Review: Body Count (Wayward Sons Book 1) by L Eveland

Rating: 4.5🌈

The blurb for the book is what drew my attention immediately. The subject matter and characters of L Eveland’s series are so dark and detailed in their histories that my mind made a swift connection to another author’s terrific books that offer up the same type of murderous psychopaths (Onley James’ Necessary Evils series).

I was so excited to see what Eveland did with this terrifying type of character and found family, and how given the same traits and motivations, what twists this author took their story.

It doesn’t take long to see the differences and similarities. When you are writing a psychopath realistically, there’s defining characteristics built into the personality. That includes an inability to understand love as a normal person would. None of the characters in this book, and I expect, the series, will fall within the category of normal human emotional development.

There’s a long list of trigger warnings at the beginning of this book and if a reader is even a tad squeamish, this isn’t the story and series for you. This is dark fiction about psychopaths killing people, and maybe eating them.

The family that forms the basis for the individuals is a very different and unique group of people. One, it’s a polycule, the likes of which I haven’t read about in a story before. Those strong men and women ,who have big backgrounds of their own, are people who the reader will get to know more about over the series. From them comes the adult children , natural and adopted, who will get their own stories. Their legal business? A funeral home.

Wayward Sons’ Body Count begins with adopted son, mortician River Laskin on the prowl in a sketchy dive bar at the edge of town. One of the book’s two pov’s, his voice is telling the reader of his need for violence but not the a clear target until he spies a group of men and a collared youth cowering at their feet. That’s our second main character, Theo of no last name.

Theo is a victim of child trafficking from a very early age, 5 years old. He’s been in the custody of the same trafficker since he was sold and his mental state is that of someone who has been broken down to the barest extent that even when River “frees” him, Theo finds he can’t cope with his new situation and world that’s open to him.

Nor can River bring the person he is have the empathy to help him but he does have the support system.

Eveland does a remarkable job getting into the headspace of both men as they navigate through the process of their relationship and Theo’s trauma. That it happens to include finding out that the murderous psychopath who rescued you is part of a larger group of people who exhibit a range of abnormal psychological disorders which are slowly revealed in the book. That’s in addition to the mafia family connections they rely on heavily.

I’m actually astonished that Body Count moves along so quickly and isn’t weighted down by the author getting dragged into clinical details about the different disorders the brothers have been diagnosed with. Whether it’s the triplets’ schizophrenia or Shepherd’s DID, multiple personality disorder, it’s folded into the narrative in such a way that it’s natural for Theo to hear it, and not a info dump. Eveland’s narrative flow is due to such great depth and writing choices in how these elements are handled.

Theo and River’s relationship is rife with trigger potential for readers, however much it makes sense within the dynamics that Eveland is framing out for the couple. Does Theo understand the concept of consent? Maybe, it’s a very gray area. Would River be able to let him go? Maybe not. So how free is he? There’s pain play involved here but it’s brought into the equation in a way that makes it easier to see how much trauma Theo is trying to process.

Towards the end I felt that Theo’s “recovery “ was more advanced than an actual traumatized person in this situation would be. Maybe not.

Theo became a member of a family of traumatized individuals who were able to support him and his unique relationship with River.

Eveland took a dark topic and even more twisted characters and is giving them a very interesting look in this series, complete with mushrooms with have a revolting starter. Word to the wise. Don’t eat anything with mushrooms from this family.

I’m so sorry that I have to wait until next Spring for the second installment in this series. I could have easily binged this had the books been written.

It’s an absolute recommendation. But only for those who want to read dark fiction and appreciate the more murderous of natures in the characters we read. The list of trigger warnings is at the beginning and it’s appropriately long. Read them first before making your decision. It includes torture, child sexual abuse, murder, and hints of cannibalism.

Wayward Sons:

✓ Body Count #1

◦ Skin Deep #2 – April 30,2024

Buy Link:

Body Count: A Dark MM Romance (Wayward Sons Book 1)

Blurb:

Death is his business, and I live to serve.

Theo

Mortician River Laskin is a monster, a narcissistic sociopath with blood on his hands, but he’s also my savior.

When he rescues me from a human trafficking ring, the last thing on my mind is vengeance. I need to pull my life together and figure out how to survive in a world where I don’t exist. Without someone to tell me what to do, I’m lost. River is all I have to cling to, the only thing that makes sense in this terrifying new world.

But he and his family of murderous psychopaths have other plans, mafia connections, and murder on their minds.

River Laskin

I knew from the moment I saw him that Theo was mine. Mine to protect, mine to break, mine to put back together again.

My favorite toy.

I will use every resource at my disposal to find the men who hurt him and make them pay, whether he wants me to or not. It’s not up to him.

I’ll burn every bridge, turn over every stone, dig up every body until I get what I want.

And what I want now is vengeance for Theo. The Devil himself couldn’t stop me. I dare him to try.

Body Count is the first novel in the Wayward Sons series, a series standalone of dark MM romances that follows the Laskin brothers as they battle their inner demons and find love.

Review: A Ruse to Unchain Us (The Magi Accounts #4) by Michele Notaro

Rating: 5🌈

A Ruse To Unchain Us brings The Magi Accounts near the end of this incredible dark saga. Two more stories to follow and we’ll see what happens to all the characters who have suffered and survived through this perilous, harrowing journey.

A Ruse To Unchain Us is emotionally draining and powerful in the wrenching scenes that Notaro delivers, one after the other, as the Ono-Nai tribe fights against government and witches alike to survive the battles against both and the tear in the universe. There are moments of such brutality and violence, common in this series, that hit you hard in the heart. As they should. Tissues should be issued along with the story.

Repeatedly, the author reminds the reader exactly what’s at stake, often graphic detail , what type of treatment the non humans have had to endure for decades. Along with the past traumatic history, there’s the current horrors they continue to endure, suffer under, as they battle to get their rights and freedoms.

As Notaro notes, read the trigger warnings because they definitely apply, as they have for the series. Torture, sexual assault and abuse (some off page) as children and adults , brutality , beatings, and horrific death is a common occurrence too. These beings have been and are continued to be subjected to the entire spectrum of the worst humankind is capable of simply because they aren’t human and are regarded as tools for the humans to use as they see fit.

To counter such agonizing moments and scenes, it’s balanced with those of pride, found family, bonds of deep affection, friendship, and abiding love. All of which have had to endure the pain and horror of the world they live in and survive to come together as the strong forces we see now.

Cosmo Ono-Nai, Mads, Jude, and the rest of the Ono-Nai pack must deal with the toughest challenges yet their pride has faced when The Red Cloth ups it’s attacks against the government and its citizens.

I won’t spoil the high stakes and action that occurs here. It’s intense, fast paced, incredibly emotional, and very suspenseful. And yes, filled with love and pain too , because this is a battlefield and people/beings are hurt and sometimes they die.

Notaro’s vision and realistic writing makes sure we don’t forget about the pain as well as the love, the loss that goes with the wins, such as they are. It’s raw, dark fiction and it rings so true.

Two more novels to go. One’s a companion story, Logan and Haiden get a book of their own. And then onto the finale. I can’t imagine how the author will tie up all the characters and storylines still moving forward but I’m sure it will be amazing. I’ll be so sorry to see this series end.

What a fantastic journey it’s been.

Until then, I highly recommend you read this series in the order it’s written if you haven’t already done so. Then read the intensely powerful A Ruse to Unchain Us (The Magi Accounts #4) by Michele Notaro. Just a great example why this author is an auto read.

The Magi Accounts:

🔹The Scars That Bind Us #1

🔹The Shackles That Hold Us #2

🔹A Date To Impress Him #2.5

🔹A Purpose That Restores Us #3

🔹A Holiday to Sustain Us: A Magi Accounts Holiday

🔹An Embrace To Hearten Me: The Magic Accounts 3.5

🔹A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts # 4

🔹A Heart To Revitalize Me #4.5 – September 20, 2024 (Logan and Haiden companion story)

🔹Only Unity Will Spare Us #5 – Sept 20, 2024

Buy Link:

A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts 4

Blurb:

It’s time to fight back, and by the goddess, I will help free my people.

The Cloaked Freeway is finally in a position to effect real change, and I want so badly to be a part of it. Since I was a little kid, it’s been my dream to free my people from under the human’s rule. And now I have the chance to make that dream a reality.

But helping them means giving up so much. I have a family now—a pride—and I don’t want to put them at risk. Luckily for me, my mate wants to be a part of the revolution, too, but that still leaves everyone else.

The world is turning into chaos around us and our family is being pulled in different directions, but I know one thing for sure. The Ono-Nais are fighters, and we’ll do everything in our power to keep each other safe and help those around us.

