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Kings of Blackwater #3

Enduring Darkness

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Attending Blackwater University was my desperate attempt to gain a scrap of freedom. But instead, I find myself ensnared by a cold-hearted killer.

My brothers have been trying to knock the Hunters off their throne for years. I thought that I could stay out of their war and just enjoy my newfound freedom. But fate had other plans.

When Kaden Hunter sets eyes on me for the first time, my fate is sealed. To him, I am the perfect target. A fragile toy to be played with and tormented. Nothing more than leverage to use as a way to bring my family down.

But little does he know that I am not nearly as breakable as everyone assumes.

In fact, he is the one who should be worried about me. Because if he doesn’t watch his back, he might just find a knife buried in that icy heart of his.

418 pages, Paperback

Published February 26, 2024

323 people are currently reading
2554 people want to read

About the author

Raven Wood

7 books341 followers
Raven Wood is an author of dark bully romance books. She loves writing beautifully messed-up relationships between dominant possessive men and strong intelligent women who refuse to back down from a fight. She is a firm believer in delicious spice and happily ever afters. To find out more, visit: www.authorravenwood.com

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5 stars
857 (36%)
4 stars
902 (38%)
3 stars
438 (18%)
2 stars
97 (4%)
1 star
36 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
Profile Image for annie.
336 reviews2,043 followers
September 1, 2024
2 stars

The humiliation Alina faced is nothing compared to MY OWN humiliation because i literally sang praises for Kaden in my last two reviews Kahhsjszkws 😭 i'm a lil bit embarassed (i should delete those paragraphs no?)

this series is following a pattern ffs: bully her first for god knows why, then after a few bullying sessions, sleep with her, and suddenly you're spilling all your deepest, darkest secrets and falling in love... but not before a life-threatening situation, of course 😌

⌞ Alina Petrov & Kaden Hunter ⌝
20-23

So, I’m not gonna blame Kaden because he stayed true to his character. He was exactly the same as in the first two books, so at least he was on brand. BUT I NEVER THOUGHT ALINA WOULD BE A DOORMAT! I literally saw an edit where it was INSINUATED that they match each other's freak, like she’s supposed to be a psychopath or something blah blah.

Raina was damn insane, so I thought Alina would be nuts too, but she turned out to be such a loser 🥹 Just because she’s tiny and Kaden’s got some muscles, she lets him do whatever he wants and spends the rest of the time begging like she’s in some weird infomercial. her poor choices were wrapped in, 'She knew which battles to fight.' Like hell she did. 🤡

“You sly, calculating little villain,” he says, that wicked smile full of approval still on his mouth.
I grin back at him. “You ruthless, scheming psychopath.”


these quotes were what made me interested in this whole series in the first place. also, before reading, it gave off Landon/Mia vibes from 'God of Ruin' because of the brother's enemy thing, but it wasn’t that. She was actually pathetic.

if you're wondering what happened , after he found out about her, he wanted to break her, obviously. It started with him manhandling her, then he got footage of her brother begging and used it to blackmail her. she tried to sneak into his room, but he caught her and caned her. Later, he made her crawl to him and tied her up. Fast forward, he became obsessed with seeing the pleasure on her face, so he made her come in different places. This kept going until she told him she bugged his room, and he revealed he bugged her kitchen. Then they had sex and lived happily ever after. Also, her brothers kidnapped him and HE WAS LIKE, make me a cripple but know what? i'll crawl to her 🥱

the rest of the book, the author tried to make her sound all powerful and strong, but I’m sitting here like, ‘are we reading the same book?’ NO? I’m convinced now that Raina is the only one badass. SHE IS THE BEST ONE (yet).

