Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers
- biblio.dragon
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
The Spider, the Screwdriver, and the Sinner's Heart
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
The moment I stumbled across that infamous "itsy bitsy spider" clip of Malachi, I knew I had to pick this one up. Dark, taboo, and whispered about across BookTok? Count me in. And I have to say - I'm so glad I dove in, because Little Stranger delivered exactly the same kind of intense, aching, boundary-pushing romance I crave.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't shy away from taboo. When it's handled with care and heart, it can create a love story that feels forbidden but fated - and that's exactly what Leigh Rivers gave us. Malachi and Olivia being close in age made the relationship feel less "off-limits" and more about choice, trust, and the danger of desire. For me, if there's no blood relation, it's fair game. 😉 Also, I may never look at a screwdriver the same way again, and if you've read it, you know exactly why.
Listening to the audiobook was an experience in itself. Joe Arden's performance as Malachi absolutely floored me. He captured every ounce of pain, longing, and vulnerability in this character, making him feel heartbreakingly real. By the time I hit chapter 15, I was devastated. I had been rooting for Malachi from the very beginning, and hearing his voice break - hearing him need to be loved - just cracked me open.
What I really appreciated, beyond the spice and the emotional gut punches, was the way the book was structured. Instead of constant back-and-forth POV shifts, we get a clean Part One and Part Two split. It allows us to live in each character's headspace for long stretches of time, and that choice really deepened the impact of their story for me.
And about that ending? I was nervous. With books like this, you never know if you're going to get the full happily-every-after, or if the author is going to twist the knife one last time. But Leigh Rivers gave Malachi and Olivia the ending they deserved: messy, raw, and wholly theirs. A love story that's far from perfect but unforgettable all the same.
This was my first Leigh Rivers book, but it definitely won't be my last. If you're a dark romance lover, if you have a soft spot for broken boys who just want to be loved, or if you
thrive on stories that flirt with the forbidden, Little Stranger is one you don't want to miss.
✨ Thanks for stepping into the Den with me for this review. Have you read Little Stranger yet? Or do you have another taboo romance that stole your heart? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Until next time, keep your hoard of stories close and your heart open to the unexpected.
🐉💜 ~ Madeleine // biblio.dragon