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hpstrangelove's review
5.0
Note: I received an ARC for free in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book! However, be forewarned. This is a very, very dark read. It has many triggers (rape, violence, murder, physical abuse and maiming), so definitely not for everyone. But if you’re tired of cookie-cutter, sappy m/m romances with predictable HEA endings, this might be for you.
I'm pretty picky about my dark m/m stories. I definitely love erotica, but like romance, it can also become boring without a good plot/sex balance. When I find myself wishing a sex scene would be over with so that the plot can move along, it's not a good sign. This book has a great balance between plot and sex. And I want a plot where the sex enhances it or is part of it. The sex in this – wow, super hot and really kinky! More than once I found myself having to take a break from reading.
The cover is fantastic and goes well with the plot, although I can't say that I cared for the title. I don't dislike it - I'm just not sure it captures the spirit of the story. If the summary is not read first, a reader may think the story has to do with American politics, which it doesn’t. Not at all.
The main character, Kamal is an assassin/mercenary, dealing mostly with the Bosnian underworld. He’s cold and uncaring, which makes him one of the best in his line of work. Through a series of events, he ends up part of a kidnap plot of a young man, Zijad, who is the son of an old lover - a lover who once betrayed Kamal.
The story is told through Kamal’s point-of-view, which worked very well as we get to see first-hand how damaged he is. Kamal is not a likable person, and there will be readers who probably can’t get through the opening scene and will quit the book. I love the darker, more evil, types of characters, though, because they are the ones who are the most complex. It was no different for me concerning Kamal. I wanted to see how he was going to handle the treatment of Zijad, and to know what was Zihad’s father’s betrayal. Flashbacks to the past allowed tidbits of Kamal’s history to come to light, and by the end of the story, the author had effectively led us into forming an emotional connection to Kamal. I wanted him to triumph.
You’ll have to read the book to find out if he does. If you love dark stories, you won’t be disappointed.
I loved this book! However, be forewarned. This is a very, very dark read. It has many triggers (rape, violence, murder, physical abuse and maiming), so definitely not for everyone. But if you’re tired of cookie-cutter, sappy m/m romances with predictable HEA endings, this might be for you.
I'm pretty picky about my dark m/m stories. I definitely love erotica, but like romance, it can also become boring without a good plot/sex balance. When I find myself wishing a sex scene would be over with so that the plot can move along, it's not a good sign. This book has a great balance between plot and sex. And I want a plot where the sex enhances it or is part of it. The sex in this – wow, super hot and really kinky! More than once I found myself having to take a break from reading.
The cover is fantastic and goes well with the plot, although I can't say that I cared for the title. I don't dislike it - I'm just not sure it captures the spirit of the story. If the summary is not read first, a reader may think the story has to do with American politics, which it doesn’t. Not at all.
The main character, Kamal is an assassin/mercenary, dealing mostly with the Bosnian underworld. He’s cold and uncaring, which makes him one of the best in his line of work. Through a series of events, he ends up part of a kidnap plot of a young man, Zijad, who is the son of an old lover - a lover who once betrayed Kamal.
The story is told through Kamal’s point-of-view, which worked very well as we get to see first-hand how damaged he is. Kamal is not a likable person, and there will be readers who probably can’t get through the opening scene and will quit the book. I love the darker, more evil, types of characters, though, because they are the ones who are the most complex. It was no different for me concerning Kamal. I wanted to see how he was going to handle the treatment of Zijad, and to know what was Zihad’s father’s betrayal. Flashbacks to the past allowed tidbits of Kamal’s history to come to light, and by the end of the story, the author had effectively led us into forming an emotional connection to Kamal. I wanted him to triumph.
You’ll have to read the book to find out if he does. If you love dark stories, you won’t be disappointed.
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