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The Darkness Beyond the Daisies
My life was good.
My life was normal.
My life was stolen away in the blink of an eye.
At eighteen-years-old, I was kidnapped and sold. Purchased by a couple who'd put their life savings into rescuing a stranger, with only one request... I'd befriend their mentally-unwell son.
So, I did.
And he made it easy, being everything I needed to escape the darkness in my own head.
But it was all lies.
I was never meant to be a friend. I was here for a purpose, a means of controlling someone they couldn't. Someone volatile and unpredictable. Someone who could switch from my dream guy to my worst nightmare without a warning.
And I'd made the mistake of getting close to him before seeing all sides of him.
And that left me defenseless.
This book deals with some heavy topics. CW can be found on my webpage and socials.
My life was normal.
My life was stolen away in the blink of an eye.
At eighteen-years-old, I was kidnapped and sold. Purchased by a couple who'd put their life savings into rescuing a stranger, with only one request... I'd befriend their mentally-unwell son.
So, I did.
And he made it easy, being everything I needed to escape the darkness in my own head.
But it was all lies.
I was never meant to be a friend. I was here for a purpose, a means of controlling someone they couldn't. Someone volatile and unpredictable. Someone who could switch from my dream guy to my worst nightmare without a warning.
And I'd made the mistake of getting close to him before seeing all sides of him.
And that left me defenseless.
This book deals with some heavy topics. CW can be found on my webpage and socials.
546 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2023
2364 people are currently reading
10521 people want to read
About the author
Cori Zahara
13 books811 followersJust a weirdo, who has imaginary people talking to her...who she then writes books on, starting with the end of their story. Yes, I told you...weird.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 616 reviews
June 13, 2023
I received this novel for free and in advance of release in exchange for an honest review.
First, let me say, if you do not REGULARLY read dark romance, this is not the book for you, go ahead and walk away.
Now, if you DO regularly read dark romance, then this review is for you. So do I.
What this book does have going for it is an insanely long list of triggers, but in my own PERSONAL opinion, more is not always better. I would much rather an author pick 3 or 4 triggers and really hone and develop them and make me ache from reading them, rather than just stack them one on top of the other. And for me, this book was the latter, not the former. There were MANY triggers, but none of them were crafted particularly well and none of them hit me the way they should have.
Jolie is an 18-year-old girl who witnesses the murder of her father and is then picked up by traffickers and sold to a family as a prize for their son who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. (I wish more research had been done here. This aspect did not ring true to me). Their goal is to use Jolie to help them control their son’s more volatile personality. Woodrow has 3 distinct alternate personalities: Woody, a 7-year-old boy; Woodrow, our 17-year-old male protagonist; and Hell, Woodrow’s bad guy alter who steps in to cause violent disruptive protection and ultimately massive harm. The Heaven last name and the Hell alter ego were a little too on the nose IMO.
This is a long novel, but in the whole thing, Jolie never really tries to escape, not on her own anyway. There are times when she should be absolutely terrified, especially in the beginning, and she isn’t. Times when it makes sense for her to be completely broken, but then all of a sudden, she has some spirit left. Instances that should end her or her life or her fight entirely, but don’t, and not because she has any particular survival instinct going on. Her naivety was infuriating to me, and incredibly unbelievable, especially at the start when she shows up quite literally naked and gift-wrapped. Her fight and pushback come near the end of her struggle instead of at the beginning, which makes very little sense. Logically, that should be the opposite.
And I don’t want to spoil the end for you, in case you are down for just the list itself, but for me, it was disappointing. I can hear my college writing teacher having an aneurism for the tactic that was used to give this a HEA. It uses a device that makes me feel that I wasted a LOT of time to get to where I got. I felt cheated. This book didn’t deserve a happy ending. It deserved tragedy. It required it. And honestly, I feel like the ending was put there to avoid backlash from readers. There is nothing about the content of this book that says these people logically end up whole and happy. It makes no sense. This book had the potential to wreck its readers, and it should have. It should have been soul-crushingly epic, but for me, it felt forced and flat. If this book had ended 40-50 pages sooner, without the happy ending and the big “twist”, I personally feel that it would have been a much stronger story and it absolutely would have gotten a higher rating from me.
This book has graphic trigger piled on top of graphic trigger, crushed in like clown cars to the point where I didn’t feel any kind of way about it other than bored. The characters were not well-rounded enough. They were just vessels for trauma really. Something would happen (like an a$$ault) and I would be left thinking that I should feel tightness in my chest, or want to cry, but I didn’t. I never really became invested in their plight or personalities. And because there were so many triggers to choose from, some even only mentioned in passing in a single sentence or two, none of them had the impact they should have. Instead of focusing on the horror, I started counting them. There is such a thing as too much and in my personal opinion, I could feel the author trying to horrify or upset me. Trying to be the darkest thing I have ever read. And the very fact that I could feel that effort, means it wasn’t. Do some scenes hit well and belong in context? Of course, they do, but they get out shadowed by the number that don’t.
In terms of the actual writing, the opening is a little clunky, likely because the heading is a name NOT a place and drops you in a situation that makes it a jog to catch up. You do catch up though fairly quickly so don’t let that be a deterrent. The first half of the book is overly descriptive and the language doesn’t always fit. At times it is very flowery or literary in a novel that is not that. So, it occasionally felt like a thesaurus was used just to have another way of saying something, even when that word was probably not the best choice in the given situation. And then later, some of the colloquialisms didn’t make sense. For instance, British slang comes out of left field at one point and then goes away again.
I personally needed more character development. Both Jolie and Woodrow read very flat to me. Neither of them seems to have any real development over the course of the tale, and yet this story is supposed to span 10 YEARS. Their personalities oftentimes don’t work well together or in the context of the real world either.
As a reader and lover of pitch-black romance, I wanted to like this, I am disappointed that I didn't. It needs more work. It needs a strong editor. It’s got great potential as an idea, but the focus should be on the story, and not on the triggers themselves.
Ultimately, it comes down to what is most important for you personally as a reader. Was this book for me? Ultimately, no. I would be lying if I said the book wasn’t dark. It is. It is absolutely dark. But I needed more than darkness. For me, I needed a stronger plot and I needed a stronger ending. I haven’t been angry with an ending in a long time, but this one really irked me.
First, let me say, if you do not REGULARLY read dark romance, this is not the book for you, go ahead and walk away.
Now, if you DO regularly read dark romance, then this review is for you. So do I.
