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Number Thirteen
**AUTHOR NOTE - This is NOT a BDSM Romance. It has a Happily Ever After and is not a cliff-hanger**This isn't a dark romance, nor is it a light fluffy one. It's broken, and captivating, and a story of two people putting themselves back together. It's a story of a broken man who found his way to heal with Thirteen Girls.We're thirteen girls, captive to a man we rarely see.Obedience will become all we know. It is the only emotion we're permitted to feel.When we're bad, we're punished. When we're good, we're rewarded. Our scars run deep. Yet we survive, because we have to, because HE teaches us too.All of us are special, we feel it with everything we are.He has us for a reason, but it's a reason we don't know.We've haven't seen his face, but we know that something deeply broken lies beneath the darkness. With every touch, with every punishment, we know it. Then came the day he saved my life, and I saw him for the first time. He released something inside of me.He showed me who he truly is.Now I want him.I'll go against Everything I know to be with him. A monster. My monster. Loving him is a sin, but a sinner I am. I won't stop until I see every part of him. Even the parts he keeps locked deep down inside. I am Number Thirteen, and this is my story.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2014
151 people are currently reading
4161 people want to read
About the author
Bella Jewel
102 books7,455 followersHeya!! My name is Bella, I'm a new aussie author and I am as crazy as they come. I'm playful, friendly and always up for a chat so stop on by x
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March 21, 2014
1 pointless star
Warning: Fans of this book and author watch out! Negative opinion here!
Also this is not a dark romance.
Why is it so hard to find quality books these days? Once again, here's another book where the blurb vastly exceeds the content. Now this next thing I'm about to say is not meant to put down the author or book even more okay? It's just my honest, very first reaction to the book and that is: there was no point to this story.
It all boils down to the REASONING and though William's intentions were good, the premise, the reasoning, and the entire execution of the plot events was beyond ridiculous.
If you don't want spoilers you can stop reading here, but just know that never in a million years would I recommend thismess book.
**SPOILERS**
Just some background info: when he was thirteen, William (captor/hero of the story) was bullied excessively and ultimately disfigured when a bully poured hydrochloric acid into his eye, scarring both the eye and the skin surrounding the area.
After the prologue the book switches to present day where Number Thirteen (I'm going to call her "13" for short) and twelve other captive girls are rounded up to be taken to William's house. Then they are split into groups to do chores, but the group #13 is part of services Master William. Oh let me explain: by servicing/spending time with him means each girl is blindfolded and he has them sit on his lap, strokes their hair, and whispers a bunch of nonsense in Romanian, I think.
Why are they sitting in his lap? Why is he stroking their hair? And why is he whispering it in Romanian when it has nothing to do about him, his upbringing, his family, or the surroundings he's in? Almost as if the foreign language part was thrown in to showcase how exotic he is.
Anyways, the girls are drugged daily because William thinks they're too weak and can't handle their pasts and old memories.
But that still doesn't answer the question of why he took them in the first place! Oh wait for it....
Because of what happened when he was young (bullied and disfigured), he has made it his mission to "save" and rehabilitate the girls. To TEACH and preach to them about life and being good.
But...but...but that's the reasoning?
Hold on, that's not all! Turns out his motives aren't completely pure. You see, he wants a lover. Yes you read me right. He took these 13 girls because he wants to instill good life habits in them and also choose a lover. I'm not going to go into details to how that all happens but just know that I found it absolutely disgusting and deplorable that he'd eat out Number 12 and woo and kiss Thirteen.
The ending was stupid. Thanks to a tip from who-I-shall-not-name, the police is notified of the captive slaves in William's house and the girls are taken away. However, none of the girls are willing to testify against him because he's been kind and treated them nicely and since just ALL of them came from bad environments they'd rather stay with Master William than go anywhere else. I guess there's just no such thing as a captive who comes from a good, solid environment eh? Everyone just has to be prostitutes and whores. So original.
So anyways William's separated from the group of girls because of police intervention, but hey! The law can't come up with evidence that he bought the girls and the girls aren't testifying against him so that means the case is closed! And look, even the psychologist agrees that William is great:
"I can't explain it to you. I wish I could but I can't. He's done for them what years of therapy couldn't do. Somehow he's healed something in them. They trust him. They need him."
Also this book needs some serious editing because there were gaping plot holes and typos/grammatical errors. Like, what happened to the first Number Six? She was just taken away and there was no clarification to what happened to her. At the end where all return to him? How is that possible when one of the girls committed suicide?
13-1 does not equal 13.
Word mix ups where "vulnerable" became "venerable" and completely changed the tone and meaning of the sentence.
Now the last thing I have to say about this book is that it reminded me a lot about the Monsters in the Dark series by Pepper Winters and the reminders would throw me off and break my reading flow. Here are some examples:
1. The monster reference in the blurb and throughout the book.
"A monster. My monster." <-- really now, almost like Tess and Q eh?
2. The foreign language aspect. There was no clarification to William's background and since this is all English why the heck was there a need to throw it in? What a random aspect.
3. The reasons for William to buy the girls is to really save them? REALLY? Well looks like the dark world has two saviors then: Q and William.
The similarities were a little too jarring for my tastes and I was immediately reminded of Q and Tess while I should've been engrossed with this story. Nope. Nada.
This is just my opinion. Don't mind me!
Warning: Fans of this book and author watch out! Negative opinion here!
Also this is not a dark romance.
Why is it so hard to find quality books these days? Once again, here's another book where the blurb vastly exceeds the content. Now this next thing I'm about to say is not meant to put down the author or book even more okay? It's just my honest, very first reaction to the book and that is: there was no point to this story.
It all boils down to the REASONING and though William's intentions were good, the premise, the reasoning, and the entire execution of the plot events was beyond ridiculous.
If you don't want spoilers you can stop reading here, but just know that never in a million years would I recommend this
**SPOILERS**
Just some background info: when he was thirteen, William (captor/hero of the story) was bullied excessively and ultimately disfigured when a bully poured hydrochloric acid into his eye, scarring both the eye and the skin surrounding the area.
After the prologue the book switches to present day where Number Thirteen (I'm going to call her "13" for short) and twelve other captive girls are rounded up to be taken to William's house. Then they are split into groups to do chores, but the group #13 is part of services Master William. Oh let me explain: by servicing/spending time with him means each girl is blindfolded and he has them sit on his lap, strokes their hair, and whispers a bunch of nonsense in Romanian, I think.
Why are they sitting in his lap? Why is he stroking their hair? And why is he whispering it in Romanian when it has nothing to do about him, his upbringing, his family, or the surroundings he's in? Almost as if the foreign language part was thrown in to showcase how exotic he is.
Anyways, the girls are drugged daily because William thinks they're too weak and can't handle their pasts and old memories.
But that still doesn't answer the question of why he took them in the first place! Oh wait for it....
Because of what happened when he was young (bullied and disfigured), he has made it his mission to "save" and rehabilitate the girls. To TEACH and preach to them about life and being good.
But...but...but that's the reasoning?
Hold on, that's not all! Turns out his motives aren't completely pure. You see, he wants a lover. Yes you read me right. He took these 13 girls because he wants to instill good life habits in them and also choose a lover. I'm not going to go into details to how that all happens but just know that I found it absolutely disgusting and deplorable that he'd eat out Number 12 and woo and kiss Thirteen.
The ending was stupid. Thanks to a tip from who-I-shall-not-name, the police is notified of the captive slaves in William's house and the girls are taken away. However, none of the girls are willing to testify against him because he's been kind and treated them nicely and since just ALL of them came from bad environments they'd rather stay with Master William than go anywhere else. I guess there's just no such thing as a captive who comes from a good, solid environment eh? Everyone just has to be prostitutes and whores. So original.
So anyways William's separated from the group of girls because of police intervention, but hey! The law can't come up with evidence that he bought the girls and the girls aren't testifying against him so that means the case is closed! And look, even the psychologist agrees that William is great:
"I can't explain it to you. I wish I could but I can't. He's done for them what years of therapy couldn't do. Somehow he's healed something in them. They trust him. They need him."
Also this book needs some serious editing because there were gaping plot holes and typos/grammatical errors. Like, what happened to the first Number Six? She was just taken away and there was no clarification to what happened to her. At the end where all return to him? How is that possible when one of the girls committed suicide?
13-1 does not equal 13.
Word mix ups where "vulnerable" became "venerable" and completely changed the tone and meaning of the sentence.
Now the last thing I have to say about this book is that it reminded me a lot about the Monsters in the Dark series by Pepper Winters and the reminders would throw me off and break my reading flow. Here are some examples:
1. The monster reference in the blurb and throughout the book.
"A monster. My monster." <-- really now, almost like Tess and Q eh?
2. The foreign language aspect. There was no clarification to William's background and since this is all English why the heck was there a need to throw it in? What a random aspect.
3. The reasons for William to buy the girls is to really save them? REALLY? Well looks like the dark world has two saviors then: Q and William.
The similarities were a little too jarring for my tastes and I was immediately reminded of Q and Tess while I should've been engrossed with this story. Nope. Nada.
This is just my opinion. Don't mind me!
Read
April 26, 2014 I tried and now ...
Why did I quit you ask-----> Good question :-)
Becaauuussee ..... I found the story to be FRUSTRATING ....INCONSISTENT .... and NOTHING like the synopsis suggest.
I present to you some possible spoilerish rambling on my part. Read at your own risk!
Number Thirteen didn't work for me mainly because William gave me the Willies, and that's saying something as I've read some real creepers. He gave off a molesty vibe....
.... Yes, that Santa has us sit on his lap so we can tell him what we want for Christmas. What's your excuse William?
I really, really wanted to like William, especially since he had the physical features I've been dying for a male character to possess (scar on his face..yum!) Yes, I'm weird but I'm tired of all of the hero's looking like David Gandy (I need my head examined) . I was happy he wasn't yet another alpha asshole . Surely , I can't be the only reader to think the anti-hero is a tad played out ? .. Or can I?
In my humble opinion Bella Jewel should have never referred to William as "Monster".....because he WASN'T. A scarred face does not merit him being labeled "monster". It's as if she tried to make him an anti-hero i.e. kidnapping thirteen women, the list of rules and punishment, what happened to six in the beginning of the story, BUT he was NEVER that guy.
Then the author tried to trick us readers into thinking William was friggin Robin Hood.
Apparently William brought the women into his home so he could save them..
If you ask me William kidnapped them because was CHEAP!....Hello, can you say free labor ? He had these 13 lucky ladies cook,clean,mow the lawn and wash his skivvies . Oh' did I mention our guardian angel drugged the women daily without their knowledge? ... But it's okay as it was for their benefit..
If William really wanted to help them, why not get them counseling to address each "slave's" individual issues? Call me crazy but narcotics is not the answer to their problem ....btw, Was he planning on drugging them for the rest of their lives? I get the author was trying to make him appear different than all the other alpha's out there but her execution didn't work for me--- > sorry :-(
Now what really irked me was little Miss Thirteen getting away with breaking the rules with zero repercussion... Wait, she was punished once But the punishment changed to meet her liking....
I would have let his lackadaisical dominance slide had he not punished number Eleven for saying some not so nice things to number Thirteen . Sorry William but I call that playing favorites.
I also didn't like how self conscious he was. Dude was built like a brick house and the other side of his face was perfection...PLUS, he's rich, the man would have no problem getting pussy ..just sayin......Why the ladies couldn't look at him but everyone else could , beats the heck out of me ...... And I didn't understand why he felt the need to speak to number Thirteen in a foreign language either . What was the point of that? I do have a few other issues but I've already proven my point so there no need to overkill my opinions.
Friends, I felt myself getting bitchier by the page, which meant it was time for me to say....
PLEASE DO NOT LET my overly opinionated arse deter you from reading Number Thirteen. Just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it won't be for you.
As always, I'd like to wish the author much success.
Why did I quit you ask-----> Good question :-)
Becaauuussee ..... I found the story to be FRUSTRATING ....INCONSISTENT .... and NOTHING like the synopsis suggest.
I present to you some possible spoilerish rambling on my part. Read at your own risk!
Number Thirteen didn't work for me mainly because William gave me the Willies, and that's saying something as I've read some real creepers. He gave off a molesty vibe....
.... Yes, that Santa has us sit on his lap so we can tell him what we want for Christmas. What's your excuse William?
I really, really wanted to like William, especially since he had the physical features I've been dying for a male character to possess (scar on his face..yum!) Yes, I'm weird but I'm tired of all of the hero's looking like David Gandy (I need my head examined) . I was happy he wasn't yet another alpha asshole . Surely , I can't be the only reader to think the anti-hero is a tad played out ? .. Or can I?
In my humble opinion Bella Jewel should have never referred to William as "Monster".....because he WASN'T. A scarred face does not merit him being labeled "monster". It's as if she tried to make him an anti-hero i.e. kidnapping thirteen women, the list of rules and punishment, what happened to six in the beginning of the story, BUT he was NEVER that guy.
Then the author tried to trick us readers into thinking William was friggin Robin Hood.
Apparently William brought the women into his home so he could save them..
If you ask me William kidnapped them because was CHEAP!....Hello, can you say free labor ? He had these 13 lucky ladies cook,clean,mow the lawn and wash his skivvies . Oh' did I mention our guardian angel drugged the women daily without their knowledge? ... But it's okay as it was for their benefit..
If William really wanted to help them, why not get them counseling to address each "slave's" individual issues? Call me crazy but narcotics is not the answer to their problem ....btw, Was he planning on drugging them for the rest of their lives? I get the author was trying to make him appear different than all the other alpha's out there but her execution didn't work for me--- > sorry :-(
Now what really irked me was little Miss Thirteen getting away with breaking the rules with zero repercussion... Wait, she was punished once But the punishment changed to meet her liking....
I would have let his lackadaisical dominance slide had he not punished
I also didn't like how self conscious he was. Dude was built like a brick house and the other side of his face was perfection...PLUS, he's rich, the man would have no problem getting pussy ..just sayin......Why the ladies couldn't look at him but everyone else could , beats the heck out of me ...... And I didn't understand why he felt the need to speak to
Friends, I felt myself getting bitchier by the page, which meant it was time for me to say....
PLEASE DO NOT LET my overly opinionated arse deter you from reading Number Thirteen. Just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it won't be for you.
As always, I'd like to wish the author much success.
March 14, 2014
This book... Oh damn, this book. It deserves 10 stars.
So beautiful written with an edgy, gritty, unique plot.
This is NOT a BDSM novel. It is different from anything I have ever read. Whatever you have set in your mind what you think this book will be, I can tell you...you are wrong. It is nothing you could imagine.
It is more. So much more.
That ending... Gah! EPIC!
I FLoved this book.
I urge you to add it to your TBR and give it a try. It will be released on March 20th. Five days til you meet William... <3
So beautiful written with an edgy, gritty, unique plot.
This is NOT a BDSM novel. It is different from anything I have ever read. Whatever you have set in your mind what you think this book will be, I can tell you...you are wrong. It is nothing you could imagine.
It is more. So much more.
That ending... Gah! EPIC!
I FLoved this book.
I urge you to add it to your TBR and give it a try. It will be released on March 20th. Five days til you meet William... <3
April 8, 2014
★★ 2.5 stars! **WARNING: Review contains minor spoilers.**
Number Thirteen is a very hard book for me to review, because I had a lot of conflicting emotions about it and if you asked me to describe what this book was about my response would be:
Okay, that's not entirely true. I do get the point of the story and the general message behind it, I just don't really understand the execution.
At the beginning of the story we have thirteen girls who have been captured by a man named William. They don't know how they got there or what their names are or what the purpose is of them being there. From now on they're all referred to as a number. Which is the first thing that bothered me since it was a bit confusing to tell them all apart; number one looked like this; number two looked like that, number three sounded like this...and so on.
Then there's William, the "hero" of the story. He's a bit weird. And although I did feel sorry for what happened to him as a kid, it just doesn't justify the way he goes about "saving" those girls. Also, if all he wanted was to save them, then why did he select a few of them as his potential future "lover"?
Also, he says he wants to save them from the horrible life they were living, but he does it by treating them like they're all just a number and like they're criminals who need to follow his every rule and who need to be conditioned on how to act properly?
The "sitting" in his lap -thing as a form of therapy didn't make much sense either...
And in the end everything was tied up just a little too nicely, it felt a bit rushed and
But maybe that's just me. I do have to say that I really liked the author's general writing style and that I've enjoyed the other books of her that I've read so far so I'll definitely still read her future work as well. Unfortunatly, this was just not the book for me.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
March 21, 2014
2.5 ~ 3 Stars
"I am the darkness in the shadows; I'm the one no one wants to see. I'm the faded man."
Honestly, some of this story’s plot felt really similar to Tears for Tess By Pepper Winters, minus the sexy Q.
Let's start off with the positves: I liked the idea of 13 girls, the bonds and the relationships amongst the girls, Ben, William’s HOT brother and the girls' lack of memory and slow restorations was creative.
William was a pretty weak main character and his referring to himself as a hideous beast and how could anyone ever love a beast, was so Beauty and the Beastish for me.
Some of his actions were odd for a man claiming to be rebuilding woman for their benefit and making the world a better place. He’s also looking for a lover…WHAT?
”I’m looking for a lover, Number Thirteen. I’m not looking to be loved.”
Having the girls sit on his lap was CREEPY…
Well the girls truly start making progress under William’s Save the Slave Mission until Number Thirteen finds out that she isn’t the only one vying for Master William’s affections.
”Jealousy burns inside my chest. He’s touching her too?”
Things begin to be going swimmingly and the girls are healing while William is learning things about himself when the shit hits the fan. Readers will rejoice because all is not lost and we get a huge finale. Perhaps some friends will tear up but I just rolled me eyes.
Overall, this started off pretty promising and then just went sort of flat. The pace of the story was excellent and the writing was good basically, the story line was weak and not very good for me in comparison with all the other books I have read.
I’m left with one question: What the hell happen to Number 6?
"I am the darkness in the shadows; I'm the one no one wants to see. I'm the faded man."
Honestly, some of this story’s plot felt really similar to Tears for Tess By Pepper Winters, minus the sexy Q.
Let's start off with the positves: I liked the idea of 13 girls, the bonds and the relationships amongst the girls, Ben, William’s HOT brother and the girls' lack of memory and slow restorations was creative.
William was a pretty weak main character and his referring to himself as a hideous beast and how could anyone ever love a beast, was so Beauty and the Beastish for me.
Some of his actions were odd for a man claiming to be rebuilding woman for their benefit and making the world a better place. He’s also looking for a lover…WHAT?
”I’m looking for a lover, Number Thirteen. I’m not looking to be loved.”
Having the girls sit on his lap was CREEPY…
Well the girls truly start making progress under William’s Save the Slave Mission until Number Thirteen finds out that she isn’t the only one vying for Master William’s affections.
”Jealousy burns inside my chest. He’s touching her too?”
Things begin to be going swimmingly and the girls are healing while William is learning things about himself when the shit hits the fan. Readers will rejoice because all is not lost and we get a huge finale. Perhaps some friends will tear up but I just rolled me eyes.
Overall, this started off pretty promising and then just went sort of flat. The pace of the story was excellent and the writing was good basically, the story line was weak and not very good for me in comparison with all the other books I have read.
I’m left with one question: What the hell happen to Number 6?
March 24, 2014
I know - I know....I'm the minority here that really liked this book...Don't stone me!
NO NO NO.....NOT THAT KIND OF STONED!!! Geez...it's not 4-20 yet!
Sorry...but this book would have been a 5 Star for me if not for the ending....
Book – Number Thirteen
Author – Bella Jewel
Publication Date – March 19, 2014
Type – Stand Alone
Genre – Romance, New Adult
Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
Complimentary copy kindly provided by author (Blog Tour) in exchange for an honest review.
Review
I feel that I keep writing these reviews stating that I am the only one who keeps making it through these books – and yet again….4 of us started and only 1 of us survived. Can you guess who? Duh…that’s a stupid question to ask you, knowing that it is I who is typing this review.
In fact this time – I am the minority in my circle of GR buddies that enjoyed the book and really understood the message of the story the author was trying to convey.
Maybe it wasn’t dark enough? Maybe it was more of a romance than a story about sex slaves and captives? Maybe it was because it was a story of about second chances in life and learning how to survive?
I was conned – by the Prologue and the cover – I honestly thought that William was a monster not just physically but emotionally also and his goal was to hurt this 13 captives.
I enjoyed the whole book until we got to the end…..it cleaned up too easily and quickly. I understand the whole reason why the author wanted to show the girls being out in the real world without inside help….but did it have to end that way?
For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
NO NO NO.....NOT THAT KIND OF STONED!!! Geez...it's not 4-20 yet!
Sorry...but this book would have been a 5 Star for me if not for the ending....
Book – Number Thirteen
Author – Bella Jewel
Publication Date – March 19, 2014
Type – Stand Alone
Genre – Romance, New Adult
Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
Complimentary copy kindly provided by author (Blog Tour) in exchange for an honest review.
Review
I feel that I keep writing these reviews stating that I am the only one who keeps making it through these books – and yet again….4 of us started and only 1 of us survived. Can you guess who? Duh…that’s a stupid question to ask you, knowing that it is I who is typing this review.
In fact this time – I am the minority in my circle of GR buddies that enjoyed the book and really understood the message of the story the author was trying to convey.
Maybe it wasn’t dark enough? Maybe it was more of a romance than a story about sex slaves and captives? Maybe it was because it was a story of about second chances in life and learning how to survive?
I was conned – by the Prologue and the cover – I honestly thought that William was a monster not just physically but emotionally also and his goal was to hurt this 13 captives.
I enjoyed the whole book until we got to the end…..it cleaned up too easily and quickly. I understand the whole reason why the author wanted to show the girls being out in the real world without inside help….but did it have to end that way?
For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
April 1, 2014
1.5-2 
Stars
Let me begin by saying that I have really enjoyed Bella Jewel's other books (Angels in Leather and Heaven's Sinners to name a couple). So when I saw the blurb for this book, I jumped at the chance to read it. Then I read the prologue, and I thought, HOLY SHIT that sounds promising! (Well, the prologue was the only part of the book I liked)
I felt that the book was nothing like the blurb suggested, and the hero? He was just plain creepy. Sorry. I couldn't connect to him at all.
I get what the author was trying to do, and I can see where she was going with this story. Unfortunately, it completely missed the mark for me. The story was filled with inconsistencies that I found impossible to look past. We are introduced to William in the prologue when he's only 13. There's no mention of where this is taking place...jump ahead a few chapters and William has a thick accent and is Romanian. Huh? That totally came out of left field. But whatever, moving on.
William refers to Number 13 as "beauty" in English. In the next chapter, it was supposedly in Romanian, but she knows what it means now. At one point Number 13 says that he's speaking Romanian, and in the next chapter she's asking him what language he speaks. I won't touch on the fact that his calling her "beauty" constantly drove me a little batty...
The whole lap thing. CREEPY. What was the point of that? Some weird trust building session?
48% mark. What. The. Fuck? No seriously, what the fuck? Why?
So, uh, what was the point of it then?
I wish there was more character development for William. Maybe that would have helped me connect to him more? There's mention that his father owns businesses that he's a silent investor in but nothing else.
I felt 0 connection between Number 13 and William. It's like she goes from being his slave and thinking he's a monster for over half the book...and then BAM!
All I could think of at that point was STOCKHOLM. Maybe that was the author's intention? I dunno...
The ending? Meh.
Sadly, short of the prologue, nothing about this book worked for me. I will gladly read Miss Jewel's future books, but this one completely missed the mark for me.
So give it a shot and see for yourselves. Maybe you'll end up enjoying it more than I did.
*ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review*
StarsLet me begin by saying that I have really enjoyed Bella Jewel's other books (Angels in Leather and Heaven's Sinners to name a couple). So when I saw the blurb for this book, I jumped at the chance to read it. Then I read the prologue, and I thought, HOLY SHIT that sounds promising! (Well, the prologue was the only part of the book I liked)
I felt that the book was nothing like the blurb suggested, and the hero? He was just plain creepy. Sorry. I couldn't connect to him at all.
I get what the author was trying to do, and I can see where she was going with this story. Unfortunately, it completely missed the mark for me. The story was filled with inconsistencies that I found impossible to look past. We are introduced to William in the prologue when he's only 13. There's no mention of where this is taking place...jump ahead a few chapters and William has a thick accent and is Romanian. Huh? That totally came out of left field. But whatever, moving on.
William refers to Number 13 as "beauty" in English. In the next chapter, it was supposedly in Romanian, but she knows what it means now. At one point Number 13 says that he's speaking Romanian, and in the next chapter she's asking him what language he speaks. I won't touch on the fact that his calling her "beauty" constantly drove me a little batty...
The whole lap thing. CREEPY. What was the point of that? Some weird trust building session?
48% mark. What. The. Fuck? No seriously, what the fuck? Why?
So, uh, what was the point of it then?
I wish there was more character development for William. Maybe that would have helped me connect to him more? There's mention that his father owns businesses that he's a silent investor in but nothing else.
I felt 0 connection between Number 13 and William. It's like she goes from being his slave and thinking he's a monster for over half the book...and then BAM!
All I could think of at that point was STOCKHOLM. Maybe that was the author's intention? I dunno...
The ending? Meh.
Sadly, short of the prologue, nothing about this book worked for me. I will gladly read Miss Jewel's future books, but this one completely missed the mark for me.
So give it a shot and see for yourselves. Maybe you'll end up enjoying it more than I did.
*ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review*
December 7, 2017
***EDITED REVIEW***
***Spoler alert!***
Read at your fucking risk! I didn't even know how to rate this!
Those gifs are what I felt during and after I read the book.
I finally found out this book was different, but not totally different.
I felt like I was reading Sherri Hayes's books, Slave series (which I gave all 5 excellent stars).. And at some point, I felt like I read again, about that Bluebeard guy, remember him?
I think William was sick, he need therapy instead of playing a Seikh and his harem!
I felt sorry for William's tortured past, but did he really need to make a harem? I mean, really?
I felt sorry for what life fucked with him, but can't he just free them? Instead of making them hs robots and called them by numbers? Really? Really?
I know, he didn't f*** all of the 13 girls...he was just mouth fucked number twelve and only fucked number thirteen and declared his love for her in the end...
But, still...really? *rolls eyes*
But in William's case...well, I didn't see any strong reason for him to 'own' them all.
Even he only have a heart for number thirteen....
I found it, lack of mature from William. He hate bullies, but he became bullies for the girls, with excuses that he protect them. But he teach them with lashes and beat them up and locked them in the basement and starved them?
There's so many questions in my head that need answers..but I didn't have it in this book.
1. What was going on with that bully when he was a kid?
2.Ben and Will are twins, why did their parents separated them? (didn't make sense to me at all)
3.Why bullying the girls after he freed them from their previous life?
4.Seemed that he came from a rich and fortune, but why they seemed can't afford a plastic surgery?
5.He was in trauma back then, no Psychiatrist for him, people???
6.Why did the Police can't find out where did he bought the girls?
7.No case? Really, Mr.Policeman? So many case to sue him!
8.Where did number 6 (the earlier girl) went? Did she died?
9.If he really wanted to 'teach' the girl and 'taking care' of them, why treated them like animals?
10.The Josh guy, where did Bill find him? William seemed very organized man, but he seemed very careless for picking up a new bodyguard.
11.The amnesia formula seemed very hi-tech to me, where did he find it?
12.Where did he do all the so called experiment with the memories?
13.If he have so much money in the present day, why can't he tried to find a Plastic Surgeon, instead being crazy all the time ffs!!???
Or maybe, he's kinda hot like this? Who need surgery after all? *grin*
There...13 questions...anybody can answer that?
I admit I was hooked from the beginning...not in a good way, but ..well...curiosity kills a cat, right? Right?
There's some quotes I liked below...but I think I'm not really get along with this book as much as I expected, though.
Maybe, this is just not for me.
You guys, probably loved it!
Just give it a try, will you?
***Spoler alert!***
Read at your fucking risk! I didn't even know how to rate this!
Those gifs are what I felt during and after I read the book.
I finally found out this book was different, but not totally different.
I felt like I was reading Sherri Hayes's books, Slave series (which I gave all 5 excellent stars).. And at some point, I felt like I read again, about that Bluebeard guy, remember him?
I think William was sick, he need therapy instead of playing a Seikh and his harem!
I felt sorry for William's tortured past, but did he really need to make a harem? I mean, really?
I felt sorry for what life fucked with him, but can't he just free them? Instead of making them hs robots and called them by numbers? Really? Really?
I know, he didn't f*** all of the 13 girls...he was just mouth fucked number twelve and only fucked number thirteen and declared his love for her in the end...
But, still...really? *rolls eyes*
But in William's case...well, I didn't see any strong reason for him to 'own' them all.
Even he only have a heart for number thirteen....
I found it, lack of mature from William. He hate bullies, but he became bullies for the girls, with excuses that he protect them. But he teach them with lashes and beat them up and locked them in the basement and starved them?
There's so many questions in my head that need answers..but I didn't have it in this book.
1. What was going on with that bully when he was a kid?
2.Ben and Will are twins, why did their parents separated them? (didn't make sense to me at all)
3.Why bullying the girls after he freed them from their previous life?
4.Seemed that he came from a rich and fortune, but why they seemed can't afford a plastic surgery?
5.He was in trauma back then, no Psychiatrist for him, people???
6.Why did the Police can't find out where did he bought the girls?
7.No case? Really, Mr.Policeman? So many case to sue him!
8.Where did number 6 (the earlier girl) went? Did she died?
9.If he really wanted to 'teach' the girl and 'taking care' of them, why treated them like animals?
10.The Josh guy, where did Bill find him? William seemed very organized man, but he seemed very careless for picking up a new bodyguard.
11.The amnesia formula seemed very hi-tech to me, where did he find it?
12.Where did he do all the so called experiment with the memories?
13.If he have so much money in the present day, why can't he tried to find a Plastic Surgeon, instead being crazy all the time ffs!!???
Or maybe, he's kinda hot like this? Who need surgery after all? *grin*
There...13 questions...anybody can answer that?
I admit I was hooked from the beginning...not in a good way, but ..well...curiosity kills a cat, right? Right?
There's some quotes I liked below...but I think I'm not really get along with this book as much as I expected, though.
Maybe, this is just not for me.
You guys, probably loved it!
Just give it a try, will you?
“Nothing can hurt more than losing the only thing you’ve ever fought for.”
"Hàve patience, Beauty. Patience is the strength of the soul...."
"“Why do you keep my memories from me?”
“Sometimes memories are best left forgotten,” he murmurs into my hair.
“It’s not your right to take them.”
“It’s not your right to have them when they cause nothing more than pain,”
"“Why?” I say, getting to my feet. “Because you’re not perfect? No one is, William. Having a facial flaw does not change what’s inside. It doesn’t make you ugly—only you can make yourself ugly.”"
March 21, 2014
This book is getting nowhere, I don't think I can continue further :( So sad.
But the prologue had me, I was so interested with William but then I lose interest so fast!
Happy reading
D xoxo
But the prologue had me, I was so interested with William but then I lose interest so fast!
Happy reading
D xoxo
January 1, 2015
The synopsis and prologue hooked me but unfortunately that was the only think I liked about this book. I had quite a few problems with the plot, characters and overall quality of this story.
The whole premise and reasoning for why William enslaves 13 girls is ridiculous. His intentions are supposedly honorable but his methods are disgusting and make no sense.
**SPOILERS**
When William was thirteen he was disfigured by a bully that poured acid in his eye/face because the bully's girlfriend expressed her appreciation for William's beauty.
Flash forward to present day: Thirteen girls are kidnapped, drugged, tattooed with numbers in lieu of names , and presented to William in groups. Each group has tasks they must accomplish daily, mainly chores that are rotated. But the group that Number Thirteen is in, is left with the task of spending time with Master William.
Spending time with his consists of each girl being blindfolded and to sit on his lap like a puppy while he strokes their hair and whispers cryptic shit to them in Romanian.
(*Sidenote: I'm not sure if William is Romanian. When he interacts with his family there is no clarification of his nationality. Part of me thinks William speaks that language because it's part of his "monster" persona.)
William takes a liking to Number Thirteen because she has a semblance of courage in her situation, as well as being the leader for her group of girls. Her group of girls are the most broken of the bunch. Not only are they drugged on a nightly basis, but their memories are "kept" from them because they are "too weak" to deal with their pasts. (Is there really a drug out there that causes loss of memory? Honest question.)
So not only are these girls terrified being in a situation with no recollection of how or why they are there but they are punished when they are disobedient, upset, or act out. William's team of goons smack them around, lock them in dungeons without food, water, or light, and basically treat them like dogs.
Yes, this makes sense. Take a group of abused, scared, weak girls and further punish them....
His methods are really helpful considering Number Three kills herself after being punished for trying to escape. That whole situation was so glossed over as a "oh well, she was just too broken". Really?
So I'm sure you are wondering why these girls are kidnapped, punished and chosen to serve William right?
Basically because William suffered at the hands of a bully he has taken it upon himself to "rehabilitate" them if you will. Give them a better life, as well as "teach them lessons" about life.
But William's intentions aren't completely pure. William is looking for a lover. He finds himself not only interested in Number 13 but Number 12 as well.
William performs oral on Number 12 and when Number 13 finds out she confronts him.
But what REALLY set me over the edge was when William and Number Thirteen were finally intimate with each other.
This moment was DISGUSTING to me. Especially when there are flashbacks of Number Thirteen remembering sexual abuse as a child. WTF?
William is a predator. He is vile. I'm sorry but never once did I find him romantic, sweet, swoony or sexy.
I have read books with DARK characters. Men that take what they want from captive women, etc. But something about William and his interactions with these girls leaves me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
So besides William and the plot, I was really disappointed with the quality of this story. There were a few points in the story with gaping error or plot holes that left me scratching my head.
For example: There is no explanation for what happened to the original Number Six. When the girls were first acquired she was one of the ones screaming and trying to fight back against William's men. After being smacked around and lead away from the group of girls, there is a loud bang, and no one hears or sees from her again. Instead she is replaced by another girl.
Was she killed? Sent to away?
Moving on, there was a error about 70% when Number Thirteen is being bullied by girls One and Eleven.
Fast forward a few pages and William is demanding Number Thirteen ( by refusing orgasm, no less) tell him who it was that bullied her.
See what I mean? This error had me reading and re-reading especially in the next chapter when William punishes the right girls, Number One and Number Eleven.
So...
Obviously this wasn't for me.
The whole premise and reasoning for why William enslaves 13 girls is ridiculous. His intentions are supposedly honorable but his methods are disgusting and make no sense.
**SPOILERS**
When William was thirteen he was disfigured by a bully that poured acid in his eye/face because the bully's girlfriend expressed her appreciation for William's beauty.
Flash forward to present day: Thirteen girls are kidnapped, drugged, tattooed with numbers in lieu of names , and presented to William in groups. Each group has tasks they must accomplish daily, mainly chores that are rotated. But the group that Number Thirteen is in, is left with the task of spending time with Master William.
Spending time with his consists of each girl being blindfolded and to sit on his lap like a puppy while he strokes their hair and whispers cryptic shit to them in Romanian.
(*Sidenote: I'm not sure if William is Romanian. When he interacts with his family there is no clarification of his nationality. Part of me thinks William speaks that language because it's part of his "monster" persona.)
William takes a liking to Number Thirteen because she has a semblance of courage in her situation, as well as being the leader for her group of girls. Her group of girls are the most broken of the bunch. Not only are they drugged on a nightly basis, but their memories are "kept" from them because they are "too weak" to deal with their pasts. (Is there really a drug out there that causes loss of memory? Honest question.)
So not only are these girls terrified being in a situation with no recollection of how or why they are there but they are punished when they are disobedient, upset, or act out. William's team of goons smack them around, lock them in dungeons without food, water, or light, and basically treat them like dogs.
Yes, this makes sense. Take a group of abused, scared, weak girls and further punish them....
His methods are really helpful considering Number Three kills herself after being punished for trying to escape. That whole situation was so glossed over as a "oh well, she was just too broken". Really?
So I'm sure you are wondering why these girls are kidnapped, punished and chosen to serve William right?
Basically because William suffered at the hands of a bully he has taken it upon himself to "rehabilitate" them if you will. Give them a better life, as well as "teach them lessons" about life.
But William's intentions aren't completely pure. William is looking for a lover. He finds himself not only interested in Number 13 but Number 12 as well.
"I...I've thought a lot about it, and I think he picked us so he could get to know us, and then eventually pick a lover."
"What makes you think that?"
"Well, the first night he put me on his lap, like he wanted to trust him, but he never took it further. He always just let me sit there, getting to know him. Sometimes he would speak to me. Then eventually, he started easing up, answering me when I asked, and touching me more."
William performs oral on Number 12 and when Number 13 finds out she confronts him.
"It bothers me that you're still calling me in here, trying to get close with me. If you've picked her, if you're doing that with her, then let me go and join the other girls. Don't keep calling me in here to spend time with you. It's pointless"
...
"She asked me to deliver, I delivered. I wasn't sure what I wanted when that happened. I had three girls in my group, one really didn't want to give in to me. The other was smart-mouthing me every chance she got. Then there was Number Twelve, willing to be everything I wanted."
..."So you chose her because she is easy."
..."No I didn't choose her because you're right, she is too easy. She doesn't put up a fight; she doesn't challenge me. She just gives what she thinks I want. There have been no choices made."
But what REALLY set me over the edge was when William and Number Thirteen were finally intimate with each other.
He pushes a litter further, and then rasps, "Oh thank God."
I look up at him, squirming to make myself feel a little less...full. "You're a virgin, sweetheart," he says in a hushed, quiet tone.
I am?
For some reason, this confuses me.
This moment was DISGUSTING to me. Especially when there are flashbacks of Number Thirteen remembering sexual abuse as a child. WTF?
William is a predator. He is vile. I'm sorry but never once did I find him romantic, sweet, swoony or sexy.
I have read books with DARK characters. Men that take what they want from captive women, etc. But something about William and his interactions with these girls leaves me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
So besides William and the plot, I was really disappointed with the quality of this story. There were a few points in the story with gaping error or plot holes that left me scratching my head.
For example: There is no explanation for what happened to the original Number Six. When the girls were first acquired she was one of the ones screaming and trying to fight back against William's men. After being smacked around and lead away from the group of girls, there is a loud bang, and no one hears or sees from her again. Instead she is replaced by another girl.
Was she killed? Sent to away?
Moving on, there was a error about 70% when Number Thirteen is being bullied by girls One and Eleven.
I spin around to see two of the girls, a quick glance tells me I'm dealing with Number One and Number Eleven.
Fast forward a few pages and William is demanding Number Thirteen ( by refusing orgasm, no less) tell him who it was that bullied her.
"N-n-number Twelve and One"
See what I mean? This error had me reading and re-reading especially in the next chapter when William punishes the right girls, Number One and Number Eleven.
So...
Obviously this wasn't for me.
December 21, 2014
The one star is for the blurb which was interesting and the prologue which was also good.
I stopped reading around 56% and skipped to 94% to read the ending.
So....
Yeah this one was not for me!
I stopped reading around 56% and skipped to 94% to read the ending.
So....
Yeah this one was not for me!
December 7, 2019
Wow. This was so freaking good and dark.
Number Thirteen is a darker and smuttier version of Beauty and the Beast. I loved everything about William and Emelyn (or you know her as Number Thirteen). Now they both have a dark past, well - actually everyone does in this book. Each person is dealing with some dark figure or secret in their past. It was interesting to see William and his family because of how they all reacted to or treated him. Not going to hesitate with hating everything about his own father because the guy was a straight up monster douche.
Then there are the girls. No, they aren't his slaves - sexually or otherwise. Yes, they work for him but he most definitely saved them from their horrible lives. Of course he does drug them so that they can forget their past lives.. but hey - they eventually remember every little thing. Low-key, loved every character that met within this thing. I even wish it was a smidge longer because I never wanted it to end.
Overall, devoured this book and I look forward to my next dark romance from Bella.
Number Thirteen is a darker and smuttier version of Beauty and the Beast. I loved everything about William and Emelyn (or you know her as Number Thirteen). Now they both have a dark past, well - actually everyone does in this book. Each person is dealing with some dark figure or secret in their past. It was interesting to see William and his family because of how they all reacted to or treated him. Not going to hesitate with hating everything about his own father because the guy was a straight up monster douche.
Then there are the girls. No, they aren't his slaves - sexually or otherwise. Yes, they work for him but he most definitely saved them from their horrible lives. Of course he does drug them so that they can forget their past lives.. but hey - they eventually remember every little thing. Low-key, loved every character that met within this thing. I even wish it was a smidge longer because I never wanted it to end.
Overall, devoured this book and I look forward to my next dark romance from Bella.
March 21, 2014
4 Surprising Stars
Yes this story was a surprise for me
Thirteen women are kidnapped...their Master has brought them to his mansion. He has his reasons....
Each women is given a number from one to thirteen, tattooed on their hands, these women have no idea how they got here nor do they remember anything of their life before they arrived.
There is no escape... they are told this on arrival, but if they are good they will be rewarded... if not they will be punished.
Is the man holding them a monster?...why??
Number Thirteen will not be broken and the Master see's something different with this girl that he admires.
She also see's something within the Master but she still can't understand why they are all here..
"Why would someone who is as gorgeous as he need to keep thirteen girls captive? It doesn’t make sense.
I feel like I’m missing something."
My thoughts
Most important this is not BDSM as the author makes very clear. But saying that there are some scenes that are questionable.
It starts off on a darkish theme but by no means would I call it a dark novel but it does develop into something unique and different to a certain extent.
I'm trying to be as careful as possible not to give any spoilers as I think its important to go into this story not knowing too much before hand.
I did have some concerns but I really enjoyed it and liked the concept of the story.
At times it was moving and touching..
A nice unique read and my first from Bella Jewel
Yes this story was a surprise for me
Thirteen women are kidnapped...their Master has brought them to his mansion. He has his reasons....
Each women is given a number from one to thirteen, tattooed on their hands, these women have no idea how they got here nor do they remember anything of their life before they arrived.
There is no escape... they are told this on arrival, but if they are good they will be rewarded... if not they will be punished.
Is the man holding them a monster?...why??
Number Thirteen will not be broken and the Master see's something different with this girl that he admires.
She also see's something within the Master but she still can't understand why they are all here..
"Why would someone who is as gorgeous as he need to keep thirteen girls captive? It doesn’t make sense.
I feel like I’m missing something."
My thoughts
Most important this is not BDSM as the author makes very clear. But saying that there are some scenes that are questionable.
It starts off on a darkish theme but by no means would I call it a dark novel but it does develop into something unique and different to a certain extent.
I'm trying to be as careful as possible not to give any spoilers as I think its important to go into this story not knowing too much before hand.
I did have some concerns but I really enjoyed it and liked the concept of the story.
At times it was moving and touching..
A nice unique read and my first from Bella Jewel
July 20, 2014
3.5 just don't know stars
When she is lucid enough she doesn't know where she is, she knows she's in a crate. She knows she is being taken, but from where and by whom is unknown. She knows she's not alone and she knows that she is scared. She allow knows that she has to stay alert and collected if she's going to survive.
Master William has taken thirteen girls. The reason is cloaked in mystery, but there is something about his actions that lack malice. Staying in the shadows he places the thirteen girls into groups, each given a task, each to learn to trust and avoid punishments. But one girl, one that is broken and fragile. She's one of four, the four that are expected to break the most - the group that remembers nothing of who they were. Escaping was her goal, now that she's seen William she wants something more than merely her memories back and her freedom. She wants him.
I wanted to love this story. It seemed that for everything I loved there was something that left me wanting more. I have seen so many reviews that are clear love or hate statements and I find myself in the middle; slightly leaning towards loving more than hating. William's character starts off the story as a thirteen year old boy in the prologue as we see the event that his going to shape his life. But then we flash forward to him as an adult and now in possession of thirteen girls. Each one seems broken and in need of saving. It becomes clear pretty easily what William's intentions are.
This is part that I leaned towards disliking. I love a dark hero, but I love when a true villain can escape the darkness for light. Redemption through his actions. The feeling that tears you up inside when you know you shouldn't find yourself falling for him. For me, William was never that dark hero. Confused, screwed up... misguided... yes, but dark in the sense of a villain... nope.
I can say that I was not able to put this down, I was intrigued enough to continue on with the story to see where it was going. But even after trying to figure out what impression this story left with me, I am still just stuck in the middle. I didn't love it and yet I didn't hate it. I think I just expected this to be something different than what it was.
When she is lucid enough she doesn't know where she is, she knows she's in a crate. She knows she is being taken, but from where and by whom is unknown. She knows she's not alone and she knows that she is scared. She allow knows that she has to stay alert and collected if she's going to survive.
Master William has taken thirteen girls. The reason is cloaked in mystery, but there is something about his actions that lack malice. Staying in the shadows he places the thirteen girls into groups, each given a task, each to learn to trust and avoid punishments. But one girl, one that is broken and fragile. She's one of four, the four that are expected to break the most - the group that remembers nothing of who they were. Escaping was her goal, now that she's seen William she wants something more than merely her memories back and her freedom. She wants him.
I wanted to love this story. It seemed that for everything I loved there was something that left me wanting more. I have seen so many reviews that are clear love or hate statements and I find myself in the middle; slightly leaning towards loving more than hating. William's character starts off the story as a thirteen year old boy in the prologue as we see the event that his going to shape his life. But then we flash forward to him as an adult and now in possession of thirteen girls. Each one seems broken and in need of saving. It becomes clear pretty easily what William's intentions are.
This is part that I leaned towards disliking. I love a dark hero, but I love when a true villain can escape the darkness for light. Redemption through his actions. The feeling that tears you up inside when you know you shouldn't find yourself falling for him. For me, William was never that dark hero. Confused, screwed up... misguided... yes, but dark in the sense of a villain... nope.
I can say that I was not able to put this down, I was intrigued enough to continue on with the story to see where it was going. But even after trying to figure out what impression this story left with me, I am still just stuck in the middle. I didn't love it and yet I didn't hate it. I think I just expected this to be something different than what it was.
August 10, 2016
SPOILERS
My initial plan as a "new" goodreads member was to stay far, far away from review writing, but...well, I think a one star review should be explained...right?
Yes, right.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is NOT a BDSM romance.
I honestly would have preferred it was.
I can't even explain what the hell was going on here. At first, I was confused, but thought to myself "this is going somewhere, I know it." Well, I hate to admit it, but I was wrong. *shakes head, sadly*
William would have been likeable, like if he never ever said the word "beauty" again in his life or spoke a word of Romanian with a heavy, thick accent like he just stepped out of the country where people speak Romanian...what is that country anyway? Romain? Geography is not my strong point.
But anyway, I had no idea William was Romanian. That was a surprise. Like, was Ben also Romanian? Wouldn't him being Romanian need to have been mentioned from the beginning? I was thrown for a loop at his first frumusetea. Number Thirteen was also confused until suddenly one day she was aware he was speaking Romanian and then suddenly another day she was clueless "what is that...the language, I mean"...Woman, you've been telling us readers he's speaking Romanian and now at like
83% you don't know? Whaaaa?
Then, the whole Beauty and the Beast bit got old the second the real Beast turned into a man again back in 1991. And he was literally a beast...not a disfigured man. I don't mean to be mean, but I don't like that type of story. And trust me, if I would have known it was that type of story I wouldn't have read it.
Each girl is a number...wouldn't it have been easier to call Number One just One? Rereading the word "number" over and over got old fast.
AND...William was bullied as a young boy and so he took these girls away from a life of slavery and prostitution and cruelty to teach them a lesson so they could have a good life but yet they get punished and lashed with belts for talking back to him or because they won't drink their milk or because they tried to escape from a life of imprisonment and beatings...Oh and did they kill original Number Six? Isn't that bullying? Well, okay...actually that's murder, but you get what I mean...and if you don't, well I'm sorry I can't just say to read the book because you won't get answers here either...
And it was creepy the way William would pet and stroke the girls in his lap...And it was weird.
That ending was horrible...
First, 13 tells 12 in a voice laced with passion "you never get on your knees for anyone ever, ever again" <----paraphrase. And then the second they go back to William...they all drop to their knees...like what in the hell?
The author had a good story here, but it was kind of all mixed and contradictory and confusing and pointless that I could barely keep track. I'm trying to leave this review on a positive note, but I can't think of what to say.
I wouldn't recommend the book, but definitely give it a shot, if you'd like. :)
My initial plan as a "new" goodreads member was to stay far, far away from review writing, but...well, I think a one star review should be explained...right?
Yes, right.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is NOT a BDSM romance.
I honestly would have preferred it was.
I can't even explain what the hell was going on here. At first, I was confused, but thought to myself "this is going somewhere, I know it." Well, I hate to admit it, but I was wrong. *shakes head, sadly*
William would have been likeable, like if he never ever said the word "beauty" again in his life or spoke a word of Romanian with a heavy, thick accent like he just stepped out of the country where people speak Romanian...what is that country anyway? Romain? Geography is not my strong point.
But anyway, I had no idea William was Romanian. That was a surprise. Like, was Ben also Romanian? Wouldn't him being Romanian need to have been mentioned from the beginning? I was thrown for a loop at his first frumusetea. Number Thirteen was also confused until suddenly one day she was aware he was speaking Romanian and then suddenly another day she was clueless "what is that...the language, I mean"...Woman, you've been telling us readers he's speaking Romanian and now at like
83% you don't know? Whaaaa?
Then, the whole Beauty and the Beast bit got old the second the real Beast turned into a man again back in 1991. And he was literally a beast...not a disfigured man. I don't mean to be mean, but I don't like that type of story. And trust me, if I would have known it was that type of story I wouldn't have read it.
Each girl is a number...wouldn't it have been easier to call Number One just One? Rereading the word "number" over and over got old fast.
AND...William was bullied as a young boy and so he took these girls away from a life of slavery and prostitution and cruelty to teach them a lesson so they could have a good life but yet they get punished and lashed with belts for talking back to him or because they won't drink their milk or because they tried to escape from a life of imprisonment and beatings...Oh and did they kill original Number Six? Isn't that bullying? Well, okay...actually that's murder, but you get what I mean...and if you don't, well I'm sorry I can't just say to read the book because you won't get answers here either...
