GaleMR

I don't think I'll feel warm again anytime soon after reading the conclusion of Ethan, Ant, Chris and Jay's story. To say it is thought-provoking is a gross understatement. It brings Cold, Twisted and Psychotic to the highest level. When I first started reading the series, I was intrigued by the close relationship between the four men and its intricacies, but I wasn't convinced it fits the box of being called friendship.. Three books and so many bone-chilling challenges and terrifying trials later, I can say that their friendship has literally been through the wringer and has come out bloodied, broken, but still alive. They faced every horror thrown at them and survived, becoming a different type of men - jaded, wary, grown up version , looking at each other through the light of each painful memory. They learned the hard way that secrets can crawl out of even old graves; that nothing can stay hidden forever, and that being honest and open with each other is the only way to overcome any obstacle.
Let it burn - such a suitable name for a story, where all the illusions, Innocence, beliefs, memories and lies literally burnt to the ground, leaving only ashes behind and the bare, newborn hope - of something good to come.

The continuation of the story that began with Indoctrination is a masterpiece of enveloping darkness, definitely more intense and truly mind-bending. My personal take is that Tony and Alex's story isn't a classic romance; it's not a romance at all, but a story of unhealthy obsession that is turning from dangerous to deadly. Watching Tony's struggles and adaptation as a part of the hidden society Alex was born into, was painful and heartbreaking. Because being kinky and craving the flavour of mild submission in the bedroom, was definitely something entirely different than the cruel, harsh reality Tony landed into and something he didn't have the strength to withstand and wield for his own gain. I admired his ferocious efforts and tenacity to prove himself as a submissive, I really do - but his efforts were actually a wide open window to the terrified boy,hidden inside him, so terrified of being discarded as useless and not enough, so naive and gullible, that Dominic was playing with him as a fine tuned instrument. A reality where human compassion is a foreign concept and every act of kindness or selfless sacrifice are just a way to dig yourself deeper and suffer more. Dominic's paranoid strive to assert his absolute dominance in the internal games and power dynamics between all the masters, Doms and owners was tearing Alex and Tony apart.
The author has built an impressive and really terrifying maze of psychological twists that leave the reader hovering over the abyss of heart-stopping HFN with the foreboding feeling of something even worse to come.

As always, Nicholas Bella presents an original and different take on the traditional religious themes and demonology and creates a magnificent, all-encompassing world-building, filled with demons, angels, and humans. The only thing keeping the precarious balance between Sin and Temptation, Evil and Good, are the Guardians and their champions, fighting to keep it in check. But nothing is always what it seems - corruption, greed, ambition, narrow-mindedness - are never ending Plague and the so called Guild of Guardians isn't immune to their corrosion.
So when Azazel - the powerful demon of War is affected by the Angel's kiss, exiled from Hell and suddenly has to reconsider his whole life in the light of all the changes and join forces with the Heaven side, it rocks the very foundation his life was based on.
This is a beautifully written, heart-touching story about redemption, loyalty and the unexpected Challenges Life throws at you, that you have to raise and find the strength to accept them. After years of loyal service to the Queens of Hell and his fellow brethren,Azazel finds out that nothing he took for granted has to be actually taken at face value. And the hit of abandonment and betrayal opens a cavernous wound in him. But are the Angels and the other side any better - he will find out too. The story was absolutely enchanting, full of twists, tension, snark, dark humor and hilarious A-ha moments that really threw me off sometimes. Being paired with the last and the youngest of the Guardians, was yet another challenge. After years of destruction, death and wars, Azazel finds himself in some sort of kindergarten, full of beings with immature thinking, awfully inexperienced, but full of bravado, foolish stubbornness and lack of real knowledge about Hell and its inhabitants. Talk about bitter landing. Like Fate was mocking him, daring him to adapt and find new purpose in life and even an uneasy treaty with everything he despised the most for centures. Rai - the guardian he has to be bound to, is the epitome of entitlement, hot headedness and lack of experience. They clashed from the start because Rai with his big 24y of life was just so awfully, awkwardly inadequate in his prejudices, that it was painful to watch. I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers aspect of the story because it had all the tension and the necessary build up without being too easy and predictable.
My only complain? I needed more and I would have definitely loved to see even longer book, why not a trilogy?

All the running in all the books, all the fear and the questions and a whole war on top of them, wrapped in a box of surprises and an ending that left me blindsided but in a good way. I loved Ava's story and her incredible metamorphosis through all the changes, the challenges and the bittersweet life lessons. She was strong from the beginning but at the end was simply perfection- one of the fmc I was genuinely able to enjoy without reservations. Her men definitely have a lot of work ahead of them to reach this level of personal growth, mainly the Prince who is failing miserably to shine, for now.

If Medium rare was a meal in Gourmet restaurant, it'd have been actually perfectly cooked and stylishly served plate even for the most capricious of clients. In typical Jackson's style it has a good plot line with erotica undertones. I love the open and blunt way his characters express their desires and thoughts, leaving nothing under a false or coy veneer. There is no pinning or beating around the bush. Cade and Jay had this immediate, intense and insta connection from the start that turned into a hot, sizzling romance despite their initial preference to just keep it physical and out of commitment. But it just wasn't possible. Galore of salt, vengeful ghosts, a supernatural twist, a deep plunge into the past to find all the missing pieces, a sweet kid, caught in a dark web of absolute unknown, two men, united to protect it and colorful side characters like Uncle Gally and auntie Lavinia - are an excellent recipe for one really entertaining story, that I read in just one sitting. It was a fast burn explosion on all fronts - the heat, the spice and the suspense in perfect synchrony.

If you are opening this book to find historical accuracy, save yourself some time. I chose to read it because I was tempted to see an unconventional fiction interpretation that makes very liberal use of real historical figures, events and settings, refracted through the author's imagination and with a decidedly queer flavor. And my expectations were completely met - light, entertaining and thought-provoking, this melancholic romantic story is filled with longing and loneliness. Because people rarely think about what and who exactly is behind the mask of an emperor, king or other position of power. And they are indeed people of flesh and blood, but dressed with the heaviness and responsibilities of their higher rank and the pressure of societal expectations.
This romantic story has the flavor of campfires, the weariness of countless days and nights on the road, the hardships of soldier life, the taste of loneliness when you are surrounded by so many people and there is no one to actually talk to. It's not about all the smut and all the spice, it's about finding a companion, someone who brings peace of mind, the comfort of shared silence, or the pleasure of quiet conversation under a starry sky. Despite the vast difference between their social standing, Hadrian and Antinous connect instantly on a purely human level. And so it begins - unconventional and bittersweet romance, I really enjoyed reading.

This was the first polyamorous omegaverse story by this author I have the pleasure to read and it holds a special place in my memories. It says dark, but it isn't the kind of dark with too many triggering topics on page. It's the kind of dark that stems from the challenges and trials a person has to face while looking for a safe place to call home and
the most important - people who will turn the 4 walls into the most wanted place to be. This omegaverse story has it all - compelling characters that don't fit the social mold, personal growth and healing, some mild triggering topics mostly off page - bullying, harassment, abusive ex who doesn't know when to give up/ so he needs a crash course/ and the sweetest, gentle pack that embraced Kieran with love and acceptance and provided the safety net he so desperately needed.
In the harsh reality of this fictional world, when Kieran presented as an Omega, this was the beginning of his personal hell on Earth. But despite the cruel treatment, the visible and invisible scars that made a canvas on his body and soul, he was the kind of character I always admire in books - a fighter true and true. He escaped the confines of his prison at least physically finding solace in the heart of a forest where he become a lumberjack. And I as a reader was silently hurting with him, following his nightmares, struggles and pain and literally sighed in relief when Isaias, Ren and Joel found him hidden in his woodland sanctuary. Winning the trust and love of someone like Kieran, whose life has been hit after hit, was an uphill battle but the finale - so worth the efforts. The 3 alphas were Kieran's salvation. They had a secret of their own. And Kieran with all of his own bitter experience and the scars to prove it, accepted them with quiet understanding. So it was a perfect union.
And while the focus of the story was creating emotional bonds, building up a new life, overcoming trauma and restoring trust in the good that still exist, there was a lot of heat and spice to burn a kindle.

Dark, twisted and unsettling, this is an urban fantasy world with a slightly dystopian feel. What drew me in was the world-building, the unexpected twists and the high level of angst - a homophobic and grandeur-prone, elitist world of Hunters, who live besides the human population but have their own rules and moral codex/ if it can be called moral at all/ against the paranormals - vampires, werewolves and other creatures, painted like the worst Plague ever existed. The story was told from one of the main characters POVs - Collen, even though we see a glimpse of Logan /his partner/ too. Collen was raised, groomed and conditioned to think in a certain way. And this way was definitely not how Hunters were taught to act and believe. Even falling in love with your partner is something forbidden if you're a same-s€x couple. Logan and Collen were a dysfunctional partnership at least for me, uneven as capabilities and skill set. They were a world apart even in the way the were seeing the future in front of them and what they wanted to achieve.
As a whole it was interesting to read but I love my characters with a little more spunk and backbone. Neither Collen or Logan were what usually captivates me.
The story was intriguing, I just couldn't connect with the writing style to enjoy it fully.

Epic, heartwarming conclusion of a series of books I love dearly.
Standing up for yourself has never been simultaneously so hard and so easy. Hard, because Nix had to face the biggest hurdle on the way to his, true happiness and show how much he has grown as a person. Easy - because for the first time in his life, he wasn't alone and had the support of the most important people - his mates. Nix Rena is a force of Nature and Fate that shouldn't be underestimated. Not only did he embrace his new life and every challenge but did it in a remarkable, unforgettable way. The author has written one magnificent grand finale and I really, really didn't want to see the last page. The world building was a reading experience like no other.

My 2024 started with finding a hidden gem - Sarah Reynolds. So it was just a happy coincidence to have in my hands the finale of the Marchese saga at the end of the same year. I am in love with Sarah's exceptional writing and the way the descriptions of characters and actions come alive on page. Her books are a lot more than just pages, describing a story. They are laced with the author's sharp and witty sense of humor and even the dark vibes are alight within in a special way. But more than everything I love Sunday - she is one of my favorite FMC and her fighting, unbreakable spirit that always finds the good in a bleak situation, her unshakeable conviction that everything could be achieved and how she bulldozes her own path in a world that was unknown to her, have no competition. And finally, finally we have Grayson back / oh, I wanted to str@ngle him for falling into Roxana's clutches so badly/. My girl though? She came out of the battle like it was nothing but drinking tea in the madness of Wonderland. Actually Sarah's world-building is exactly that - a phenomenal, outstanding blend of dark and light in a way I haven't seen before. Ah, the cliffy at the end... Let's skip the anticlimactic feeling of it and focus on the fact that we have Extended ending!Yes, we have more! Because Sunday just have to go in her own unique and unparalleled style - with a BANG! Do we want and ending of the Marchese actually? Personally, I don't - I really don't want to say Good bye to Mishka, Ben, Xavier, Rurik and all the amazing cast of characters.

Sweet, touching small town romance presenting some of my favorite tropes. This is a new to me author and honestly a big surprise. It's a quick read that I devoured in a matter of few hours, enjoying the heavy hurt-comfort vibes, the emotional healing aspect and the unexpected bi - awakening.
Levi and Skyler have returned from disastrous mission in Afghanistan broken, changed and carrying the survivor's guilt. Especially Levi, who was a team lead and lost everyone but his best friend in the ambush. Their incredibly tight friendship, that was able to withstand so much during their military service, was put to yet another test, when Levi and Skyler had to recover from physical injuries and find their new normal as civilians. I loved the character's development and the way the transition from friendship to relationship was described on page without excessive pinning and fretting over how the feelings they already harboured, naturally and seamlessly evolved on a deeper, personal level. Trust doesn't build up easy but Levi and Skyler have been through hell together, keeping each other's backs, so it wasn't an issue. The open communication and the lack of fear in both men to express their deepest feelings was an additional plus in the list of things I like. Buddy system is an MMF romance so while the bi awakening is an important part of it, there is one more important person in this new three-way relationship - Brooke, Levi's wife. I really liked this FMC - funny, adventurous, offering unwavering support, care and understanding. She opened her heart for Levi's friend so beautifully and the three of them hit it off really well. The book isn't heavy as a plot but contains enough twists, turns, spice and laughing moments, to keep a reader interested in the events, unfolding on page.

