Adult, ARC review, book review

Terror at the Gates by Scarlett St. Clair (ARC Review)

Title: Terror at the Gates
Author: Scarlett St. Clair
Type: Fiction
Genre: Adult, Romantasy
Publisher: Bloom Books
Date published: July 8, 2025

A complimentary digital copy was kindly provided by Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review.

Estranged from her powerful family, Lilith Leviathan finds refuge in Nineveh, a district in the city of Eden devoted to sin. There, she uses her magic to steal for a living, attracting the attention of the five governing families as well as the church, which expects women to remain pious and silent. When Lilith comes into possession of a beautiful blade, she thinks all her worries are over…until her usual buyer dies while inspecting it.

Frantic, Lilith turns to the only man who can help her: Zahariev, head of the Zareth family and ruler of Nineveh. His currency is information, and his power is extortion, though he’s always had a soft spot for Lilith. But when the dagger appears, he isn’t sure he can protect her from what’s to come.

Together, they embark on a mission to discover the true power running their world. As their lives intertwine, Lilith realizes Zahariev is more than just a friend, but their devotion to each other is a threat—to the truth, to the church, and to those who want to tear it all down.

⤖ My Review ⬻

Scarlett St. Clair’s Terror at the Gates was a fun read. Right from the start, I got strong Crescent City vibes with a dash of religion and the occult—an unexpected but welcome mix that kept things feeling dark and intriguing. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect woven through the plot; it gave the story a sense of momentum and unease that balanced nicely with the romantic tension. I love some good romantasy sleuthing!

I also really enjoyed the chemistry and the build of the romance as well. The relationship development felt natural, and the tension between the main characters was addictive to follow. Definitely not a closed-door romance—there was definitely a lot of heat here, and it fit the tone of the story perfectly.

I liked the characters overall; they felt distinct in their own ways. The supporting cast added depth to the world, and even when I didn’t agree with certain choices, I appreciated how human (or not-so-human) everyone felt.

I also really enjoyed the worldbuilding and atmosphere—it felt immersive and almost like a film, with plenty of details that hinted at a larger mythology I look forward to learning more about. The ending left me curious to see what will happen in future installments, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for when the next book is coming out!

⤖ Places to Purchase the Book ⬻

⤖ Let's Chat ⬻

Thank you for reading my review! Have you read this book? What did you think? And if you haven’t read it yet, do you plan to? Let me know in the comments!

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