#spice level: 5/5

[joysofescapism]

Book Review: Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight

Ryder, Garrett, Kenzo, and Diesel—The Vipers. They run this town and everyone in it. Their deals are as sordid as their business, and their reputation is enough to bring a grown man to his knees, forcing him to beg for mercy. They are not people you mess with, yet my dad did. The old man ran up a debt with them and then sold me to cover his losses. Yes, sold me. They own me now. I’m theirs in every sense of the word. But I’ve never been meek and compliant. These men, they look at me with longing. Their scarred, blood-stained hands holding me tight. They want everything I am, everything I have to give, and won’t stop until they get just that. They can own my body, but they will never have my heart. The Vipers? I’m going to make them regret the day they took me. This girl? She bites too.

Read my full review below the cut.

Trigger Warning: violence, graphic torture, death, gore, graphic mutilation, domestic abuse, kidnapping, self-harm, sexual abuse, blood play, gunplay, knife play, sexual violence.

I will start by saying that this book was one of those hate-to-love kinds. I really cannot believe that I enjoyed it despite the numerous groans and frustrated screams I did.

Was it the smut? Was it the mind-numbing scenes I couldn’t believe I was reading? Because it sure as hell was not the plot nor the characters.

Each time I read dark romance, I always prepare myself for a ton of suspension of disbelief. I would also remind myself what I was getting into. But, oh boy, Den of Vipers still made my eyebrow twitch despite all that.

When I first read it, I loved it. It was the time when I was binge-reading dark and mafia romance so that might be the reason. Since I was already in that headspace, I only got to compare it to the similar tropes I was already reading. But, for the second and third time, I was confused about why I loved it.

Characters

Roxy. The take-no-shit heroine, always angry and swore to fight her kidnappers, but would also jump their bones without hesitation, so there is that.

I did not like her character. She was a typical one in these kinds of books which made me sad. I wanted more strong and angry heroines but, not the one who loses their backbone when a hot guy comes. I do not mind body-betrayal tropes, but that was not executed well in this book.

She was flip-flopping a lot. If she was consistent with what she was saying and (sometimes) thinking then I might like her. But there was none of that.

Ryder. The boss man. The one who needs to always be cold and in control. His character isn’t complex, just a typical alphahole trope.

Maybe I would have liked him if he kept to his role and not said cringey things that would pull me out of my immersion.

Kenzo. The pretty boy. The least crazy among the men. I was actually quite intrigued by him, he was what I hoped was one of the complex characters.

He was the resident charmer with a few hints of insanity which he showed by… switching his facial expressions quickly. I really had too high of expectations from him.

Garrett. The big guy. He was the enforcer and the one who could crush your skull with his bare hands. He was also the hero who hated the heroine (at first, of course).

Man, I also have a lot of expectations from Garrett. If only he did not constantly call Roxy “baby” even during his breakdowns. It did not make me swoon, nope. It was out of place.

Diesel. The crazy guy. No, really, he’s absolutely sick in the head. When I read about his character I actually exclaimed “Yes! Thank f*ck!” I loved him. He was the perfect character to open the story for me.

Alright, disclaimer, just because I love me some crazy man it does not mean I want one in real life. This is fiction. Let’s be mature with critical thinking skills here. Okay? Okay.

Anyway, he was the most complex character among the four and the bar is low. He enjoyed torturing and killing people. But, he would also be holding and caring for Roxy when it was just the two of them. On the other end of that, each time they come together (heh, you got what I mean? No? Okay…) he would also sexually torture her with literal physical torture. Going at it while there was still a fresh dead body beside you was nothing new for me. I was already desensitized by it. I was shocked to see myself reading through all that.

He was all over the place and I loved it. That made me feel icky for liking a character like him. He made me question my morals, goddamn.

When Roxy said something about riding the crazy train I completely agreed.

