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A review by glowstars
The Chief by Arabella Black
5.0
First off let’s start by saying that if you’ve read the Wraith Royals series, it is not indicative of the type of writer Arabella Black truly is. It’s almost like [b:Grey|58985935|Grey (San Ricardo Book 2)|Arabella Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631504948l/58985935._SY75_.jpg|92991250] and The Chief were written by a different person.
The Chief tore at my heart, made me laugh out loud (a rare occurrence), had me picking my jaw up from the floor in shock and squirm in my seat before… yeah, TMI. Having experienced this in less than 48 hours I feel like I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster of the best kind.
The Chief is the story of a woman who escapes from her husband after years of horrific abuse and torture. We follow her in the weeks after her escape as she begins to rebuild her life, reclaim her body and take charge of her sexuality. It’s a journey of discovery turned tragic by Grey’s anxious self-harm. All this is set to the backdrop of criminal activity disguised behind a veneer of law and includes a healthy dose of mystery and intrigue. There are secrets and lies galore and I’m not sure anybody comes out entirely unscathed.
Black could easily have failed with her portrayal of Grey. Writing about mental illness is never going to be easy, especially when so many people with the same condition have such varying experiences. Black writes sensitively when Grey is triggered and really works to bring the reader into the mind of the character, explaining the circumstances without the story losing its pace. She perfectly captures Grey’s urge to self-harm and the satisfaction she feels when she knows that her actions have gone unnoticed by those who are looking out for her.
Reverse harem novels can often seem like a trap. Characters can be similar enough that you often wonder why their individual aspects couldn’t have been combined into fewer characters. (Well, okay, we know it’s because you can’t have kinky group sex with only two characters.) In The Chief, Grey’s three love interests couldn’t be more different, even though there are threads that bind each of the men to the others. They all have such different energies but come together to form an amazingly strong and supportive harem that will do anything for its girl.
This is definitely a book where the trigger warnings don’t lie. It will be a difficult read for some, but if you can handle it, it’s a beautiful and well-written story with enough steam to keep you hot for days.
SHOULD YOU READ GREY OR THE CHIEF FIRST?
And there’s the big debate. I think a lot comes down to whether you’re testing the waters or in it for the long haul.
If you read Grey first then you understand more about the woman she is when she comes to San Ricardo and exactly what she’s hiding when she doesn’t want to tell anybody her story. You’re left constantly wondering about the twins (one of whom you’ve met before) and why one of them is hiding the truth about being the assassin.
If you read The Chief first then you know less of Grey and have the delight of discovering her own secrets at the same time as Charles and the Twins. That said, you have no idea of the depraved experiences Grey has had to endure and how they’ve shaped her. It may leave you in a free position to appreciate Vegas and Remo as you’re not questioning their pasts.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ THE CHIEF
* Laugh out loud moments
* Off the chart steam levels
* Amazing web of secrets and lies
The Chief tore at my heart, made me laugh out loud (a rare occurrence), had me picking my jaw up from the floor in shock and squirm in my seat before… yeah, TMI. Having experienced this in less than 48 hours I feel like I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster of the best kind.
The Chief is the story of a woman who escapes from her husband after years of horrific abuse and torture. We follow her in the weeks after her escape as she begins to rebuild her life, reclaim her body and take charge of her sexuality. It’s a journey of discovery turned tragic by Grey’s anxious self-harm. All this is set to the backdrop of criminal activity disguised behind a veneer of law and includes a healthy dose of mystery and intrigue. There are secrets and lies galore and I’m not sure anybody comes out entirely unscathed.
Black could easily have failed with her portrayal of Grey. Writing about mental illness is never going to be easy, especially when so many people with the same condition have such varying experiences. Black writes sensitively when Grey is triggered and really works to bring the reader into the mind of the character, explaining the circumstances without the story losing its pace. She perfectly captures Grey’s urge to self-harm and the satisfaction she feels when she knows that her actions have gone unnoticed by those who are looking out for her.
Reverse harem novels can often seem like a trap. Characters can be similar enough that you often wonder why their individual aspects couldn’t have been combined into fewer characters. (Well, okay, we know it’s because you can’t have kinky group sex with only two characters.) In The Chief, Grey’s three love interests couldn’t be more different, even though there are threads that bind each of the men to the others. They all have such different energies but come together to form an amazingly strong and supportive harem that will do anything for its girl.
This is definitely a book where the trigger warnings don’t lie. It will be a difficult read for some, but if you can handle it, it’s a beautiful and well-written story with enough steam to keep you hot for days.
SHOULD YOU READ GREY OR THE CHIEF FIRST?
And there’s the big debate. I think a lot comes down to whether you’re testing the waters or in it for the long haul.
If you read Grey first then you understand more about the woman she is when she comes to San Ricardo and exactly what she’s hiding when she doesn’t want to tell anybody her story. You’re left constantly wondering about the twins (one of whom you’ve met before) and why one of them is hiding the truth about being the assassin.
If you read The Chief first then you know less of Grey and have the delight of discovering her own secrets at the same time as Charles and the Twins. That said, you have no idea of the depraved experiences Grey has had to endure and how they’ve shaped her. It may leave you in a free position to appreciate Vegas and Remo as you’re not questioning their pasts.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ THE CHIEF
* Laugh out loud moments
* Off the chart steam levels
* Amazing web of secrets and lies