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mindylou's review against another edition
5.0
There is so much to say about this book and I'm not sure if I know how to say it. The author completely threw me off with Edwards declaration at the end of book one. I was sure it was just a bluff. Something to say to throw Celia off at the time. Then we get some of Edwards POV in this book and I'm completely shocked at what was revealed.
I really struggled with Edwards revelation. I think I had in my head a different scenario and I was suddenly afraid for what I was about to read. It was threatening my fairytale I had imaged in this couple. I get that it's funny to say that considering Celia is the heroine.
We finally got an answer to explain why Edward was so passionate about his pursuit of Celia. And his sister's anger. I really didn't understand that. I had so many scenarios running in my head. After hearing their story...I got it.
We also got to see why Celia became a person that not even she liked. I liked learning that. She was such a hated character in The Fixed series that I can say that I understand her now. Edward mentions that Celia is like an onion with so many layers to peel back and he was right. It can also be used for Edward as well. There are so many layers to him as well. This couple is very complex.
While I wanted to jump to the happily every after of this couple, there is so many layers between this couple that have to be peeled back first. It's quite honestly fascinating. I may not like some of it and even hate some of the actions, but I've learned that makes me fall so much harder for a story and enjoy the sweet ending I know will eventually come. I do feel like I can breathe easy now. I guess we'll find out how true that is in the next installment.
I really struggled with Edwards revelation. I think I had in my head a different scenario and I was suddenly afraid for what I was about to read. It was threatening my fairytale I had imaged in this couple. I get that it's funny to say that considering Celia is the heroine.
We finally got an answer to explain why Edward was so passionate about his pursuit of Celia. And his sister's anger. I really didn't understand that. I had so many scenarios running in my head. After hearing their story...I got it.
We also got to see why Celia became a person that not even she liked. I liked learning that. She was such a hated character in The Fixed series that I can say that I understand her now. Edward mentions that Celia is like an onion with so many layers to peel back and he was right. It can also be used for Edward as well. There are so many layers to him as well. This couple is very complex.
While I wanted to jump to the happily every after of this couple, there is so many layers between this couple that have to be peeled back first. It's quite honestly fascinating. I may not like some of it and even hate some of the actions, but I've learned that makes me fall so much harder for a story and enjoy the sweet ending I know will eventually come. I do feel like I can breathe easy now. I guess we'll find out how true that is in the next installment.
bibliophilechloe's review against another edition
5.0
Oooooo this is the continuing story of Celia and Edward. After the cliffhanger of Slay 1, I was on tenterhooks to see what would happen next!
Ceila was a character that I loved to loathe, but know Ms. Paige has done something truly amazing, she is changing the way I think about a character.
This story delves more into Celia's past, her psyche, her soul. Edward truly knows how to break her down. I started to empathize with Celia, I could understand why she became the woman she was when she met Edward.
Edward is slowly coming around. As his feelings for Celia change, so does his plans and the repercussions of that will be felt throughout the story.
You still get the push and pull of the tumultuous relationship between Edward and Celia, but now you get to see how their relationship is evolving and growing. With the alternate POV's it really brings more understanding into Edward and Celia.
I loved how this part of the story ended. But now I cannot wait for the next installment.
Ceila was a character that I loved to loathe, but know Ms. Paige has done something truly amazing, she is changing the way I think about a character.
This story delves more into Celia's past, her psyche, her soul. Edward truly knows how to break her down. I started to empathize with Celia, I could understand why she became the woman she was when she met Edward.
Edward is slowly coming around. As his feelings for Celia change, so does his plans and the repercussions of that will be felt throughout the story.
You still get the push and pull of the tumultuous relationship between Edward and Celia, but now you get to see how their relationship is evolving and growing. With the alternate POV's it really brings more understanding into Edward and Celia.
I loved how this part of the story ended. But now I cannot wait for the next installment.
caliluvinkat's review against another edition
4.0
Completely kept me engaged. Sometimes I wanted to throw things at Edward, but damn, shit just made me want to keep rooting for them.
sarahluvsromance_1201's review against another edition
4.0
***AVAILABLE NOW - FULL REVIEW***
3.5 CROWNS
There were parts of this story that I really loved. LOVED. The emotion I felt, the sympathy for some of the characters, and the motivations revealed were amazing, captivating. I would give these parts of the story 5 crowns, so why the 3.5? For me it took too long to get there.
If you are reading book 2, then you know who these characters are. You know why they got where they are. The pacing was often times just too slow for me. I got why Edward disappeared for periods of time, and I got the purpose behind his absence and how it played into his overall plan. What it ultimately did for me was slow the pacing down.
The intensity of the story for the last 3/4 of the story is the Laurelin Paige story that I love. My heart really did ache for this heroine as she shared parts of her past with Edward, and I connected to them in these final moments of the story. I just didn't want it to take so long to get there.
Laurelin has created a truly complex and heartbreaking story, and while the pacing of this one was off for my personal preference, I did love the overall story and where she is going with this couple.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 CROWNS
There were parts of this story that I really loved. LOVED. The emotion I felt, the sympathy for some of the characters, and the motivations revealed were amazing, captivating. I would give these parts of the story 5 crowns, so why the 3.5? For me it took too long to get there.
If you are reading book 2, then you know who these characters are. You know why they got where they are. The pacing was often times just too slow for me. I got why Edward disappeared for periods of time, and I got the purpose behind his absence and how it played into his overall plan. What it ultimately did for me was slow the pacing down.
The intensity of the story for the last 3/4 of the story is the Laurelin Paige story that I love. My heart really did ache for this heroine as she shared parts of her past with Edward, and I connected to them in these final moments of the story. I just didn't want it to take so long to get there.
Laurelin has created a truly complex and heartbreaking story, and while the pacing of this one was off for my personal preference, I did love the overall story and where she is going with this couple.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
melissadelongcox's review against another edition
I'm posting this review for all four of the books in the Slay Quartet, so these are my thoughts about the entirety of the series and I'm hiding it behind a spoiler tag!
Big huge major do not read this series trigger warning for child sexual abuse that is graphically described and exists as a major plotline - there's no avoiding it.
Thoughts without any spoilers: if you enjoyed the Fixed series and can handle the content mentioned in the trigger warning, you absolutely must read this quartet. I hated Celia so, so much throughout all of Fixed and these books humanized her and really developed her character. (And of course, I'm not mad to check back in with Alayna and Hudson!) I actually enjoyed getting to know her and Edward, and while I was sometimes screeching at my book trying to understand what the fuck they were doing, I pretty much read these straight through over the last few days so I was clearly hooked.
Spoilers hidden here!
The child sexual abuse was incredibly difficult to read, and I'm having trouble coming up with any other words to say about that. I'm not sure I would've read the series had I realized before starting that it was such a prevalent part of the story, so again, just something to consider.
At times, I was really frustrated by how utterly unreasonable both Edward and Celia behaved. I understand it's part of their dynamic and how their characters were supposed to behave but holy shit - just talk? And then there wouldn't be an issue? There also wouldn't be as much story to work on but I feel like that's where we could've seen even more of their story because there would've been time to show more of the fastforward!
On that note, I love that we got that six years later scene. All books should give us those types of scenes!
Big huge major do not read this series trigger warning for child sexual abuse that is graphically described and exists as a major plotline - there's no avoiding it.
Thoughts without any spoilers: if you enjoyed the Fixed series and can handle the content mentioned in the trigger warning, you absolutely must read this quartet. I hated Celia so, so much throughout all of Fixed and these books humanized her and really developed her character. (And of course, I'm not mad to check back in with Alayna and Hudson!) I actually enjoyed getting to know her and Edward, and while I was sometimes screeching at my book trying to understand what the fuck they were doing, I pretty much read these straight through over the last few days so I was clearly hooked.
Spoilers hidden here!
Spoiler
Okay so - wowsers. There is a lot happening here. First things first - overall, I really did enjoy these and I loved the depth of the character development. I felt like we got A LOT throughout the course of these four books, both past and present, and we got to learn about the side characters in the story as well. I was a little sad at the ending - I understand that we're supposed to feel like something just *clicked*, thus the abrupt feeling to the end, but it still felt too abrupt for me after being fully immersed in the story for the better part of a few days. (I think if I had read these as they were released, I may not have had this complaint.)The child sexual abuse was incredibly difficult to read, and I'm having trouble coming up with any other words to say about that. I'm not sure I would've read the series had I realized before starting that it was such a prevalent part of the story, so again, just something to consider.
At times, I was really frustrated by how utterly unreasonable both Edward and Celia behaved. I understand it's part of their dynamic and how their characters were supposed to behave but holy shit - just talk? And then there wouldn't be an issue? There also wouldn't be as much story to work on but I feel like that's where we could've seen even more of their story because there would've been time to show more of the fastforward!
On that note, I love that we got that six years later scene. All books should give us those types of scenes!
tisha_s's review against another edition
4.0
Wow!! This story continues to get better. I’m upset that I have to wait until next year for book 3 and 4. I need to finish this series tonight
mo_'s review against another edition
DNF@ 36%
I am like 100% into D/s situations. However, I wish I knew what I was getting myself into when I started the first book. I thought this was a rivaly between equals, I didn’t expect ‘‘tis to turn into a non-consensual, coercive hostage situation.
