CONTENT WARNINGS
House of Pain is an adult, dark fantasy romance that features a lot of heavy themes that might be too much for a more sensitive reader. Before reading the book, please check the trigger warning list below:
Mutilation (carving of flesh for magic purposes)
Sexism and misogyny
Dubious consent
Profanity
Explicit sexual content
Bullying
Physical, emotional, and psychological violence
Blood
Molesting (hints and mentions, no explicit content)
Sexual harassment (no rape or anything explicit)
Suicide (hints)
Self-harm (hints)
Eating disorder (hints)
Drug and alcohol use
Toxic relationships (no cheating) and friendships
Proceed with caution. You have been warned.
HOUSE OF PAIN
During this year's Game, hearts would break.
Gothic Harry Potter meets Gossip Girl, House of Pain is the first book in a dark fantasy romance trilogy set in the magical world of Inathis, where the witches are beautiful just as much as they're wicked.
Alecto Black has spent her whole life in Inathis, yet she never quite fit in being the half-witch amongst the purebloods. When she finally enrolled in the most prestigious witchcraft university, The Venefica Academy, last year and joined the House of Snakes as a rightful legacy member, she thought she had finally found her place.
But every year, The Venefica Academy students that belong to 12 Houses all participate in the deadly Game that many witches don't survive. And when the second year at Venefica starts, Alecto finds herself a target of one of the rival Houses while also having to face the enemy from the inside — fellow Snake, Blaze Leveau. As secrets start unraveling, hate turns into something more dangerous and deadly.
While Alecto tries to fight her new dangerous attraction to Blaze, she also finds herself asking how far she is willing to go to secure her place in the world that wants to destroy her?
House of Pain will be perfect for dark academia and Dramione fans who want morally grey characters with spice and loved The Atlas Six, The Ninth House, and Zodiac Academy. It's a dual POV, steamy (extremely) enemies-to-lovers bully romance, so please read the content warning list before reading.
“If you love dramatic dark romances, House of Pain is a must-read. Chuck and Blaire in a magical boarding school. It is impossible to get bored by House of Pain. It is the perfect dark romance for the spooky season.”
“Karolina Wilde has created a fast-paced read boasting an engaging plot, combining complex characters and good storytelling with some formidable spice to create a seriously enjoyable book.”
EXCERPT
“Oh, you know what I’m talking about, Blazy,” Alecto teased, smiling. “Your little issue with giving head.”
Blaze frowned, clearly confused and unsatisfied with where this conversation was going.
Fine, if he was going to pretend, Alecto could play this game.
“You don’t go down on girls.”
Blaze looked taken aback by her words as he blinked, lips parted.
“What?”
“I know that you don’t go down on the girls you sleep with. Every girl on campus knows it,” Alecto repeated. “I don’t care how good of a fuck you think you are, that is a red flag in a guy, and you shouldn’t glower about being an amazing lover.”
“So, that’s what you’ve heard about me? And you’re so quick to believe the rumors without even giving me the benefit of the doubt?”
Alecto sucked on her teeth but remained silent, keeping his gaze.
Blaze slid away from the desk, throwing his hands in the air. “Un-fucking-believable. That is some straight-up high-class bullshit.”
“Why did it get you so heated if it’s not true?” Alecto asked, crossing her arms, not able to hold back a satisfied grin that only seemed to enrage Blaze further.
For a long moment, he just stood there, his tongue poking his cheek as he stared at Alecto.
“Oh, I’ve got an idea. How about we find out whether the rumors are true, baby?” Blaze stalked closer.
Alecto wasn’t sure what it was that prompted her to say what she said. Was it the way Blaze’s eyes flickered with something dark and sinister? Was it the adrenaline from seeing him smash a fist through Gabe’s face in defense of her?
Or was it something else entirely that prompted Alecto to lift her chin and say, “Bring it on, fuck boy.”
Find out what happens next…
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PRAISE
“This dishy, sex-positive magic school fantasy/romance will dazzle the readers on its wavelength.”