⌞ ratings ⌝

Alluring Darkness [RainaEli]- 3.5 stars
Inescapable Darkness [RicoIsabella]- 2.5 stars
Irresistible Darkness [JaceKayla] - 3.75 stars
Profile Image for Gry ☾.
253 reviews1,016 followers
Read
September 30, 2024
This was such a waste of my time🫤

__________________
⌞Pre-read:⌝

This man scares me. I cannot wait🤭
Profile Image for Luna  ♡.
663 reviews248 followers
May 4, 2024
»You have five seconds to take your hands off my girl. Before I fucking cut them off.«

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

❥ 𝑨𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒂
Really liked her. She‘s intelligent, strong and sweet at the same time. She knows how to pick her battles and stands her ground against Kaden. I liked the fact that she‘s intelligent and Kaden views her as equal.

❥ 𝑲𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒏
What a fucking psycho. He is emotionless and cold most of the time but with Alina he is possessive and hot. I loved him and the way he treats Alina and cares for her.

✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
What an amazing read!
I already enjoyed the first two books in this series and this one was even better.
The main plot is the love story between Kaden and Alina and this is well done. The pages just flew by and I was glued to my Kindle. These two have amazing tension and their little battles are thrilling to read. I liked the way Alina is as intelligent as Kaden and he appreciates this. It‘s a bit romeo and juliet coded because their families are enemies and despise each other.
The characters are well build and develop throughout the book. I loved the side characters too and I‘m curious about Jace story (coming soon).
This is a dark bully romance and you get what is promised. There are fights, a lot of smut and incredible tension. Everything is well written and I really enjoyed reading. I hope the author writes A LOT of books at this college/ in this universe.
You should definitely read this book if you like darkromance and morally dark main characters.

»Fuck the rules. You're mine now. So people can either get onboard or get the fuck out.«

𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓
plot: 5/5
spice: 4/5
humor: 3/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes

𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
bully romance, college, to enemies to lovers, protective and possessive hero, dark romance, secrets and lies, morally dark hero, strong heroine, stalker, romeo and juliet vibes, school for criminals

𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: Alina (20) and Kaden is in his early twenties
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: knifeplay, pain, bdsm, edging



𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 Alluring Darkness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Inescapable Darkness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 Enduring Darkness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4 Irresistible Darkness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Profile Image for Lammie.
740 reviews38 followers
March 9, 2024
4🔪🔪🔪🔪

Kaden and Alina made for a great read. 2 rival assassin families out for blood in between them.

I wasn’t a fan of the knife play, and thought Alina weak at the beginning but there is a lot more to her that comes out as the book goes on.

Jace’s book should be a fun read 😁
Profile Image for Evie James  booknook.
33 reviews4 followers
July 20, 2024
AHHHH
Sorry that was dramatic but oh my god this book WAS SO GOOD. I had high hopes for it and IT MET EVERY STANDARD. It’s got chemistry that makes you feel like ur third wheeling and the smutt ? God Kaden could GET ITTT.

It’s got good girl x bad boy trope. It’s got forbidden trope with the families being enemies. He’s got a massive soft spot for her and they both have secret intentions and when he finds out ? Is he hurt ? No. Is he pissed ? No. Does he think fuck yes I’ve met my match I’m gonna marry her ? YES HE DOES.

This man IS THE STANDARD.
Profile Image for michelle.
22 reviews
September 10, 2024
no because how was Kaden in book one interested in Raina who’s badass and insane but then ended up falling in love with Alina who’s the weakest fmc in this series?😭 Raina remains untouchable
Profile Image for Musi ✨Vegacrux’s first child✨.
655 reviews71 followers
September 22, 2024
ALL HAIL ALINA PETROV…and her pathetic lil pet I suppose?

1 tiny lil thing tho? I wish lwad fmcs were friends too like they’re gonna be family anyway and none of them has interacted ONCE.
Profile Image for Ali.
58 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2024
It pains me to give 3 stars to Kaden, but I had to. The plot was not what I expected at all and the subplot was very underwhelming compared to the first 2 books. I wish Raina and Isabella would had some sort of cameo too.