But this is so blatantly non-consensual. It’s disgusting.
This is more of a psychological thriller than a dark romance. The MFC is trapped on an island, with no way to communicate with the outside world. She has been stripped of all agency and freedom. The people around her think she’s a hysterical, crazy woman, who’s husband has left her on the island to mentally heal. But she can’t leave, unless he allows her, and the only way he will allowed her to is if she submits to him, physically and mentally - that is NON-CONSENSUAL as shit. It does not matter if she’s thinking she ‘wants this’ bc 1. He can’t read her mind (yes she says out loud ‘I want you’ but then there are scenes where rlly concord shit is happening and she either says no and he doesn’t listen or she ‘says no but means yes (which is bs irl)’) 2. She is being held hostage and in an environment and situation where he has all the power. They are not on equal footing, and thus any ‘consensual’ submission or relinquishment of power cannot come from a place of consent.
An the psycolgical trauma from the being alone all the time, the only meaningful interaction being every few months when the MMC decides he feels like dropping by. Ugh infuriating.
I love dominant/alpha/vindictive types. However this MMC is manipulative and sociopathic. He’s going to go on and probably have either a redemption arc or a reason behind what he’s doing but nothing justifies this.
Basically, this ain’t it chief.
I am like 100% into D/s situations. However, I wish I knew what I was getting myself into when I started the first book. I thought this was a rivaly between equals, I didn’t expect ‘‘tis to turn into a non-consensual, coercive hostage situation.
But this is so blatantly non-consensual. It’s disgusting.
This is more of a psychological thriller than a dark romance. The MFC is trapped on an island, with no way to communicate with the outside world. She has been stripped of all agency and freedom. The people around her think she’s a hysterical, crazy woman, who’s husband has left her on the island to mentally heal. But she can’t leave, unless he allows her, and the only way he will allowed her to is if she submits to him, physically and mentally - that is NON-CONSENSUAL as shit. It does not matter if she’s thinking she ‘wants this’ bc 1. He can’t read her mind (yes she says out loud ‘I want you’ but then there are scenes where rlly concord shit is happening and she either says no and he doesn’t listen or she ‘says no but means yes (which is bs irl)’) 2. She is being held hostage and in an environment and situation where he has all the power. They are not on equal footing, and thus any ‘consensual’ submission or relinquishment of power cannot come from a place of consent.
An the psycolgical trauma from the being alone all the time, the only meaningful interaction being every few months when the MMC decides he feels like dropping by. Ugh infuriating.
I love dominant/alpha/vindictive types. However this MMC is manipulative and sociopathic. He’s going to go on and probably have either a redemption arc or a reason behind what he’s doing but nothing justifies this.
Basically, this ain’t it chief.
proud_book_nerd's review against another edition
4.0
I devoured the first audio book getting to know Edward and Celia. And after a small break wanted to dive right into getting to the deeper depths of their relationship.
I will say I pulled an all nighter just listening to Shane East read for Edward. But I didn't care too much for his actions in this book. I think Celia suffers from Stockholm Syndrome and Edward's choices religiously this book gave me pause.
I knew from the first book that Celia would have some traumatic events in her past but to get talk about them in detail was heartbreaking. Oh understood Edward's desire to hearit, try to carry the burden and I know he'll seem revenge in the future. But his method to help get her past it, I'm not so sure about.
I trust in Laurelin to give me a compelling story, so I'm holding my breath on how it will turn. But for now I need a nap!
I will say I pulled an all nighter just listening to Shane East read for Edward. But I didn't care too much for his actions in this book. I think Celia suffers from Stockholm Syndrome and Edward's choices religiously this book gave me pause.
I knew from the first book that Celia would have some traumatic events in her past but to get talk about them in detail was heartbreaking. Oh understood Edward's desire to hearit, try to carry the burden and I know he'll seem revenge in the future. But his method to help get her past it, I'm not so sure about.
I trust in Laurelin to give me a compelling story, so I'm holding my breath on how it will turn. But for now I need a nap!
bookobsessedgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Blown away. This story is only getting better and better. I said this when I reviewed Slay. Laurelin Paige did something I did not think was possible. The more I read in this series the more I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. Why did I ever doubt Ms. Paige could get me to love and be consumed with the story of a villain. I think Celia was possibly my most hated villain in any story I have ever read. And Laurelin Paige and her words have made her out to be one of my most favorite heroines ever. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!!!