serialbookstarter's review
3.0
This was dark but the darker parts happened when the h was captured by the H’s enemy for retaliation— those pages were extremely brutal. The telling of the tale was a
convoluted and confusing at times. Like wait a minute— what? A bit ott. Sometimes less is more.
convoluted and confusing at times. Like wait a minute— what? A bit ott. Sometimes less is more.
optimisticbooknerd20's review
2.0
2 ⭐️
I lack the vocabulary for my feelings but I don't think I liked this one
I lack the vocabulary for my feelings but I don't think I liked this one
lilabachere's review
Hated the writing and all the traumatic things happening to Ash feel gratuitous and for shock value
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Rape, Death, Sexual violence, Blood, Confinement, and Suicide attempt
jennys_library's review
I unfortunately dnf'd this book at 70 pages. Main reason being that the MMC was absolutely unlikeable and had no redeeming qualities. I just couldn't see how this book would get any better.
It is an older (2017) book, but trigger warnings are not clear anywhere.
It is an older (2017) book, but trigger warnings are not clear anywhere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Violence, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, and Cursing
morganreadsoccasionally's review
5.0
Caesar St Clair is a different type of monster. He's the type you don't want to make an enemy out of.
Thus is dark, just as the author warning suggests. I took a lot for me to claw myself out if it's grasp. But I loved everything about.
Our heroine, Ashlynn, is a broken little thing. In some ways, having the monster on her side is good for her. She's known monsters all her life but there's something comforting about having a bigger and badder monster on her side. Things between Ashlynn and Caesar are super toxic so definitely pay attention to trigger warnings.
Thus is dark, just as the author warning suggests. I took a lot for me to claw myself out if it's grasp. But I loved everything about.
Our heroine, Ashlynn, is a broken little thing. In some ways, having the monster on her side is good for her. She's known monsters all her life but there's something comforting about having a bigger and badder monster on her side. Things between Ashlynn and Caesar are super toxic so definitely pay attention to trigger warnings.
beereina's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
3.5
Whew this book was pitch black!
Ashlyn is molested and abused most of her life and then is sold to a wealthy drug dealer to cover a debt. She has a inheritance that is signed over to him and she is to belong to him. What ensues after that is darkity dark dark dark. I mean I loved Cesar because I love my villains pitch black but he’s not good for Ashlyn. Not in the traditional sense anyway. He’s abusive and pretty awful but he also slays her dragons. Unfortunately he fails a time or two and some pretty awful stuff happens to her. I honestly didn’t see how this couple was gonna make it.
They get their HEA but is unconventional and toxic. I just wish we got to see them together longer without so much strife. But then the book wouldn’t have been what it was.
If you have any triggers…,. I mean any…. This book isn’t for you. I usually hate broad TW like that but for this one it’s true. Gratuitous violence, gratuitous sexual violence, suicide attempt, CSA, depression, mental illness, etc. I think the only thing this book didn’t have was drug use and incest.
Ashlyn is molested and abused most of her life and then is sold to a wealthy drug dealer to cover a debt. She has a inheritance that is signed over to him and she is to belong to him. What ensues after that is darkity dark dark dark. I mean I loved Cesar because I love my villains pitch black but he’s not good for Ashlyn. Not in the traditional sense anyway. He’s abusive and pretty awful but he also slays her dragons. Unfortunately he fails a time or two and some pretty awful stuff happens to her. I honestly didn’t see how this couple was gonna make it.
They get their HEA but is unconventional and toxic. I just wish we got to see them together longer without so much strife. But then the book wouldn’t have been what it was.
If you have any triggers…,. I mean any…. This book isn’t for you. I usually hate broad TW like that but for this one it’s true. Gratuitous violence, gratuitous sexual violence, suicide attempt, CSA, depression, mental illness, etc. I think the only thing this book didn’t have was drug use and incest.
becsa's review
3.0
Caesar St.Clair is 28 years old and works with Sean. When he is double crossed by Trace owing him his money, Trace promises Caesar his sister, Ashlyn.
Ashlyn Myers is 22 years old and engaged to college football star Matthew Hughes. She knows marrying Matthew will help her escape her troubled past and save her best friend Tamara.
But when Ashlyn finds herself taken by Caesar she finds her whole world turned upside down and a prisoner once again. Can Ashlyn find her way out of the darkness before she loses herself completely?
