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roksyreads's reviews
362 reviews
Devil from Moscow by Sonja Grey
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Nina is at her lowest—broken by cruel men until she barely recognises herself—when Vasily finds her. The intense, tatted Bratva boss doesn’t offer salvation. Instead, he offers protection and the revenge Nina craves. The time for a knight in shining armour has long passed. Now, she needs a villain: a man who doesn’t mind getting his hands bloody to make the men who hurt her pay.
This was a fast and fun read—after the first few chapters. MMC Vasily is more teddy than grizzly most of the story, which is very sweet, but I admit that I wanted to see more of his tough Bratva side. FMC Nina is a boss bitch; seeing her grow and overcome was rewarding, as was the revenge aspect of the plot, even if the big reveal could be seen from a mile away. I’m a big fan of dark romance and have read some pretty hardcore stuff recently; what’s in the first few chapters is not the worst of what I’ve read, however all readers should be aware that the TWs/CWs in the book are 𝙣𝙤𝙩 sufficient. I’d encourage anyone interested in this story to check The StoryGraph before reading.
This was a fast and fun read—after the first few chapters. MMC Vasily is more teddy than grizzly most of the story, which is very sweet, but I admit that I wanted to see more of his tough Bratva side. FMC Nina is a boss bitch; seeing her grow and overcome was rewarding, as was the revenge aspect of the plot, even if the big reveal could be seen from a mile away. I’m a big fan of dark romance and have read some pretty hardcore stuff recently; what’s in the first few chapters is not the worst of what I’ve read, however all readers should be aware that the TWs/CWs in the book are 𝙣𝙤𝙩 sufficient. I’d encourage anyone interested in this story to check The StoryGraph before reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming and Trafficking
Sugar and Skulls by L.M. Terry
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I’ll preface this by saying I’m a fan of dark romance and have read some very dark novels and enjoyed them. Whilst there are some aspects that are intriguing and hit hard emotionally, enough to keep me hopeful of a solid finish, I unfortunately have very little to say that’s positive about this novel. The story is repetitive, haphazard, and at times forced. There are too many POVs, most of which sound exactly the same, and with minimal character development outside of the FMC. Note also that the FMC is a teenager: she’s 17 for 70% of the novel. Despite all attempts to age her up—mostly by putting her through numerous traumatic events*—she’s childish and petulant. And no, not in a cute, playful way. Add in numerous “when she’s 18” lines from not one, but two, significantly older MMCs, and it kills the “romance”. I won’t be continuing with the series, nor will I be reading any other work from the author.
* be aware of regular, detailed descriptions on-page with no CWs in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Trafficking and Abortion
Pucking Wild by Emily Rath
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Tess is 33—a confident plus-sized babe who should be in the prime of her life. Instead, she's in the middle of a messy divorce. When her life starts to crumble, she flees to Jacksonville, eager to start over in a new job and a new city, and her best friend Rachel and the three men of Team Price aren't the only draw card. Coming to Jacksonville means seeing more of Ryan Langley, starting forward for the NHL’s Jacksonville Rays. With a body of a hockey god and serious golden retriever energy, he's definitely a temptation. Still, between her baggage and a ten year age gap that puts her into cougar territory, she's sure they have nothing in common. To Ryan, though, Tess is his dream girl, and he intends to show her that age doesn’t matter, that pasts don’t define a person, and—sometimes—two wrongs can make a right.
I adored this book. The banter is epic, as is the spice. This one was a bit repetitive at times, and it didn't pull me in as much as Pucking Around, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the story. Tess and Ryan make a great pair, and it was lovely to see them face their challenges and find themselves and each other. The Prices and the broader Jax Rays family feature as well. Getting to know them better which was such a treat, and I can't wait for future novels and collections.
