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4.5 AVERAGE
4.5 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If I could give this book (this duet) 10 stars, I would. I absolutely loved it from page one! The suspense was gripping, the backdrop macabre and creepy in all the right ways. It had me in a chokehold and didn’t let go until I reached THE END, and now I don’t know what to do with myself.
I’m usually not at a loss for words, as I thought many of them as I read, things I wanted and needed to say in my review, but now that I’m here, so that others will know to RUN to read this duet, I struggle to put it all down. It had everything I love in it: great plot development, unpredictable twists and turns, great character development, complex and layered relationship development, and so much more. I gasped, I chuckled, I spent too much time furrowing my brow and holding my breath during tense scenes. Nothing was gratuitous in nature as can be the case so often in dark romance, and everything mattered. Nothing was over the top or dramatic for the sake of shock and awe, and I just can’t sing this duet’s praises enough. It was such a well laid out story with action, steam, redemption, a touch of horror, mystery, and all the suspense you could want. Forget the toxic, manipulative love of Joker and Harley Quinn that people so often laud—Eve and Emery are who you want. I was in a book slump and this was more than I could’ve hoped for—except now I don’t know what I’m doing with my life. Enjoy! Please protect yourself and check trigger warnings on the author’s page.
I’m usually not at a loss for words, as I thought many of them as I read, things I wanted and needed to say in my review, but now that I’m here, so that others will know to RUN to read this duet, I struggle to put it all down. It had everything I love in it: great plot development, unpredictable twists and turns, great character development, complex and layered relationship development, and so much more. I gasped, I chuckled, I spent too much time furrowing my brow and holding my breath during tense scenes. Nothing was gratuitous in nature as can be the case so often in dark romance, and everything mattered. Nothing was over the top or dramatic for the sake of shock and awe, and I just can’t sing this duet’s praises enough. It was such a well laid out story with action, steam, redemption, a touch of horror, mystery, and all the suspense you could want. Forget the toxic, manipulative love of Joker and Harley Quinn that people so often laud—Eve and Emery are who you want. I was in a book slump and this was more than I could’ve hoped for—except now I don’t know what I’m doing with my life. Enjoy! Please protect yourself and check trigger warnings on the author’s page.
The story of Eve and Emery is not for the faint of heart. The twists and turns in this book had me hooked! I couldn’t put it down! While not super spicy, those spicy scenes were everything! I can’t wait for book 2! Masks may be my new favorite!
This was excellent. I love dark romance but I feel like I’m reading the same lines over and over. The same, let me see you weep…let me see you run….
The plot in this was so different than what I’ve read before and I could not put it down! It was so good. I will say, the twist was one I saw about a third of the way in, but I was still captivated because I wanted to see if it would play out well and it did! The way the two main characters came together felt completely natural and authentic to the storyline. I loved it!
The plot in this was so different than what I’ve read before and I could not put it down! It was so good. I will say, the twist was one I saw about a third of the way in, but I was still captivated because I wanted to see if it would play out well and it did! The way the two main characters came together felt completely natural and authentic to the storyline. I loved it!
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
This was such an amazing book!!! It was everything I wanted and more. The characters are so well developed and interesting.
The twists are maybe a bit predictable but I was still at the edge of my seat the whole time. I felt my heart racing for so much of this book, I read it in one night unable to stop.
Can't wait to read more from this author!
The twists are maybe a bit predictable but I was still at the edge of my seat the whole time. I felt my heart racing for so much of this book, I read it in one night unable to stop.
Can't wait to read more from this author!
