I absolutely devoured this! A total adrenaline rush from start to finish. This is marketed as a dystopian romance and while that does ring true, I did feel like a good dystopian fiction, with romance weaved throught it. The story felt fully fleshed out with well developed characters and atmosphere that didn't just rely on romance to drive the book forward. Some aspects were a bit predictable, but there were also a lot of plotpoints that cought me completely off guard, and while there were parts of the book I didnt love, overall I really enjoyed reading this. Things I loved: Compelling MCs - I couldn't help but root for both of them, even when they were trying to kill each! I really enjoyed delving into their minds. Side Characters - they were also very well written and having multiple POVs allowed insight to different situations without feeling messy or confused. Plotlines - I was never bored reading this, there were so many inter-weaving stories, that stood up well on their own. Loads of reveals and plottwists as well. World Building - This did a great job world building throughout the book rather than just having an info dump at the beginning. Theres so much to this world that I'd love to see explored even more. Things I didn't like Love Triangles - I HATE love triangles with a passion! I perfer my MCs to focus on each other and while this doesn't present the triangle in the traditional way, I still didnt enjoy it as I love all of the characters and want both guys to have a happy ending (and not get killed off in the next book). Villan's Knowledge - the villain in this is great! Like I absolutely hated him, but it did get a bit annoying that he was apparently always 1 step ahead of the protagonists. Pacing - overall I did enjoy it, but the last 20% did feel a tad rushed.

Daggermouth completely exceeded my expectations. Dystopian romance can be difficult to balance because there's always a risk that the romance softens the very themes the genre is trying to explore. H.M. Wolfe manages to do the opposite. The romance doesn't distract from the political commentary, it strengthens it. Set in a society built on oppression, inequality, and fear, Daggermouth is the kind of story that wants you to be angry. It challenges power, questions the systems people become complicit in, and explores what happens when those in control value obedience over humanity. The world of New Found Haven is unsettling in all the right ways, and the atmosphere is incredible. Every interaction feels dangerous, every conversation feels monitored, and there is a constant sense of tension hanging over the story. At the heart of it all are Shadera and Greyson. Actual enemies-to-lovers. Not a misunderstanding. Not mild annoyance. These two genuinely hate each other. Shadera was sent to kill Greyson. Greyson fights back. They wound each other, betray each other, and spend much of the book questioning every motive and every word. Their relationship develops through survival, shared pain, and difficult truths, making every step of their connection feel earned. Shadera was easily one of my favorite parts of the book. She's fierce, resilient, and unapologetically herself. Beneath her strength is a deeply compassionate person who continues to care about others despite everything she's endured. Watching her grow into a symbol of hope and resistance was incredibly powerful. Greyson was equally compelling, a morally gray character trapped within the very system he despises. His guilt, frustration, and desperation made him endlessly fascinating to read. The writing is immersive and addictive. Wolfe creates a vivid world without slowing the story down, and the pacing never lets up. The plot is packed with action, political intrigue, emotional moments, and twists that genuinely caught me off guard. Every time I thought I knew where the story was heading, it proved me wrong. It kept me on edge! I was highly immersed into the story! What stayed with me most, though, was the emotional weight of the story. Beneath the violence, rebellion, and chaos is a deeply human exploration of grief, trauma, survival, and the difficult choices people make when fighting against oppression. Nobody is entirely innocent, nobody is entirely safe, and every victory comes at a cost. Daggermouth is one of those rare books that entertains while also making you think. It's gripping, emotional, and impossible to put down. If you love dystopian stories with meaningful social commentary, complex morally gray characters, and one of the most convincing enemies-to-lovers romances I've read in a long time, I cannot recommend this book enough.