The Hand that Fractures

by K.M. Mixon

Someone’s killing in Crows Hollow again. And it’s not Neo Wade nor his deranged, stupid girl, Lyla Morris.

Both have been called back, lured by the scent of blood to the town where it all began for them nearly two years prior. And while they don’t know who is killing blonde women fresh from prison sentences, they’re determined to find out.

Because not only has the copycat deviated from the Bombshell Butcher’s M.O., but they’ve made a mockery of the hard work Neo did all those years ago as he cleaned scum from the streets of Crows Hollow.

Immerse yourself back into the unhinged world of Neo and Lyla as they go undercover to figure out who is dropping bodies in their old stomping grounds. But heed my warning, it’s not what you think.

It never is with the insane, in any case.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2024

About the author

Www.instagram.com/Kmixonauthor

K.M. Mixon is an up-and-coming fantasy/romance author. Her hobbies include books, her kindle, writing, and keeping her home life in order. She can be found either reading a fantasy book or writing inside of a fantasy world.

Reviews

[Vanessa ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished in one sitting 🤪🤌🏼
Once again, stunning 🤩

[ChieraRose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ate this up! I DEVOURED EVERY PAGE🥵

Neo and his stupid girl are BACK AND IN FULL SWING🤌🏻 I love how fast paced these books are. The way his mouth literally makes me blush and giddy is not good 🤣🤣

HE SAID I LOVE YOU - DED. If u know u know hehehehe

I HIGHLY recommend for a quick spicy read!! 🤪🫶🏻

[Sheila E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely read this immediately after reading the first The Butcher of Crows Hallow. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was a sequel and LOVED that it was a continuation of the first book. I really like the connection between the two and I was so happy that I did not have to let Lyla and Neo go!

The character development that Neo went through was really well done and his relationship evolution with Lyla was also super romantic and touching. Lyla was perfect as she fully embraced who she is and I love this "new" her and she is still wholly devoted to her k!ller.

The antagonist in this book was VERY interesting in my opinion. From the beginning I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about him, but I think we learned enough lol.

I actually liked this more than the first book which is saying something cause I really enjoyed book 1. But once I picked this one up, I could NOT put it down. I do hope there is more from our butcher and his stupid girl!

Overall: 4.5/5
World Building: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Spice: 4/5

[K.M. Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate this book right up and loved every moment of it!

Neo and Lyla are out to find the copycat killer but that’s exactly what the killer is hoping for.

I loved seeing Lyla’s character shine in this one. She is truly unhinged in the best possible way!

🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

[Mia Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

not as good as the first book, but i loved it and ate it up. um i officially love this series (theres another one coming out i believe), excited to try more books by this author bc i love how easy her writing style is.

[Katelin Cole · Rating 2 out of 5]

May this love never find me

[Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕳𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖋𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖚𝖗𝖊𝖘

Holy Sh!t

These books are not for the faint of heart. When I say this is a dark romance, I mean DARK. But did I love it. Yes. Yes I did! It is a quick read, but doesn’t lack plot or spice.

I fell in love with Neo and Lyla in ‘The hand that feeds’ their crazy (and I mean that literally) chemistry just reels you in. And in this book (book 2 of the Crows Hollow series) you get to see more of their connection and the obvious love they have for each other. We see Lyla start to control her ‘crazy’ that Neo unleashed in the first book, but there are traumatic events that lead to this.

This is 3 person POV. We have Neo and Lyla. Then the unknown subject who has taken an obsession with Lyla. He believes he can truly love her the way she deserves, the way Neo doesn’t. Unfortunately for him Lyla only has eyes for one murdering psycho and it isn’t him. So he takes matters into his own hands.