And it was creepy the way William would pet and stroke the girls in his lap...And it was weird.
That ending was horrible...
First, 13 tells 12 in a voice laced with passion "you never get on your knees for anyone ever, ever again" <----paraphrase. And then the second they go back to William...they all drop to their knees...like what in the hell?
The author had a good story here, but it was kind of all mixed and contradictory and confusing and pointless that I could barely keep track. I'm trying to leave this review on a positive note, but I can't think of what to say.
I wouldn't recommend the book, but definitely give it a shot, if you'd like. :)
March 25, 2014
****3-3.5 stars****
First and foremost, this is my first ever Bella Jewel book that I read. When I first read the blurb of Number Thirteen, I was excited to read this. It was described as dark but there was nothing dark about this book. I wished this book went that route. Number Thirteen by Bella Jewel is one of those stories that left me with mixed feelings. I didn’t love the book but I didn’t hate it. The one thing I can for sure say is that I normally love epilogues but for Number Thirteen, I didn’t like it at all. I wasn’t fond of how the book ended.
Number Thirteen is about 13 girls who are “taken” and ordered to follow and abide rules from their new Master Will. These 13 ladies do not know their names and has no recollections of their past only Will knows their real identity. One thing for sure is bullying is a no no and you must follow the rules in order to get rewarded. If you don’t you will be punished. The Master is no monster..he’s actually good and has “good” intentions.He wants to transform and help these 13 ladies but the way he went about it left me feeling meh… This is where the author lost me when the hero states he wants to find a lover within the 13 ladies.
Number Thirteen was a different read..The storyline was not what I expected. I know there are lots of mixed feelings on this book from love to major dislike. I can say that I’m in the middle. The storyline kept me intrigued till the very end that I finished the book. I thought the focus of the book was for these 13 ladies to come out stronger with a new sense of identity and belonging but in the end they were left codependent and still a number.
First and foremost, this is my first ever Bella Jewel book that I read. When I first read the blurb of Number Thirteen, I was excited to read this. It was described as dark but there was nothing dark about this book. I wished this book went that route. Number Thirteen by Bella Jewel is one of those stories that left me with mixed feelings. I didn’t love the book but I didn’t hate it. The one thing I can for sure say is that I normally love epilogues but for Number Thirteen, I didn’t like it at all. I wasn’t fond of how the book ended.
Number Thirteen is about 13 girls who are “taken” and ordered to follow and abide rules from their new Master Will. These 13 ladies do not know their names and has no recollections of their past only Will knows their real identity. One thing for sure is bullying is a no no and you must follow the rules in order to get rewarded. If you don’t you will be punished. The Master is no monster..he’s actually good and has “good” intentions.He wants to transform and help these 13 ladies but the way he went about it left me feeling meh… This is where the author lost me when the hero states he wants to find a lover within the 13 ladies.
Number Thirteen was a different read..The storyline was not what I expected. I know there are lots of mixed feelings on this book from love to major dislike. I can say that I’m in the middle. The storyline kept me intrigued till the very end that I finished the book. I thought the focus of the book was for these 13 ladies to come out stronger with a new sense of identity and belonging but in the end they were left codependent and still a number.
March 22, 2014
DAMN RIGHT 5 FREAKING STARS!!!!! It is a different kind of book for Bella but you know what she delivered once again. I did not dislike this book one bit.
I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THIS BOOK!!!!!!
Prologue here http://www.thebookbella.com/2014/02/2...
I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THIS BOOK!!!!!!
Prologue here http://www.thebookbella.com/2014/02/2...
July 2, 2015
It's terrible. I wanted to DNF a few times, but I HAVE TO finish every book I start, so I kept going. This is one of the most horrible books I've ever read. Maybe it's even worse than 50 Shades of Grey. From it's pointless reasoning to shallow characters, it turned out to be such disappointment.
When William was 13, he was disfigured when a bully poured hydrochloric acid into his eye. As he said, that was the day when he turned into a monster. He almost never goes out of the house, drowning himself in self-pity and finally decides to extend that misery to someone else.
Number 13 and 12 other girls are held captive in William's house. They are kidnapped, drugged, tattooed with numbers so they'd loose their identities. They are split into groups to be housewives, but the group Number 13 is a part of services Master William. Servicing means they're blindfolded and sit on his lap, while he strokes their hair and whispers a bunch of nonsense in Romanian. All girls are whipped at some point, being punished when they misbehave, they are gagged, but they also cook, garden, clean and two of them are even used sexually.
The girls are drugged daily because William thinks they're too weak and can't handle their pasts and old memories. He takes matter into his own hands to decide instead of them, like he's some kind of a God. How about no. But let's not forget that his methods are so helpful that Number Three kills herself after being punished for trying to escape. She literally jumps off the roof. Turns out William's motives aren't completely pure. He wants a lover and believes he has a right to manipulate some of the girls into having intercourse with him. Because HE SAVES THEM. I'M GONNA VOMIT.
Finally, the police is notified of the slaves in William's house and the girls are taken away. However, none of the girls is willing to testify against him because he's been kind to them. The law can't come up with ANY evidence that he bought the girls and the girls aren't testifying against him so that means the case is closed. Why's it never explained how he covered his tracks? How come the police in 21st century can't find NOTHING on a man for whom they know kept 13 GIRLS AGAINST THEIR WILL IN HIS HOUSE, GUARDED 24/7?
Why are Number 13 and two other girls sitting in William's lap when they visit him? How is that "helping" them if they were being victimized before him? Why is he whispering in Romanian when it has nothing to do with his origin and knows for a fact that girls can't understand him?
There are so many gaping plot holes and unnecessary change of viewpoints. Like the same scene would've been shown within two and sometimes three changes of views. Or it would simply change after every five pages, which became repetitive. Also, what happened to the first Number Six? She was just taken away screaming and there was no clarification to what happened to her. She was screaming and trying to fight back against William's men and after being smacked around and lead away from the group of girls, there is a loud bang, and no one hears or sees from her again. Instead she is replaced by another girl. Why none of the girls never thought of ASKING WILLIAM WHAT HAPPENED TO HER? Is she dead just like Number Three? Or is she given back to her previous owners?
I felt sorry for William, for his childhood traumas, but why he thinks he has any right to dig in other people's minds? Why didn't he just free them instead of making them his slaves and calling them by numbers? How ripping them off their identities and personalities could help them heal?
Not only are these girls terrified about being in a situation with no explanation of why they are trapped but they are also punished when they are upset. William's team of gorillas lock them in basement without food, water, or light.
In the beginning, Number 13 was so relatable and had potential to be a strong protagonist but in the end she joined a so loved clique which involves Bella Swan and Anastasia Steele. She managed to be more pretentious than whole Fault in Our Stars.
„Why would someone who is as gorgeous as he need to keep thirteen girls captive? It doesn’t make sense.“
Yes, my darling, pretty people don't do bad things. Usually it's written on their foreheads if they're good or bad. *rolls eyes* This book tries to deal with serious mental issues but fails so horribly with its superficial background.
"For the next hour, Tim goes on and on about himself. I’m uncomfortable and I’m struggling to find any enjoyment at all. Tim is self-centered and plain. It only makes me realize just how in depth and beautiful William is.“
Yeah, it's so deep when a guy treats you like a dog.
„I’m no longer Emelyn. I stopped being Emelyn the day William took me into his life. I stopped being Emelyn the day I let him into my heart. I stopped being Emelyn the day my world was stolen from me. No, that girl isn’t me anymore. That girl died a long time ago with the demons of her past. From this day forward, I am the only thing I have fought for. I am mine. I am his. I am Number Thirteen.Part of me died."
HOW CAN THIS BE JUSTIFIED IN ANY WORLD. HOW. She lost her fucking identity.
I think William is mental and he needs therapy. He hates bullies, but becomes one with excuse that he protects the girls. He teaches them with lashes and starving. He manipulates with their vulnerabilities and gets angry when some of them don't bend so easily.
"She needs to understand that I’m the only person she can turn to. She needs to understand that I can be her everything. She opened herself to stranger, and she let him help her when she wouldn’t let me.“
Of course, why wouldn't she try do lead a normal life and have a natural human conversation when she could be kept in a dark with you as her only consolation. Ugh, obsessive behaviour and unhealthy jeleousy will never be a turn on. NOT EVER.
Number 13 and William form a sexual relationship but they see it as a big love. Their whole bond is based on him not answering her questions and taking her virginity away. Also, he punishes her when she tries to take control of her own life.
