I tend to enjoy books by authors like Brynne Weaver, Navessa Allen, Leigh Rivers, and Kat Blackthorne, where the characters are morally grey, the tension is high, and the romance is built through pressure rather than softness. This book fits comfortably in that space. What stood out immediately was the FMC. I strongly prefer heroines who are already competent and grounded in their survival rather than the “uncertain, fragile, then suddenly powerful” arc (the type I often struggle with in books like early Throne of Glass or ACOTAR.. both DNFed). Here, the FMC felt consistent from the start. She is not written as someone who finds her worth through the male lead, but rather as someone already shaped by her environment, making decisions with clarity and control. That made her incredibly easy for me to follow and invest in. The MMC sits firmly in the morally grey, controlling, high-intensity dark romance space. Their dynamic reminded me in some ways of the tension and chemistry I enjoy in Brynne Weaver-style relationships, where attraction builds through conflict, proximity, and emotional friction rather than softness or instant connection. The romance itself is slow in terms of emotional escalation, even if the tension is present early. There is clear push-and-pull, and definitely yearning, but it never felt like instant gratification or surface-level spice. Instead, it is rooted in power dynamics, trust issues, and survival pressure. Importantly for me, it never felt like the FMC lost her agency within the relationship, which is something I am sensitive to in darker romances. There is also a real dystopian backbone to the story. While the romance is central, the plot and world-building are not just decorative; there are genuine external stakes and a structured, oppressive system shaping the characters’ decisions. That balance worked well, as I do prefer when romance exists within a plot rather than completely replacing it. In terms of pacing, this is fast, tense, and emotionally dense. There is very little downtime, which makes it very immersive, though at times I personally would have enjoyed slightly more breathing space to sit with certain emotional beats and world-building moments. Overall, Daggermouth felt very aligned with my taste in dark romance: strong FMC, morally grey MMC, high tension, and a relationship that develops through conflict and pressure rather than insecurity or dependency. I’m very interested in continuing the duology to see where the story goes next. thank you NetGalley !

The setting for this book is the brutal, dystopian world of New Found Haven, where the 'haves' live in the Heart and the 'have nots' exist in the Cardinal and Boundary rings where every day is a fight for life. It is a world of unimaginable cruelty, both physical and mental. People can be executed simply for fraternising with someone from a different ring. When assassin Shadera, the Daggermouth of the title, is caught whilst trying to assassinate the son of the President, her punishment is to be wedded to the man she tried to kill. An act designed to prove that even the most dangerous rebel can be brought into line. This was a riveting read. There is plenty of action and many twists. The relationship between Shadera and Greyson, the man she tried to kill, changes slowly as she discovers more about him. This is not simply an 'enemies to lovers' story though. There are plenty of other characters with stories to tell. The last quarter of the book left me breathless with all of the twists and turns and I wound up staying up until the early hours of the morning to finish it! Safe to say that ending destroyed me. I hope we don't have too long to wait for part two! Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy.