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kaitlin_durante's review
4.0
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Dante’s End by Ariana Nash is the first book in her new The Jailor series. Dante’s home of Lenola has been plagued by the Jailor for as long as he can remember. In an attempt to fight back, Dante organizes an attack that leads him to being the Jailor’s captive. What he never expects is that the Jailor is none other than his childhood friend, Havok. Havok has been serving his purpose for so many years without question but when Dante is thrust back into his life, he finds himself at odds with his status quo. Dante and Havok are different than when they were friends as children but can they help each other and do they really want to?
Dante is not the same man Havok knew as a child by the water. He has been hardened by years of trying to protect Lenola and pretending to be okay. As a captive, he struggles with a myriad of emotions ranging from happiness at seeing his friend again, sorrow at never going home and rage at the fact that Havok has been stealing people for years under his nose. Dante is forced to face the fact that he may hate who Havok has become but he is intensely attracted to him.
He sought it elsewhere, paid to chase the high in the hands of strangers, drowned himself in ravine, tried to summon it from other lovers, from Calen, but none had felt like this– like Havok was the only creature who could make him feel alive.
Havok is good at his job as the jailor. He believes he is protecting Lenola from further casualties by just accepting their offering even if the townspeople fail to see it that way. He is a monster that is for sure because although he has moments of kindness, he has a violent jealous streak that cannot be ignored. Havok struggles as well with the emotions that Dante brings to light. The two cannot deny their hate lust is extreme and finds itself bursting to the surface.
Dante was silent, motionless, tucked against Havok’s chest. Havok had him now, and he’d find a way for them to survive this.
Ariana Nash writes a mean gay fantasy story and this is another great addition. Dante and Havok’s early time together is shattered and the pieces lead to them becoming bitter enemies. The story has steamy moments fueled by rage and distrust which is another Nash theme. I love seeing the story unveil itself to us as the readers as the past reveals itself to the characters themselves. Cliffhangers! That’s all I have to say about that and how I cannot wait to see who we meet next and what happens to Dante and Havok.
4 stars for Dante and Havok’s monstrous reunion.
Dante’s End by Ariana Nash is the first book in her new The Jailor series. Dante’s home of Lenola has been plagued by the Jailor for as long as he can remember. In an attempt to fight back, Dante organizes an attack that leads him to being the Jailor’s captive. What he never expects is that the Jailor is none other than his childhood friend, Havok. Havok has been serving his purpose for so many years without question but when Dante is thrust back into his life, he finds himself at odds with his status quo. Dante and Havok are different than when they were friends as children but can they help each other and do they really want to?
Dante is not the same man Havok knew as a child by the water. He has been hardened by years of trying to protect Lenola and pretending to be okay. As a captive, he struggles with a myriad of emotions ranging from happiness at seeing his friend again, sorrow at never going home and rage at the fact that Havok has been stealing people for years under his nose. Dante is forced to face the fact that he may hate who Havok has become but he is intensely attracted to him.
He sought it elsewhere, paid to chase the high in the hands of strangers, drowned himself in ravine, tried to summon it from other lovers, from Calen, but none had felt like this– like Havok was the only creature who could make him feel alive.
Havok is good at his job as the jailor. He believes he is protecting Lenola from further casualties by just accepting their offering even if the townspeople fail to see it that way. He is a monster that is for sure because although he has moments of kindness, he has a violent jealous streak that cannot be ignored. Havok struggles as well with the emotions that Dante brings to light. The two cannot deny their hate lust is extreme and finds itself bursting to the surface.
Dante was silent, motionless, tucked against Havok’s chest. Havok had him now, and he’d find a way for them to survive this.
Ariana Nash writes a mean gay fantasy story and this is another great addition. Dante and Havok’s early time together is shattered and the pieces lead to them becoming bitter enemies. The story has steamy moments fueled by rage and distrust which is another Nash theme. I love seeing the story unveil itself to us as the readers as the past reveals itself to the characters themselves. Cliffhangers! That’s all I have to say about that and how I cannot wait to see who we meet next and what happens to Dante and Havok.
