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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Every time I read an Ariana Nash book, I am amazed. And at this point I shouldn't be surprised anymore. The way her mind works and creates and builds all these worlds where her characters live is absolutely amazing. And they are each and every one of them so attractive that you can't help but immerse yourself in them, making them your own and living each story as if you were part of them. It doesn't matter if the story is good or not (and they are always much more than good), you are so much in that world that when you finally emerge at the end, it's as if a part of you has been ripped out of you.
Lark and Arin's world is twisted, full of lies and betrayals, violence and debauchery, where you must dig and dig to catch even a glimpse of what may really be true. And surely when you grab that thread of thruth, another twist happens. Nothing is what it seems, except that connection that exists between them, and that is put to test more than once, in such a way that they themselves doubt it.
And then the climax comes and suddenly, you realize you have to wait for the next book. Their journey does not end here, this was just the beginning.
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
Lark and Arin's world is twisted, full of lies and betrayals, violence and debauchery, where you must dig and dig to catch even a glimpse of what may really be true. And surely when you grab that thread of thruth, another twist happens. Nothing is what it seems, except that connection that exists between them, and that is put to test more than once, in such a way that they themselves doubt it.
And then the climax comes and suddenly, you realize you have to wait for the next book. Their journey does not end here, this was just the beginning.
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
what is with these kindle books that make me read them in one sitting??? jesus christ this is like the 4th one this year
4.5/5
4.5/5
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
《 ℓαяк • αяιη 》
Lark just grabs you by the throat and never lets go.
The twists and turns, the heartache and betrayals are just overwhelming. You never really know who you can trust and a person's true motives. Lark deserved so much better. He continuously broke my heart. He may be the villain in the majorities eyes, but Arin and I know what's really up.
I'm so ready for book 2 to see their HEA.
× MM Dark Fantasy Romance
× Enemies-to-Lovers
× Betrayals and Twists
× Court intrigue shenanigans
× Cliffhanger
× Two Povs
Lark just grabs you by the throat and never lets go.
The twists and turns, the heartache and betrayals are just overwhelming. You never really know who you can trust and a person's true motives. Lark deserved so much better. He continuously broke my heart. He may be the villain in the majorities eyes, but Arin and I know what's really up.
I'm so ready for book 2 to see their HEA.
× MM Dark Fantasy Romance
× Enemies-to-Lovers
× Betrayals and Twists
× Court intrigue shenanigans
× Cliffhanger
× Two Povs
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
***REVIEW THE TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING THIS BOOK AS THE MATERIAL DISCUSSED IN THIS DARK ROMANCE CAN BE DIFFICULT***
Fool Me Once by Ariana Nash is the first book in the Court of Pain series. Lark plays the fool in the Court of Love, He works every room and learns every secret with devious intentions no one knows about. It isn’t until people start dying that all of the cards Lark has held are revealed showing that no court is safe.
Lark is a character with a dark past that leads him to constantly put on a show to prevent anyone from looking too close. Unfortunately and fortunately he catches the eye of the Prince of Love, Arin, and the two find themselves drawn to each other and revealing truths that would otherwise stay buried. Lark uses sexuality as a weapon but feels his armor cracking when Arin lets him in.
Beautiful lie… He thought me beautiful, and a liar, a thorn on the stem of a rose.
Arin is a mystery to Lark as the prince behind the door. It isn’t until Arin approaches Lark in secret that you learn that he has been pulling the strings for a lot longer than anyone has realized. When tragedy strikes Arin is torn between loyalty, shame and desire.
He was too damn good, too brilliant, and everything I’d ruin, spoil, destroy.
This is a review I am keeping brief because as the layers unfolded and secrets were revealed each character grew in depth and my love for them. Things are not simple in the Courts of Love, War, Justice and Pain but this doesn’t mean that these characters aren’t meant to find happiness. With a cliffhanger that left me needing the next book right this second I am thrilled to say you got me again Ariana Nash.
5 stars for a dark twisty tale of Lark and Arin finding if any truth is beneath the façade.
***REVIEW THE TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING THIS BOOK AS THE MATERIAL DISCUSSED IN THIS DARK ROMANCE CAN BE DIFFICULT***
Fool Me Once by Ariana Nash is the first book in the Court of Pain series. Lark plays the fool in the Court of Love, He works every room and learns every secret with devious intentions no one knows about. It isn’t until people start dying that all of the cards Lark has held are revealed showing that no court is safe.
Lark is a character with a dark past that leads him to constantly put on a show to prevent anyone from looking too close. Unfortunately and fortunately he catches the eye of the Prince of Love, Arin, and the two find themselves drawn to each other and revealing truths that would otherwise stay buried. Lark uses sexuality as a weapon but feels his armor cracking when Arin lets him in.
Beautiful lie… He thought me beautiful, and a liar, a thorn on the stem of a rose.
Arin is a mystery to Lark as the prince behind the door. It isn’t until Arin approaches Lark in secret that you learn that he has been pulling the strings for a lot longer than anyone has realized. When tragedy strikes Arin is torn between loyalty, shame and desire.
He was too damn good, too brilliant, and everything I’d ruin, spoil, destroy.