A Ruse To Unchain Us is the fourth book in the MM urban fantasy series, The Magi Accounts. It’s recommended to read the series in order because the romance progresses through the series and it has an ongoing storyline, but there is NO cliffhanger.

*Intended for adults only. Please read the trigger warnings at the beginning of this novel.

Review: A Ruse to Unchain Us (The Magi Accounts #4) by Michele Notaro

Rating: 5🌈

What a fantastic journey it’s been.

The Magi Accounts:

🔹The Scars That Bind Us #1

🔹The Shackles That Hold Us #2

🔹A Date To Impress Him #2.5

🔹A Purpose That Restores Us #3

🔹A Holiday to Sustain Us: A Magi Accounts Holiday

🔹An Embrace To Hearten Me: The Magic Accounts 3.5

🔹A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts # 4

🔹A Heart To Revitalize Me #4.5 – September 20, 2024 (Logan and Haiden companion story)

🔹Only Unity Will Spare Us #5 – Sept 20, 2024

Buy Link:

A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts 4

Blurb:

It’s time to fight back, and by the goddess, I will help free my people.

*Intended for adults only. Please read the trigger warnings at the beginning of this novel.

Review: A Ruse to Unchain Us (The Magi Accounts #4) by Michele Notaro

Rating: 5🌈

What a fantastic journey it’s been.

The Magi Accounts:

🔹The Scars That Bind Us #1

🔹The Shackles That Hold Us #2

🔹A Date To Impress Him #2.5

🔹A Purpose That Restores Us #3

🔹A Holiday to Sustain Us: A Magi Accounts Holiday

🔹An Embrace To Hearten Me: The Magic Accounts 3.5

🔹A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts # 4

🔹A Heart To Revitalize Me #4.5 – September 20, 2024 (Logan and Haiden companion story)

🔹Only Unity Will Spare Us #5 – Sept 20, 2024

Buy Link:

A Ruse To Unchain Us: The Magi Accounts 4

Blurb:

It’s time to fight back, and by the goddess, I will help free my people.

*Intended for adults only. Please read the trigger warnings at the beginning of this novel.

Review: Not Dating Material (Accidental Love, #2) by Saxon James

Rating: 4🌈

I struggled with the rating for many reasons. I had been looking forward to a story that was about the strange dynamic between Seven and Xander, two of my favorite characters. And I wondered how James would create a perfect person to fold into the existing tight relationship. And what that personality would be like.

Honestly, Molly wouldn’t be my choice of person or character to fit into the tight family. But that’s just me. I found Molly swung between irritating or grating while still appreciative of some of the aspects of his personality that James’ wrote into his character.

I thought her portrait of Seven’s as someone afraid of being hurt, again was so well done. Of being open to the exact same emotions that ended up being the thing that damaged him was so beautifully written. It goes perfectly with the well established abuse suffered by Xander. The reader can understand how their dynamic developed and why they are so codependent upon each other still, deeply emotional as family/brothers.

It’s such a strong element here that Molly , is a lesser player just by being himself. I liked that James wrote in the way he was able to examine his own actions and past experiences. And then try to understand how to use people’s help to move on. But he equally at times just feels too superficial in comparison.

I don’t know. I just felt that his character, the“I’m so cute “ personality came across as too much so often of the time. Couldn’t invest in his character or his romantic life.

Which was a shame because I adore Seven and Xander. So two thirds of this story I was anticipating a different kind of partnership. Oh well.

Many will feel differently.

I’m enjoying the series and look forward to the next book.

Accidental Love:

✓ The Husband Hoax #1

✓ Not Dating Material #2

◦ The Revenge Agenda #3 -Feb 28, 2024

Buy Link:

Not Dating Material (Accidental Love Book 2)

Blurb:

MOLLY

Moving to Seattle is supposed to be all about getting a fresh start and leaving the bitter man I was becoming behind.

I have new roommates–quirky, sometimes strange, roommates–a nosy, next door neighbor and a grumpy kitty for company, but even surrounded by people, I still don’t feel like I belong. Plus, it turns out the men in Seattle are exactly the same as the ones I left behind, and my string of romantic disconnections continues.

It’s not until one of my roommates, Seven, hits me with some hard truths that I realize where I was going wrong.

Maybe the men aren’t the problem.

I am.

And there’s only one way to fix that.

