If you’ve ever tried untangling Matthew’s cables in our office closet, you’d know it’s a battle you’ll never win. They wind together, stick to corners, and occasionally come to life when the kids hunt for “alien wires” for their latest science project. Last week, I spotted Rebecca painting them neon for “artistic inspiration.” It got me thinking about how some problems just keep growing unless you tackle them head-on. Enter Callypso Lillis and her magical IOU beads that climb her arm—talk about debts piling up! Now to the book that made me root for messy solutions: Rhapsodic.
Plot Summary
Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa opens the Bargainer Series with siren Callypso Lillis, who’s spent seven years stacking up magical IOUs as black beads strapped to her wrist. The Bargainer, mysterious fae king Desmond Flynn, always collects his debts—which means Callie is about to pay for every favor she’s ever asked, and not all the payments are simple. As Des returns to her life, Otherworld fae warriors are vanishing, and dead women reappear in glass caskets with children in their arms. Callie must face old hurts and growing danger to help Des save his realm. Series info: Book one in a three-part fantasy romance series.
Why I Love This Book
I love how Callie’s flaws and sass make her irresistible. She’s strong—but never perfect—and her bond with Des is layered with vulnerability and heat. I found myself laughing at their banter and tearing up watching Callie confront her past and trauma. The story flips between present and flashbacks, creating tension and emotion as secrets unfold. The fantasy setting is vivid and just dark enough to keep things unpredictable. Some scenes felt like opening old diaries—raw, honest, not always easy to read, but memorable.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy fantasy romance with dark themes, siren heroines, steamy tension, and swoony fae kings, you’ll love Rhapsodic. The story leans into forbidden romance, slow-burn angst, and magical danger. I’d recommend this to readers who like morally complex characters, court intrigue, and a touch of gothic flair. It’s intense, so brace yourself for some shadowy secrets and graphic scenes.
⚠️ Trigger warning: rape, sexual assault flashbacks, child abuse, manipulation, emotionally intense trauma, explicit content, morally gray choices.
Tagged As
fantasy romance, Bargainer series, siren heroine, fae king, dark romance, forbidden love, slow burn, trauma, steamy, explicit, magical IOUs, indie, morally gray, HEA, open door, adult, new adult, supernatural, OtherworSiren Callypso Lillis owes magical debts to the fae king known as The Bargainer, but now he’s come to collect—right as a string of supernatural disappearances and chilling murders haunts the Otherworld. Secrets, trauma, and a forbidden love collide in this steamy, intense first book of Laura Thalassa’s fantasy romance series.ld, soulmate, flashbacks
Steam Level
Explicit steam: open door scenes, high sexual tension, and descriptive intimacy. The spice is woven tightly into the romance and character growth, never gratuitous but definitely frequent.
