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A Heart as Black as Cole
My looks were profitable.
My voice, too.
But talent didn't make a person successful.
It always came down to who you knew, and I knew lots of bad people in high places.
I sold my soul to a devil in a fancy suit.
And he put me in front of the world.
I was more than a rockstar; I was a pawn, and he had me exactly where he wanted me.
With my songs calling pretty fans to the darkness where devils like him waited.
It meant nothing to me, leading people who loved me into Hell...
But then one dug her way out...
And she changed everything.
My voice, too.
But talent didn't make a person successful.
It always came down to who you knew, and I knew lots of bad people in high places.
I sold my soul to a devil in a fancy suit.
And he put me in front of the world.
I was more than a rockstar; I was a pawn, and he had me exactly where he wanted me.
With my songs calling pretty fans to the darkness where devils like him waited.
It meant nothing to me, leading people who loved me into Hell...
But then one dug her way out...
And she changed everything.
861 pages, ebook
Published April 8, 2024
724 people are currently reading
4769 people want to read
About the author
Cori Zahara
13 books830 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 155 reviews
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April 29, 2024This isn't a book for everyone. If you have triggers, please pick something else. Your mental health matters, and this is an extremely dark read.
I tell stories as they are told to me, and often, that means they are grim and graphic...though there will be beautiful moments, too. We need some light in the darkness...but with my books, there is so much darkness.
A reader once told me, "There's dark, and then there's you." Please, keep that in mind before reading.
I tell stories as they are told to me, and often, that means they are grim and graphic...though there will be beautiful moments, too. We need some light in the darkness...but with my books, there is so much darkness.
A reader once told me, "There's dark, and then there's you." Please, keep that in mind before reading.
May 4, 2024
Check your TWs!!!
That’s your only warning.
- phenomenal, outstanding, unlike anything I’ve read this year.
Cori Zahara absolutely annihilated my heart with this book, it was dark, disturbing, depraved; and so fucking beautiful, seeing these two scarred people come together, left me feeling so many emotions at once, I needed some time to stew in those before committing to a review.
Cat took hold of my heart so easily, and readily, as if every bit of those moments were my own.
Remi made me want to scream & punch him, all the while kissing him because he too carried on his own traumatic experiences.
10/10 recommend if you have no triggers, and are into the darkest themes of fiction.
Trust me, by the end of the book; you’ll wonder if things will feel right again, because it’ll have wrung you out, a dozen times.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S. I’m sending Cori my therapy bill. Lol.
That’s your only warning.
- phenomenal, outstanding, unlike anything I’ve read this year.
Cori Zahara absolutely annihilated my heart with this book, it was dark, disturbing, depraved; and so fucking beautiful, seeing these two scarred people come together, left me feeling so many emotions at once, I needed some time to stew in those before committing to a review.
Cat took hold of my heart so easily, and readily, as if every bit of those moments were my own.
Remi made me want to scream & punch him, all the while kissing him because he too carried on his own traumatic experiences.
10/10 recommend if you have no triggers, and are into the darkest themes of fiction.
Trust me, by the end of the book; you’ll wonder if things will feel right again, because it’ll have wrung you out, a dozen times.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S. I’m sending Cori my therapy bill. Lol.
March 29, 2025
Cori did it again, she found another way to break me and also get me to fall in love with another mmc that I probably shouldn’t like and forgive 😭 please check your triggers for this book because it did have some of the darkest scenes, one chapter actually had a warning on it because of the stuff that happened which I can see trigger a lot of people. However this book was so beautifully written, and in a way where you were scared to find out what would happen next because of the background information you find out in the beginning of the story. But honestly, I would 100% recommend
March 29, 2024
I very inpatiently waited for Cori to finish this book. I was not disappointed in it, and it was definitely worth the wait.
It is very dark in nature, and there is a whole shopping list of trigger warnings. Check yourself and make sure that this book is right for you. Your mental health matters above all else.
Remington 'Remi' Cole is a famous rockstar who is used as a decoy to lure young girls into a human trafficking ring. All of that changes when he meets "the one," Catharina 'Cat' Sutter. He starts only caring about her and trying to help her. He doesn't do a very good job as he self medicates his past trauma with numerous drugs and alcohol. He loses her, and it takes 8 years for him to finally find her again. In that time, he teamed up with his "brothers" to try and take down the trafficking ring. He is completely sober now and only wants to save "his girl." She has no memory of him now due to an injury. He struggles with telling her about their past and ruining their current happiness. More twists happen, and you should read the book to have the full story.
Cori knocked it out of the park again, and I am so happy to sing her praises!
It is very dark in nature, and there is a whole shopping list of trigger warnings. Check yourself and make sure that this book is right for you. Your mental health matters above all else.
