kiki124 's review for:

Dein Licht, das mich umfängt by Avon Gale

4.0

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I generally write haiku reviews, but this needs some context. I basically loved it, but the depiction of BDSM was super fraught.

Spoiler

Malin was angry and he beat Avery up, over and over again, in order to take out his rage and grief. No aftercare. No equality. No power exchange.

Though Avery’s friends were concerned and the things wrong with the kink were raised, the MCs didn’t ever really talk about what they wanted or needed. A thanksgiving trip excavated Malin’s past, and then… everything was okay? Yeah, no.

Kink books, especially ones with sketchy reps, often have a “don’t try this at home” disclaimer. This one didn’t, and it really needed one.

Urgent present tense.
Malin’s a bad boyfriend; but
Avery’s in love.