I have such a great time reading this series with such a wonder ful mix of suspense, mistery, romance and erotica. I like Taz- Rial and how his residency in The Unicorn's horn turns upside down everyone's life and expectations. To have the help of Incubus to save your business and your found family, just priceless. And the as I already said the banter - despite the dark moments, there are still “laugh out loud “ situations.

What's a man to do when justice is an unattainable dream, the system doesn't protect the victim, and his moral principles scream bl00dy mVrder? Cross the last line, accept the tempting invitation of two strangers and become the vigilante he never thought he would be. That's Chase's life in a nutshell - an unexpected rollercoaster that will land him in quite the hot waters. The Collector by Matthew Dante is a dark romance story, but with enough entertaining light moments, banter and steam to make the darkness milder and breathable. The adorably awkward and easily flustered ex cop Chase with his far from brilliant investigative skills but a heart bigger than his home country - Canada - made me smile and turn the pages impatiently to find out what the future holds for him. And it didn't disappoint - La Maison de M was not not only the place with the only lead his small squad of vigilante justice had, but the place where he met Levi. And here I want to use a quote of the book that so accurately describes the madness on page :
“Poor Chase. Was he really ready to join this crazy and fucked up family of misfits?”
This well written and entertaining story contains some of my favourite elements and tropes - dash of suspense, grain of grittiness, found family with a sexy Daddy, guarding his members with love, care and if necessary...some force and not so gentle tools, interesting cast of characters and a basket of unexpected fun and not so fun moments. If you like growly, a little bit over the top protective men that's another thing you will find here. Let's see what kind of action or challenge the next books will bring.

I just met the Mother of all angsty reads, that holds the crown jewel of the miscommunication/non communication trope, and I am proud I survived. I am so, so happy to find a book that can shake me, make me scream with frustration and provoke real feelings in me, because I was tired of stories I can't feel and connect with. So yeah, I am obviously a “glutton for punishment” after the author so kindly threw me in a meat grinder and squeezed the air out of my lungs, while I was trying to figure out what I liked the most from the book.
First and foremost - I don't like type of characters like Omen for sure - the back and forth in her train of thoughts - To tell or not to tell, to act or not to act gave me a whiplash, honestly. I like fictional characters with gusto and inner fire that grab their life like bull for the horns and ride it hard, consequences be damned. But that's exactly why I fell in love with the story - the prospect to see a plot so captivating that a single non likeable character couldn't stop me. I was also searching for omegaverse stories where nothing is candy sweet and flows smoothly from the start. Even better if it leads to fractures in existing bonds and threatens to tear apart fated mates.. I wanted to feel tension, doubts, rejection, anguish, pain and self destruction and I got it perfectly delivered all in one plus the bonus of a mighty big cliffhanger. What more can I say - if you want different flavour of Omegaverse where everything goes sideways before it gets better /hopefully, who knows/, then try this one.