SEVEN

Being found tied up naked to my bed by my cute new roommate isn’t an ideal way for us to start a friendship.

But apparently a quid-pro-quo is.

He keeps his pretty lips zipped about the compromising position, and I step in as his dating coach. We go out, I note where he’s going wrong, and he magically becomes dating material.

The problem is, between my codependent brother Xander and a new best friend I can’t get rid of, Molly and I are the target of a matchmaking scheme. My life is way too busy to add another person to it, and Molly is the kinda guy who needs to be made a priority, which I just can’t do. Xander’s medical anxiety takes up too much of my time, and I’ve never found a partner who doesn’t resent it.

I’m determined to help Molly find his ever after.

But that guy will never be me.

Review: How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life: Disaster #2 (Princes of Mayhem) by Jocelynn Drake

Rating: 4.75🌈

How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life is a marvelously humorous, sometimes romantic, often horrifying serialized 4 piece story. Last one ending on a cliffhanger!

Which is where Pet Problems picks up. Pets, as in vampire human pets whether they want to be or not. There’s a trigger warning that comes with the story and it’s at the beginning of the book. It concerns a vampire’s actions that are non-con, can be defined as assault. The author mentions where they will occur so a reader can choose to read those pages or not.

It’s totally appropriate.

The book deals with secrets and a huge danger that Nolan has fallen into trying to free his scrounge of a brother from his debts. We get to see more of Nolan trying to deal with a shattering revelation about the paranormal world that has always coexisted with his.

But the real story is Sky. Sky who on the surface is sweet, small, adorable Sky the Necromancer. Here we get to see what’s been bubbling darkly underneath, just emerging in hints with demons who like sandwiches, or shrubbery gone cannibalistic. And it’s wonderful!

Finally! A dark raging necromancer and it’s fabulous! I so wanted more of this Sky! And the blood witch that showed up too. Ok all that is towards the end but what a climax!

The middle of the story is pretty good too. Oh, yes, Nolan does something predictably dumb but you knew that was coming. And since it sets up that amazingly awesome battle? I say let’s do it again.

This series is so much horrifying fun! But a reader needs to remember that it’s dark fiction as well so heed any trigger warnings the author includes.

It’s a definite recommendation. But you need to read them in the order that they are written.

How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life:

Disaster #1: Fun With Family

Disaster #2: Pet Problems

Disaster #3: Date Night -Aug 11

Disaster #4: Who Woke the Dead?-Aug 28

Buy Link:

How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life: Disaster #2 (Princes of Mayhem)

Description:

Disaster #2: Pet Problems

Nolan has been keeping a secret.

In his defense, he wasn’t sure if he could trust Sky at first.

And then, well…his life got pretty crazy for a while. He might have just forgotten.

But that secret has come calling and it’s about to take a big bite out of Nolan.

Of course, there’s no way Sky’s going to let anyone hurt his neighbor, friend, and possibly one-day baby daddy. He’s hitting back hard to keep Nolan safe.

Even the roses are angry in this one. (Just trust me on this one. Beware of the roses.)

How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life is a serial comprising four novellas that follow the insane adventures of necromancer Skylar Wallace and his next-door neighbor Nolan Banks. This is book two of four and contains vampires, werewolves, witches, underworld minions, danger, a meddling ghost grammy, aggressive roses, and one very angry necromancer. Seriously, nobody better touch his man.

Trigger Warnings:

“Just a warning to sensitive readers: some of Christoph’s actions can be viewed as aggressive, verging on assault. You might want to proceed with caution in chapter one and the last half of chapter seven. Thanks,”

— How the Necromancer in the Gold Vest Saved My Life: Disaster #2 (Princes of Mayhem) by Jocelynn Drake

Review: Fool Me Twice (Court of Pain Book 2) by Ariana Nash

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Well, that was brutal. And ultimately satisfying.

It’s been a while, from the beginning of the year, since the first book of this two story series was released . So it took me a while to mentally catch up on the events that Fool Me Twice opens up on.

That the cliffhanger that Fool Me Once ends on and this novel opens up with. Our three characters , Lark, Arin, and Draven, fighting for their lives in a sandstorm.

But first a note about the triggers and the fact this is dark, dark, fiction. The author states that the reader should go to her website for all warnings pertaining to the subject and books but there’s only one for the first book and imo, the second warrants far more serious warnings.

