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Once upon a time, there were three men forged in suffering. They lived their lives in servitude to the monster who created them. Broken boys became vicious men.

Years of brutality stripped them of their humanity and hardened their hearts.

Each man retreating further into darkness.

Until her.

She is the beacon of hope and the spark that re-ignites their damaged and demented hearts.

But when their world threatens her life, they’ll do anything to keep her safe. Even if it means destroying everything they’ve ever known.

*A Dark Reimagining of Cinderella*

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2023

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Mila Crawford

103 books2,312 followers

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5 stars
352 (29%)
4 stars
350 (29%)
3 stars
318 (26%)
2 stars
135 (11%)
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45 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
Profile Image for Smutty Little Books.
534 reviews365 followers
September 24, 2026
A little pitch-black Cinderella retelling where your stepmother is truly evil and your stepbrothers are depraved.

If you haven't read or listened to Mila Crawford before, just know her books are always packed full of absolute filthy smut and dark characters who are insane. This book was no exception. The audio is a multi-cast dual narration Heather Firth, James Joseph, Sean Masters, and James Cassidy and if that doesn't immediately get you excited, I don't know what will.

-Forbidden Romance
- Step siblings
- Pet Play
-Degradation
Profile Image for sunny ≽^• ˕ • ྀི≼.
128 reviews18 followers
November 25, 2023
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC READ

oh my fucking god, first of all i would like to thank Mila for letting me read this as an ARC.

OH MY GOD i’ve been eating up the darkly ever after series and this is hands down the best book in the series. i loved how much plot she was able to put into 129 pages. There is a perfect amount of smut compared to the plot AND MY GODDDDDD IS IT SPICY!!!!! Very taboo and VERY delicious

I can definitely see how this is a reimagined retelling of cinderella. Getting back at the evil stepmom made me screen but goddamn did she deserve it. I love how the guys and ellas story evolved. i wish it was longer!

🌶️ pierced FMC & MC
🌶️ torture
🌶️ MMMF
🌶️ pet play
🌶️ step sibling’s
🌶️ gory / violence
🌶️ fast burn
🌶️ serial killers
🌶️ multiple pov
🌶️ touch them and die
🌶️ degradation
🌶️ dvp
🌶️ tvp
🌶️ blood play
🌶️ creampie cleanup
🌶️ primal
Profile Image for Darlene I read WAY to many books.
3,810 reviews2,600 followers
November 30, 2023
3.5 ⭐️

I couldn't wait to read their book when we got a sneak peek. And this is the stepbrothers/sister.

Poor Ella, she gained a new family of snakes, and her father dies. I was sad she didn't feel more angry at the guys who knew their mother would do that to her father. She just brushed it aside i wanted more rage. besides that now, she's finally found out what the step mom wants. The guys informed her of the plan even if they didn't want to. She has to act like there whore there plaything until they get the papers with info about dear step mama.
And as always it's spicy it's dirty and delicious.

I feel like Mila needs to change some background stories of her future guys since most have simillar ones.

No ow/on drama, no cheating, Drama, sexy times, no virgins and Manwhores (they talked about there past with stepfather and past flings)

Prologue
Degradation
29H/21h/28H/29H
Push away from H
MM MMMF MF
Primal
Spit Play
C*m Play
Items in places
Cream-pie clean up
Pet play
Toys
Praise
TVP
DP
Marking
CNC
Exhibitionism
Blood play
Knife play
Step-Siblings
CSA -CA
Incest (not any of the Mains)
Violence and Violent acts.
Hea
Epilogue
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ashley⛓️.
183 reviews231 followers
November 28, 2023
This Cinderella retelling was DARK and delicious. Mila writes MMC with the filthiest mouths 🥵

I devoured the internal monologues from the MMC’s. Their trauma was so beautifully written. I loved the relationship between the brothers.

The gore/torture was dark as fuck and loved every second of it.

I absolutely love this series and cannot wait for the next installment.
Profile Image for Anna Nenna.
979 reviews52 followers
Read
September 27, 2026
Dnf for me- it was a bit too much for my current mental state but from my bestie’s perspective it was a tw filled smutfest (she is much tougher and less sensitive with some themes and tropes) and these are her opinions:

3/5 story
5/5 narration
4/5 spice
Relationship Dynamic: MMMF with sharing (no cheating outside their arrangement)
This short novella sits in the dark erotica / pitch-black romance territory.
There is no pretense of an intricate plot or deep philosophical dialogue here - this is meant to deliver unhinged, high-intensity smut!
The experience was enhanced by the multicast duet style narration (featuring the soft voice of Heather Firth, the deep voices of James Cassidy and Sean Masters and the flawless accent that James Joseph delivers).
If you are not used to high spice, reverse harem sharing dynamics, or Mila Crawford’s writing, I would recommend you stay away from this… otherwise, if you are familiar with it, enjoy the ride, I guess!? 🫣👀🤷🏻‍♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
329 reviews4 followers
January 28, 2025
This book is terrible. It's a bunch of words that make absolutely no sense. Actually, the only thing that stands out was how much the MMCs disliked themselves. That's something I can agree with. Other than that, the characters are so flat they're almost nonexistent. What is it about you ask? 🤷‍♀️ Not a clue. I miss who I was before this book. Whoever recommended this book to me, I don't forgive you. Why did I continue you ask? Well, I thought maybe by the end, I'd get it. Nope.
Profile Image for thebookishpumpkinpatch.
324 reviews51 followers
September 23, 2026
Audio perfection!

I don't know what Mila puts in her books... No you know what, I do. She puts great writing, amazing spice and absolute perfect narrators every time. Dubious was... Well a RIDE that's for sure and these narrators put in the work!! JESUS the narration was off the charts. Heather Firth, James Cassidy, Sean Masters AND James Joseph in the same audiobook was almost too much (never enough give me 50 of 'em). All of them did so well but James Joseph?? I'm sorry, truly smashed this one out of the park. I've loved so many of his audios and still he managed to outdo himself.

Mila always writes so beautifully, the way the characters supports and love each other through their brokenness always makes me go all warm inside at the same time my heart broke for these River, Alaric, Asher and Ella 💔 She also writes the most unhinged and dirtiest smut I’ve read, it's a range that's for sure! River had me laughing out loud while all of them had me dropping my jaw multiple times over! This one had sooo many connections to so many books in this series I felt like that gif of DiCaprio pointing at the TV. *oh oh oh I know these people!* Anyway, if you love MMMF and where she gets walked like a dog, listen to this one!!
Profile Image for Gia Davis.
353 reviews169 followers
November 25, 2023
Every time I read one of the Darkly Ever After books I feel like I’m prepared mentally for what I’m getting into… and every time I am still shook by them.

Dubious is a dark MMMF Cinderella reimagining. It’s filthy and will make you question all of your morals but god almighty it is HOT. Sorry… did I mention… STEP SIBLINGS?!

There’s pound town, drama and more pound town. It’s 132 pages DARK step sibling taboo shenanigans - HOW COULD IT GET ANY BETTER?
Profile Image for Carolina.
367 reviews39 followers
Read
April 15, 2024
𝑸𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒂 𝒆𝒍 𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒓 𝒚 𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒔 𝒄𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒐 𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒔 𝒍𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒂 𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒔, 𝒍𝒆𝒋𝒐𝒔 𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂 𝒍𝒂 𝒎𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒅𝒂 𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒅𝒐 𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆 𝒂ñ𝒐𝒔. 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒔 𝒄𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒔 𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒔 𝒔ó𝒍𝒐 𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒔 𝒅𝒆 𝒄𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒔. 𝑬𝒔𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒔 𝒍𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍.
Profile Image for Haley.
118 reviews2 followers
December 9, 2023
The hottest spice that’s ever spiced. I need a cold shower.
Profile Image for A.K..
Author 7 books57 followers
November 29, 2023
a dark Cinderella reimagining... yes, please!!

Ella's life was simple. She was happy. living with her father everything was great. until her new step mother comes and flips her world upside down.

Alaric, River, and Asher have only ever known darkness and trauma. that is until their "mother" marrys a new man and they meet their new step sister. all three of them have something awaken in them and their plan changes.

Mila does it again!! the kinks, the dirty talk, i enjoyed this like i do most things mila writes. love this whole series and cant wait for the next one!!

4.5/5 star
4/5 spice
Profile Image for Kimmy.
67 reviews3 followers
September 28, 2026
Okay, so I’m listening to Dubious by Mila Crawford, right? And I thought I was getting three depraved stepbrothers and some fucked-up Cinderella shit.
Which, to be fair, I did.
But tell me why I’m sitting here realizing this whole damn book is about agency.
Because think about Cinderella. Everybody remembers the prince, but Cinderella is living in a house where other people have decided who she is, what she’s worth, and what her life is supposed to be. The important part is that she never lets their version of her become who she actually is.
Now stay with me, because even the damn title is doing work.
Dubious means doubtful or uncertain, with roots connected to duo, or two—and everybody in this house exists between competing realities.
Celeste looks like this beautiful, refined matriarch while hiding something absolutely monstrous underneath. Her sons—Asher, River, and Alaric—think they’re depraved monsters because that’s what they’ve been conditioned to believe about themselves. And Ella looks like our fragile Cinderella, but she’s actually spent her entire life being a chameleon—becoming whatever she needed to be to survive.
And then these four find each other.
And THIS is where it got me.
Because the story starts asking: what happens when something that looks like degradation is actually chosen? What happens when darkness isn’t something being done to you, but something you’re finally allowed to decide you want?
Ella doesn’t need somebody to protect her innocence. She needs people who will stop deciding what her innocence is supposed to look like.
And the brothers? They have to figure out where Celeste’s conditioning ends and THEY begin.
So Mila flips Cinderella completely. The steps aren’t the enemy. They’re trapped in the same damn house.
Nobody is waiting around for a prince.
They’re all trying to answer the same question: Who am I when nobody else gets to decide for me?
And THAT is why this filthy little book had me sitting here needing a cigarette!
GO FORTH AND PROCURE I SAY!
Profile Image for Bookish Shann.
416 reviews1 follower
September 23, 2026
📖:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

DUBIOUS by @MilaCrawfordAuthor
Duet Multicast Narration from Heather Firth, James Cassidy, Sean Masters & James Joseph

✨✨ The audio is available now on Payhip, Audible, Kobo, Spotify & Apple ‼️🎧 ✨✨

MMMF
⚔️ crossing
Pet play
🩸 play
Primal
Degradation
Pierced MMC
Step siblings

OMGG I always know when I READ a book from Mila it’s going to be an amazing spicy time ! But when I LISTEN to the book? The narrators always do a phenomenal job and bring these characters to LIVE ! She always has the BEST narrators for her books. They all always understand the assignment and ace it ! 🔥🔥🔥

This is a dark retelling of Cinderella and oh was it dark 😮‍💨😮‍💨 but it was beautiful along with filthy and traumatic. Such a good time. I loved getting to know everyone’s story and trauma🥹🙁

“It’s absurd that my realization comes from being sexually exposed to my three stepbrothers. Most would view this scenario and label me insane at worst and misguided at best.”

“I don’t understand why the words “big brother” ignite my every perverted desire, but they do.”

LISTEN NOW🎧🔥
Read the TW ⚠️

Profile Image for Tara.
45 reviews
September 26, 2026
📕 5 ⭐️
🎧 5+ ⭐️ Insanely good
🌶️ Oh, it’s extremely spicy

I’ve said it time and time again. Mila always delivers a dark, twisted, depraved, story in 4 and half hours of audio that gets you hooked.
There is a lot of degradation in this book, so if that is not what you like, this book isn’t for you.

But, if you’re like me, and you don’t mind the dark, twisted, degradation from time to time, you’ll eat this one up. Especially because she consistently picks the best narrators to perform her characters. She lived up to her Queen of Casting title.

This is a step sibling, found family, extremely spicy read/listen with a sick, twisted step mother and three morally black stepbrothers who all have different personalities but one thing in common. Ella. The FMC, who has trauma but is free-spirited in her own right and is protected by her stepbrothers.

The audiobook cast is incredible. Heather Firth, Sean Masters, James Joseph, and James Cassidy. Enough said.

Listen to this audio alone and with earphones because I lost count on the amount of times this book made me blush. 🤭
Dubious is one of my favorites from Mila, and I can’t wait for the next audiobook to come out.

Profile Image for Coree, The Book Devourer.
234 reviews6 followers
September 12, 2026
This was the retelling of all retellings – Cinderella done like I’d want it – with three wickedly wild stepbrothers 😉I received this as a ALC and the cast was nothing short of amazing. It was done in multicast narration with Heather Firth, Sean Masters, James Joseph and James Cassidy. All of the narrators were phenomenal, but there’s something about James Cassidy’s voice that’s so unhinged and perfect for Mila’s books, I swear his voice was MADE for Mila’s characters.

Alaric, River, and Asher are “sons” of Celeste, who I deem the evil stepmother. She has her sights set on a new husband and this one comes with a little girl, Ella. While the three stepbrothers who have been doing their mothers Celeste’s evil bidding for a very long time, things seem to change when they meet their new stepsister who becomes their light in a very dark world. Ella should fear these men, but she’s finding herself more drawn to them instead of running from them. She has no idea these men will turn her world upside down – But in the best way possible. Together will there be able to take down their evil mother/stepmother? You need to pick this book/audiobook to find out.

This book was out of the charts spicy🔥! I mean, I love a book where the boyfriend’s boyfriend, but this book has some of the darkest, dirtiest and most depraved s3x acts that I didn’t know I liked but apparently, I do 😊 Check your triggers because this one isn’t for the faint of heart.

If you’re looking for the following, this book is for you:

👑 Reverse haram/MMMF
👑 Cinderella reimaging
👑 3 Unhinged MMCs
👑 Stepsiblings romance
👑 Taboo romance
👑 Spicy AF 🌶️

Rate: 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 5/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Narration Rate: 5/5 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Profile Image for Alaine McDaniel.
831 reviews27 followers
September 24, 2026
Dubious- Mila Crawford
Narrated by Heather Firth, James Cassidy, Sean Masters, and James Joseph

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Narration 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧

I have listened to almost every single one of Mila’s audiobooks and have eyeball read even more, and I don’t know how she still shocks me. I will never look at a cob of corn the same way again that’s for sure. I was literally driving with my jaw on the floor for 3 solid chapters. My flabbers were gasted. 10/10 no notes. I honestly think this is the best one in the series so far.

These actors are staples in Mila’s audios at this point and they are absolutely phenomenal in their own right. I could go on for days and days about how each of them absolutely killed it in this performance.
Profile Image for Jess.
724 reviews62 followers
September 18, 2026
Dubious is dark, spicy, heavy on the degradation and rather taboo (step siblings). These characters have been through hell and back, check TWs, it’s rather heartbreaking and gory for a Cinderella retelling.

I enjoyed a majority of it, it’s depraved, but I do think the ending came too quickly.

I do find that Mila’s books are better suited for an audiobook experience, and the dual narration was exactly what my twisted dark romance why-choose mood called for.
Profile Image for Patty.
100 reviews
November 28, 2023
Just when I think Milas books can’t get any more deranged, she gifts us with this masterpiece!
This was DDDAAAARRRRKKKKKK and I am absolutely here for it, the whole series has been twisted and depraved. Mila is an artist when it comes to morally pitch black men!
Profile Image for Rachel Dane.
300 reviews41 followers
October 2, 2026
This audiobook was soooo good. I mean Heather firth, james Joseph, sean masters and james cassidy?

We got some amazing degradation, good reasons to strongly dislike people. I love when people are messed up in a book but comforted by their found family....or step siblings in this case.
Profile Image for ✨Wendy✨| downtherabbitholes.
562 reviews134 followers
September 17, 2026
Format: Audiobook
Narrators: Heather Firth, James Joseph, Sean Masters, and James Cassidy.

A dark reimagining of Cinderella like you’ve never seen before. Mila Crawford just over here doing ‘Mila Crawford’ things 😈

Dubious was dark, filthy, and insane… The duet multi-cast narration was top-tier. Heather Firth, James Joseph, Sean Masters, and James Cassidy performed with pure (naughty) expertise, creating a twisted, entertaining, and oh so spicy experience.

Thank you, Mila for the ALC.
Profile Image for SpankMeSmutty.
335 reviews35 followers
September 19, 2026
Love a Cinderella reimagining and this one was a fun take. Naughty stepbrothers rather than sisters ... Delicious

And like usual a Mila audiobook is always so well done!! A new edition to her usual crew of narrators with James Joseph coming with the Irish accent and hot damn! 🥵🥵
Profile Image for Kenz Rosewood.
198 reviews9 followers
December 13, 2023
Ella, Alaric, Asher and River 🤌🏻🤌🏻


These three men have been through terror at the hands of Celeste, they thought they were destined to a life of pain and horror till they met Ella. They vowed to save her from the pain their Celeste causes but when he father dies that causes a wrench in their plan, while also spuring them on to kill Celeste. 


Mila has a beautiful way of writing the most depraved shit while making sure the women and men in her books are loved and cherished by their partners, the way that even through kink some may find mean or torturous her characters are loved and cared for is one of my FAVORITE things. And yall! The narrators she picks are ALWAYS top tier in their performances!


Avaliable now on Mila Crawfords Payhip 🖤
Profile Image for Janelle.
394 reviews67 followers
September 24, 2026
📚🔥 BOOK & NARRATOR REVIEW 🔥🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

THE BOOK 🖤

THREE BROKEN MEN. ONE WOMAN. AND ENOUGH DARKNESS TO HAVE ME QUESTIONING MY LIFE CHOICES. 😮‍💨🥵

Mila Crawford’s writing pulled me straight into this dark and twisted world. Her writing style is intense, emotional, and completely captivating, with darkness, tension, obsession, and emotion woven throughout the story.

These men were forged in suffering, shaped by brutality, and turned into vicious, damaged men who had completely retreated into the darkness.

Then SHE came along.

Watching her become the light that reignites their damaged hearts while these three dangerous men become completely devoted to protecting her! I WAS FERAL. 🖤🔥

Their obsession. Their protectiveness. Their darkness. The lengths they’re willing to go to keep her safe…

I WAS NOT PREPARED.

Mila did such a great job giving these characters depth and making their pain and darkness feel so intense while still allowing that emotional connection to shine through. This novella was dark, twisted, emotional, and completely addictive.

THE NARRATORS 🎧🔥

Now let’s talk about this FOUR-NARRATOR DREAM TEAM because HOLY HELL. 🥵🔥

Heather Firth brought so much emotion and strength to the heroine. I loved the vulnerability in her performance while still feeling that inner strength as her character navigated these three very dangerous men. She made the emotional moments hit HARD.

James Cassidy brought that deep, intense energy that is PERFECT for dark romance. His delivery had that dangerous edge that made every scene feel heavier, and when the protective side came out! UMM HELLO!😮‍💨

Sean Masters absolutely understood the assignment. His voice brought another layer of darkness and intensity to the story, and I could FEEL the emotional weight behind his performance. There were moments where I was just sitting there like… sir, respectfully, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME! 🥵

And James Joseph brought his own deliciously dark energy to the cast. His performance added even more personality and intensity to the story, and I loved the way his delivery pulled me further into the characters and their twisted world.

And having all four narrators together!🔥🔥🔥

Their performances worked so well together. Each voice gave the characters their own identity, while the emotional chemistry between the performances kept me completely immersed.

The narration made the possessiveness feel more intense, the emotional moments hit harder, and the darker scenes!

YEAH… MY HEADPHONES WERE WORKING OVERTIME. 😂🥵🎧

I came for Mila Crawford’s dark and twisted story.

I stayed for the broken men.

And I absolutely lost my damn mind over Heather Firth, James Cassidy, Sean Masters & James Joseph bringing it all to life.

Five stars for the story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Five stars for the narration. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Zero stars for my ability to behave while listening. 😂🥵🖤

🎧 If dark romance and seriously good narration are your thing…

PUT THIS AUDIOBOOK IN YOUR EARS. YOU’RE WELCOME. 😈🔥
Profile Image for Rae Richard.
401 reviews1 follower
September 19, 2026
5⭐️ 5🌶️ 5🎧
🎧 The audio DELIVERED
🖤 Dark • Unhinged • Chaotic • Addictive

Before you jump into this one, PLEASE check the trigger warnings! Your mental health matters, and this book comes with some heavy themes that may not be for everyone. 🖤

Mila Crawford does NOT do sweet, soft MMCs. She brings the UNHINGED energy, the darker themes, and the kind of intensity that makes you realize you should’ve checked the warnings first!!!!!!

Once you go in, though… you may find yourself completely locked in because WHAT IS THIS BOOK?! 👀


Mila Crawford… whatever you’re putting in these books AND whatever magic you’re working when you pick these narrators—KEEP DOING IT. Because whatever you’re on, my lady… I WANT IN!!! 😂🔥

WHAT THE HECK DID I JUST READ?! And WHY—AND I MEAN WHY—did I wait so long to read this?! 😭

Every time I pick up one of Mila’s books, I get completely sucked in. Once I start, I don’t want to leave. Her writing just does it for me every single time. She knows exactly how to push boundaries, create chaos, and keep me completely hooked.

