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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Murder
Moderate: Rape
This is the second book that I have read from Naomi Loud and here are my thoughts.
Pros: After being underwhelmed by Sunny and Byzantine's story, I was pleasantly surprised by the fire that Was I Ever Real brought. The story was a lot more interesting and there was action. Lenix was a character that I loved from the first book, but I was impartial to Connor because of his moodiness. Connor deemed to be a complex character that I thoroughly enjoyed. Lenix valued autonomy and her need for survival made her so strong. I actually preferred Connor's chapters and we got a lot of backstory from his inner monologues. This book was better written in terms of pacing. We still got eloquent prose and descriptive language. I loved how the author lined everything up for Lucy to come into the story. I think I will read the next book to find out what happened to Lucy during her time in the cult. I like that we got bits and pieces of what the cult was and represented. I'm glad that the book didn't focus on the cult, but focused on Lenix's ties to it and how she wanted to disassociate those ties.
Cons: The author tried to tie-in the two lost souls trope, but it fell flat. The psychic scenes could have been dropped. They honestly had no merit on the story. Lenix's visions had no merit to the story. It didn't propel the decisions that the characters made by the end of the book. They felt really drawn to each other, and it's okay if their souls didn't know each other in another life. The story as a whole made up for them not being soul-tied. The punctuation and sentence structure was still not the best. A good editor goes a long way (at least with this story, I was more invested and wanted to keep reading). There were some sentences that I was left thinking 'huh?' Some scenes like when Lenix put her wedding dress on that she wore as a 13 year old and it still fit, that made me go 'absolutely not.' There was some inner monologue that I did skim over because it seemed repetitive or just not necessary. Especially when it's a lot of inner monologue during a conversation. Note that this is not dark romance. I don't understand why it is categorized under that genre of romance, but it is most definitely not dark in any way.
I do recommend this book.
Pros: After being underwhelmed by Sunny and Byzantine's story, I was pleasantly surprised by the fire that Was I Ever Real brought. The story was a lot more interesting and there was action. Lenix was a character that I loved from the first book, but I was impartial to Connor because of his moodiness. Connor deemed to be a complex character that I thoroughly enjoyed. Lenix valued autonomy and her need for survival made her so strong. I actually preferred Connor's chapters and we got a lot of backstory from his inner monologues. This book was better written in terms of pacing. We still got eloquent prose and descriptive language. I loved how the author lined everything up for Lucy to come into the story. I think I will read the next book to find out what happened to Lucy during her time in the cult. I like that we got bits and pieces of what the cult was and represented. I'm glad that the book didn't focus on the cult, but focused on Lenix's ties to it and how she wanted to disassociate those ties.
Cons: The author tried to tie-in the two lost souls trope, but it fell flat. The psychic scenes could have been dropped. They honestly had no merit on the story. Lenix's visions had no merit to the story. It didn't propel the decisions that the characters made by the end of the book. They felt really drawn to each other, and it's okay if their souls didn't know each other in another life. The story as a whole made up for them not being soul-tied. The punctuation and sentence structure was still not the best. A good editor goes a long way (at least with this story, I was more invested and wanted to keep reading). There were some sentences that I was left thinking 'huh?' Some scenes like when Lenix put her wedding dress on that she wore as a 13 year old and it still fit, that made me go 'absolutely not.' There was some inner monologue that I did skim over because it seemed repetitive or just not necessary. Especially when it's a lot of inner monologue during a conversation. Note that this is not dark romance. I don't understand why it is categorized under that genre of romance, but it is most definitely not dark in any way.
I do recommend this book.
DNF 14%. i’m in the biggest reading slump of my life i need something new and exciting. probably will read this another time.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
July 2024 - reread.
This holds up! After a reread of Loud's first book in the series (Was I Ever Here), it's evident that their writing and voice is stronger and even clearer in this second book. I liked it more the second time around than on it's initial read. It's heavier on the dialogue between MC's, which lends to better character interaction. There is still a lot on internal reflection / monologuing, but it's a lot less cerebral than Was I Ever Here.
I do still believe that there is one plot point that is so over the top that it briefly pushes the story into bonkers territory before the ship gets righted and everything goes back to feeling reasonable (even for a dark romance).
Themes that this story focuses on: redemption, salvation, reincarnation, dislike bordering on hate to lovers, secret marriage, and religious cults.
This holds up! After a reread of Loud's first book in the series (Was I Ever Here), it's evident that their writing and voice is stronger and even clearer in this second book. I liked it more the second time around than on it's initial read. It's heavier on the dialogue between MC's, which lends to better character interaction. There is still a lot on internal reflection / monologuing, but it's a lot less cerebral than Was I Ever Here.
I do still believe that there is one plot point that is so over the top that it briefly pushes the story into bonkers territory before the ship gets righted and everything goes back to feeling reasonable (even for a dark romance).
Themes that this story focuses on: redemption, salvation, reincarnation, dislike bordering on hate to lovers, secret marriage, and religious cults.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Torture, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Incest
3.75/5
Definitely follows through with dark romance and spicy. Exactly what I expected and was an enjoyable read (if you do dark romance)
Definitely follows through with dark romance and spicy. Exactly what I expected and was an enjoyable read (if you do dark romance)
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Connor loves annoying Lenix, but when she's in trouble, he immediately shifts to "I will protect my wife!!" Always a fun trope.
Merged review:
Connor loves annoying Lenix, but when she's in trouble, he immediately shifts to "I will protect my wife!!" Always a fun trope.
Merged review:
Connor loves annoying Lenix, but when she's in trouble, he immediately shifts to "I will protect my wife!!" Always a fun trope.
dark
funny
aw God I was absolutely loving this! I am obsessed with cult stuff and the mentality behind it so that mixed with the romance aspect was right up my street but towards the end it started falling a little flat for me.
Also I'm not sure on the whole like we knew each other in a previous life aspect, we didn't really need that like it added nothing to the story, is that a theme throughout naomis books? I didn't read the 1st one in this series so I'm not sure.
Also I'm not sure on the whole like we knew each other in a previous life aspect, we didn't really need that like it added nothing to the story, is that a theme throughout naomis books? I didn't read the 1st one in this series so I'm not sure.
I will never get enough of Naomi’s writing about soulmates. NEVER!!
How can a filthy dark mafia/organized crime romance be this beautiful!
"You have her life line etched in the palm of your hand" 🫠
And on top of this beautiful writing, you add a marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and hate to love 🫠🫠🫠
This book was everything I wanted for Connor and Lenix's story!
And Connor was also everything! Dark, possessive alpha-hole with a god complex,
"How does it feel to be f***ed by the devil?"
"How does it feel to know he owns you— mind, body, and soul?"
But Lenix 😮💨 Lenix is the type of woman that you don’t know whether you want to be her or be with her!
"She is Lilith personified. And I am the devil at her feet."
How can a filthy dark mafia/organized crime romance be this beautiful!
"You have her life line etched in the palm of your hand" 🫠
And on top of this beautiful writing, you add a marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and hate to love 🫠🫠🫠
This book was everything I wanted for Connor and Lenix's story!
And Connor was also everything! Dark, possessive alpha-hole with a god complex,
"How does it feel to be f***ed by the devil?"
"How does it feel to know he owns you— mind, body, and soul?"
But Lenix 😮💨 Lenix is the type of woman that you don’t know whether you want to be her or be with her!
"She is Lilith personified. And I am the devil at her feet."