Dark Harmony – A lélektolvaj

The Bargainer #4

by Laura Thalassa

Vannak olyan dolgok, amik még a halálnál is rosszabbak. Dolgok, amik az árnyékból leselkednek rád és belopakodnak az álmaidba. Olyan dolgok, amiknek semmi keresnivalójuk a világban. Egykor szunnyadtak… de most felébredtek.

Callypso Lillis számára a tündérmágia, ami immár az ereiben csörgedezik, egyfelől átok, másfelől jó szerencse. Az, ami Desmond Flynnhez, az Éjszaka Királyához köti őt, egyben sebezhetővé teszi a Lélektolvajjal szemben. A férfival, aki porrá akarja zúzni a világot… és ezzel együtt Callie-t is.

De nem csak a Tolvaj az, akinek árnyékai ott lebegnek a Másvilág felett. Des apja visszatért a halálból és bosszút akar állni a fián, aki egykor a sírba küldte.

Desnek és Callie-nek ki kell találnia, hogyan állítsák meg mindkét férfit, és az idő fogytán van. Mert olyan erők vannak mozgásban, amelyek azon munkálkodnak, hogy elszakítsák egymástól a szerelmeseket egyszer s mindenkorra… és balszerencséjükre, már nem a halál a legrosszabb, amitől tartaniuk kell.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fae, Paranormal, Romantasy, New Adult, Fantasy Romance

432 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2018

About the author

Found in the forest when she was young, Laura Thalassa was raised by fairies, kidnapped by werewolves, and given over to vampires as repayment for a hundred year debt. She’s been brought back to life twice, and, with a single kiss, she woke her true love from eternal sleep. She now lives happily ever after with her undead prince in a castle in the woods.

… or something like that anyway.

When not writing, Laura can be found scarfing down guacamole, hoarding chocolate for the apocalypse, or curled up on the couch with a good book.

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Reviews

[len ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I have your undivided attention, don’t I?”
“And all my love.”

I debated writing a review because of how controversial this trilogy appears to some people, just with book 1 itself. So I'd like to get three of the most problematic things I've seen be mentioned about this trilogy and move on from there.

The grooming. Personally, I didn't see it that way in book 1, and I didn't take it to be that way. Callie is 15 years old when she meets Desmond, also known as Des or The Bargainer, and the "legal age" of this world is 16. Des is an immortal fae, so many people saw their relationship as grooming because of that, and only that. The two even kiss in book 1 towards the end of their "teen/adult" relationship. As I said, I didn't see or take it that way, and I didn't think the book was sexualizing children. If that bothers you, then honestly, stay away from this book, and definitely stay away from The Emperor of Evening Stars, because that's in Des' POV, and it's much clearer since we see his thoughts about Callie, from her as a teen and adult. The two are mates, and he feels it from the moment he meets her.

The stereotypical Black character. This will be short, but Temper, who is Callie's best friend, is definitely created through stereotypes. All her sentences start with "Bitch" or "Girl," and it gets really annoying that you don't know if you want to continue or drop the whole thing. She's also got that "angry" attitude of hers. While part of it is due to her character being a sorcerer, another part can definitely be seen as a stereotype and the assumption that Black people are only angry.

The writing. I'm not even going to get into it too much because I hardly mention the writing of authors, even if it's bad, but the writing of this book, for me, was easy to follow, but yes, it needed some editing to be done. The author is self-published, I believe, but editing the book would have definitely helped not only with sentences making more sense but with a few grammatical errors, like missing commas and apostrophes. Other than that, I didn't find the writing to be some of the worst, but then again, I don't really look at the writing of books because I focus on other parts of the book instead.

Aside from that, the book is either a hit or miss, depending on your preferences, how you take those three aspects, and your enjoyment. Perhaps it's because I hardly read PNR, but I quite enjoyed this trilogy. I gave all three books 3 stars, but I still enjoyed them nonetheless. I'll even admit and say that I already miss Callie and Des. They just fit together so well.

“You’re not stuck anywhere, cherub,” he says, deadly serious. “Tell me where you want to go, and I’ll take you there right now.”

⚠️This review will have spoilers from all three books⚠️, but I'm mostly going to talk about this finale.

The Bargainer trilogy, as a whole, follows Callie, a powerful siren who kills her stepdad at the age of 15. In the beginning, Callie calls The Bargainer, who later introduces himself as Des, to clean up the mess Callie made. For this to be done, Callie must pay Des in the future, as he only makes deals for a price. However, throughout the beginning, Callie finds herself enjoying the time she spends with Des and ends up making one deal after another, collecting one bead after another. Seven years after Des left Callie pass by, and Des has returned to her life to collect her payments. However, Des has returned to ask Callie for her help. In the Otherworld, his people are dying and disappearing, and it's only a matter of time till Des can help them. To accomplish this, he'll need the help of the siren he's silently longed for too long, all while rekindling an old romance, collecting her payments, and understanding his Kingdom.

That's really the premise of the first book, and while some of it can still apply to the other two, they slowly change in terms of plot and characters.

“Look at that,” I breathe. “The slave you wanted to shackle is now your queen.”

Considering this is the third book in the trilogy, I definitely expected more from Callie's character.

In book 1, she was imprisoned towards the end, and her trauma is noticeable in books 2 and 3. Because she was given fae wings, she needs to adjust to the feel of them and manage to get used to them. Then, towards the end of book 2, Callie almost dies at the hands of the Thief of Souls, in which Des has to give her lilac wine, which made her immortal and fae. At the start of book 3, Callie is still a siren and fae, and her ability in fighting, strength, and endurance increases. However, I felt like her character lacked a lot of performance.

Callie's been through hell and back. She was raped and abused by her stepdad, imprisoned and forced against her own will, given fae wings, and almost died in Des' hands. She went from being a lonely teenage girl to the Queen of the Night, mate of Des, and killer of the Thief of Souls. While the development was there, per se, the actions felt like they weren't. For Callie being a powerful siren, I expected her to be much more adapt to fighting. Her siren would constantly verbalize her brutal thoughts and wants, and I wanted them to happen, but they never did. It felt like it was all talk and no show. This even applies to the ending of this book and how she killed The Thief of Souls. It felt rather quickly wrapped up as if the author really couldn't find another way to end it. While I understand why and how it was done the way it was, I generally expected more execution of Callie. None of it would have happened if the Thief of Souls hadn't given her the ability to glamour him, so it was as if the Thief of Souls knew what he was getting himself into, even though he's a god and nobody had ever taken him down before.

“I could you know,” I say, my voice low like a lover’s. “I could make you get down on your knees for every single man in this room, and you’d be powerless to stop me.”

Not only that, but Callie felt weak to me throughout all books. Even though I can understand that she's been through a lot, emotionally, physically, and mentally, I still found her to lack aggression, skills, and overall growth. There were moments where she surprised me entirely, but while the progress of her character was starting to show, it didn't take long for it to begin slowing down.

With that being said, I still liked Callie's character. While she could use more training, she wasn't one of the worst characters I've ever read about. I especially loved her friendship with Temper and appreciated the loyalty between them. If I'm honest, Temper is a big reason as to why Callie even had something to do in the beginning, so if it weren't for Temper stepping in and adding some action into her life, I don't know if Callie would be a character I liked. Their friendship is one of my favorites, and it became one of my favorite things about the book itself. While Callie and Des are soulmates, there's definitely that soul in between Callie and Temper as well.

“You’ve become someone to fear.”

As for Des, I read The Emperor of Evening Stars after reading this, and it didn't really help but add to the emotion I was feeling towards the characters, especially him. I never hated him to begin with, and that book definitely helped me to understand him more.

From being raised in a cave with his single mother to witnessing her be killed in front of him by his father, to burying her himself and having to walk away, to joining a brotherhood and beginning his bargaining, to finally meeting the slave they said would be his mate after looking for her for more than 100 years, to forcing himself to walk away from her, to have to endure seven years of separation due to her wish, to finally being reunited with her. While he is the King of Night, Callie was his shining light. She was one of the only good things in his life.

The trilogy doesn't focus on Des' POV (only like two chapters), but his intentions are clear through Callie. While Des may present himself as morally grey, it also takes him a while to be more about showing than just talking. There were moments where it feels like he could have done more than what he did, and while his intentions are clear for protection to his Kingdom and the people around him, it was a matter of time until it felt like Des also needed some development. However, unlike Callie, I found him to actually stick to his word and be able to show who he is.

