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A Murder of Crows #1
The Rain King
Mysterious. Dark. Deadly.
They say crows are bad omens, but until I met them, a single crow was my only friend.
Then the boys next door come to welcome me to the neighborhood.
Maddox, the mysterious, tattooed, six-foot-four wall of muscle who glares at me like I’m the enemy but protects me like I'm a treasure.
Lennox, the devastatingly gorgeous flirt who charms me with his criminal smiles and melts me with his gentle kisses... While hiding a sinister secret.
They’re twin brothers, each one more dangerous than the other, each more irresistible. Loyal only to their crew, the Murder of Crows, they refuse to let an outsider like me get too close.
That is, until they find out the abuse I suffer at home.
They take me in, but I soon realize these men are no saviors. They’re ruthless kings in a community governed by gang law, where depravity reigns and favors are repaid in blood.
I should have seen the omen and run, but now it’s too late.
I’m in their debt.
The Crows own me now, body and soul.
The two kings want to play with their pretty, broken toy, but they don't want to share.
One of them wants to trap me. The other wants to punish me.
But which one gets to keep me?
***The Rain King is a m/f dark romance meant for 18+ readers who have *NO TRIGGERS.* It is a complete standalone within a series.
They say crows are bad omens, but until I met them, a single crow was my only friend.
Then the boys next door come to welcome me to the neighborhood.
Maddox, the mysterious, tattooed, six-foot-four wall of muscle who glares at me like I’m the enemy but protects me like I'm a treasure.
Lennox, the devastatingly gorgeous flirt who charms me with his criminal smiles and melts me with his gentle kisses... While hiding a sinister secret.
They’re twin brothers, each one more dangerous than the other, each more irresistible. Loyal only to their crew, the Murder of Crows, they refuse to let an outsider like me get too close.
That is, until they find out the abuse I suffer at home.
They take me in, but I soon realize these men are no saviors. They’re ruthless kings in a community governed by gang law, where depravity reigns and favors are repaid in blood.
I should have seen the omen and run, but now it’s too late.
I’m in their debt.
The Crows own me now, body and soul.
The two kings want to play with their pretty, broken toy, but they don't want to share.
One of them wants to trap me. The other wants to punish me.
But which one gets to keep me?
***The Rain King is a m/f dark romance meant for 18+ readers who have *NO TRIGGERS.* It is a complete standalone within a series.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2022
About the author
Selena .
27 books1,153 followersYou might not guess it when you pick up your first Selena novel, but Selena is a true romantic. She writes gritty, realistic New Adult contemporary novels with characters you'll love to hate and hate to love.
If reading about teens behaving badly upsets you, steer clear because these are full of drama, angst, fighting, drugs, sex, and rock & roll. There will be times you want to throw your Kindle. There will be lying, cheating, bullying, backstabbing, violence, and hard-earned, sweet redemption for those who won't give up on love. Because life's not always picture perfect, but every heart, no matter how broken and damaged, deserves love.
If reading about teens behaving badly upsets you, steer clear because these are full of drama, angst, fighting, drugs, sex, and rock & roll. There will be times you want to throw your Kindle. There will be lying, cheating, bullying, backstabbing, violence, and hard-earned, sweet redemption for those who won't give up on love. Because life's not always picture perfect, but every heart, no matter how broken and damaged, deserves love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 466 reviews
September 22, 2022
I'd seen this one doing the rounds and was curious enough to 1click it.
These twin brothers will do your head in, one trying to one up the other, and it just showed how young they actually were in a mans world, but the heroine had me tipping over the edge. I lost count how many times the V Card was held like a gold trophy trying to trap one of the twins.
Plus I like my heroines strong willed in every sense of the word, this one was flippy floppy and had no real back bone to speak of, so I kind of cringed throughout.
The storyline was okish, I expected it to be darker than it was, though it should've had a trigger warning in place for sensitive readers who don't like rape scenes in full disclosure, it wasn't glossed over and even made me feel a wee bit ickish, then throw in the matching tattoos and it missed the mark for me, that was another ick moment..
It was a wee bit messy, errors here and there, open ended scenes which didn't go anywhere, making it feel rushed, so really needed to be edited a bit more.
Others have love this, me I didn't hate it but I didn't love it, it could've been amazing but just fell off the mark for me.
These twin brothers will do your head in, one trying to one up the other, and it just showed how young they actually were in a mans world, but the heroine had me tipping over the edge. I lost count how many times the V Card was held like a gold trophy trying to trap one of the twins.
Plus I like my heroines strong willed in every sense of the word, this one was flippy floppy and had no real back bone to speak of, so I kind of cringed throughout.
The storyline was okish, I expected it to be darker than it was, though it should've had a trigger warning in place for sensitive readers who don't like rape scenes in full disclosure, it wasn't glossed over and even made me feel a wee bit ickish, then throw in the matching tattoos and it missed the mark for me, that was another ick moment..
It was a wee bit messy, errors here and there, open ended scenes which didn't go anywhere, making it feel rushed, so really needed to be edited a bit more.
Others have love this, me I didn't hate it but I didn't love it, it could've been amazing but just fell off the mark for me.
February 14, 2023
I have read a lot of silly and stupid books but this one tops it all. I’m angry that I haven’t DNFed when I was seriously contemplating doing so on numerous occasions. Let me start from what is wrong with the book as there is absolutely nothing right.
When I’m promised a dark romance I expect a dark romance. Not just talking about how the MC is a bad ass without any evidence. I wanna feel it and taste it on the tip of my tongue. Otherwise nobody believes it!
This was just piss poor execution of dark romance,
The female character. Omg she was driving me nuts. I mean fricking stop about the V card. I did not understand her thoughts process, oh yeah because there wasn’t one!
The story was predictable as the 4 seasons.
And don’t get me started on the rape which was followed by tatooing blood on legs. I mean that just lacks any imagination. And then, listen to this she marries him. I mean somewhere during the rape and claiming her virginity he must have bang her head so hard she became mentally incapable person.
I mean the entire ending was laughable. Neither of them had any redeeming qualities and quite frankly she was sooo dumb she deserved him.
Don’t let me start on the stupid crow bird episode.
I will not be reading any follow up story, because quite frankly I have absolutely no desire to read about any of them. The reason for my high rating is the sex scene at the beginning of the book which was hot!
I hope you can tell that I’m soooooo pissed I haven’t DNFed. What a wasted weekend reading this piss poor dark romance look alike.
When I’m promised a dark romance I expect a dark romance. Not just talking about how the MC is a bad ass without any evidence. I wanna feel it and taste it on the tip of my tongue. Otherwise nobody believes it!
This was just piss poor execution of dark romance,
The female character. Omg she was driving me nuts. I mean fricking stop about the V card. I did not understand her thoughts process, oh yeah because there wasn’t one!
The story was predictable as the 4 seasons.
And don’t get me started on the rape which was followed by tatooing blood on legs. I mean that just lacks any imagination. And then, listen to this she marries him. I mean somewhere during the rape and claiming her virginity he must have bang her head so hard she became mentally incapable person.
I mean the entire ending was laughable. Neither of them had any redeeming qualities and quite frankly she was sooo dumb she deserved him.
Don’t let me start on the stupid crow bird episode.
I will not be reading any follow up story, because quite frankly I have absolutely no desire to read about any of them. The reason for my high rating is the sex scene at the beginning of the book which was hot!
I hope you can tell that I’m soooooo pissed I haven’t DNFed. What a wasted weekend reading this piss poor dark romance look alike.
September 8, 2022
I can usually tell by the 20% mark if a book and I are going to vibe. This one was murky for a bit, then cleared up. THEN it got WILD, things hooked a left turn and I didn’t know if anyone in here was worth rooting for.
By the end I had decided that they definitely weren’t, but I could see the appeal and now I have new stuff to talk to my therapist about.
By the end I had decided that they definitely weren’t, but I could see the appeal and now I have new stuff to talk to my therapist about.
September 5, 2022
I love that we’re back in Faulkner, Arkansas. And in the 90’s! Hello pay-phones! 😂
Rae West is the new girl in town. Introverted with no friends, she’s alone with her mom and abusive stepfather who’s a cop.
She moves in a lower class neighborhood and next to the North twins.
Gangsters.
Murder of Crows.
Unexpectedly over her pool, she meets these brothers and their gang. Theirs an instant attraction happening and over time, realizing her step dad is hurting Rae, the brothers take her in. But jealousy ensues.
This book is … not for the faint of heart. Theirs
dub/con
Rape
Horrible bullying
Abuse (mental and physical)
And it’s a dark and twisted romance.
These brothers are crazy and insane.
Their jealousy over Rae goes far beyond anything normal and okay.
“But in some strange way, I’m ready to be hurt. I want to love just so I’ll know I’m not alone. I want to hurt because it proves that I loved, maybe even that someone loved me. If that’s the price of not being alone with my heart anymore, then I’m ready to pay that price.”
Rae has daddy/abandonment issues. She wants to feel loved. By anyone. And she’s ready to hand herself over to some twisted brothers.
Who does she end up with?
🤫🤫🤐🤐🤐🤐
Rae ends up with one brother.
Rae gets an HEA
YOU MUST READ THE EXTENDED EPILOGUE. ❤️
And the next book is about the other brother! 💜
Rae West is the new girl in town. Introverted with no friends, she’s alone with her mom and abusive stepfather who’s a cop.
She moves in a lower class neighborhood and next to the North twins.
Gangsters.
Murder of Crows.
Unexpectedly over her pool, she meets these brothers and their gang. Theirs an instant attraction happening and over time, realizing her step dad is hurting Rae, the brothers take her in. But jealousy ensues.
This book is … not for the faint of heart. Theirs
dub/con
Rape
Horrible bullying
Abuse (mental and physical)
And it’s a dark and twisted romance.
These brothers are crazy and insane.
Their jealousy over Rae goes far beyond anything normal and okay.
“But in some strange way, I’m ready to be hurt. I want to love just so I’ll know I’m not alone. I want to hurt because it proves that I loved, maybe even that someone loved me. If that’s the price of not being alone with my heart anymore, then I’m ready to pay that price.”
Rae has daddy/abandonment issues. She wants to feel loved. By anyone. And she’s ready to hand herself over to some twisted brothers.
Who does she end up with?
🤫🤫🤐🤐🤐🤐
Rae ends up with one brother.
Rae gets an HEA
YOU MUST READ THE EXTENDED EPILOGUE. ❤️
And the next book is about the other brother! 💜
September 13, 2022
I saw this book on tik tik and it had good reviews. It was such a disappointment. The plot is all over the place. The FMC just frustrated me to no end. She may seem like she’s strong one chapter but by the end of the book I’m more annoyed. The author could have gone into the pasts of the MMC’s to help explain but she doesn’t. Overall not worth the read.
June 30, 2023
I had such high hopes for this book. I’m so disappointed it’s ridiculous. Admittedly, Selena has been a bit hit and miss for me. Her first series was super meh but she hit it out of the park with Bad Apple and the rest. Her other books have been a mixed bag. I’m not sure why I had such high hopes for this one but it’s a huge miss.
It’s like she was trying to hard to be edgy but it just comes off pathetic. Truly neither of the brothers “deserved her”. Lennox was clearly not the guy for her but Maddox was worse, truly. He never chooses her until the dead fucking end. He hurts her, pushes her away, ridicules and humiliates her at every turn and I’m supposed to believe the HEA that pulls at the dead end of this shit show? Don’t even get me started on what a pathetic bitch she is through the entire book.
This was hugely disappointing from start to finish.
Safety - 0%. Let me do safety readers a solid. All of Selena’s books are 0% safe. The heroes fuck other women, sometimes the heroines fuck other men, you can’t call any of it cheating because they aren’t even typically in a relationship. They all just fuck around constantly. If you need H/h to only be into each other run from this author.
It’s like she was trying to hard to be edgy but it just comes off pathetic. Truly neither of the brothers “deserved her”. Lennox was clearly not the guy for her but Maddox was worse, truly. He never chooses her until the dead fucking end. He hurts her, pushes her away, ridicules and humiliates her at every turn and I’m supposed to believe the HEA that pulls at the dead end of this shit show? Don’t even get me started on what a pathetic bitch she is through the entire book.
This was hugely disappointing from start to finish.
Safety - 0%. Let me do safety readers a solid. All of Selena’s books are 0% safe. The heroes fuck other women, sometimes the heroines fuck other men, you can’t call any of it cheating because they aren’t even typically in a relationship. They all just fuck around constantly. If you need H/h to only be into each other run from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2023
Tiktok pulled one scene out of here and made it sound like this best seller/read you’ll ever have. When in fact, it was the worst.
If you want to read a book about 2 gang member/brothers fighting over a girl - one whom then takes her virginity against her will, takes her to a tattoo parlor in the dead of night, makes them tattoo her virgin blood on her and him, then rapes her again in a phone booth when she runs away, then they fall in love…here ya go.
I read somewhere that this book isn’t all about the “gang” but literally it only talks about is that. Worst read of my life and I’ll never get my time back I spent reading this. 😤
If you want to read a book about 2 gang member/brothers fighting over a girl - one whom then takes her virginity against her will, takes her to a tattoo parlor in the dead of night, makes them tattoo her virgin blood on her and him, then rapes her again in a phone booth when she runs away, then they fall in love…here ya go.
I read somewhere that this book isn’t all about the “gang” but literally it only talks about is that. Worst read of my life and I’ll never get my time back I spent reading this. 😤
March 8, 2023
.
"I want your mess, Rae. The mess, the laughter, the tears. The life. I want all of it. All of you.”
My head is spinning at the edge of my seat, I still need to process the way this ended. It was always him from the beginning, her first choice, the one she loved first. It was dark and spicy but also full of emotions. I loved that it switched POV.
"I want your mess, Rae. The mess, the laughter, the tears. The life. I want all of it. All of you.”
My head is spinning at the edge of my seat, I still need to process the way this ended. It was always him from the beginning, her first choice, the one she loved first. It was dark and spicy but also full of emotions. I loved that it switched POV.
March 28, 2023
i really enjoyed this book up until about half way. i was really intrigued by the characters and was really curious as to how things were going to turn out. let me tell you how shocked i was at how it did turn out. this is a love triangle and up until that epilogue i wanted it to be the one who didn’t get her…. but now i don’t think i wanted her to end up with either of them😬 with that being said, i enjoyed the writing of style of this book and it was an easy read so that was nice and i did like a lot of things about it.
September 12, 2022
Mysterious. Dark. Deadly.
Rae, Maddox and Lennox. Hot damn what a trio of main characters we have in The Rain King. Selena is such an amazing storyteller. It is no doubt why she is one of my Top 3 favorite authors in the Dark romance trope. And when I mean dark, I mean you better read all the trigger warnings she informs you ahead of time. 😂
This book was all over TikTok before it finally released. You know I’ll always go with a TikTok / BookTok recommendation and Selena writing was hands down the icing on the cake.
Sibling rivalry over a girl on every possible level that you can imagine.
This is one I cannot reveal too much on but do adhere the triggers and go in blind. Blind as a bat is way better than reading about it.
Rae, Maddox and Lennox. Hot damn what a trio of main characters we have in The Rain King. Selena is such an amazing storyteller. It is no doubt why she is one of my Top 3 favorite authors in the Dark romance trope. And when I mean dark, I mean you better read all the trigger warnings she informs you ahead of time. 😂
This book was all over TikTok before it finally released. You know I’ll always go with a TikTok / BookTok recommendation and Selena writing was hands down the icing on the cake.
Sibling rivalry over a girl on every possible level that you can imagine.
This is one I cannot reveal too much on but do adhere the triggers and go in blind. Blind as a bat is way better than reading about it.
March 1, 2024
I want to write this author hate mail. I want to steal a hard copy (so she doesn’t get paid) and burn this book for existing.
I finished this book last night and typed out a scathing review but I thought maybe I was being harsh. If I sleep on it maybe I’ll less angry? No 12 hours later I’m still pissed and physical ill over the ending.
Don’t read this book. Please I’m begging you to burn this book. We should give this book to the military to use for torture. If I could give negative stars I would. I don’t even want this on my read list because I don’t want to be reminded it exists.
Spoiler ahead and honestly consider this a trigger warning too!
1. Rae’s whole personality was being a virgin. She was supposed to be smart and kind and well read but the only thing that came across and was repeatedly hounded into the reader was her virgin status
2. The two male love interests didn’t actually love her. They just wanted her virginity and were surprised to find a girl who wouldn’t just fuck them
3. All other females in the book are expendable sex toys. The gang girls all get gangbanged and then are free use property of the guys. They call themselves the slut club. The other females still throw themselves at these guys and regularly let guys use them in public in front of others. It read like a free-use porn. Women are just walking holes (that’s a repeated theme of the book)
4. Lennox needs real mental help. Every time he’s put in a situation to fuck Rae he starts threading to break her legs and kill her and then wonders why she’s too terrified to sleep with him. He almost rapes her once and then she gets back into the car with him?!?
5. Rae falls for Maddox but doesn’t want to chose him because Lennox always get chosen second and he’s the “nice guy” even though Lennox often mentions that the nice guy thing is an act to seduce her.
6. There’s a whole thing with a crow she’s domesticated that gets killed by her step father so she runs away with the dead body. When she runs away she lives in the shed in the backyard with no running water or electricity but no one notices?! Also she keeps the birds body for a few weeks and even talks about petting it postmortem. Gross!!!
7. The stepdad is abusive. That ultimately gets her out of the house and to move eventually moves in with Lennox and Maddox. At one point Maddox breaks both of his arms but that’s the only karma the man ever faces and he is eventually invited to the wedding.
8. Maddox and Rae spend a whole night talking and when Rae finally tells Maddox that she chooses him he rejects her in the most hurtful way possible. During which she dry humps him to a climax and Lennox kinda sees it which further breaks that man’s brain.
9. After Maddox levels Rae for choosing him Lennox swoops in with his nice guy routine to win her over despite Maddox “ruining her”.
10. Maddox disappeared for a week and when Rae confronts him in the school parking lot he continues to try to hurt her. Including bending the head cheerleader over the hood of his car and screws her without breaking eye contact with Rae. This cause Rae to run into the arms of his brother.
This is where the big problems start…
11. Lennox tries to comfort her by taking her for coffee and doughnuts and then proposes with a doughnut. They totally skipped dating and went straight to engagement.
12. The night they tell Lennox’s mom and Maddox, Maddox forcibly fingers Rae under the table until she climaxes at the table in front of her fiancé who then starts a fist fight with Maddox
13. The abusive stepdad (who still lives next door) shows up to stop the fight and Lennox rats out his brother for breaking the man’s arms. So Maddox goes to jail and Lennox and Rae leave the neighborhood in shame.
**A year passes with any real details. The gang split into two factions, one with each brother. Maddox is apparently in jail for a year. Lennox and Rae are living together and planning a wedding. **
14. During this year Lennox still doesn’t sleep with Rae because he’s punishing her for sleeping with Maddox even though she’s repeatedly told him she’s still a virgin. Lennox is apparently still sleeping with gang girls and tells Rae about it.
15. The climax is one year after the fight and the night before Lennox and Rae’s wedding. Rae is lamenting that she has no friends and is experiencing cold feet while trying on her dress when Maddox shows up.
16. Apparently the brother made a contract that says if either touches Rae they other gets to fuck her after the couple breaks up and if they don’t break up the other brother gets her the night before the wedding. And he came to collect. Again, women are just walking holes to be traded and used.
17. Maddox violently rapes Rae in front of Lennox and some Maddox’s gang. Halfway through he realizes she’s still a virgin and that makes him more brutal. Lennox later laments that Maddox “ planted his cum in her virgin cut while she shook and sobbed. That was supposed to be my reward. Her fear. Her escape. The Chase. At the tears. The claiming. The pain. Those were mine to take.” so he’s not mad that his brother raped his fiancé. He’s mad that Maddox got to have violent sex with Rae and Lenix did not.
18. After he rapes her the snuggle…
19. After the snuggles Maddox forces a tattoo artist at gun point to tattoo the blood shmears down her thighs as a permanent reminder of that rape. The artist does it but helps her run away.
20. Maddox chases her down and rapes her again in a phone booth.
21. He then goes back and kills the tattoo artist for seeing her pussy.
22. Maddox fucks her again (with questionable amounts of consent) and then drops her off at the church to get married.
23. Mom and future MiL see the ruined dress, the bites, cuts and scratches, and all other evidence of her horrible night and they just put some bandaids on, brush her hair and send her down the isle in a ruined dress.
24. Maddox shows up at the alter instead of Lennox and SHE MARRIED MADDOX INSTEAD!!!
The end, they lived happily ever after and apparently there’s a book two about how the head cheerleader got sent on Lennox’s honeymoon with him instead of Rae and the honeymoon was another form of punishment for Rae… I don’t actually want to know the details.
I’ll leave you with this quote from the epilogue. This is Lennox’s thoughts on Maddox raping his fiancé in front of him …
“He took her virginity within minutes after I waited, an entire fucking year, preserving it, even when she was weak, and gave in, wanting me to take it. I didn’t believe she was one. If I had known, I would’ve fucked her, just once, to take that from Maddox. But I thought he had already taken it. So what did it matter if I waited a year, made her feel insecure, inadequate, unsexy? She needed to feel bad for what she done, and that was her penance. I dreamed of this trip every night , though, dreamed of what would happen when I made her pay.”
Please don’t read this book. I’m begging you.
I finished this book last night and typed out a scathing review but I thought maybe I was being harsh. If I sleep on it maybe I’ll less angry? No 12 hours later I’m still pissed and physical ill over the ending.
Don’t read this book. Please I’m begging you to burn this book. We should give this book to the military to use for torture. If I could give negative stars I would. I don’t even want this on my read list because I don’t want to be reminded it exists.
Spoiler ahead and honestly consider this a trigger warning too!
1. Rae’s whole personality was being a virgin. She was supposed to be smart and kind and well read but the only thing that came across and was repeatedly hounded into the reader was her virgin status
2. The two male love interests didn’t actually love her. They just wanted her virginity and were surprised to find a girl who wouldn’t just fuck them
3. All other females in the book are expendable sex toys. The gang girls all get gangbanged and then are free use property of the guys. They call themselves the slut club. The other females still throw themselves at these guys and regularly let guys use them in public in front of others. It read like a free-use porn. Women are just walking holes (that’s a repeated theme of the book)
4. Lennox needs real mental help. Every time he’s put in a situation to fuck Rae he starts threading to break her legs and kill her and then wonders why she’s too terrified to sleep with him. He almost rapes her once and then she gets back into the car with him?!?
5. Rae falls for Maddox but doesn’t want to chose him because Lennox always get chosen second and he’s the “nice guy” even though Lennox often mentions that the nice guy thing is an act to seduce her.
6. There’s a whole thing with a crow she’s domesticated that gets killed by her step father so she runs away with the dead body. When she runs away she lives in the shed in the backyard with no running water or electricity but no one notices?! Also she keeps the birds body for a few weeks and even talks about petting it postmortem. Gross!!!
7. The stepdad is abusive. That ultimately gets her out of the house and to move eventually moves in with Lennox and Maddox. At one point Maddox breaks both of his arms but that’s the only karma the man ever faces and he is eventually invited to the wedding.
8. Maddox and Rae spend a whole night talking and when Rae finally tells Maddox that she chooses him he rejects her in the most hurtful way possible. During which she dry humps him to a climax and Lennox kinda sees it which further breaks that man’s brain.
9. After Maddox levels Rae for choosing him Lennox swoops in with his nice guy routine to win her over despite Maddox “ruining her”.
10. Maddox disappeared for a week and when Rae confronts him in the school parking lot he continues to try to hurt her. Including bending the head cheerleader over the hood of his car and screws her without breaking eye contact with Rae. This cause Rae to run into the arms of his brother.
This is where the big problems start…
11. Lennox tries to comfort her by taking her for coffee and doughnuts and then proposes with a doughnut. They totally skipped dating and went straight to engagement.
12. The night they tell Lennox’s mom and Maddox, Maddox forcibly fingers Rae under the table until she climaxes at the table in front of her fiancé who then starts a fist fight with Maddox
13. The abusive stepdad (who still lives next door) shows up to stop the fight and Lennox rats out his brother for breaking the man’s arms. So Maddox goes to jail and Lennox and Rae leave the neighborhood in shame.
