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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
Book Content Warning: voyeurism (non-con), exhibitionism, sexual coercion, findom, cults, implied childhood SA, predatory behaviour by a parental figure/religious leader, torture, murder, humiliation (non-sexual), themes of shame and guilt, religious trauma, kidnapping, praise, degradation, nightmares, suicidal thoughts (brief mention), alcohol and drug use and explicit sexual scenes.
I was fortunate to read this as an ARC. Having read the previous book I was excited to see how Lenix and Connor's relationship would pan out and it did not disappoint! It is a vastly different storyline to the first book but so is this relationship which may seem obvious but I have found that often writers will create a series with the same storyline throughout each book just with different leading characters so it made a nice difference. Connor - the perfect anti-hero who gave immaculate "Touch her and you die" vibes and Lenix - the vulnerable and scared but powerful and and empowering female lead we needed. Seeing the kindness and support Connor gives Lenix throughout melted my heart and seeing how much vulnerability came with accepting this support and kindness made me want to cry. You really understand why these two are meant for each other. The chemistry these two had in the spicier scenes was also *chefs kiss*. I couldn't get enough of it!
The sensitivity in which Naomi writes about the abuse and guilt a survivor of a religious cult can go through was so heartbreakingly powerful and it is clear it was written with incredible care.
POSSIBLE SPOILER: I wish the revenge had been drawn out a bit longer and it hadn't felt as rushed but it did give the closure needed for the series to continue and it may also just be my dark mind out for blood!
END OF POSSIBLE SPOILER
I absolutely loved this book and I honestly cannot wait to read about Lucy and Bastian's story.
I was fortunate to read this as an ARC. Having read the previous book I was excited to see how Lenix and Connor's relationship would pan out and it did not disappoint! It is a vastly different storyline to the first book but so is this relationship which may seem obvious but I have found that often writers will create a series with the same storyline throughout each book just with different leading characters so it made a nice difference. Connor - the perfect anti-hero who gave immaculate "Touch her and you die" vibes and Lenix - the vulnerable and scared but powerful and and empowering female lead we needed. Seeing the kindness and support Connor gives Lenix throughout melted my heart and seeing how much vulnerability came with accepting this support and kindness made me want to cry. You really understand why these two are meant for each other. The chemistry these two had in the spicier scenes was also *chefs kiss*. I couldn't get enough of it!
The sensitivity in which Naomi writes about the abuse and guilt a survivor of a religious cult can go through was so heartbreakingly powerful and it is clear it was written with incredible care.
POSSIBLE SPOILER: I wish the revenge had been drawn out a bit longer and it hadn't felt as rushed but it did give the closure needed for the series to continue and it may also just be my dark mind out for blood!
END OF POSSIBLE SPOILER
I absolutely loved this book and I honestly cannot wait to read about Lucy and Bastian's story.
I’m not a regular dark romance reader, so I can’t and won’t really speak to that genre and how this ranks/compares in that space. I liked it better than her first; I felt like the characters and plot held more depth and it was less driven by the crime syndicate world than the first was. I do really enjoy the underlying theme of her books that revolve around past lives and connected souls, so I’ll definitely be reading the third!
Merged review:
I’m not a regular dark romance reader, so I can’t and won’t really speak to that genre and how this ranks/compares in that space. I liked it better than her first; I felt like the characters and plot held more depth and it was less driven by the crime syndicate world than the first was. I do really enjoy the underlying theme of her books that revolve around past lives and connected souls, so I’ll definitely be reading the third!
Merged review:
I’m not a regular dark romance reader, so I can’t and won’t really speak to that genre and how this ranks/compares in that space. I liked it better than her first; I felt like the characters and plot held more depth and it was less driven by the crime syndicate world than the first was. I do really enjoy the underlying theme of her books that revolve around past lives and connected souls, so I’ll definitely be reading the third!
Naomi Loud’s second novel is here and it’s everything I needed it to be.
We meet Lenix in Was I Ever Here, and it turns out she’s been hiding a past no one would have guessed. She escaped a religious cult and created a whole life and identity for herself.
But when that past comes back to haunt her, she turns to the one person she knows can protect her.
Connor Fucking Maxwell, everyone. I won’t lie I’ve been dying to meet him ever since I found out Naomi pictured Aaron Taylor Johnson as inspo, and the character did not disappoint.
We love a man who is willing to burn town the world for his woman. The ultimate ‘touch her and die’ hero. I absolutely adored him.
And Lenix. Oh Lenix. Our girl goes through a lot.
