Terror at the Gates is the first book in the new Blood of Lilith duology series from Scarlett St. Clair. The city of Eden is split into different districts ruled by mafia-esque families. Women of this world are born with magic, which they are allowed to use only if approved by their fathers or husbands. We meet Lilith Leviathan after she has run away from her posh district to live by her own rules in the red light district. She has sex magic that allows her to take advantage of lust and bend it to her will. She steals religious artifacts to make ends meet. She tries to avoid trouble, but it usually finds her. It helps that her (hot and broody) childhood friend Zahariev rules this district.
She’d rather be poor and work for a living than be pious and manipulated by her family and the church. There are flashbacks to some abuse, so beware of that if that’s a trigger while reading. Her dad allows this temporary disobedience but ultimately expects her to come to her senses. He is lining up a suitable match to marry, and of course, take over the Leviathan family. One night, when in desperate need to pay her rent, she steals a mysterious blade. The man who has it stole it from a priest, so she doesn’t feel too bad fencing it. But when he ends up dead, things get messy. She tries to unravel its mystery, and even enlists a reluctant Zahariev to help her. Things get more complicated when demons show up, and mythical visions tied to the church start coming to Lilith. At the same time, things heat up between Lilith and Zahariev. They never considered dating because their families would never approve, and it would cause a war. But with each dangerous discovery, an apocalypse of Eden might be inevitable. If the world is ending, why not give in to sin?
St. Clair is known for Greek myth retellings, which I’ve not read yet. This series has her taking on church corruption and exploring the Lilith myth. I liked the mafia family framework, but hoped for more overt magic elements. Lilith is always restrained from using her magic due to societal concerns. Anyone who uses it without permission is tainted as a black witch. Even though she seems bratty at times, I liked Lilith’s ultimate arc (for this book anyway). I’m hoping that with her new confidence, the supernatural parts come to the forefront in the next one. Zahariev is a captivating character who is always on the edge of losing control. He can be quite murderous, but he doesn’t act indiscriminately. St. Clair excels at the will they or won’t they attraction. If you’re looking for an erotic, dark romance with mafia politics and a dash of magic, give this a shot.