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thebiglittlelibrary's Reviews (622)
4.5 ⭐️ A gripping, emotional, horrifying story that turns into something beautiful.
Trigger Warning (18+): kidnapping, rape, explicit sex, and suicide
Summary: (SPOILERS AHEAD)
Cora and Dean (her soon-to-be brother-in-law) are kidnapped and chained in a serial killer's basement for 3 weeks. During that time, their captor rapes Cora and eventually forces Dean and Cora to have sex under the threat of killing them. Once they escape, Dean and Cora struggle to deal with their trauma as well as their confusing feelings for one another.
My Thoughts:
“As long as your heart is still beating, you’re okay.”
This story brought my worst nightmare to life. But it also made me believe there’s still hope for a happy ending even after living through hell.
I’ve never read a dark romance, but this is extremely dark. Instead of dipping my toes in the water, I dove right in.
But this story…it’s all I can think about. What Cora and Dean went through is truly horrifying and my biggest fear. And to watch them try to heal after they escape is heartbreaking. The way the author wrote about their struggles really makes you empathize with them. All I wanted was to wrap them both up in a big hug and tell them everything was going to be alright.
Trigger Warning (18+): kidnapping, rape, explicit sex, and suicide
Summary: (SPOILERS AHEAD)
Cora and Dean (her soon-to-be brother-in-law) are kidnapped and chained in a serial killer's basement for 3 weeks. During that time, their captor rapes Cora and eventually forces Dean and Cora to have sex under the threat of killing them. Once they escape, Dean and Cora struggle to deal with their trauma as well as their confusing feelings for one another.
My Thoughts:
“As long as your heart is still beating, you’re okay.”
This story brought my worst nightmare to life. But it also made me believe there’s still hope for a happy ending even after living through hell.
I’ve never read a dark romance, but this is extremely dark. Instead of dipping my toes in the water, I dove right in.
But this story…it’s all I can think about. What Cora and Dean went through is truly horrifying and my biggest fear. And to watch them try to heal after they escape is heartbreaking. The way the author wrote about their struggles really makes you empathize with them. All I wanted was to wrap them both up in a big hug and tell them everything was going to be alright.
3.5 ⭐️ Never thought Aehako would be such a worrywart
4.5 ⭐️ Rukh and Harlow’s honeymoon novella is my favorite!
It really is less of a honeymoon story and more of a flashback about life for Rukh and Harlow right after they get to the sea caves during Barbarians Mate.
I honestly just adore these two! ❤️ This story is full of many moments that’ll make your heart flutter and you p*ssy throb - exactly what you want in a romance.
There’s still a language barrier between them, so there’s a lot of miscommunication issue, but with Rukh’s eagerness and Harlow’s patience they’re able to work things out. I usually hate the miscommunication trope but it makes sense for their situation and created some light-hearted drama and relationship tension.
"Har-loh mine." His voice is so possessive as he leans in and nips at my ear, repeating the words.
"Har-loh mine."
Fuck, when did he learn “mine” and do I even care?
*I swear, the moment the romantic interest in any romance novel says ‘you’re mine’ or ‘mine, and I’m a fucking goner.
It really is less of a honeymoon story and more of a flashback about life for Rukh and Harlow right after they get to the sea caves during Barbarians Mate.
I honestly just adore these two! ❤️ This story is full of many moments that’ll make your heart flutter and you p*ssy throb - exactly what you want in a romance.
There’s still a language barrier between them, so there’s a lot of miscommunication issue, but with Rukh’s eagerness and Harlow’s patience they’re able to work things out. I usually hate the miscommunication trope but it makes sense for their situation and created some light-hearted drama and relationship tension.
"Har-loh mine." His voice is so possessive as he leans in and nips at my ear, repeating the words.
"Har-loh mine."
Fuck, when did he learn “mine” and do I even care?
*I swear, the moment the romantic interest in any romance novel says ‘you’re mine’ or ‘mine, and I’m a fucking goner.
3 ⭐️ A cute honeymoon novella with Georgie and Vektal
There’s not much to say except that it's a fun, short story featuring Georgie and Vektal. I liked that along with the spice, there are some emotional moments where Georgie gets closure from the abduction and buries the girls that didn’t make it.
Read for some bonus IPB content
There’s not much to say except that it's a fun, short story featuring Georgie and Vektal. I liked that along with the spice, there are some emotional moments where Georgie gets closure from the abduction and buries the girls that didn’t make it.
Read for some bonus IPB content
4 ⭐️ Adorable, funny, and sexy! Liz and Raahosh have my heart ❤️
I enjoyed this novella more than Georgie and Vektal’s honeymoon story because this was more lighthearted and fun. Of course, there’s a little bit of drama with Raahosh’s insecurities of being ugly or an unfit mate for Liz, but it’s resolved in the sweetest/sexist way.
I loved the awkward/comical moments with Raahosh getting sex advice from the other aliens, and the butt play fail.
I enjoyed this novella more than Georgie and Vektal’s honeymoon story because this was more lighthearted and fun. Of course, there’s a little bit of drama with Raahosh’s insecurities of being ugly or an unfit mate for Liz, but it’s resolved in the sweetest/sexist way.
I loved the awkward/comical moments with Raahosh getting sex advice from the other aliens, and the butt play fail.
2.5 ⭐️ Entertaining but ridiculous
I actually liked this storyline but a few things bothered me.
What about being manipulated, tricked, and held prisoner makes Mila - a naive sweetheart - fall for Ronan - a cruel mobster? I know it’s fiction and I probably shouldn’t read too much into it but I can’t help it. I guess their insane sexual chemistry was enough to sway her but I really hate when it’s all a physical connection and the emotional connection isn’t written believably. I feel like Mila should have had some darkness in her which would explain why she likes Ronan's craziness, but that wasn’t the case. Also, I wish she put up more of a fight with Ronan.
The stuff with the fortune teller was overkill. That fortune somehow drove Mila to Russia and justified her ‘feelings’ for Ronan. And Mila constantly brought it up during her inner dialogue moments. It was so fucking annoying and after a while had me rolling my eyes and wanting to just be done with the story.
I still don’t get why everyone hated Mila… Because her mom was a terrible person and she looked like her so she must be like her? The hatred towards Mila because of this, not because she was Alexei’s daughter, was annoying. And even when we find out what her mother did (helped with human trafficking) it didn’t seem any worse than other mobsters, so again, I don’t get why everyone hates Mila.
Mila and Ronan’s back and forth got really old really fast. I do like slow burn, but this was brutal. Yes, physically things progressed quickly but emotionally it went at snail speed. I just hate reading books that are over 200 pages and we only get confessions at the very end.
Also, I hated the indifference Gianna and Christian had when finding Mila tied up naked in bed. They’re just so passive and accepting of the situation, and that bothered me. I get all these people are fucked up because of the environments they grew up in, but I at least expected Gianna to chastise Ronan or something.
Overall, it’s not a bad story, but there were a lot of fundamental things that didn’t make sense, and the story just sort of dragged on for me. However, this is the favorite book in the series for a lot of people, so if you like dark, mafia romance stories in general, definitely give this a read!
I actually liked this storyline but a few things bothered me.
What about being manipulated, tricked, and held prisoner makes Mila - a naive sweetheart - fall for Ronan - a cruel mobster? I know it’s fiction and I probably shouldn’t read too much into it but I can’t help it. I guess their insane sexual chemistry was enough to sway her but I really hate when it’s all a physical connection and the emotional connection isn’t written believably. I feel like Mila should have had some darkness in her which would explain why she likes Ronan's craziness, but that wasn’t the case. Also, I wish she put up more of a fight with Ronan.
The stuff with the fortune teller was overkill. That fortune somehow drove Mila to Russia and justified her ‘feelings’ for Ronan. And Mila constantly brought it up during her inner dialogue moments. It was so fucking annoying and after a while had me rolling my eyes and wanting to just be done with the story.
I still don’t get why everyone hated Mila… Because her mom was a terrible person and she looked like her so she must be like her? The hatred towards Mila because of this, not because she was Alexei’s daughter, was annoying. And even when we find out what her mother did (helped with human trafficking) it didn’t seem any worse than other mobsters, so again, I don’t get why everyone hates Mila.
Mila and Ronan’s back and forth got really old really fast. I do like slow burn, but this was brutal. Yes, physically things progressed quickly but emotionally it went at snail speed. I just hate reading books that are over 200 pages and we only get confessions at the very end.
Also, I hated the indifference Gianna and Christian had when finding Mila tied up naked in bed. They’re just so passive and accepting of the situation, and that bothered me. I get all these people are fucked up because of the environments they grew up in, but I at least expected Gianna to chastise Ronan or something.
Overall, it’s not a bad story, but there were a lot of fundamental things that didn’t make sense, and the story just sort of dragged on for me. However, this is the favorite book in the series for a lot of people, so if you like dark, mafia romance stories in general, definitely give this a read!
4.5 ⭐️ I need the next book ASAP!!!!!!!
Listened to this on audible and wow, that was good! This was only my second audio book and I’m impressed with the narrators. Well done!
The story is a well written story and follows the events of the Bridge Kingdom duology but in Zarrah and Keris POV. It's filled with action, espionage, backstabbing, passion, murder, and more! Plus, there’s a ton of spice, so get ready romance readers.
Listened to this on audible and wow, that was good! This was only my second audio book and I’m impressed with the narrators. Well done!
The story is a well written story and follows the events of the Bridge Kingdom duology but in Zarrah and Keris POV. It's filled with action, espionage, backstabbing, passion, murder, and more! Plus, there’s a ton of spice, so get ready romance readers.
3 ⭐️ I know this is an unpopular opinion, but this was just okay.
Here are my thoughts:
The pacing was strange and didn’t work.
- I hated going back and forth between timelines. There’s also a lot of times I was confused about where we were in the story. Some scenes just jumped from one to the other relatively quickly.
- It takes forever for Gianna and Christian to finally admit their feelings to themselves and each other. We were basically 85% through when they tell each other.
- The whole marriage/pregnancy situation was wrapped up way too quickly.
I don’t really care about either Gianna or Christian. Gianna is a friendly dits and Christian is a cold-hearted sociopath. Their stories are horrible and tragic, so I felt bad for them, but I don’t think either have many (or any) redeeming qualities.
Gianna and Christians relationship was unbelievable. Why was he obsessed with her to begin with? Because she was hot? Because she looked at her first husband with pure love and he wanted it? I just don’t buy it. They’re also both so rude to each other, and not in a cute enemies to lovers way. I just didn’t like their relationship honestly.
However, I did enjoy their dynamic and the sex scenes were very hot.
Here are my thoughts:
The pacing was strange and didn’t work.
- I hated going back and forth between timelines. There’s also a lot of times I was confused about where we were in the story. Some scenes just jumped from one to the other relatively quickly.
- It takes forever for Gianna and Christian to finally admit their feelings to themselves and each other. We were basically 85% through when they tell each other.
- The whole marriage/pregnancy situation was wrapped up way too quickly.
I don’t really care about either Gianna or Christian. Gianna is a friendly dits and Christian is a cold-hearted sociopath. Their stories are horrible and tragic, so I felt bad for them, but I don’t think either have many (or any) redeeming qualities.
Gianna and Christians relationship was unbelievable. Why was he obsessed with her to begin with? Because she was hot? Because she looked at her first husband with pure love and he wanted it? I just don’t buy it. They’re also both so rude to each other, and not in a cute enemies to lovers way. I just didn’t like their relationship honestly.
However, I did enjoy their dynamic and the sex scenes were very hot.
4.5 ⭐️ Holy shit that ending was INSANE!!!!!!!
(Rounding up for Goodreads stars because it is the best book in The Plated Prisoner series, and I can't stop thinking about it!)
#1 Gild — 4 Stars
#2 Glint — 4 Stars
#3 Gleam — 4.5 Stars
#4 Glow — 4 Stars
Trigger Warning (18+): This series contains explicit content and darker elements/themes, including human trafficking, Stockholm Syndrome, gaslighting, non-consensual sex, violence, and mature language.
This was definitely the best book in the series! We picked up right after that huge plot twist in Glint. And from the moment on, the story was a wild ride, with action, romance, betrayal, murder, and so much more!
But before I get into all of that, I first just have to say . . .
FUCK Midas! I was revolted by him in Gild. I hated him in Glint. But I absolutely loathed him in Gleam. He makes my skin crawl and my stomach turn. I've compared him to Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter, but honestly, he is so much worse! He's pure evil. The things he did to Auren are absolutely disgusting and unforgivable. There's definitely a special place in bookish hell for characters like him. I'm so damn glad he got what he deserved, but I wish he suffered more.
*takes a deep breath*
Okay, moving on.
The continued world-building and Auren's storyline line developments are so interesting. Raven Kennedy has been slowly sharing Auren's history and it's driving me crazy in the best possible way! I'm so eager to learn more about Annwyn (the fae realm), Auren's ancestry, and the fae in general. I have a feeling there will be a lot more uncovered about all three in the next book and I can't wait!
The freaking plot twists and that ending had me screaming! The entire story is amazing, but that last 20% was phenomenal! The truth Midas reveals was absolutely horrifying and made my heart break into a million pieces for Auren. And while Auren's revenge was sweet, the cost was too high. I was on the edge of my seat for that entire scene! I know what Rip did was to save Auren, but I am unsure how Auren is going to react to Rip taking away her choice. Ahhhhh I wish the next book was out already!