From Ariana Nash’s website:

Potentially triggering content for Fool Me Once includes but is not limited to: attempted suicide (main character), incest (non-consensual, off-page, not between main characters), dubious consent (main characters).

Assume triggers are on-page, unless off-page is specified above.

However, in Fool Me Twice , there’s on page rape, rape of a corpse, torture, dismembering, murder . Make no mistake, this is extremely disturbing reading at times.

The person who’s the main villain here is Razak, the head of the Court of Pain. It’s a role he’s embraced, and embedded deeply within himself.

There’s so many storylines to keep track of within this universe. Each court in the Shatterlands have their own internal politics and affairs that are affecting the overall outcome of the game Razak is playing for total domination and the power of a god.

There’s the Court of Love, Justice, War, and Pain. Trying to remember who and what has happened to all the various groups and characters can be narratively burdensome.

But when Nash narrows her story line down to the traumatic events and harrowing relationships between the prince of Pain, physically and emotionally damaged Lark, brother to Razak, Prince Arin of the Court of Love, and Draven, warlord of the Court of War, as they navigate the treacherous landscape of their lives.

This is a story full of people who can’t or won’t communicate, people believing in the power of lies over truth, manipulation over trust, and fear over hope. It’s a compelling, tough and brutal journey Nash takes the reader on, twisting these men’s perceptions of life around. To do this, the author puts them and the reader through some truly dark, horrific situations and terrifying moments, which make such changes believable and raw.

Finally, after a hellish epic climatic battle , are the characters able to say they survived and won out when even they thought everything was over.

Bloody, done in, exhausted, and almost dead.

Oddly satisfying and the reader feels just as exhausted.

Not sure I would want to read it again. But it’s so well written I’m glad I read it once.

Who should I recommend this to? Those that love really dark LGBTQIA fantasy romance. Take those trigger warnings seriously and realize that Fool Me Twice is twice as dark.

If you’re seeking a light fantasy fiction, this isn’t for you.

They must be read in the order that they were written to understand the storylines and character development.

Court of Pain – 2 book series

✓ Fool Me Once #1

✓ Fool Me Twice #2

Buy Link:

Fool Me Twice (Court of Pain Book 2)

Description:

The epic, heart-wrenching conclusion to the Court of Pain duology. Spanning four courts, devious and doomed royals, and the most unlikely of loves between a prince and his fool.

They say in the darkest of times, the brightest star has no choice but to shine.

I’m no star, nor am I a hero. But I could be the villain. To protect Arin from Razak’s scheming, I’ll have to be.

He’s my shaft of sunlight through the storm, my hope in the darkest of times, but Prince Arin is also my weakness. And Razak knows it.

The shatterlands are under threat, the crowns are missing, and as the pieces of Razak’s puzzle begin to fall into place, its picture becomes clear.

It was never about the crowns, or the courts.

It was never about vengeance, or spite.

It was always about love.

And Razak will not stop until he’s destroyed mine, and all the shatterlands with it.

Court of Pain is a dual point of view, dark MM fantasy duology brimming with courtly spice, morally ambiguous characters, and the fool who plays them all.

This is a dark world with potentially distressing content. For more information on content warnings, please visit the author’s website.

Review: Must be Clowning Me (Once Upon A Bite Book 3) by Charity Parkerson

Rating: 2 🌈

Must be Clowning Me needs trigger warnings.🚩

Review contains spoilers.

Charity Parkerson’s Once Upon a Bite series are meant, in her words, to “be short, fun paranormal romps to brighten your day.”

I think I’d like to ask the author if she knows what a romp is? If you consult a dictionary it’s often found as something that’s enjoyable and lively, often humorous. Maybe sexual and fast paced.

That does describe her first story, Little Pest.

But after that the series definitely removes itself from the romp category. And while the middle story has some interesting elements and a relationship that evolves from bite /bang into something approaching realness, this finale book is a series of moments where I ask myself should I DNF here.

And it’s a very short story.

This story has a teenage vampire , Aaron (Cosmic Cardio) who hasn’t recovered from the rape he suffered when he was turned . He falls into instant lust/love with a traumatized older psychologist who was bitten and turned by a vampire clown.

Wait it gets worse. And spoiler alert 🚨

The older psychologist, Jake, who’s now a baby vampire himself and dealing with that forced change , is also hiding the major issues. One being that he’s a heavily traumatized man, dealing with years of domestic abuse and violence. Oh yes. And he’s instantly having sex with, yes, the teenage vampire who found him.

