Deceiving Their Minds (Tactum Obscurae #1), by Laiken Rhodes (softback, english edition)

🇬🇧 This Book Is In English

She was never the innocent princess they believed her to be.

Deceiving Their Minds by Laiken Rhodes
(Tactum Obscurae, Book 1 of 4)

A dark secret society romance for readers who love Shantel Tessier, Rina Kent, and Tate James — brutal, addictive, and impossible to put down.

When an invitation arrives for the first Viperae Rosarum Ludi, Audrey Yates is reluctant to accept. Her past is already dipped in tragedy, and fighting for a seat within a feared secret society holds no appeal. But she enters the Ludi alongside the other heirs of Alabastor Cove — and quickly realises the forefathers running the games intend to break her, to carve her open and find what makes her tick. They have no idea what they've let through the door.

The Shadow has one target: Princess Audrey Yates. His obsession. His prey. The girl the Guild placed right in front of him — again. The girl who should have run far, far away. But Audrey isn't running. And as the lines between hunter and hunted begin to blur, both of them will have to reckon with secrets buried deep enough to destroy everything.

Why readers can't put it down:

• 🐍 A secret society with brutal games and darker agendas
• 🖤 A heroine who is far more dangerous than she appears
• 🔥 An obsessive, morally black antihero who cannot stay away
• 👁️ Dual POVs that keep you guessing until the very last page
• ⚔️ Hate to love, primal play, and a cliffhanger that will wreck you

Perfect for readers who love:
dark romance · secret society · romantic suspense · morally grey · multiple POV · hate to love · forced proximity · Shantel Tessier · Rina Kent · Tate James

She planned to seek vengeance on all those who dared to wrong her.

He just didn't know he was next.

🖤 A Secret Society with Blood on Its Hands
🖤 A Princess Who Lost Her Innocence Long Ago
🖤 An Obsessive Shadow Who Cannot Let Go
🖤 Hidden Memories That Change Everything
🖤 Hate That Burns Into Something Darker
🖤 A Cliffhanger That Will Leave You Breathless

At Dark Rose, we believe the best dark romance doesn't flinch — where heroines have claws, antiheroes have reasons, and the line between obsession and love is dangerously thin.

👤 Recommended Age: 18+

⚠️ Content Notes:
Dark themes • Secret society • Violence • Primal play • Group play (MM, MMF, MFM) • Unreliable narrator • Hidden/repressed memories • Brutal cliffhanger • Mature sexual content

✨ Best for readers who love:
Dark Romance • Secret Society • Romantic Suspense • Morally Grey to Black Characters • OTT Antihero • Forced Proximity • Hate to Love

⚠️ Probably not for readers looking for:
Sweet romance • Light reads • Standalone HEA • Predictable endings • Fade to black

"Perfect for readers who love the intricate world of Shantel Tessier, the gritty romances of Rina Kent and the intense pacing of Tate James."

📚 Format & Details

• Format: Softback
• Pages: 377
• Genre: Dark Romance · Romantic Suspense
• Series: Tactum Obscurae, Book 1 of 4
• Publisher: Independent
• Published: 9 May 2026