Remington 'Remi' Cole is a famous rockstar who is used as a decoy to lure young girls into a human trafficking ring. All of that changes when he meets "the one," Catharina 'Cat' Sutter. He starts only caring about her and trying to help her. He doesn't do a very good job as he self medicates his past trauma with numerous drugs and alcohol. He loses her, and it takes 8 years for him to finally find her again. In that time, he teamed up with his "brothers" to try and take down the trafficking ring. He is completely sober now and only wants to save "his girl." She has no memory of him now due to an injury. He struggles with telling her about their past and ruining their current happiness. More twists happen, and you should read the book to have the full story.
Cori knocked it out of the park again, and I am so happy to sing her praises!
April 4, 2024
CHECK 🖤 YOUR 🖤 TRIGGER 🖤 WARNINGS ‼️
Now that we've settled that let's talk about this story! This is my first book I've read from Cori and man she doesn't disappoint. I was given the opportunity to read for her even though there might be a spoiler from a previous read and lucky for me I didn't notice it.. well maybe? I don't even know 🤣. Oh whatever moving on.
If you want your heart ripped out, put together is the most graceful way this is a must read. Now I'll use "graceful" lightly because there's some heavy sh😩t in this story. Cori does an amazing job of tying everything up but leaving you needing more.
Will they? Will they not?
Rockstar with a hidden world?
This will make you think about what's happening around too!
Now that we've settled that let's talk about this story! This is my first book I've read from Cori and man she doesn't disappoint. I was given the opportunity to read for her even though there might be a spoiler from a previous read and lucky for me I didn't notice it.. well maybe? I don't even know 🤣. Oh whatever moving on.
If you want your heart ripped out, put together is the most graceful way this is a must read. Now I'll use "graceful" lightly because there's some heavy sh😩t in this story. Cori does an amazing job of tying everything up but leaving you needing more.
Will they? Will they not?
Rockstar with a hidden world?
This will make you think about what's happening around too!
December 30, 2025
“I’m going to go to sleep, and I hope you’re the one who wakes back up. You’ve kept my heart beating for so many years. It’s only fair I give those years back to you. You’ve always been my angel, but it’s time for me to be your angel now.”
🥺😭💔 IYKYK
Cori, you’ve wrecked me again and all I can do is thank you.
Now that I have had a little time to gather myself and thoughts, I will write my review.
For starters, I highly recommended reading The Darkness Beyond the Daisies before reading this if you care to read Daisies as things that happened in that will get spoiled in this one. I absolutely loved Daisies and was so eager to dive into this book so I could get more of this world and characters.
Well, this book was over 850 pages long and I finished it in two days if that says anything. I was so invested in Remi and Cat's story from start to finish and I did not want to put it down. I'm going to keep my review pretty vague as I don't want to spoil anything especially plot wise.
If you love a good DARK/pitch black romance with a broken/tortured MMC who is an addict and rockstar with stalker-like tendencies, you need to meet Remi. Certain circumstances catapult Cat, the FMC, into Remi's life and he develops an addiction to her that rivals his other addictions. Be warned many would say Remi is borderline or completely irredeemable but in my opinion, he has the best character growth, and I found myself having compassion and sympathy for him. Cat truly has been through the ringer and continues to do so but she is also extremely determined and resilient. I really liked her. Neither of these characters are perfect and they do make mistakes, but I think that's why I found it so easy to connection with them.
I don't want to go into more specifics about why this book really captured my attention as you just need to read it but I will say both of these MCs are deeply troubled and haunted/controlled by their traumas/past, but I couldn't help but find myself rooting for them and developing so much sympathy for their situations both together and individually. There is no shortage of action and plot development that only escalates the further you get into their story. In typical Cori fashion there was at least one plot twist that got me good and it's safe to say I cried/teared up several times.
I absolutely loved Cat and Remi. And I loved their love for each other. Remi truly redeemed himself in my eyes and I really appreciated how he took the time to help teach Cat to lover herself and her body. I couldn’t put this book down and I didn't want their story to end. The found family in this was also everything. I love this group of people so much and am dying to get more of them.
This is EXTREMELY dark (pitch black). Check the triggers before you read it.
🥺😭💔 IYKYK
Cori, you’ve wrecked me again and all I can do is thank you.
Now that I have had a little time to gather myself and thoughts, I will write my review.
For starters, I highly recommended reading The Darkness Beyond the Daisies before reading this if you care to read Daisies as things that happened in that will get spoiled in this one. I absolutely loved Daisies and was so eager to dive into this book so I could get more of this world and characters.
Well, this book was over 850 pages long and I finished it in two days if that says anything. I was so invested in Remi and Cat's story from start to finish and I did not want to put it down. I'm going to keep my review pretty vague as I don't want to spoil anything especially plot wise.
If you love a good DARK/pitch black romance with a broken/tortured MMC who is an addict and rockstar with stalker-like tendencies, you need to meet Remi. Certain circumstances catapult Cat, the FMC, into Remi's life and he develops an addiction to her that rivals his other addictions. Be warned many would say Remi is borderline or completely irredeemable but in my opinion, he has the best character growth, and I found myself having compassion and sympathy for him. Cat truly has been through the ringer and continues to do so but she is also extremely determined and resilient. I really liked her. Neither of these characters are perfect and they do make mistakes, but I think that's why I found it so easy to connection with them.
I don't want to go into more specifics about why this book really captured my attention as you just need to read it but I will say both of these MCs are deeply troubled and haunted/controlled by their traumas/past, but I couldn't help but find myself rooting for them and developing so much sympathy for their situations both together and individually. There is no shortage of action and plot development that only escalates the further you get into their story. In typical Cori fashion there was at least one plot twist that got me good and it's safe to say I cried/teared up several times.
I absolutely loved Cat and Remi. And I loved their love for each other. Remi truly redeemed himself in my eyes and I really appreciated how he took the time to help teach Cat to lover herself and her body. I couldn’t put this book down and I didn't want their story to end. The found family in this was also everything. I love this group of people so much and am dying to get more of them.
This is EXTREMELY dark (pitch black). Check the triggers before you read it.
March 21, 2025
This is the darkest book I've EVER read!!!
Check the TW‼️‼️
I'm very torn with this book, from the prologue it's describe Reno getting beaten up and it's very descriptive and graphic. Giving you an indication of how dark it's gonna be..... but it still cannot prepare you for some of the scenes I read.
The first half is Remi rescuing Cat, and then rekindling there love and you know he's keeping stuff from her, but she's happy he's being wonderful and your rooting for them......
The second half is set 12 years in the past...
Then the second half happens and she remembers the past........ wow..... he handed her over to trafficker for a bag of coke!!!!! then sees the abuse and does not help, repeatedly, he then rapes her and because of him she's given to the worse monster I've ever read about, for 11 YEARS!!!!
Hot pokers!!!!! 🙈😳🥺🥺😞
Second half of the book I hate him, he was abused himself but it didn't excuse all the things that happened to cat because of him. ALL the abuse she endured was because he handed her over, unforgivable. I just can't get past that, and struggle to see how Cat does??
All the things the he did which is why I can never forgive.
• hands her over to trafficker and leaves for a bag of drugs
•he walks away from her in the trafficker warehouse, witnesses a noose around her neck and blood dripping down her thigh from SA and walks away
•once she sold to a man, he initially stalks her, then pays said owner to spend the night, where he rapes her orally
• then owner pimps her out whilst Remi is passed out on the floor from drugs numerous times, and he knows she's being sold, and stilll chooses to do nothing.
•gets soo high that he chases her through the woods and rapes her vaginally
•lastly she gets sold to another owner and his two sons and wife, mutilate, sexually physically, mentally and emotionally abuse, and murder her unborn child. All to keep Remi in line.
By the end of the book we go back to present day. And Remi is the person we read about in the first half but with new information I just couldn't get past it and want Cat to leave and be happy with her sister, and tbh if Remi didn't make it out the book I would be absolutely fine, but he lives and she forgives him and they get their HEA. (But he doesn't deserve it)
Check the TW‼️‼️
I'm very torn with this book, from the prologue it's describe Reno getting beaten up and it's very descriptive and graphic. Giving you an indication of how dark it's gonna be..... but it still cannot prepare you for some of the scenes I read.
The first half is Remi rescuing Cat, and then rekindling there love and you know he's keeping stuff from her, but she's happy he's being wonderful and your rooting for them......
The second half is set 12 years in the past...
Then the second half happens and she remembers the past........ wow..... he handed her over to trafficker for a bag of coke!!!!! then sees the abuse and does not help, repeatedly, he then rapes her and because of him she's given to the worse monster I've ever read about, for 11 YEARS!!!!
Hot pokers!!!!! 🙈😳🥺🥺😞
Second half of the book I hate him, he was abused himself but it didn't excuse all the things that happened to cat because of him. ALL the abuse she endured was because he handed her over, unforgivable. I just can't get past that, and struggle to see how Cat does??
All the things the he did which is why I can never forgive.
• hands her over to trafficker and leaves for a bag of drugs
•he walks away from her in the trafficker warehouse, witnesses a noose around her neck and blood dripping down her thigh from SA and walks away
•once she sold to a man, he initially stalks her, then pays said owner to spend the night, where he rapes her orally
• then owner pimps her out whilst Remi is passed out on the floor from drugs numerous times, and he knows she's being sold, and stilll chooses to do nothing.
•gets soo high that he chases her through the woods and rapes her vaginally
•lastly she gets sold to another owner and his two sons and wife, mutilate, sexually physically, mentally and emotionally abuse, and murder her unborn child. All to keep Remi in line.
By the end of the book we go back to present day. And Remi is the person we read about in the first half but with new information I just couldn't get past it and want Cat to leave and be happy with her sister, and tbh if Remi didn't make it out the book I would be absolutely fine, but he lives and she forgives him and they get their HEA. (But he doesn't deserve it)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2024
Cori Zahara definitely knows how to write about some traumatic stuff. Her books invoke all kinds of emotions.
