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nikitanavalkar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Hello, welcome to a Sierra Simone book. Come for the profoundly sexy smut, stay for the pretty turns of phrase and the occasional philosophical discussion. Or is it the other way round? Anyway whatever you came for be rest assured you will find it and more. The woman knows how to snare your senses with beautifully woven word tapestries cleverly disguising stories of exquisite pain and torture and sex and sorrow and heart squeezing joy underneath. Is it any wonder I’m obsessed with her word magic?
Coming back from that tangent, with this foray into the Lyonesse world, Ms Simone is back within her favored hunting grounds of DC and international politics, secret agency shenanigans, moody Cornish cottages, and elegantly dirty high society kink. A combination no one else can pull off with such panache. I know I said this in my Salt in the Wound review, but it bears repeating, this series feels like returning home to my Camelot loving heart, even though it’s not at all like Camelot other than for the obvious connections. And yes, do not directly jump into this book, reading SitW first is mandatory to make it make sense. While SitW gave us the first taste of the dynamic between Mark and Isolde and the tiniest hint of Tristan, Salt Kiss lets us sink our teeth in the other relationships of the series. And they are ~fraught~ you guys.
Bebe Tristan is in deep deep shit, falling first for his step uncle slash boss and then for said boss’s fiancé. And that’s not even the half of it. The boss is Mark Trevena, enigmatic former spy now kink club owner extraordinaire, and his affianced is Isolde, platinum spooned (and haired hehe) banking heiress with religious aspirations tempered with a penchant for blades and pain. And bb Tristan is the cinnamonest of rolls. With an edge, but still the goldenest of retrievers. All he wants is love, the poor puppy. Must proteccc at all costs. Ironic, since he’s the bodyguard, but lord sneaky and lady stabby are the ones wanting to do the protecting.
Speaking of the devils, Simone has created a truly delightful morally corrupt antihero in Mark Trevena, ruthlessly cold and diabolical. Machiavellian mastermind. Unlike her usual heroes, who tend to be ultimately noble and good even when they’re freaky sadists in the sheets, Mark is none of those things (except for a sadist) and therein lies his appeal. Basically Mark can pull my hair and step on me, and I’ll say thank you. Not that we know any of his motivations or plans yet, he’s one sneaky daddy dom. Isolde too, is all restrained elegance and silken strength, but we already know she’s hella diabolical. Isolde can also step on me. Bebe T has his work cut out for him.
Can you believe I’ve written half a paper on this book and not even mentioned the 🌶️ content? Ms Simone is a legend among her peers, and a poet among (erotic) writers. No matter what dirty and depraved activities she’s writing about, reading it feels more sacred than prayer, and more transcendent than meditation. Never tell me romance is just porn. Ms. Simone is as skilled at edging her readers as Mark Trevena is his subs, and that’s saying something, because we are brought enticingly close to confirming theories and proving speculations but then you’re already at the edge of that cliffy and all I can do now is wait for March so I can be relieved from my misery and longing. And SO CAN THEY! They will be right, Ms Simone?! RIGHT???
CW:
Cheating (ish) but they all like each other so it’s fine don’t worry about it, mentions of PTSD and war (in the past), bdsm (I don’t think this needs to be a warning but if you need it) this is a kinky book okay
*I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own*
***
Post bonus scene musings:
This scene is a thing of beauty. In that you can absolutely go about your life without it and you won’t be missing critical info. But at the same time it teases and baits and foreshadows and will overall enhance your reading experience of the series. So you should go read it anyway. And yes, it’s wonderfully smutty
Coming back from that tangent, with this foray into the Lyonesse world, Ms Simone is back within her favored hunting grounds of DC and international politics, secret agency shenanigans, moody Cornish cottages, and elegantly dirty high society kink. A combination no one else can pull off with such panache. I know I said this in my Salt in the Wound review, but it bears repeating, this series feels like returning home to my Camelot loving heart, even though it’s not at all like Camelot other than for the obvious connections. And yes, do not directly jump into this book, reading SitW first is mandatory to make it make sense. While SitW gave us the first taste of the dynamic between Mark and Isolde and the tiniest hint of Tristan, Salt Kiss lets us sink our teeth in the other relationships of the series. And they are ~fraught~ you guys.
Bebe Tristan is in deep deep shit, falling first for his step uncle slash boss and then for said boss’s fiancé. And that’s not even the half of it. The boss is Mark Trevena, enigmatic former spy now kink club owner extraordinaire, and his affianced is Isolde, platinum spooned (and haired hehe) banking heiress with religious aspirations tempered with a penchant for blades and pain. And bb Tristan is the cinnamonest of rolls. With an edge, but still the goldenest of retrievers. All he wants is love, the poor puppy. Must proteccc at all costs. Ironic, since he’s the bodyguard, but lord sneaky and lady stabby are the ones wanting to do the protecting.
Speaking of the devils, Simone has created a truly delightful morally corrupt antihero in Mark Trevena, ruthlessly cold and diabolical. Machiavellian mastermind. Unlike her usual heroes, who tend to be ultimately noble and good even when they’re freaky sadists in the sheets, Mark is none of those things (except for a sadist) and therein lies his appeal. Basically Mark can pull my hair and step on me, and I’ll say thank you. Not that we know any of his motivations or plans yet, he’s one sneaky daddy dom. Isolde too, is all restrained elegance and silken strength, but we already know she’s hella diabolical. Isolde can also step on me. Bebe T has his work cut out for him.
