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A review by betwixt_the_pages
From Hell by Mallory Fox
4.0
Rating: 4/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: morally grey characters bordering on unhinged made for delicious reading; STEAMY STEAMY STEAMY; mind the triggers; watch for some gore; side characters were more "side" than "characters" for me; DEVOURED this read!
Triggers: serial killers; murder; stalking; torture; child abuse and neglect; manipulation and narcissistic behaviour; drug addiction; mental health issues; knife play; blood play; graphic violence.
HUGE thanks to Mallory Fox, Black Jade Publishing, and Valentine PR & Literary Management for the ARC copy of this title! My review of this book is voluntarily written and in no way altered or impacted by this gesture.
"I didn't need rescuing," I declare, tearing my gaze away to reopen my notebook on the right page.
"They don't act like a fucking damsel." His soul-sucking eyes give me one last look before he turns away. Dismissed.
This read. THIS READ! I have read SOME dark romance/dark erotica before...but THIS. This took me to a whole other level, and I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the journey. These characters are deliciously morally grey, believably human while still pushing the limit to how far most people would be willing to go under not-so-ordinary circumstances. Some of the... "secrets"...to who certain characters were and what backstory would unfold was, for myself personally at least, easy to spot from almost the get-go....but Mallory Fox considered all contingencies, and took steps to play with red herrings just enough that by halfway through I was questioning what I THOUGHT I knew from the start.
This journey was wild from beginning to end, fraught with a lucid-dreaming sort of feel. I connected easily with our FMC, Laine. I struggled, unfortunately, to really connect with her two best friends--they felt more like "sides" in the story than the bigger picture they really played, and I had a hard time imagining them beyond the in the moment scenes they played a role in. Still, there were some twists and turns I didn't expect throughout the read. AND THE STEAM. I don't know that a chili-pepper rating could do the steam in this book justice, honestly. That said...please please PLEASE mind the triggers--they're listed above for a reason.
When she's passed out, and her breathing deepens, I tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear and mutter, "Don't fall in love with a ripper. Your heart won't survive."
I don't know who I'm warning, myself or Laine.
I really enjoyed this read and this journey! The characters are wonderfully morally grey; the motivations are believable, though bordering the line; the steam was beyond deviously delicious. I definitely recommend to other dark romance/dark erotica girlies; readers who enjoy some "kinkier" play; and those who love to see the "villain" get the girl (or the guy? the villains get each other?) Please mind the triggers, Penguins...and only read if you're 18+. Do YOU have what it takes to hunt a killer, or will you end up the hunted? Open these pages if you dare to find out!
Quick Reasons: morally grey characters bordering on unhinged made for delicious reading; STEAMY STEAMY STEAMY; mind the triggers; watch for some gore; side characters were more "side" than "characters" for me; DEVOURED this read!
Triggers: serial killers; murder; stalking; torture; child abuse and neglect; manipulation and narcissistic behaviour; drug addiction; mental health issues; knife play; blood play; graphic violence.
HUGE thanks to Mallory Fox, Black Jade Publishing, and Valentine PR & Literary Management for the ARC copy of this title! My review of this book is voluntarily written and in no way altered or impacted by this gesture.
"I didn't need rescuing," I declare, tearing my gaze away to reopen my notebook on the right page.
"They don't act like a fucking damsel." His soul-sucking eyes give me one last look before he turns away. Dismissed.
This read. THIS READ! I have read SOME dark romance/dark erotica before...but THIS. This took me to a whole other level, and I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the journey. These characters are deliciously morally grey, believably human while still pushing the limit to how far most people would be willing to go under not-so-ordinary circumstances. Some of the... "secrets"...to who certain characters were and what backstory would unfold was, for myself personally at least, easy to spot from almost the get-go....but Mallory Fox considered all contingencies, and took steps to play with red herrings just enough that by halfway through I was questioning what I THOUGHT I knew from the start.
This journey was wild from beginning to end, fraught with a lucid-dreaming sort of feel. I connected easily with our FMC, Laine. I struggled, unfortunately, to really connect with her two best friends--they felt more like "sides" in the story than the bigger picture they really played, and I had a hard time imagining them beyond the in the moment scenes they played a role in. Still, there were some twists and turns I didn't expect throughout the read. AND THE STEAM. I don't know that a chili-pepper rating could do the steam in this book justice, honestly. That said...please please PLEASE mind the triggers--they're listed above for a reason.
When she's passed out, and her breathing deepens, I tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear and mutter, "Don't fall in love with a ripper. Your heart won't survive."
I don't know who I'm warning, myself or Laine.
I really enjoyed this read and this journey! The characters are wonderfully morally grey; the motivations are believable, though bordering the line; the steam was beyond deviously delicious. I definitely recommend to other dark romance/dark erotica girlies; readers who enjoy some "kinkier" play; and those who love to see the "villain" get the girl (or the guy? the villains get each other?) Please mind the triggers, Penguins...and only read if you're 18+. Do YOU have what it takes to hunt a killer, or will you end up the hunted? Open these pages if you dare to find out!