Nevertheless, these men did not feel like authoritative figures at all. Sure, they would always say that “they run this city” but how they talk does not show that. They felt immature like those bully high school romances with gangs in them. They do not feel like mob bosses. Perhaps it’s because their power was more told to us than shown.

It was my fault for having too high of expectations since I always incorporate powerful people with silence. Which, are not these guys. They talk a lot.

One thing I like most about first-person POVs is that I can see the character’s thought process. However, the characters (especially the men) here might be distinct from each other and each had their own voice but, the supposed maturity they should have did not shine through. Again, I felt like I was reading a bully romance with edgy teenagers more than anything.

Plot

There really is not much to talk about the plot. I don’t think the people who enjoyed this book will talk about the plot at all.

I was intrigued yes. And the smut was one of those “is it legal to like this one?” kind of smut.

It was not amazingly written but the shock value upped the ante, both the smut and the plot points. It pushed my limits and it made me take a peek at my dark side.

Ending

Again, nothing to really talk about. It was the best ending the book could offer. I’m sorry. I really do not have anything to say about the whole plot of this book. It was nothing special.

Rating

When I first read Den of Vipers, I gave it 5 stars. But for the second and third time, I finally saw what I was blinded to see initially and gave it a 3-star.

The only category in my CAWPILE system that had a high score was Intrigue and Enjoyment. Which I gave enjoyment a 10. Everything else was either a meh or a fail.

Despite that, I need to give credit where credit is due. This book stayed in my head for so long. Each time I read a mafia romance after, I would compare it to this. Each time I would encounter obsessive, insane, completely unhinged alphaholes, I would compare it to this. Its craziness stuck in my head, and I consider that impressive since I read a lot. If a book does that to me, then, they did a good job.

Final Thoughts

Do I want a sequel for this series? Hard pass.

Do I recommend this to others? Two words for you. Gore and Porn. If you’re into that, then go for it.

Was this a heavy read? It is heavy on the dark side. Please read with caution and heed the trigger warnings.

Will I read this again? Nope. Not again.

GoodReads | Storygraph | Instagram

[vv-ispy]

Xianyun's outfit description

Xianyun's outfit. These garments were not designed by any famous tailor, though at first glance, they appear to be made of the finest silks. Yet closer inspection reveals that the weave is not of silk, cotton, or linen, and a glow runs through it like an adeptus's feather coat. One can only imagine from what provenance she obtained such clothes...

imagining her clothes as manifested out of herself

[the-book-wyrm-reviews]

Phantom

By Greer Rivers Book Wyrm's Review is under the cut

Page Count: 406 Estimated Word Count: 111,300 Genres: Gothic Romance, Fantasy Year of Publication: 2022

Overview

A dark, modern, romantic retelling of the classic, Phantom of the Opera. But this time, the man behind the mask won’t stop until she is his.

She is my muse, and I am her demon of music.

A year ago, I witnessed sweet Scarlett Day’s dark side. She’s been my obsession ever since.

I was content with being her secret. Content with protecting her from afar… until an enemy from my past sets his sights on her.

Our families have a deep history of hatred, and Scarlett is caught in the middle.

Meanwhile, her mind plays tricks on her. When a panic attack goes horribly wrong, I emerge from the shadows to save her.

Now that she’s mine, I can’t let her go.

I’ve mastered the darkness. She tempts me with her light.

But when my mask is gone, will she fear the monster underneath?

PHANTOM is a spicy story set in modern-day New Orleans and a complete STANDALONE in the Tattered Curtain series. Guaranteed HEA.

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧

★★★★★ = 5/5 Stars 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ = 5/5 spice!!

I was drawn in by the story I knew and I could NOT be happier that the phantom was flipped on its head!

This story is hot, its spicy, and the happily ever after is guaranteed this time around! Those that always hated how the Phantom of the Opera originally ended, those that wanted the phantom to have Christine under his wing forever, this book is for you! I adore the way the phantom was written, the mafia style of the world, and there's absolutely nothing I would change!