**A year passes with any real details. The gang split into two factions, one with each brother. Maddox is apparently in jail for a year. Lennox and Rae are living together and planning a wedding. **
14. During this year Lennox still doesn’t sleep with Rae because he’s punishing her for sleeping with Maddox even though she’s repeatedly told him she’s still a virgin. Lennox is apparently still sleeping with gang girls and tells Rae about it.
15. The climax is one year after the fight and the night before Lennox and Rae’s wedding. Rae is lamenting that she has no friends and is experiencing cold feet while trying on her dress when Maddox shows up.
16. Apparently the brother made a contract that says if either touches Rae they other gets to fuck her after the couple breaks up and if they don’t break up the other brother gets her the night before the wedding. And he came to collect. Again, women are just walking holes to be traded and used.
17. Maddox violently rapes Rae in front of Lennox and some Maddox’s gang. Halfway through he realizes she’s still a virgin and that makes him more brutal. Lennox later laments that Maddox “ planted his cum in her virgin cut while she shook and sobbed. That was supposed to be my reward. Her fear. Her escape. The Chase. At the tears. The claiming. The pain. Those were mine to take.” so he’s not mad that his brother raped his fiancé. He’s mad that Maddox got to have violent sex with Rae and Lenix did not.
18. After he rapes her the snuggle…
19. After the snuggles Maddox forces a tattoo artist at gun point to tattoo the blood shmears down her thighs as a permanent reminder of that rape. The artist does it but helps her run away.
20. Maddox chases her down and rapes her again in a phone booth.
21. He then goes back and kills the tattoo artist for seeing her pussy.
22. Maddox fucks her again (with questionable amounts of consent) and then drops her off at the church to get married.
23. Mom and future MiL see the ruined dress, the bites, cuts and scratches, and all other evidence of her horrible night and they just put some bandaids on, brush her hair and send her down the isle in a ruined dress.
24. Maddox shows up at the alter instead of Lennox and SHE MARRIED MADDOX INSTEAD!!!
The end, they lived happily ever after and apparently there’s a book two about how the head cheerleader got sent on Lennox’s honeymoon with him instead of Rae and the honeymoon was another form of punishment for Rae… I don’t actually want to know the details.
I’ll leave you with this quote from the epilogue. This is Lennox’s thoughts on Maddox raping his fiancé in front of him …
“He took her virginity within minutes after I waited, an entire fucking year, preserving it, even when she was weak, and gave in, wanting me to take it. I didn’t believe she was one. If I had known, I would’ve fucked her, just once, to take that from Maddox. But I thought he had already taken it. So what did it matter if I waited a year, made her feel insecure, inadequate, unsexy? She needed to feel bad for what she done, and that was her penance. I dreamed of this trip every night , though, dreamed of what would happen when I made her pay.”
Please don’t read this book. I’m begging you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2023
Romance?!? What romance!?!
The H was with his girlfriend, aka fuck buddy (ow) (and was loyal to her) until almost the end of this book. He wants the h only after finding out she was a virgin after popping her cherry (dubcon/ rape) 😒.
I didn't like the doormat h either 😠.
The H was with his girlfriend, aka fuck buddy (ow) (and was loyal to her) until almost the end of this book. He wants the h only after finding out she was a virgin after popping her cherry (dubcon/ rape) 😒.
I didn't like the doormat h either 😠.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2022
Y'all. This book. Selena just dropped it like, "here you go." It is fantastic! If you are a lover of her dark Willow Heights Prep Exile series, you will LOVE this one. This, like the WHPA Exile series likely won't be for everyone because there are some non con/dub con situations and abuse. These boys are not nice in the conventional way. Don't expect a Disney fairytale. It's dark and gritty and hard.
Love Triangle.
Twin brothers.
Gangs.
Angst.
Dark.
When Rae West moves into the house on Mill Street, she has no idea how her life will change. She lives scared in her own home. She has one friend. A friend that comes and visits her window every day. A black crow.
Lennox and Maddox North both have noticed the new girl next girl. She's so sweet and innocent. A temptation that neither of them need to pursue. She's not made like the other girls in the neighborhood. She’s not made for their type of life. Like the Crew girls. When the temptation becomes too much and lines are crossed, the boys agree that they have to stay away from her. Nothing would come between family. Nothing.
There is so much more that goes on in the book! It's a love triangle but I have to tell you I was going back and forth with who Rae ultimately chooses - all the way to the end! These boys are so bad. You start to think, awww, they have some humanity, but then they turn around and do the things they do. I have conflicting feelings for Rae's character, honestly. You must realize and remember the environment she comes from, why she is so weak. She's naive and innocent and just wants someone to love her. She's never had anyone. At times she feels so desperate, and you just want to shake her. How beaten down must someone be to feel this way? It's sad really. I feel a lot of empathy for her life situation.
This is book one, and can be read as stand alone.
Love Triangle.
Twin brothers.
Gangs.
Angst.
Dark.
When Rae West moves into the house on Mill Street, she has no idea how her life will change. She lives scared in her own home. She has one friend. A friend that comes and visits her window every day. A black crow.
Lennox and Maddox North both have noticed the new girl next girl. She's so sweet and innocent. A temptation that neither of them need to pursue. She's not made like the other girls in the neighborhood. She’s not made for their type of life. Like the Crew girls. When the temptation becomes too much and lines are crossed, the boys agree that they have to stay away from her. Nothing would come between family. Nothing.
There is so much more that goes on in the book! It's a love triangle but I have to tell you I was going back and forth with who Rae ultimately chooses - all the way to the end! These boys are so bad. You start to think, awww, they have some humanity, but then they turn around and do the things they do. I have conflicting feelings for Rae's character, honestly. You must realize and remember the environment she comes from, why she is so weak. She's naive and innocent and just wants someone to love her. She's never had anyone. At times she feels so desperate, and you just want to shake her. How beaten down must someone be to feel this way? It's sad really. I feel a lot of empathy for her life situation.
This is book one, and can be read as stand alone.
September 27, 2022
This is my first read by Selena and I am shook. This is one of those books that the reader will either love or hate…me? Well that’s easy - it’s dark, overflowing with angst and has characters that I hated to love - so, this talented author is getting all the love from me.
Rae is a young woman caught in a bad place at home. My heart shattered to bits for her as I watched her go thru Hell so many times but it swelled with how resilient and persistent she is to make it thru her senior year. This young girl may appear weak and naive, but there is a strong soul underneath the cracked lining.
Lennox is the wolf in sheep’s clothing. He may have the persona of an artist’s soul, but underneath lies the true heart of a psychopath. He can kind and sweet but he has the patience of a saint as his plans come to fruition.
Maddox is the type to not candy coat anything. He is broody, hurtful yet protective. This young man knows the truth about the type of person his twin really is and he will go to great lengths to get his Queen.
Once I started reading this, I couldn’t stop. It’s angsty, heartbreaking, unapologetically gritty and darker than I expected with characters that I felt I knew. I loved how Selena wrote this and how it’s coming out of the south. This author wrote this with a finesse and used the characters to build the story, not the other way around, and I adore that. The build up and flow are flawless and the characters are raw and real. The epilogue left me reeling and impatiently waiting for the next because I know it’s gonna be darker - I seriously can’t wait to see where Selena takes this series. Definitely one of my favorite reads this month and I am excited to read more by this talented author.
Rae is a young woman caught in a bad place at home. My heart shattered to bits for her as I watched her go thru Hell so many times but it swelled with how resilient and persistent she is to make it thru her senior year. This young girl may appear weak and naive, but there is a strong soul underneath the cracked lining.
Lennox is the wolf in sheep’s clothing. He may have the persona of an artist’s soul, but underneath lies the true heart of a psychopath. He can kind and sweet but he has the patience of a saint as his plans come to fruition.
Maddox is the type to not candy coat anything. He is broody, hurtful yet protective. This young man knows the truth about the type of person his twin really is and he will go to great lengths to get his Queen.
Once I started reading this, I couldn’t stop. It’s angsty, heartbreaking, unapologetically gritty and darker than I expected with characters that I felt I knew. I loved how Selena wrote this and how it’s coming out of the south. This author wrote this with a finesse and used the characters to build the story, not the other way around, and I adore that. The build up and flow are flawless and the characters are raw and real. The epilogue left me reeling and impatiently waiting for the next because I know it’s gonna be darker - I seriously can’t wait to see where Selena takes this series. Definitely one of my favorite reads this month and I am excited to read more by this talented author.
September 26, 2022
Is there a good twin?
I don’t believe I have ever read a Dark Gang Romance I have fell in love with the characters is much as this one. The story is so well written and believable I was sucked right in. The story is definitely gritty and brutal but you will be hooked the whole way through and want more. The ending is absolute perfection.
I don’t believe I have ever read a Dark Gang Romance I have fell in love with the characters is much as this one. The story is so well written and believable I was sucked right in. The story is definitely gritty and brutal but you will be hooked the whole way through and want more. The ending is absolute perfection.
October 24, 2022
I am officially in love with Maddox. As soon as we first met him I knew I wanted to keep him and he did not disappoint in the slightest. I really wish Lennox would just die already, I knew he was a slimy weasel from the beginning and I hate him so damn hard.
Our girl to me was the perfect mix of strong yet needing help to deal with things, The life she has endured has not been easy and to top it off the mean girls at her school are making her life that much harder and the bullying was horrific.
The timeline had me confused, there was month jumps that I didn't even realise until 3 or 4 pages after the chapter had started and it was quickly mentioned, sometimes it wasn't mentioned at all and I had to guess.
It felt like the ending was just rushed to have it finished and things where thrown in to make it really dark . There really should've been a proper conversation after what Maddox did but there wasn't, the things he done didn't add up to how he was throughout the whole book and I really wish the author hadn't have put it in, especially without any sort of redemption or guilt.
I really did love this book, its the kind of dark romance that feeds my soul and gives me the warm and fuzzies but it could do with another round of editing and more time on the ending.
Our girl to me was the perfect mix of strong yet needing help to deal with things, The life she has endured has not been easy and to top it off the mean girls at her school are making her life that much harder and the bullying was horrific.
The timeline had me confused, there was month jumps that I didn't even realise until 3 or 4 pages after the chapter had started and it was quickly mentioned, sometimes it wasn't mentioned at all and I had to guess.
It felt like the ending was just rushed to have it finished and things where thrown in to make it really dark . There really should've been a proper conversation after what Maddox did but there wasn't, the things he done didn't add up to how he was throughout the whole book and I really wish the author hadn't have put it in, especially without any sort of redemption or guilt.
I really did love this book, its the kind of dark romance that feeds my soul and gives me the warm and fuzzies but it could do with another round of editing and more time on the ending.
September 8, 2022
uuuggg really wanted to like it
This book really started out strong, the story was great the chemistry was truly a push and pull. I had super high hopes. But all of a sudden not only did it feel like it was super rushed to get the last third or so completed but the story just started to unravel and the plot jumped around in time zones to the point where it just wasn’t enjoyable. Needless to say I found the author sort of forgot the characteristics of the two main male characters and gave them both a lobotomy, it was not how I expected it to end and I just still struggling to find any redeeming qualities of it unfortunately.
This book really started out strong, the story was great the chemistry was truly a push and pull. I had super high hopes. But all of a sudden not only did it feel like it was super rushed to get the last third or so completed but the story just started to unravel and the plot jumped around in time zones to the point where it just wasn’t enjoyable. Needless to say I found the author sort of forgot the characteristics of the two main male characters and gave them both a lobotomy, it was not how I expected it to end and I just still struggling to find any redeeming qualities of it unfortunately.
September 27, 2022
DONT AT ME….. MADDOX & LENNOX CAN HAVE ME WHENEVER, HOWEVER, THEY WANT! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH
September 29, 2022
Holy smokes this book sucked me in right from the beginning I couldn’t look away ! It’s dark gritty toxic and oh so addictive I loved everything about this f upped story! I can’t wait for the next book!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 11, 2022
Spoilers
Although some scenes were pretty hot, I have to say the whole "I'm a virgin" thing got old fast. When do we stop putting this type of trope on a pedestal & make it less about a guy fantasy rather than what a woman wants to read. I can say that having the mfc being a virgin all the time & guys fighting over it gets old fast.
Also, for the ending to have it where after all this build up of her being a virgin & waiting for her wedding day, to then be violently raped by Maddox, get tattoos saying "blood" & then marrying him all in a span of hours? W.T.F.
Did the author run out of ideas, threw this on the wall & waited to see what will stick? Please.
Although some scenes were pretty hot, I have to say the whole "I'm a virgin" thing got old fast. When do we stop putting this type of trope on a pedestal & make it less about a guy fantasy rather than what a woman wants to read. I can say that having the mfc being a virgin all the time & guys fighting over it gets old fast.
Also, for the ending to have it where after all this build up of her being a virgin & waiting for her wedding day, to then be violently raped by Maddox, get tattoos saying "blood" & then marrying him all in a span of hours? W.T.F.
Did the author run out of ideas, threw this on the wall & waited to see what will stick? Please.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2022
Damn, I love this author so much! I have read almost everything she has written. I love dark and twisted and she brings it to the table ten fold. I'm 100% here for it.
Rae is my favorite fmc she has written to date. I just loved everything about this girl! I picked the brother I was rooting for pretty quick into the story and I was not disappointed!
I just want to add, like many others have, to heed the trigger warnings. Like many of her books this story is dark, depraved, and next level twisted.
Rae is my favorite fmc she has written to date. I just loved everything about this girl! I picked the brother I was rooting for pretty quick into the story and I was not disappointed!
I just want to add, like many others have, to heed the trigger warnings. Like many of her books this story is dark, depraved, and next level twisted.
May 15, 2023
Welp. I think I just found my tolerance limit for smut. Just no. Absolutely not.
What the fuck did I read?!
I hated all of the MC’s. Yep.
It’s cringeworthy. And after so many kick-ass FMCs in other universes, I can’t go back. I won’t go back!
It said it was going to be dark. Yeah fine. Whatever. Dark I can handle.
But the simpering… Jesus. I can’t cope.
That’s not the type of female lead I wanna endorse.
At least if you’re going to write about *that*, give the MMCs some sort of redeeming quality!
And that ending. Get fucked.
What the fuck did I read?!
I hated all of the MC’s. Yep.
It’s cringeworthy. And after so many kick-ass FMCs in other universes, I can’t go back. I won’t go back!
It said it was going to be dark. Yeah fine. Whatever. Dark I can handle.
But the simpering… Jesus. I can’t cope.
That’s not the type of female lead I wanna endorse.
At least if you’re going to write about *that*, give the MMCs some sort of redeeming quality!
And that ending. Get fucked.
July 14, 2023
to get an idea of what the book is about: ‧₊˚
rae west has just moved to la olla : she lives with her abusive step-dad lee and mother.
one day she's told to clean the pool so that her stepfather could use it, little did she know this would lead to her meeting her next-door neighbors.
maddox and lennox north.
one's flirty, charming, and sweet, with a dimpled smile.
the other is mysterious, dark, and seems to hate her, even though his actions show otherwise.
---
please dont read this. seriously.
i'm writing a review to say how shit it is.
(please no one be offended this is just my opinion)
so i read this because i saw a tiktok like you know the typical ones that are a scene that shows how charming the love interest is.
(it was the part where maddox says she's "his" and part of the crows)
little did i know i'd end up traumatized: i honestly think it's my fault because i didn't check age rating or trigger warnings but like.. uh
i mean the book had potential at first, the plot was still shit and all (even tho it was entertaining ill give it that) and sometimes the writing makes no sense (it's tryhard purple prose) and some descriptions r confusing i couldn't set the scene but at first the characters weren't that messed up and unlikeable and i actually liked maddox.
everything is so stupid, there's too much back and forth.
this isn't okay its romanticizing r@pe and im seriously scared how can people like maddox. this is beyond messed up.
(in the end it gets super mega bad like at the 90% mark its all so terrifying)
not my cup of tea. too much. #kms
but in general i dont understand why anyone would like this book.
age rating - 18+ (check for trigger warnings please)
**read on kindle, do not own the physical copy**
rae west has just moved to la olla : she lives with her abusive step-dad lee and mother.
one day she's told to clean the pool so that her stepfather could use it, little did she know this would lead to her meeting her next-door neighbors.
maddox and lennox north.
one's flirty, charming, and sweet, with a dimpled smile.
the other is mysterious, dark, and seems to hate her, even though his actions show otherwise.
---
please dont read this. seriously.
i'm writing a review to say how shit it is.
(please no one be offended this is just my opinion)
so i read this because i saw a tiktok like you know the typical ones that are a scene that shows how charming the love interest is.
(it was the part where maddox says she's "his" and part of the crows)
little did i know i'd end up traumatized: i honestly think it's my fault because i didn't check age rating or trigger warnings but like.. uh
i mean the book had potential at first, the plot was still shit and all (even tho it was entertaining ill give it that) and sometimes the writing makes no sense (it's tryhard purple prose) and some descriptions r confusing i couldn't set the scene but at first the characters weren't that messed up and unlikeable and i actually liked maddox.
everything is so stupid, there's too much back and forth.
this isn't okay its romanticizing r@pe and im seriously scared how can people like maddox. this is beyond messed up.
(in the end it gets super mega bad like at the 90% mark its all so terrifying)
not my cup of tea. too much. #kms
but in general i dont understand why anyone would like this book.