I adored this book. The banter is epic, as is the spice. This one was a bit repetitive at times, and it didn't pull me in as much as Pucking Around, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the story. Tess and Ryan make a great pair, and it was lovely to see them face their challenges and find themselves and each other. The Prices and the broader Jax Rays family feature as well. Getting to know them better which was such a treat, and I can't wait for future novels and collections.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Grief, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Biphobia, Pregnancy, and Classism
Wanna Play a Game? by Alina May
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m so far down the rabbit hole here, guys. I shouldn’t be feeling fuzzies for 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝗄𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗋𝗌, yet here I am.
Again.*
The reasonable and moral parts of my brain are saying I should be ashamed of how much I enjoyed this story, especially given the extremely dark and oft-questionable elements, but it was utterly enthralling. I was fascinated by the development of FMC Cali and the three MMCs Sawyer, Miles, and Ryder, each of them complex and morally ambiguous in their own ways. Combined more broadly with tension and angst from changing relationship dynamics and spice that damn near burnt my eyes right out of my head, and this made for an intensely compelling read from start to finish.
* I blame A J Merlin for hooking me on her Pleasure and Prey series.
* I blame A J Merlin for hooking me on her Pleasure and Prey series.
Pucking Ever After: Volume 2 by Emily Rath
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another great addition to the Jacksonville Rays universe (Emilyverse). I loved revisiting favourite characters and seeing how much more they've grown in the years following the events of the main novels. As expected, there's oodles of spice, but so, so much heart. I fall more in love with the Prices and their big Jax Rays family with every story.
Steel King by Devney Perry
I like flawed characters, and Dash was both interesting and his growth engaging; he’s the main reason I kept reading. Bryce, on the other hand, is, frankly, meh. She goes on about values like integrity and objectivity, and yet is blatantly neither of those things for most of the novel. Dash spent so much time apologising when Bryce was the actual problem. Pacing and narrative were good through the start and middle, but the quality really dropped off towards the end. I also wish I’d been able to find more information on tropes before I started reading, because I probably would have skipped this if I’d known about some of the latter points. The mystery plot is interesting but about as subtle as a brick. Most of the suspense is a direct result of the story ending without a resolution, which I assume will eventually be found somewhere a few books down the track. However, I doubt I’ll be continuing.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
As the new owner of Clifton Forge’s small town newspaper, Bryce is hungry for a 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 story that will make her feel like her career isn’t off the rails. Following a brutal murder, where all signs point to the town’s disbanded motorcycle club, Bryce is determined to expose the members and their leader, Kingston “Dash” Slater, for the criminals they are.
I like flawed characters, and Dash was both interesting and his growth engaging; he’s the main reason I kept reading. Bryce, on the other hand, is, frankly, meh. She goes on about values like integrity and objectivity, and yet is blatantly neither of those things for most of the novel. Dash spent so much time apologising when Bryce was the actual problem. Pacing and narrative were good through the start and middle, but the quality really dropped off towards the end. I also wish I’d been able to find more information on tropes before I started reading, because I probably would have skipped this if I’d known about some of the latter points. The mystery plot is interesting but about as subtle as a brick. Most of the suspense is a direct result of the story ending without a resolution, which I assume will eventually be found somewhere a few books down the track. However, I doubt I’ll be continuing.
Delicious by A.J. Merlin
You know, I never expected serial killer romances to be so romantic, and yet here I am, fully embracing my dark romance era. I really appreciated getting more insight into the MMC this time around; Jed’s had a challenging upbringing, to say the least, and I actually felt a lot of sympathy for him. Despite his obvious strengths and his chainsaw massacre tendencies, there’s a real sense of vulnerability to his personality. FMC Saylor has ADHD/anxiety tendencies that hit me really hard at times. I can absolutely understand her conflicted feelings about Jed, especially with how much I related to her. Their chemistry was sizzling, and their romance adorable. Realistically, I don’t think I could fall for a serial killer, no matter how charming and sweet, but there were definitely a lot of moments when I thought “girl, same” and had to do some pretty serious self-reflecting (awks). I’m really bummed to have reached the end of the series for now, but I’m hopeful that there’ll be more stories in the future!