Des is a sweetheart, angel, softie, and, dare I say, a hopeless romantic? No legendary trope applies to him other than “touch her, and I’ll kill you” and “I hate everyone but you.” Seeing the love of his life almost die in front of him made him act out of quick impulse and realize no other choice but to give Callie the lilac wine. He lost his mother, the one person who loved him for who he was, and failing her was a lesson Des took not to cause again. His love for Callie grew more every day, with every waking moment, and it was nothing but sweet and adorning, all while also fueled by fire. They truly are soulmates, and they've become one of my favorite book couples.

“I lost you once, Callie,” he says, “and those seven years nearly killed me. I don’t intend to lose you again.”

Personally, I don't care about world-building. I've mentioned to my friends before how I always look at characters more than plot because a bad plot with good characters can definitely still survive as a good story, but a good plot with bad characters? Your story will drag till the end because I believe no reader will end up wanting to read more about shitty characters. With that noted, I felt like the world-building of this was easy to follow. I enjoyed reading descriptions of multiple places, ranging from Des' Night Kingdom to places such as Venice, Italy. It's not one difficult to understand, it's easy to imagine the world, and there's definitely potential for it to be good in the sense that it's enough. The author doesn't just throw you into the world expecting you to understand it. Still, throughout all three books, she slowly gives information about the world related to the current situation. I liked this way of storytelling because it made me more curious to continue learning, so as the reader, I slowly learned more about the history, politics, and people of the different worlds of the book.

Something else that I appreciated was how Laura Thalassa didn't give us the story of Des in one go. His story was told through secrets Callie asked of Des, and most of them usually had to do with his mother, how he continued forward, and what he did in the time he waited. I liked this approach because not only did it make me more curious to continue learning more about Des and his life, but I wanted to continue reading to see if there would be more to say. This is also part of the writing style, regardless of some of the issues you can encounter. Thalassa finishes her chapters with cliffhangers , which made it more interesting because I wanted to continue reading to find out what would happen next. While her chapters are short, I noticed her chapters ended in ways to convince me to continue reading, which I applaud her for doing.

“Cherub, hasn’t anyone told you? Getting what I want has nothing to do with luck. I deal in favors.”

The trilogy is PNR, and romance is definitely a big part of the series, but it isn't the central plotline. The books have often been compared to the ACOTAR series by SJM, and while I'd somewhat agree, I'd have to say that the plot of this is better than ACOTAR (for me), but ACOTAR is . . . spicier. Don't get me wrong, there's smut in this, but it isn't fae porn one page after another. This was also less descriptive compared to ACOTAR, as far as I can remember. I still enjoyed it, regardless, and I still found it to be enough to the story, simply because I didn't want the romance to be the central key point to the story itself and steal the show. I thought they were added in the right moments, not the point where everything became focused on the romance and sexual relationship between Callie and Des. Still, it also focused enough on their romantic relationship, what was happening around them, and how they would get through. The romance changed from book 1 to book 3, and my favorite is in this book. While book 2 did show how far Des is willing to go for Callie, I felt like this finale showed more. The romance felt more real and refreshed. While their love for each other starts in book 1, this finale showed how far both characters were willing to go for each other. I also found their love to develop nicely, considering the history they shared 7 years before they reunited.

“Am I not servicing my queen well enough?”

Besides Callie's character development not feeling like it was enough, I consider that the reason for this not being rated higher is the ending. The story of the Thief of Souls is an interesting one, and it shows some dark elements of the story. He reveals himself to be a god, a deity, and he doesn't shy away from what he plans to do with Callie. Ranging from basically raping and touching her to tearing her apart piece by piece, the Thief of Souls is one of the most interesting parts of the story and is the reason behind the plot in the first place. However, for someone like Callie, who didn't have much experience fighting in general, and someone like the Thief of Souls, who presents himself as the strongest, the ending felt like it wrapped up too easily. I felt myself anticipating the ending because I wanted to see how it would unfold and how Callie would take down the Thief of Souls. However, I didn't expect it to be done just with her glamour and how she managed to make him drown. I felt robbed, if I'm honest, and it felt like the execution was done just to be done. Again, it was all talk and no show, which felt underwhelming, considering everything Callie went through, what happened to Des, and who the Thief of Souls was.

“You have aroused me. Dirty human, beautiful woman, unlikely enchantress. You have caught my attention, and I will enjoy you for a time.”

In conclusion, this trilogy is by no means perfect and can come off as poorly executed for many, and I'd understand why. However, I found myself enjoying them, and I don't regret deciding to continue reading after the first book to finish it. As I said before, it's a hit or miss, and depending on what you're in the mood for or if you like similar books, you'll end up enjoying this one. I can see myself reading Laura Thalassa's other series, specifically her Four Horsemen Series, even though I've already heard some . . . things about them. Oh well.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

When people in other kingdoms are all simultaneously being mass murdered by some previously catatonic warriors who all woke up at the same time and attacked like freaky zombies, and you are the only person who can stop them easily with your innate special powers - would you choose that moment as a grand time to go on a sex-fest vacation with your mate or would you, I don't know, go to those other kingdoms and try to help? This book was like 50% smexy times, 25% inner-Siren thoughts (which generally annoyed me), and 25% actual (weak) plot. To say I was disappointed in this would be a vast understatement. I almost DNF'd it several times but I liked the previous two books so much so I kept reading thinking SURELY it had to get better. It didn't. The ending was ridiculous where good conquered evil because the evil guy purposefully did the equivalent of laying down all his weapons and jumping on a sword just to see what would happen and was surprised to find out he could die. It was ridiculous. Putting this on the 'series has a terrible ending' shelf.

Also: please note I am the only person out of all my GR friends who have read this book, who didn't love it. So, take that into account. LOL!

[Laura Thalassa]

Dark Harmony is now available on Amazon!

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HMD24BP

[Brenda ✨Delirious, Disjointed, Digressive, and (highly) Dramatic Rambles✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Read 23/10/2018

Take in the Otherworld, the Earth and all the galaxies in the universe.
Are you with me?
Please keep up, it's important.
Now, take in every little ball of fire in the sky, the ones you can see and those your eyes can't reach.
Still with me? Good.
Focus, we are almost done.
Now count them, I know it's hard, but try.
When you are done, you'll have, roughly, the approximate number of stars this book, this entire series and the genius inside Laura Thalassa's mind deserve.

So, I am somehow alive after what felt like the most beautiful and disbelieving moment in my life. I have Dark Harmony in my hands. That sentence alone is a wet dream to me. A roller-coaster of emotions.

I'm not going to give Laura any of my future children, because I'm sure she'll have her hands busy with all the firstborns she'll receive from all the other readers. But I will though give up my sanity to her, is that okay Laura? You already took it anyway.

I apologize for the sparsness of this review, please, please , bear in mind that I'm mentally unstable when it comes to this series, thank you.

So while you are at it, counting stars, ask them. Ask them if there has ever been a more strong, beautiful, everlasting and epic love than the one our Siren and King share.
C'mon, it's one last thing and it's not going to be hard, cause the answer is one and spoken in unanimity. The stars know it, it's written all over them:
No.

Fight me on this, I dare you.

When I started the first chapter I felt like my heart was falling back into place, as if all this time it had been a bit uncentrered, missing, missing and craving. But the second I read about Des being his usual teasing and provocative self and Callie trying to resist his charms, and failing, I felt like I was coming back home.

It's a weird feeling really, to connect with characters so much that they feel like old friends. It only took me half of the first page to tune myself with them again, and retake my occupation as the Third Wheel in Des and Callie's relationship, I was soaring through the book.

You must be thinking "ugh, this girl is crazy".
And yes, you'd be definitely right. I've been driven crazy by this story, the whole plot and the characters that came alive at every page turn, the struggles, the love, the pain.
The fairy sex *wink wink*.
I feel high. And happy. And sad. And drunk, God, do I feel drunk.
I have stamped all over me the new definition of book hangover and there is no remedy in sight.

I would love it for there to be a cliffhanger, just to have that warm feeling in my chest to know that more is coming, to put myself through the torturous wait of a hiatus, the endless suffering of anticipation and the counting down of days, if it meant that I got another glimpse at Des and Callie. And seriously, who does that?? Willingly??
That's how smitten I am with this series.
I don't know how I'm going to tell my inner fangirl that this is it. This is the end, the last book.
I fear her reaccion.
I know for sure I'll mop my way through my days for at least a few weeks, she'll shatter the walls of the cage I put her in for this special occasion. Encountering high resistance.

