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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Not what I was expecting
I’ve been looking at lots of book recommendations lately so I might have gotten this one mixed up with another but I thought I was getting a reverse harem. This, this was self inflected emotional abuse. Like I’m contemplating forgoing sleep to start book two. Talk about a mind fu*k. And I have no idea how i feel about any of the characters and there feels like so much to unpack about Ayla’s life that wasn’t even really addressed. This isn’t quite the hot and heavy I thought I was getting but I’ll definitely tuned in.
I’ve been looking at lots of book recommendations lately so I might have gotten this one mixed up with another but I thought I was getting a reverse harem. This, this was self inflected emotional abuse. Like I’m contemplating forgoing sleep to start book two. Talk about a mind fu*k. And I have no idea how i feel about any of the characters and there feels like so much to unpack about Ayla’s life that wasn’t even really addressed. This isn’t quite the hot and heavy I thought I was getting but I’ll definitely tuned in.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So simple and effective, I'd tend to say, it's a scenario that's not too elaborate but relatively original and it's also the first time that I've read a book with a heroine who has a severe physical handicap.
The attraction between the two main characters is quite strange, illogical, bordering on the soulmate trope but it's underlined quite regularly, even the heroine doesn't understand why she's so in love so it catches up.
The sex scenes are also very good and the characters are very well worked too.
The attraction between the two main characters is quite strange, illogical, bordering on the soulmate trope but it's underlined quite regularly, even the heroine doesn't understand why she's so in love so it catches up.
The sex scenes are also very good and the characters are very well worked too.
This poor cover model probably didn't drink water for an entire day just to get this massively cut photo.
On to actual thoughts about the story.
For the majority of the book I thought it was going to be a pnr. Don’t ask why, I don’t know! Maybe it was the ethereal feel to her dreams or her “connections” with the guys? I was expecting vampire or shifters at the end…so don’t be like me. It has zero pnr action. It's a RH, but there are only a couple steamy scenes and those are with one guy.
Ayla was raised in the foster care system and Also, she may or may not have a younger brother. Ayla was 17 when she lost part of her right arm when she jumps in front of bullets meant for a stranger (at the time) named Marcus.
Some of the plot points felt off, or brushed over.
-All the MC's are 17/18 in the first chapter, and are at a bar drinking and dancing. Maybe all four of them used fake ID's? The bulk of the story takes place 2.5 years after this, so they are all around 22/23.
-Marcus, Ryland, and Theo are the H. They are very wealthy, but we never hear about them actually working. They live in a huge mansion, have nice clothes, and garage filled with expensive cars, etc.
-Ayla has a gorgeous half sleeve but says she barely has enough money to feed herself and pay her own rent, how the heck did she afford that expensive tattoo? We are reminded a few times that she's trying to save up money to attend college. (works as a bartender and temp aid)
- The entire reason for the story felt really stupid and a bit of a let down...probably because I was expecting werewolves. I thought that
On to actual thoughts about the story.
For the majority of the book I thought it was going to be a pnr. Don’t ask why, I don’t know! Maybe it was the ethereal feel to her dreams or her “connections” with the guys? I was expecting vampire or shifters at the end…so don’t be like me. It has zero pnr action. It's a RH, but there are only a couple steamy scenes and those are with one guy.
Ayla was raised in the foster care system and
Spoiler
was raped by her foster father at the age of 15. This isn't really discussed in detail, but we know she tried to take her own life after that.Some of the plot points felt off, or brushed over.
-All the MC's are 17/18 in the first chapter, and are at a bar drinking and dancing. Maybe all four of them used fake ID's? The bulk of the story takes place 2.5 years after this, so they are all around 22/23.
-Marcus, Ryland, and Theo are the H. They are very wealthy, but we never hear about them actually working. They live in a huge mansion, have nice clothes, and garage filled with expensive cars, etc.
-Ayla has a gorgeous half sleeve but says she barely has enough money to feed herself and pay her own rent, how the heck did she afford that expensive tattoo? We are reminded a few times that she's trying to save up money to attend college. (works as a bartender and temp aid)
- The entire reason for the story felt really stupid and a bit of a let down...probably because I was expecting werewolves. I thought that
Spoiler
the gangster that lost his wife and didn't have any kids might have secretly been her father and when he found out about Ayla, he was going to leave his empire/town to her. Not the lame group of men that are trying to kill each other off for the privilege of ruling.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Interesting premise, I'm curious about the following books!
I loved the disability representation also, it's very uncommon within this type of genre especially when it's about the main female character!
3 stars
I loved the disability representation also, it's very uncommon within this type of genre especially when it's about the main female character!
3 stars
I was waiting for the moment where it all got better and it just never did.
BookTok made me do this. And god bless it, haha. This was a very quick read which I appreciate. The pacing is good and I liked the build up to things, the cliff hanger almost killed me. If you're reading this and realize you're enjoying it, I would grab the second book while reading to make sure you can dive into it as soon as you finish this one. The main character is an amputee which was a really cool difference, but it was almost mentioned too much.
HOLLLYYYYYY CLIFFHANGER
I went into this book semi-blind only knowing it was a dark RH romance that did NOT disappoint. This book was really setting the scene for the books to come and I CANNOT wait! Ayla has been through so much in her life and I’m so glad she finally has people in her corner. There were so many cliffhangers and I can’t wait for all of the truths to be revealed!
I went into this book semi-blind only knowing it was a dark RH romance that did NOT disappoint. This book was really setting the scene for the books to come and I CANNOT wait! Ayla has been through so much in her life and I’m so glad she finally has people in her corner. There were so many cliffhangers and I can’t wait for all of the truths to be revealed!