Book: Retrograde by Margo Smythe
Reviewed by TheCaffeinatedTBR
Rating: 4.5/5
Retrograde by Margo Smythe (book 1 of Rogue Resistance)
Coming out on September 17, 2026
I’m not usually one to read books with a heavy political background (and to be totally honest, I still don't quite get it 😂), but I stayed for Riley and Aron, and it was totally worth it.
This is an intense, true enemies-to-lovers situation. Aron, a.k.a the Necromancer, isn't just grumpy. He starts off with genuine, unfiltered hatred toward Riley: he imprisons her, leaves her in a cold, dark cave, and torments her psychologically. As a bonus, he's also an absolutely maniacal, unhinged killer who displays his victims like art pieces. He gives major Dom vibes, and yes, he’s pierced (just a single one though 🫣).
The push and pull between them is absolute perfection. It definitely flirts with Stockholm syndrome, but honestly? If my captor looked like the Necromancer, I would probably fall for him too. Riley is such a fantastic FMC. She has bratty vibes but doesn't get annoying, and she is a total badass in her own right. She’s not a physical fighter, but her insane resilience and life experience definitely earn her that title.
The angst and tension in this book are so thick you can practically feel it on every page. The heat is definitely there and you can absolutely feel the steam, but it doesn't go too crazy or kinky. It hits just the right amount of a Dom/sub dynamic without it being explicitly labeled as that, which fit their tension so perfectly.
Just when you think they might finally be okay... boom. A plot twist drops that proves peace is short-lived. But don't worry, it all gets better again in a very satisfying way.