Scan barcode
michellemaas's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
* Beware of minor spoilers
3 - ⭐⭐⭐
The first installment in a series of standalone novellas. Adult Dark Romance with lots of sexual exploration (specifically degradation kink).
I have always seen this book be promoted as "short and spicy" so when I picked it up I thought I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting into: a quick and face-paced read to help me get ahead on my reading challenge and enjoy some good old smut along the way. Which, in fairness, it was short (only 108 pages) and it was spicy (I'd give it 🌶🌶🌶🌶) but it was also so much more than I bargained for and I'm kind of shocked no one talks about it.
"She thought we were done. How cute."
Games We Play follows Jack, a professional gamer, and Quinlan who is sent to write a story on him. When Quinlan makes a remark about Jack's side job, he offers to make use of their undeniable chemistry and help Quinlan explore sexually.
"You are everything to me, Quinlan. You found me when I had honestly given up on ever finding anyone. I was alone, hiding, and shut off to anyone, and in you walked with your big eyes and sass mouth and swept me right off my feet. You gave me something I didn’t know I could have."
However, this wasn't just 100 pages of bedroom shenanigans like I expected, but rather a surprisingly well-developed start to Jack and Quinlan's love story. They have some scenes where they get to know each other aside from their fondling, including discussions of some pretty serious topics along the way. We also get to meet Jack's ragtag but likable band of friends who will each get their own novella in the future.
The one thing I didn't like was the way the characters were written as individuals if that makes sense. Now I try not to take character analysis too seriously when I only have 100 odd pages to get to know them, but their personalities just seemed weird and unrealistic? For example, Quinlan talks about not understanding the appeal of a degradation kink, and after agreeing to explore it with Jack he keeps mentioning the defiance still in her. Literally, he's talking about how defiant she is against his wishes, and them the next chapter (which is less than a page later) she is perfectly submissive and comfortable wearing a collar and lying in a makeshift dog bed. Now with the story being purely from Jack's point-of-view, we don't even know what happened. . . Did she decide to just trust him since she was out of her element and give him control? Did she come to realize that she liked giving up control and that's why she was suddenly open to it after clearly being against it not too long ago? What happened? We don't know and it's never really addressed. It feels like there was at least an entire chapter exploring this transition that just got edited out? This would have been a perfect opportunity to explore how Quinlan came to some realizations regarding BDSM and how she liked trusting someone enough to submit to them in the bedroom but there was just nothing? Needless to say, it irked me.
"The deal was one night. One. But I wasn’t sure now that it would be enough."
Ultimately I was shocked at what Dana Isaly was able to fit into this book while still maintaining a natural progression of the plot and delivering on what was advertised. There was a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, along with good relationship development. The characters were likable, the story was paced nicely and you get some piping hot spicy scenes . . . All in all what more can you ask for?
Please note that this is an adult dark romance, therefore not suitable for minors or sensitive readers. Be sure to check the trigger warnings on Dana's website before reading. Your enjoyment is not worth risking your mental health for!
3 - ⭐⭐⭐
The first installment in a series of standalone novellas. Adult Dark Romance with lots of sexual exploration (specifically degradation kink).
I have always seen this book be promoted as "short and spicy" so when I picked it up I thought I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting into: a quick and face-paced read to help me get ahead on my reading challenge and enjoy some good old smut along the way. Which, in fairness, it was short (only 108 pages) and it was spicy (I'd give it 🌶🌶🌶🌶) but it was also so much more than I bargained for and I'm kind of shocked no one talks about it.
"She thought we were done. How cute."
Games We Play follows Jack, a professional gamer, and Quinlan who is sent to write a story on him. When Quinlan makes a remark about Jack's side job, he offers to make use of their undeniable chemistry and help Quinlan explore sexually.
"You are everything to me, Quinlan. You found me when I had honestly given up on ever finding anyone. I was alone, hiding, and shut off to anyone, and in you walked with your big eyes and sass mouth and swept me right off my feet. You gave me something I didn’t know I could have."
However, this wasn't just 100 pages of bedroom shenanigans like I expected, but rather a surprisingly well-developed start to Jack and Quinlan's love story. They have some scenes where they get to know each other aside from their fondling, including discussions of some pretty serious topics along the way. We also get to meet Jack's ragtag but likable band of friends who will each get their own novella in the future.
The one thing I didn't like was the way the characters were written as individuals if that makes sense. Now I try not to take character analysis too seriously when I only have 100 odd pages to get to know them, but their personalities just seemed weird and unrealistic? For example, Quinlan talks about not understanding the appeal of a degradation kink, and after agreeing to explore it with Jack he keeps mentioning the defiance still in her. Literally, he's talking about how defiant she is against his wishes, and them the next chapter (which is less than a page later) she is perfectly submissive and comfortable wearing a collar and lying in a makeshift dog bed. Now with the story being purely from Jack's point-of-view, we don't even know what happened. . . Did she decide to just trust him since she was out of her element and give him control? Did she come to realize that she liked giving up control and that's why she was suddenly open to it after clearly being against it not too long ago? What happened? We don't know and it's never really addressed. It feels like there was at least an entire chapter exploring this transition that just got edited out? This would have been a perfect opportunity to explore how Quinlan came to some realizations regarding BDSM and how she liked trusting someone enough to submit to them in the bedroom but there was just nothing? Needless to say, it irked me.
"The deal was one night. One. But I wasn’t sure now that it would be enough."
Ultimately I was shocked at what Dana Isaly was able to fit into this book while still maintaining a natural progression of the plot and delivering on what was advertised. There was a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, along with good relationship development. The characters were likable, the story was paced nicely and you get some piping hot spicy scenes . . . All in all what more can you ask for?
Please note that this is an adult dark romance, therefore not suitable for minors or sensitive readers. Be sure to check the trigger warnings on Dana's website before reading. Your enjoyment is not worth risking your mental health for!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Bullying, Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Gaslighting
zabeishumanish's review
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This little novella is every single thing it promised to be. HOWEVER, I did find myself incredibly grateful for the trigger warning included at the front of the book. There is a lot of discussion of very dark topics. The worst for me was how incredibly vivid the description of the female lead's suicide attempt was. Outside the magic of books, she absolutely would not have survived the attempt. If that is at all a trigger for you please don't read this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
The suicide attempt in this is SUPER graphic, like several pages longs of detail. Everything from time, location, emotions at the time, description of the implement, details of the self-inflicted wound, all the way to her unconscious body being discovered surrounded by the aftermath.ursdayanaa's review
funny
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
For a really short book, it actually very well written. Full on smut w a lil bit of a plot. AND I ATE THIS UP SINCE THE MAIN GUY A GAMER BOY AJJSNDNDUDNSJDJ and the friendship group kinda remind me of the off campus boy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Suicide attempt
More...