age rating - 18+ (check for trigger warnings please)
**read on kindle, do not own the physical copy**
September 4, 2022
Still processing this one… I was surprisingly captivated throughout the book since I’m “a bit older” & long out of high school so have been passing over more and more series once I see that’s the setting recently (I have read many in this genre over the years, some exceptional, so exceptions still made for certain authors like Selena due to their writing styles). This book didn’t focus on the typical high school bullying. It’s there. But not what their settings were focused on or built around. She built another world on the other side of the tracks, bringing in colorful new characters (I’m sure we’ll be reading about them soon) while still keeping it a part of the web of that Arkansas town we’ve come to know from her other series, allowing cross overs to recognizable names/characters giving that feeling of familiarity. But.. There’s just still a lot to digest for me. Not common. I want to say it’s the FMC but it’s something more that just left me 🧐 . I’m a huge fan of the darkness and this book is definitely the darkest I’ve read by Selena. So be warned. Some of those scenes could bother many. I’m not one of them.. At the end, it wasn’t the scene(s) or that I couldn’t see it coming, but more the FMC’s reactions/choices(?) and more often than not through the book, lack of..? But I guess not every FMC character is meant to rise up like a Phoenix prepared to destroy the world breathing fire or just decide not to decide between lesser evils (And they are. Evil bastards) and start fresh elsewhere/seek other options. But.. Sometimes they want to be saved. Don’t know anything else. They aren’t meant to all be the same. People aren’t. And reading is for entertainment & to escape our own worlds, not perform psychoanalyses on all of the fictional characters expecting them to make all of the right choices, even in high school 🙄 that the majority of people in the world dont even do for themselves. We want to see the smarts & strengths that we WANT to have. Not that we are acting on ourselves. Reading inspires. Hence my dilemma. My inspiration was to want to bang their heads together & knock some sense into them all. Hearts and minds war. In reality, we make a lot of bad decisions or stay in a lot of bad situations before we learn or make changes. If ever. Just the fact that I’ve written this much over the turmoil in my brain I’d say: Selena, job well done. You’ve obviously invoked a range of thoughts & feelings that don’t often follow me out of many books anymore. Touché
September 6, 2022
And we are back in Faulkner! This time we have gone back in time and it is the 90's. I loved the songs under each chapter heading, that brought back memories!
Rae moves to a new house with her mum and step dad who is a cop. Their house is the only one in the street that has a pool. Cue the North brothers who live next door to come and help clean it so they can use it. This all sounds very light and not dark at all doesn't it. Well this is just the beginning and it gets dark. The North twins are in a gang and Rae's step dad may be a cop but he's not a very good one. He's also not a very good person towards Rae and her mum and there is a lot of abuse. This is definitely one of Selena's darkest books so please, if you have any triggers, check the warnings.
Lennox and Maddox are the North twins and they end up in a love triangle with Rae. Honestly, all the way through I would think that I had sussed out who she was going to be with and then I was wrong. This book literally kept me guessing until the very end. She does end up with a brother and the one she doesn't choose has their own book next. Oh Selena that epilogue!!!!! Eeeekkkkk 🙌🏻. I can't wait for the next book!
Rae moves to a new house with her mum and step dad who is a cop. Their house is the only one in the street that has a pool. Cue the North brothers who live next door to come and help clean it so they can use it. This all sounds very light and not dark at all doesn't it. Well this is just the beginning and it gets dark. The North twins are in a gang and Rae's step dad may be a cop but he's not a very good one. He's also not a very good person towards Rae and her mum and there is a lot of abuse. This is definitely one of Selena's darkest books so please, if you have any triggers, check the warnings.
Lennox and Maddox are the North twins and they end up in a love triangle with Rae. Honestly, all the way through I would think that I had sussed out who she was going to be with and then I was wrong. This book literally kept me guessing until the very end. She does end up with a brother and the one she doesn't choose has their own book next. Oh Selena that epilogue!!!!! Eeeekkkkk 🙌🏻. I can't wait for the next book!
May 21, 2023
TikTok lured me into this book.
This is a VERY DARK Book.
This is a book about 3 high school students, each with their own problems. Rae is new to the town, her mom remarried a cop, who isn't afraid to leave bruises on them. Maddox & Lennox are the twins next door. They are gang members and complete opposites. Lennox is kind, caring, and gentle with Rae. Maddox is NOT, he lets her see his demons are anger, rage, everything. She can't have both, so she needs to decide on one of the brothers. Can she do that? Can she pick just one? Her heart craves the bad boy, while her mind craves the good guy. Who will win?
Ok, they are high schoolers and all very immature. Yeah, you are in a gang, but you are NOT ready for adult situations. And it shows. The h is so ready to get rid of her V card, she's willing to give it to anyone that will take it. SMH. Have some self-respect, you are more than that. The end was brutal and I didn't understand Rae. Maybe she made the choice out of fear. Self-preservation? I almost didn't finish the book, it just went off the rails But I needed to know what was going to happen.
This is a VERY DARK Book.
This is a book about 3 high school students, each with their own problems. Rae is new to the town, her mom remarried a cop, who isn't afraid to leave bruises on them. Maddox & Lennox are the twins next door. They are gang members and complete opposites. Lennox is kind, caring, and gentle with Rae. Maddox is NOT, he lets her see his demons are anger, rage, everything. She can't have both, so she needs to decide on one of the brothers. Can she do that? Can she pick just one? Her heart craves the bad boy, while her mind craves the good guy. Who will win?
Ok, they are high schoolers and all very immature. Yeah, you are in a gang, but you are NOT ready for adult situations. And it shows. The h is so ready to get rid of her V card, she's willing to give it to anyone that will take it. SMH. Have some self-respect, you are more than that. The end was brutal and I didn't understand Rae. Maybe she made the choice out of fear. Self-preservation? I almost didn't finish the book, it just went off the rails But I needed to know what was going to happen.
September 10, 2023
Every time I think “Maybe I should give her books another try” I regret it 😂. What I love about her MMC is they are crazy what I don’t love is how I’m every book someone has to be raped I love books that have Dub/Non con I’m a sucker for an extremely crazy OTT possessive MMC but the books just seem so far left and random lol like BAM he raped me I love him right after like what? 🤦🏽♀️ Anyway that is all
December 31, 2022
Wow that was a wild ride! Dark and twisted very immature squabble between twin brothers and a virgin. lol at first I was annoyed because I didn’t really understand the animosity between them. It’s funny because Lennox seems like the obvious choice but actions speak louder than words and Maddox just stole the show! Can’t wait for book two
March 28, 2023
whoa
I don’t know how to really respond to this book. So much violence against women. I’m in shock but I couldn’t stop reading it. Definitely one of the darkest books I’ve ever read
I don’t know how to really respond to this book. So much violence against women. I’m in shock but I couldn’t stop reading it. Definitely one of the darkest books I’ve ever read
May 23, 2024
Terrible. Don’t read. Started skipping parts at some point bc of how painful it was to read it lol. This takes dark romance to a new level, it’s just dark, zero romance involved. Not even an inkling of romance.
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