What this book does have going for it is an insanely long list of triggers, but in my own PERSONAL opinion, more is not always better. I would much rather an author pick 3 or 4 triggers and really hone and develop them and make me ache from reading them, rather than just stack them one on top of the other. And for me, this book was the latter, not the former. There were MANY triggers, but none of them were crafted particularly well and none of them hit me the way they should have.
Jolie is an 18-year-old girl who witnesses the murder of her father and is then picked up by traffickers and sold to a family as a prize for their son who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. (I wish more research had been done here. This aspect did not ring true to me). Their goal is to use Jolie to help them control their son’s more volatile personality. Woodrow has 3 distinct alternate personalities: Woody, a 7-year-old boy; Woodrow, our 17-year-old male protagonist; and Hell, Woodrow’s bad guy alter who steps in to cause violent disruptive protection and ultimately massive harm. The Heaven last name and the Hell alter ego were a little too on the nose IMO.
This is a long novel, but in the whole thing, Jolie never really tries to escape, not on her own anyway. There are times when she should be absolutely terrified, especially in the beginning, and she isn’t. Times when it makes sense for her to be completely broken, but then all of a sudden, she has some spirit left. Instances that should end her or her life or her fight entirely, but don’t, and not because she has any particular survival instinct going on. Her naivety was infuriating to me, and incredibly unbelievable, especially at the start when she shows up quite literally naked and gift-wrapped. Her fight and pushback come near the end of her struggle instead of at the beginning, which makes very little sense. Logically, that should be the opposite.
And I don’t want to spoil the end for you, in case you are down for just the list itself, but for me, it was disappointing. I can hear my college writing teacher having an aneurism for the tactic that was used to give this a HEA. It uses a device that makes me feel that I wasted a LOT of time to get to where I got. I felt cheated. This book didn’t deserve a happy ending. It deserved tragedy. It required it. And honestly, I feel like the ending was put there to avoid backlash from readers. There is nothing about the content of this book that says these people logically end up whole and happy. It makes no sense. This book had the potential to wreck its readers, and it should have. It should have been soul-crushingly epic, but for me, it felt forced and flat. If this book had ended 40-50 pages sooner, without the happy ending and the big “twist”, I personally feel that it would have been a much stronger story and it absolutely would have gotten a higher rating from me.
This book has graphic trigger piled on top of graphic trigger, crushed in like clown cars to the point where I didn’t feel any kind of way about it other than bored. The characters were not well-rounded enough. They were just vessels for trauma really. Something would happen (like an a$$ault) and I would be left thinking that I should feel tightness in my chest, or want to cry, but I didn’t. I never really became invested in their plight or personalities. And because there were so many triggers to choose from, some even only mentioned in passing in a single sentence or two, none of them had the impact they should have. Instead of focusing on the horror, I started counting them. There is such a thing as too much and in my personal opinion, I could feel the author trying to horrify or upset me. Trying to be the darkest thing I have ever read. And the very fact that I could feel that effort, means it wasn’t. Do some scenes hit well and belong in context? Of course, they do, but they get out shadowed by the number that don’t.
In terms of the actual writing, the opening is a little clunky, likely because the heading is a name NOT a place and drops you in a situation that makes it a jog to catch up. You do catch up though fairly quickly so don’t let that be a deterrent. The first half of the book is overly descriptive and the language doesn’t always fit. At times it is very flowery or literary in a novel that is not that. So, it occasionally felt like a thesaurus was used just to have another way of saying something, even when that word was probably not the best choice in the given situation. And then later, some of the colloquialisms didn’t make sense. For instance, British slang comes out of left field at one point and then goes away again.
I personally needed more character development. Both Jolie and Woodrow read very flat to me. Neither of them seems to have any real development over the course of the tale, and yet this story is supposed to span 10 YEARS. Their personalities oftentimes don’t work well together or in the context of the real world either.
As a reader and lover of pitch-black romance, I wanted to like this, I am disappointed that I didn't. It needs more work. It needs a strong editor. It’s got great potential as an idea, but the focus should be on the story, and not on the triggers themselves.
Ultimately, it comes down to what is most important for you personally as a reader. Was this book for me? Ultimately, no. I would be lying if I said the book wasn’t dark. It is. It is absolutely dark. But I needed more than darkness. For me, I needed a stronger plot and I needed a stronger ending. I haven’t been angry with an ending in a long time, but this one really irked me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
August 17, 2023I've read some seriously disturbing shit in the past, so trust me when I say this is one of the most mindfuck reads out there.
I had to pause and walk away from my Kindle many times. I am not sure if I am getting soft or if it was a bit too much. I think readers deserved a breather from all this nightmare here and there. But we had none—no merci.
The ending didn't sit well with me. It was lazy, abrupt and rushed. Not to mention the irrealistic HEA, perhaps written to please most readers who demand a happy ending regardless of the story's context.
I don't know how to rate it. The writing was good or I wouldn't have finished this, so there is that.🤷♂️
I had to pause and walk away from my Kindle many times. I am not sure if I am getting soft or if it was a bit too much. I think readers deserved a breather from all this nightmare here and there. But we had none—no merci.
The ending didn't sit well with me. It was lazy, abrupt and rushed. Not to mention the irrealistic HEA, perhaps written to please most readers who demand a happy ending regardless of the story's context.
I don't know how to rate it. The writing was good or I wouldn't have finished this, so there is that.🤷♂️
Read
October 25, 2024So, guys... after fifteen months, the book is finally released. The biggest thank you for reading another of my stories. I'm aware that this one will not be for everyone. It's dark, it's tragic, and the characters will be suffering long after it ends. The trauma for them won't end just because the last page is turned. There's a lot of triggers. The list can be found on my social media pages if you need them... I don't approve of the themes, but this is how our leading couple told me their story... so, that's how it needed to be told. The biggest thank you to all ARC readers, especially those who had them before proofing, which was the case with many of them, lol. I hope some of you will return to hear Remi and Olivier's stories.
A quick warning to readers... the second half of this book takes a very dark turn. Your mental health is important. So is mine, and it's been held together by fraying tethers for years, and for that reason, I'm glad this book is complete, lol! All that said, it's my most complex story, and I am incredibly proud, as a girl who lost out on half of her education due to said mental health, that I have written it.
P.s...I know the ending being so abrupt annoys the Hell out of some of you, yes, pun intended, so, there is a bonus chapter in my reader group.
Cwtches!
A quick warning to readers... the second half of this book takes a very dark turn. Your mental health is important. So is mine, and it's been held together by fraying tethers for years, and for that reason, I'm glad this book is complete, lol! All that said, it's my most complex story, and I am incredibly proud, as a girl who lost out on half of her education due to said mental health, that I have written it.
