Vanguard: A Dark Post-Dystopian Romance by Karina Halle -review
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 12, 2026
Her kiss may be deadly, but he’s indestructible.
Erasmia “Mia” Baxter is her agency’s most lethal operative, genetically engineered to have poisonous saliva. But having the kiss of death is hell on her social life. Her future holds no romance, no family, no intimacy of any kind—only killing for her country.
When her special ops group hears rumors that America’s first enhanced soldier—Vanguard—may be more deadly weapon than savior, Mia is tasked with infiltrating his inner circle to investigate. What she finds is a former military asset with a hidden dark side—and the only man she can kiss without consequence.
Intoxicated by the obsessive passion rising between them, Mia falls deeper into lust with each new sensual encounter. But the closer they become, the more she realizes there might be truth to the rumors. Vanguard is changing—becoming more violent, more devious, less…human. And the truth of her identity might push him over the edge entirely.
In a world where heroes and monsters are separated by the thinnest of lines, Mia must decide: Is the man she’s falling for worth saving? Or is he the weapon he was created to be—one that will destroy her first?
A dark romance special ops spy thriller with a post-dystopian sci-fi bent—VANGUARD has the gripping twists and turns of BLACK DOVES paired with the seductive intensity of Runyx’s DARK VERSE series.
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REVIEW: This standalone novel combines elements of special ops espionage, scifi genetic engineering, and intense dark romance, set against a gritty post dystopian backdrop.
The story centers on Erasmia “Mia” Baxter, a genetically engineered assassin whose poisonous saliva makes her the ultimate weapon, and a complete social outcast. Intimacy is impossible, her life is defined by lethal missions for her agency. When rumors surface that Vanguard, America’s first enhanced super soldier (think a darker, more volatile Captain America), might be turning into an uncontrollable threat, Mia is sent to infiltrate his world and uncover the truth.
What unfolds is a charged, obsessive romance.
Vanguard is the one man immune to her deadly kiss, sparking immediate chemistry. Their encounters are steamy and consuming, pulling Mia deeper into lust and vulnerability. But as their connection intensifies, Vanguard’s behavior grows more violent and unhinged, blurring the line between hero and monster. 😟
Mia faces an impossible choice, save the man she’s falling for, or eliminate the weapon he could become, especially when her own secrets might shatter him completely. (You’ll need to read the book to find out the secret 🤫)
The plot moves with the gripping twists of a spy thriller, while the scifi elements… genetic enhancements, a fractured post dark society recovering from collapse, add a fresh, edge without overwhelming the romance.
The world building is intriguing, a surveilled America with corporate oversight and tiered citizenship.
Mia is a great character, tough, isolated, and deeply lonely, making her journey into passion all the more gripping. Vanguard is a classic morally gray antihero, he’s charismatic, dangerous, and increasingly unstable, which keeps you reading when you should be asleep! 😜
Overall, Vanguard is a solid, entertaining read for fans of dark romance with thriller vibes. It’s got seduction, danger, and enough heat to satisfy anyone who craves intense love stories.
A spicy, twisty escape that’s perfect for dark romance lovers looking for something with a scifi twist.
Copy supplied for review
🦋 Reviewed by Julie
Karina Halle is a former travel writer, music journalist & screenwriter, and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author of over 55 bestselling novels, ranging from horror and suspense to contemporary romance. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband, and her adopted pitbull Bruce, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.
Halle is represented by the Root Literary Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster, Hachette & Montlake. Her work has been translated and published in 20 languages.
You can visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.
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