And then there’s Alaric, River, and Asher. These three are absolutely unhinged. 😭 They are messy, complicated, and carrying so much trauma, but underneath all that darkness, I couldn’t help but feel for them. They needed love, affection, and someone to see them for who they really were.

And Ella? She became their beacon of hope. Their princess. 🖤

This book was DARK. It was chaotic. It was completely unhinged—and apparently, that is exactly what I needed because I ATE THIS BOOK UP. 😂🔥

And the AUDIO?! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Heather Firth, James Cassidy, Sean Masters, and James Joseph absolutely understood the assignment. Every narrator brought something different to the characters, and they made the experience even better. There was one narrator I hadn’t listened to before, and now I’m definitely looking forward to hearing more from him!

I needed a whole MOMENT to myself after finishing this book. 😂 Because I thought Mila’s other books were dark… BABY, I WAS NOT PREPARED.

And hearing a character I already love and cherish get a spotlight in this book?! That was such a treat for me. 🥹🖤

Overall, this was a fantastic book AND a fantastic audio experience. Mila Crawford continues to prove that she knows exactly how to keep me hooked. Her writing keeps getting darker, crazier, and more addictive—and I am absolutely HERE FOR IT.

She is officially an auto-read author for me. Whatever she writes next, I’m there. Whatever narrators she picks, I’m listening.

Mila… please keep being chaotic. 😂🖤🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for v0id_93.
216 reviews57 followers
November 29, 2023
Honest ARC review

Dubious is the 4th book in the Darkly Ever After series and follows the Cinders, who you’ll remember from Primal Beasts because they own the crazy club Eden goes to for information.

I really vibed with the first 85% of this book! It made me happy to see we got more plot in this to balance out the smūt bc the tension that grew from the build up was a nice change of pace for Milas novella. The flow of the story was great for me until we hit around the last 10-15%, I wish we would have had less t0rture time with the two men and more in-depth revenge coverage for the Stepmother. I didn’t feel a good sense of closure bc it felt rushed. I enjoyed the fact though Mila gave us another plus size FMC with men who love their ladies curves, I’ll never get tired of that!

Mila also never ceases to amaze me with how she can have such poetic and deep lines.
Ex: ‘There’s a moment when you fall from the ideal of what others believe you should be and simply become who you are… I’ve lived my life for one solid goal, my whole being forged for one undeniable purpose. To make my father proud. But that wasn’t who I was; it was who I created myself to be.’

Then we get moments of comedic relief with stuff like this. Ex: ‘Ella’s p**sy is the definition of a nutcracker.’
I had to stop reading for a moment because I was laughing so hard.

There’s a lot of stuff I liked in here. The tab00 st*p siblings, plus size FMC, great pacing for the majority, good plot to smūt ratio and the degr*dation in here is my jam.

But I can also say I was disappointed in a couple things. I feel like one man in the group, in every book of this series, has the same traumatic background (csa). It’d be nice to be finished with that background usage and create something different for the next book because right now I it’s like I’m reading the same character over and over. Also the rush in the last 10-15% with how everything kind of played out, I wish the epilogue had scaled back on the smūt to give a more rounded finishing touch. I did like the marriage proposal though, I love poly marriage!

All in all I think this was a fair read for me, there were things I liked and equally disliked, I’m just super excited for the next book bc we’re going to get Dariyus’s sister!! (His book was In Dreams)
Profile Image for BookMonster29.
142 reviews10 followers
December 4, 2023

“He’s thicker than a snickers” is definitely one of my favorites lines in this book.. if you know you know 😉

🟣MMMF
🟣T@b00
🟣C•N•C
🟣Heavy D3gr@dat!0n
🟣Pr@is3
🟣Sp!+ play
🟣Sn0wb@|l!ng
🟣Cr3@m 🥧 cleanup
🟣P3+ play
🟣D•V•P
🟣T•V•P
🟣D•P

The grocery list goes on so make sure to check out the TWs before you dive into this fairy-tell gone D@rk 😉

⭐️4/5🌶️5/5

So it’s not secret that if Mila Crawford writes a book I’m reading it… why because yes Mila brings the spice like no other BUT why I keep coming back to Mila’s books is truly because of her writing and the writing done for Dubious was exquisite.. the word choice, the way Mila strategically describes and paints her scenes is simple amazing to me! Some of my favorite scenes that Mila wrote in this book had nothing to do with spice and EVERYTHING to do with the way she wrote and painted current scenes in such vivid detail making you feel those emotions and those moments… that’s what you get when you take the time to absorb and read Dubious!! And just like she paints a picture for the storyline she also makes sure that her readers FEEL the Spice as well!!