P.s...I know the ending being so abrupt annoys the Hell out of some of you, yes, pun intended, so, there is a bonus chapter in my reader group.
Cwtches!
July 23, 2025
This book was traumatic
June 25, 2024
If you read, and buy into one single review for this book, please let it be mine.
This book is brilliant, one of a kind. The concept and storyline is original,far and beyond what it appeared to be at first glance.
Each and every character is flawed, vulnerable and suffering from psychological conditions which cause them to behave in deeply disturbing ways, yet..the main characters are so compelling and draw you into their damaged psyches. I legitimately yearned for their happy ending more than I’ve done for any literary characters before them. I needed to have hope for them after all they’d suffered and triumphed over.
This is definitely a story that I’ll be thinking of for years to come. I don’t know that I could ever read it again due to the overwhelming visceral reaction I had this first read through, but I’m so glad that I experienced this without having read a single review first. I would argue that its critics were too dense to understand the concepts introduced in the book. It’s dark,but so worth seeing through.
5⭐️
I won’t rate the spice level, while reading, you’ll understand why.
I will say, if it were possible to award extra stars for originality and fearlessness in writing, especially when tackling these subject matters, I’d most readily do so.
This book is brilliant, one of a kind. The concept and storyline is original,far and beyond what it appeared to be at first glance.
Each and every character is flawed, vulnerable and suffering from psychological conditions which cause them to behave in deeply disturbing ways, yet..the main characters are so compelling and draw you into their damaged psyches. I legitimately yearned for their happy ending more than I’ve done for any literary characters before them. I needed to have hope for them after all they’d suffered and triumphed over.
This is definitely a story that I’ll be thinking of for years to come. I don’t know that I could ever read it again due to the overwhelming visceral reaction I had this first read through, but I’m so glad that I experienced this without having read a single review first. I would argue that its critics were too dense to understand the concepts introduced in the book. It’s dark,but so worth seeing through.
5⭐️
I won’t rate the spice level, while reading, you’ll understand why.
I will say, if it were possible to award extra stars for originality and fearlessness in writing, especially when tackling these subject matters, I’d most readily do so.
November 14, 2023
Have you ever read a book where the main male character made you wish he were dead? I certainly do. I hate the character Woodrow, and his multiple personalities that seemingly come out of nowhere with no transitions in between. It's hard to like him due to his constant mind games and manipulations. He was a terrible person and I am glad he got what he deserved.
There are so many triggers in this book that it almost seems like it was written more for shock value than anything else. There is abuse, child abuse, incest, rape, torture, mental illness, and more. Readers like myself find it manageable. But on a whole there is no sense to it at all. The book is dark and depressing, but it is not very coherent.
My hatred for Woodrow and Jolie stems from the fact that she was the dumbest Stockholm syndrome character I've ever come across.
It was difficult for me to empathize with either of them because the author didn't make him sympathetic enough. It is important for characters to be relatable and evoke some kind of emotion in the reader, even if that emotion is dislike. However, both characters were too one-dimensional, making it difficult to connect with them.
Ugh. This book had so many possibilities, but it was ultimately a letdown. The writing was too convoluted and the characters lacked depth. It also lacked direction and made it difficult for you to connect with the main characters with the back and forth between past and present.
It felt like the author was trying to do too much with the multiple personalities angle of the book and it wasn't adequately fleshed out.
The plot felt rushed and underdeveloped, leaving no room for the audience to be immersed in the story. The transitions between timelines were confusing and the lack of a clear narrative meant that the reader was unable to fully understand the characters or their motivations. As a result, the story felt disjointed and incomplete.
Also the graphic description of certain scenes didn't really make me uncomfortable, but the way they were written did make me cringe. This is because the lack of cohesion between the timelines meant that the reader was unable to follow the story from one point to the next.
This led to confusion and disorientation. This made the story extremely difficult to follow, which negatively affected my overall experience. It detracted from the emotional impact of the story and made it difficult to truly invest in the characters and their journeys.
It seemed like the author was trying to be ambitious but the story execution was lacking. The characters lacked development and the plot was challenging to follow. It was difficult to get invested in the story due to the numerous plot twists and perspective shifting. As a result, the story felt disjointed and it was difficult to really connect with the characters as the plot progressed.
Overall, the story was confusing and didn't provide a satisfying conclusion. It was a missed opportunity to create an engaging and meaningful story. The lack of a strong narrative arc and emotional connection to the characters caused the book to fall short.
It was ultimately an unsatisfying and forgettable experience.
There are so many triggers in this book that it almost seems like it was written more for shock value than anything else. There is abuse, child abuse, incest, rape, torture, mental illness, and more. Readers like myself find it manageable. But on a whole there is no sense to it at all. The book is dark and depressing, but it is not very coherent.
My hatred for Woodrow and Jolie stems from the fact that she was the dumbest Stockholm syndrome character I've ever come across.
It was difficult for me to empathize with either of them because the author didn't make him sympathetic enough. It is important for characters to be relatable and evoke some kind of emotion in the reader, even if that emotion is dislike. However, both characters were too one-dimensional, making it difficult to connect with them.
Ugh. This book had so many possibilities, but it was ultimately a letdown. The writing was too convoluted and the characters lacked depth. It also lacked direction and made it difficult for you to connect with the main characters with the back and forth between past and present.
It felt like the author was trying to do too much with the multiple personalities angle of the book and it wasn't adequately fleshed out.
The plot felt rushed and underdeveloped, leaving no room for the audience to be immersed in the story. The transitions between timelines were confusing and the lack of a clear narrative meant that the reader was unable to fully understand the characters or their motivations. As a result, the story felt disjointed and incomplete.
Also the graphic description of certain scenes didn't really make me uncomfortable, but the way they were written did make me cringe. This is because the lack of cohesion between the timelines meant that the reader was unable to follow the story from one point to the next.
This led to confusion and disorientation. This made the story extremely difficult to follow, which negatively affected my overall experience. It detracted from the emotional impact of the story and made it difficult to truly invest in the characters and their journeys.
It seemed like the author was trying to be ambitious but the story execution was lacking. The characters lacked development and the plot was challenging to follow. It was difficult to get invested in the story due to the numerous plot twists and perspective shifting. As a result, the story felt disjointed and it was difficult to really connect with the characters as the plot progressed.
Overall, the story was confusing and didn't provide a satisfying conclusion. It was a missed opportunity to create an engaging and meaningful story. The lack of a strong narrative arc and emotional connection to the characters caused the book to fall short.
It was ultimately an unsatisfying and forgettable experience.
March 16, 2025
The fact you’re triggered by my review and had to report it & block me. I’m under your skin, muahah.
May 11, 2023
When Cori Zahara says that this is DARK, and to please read trigger warnings prior to this, then please do! She is NOT kidding!
This is quite frank the darkest book I have read!
This book will not be for everyone, and will discuss a lot of sensitive subjects, so please be cautioned.
But I wanted to say how much I was hooked with this story, and hated the fact that Work stopped me from being able to binge read.
Thank you Cori for allowing me to ARC read this. I’m honoured, and can’t wait to own a physical copy ❤️
This is quite frank the darkest book I have read!
This book will not be for everyone, and will discuss a lot of sensitive subjects, so please be cautioned.
But I wanted to say how much I was hooked with this story, and hated the fact that Work stopped me from being able to binge read.
Thank you Cori for allowing me to ARC read this. I’m honoured, and can’t wait to own a physical copy ❤️
May 3, 2024
Let me rejoice in this achievement. I reached a new milestone in my reading journey.
This book took 5 years out of my life and I don't know how to get it back.
I don't even know how to write this review such was the mindf*ck I went through with it.
Listen, If you have a strong stomach and can read stuff like The life of Ana, you are good, but if you were only dipping your toes in this sub-genre and came across someone recommending this book? Do your due diligence and make sure you are prepared for it.
You would be surprised to learn about what actually broke me in this book, and no, it's not even the dark content, which comes in spades here. No, what broke me was the last 25% of this book. The way the events unraveled in the present and the aftermath of it. I can dive deep in the darkest and muddiest waters, but I am an empath and that is what made this book terribly taxing.
I felt.
A lot.
Thankfully nobody called me a chicken because I refused to read this book in the past. My friend Rose only had to say: I need an emotional support friend to read it with me.
See? It didn't take much to convince me. I willingly chose to read a book like this and what's worse, 2 of my triggers were in it.
Maybe I am a masochist after all.
I know I am, this just cements it.
And as if it wasn't enough, the emotional punch in this book, I did all the reading with the saddest OSTs as soundtrack. Just to enhance the punch.
The Darkness beyond the Daisies tells the story of Jolie, Woodrow, Hell and Woody.
It tells the story of how a girl was abducted and inducted in the skin trade.
Jolie was a happy girl with a lot of dreams and goals and she had a loving father. But all of that changes when they are on a trip and she is targeted.
Soon Jolie finds herself in a warehouse with a lot of other victims.
After being bought by a seeming good family, Jolie finds herself being an integral part of the Heavens.
But not everything is as it seems and it's not long before the facade starts crumbling and their real intentions comes to light.
This story is told in two timelines and I loved the way the author unveiled what really happened in the past and how this present came to be.
I loved being inside such complex and broken characters. I loved that the villain isn't made known right away, but if you have a sixth sense, you will spot them straight away.
I loved the character Nessie. She was a very important secondary character that at first seemed inconsequential, but the role she had in the way this story is played was brilliant.
As for Woodrow, Hell and Woody, I will leave them as they should be for you to find out on your own: a mystery.
I will part with this review by simply saying that if you can, if you are okay with any of the triggers, dive into this book blindly and get ready to have your mind fucked six ways from Sunday and your heart shattered to pieces by the time you reach the end and get to the biggest plot twist in the history of twists.
I still don't think I can ever get over that twist or forgive Cori for it. Absolutely brilliant and completely mind blowing.
This book took 5 years out of my life and I don't know how to get it back.
I don't even know how to write this review such was the mindf*ck I went through with it.
Listen, If you have a strong stomach and can read stuff like The life of Ana, you are good, but if you were only dipping your toes in this sub-genre and came across someone recommending this book? Do your due diligence and make sure you are prepared for it.
You would be surprised to learn about what actually broke me in this book, and no, it's not even the dark content, which comes in spades here. No, what broke me was the last 25% of this book. The way the events unraveled in the present and the aftermath of it. I can dive deep in the darkest and muddiest waters, but I am an empath and that is what made this book terribly taxing.
I felt.
A lot.
Thankfully nobody called me a chicken because I refused to read this book in the past. My friend Rose only had to say: I need an emotional support friend to read it with me.
See? It didn't take much to convince me. I willingly chose to read a book like this and what's worse, 2 of my triggers were in it.
Maybe I am a masochist after all.
I know I am, this just cements it.
And as if it wasn't enough, the emotional punch in this book, I did all the reading with the saddest OSTs as soundtrack. Just to enhance the punch.
“I can't save the world, Jolie. But I could save the person who means the world. . . to me.”
The Darkness beyond the Daisies tells the story of Jolie, Woodrow, Hell and Woody.
It tells the story of how a girl was abducted and inducted in the skin trade.
Jolie was a happy girl with a lot of dreams and goals and she had a loving father. But all of that changes when they are on a trip and she is targeted.
Soon Jolie finds herself in a warehouse with a lot of other victims.
After being bought by a seeming good family, Jolie finds herself being an integral part of the Heavens.
But not everything is as it seems and it's not long before the facade starts crumbling and their real intentions comes to light.
"But he was slowly slipping away, stolen from me by the Heavens and not the one above–the ones who belonged in hell. Woodrow Heaven—my Hell, and the monster who created him."
This story is told in two timelines and I loved the way the author unveiled what really happened in the past and how this present came to be.
I loved being inside such complex and broken characters. I loved that the villain isn't made known right away, but if you have a sixth sense, you will spot them straight away.
I loved the character Nessie. She was a very important secondary character that at first seemed inconsequential, but the role she had in the way this story is played was brilliant.
As for Woodrow, Hell and Woody, I will leave them as they should be for you to find out on your own: a mystery.
“Sleep well, angel. Never a victim, always a survivor.”
I will part with this review by simply saying that if you can, if you are okay with any of the triggers, dive into this book blindly and get ready to have your mind fucked six ways from Sunday and your heart shattered to pieces by the time you reach the end and get to the biggest plot twist in the history of twists.
I still don't think I can ever get over that twist or forgive Cori for it. Absolutely brilliant and completely mind blowing.
June 3, 2023
Okay, i held off on posting this review because i was trying to finish it but at 60%, I’ve decided to DNF.
& not because of the darkness or triggers. Honestly, up to the point I read it wasn’t dark and there weren’t that many triggers (at least for me, others seem to be saying differently or maybe everything happens closer to the end i dunno). I was honestly just bored. Every day was just about the same, it felt very repetitive and I couldn’t force myself to read it anymore.
The dual timelines, split personalities - it was a lot to keep up with and I didn’t feel any connection with the characters.
🖤 I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review 🖤
& not because of the darkness or triggers. Honestly, up to the point I read it wasn’t dark and there weren’t that many triggers (at least for me, others seem to be saying differently or maybe everything happens closer to the end i dunno). I was honestly just bored. Every day was just about the same, it felt very repetitive and I couldn’t force myself to read it anymore.
The dual timelines, split personalities - it was a lot to keep up with and I didn’t feel any connection with the characters.
🖤 I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review 🖤
April 20, 2024
Genre: Dark Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Jolie’s life was never the same again after she was taken against her will. A turn of events brought her into the Heavens household with the task of befriending their son Woodrow. But the illusion of her good fortune was quickly shattered as she learned their secrets.
This book brought out a myriad of emotions. I’m glad the author didn’t hold back because the things that happened to the characters were brutal and cruel. However, the book is long, and sometimes I felt characters/scenes popped out of nowhere.
It was hard not to feel for Woodrow and Jolie, especially on things they didn’t have control over. I liked how they served a purpose for each other.
The Darkness Beyond the Daisies is a story of survival and coping. It would appeal to readers who enjoy dark romance.
For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:
For graphics, trailers & author services visit Warhawke Design Studio.
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Jolie’s life was never the same again after she was taken against her will. A turn of events brought her into the Heavens household with the task of befriending their son Woodrow. But the illusion of her good fortune was quickly shattered as she learned their secrets.
This book brought out a myriad of emotions. I’m glad the author didn’t hold back because the things that happened to the characters were brutal and cruel. However, the book is long, and sometimes I felt characters/scenes popped out of nowhere.
I was broken beyond fucking repair—but that was both a blessing and a curse. Because now, he could never hurt me more than he already had.
It was hard not to feel for Woodrow and Jolie, especially on things they didn’t have control over. I liked how they served a purpose for each other.
The Darkness Beyond the Daisies is a story of survival and coping. It would appeal to readers who enjoy dark romance.
For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:
For graphics, trailers & author services visit Warhawke Design Studio.
dnf
November 22, 2024DNF: It's a struggle to get through this due to many reasons, but mostly it's not engaging me the way I wanted🤷🏼♀️👉👈
Read
November 5, 2024DNF at 24%, or is it a soft DNF? Not sure.
This definitely could be a me problem because I’m in a weird reading mood, but this book isn’t holding my attention and I’m not sure why. The darkness level isn’t a problem. Maybe I’m just struggling to connect with the characters. For some reason, it’s just not making me feel anything and I’m skimming 🤔
This definitely could be a me problem because I’m in a weird reading mood, but this book isn’t holding my attention and I’m not sure why. The darkness level isn’t a problem. Maybe I’m just struggling to connect with the characters. For some reason, it’s just not making me feel anything and I’m skimming 🤔
January 31, 2025
I need a drink
July 31, 2025
ITS LITERALLY 4am and I finished this book!!
my ass should of been asleep 5 hours ago..
but no… not with Cori.
RTC
side note.. I can’t sleep cuz i’m thinking of this book now.. grrrrrrr
my ass should of been asleep 5 hours ago..
but no… not with Cori.
RTC
side note.. I can’t sleep cuz i’m thinking of this book now.. grrrrrrr
February 14, 2025
I am speechless. like actually speechless… this book destroyed me. I am unwell. that’s it, that’s the review. no I’m jk but I have been in a slump for like a week now and nothing was hitting. well this one definitely HIT. holy fuck. I went into this book completely blind like not even reading the blurb, literally just skipped right to page 1, and I’m SO glad I did. this book was written insanely well. but let me say this is a PITCH BLACK book, triggers warnings are there for a reason and I recommend reading them. this was a T O U G H read and definitely the darkest book I’ve ever read and I pretty much only read dark romance. I sobbed MULTIPLE times while reading this, like pretty much the entire time I was reading, I was crying. I felt every. single. emotion. with that being said, this book was both fascinating and fucked up at the same time. my psych major heart was SO happy while reading this because, whew, the mental health issues were REAL in this book and I ate it tf up! I love mental health rep in books. the mmc in this book quite literally gave me whiplash. I would despise him and then love him but fuck, my heart hurt for him and felt so bad for him the entire time. he tried.. he tried to do good, to be good! fuck his parents fr. I hate them so much. he deserved so much better. And Jolie.. she DEFINITELY deserved better!!! ugh my heart broke for her. the things she went through were absolutely HORRIBLE. Is there a word that’s worse than horrible? I can’t even think rn because her story is so sad and tragic. idk if horrible explains just how BAD she suffered.. I have so much more I want to say and could go on and on, but I am gonna limit what I say in this review, because if you can go into this book blind, DO IT. But, do not go into this story looking for a cutesy romance read.. this is NOT that kind of book. please trust me when I say you might want to be cautious and check the TWs with this one. this was my first Cori Zahara book but it’s NOT going to be my last! Adding all of her books to my TBR now! this book will live rent free in my head. I’ll never forget this story. I literally have a million questions but 5 stars.. 5 stars for this book. I love when a book destroys me and also hits me with twists/turns I never saw coming. the storyline and just everything was so different and so unique and it was worth every tear I shed.
June 4, 2023
“Some people are worth suffering for.”
I'm going to start off by saying PLEASE check trigger warnings before reading don't take this warning lightly!
“I can't save the world, Jolie. But I could save the person who means the world. . . to me.”
This book was dark, the evil that lurked at every turn was unimaginable and the unthinkable things that these characters suffered at the hands of the people that were supposed to love them was heartwrenching.
“My moonlight. You light up the dark, and stay with it, huddled in, fearlessly.”
This book definitely grabbed me from the beginning and dug its claws in me until the very end. That ending blindsided me, I was NOT expecting that twist, and now I need more of this world, I need to know Ollie's story!!
"I see the girl I fell in love with ten years ago and the woman I’ll never get over. I see you, Moonlight, your beautiful soul, your innocence, and your one-of-a-kind heart, and it's kept me alive for years.”
This was my first book from this author but it will not be my last! If you can handle dark, darker than dark and have no triggers then read this book. Immerse your self in a journey that will test you, squeeze your heart till its ready to burst and leave at the edge of hopelessness before dragging you back into the light.
I'm going to start off by saying PLEASE check trigger warnings before reading don't take this warning lightly!
“I can't save the world, Jolie. But I could save the person who means the world. . . to me.”
This book was dark, the evil that lurked at every turn was unimaginable and the unthinkable things that these characters suffered at the hands of the people that were supposed to love them was heartwrenching.
“My moonlight. You light up the dark, and stay with it, huddled in, fearlessly.”
This book definitely grabbed me from the beginning and dug its claws in me until the very end. That ending blindsided me, I was NOT expecting that twist, and now I need more of this world, I need to know Ollie's story!!
"I see the girl I fell in love with ten years ago and the woman I’ll never get over. I see you, Moonlight, your beautiful soul, your innocence, and your one-of-a-kind heart, and it's kept me alive for years.”
This was my first book from this author but it will not be my last! If you can handle dark, darker than dark and have no triggers then read this book. Immerse your self in a journey that will test you, squeeze your heart till its ready to burst and leave at the edge of hopelessness before dragging you back into the light.
April 2, 2025
I'm gonna need a few days. My head is still pounding and my eyes are still sore. My brain is royally f*****.
April 4, 2024
I went into this book blind with only going off of the blurb on the back. The prologue sent shivers down my spine in the most thrilling and perilous way. The story launches into action right away. After a few chapters, I was delighted to discover that it features one of my favorite tropes-if you can call it a trope. I am a bit obsessed with it. If you are torn between the villain and the golden retriever, you can have them both in this book.
“𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆; 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆. 𝑴𝒚 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍. 𝑴𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑴𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒚.”
“𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓.”
The plot gripped me with its intensity, breaking my heart and leaving me reeling from its traumatic and even vile moments. As I neared the end with just a few chapters left, I was convinced that an HEA was impossible, but Cori surprised me by pulling the rug out from under my expectations. I absolutely did not see that twist coming! This hard-fought HEA continues to occupy my thoughts days after finishing the book, leaving me still analyzing its depths.
Young Jolie found herself captured and sold to the Heaven family, who presented themselves as her saviors from the horrors of sex trafficking. Her role was to befriend and assist their son, Woodrow. However, as her time in the Heaven household stretched on, she began to uncover the darkness lurking within. She saw through the lies she had been told and learned the true reason for her captivity there. Despite falling in love with Woodrow, she eventually realized she couldn't reconcile all aspects of him. He was her heaven, her hell, and a child caught between the two extremes.
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕, 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝑰 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
This book contained numerous deeply dark moments that tested my resolve. Among them, one scene stood out as especially brutal and devastating, making me question if I could continue. My heart shattered repeatedly for Jolie, Woodrow, Woody, and even Hell, as their struggles unfolded.
Another favorite aspect of mine is how Cori crafted this story with an alternating timeline. It adds an extra layer of intrigue for me, experiencing the events unfolding in the present while receiving fragments of the past. Initially, we're left questioning how the situation reached its current state. However, as the narrative unfolds, those gaps in time gradually start to fill in, and the shock of realization sinks in deeper with each revelation.
“𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆; 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆. 𝑴𝒚 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍. 𝑴𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑴𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒚.”
“𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓.”
The plot gripped me with its intensity, breaking my heart and leaving me reeling from its traumatic and even vile moments. As I neared the end with just a few chapters left, I was convinced that an HEA was impossible, but Cori surprised me by pulling the rug out from under my expectations. I absolutely did not see that twist coming! This hard-fought HEA continues to occupy my thoughts days after finishing the book, leaving me still analyzing its depths.
Young Jolie found herself captured and sold to the Heaven family, who presented themselves as her saviors from the horrors of sex trafficking. Her role was to befriend and assist their son, Woodrow. However, as her time in the Heaven household stretched on, she began to uncover the darkness lurking within. She saw through the lies she had been told and learned the true reason for her captivity there. Despite falling in love with Woodrow, she eventually realized she couldn't reconcile all aspects of him. He was her heaven, her hell, and a child caught between the two extremes.
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕, 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝑰 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
This book contained numerous deeply dark moments that tested my resolve. Among them, one scene stood out as especially brutal and devastating, making me question if I could continue. My heart shattered repeatedly for Jolie, Woodrow, Woody, and even Hell, as their struggles unfolded.
Another favorite aspect of mine is how Cori crafted this story with an alternating timeline. It adds an extra layer of intrigue for me, experiencing the events unfolding in the present while receiving fragments of the past. Initially, we're left questioning how the situation reached its current state. However, as the narrative unfolds, those gaps in time gradually start to fill in, and the shock of realization sinks in deeper with each revelation.
February 27, 2025
Horrifying!!
3.8/5
The Darkness Beyond The Daisies by Cori Zahara doesn’t feel like a dark romance to me, it’s pure horror. The story is relentless, filled with sexual violence and every kind of abuse imaginable. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it, because enjoyment isn’t really an emotion that applies here, but I couldn’t stop reading.
The ending felt a bit rushed, though. Around the 90% mark, the story suddenly shifted in a different direction, but there wasn’t enough time to properly develop what was happening.
I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something deeply disturbing and brutal, and if you have absolutely no triggers.
3.8/5
The Darkness Beyond The Daisies by Cori Zahara doesn’t feel like a dark romance to me, it’s pure horror. The story is relentless, filled with sexual violence and every kind of abuse imaginable. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it, because enjoyment isn’t really an emotion that applies here, but I couldn’t stop reading.
The ending felt a bit rushed, though. Around the 90% mark, the story suddenly shifted in a different direction, but there wasn’t enough time to properly develop what was happening.
I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something deeply disturbing and brutal, and if you have absolutely no triggers.
November 8, 2023
SPOILERS...
I waited about a week before writing my review to see if any of my feelings towards this book would change. They did not. If anything I had to take it from 3 stars to two and I am going to explain why.
Overall I want to start off my saying the writing was fine.. the author created a word that really pulls you in and I love that! The reason I waited to give my review was because when I finished the book I was actually really stunned, shocked.. after everything that happened I was expecting a better ending.. a happier one. Which I guess technically they did get because they were together . But that also mad me mad because of all the messiness Hell put her through.. what I HATED about this book was normally when you have multiple personalities they are made (in this instance) to protect the weakest version of yourself.. hell was ruthless and evil BUT to the wrong people.. I tried to understand how someone could write such a character but not have him protect the person he was created for. Instead of raping Jolie he should have killed the parents, his mother and father after the abuse they inflicted on Woodrow should have been dead chapter 1.. And in my opinion, the story could have went down a similar path, but with Woodrow, Woody and hell fighting amongst the each other to reign supreme and trying to get Jolie back.. each should have loved her and protected her in their own way.. yet hell brutalized her tried to kill her and was just straight evil and I don't understand why the author felt that was a necessary storyline. I mean jolie was abused by everybody after she turned 18 and with how drawn out the book was for her to have never escaped to freedom.. safe freedom is wild to me.
I actually skipped a whole lot of chapters because even with the trigger warning it was a bit much. I don't know. I really wanted to like the book. I really think there is something there. I read through a whole bunch of reviews and I do agree that this could have been a phenomenal story. It just wasn't for me and that's ok.
I waited about a week before writing my review to see if any of my feelings towards this book would change. They did not. If anything I had to take it from 3 stars to two and I am going to explain why.
Overall I want to start off my saying the writing was fine.. the author created a word that really pulls you in and I love that! The reason I waited to give my review was because when I finished the book I was actually really stunned, shocked.. after everything that happened I was expecting a better ending.. a happier one. Which I guess technically they did get because they were together . But that also mad me mad because of all the messiness Hell put her through.. what I HATED about this book was normally when you have multiple personalities they are made (in this instance) to protect the weakest version of yourself.. hell was ruthless and evil BUT to the wrong people.. I tried to understand how someone could write such a character but not have him protect the person he was created for. Instead of raping Jolie he should have killed the parents, his mother and father after the abuse they inflicted on Woodrow should have been dead chapter 1.. And in my opinion, the story could have went down a similar path, but with Woodrow, Woody and hell fighting amongst the each other to reign supreme and trying to get Jolie back.. each should have loved her and protected her in their own way.. yet hell brutalized her tried to kill her and was just straight evil and I don't understand why the author felt that was a necessary storyline. I mean jolie was abused by everybody after she turned 18 and with how drawn out the book was for her to have never escaped to freedom.. safe freedom is wild to me.
I actually skipped a whole lot of chapters because even with the trigger warning it was a bit much. I don't know. I really wanted to like the book. I really think there is something there. I read through a whole bunch of reviews and I do agree that this could have been a phenomenal story. It just wasn't for me and that's ok.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2023
Beta Reader Review.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS!!!!
Oh my goodness gracious lol this book was so good but wild, took me longer to finish than I usually take reading as it’s a lot to process but very well written and a huge plot twist that I didn’t see coming but it all worked out from start to finish.
I get the book isn’t for anyone and not all of us have the same tastes but I enjoyed this book and can’t wait for everyone else to read and enjoy it so I can have more people to talk about it to🌸🌸🌸.
P.S. if the book is not to your liking or tastes please do not comment badly or mention how people could read such books, different strokes for different folks so keep it kind and ENJOY!!!
POSSIBLE SPOILERS!!!!
Oh my goodness gracious lol this book was so good but wild, took me longer to finish than I usually take reading as it’s a lot to process but very well written and a huge plot twist that I didn’t see coming but it all worked out from start to finish.
I get the book isn’t for anyone and not all of us have the same tastes but I enjoyed this book and can’t wait for everyone else to read and enjoy it so I can have more people to talk about it to🌸🌸🌸.
P.S. if the book is not to your liking or tastes please do not comment badly or mention how people could read such books, different strokes for different folks so keep it kind and ENJOY!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2025
I’m not okay enough rn to leave a a proper review or rating but WTF did I just read, idk if I’m happy, sad or angry, I’m so confused with my emotions but I guess I finally found my DID captive book I was on a hunt for by accident?
Update:
I got to sleep on it, I’m still mad but this book took me through all the emotions and the author was kind enough to hear me and my thoughts out until I could discuss my feelings with a friend and not gonna lie but I loved this book🤣 if you do decide to read this pleaseee check tws. This book has easily moved up to the darkest book I’ve read so far because because of the topics discussed and just the plot in general
Update:
I got to sleep on it, I’m still mad but this book took me through all the emotions and the author was kind enough to hear me and my thoughts out until I could discuss my feelings with a friend and not gonna lie but I loved this book🤣 if you do decide to read this pleaseee check tws. This book has easily moved up to the darkest book I’ve read so far because because of the topics discussed and just the plot in general
January 31, 2025
Well, this was a rollercoaster. I've never really read anything like this. I loved this, but there are some aspects which I'd change... The ending I feel it was rushed, and really it did not fit into the story. I think we are all suckers for the HEA but personally for me I would have preferred it the way it was going. I began to accept the outcome & it made me realise I was rooting for Jolie but, alas it changed as I read the final 3 chapters.
October 11, 2023
a plot twist doesn't make a book good.
honestly, can you tell me anything good about this book? anything worth remembering? I feel like, to have a need ro write something like this, you really need to be going through some really strong shit.
honestly, can you tell me anything good about this book? anything worth remembering? I feel like, to have a need ro write something like this, you really need to be going through some really strong shit.
February 3, 2025
DNF at about 40%. The triggers are darkness aren’t what stopped me from continuing, it was the writing style, lack of connection with the characters, and the way the FMC felt like the lead role in a bad slasher film where she had a million opportunities to save herself but didn’t.
April 20, 2025
I wasn’t sure what to rate this book. I love dark and pitch black reads but this was both good in ways and not so good in other ways.
First of all it was soooo long and drawn out. I had to put it down several times because I was simply bored. Not of the story, which had me intrigued, but of the writing.
The author had a great storyline but the word count could have been cut in half. So many words to complicate a simple sentence trying to make it more poetic I think, when it should have been more straight forward and to the point.
“Her body was crying red tears” meaning she’s bleeding.
“Two shadows followed behind me” Meaning people are following behind.
“Drifting into her breathing space” Leaning in… I mean why?!?! 😭
Not my favorite pitch black novel. I had high hopes but it just didn’t come together in the best way. I get that writing a story like this takes finesse and I’ve read so many that are so well done but this just lacked it tbh. But like I said the storyline was great so I’m somewhere in the middle .
The triggers are many but then again non of them were well developed, so the author could have picked fewer triggers and then really done something with them, but it just felt like they were put in randomly with out much thought.
In short, Jolie is taken and gifted to Woodrow by his parents. Woodrow has alters, so he is both his sweet self but also an alter called Hell who’s cruel and heartless, and then there’s an alter called Woody who’s a small child who’s his little sister’s best friend. His parents are afraid of Hell but they control Woodrow.
The storyline is both in the past and in the now, so we get Jolie and Woodrow at age 18 and also at age 28, a ten year span where everything in between is what’s we are slowly told though their memories and present conversation, and that is the thrilling part of the story, getting to what actually happened between them in those ten years until Hell finds and brings her back to him forcing her to marry him.
I enjoyed it when it was revealing but I have to say it is just too long imho.
First of all it was soooo long and drawn out. I had to put it down several times because I was simply bored. Not of the story, which had me intrigued, but of the writing.
The author had a great storyline but the word count could have been cut in half. So many words to complicate a simple sentence trying to make it more poetic I think, when it should have been more straight forward and to the point.
“Her body was crying red tears” meaning she’s bleeding.
“Two shadows followed behind me” Meaning people are following behind.
“Drifting into her breathing space” Leaning in… I mean why?!?! 😭
Not my favorite pitch black novel. I had high hopes but it just didn’t come together in the best way. I get that writing a story like this takes finesse and I’ve read so many that are so well done but this just lacked it tbh. But like I said the storyline was great so I’m somewhere in the middle .
The triggers are many but then again non of them were well developed, so the author could have picked fewer triggers and then really done something with them, but it just felt like they were put in randomly with out much thought.
In short, Jolie is taken and gifted to Woodrow by his parents. Woodrow has alters, so he is both his sweet self but also an alter called Hell who’s cruel and heartless, and then there’s an alter called Woody who’s a small child who’s his little sister’s best friend. His parents are afraid of Hell but they control Woodrow.
The storyline is both in the past and in the now, so we get Jolie and Woodrow at age 18 and also at age 28, a ten year span where everything in between is what’s we are slowly told though their memories and present conversation, and that is the thrilling part of the story, getting to what actually happened between them in those ten years until Hell finds and brings her back to him forcing her to marry him.
I enjoyed it when it was revealing but I have to say it is just too long imho.
January 30, 2025
Um-What
I hate writing bad reviews on here. But I gotta get this off my chest. This book grated on my nerves. And it wasn’t for the darkness; that was what it was. My issue lies in how it was written, which ruined it for me. Like why wasn’t it just written in 3rd person? Some of the words these 17- 18-year-olds were saying were killing me, as well as the one person's POV miraculously being able to know how the other person is feeling or thinking about a situation without even being told. And it wasn’t because “they just knew that person so well.” No, it was like they were f€\+$ng omniscient! And the massive amount of word salad?! Listen, I get it. You want to paint a picture or whatever; instead of just saying that the moon is beautiful, you’re going to give us a three-page essay about it. Excellent, then how ‘bout you also use those words to explain how; last we knew, MC was sitting on the bed, then in the next breath, he’s standing in the FMC’s face. Did he teleport?!! And that’s just one example.
Additionally, and honestly, this is probably my biggest gripe and why I’m filled with such vitriol. Why, OH, WHY is the FMC seemingly of AA descent? I have an issue with authors writing about major abuse at the hands of a yt character written by a person who is not black. We do not need that kind of inclusion in a book, thank you. I blame myself because I saw one TikTok about it— created by a yt woman, and seeing that beautiful cover, I was intrigued. I was so intrigued that I didn’t even look up the author's deets. But as I read, and absolutely not one good thing was happening —I grew increasingly angry. Did I finish the book? Yes. Did I skim out of anger? Absolutely. But I had to see it through.
All that aside, did I like the book? No. Because the FMC was a weak bish. Like the ones you see in bad slasher films. Just falling over a twig, not running when they have 100x10 chances to do so... I literally had no one character to root for and could NOT get into any “steamy” scenes that weren’t forced (there weren’t many) because of all the abuse. I found nothing enjoyable about 500+ pages of someone being treated like less than a dog doo by an irredeemable person who had nothing to offer but a pretty face. By the time the twist came, I hadn’t given a s*@it. I was (flatly) like; ohh… okayyy….yayy…. But like I still hate all of you because of the 530 pages of pure s%#* I just read about you going through. Like, what was the point of this?
I hate writing bad reviews on here. But I gotta get this off my chest. This book grated on my nerves. And it wasn’t for the darkness; that was what it was. My issue lies in how it was written, which ruined it for me. Like why wasn’t it just written in 3rd person? Some of the words these 17- 18-year-olds were saying were killing me, as well as the one person's POV miraculously being able to know how the other person is feeling or thinking about a situation without even being told. And it wasn’t because “they just knew that person so well.” No, it was like they were f€\+$ng omniscient! And the massive amount of word salad?! Listen, I get it. You want to paint a picture or whatever; instead of just saying that the moon is beautiful, you’re going to give us a three-page essay about it. Excellent, then how ‘bout you also use those words to explain how; last we knew, MC was sitting on the bed, then in the next breath, he’s standing in the FMC’s face. Did he teleport?!! And that’s just one example.
Additionally, and honestly, this is probably my biggest gripe and why I’m filled with such vitriol. Why, OH, WHY is the FMC seemingly of AA descent? I have an issue with authors writing about major abuse at the hands of a yt character written by a person who is not black. We do not need that kind of inclusion in a book, thank you. I blame myself because I saw one TikTok about it— created by a yt woman, and seeing that beautiful cover, I was intrigued. I was so intrigued that I didn’t even look up the author's deets. But as I read, and absolutely not one good thing was happening —I grew increasingly angry. Did I finish the book? Yes. Did I skim out of anger? Absolutely. But I had to see it through.
All that aside, did I like the book? No. Because the FMC was a weak bish. Like the ones you see in bad slasher films. Just falling over a twig, not running when they have 100x10 chances to do so... I literally had no one character to root for and could NOT get into any “steamy” scenes that weren’t forced (there weren’t many) because of all the abuse. I found nothing enjoyable about 500+ pages of someone being treated like less than a dog doo by an irredeemable person who had nothing to offer but a pretty face. By the time the twist came, I hadn’t given a s*@it. I was (flatly) like; ohh… okayyy….yayy…. But like I still hate all of you because of the 530 pages of pure s%#* I just read about you going through. Like, what was the point of this?
June 9, 2025
2.5 stars
If you are into trauma porn - look no further.
The dual timeline took me out of the story too much and made it much more difficult to connect with any of the characters. Might just be a me thing. Otherwise, I wouldn't call this a dark romance. Honestly, I wouldn't call it pitch black, either. It's really just unrelenting trauma porn.
If you are into trauma porn - look no further.
The dual timeline took me out of the story too much and made it much more difficult to connect with any of the characters. Might just be a me thing. Otherwise, I wouldn't call this a dark romance. Honestly, I wouldn't call it pitch black, either. It's really just unrelenting trauma porn.
July 23, 2025
Wow! Truly such a dark and twisted book. I hated so hard and my heart broke so intensely. Jolie and Woodrow deserved so much better than the harsh world they got dragged up in.
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