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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have no number for how many kidnapper-captive / master-slave books I have read. And after so many years and so many books, I think I found the perfect one in this genre. One which actually shows the gradual growth in the relationship. Which doesn't go from 5 days to 5 weeks to "and months passed like this". That stage did come, but very much later. This book gave very much well-required attention to the attachment building. Top it all with despite knowing every hour of the first 2-3 months of the couple (?) - this story didn't get repetitive or boring!
I have read books much much hardcore than this, but this was good in a way it didn't just focus on the physical torture portion of the trope. Actual torture was in fact very tame considering things I've read. This was more of a two very intelligent beings trying to manipulate each other in order to get what they want, leading to - both of them coming to terms with the gradually changing, evolving power dynamic.
It was all this could end only one of the two ways. But this story even in this overwritten trope found a new way to reach the ending.
Every single Kidnapper-captive turned couple results in the kidnapper falling in love and setting them free only for them to come back, or the captive running away only for them to realise they can't live alone now, and returning. Well, this one here definitely had a twist to that.
I definitely hadn't expected this story to actually be something. I mean, don't be confused, this is definitely smut. But even for a smut to be good, it needs to have a good background, a good story. And this book - definitely has it.
I have read books much much hardcore than this, but this was good in a way it didn't just focus on the physical torture portion of the trope. Actual torture was in fact very tame considering things I've read. This was more of a two very intelligent beings trying to manipulate each other in order to get what they want, leading to - both of them coming to terms with the gradually changing, evolving power dynamic.
It was all this could end only one of the two ways. But this story even in this overwritten trope found a new way to reach the ending.
Every single Kidnapper-captive turned couple results in the kidnapper falling in love and setting them free only for them to come back, or the captive running away only for them to realise they can't live alone now, and returning. Well, this one here definitely had a twist to that.
I definitely hadn't expected this story to actually be something. I mean, don't be confused, this is definitely smut. But even for a smut to be good, it needs to have a good background, a good story. And this book - definitely has it.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
I’ve done nothing but inhale this book for the past two days and I can tell you, wholeheartedly, that this single book had altered my whole being. I did not think for one second that a recommendation from someone on reddit—kudos to you by the way I hope that nothing but good fortune falls on you and if I could build an alter and worship at your feet I would— would be this insane book.
To be someone with such twisted tastes it’s almost nearly impossible to find others who share the same tastes. And, I cannnot express how much I’ve longed for a book, or some sort of media that could resonate with me this hard. For every single fantasy and desire i’ve ever had to be malleable in my hands is a feeling truly otherworldly.
It is a very powerful talent for an author to write such characters that seemed to become alive. You truly can feel the amount of depth each of them had. Hell, even with ryo’s few chapter appearances, you can just tell how full he is.
I wasn’t ready for it to end, but i’ve checked the authors ao3 and was delighted to find not only takeshi’s POV but also bonus scenes along with a full on novel of ryo!!
To be someone with such twisted tastes it’s almost nearly impossible to find others who share the same tastes. And, I cannnot express how much I’ve longed for a book, or some sort of media that could resonate with me this hard. For every single fantasy and desire i’ve ever had to be malleable in my hands is a feeling truly otherworldly.
It is a very powerful talent for an author to write such characters that seemed to become alive. You truly can feel the amount of depth each of them had. Hell, even with ryo’s few chapter appearances, you can just tell how full he is.
I wasn’t ready for it to end, but i’ve checked the authors ao3 and was delighted to find not only takeshi’s POV but also bonus scenes along with a full on novel of ryo!!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was brutal. With the length of the book I expected to go on a journey to them being more. This was a psychological horror not a romance like I expected.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
To begin, my rating is how much I liked the book, not necessarily a comment on its quality or how much anyone happening on this review might like it.
At NO point did this book read as a romance to me, only a slow moving horror with no happy ending. She is kidnapped early on and made not only into this guy’s sex slave but ALSO his cook and maid (idk why this added so much salt to the wound but it really did for me like just hire a cook and a maid man you’re rich pay your employees).
I am not a prude, I don’t mind reading bdsm or non-con but this just had no element of eroticism at all for me. It read like an unhinged misogynist kidnaps this woman, tortures her, NEVER compromises, and does absolutely anything he wants without consequence. It’s terrifying and makes me feel sick to imagine. I kept reading hoping at some point either (in order of how happy i would be with the ending) she would escape and kill him, she would escape and visit him in prison, or she would convince him what he was doing was wrong, he would grovel, and they would try to build a real relationship while maintaining the bdsm elements. What actually happened was BEYOND my worst case scenario and I cannot believe this is anything other than a horror novel with that ending.
A little about the heroine, she manages a couple of moments of control (between beatings, sexual assault, domestic labour, and trying to appease a crazy person’s ego) and flubs it EVERY TIME. Because of her oh-so-gentle soul she refuses to hurt him and feels SO much regret when she does. I have never related less to a character in my life. Absolutely no survival instinct, no self esteem, and no sense of justice.
At NO point did this book read as a romance to me, only a slow moving horror with no happy ending. She is kidnapped early on and made not only into this guy’s sex slave but ALSO his cook and maid (idk why this added so much salt to the wound but it really did for me like just hire a cook and a maid man you’re rich pay your employees).
I am not a prude, I don’t mind reading bdsm or non-con but this just had no element of eroticism at all for me. It read like an unhinged misogynist kidnaps this woman, tortures her, NEVER compromises, and does absolutely anything he wants without consequence. It’s terrifying and makes me feel sick to imagine. I kept reading hoping at some point either (in order of how happy i would be with the ending) she would escape and kill him, she would escape and visit him in prison, or she would convince him what he was doing was wrong, he would grovel, and they would try to build a real relationship while maintaining the bdsm elements. What actually happened was BEYOND my worst case scenario and I cannot believe this is anything other than a horror novel with that ending.
A little about the heroine, she manages a couple of moments of control (between beatings, sexual assault, domestic labour, and trying to appease a crazy person’s ego) and flubs it EVERY TIME. Because of her oh-so-gentle soul she refuses to hurt him and feels SO much regret when she does. I have never related less to a character in my life. Absolutely no survival instinct, no self esteem, and no sense of justice.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
My mind was feeling a bit sick and twisted, so I'm glad I stumbled across this one. It was what I was looking for.
It's a long book but a good read - though the last maybe 20% lags a bit and I would have preferred the perspective shift as a part of the epilogue for a better reveal.
It's a long book but a good read - though the last maybe 20% lags a bit and I would have preferred the perspective shift as a part of the epilogue for a better reveal.