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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Spicy - yes. Otherwise - no. Lots of “it’s bad but it’s so good” and “something I didn’t know I needed until just now”
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
😭😭😭
I don't want this to be over. I miss Jess, Manson, Lucas, Vincent, and Jason already. I absolutely loved the found family here. I loved their relationship. It will be hard to not read about these characters anymore.
This is the spiciest book I've ever read, but the plot was still there. There was so much trauma to work through for each of these characters that I think can be relatable for anyone. It made me tear up in a couple of spots because of how raw the emotion was.
Harley Laroux is one of my favorite authors. They write such incredible characters that it is so hard to finish a book because you don't want to leave the story. I can't wait for more from this author.
As always, please read your triggers. This is a very spicy book!
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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:
Complicated
dark
emotional
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
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
medium-paced
The writing was good and both books are a fun exploration of BDSM and kink with emphasis on safety and care for anyone who is unfamiliar with this world to learn. The author was very detailed in explaining the appeal of submission and masochist behaviour and the different psychological needs it fulfills for the person who chooses that lifestyle.
The issue with the book is there is no story outside of the encounters. If you toned down the spice factor you would end up with a rather generic romance story. They meet, they fall in love,.there is a bad guy who causes trouble but they get past that and they live happily ever after.
It's pretty dull when nothing is on the line. Yes there is a stalkery bad guy but he is out written.
I think I will stick to RH and supernatural powers.
The issue with the book is there is no story outside of the encounters. If you toned down the spice factor you would end up with a rather generic romance story. They meet, they fall in love,.there is a bad guy who causes trouble but they get past that and they live happily ever after.
It's pretty dull when nothing is on the line. Yes there is a stalkery bad guy but he is out written.
I think I will stick to RH and supernatural powers.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
sad
fast-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
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
This review for Part II is actually part 2 of my review for the series - for part 1 see Review by keraniluna - Losers: Part I | The StoryGraph If you are interested in this series, start with The Dare and then Losers Part I - this isn't a standalone.
For the second part of the series, I'm going to talk about the BDSM aspects - I already discussed the unique and amazing dynamics of this poly family and the addition of Jess to the group in Part I.
One thing I found really incredible about this series is how the author treated BDSM. I've tried, and failed, to find many books that balance the spice, the BDSM or D/s aspects, and the storyline. This is one of those books. The dynamic between the boys, even before Jess comes in, is D/s in some ways - Manson, the ringleader of the group, is the Daddy Dom in some ways, helping to guide the group. But because it's a polycule, there's room for more dynamics.Vincent is also dominant most of the time, to the point that they say Vince and Manson don't really play with each other often, but his dominance is different - more involved, more challenging in some ways, while Manson is a bit more distant and likes to direct the play just as much as he likes to be in it. The two more submissive characters, Jason and Lucas, are also quite different from each other, and they interact differently with Manson and Vince as well. Lucas's need for submission comes from his tendency towards violence and his feeling that he isn't worthy of good things - being dominated helps him direct that energy and grow. Jason is more chaotic and needs to submit to control his high-frequency energy, and there is at least one time with Jess where he enjoys being made to submit a bit even with her. And all of the boys are typically more dominant with Jess - she loves submitting.
What was very special here was a few things combined:
For the second part of the series, I'm going to talk about the BDSM aspects - I already discussed the unique and amazing dynamics of this poly family and the addition of Jess to the group in Part I.
One thing I found really incredible about this series is how the author treated BDSM. I've tried, and failed, to find many books that balance the spice, the BDSM or D/s aspects, and the storyline. This is one of those books. The dynamic between the boys, even before Jess comes in, is D/s in some ways - Manson, the ringleader of the group, is the Daddy Dom in some ways, helping to guide the group. But because it's a polycule, there's room for more dynamics.
What was very special here was a few things combined:
- The BDSM aspects are always described in a consent-forward way - the characters often ask "Are you ready?" before starting, and safewords are consistently talked about and even used in the scenes. Everyone in the play feels safe at all times, even when they're really pushing limits.
- At the same time, the scenes are almost always somewhat informal - they're not negotiated scenes in a club (although there are club parts, they're still not a formal "scene"), and they don't usually take place in a location designed for BDSM play. The characters play where they are - at home, sometimes even in public - and while they do have tons of toys and gear, the play is still refreshingly spontaneous. There's nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned BDSM dungeon scene, but this story is more reflective of how I'd imagine most people play - whenever and wherever they're inspired (but still with the proper safeguards in place!).
- There isn't an undercurrent of "brokenness" within the BDSM dynamic. So often I see a dominant who is overly emotional, loses control, and really has no place directing play when they're so emotionally charged. Here, the play helps address the emotional issues the characters have - their roles in the play help fill something they need. And not all of the characters are as emotionally damaged - I would argue that while Jess has her issues with her family and friends, her upbringing was relatively positive, and Vincent has a very supportive family. They still have this need within them, and the play still fulfills their needs.
- The characters have different dynamics outside playtime. While they still fulfill their roles somewhat during normal life - Manson running the household, everyone watching over Jess - they don't have a full-time D/s dynamic in their day-to-day lives, and they treat each other as equals with respect when they're not playing. Again, nothing wrong with a full-time slave/Master dynamic, but I found that the way they live and play was more reflective of how I experience my own life, and I'd imagine it's more relatable for most people as well.
Some of the hottest parts of the play for me (spoilers coming!) were:
- Any time Jess is made to be a slave to the boys in public (so hot!), and other public-facing things like her collar at the end
- The lovingly organized kidnapping/breakin scenes that fill a need for Jess and the boys but are done carefully so that everyone feels safe
- The scene in the club, which again is quite public - and the champagne bottle part after the public play (still thinking about that one!)
- The rope play in the attic, where they play facing each other
- The final scene with everyone in it, with a bit of a breeding kink thrown in - the descriptions of how messy she gets are....chefs kiss
I'll reiterate that I plan on reading this over and over - the effortless combination of the MMMMF dynamic, the polycule, and BDSM that's safe, consensual, and still incredibly hot is something so special. As someone who doesn't usually seek out poly or MM stories, this was incredibly refreshing and food for my soul. Everything comes together so well through love and caring for each other, and in the end that's the most important part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Violence
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol