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rachcannoli 's review for:
The Beast
by Katee Robert
With the recent loss of her father, Isabelle and her sisters are thrown into chaos with other territory leaders a breath away from throwing them into war they're in need of their two best protectors who'd recently fled to Carver City in their own grief. It's Isabelle's job to seek out Gaeton and Beast and convince them to come back into the fold and help them against their enemies, any means necessary. Only problem? They're both her recent exes who she used to date simultaneously both relationships having ended quite poorly. Sensing desperation, Beast comes up with his own twisted deal that they'll come back if she submits to them to do whatever they want for 2 weeks and at the end she must finally choose between them for real. But will she be able to fulfill the deal for her family's safety at the risk of her own heart?
I liked this story WAY more than I expected to especially given my typical lukewarm feelings towards KR's past polyamorous couplings. But I think I figured out the key to these WICKED VILLAIN books, starting these characters off with established history that can be easily given to us at the beginning so once the inevitable smut is quick off the jump I already understand their dynamic and it makes a lot more sense, and similar to Hook and Tink's story, my fav so far, that's exactly what this did. I thought the dynamic made complete sense between the three and they played off each other really well. I do think the boys' shift was a little quick, but they've already scened together in Tink's book that it's not super surprising they're far more into each other than they realized.
I also really enjoyed the final conflict and we didn't have a super blowout fight, it was really refreshing for these books! I liked that the conflict was external, as the initial premise is as well, but more than that it's clearly set up the next book which quite excites me. I also really love that we're dipping back into the DARK OLYMPUS series to gain a new character which we haven't done here since book 2. This also may have the most smut per page count of this series. Every single WV book is packed to the gills in it's teeny package, but given the nature of this plot we get scene after scene after scene and similar to Isabelle, there's hardly any break, though again like her, I wasn't complaining.
I also enjoyed how truly different the boys are not only in their reaction to their past with Isabelle and the events of this book, but in personality, looks, and what they offer. It was a really interesting dynamic and honestly to my shock, though I guess I shouldn't be since I've met Gaeton a couple times in the past and he's always been lovely but he was by far my favorite of the trio. But I truly enjoyed their entire thing and the progression of this story. It was by far the smoothest sailing and I genuinely was surprised how equal and lovely their dynamic was, they're probs my fav KR trio. A great time as always and I'm excited to read the next!
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON
So I knew from having met Gaeton and Beast before, they literally scened with Tink last book, that they were always at each other's throats because of Isabelle and were fucked up in the head over her, but I don't think I realized that she dated them both at the same time from the beginning. I also like that the reason they didn't work is because both men were only giving half of themselves to Izzy (also love that's her nickname not Belle cuz y'know...copyright lol) and putting her on a pedestal or like she was breakable that she always felt stifled. Even worse when poor Gaeton proposed and she turned him down because she feared she'd be stuck in dull monogamy, but as soon as he left the trio everything fell so she broke it off with Beast. I also really like how clearly established it was the Izzy always needed both of them because they compliment each other so well. Beast is the tough as nails, mystery protector who'll always get things done and is always one step ahead of everyone and Gaeton is a hunk of a man with an even bigger heart who wears it on his sleeve, and is almost overly giving in relationships. So obviously from that description, I was VERY partial for Gaeton, every time Isabelle was like 'how can I choose' I was like, easy it's GAeton, he's so much sweeter. BUT I get the juxtaposition of the two men and how they compliment each other and they really do compliment. For all Beast's stony, tough exterior and the one who initiated the deal, once we get into his POV he's like jokes on these fools, I want them both and there's no way I'm letting either of them go, they just don't know it yet, which I found so funny. I thought this dynamic was well-established enough thought that when it was clear from the beginning Izzy would obviously just keep both, as it happens with every KR poly relationship, it actually made sense here that she's always needed both to make sense, they just needed to also embrace each other to complete it.
There's a lot of Beast's backstory here as well, though not a ton is explained though I think it's setting up another in universe series, Sabine Valley, which is apparently where Beast was from and there he was called Samson (also the first of that book is Abel so if we've moved on to slutty Bible stories I'm gonna lose my damn mind that's so funny). Basically he was in love with a man named Cohen, but something went terribly wrong and he was unable to save him and had to flee to Carver City to stay alive and he believes Cohen is dead. Cleary he's not as if you look at the SV series, the 3rd book is named after him lol spoilers, but even if I didn't know that you knew he'd be fine. I did like that he's the only other man Beast's had feelings for other than Gaeton, which was nice, and that it's partially why he's been so closed off in subsequent relationships and to others. I like that Gaeton also holds it over him that he fears he'd abandon the throuple if he showed back up, but Beast assures he's not the same man and he now loves them, so that was nice and an interesting precursor to that series, I'm quite intrigued to check them out next.
As said above there is also A TON of smut content, there is in truly every KR book especially her WVs, but I feel like due to the nature of the plot there's even more here. It's like every second these two are fucking her or each other or others, it's constant and honestly I loved it. I love how much Isabelle is into the kinks and how she can't believe they kept this from here before. There's of course even more Underworld scenes as always. I'm pretty sure Aurora has been involved with every single couple of these books which is honestly a record and hilarious, but I also enjoyed the cameos from Hercules and Tink (who like Aurora their first reactions are to make sure she's fully consenting and if not that they'd throw all former friendships away to help her, which I loved) pretty much all other past characters happily going along their lives. The smut is great as always, I appreciate the only BDSM sections of it were bondage and light slaps, other then when Beast flogged Gaeton which I am super not into, but happy for them. There's also quite a lot of MLM and anal which truly may not be for everyone, it works at points for me, but sometimes is a lot, but love the representation. Like I said above the shift of the boys to go from enemies to lovers was far too quick, Gaeton immediately is like we'll do this together but you don't dominate me, but then the next moment is like, 'jk ass fuck me to teach her a lesson' lolol like ok guys, calm it down. I think if we had a little more build up to it and more tension I'd be so into it, but like a pretty much all WV books, there's just never enough time. I also wish we got more of their relationships with Isabelle's dad, their former boss and clear father figure to them who they adored, so it would've been really nice for them to share that grief on top of their burgeoning new dynamic.
But overall, I loved the trajectory of the story. Ursa (Ursula) is making a move for their territory now that Isabelle's dad is dead hence why they need their muscle back so they show they're still with Izzy by making public scenes with her. I also like that her sisters are the ones who break up their love nest, but mainly because they're worried about her heart, but still allow the men to come and basically confirm their re-allegiance and true feelings for their sister, it was really nice and it led to a steady growth in the relationship with no dumb fight or last minute 'oh no she's stolen away and we must kill to find her' battle, which is refreshing for these books. I like that Ursa just plainly comes to discuss with the sisters and is like, sure I'll back off in exchange you give a message to Zurielle (Ariel and correctly Triton's daughter in Olympus) that she knows where she can find Aleric (Prince Eric who's just chilling around the Underworld flirting it up with Isabelle). It was such an easy solution and sets up the next book really well, I'm so interested to see what happens next and what the heck their dynamic will be. I also love that we're bridging the two universes together again.
As per usual the jump to love in this relationship is quicker than I find realistic, but again with their past history and the truth they probably never stopped loving each other, it made a lot of sense. Also that the boys realized their animosity towards each other was only in their own minds of trying to battle over Isabelle when they'd simultaneously trusted each other implicitly working under her dad and the tension of hate to love is truly two sides of the same coin. I also adored that Gaeton, who'd always wanted marriage and a big sticking point for him was trying to forgive his rejected proposal, still says he'd want to marry them and they all heartily agree which I love. This kind of situation just really works for them and I found it truly very sweet, I had a good time and just really enjoyed these silly books, smutty goodness with a more fun plot than I expected, it was quite good.
I liked this story WAY more than I expected to especially given my typical lukewarm feelings towards KR's past polyamorous couplings. But I think I figured out the key to these WICKED VILLAIN books, starting these characters off with established history that can be easily given to us at the beginning so once the inevitable smut is quick off the jump I already understand their dynamic and it makes a lot more sense, and similar to Hook and Tink's story, my fav so far, that's exactly what this did. I thought the dynamic made complete sense between the three and they played off each other really well. I do think the boys' shift was a little quick, but they've already scened together in Tink's book that it's not super surprising they're far more into each other than they realized.
I also really enjoyed the final conflict and we didn't have a super blowout fight, it was really refreshing for these books! I liked that the conflict was external, as the initial premise is as well, but more than that it's clearly set up the next book which quite excites me. I also really love that we're dipping back into the DARK OLYMPUS series to gain a new character which we haven't done here since book 2. This also may have the most smut per page count of this series. Every single WV book is packed to the gills in it's teeny package, but given the nature of this plot we get scene after scene after scene and similar to Isabelle, there's hardly any break, though again like her, I wasn't complaining.
I also enjoyed how truly different the boys are not only in their reaction to their past with Isabelle and the events of this book, but in personality, looks, and what they offer. It was a really interesting dynamic and honestly to my shock, though I guess I shouldn't be since I've met Gaeton a couple times in the past and he's always been lovely but he was by far my favorite of the trio. But I truly enjoyed their entire thing and the progression of this story. It was by far the smoothest sailing and I genuinely was surprised how equal and lovely their dynamic was, they're probs my fav KR trio. A great time as always and I'm excited to read the next!
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON
So I knew from having met Gaeton and Beast before, they literally scened with Tink last book, that they were always at each other's throats because of Isabelle and were fucked up in the head over her, but I don't think I realized that she dated them both at the same time from the beginning. I also like that the reason they didn't work is because both men were only giving half of themselves to Izzy (also love that's her nickname not Belle cuz y'know...copyright lol) and putting her on a pedestal or like she was breakable that she always felt stifled. Even worse when poor Gaeton proposed and she turned him down because she feared she'd be stuck in dull monogamy, but as soon as he left the trio everything fell so she broke it off with Beast. I also really like how clearly established it was the Izzy always needed both of them because they compliment each other so well. Beast is the tough as nails, mystery protector who'll always get things done and is always one step ahead of everyone and Gaeton is a hunk of a man with an even bigger heart who wears it on his sleeve, and is almost overly giving in relationships. So obviously from that description, I was VERY partial for Gaeton, every time Isabelle was like 'how can I choose' I was like, easy it's GAeton, he's so much sweeter. BUT I get the juxtaposition of the two men and how they compliment each other and they really do compliment. For all Beast's stony, tough exterior and the one who initiated the deal, once we get into his POV he's like jokes on these fools, I want them both and there's no way I'm letting either of them go, they just don't know it yet, which I found so funny. I thought this dynamic was well-established enough thought that when it was clear from the beginning Izzy would obviously just keep both, as it happens with every KR poly relationship, it actually made sense here that she's always needed both to make sense, they just needed to also embrace each other to complete it.
There's a lot of Beast's backstory here as well, though not a ton is explained though I think it's setting up another in universe series, Sabine Valley, which is apparently where Beast was from and there he was called Samson (also the first of that book is Abel so if we've moved on to slutty Bible stories I'm gonna lose my damn mind that's so funny). Basically he was in love with a man named Cohen, but something went terribly wrong and he was unable to save him and had to flee to Carver City to stay alive and he believes Cohen is dead. Cleary he's not as if you look at the SV series, the 3rd book is named after him lol spoilers, but even if I didn't know that you knew he'd be fine. I did like that he's the only other man Beast's had feelings for other than Gaeton, which was nice, and that it's partially why he's been so closed off in subsequent relationships and to others. I like that Gaeton also holds it over him that he fears he'd abandon the throuple if he showed back up, but Beast assures he's not the same man and he now loves them, so that was nice and an interesting precursor to that series, I'm quite intrigued to check them out next.
As said above there is also A TON of smut content, there is in truly every KR book especially her WVs, but I feel like due to the nature of the plot there's even more here. It's like every second these two are fucking her or each other or others, it's constant and honestly I loved it. I love how much Isabelle is into the kinks and how she can't believe they kept this from here before. There's of course even more Underworld scenes as always. I'm pretty sure Aurora has been involved with every single couple of these books which is honestly a record and hilarious, but I also enjoyed the cameos from Hercules and Tink (who like Aurora their first reactions are to make sure she's fully consenting and if not that they'd throw all former friendships away to help her, which I loved) pretty much all other past characters happily going along their lives. The smut is great as always, I appreciate the only BDSM sections of it were bondage and light slaps, other then when Beast flogged Gaeton which I am super not into, but happy for them. There's also quite a lot of MLM and anal which truly may not be for everyone, it works at points for me, but sometimes is a lot, but love the representation. Like I said above the shift of the boys to go from enemies to lovers was far too quick, Gaeton immediately is like we'll do this together but you don't dominate me, but then the next moment is like, 'jk ass fuck me to teach her a lesson' lolol like ok guys, calm it down. I think if we had a little more build up to it and more tension I'd be so into it, but like a pretty much all WV books, there's just never enough time. I also wish we got more of their relationships with Isabelle's dad, their former boss and clear father figure to them who they adored, so it would've been really nice for them to share that grief on top of their burgeoning new dynamic.
But overall, I loved the trajectory of the story. Ursa (Ursula) is making a move for their territory now that Isabelle's dad is dead hence why they need their muscle back so they show they're still with Izzy by making public scenes with her. I also like that her sisters are the ones who break up their love nest, but mainly because they're worried about her heart, but still allow the men to come and basically confirm their re-allegiance and true feelings for their sister, it was really nice and it led to a steady growth in the relationship with no dumb fight or last minute 'oh no she's stolen away and we must kill to find her' battle, which is refreshing for these books. I like that Ursa just plainly comes to discuss with the sisters and is like, sure I'll back off in exchange you give a message to Zurielle (Ariel and correctly Triton's daughter in Olympus) that she knows where she can find Aleric (Prince Eric who's just chilling around the Underworld flirting it up with Isabelle). It was such an easy solution and sets up the next book really well, I'm so interested to see what happens next and what the heck their dynamic will be. I also love that we're bridging the two universes together again.
As per usual the jump to love in this relationship is quicker than I find realistic, but again with their past history and the truth they probably never stopped loving each other, it made a lot of sense. Also that the boys realized their animosity towards each other was only in their own minds of trying to battle over Isabelle when they'd simultaneously trusted each other implicitly working under her dad and the tension of hate to love is truly two sides of the same coin. I also adored that Gaeton, who'd always wanted marriage and a big sticking point for him was trying to forgive his rejected proposal, still says he'd want to marry them and they all heartily agree which I love. This kind of situation just really works for them and I found it truly very sweet, I had a good time and just really enjoyed these silly books, smutty goodness with a more fun plot than I expected, it was quite good.