprise for me.

Zahariev was everything. I love a man who would do anything for his woman. He was just exactly what she needed every time. I actually liked the choice where he didn’t have full chapters but we still got bits of his perspective. We got to hear what he was thinking but I think it made sure Lilith had the spotlight, which felt right for this book. <spoiler> The tension for the majority of the book lead to a really nice payoff at the end when we finally got to see them together. <spoiler>

I think the religion based feminine rage aspect really spoke to me in this book. The religious elements were weaved so well into the story. <spoiler> I hated the priest in the best of ways. A perfect depiction of both the patriarchy and power and how those connect to religion. I also appreciated that the mother was portrayed as feeding into the patriarchy for bonus morality points as that happens too often in the real world. Even if it was truly for her own reasons revealed by the end. <spoiler>

I can’t wait to see the rest of the story of Lilith! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book! 4.5/5 rounded up to five here.

⭐️♾️Holy shit this book is everything. Zahariev is absolute perfection. 🥵 I NEED MORE. Lilth is badass and rebellious and I love every minute spent with her. The banter between these two was 🤌🏻💋 Scarlette always writes the perfect side characters I loved them just as much as the mc. I cried, I laughed and oh my did I swoon. I cannot wait to be back in this world especially with that ending👀 I dual read this with the audio and 10/10 recommend the narrators did a fabulous job with this one!

Scarlett had me at “Hey guys, I’m writing a new book.”
Then she had to go and add feminist rage, a Lilith retelling, mafia elements and make it fantasy? I don’t know how she does it, but it’s like she reached into my brain and crafted exactly what I needed. This book fed my mind, my heart, and honestly, my soul.

As someone who’s still religious but grew up with some pretty intense religious trauma, this story hit on so many levels. That tension between wanting to believe in something bigger—but not trusting those in power to hold it sacred—was portrayed so well. The way Lily’s pain and rage were handled? Gut-wrenching. Her life, so controlled by men, felt devastatingly real. It made me want to cry angry tears—and honestly, I still might.

But beyond that, the world-building was next level. I’ve never read anything like it. The magic system was unique and layered, and there was this subtle brilliance in the naming—if you grew up super religious, a lot of things might ring familiar in a way that feels eerie and intentional.

Now… Z. Daddy Z.
Scarlett somehow keeps outdoing herself with her male leads, and Zahariev? He’s the blueprint. He’ll kill for her, protect her silently, expect nothing in return—and all he really wants is her. (Okay, he wants her badly, but that’s a whole other glorious topic.)

Scarlett didn’t earn the title Queen of Smut for nothing—and if I could crown her again, I would in a heartbeat. What I love most is how much emotion she pours into her steamy scenes. It’s never just spice for spice’s sake—it’s intimate, meaningful, and adds so much depth to the story and the characters.

I could honestly go on forever, but if you made it to the bottom of this review, forehead kisses for you 💋
Please preorder this book immediately—you need it on your shelf.

Thank you NetGalley, Scarlett St. Clair, and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for this eARC!

This is the beginning of what looks to be another amazing series by Scarlett! It was intense, emotional, and of course HOT. There are some darker themes in this story that added so many layers to Lilith. The plot is gripping and takes some twists you aren't going to suspect. The side characters add so much to the story and to the character development of our FMC. Zahariev is the MMC of your dreams, even with the insane amount of misogyny and sexism he shows what it truly means to be a man. Scarlett makes sure to take us through every scope of emotion that you can think of and the writing flows so beautifully. That ending will have me wondering and holding my breath for the next book!

This book was excellent—a powerful, unflinching look at the sexism, hypocrisy, and blind faith that can so often be entwined with organized religion. Lilith is a fierce, complicated, and ultimately endearing protagonist, scarred by the rigid belief system she was raised in and now fighting to build a life on her own terms. And Zahariev? PEAK book boyfriend material. He’s so hopelessly down bad, it’s almost criminal—and I promise you’ll be just as obsessed with him as I am.
Highly recommend to most readers, though it may be a tough or uncomfortable read for those with deeply traditional religious views.

One thing about it…ima read a book by Scarlett! My girl never disappoints! The way she executes these modern retellings and all the messages throughout the books are always so good! From the abuse and way people manipulate ppl with the Bible to defend cruel behavior and create a superiority over others. The way she managed to bring up topics of how men are trying to control everything involving a woman and so much more. This books was fantastic and so was the audio! I cannot wait until book 2 of the series! I hope Lilith’s heart gets to heal but that plot twist at the end was…WOW

The start to a whole new series!! The amazingly detailed world building and layers are deep, the book starts slow as everything is set up. It is done in a great way to let you really understand the MFC. There is a lot to unpack and I think even different ways to interpret some things.

Story gives magic, sexual tension, morally grey characters and lots of religious/societal rebellion.

Dark urban fantasy with forbidden romance, religious trauma and some mafia family vibes.