I love her and her fire and also everything hidden under it. Her journey isn’t easy but she comes out so much stronger in the end.
The spice is just so good in this too. Connor and Lenix have so much chemistry and I love them together and I didn’t know I was into the whole ‘my wife’ thing but I really am. Naomi writes some unforgettable scenes with these two.
And I don’t think I’ll ever get over Naomi’s writing. The way they put words together, it’s just magic. Seriously, I finish some passages and am just in awe of how masterfully they’re written. I can’t do it justice, you just have to read it.
There are some pretty dark elements in this one, so check content warnings, but I highly recommend!
Merged review:
Naomi Loud’s second novel is here and it’s everything I needed it to be.
We meet Lenix in Was I Ever Here, and it turns out she’s been hiding a past no one would have guessed. She escaped a religious cult and created a whole life and identity for herself.
But when that past comes back to haunt her, she turns to the one person she knows can protect her.
Connor Fucking Maxwell, everyone. I won’t lie I’ve been dying to meet him ever since I found out Naomi pictured Aaron Taylor Johnson as inspo, and the character did not disappoint.
We love a man who is willing to burn town the world for his woman. The ultimate ‘touch her and die’ hero. I absolutely adored him.
And Lenix. Oh Lenix. Our girl goes through a lot.
I love her and her fire and also everything hidden under it. Her journey isn’t easy but she comes out so much stronger in the end.
The spice is just so good in this too. Connor and Lenix have so much chemistry and I love them together and I didn’t know I was into the whole ‘my wife’ thing but I really am. Naomi writes some unforgettable scenes with these two.
And I don’t think I’ll ever get over Naomi’s writing. The way they put words together, it’s just magic. Seriously, I finish some passages and am just in awe of how masterfully they’re written. I can’t do it justice, you just have to read it.
There are some pretty dark elements in this one, so check content warnings, but I highly recommend!
We meet Lenix in Was I Ever Here, and it turns out she’s been hiding a past no one would have guessed. She escaped a religious cult and created a whole life and identity for herself.
But when that past comes back to haunt her, she turns to the one person she knows can protect her.
Connor Fucking Maxwell, everyone. I won’t lie I’ve been dying to meet him ever since I found out Naomi pictured Aaron Taylor Johnson as inspo, and the character did not disappoint.
We love a man who is willing to burn town the world for his woman. The ultimate ‘touch her and die’ hero. I absolutely adored him.
And Lenix. Oh Lenix. Our girl goes through a lot.
I love her and her fire and also everything hidden under it. Her journey isn’t easy but she comes out so much stronger in the end.
The spice is just so good in this too. Connor and Lenix have so much chemistry and I love them together and I didn’t know I was into the whole ‘my wife’ thing but I really am. Naomi writes some unforgettable scenes with these two.
And I don’t think I’ll ever get over Naomi’s writing. The way they put words together, it’s just magic. Seriously, I finish some passages and am just in awe of how masterfully they’re written. I can’t do it justice, you just have to read it.
There are some pretty dark elements in this one, so check content warnings, but I highly recommend!
Merged review:
Naomi Loud’s second novel is here and it’s everything I needed it to be.
We meet Lenix in Was I Ever Here, and it turns out she’s been hiding a past no one would have guessed. She escaped a religious cult and created a whole life and identity for herself.
But when that past comes back to haunt her, she turns to the one person she knows can protect her.
Connor Fucking Maxwell, everyone. I won’t lie I’ve been dying to meet him ever since I found out Naomi pictured Aaron Taylor Johnson as inspo, and the character did not disappoint.
We love a man who is willing to burn town the world for his woman. The ultimate ‘touch her and die’ hero. I absolutely adored him.
And Lenix. Oh Lenix. Our girl goes through a lot.
I love her and her fire and also everything hidden under it. Her journey isn’t easy but she comes out so much stronger in the end.
The spice is just so good in this too. Connor and Lenix have so much chemistry and I love them together and I didn’t know I was into the whole ‘my wife’ thing but I really am. Naomi writes some unforgettable scenes with these two.
And I don’t think I’ll ever get over Naomi’s writing. The way they put words together, it’s just magic. Seriously, I finish some passages and am just in awe of how masterfully they’re written. I can’t do it justice, you just have to read it.
There are some pretty dark elements in this one, so check content warnings, but I highly recommend!
ARC Review
The chemistry between Lenix and Connor was so good. Connor has a cocky confidence while Lenix is very strong willed and unapologetic. They’re both stubborn in their own way. All of this makes their bickering back and forth, push and pull, build up with tension that is so satisfying every time they give in to each other.