A dystopian future meets a daring interpretation of the myth for the 7 Sins in a dangerously twisted, dark fictional world with a solid splash of fantasy elements thrown into the story for an extra adrenaline rush. The Sins are presented as demigods ruling over the remnants of a nearly destroyed Earth, and what's left of the human population obediently follows the new rules in a new, rather hostile reality. There is no middle ground - you adapt or you die. And when you make plans, you better be sure they're impenetrable and damn good, and the people you're sacrificing for are worth the risk. Deacon didn't seem to get that memo. I give him extra points for being a stubborn and brave little human who didn't give up the search for his brother, following every possible lead for 4 long years. But I also take away a few points for the obviously missed lesson of checking all the facts before acting so recklessly. When Deacon and Lust met, it was an impressive collision, a heart-stopping moment in time, a barely glimmering spark of recognition, because somewhere, somehow, within the thousands of incarnations, it wasn't their first meeting. But it was definitely the timing that mattered. Lust's momentary obsession with Deacon - just an average Joe, working as a homicide detective - was a real mystery to me. For a man who has seen the rise and fall of multiple civilizations, who has always had the immense power to change lives at his fingertips, his infatuation was hard to understand. And the other Sins were there to tell him how dangerous it was to trust in a great Unknown, especially when that supposedly human unknown was connected to devastating events of the near past. Despite the odds and some surprises, the story ends with a HEA for the couple and a general cliffhanger for the plot as a whole.
I definitely enjoyed the world building and the way every Sin had not only his own flavour of magic but wildly different personality and preferences which added a layer of unpredictability to the story.

I was completely blown away by the massive, very complex and masterfully written world building so much so that I returned a few times for re reads before I even finished the book. Because, Wow, what kind of brilliant minds can come up with the creation of something so unbelievably, utterly amazing!?! Apparently this incredible duo can gift their readers with a miracle!
I still don't know where to start and how to describe page after page of pure, undiluted delight!
If I have to summarize then Cold fire is a modern, gritty, dark-ish reread of the classic urban fantasy elements that come to life completely reborn - dragons, nephilims, angels, demons and modified humans. The polyamory aspect is embedded tastefully into the fabric of a very plot heavy, action packed and emotionally drenched story.
Solid part of feeling connected to what was happening on page, were the descriptions - vibrant, colorful and full of life.
You'll need just a few pages to start loving the narrative and fall in love with His grumpy highness Hunter, the snarky, know it all Asher or the aloof, touch starved Ace.
The plot develops, expands and spreads out during a heart stopping race of time and eras while the characters meet the past, the present and the future, twisted in evolving spiral of events that leave them changed and more connected to each other on entirely new level. Perhaps most impactful is the last part of the book, in which Zane appears, bringing a chilling, colorless reality, devoid of any feelings. There were many moments in the story that brought tears to my eyes or laughter, anger or wonder, but Zane - he was definitely something else, something you want to wrap your arms around and hold tightly, with his quiet acceptance that anything that shakes the rules brings death in his society. Meeting Asher, Hunter, and Ace was not only the most exciting thing that had ever happened to him, but the only time he felt alive. How not to love a man who had nothing good in his life, but still managed to preserve the spark of humanity and the natural curiosity of a child in an adult body? Zane was the missing piece that made the Ace, Asher and Hunter a cohesive, indestructible whole. And me - it made me really happy and content that I found this book and had the chance to experience the story, not just read it..

Who could have guessed that the desire to cook chicken noodle soup could turn into a life-changing decision?Poor Drew - no soup for him, but instead a deliciously tempting demon? Not a bad barter, in my opinion, especially when the unexpectedly summoned guest into his kitchen comes with a well-padded credit card. After all - if you are a broke student who can't cook, but you can summon a demon who turns out to be more than what's on the surface, why not enjoy the benefits? And on top of that, Drew learned that he was a pretty strong magic user to be able to perform a successful summoning. So much happened just because he was hungry and wanted to eat. This was one of the lightest and funniest stories I've read in the last few months. It's an insta love, opposites attract with many laugh out loud moments.
So after the kitchen disaster Drew was saddled with a really sexy and dangerous companion which quickly turned into a candy sweet love story. Hip, hip hurrah for Incle Google who helped him to find the local coven of magical users so after a crash course how to freely access the magic stored in him, Drew managed to help his beau get rid of his Hell's shackles, stop a demonic invasion on his campus and get his HEA. Good job, Drew - you made me laugh so much.