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When Saylor finds herself in a killer’s house, she doesn’t know what to think. She expected to be chopped into little pieces just like his last victim; instead, he promises that the man deserved it, and that he won’t hurt her. There’s just one catch: she can’t leave until he trusts her. At first, earning his trust is an act. Saylor knows it’s dangerous. She knows she should run far and fast and never look back. Yet the lie soon starts to fail, because this killer is charming and sweet—and utterly obsessed with her.
You know, I never expected serial killer romances to be so romantic, and yet here I am, fully embracing my dark romance era. I really appreciated getting more insight into the MMC this time around; Jed’s had a challenging upbringing, to say the least, and I actually felt a lot of sympathy for him. Despite his obvious strengths and his chainsaw massacre tendencies, there’s a real sense of vulnerability to his personality. FMC Saylor has ADHD/anxiety tendencies that hit me really hard at times. I can absolutely understand her conflicted feelings about Jed, especially with how much I related to her. Their chemistry was sizzling, and their romance adorable. Realistically, I don’t think I could fall for a serial killer, no matter how charming and sweet, but there were definitely a lot of moments when I thought “girl, same” and had to do some pretty serious self-reflecting (awks). I’m really bummed to have reached the end of the series for now, but I’m hopeful that there’ll be more stories in the future!
Vicious by A.J. Merlin
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
When a man turns the town of Springwood into a slaughterhouse for Quinn’s name, she runs. Five years later, she feels him in Akron searching for her, eager to possess her and take her home. She can’t go back—not after what he did—yet she can’t escape his grasp. When she falls into his snare she expects violence, but monsters are rarely predictable, and this one is eager to show her the truth he believes she’s been missing all along.
This was my favourite story of the series so far: dark, twisted, and utterly enthralling. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery elements, with enough hints dropped to see the reveal coming, whilst still being satisfying; the pacing was also much improved compared to Depraved and Brutal, which both felt rushed at the end. The vibes for this one were more to my speed, with less of an insta-love feel; the tension and chemistry between FMC Quinn and MMC Gabriel allowed to build through the push/pull and cat/mouse dynamics. Quinn is sassy and snarky, and she’s a real fighter, and seeing her growth through the story was fascinating. Gabriel, unhinged as he is, is one of my favourite morally grey boyfriends: obsessive and rabid for his vicious darling, but also utterly protective in his own sweet way.
Brutal by A.J. Merlin
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It’s the last night at Camp Clearwater: all the kids have gone home, and the counselors are keen to party. None of them suspect the danger that lurks in the woods, but When Hazel is attacked, it’s the machete-wielding stranger who comes to her rescue—in the most ruthless way. Wren is terrifying, unpredictable, and possessive; Hazel knows she should go to the police or at least keep her distance, yet she finds herself letting him in every time he comes to play even as she wonders if a brutal butcher could really fall for her—or if she’ll just become his next victim.
Dark yet sweet, with intense chemistry between FMC Hazel and MMC Wren, and super hot spice. A little insta-love for my tastes, but done well. As someone with depression, anxiety, and ADHD, I am so here for the mental health rep in this series; Hazel is funny and relatable, and I appreciated that there was more depth to her emotional journey compared to 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥. Another aspect I really appreciate is the balance in this series so far. Wren is seriously unhinged and unapologetically rabid for Hazel, but he’s also a communication and aftercare king. The suspense and pacing were solid, although I was disappointed at the rushed ending. However, that may be partly because I desperately wanted more of this story!
Give Me More by Sara Cate
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book doesn't quite match Praise for me, but it was a return to the emotional depth that I loved so much from the first Salacious Players novel. At times frustrating, at times heartbreaking, it was ultimately rewarding to see Hunter, Isabel, and Drake work through their individual issues and learn how to communicate better and overcome the challenges they each faced and accept themselves. Whilst each of them can certainly be annoying I still found I was engaged in their journeys and invested in their HEA.