Review: Fruit of the Flesh by I.V. Ophelia

*I received a copy of this book from Firefly Books Ltd in exchange for an honest review.

Fruit of the Flesh

by I.V. Ophelia

January 20, 2026

Goodreads Summary:

Behind the glamour of Gilded Age New York, a marriage of convenience between an artisan and a ballerina masks their shared appetite for revenge in this darkly seductive gothic romance.

In early 1900s New York, former ballerina Petronille De Villier makes an unconventional choice: Marry struggling sculptor Arkady Kamenev. For her, it’s an escape from her family’s unsavory legacy. For him, the De Villier name promises the patronage his art desperately needs. It should be a simple arrangement.

But beneath their marriage of convenience lurks a darker recognition. In each other, they see a reflection of their own dangerous appetites. As buried secrets surface and bodies begin disappearing, Petronille and Arkady discover their union runs deeper than social advantage. Their shared obsessions draw them into an intoxicating dance of predator and prey, though it’s never quite clear who is which.

Bound by law, God, and blood, they must decide if their monstrous natures will tear them apart or forge them into something terribly wonderful together. In a world where nothing is quite what it seems, two creatures of shadow learn that true love requires a taste for the macabre.

Review

I didn’t know exactly what I was getting myself into with Fruit of the Flesh so when the story started off with plenty of intrigues, I was excited. As the plot progressed a manic aura developed urging me to keep reading for answers. While I enjoyed the intensity, Fruit of the Flesh suffered a bit of a weak ending.

Reading Fruit of the Flesh felt like being suspended in a dream-like state that was neither pleasant nor painful. The story took its time revealing itself to us. As increasingly troubling discoveries were made, my senses were on high alert. Although sometimes I felt a disconnect between one scene and the next, my mind was constantly forming different theories. It’s a brutal world and the main characters managed as best as they could.

Headstrong and seemingly wild Petronille was unpredictable. As was Arkady but he was much more reserved at first. As we slowly got to know them, the more her despair and his calculated nature showed. These two stubborn individuals made a morbidly well-matched pair. “Self-deprecation is second nature. It lives under your skin, makes a home in your heart until it rots in comfort.” (p. 185) I wish Petronille and Arkady had better communication, but I loved the havoc they caused (at the end).

While I didn’t quite love the ending to Fruit of the Flesh, it was one befitting the overall tone of the story- intense and unexpected. I recommend this book to readers who are fans of dark romances and aren’t afraid of some disturbing themes.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.