I couldn't put it down. Did this book make me cry? Yes. Yes, it did. 🥹
I couldn't put it down. Did this book make me cry? Yes. Yes, it did. 🥹
August 15, 2025
DNF after 2 chapters, this author’s writing style is atrocious.
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August 27, 2025DNF at 66%
April 4, 2024
After the complete devastation I was left in after reading Darkness Beyond the Daisies, I was so ready for Cori to break my heart again. And boy did she deliver!
I very impatiently waited for my ARC copy and immediately downloaded when it hit my inbox. From the very first page, I loved Remi and as much as I hated some of his choices, I never stopped loving him. Cat was so heartbreakingly damaged but so incredibly strong. Her story, the struggle and pain she endured, is so incredibly hard to read but so worth it.
I loved getting to see Jolie and Woodrow living their love story. I also loved getting to see more of the family dynamic between the ‘brothers’; we love morally gray (black?) men and these are some of the best out there.
Another epic love story (yes, it’s absolutely a love story) from Cori and I absolutely cannot wait to read Ollie’s story!
I very impatiently waited for my ARC copy and immediately downloaded when it hit my inbox. From the very first page, I loved Remi and as much as I hated some of his choices, I never stopped loving him. Cat was so heartbreakingly damaged but so incredibly strong. Her story, the struggle and pain she endured, is so incredibly hard to read but so worth it.
I loved getting to see Jolie and Woodrow living their love story. I also loved getting to see more of the family dynamic between the ‘brothers’; we love morally gray (black?) men and these are some of the best out there.
Another epic love story (yes, it’s absolutely a love story) from Cori and I absolutely cannot wait to read Ollie’s story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2024
OMG.
I almost DNF'd at like 30%.
I hated Remi. I could not forgive the things he did and the horrible things he was a part of. I hated him, and I did not want to read 800 pages about him because there was no way he could redeem himself.
But then, at 34%, I read the words:
"You've gone through so much, yet you can still smile because you can see the light in the darkest places. Like in my soul."
So, I decided to give him a chance 😂
If Catharina could see something good in him, then maybe I could too.
Cat... was the reason I pushed through. She's a survivor, and her heartbreaking story is a story worth telling.
This was a 5 star for me. I took my time, I pushed through the hard parts, I saw a broken man through someone elses eyes and I forgave him. Remington Cole deserves a chance to be seen and heard 🖤
I almost DNF'd at like 30%.
I hated Remi. I could not forgive the things he did and the horrible things he was a part of. I hated him, and I did not want to read 800 pages about him because there was no way he could redeem himself.
But then, at 34%, I read the words:
"You've gone through so much, yet you can still smile because you can see the light in the darkest places. Like in my soul."
So, I decided to give him a chance 😂
If Catharina could see something good in him, then maybe I could too.
Cat... was the reason I pushed through. She's a survivor, and her heartbreaking story is a story worth telling.
This was a 5 star for me. I took my time, I pushed through the hard parts, I saw a broken man through someone elses eyes and I forgave him. Remington Cole deserves a chance to be seen and heard 🖤
April 20, 2024
If enough people have said it then read the trigger warnings ⚠️ I mean really, really do! There are parts people may struggle with 😱I can’t say anymore as it will give too much away.
It took me a while longer to read this one, as there was a lot to take on board, analyse, digest and dissect 😬🥺 The storyline is very well written, makes you feel everything as if you were there and I’m going to state right now parts of this story I really wanted to be elsewhere. There is a lot of darkness, depravity, violation, degeneration and taboo within the story, it is essential in order for the book to flow to its conclusion, hence the trigger warnings. I hated Remi, not sure if still don’t even if Cat found forgiveness which I struggled with so much but she does attempt to explain her love/hate for him 😈
It took me a while longer to read this one, as there was a lot to take on board, analyse, digest and dissect 😬🥺 The storyline is very well written, makes you feel everything as if you were there and I’m going to state right now parts of this story I really wanted to be elsewhere. There is a lot of darkness, depravity, violation, degeneration and taboo within the story, it is essential in order for the book to flow to its conclusion, hence the trigger warnings. I hated Remi, not sure if still don’t even if Cat found forgiveness which I struggled with so much but she does attempt to explain her love/hate for him 😈
dnf
April 29, 2024No rating. DNF at 17%
This book just exists for shock value.
This book just exists for shock value.
April 8, 2024
This book ripped me open and cut me out. I’d love to say it then stitched me back together (and it almost did), but I may irrevocably broken. I definitely recommended reading The Darkness Beyond the Daisies and An Untraditional Fairytale first. While this book is a standalone, it is part of a bigger world, and the character arcs from those two story lines made A Heart as Black as Cole a more compelling read.
This book is not for the faint of heart, full stop. I have no triggers, but if you do have ANY, you will hate this book. The demented and horrific experiences these characters go through, is unparalleled. There is a full list of trigger warnings, and they exist for good reason. I genuinely can’t explain the gruesome acts in this book without giving away spoilers, but just know there is Human/Sex Trafficking involved, and you’ve been warned.
Ms Zahara is the master of making MMC you love to hate. Remi will make you question your sanity and book the quickest appointment with your therapist you can get. He’s truly awful, but you’re given just enough back story and redeemable moments that you find yourself rooting for him anyways.
The FMC? Girl, nope. I don’t have it. She’s a powerhouse of mental and physical strength that would make me bow down and worship at her feet.
The book was a slow start for me, but I genuinely believe that was more adulting getting in the way than the quality of the story. Once I got into it though, I could not stop. Several junctures on the story, the FMC was told to “breath”, and I found myself needing the reminder as well. When I neared the end, I snuck reading at work (10/10 bad idea by the way), and had to close my office door and collect myself several times.
I don’t know how to recommend this book, because I genuinely don’t enjoy hurting people, but it’s a great read if you enjoy hurting yourself mentally and emotionally like the sadist I am.
This book is not for the faint of heart, full stop. I have no triggers, but if you do have ANY, you will hate this book. The demented and horrific experiences these characters go through, is unparalleled. There is a full list of trigger warnings, and they exist for good reason. I genuinely can’t explain the gruesome acts in this book without giving away spoilers, but just know there is Human/Sex Trafficking involved, and you’ve been warned.
Ms Zahara is the master of making MMC you love to hate. Remi will make you question your sanity and book the quickest appointment with your therapist you can get. He’s truly awful, but you’re given just enough back story and redeemable moments that you find yourself rooting for him anyways.
The FMC? Girl, nope. I don’t have it. She’s a powerhouse of mental and physical strength that would make me bow down and worship at her feet.
The book was a slow start for me, but I genuinely believe that was more adulting getting in the way than the quality of the story. Once I got into it though, I could not stop. Several junctures on the story, the FMC was told to “breath”, and I found myself needing the reminder as well. When I neared the end, I snuck reading at work (10/10 bad idea by the way), and had to close my office door and collect myself several times.
I don’t know how to recommend this book, because I genuinely don’t enjoy hurting people, but it’s a great read if you enjoy hurting yourself mentally and emotionally like the sadist I am.
March 30, 2024
She’s done it again!! 🖤😬
After reading ‘Darkness Beyond The Daisies’ I did not think she would be able to shock me anymore than she did with that book. Boy was I wrong …. I would highly encourage you to read that book before jumping into this as there are many side characters who appear in the first book. Understanding them and their history will help you to understand the story better 🖤
Please be mindful to check all trigger warnings prior to jumping into this! And please, if you think those triggers would affect you, this is not the book for you! So please don’t go jumping in, and then bashing the author because you were triggered! The warning is there for YOU to decide!
So this story follows Remington Cole and Catharina. Remi, who to the world, is a famous rockstar pulling in the thousands of fans to his concerts. But unknowing to all the secrets that he hides for all to see. Cat, a sweet 18 year old girl who has dreamt of the day she would finally meet her famous crush, finally gets that opportunity. Not knowing that her actions would be the cause to her life falling apart! I can’t say too much as I would think it would be a huge spoiler.
Urgh! I’m literally shook from this story! I wish I could rate this more just because I was hooked, and it did test my limits of how far I could take it.
I applaud Cori! It was beautifully written 🖤
After reading ‘Darkness Beyond The Daisies’ I did not think she would be able to shock me anymore than she did with that book. Boy was I wrong …. I would highly encourage you to read that book before jumping into this as there are many side characters who appear in the first book. Understanding them and their history will help you to understand the story better 🖤
Please be mindful to check all trigger warnings prior to jumping into this! And please, if you think those triggers would affect you, this is not the book for you! So please don’t go jumping in, and then bashing the author because you were triggered! The warning is there for YOU to decide!
So this story follows Remington Cole and Catharina. Remi, who to the world, is a famous rockstar pulling in the thousands of fans to his concerts. But unknowing to all the secrets that he hides for all to see. Cat, a sweet 18 year old girl who has dreamt of the day she would finally meet her famous crush, finally gets that opportunity. Not knowing that her actions would be the cause to her life falling apart! I can’t say too much as I would think it would be a huge spoiler.
Urgh! I’m literally shook from this story! I wish I could rate this more just because I was hooked, and it did test my limits of how far I could take it.
I applaud Cori! It was beautifully written 🖤
April 8, 2024
REMI!!
Jfc. This book tore me to pieces in the best way possible. I don’t remember the last time I cried so much about literally anything.
Once again it’s an absolutely beautifully written story by this author. I love how dark her themes are but she still writes them so beautifully and doesn’t make the triggers read as shock value or glorify them. They’re simply a part of the story that needs to be told and she does it so well.
One of my favourite types of mmcs is the pitch black ones that soften to morally grey once they realize how much they’ve hurt the fmc. Remi, oh remi. The way he obsessed and loved Cat just broke my heart and glued it back together over and over. Every bad thing he did was from his trauma and addiction. He was so addicted to her that he didn’t care what happened to her as long as he got her. Then when he loses her and gets her back, he’s so patient and lovely to her. My little heart couldn’t take it. And don’t get me started on the actual heart storyline, that was so tragic and I sobbed so hard with that note.
This review probably doesn’t even make sense but I just had to get it out of my system.
Jfc. This book tore me to pieces in the best way possible. I don’t remember the last time I cried so much about literally anything.
Once again it’s an absolutely beautifully written story by this author. I love how dark her themes are but she still writes them so beautifully and doesn’t make the triggers read as shock value or glorify them. They’re simply a part of the story that needs to be told and she does it so well.
One of my favourite types of mmcs is the pitch black ones that soften to morally grey once they realize how much they’ve hurt the fmc. Remi, oh remi. The way he obsessed and loved Cat just broke my heart and glued it back together over and over. Every bad thing he did was from his trauma and addiction. He was so addicted to her that he didn’t care what happened to her as long as he got her. Then when he loses her and gets her back, he’s so patient and lovely to her. My little heart couldn’t take it. And don’t get me started on the actual heart storyline, that was so tragic and I sobbed so hard with that note.
This review probably doesn’t even make sense but I just had to get it out of my system.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2024
Here's one book with all its twists and turns that will not only 💔your heart but make you realize that the world outside has some really bad people in it.💀
This book will also tell you things that happen in this 🌎 world that people don't want to accept when those same people get hurt and suffer in silence 🔕.
It will also tell how when one man has an obsession with one woman, he meets one night and turns her over to those same bad people and then regrets it later.
How will he survive??
How will she survive??
They do.
They find each other.
In this compelling story of a young girl named Catharina Sutter whose crush morphs into something other than puppy love , she and her sister Rhylie into so much trouble. That fated night when she finally gets to see her Crush sing. The only person she thinks she can turn to.
IS the one person who turns away from her.
Remi Cole.
Good looking. Lead Singer. Addict..
He sees her. Cat Sutter. A red-headed beauty. He can't turn away from her.
He. Is. Obsessed.
But when it's time to give her to them.
Will he do it??
What happens????
You will have to find out.
Can't wait to see what is next
Hopefully, Ollie will have his story
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️this book contains some heavily graphed scenes that might not be suitable for the faint of heart. Please read ALL content warnings ⚠️
I love her writing, and she handles each scene with such ease. Cori Zahara tells what it could be like in-depth with what could happen in these horrific situations. It's gruesome.. YES. Keep your eyes wide and your hearts open.
Get ready people for one journey that will blow your mind and possibly mend your ❤️ heart.
This book will also tell you things that happen in this 🌎 world that people don't want to accept when those same people get hurt and suffer in silence 🔕.
It will also tell how when one man has an obsession with one woman, he meets one night and turns her over to those same bad people and then regrets it later.
How will he survive??
How will she survive??
They do.
They find each other.
In this compelling story of a young girl named Catharina Sutter whose crush morphs into something other than puppy love , she and her sister Rhylie into so much trouble. That fated night when she finally gets to see her Crush sing. The only person she thinks she can turn to.
IS the one person who turns away from her.
Remi Cole.
Good looking. Lead Singer. Addict..
He sees her. Cat Sutter. A red-headed beauty. He can't turn away from her.
He. Is. Obsessed.
But when it's time to give her to them.
Will he do it??
What happens????
You will have to find out.
Can't wait to see what is next
Hopefully, Ollie will have his story
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️this book contains some heavily graphed scenes that might not be suitable for the faint of heart. Please read ALL content warnings ⚠️
I love her writing, and she handles each scene with such ease. Cori Zahara tells what it could be like in-depth with what could happen in these horrific situations. It's gruesome.. YES. Keep your eyes wide and your hearts open.
Get ready people for one journey that will blow your mind and possibly mend your ❤️ heart.
November 18, 2025
3.5 I finished it, so I think that usually says a lot for my ADHD brain. I enjoyed it enough to see it through and these characters went through A LOT. Heavy on the triggers and definitely not for everyone. I think Remi does an amazing job at redemption especially coming from such a fucked up past himself. I love stories of overcoming addiction in general and think the author did a great job with that representation. I think the writing was just ok and didn’t have that “wow” factor that I love so much but it also was nowhere near bad or anything of that sort. I’m a huge mood reader so I think that could play a part. Beautiful ending and think these two absolutely deserved their HEA. All in all, I will definitely try more books from Cori ♥️
Oh also, 10/10 book cover- beautiful!
Oh also, 10/10 book cover- beautiful!
April 9, 2024
✨ARC Review✨
A Heart as Black as Cole is a horrifying, but beautiful, story about two brave survivors struggling to find themselves in the scary world around them.
This book came with MANY warnings and still managed to steal my breath at many moments. As ugly as many of the realities in this book were, I appreciated Cori not straying away from the brutality many people face on a daily basis.
The characters in this story dug their way into my heart and made themselves at home. By the end I was sobbing for the characters, who they were and who they became.
This is one of those books where the story and the characters will live in your heart and soul for a long time. Easily 5 stars for me.
