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dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i'm conflicted...
don't get me wrong, I was utterly hooked to reading this and it was hard to put it down. Read most of it in a day, but had left the last 3 chapters for a few days before actually finishing it, so it was enthralling but parts of it are not my cup of tea *cries*
for example, the first few chapters my brain kept saying no way this got published, like Nikolai's first POV chapter was something else. But, I loved Brandon so I kept reading. The second half was much better than the first, in my opinion, and I loved the tender moments between Bran and Niko, the family vibes when they visit Bran's parents, the relationship between Bran and Lan - all beautiful <3
however, there's also the weird and cringy writing that kept pulling me out of the book, some moments that had me go ehhhh wtf am I reading, the way women are treated in the book, and a few other things. So I can't go higher than 3 stars (one for the twins bond - yay for the "other half" to be back, one for Brandon, and one for the cuteness at times and the humor - like Levi's POV chapter) because there are many drawbacks. I did love it, and it seems to be one of the few of Rina's books that I actually want to read. I love reading trash sometimes, you just gotta know what you're into
don't get me wrong, I was utterly hooked to reading this and it was hard to put it down. Read most of it in a day, but had left the last 3 chapters for a few days before actually finishing it, so it was enthralling but parts of it are not my cup of tea *cries*
for example, the first few chapters my brain kept saying no way this got published, like Nikolai's first POV chapter was something else. But, I loved Brandon so I kept reading. The second half was much better than the first, in my opinion, and I loved the tender moments between Bran and Niko, the family vibes when they visit Bran's parents, the relationship between Bran and Lan - all beautiful <3
however, there's also the weird and cringy writing that kept pulling me out of the book, some moments that had me go ehhhh wtf am I reading, the way women are treated in the book, and a few other things. So I can't go higher than 3 stars (one for the twins bond - yay for the "other half" to be back, one for Brandon, and one for the cuteness at times and the humor - like Levi's POV chapter) because there are many drawbacks. I did love it, and it seems to be one of the few of Rina's books that I actually want to read. I love reading trash sometimes, you just gotta know what you're into
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book is my first MM Dark Romance and I wasn’t prepared for how dark it got. Tears were definitely shed. All in all though this book was really good. The possessiveness the main MMC’s had for each other was hot. Nikolai was VERY UNHINGED but at heart a golden retriever. Truly did not expect to have a character’s dick be its own entity but it brought about some hilarious points within the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Loved this story , they started as my favourite and ended ad my favourite
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
FUCK MY LIFE!😭😭❤️ this book breaks me every single time I read it! Do I learn..? No. But that’s not the point💀
Bran and Nico will forever have a special place in my heart ❤️🩹🪷💛
I love them sm it physically hurts!
If you haven’t read it what are you doing?! But tjek triggers bc it is heavy AF!
3 time reading it and it is just as good, if not better!
Brandon is so relatable and such a sweet character that his hurt was LITERALLY my hurt!😭
Nico is one of my all time favourites characters fr! He is so fucking funny and chaotic and I LOVE IT!!❤️❤️❤️
But damn I hope I finde this type of love one day🥲 but I don’t think any real man could ever compare to Nico or his husband fr
Bran and Nico will forever have a special place in my heart ❤️🩹🪷💛
I love them sm it physically hurts!
If you haven’t read it what are you doing?! But tjek triggers bc it is heavy AF!
3 time reading it and it is just as good, if not better!
Brandon is so relatable and such a sweet character that his hurt was LITERALLY my hurt!😭
Nico is one of my all time favourites characters fr! He is so fucking funny and chaotic and I LOVE IT!!❤️❤️❤️
But damn I hope I finde this type of love one day🥲 but I don’t think any real man could ever compare to Nico or his husband fr
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia
This book is centred around abandon and his trauma.
It is explained in explicit detail how he got groomed, sexually assaulted and raped by his moms art agent and how he cuts himself afterwards to deal with it there is a lot of internal homophobia and it is heavy on violence too
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a fun, messy read—dark romance chaos with a mafia twist and a heavy dose of enemies-to-lovers tension. Nikos and Bran have electric chemistry, but the constant push-pull between them got repetitive fast. The same cycle—together, apart, can’t stay away—played out a few too many times, and by the end, it felt like the book could’ve been at least 200 pages shorter.
That said, when the dynamic did hit, it hit hard. The tension, the vulnerability, and the emotional unraveling were really compelling, especially toward the end. I just wish we got more of that and less of the loop.
Rina Kent knows how to write intensity, and this one definitely delivers on that front. Just be aware: it’s dark, 18+, and comes with a solid list of trigger warnings—so check those before diving in.
If you enjoy MM romance with complicated characters, emotional warfare, and morally gray relationships, this one might be up your alley.
That said, when the dynamic did hit, it hit hard. The tension, the vulnerability, and the emotional unraveling were really compelling, especially toward the end. I just wish we got more of that and less of the loop.
Rina Kent knows how to write intensity, and this one definitely delivers on that front. Just be aware: it’s dark, 18+, and comes with a solid list of trigger warnings—so check those before diving in.
If you enjoy MM romance with complicated characters, emotional warfare, and morally gray relationships, this one might be up your alley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved this book. The dynamic between Brandon and Nikolas was really sweet and a little crazy, I won't lie. But I really enjoyed reading it and I loved that serious issues were dealt with in this book and not romanticized.
The book is a little crazy and there is a lot of smut and gore. If you don't like that sort of thing then this book is not for you. But I definitely loved it, even though I was pushed to my limit at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape, Murder
Minor: Homophobia, Alcohol