TWs - I won’t list them all, because there is A LOT!! But here are some:
🔪Degradation - Verbal & Physical
🖤Physical Abuse (including MCs)
🔪Graphic Violence/Murder
🖤On page SA
🔪Drugging
🖤Kidnapping

And so many more……

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

🩸 The Hand That Fractures 🩸

“𝖜𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝖜𝖊 𝖇𝖚𝖗𝖞 𝖍𝖎𝖒, 𝖜𝖊 𝖇𝖚𝖗𝖞 𝖎𝖙. 𝖂𝖍𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖕𝖊𝖓𝖊𝖉, 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖔𝖋 𝖎𝖙, 𝖎𝖙 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖌𝖔𝖊𝖘 𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖔 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖌𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖉 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖍𝖎𝖒”, 𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖆𝖞𝖘

In my review for book 1 I said I wished there was more of Neo and Lyla…well here it is!

I enjoyed reading their individual development and development as a couple, Lyla becoming more detached and unhinged, Neo becoming warmer…in his own way of course.

I loved the plot and even though this was another novella, it did not feel rushed at all. I have given 3 stars purely because of something that played on my mind throughout the novella but that is purely because of my past career, please don’t let it put you off reading 🫶🏼

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

💊 Joker x Harley vibes
💊 Super Dark Romance
💊 Forbidden
💊 Serial Unaliver(s)

#bookstagram #books #booklover #bookworm #bookstagrammer #reading #bookish #bookaddict #instabook #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #fyp #bookaholic #booksbooksbook #booklove #bookreview #bookcommunity #bookblogger #instabooks #booklovers #reader #igreads #bookrecommendations #kindlesetup #discoverunder5k #darkromance #harleyquinn #joker

[Dru · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.2
🌶️🌶️🌶️

For some reason I didn’t like this one asssss much as the first but honestly just barely. Love coming back into the world with Lyla and Neo. You really get a feel for how much Lyla has enjoyed coming into herself as a partner in crime with Neo. She might even beat his crazy.

Neo finally says he loves her!!! 🥰😍 Finally realizing she owns him as much as he owns her. He feels that he is finally enough and everything she needs. Only took a few years Neo! But that never stopped Lyla from knowing he loves her, but her getting taken cemented his feelings for her, how his life ends with her.

Lyla getting taken, raped and abused broke her. But she came back, and we get to see a side of Neo that we didn’t see in the first book. We saw more of ‘Neo,’ not the serial killer Neo, but of Neo where he talked about no one gets to see (again in first book) in his support of Lyla.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok wow, not only am I completely feral for Neo but I absolutely love the FMC Lyla! She is now just as insane as he is and a massive bad ass!
I was so excited to see what the future held for the pair. This is based 2 years after they left Crows Hallow, and I was not disappointed.
I had a theory about where it could be going around 25% in but I was wrong. I love it when I’m wrong. At one point I thought my opinion on Neo was going to change but that thought didn’t last very long.
This sequel is everything I hoped for. I loved seeing their relationship develop and seeing a very slight softer side to Neo, even if it was for a moment.
I didn’t think I could fall in love with Neo Wade anymore. He is the elite of “book boyfriends”

Also the spice in this book is amazing 👌🏻

Can’t wait for some more!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sequel.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around what happened and how I should write this review without spoilers😅

Hand that Feeds was a wild experience and where it ended in utter violence and left me in shock (in a good way) Hand that Fractures started.
We got a sequel with more suspense, more wtf moments, and two complete psychos having their way with each other, one way or the other🤣

Here, I sadly need to stop with this review. Otherwise, I'd be blabbering out too much plot, what I really excitingly want to do, btw, but not here🤭😊

Long story short, if you like a gorey, horrory, psychotic read with an amazingly disturbing plot (🤣) and delicious spice, go, read it! And don't forget to check out the author's other books.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

just as good as the first!

Actually, I take that back, it’s better than the first one. The crazy is fully unveiled and unleashed in this one and holy h311 it is epic! I normally would say something like read the TW before starting, but tbh if you already read the first one you should know what to expect. Honestly I found it kind of comical to read about this copycat who thinks they can draw out The Butcher - stupid, stupid little killer. Is it wrong that I was chuckling during the final copycat scenes? Bc seriously that was funny; he obviously had absolutely no idea how far out of his league he was, and THAT was laughable. I can’t wait to see what adventures we go on in the next book, I get the feeling that the underworld is going to have 2 new gods by the end!

[InkDrinkersAnonymous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solo Narration - William Glynn does a fantastic job with each character. I normally can't handle solo male narration especially when there's a FMC POV but he did such a great job I found myself flying through the second audio!

I always love having a POV with an unknown character and the way the story played out in this book was so great. The interactions between Lyla and the unknown subject were definitely not what I was expecting and I loved seeing how Lyla and Neo dealt with the kidnapping.

Neo's POV chapters were definitely my favorite, Neo is up there with my top tier unhinged MMCs and I can't wait to read the final book to see how the story ends!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew closer to Lyla and Neo with this book. The bond they share with each other is stronger. It was great to see Lyla take more of a lead role in this book. She is not the same woman that she started out as in book one.

The copycat killer does not know who "they", not revealing identity of killer. You will have to read the book to discover this fact. Ok, back to what I was saying. The killer does not know who they are messing with. It is not just Neo's attention that they have drawn but Lyla's as well. This couple is a power duo. I can't wait to read the final book featuring these two.

[Kye | Dark Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me some Neo and Lyla, especially now that Lyla is unhinged.

Degradation is strong in this, so if you don’t like that well I guess this won’t be the book for you. But if you are into that, you’re in for a real treat.

Some favorite quotes:

“I’m a cold-blooded killer who’s missing the one piece of his soul that makes him even a speck of human. And without her, I’m a monster.”

“He’s going to pay for each tear, stupid girl. So I hope you’re keeping count.”

“I don’t want your words, stupid girl. I want your screams.”

“Crawl to me.”

[Jacqueline Ann Bias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stupid girl to Stupid love.

K.M Mixon has done it again, I am one of the most eager and depraved reader of hers. If you haven’t read her work you need to, you won’t be disappointed. Make sure you’ve got batteries and/or things are charged. 😅

Neo is a weak man for his stupid girl and he’ll kill anyone who stands in the way of him being with his heart. His stupid girl will stop at nothing to be with her home. They both realized that they were lost without each other. It’s unhinged, depraved, and oh so delicious.

[booking _with_romancegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when you think insanity Can't reason with love

This was a 4.5 for me the spice This was a 4.5 for me the spice Subpar It was a nice ending to the 1st book This gets messed up like I would say more than the first book just cause of what happens in it but it also felt more like a mystery to uncover as well. Trigger warnings need to be read and the book definitely needs to not be read blindly. Neo shows more growth in this book and I feel their dynamic changes more in power and control.

[Jillian Hadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Neo and Lyla so much! This sequel was everything I could have hoped for. We get to see their crazy, wild relationship grow more and we get to see them become more committed to each other. I didn't think it was possible, but K.M. Mixon made me fall even harder for a serial unaliver book boyfriend. This series has become one of my all time favorites and I will be patiently waiting for more of these two in the future.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

FM Dark romance (?), horr0rish, blo0dy, endless TW, degradation, r@pe on page

We are back with Neo (serial killer/vigilante a bit batman a bit joker) and Lyla (former rational nurse turned deranged kill3r).

I don't know what is it with these books really, but I'm flying through them.

While in the first you got a mentally stable person turning dark for the darkest of them all, this is more like two ppl dealing with their emotions (one actually) who go hunting for a stalker stalking (her). Or more: the darkest one realises he has feelings and doesn't know what to do with them.

I don't know how I feel about what happened halfway through the book, but I did like what happened afterwards, about Neo I mean.

