Lauren

I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK. I was mesmerized from the first paragraph. Morally black MMCs: Ezra is a cold and calculated psychopath, Kas is a passionate and volatile sociopath. Their dynamic set me on fire and the spice had me SWEATING. This book had me kicking my feet and establishing a legacy contact to delete my kindle history most mortem. If you have the option, snatch up the audio with your best grabby hands... the performances were phenomenal. This has become one of my all time favorite MM reads, and one of my favorite reads of the year. I only wish it was longer!

Holy hell. Not only is this the most depraved, gruesome, and fucked up novel I've ever read (and I've read a lot of dark shit), it's also remarkably well-written. I was captivated and horrified from the very first sentence. I don't think I've ever been so uncomfortable with a book in my entire life, and the number of times I physically winced or full body shuddered while reading a scene was probably enough to permanently alter my brain chemistry. There are scenes in this book (one scene in particular, but I can think of at least another 5) that will haunt me for the rest of my life.

Again, Ezra Blake is a hell of a writer. The way the visceral descriptions and language in this book affected me will not easily be shaken. The characters themselves are also deeply intense. Chris's journey throughout this book is a mind fuck in itself, and Ivan's cold clinical detachment and calculated manipulation may even eclipse that of Hannibal Lecter. If you purposefully seek out the dark and disturbing, and you're eager to find out if you do in fact have any triggers at all, this is definitely a worthwhile read. I will definitely seek out anything else Ezra Blake has written, I am officially hooked.

I loved it so much... Jessie Walker is a beautiful writer, and she does a really amazing job of writing complex and deeply hurt characters. It's also clear she did her research, because the trauma in this story and its effects are very authentic. Hell, I even learned something about trauma psychology that I never knew before (see: repetition compulsion). And it explains SO MUCH.

The emotions this book brought out in me... it most definitely pulled out some ugly tears. Will and I have a past trauma in common, so that was both horrifically devastating and at the same time healing to read about. And Waylon... I need to just wrap that poor sweet baby up in a gigantic hug and never let go.

If you're looking for a dark contemporary MM romance series (duet?) that you can't put down and makes you cry so hard you pop a blood vessel, this is the one. Can't wait to read #2!

I loved it!! Think kinky MM Umbrella Academy for benevolent psychopath assassins, but instead of superpowers they have extensive childhood trauma.

Adam and Noah are such precious cuties- Adam is like a little sociopathic puppy dog. I actually didn't find the insta-love as off putting as I was expecting to... it was more insta-possession than insta-love. I loved the dynamic of the MMCs, and thought it was so sweet and adorable how hard Adam was trying to people for Noah. All the spice was

“Love is a cage two people build around themselves.”

Well, I finally found a book that made me hurl my kindle across the room out of sheer shock and agony. This. Book. Wrecked me. I know I use hyperbole a lot in my reviews, but when I say I was HYSTERICAL I may actually be downplaying my emotions. This story will have to be removed from my body via exorcism. It feels like someone Blood Eagled my soul. I was made to watch as this book snatched my heart out through my throat and pounded it into a thin paste with a meat tenderizer. And I loved every moment of it.

This writing held me hostage from word one. I can't believe I almost didn't give this story a chance because the author published anonymously. Her characters are so beautifully constructed and painfully REAL. I'm struggling to even think about them without breaking down into tears again.

Michael is a sweet little ball of anxious energy gamer boy trapped in the body of a 25 year old. He's bumbling his way through his first real journalism break and his bi awakening with all the grace of a newborn giraffe.

Caleb Bright is a son of a bitch. He's a man tortured by faith and resolute in his belief that religious doctrine equates to morality. Those principles are in a constant state of war with his sexuality, causing him to be bitter, self-hating, miserable, and haunted by his past.

I don't want to say much else for fear of doing them a disservice... have you ever read characters so well-written that they become more lifelike than the actual people in your life? I am very much still recovering after finishing this book at 2am, and I'm shaken. I'm not alright. This book does not have a HEA, so if that's a deal breaker for you maybe skip this one. Also check your triggers, and I very rarely say that. This one hurt me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, ruined my life.