This is a review I am keeping brief because as the layers unfolded and secrets were revealed each character grew in depth and my love for them. Things are not simple in the Courts of Love, War, Justice and Pain but this doesn’t mean that these characters aren’t meant to find happiness. With a cliffhanger that left me needing the next book right this second I am thrilled to say you got me again Ariana Nash.
5 stars for a dark twisty tale of Lark and Arin finding if any truth is beneath the façade.
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m a big fan of Ariana Nash and enjoy her writing a lot but this book just didn’t work. I really enjoyed the story and the plot was wonderful like usual. But the characters just didn’t work for me. I didn’t get that tension between Lark and Arin that Nash was trying to imply in the text. I didn’t get the rivalry either. There simply isn’t dedicated enough time to build the relationship between the characters before the plot goes wild. We are supposed to feel why the characters act like they do and how hard it is for them to do so but since the characters spend so little time together I didn’t get that feeling.
I also wasn’t a fan of the sex scenes. I wouldn’t say that Lark forces Arin because they were both willing but if someone says ‘don’t’ or ‘wait’ you do what they ask. You don’t continue in the name of ‘I know you want this but are just scared of doing it’ or something like that. That’s a big no no for me.
I also wasn’t a fan of the sex scenes. I wouldn’t say that Lark forces Arin because they were both willing but if someone says ‘don’t’ or ‘wait’ you do what they ask. You don’t continue in the name of ‘I know you want this but are just scared of doing it’ or something like that. That’s a big no no for me.
3.5 ⭐️
I was pretty confused the entire time. A lot of different plot lines going on. The romance didn’t click for me and I felt like the overall execution of this wasn’t good.
I was pretty confused the entire time. A lot of different plot lines going on. The romance didn’t click for me and I felt like the overall execution of this wasn’t good.
"It didn't matter anyway; whatever we did, fate was coming for both of us.
But none of it could ever touch my heart.
Including the prince who liked to hide, the prince who wanted to juggle, the prince trying to bring hope back to his court. The prince who had fooled me."
Nash warned us. She said this was going to be dark, and dark it was. It was also spellbinding, intriguing, and had so many moving pieces on the chessboard I was never going to be able to figure out the moves in advance. That's what Nash's books are like and why they are almost always a 5 star read for me. There's so much going on with brilliant misdirections that you can never unravel it all until the final book is finished, bringing the entire picture together. Only then will everything finally make sense. It's truly a talent.
"I'm sorry Lark...For everything you've endured, and for the pain yet to come."
I think my heart was in pain for the majority of this book, which makes the series title very apt. It hurt for Lark. It hurt for Prince Arin. It even hurt for Draven, whom you will come to know and I honestly don't trust. Draven is a wildcard in this book and based on previous experiences with this author I would peg him as someone who is going to bring great pain in the end. Whether that's with his death or awful betrayal remains to be seen. Either way it's going to hurt.
" There was no use clinging to the memory of a man who hadn't existed. It had all been a lie."
The horrendous things Lark has endured in his short life were truly terrible. If Prince Razak doesn't die in a way that causes him to suffer I'll be wildly disappointed. I don't think I would have lasted as long as Lark has in his "care". Fortunately, Lark has a fire in him. It is ironic he plays the fool when he's often the smartest person in the room. I did take a little pleasure from Prince Arin getting one over on him though. I don't think Lark could have truly developed feelings for him without seeing him as a worthy opponent instead of the weak Prince who hides behind closed doors. This one ends on a bit of a cliffy. There's a major power play in motion and I honestly have no idea who's going to win.
But none of it could ever touch my heart.
Including the prince who liked to hide, the prince who wanted to juggle, the prince trying to bring hope back to his court. The prince who had fooled me."
Nash warned us. She said this was going to be dark, and dark it was. It was also spellbinding, intriguing, and had so many moving pieces on the chessboard I was never going to be able to figure out the moves in advance. That's what Nash's books are like and why they are almost always a 5 star read for me. There's so much going on with brilliant misdirections that you can never unravel it all until the final book is finished, bringing the entire picture together. Only then will everything finally make sense. It's truly a talent.
"I'm sorry Lark...For everything you've endured, and for the pain yet to come."
I think my heart was in pain for the majority of this book, which makes the series title very apt. It hurt for Lark. It hurt for Prince Arin. It even hurt for Draven, whom you will come to know and I honestly don't trust. Draven is a wildcard in this book and based on previous experiences with this author I would peg him as someone who is going to bring great pain in the end. Whether that's with his death or awful betrayal remains to be seen. Either way it's going to hurt.
" There was no use clinging to the memory of a man who hadn't existed. It had all been a lie."
The horrendous things Lark has endured in his short life were truly terrible. If Prince Razak doesn't die in a way that causes him to suffer I'll be wildly disappointed. I don't think I would have lasted as long as Lark has in his "care". Fortunately, Lark has a fire in him. It is ironic he plays the fool when he's often the smartest person in the room. I did take a little pleasure from Prince Arin getting one over on him though. I don't think Lark could have truly developed feelings for him without seeing him as a worthy opponent instead of the weak Prince who hides behind closed doors. This one ends on a bit of a cliffy. There's a major power play in motion and I honestly have no idea who's going to win.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
How did he survived after hearing that?