The teenage vampire can hear Jake’s thoughts but he doesn’t tell him he’s listening instead he’s just pretending he’s hearing normally. Any flags here?

But wait there’s more! The teenager, Aaron ,who found Jake, the psychiatrist, was on his way to see his new , yep, psychiatrist. Who is Jake. Who starts to counsel him.

Much is made of the fact that now they are vampires, that changes perspectives on many things. Uh maybe not. I stopped throwing flags a while back. My arm got sore.

Then to wrap up, tiny fast forwards in time where everyone is in love, a bad guy has been vanquished, and HEA.

It’s a story where you read and you think it can’t be this bad. It will redeem itself and then it doesn’t.

Nothing narratively flows. That bit with the ex boyfriend is horrifying and should come with ginormous trigger warnings. Especially for anyone who has been a victim of Domestic violence or abuse. Especially the use of a deeply seated phobia against the victim to further increase the physical /emotional traumatic damage his stalker is causing. All of which the reader will experience with the victim on the page through his eyes and emotions.

That’s as far from funny or a romp as anything I can think of.

So no recommendations here, except for the first one in the series, Little Pest. Skip the rest.

Especially the last. It should come with trigger warnings for domestic violence and abuse, as well as rape recovery.

Once Upon A Bite:

✓ Little Pest #1

✓ Cosmic Cardio #2

✓ Must be Clowning Me #3 🚩

Buy Link:

Must be Clowning Me (Once Upon a Bite Book 3)

Description:

All Jake wants is a fresh start. He REALLY gets his wish. Now he’s trapped for eternity as a night dweller.

Only Jake could get attacked by a vampire clown the moment he moves his therapy practice to New Orleans. Fortunately, the town is rife with supernatural clients to keep his business afloat. But life has always enjoyed a good laugh at Jake’s expense, and he can’t stop thinking about one client in particular. The vampire who found him and saved him.

Having a vampire therapist is a bit of a dream come true for Aaron. He’s been needing one for a while. Aaron has a barrel full of issues to work out, and it’s easier if his therapist knows about the supernatural world. Unfortunately, Aaron never expected his therapist to be so hot, and they have a connection from day one. There’s no way for him to stay on task. Aaron doesn’t know if he’s getting better or if he’s falling in love. Truthfully, he’s also not sure if he cares anymore, as long as he gets to keep seeing Jake.

Must be Clowning Me is the third book in Charity Parkerson’s Once Upon a Bite series. These books are meant to be short, fun paranormal romps to brighten your day.

Review: The Dragon God’s Sacrifice (The Dragons of Serai Book 4) by Amy Sumida

Rating: 2🌈

Spoilers Alert and trigger warnings.

Rarely have I seen a series tumble downhill this fast. While there were hints with the author’s treatment of the main character of Prince Thais by King Xa’din of Ha’tezan, issues within their relationship dynamics, I overlooked it in favor of the richness of the world building and series arc.

I shouldn’t have. The humiliation the King inflicted upon Thas, the pain and lies built into the relationship between them, brutality versus integrity and knowledge? I had problems with Thas ending up with the King when there was clearly a better, imo, bond for him.

But the author has an affinity for those elements because they appear here and in much more powerful forms and abusive details. And while Thas was a highly respected and intelligent philosopher, he was also taken advantage of and expected to become ok with choices that he made not knowing all the facts about.

But Sora? The man swapped out for Thas? So Thas could have his life? A complete innocent in every sense, virginal and someone whose life has been one of constant threats, struggles, being threatened by his siblings, and looked down upon by his father. A man almost forced onto his path, no matter how the author wants to spin this.

So yes, as created by the author, a totally pure soul is the one she uses for a narrative chew toy for a petty, oversexed, revenge filled God. Make that times two. With no notice for a reader for whom DA is a trigger.

Karadas,Dragon God of Water and the Moon, has his new companion in Sora, his Sacrifice, once he decides to accept him after an elaborate affair where he’s attended to and anointed by Thas just as Thas had to undergo. Yes Thas was humiliated then and tries to be kind now as Sora undergoes a similar ritual.

Does the reader feel like a voyeur? Yes because there a third person hiding there in the room, in someone’s head.

The lies have started. So does the manipulation. It’s an emotional, sexual, mental push you, pull you that’s so hard to read.