A Heart as Black as Cole is a horrifying, but beautiful, story about two brave survivors struggling to find themselves in the scary world around them.
This book came with MANY warnings and still managed to steal my breath at many moments. As ugly as many of the realities in this book were, I appreciated Cori not straying away from the brutality many people face on a daily basis.
The characters in this story dug their way into my heart and made themselves at home. By the end I was sobbing for the characters, who they were and who they became.
This is one of those books where the story and the characters will live in your heart and soul for a long time. Easily 5 stars for me.
March 29, 2024
Definitely read the TW list as this book is very dark, but if you're like me and love when a book has a shopping list full of triggers, you'll love it!
Holy cow this book is Amazing, I could not put it down and now I'm sad that I've finished it so quickly. I fell in love with Remi then he ripped my heart out! I told myself I wouldn't fall back in love with him but I just couldn't help it! So many feelings, I cried so hard and now I don't know what to do with myself. I also loved getting to see more of Woodrow/Hell/Woody and Jolie's story throughout this book as well, I highly recommend reading The Darkness Beyond the Daisies first if you haven't already! Cori, thank you for another amazing book! 🐼🖤🧸🐻
Holy cow this book is Amazing, I could not put it down and now I'm sad that I've finished it so quickly. I fell in love with Remi then he ripped my heart out! I told myself I wouldn't fall back in love with him but I just couldn't help it! So many feelings, I cried so hard and now I don't know what to do with myself. I also loved getting to see more of Woodrow/Hell/Woody and Jolie's story throughout this book as well, I highly recommend reading The Darkness Beyond the Daisies first if you haven't already! Cori, thank you for another amazing book! 🐼🖤🧸🐻
April 9, 2024
This book ripped my heart out, pieced it back together and then went after my soul to do the same.
I had a very love-hate relationship with Remi through most of the story. Hate was really prevalent with his behavior before he finds her again but I personally feel like once he put effort into growing up, he started to take his path to redemption more seriously and did well to make up for his past behavior. His younger years really hurt my heart as the mother of young children.
Cat’s story breaks my heart because she barely got to start living her life before tragedy after tragedy takes it all away from her. She’s such a strong character and I’m so proud of her and how she survived through all the hardships thrown her way
This story is definitely dark so mind the triggers (if you have any). Cori writes dark so well and I felt so many emotions reading Remi and Cat’s story. I ugly cried more than once because of how difficult they had it. If I could, I’d read this book for the first time all over again and wouldn’t regret it or how it made me feel.
Thank you so much Cori for this masterpiece of a book.
I had a very love-hate relationship with Remi through most of the story. Hate was really prevalent with his behavior before he finds her again but I personally feel like once he put effort into growing up, he started to take his path to redemption more seriously and did well to make up for his past behavior. His younger years really hurt my heart as the mother of young children.
Cat’s story breaks my heart because she barely got to start living her life before tragedy after tragedy takes it all away from her. She’s such a strong character and I’m so proud of her and how she survived through all the hardships thrown her way
This story is definitely dark so mind the triggers (if you have any). Cori writes dark so well and I felt so many emotions reading Remi and Cat’s story. I ugly cried more than once because of how difficult they had it. If I could, I’d read this book for the first time all over again and wouldn’t regret it or how it made me feel.
Thank you so much Cori for this masterpiece of a book.
April 10, 2024
Please check the many trigger warnings ⚠️
Wow Cori Zahara has got to be one of the best authors l have ever read. This book broke my heart so many times, 💔 😢
Remi mmc was heartbreakingly beautiful. He had a horrible childhood preyed on by disgusting human beings .It was very difficult to read about his younger years. I just wanted to protect him, he was terrible abused.
But as an adult l really didn't like him at all, yes l understand he didn't really have a choice, but he kept making the same mistakes over and over again.
I really didn't think he could redeem himself.
Catharina ( Cat..Aribella ,) the fmc god her life after she was taken was terrible 😢
Remi really broke my heart when he just left Cat there, knowing exactly what would happen to her.
Cat was so strong, she tried to just keep her self alive one day at a time and never letting them break her.
The abuse she suffered was horrendous. The worst l have ever read.
This book is about addiction, betrayal, forgiveness and love, and finally a hea,
l am going to stop my review here as l don't want to give to much away.
This is my honest arc review
Wow Cori Zahara has got to be one of the best authors l have ever read. This book broke my heart so many times, 💔 😢
Remi mmc was heartbreakingly beautiful. He had a horrible childhood preyed on by disgusting human beings .It was very difficult to read about his younger years. I just wanted to protect him, he was terrible abused.
But as an adult l really didn't like him at all, yes l understand he didn't really have a choice, but he kept making the same mistakes over and over again.
I really didn't think he could redeem himself.
Catharina ( Cat..Aribella ,) the fmc god her life after she was taken was terrible 😢
Remi really broke my heart when he just left Cat there, knowing exactly what would happen to her.
