Daggermouth: Characters, spice level, triggers, review + more
Daggermouth by H. M. Wolfe had my jaw on the floor.
In a good way. In a way that hit very close to home given the current dystopia of the present right now plus the systemic oppression and state sanctioned violence Black people and other marginalized folk have experienced for centuries.
As always, I’ve written a Daggermouth book review and guide, featuring a character guide and list, the spice levels, where to find the spicy chapters, tropes and trigger warnings.
I normally say happy reading, but I doubt happiness is the right reaction this will elicit from you. Maybe rage. Maybe tears.
Stay strong. And mind your triggers. (I’ve put them in the spoiler section at the bottom of this post.)
Daggermouth synopsis.
He Is Her Ruin. She Is His Rebellion.
The first thing you’ll learn in New Found Haven is mercy no longer exists. Showing mercy is a weakness, and weakness will get you killed.
The second thing is this—the Veyra are always watching. From the highest glass atrium in the Heart to the windowless slum dens of the Boundary, no movement goes unseen.
The last lesson is the hardest, but you must remember it.
Love outside of your ring is a death sentence.
The city is carved into rings of privilege and poverty, ruled by the masked elite who will do whatever it takes to hold onto power.
Obedience is demanded. Rebellion is crushed.
Greyson Serel has spent his life caught between two worlds. Publicly, he’s the flawless heir to the presidency. Privately, he’s entangled in secrets that could topple the regime. But when he’s forced into a political marriage meant to bind him tighter to the governments brutal laws, he finds himself shackled to a bride who is as lethal as she is unwilling.
Shadera is a mercenary raised to kill, not to wed. Yet when her bullet misses its mark, survival leaves her bound to the very man she was sent to eliminate. Trapped inside the corrupt heart of the city, she becomes both prisoner and wife, her every step watched, her every move tested.
Their union is no love story—It’s a battlefield. As secrets come to light and betrayals fester within the walls of power, Greyson and Shadera must decide between annihilating one another or burning the city to the ground together.
In a world where passion sparks rebellion and loyalty is paid for in blood, their forced bond may be the spark that ignites a revolution. Or the fire that consumes them both.
DAGGERMOUTH is an adult dystopian romance perfect for readers who love true enemies to lovers, The Hunger Games, marriage of inconvenience, The Handmaid's Tale, rise of the oppressed, and political intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
DAGGERMOUTH is book one of a duology.
Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe.
Daggermouth characters.
Daggermouth is narrated from a third person point of view, from the perspective of multiple characters.
Here is a breakdown of our main characters, followed by a list of all Daggermouth characters we meet in the book one of the Daggermouth duology, by H.M. Wolfe.
Main characters.
Shadera Kael.
Shadera is our primary female main character and she has been through it! She’s in her thirties, and she’s got real life experience. And by life experience, I mean: a very very traumatic past that has shaped the person she is.
Greyson Serel.
Greyson Serel is the President’s son and an executioner. He is, technically, a monster. But monsters aren’t born, they’re made. There is a lot more to him and his story, beyond the very first impressions we get of him. That’s all I say.
Lira Serel.
Lira Serel is the President’s daughter and Greyson’s sister. She is subservient to her father and the law. But what really goes on in her head and behind the scenes?
Jameson “Ghost” Vine.
Otherwise known as “Ghost”, due to his stealth, no one stands a chance against his bullet, as an expert marksman.
Callum Thane.
We love Callie. Hi baby.
Supporting characters.
Here’s a list of all the characters in Daggermouth apart from our main ones.
President Maximus Serel
Elara Serel
Jaeger Nolin, the Wolf
Captain Mikel
Kestrel Farrow
Davish Cross
Marcus Webb
Levi Pierce
Chandler (Hawk)
Quinn (Serel housekeeper)
Miranda
Lucy Teller
Sergeant Samuels
Lieutenant Rook
Talia
Marina
Marcus Chen
Reeve
Doctor Knowles
Moraine Daunt
Maya
Chapman
Mentioned in Daggermouth.
Brooker Serel
Python
Review: Daggermouth by H. M. Wolfe.
View my Daggermouth review and follow me on GoodReads here.
Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶
3/5, medium open door spice, explicitly described, mostly plot driven.
When you read a dystopian romance but catch yourself thinking “is this fiction or just the daily news/non-fiction, because the line is looking really thin right now”, that was Daggermouth for me. H.M. Wolfe is very clearly writing from the current dystopia people are living in right now, as well as the systemic oppression and state sanctioned violence Black people and other marginalised folk have experienced for centuries.