(5 ⭐️)
(3.5 🌶️)


“We were not responsible for the lust of men. We existed and they desired”

“As I held him, I couldn’t understand how women, mothers especially, were treated like second-class citizens. This was a miracle. It was magic. This, I would worship over an absent God.”

This book is the epitome of female rage, a love letter to all women and mothers and I absolutely devoured it. It leans into some pretty heavy themes, so proceed with caution and read the trigger warnings, but it’s so beautifully done. Scarlett has a talent for weaving stories and characters that are so complex, so relatable, and at the same time so mysterious! I loved the pacing of the story and I was hooked from the moment I started. There were moments I definitely got a little choked up at and cried. There were lots of chills. The way so much of what happens in this book is so relevant to what women are experiencing in real life, is so insane. I loved Lilith, and I loved her relationship with Zahariev! Their banter is hilarious, Zahariev is honestly the epitome of a supportive man. He empowers her and I was living for it. Overall, I deeply enjoyed this book, and cannot wait to see more of Lilith, and Zahariev.

The feminism. The grittiness. The Lilith 🥵 The Zahariev 🥵

Everything about this book had me drawn in— Lilith’s struggle to control her own life, the twists and turns the plot took, the relationship between her and Z, all the side characters, especially Cherub! 🐱

Not only did I enjoy eye reading this arc, ear reading Laura Horowitz and Tristan Wardan bring these characters to life was such a joy!

The acknowledgments section also got me good! The research Scarlett put into writing this book was so thorough! Also the education nerd in me loved she listed her references 👏🏻 These references helped to elaborate upon the myths she used and the way these myths and religion are used to belittle women and that brought more power to Lilith’s story told!

ARC Review
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Scarlett St. Clair & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

“To the women who were told they must submit to the dominance of man.”

Oh my gosh, I absolutely loved this book! I was immediately drawn in & couldn’t put it down, I finished it in 2 days! I felt like the story was fresh (even though it’s a reimagining) & unique, I personally haven’t read anything like it. It has heavy corrupt religious & patriarchal themes, which if you know anything about the story of Lilith, was necessary for her journey of independence & transformation. A lot of sh*t happens to Lilith, prior to the story & during, & she has a lot to work through. She gets hit with one thing after the other & although she tries to do everything herself, Zahareiv is always there whenever she needs it. And HOT DAMN ZAHAREIV 🥵 I love him so much, his passages were some of my favorites, albeit they were also teases because I want more from his POV! The spice doesn’t come until the last 20% of the book, but it was so worth it after all that building tension! And that ending?! Omg I literally said WTF that’s the end?! HOW am I supposed to wait for the next one 😭 also I very much appreciated Scarlett’s Author Note, my little history major heart really loved a peek into some of the research she did for this book. I personally thought it was super cool.

I almost forgot sweet baby Cherub 🥹 I love her

I loved this book, it’s all feminine rage & independence, stick it to the church with an added twist that is definitely setup for book 2 & I cannot wait! One of my fav books of 2025 so far!

Fav quotes:
“Forgiveness is overrated. It’s just something churchgoers shove down your throat so they can beg for it when they sin.”

“Desire is only a weakness when it’s starved.”

“I was a desert, and he was the rain. We were two creatures not long meant for each other, yet only he could cool the scorched parts of my body. It had always been that way.”

“I’d only held on out of fear of not believing in something. What was the point of life without the promise of eternal paradise? But that was the great lie, wasn’t it? Life was life. It was as meaningful as I made it.”

“I would go to war for you.”

“You’re pretty smug for a man with a boner”

“This pleasure was unholy, and I was possessed, utterly altered from the inside out.”

Scarlett St Clair just never disappoints 🙌🏼
I was hooked from the very beginning. Honestly I loved the world she created, this urban fantasy vibe with mafia families 🤌🏼

I loooveddd the female rage in this. Our FMC Lilith is so relatable in a sense where we don’t want to be told what to do by a man ever … unless that man is Zahariev of course 🤭 my god can that man make a woman weak in the knees 🔥 and to top it all off HE FALLS FIRST !!!
I loved how in the beginning he is made to seem like he doesn’t care and is so cold and moody but really he is just in love 😭 Their banter together is sooo good, the back and forth sarcasm, the tenssioooonnnn UGH don’t even get me started. If you like a slow burn you’re going to looveeee this ❤️‍🔥

This book had me cryyinngggg, honestly don’t think I’ll get over what happened (don’t want to spoil it but just be prepared). Scarlett St Clair you are responsible for my emotional damage 😭

The themes in this is focused on religion and politics but it was written with a lot of care and research. There is also mention of religious trauma which was really sad to read about but it makes you aware of the reality of these issues.

I think overall it was such a beautifully written book and the ENDINGGGG !!! I need that second book like noowwwww !!!! It’s was a perfect blend of spice and action. The tension builds up so much that the spicy scenes (which are towards the end) are sooo worth it 👏🏼 I can’t recommend this book enough. I’m so here for more female rage and more angels and blob demons 🤭