Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Demon's Dream by Elle Kayson

37 reviews

hammiereads21's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

thee_book_connoisseur_'s review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense 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: Complicated

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Love in the Shadows: A Haunting Tale of Redemption and Desire

Elle Kayson delivers a darkly seductive romance in Demon’s Dream, a story that pulls you into the gritty world of danger, sacrifice, and unlikely love. This is a tale of two broken yet resilient souls—Demon Montana and Dream Castle—whose collision is as explosive as it is transformative.

Demon is an anti-hero in every sense of the word. Hardened by a life filled with bloodshed and betrayal, he lives by his rules: no caring, no attachment, no love. Yet, Dream shatters the very foundation of those rules. Her strength, intelligence, and vulnerability weave a spell over him that even his dark heart cannot resist. Through Demon’s perspective, readers experience his torment, his desire, and his slow, unwilling surrender to the woman who dares to see the man behind the monster.

Dream Castle is a force to be reckoned with. As the “fixer” of her family, she is fiercely independent, resourceful, and unafraid to confront the darkness in Demon. Her initial wariness transforms into a magnetic connection, revealing a depth of emotional vulnerability that feels raw and real. The power dynamic between her and Demon is beautifully complex—equal parts tension, chemistry, and mutual redemption.

Kayson’s writing style is evocative, immersing readers in a world filled with high stakes, passion, and layers of psychological nuance. The dual POVs allow us to see the story through both characters’ eyes, creating an intimate understanding of their thoughts, fears, and desires. The relationship unfolds against a backdrop of danger and intrigue, making the romance feel even more intense and hard-won.

What stands out most is the emotional evolution of Demon and Dream. Their love story is not just about physical attraction but about healing, trust, and finding humanity in the unlikeliest of places. Demon’s transformation from a cold, unfeeling “monster” to a man capable of love is handled with care, while Dream’s ability to soften and strengthen him without losing herself is inspiring. This book covers a lot of heavy topics and I was very intrigued to the growth of the characters and to also see Smoke and Dayana’s story unfold. 

The book is as brutal as it is tender, with scenes of raw violence juxtaposed with moments of quiet intimacy. Readers who enjoy dark romances with morally gray characters and intense emotional depth will find Demon’s Dream utterly captivating.

Elle Kayson crafts a gripping tale of redemption and love that will haunt your thoughts long after you’ve turned the last page. Demon’s Dream is not just a romance—it’s a journey through darkness, pain, and the healing power of love. A must-read for fans of dark, gritty, and emotionally charged stories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Gun violence, Sexual assault

Minor: Pedophilia, Trafficking, Death of parent

just_toni's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy

livxinpages's review against another edition

3.25

dark emotional funny sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I wanted to like this book more but, I could not STAND how the MMCs talked to the FMC. I like a dark romance but all that telling them to stfu was too much for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment

ampol's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark funny reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting

neasnovelnest's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

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I loved every single second of this! Elle you did your big one 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Kidnapping, Murder

jammarsjournal's review against another edition

4.0

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

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This book got me out of a reading slump! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping

Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting

bookishpixie's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

moonsmagiclibrary's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective tense 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

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This book was an emotional roller coaster yet sits so close to my heart. As a person whose childhood was very similar to Damien’s, my heart strings were being burned, pulled, painted, and mended while reading this book. It was such an amazing read that it was so hard to put down. There was a scene that  triggered me a little bit but the grit and spunk and hope that the characters showed overshadowed that. The more I read that more I felt little parts of myself heal from the trauma I’ve experienced in my life. This was a very well-written and down to earth book and I cannot wait to read more!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Violence, Murder

Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Terminal illness

the_modernreader's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

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Came in because of Damien and Dream. Stayed for Smoke and Yana *swoons*

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Torture, Violence, Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault