⭐ 1.4 “this might be titled head above water but I was out here wishing to be waterboarded” stars ⭐️
[image] The review could just be this gif and still⭐ 1.4 “this might be titled head above water but I was out here wishing to be waterboarded” stars ⭐️
[image] The review could just be this gif and still be accurate.
This was 440 pages and that was 400 pages too long for me. The book really lost me with the “son gets disowned after stopping a hate crime” (I wish I was making this shit up), followed closely by the “MC wishing he could fuck the other guy while their braindead parents laid right beside them in a hospital room” (it’s a mouthful, but an accurate one). Running for the hills started to seem like the healthiest course of action then. Too bad I’m not known for my self-preservation.
And believe me, that hurts to say just as much as this hurt to read.
Overall, this was my fourth C.E Ricci book, and the third I haven’t exactly adored—to put it mildly. While I didn’t downright despise this as I did After Rain Falls (I will forever hold a grudge against that story and no, I will never shut up about it), it was still far from a pleasant experience.
I continue to refuse to give up on the author, however, knowing I actually quite liked her characters and debut novel once upon a time. So who knows, maybe she will somehow create another gem I can safely enjoy instead of trying to rip my hair out of my scalp while recalling the protagonists’ infuriating antics. And with the frankly unnecessary melodrama being the cheese on top—if I was lactose intolerant, that is.
Be it as it may, when it comes to this writer’s future releases…
[image] Fingers, elbows, knees and toes crossed. Because hey, I gotta stay positive every once in a while....more
⭐ 2 “the best thing about this story is its title” stars⭐
This was ninety percent smut, and the remaining ten percent could ✨ Mini-review Edition ✨
⭐ 2 “the best thing about this story is its title” stars⭐
This was ninety percent smut, and the remaining ten percent could qualify as sleeping pills. Plus, for an erotic story, the sex scenes weren’t even that impressive, and certainly not the best I’ve read from this author (Want Me kicks this one right into the stratosphere).
The two MCs went from loathing to fucking and liking each other in a millisecond. An epic mediocre lustful tale, and don’t you question it. The “relationship” was, of course, another one of the weakest points —the writer claimed this wasn’t a romance, yet the lacking attempt at a connection was still there—, so my real question is… why not just keep the rivals angle and give us all of the juicy hate sex instead?
For me at least, ‘twas a…
[image] Nev and Max from Catfish are getting a call, ‘cause I felt scammed....more
⭐️ 2.2 “The Last Rebellion? More like the last brain cell I just lost” stars ⭐️
TWs: discussion of sexual abuse and graphic torture via quotes.
[image] T⭐️ 2.2 “The Last Rebellion? More like the last brain cell I just lost” stars ⭐️
TWs: discussion of sexual abuse and graphic torture via quotes.
[image] Truly a head-scratcher.
By the time I was done with the story, I couldn’t figure out whether I disliked it and found it awful, or was intrigued by it and considered it compelling, glaring issues and all. So I’m settling for a two-star rating instead of a one. Compromise, folks.
I already knew the storyline would be vague, with talk about some kind of dictatorial Government —whose goal was never clarified—, and as the title implies, a Rebellion that opposed it—but don’t ask what exactly they’re rebelling against either, because it’s nonexistentclassified intel.
There was also a rather poor attempt at a Stockholm Syndrome story, with the prisoner MC who was tortured and repeatedly raped falling for the man in charge of interrogating him. But don’t worry, the interrogator himself only technically rapes him once and it’s implied that he used some kind of lube, so clearly how could you not fall in love ...more
⭐ 2 “All the stars for Castien, but the rest? *crickets*” stars ⭐
I didn’t exactly hate this, but I also didn’t particularly enjoy it. Which was a letd⭐ 2 “All the stars for Castien, but the rest? *crickets*” stars ⭐
I didn’t exactly hate this, but I also didn’t particularly enjoy it. Which was a letdown in and of itself, since this was the story I was the most hyped for in the entire series.
Truthfully, if I were to describe the experience in a single word:
[image] Some were good. Most others… questionable at best.
**********************************
Right off the bat, I just couldn’t get behind the main character in this one, so my irritation for a good chunk of the book was guaranteed. However, I also think my hype for it ended up playing to my disadvantage—proving once more that building up too many expectations can be a sure path to disappointment.
Or paralyzing boredom. Whichever descriptor you feel is more fitting, really.
⭐ 1.6 “After 84 years, I have finally found a story that had me cringing” stars ⭐
This is not a small task, considering the trash high-quality literatu⭐ 1.6 “After 84 years, I have finally found a story that had me cringing” stars ⭐
This is not a small task, considering the trash high-quality literature I consume on the regular. But I guess it’s true what they say about limits… even in fiction (aka erotica in this case), everyone has them.
It just took me more than a decade as a reader to find mine.
[image] And I know, I’m shocked too.
*********************************
WARNING: This review will discuss feminization, twincest, and ridiculous unnecessary plot-ridden erotica. If any of the above makes you uncomfortable, turn around and save yourself the mental images.
*********************************
First of all, can we all agree that the cover is nightmare-inducing… and the model eerily resembles Dennis from It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia?
[image] The gif above: both evidence of the resemblance and my honest-to-god feelings about this atrocity of a cover.
It’s clearly a Choice™ —that makes me deeply disturbed and gives me the faint vibes that I’m about to be harassed. So even before opening the book, I was already off to a great start.
Yet I firmly do believe in going out of my comfort zone when it comes to reading. Since I consider it a safe way to explore boundaries, understand what works for me and what doesn't, it’s a method I employ as much for “regular” fiction as for the erotica I consume. There's always a new kink-related book that catches my eye and has me going “why the hell not?” before I impulsively pick it up.
This, in case it wasn’t already evident, was one of those occasions…
[image] My morbid curiosity is both a gift and a curse. In this case, I'm leaning towards Avada Kedavra.
While I’m not averse to feminization or 'cesty taboo goodness (I have both a kink and forbidden shelf respectively for a reason), it didn’t take me too many pages to figure out the way this author chose to go about it just wasn't hitting it right for me...more
⭐ 2.2 “this book went from shaping up to being out of shape” stars ⭐
A not-so-guarded secret is that I enjoy Daddy kink —It's one of the few ways I can⭐ 2.2 “this book went from shaping up to being out of shape” stars ⭐
A not-so-guarded secret is that I enjoy Daddy kink —It's one of the few ways I can stomach fluff and low angst/conflict in my books. Because hey, If I can't get drama, then I might as well get some spice to make up for it.
So for all intents and purposes, this was looking good…
[image] Very perceptive indeed.
*****************************
For transparency's sake, I'll admit I was about to rate this 1 star, only to read the second book in the anthology and realize there were still depths of suffering to be unlocked...more
⭐️ 2.4 “why keep your brain cells when you can read this book” stars ⭐️
So this happened. And I read it, HATED it for the first sixty percent or so… an⭐️ 2.4 “why keep your brain cells when you can read this book” stars ⭐️
So this happened. And I read it, HATED it for the first sixty percent or so… and then was sort of entertained by the sheer ridiculousness? This could very well be me deluding myself, but hey, stranger things have happened.
The lack of intelligent life forms I encountered, however…
[image] Yet it was so horrendous it became laughable, so there’s that!
********************************
Full disclosure: I decided to start my way from the very bottom of Avril Ashton’s interconnected universe… for the sole purpose of getting to Call the Coroner.
Yet as my buddy reader for this, Florence, repeatedly said: If that book doesn’t end up being an instant favorite, Avril Ashton will be getting some strongly worded emails from the both of us. Because believe me, despite my “lax” 2.4-star rating, the first 60 percent of this tale?
‘Twas the stuff of nightmares.
There were some positives (aka ridiculously entertaining) aspects I salvaged from my experience, but instead of starting by listing them, I’ll reserve that spot for the horrible experience that was the traumatizing first half of this book.
Now brace yourself and gather ‘round for…
— The Horrendous and Completely Gratuitous Spanish (and the issues with fetishizing a language)
As a native Hispanic speaker myself, I couldn’t help but cringe. Truthfully, the Spanish included here was the toe-curling, nose-scrunching, closing-my-eyes-and-oh-god-make-it-stop kind of cringe. It’s, as with a lot of other unfortunate cases, the underwhelming outcome of somebody not fluent in a language trying to forcefully insert it.
Think gratuitous uses of “Sí” every few dialogues, translated Spanish phrases that flowed terribly (I’m half convinced Avril Ashton used Bing Translate, since Google couldn’t have failed her this much), and words applied as synonyms that made zero sense in the context of the story.
For example, Angelo kept calling Gabe, the other MC, “amante” and “amado” as if they were interchangeable and had the same significance, when in reality amado means beloved and amante is widely used to signify side chick/side dude.
So...
[image] Quite the stark difference indeed.
But following through on the ridiculousness that was the gratuitous(ly bad) Spanglish, let’s continue focusing on the man himself…
— Angelo Pagan, The Worst Gang Leader In The History of Gang Leaders.
For perspective, if Angelo actually had the job he was assigned in the story, Florence and I concluded that he would’ve died within the first week. In case you were wondering the extent of his ineptitude, which far extended past his “professional life” by the way, a brief breakdown of it below:
⤇ He flirted and prepositioned a cop while getting interrogated in a police precinct… on the very first page of the book.
⤇ Used the female “hangarounds” that frequented the gang’s headquarters for sexual favors… despite identifying as a gay man? I couldn’t help but wonder, wouldn’t it be easier to jerk off instead of getting a blowjob from someone you aren’t attracted to?
But again, keeping in mind how this book was narrated and the crazy subsequent developments, he could’ve easily revealed he had a hook for a hand that justified his actions and I wouldn’t have blinked twice.
[image] How I choose to picture Angelo in my head. Instant improvement of my reading experience, lemme tell you.
⤇ An unimportant point perhaps but… he kept calling his mother Mami. Let’s take a moment to let that sink in. A grown-ass man who calls his mother Mami. As in Mommy. Now, I’m not saying he gave off Norman Bates levels of creepiness necessarily, but I would also not risk taking any showers in his vicinity.
That is all.
⤇ Later on decided to MURDER a fellow gang member out in the open, touching him and his surroundings with bare hands and surely leaving enough DNA evidence for law enforcement to clone his ass and arrest him twice over.
Although this was not even the best part, because his murder weapons of choice?
“Bending at the waist, Angelo pulled a knife and garrote wire from his boots.”
Now those boots must’ve been incredibly spacious, as in humongous, as in…
[image] Which was perfect because he kept acting like a damn fool so might as well wear the uniform.
⤇ Later on, he is frankly baffled when Gabe learns of the murder he committed, despite having full knowledge his boyfriend's precinct was the one tasked with investigating said crime.
And again, we’re supposed to believe Angelo is an experienced gangster who has somehow evaded both the law and the sharp end of a knife?
[image] [image] By now, I was already wondering how Los Pescadores, which Angelo was the useless leader of, hadn’t already become the defunct Blockbuster of street gangs.
⤇ While describing in length how he is a terrible guy, lamenting that he belongs to a gang and is a murderer and etc etc etc (Sorry, I kept checking out at this part), he also adds that he will never sell drugs because “he isn’t willing to go that far.”
This implies that dealing drugs is worse than distributing military-grade guns, which Angelo does regularly, AND the repeated murders perpetrated by both him and the rest of his criminal squad.
Won't even try and explain why the logic continues to shine in its absence.
⤇ Lastly, as the final cherry of idiocy on top of this mess of a cake, Angelo was so useless that when he chose to quit his “illegal lifestyle” in order to be with Gabe (who also abandoned the police force because why not), his solution was giving himself over to law enforcement, pleading guilty to some bogus crime, and facing two years in prison. Yet after that, he still faked his death and created a whole ass new identity to escape scrutiny.
So my question: why not fake your death before and, I don’t know, avoid wasting years of your life behind bars?!
@ Angelo, this one's for you:
[image] He might have not dealt any drugs himself, but he sure as hell had to be consuming them.
Finally, moving on…
— Period Accurate 2012 Misogyny.
Sexism in early 2010’s MM romance? It’s more likely than you think. As in rampant, really.
Outside of Angelo's mother (sorry, "Mami"), all the other women present here were referred to as —and I'm quoting the book here— goldigging bitches, whores, and my personal favorite, throwaway pussy. All of whom, of course, were there to lust after our protagonists and do everything in their power to gain their attention.
Meanwhile, all I gotta say about this…
[image] But oops, call that my hot take of the day I guess.
And now, onto our last but still incredibly eye-rolling point...
— New Levels of Insta-ness Were Uncovered.
Actual relationship development? That bitch was kidnapped and held at gunpoint. The search is still ongoing, but the likelihood of success nonexistent.
These two, you see, met each other once, exchanged barely three sentences, and were subsequently consumed by that single 0.2-second encounter for the next SIX MONTHS. Only for then, as soon as they met again… proceed to jump immediately into fucking, professing their adoration the next day, meeting the parents in two, even talking about being soulmates, "the most important person in each other’s lives" and more.
All of this in the span of a week and about… sixty pages give or take.
[image] The summary of the so-called romantic progression.
Now moving onto the (briefest) of highlights, because y’all can’t accuse me of being negativity personified.That’s a weekend-only activity, after all.
— MCs that felt equal.
And by that, I mean equally dumb. But you had to admire their commitment to the cause, tenacity, and gumption to uphold it. It takes a special kind of character to continue lowering the bar of intelligent human behavior, yet Gabe and Angelo were the ones to look beyond the common TSTL affliction, and dive headfirst into TSTEB (Too Stupid To Even Breathe, in case anyone was wondering).
But regardless, you know what they say about couples that [display the brain patterns of a sponge] together… They stay together...more
⭐2 “started from the bottom and now we [have reached the pits of despair]” stars⭐
I read this a while ago, yet I wanted to wait and settle my thoughts ⭐2 “started from the bottom and now we [have reached the pits of despair]” stars⭐
I read this a while ago, yet I wanted to wait and settle my thoughts before reviewing it. Which was the wrong move, because guess what?
My initial issues only GREW.
[image] This book started out quite nicely, but after the sixty percent mark… Well, pardon my crassness but it was a bit of a shitshow.
****************************
The question that applies here is quite simple: how can something that started oh so right… end up being oh so wrong? Disastrous, truly. Nonsensical and gratuitous. Tethering the edge of logic before diving into the purest of oblivions, by which I mean plot holes and a bizarre parade of events.
In fact, the tally of those things became so extended by the last page, I decided to structure my review by compiling separate lists devoted to them. Tackling the inconsistencies, bizarre twists, and an overall brief summary of the most head-scratching, eyebrow-quirking, what-the-hell-is-happening moments that transpired.
So skipping anymore introductions...
[image] See y'all on the other side of this madness.
First off:
THE SWISS CHEESE OF PLOT HOLES
⟾ 1) From the very first chapter, we are told that Gideon, the Daddy MC of this tale, has a physical resemblance to Superman à la Henry Cavill. Dark hair, blue eyes, incredibly handsome, buff and put together. You get the picture.
Yet, about sixty percent in, the narration casually informs us that the man happens to be forty-five, compares him to George Clooney (who by the way is sixty, so damn Gideon, those forty-five are looking ROUGH) and starts making every character remark on his advanced age. Which had also never happened before that point.
[image] Loki ain’t got nothing on this shapeshifting granddaddy.
⟾ 2) Cal, the other lead and a student at Gideon’s school (and who spent a night having sex with him for money, but that’s neither here nor there), starts detailing his childhood in Hong Kong. He specifies how he attended a boarding school where he didn’t speak the language, felt out of place and friendless *cue tiniest violin music*, etcetera etcetera. Yet seventy percent in, the school is suddenly located in Japan, and no mention of Cal’s Chinese education is ever brought up again.
That absolutely checks out. [Sounds of IQ plummeting]
⟾ 3) A remark is made of Cal’s sole possession that he kept after his family’s belongings were confiscated, all following his rich father’s incarceration. Considering he is a type one diabetic, you would think it’s probably something related to that, right? A way to check his insulin levels? Perhaps a few doses of his medication?
Well…
[image]
He kept his Xbox instead. And not even that managed to remain unscathed, because past the sixty-five percent mark, the console magically turned into a PS4. That’s right, not even inanimate objects were safe from this mess.
⟾ 4) When Gideon’s best friend, Dev, is first introduced, we get a brief interaction discussing their shared upbringing, with Dev making a point of mentioning how they both “came from the hood.” Yet the next time the bff appears on-page, suddenly there’s talk about the small rural town Gideon and him supposedly grew up in. Only to have Gideon just a few chapters later AGAIN referencing the “hood” and trying to claim some kind of misguided “street cred.”
Meanwhile...
[image] Me trying to figure out where the hell this so-called rural hood was located. Geographically, I’m guessing Narnia.
But with that out of the way (and keeping in mind those are just the more glaring plot holes in a laundry list of them), let’s move onto the second list:
THE BIZARRE HAPPENINGS
⟾ 1) Cal being able to secure a spot in Harvard and several other Ivy League schools despite missing several days of class, not doing homework once, and spending most of his time either playing Mortal Combat (not a typo, that’s just how Onley wrote it ...more
⭐ 2.6 "Even [believable relationship development] was under arrest in this prisonmance!" stars ⭐
After much delay and dread, I decided to give the spin⭐ 2.6 "Even [believable relationship development] was under arrest in this prisonmance!" stars ⭐
After much delay and dread, I decided to give the spin-off for Elite Protection Services a go. This featured one of the previous side characters as an MC, so considering I liked him in the other books, expectations were mild to high going in.
Now that I've finished, however, I can look back at my anticipation and proclaim…
[image] While this wasn’t a wholly negative experience, going in expecting nothing would’ve made it significantly better.
********************************
For anyone who has read an Onley James book before, I’m able to tell you that you can let out that breath you didn’t know you were holding, because this first installment of her spin-off definitely sticks to her formula. Unlike with most of her other works, however, this time it didn’t entirely jive with me.
Yet there were still both Positives and Negatives overall, so that’s how the review will be structured.
Without further ado, let’s jump into the chaos…
POSITIVES
— The Dynamic Between MCs (Step-brothers gone wild… ly loving and caring for each other)
First of all, we all know the age-old proverb…
[image] (What do you mean The Office isn’t made out of verifiable life advice?)
But if a brief stint behind bars secures you a significant other like Cyrus, I am willing to do the time and engage in some canine roleplay myself. Because boy was he a devoted man. As is usually the pattern with Onley’s couples, Cyrus simply worshipped the ground Webster walked on.
No matter what Webster did, his big burly cellmate was all over it, and don’t we love to see it. If prison stan accounts were a thing, I just know the man would be running several for his beau.
I do wish there had been more pining and at least an emotional slowburn to make the relationship more rewarding, but at the end of the day…
[image] They’re not even close to being one of my favorite Onley couples, but they still had their moments (even if those happened to mostly be in the smut)
...Which takes me to my next incredibly crucial, important, and impossible to gloss over point...
— Suggestive Physical Displays Of Affection.
Or as I like to call them…
[image] Subtlety is not part of my dossier.
Let me be explicit: This book was earth’s core levels of scorching, delivering on all that I wanted and expected from a prisonmance —when it came to steam, at least. You had the sense of perpetual voyeurism (with even an instance of exhibitionism), then intense tension brought by the dangerous setting, and finally, all of that emphasized by a pronounced theme of possessiveness and ownership.
Think bruises, hickeys, scratching, biting. If it’s rough, Webster was begging for it and Cyrus was gladly delivering.
Which is of course how romance works in this fantasyland, and I’m not complaining at all.
(What do you mean meeting your step-brother in jail does NOT qualify as a meet-cute? Are you implying porn has been lying to me all these years???)
Moving on...
— Introduction Of Future MCs.
So yeah, Cyrus and Webster were fine. They were cute. And had hot sex.
I was still more invested in the side characters showing up though. Older guy Preacher, who wore a crucifix despite not being religious and called himself the Switzerland of prison. Mysterious Lawson, who presented himself as a hillbilly, yet hid the genius of a man with the mental prowess to scam millions out of casinos. And, last but not least, badass Javier, in charge of Webster not offing himself accidentally Webster’s security while inside, with mysterious ties to the Mexican mafia and who looked like he could beat everyone up with his hands tied behind his back (also tattoos? and written representation of a Latin man who didn’t use gratuitous Spanish every 0.3 seconds? I swooned...more
⭐2.5 "get ready because the [discourse] is coming" stars⭐
I dived into this for the "prison pen pal" angle, and ended up stuck with one of the most in⭐2.5 "get ready because the [discourse] is coming" stars⭐
I dived into this for the "prison pen pal" angle, and ended up stuck with one of the most infuriating (albeit occasionally entertaining) MCs in the history of modern literature.
(Ok, that might be a stretch, but still)
A few select times he made me laugh, but for most of the book my true impulse was...
[image] This guy needed to contract an acute case of knife to the throat.
*****************************
Now, I'm too mentally taxed by the protagonist and his hypochondriac ass to write a proper introduction, so I'll just try to gather my remaining brain cells and, instead, start the three points I'll be expanding upon…
— THE MC DAYTON.
Let's get the main dish out of the way, shall we?
Since this whole story was told from his first-person POV, it meant that the content made me want to pull out my hair until a wig became a necessity. An achievement Dayton seemingly accomplished by virtue of just existing. In fact, most of the conflicts in this story could be traced back to his multitude of psychological issues.
(And not the fun kind, I'll confirm)
He was unable to stand up for himself, couldn’t voice his opinion until the very last second, and had a severe propensity for jumping to the worst possible scenarios, all while giving me whiplash with his increasingly irritating behavior.
[image] Ain’t that the truth.
Because for realsies, his overreactions made up for about half of the "plot" (the other half was porn, of course). The tiniest drizzle? A tsunami. Someone rattling a table? An earthquake. His hand shaking a little after drinking too much coffee? That's it, he had Parkinson and it's untreatable.
So in conclusion, Dayton was: neurotic, obsessive, and to top it all off also a welcome mat for everyone else to step on and clean their dirty soles. This fool filled up the whole bingo card of bad personality traits and then some.
[image] Dayton missed the memo, the assignment, and the whole damn course.
Yet, because not everything can be a total negative, his garbage character still made for at least some quasi amusing moments from time to time, such as…
“What would Max think of him now? Of all those things pinned to the wall, as if Dayton were some crazy, Hannibal-style stalker? He was not. His crush was nothing like that! But there was no denying that the corkboard was a bit like a shrine to Max and the ruthless bravery of his crime.”
☝️ Dayton after his ex-con beau gets a peek of the serial killer altar he assembled in his honor ☝️
[image] This happened in the first chapter, by which point I already knew the guy was deranged.
Then...
“Dayton was still gasping for air but made use of his newly freed hands and pulled up the throw, covering his hips. Oh, God, would he feel Max’s cum coming out? He couldn’t afford to stain the throw, because it was dry-clean only!”
Dayton:*hasn't been paid for months, is slowly starving and about to become homeless* Also Dayton: but the cum stains though!!
[image] *Common Sense has left the chat*
And onto the final quote, for the piece de resistance…
“Dayton shuddered and rubbed Max’s pecs with a hunger he couldn’t properly express. He almost wished he could bite off a chunk of that chest and keep it forever inside him.”
[image] What was that from the first quote about not being like a certain chef with a proclivity for human flesh?
All in all, Dayton did have his moments.Spaced out and far in between. No amount of outrageously amusing behavior, however, could make up for the rest of his messy ways.
If that doesn't say it all, I don't know what will.
Moving on to the next (and briefest) point...
— THE LOVE INTEREST MAX.
He was physically there. Existing and breathing. And had a big dick too, which made him slightly more compelling than a potted plant. Although again, the potted plant wasn't an ex-con with anger issues.
Other than that?
[image] [image] He started this book with the personality of an unseasoned chicken nugget and ended it the same way. It’s all about consistency truly.
And now, at last…
— THE ROMANCE (and scroll down for a ✨possibly controversial opinion✨)
To absolutely nobody's surprise, the sex was hot. It had imaginative dirty talk, that for once didn't read like regurgitated lines copy-pasted from a manual.Plus an edge, considering we got to see Dayton's rape fantasies play a role in how he preferred to be "handled". And then some role-play, an element of secrecy, and an ever-present power exchange (or imbalance, more like it) in all of the couple’s interactions.
[image] (Bet y'all saw that one coming)
The real problem was... everything besides the smut, really. And even how part of said smut was contextualized at times, if I were to be specific.
Some background first:
Dayton wrote to Max extensively about his non-consensual fantasies while the other man was in jail under a life sentence. Providing the inmate, in the meantime, with his address, all of his personal info, and even his place of work.
So, naturally, the first thing Max did once he got out after winning an appeal?
Why, break into Dayton's apartment, of course! Where he then played out a home invasion "re-enactment" and literally assaulted the guy without even introducing himself first.
But do not worry! Because you see, Dayton actually got off on it and ended up loving the whole thing. Since detailing a conceptual rape fantasy clearly equates to adoring being assaulted in your own home without any prior warning.
(And mind the fact, by the way, that this event was barely ever brought back up in the rest of the story, and never exactly questioned)
So it’s totally the same thing, I swear…
[image] You got me there, Thor, it isn't.
Nonetheless, my actual problem, it has to be clarified, is not with the scene or notion of a lack of consent in fiction, which I quite enjoy under different circumstances. My real issue, instead, was with the way it was addressed.
⚠️WARNING: here is where the discourse starts⚠️
I love dub-con, non-con, and any kind of controversial con in the book. But what I do not vibe with? When stories don't bother to frame the acts as such. It feels like a copout, and as detrimental to the readers that don't appreciate toeing the morally questionable line as to the ones who, like me, love to sink feet first into the dark and forbidden puddle.
Since yes, this is fiction and moral ambiguity is part of what makes it fun, but how can you expect me to partake in the delights of dark and edgy romance when the story can't even take the plunge and fully embrace the labels. If you're including rape or any kind of harassment or assault, then I think it's best to not mince words and depict it as such.
Because while this might've included a few so-called controversial topics... its real crime, for me, was trying to dismiss them in the most vanilla way possible.
But oh well…
[image] That's just my hot take on the matter.
*****************************
So the bottom line is...
I'd recommend trying this if you're desperate for some smut! But expect to be disappointed by everything else if any of my above-listed issues seem like things that might hinder your reading experience.
I will still continue viciously devouring the work this writer duo puts out, however, and do not judge them at all based on this single story. If anything, it was the fact that the Merikans are one of my favorite authors which made the sting from this read hurt significantly more.
But hey, if out of the 15+ books I've read from them I've only disliked this one?
[image] It's an enviable track record indeed....more
⭐1.2 “this book gave me a real-life migraine” stars ⭐
My judgment luck as of late has been highly questionable, leaving behind a carnage of two stars r⭐1.2 “this book gave me a real-life migraine” stars ⭐
My judgment luck as of late has been highly questionable, leaving behind a carnage of two stars reviews in its wake. My solution for it? Picking the controversial sequel of an already controversial book, of course.
Yes, I’m a book masochist. There’s really no other explanation.
[image] What the reading experience felt like.
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A Documentation of my Suffering.
Below, I have decided to do a page overview since there are too many things to address and not enough characters to otherwise elaborate.
WARNING: this will obviously include a lot of spoilers. And an instance of on-page sexual assault will also be discussed.
⭐ 2.3 "toxic as hell, and not even the entertaining kind" stars ⭐
Yet another attempt of mine at catching up with popular books in the genre, and yet a⭐ 2.3 "toxic as hell, and not even the entertaining kind" stars ⭐
Yet another attempt of mine at catching up with popular books in the genre, and yet another personal disappointment. At this point, I'm sensing a pattern.
In my defense…
[image] It just wasn’t for me. At all.
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Call my taste messed-up, but I actually decided to pick this one up after reading a low-rated review that stated how unhealthy the relationship was. I love those dynamics! (in fiction only, of course) Give me codependent, obsessive, and possessive love any day of the week indeed.
Where did things go wrong then, when it seemingly had all the right ingredients for me?
Let’s just put it this way, this series might be called Rules of Possession, but in my humble opinion Rules of Entitlement would be much more fitting. And when I say entitlement, I mean the MC Blue's immature ways more specifically. Who I went from being slightly amused by, to irritated, and lastly an status of enraged that might have earned me a coronary in my near future.
Therefore, honoring my considerable dislike, I've decided to divide this review in a different manner than my usual one.By separating the Positives on one section, and The Chronicles of Blue’s Foolishness on the other.
THE POSITIVES
— KELLY.
Loved him. He was endlessly witty, loyal to a fault, and the kind of friend who would help you hide a dead body without asking any questions. Someone I couldn’t help but empathize with every step of the way.
Yet you know how everyone has that one pal, regardless of gender, who is always jumping on and off with an ex that everyone knows is trouble?
Well, that’s also Kelly. I do think, however, that me caring so deeply for him was also a testament to how well his character was constructed. While reading, I somehow ended up developing a parasocial friendship with this fictional character.Go figure.
My two little pieces of advice to my (nonexistent) friend Kelly?
[image]
And…
[image] That is all.
Marching forward…
— BACKGROUND CHARACTERS.
Am I straining to find highlights so my review doesn’t come off as too negative? Perhaps. Regardless, it’s true that I considered the cast of characters to be a lovable bunch. From Kelly’s incredibly supportive and frankly hilarious family to his protective and insightful friends. Both of whom were there having his back every step of the way.
I stubbornly refused to give up on this series by Sloane Kennedy, since I loathe leaving any series u⭐ 2.5 “it was enjoyable… until it wasn’t” stars ⭐
I stubbornly refused to give up on this series by Sloane Kennedy, since I loathe leaving any series unfinished (and I'm way too stubborn for my own good).
What conclusion have I drawn from my latest attempt?
[image] This is going to be my mantra when I look at myself in the mirror every morning now.
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Me and Sloane Kennedy? We have a toxic unilateral relationship (in which I dislike most of her books, but still read them). This, however, does NOT mean her books are bad or I judge anyone else who loves them.
It's just a matter of…
[image] And my own foolishness if I'm completely honest.
But with that out of the way, let me get to the juicy bits.
WARNING: spoilers will be discussed below. Pretty heavy ones too because I just gave up and decided to make this review into a diary of my highlighted notes.
⭐ 2.5 “And the sob story olympics CONTINUE (but hey, at least there’s gratuitous smut)” stars⭐
I really am a clown for claiming I was in the mood for s⭐ 2.5 “And the sob story olympics CONTINUE (but hey, at least there’s gratuitous smut)” stars⭐
I really am a clown for claiming I was in the mood for some fluff and then turning around and deciding to pick up a Sloane Kennedy book of all things (aka the antithesis of anything lighthearted).
But what can I say?
[image] While I’ve had very mixed experiences with her previous works, I still keep coming back!
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As a starting point, let me set the scene for anyone jumping in without any prior knowledge. Most of Sloane Kennedy’s books take place in the same world (Sloane Kennedy Literary Universe or SKLU for short), and therefore that means that you’ll see plenty of familiar faces popping up in each installment. If you ask me, however, her books have enough exposition to be practically standalones.
Allow me to elaborate:
You see, something I have noticed is how you get paragraphs after paragraphs detailing most of the important plot points from previous stories and, as someone who has made sure to read all the other books leading up to here, it’s hard not to be left with the faint impression that the author might have mistaken her audience for a bunch of amnesiacs.