I also expected Kaden to be more savage than Eli and he wasn’t, at all.
Alina was the most boring FMC. How does she have her foot on Kaden’s neck and stands up against her family, but cries when a couple of mean girls (very stupid too btw) say some dumb shit? Haha makes no sense to me.
Profile Image for astrid.
143 reviews2 followers
September 24, 2024
Very pathetic, Alina. I didn’t like this book at all. I thought Alina was going to be a Russian princess, but she’s just a pet for her family and for Kaden.

too much knife and begging stuff for no reason

There’s not much to say because it doesn’t offer anything new. I don’t recommend it at all.

Alina has no self-respect since in every chapter she’s already on her knees, begging for forgiveness and mercy, as if Kaden were jesus christ himself.

I think I’ll end my reading with these books here. It’s humiliating to read how Alina did whatever Kaden wanted. Girl, have some dignity.😭😭

Profile Image for Ella  Flowers.
112 reviews
May 7, 2024
This book was just too good.

I was smiling and giggling like crazy my cheeks hurt. Kaden is just divine and Alina and just knew when to pick her battles and she was just soo strong and I loved that about her. I just wish at the end she could have killed someone but nonetheless it was soo good.
Profile Image for Seffra.
788 reviews87 followers
July 18, 2024
I LOVED THIS ONE SO MUCH!!! Kadennnn my psycho🥰🥰. Kaden and Alina really complimented each other well. I loved their dynamic and their journey as a couple.
Profile Image for xS!kDollReaderx.
146 reviews28 followers
September 15, 2024
“You have five seconds to take your hands off my girl,” a dark voice snaps. “Before I fucking cut them off.”

I can't stop reading this series! It just gets better and better 🙌🙌

Kaden Hunter is ruthless and psychotic who loves his knives. But he sets his eyes on a new play thing who just so happens to be the daughter of a rival enemy, Alina Petrov. His plan is to destroy her and return her back to her brothers broken. But has he met his match?

Enduring Darkness is book 3 of the Blackwater series, and I highly suggest reading in order.
TWs and content include

🗡assassin/hitman college
🗡enemies to lovers
🗡bondage
🗡edging
🗡orgasm denial
🗡dub con
🗡violence
🗡breath play
🗡bullying
🗡dom/sub
🗡humiliation
🗡attempted 💀
🗡alcohol use
🗡mention of drug use
🗡mention of family members suicide

Please take TW seriously. Your mental health matters 🖤
Profile Image for Lova.
376 reviews
February 28, 2024
4,5/5

I loved Kaden in the previous books but now I'm OBSESSED with him. I loved the dynamic between Kaden and Alina and how he treated her as his equal instead of underestimating her and treating her like she was weak and fragile like others did.

I'm so happy that it ended the way I hoped that it would. There was so many " giggling and kicking my feet " moments and I read this on Kindle so you best believe that I have screenshotted so many scenes. The spice was really good🌶 CHAPTER 17??!! OH MY GOSH
Profile Image for Sam.
319 reviews1 follower
April 21, 2024
Writing these reviews in retrospect, I read all three in this series and am looking forward to the 4th. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, and would read other books she creates.

Note that this is a dark bully romance. Check the tropes/triggers.
Profile Image for ree.
100 reviews3 followers
July 26, 2025
Dnf at 56%
I choose my peace over this piece of shit
Profile Image for Kim Stalder.
327 reviews2 followers
October 7, 2024
This is almost 4 stars just because the level of awwww towards the end. It’s still the twisted and violent knife loving psychos but when they melt…damn.
6 reviews
February 27, 2024
WOW!!!

Wow just wow think we all have an Alina inside of us waiting for our Kaden to find us! There are no words. Normally I read the first book of a series and move on but this one I had to come back and read. Hooked from the get go can’t wait for the finale with Jace and the mysterious red head!
Profile Image for LeLe.
635 reviews2 followers
March 13, 2024
DNF. 2,5 stars.

Had high expectations, because the heroines in the other books are badass. For me that what’s made the books stand apart from other bully romances.

Alina is just.. Alina. Boring and plain. I hoped a badass heroine who matches Kaden.

Maybe gonna try another time. For now: a no from me.
2 reviews
February 28, 2024
Raven Wood did it again!