So, what can I say. I'll be waiting for the third

[Jessica Grooms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I thought I couldn’t meet anyone more crazier than Neo Wade… here comes Layla in the second book 🤪🤪 She may be more unhinged than Neo is now!! I absolutely love me some Neo and Layla. I love their story, their spice, their craziness, their relationship, every single thing about them I love ❤️❤️

To see Neos softer side for half a second did it for me 🤭🤭
I feel even harder for him 😍

[Michelle Grimison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to see a woman embracing her inner psycho!

For a minute I thought this was gonna attempt to be a throuple where Kage would be the killer who is a sweetie to her, since Neo “can’t” be, but didn’t know how that was gonna work cause he’s the kind of possessive who doesn’t share… I’m glad that was not what happened and he got what he deserved!

🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
Same as book 1

[SanLynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one didn’t hit the same as the Hand that Feeds for me. Something was missing, most likely the push/pull of Neo and Lyla pre relationship. It’s a good book just not as good.

Will be reading to see how the series ends for sure though.

[Christi Elaine Camacho · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful ending

Ah this was everything. It was magical, this is a dark romance after all, check the trigger warnings. I loved every moment of reading this. The plot twist and the revenge was beautiful

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG this did not disappoint and did not go the way I thought it would which is a HUGE bonus. Both of these surprised me with how the story turned out. Seriously recommend if you enjoy morally black FMCs anD MMCS. Can’t wait for the third this September!

[Hannah Knechel · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good! Read this right after The Hand that Feeds and loved the story line of this book. There was still a good amount of spice which I loved. Make sure to check trigger warnings because it is super dark, but if you’re into that then this is definitely for you!

[Darkbookghoul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hand that Fractures by K.M. Nixon is the second book in the Butcher of Crows Hollow, this is a dark, erotic horror novella so check those trigger warnings! This book sees Lyla and Wade coming out of hiding as there is a butcher copycat killer. This one was great and I was gripped and such a satisfying ending!

[Melissa FJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌶️ 4
⭐️ 4

Neo got even better!!
The character development was perfect, the grossness even stepped up a notch too < so take those content warnings serious, it’s not pretty what happens >
So glad I read this back to back and got to have a little longer with them

[Madison Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say I enjoyed this one more than the first book in the series. The character development for Neo was amazing and him finally admitting his feelings! <3 I didn't get the back story to Lylas's darkness, but I actually like her character as unhinged.

[amour.edition · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕳𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝕱𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖚𝖗𝖊𝖘

𝕽𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖌: 4.5/5
𝕾𝖕𝖎𝖈𝖊: 3/5

+Novella -180 pages
+Book 2/3 of series (Same couple)
+Violence & Torture
+Joker & Harley Quinn vibes
+Mystery plot
+Kidnapping
+Kinks
*Check trigger list as it's abit long*

Brief backstory
Neo Wade & Lyla Morris have been on the run for two years. They find themselves back at Crow's Hollow again to find out who has been Neo's copy cat killer with some differences, tongue and fingernails removed. Lyla goes undercover to try and find out who is behind it and why.

This book compared to the first is more plot than spice but there is still a decent amount of spice. I enjoyed seeing more of Lyla & Neo's relationship build and develop. They are still both bat sh*t crazy. Neo still commands a room and wants everyone to bow down to him.

The torture scenes.. BRILLIANT. Nothing fazes me so for me reading was a breeze LOL perfect add to the mix. The spice throughout was so good, I'd expect nothing less from them at this point. If you read book one it was so action packed! OBSESSED! When Neo Wade tells you to do something.. you do it no questions asked.

I can't wait to see what the last book of this series will include as we are just left with a little hint towards the end. Highly recommend this series if you're looking for a good ratio of spice, torture and crazy.

I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love love love🤪

So hard to find a fast paced book that doesn’t lack plot (and smut🥵) but these books🫣

Low-key wish Kage wasn’t found so quick so they could’ve dragged on his torture🤷🏼‍♀️