Greer Rivers, I tip my hat to you madam! I found this book and got it on a whim due to the app TickTock, and I'm more than happy to have taken that chance! Set in New Orleans, the phantom of the French quarter will have you on the edge of your seat and begging to be in Scarlet Day's place when Solomon Bordeaux puts you under his steely midnight gaze.

Phantom has my heart and I would love nothing more than to open up to my own

Demon of Music~

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧

Would you like your own copy? Grab one at the link below! I am not Sponsored or Affiliated with Amazon

[soft-serve-soymilk]

Wow I love asshole gay people (things have ALIGNED in the ASTRAL PLANE and Pav is WATCHING SOMETHING?? 🤯)

[whatsabriard]

i. Jennifer Edwards was going to marry him. Jennifer Edwards was going to marry him. 

Jonathan knew for a fact he had never been happier or more in love. Jennifer radiated joy beside him as Max maneuvered the carriage onto the busy street, and Jonathan’s returning grin was certainly besotted. 

“Take me back to your hotel room,” Jennifer spoke into his throat. She hadn’t whispered, not an ounce of coy entendre. She followed it up to make sure he understood her meaning. “I want you to make love to me.”

“Max,” Jonathan called, his voice unsteady.

“On it, Mr H.”

ii. Jennifer had been turned on in her life, ready to fall into bed with a particularly attractive man after an evening of fun. What had seemed, at the time, intense sexual energy was paltry in comparison to how she felt now.

It was as though the love, freely given and joyfully received, had intensified her longing to connect with this man. Her fiancée. Her fiancée. 

He sucked hard at a spot behind her ears that made her insides turn molten. She felt a little unhinged as the carriage picked up speed, her hand groping against Jonathan’s fly. 

Much to his delight. 

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

trick to fun dialogue is just to make it a little hard to understand. maybe thats a cheap trick but i dont care

[resentfuldonuts]

season 5……… one of the light novels they could adapt is 55 minutes????

guys i think i’m onto something here

[cwritesfiction]

10 pls 👀

10. Which scene from your WIP would make good fanart fodder?

Well, that depends on what kind of fanart you draw.

Feeling fun? You may want to draw Elliott and Adrian all dressed up and dancing at the grandma wedding.

Feeling spicy? I triple dog dare you to draw the storage room sex scene, complete with the knockoff Garfield merch in the background

FAN-tastic ask game

[yrwestillhere]

carney funny as fuck I dunno why /that/ part of the fandom is so pissy about him

[joysofescapism]

Book Review: Faking with Benefits by Lily Gold

WANTED: Three fake boyfriends. Must be tall, ripped — and willing to teach me how to kiss.

My name is Layla Thompson, and I am undateable. Seriously. I’m twenty-eight and I’ve never had a boyfriend. And with my thirties rapidly approaching, I’m starting to lose patience.

Lucky for me, I have three overprotective best friends who are all-too-eager to help hone my dating skills. There’s Zack, the huge rugby player with the cheeky grin and rippling biceps. Josh, the boy-next-door with the sculpted jaw and calculating stare. And Luke, the silver-haired divorcee… who also happens to be my old professor.

After a bad date leaves me crying on their shoulders, the three men are determined to help me find a guy. Together, they agree to be my ‘practice boyfriends’, and come up with a lesson plan packed with fake dates, make out sessions, and classes on flirty texting. In return, I just have to make an appearance on their relationship advice podcast once a week. Easy.

But as my lessons become more and more intense, we soon find ourselves getting in too deep. Every stomach-fluttering touch lingers a little too long, and every molten kiss ends in fireworks. It’s not long before I realise that their friendship isn’t enough for me anymore. I want more.

The guys have been teaching me how to get a boyfriend, and now it’s time I put their lessons to the test.

Three times over.

Read my full review below the cut.

I am obsessed with this book! Perhaps it is because I relate to Layla about needing to be in control of every aspect of my life, needing to stick with my plans, even the list making it’s just on point! Also, Zack, Luke, and Josh being emotionally constipated men felt like a reflection of what kind of guys I mostly attract… I feel seen and I don’t know if I like it.

