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madbad13's review against another edition
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
0.5
caseroo7's review against another edition
5.0
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
After reading the first three books in the Debt Inheritance Series by Pepper Winters, I couldn't wait to read more by her. So I jumped at the chance to read her Monsters in the Dark Series. I had heard so many good things about this series, but it was honestly one that I just hadn't gotten around to reading yet. I cannot believe that it took me this long! Seriously this series sucked me right in from the start, and I cannot get enough of Tess and Q!
Tess has noticed that her sex life has been a bit stale with her boyfriend Brax, so when he surprises her with a vacation to Cancun she thinks it is the perfect time to spice things up a bit. She never expects to be kidnapped and taken to France to the estate of Q Mercer. At first Tess believes that Q will be just as bad as those that took her, but she quickly realizes that things are different with him. Though she knows it's wrong, she can't help but be drawn to him. Tess finds herself changing the more time that she spends in Q's home, and before long she starts to see that Q is not at all like she thought he was. Will Brax find her and take her home, or will Tess be forever changed before she has a chance to return to her home?
Q and Tess were such complicated characters, and I found myself loving them as soon as they were introduced. Tess wanted more from her life than what she was getting with Brax. While he was sweet and treated her well, she was bored and found herself with desires that he was unable to fulfill. I loved how strong Tess was and I really enjoyed seeing her fight back. She wasn't going to just accept her fate and let others do what they pleased, and I was glad that she was so feisty. That being said, she was also capable of letting go and relinquishing control when she wanted to. Her connection with Q was instant, and these two were the perfect match for one another. They completed each other in a way that no one else did, and I found it so interesting how they just understood one another. Q was such a mystery at first and though he started off looking as bad as they come, I really enjoyed seeing how he really was beneath the facade. With each new layer peeled back we got to see him in a whole new light, and it was easy to see why Tess would be so drawn to him. These two had insane chemistry and were so hot together. They were exactly what they needed and wanted when it came to their physical desires, and I loved the passion between them.
I could not put this book down, and a lot of that was because of the connection that was forming between Q and Tess. Though these two came together in such horrible circumstances, it was clear that they were meant to find one another. I loved how Pepper Winters showed the reader that sometimes the road is a difficult one, but that we will somehow get to where we need to be. Beyond the darkness there is light, and sometimes we find ourselves in places that we never expected. Pepper Winters is a fantastic writer, and I love that I can never tell what will happen next. She masterfully weaves her stories together in a way that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Her stories are raw and gritty, and are not for everyone. But I love that they are so unique and different, and I am a huge fan of hers. I cannot wait to get more of Q and Tess, and see what happens next for these two.
**Review Copy Provided by As the Pages Turn**
After reading the first three books in the Debt Inheritance Series by Pepper Winters, I couldn't wait to read more by her. So I jumped at the chance to read her Monsters in the Dark Series. I had heard so many good things about this series, but it was honestly one that I just hadn't gotten around to reading yet. I cannot believe that it took me this long! Seriously this series sucked me right in from the start, and I cannot get enough of Tess and Q!
Tess has noticed that her sex life has been a bit stale with her boyfriend Brax, so when he surprises her with a vacation to Cancun she thinks it is the perfect time to spice things up a bit. She never expects to be kidnapped and taken to France to the estate of Q Mercer. At first Tess believes that Q will be just as bad as those that took her, but she quickly realizes that things are different with him. Though she knows it's wrong, she can't help but be drawn to him. Tess finds herself changing the more time that she spends in Q's home, and before long she starts to see that Q is not at all like she thought he was. Will Brax find her and take her home, or will Tess be forever changed before she has a chance to return to her home?
Q and Tess were such complicated characters, and I found myself loving them as soon as they were introduced. Tess wanted more from her life than what she was getting with Brax. While he was sweet and treated her well, she was bored and found herself with desires that he was unable to fulfill. I loved how strong Tess was and I really enjoyed seeing her fight back. She wasn't going to just accept her fate and let others do what they pleased, and I was glad that she was so feisty. That being said, she was also capable of letting go and relinquishing control when she wanted to. Her connection with Q was instant, and these two were the perfect match for one another. They completed each other in a way that no one else did, and I found it so interesting how they just understood one another. Q was such a mystery at first and though he started off looking as bad as they come, I really enjoyed seeing how he really was beneath the facade. With each new layer peeled back we got to see him in a whole new light, and it was easy to see why Tess would be so drawn to him. These two had insane chemistry and were so hot together. They were exactly what they needed and wanted when it came to their physical desires, and I loved the passion between them.
I could not put this book down, and a lot of that was because of the connection that was forming between Q and Tess. Though these two came together in such horrible circumstances, it was clear that they were meant to find one another. I loved how Pepper Winters showed the reader that sometimes the road is a difficult one, but that we will somehow get to where we need to be. Beyond the darkness there is light, and sometimes we find ourselves in places that we never expected. Pepper Winters is a fantastic writer, and I love that I can never tell what will happen next. She masterfully weaves her stories together in a way that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Her stories are raw and gritty, and are not for everyone. But I love that they are so unique and different, and I am a huge fan of hers. I cannot wait to get more of Q and Tess, and see what happens next for these two.