[image] Yes, I get that the books were released months and even years apart, but when you have whole pages of recapping? At that point it’s not catching up anymore, but a whole ass reenactment.
So it’s probably a good idea for anyone venturing forward to keep that small nugget of information in mind, since your patience could very well be tested.
Moving on, let’s address…
The actual plot (or the semblance of it in any case).
This is Sloane Kennedy’s second attempt at MMM after Finding Home (the first book in the Finding series)... and can I just say right out of the gate that it did not meet expectations? It has almost fifty extra pages on its polyamorous predecessor, yet the relationship ends up feeling somewhat hollower, with the connection between the three MCs barely managing to leave an impression at all.
There's a whole lot of telling and not showing when it comes to the central romance, basically. We get told about a decade-old crush one of the protagonists harbors (because Declan apparently spent ten whole years pining for Ren after exchanging about five words at a wedding once). Then characters proclaiming they’re soulmates after barely a week of knowing each other (Despite Jagger’s supposed commitment issues). Even big declarations of love and eternal loyalty get exchanged here. The whole romantic shebang, truly.
And still…
[image] My thoughts on the throuple in this one.
As can be the pattern with SK’s work, the story is much too busy focusing on all the angst(y backstories) to bother with the actual depth of the romance. Instead of witnessing character development and quality bonding time that propels the relationship forward, we get a book that was too fixated on highlighting traumatic past events. Horrifying kidnapping in the middle east? Check. Traumatic childhoods? Check. Internalized homophobia after years of repression? Check. Check. Check.
(And that’s not even half of the examples, y’all).
Although some of the anguish did manage to somewhat land, such as the struggles Ren, who is the middle child from the Barretti brothers and the last one to get his own book, faced relating to his PTSD after a year in captivity. The way Sloane Kennedy tackled the problems he had differentiating between reality and horrific memories was descriptive in a way that was realistically daunting.You felt like you were there with him in those moments, the sand from the desert sliding between your fingers and the coppery smell of blood overwhelming your senses. And that, as a result, transformed Ren into the only MC I was able to empathize and give half a damn about.
Which was quite a far cry from my reaction to the other members of the throuple, Jagger and Declan...
[image] There is only so many fucks I can afford to give, and mine were all used up by feeling sorry for Ren to even bother with the other MCs.
Besides, as my title for this review implies, it really turned out to be the Sadness Olympics over here. If by Sadness Olympics it was also implied to be bizarrely superficial levels of angst, at any rate. And its impact on the narrative was not helped by the abrupt transitions from tragic themes into explicit smut. Those became so ridiculously tactless at times that I couldn’t even fully enjoy the steam. And when I, the biggest perv out there, cannot partake in the joy of some raunchiness?
Now that’s truly the biggest alert of them all.
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To fully give you all an idea, below will be examples of the level of nuance we are dealing with:
Sooo… I went into this expecting an easy, appetizer-sized twincest read. Something to alleviate the burn from my p⭐ 2.5 “the okayest of okays” stars ⭐
Sooo… I went into this expecting an easy, appetizer-sized twincest read. Something to alleviate the burn from my previous book and to get me in the mood for better ones.
The verdict, now that I’m done?
[image] I feel pickier than Goldilocks with those damn soups! If those soups were lackluster twincest erotica, at least.
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A bit of context, first.
This is a prequel for Breathless, an MMM novel by Cara Dee that features the twins from here and a third masochistic guy as a throuple. I have NOT read that one, but I’m certainly considering it since so many people have told me it’s a fantastic read. And a lot longer than this story, so I’m hoping the twins will actually be given depth there.
(Plus there’s kink present as well, instead of this novella’s mere allusion of it, so another plus).
As for the actual content, however…
Well, this didn’t feature much at all besides a bit of steam, some emotional inner turmoil, and… one instance of “almost cheating”? Sprinkle in a kind of cute Christmas scene at the end and that’s the whole plot, pretty much. All 60 pages of it.
Yet my main gripe with this is not the lack of plot points themselves, but that each of the aspects utilized failed to stand out at all.Quality over quantity is a great philosophy when it comes to the drama or conflicts showcased, but in this case the story had neither.
The smut aspect, for example?
[image] Guess I’ve been reading too many detailed sex scenes lately, because the ones here were kind of dry. Sahara desert style.
The emotional turmoil?
[image] I enjoyed the codependency aspect discussed, but it was so surface level that I never really felt any of the longing and supposed angst. Plus River, the POV character, sounded like a straight-up cyborg at times with how emotionless he could be.
And the “one instance of almost cheating”?
[image] Because you know you’ve checked out completely from the story when even the twin love interest “almost fucking a rando” fails to get a reaction.
All in all, this is the second Cara Dee novella I read after Top Priority, which also belongs to this series… and the main takeaway from my ventures is that her short reads don’t really work for me. Although Top Priority at least had a bit more conflict (aka steam and a semblance of a romance) to keep me engaged. Meanwhile, this book made me wonder how a TWINCEST NOVELLA could be oh so dull.
But anyway, onto better horizons it is!
(And if anyone has other Cara Dee recommendations, please do tell because I obviously haven’t been picking the right books for myself *sigh*).
