What Did I Just Read? My Honest Review of Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger

A gothic love story that starts like a fairytale, unravels like a nightmare, and leaves you questioning everything.

Synopsis

DELUXE EDITION–a deluxe hardback edition featuring stenciled edges, a foil case stamp, exclusive endpapers, and a detailed map.

From the diabolical mind of New York Times bestselling author J.T. Geissinger comes a scorching new enemies-to-lovers romance filled with explosive secrets, nail-biting, gothic suspense, and the dangerous lure of dark magic.

You never forget your first love. Especially when he’s also your worst nightmare.

Twelve years ago, Maven Blackthorn fled her small hometown, leaving behind the wreckage of her mother’s suspicious death. But now, drawn back for her grandmother’s funeral, Maven steps onto Blackthorn soil once more, only to find herself thrust into a fresh nightmare: her grandmother’s body has vanished.

The Blackthorns immediately suspect the Crofts—the ruthless titans of Croft Pharmaceuticals, whose bitter blood feud with the Blackthorns has spanned generations. But when Maven comes face-to-face with Ronan Croft, the son of her mother’s suspected killer and the only man she ever loved, she discovers the forbidden passion they once shared is as alive—and dangerous—as ever.

As long-buried family secrets claw their way to the surface, betrayal lurks behind every whisper, and old vendettas ignite anew. The deeper Maven digs for answers, the more treacherous the game becomes. And the one man she can never seem to escape is hiding a truth that could burn their whole world down.

In a town where the dead won’t stay buried, is love salvation…or the deadliest game of all?

Blackthorn is a page-turning gothic romance with darker themes and scenes that may not be suitable for everyone. Please see the author’s content note at the beginning of the book.

Blackthorn
*Revenge
*Touch her and die
*Shadier than shade hero
*Forbidden romance
*Grumpy/grumpy
*Plot twists galore
*Beauty and the Beast
*Enemies to lovers to enemies to…?

Mini Review

3,5 stars (ish?) – or maybe 3? Honestly, I’m still recovering.

First, a big thank-you to Pan Macmillan Export for sending me a copy of this book.

I’d never read anything by J.T. Geissinger before, but that cover? Stunning. And the blurb had everything I usually love — gothic romance, small-town secrets, maybe even a hint of the paranormal.
But let me tell you… I should’ve paid closer attention to the line warning that this story contained “darker themes and scenes that may not be suitable for everyone.”
Because, honestly? WHAT DID I JUST READ?!

I’ll try to explain without spoiling, but this book feels like three different stories in one:

Part One: Family feud meets forbidden love — think Romeo and Juliet in a misty, secretive town. There’s a slow, delicious tension between Maven and Ronan, whispers of old curses, and the eerie atmosphere of Maven’s grandmother’s funeral. I was hooked.

 Part Two: The tone shifts — suddenly the paranormal undertones creep in, and I started questioning everything. Was something supernatural really happening, or was Maven slowly losing her mind? I was confused in the best way — and that’s a credit to J.T. Geissinger’s skill.

 Part Three: The chaos begins. And this last stretch… let’s just say it was a lot. Spicy, yes — but also dark, frenzied, and a little unhinged. The ending completely derailed me (and not necessarily in a good way). It veered straight into dark erotica, which isn’t my personal comfort zone.

So here’s the thing:
I loved the first half — the gothic mystery, the tension, the writing. But by the final act, it was just too much for me. This is the kind of “love or hate it” ending. Still, if you enjoy dark erotica with strong gothic vibes, you’ll probably love this ride far more than I did.

Before diving in, please do yourself a favor and check the trigger warnings the author put on Goodreads.

For me? It’s one of those rare “It’s not you, it’s me” reads. Wild, weird, beautifully written… but definitely a lot.

Thanks for reading.

Sophie