I need mental sanity to write a nice review, and we all know my inner fangirl and I cannot team up for the life of us.
Because yes, I need to write a review. I promised.
I actually even googled "how to write a nice review", because Laura deserves to have her work worshipped in every way I can.
A nice lady called Luisa suggested as a first point "going at it with a clear mind".
Aaahh, dang it. Already failed. Next.
The second was "order your thoughts and ideas".
Mmh, my mind is like a horror movie and my thoughts are the blood and grey matter splattered on the floor and ceiling.
An artistic mess.
All the other points made no sense to me so I guess we are gonna wing it, put your seat belt on. Tight.

So I'm trying my best here, I never know how much do people really care about the deranged state of my brain, so just thank me that I'm somewhat trying to filter 80% of my thoughts, so as to not sound like I need a Xanax.

Pass them though, if you have 'em.

Aaahhh see? I'm procrastinating. I don't wanna talk about this book.
I'm sincerely suffering a loss and mourning the end of an era, so I'm currently hugging a denial pillow to my chest and rocking myself to sleep, I should probably attempt at this thing/review in a few days and pray the stars out there that my mind has accepted the sad truth.

But there is not much I can say, whether it being now, or in two days, or two years: if I'm this far gone for a "simple" book, just imagine what I encountered in there to drive me to madness, what I read to make me so hooked, what brought me to be this delirious girl looking for the meaning of life after finishing reading it.
Just imagine, what words and an insanely talented woman are capable to do. If you are curious, and love yourself, you'll read this story.

Of course you will, if you are here and got to the end of this troubled review it's because you 1) are a very patient person 2) you already read the other books, and like the junkie addicted to beautiful books you are, you couldn't just pass on this. And believe me when I tell you, you don't want to miss this.

I'm not sure how Laura does it but it's the kind of book you just forget you are reading.
You know that feeling when you are aware of your eyes moving on the pages but your mind is so enthralled you don't see words anymore, but entire worlds in your mind?
Yes peeps, that's what I'm talking about.
Run.




19/10/2018
I am no longer living, for I am in the land of those who died from happiness and hype.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange of an honest, digrassive and over-the-top review .

The Queen Herself has listened to my dramatic pleas and has given me an ARC .
No, I'm not worthy, but I intend to worship this ARC as if it's the last slice of pizza on this Earth. Fervently and salivating.
*Googles how to write a decent review, it's kinda imperative this time*

[ If you scroll at the end of this diarrea of words you'll see the power of the Bargainer knows no limits.
Exactly one year ago, in 2017, I asked him to give me Dark Harmony. He granted my wish.
Now I'll be forever his, Des, you know the drill, feel free to take whenever.]

25/09/2018
'KAY PEOPLE. THE END IS HERE
LAURA HAS SPOKEN.
Pre-order is going to be out these days and I don't think I truly understand the meaning of it. Am I dreaming?
Does my mind, body and soul even know what it feels not to wait anymore? Am I going to be able to survive this? I need instructions, send help. And puppies.

15/08/18
Update for THE RELEASE OF THIS BABE from Laura's facebook page!

"Oh haaaay! I'm back! Sorry I haven't popped in sooner. I'm pounding out the final few chapters of Dark Harmony, and I'm really really hoping to be wrapping up the book in the next two weeks (fingers crossed for me!). Then it's a couple rounds of (hopefully quick) edits, then ARC copies go out! I'm hoping that by the end of August I'll have the pre-order up, and hopefully hopefully hopefully Dark Harmony will be out by mid-September (could be later, could be earlier, the Muse is in control of my timeline at this point). Keep all your fingers and toes crossed for me! This is my longest book yet, and I am kinda sorta in love with it. (I know, I know, I'm biased, but there you have it.) Sorry for the wait! Hugs to you all! 😘"

GUYS, IT'S A LONG-ASS BOOK. I. CAN'T. WAIT.

15/06/18
AAAAAAND WE HAVE A COVER. (*how can something be so pretty*)
AND THE SYNOPSIS. (*aaaaaaaaah*)

I'll start screaming in 3,2, on-

IT'S OFFICIAL: I'M SO EXCITED I MAY VOMIT. I CAN'T UNEXCITE MYSELF, NO TURNING BACK, I'LL WEAR THE HYPE LIKE IT'S THE LAST PIECE OF CLOTHING I OWN UNTIL THE RELEASE DATE, AND THEN I'LL KEEP SCREAMING WHILE READING THE BOOK.

BECAUSE THAT'S HOW I COPE: I don't .


27/10/17
*hysterical and delusional inner conversation*
because.. book deprivation is BAD FOR MY HEALTH

me: Bargainer, I would like to make a d-
Bargainer: Hello, love
me: *refrains from jumping his bones - barely* Bargainer, I would like to have "Dark Harmony" in my hands. Right now, please.
Bargainer: it's not even out yet, that's going to cost you
me: IT DOESN'T MATTER YOU ALREADY HAVE MY HEART AND SOUL
Bargainer: *slowly slips away because I have psychotic eyes and undoubtedly scary behaviour*

THE END.

Laura, do you think we could arrange that?
Pretty please. I'll give you my winter stash of dark chocolate.

HOW ABOUT THAT
IT'S A C-A-T-C-H.
I JUST NEED A DATE.

[Christina Loeffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 forever swooning stars!!!

Full review featured on my blog Recipe & a Read

I'm rounding down with this one with the caveat that I really wanted to round up but couldn't because while this series as a whole is fantastic, the third installment of the series left me wanting more from the plot and less of the romance.

Dark Harmony is the final installment of Callie and Des's long, sordid story and while it did leave me wanting a bit more it was an absolute knock out. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again: ending a story is way harder than starting one. Thalassa did a superb job of tying up all of the lose ends we had at the end of the second novel. While I felt the ending was a tad too neat it didn't leave any gaping plot holes or unanswered questions.

Secrets are meant for one soul to keep.

The Bargainer series follows the story of Callie and Des. The first installment following Callie's present day life and flashing back to her teenage years when her and the elusive Bargainer first began their friendship. After spending 7 years apart due to an unknowable choice Callie makes, things get saucy pretty quickly when Des barges right back into her life like a freight train. The Bargainer has sought out Callie's PI skills to help solve the mystery of sinister happenings in the Otherworld. Female Fae soldiers are showing up in glass caskets, not dead but not alive with children in their arms.

Resurrected kings, possessed soldiers, and a body-snatching Thief. It sounds nonsensical.

For years these soldiers sleep, unable to be woken. In the second installment of the series the mystery continues as Des and Callie grow closer and their love grows deeper they desperately search for The Thief of Souls - the elusive villain putting these soldiers into a seemingly eternal slumber. That brings us to Dark Harmony, in this final installment we're given the conclusion to the question of who The Thief of Souls is, what they want and how they got to where we are now. Past that, we're given the conclusion to Callie and Des's sweeping love story and it's swoon worthy to say the least.

Life flushes through his face, brightening his features, and I'm sure the world has no use for suns with a smile as bright as his.

This had all of the elements I was looking for so I was surprised to find myself hoping for just a bit more. I'll admit that it may be me and not the novel because I've switched up so much of what I've been reading recently and this falls outside of that. However, the first and second novel in this series absolutely blew my socks of and Des is probably the most heart-stopping male romance lead I've ever read. The romance between him and Callie is enough to turn anyone's pupils into hearts.

While this didn't have any shortage of romance I feel as though Thalassa got a little too caught up in the romance and the plot suffered for it. While I've never felt Thalassa's books were overtly formulaic this one played out exactly as I would've expected. There really weren't any moments where I thought to myself "well, I didn't see that coming" but rather that everything played out in a fairly predictable way. While the romance is what initially drew me to this series the plot is what kept me riveted in the first two novels. In Dark Harmony I found myself more often than not feeling like the sex scenes were frivolous and taking up pages I would've rather been devoted to plot and secondary character development.

However, despite a few hang ups this is an incredibly fun series and I highly suggest anyone with an interest in fantasy or romance to pick it up. It's a quick and easy read and an absolute page turner! There is a lot of humor and wit thrown in there and I found myself laughing out loud pretty regularly throughout all 3 installments. All of the characters here are genuinely likable and good people. They are layered and complicated and while I did wish for some more development into side-characters Thalassa has incredible skill in her craft!

[AℳY♔Queen of Fat cats♔Ain't no lie Baby Byebyebye · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥UPDATE 7♥ March 20 2020
The ebooks are still free!!! I don't know how much longer they'll be free but if you're reading this go and download ASAP! If you already own a copy sent one to your friends!!! They'll love you for life I swear!!!
RHAPSODY
STRANGE HYMN
DARK HARMONY
*kisses kindle app, free deals and corona virus*
♥UPDATE 6♥ March 17 2020
GUUUYSS
entire bargainer series is FREE!!! It's been FREE for a while so hurry up to download it.
*kisses kindle app*
This series is AWESOMETACULAR!! Believe me you don't want to miss Thalassa's sensei talent.
RHAPSODY
STRANGE HYMN
DARK HARMONY

♥UPDATE 5♥
GUUUUYSSSS!!! Goodreads ate my review!!! They left me with the one with less likes
Why don't they eat a.k.a merge all the reviews of double editions of other people???? Not fair



*recommends Rhapsodic to thousand of people in retaliation

♥UPDATE 4♥
BR still in progress, does anyone else want to join us?
♥UPDATE 3♥
Bae! I need more!!!!


Review to come: Brought to you by QT's Buddy reads. Looking cutier than the pets of our enemies since 2018



♥UPDATE 2!♥



GUYS!!! This. Is. NOT. A. Drilling!!!
I repeat
This. Is. NOT. A. Drilling!!!
This. Is. NOT. A. Drilling!!!

It's LIVE, IT'S LIVE!!!






Live and already on top of the charts!!! So happy for Thalassa-sensei!

Even better it's



For all of us in the KU elite!! We look all smug now!!


SMUG 'cuz it's FREE for us!!

Buddy read with the QT's!!!





♥ AL (Desmond QT)
♥ Parvati Patil (Desmond QT)
♥ Corinne (Desmond QT)
♥ Theresa (Desmond QT)
♥ Raven Blake (Desmond QT)
♥ Einar (Desmond QT)
♥ Sonya (Desmond QT)
♥ Jana (Desmond QT)
♥ AMY-chan, that's me (Desmond & Callie QT)
As of today 11-03♥ Kristin (Desmond QT)
♥ Brooke (Desmond QT)
♥ AJ Davis(Desmond QT)
♥ Rachel Beamin(Desmond and Callie QT)

Feel free to join us!! Just vote in favor BR! Say AYE on the comments!!

♥♥--♥♥--♥♥--♥♥--♥♥--♥♥--♥♥--♥♥--♥♥
♥UPDATE 1!♥
Guys! October 31st according to Thalassa sensei! You can preorder already!

I need Desmond cuties to join my Buddy read.



Join the coolest and cutest (if I say so myself) non-official Buddy read group in Goodreads

The incomparable:

*drums playing

Q-T's (pronounced cuties)




*covers ears due to deafening ovation

We're going to be reading the final book of the AMYzing bargainer series by the fabulous Thalassa-sensei.

*covers ears due to deafening ovation

Join our BR starting on October 31st. I'll link all your reviews to my own and we can send off Desmond and Callie with style and love.

You don't have to sign up to any group or do anything. As long as you love this series. All you have to do is say aye. Comments and likes during BR appreciated but not required.

So who wants to join the Q-T's and buddy read with us?

Say AYE!


♥♥--♥♥--♥♥--♥♥--♥♥--♥♥--♥♥--♥♥--♥♥

ORIGINAL REVIEW

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh! The covers were consistent and match perfectly.


I wish I could say the same about other book series.

*coughs An ember in the ashes*coughs

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnyywaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyy

♥ Blurb reveal? Checked


♥ Cover reveal? Checked



♥ Excited fans fangirling? Checked







And the publication date?



Merged review:

Bae!! Bae!!!

This review is brought to you by QT's Buddy reads: Looking cutier than the pets of our enemies since 2018



Overall enjoyment: 5 stars!!
Epilogue: 4 stars!!

Average: 4.5 bae stars!!!
Longer epilogue, more Temper, more action and less sex and this would've been the best book of the year even above Pestilence, which if you haven't read you should go and read ASAP. Thalassa sensei is a writing goddess, she's so so good, I really enjoyed Dark Harmony, I'm just becoming nitpicky as I grow older.


I need more! Novellas maybe? Pretty Please!!!

♥-♥-♥Pre-reading review♥-♥-♥

Guys!!! Our Dark Harmony BR has just started!!

♥ AL (Desmond QT)
♥ Parvati Patil (Desmond QT)
♥ Corinne (Desmond QT)
♥ Theresa (Desmond QT)
♥ Raven Blake (Desmond QT)
♥ Einar (Desmond QT)
♥ Sonya (Desmond QT)
♥ Jana (Desmond QT)
As of today 11-03♥ Kristin (Desmond QT)
♥ Brooke (Desmond QT)
♥ AJ Davis(Desmond QT)
♥ AMY-chan, that's me (Desmond & Callie QT)

If I'm missing someone please forgive me, my brain isn't functioning well.


Who else wants to join us? Vote in favor saying AYE!!! .




Join the coolest and cutest (if I say so myself) non-official Buddy read group in Goodreads

The incomparable:

*drums playing

Q-T's (pronounced cuties)




*covers ears due to deafening ovation




I'll post my review here!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a little witch and today is like a celebration and tomorrow and maybe Friday too. I'll post my updates this weekend.

OFFTOPIC

You can also sign up for Pain (curse of the gods 5) BR

[Kat valentine ( Katsbookcornerreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fabulous ending to this epic series!!!! I Have so enjoyed this series!!! The characters are so intriguing and the night kingdom and and it's people beautiful and magical. Des and Callie's love story was everything I love ,it had hot steamy sex,awesome chemistry,humor and great banter and the cherry on top was a love story and the happily ever after!!! The bad guys were evil as f##k,but provided a action packed read that I will remember for awhile. Laura Thalassa night kingdom is fabulous and her writing is excellent. It takes a awesome writer to hold my attention thur three books!! Can't wait read more of this author's books. I'm a fan for life!💖💋

[Mónica BQ · Rating 1 out of 5]

For all of it's problems, Rhapsodic was fun. I had liked it.

But the thing is with each passing book in the series the writing got tiring. The over the top declarations of love lacklustre. The mystery a bore. The sex repetitive. I feel like this entire story got stretched so much that in the end it got lost. This could have easily have been a duology. There just wasn't a need for 4 books of nothing new.

And I maintain all of my points from my previous review. Desmond is the worst king and Callie the worst detective.

An overall disappointing series that had an inkling of promise at the beginning. Do not recommend.

[• Lindsey Dahling • · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, do I love this series. I love it so much that I don’t even care about the massive book hangover it gives me every. single. time.

I know I’ve found something really special in a book when three things happen:

1. I think about it any time I’m NOT reading it. At work, at the store, at the doctor, in the shower, etc.

2. I only tell my BFFs to read it. They’re the only ones I trust to love and appreciate it as much as I do.

3. I feel jealous of people who are reading it for the first time because that’s always the absolute best. The rushing through pages, butterflies in the pit of your stomach, can’t-sleep-because-you-have-to-know-what-happens-next feeling only happens the first go around and can’t be replicated in rereads. (I would imagine this is what they mean when they say drug addicts continue using in hopes of recreating that first high.)


The Bargainer series was really something. I loved it in ways I didn’t expect. It now joins the short list of books that will turn me into the heavy breathing cat any time someone speaks of it within a 20 foot radius.

[Tracy D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars because Des.

That's been my review for well over a year on Goodreads, waiting for Dark Harmony to release. Yeah, my review isn't really gonna change. I'm pretty much at a loss for words, this book was everything. Just everything I could've asked for.

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than book two but I don't think it was better than book one. Overall, I was only into this series because, let's be real, it's basically just a fun, easy read that's pretty much identical to ACOTAR and the writing is easy and the characters and world are digestible, so it's a mindless read that's fun and cringy without ever being painful to read.

I liked that Callie and Des worked together a lot more in this book, but I was never really blown away by their dynamic other than the small moments between them that had cute dialogue. I was actually kinda hesitant with their relationship in this book because it talks soooo much about how Des was with her when she was 16 and it started to sound more and more like he was attracted to her back then when she was a minor and he was like 100 years old soooo..... I wasn't a fan how that was implied so often. But otherwise, Des and Callie were just as fun to read about in this book as they were before.

The plot of this was actually cool and interesting and I never felt like things were underexplained or bland like in the previous books. It was easy following along and I had no trouble with the storyline or with suspending my disbelief.