4 stars for Dante and Havok’s monstrous reunion.
jacqueleenthereadingqueen's review against another edition
5.0
"He could never have Havok, not least because he had to kill him."
I'm having a hard time finding words for this review. Dante's end was unlike anything I have ever read. The worldbuilding is rich and twisted. Just as you think you have a hold on what is happening, something happens to prove you wrong. Who is bad and who is good? My thoughts volley back and forth on that throughout the entire book. Even at the end I am still unsure.
As this is a trilogy I am at least sure that the suffering of these characters is far from over. As one enemy falls, another who is worse takes their place. As a reader we only have a small part of the riddle of who is Havok and where he comes from. How does Dante fit into it all? And the butterflies
I'm having a hard time finding words for this review. Dante's end was unlike anything I have ever read. The worldbuilding is rich and twisted. Just as you think you have a hold on what is happening, something happens to prove you wrong. Who is bad and who is good? My thoughts volley back and forth on that throughout the entire book. Even at the end I am still unsure.
As this is a trilogy I am at least sure that the suffering of these characters is far from over. As one enemy falls, another who is worse takes their place. As a reader we only have a small part of the riddle of who is Havok and where he comes from. How does Dante fit into it all? And the butterflies
mazikeen72's review against another edition
3.0
I received an arc copy of this book.
I wanted to like it, I really did. The cover, and the blurb grabbed me immediately and I couldn't wait to dive in. Unfortunately it just didn't do it for me. That being said, it's well written, and I did finish it. I'm sure that lots of people will absolutely adore it, I'm just not one of them.
I wanted to like it, I really did. The cover, and the blurb grabbed me immediately and I couldn't wait to dive in. Unfortunately it just didn't do it for me. That being said, it's well written, and I did finish it. I'm sure that lots of people will absolutely adore it, I'm just not one of them.
v30n098's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
twistingsnake's review
This wasn’t for me. The prologue threw me off and it just didn’t improve in the way I was hoping for.
meghanreadsmm's review against another edition
5.0
I was certain I wrote a review of this. Anyway...
In middle school, I read [b:The Darkangel|92717|The Darkangel (Darkangel Trilogy, #1)|Meredith Ann Pierce|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1330303462l/92717._SY75_.jpg|1386324] by [a:Meredith Ann Pierce|22543|Meredith Ann Pierce|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1220137936p2/22543.jpg]. This book is strongly reminiscent of that story line. I LOVED that book and this new series by [a:Ariana Nash|18510938|Ariana Nash|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1539505956p2/18510938.jpg], who I also love, has brought an updated M/M version to life. Absolutely thrilled with the results! It is dark and violent, but not quite as nasty as many in the genre, which I appreciate. This is more of a traditional dark, gothic fantasy written for a more modern audience. Thank you, Ariana!
In middle school, I read [b:The Darkangel|92717|The Darkangel (Darkangel Trilogy, #1)|Meredith Ann Pierce|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1330303462l/92717._SY75_.jpg|1386324] by [a:Meredith Ann Pierce|22543|Meredith Ann Pierce|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1220137936p2/22543.jpg]. This book is strongly reminiscent of that story line. I LOVED that book and this new series by [a:Ariana Nash|18510938|Ariana Nash|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1539505956p2/18510938.jpg], who I also love, has brought an updated M/M version to life. Absolutely thrilled with the results! It is dark and violent, but not quite as nasty as many in the genre, which I appreciate. This is more of a traditional dark, gothic fantasy written for a more modern audience. Thank you, Ariana!
noahhawthorne's review
5.0
Epic and vengeful, dark and twisted.
This was beyond what I expected and I knew from the first page I was hooked. The betrayal and heartbreak was gripping and the friendship filled with hatred between Dante and Havok was spectacular.
This was beyond what I expected and I knew from the first page I was hooked. The betrayal and heartbreak was gripping and the friendship filled with hatred between Dante and Havok was spectacular.