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Welcome to my blog! My name is Kim and I write young adult paranormal, mysteries, and thrillers. This blog enables me to share the two things I love: Books and the craft of writing.

Ask the Girl is my debut novel. Murdered in 1925, Kate must seek the help of Lila and her sister to save her from her demon prison.

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Magic, Mystery, and Missing Girls: A Review of "The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts" by Elias Cold

From the chilling first sentence to the final revelation, The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts by Elias Cold doesn’t just steal hearts—it demands them. This standout YA debut blends dark fantasy, horror, trans identity, gothic mystery, and a dose of romantic yearning into something entirely its own. I was hooked instantly by the scene of Adeline’s attack—vivid, tense, and teeming with atmosphere. The story wastes no time throwing readers into its seedy, blood-drenched world.


Thank you to the author and Page Street YA for the eBook and my honest review. Book tour is sponsored by TBR and Beyond Tours. Read my full review below!


Book "The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts" by Elias Cold

Book Cover of "The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts" by Elias Cold

Title: The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts

Author: Elias Cold

Pub. Date:  May 13, 2025

Publisher: Page Street YA

Genre: YA Horror

Rep: Trans, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergent

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐



Synopsis:


A trans teen who steals and ransoms body parts with magic investigates a string of missing girls—falling in love with one of them from afar.


Wielding a magic that allows him to pop off limbs, con artist Phyllis steals body parts, and his partner Lucent, ransoms them. Everyone who knows about Phyllis’s magic is afraid of him—except for Lucent. But his partner’s love comes with one condition: Phyllis must keep stealing. But when a mark can’t afford the ransom for his missing nose, Phyllis loses his resolve. The man claims his sister, Adeline, was taken, and without her money, he can’t pay until she’s found.


Intrigued, Phyllis investigates Adeline’s disappearance, but she is not the only missing girl in their seedy city. To gain answers from the nobility, Phyllis masquerades as a duke—Lord Phillip of Rabbiton—and begins to fall in love with both stories of Adeline and the man he’s becoming to try to find her. Soon, he’s not sure he ever wants to return to Lucent and their life of crime together.


When he finally finds Adeline with another missing girl, it turns out they’re not dead—but undead.


To win Adeline’s heart and break from his toxic past, Phillip will have to scheme to keep his title and master his evolving magic.


My Review of "The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts" by Elias Cold


The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts by Elias Cold is one of the most original and compelling YA horror fantasies I’ve read in a long time. It opens with a chilling attack and never lets up, pulling readers into a world of magic, mystery, and undead girls.


At the center of it all is Phyllis, a con artist with the unsettling ability to magically remove people’s body parts and ransom them back. And yes, that includes someone’s nose. What sounds grotesque is actually written with such nuance and dark whimsy that it ends up feeling more like a twisted fairy tale than horror. Phyllis is a complex, fully-formed trans protagonist you can’t help but root for—even as he navigates morally gray decisions and a partner who expects far too much.


Lucent, the emotionally manipulative partner-in-crime, adds tension, while Wycliff (our unfortunate, nose-less victim) and Adeline, the girl at the center of the mystery, give the story a beating heart. The relationships in this novel are messy, real, and reflective of what it means to grow out of who you were—both emotionally and physically.


One of the most compelling things about the book is how Cold explores identity through transformation—not just magical (body-part swapping and shapeshifting, anyone?) but emotional. As Phyllis pretends to be Lord Phillip of Rabbiton, he begins to like who he’s becoming. It’s a beautiful metaphor for gender identity, personal growth, and queerness.


The setting, a grimy, decadent city full of secrets and rot, adds another layer of richness. Pacing is sharp, with a strong mystery element. The twist—that the missing girls aren’t just missing but undead—was deliciously creepy and clever, shifting the story into horror-fantasy territory without losing its emotional core.


What I Loved:


  • That opening! Immediate tension and investment.

  • Phyllis is an unforgettable MC—flawed, powerful, and full of yearning.

  • The fresh take on trans identity within a fantastical, darkly magical world.

  • A satisfying queer romance arc that doesn’t overshadow the central mystery.

  • Sharp writing with just the right balance of humor, dread, and heart.


Final Thoughts:


The Duke Steals Hearts & Other Body Parts is one of those rare books that feels completely original. Elias Cold writes with bite and heart, weaving a story that is both grotesque and tender, fantastical and deeply human. If you love trans-led fantasy, morally gray characters, gothic mystery, and found identity, this one deserves a spot at the top of your TBR. I’ll definitely be watching for what Cold does next. 🖤


Meet the author:


Author of the book
Elias Cold

Elias Cold (they/them) is a speculative fiction writer, editor, and former medical geneticist, based in rural Australia with their two cats. Their work aims to centre queer and neurodivergent characters.


They are registered with the Institute of Professional Editors (Australia and New Zealand). Eli Snow also writes under the names Elias Cold (YA) and Elijah Winter (Adult Thriller).


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