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dark
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 genuinely have no clue how I finished this book. The only reason I can think is that it was just easy. No politics or complex magic system. But this book is not good.
This book could EASILY have been 300 pages shorter. The backstories and development were saves for the final 60 pages.
The characters feel like they go from nothing to "sure let's bang" with no real development at all. And Niko being horny af for Brandon was so constant and obnoxious it got annoying and repetitive.
1. I hated the constant on and off. It could have made sense with actually decent plot and development. But it just seemed to happen randomly to cause drama. And it happened at moments that made NO sense.
2. Finding out Brandon had been raped makes a lot of scenes shitty. Brandon is clearly still traumatized, so how the fuck is him saying NO and Niko not stopping NOT triggering him? EVENTUALLY Brandon wants Niko, but before that? Brandon comes out as demisexual so he couldn't have been sexually interested in Niko before getting to know him
3. Grace sensing the video was stupid as hell. Even if she thought Brandon wanted it, he was 15. It was still illegal. Even if Niko was a totally normal dude, the video would have ruined her life. It would have made more sense if she had told Niko about it, go into detail so he doesn't think she's lying. Mention to Brandon of he walks in as she is saying all this and could still have the same result.
4. Brandon just had neck surgery for 7 hours fixing nerves and artery. He would not be waking up and having full conversations. He would be medicated, in pain, tired af.
This book could EASILY have been 300 pages shorter. The backstories and development were saves for the final 60 pages.
The characters feel like they go from nothing to "sure let's bang" with no real development at all. And Niko being horny af for Brandon was so constant and obnoxious it got annoying and repetitive.
1. I hated the constant on and off. It could have made sense with actually decent plot and development. But it just seemed to happen randomly to cause drama. And it happened at moments that made NO sense.
2. Finding out Brandon had been raped makes a lot of scenes shitty. Brandon is clearly still traumatized, so how the fuck is him saying NO and Niko not stopping NOT triggering him? EVENTUALLY Brandon wants Niko, but before that? Brandon comes out as demisexual so he couldn't have been sexually interested in Niko before getting to know him
3. Grace sensing the video was stupid as hell. Even if she thought Brandon wanted it, he was 15. It was still illegal. Even if Niko was a totally normal dude, the video would have ruined her life. It would have made more sense if she had told Niko about it, go into detail so he doesn't think she's lying. Mention to Brandon of he walks in as she is saying all this and could still have the same result.
4. Brandon just had neck surgery for 7 hours fixing nerves and artery. He would not be waking up and having full conversations. He would be medicated, in pain, tired af.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
This book is a soul-deep exploration of pain, control and vulnerability and I was hooked from the first page.
Bran prides himself on being in control. His schedule is planned, every day following the same routine to keep out the darkness that swallows him whole, but Niko is determined to see every part of him. Watching Bran fight his feelings, deny the pull towards Niko, battle his sexuality and try to cling onto control until it nearly destroys him was so heartbreakingly beautiful. You can really feel his desperation to not unravel, structuring his life to keep his own beasts at bay.
Nikolai could not be more opposite. Letting his beasts free is his favourite pastime, he is nothing if not chaos, sharp edges and reckless violence. But then he meets Brandon and everything changes. All he wants is to understand him. Even when Bran forces him back into the closet, even when Bran pushes him away, he’s there, trying.
Their push and pull is worth every second. You spent half the book waiting for them to break, waiting for the last straw but begging they don’t, begging they find a way to stay together because their private moments? Some of the best of the series.
Bran prides himself on being in control. His schedule is planned, every day following the same routine to keep out the darkness that swallows him whole, but Niko is determined to see every part of him. Watching Bran fight his feelings, deny the pull towards Niko, battle his sexuality and try to cling onto control until it nearly destroys him was so heartbreakingly beautiful. You can really feel his desperation to not unravel, structuring his life to keep his own beasts at bay.
Nikolai could not be more opposite. Letting his beasts free is his favourite pastime, he is nothing if not chaos, sharp edges and reckless violence. But then he meets Brandon and everything changes. All he wants is to understand him. Even when Bran forces him back into the closet, even when Bran pushes him away, he’s there, trying.
Their push and pull is worth every second. You spent half the book waiting for them to break, waiting for the last straw but begging they don’t, begging they find a way to stay together because their private moments? Some of the best of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia, Blood, Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
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:
Yes
I wasn’t sure at first but Bran and Nikolai grew on me throughout the whole book. I really resonated with Brandon and what he was going through. It was honestly too much at times seeing myself reflected in a character. I’m glad I read this book and look forward to Gareth’s book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Yes
Loved this book! Far the best of the series. While the other books of the GOL-series focused more on “You’re mine, my property etc.” part, and is a little bit toxic, which is to be expected by a dark romance book where the MMC literally can’t feel emotions, this book is such a cutie patotie MxM book with just the right amount of possessiveness but mostly real raw love. You will probably cry during this book and it’ll hurt, but it’s the good kind of pain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Outing
Moderate: Violence, Grief
Minor: Stalking
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've been in a reading slump for the past couple months, and I think this might be the book to get me out of it. Like it's so perfect I think I'm in love.
One of my friends read it last year, then reread it about 5 times basically told me the entire plot, all of twist and sad or exciting moments and I would still jump of a bridge for this book. Literally so perfect, had me laughing, crying, squealing and smiling like a crazy person half the time.
5 out of 5, would recommend to anyone just wanting a sad romance with some darker elements but not jumping full throttle into the genre of drak romance, so very we'll writen and the perfect length.
Also if you really sensitive to blood, violence, swearing and kind of stalking then please read the content warnings I added they kind of spoil some of the book but it's not obvious what they point to until that point in the book. But if you deal with like fights, physical and verbal, as well as like alot of swearing. You'll be fine, there's not alot of blood, barely even mentioned and I'm only added alot of content warnings for people who need them. The average person will almost be fine with everything in the book.
Enjoy your reading.
One of my friends read it last year, then reread it about 5 times basically told me the entire plot, all of twist and sad or exciting moments and I would still jump of a bridge for this book. Literally so perfect, had me laughing, crying, squealing and smiling like a crazy person half the time.
5 out of 5, would recommend to anyone just wanting a sad romance with some darker elements but not jumping full throttle into the genre of drak romance, so very we'll writen and the perfect length.
Also if you really sensitive to blood, violence, swearing and kind of stalking then please read the content warnings I added they kind of spoil some of the book but it's not obvious what they point to until that point in the book. But if you deal with like fights, physical and verbal, as well as like alot of swearing. You'll be fine, there's not alot of blood, barely even mentioned and I'm only added alot of content warnings for people who need them. The average person will almost be fine with everything in the book.
Enjoy your reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Stalking, Suicide attempt
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Murder
dark
emotional
funny
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide attempt
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Suicide attempt
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
funny
sad
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
so good i love this book become one of my fav comfort reads and i love Bran and Niko and if you like enemies to lovers , force proximity, opposite attracts, and you love mm romance or you want to get in to mm you will fall in love this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder