In gaslit Victorian London, a brilliant botanist with a dangerous hobby discovers that her latest intended victim—a charming playboy she thought she'd poisoned—has mysteriously survived and is now showing up at her apothecary asking questions. As their undeniable chemistry tangles them together in a web of secrets and lies, Alina and Silas must navigate a treacherous game where neither can quite trust the other, yet both are dangerously drawn in. This gothic romance crackles with dark tension and violent passion as hidden identities and shadowy enemies close in, forcing the question: can two people built on deception ever truly find their way to each other? If you love morally gray characters, atmospheric gothic settings, and a slow burn that'll keep you guessing until the end, this twisted tale of murder and desire is utterly unputdownable.

Reading soundtrack

Listen while you read

Spotify

darkseductivetreacherousintoxicatinggothic

Dark Victorian gothic romance with smoldering tension and dangerous allure. Think moody orchestral strings, industrial synths, and sultry vocals—like Evanescence meets Bauhaus with hints of seductive indie. Atmospheric, decadent, laced with betrayal and forbidden chemistry.

Open in Spotify

Alternate vibes

📹 Seen on BookTok

@thtgrlreadstiktok· loved it

“If you are a vampire romance-y girly, and The Poisoner is not on your TBR, number one, I'm going to need everybody to look up the audio of what this particular MMC sounds like.”

See all picks →