The emotional thread of the story I think was done really well. There are things characters want to keep secret, and don’t even want to face again, which can lead to characters sometimes making frustrating decisions but I felt in this case these choices were really relatable and made sense for the characters and the situations. So when we get to a point where the characters have more trust and/or are thrust into choosing to open up, it ends up being more satisfying and meaningful.
Also really interested for the next book to see what the inside of Bastions head is like.
The chemistry between Lenix and Connor was so good. Connor has a cocky confidence while Lenix is very strong willed and unapologetic. They’re both stubborn in their own way. All of this makes their bickering back and forth, push and pull, build up with tension that is so satisfying every time they give in to each other.
The emotional thread of the story I think was done really well. There are things characters want to keep secret, and don’t even want to face again, which can lead to characters sometimes making frustrating decisions but I felt in this case these choices were really relatable and made sense for the characters and the situations. So when we get to a point where the characters have more trust and/or are thrust into choosing to open up, it ends up being more satisfying and meaningful.
Also really interested for the next book to see what the inside of Bastions head is like.
I'm slightly obsessed with this series and I cannot wait for more, the writing, the plot and the characters all hit just right. Delicious.
dark
emotional
tense
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was pretty intrigued by the plot of the book but I feel like the relationship between Lenix and Connor fell short. For the life of me I could NOT take Connor seriously, any time this man would threaten someone I would just laugh over the fact that a man named Connor was considered the “devil” LMAO
the cult experience that Lenix had growing up my heart hurt for her and tbh I was mostly able to finish this book for her and her alone. I think she is such an interesting character.
But overall it was just another decent read for me.
the cult experience that Lenix had growing up my heart hurt for her and tbh I was mostly able to finish this book for her and her alone. I think she is such an interesting character.
But overall it was just another decent read for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How to properly describe this book so you will finally pick this series up..... Connor M'''Fu''' Maxwell.
There. That's the review.
There is just something about cult romances that keep you right there on the edge of your seat!
Was I Ever Real showed a haunting part of Lenix we didn't get the chance to see in Was I Ever Here and I loved meeting this side of her.
Naomi has a knack for storytelling that drags me into the story from the very first page.
Plus...Connor's mustache was a fine detail I didn't know I needed. It added another level of unhinged to his character. I can't even begin to describe it.
If you need an unhinged MMC, eeriy cult vibes, a FMC that is pure fire, and spice that turns you into a puddle on the floor....it's time for you to meet the boys of the Sin Eaters.
Merged review:
How to properly describe this book so you will finally pick this series up..... Connor M'''Fu''' Maxwell.
There. That's the review.
There is just something about cult romances that keep you right there on the edge of your seat!
Was I Ever Real showed a haunting part of Lenix we didn't get the chance to see in Was I Ever Here and I loved meeting this side of her.
Naomi has a knack for storytelling that drags me into the story from the very first page.
Plus...Connor's mustache was a fine detail I didn't know I needed. It added another level of unhinged to his character. I can't even begin to describe it.
If you need an unhinged MMC, eeriy cult vibes, a FMC that is pure fire, and spice that turns you into a puddle on the floor....it's time for you to meet the boys of the Sin Eaters.
There. That's the review.
There is just something about cult romances that keep you right there on the edge of your seat!
Was I Ever Real showed a haunting part of Lenix we didn't get the chance to see in Was I Ever Here and I loved meeting this side of her.
Naomi has a knack for storytelling that drags me into the story from the very first page.
Plus...Connor's mustache was a fine detail I didn't know I needed. It added another level of unhinged to his character. I can't even begin to describe it.
If you need an unhinged MMC, eeriy cult vibes, a FMC that is pure fire, and spice that turns you into a puddle on the floor....it's time for you to meet the boys of the Sin Eaters.
Merged review:
How to properly describe this book so you will finally pick this series up..... Connor M'''Fu''' Maxwell.
There. That's the review.
There is just something about cult romances that keep you right there on the edge of your seat!
Was I Ever Real showed a haunting part of Lenix we didn't get the chance to see in Was I Ever Here and I loved meeting this side of her.
Naomi has a knack for storytelling that drags me into the story from the very first page.
Plus...Connor's mustache was a fine detail I didn't know I needed. It added another level of unhinged to his character. I can't even begin to describe it.
If you need an unhinged MMC, eeriy cult vibes, a FMC that is pure fire, and spice that turns you into a puddle on the floor....it's time for you to meet the boys of the Sin Eaters.