This is a dark book and will not be enjoyed by everyone as it could be a trigger for some people.
So Caesar was just pure evil from start to end and I had a hard time relating to him. I was so mad at him for grabbing Ashlyn and punishing her for what her brother owed. Caesar was just as cruel as Jason and Trace were and I was frustrated that he treated Ashlyn almost the same way.
I liked Ashlyn and felt awful for her with what she went through in the past and I could understand why she needed to do whatever it took to get away from her former life. I was shocked at how she was treated by Caesar and I could understand why she wanted to escape.
There were a few twists and turns in the book that left me wondering what was going to happen next. I was shocked at what happened with Gleason and then Sean and what Caesar did in return.
I was so mad at Ashlyn at the end as I felt like she didn't give herself a chance!!
Ashlyn Myers is 22 years old and engaged to college football star Matthew Hughes. She knows marrying Matthew will help her escape her troubled past and save her best friend Tamara.
But when Ashlyn finds herself taken by Caesar she finds her whole world turned upside down and a prisoner once again. Can Ashlyn find her way out of the darkness before she loses herself completely?
This is a dark book and will not be enjoyed by everyone as it could be a trigger for some people.
So Caesar was just pure evil from start to end and I had a hard time relating to him. I was so mad at him for grabbing Ashlyn and punishing her for what her brother owed. Caesar was just as cruel as Jason and Trace were and I was frustrated that he treated Ashlyn almost the same way.
I liked Ashlyn and felt awful for her with what she went through in the past and I could understand why she needed to do whatever it took to get away from her former life. I was shocked at how she was treated by Caesar and I could understand why she wanted to escape.
There were a few twists and turns in the book that left me wondering what was going to happen next. I was shocked at what happened with Gleason and then Sean and what Caesar did in return.
I was so mad at Ashlyn at the end as I felt like she didn't give herself a chance!!
strawberrysara's review
3.0
This book oh my god. It was darker than both Hunting and Haunting Adeline combined, it was darker than all of the r-word books ever holy shit. HE R WORDED HER IN HER SLEEP LIKE HELLO!??! SHE WAS COMING BACK FROM YET ANOTHER TRAUMATIC KIDNAPPING AND HE WAS LIKE AW YEA LETS TATOO AND SPICY TIME HER WHILE SHES IN A COMA!??! HUH!??!
HOWEVER
i would read more of the author because I hate myself.
HOWEVER
i would read more of the author because I hate myself.
lifeinthebooklane's review
4.0
Oh hell is this book dark and so full of possible triggers. It's not an easy read, and I found myself having to put the book down for a short while on a couple of occasions. But I also really enjoyed the book.
Ashlyn tried so hard to be both free and also the person she thought she wanted to be. Some of her fear based reactions, where she reverted to her 'Jason' behaviour, were heartbreaking. And yet through out it all she had incredible strength.
Caesar is the monster who grows on you and finds a way to touch your heart. The book is written first person from both POV's and his last chapter was the wonderful twist this story needed.
The pace was amazing with lots of twists and turns. I found the author's style of writing easy to read and felt that the story flowed smoothly. The chemistry was intense, and even though this was in no way a romantic read, I did feel and believe in the connection between Ashlyn and Caesar.
If you like a dark read I do recommend this, although be warned that it does contain abuse, rape and graphic violence.
Ashlyn tried so hard to be both free and also the person she thought she wanted to be. Some of her fear based reactions, where she reverted to her 'Jason' behaviour, were heartbreaking. And yet through out it all she had incredible strength.
I wanted that Devil to strip me of ever believing in heaven and turn me into his Lileth.
I'd rather be beside the Devil, than beholden to a God who'd forgotten me.
Caesar is the monster who grows on you and finds a way to touch your heart. The book is written first person from both POV's and his last chapter was the wonderful twist this story needed.
The pace was amazing with lots of twists and turns. I found the author's style of writing easy to read and felt that the story flowed smoothly. The chemistry was intense, and even though this was in no way a romantic read, I did feel and believe in the connection between Ashlyn and Caesar.
If you like a dark read I do recommend this, although be warned that it does contain abuse, rape and graphic violence.
ohclaiire's review
5.0
Omg! This book is seriously dark and I loved it!! Such a different story than the usual dark genre but so worth it!!