But combining it with romance was where I was really impressed. Because I think dystopian romance can be pretty tricky to balance in genre. The way I see it is that dystopia is meant to be a warning about oppression, subjugation and or totalitarianism, so mixing that genre with romance can risk undermining or softening those themes with vibes and aesthetics. And that can be fine if that’s what a reader wants because reading is subjective, escapism is valid, etc. But it does change the function of the genre.
However, Daggermouth wants you angry and wants you to question kings, presidents, narratives and the systems we are complicit in. And that’s why I’m so in awe of it. I think if anything, the romance sharpens the critique, because the romances (plural) are shaped by trauma and survival. And within that framework, Daggermouth delivers one of the most tension-filled, angsty enemies-to-lovers arcs I’ve read in a long time without undercutting the political commentary.
And it’s TRUE enemies, not like where someone is mildly rude at a ball yet they think the other person is hot and wants to jump their bones. Before the marriage of inconvenience kicks off, Greyson stabs Shadera and Shadera puts a bullet in Greyson. And the reason is ideological hatred, not to mention the fact that Greyson’s father, President Maximus Serel, (who I loathed more than President Snow, which I didn’t think was possible), executed Shadera’s parents. If that’s not true enemies, I don’t know what is, lol.
On top of that, I could really feel the emotion coming through in the prose. I could feel the grief, fury and devastation about capitalism, classism, about “elites” (billionaires) hoarding resources while people starve and even more so, the feminine rage. The comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale (“The Heart endures” = “Blessed be the Fruit/May the Lord open”, iykyk), The Hunger Games and V for Vendetta make perfect sense to me.
Anyway, something small but meaningful. The characters are in their 30s. It was refreshing.
Okay and that ending. My heart palpitated and then it broke. And then, my jaw dropped and I stayed that way for ages, like one of those clown machines. I genuinely do not think many if any will see it coming because it is a masterclass in pulling the rug out of the reader, in my opinion. And it left me staring at the page saying what the actual fuckity fuck just happened.
And finally, this is cinematic af. So if you are a film or TV person reading this, please option Daggermouth. Immediately, if possible. Because I predict the cultural relevance is going to make this story skyrocket and it will be the kind of project Hollywood industry people will kick themselves over for passing on when it inevitably hits its moment. My advice is for you to be the one who gets ahead of it.
Okay I’m done. To conclude, Daggermouth is dark, political and uncomfortable in the way dystopia should be. It’s a scathing and on point critique of patriarchy, fascism, capitalism and state violence. It is also angry, romantic, spicy (where the spice is earned) and emotionally devastating. Lots of triggers, please mind them [will add soon].
Thrilled to hear this has been picked up by a trad publisher.
View my review and follow me on GoodReads here. I chat about books a lot.
Daggermouth book FAQs.
SPOILER ALERT:
Some answers WILL spoil Daggermouth if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution.
Is Daggermouth part of a series?
Yes, Daggermouth is the book one in the Daggermouth duology by H.M. Wolfe.
When will book 2 in the Daggermouth series by H.M. Wolfe come out?
According to GoodReads, Python, which is book two of Daggermouth, is anticipated to release on the 1st of July, 2026. Watch this space for further updates!
What are the content and trigger warnings?
War
Blood
Death
Death of parent
Misogyny
Injury and injury details
Explicit sexual content
Violence
Murder
Classism
Fascism, tyranny, authoritarianism and dictatorship
Gore
Alcohol use
Torture
Grief
Cursing
Genocide
Toxic relationship
Confinement
Coercion
Child deaths
Domestic abuse
Emotional abuse
Gun violence
Sexual assault (off-page, mentioned)
Child sexual assault (off-page, mentioned)
Panic attack
Is Daggermouth a love triangle?
Yes, Daggermouth may have a bit of a love triangle, that’s all I can reveal at this stage. Read it for yourself ;)
Is Daggermouth spicy?
Yes Daggermouth is spicy!
What is the Daggermouth spice level?
Spice level: 🌶🌶
3/5, medium open door spice, explicitly described, but mostly plot-driven with purpose.
What are the Daggermouth spicy chapters?
Whether you’re spice-averse, spice-curious, or want to skip the plot and head straight to the good stuff, I’ve mapped out Daggermouth spicy chapters for you.
Here’s where all the spice action lives.
Chapter 4: 🌶🌶🌶
Chapter 5: 🌶
Chapter 15: 🌶
Chapter 25: 🌶🌶
Chapter 27: 🌶🌶🌶
What are the Daggermouth tropes?
Forced political marriage
Morally grey to black characters
Multiple POVs
Rise of the oppressed
Characters in their 30s
Multiple romances
True enemies to lovers
Forbidden romance
Second chance romance
Female rage
Enjoyed reading Daggermouth? You may also enjoy reading:
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray
An Ocean Apart by Jill Tew
Our Vicious Oaths by N. E. Davenport
The Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole
The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