The romance (and sexual tension) between Auren and Captain Rip is brilliant! Auren has been manipulated, lied to, and gaslit for the last 10 years, so to have her finally fall in love (even though she denies it) with someone who is the complete opposite of Midas was beautiful to watch. Captain Rip is everything. He's honest, genuine, encouraging, and protective. I love how he is one of the most powerful beings in the realm, and while he loves Auren, he continues to give her the freedom of choice. I love the sexual tension leading up to the moment they finally get together! There's a whole lot of spice, and it's well worth the wait.
My only 'complaint' was some of the dialogue used during sex scenes. Here are a few things that made me cringe:
"You’re so thick that my fingers almost can’t close all the way around you.”
“I want to hear you scream my name while this perfect pussy squeezes my cock and milks me dry.”
“Look at me with those gorgeous golden eyes of yours. I want them on me when your perfect pussy wrings out every drop of my cum.”
“Come again, just like this,” he growls. “I want your pussy to choke my cock, Auren.”
Unfortunately, this wording took away from these sexy scenes. I still enjoyed the general spice, but I just couldn't really get into it.
Overall, Gleam was incredible and I couldn't put it down! I'm so sad we have to wait six more months for Glow - the conclusion of The Plated Prisoner series.
Favorite Quotes:
"The goddesses made me a female. War made me an orphan. Midas made me a saddle. Up until now, those things have roped me. I’ve let myself be bridled, jerked around this way and that. But I’m sick and tired of gnawing on that bit at the back of my jaw with every tug of the reins."
——————————————
“Trying and failing is better than giving up . . . Shove down weakness, and strength will rise. You can’t be strong without conquering those weaknesses first. ”
——————————————
"We tell ourselves twisted lies to tangle around our wicked truths, all so that we can get caught up in the bind and not have to face bare regrets."
——————————————
"Power doesn’t just come from magic. It comes from your own grit. And I have both."
——————————————
“I’ve wanted you since the moment I laid eyes on you, Goldfinch. I was just waiting for you to catch up.”
——————————————
"I want all of you,” he tells me, a newfound hunger in the depths of his green eyes that stirs heat beneath my skin. “Every piece, every memory, every minute, every inch. This isn’t going to be some casual dalliance. This isn’t going to be temporary. I want you soul, mind, and body. I want your trust and your thoughts. I want your past, your present, your future. So make very certain that you want me for the right reasons. Be certain that you’re choosing this, because once you do, there’s no turning back.”
——————————————
“Love happens in all kinds of ways. Fast. Slow. In bits and pieces, or immediate. Filled with lust, one-sided longing, a snap realization never noticed before. Deeply. Thoroughly. Love is a whisper we didn’t hear or a sound that drums in our ears and drowns out everything else.”
——————————————
"There comes a point in your life when you have to choose between having regrets and the possibility of making mistakes."
——————————————
"She is everything I don’t deserve. But I’m going to keep her anyway."
——————————————
“If I could stop being the gold girl even just for a night, I’d jump at the chance to not be me.”
Slade’s finger and thumb suddenly come up to grip my chin, and he pulls my face to look at him, his intense eyes boring into me.
“Never say that,” he rumbles, the timbre of his voice pitched in firm demand. “The world would be a dreary place without your light.”
——————————————
"I became too blinded by my bright sides to see the truth. Sometimes, you look at the silver lining so much that you drift into denial about the clouds."
——————————————
“Guilt doesn’t assuage the guilty.”
——————————————
“I won’t let him make you into the villain.”
A gaze as sharp as thorns hooks into me, holds me hostage.
“I told you, I’ll be the villain for you.”
Resolve bolsters my spine.
“Yes. But so will I.”
——————————————
(Rounding up for Goodreads stars because it is the best book in The Plated Prisoner series, and I can't stop thinking about it!)
#1 Gild — 4 Stars
#2 Glint — 4 Stars
#3 Gleam — 4.5 Stars
#4 Glow — 4 Stars
Trigger Warning (18+): This series contains explicit content and darker elements/themes, including human trafficking, Stockholm Syndrome, gaslighting, non-consensual sex, violence, and mature language.
This was definitely the best book in the series! We picked up right after that huge plot twist in Glint. And from the moment on, the story was a wild ride, with action, romance, betrayal, murder, and so much more!
But before I get into all of that, I first just have to say . . .
FUCK Midas! I was revolted by him in Gild. I hated him in Glint. But I absolutely loathed him in Gleam. He makes my skin crawl and my stomach turn. I've compared him to Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter, but honestly, he is so much worse! He's pure evil. The things he did to Auren are absolutely disgusting and unforgivable. There's definitely a special place in bookish hell for characters like him. I'm so damn glad he got what he deserved, but I wish he suffered more.