The way I eat these books up. Raven never fails to keep me entertained and fall in love with all the characters. I seriously can never get enough of this series and absolutely cannot wait for Jace’s. This was yet again another 5 star read for me.
Profile Image for Kellie Ferris.
568 reviews7 followers
September 25, 2024
I loved Kaden and Alina's story.....still very much bully romance...enemies to lovers 💕....with the added bonus of russian and italian mafia 👑🇷🇺🇮🇹🔥🥵🌶️
Profile Image for Shannon.
193 reviews2 followers
October 20, 2024
I wish more people would give this series a fair shake. They are all such a fun time. And nothing beats reading about a psycho mmc that grows a heart ♥️.
Profile Image for ʀ⭒..
285 reviews43 followers
June 1, 2025
2.5⭐
They had their moments but most of the time it was meh
Profile Image for LuvKayKay.
176 reviews1 follower
June 28, 2025
“He looks like a prince of hell. Lethally handsome. Sharp and severe and cold as ice. Impassive as a god. And my undoing.”

Oh my gosh Raven Wood did it again. Kaden Hunter my man my man my mannn. I’ve been anticipating his book since book 1 and I was not disappointed. I honestly love Alina she may not be good at fighting but she sure is intelligent and everyone underestimated her. She truly showed her family you can’t force her to do anything. She makes her own decisions for once and I love her for that. Kaden is everything. He’s an emotionless psycho but when he’s with Alina he’s possessive and he truly cares and treats her well. I love how he doesn’t see her as pathetic or worthless he sees her as more and he knew from the beginning she was strong. The spicy scenes were so good. With this book I couldn’t put it down I was hooked and invested in what was going to happen with her brothers. Gosh I wasn’t disappointed. I was on the edge of my seat especially when the fathers got involved. I cant wait to finish the series off with Jace I need to hear his story after noticing some things about him.

♥ “The only people that I love are my brothers. And the sheer magnitude of just how much I love them terrifies me. I would die for them. I would slaughter entire cities to protect them. I would wade through rivers of blood and burn this whole world to the ground if it meant keeping them safe.”

♥ “You have five seconds to take your hands off my girl,” a dark voice snaps. “Before I fucking cut them off.”

♥ “Fuck, he’s perfect. He’s so fucking perfect.”
Profile Image for Elif Arslan.
159 reviews2 followers
March 15, 2025
Ateşliydi.
Tam da tahmin ettiğim gibi Kaden hesapçı, tehlikeyi arzulayan ve üstünlük taslamantan hoşlanan biriydi. Düşman aileden Alina’yı görünce de tabiki eline geçen fırsatı kullanmak istedi ama Alina fiziken zayıf olsa dahi zihnen çok güçlü bir kadındı. Açıkçası Kaden ı ancak böyle bir kadın kaldırabilirdi çünkü duygular söz konusu olduğunda Kaden tam bir acemi… Alina onu tamamlayan aydınlık kısım gibiydi. Ayrıca düşman aile söz konusu olduğu için aralarındaki ilişki daha ateşli bir hal aldı ve içlerinde evlenen ilk kişi Kaden oldu 😂 çünkü eğer evlenmezlerse Hunter ve Petrov ailesi arasında bir kan savaşı başlayabilirdi 😅 bu yüzden son sahnede evlenmeleri beni aşırı mutlu etti ve hikayeyi sevdim. Ama açıkçası Eli ve deli Raina’nın kitabı beni en eğlendirendi. Bu yüzden biraz hayalkırıklığına da uğradım. Neyse sıra Jace de bakalım onun deli kadını nasıl biri çıkacak 💅
Profile Image for Shannon Widdowson.
34 reviews
July 22, 2025
3.75-4.. I love Kaden and Idc what anyone says. This man is truly a psychopath and did a lot of fucked up shit but he cares about Alina so much. Alina was so boring at first but when I found out she was as manipulative I started to like her more. I still throughly enjoyed this. Again I probs wouldn’t recommend this to just anyone bc it’s super f’ed up, but if u fuck with legacy of gods he gives Killian/creighton/nikolai
Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews

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