However, I just can't rate this higher than three stars because the writing is sooooo cringy. This is urban fantasy and Callie is human, so she uses a lot of colloquial phrases in an otherwise very dark, mythical fantasy story, and it's just so awkward a lot of the time and her dialogue often was so uncomfortable I had to close the book and groan. But again, those moments made the story that much more addicting to read, not something that would deter me from reading anything from this author again. Still, it's not my preference.

I think this was a solid conclusion to the series even though it became a bit typical with melodrama and extra cheesy interactions between the main couple. The conflict was nice to see finally resolved and I really can't even recall any major specific complaints I had with this. It was just an easy read, even though it won't be something I enthusiastically recommend.

[dia💋 · Rating 1 out of 5]

i hate this series with my entire heart and all my humanity. the ministry of health should warn everyone that this book is causing endless pain.

are you looking for a book series after which you will need a brainwash or eye surgery? i found it for you.

trigger warnings: headaches, the possibility of insanity or hysteria, harm to your mental health and questioning human existence

finally is this suffering over. such a waste of paper, a waste of my valuable time and a waste of my storage on the phone.

[Ashlee » libraryinthecountry · Rating 5 out of 5]

View review on my blog, Library in the Country
Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

"I have a secret."

Let me preface this by saying that The Bargainer series is one of my all-time favorite series (we're talking like top three guys, these books are a big deal to me) so I had a lot of expectations going into this. Let me respond to that by saying that it did not disappoint. Seriously, I cannot get over how perfectly Laura has wrapped up Callie and Des' story.

"There will always be bad men, and they will take and take and take. But so will I. People like us are not victims. We're someone's nightmare."

After the explosive and emotional ending of A Strange Hymn, the Thief of Souls still plagues Callie's dreams and Des' kingdom is under the greatest threat it has ever faced. Callie and Des must piece together the clues they've been given to track down the Thief of Souls and put an end to his torments.

Now for the part of the review you're all waiting for: HOLY. GODS. This was a wild-ride! This book has everything I've come to expect from Laura Thalassa: witty comebacks, an air of mystery, shameless sensuality (LOTS OF IT), heartwarming romance, emotional turmoil, fiery and utterly terrifying women and villains that make your skin crawl.

I truly loved how much this story focused on Callie's siren nature and her learning to embrace her powers. YASSSS GURL. Callie's character ARC completes itself in this story and she truly becomes a force to be reckoned with, a nightmare, everything she was made to be. I've always loved how Des has willed Callie to welcome who she is and has never let his presence overshadow her. They have always felt like partners to me and it was no different in this book. While many of us are here for the ever charismatic Desmond Flynn, it is Callie's character that shines in this.

That said, Des is as satisfying as ever. I swear every time he uttered the words "ah, ah, ah" or asked one of his rhetorical questions I melted a little inside. Who needs a book boyfriend when you can kidnap Desmond Flynn and make him your book husband? Hah. Kidnap Desmond Flynn. Sure. You should be forewarned that Des gets a little feral and extra carnal in this, his fae nature is being pressured and he does rule over the night and everything that happens within it, after all. That said, I loved every little bit of it.

Furthermore, one of the BEST parts of this story is Temper. Get yourself a best friend that's a crazy sorceress who will help you take down your enemies. I have always loved Temper's character and there were subtle hints that there is more to her story. Fingers crossed that Laura gives us more of Temper AND Malaki. (Also: Malaki, looks like he could kill you but is really a cinnamon roll, just saying...)

"Even shadows can deceive and gods can die."

By the end of this story we are reminded once again that behind his crown Des is the ever-calculating Bargainer. For every secret you hold, he has a dozen. Nothing gets past him and he has a plan for every scenario. Seriously, there is a part near the end that will probably have you flying out of your seat and cheering with delight.

I'd also like to just say: the Thief of Souls … I KNEW IT. He has worn many faces but he was also exactly who I thought he would be! I was freaking out a little when his identity started piecing itself together more because all of my theories were totally validated.

Also - have you read Laura's The Unearthly series? These two series take place in the same world and there was a juicy little Easter egg dropped about that story as well!

In finality, an epic conclusion to an epic series. How will I go on with my life knowing I'm no longer waiting for more books about Callie and Des? The only thing that shall tide me over is knowing Laura Thalassa is out there, writing more stories with wonderfully devastating characters such as these. Excuse me while I super glue this to my favorites shelf because it's never allowed to leave.

AND THAT PROLOGUE YO.

[Brittany · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated every second if it. I enjoyed the first two but I could barely finish this one. I found myself constantly rolling my eyes and skipping pages as they had zero to do with the outcome of the story. We get it, they like sex. The book constantly veered from the story arc to depict fairy porn. I'm all for a good sex scene but there were way too many and didn't add anything to the story. How many times do we have to read six pages about them having sex? Every other chapter apparently (yes, it's an exaggeration but not by much). I didn't feel the love between them, just two horny people severely in lust. Also, Temper. Apparently she's a bad ass and it's repeated over and over and over again. The "Bitch, I'm the best" writing just came off as trying too hard. I love empowered woman but it was such an effort to be cool only to fail in the attempt. It became annoying and I started cringing when Temper would enter a scene. I'm glad the series is over and I can move on. The characters became unlikeable and it was a job to finish the book and the only reason I did is because I was interested in learning the mystery behind the Thief. I probably could have read two pages on him and been satisfied with the book.

[Apoorva · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Am I the only one or does anyone else want a book (or a series or two) based on Janus Soleil? Just me? Oh what the hell then, I ain't changing my mind at ALL. He deserves one.

To be honest, I thought I had a lot to say about this book, but now I realize that if I say it, I'll eventually end up spoiling everything 🙈 and we don't want that, now do we? (But I may end up writing it without the spoiler effect...... someday in the future).

But I'll still say this, I liked this book and I, personally thought that it was an alright end to the series, though it could've been longer and more revelatory in every sense (the book I mean)......but that's just me being greedy, nosy and curious.

Desmond Flynn was just that again- Desmond Flynn. But, I personally felt that this was more about Callie than Des, more about how she empowered herself and took what was planned for her all along, but that doesn't mean that Desmond wasn't as pivotal character because, he so fucking was. When you read it, you'll know it 😌

And because I'm a sucker for the sweet romance that took place in these books (which is really subjective to my mood at the moment, because with me, you never know if in the next instant, I'd be hating it like a raving mad witch) AND I have been relating this song to their love story for a really long time now- Euphoria by Jungkook (BTS).

And if you hear the sound of someone softly sobbing in the background because she just freaking LOVES this song so much, it'd probably be yours truly.


*Spoiler-ish*
Everyone: Thief of Souls. Thief of Soulssss.
Me, during the initial books: Oh hell, is he a friggin' God or something?
Me, after reading this book*sips coffee*: I ain't laughing.

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

EDIT 03/22/19
Buddy read with the QT's

AMY's review was censored for no reason. She had two separate posts, one with our Buddy read links and another for her thoughts after reading. The Buddy Read post had over 100 likes and it was the top review for Dark Harmony, but Goodreads merged the reviews and the likes dropped to 40. Then they suppressed her review altogether.

Link to AMY's merged review here

#PassiveAggressive
============================================
Pre-reading thoughts
Finally we got a cover and synopsis. I can't wait.

[Zeph rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I have read such a refreshing fantasy series! I was so engrossssssed!! I loved it<3 would definitely recommend

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but not great

It was good, but I'm kinda disappointed to be honest. The first two books were so revolutionary and fantastic that I expected the same of this one. There were too many sex scenes with too little movement in the actual story. The storyline seemed to drag on and on while I was just waiting for more action. There were many parts were the whole book seemed to pause and wait for the two many characters to play lovefest. Everyone was freaking dying and then they went on vacation to have lots of sex. Plus there was tons of unanswered questions that were just glossed over. The author focused so much on Callie and Des, that she neglected what the hell happened to the rest of the world around them. Yea sure, I love these characters but the entire world was burning down around them and not much was said about it. Plus there were many parts were it was wholly and grossly predictable. Still, I've glad I read this book and finished this series. I'm glad Callie and Des got their happy ending because it was well deserved.

[Lucie V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

✅ Characters
✅ Action
✅🆗 Intrigue / Politics
✅🆗 Romance / Smut
✅🆗 Plot
🆗 World-building
🆗❌ Ending / Defeating the villain

3.5 stars

This is it! Finally! The grand evil scheme has been revealed.