*takes a deep breath*
Okay, moving on.
The continued world-building and Auren's storyline line developments are so interesting. Raven Kennedy has been slowly sharing Auren's history and it's driving me crazy in the best possible way! I'm so eager to learn more about Annwyn (the fae realm), Auren's ancestry, and the fae in general. I have a feeling there will be a lot more uncovered about all three in the next book and I can't wait!
The freaking plot twists and that ending had me screaming! The entire story is amazing, but that last 20% was phenomenal! The truth Midas reveals was absolutely horrifying and made my heart break into a million pieces for Auren. And while Auren's revenge was sweet, the cost was too high. I was on the edge of my seat for that entire scene! I know what Rip did was to save Auren, but I am unsure how Auren is going to react to Rip taking away her choice. Ahhhhh I wish the next book was out already!
The romance (and sexual tension) between Auren and Captain Rip is brilliant! Auren has been manipulated, lied to, and gaslit for the last 10 years, so to have her finally fall in love (even though she denies it) with someone who is the complete opposite of Midas was beautiful to watch. Captain Rip is everything. He's honest, genuine, encouraging, and protective. I love how he is one of the most powerful beings in the realm, and while he loves Auren, he continues to give her the freedom of choice. I love the sexual tension leading up to the moment they finally get together! There's a whole lot of spice, and it's well worth the wait.
My only 'complaint' was some of the dialogue used during sex scenes. Here are a few things that made me cringe:
"You’re so thick that my fingers almost can’t close all the way around you.”
“I want to hear you scream my name while this perfect pussy squeezes my cock and milks me dry.”
“Look at me with those gorgeous golden eyes of yours. I want them on me when your perfect pussy wrings out every drop of my cum.”
“Come again, just like this,” he growls. “I want your pussy to choke my cock, Auren.”
Unfortunately, this wording took away from these sexy scenes. I still enjoyed the general spice, but I just couldn't really get into it.
Overall, Gleam was incredible and I couldn't put it down! I'm so sad we have to wait six more months for Glow - the conclusion of The Plated Prisoner series.
Favorite Quotes:
"The goddesses made me a female. War made me an orphan. Midas made me a saddle. Up until now, those things have roped me. I’ve let myself be bridled, jerked around this way and that. But I’m sick and tired of gnawing on that bit at the back of my jaw with every tug of the reins."
——————————————
“Trying and failing is better than giving up . . . Shove down weakness, and strength will rise. You can’t be strong without conquering those weaknesses first. ”
——————————————
"We tell ourselves twisted lies to tangle around our wicked truths, all so that we can get caught up in the bind and not have to face bare regrets."
——————————————
"Power doesn’t just come from magic. It comes from your own grit. And I have both."
——————————————
“I’ve wanted you since the moment I laid eyes on you, Goldfinch. I was just waiting for you to catch up.”
——————————————
"I want all of you,” he tells me, a newfound hunger in the depths of his green eyes that stirs heat beneath my skin. “Every piece, every memory, every minute, every inch. This isn’t going to be some casual dalliance. This isn’t going to be temporary. I want you soul, mind, and body. I want your trust and your thoughts. I want your past, your present, your future. So make very certain that you want me for the right reasons. Be certain that you’re choosing this, because once you do, there’s no turning back.”
——————————————
“Love happens in all kinds of ways. Fast. Slow. In bits and pieces, or immediate. Filled with lust, one-sided longing, a snap realization never noticed before. Deeply. Thoroughly. Love is a whisper we didn’t hear or a sound that drums in our ears and drowns out everything else.”
——————————————
"There comes a point in your life when you have to choose between having regrets and the possibility of making mistakes."
——————————————
"She is everything I don’t deserve. But I’m going to keep her anyway."
——————————————
“If I could stop being the gold girl even just for a night, I’d jump at the chance to not be me.”
Slade’s finger and thumb suddenly come up to grip my chin, and he pulls my face to look at him, his intense eyes boring into me.
“Never say that,” he rumbles, the timbre of his voice pitched in firm demand. “The world would be a dreary place without your light.”
——————————————
"I became too blinded by my bright sides to see the truth. Sometimes, you look at the silver lining so much that you drift into denial about the clouds."
——————————————
“Guilt doesn’t assuage the guilty.”
——————————————
“I won’t let him make you into the villain.”
A gaze as sharp as thorns hooks into me, holds me hostage.
“I told you, I’ll be the villain for you.”
Resolve bolsters my spine.
“Yes. But so will I.”
——————————————