Having no other choice than to accept Oisín offer if he wants to live, Reed soon finds himself being tamed by a slightly unhinged taskmaster. But Oisín sees something in Reed, a Beast he wants to control, and he will spare no risk in order to make this come true. While their relationship starts out quite unconventional, they slowly find themselves being drawn to the other and eventually find their way towards their own HEA.
While I didn't have much patience for Reed from the start (I thought he was a big idiot), he did prove me wrong in the end. He even admits himself he hasn't made the brightest decisions, which was nice. He doesn't suddenly become a criminal mastermind, but he does get his own voice and character, which turns out to fit Oisín's crazy like a glove.
I was a bit disappointed we didn't get to read more about Oisín's career as a thief, I mean, professional acquirer of quality goods. We see a little bit of it, but he honestly takes a lot of (unnecessary) risks, which made me wonder how he hasn't been killed before. He must be really good and I wished I saw a bit of that.
On the other hand, it was refreshing to read about a character not inhabited by lots of self doubt or insecurities, but just someone who goes for what he wants and flirts with life (and people) like he has no care in the world. Oisín was a joy to read and I really hope we get to know more about him and Reed in other books.
I did feel the part with Reed's family could have done with a bit more attention, especially if he is really trying to keep them safe. It felt a bit like an afterthought at points, but this did fit Reed's character, so it didn't bother me too much. I also think we might see more of his brothers in a next book.
While this book has some darker themes (torture, blackmail, maffia, etc.), the story itself is not really dark. There is some action and suspense, but it's almost all focused on Reed and Oisín's relationship, although they do have to battle outside forces as well. The story is nicely paced and makes for a great read, wanting to keep on reading once you have started.
There's a lot of jealousy going around, 'touch him and you do' vibes, which all make for a lot of hot & spicy times. While not having a strictly BDSM relationship (the characters are a bit too crazy for that), there are a lot of BDSM elements.
The story is connected to other books Ki Brightly and M.D. Gregory have written, but it can certainly be read as a stand-alone. People familiar with the Irish Roulette Serie, The Killough Company and The Family Bond might see some familiar faces, but there are no spoilers for any of these books.
Please check out the content warning if you have any triggers.
1st POV, Oisín and Reed