I am baffled. I am flabbergasted. I am shook to my core. The psychological twists and turns in this book were absolutely insane and kept me on the edge of my seat. As Eve uncovered thr truth behind everything... my heart shattered. But I truly could not have imagined that things would go the way it did. My heart was beating out of my chest on several occasions. And then I was finishing the last chapter and I was yelling, screaming... THE CLIFFHANGER?! I'll be on pins and needles waiting for the next book.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Whoa! This book is dark yet you still fall for the morally black MMC like Emery! The ending was a little predictable but that was ok because it sets up book two. He now gets to try and save her from her uncle who is probably trying to keep her from escaping and ruining the family! Writing style is pretty good but could use a little better dialogue between characters. I’m excited to see what happens next.
I was surprised by the hold this book had on me.
I haven’t read a lot of DARK dark romance, but I caught a reference to [b:Beautiful Prey|220166549|Beautiful Prey|Lora Darc|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1728240623l/220166549._SY75_.jpg|227097939] on TikTok, and my interest was piqued. What surprised me most about this book is how hard it was to put down. Early on, I was compelled to keep reading to find out what would happen next.
Author [a:Lora Darc|19127689|Lora Darc|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1728221654p2/19127689.jpg] created a captivating tale. While I wouldn’t say that the main character (Eve) resonated with me, once I got past her decision to secretly face her family’s killer (Emery), I understood why she kept going back. Each interaction with Emery delivered a reason to return. Each unexpected twist or hurdle appearing in the storyline gave me a reason to read another chapter. Eve might’ve made some unusual choices, but I found myself accepting them. Those choices seemed to be in line with the character the author wanted to present. As a result, she felt authentic.
I was a bit unnerved that I found myself rooting for Emery as the plot progressed. Honestly, the more I learned, the more I cared about him. I wanted to see something truly good in his life, even though he was a psychopath. Perhaps it was through Eve’s eyes that I (as the reader) felt compassion—or maybe it’s the compassion I felt as a reader that helped me more easily accept Eve’s decisions, even when they were dangerous.
To be clear, Emery is not the “bad boy who needs to be loved,” or some morally gray character who saves the day, or even the villain who does the right thing in the end. Emery *is* broken. He did very bad things and has no regrets.
We learn of his hidden past through Eve’s research. What she finds out is shocking and horrific. Turns out Emery’s trauma paved the way for his acute psychosis. If we’re to be honest, the chance of him “getting better” is not in the cards, no matter what Eve believes or what misguided therapists might think.
In spite of any compassion I might feel for Emery, I would not want to sit across the table from him and have a chat—even if he was chained to a chair. And yet, I really wanted to see him somehow win. I believe this was a result of the author’s planful character development through small but intricate scenes. Bit by bit, she built a character who was so much more than a run-of-the-mill slasher.
Through Eve’s interactions and in between his hallucinations, we find a man who is intelligent, fairly well-read, thoughtful, strategic, adept, creative, and confident. But there is another surprising side of Emery, one where intimacy is approached with trepidation and hopefulness laced with fear, and tenderness is expressed by the beast he is when least expected.
I want to touch on the skull mask that Emery wears through the majority of the story. He does let Eve remove it, and occasionally, he would leave it off (later in the book). To me, the mask is a symbol of what people perceive him to be—and even what Emery *wants* others to see him as: Something scary, a dealer in death. But behind the mask—the violent part of him that he presents to the world—is a broken man. When the mask is removed, the scars (literal and figurative) are there. Whether the mask is on or off, he’s deadly dangerous.
Expect some surprises, side characters you’ll like or hate, and all hell to eventually break loose. If you like steam or heat in your dark romance books, you’ll find it here. On a 1 to 5 scale, I’d say the steam/heat is about a 3. (It’s subjective.) Overall, there isn’t much sex in the book, but you will find some explicit scenes.
I anticipated the ending, and I think you will, too. I actually dreaded how the book would resolve. While I wasn’t completely off-base in my prediction as to what would happen, there was a surprise at the end that now has me excited to read the next book in the series. It’s due to be released in a couple of weeks.