When it Raines, it pours, I wholeheartedly agree. This is one more jewel in the crown or more like one more book in Tea Ravine writing's crown. There is something irresistible in the way her plot lines pull a reader in, something undeniably magical in the way love, loss and heartbreak are always represented. She not just creates characters, but breathes life in them gently and very loving and leaves you a little empty when the last page comes.
I hate summarizing plots, preferring to revel in the feelings a book evokes in me. Hurt, healing and figuring out your priorities and what you want from your life are heavily emphasized in the Scent of home. Maybe I think, if Home has a scent this story is a very good contender for the ultimate praise - the salty tang of freshly shed tears, the creamy lightness of happiness, the bitter after taste of disappointment, the overwhelming dizziness of joy, all mixed together.
Under the lights and music of Twin rivers festival, Shane, Erin, Locke, Bray and Finn meet in a tangle of emotions, heavily influenced by their history and the past that keeps intruding in what they are trying to build together. Twin Rivers might be breathtakingly beautiful on the surface, a seemingly perfect place to meet your scent matches but there are secrets and darkness, hiding underneath the sparkle. While the town is a loving mother for some of the people living there, for others it's the evil Step mother.
It was captivating to read and heart touching to experience.

Are the masks actually off? How much more pain can Omen handle after the way everything fell apart in the first book was a real treat thrill to find out and the continuation didn't disappoint.
Beautiful, hard won HEA for Omen and the guys from the Primordial covenant. It had all the expected angst after the devasting finale in the first book and the intensity of the emotions, the regret, the sorrow and the heartbreak were breathing from the pages so skillfully described, I was feeling the story, witnessing every challenge, every jagged piece of broken trust, cutting through the very fabric of the plot line. It was fascinating to watch how every character changed and how the shredded bonds were rebuilt. On top of all the internal struggles, we have additional plot line because the last toxic elements of Omen's past just refused to die, creating additional tension and increasing the danger for this beautiful, broken girl. I loved the continuation of Omen's story even more than the 1st part and the whole duet is going on the shelf of my favourite omegaverse books.

A charming, cozy very short read - perfect entertainment in a small package for the lovers of tab00 MM with ABDL elements. It's obvious from the blurb and the title that it's a Daddy-boy kind of dynamic between the MCs, so if that isn't your cup of tea, I recommend not to try just for the experiment of reading something new. I liked the gentle, caring, nurturing relationship that bloomed between Jace and his, at the beginning reluctant, but after that a very enthusiastic caretaker. Just when Jace thought he has lost it all, unexpected twist brings what he has never dreamed of being possible in his life - Love. James never wanted to be a father, but the idea of being a Daddy to baby Girl has crossed his mind a few times. Then Fate decided to intervene - delivering a...Surprise.

The Threads of Fate were only the beginning - now they are 8 times stronger, 8 times more determined to solve the mysteries, that surround them and 8 times harder to be broken... Because they are finally eight and complete, the way Fate had wanted them to be from the beginning of time - one perfect, infrangible core with eight individual layers, that fit so well together, that the heart and the mind can't see where one starts and the other ends.
Darkness echoes is such a brilliant, striking continuation with all the sweetness of one blooming love, all the complex nuances of eight people who have blended their lives together through bonding and trust, all the challenges such a large polycule represents and all the determination to make this fragile, new, but incredibly deep status quo not just thrive, but flourish.
The author has gone beyond the humanly possible in proving that the already amazing first trilogy can be followed by something even more soul touching and heart pounding. The omegaverse from the first three books with elements of healing, comfort and finding their 8th, has shifted here into darker, mystery undertones opening the door to a millennia old secrets, magic and past lives.
I love the way the plot deepens and unfolds, while the lives of our characters irrevocably change in the process. The spice is definitely sizzling hot because our Nix has turned out to be insatiable and his Omega nature affects his mates.
Fair warning if you aren't a fan of mpreg, these moments are stinking sweet and unavoidable.