The soldiers in the coffins are awake... and they are mass murdering everyone in their path, they seek destruction and they bring chaos. Why am I not surprised?

We all saw it coming. Strange man puts thousands of soldiers into a magical coma and no one thought that they might someday wake up and obey him? No one thought that he might have planned for them to keep the sleeping soldier? But don't worry, Callie was there to save the day since she can now use her powers on fae. That's amazing! So instead of helping the other kingdoms, she and Desmond go on a little sex vacation together and they are astounded when they find out that several kingdoms fell and were destroyed by the sleeping soldiers...

I liked the sexual tension between Callie and Desmond in Rhapsodic, but the story moved on, now is not the time anymore for teasing, sexual tension, and sex three times a day (with so much awkward sexual talk by the way...).

The ending was also a little weak. The good conquered the evil, but only because the evil was so curious to see how it would feel like to be under the power of Callie that he basically asked her to control him... He may have been obsessed with her, but he is a clever man and I just don't understand why he would be so reckless and stupid so close to the end of his big plan that he spent ten years on.

I liked this book, but the plot was weak and it still was not as good as the first book.


1. Rhapsodic ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. A Strange Hymn ⭐⭐⭐.5


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[♠ TABI⁷ ♠ · Rating 2 out of 5]

No quotes, no gif, just the happiness that I'm DONE with this series that started off mediocre and then, as it progressed, fell lower than that. It was a decent time-passer, but I have read much better.

[Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews] · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 3.5/4 stars to Dark Harmony

“I love you, Callie, down to every last feather and scale. I love your humour and your most coveted dreams. And I love how you love me-wholly, deeply, passionately. You’re not normal; you’ll never be normal. I’m so sorry to tell you that. You are so blindingly extraordinary that it physically hurts me sometimes, and I’ll never stop pushing you to believe this.”

In saving Callie from a calculated death, her soulmate Desmond Flynn has only endangered her to a fate worse than death, because now the man who has many faces has power over her, susceptible to his magic she is running from a man who has targeted her for dominion, always watching, always seeing even in the realm of dreams. Though drinking the condemning lilac wine has helped Callie in extending the reach of her seductively sinister power, it has damned her to the harshest the otherworld can offer: The Thief of souls.

“Do the dead ever really die?”

The dauntless Bargainer fears for his mate’s life. Facing life-like nightmares every time Callie’s head touches a pillow, Des is powerless to fight for Callie when both are up against a force that is considerably more formidable than they together - another man of darkness. Des’s darkness might not be enough especially when his magic has conscious desires of its own…and not even the darkness can be entrusted.

“What your mate missed is this: the truest pain comes with life, not death.”

‘Night’s falling here, and for once since I met Des, the darkness doesn’t feel welcoming.’

Orchestrating Callie’s moves since this matchless siren caught his attention, the anonymous Thief is waiting, and Callie knows that the wait won’t be long before she meets the trespasser of her dreams and the persecutor of the Otherworld, the man who wants to break everything. A man who governs her dreams, her mate who can’t wake her from them and a former king who wants to abolish them from her, Callie has to take charge of this unfeasible situation, righting an intolerable wrong and avenging a far-reaching, deep-rooted assault on her heart…and the dominos are tumbling around her.

‘And yet I still don’t get to have this life. The easy, uncomplicated one. I might be living a fairytale, but fairytales aren’t just full of princes and fair maidens and moonlit weddings. They are full of monsters too. Monsters and violence and terror and death…
Tonight is the beginning of something…but I fear – I fear it is also the end.’

With their magic now aligned, their inextricable bond pulsing with new life and strength, Callie and Des are bound to each other by a soul bond, but also bound to the kingdom they rule because it’s falling into malevolent hands mightier than any king. The sleeping soldiers are awake, seized, with loyalties to only one, with one goal in mind: to slaughter and kill, defeat and annihilate wherever their master leads them…and to every kingdom.

“You are in my realm, enchantress. Here we play by my rules.”

No longer does our sweet siren carry the beads dancing around her wrist. No longer is she the mortal with limited power. No longer is her sceptical heart maimed by the deserted years without her appallingly impish fairy. Callie showcases her own brand of dark power, unleashing her reserves of inner strength and letting loose all that her siren’s dark dominance and despicably wicked nature has to give. Callie enforces power over the wretched men the world has to offer, bringing them to their feeble knees for the siren to ravage. Callie accepts her roots, freeing her unbridled desires to take on the rivals wishing to sever her and her mate apart.

“There are certain things in life that fade with time, he says, his gaze locked on mine. “What we have, Callie, isn’t one of those things.”

“You’ve done it, cherub. You’ve become someone to fear.”

Callypso Lillis is a wonderfully pure protagonist with dark impulses, and an even darker dual nature. A favourite female lead, Callie always rises to the occasion, strong when she needs to be, and unguarded in the arms of the man who palliates her grief. She is strikingly delightful with a quirky, bright, yet dark sense of humour which never fails to pull laughs from me, wishing I had a friend much like her. Always lightening a situation with her wit, I love her character, I love her even more in a leading role, and she is the perfect (for lack of a better word) fit for Desmond Flynn.

“You don’t know who you are?” The Bargainer’s voice drops low. “You’re Callypso Lillis, plain and simple. You were her yesterday, you’ll be her tomorrow. It’s up to you to decide what being you actually means. No one else can do that for you. Not the man who gave you those wings, not the man who’s hunting you. Not your stepfather. Not even me.
Be whatever you choose to be, cherub, make it count.”

Desmond Flynn is a raunchy reprobate, ever the enigmatic fairy with a dry, sinful humour to counter Callie’s, but often indulging in the alikeness of Callie’s devilish behaviour. He’s severe and uncompromising, delighted by chaos and menace, but reserves his heart, his tenderness, his love for only Callie and the few he trusts. He is kind and generous behind his mask of invincible law-breaker. Charismatic and witty, handsomely alluring and impiously sexy, Desmond Flynn is a fine male lead, engaging and cryptic in his manoeuvrings. This series would not have been the same without Des… he and Callie both make this series what it is.

“In my imaginings, we did this. I scrubbed the world’s filth off of you, until you were just you in my arms.”

“Cherub, you’re every wish of mine.”

The romance was what initially drew me into this series, alongside the two personalities the romance captured. This book however relied a bit too much on romance and sex, the author seeming to get carried away in what Des and Callie have (not that I mind because their idolised romance has always been at the forefront much to my appreciation) – but to the point where the plot was at times forsaken, and the characters would make odd and unrealistic choices in the midst of war, that which seemed out of place, seemingly unmindful of the urgencies that should have been at the spotlighted for them.

“The way fairies love…it’s the same way we live. It’s immortal, violent, irrational and unbendable.”

As invested as I am in the characters, the side characters could have used more examination. I felt that they were deficient in depth, potentially because we don’t know great deal about their backstory. Temper is an ideal example, we know she is Callie’s best friend, but their friendship seemed stationary, perhaps because their relationship had been established long ago, but I found myself wanting more from them. We are given suggestion and morsels of dialogue to taste but not enough to know of Temper’s past, what she is running from or her own troubles, which Callie has made much reference to. Perhaps this could be intentional, the author gearing up for a companion series for Malaki and Temper…?

“What am I supposed to do?” I ask, my voice raw.
“Rule. Rule and save us.”

Callie is exemplary. From the start Callie’s story was about surviving the men who took relentlessly from her, who kept taking until she grew bold enough to take back. It’s about her facing, defying and exacting righteousness, not only for her own sufferings, but for the many victims surviving similar fates. She has always been imperilled by the worst men can offer, taunting her, victimising her, abusing her for what she is and what she can offer them. She is bravely empowering, and as Des would say a “beautiful disaster” in all the right ways. She is symbolic of the unsubdued strength and the kind of unbeatable power that comes with believing in and having the mind of a survivor. She cuts down men who exploit and mistreat, who are violently assertive, and shows them just who has the upper hand.

“Your will is mine.”

Ending this tremendous series, ‘Dark Harmony’ finished on a proud message of the favourably quenching and gratifying. It was exciting, and though the following events were anticipated and inevitable, nothing detracted from the impact those events had, or the unfolding of the story. It fed me in idyllic ways, it pulled me in with dreamy dialogue, it thrilled me with action and chaos, but most of all it tore constant laughs from me which always exalts a novel for me, because humour usually makes a book no matter the circumstance. Desmond and Callie are inspirational, and I couldn’t have asked for a sounder conclusion for them.