**Review Copy Provided by As the Pages Turn**
ccornejo's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
3.0
First book in series. It was darker for my taste than I’m used to. Practically reading porn with a decent plot line.
no_shelfies's review against another edition
5.0
I. Was. Sold.
Wow. Thats my review. Just wow. Firstly thank you to my wifey for gifting me this paperback. She told me I would fall in love with Q and she wasnt wrong.
The trigger warnings in this are no joke. It is very dark. PLEASE please check them first.
Tess is on holiday with her boyfriend and is abducted and sold. (Again. Read those triggers) Mr Mercer - Q - is now her owner. Master. She is his esclave.
This doesnt break Tess though. She is quite possibly the strongest willed fmc ive ever read, I def shed a few tears for her. Not only did I fall in love with Q but tess too, everything she went through but also whilst discovering herself and finding a reason to fight. Wow
I didnt expect to love Q, he was very much the anti-hero. There is more to him than we realise and as its slowly revealed I realised he owned me as much as he owned Tess!
Wow. Thats my review. Just wow. Firstly thank you to my wifey for gifting me this paperback. She told me I would fall in love with Q and she wasnt wrong.
The trigger warnings in this are no joke. It is very dark. PLEASE please check them first.
Tess is on holiday with her boyfriend and is abducted and sold. (Again. Read those triggers) Mr Mercer - Q - is now her owner. Master. She is his esclave.
This doesnt break Tess though. She is quite possibly the strongest willed fmc ive ever read, I def shed a few tears for her. Not only did I fall in love with Q but tess too, everything she went through but also whilst discovering herself and finding a reason to fight. Wow
I didnt expect to love Q, he was very much the anti-hero. There is more to him than we realise and as its slowly revealed I realised he owned me as much as he owned Tess!
faith99's review
dark
fast-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Murder
6cedarslibrary's review
dark
tense
fast-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
4.5
I love that Tess had so much fire in her, no matter how dark life got. The relationship between her and Q was definitely different. However, I understand how they helped each other become the best versions of themselves. Pepper Winters did an amazing job of weaving this tragic story together.
cierra_mccauley_cierrascorner's review
5.0
Fucking Amazing
Wow just wow. This book wAs amazing! It was definitely something I was not expecting! So Dark and very Sexy!
Wow just wow. This book wAs amazing! It was definitely something I was not expecting! So Dark and very Sexy!
triseke's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Rape, and Sexual assault
kittehloaf's review against another edition
5.0
This book is pretty messed up...
With the tones of human trafficking, sex slaves, and mafia-like gangs, it was a very gripping story!
I reeeeally could of gone without the romance between the main character and her kidnapper but, oh well, I didn’t write the book.
With the tones of human trafficking, sex slaves, and mafia-like gangs, it was a very gripping story!
I reeeeally could of gone without the romance between the main character and her kidnapper but, oh well, I didn’t write the book.
pamgodwin's review
4.0
For an abduction/slave novel, it's surprisingly soft. You won't find gut-wrenching scenes that challenge you like the degradation you'd find in horror and captivity narratives. The male protag is kinky, but he's temperamentally ashamed of his desires, and keeps them fettered beneath his honorable persona. This might frustrate dark erotica readers. But sans the sappy I-love-you dialogues, I wouldn't label this a lighthearted romance, either. It lands somewhere in between.
The symbiosis of consent and non-consent is the book's psychological core, and the severe disapproval of rape fantasies is scattered throughout it like feathers from a startled sparrow.
Q wants to rape and hurt Tess. Tess wants to be raped and hurt. They're both appalled by this, and their flux from spurn to assent back to spurn is jarring. Once you become sympathetic to one way of thinking, their convictions change again, leaving you disconnected. Some of this might've been alleviated with more showing and less telling. For example, you're told she's broken then strengthened then broken again, though you're not feeling the journey between the named emotions.
Were this book judged entirely by Tess's courage, it would be a masterpiece. She sheds plenty of tears, but she's no wilting flower. Each time she makes up her mind to do something--fight, flight, fight again--she follows through, fearlessly. I only wish she were more consistent in her crusades. And I wish there was more dialogue with Q. He isn't given enough time with you to develop his psychological position. The Epilogue offers the first and only Q headspace, which is a broad summary of the story in his POV.
Overall, it's an entertaining, brooding tale with some memorable moments. I recommend to romance readers looking for a soft psychological thriller with a few well-written sex scenes.
The symbiosis of consent and non-consent is the book's psychological core, and the severe disapproval of rape fantasies is scattered throughout it like feathers from a startled sparrow.
Q wants to rape and hurt Tess. Tess wants to be raped and hurt. They're both appalled by this, and their flux from spurn to assent back to spurn is jarring. Once you become sympathetic to one way of thinking, their convictions change again, leaving you disconnected. Some of this might've been alleviated with more showing and less telling. For example, you're told she's broken then strengthened then broken again, though you're not feeling the journey between the named emotions.
Were this book judged entirely by Tess's courage, it would be a masterpiece. She sheds plenty of tears, but she's no wilting flower. Each time she makes up her mind to do something--fight, flight, fight again--she follows through, fearlessly. I only wish she were more consistent in her crusades. And I wish there was more dialogue with Q. He isn't given enough time with you to develop his psychological position. The Epilogue offers the first and only Q headspace, which is a broad summary of the story in his POV.
Overall, it's an entertaining, brooding tale with some memorable moments. I recommend to romance readers looking for a soft psychological thriller with a few well-written sex scenes.