Sora quickly realizes he’s going to be hurt and when he runs and is brought back (yes this), knows he has no recourse. The pattern is set. Show him how to please Karadas sexually, then the God gets upset over something Sora in his innocence can’t understand, he’s punished, he’s hurt, his God apologizes … well you get it. This continues nonstop until the book is almost unreadable.

At 73% it’s still all about Karadas. He’s spent the majority of the book emotionally, mentally, and physically abusing Sora, a person who was a innocent in every aspect to the “relationship” to the extent we’d classify it as a case of severe domestic violence in a contemporary context, and he’s still got himself as the focus.

Here he is explaining to Sora how he’s feeling about treating Sora badly, after having a orgy, forcing Sora against his will to have sex, making Sora sick and angry so Sora fled the still ongoing sex scene:

“No. I watched them fuck each other. I touched them and let them touch me. I accepted masturbation from them, but I couldn’t stand more than that. Every time I got one of them beneath me, I saw your face, and I knew it would only bring me misery. So I took my giant form when I was with them. I didn’t want any of them attempting to take me into their bodies. It would have enraged me and that wouldn’t have been fair to them. I am ruined, Sora. Ruined for all but you.”

He’s not worried about how hurt Sora would feel. Yes , Sora has expressed himself about that. No he’s withholding his magnificence so they , quite unfairly to the men, can’t have sex with him.

True, he’s a god and like most omnipotent beings, a narcissistic personality. But narcissism alone doesn’t account for the fact he was extremely abusive , let alone for Sora’s well being, his rationale being it was for Sora’s benefit. That he planned it as a way to make Sora a better man. To bring out the real person

A textbook example of DA apology, btw. Karadas also repeatedly states his abusive behavior is unlike him, erratic, something he doesn’t understand, and won’t be repeated in the future.

How many flags are flying in this narrative? A boatload.

And it’s a put a ring on it and all is forgotten and apparently forgiven, even if he doesn’t sound very sincere.

It just get worse and worse. What a narrative dumpster fire.

So the next story will revolve around a rock star in our world but human (the lowest of the low in this universe) being magically delivered to the dragon universe. Yes, I think we can see what the author has in store for this poor man. It’s not going to be pretty.

So I’m quitting. Done.

Perhaps none of this bothers you. But it’s all a solid no for me, including not alerting readers to the elements of Domestic Violence with trigger warnings.

And I’m out.

The Dragons of Serai series:

✓ The Dragon King’s Assassin #1

✓ The Dragon Prince’s Necromancer #2

✓ The Dragon King’s Philosopher #3

✓ The Dragon God’s Sacrifice #4

◦ The Dragon King’s Rock Star #5

Buy Link:

The Dragon God’s Sacrifice: A Gay Fantasy Romance (The Dragons of Serai Book 4)

Can I survive loving a god?

For as long as I can remember, and even further back than that, the Dragons of Serai have worshiped a goddess and only her. But everything has changed. A god has risen. He has returned long-lost magic to my people and balanced the Fire within us. Those who could, made the journey to Ha’tezan, where the God’s temple was unearthed. I am fortunate enough to be one of those Dragons.

Shortly after my arrival, Karadas, the Dragon God of the Moon and Water, demanded a sacrifice—a man willing to give himself completely to our god and serve him in every way. Although the Sacrifice would be a servant to the God, he would hold a status even higher than that of a king. Dragons vied for the position, lining up every day at his temple to be considered. I did not go. I knew there was no chance of the God choosing me.

And yet, that’s exactly what happened.

Karadas chose me. I’m honored and overjoyed to be chosen. I know that serving him will bring me undreamed of pleasure. It will free me from my family and give me a chance at a new life. But I’m not a fool. I also know that his interest will wane, and he will eventually choose another. He’s my god, the most beautiful being I’ve ever seen and more powerful than anyone on Serai. I will surely fall in love with him. And he will, just as surely, destroy my heart. Pain is coming, a lot of it, but that’s nothing new for me. I will glory in the pleasure and not think about the agony that will come when I cease to be the Dragon God’s Sacrifice.

Review: Violent Mistake (Blackrose Brotherhood #2) by Ariana Nash

Rating: 4.25🌈

We met Kazi, aka Kazimir Skokan, vampire, who’s public face is that of a international internet sensation, a interesting facade for a member of a secretive society of powerful paranormal beings.