If DARK dark romance is your thing, and your palette for the genre is pretty broad, give this book a go. You’re going to see the label “Stockholm syndrome” crop up in reviews (or in character dialogue), but don’t immediately go there. That’s too easy. Dig in deeper and ask: why does this book have a hold on me? Why am I compelled to keep reading?
Five stars to author Darc and Beautiful Prey.
I haven’t read a lot of DARK dark romance, but I caught a reference to [b:Beautiful Prey|220166549|Beautiful Prey|Lora Darc|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1728240623l/220166549._SY75_.jpg|227097939] on TikTok, and my interest was piqued. What surprised me most about this book is how hard it was to put down. Early on, I was compelled to keep reading to find out what would happen next.
Author [a:Lora Darc|19127689|Lora Darc|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1728221654p2/19127689.jpg] created a captivating tale. While I wouldn’t say that the main character (Eve) resonated with me, once I got past her decision to secretly face her family’s killer (Emery), I understood why she kept going back. Each interaction with Emery delivered a reason to return. Each unexpected twist or hurdle appearing in the storyline gave me a reason to read another chapter. Eve might’ve made some unusual choices, but I found myself accepting them. Those choices seemed to be in line with the character the author wanted to present. As a result, she felt authentic.
I was a bit unnerved that I found myself rooting for Emery as the plot progressed. Honestly, the more I learned, the more I cared about him. I wanted to see something truly good in his life, even though he was a psychopath. Perhaps it was through Eve’s eyes that I (as the reader) felt compassion—or maybe it’s the compassion I felt as a reader that helped me more easily accept Eve’s decisions, even when they were dangerous.
To be clear, Emery is not the “bad boy who needs to be loved,” or some morally gray character who saves the day, or even the villain who does the right thing in the end. Emery *is* broken. He did very bad things and has no regrets.
We learn of his hidden past through Eve’s research. What she finds out is shocking and horrific. Turns out Emery’s trauma paved the way for his acute psychosis. If we’re to be honest, the chance of him “getting better” is not in the cards, no matter what Eve believes or what misguided therapists might think.
In spite of any compassion I might feel for Emery, I would not want to sit across the table from him and have a chat—even if he was chained to a chair. And yet, I really wanted to see him somehow win. I believe this was a result of the author’s planful character development through small but intricate scenes. Bit by bit, she built a character who was so much more than a run-of-the-mill slasher.
Through Eve’s interactions and in between his hallucinations, we find a man who is intelligent, fairly well-read, thoughtful, strategic, adept, creative, and confident. But there is another surprising side of Emery, one where intimacy is approached with trepidation and hopefulness laced with fear, and tenderness is expressed by the beast he is when least expected.
I want to touch on the skull mask that Emery wears through the majority of the story. He does let Eve remove it, and occasionally, he would leave it off (later in the book). To me, the mask is a symbol of what people perceive him to be—and even what Emery *wants* others to see him as: Something scary, a dealer in death. But behind the mask—the violent part of him that he presents to the world—is a broken man. When the mask is removed, the scars (literal and figurative) are there. Whether the mask is on or off, he’s deadly dangerous.
Expect some surprises, side characters you’ll like or hate, and all hell to eventually break loose. If you like steam or heat in your dark romance books, you’ll find it here. On a 1 to 5 scale, I’d say the steam/heat is about a 3. (It’s subjective.) Overall, there isn’t much sex in the book, but you will find some explicit scenes.
I anticipated the ending, and I think you will, too. I actually dreaded how the book would resolve. While I wasn’t completely off-base in my prediction as to what would happen, there was a surprise at the end that now has me excited to read the next book in the series. It’s due to be released in a couple of weeks.
If DARK dark romance is your thing, and your palette for the genre is pretty broad, give this book a go. You’re going to see the label “Stockholm syndrome” crop up in reviews (or in character dialogue), but don’t immediately go there. That’s too easy. Dig in deeper and ask: why does this book have a hold on me? Why am I compelled to keep reading?
Five stars to author Darc and Beautiful Prey.