Dystopian, post apocalyptic story, heavy on the emotions and low on the angst, Semi human wasn't what I expected ever to see from A.V. as an author, considering, I read his first work and it was a ton of dub-con, non-con and a maze of plot twists. This book is no less excellent as execution, just in completely different way. I'd love it, if the author has spread the world building and the whole plot line in two books, so we could enjoy the development of the characters better. The idea for Semi humans as new species was captivating and the way AI has affected the life of humanity with all the good and all the bad were masterfully represented through the images of Mother and Father. I definitely want to see more from Josh, River, Dino, Finn and Nanny Spider too. Hopefully the author will take mercy on us and grant a sequel that give more glimpses of this world.
Thank you for one more amazing read, A.V! Your talent really shines brightly in the stories you create and the way you make your readers suffer ;)

You are in a chocolate factory, surrounded by endless delicious possibilities....but you are allowed only one bite! So unfair, right? That's Sweet way to love - just one perfect bite that is Graham and Eric's story and how they met. I loved it and it was over faster than a blink of an eye. It showed a glimpse of Graham's struggles and Eric who offers a safe harbour for him, place to call home and be a part of one very big and special found family. The way Abrianna describes polyamory in her books is always chef's kiss and the diversity of the characters and relationships is unparalleled.

Cest, cest and then more cest - a delicious bite to read and enjoy. The Reed family is as far removed from what society perceives as normal as the Milky Way is from Earth. After Ford and David found their offbeat, very unconventional HEA in the previous two books, I was looking forward to Connor's. He's my favorite of the three brothers and his hard life and all the pain he went through to find his son were heart wrenching and sincerely soul touching. He spent years combing all the places around for clues and talking to people for his son's whereabouts, hoping the mystery would be solved. I loved the opportunity to get to know him better in this book. The story is a weird combination between bi awakening and belated coming out, definitely not conventional, nor a happy one. In some twisted kind of way, Conner was thinking that he didn't deserve to be happy or treated well in a relationship because of his past so everything that happened to him, he accepted as a penance for his inability to find Jarret.
While I liked Conny, Jett is definitely not a sympathetic character to me. I want to stay away from spoilers, so the most I can say is that I was honestly repulsed by the way Jett treated Connor from the moment they met, enjoying every moment he could intentionally hurt him. How Jett withheld a shocking truth he learned, keeping Conny in the dark, was another strike against his moral integrity. Connor definitely deserved better after years of living under the guilt and anguish of not being able to connect with his son, enjoy his fatherhood and all the time and milestones he lost. The ending contains a heap of surprises, I definitely didn't expect, that made the story even more intriguing even after all the twists before that.
Please, keep in mind that the book is the Taboo of taboo with all the lines that could be possibly and impossibly crossed and obliterated, so don't start it, if the idea of so much cest is even remotely bothering you.

Exceptional storytelling! Imagine for a second that the grittier, darker sides of life are the colors in an artist's pallette. This author is the artist who has used them to paint the darkness in words, that breathe,cry, laugh and dance in front of the eyes of the reader, pulling them into a maze of broken minds, twisted desires, fractured illusions and shattered dreams. Sometimes the best intentions lead to unexpected results and a simple wish unlocks a Pandora box, that couldn't be closed. Ernest's wish put him on the path of destruction with unimaginable magnitude, altering both his and Atticus lives. It was also a steep learning curve, testing the strength of their friendship and love for each other in so many ways, but the most impressive to me, was the character development. The story follows not only their life as a couple, showing the depth of the love they share and the beauty of the special bond they have forged through the years, but also how everything started when they were much younger. The two plot lines are utterly, captivatingly complementing each other, crafting a canvas of colorful bits and pieces - most dark but with splashes of light, woven into the fabric of who they are as people and how all the traumatic experiences have shaped their personalities and life choices.
In the silence of their special companionship, the cry of anguish and pain is so much louder and more impactful. But love also shines brighter, bolder, stronger when all that has happened has failed to tear its integrity. If Atticus was the shield, then Ernest was the core, protected behind it, both , equally important parts of the whole piece. The author has created something truly special, capturing it in a fictional story - an extraordinary love, a soul, divided into two bodies that have found each other, uniting the pieces in one.