“Love you so much, Callie,” he breathes. “Would’ve waited an eternity of it meant finding you.
“I would’ve walked through hell to find you,” I whisper.
“You did, cherub, you did.”

‘Dark Harmony’ was a darkly harmonious culmination to a much-loved series depicting a much-loved couple made from darkness and tragedy, destined to find each other and accomplish what the fates had installed for them and what once would have been insurmountable. It was amazing!

‘As I stare at him, I think about that old vow, the one that got me into trouble. “From flame to ashes, dawn to dusk, for the rest of our lives, be mine always, Desmond Flynn.”
He kisses my lips. “Until darkness dies.”

Favourite Parts:

1) Callie bringing Typhus Henbane to his knees.
2) Harry Potter references!
3) Poor Callie…but best drunk scene ever.
4) Des redecorating Cellie’s beach house.
5) Des’s proposal.
6) Callie doing body shots off of Des…
7) Des and Callie getting married in the Temple of Lyra.
8) Every time Des fashioned something from the heavens.
9) Des’s tattoos symbolising Callie.
10) Callie serving justice to Galleghar.
11) ‘My Great Goddess of Fuckery and Other Magical Things.’
12) ‘Oh Dark Queen Who Thinks I’m a Douchebucket of the Most Epic Proportions.’
13) ‘Galleghar O’Malleghar, King of Asshats, Killer of Boners, Wannabe Emperor Who Needs to Eat a Bag of Dicks and Die.’

Favourite Quotes:

“I will be there through it all, and I will tease you and infuriate you, and lavish you with whatever it is your heart desires because the only thing mine desires is you.”

“It’s not enough to be mated to you, “he says, “I want it all, if only you’ll have me.”

“I’m going to marry you.” I get a little zing of excitement just saying the words.
“I’m going to marry the shit out of you,” he agrees.

“There are two kinds of predators,” I say softly. “One who chases after prey, and one who coaxes their prey to them.”

“Why, why, why? You creatures and your need to have orderly, logical answers. When someone falls in love, is it logical? And when they blindly hate, is that logical either? Your deepest drives are based on nothing. What you’re asking for is an explanation for the unexplainable.”

‘Maybe there will always be darkness and shadows and all those things happen when the sun goes down. Maybe night will always be waiting to swallow up the earth, but today - Darkness died.’

“There are many uncertainties in life, but this one thing holds true: I will always come back to you, cherub.”

“It’s not in the nature of shadows to be disloyal – even to terrible creatures – but they learned what it was like to exist outside of fear, and that is not something you can forget.”

“Even before I could really use my power, I spoke to the darkness. They were my first friends.”

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy Shamoly!!! That was bloody HOT!!!

I really enjoyed The Bargainer series and I'm sad to see it come to an end. The characters were original, the storyline kept me entertained from beginning to end and the sexual shenanigans were HOT!!

This is the second audio I've listened to where a second narrator makes a one chapter appearance. WHAT THE HECK IS THAT ABOUT??? What's the point? The fact that it's Susannah Jones narrating for the majority of the story, why would you even bother? Ms Jones is one of my favourite narrators and I think she can convincingly perform both the female and male characters. Not that Jay Ben Markson did a bad job for the two seconds (or what felt like it) he performed, it just seemed a little pointless. I'm not sure I'm a fan of this new fandangled (to me) approach to narrating. If you're going to have two narrators, bloody use two narrators.

I gave Dark Harmony four stars instead of five stars because I thought the epic battle between foes was a little off, to be honest. I mean we've finally put all the pieces together, worked out who The Thief is and it just fizzled out. My heart wasn't pumping. I wasn't thinking that...maybe good wouldn't overcome evil. It just felt a little anti-climatic and missing the kaboom I was expecting. I enjoyed every step of the journey to the fight, just not the actual fight. I mean seriously, The Thief had been playing havoc for so long he deserved a million years of suffering and torture. It was so blah, I can't even remember how it ended.

Loved Cally and Des together and thought their love and devotion to each other was amazing. Observing Cally come into her powers made her even more exceptional and I loved her games in manipulation. Des is a little bit bad but in an *OH SO GOOD WAY!!* I loved Des' insatiable need for Calypso and his protective, adoring and devoted ways. The two of them are the best kind of para/fantasy couples where she plays just as an important role as him.

If you haven't tried a Laura Thalassa story or series yet, I highly recommend checking The Bargainer out.

[ira ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I finished.... Oh my god.

I'm so unspeakably, unbearably, impossibly happy.

[Disclaimer: I was graciously given an ARC for an honest review, and here it is - as honest as it can be, plucked straight from my heart.]
How do I even begin to describe this book? How does one describe perfection, anyway - can that feeling of reading something so special, so amazing, so touching and good even be put into words? But I'll try - for Laura Thalassa, who gave us this breathtaking story, and for The Bargainer characters. But most of all, for Des and Callie - and for myself, so I can come back to this everytime I'm sad, everytime I need a reminder that Dark Harmony exists to make everything better.
It was - and that's putting it mildly - STUNNING. A gorgeous, delightful, delicious book. My heart did the most elaborate gymnastics as I was reading, going from beating too fast to soaring to diving to nearly flatlining. All of that in the span of a single book!!!!! PHEW!!!!!!
The writing? Amazing. Laura's outdone herself. All the characters (if any of you had some objections before) are so fleshed out, so complex, so interesting and RICH, carrying their own vibe that's nothing like the others'. I loved, loved, LOVED Temper in this one - THIS IS ONE BADASS BITCH!!!!!!! AND I'M HERE FOR IT!!!!! I also loved Malaki - a teeny tiny door is opened into his character and backstory (+ purpose) and it was absolutely DELIGHTFUL. Surprisingly, I also loved Janus who's like Des' counterpart... and I wasn't so fond of before, but Laura has the ability to make you fall in love with her characters before you can even say "BUT-".
Now about the story itself... It picks up from where it left off - no delaying, no dilly-dallying. We're thrown into the intensity of a war with a terrifying and mysterious figure known as the Thief of Souls (honestly the amount of times I heard myself say "When is this mf gonna croak" throughout the book...). There's also an old enemy, one that's a bit more familiar to the characters - Des's excuse of a father, the previous King of the Night Kingdom. And smack in the middle of that are Des and Callie, two beautiful soulmates who are trying to navigate their way through bloodshed and elaborate political plots, horror and their new bond that's been created between them, amplifying what they already have - which is unshakeable trust and overwhelming, neverending love based on years of friendship. There were so many moments where I screamed, I cried, I laughed, I even cried happy tears!!! And it's all thanks to Laura's ability to combine darkness and light - and she does it so well, so seamlessly that I found myself pausing just to marvel at that uncanny combo that felt so... natural. So alluring and yet so foreign but exciting all the same. The ending was a blast, and my heart was pounding so fast I really, REALLY couldn't breathe - it goes from 0 to a 100 in the blink of an eye. It was SO SMART too I was just!!!!!!!! Like, I had some theories but nothing, NOTHING could have prepared me for what actually happened. And for this book as a whole. The fantasy elements were so cool, so brillant and maybe it even features bits and threads of my favorite myth... Except dark and twisted, because that's how everything is in the Otherworld - and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Last but not least... Des and Callie. DesCallie. These two... These two are unprecedented and they are the pillar of the series, that thing that enchants everyone, making them fall in love - but beyond that, making everyone fall in love with THEIR love. I couldn't breathe at the amount of times they were soft and precious, intense and hot, always supporting each other - always, always, always, without question. I'm not going to give you any spoilers but if you've had any theories, any predictions - leave them behind, because they exceeded even my wildest dreams, crushing my hope just to give me something new, bigger, make me dream and laugh and cry as their love grew and blossomed into something so pure, so beautiful, and yet so entirely and uniquely THEIRS. I've never, EVER encountered a book couple quite like them - and I have a few faves I thought no one was going to dethrone. And you know what? I don't mind. I don't mind that one bit. You're going to be so, so, SO happy - as the story goes but also after it's over, even if it's a bittersweet feeling BECAUSE it's ending. Darkness never dies - and even when it does, there's always a way to strike a deal with The Bargainer to barter for some light...
I want to brush on their personal arcs too, because that - THAT is what really blew my mind. Des is Des - ever so cunning, tantalizing, inviting in a way only trouble is, seductive, mysterious, beautiful. He does things that made me gasp and lie awake at night because I couldn't believe he was that smart, that bold, that... fae! But not just - he's so much more than his nature, he's so much more than a single title. He's also Callie's biggest cheerleader as SHE develops as a character, because listen - as much as I love Des, she was the star of the show, and he was so damn happy to step aside and let her do her thing, to steal her light because that's what she was MEANT to do. He realized her greatness, he always has - but he loved her enough to never let that knowledge smother HER, to never overshadow her or pressure her. He let her grow on her own, and she became into something so beautiful and mesmerizing, so powerful it took EVERYONE's breath away, including his - and mine, obviously. You know those couples where one party promises the other equality but somehow they still have a leverage over them, there's still some sort of power imbalance in the relationship? There's nothing like that here - Desmond told Callie he believed in her and STEPPED ASIDE TO LET HER SHINE. And boy, did she SHINE.
Callie's character development... She's officially my favorite female character. She went from a broken, insecure, troubled girl to a strong, confident, merciless (but for all the right reasons), delightfully wicked creature and she did that all on her own: others might have given her parts of her appearance, but SHE pushed herself, SHE unlocked her potential and embraced her power - the entirety of it, to the very last drop. She empowered herself, she CREATED herself - she created herself when time was running out, when so many terrible things were happening but she was the one who was in control - maybe not always of the situation, but of herself? No faltering, no turning back, no goody two shoes regret, no remorse for those who don't deserve it - all she did was go forward until she became something new entirely, powerful beyond measure, inspiring and breathtaking and yet so familiar and loved. She's still Callie - funny, kind, loving - but she's also something different; a version of herself that's been in the making for too long and it's finally ready to be set free. There were so many parts that were not only inspiring as hell but important - scenes and words that would ring true with many readers, quotes that would help and heal, moments that might give you courage - things that are so important for young girls to know. To not shy away from your potential, to learn that not all darkness is inherently bad, that it's not a bad thing for a female character to embrace her power to the fullest, and be so unashamed about it. Not a victim, never again - but someone's nightmare. Beautiful, beautiful nightmare.

I really, really can't thank Laura enough for writing this - I'm only sad it's over (for... now? Never say never, right!!) because I really don't know what to do with myself and I feel like I've lost something now - but I've also gained something, something wonderful and precious that's going to keep me up for many more nights to come.
Five solid stars of spun moonlight - if I could give it more, I would. If you've ever trusted my reviews or opinion - happy reading, cherubs. Trust me, you're going to LOVE this one.
And as Callie herself said once... I’m almost dizzy with joy. Have I ever been this happy in my entire life?

[TJ ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was my fav book of the series. Callie and Des found their rhythm as a couple and the Thief of Souls was a great villain. I'm glad I stuck around for him.

“I do miss the days when I thought you a simple slave. Perhaps when you are mine, I’ll pretend you still are one.” He catches one of my wrists. “You’ll wear metal cuffs and a collar like the slaves of old. And then you’ll be my enslaved enchantress, and together we’ll see just how close you can come to making someone like me feel affection.”

My fucked up ass:



I mean I'm glad he died but I enjoyed him while he was there. I loved how Callie drowned him Siren style, the poetry was *chef's kiss*

“Find me beneath the waves. Feel my watery kiss. Drown in my arms. Die for me, my undying king.”



Callie was way more badass in this one and can I offer a big fat hell yes at her becoming the most powerful creature in both worlds?



She also had some rly funny moments.
1. Her and Temper roasting Galleghar

Temper smirks. “What is your name again?” she asks him.
He curls his lip at her.
“Answer her,” I order.
He grinds his teeth. “Galleghar O’Malleghar, King of Asshats, Killer of Boners, Wannabe Emperor Who Needs to Eat a Bag of Dicks and Die.”



2. Her inner commentary mid-battle

Grabbing the hilt of my embedded dagger, the soldier rips it out of her throat.
Goddamn. That is way too hardcore for me.
Before my eyes, her wound begins to close. Are you fucking serious? I mean, I know that only seconds ago I was horrified at her death, but now, the broad just needs to go.

I found her a lot more enjoyable in this one and loveddd that epilogue. I'm v glad her and Des got their HEA

[RegencyEmma]

I need this, I need this NOW!

[Grace A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you enchant, mesmerize, fascinate and completely engross a reader with a love story in the middle of war, horror, injustice and darkness? Tell it like Laura Thalassa.
In this last instalment, battling the horror and nightmare, who was the thief of souls did not stop the sizzling, tantalizing and steamy love scenes.
The battle was fierce and claimed a lot of lives but In the end, loyalty, friendship, and love won; and evil 👿 was banished.
Most importantly, Callie and Des lived happily ever after (this part is how I envisioned they lived the rest of their lives).
Fabulous read! I had a blast 🚀

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

So here's the thing, why is there no date for when this book will be coming out? Do we need to contact the publisher? Because I will. Do you not want my preorder money? Because I'll throw it at you. Tell me how to help you make this happen for me. Thank you in advance.

[jenn *mother of dragon & snake* · Rating 4 out of 5]

*SCREAMS*

*SCREAMS*

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

What a ride.  The Bargainer series is one of my new favorite PNR series to date.  I devoured all three books in the series in four days, I was so invested.  

Dark Harmony is, like its title indicates, a bit on the darker side of things.  Desmond Flynn a.k.a. the Bargainer is King of the Night Court in Faery. He is not particularly kind; he is mischievous, deceitful and a tad bit wicked and completely makes the series.  Callie is his mate, part human and part Siren; her magic is fascinating. Together they make a dangerous duo, which is good since the Thief of Souls is looking to destroy Desmond and take Callie for himself, which seems a fate worse than death.  Let’s hope the King of the Night will find a way to level the playing field.

The Bargainer series is definitely PNR. The romance is the center of the story and it is captivating with plenty of sexy times to be had.  The side story, with women disappearing, only to show up asleep in caskets with a baby, the casket children who drink blood and prophesize, and male soldiers going missing never to be seen again was creepy and fascinating.  It is like a dark fairytale come to life and I couldn’t wait to find out how it would end.

Rhapsodic was a bit sweeter (except when it wasn’t); A Strange Hymn a little more cruel but Dark Harmony is seductive and brings the love story of Des and Callie to a fantastic conclusion.  My one and only complaint is maybe we spent just a smidge too much time in their love story and I wanted to get to the main showdown and find out how/if they would defeat the Thief of Souls.

Still getting to the end was bittersweet because I wanted to spend more time with Des and Callie.  I loved hanging out with Temperance, the totally badass witch who will march into hell for her best friend and Desmond’s right hand man Malaki the bringer of Nightmares. They were two very strong side characters in their own right. I was so enamored with the world this was set in, I would have loved to tour more of the Night Fae realm with the gang.  While I was very satisfied with the wrap up, I definitely could have still lingered in this world and for me that is a huge win for the author.

Is this series for you?  Well, did you enjoy ACOTAR but really wanted a grown-up version with better characters that were darker and less YA/NA-edness.  Then this is probably for you. I myself am looking forward to reading some of Laura Thalassa’s other stories with Dark Heroes after she did so well in both this series and Pestilence.  

“You’re not bait, love. The fire is the bait. You’re an iron-manacled trap set to crush willful fairies.”

“So, that’s how it feels to be glamoured by a siren,” he says, the corner of his mouth curving up just the slightest, “like I’ve been caught by my balls.” He comes in close, his smirk growing. “The whole thing was horribly invasive. I rather enjoyed it.”

Narration:
I first listened to Susannah Jones with the Rock Chicks series.  She is a good narrator who seems to have a lot of fun with the characters she is performing.  She was a perfect pick for Callie who makes pop culture references and calls it like she sees it.  She did a great job with all the main characters of this series. Jay Ben only makes a brief appearance in the few chapters from Desmond’s PoV, but he was a solid voice choice for the King of Night.

Listen to a clip:   HERE

[Candace Tidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Thalassa is a rock star. Dark Harmony exceeded all of expectations. My mouth may have hit the floor a couple times and I may have whooped out loud. (Just a side note the drool on my floor was from my great dane, not me. ;)) The storyline started off great and kept the momentum throughout the book. I devoured it. Callie is a rock star and she truly shines throughout the book. Also, let's not forget our King of Night... he's a complete badass! I'm going to keep this review simple. All you need to know is that this series is a great read. Theres never a dull moment.
So...buy the book or start at the beginning and then buy this book. You will love it.