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The Game series by Cara Dee
Top Priority— 3.3 ⭐ Their Boy— TBR. Breathless— TBR. The Air that I Breathe— 2.5 ⭐...more
⭐ 2.5 “this book almost had me in the first half, not gonna lie” stars⭐
Now that I’ve finished it, I can say this story turned into a very peculiar one⭐ 2.5 “this book almost had me in the first half, not gonna lie” stars⭐
Now that I’ve finished it, I can say this story turned into a very peculiar one for me. Peculiarly disappointing, that is. It started out so strong, with a delectable touch of taboo and dark romance that had me hooked (plus some VERY hot smut to boot), but then the 80 percent mark hit and…
[image] My reaction to the book went from “I’m actually having fun” to this pretty damn fast.
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First off, A QUICK WORD BEFORE WE START:
Since the writer has been pleading with everyone not to spoil the story, I’ll separate this review in a non-spoilery general thoughts section (that will be pretty vague) and a more in-depth one at the bottom (including the specifics of my issues). Below a warning, of course. That way, anyone who is still considering this one can make their own informed decision on whether to venture into Spoilerland or not.
Personally, I wished I had known what I was walking into. But I digress.
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With that little intro out of the way…
[image] Almost my entire takeaway from this.
To be completely honest, all of it felt absolutely meaningless in the end. Any kind of build up the story worked towards, appreciation for the characters earned, the dynamics they shared or a climax to their struggles. All of it turned into a big ol’ pile of “AND FOR WHAT?” by the time I was done flipping (or scrolling) through the pages.
And listen here, going in I already knew that things wouldn’t be as they seemed (this is marketed and referenced by a lot of people as a mindfuck type of story), but what I did not expect was for those “surprise twists” to be the most predictable, cliched, saw-that-from-a-mile-away conflict resolutions imaginable. Instead of being in awe, I was just left scratching my head and wondering how something I had considered an option from chapter two, yet discounted because it sounded way too dumb, ended up turning into the actual big twist.
Like sure, that was technically a mindfuck I guess. But a disappointing one that proceeded to veil all the rest of the story in bitterness and left me feeling wholly unfulfilled. If this is what the author considered a mindfuck, I’ll be keeping my mind celibate going forward, thank you very much.
Never mind the fact that I had previously promised to leave my suspension of disbelief at the door, knowing how OTT and logic-defying prison romances can generally get. Because this book did not just ask me to suspend my disbelief, but to downright assassinate it, deface it, and later discard it in an anonymous dumping ground.
So even after saying I would just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride, the truth was that I just couldn’t.
[image] More footage of me past the 80 percent mark.
Yet, for anyone still curious about this one, I’d still say to give it a chance if that’s what you’re craving! Don’t let my rant dissuade you, and just make sure you equip yourself with tempered expectations, LOTS of suspension of disbelief, and perhaps even a stress ball or two.
Besides, if the story had ended before the 80 percent mark, this would’ve probably been a 3/3.5 kind of read for me! So not all of it was bad, per se.
Too bad the book kept going for a hundred plus more pages after that.
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Moving ahead…
WARNING: YOU HAVE REACHED SPOILERLAND
So step away unless you have either read the book already or just don’t mind me covering some of the major(ly disappointing) twists.
⭐2.5 “I mean… it was decidedly bland okay” stars ⭐
I wanted something light and breezy, leaning more on the wholesome side of the spectrum for a change⭐2.5 “I mean… it was decidedly bland okay” stars ⭐
I wanted something light and breezy, leaning more on the wholesome side of the spectrum for a change, so on paper this novella sounded like the perfect fit.
The reality, however?
Well, the overall result was...
[image] I know some people greatly enjoyed this little tale, but the fact that I took a whole day to finish its 90+ measly pages says it all.
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Since this is a rather short story, I’ll try to keep my review on the brief side as well, separating it into three sections: The MCs, The Romance, and Closing Thoughts.
Let’s get started now, shall we?
— The MCs.
While this was told solely from the first person POV of Matty (who fits the archetype of a “dumbass” jock), the general plot focuses on both him and the other half of his soulmate bond, *checks notes* Ethan (the snobbish dickwad “uptight” nerd). They were thrust together from childhood after first establishing their connection, keeping in mind that Soulmates in this universe can’t survive without being in constant proximity, and that —paired with several gratuitous misunderstandings along the way— ended up leading to a decade-long feud between the guys.
Yet, all in all, my main issue wasn’t exactly with the contrived animosity between the two idiots —I do love a good enemies-to-lovers story, as my reading patterns clearly suggest.
My real problem here was with…
[image] Because these two were BORING y’all. I’m not saying a wet noodle would make for a more riveting protagonist, but I’m strongly implying it.
And, utilizing this as a segway into my next point, let's now talk about...
— The Romance.
If the MCs were unseasoned themselves, let me tell you that the epic love story didn’t fare much better either. It was cute. They kissed. They fell in insta-love. They did the horizontal tango.
All of it in the stretch of ten years that surely, you must think, showed the marvelous progress from childhood rivals to the enamored young adults they would later become. Because why else would you feel the need to include such a lengthy timeline if not to shine a spotlight on the relationship and character progress, right?
RIGHT?!
[image] I might be a master at denial, but the abrupt romance in this required a whole doctorate to grasp.
Instead, we got more than seventy percent of the story documenting their lives and menial struggles, including the few girlfriends and boyfriends they both dated throughout — since who wouldn’t go for someone who ALREADY has a confirmed Soulmate?
![개같이 살자 [Make Me Bark]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507898948l/36405441._SX50_.jpg)
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