I think we can all safely say that Mila Crawford brings the SPICE in all her books so I personally had no doubts on the level of jalapeños this book would have BUT Mila still finds little…*cough..cough* (BIG) ways to surprise me and keep me on my toes!! Because the level of schminky Schmink she wrote in this book was…g00d lawwwdd the pages were in h3@t themselves.. that’s all I’m gonna say.. bring some water and a fan cause it’s gonna be hot

-Happy Reading Bookworms
Profile Image for Kylene.
10 reviews
September 22, 2026
Here we go again with the Darkly Ever After Series
by @milacrawfordbooks -this being her dark reimagining of Cinderella. This follows the story of Ella (@heatherfirthnarrator ) whose father marries a woman who basically is a (well known underground … but obv not to him) Black Widow : she marries, kills, and then inherits her spouse’s wealth and children. She has one son, Alaric (@jamescassidyromance ), and has ‘inherited’ two previous stepsons, River (@james.joseph.voice ) and Asher (@seanmastersaudio ).

All the boys are forced / manipulated by their evil Mother to do her sinister bidding. When the time comes to manipulate Ella, they realize their new stepsister is a force to be reckoned with. I asked myself multiple times “is she sure about what she’s doing?” Yup, she was. This girl had wits and guts about her. Those stepbrothers didn’t scare her, and their dynamic together made for one very interesting, crazy, violent, smexy story in Mila-written fashion.

The multicast duet narrated audio is CHEFS KISS 💋 Heather Firth as always nails her FMC roles with grace. A warm welcome to James Joseph on the crazy Mila train - playing the amusing horndog (and Irish accented 💚), River. He did amazing and I hope to hear him do more. Sean Masters as Asher had some very memorable lines, and his storyline, and the way he portrayed the character, had me in my feels. And James Cassidy … always, delivers perfection 🤌🏼🤌🏼. (And the perfect trigger menu haha). My husband listened to a few pinnacle chapters on our date night, and we drove the long way home. I don’t think he was judging me tooooo much 😂😆 he loved it 🖤🖤

@pinupaudio again, BRAVO!👏🏻
Profile Image for Hannah.
329 reviews10 followers
September 24, 2026
As always with Mila, I knew that this was gonna be darkkkk, but done in the perfect way and wellll as always it was!
The audio was actually incredible, everything was done perfectly and it was sooo immersive like I felt like I was right there with them watching creepily :')

Alaric, Asher and River have been through actual hell with their devil incarnate mother, celeste. I absolutely loveeeed how protective they become of Ella like even when everything around them is fkd so much of what they do comes back to keeping her safe plzzzz im obsessed.
the book never makes them good men either and I love when Mila does that, she does dark romance 10000% right. they're still dark and questionable but they just have someone they care about now and Ella can definitely handle them. she isn't just standing there while these 3 gorgeous man lose their minds around her. she pushes and gives back but she also fits into them perfectly, like she is the perfect woman for them.

this audio was... well dubious 😏

but the audiooo plz
🎙️ Heather Firth (Ella)
🎙️ James Cassidy (Alaric)
🎙️ Sean Masters (Asher)
🎙️ James Joseph (River)

the narrators are hot asf, theres no nicer way for me to say it and you can't blame me for just stating facts.

James Joseph as river with his lil irish accent was impeccable and Sean Masters had several moments where I had to remember I was listening to this and was not in fact, in the book.
James Cassidy was perfect for Alaric, I meannn really he's just perfect in every audio and Heather Firth was soooo well suited for Ella.

one last thingggg, multicast duet was 100% the right choice for this book, hearing each of them with their own voice made the dynamic between the four of them sooo much better.

🖤 dark mmmf romance
🪢 step siblings
😈 morally black mmcs
🗣️ degr@dat!0n and praise
🔥 unhinged smut
🐾 play
🔪 play
🩸 play
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