Can you believe I’ve written half a paper on this book and not even mentioned the 🌶️ content? Ms Simone is a legend among her peers, and a poet among (erotic) writers. No matter what dirty and depraved activities she’s writing about, reading it feels more sacred than prayer, and more transcendent than meditation. Never tell me romance is just porn. Ms. Simone is as skilled at edging her readers as Mark Trevena is his subs, and that’s saying something, because we are brought enticingly close to confirming theories and proving speculations but then you’re already at the edge of that cliffy and all I can do now is wait for March so I can be relieved from my misery and longing. And SO CAN THEY! They will be right, Ms Simone?! RIGHT???
CW:
Cheating (ish) but they all like each other so it’s fine don’t worry about it, mentions of PTSD and war (in the past), bdsm (I don’t think this needs to be a warning but if you need it) this is a kinky book okay
*I received an arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own*
***
Post bonus scene musings:
This scene is a thing of beauty. In that you can absolutely go about your life without it and you won’t be missing critical info. But at the same time it teases and baits and foreshadows and will overall enhance your reading experience of the series. So you should go read it anyway. And yes, it’s wonderfully smutty
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
audreytwo's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book. Ate it up (like I do all of Simone's work, tbh). Filthy, and depraved, and just right. I'm obsessed with Simone's prose and writing style, her descriptions that are so lifelike it's like you're living, breathing, experiencing the story. Her characters who break your heart and piss you off. The ability to write from all perspectives of sexuality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Death, Grief, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
madscanread's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Tristan is one of my favorite main characters and his obsessive nature is somehow so sweet. He falls in love with a husband and wife to be and both of them are keeping secrets and practically stringing him along. Kinky, emotional, and mysterious with a plot unfolding beautifully in the background. My only issue is that it’s incest. Especially incest in a way where the “step” doesn’t even matter since uncles and aunts half the time are just through marriage - plus, the whole idea that step family doesn’t count hurts as someone with such a large step and ex-step family. It doesn’t even seem relevant to the plot so I don’t know why it was added? I gladly keep my eyes close to this, though, since I liked Tristan so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Incest, and Infidelity
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and War
Minor: Death of parent, Medical content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
laylareadsthings's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Tristan!!! Omg what a sweetheart. Easily one of my new favorite book characters, I adore how he wears his heart of his sleeve and doesn’t question himself about it. It’s part of who he is and most of this book is him navigating the consequences of being so raw, but ultimately guarded by events from his past.
My only reason for not giving this five stars isthis book ends where Salt in the Wound does, so from a plot perspective you go almost nowhere. Yes it’s incredible to read from Tristan’s perspective, but if you’re a plot driven reader, you may find yourself frustrated by the end of this book. I also guessed the ‘twist’ at the end the moment Tristan and Isolde boarded the boat, so I wasn’t surprised at the cliffhanger (though it’s still a good one!!). I think this book expertly lays the groundwork for the next one and I’m 100% confident that all the breadcrumbs laid in this book are going to pay off when the next is out. I just wish this hadn’t felt so much like a companion novella to Salt in the Wound vs. the first in a series!
I’m splitting hairs here with critiques, I blew through this in a single afternoon and did love it!! Excited for the next, hope the wait isn’t too long!
My only reason for not giving this five stars is
I’m splitting hairs here with critiques, I blew through this in a single afternoon and did love it!! Excited for the next, hope the wait isn’t too long!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: War, Gun violence, and Violence
mada_m's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't usually like reading books that are part of incomplete series. But who can resist a new story from Sierra Simone? And it's about mysterious Mark, of whom we got a glimpse in New Camelot... my fate was sealed as soon as I read Salt in the Wound, the prequel to Lyonnese.
Tristan is so real, sweet and adorable, you will feel immediately over protective of him, which is exceptionally weird, considering he is the bodyguard and a former soldier. The kink is everything in this book, which is to be expected from a story set in a kink club. The character development is beautifully done, in a very Sierra Simone style.
This book is impossible to put down and it will live rent free in your head for years to come.
Tristan is so real, sweet and adorable, you will feel immediately over protective of him, which is exceptionally weird, considering he is the bodyguard and a former soldier. The kink is everything in this book, which is to be expected from a story set in a kink club. The character development is beautifully done, in a very Sierra Simone style.
This book is impossible to put down and it will live rent free in your head for years to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and War
kat7794's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, War, Gun violence, and Blood
bookishbeccah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
So if you ever watched the movie Tristan and Isolde from the early 2000s but you wanted more… and maybe modern day… and More ….. SPICE! That would be this book.
I loved Sierra Simone’s, American Queen series and this book is giving me those same feels.
Tristan is suffering from ptsd after coming back from war. He’s left the military and taken up a job as a bodyguard for the owner of a kink club. Well long story short, he learns all about kink through his new boss. I don’t want to say more and give things away …. You have to earn them by reading the book.
Will Tristan lose his first love or Isolde or both?
Tropes:
- Bodyguard
- Kink
- Forbidden Love
- Age Gap
- MMF
- Tristan and Isolde Retelling
I literally read this book in a day and now I’m desperately waiting for book 2.
Definitely check content warnings for this book. It may not be for everyone.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this fantastic eArd.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: War
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