Cat was so strong, she tried to just keep her self alive one day at a time and never letting them break her.
The abuse she suffered was horrendous. The worst l have ever read.
This book is about addiction, betrayal, forgiveness and love, and finally a hea,
l am going to stop my review here as l don't want to give to much away.
This is my honest arc review
April 10, 2024
Well Written
This is my first time reading anything from this author, I read majority dark so even with the grocery list of TWs I was still keen to dive it….I just need to forewarn potential readers this isn’t just dark it’s what I would consider black, having said that though the trauma and disturbing brutality of what humans can inflict on each other is well written even though at times yes I felt uncomfortable, had to put the book down or just scream in frustration….because I felt those emotions the author did her job well.
This is my first time reading anything from this author, I read majority dark so even with the grocery list of TWs I was still keen to dive it….I just need to forewarn potential readers this isn’t just dark it’s what I would consider black, having said that though the trauma and disturbing brutality of what humans can inflict on each other is well written even though at times yes I felt uncomfortable, had to put the book down or just scream in frustration….because I felt those emotions the author did her job well.
July 10, 2024
I don't know if I have ever been so invested in characters.
This book, I savored. Read just a little every day. And now it will live rent free in my brain.
The development and graphic nature of this book is not for the faint of heart. But the scary thing is shit like this does actually happen!!
I will ABSOLUTELY be ordering the rest of cori zaharas books.
This book, I savored. Read just a little every day. And now it will live rent free in my brain.
The development and graphic nature of this book is not for the faint of heart. But the scary thing is shit like this does actually happen!!
I will ABSOLUTELY be ordering the rest of cori zaharas books.
March 28, 2024
My heart!!
First off if you have ANY triggers this isnt the book for you. This book is so mentally breaking (in the best way)
Remi has sold his soul to the devil and its breaking him, until a redheaded beauty tries to steal it back.
The angst, heartbreak, trauma, and all the pain in this book. Remi and Cats stories are heart breaking on their own but combine them and you have a whole new level. The healing and hope they gave each other was beautiful.
I highly recommend reading the Darkness Beyond the Daisys first so you really get a feel for all the characters brought into this story!
First off if you have ANY triggers this isnt the book for you. This book is so mentally breaking (in the best way)
Remi has sold his soul to the devil and its breaking him, until a redheaded beauty tries to steal it back.
The angst, heartbreak, trauma, and all the pain in this book. Remi and Cats stories are heart breaking on their own but combine them and you have a whole new level. The healing and hope they gave each other was beautiful.
I highly recommend reading the Darkness Beyond the Daisys first so you really get a feel for all the characters brought into this story!
April 2, 2024
Here we are again with one of Cori’s heart wrenching dark af books. So so good. So dark, so sad, but you can’t get to the light without roaming through the dark first. Cori does a great job of making you hate characters for doing atrocious unforgiving things only to love them again and forgive them. And that’s what we do with Remi, we love him then we hate him and then we love him again. Omg Cat, poor freaking Cat. She never let anyone break her, forever a survivor!
June 27, 2025
Cori is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors. this book had me holding my breathe until the very end i am now emotionally attached to all these characters. so happy i read The Darkest Beyond the Daisies first tho it’s not necessarily.
April 8, 2024
First things first, this book is HEAVY with TW. Probably the darkest book I have read yet, please be mindful of those warnings. I knew what I was getting into as Darkness Behind The Daises is one of my all time favs. Now that I got all that out of the way...if you can stomach the TW's this book was phenomenal. I am literally shook at how this book left me feeling. I really enjoyed seeing Jolie and Woodrow/Hell/Woody again and the glimpses into their new life. It was like getting another side book on them and I loved it. Remi and Cat's story is ugly, hurtful, full of trauma, and severe abuse. I wanted to hate Remi so bad, and I did for most of the book and how it ended with me not hating him is insane. The story telling , as always with Cori, was so vivid, graphic, and intense that I could almost feel the characters emotions, hence the empty shell of a being I am at this moment. How Cori can rip my heart out, cut it into pieces, put those pieces in a blender, and still manage to put it back together with a nice black bow is beyond me but she does it. Every time. Don't skip the TW's please, but if you can, you definitely should ride the Remi train. You won't regret it. 🖤🐼 🐻 🦝🖤
July 30, 2024
As other reviews say
○○check triggers○○
such a good read, shredded me to pieces and then slowly put me back together again which is exactly what I love in a book, some areas were hard to read but I don't have any triggers so I read it with no issues & thoroughly enjoyed every page.
This is also hands down one of the prettiest paperbacks I own. It's definitely worth a read & if you're able, it's definitely worth purchasing the paperback!!
○○check triggers○○
such a good read, shredded me to pieces and then slowly put me back together again which is exactly what I love in a book, some areas were hard to read but I don't have any triggers so I read it with no issues & thoroughly enjoyed every page.
This is also hands down one of the prettiest paperbacks I own. It's definitely worth a read & if you're able, it's definitely worth purchasing the paperback!!
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