That’s the Brotherhood, a group of vampires hunting another equally ancient faction of vampires with a different allegiance towards the gods and the human race. It’s control Vs Chaos basically.

He’s on a kill mission when the story opens. His target a true crime reporter, Felix Quaid, with his Unexplained in Maine podcast, who refuses to stop digging into the affairs of the Brotherhood. Felix has to go.

Only the enemy intervenes.

Nash builds a story much like a traditional Smith Island cake, just one layer after another, until you have a thin, multiple level wonder. You may not be sure of what you’re getting until you’ve cut into it, grabbing that slice of scrumptiousness, finished it, and savoring all the ingredients.

That’s how I feel about all the many, many elements Nash introduces here and in the previous book. It’s like I’m staring at the cake but don’t know how it’s all going to work out yet.

It’s a lot and very ambitious. Here we have Kazi and Felix, their story and relationship. It veers off onto another continent. Picks up Felix’s history with his family. Picks up Kazi’s bloody backstory. What does get sidelined is the manner in which Felix “ lost” everything, his podcast, etc. That’s a fairly important thing to lose track of. But we do get a tiny glimpse into Felix’s family life. Kazi’s journey is rooted in history and location. Nash was outstanding in both.

But Nash has a lot of narrative ground to cover. We have to establish a meaningful relationship between two former enemies, bring about a change of heart within Kazi about humans and their role in the world (as well as with himself). Nash also has the enemy there to expound on their own destiny, mission, you know how a big bad absolutely MUST make speeches about themselves. It’s in the Evil Handbook. All the while, moving the storylines forward with enormous amounts of drama and angst.

There’s several really great twists, one that’s going to bring the sniffles out as well.

But the author isn’t finished. Smith Island Cake remember? There’s genetics, explosions, betrayals (sorry, but everyone will see who the baddie is in this instance), and more loose end mysteries. All that isn’t revealed or relayed in any satisfactory manner in the story other than bare minimum at the end.

At the end, I just had way too many unanswered questions to the unresolved aspects of this story to feel satisfied. I really liked it, but didn’t love it.

And really know one is talking about Mikalis to each other?

There’s no mention yet of the next installment. I’ll be waiting for an update.

I find the elements and promise here fascinating. If you’re a fan of this author and paranormal fiction, you decide whether to wait until more of this series is released to read the stories or read along as they are published.

I’m recommending it because I’m just as curious as the rest of you.

Blackrose Brotherhood series:

✓ Violent Desire #1

✓ Violent Mistake #2

Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com › showViolent Mistake (Blackrose Brotherhood #2) by Ariana Nash

Description:

Internet sensation Kazimir Skokan, is loved around the world for his luxury photoshoots and envious lifestyle. But Felix Quaid has never hated a man more. Ex-investigative journalist turned true-crime podcaster, Felix knows something is off with playboy Kazi. From the late-night back-alley meetings to the people around him who later vanish, behind Kazimir’s flashy smile, he’s rotten to his core. Not to mention rumors of darker, dangerous, some-say supernatural occurrences around Kazimir. Felix even has photos to prove it.

But the last time he tried to expose Kazimir Skokan, his story was inexplicably shut down, taking Felix’s career as a journalist with it. Kazimir owes him the truth. And Felix is going to make sure the whole world knows it.

*

Kazi has new orders. Kill Felix Quaid. The Blackrose brotherhood leader, Mikalis, is never wrong. But in this, Kazi disagrees. Sure, Quaid is a pest, perhaps even a stalker, but no more than any other overzealous fan. Still, what Mikalis wants, Mikalis gets. And what’s another dead meat-bag to Kazi anyway? He stopped caring who lived and who died long ago.

Making Quaid disappear should have been easy. But in Quaid’s final, crucial moments, a pack of cult members kidnap them both, mistaking Quaid for a member of the brotherhood. Now, trapped together, their time running out, Kazi must work with Quaid if they’re to survive the insane Nyx-worshipping acolytes.

But as soon as they escape, Mikalis’s orders will still stand: Quaid must die.

Kazi thought he’d long ago given up on caring who lived and who died. Apparently, he was wrong…

*

Sparks fly in the second book in the all-new gay vampire psychopathic romance. Please note these books contain morally grey characters, unlikable heroes, enemies to lovers, and all the Ariana Nash angst you didn’t know you needed.

Each book in the series follows a new MM couple and ends in a HEA/HFN. This series is fast burn.

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