Little Stranger: A Dark Taboo Romance

Leigh Rivers delivers an intense and wildly unhinged dark romance that begs the question—why isn’t the entire dark romance community losing their minds over this one? With an obsessive, morally black alpha hero and a heroine who will make you question your sanity, this book is a whirlwind of obsession, betrayal, and twisted love.

Malachi, adopted at eight, immediately latches onto his foster sister, Olivia Vize, with a fixation that borders on dangerous. When his place in her life is threatened, he reacts accordingly. But Malachi is nothing if not patient, biding his time until their inevitable reunion. The story follows their tumultuous relationship as they navigate years of separation, betrayal, and an undeniable pull toward each show more other—despite the destruction they leave in their wake.

Malachi is… something else. His obsessive devotion, possessiveness, and dark inner monologues are both terrifying and hilarious. Olivia, on the other hand, had me wanting to throw my Kindle across the room more times than I could count. Her choices, from her questionable loyalty to her actions that directly betray Malachi, made me despise her at times. Yet, I devoured this book in one sitting, questioning my own tolerance for chaos and toxic love stories.

This isn’t a book with a deep, intricate plot—it’s messy, intense, and wholly unapologetic. If you’re looking for a straightforward, smutty, borderline insane romance with little to no drama outside the main couple’s self-inflicted disasters, this is it. The relationship dynamic is pure madness, but in the best way. Malachi’s unwavering obsession and Olivia’s reluctant but inevitable surrender make for a story that you just can’t look away from.

There are some controversial elements—Olivia’s engagement to another man, her involvement with multiple men even after her supposed commitment to Malachi, and the ultimate betrayal that lands him in jail for eight years. These are not your typical romance leads; they are flawed, destructive, and completely entangled in each other. And yet, despite it all, they are drawn together by something deeper than just love—obsession.

Rivers crafts a dynamic that is both thrilling and disturbing, ensuring the reader is hooked from start to finish. The only downside? The ending felt abrupt. After all the chaos, I wanted just a few more chapters of their inevitable, twisted happily-ever-after.

Final Verdict: If you love an over-the-top, possessive antihero and a romance that makes you question your own morals, this book is for you. Leigh Rivers took every dark romance trope, cranked it to the max, and delivered an unforgettable, addictively toxic love story. Proceed with caution—and enjoy the ride. show less

First time reader from this Author and I LOVED IT! Olivia and Malachi's tragic story. Owning her is all he ever wanted. From the first time he laid his eyes on her he was Obsessed with her and in his mind she belonged to HIM. This was a great ride just enough spice to not want the book to end. I highly recommend this book for the reader that enjoys a good Dark romance.

Malachi is the type of unhinged character that even though you know you shouldn’t love him you still end up head over heels for him.

I am unsure WTF I just read...

Olivia and Malachi Vize

Review:
A delightfully dark addition for anyone who loves Malachi in Little Liar - absolutely dark and twisted in just the right way!

Quotes:
“Please choose me. No one ever chooses me.”

“Sorry. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Fucking sorry. That damn word echoes in my psyche—a curse that won’t fuck off.”
― Leigh Rivers, Little Stranger

4.5