The smut on this is also the best among the Lily Gold books I read. And I do not mind a sequel. I just want to see more from these characters.

Aside from swooning and giggling, I also cried my eyes out. The guys should have groveled like hell, but, I was not in the mood to read a heavily angsty novel so I still find it okay.

Final thoughts: If you love a good romcom, this one’s for you. If you love perfectionist women with chaotic men, this one’s for you.

GoodReads | Storygraph | Instagram

[quietlyblooms]

@goldcnpeaks specified for a spicy starter! they got a novel

something's shifted between the two of them. chiyo chalks it up to hunger -- that familiar, gnawing hollowness in her stomach is enough to convince her. hunger makes her hyperaware, makes her tense, makes her notice jovie's scent and how pretty her neck is. that makes sense. that keeps chiyo calm, allows her to treat that night like any other she would ask jovie to let her feed.

it's taken a while for chiyo to trust herself enough to not need luka in the room with them. now she almost wishes he were there, suddenly worried because something feels different. there's a heaviness in the air, her pulse quickening as she settles herself in jovie's lap; they've done his countless times now, have it all figured out how to keep themselves comfortable during the process, yet chiyo is shy, stiff as she clutches the witch's shoulders and sinks her teeth into her neck.

that's when it gets easier. blood makes everything easier, soothing chiyo's racing heart and easing the tension from her muscles. one arm curls around jovie's shoulders, pressing her closer, and the vampire sighs in utter pleasure and contentment as she shifts upon her lap. so sweet, so filling, and too soon her belly is full.

this is the part she always feels guilty about. almost like an apologetic puppy, chiyo gently laps at the weeping wound upon jovie's neck until the bleeding stops. blood makes everything easier, but maybe too easy. chiyo nuzzles her friend's jaw, shifting again until they're nose-to-nose, green eyes staring back at half-lidded brown. closer. closer. something in her begs, aching for the witch. closer, please.

blood still coats chiyo's lips, smeared in a way that doesn't look as unusual as it should, but she doesn't think to wipe it away before she's leaning forward. there should be some hesitation, some trepidation -- that would be like chiyo. there isn't any of that. blood makes everything too easy, allowing the blonde to kiss jovie with a gentle fervor that betrays her. so tender she is, so eager to please, and so softly does she sigh as she tangles her fingers in cinnamon-colored tresses.

" so sweet... " chiyo breathes against jovie's scarred lips. " it's addicting. "

[fic-y-fics]

Beautiful

Fucking

And fucking beautiful

@metaldamage 💋 #Avatrice

[debbiechanclub]

Just had the most overpriced, overspiced Indian food

[whatsabriard]

i. Jonathan never thought he’d know anyone well enough to read their mind, let alone marry her. Intellectually he knew there was nothing supernatural about it - that he was simply so connected to Jennifer that he could read her thoughts and emotions clearly. She had the same ability with him, and he knew it was rooted in their deep love for one another. 

Still, it was a gift he wasn’t about to take for granted. To know her habits so well as to be able to expect the weight of her softly scented warmth draping herself over his chest every night.

ii. Jennifer turned out the light. The enveloping darkness forced them to use their other senses, including that vague sixth one, to maneuver themselves. She pushed his nightshirt from his shoulders and his fingers slid under the elastic over her panties to cup her behind. He massaged until she sighed and ground herself against his thigh.

“Read my mind,” Jonathan whispered into the dark and she giggled, slipping lower and pulling his lounge pants down with her. 

When she took him into her mouth he grunted and cupped the back of her neck gently. 

Always gently. 

“Just like that,” he breathed.

[meowthtwo]

As I eat ice cold week old ramen at nearly 2 am, I have reached the conclusion that maybe I do need to eat more now that I have no colon

[fic-y-fics]

Yeah

Yeah

Yeah

"You will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you"