Grim (The Lost Souls Chronicles Book 1) by Joe Arden

Grim (The Lost Souls Chronicles, #1) — Joe Arden

Voice Arts Award 2025 Nominee (Best Romance + Best Production of an Audiobook)
Goodreads Community Pick: September 2025 Most Anticipated Romance Release

The vibe

Darkly funny, wickedly romantic paranormal romance where death isn’t the end—it’s the meet-cute. Expect sharp banter, off-limits tension, and a love story that refuses to stay buried.

What it’s about (spoiler-light)

Rue Chamberlain died. Briefly.
And when she came back, she decided she’s done wasting time—she’s going to live like every minute matters.

Unfortunately, “back from the dead” comes with strings… namely supervision.

Enter Kane Deveraux: a reaper who’s handsome, smug, and cold as a tombstone (rude). Rue can’t stand him—so naturally, he’s the one person who makes her feel something bigger than fear… bigger than death.

Kane has guided thousands of souls across the threshold, and none of them ever touched his—until Rue. She’s reckless, stubborn, and maddeningly radiant… and she’s also a living woman he’s absolutely not supposed to want.

Because if he follows the rules, he loses her.
And if he breaks them… he could lose everything.

Tropes & hooks

• Reaper x living woman
• Off-limits / forbidden romance
• Forced proximity (supervision detail)
• Dark humor + swoony, eerie tension
• “I shouldn’t want you…but I do” energy

Perfect for readers of:

• Belladonna vibes (gothic romance + death-adjacent tension)
• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue readers who want it spicier
• Paranormal romance with bite, banter, and heart