“Why do you keep my memories from me?” “Sometimes memories are best left forgotten,” he murmurs into my hair. “It’s not your right to take them.” “It’s not your right to have them when they cause nothing more than pain.”
HOW DARE YOU
"I reach William’s room and I hesitate a long while. Is this wise? Is this what I want? Only a week ago I wanted to escape, now I’m here... feeling things I don’t ever recall feeling before.“
Yeah, honey it's called Stockholm Syndrome.
When William was 13, he was disfigured when a bully poured hydrochloric acid into his eye. As he said, that was the day when he turned into a monster. He almost never goes out of the house, drowning himself in self-pity and finally decides to extend that misery to someone else.
Number 13 and 12 other girls are held captive in William's house. They are kidnapped, drugged, tattooed with numbers so they'd loose their identities. They are split into groups to be housewives, but the group Number 13 is a part of services Master William. Servicing means they're blindfolded and sit on his lap, while he strokes their hair and whispers a bunch of nonsense in Romanian. All girls are whipped at some point, being punished when they misbehave, they are gagged, but they also cook, garden, clean and two of them are even used sexually.
The girls are drugged daily because William thinks they're too weak and can't handle their pasts and old memories. He takes matter into his own hands to decide instead of them, like he's some kind of a God. How about no. But let's not forget that his methods are so helpful that Number Three kills herself after being punished for trying to escape. She literally jumps off the roof. Turns out William's motives aren't completely pure. He wants a lover and believes he has a right to manipulate some of the girls into having intercourse with him. Because HE SAVES THEM. I'M GONNA VOMIT.
Finally, the police is notified of the slaves in William's house and the girls are taken away. However, none of the girls is willing to testify against him because he's been kind to them. The law can't come up with ANY evidence that he bought the girls and the girls aren't testifying against him so that means the case is closed. Why's it never explained how he covered his tracks? How come the police in 21st century can't find NOTHING on a man for whom they know kept 13 GIRLS AGAINST THEIR WILL IN HIS HOUSE, GUARDED 24/7?
Why are Number 13 and two other girls sitting in William's lap when they visit him? How is that "helping" them if they were being victimized before him? Why is he whispering in Romanian when it has nothing to do with his origin and knows for a fact that girls can't understand him?
There are so many gaping plot holes and unnecessary change of viewpoints. Like the same scene would've been shown within two and sometimes three changes of views. Or it would simply change after every five pages, which became repetitive. Also, what happened to the first Number Six? She was just taken away screaming and there was no clarification to what happened to her. She was screaming and trying to fight back against William's men and after being smacked around and lead away from the group of girls, there is a loud bang, and no one hears or sees from her again. Instead she is replaced by another girl. Why none of the girls never thought of ASKING WILLIAM WHAT HAPPENED TO HER? Is she dead just like Number Three? Or is she given back to her previous owners?
I felt sorry for William, for his childhood traumas, but why he thinks he has any right to dig in other people's minds? Why didn't he just free them instead of making them his slaves and calling them by numbers? How ripping them off their identities and personalities could help them heal?
Not only are these girls terrified about being in a situation with no explanation of why they are trapped but they are also punished when they are upset. William's team of gorillas lock them in basement without food, water, or light.
In the beginning, Number 13 was so relatable and had potential to be a strong protagonist but in the end she joined a so loved clique which involves Bella Swan and Anastasia Steele. She managed to be more pretentious than whole Fault in Our Stars.
„Why would someone who is as gorgeous as he need to keep thirteen girls captive? It doesn’t make sense.“
Yes, my darling, pretty people don't do bad things. Usually it's written on their foreheads if they're good or bad. *rolls eyes* This book tries to deal with serious mental issues but fails so horribly with its superficial background.
"For the next hour, Tim goes on and on about himself. I’m uncomfortable and I’m struggling to find any enjoyment at all. Tim is self-centered and plain. It only makes me realize just how in depth and beautiful William is.“
Yeah, it's so deep when a guy treats you like a dog.
„I’m no longer Emelyn. I stopped being Emelyn the day William took me into his life. I stopped being Emelyn the day I let him into my heart. I stopped being Emelyn the day my world was stolen from me. No, that girl isn’t me anymore. That girl died a long time ago with the demons of her past. From this day forward, I am the only thing I have fought for. I am mine. I am his. I am Number Thirteen.Part of me died."
HOW CAN THIS BE JUSTIFIED IN ANY WORLD. HOW. She lost her fucking identity.
I think William is mental and he needs therapy. He hates bullies, but becomes one with excuse that he protects the girls. He teaches them with lashes and starving. He manipulates with their vulnerabilities and gets angry when some of them don't bend so easily.
"She needs to understand that I’m the only person she can turn to. She needs to understand that I can be her everything. She opened herself to stranger, and she let him help her when she wouldn’t let me.“
Of course, why wouldn't she try do lead a normal life and have a natural human conversation when she could be kept in a dark with you as her only consolation. Ugh, obsessive behaviour and unhealthy jeleousy will never be a turn on. NOT EVER.
Number 13 and William form a sexual relationship but they see it as a big love. Their whole bond is based on him not answering her questions and taking her virginity away. Also, he punishes her when she tries to take control of her own life.
“Why do you keep my memories from me?” “Sometimes memories are best left forgotten,” he murmurs into my hair. “It’s not your right to take them.” “It’s not your right to have them when they cause nothing more than pain.”
HOW DARE YOU
"I reach William’s room and I hesitate a long while. Is this wise? Is this what I want? Only a week ago I wanted to escape, now I’m here... feeling things I don’t ever recall feeling before.“
Yeah, honey it's called Stockholm Syndrome.
March 30, 2014
HOLY MONKEY BALLS ON A STICK – BEST READ OF 2014!!!!
When I first read the synopsis for this book I was hooked. I had to own this, read this, and breathe this book. So it came to no surprise when I received the email about getting to review this book there was only one thing running through my mind….
The pull this book had on me was instant by the end of the first page I was already pulled into this storyline and after reading up to chapter 2 I was hooked. I couldn’t pull my eyes away, there was utter excitement at first and then it was BOOM…..
The storyline was dark and raw and had me question the sanity of a certain character. Like nothing I have ever read before I think that was one of the main reasons I was so drawn to this story. It was different and so well planned out that it had me continuously flipping page after page – dinner be damned. There were so many damaged characters in this book that my heart was breaking for them. In the beginning I was utterly disgusted with William (main panty melting character) because of what he was doing. I found myself wanting to tell him…
But later after the story continued to pull me in even deeper I found my heart softening a bit for William and even though I still found him a bit on the crazy side, I decided that I liked it and I wanted him too….
He is a complex character and there is a method to his madness and he brings you into his world and keeps you captive there until the very end. Over the course of the story I started falling in love with Number Thirteen (read it you will know who that is) because she started feeling things she didn’t understand and started to question things that maybe she shouldn’t question and slowly everything started falling into place.
All the characters have something in common they just don’t know it and when things started coming to the surface and pasts start to come to the present my mouth was literally…..
Everything and I do mean EVERYTHING started making sense to me and started falling into place and when wants and desires were finally in front of my face to enjoy Bella threw us a curveball that had me fuming and screaming………..
My heart broke, my breath stopped and my hope dwindled. It was over and I was sad I felt like what I wanted to happen wasn’t going to happen and I was sad. This is when the full picture, the full story of Number Thirteen starts to come out and you learn everything. Things you thought you knew you actually didn’t. Things you may not want to know you find out and the story starts to take a turn that left me broken.
When the darkness starts to settle and the sun starts to shine my heart is once again happy and Bella leaves me saying….
This is my favorite book of 2014 and let’s not forget there is another character you meet in this book – Ben…Oh Ben yes you will love him too and a birdie told me that maybe Bella might possibly give us Ben’s book and well I think that would be a wonderful idea Bella I say….
Get this book – like seriously – stop reading this flippin review and grab Number Thirteen and read it. Love it, live it, breathe it, drool over it (yes it happens)..Meet William, Number’s 1 – 13, Ben, everyone. Like them, love them, or love to hate them either way Bella Jewel wrote an amazing story that I will never forget and to everyone out there who wants to read something different and unique and want to fall in love with someone who is damaged well that’s easy it’s Number Thirteen….
When I first read the synopsis for this book I was hooked. I had to own this, read this, and breathe this book. So it came to no surprise when I received the email about getting to review this book there was only one thing running through my mind….
The pull this book had on me was instant by the end of the first page I was already pulled into this storyline and after reading up to chapter 2 I was hooked. I couldn’t pull my eyes away, there was utter excitement at first and then it was BOOM…..
The storyline was dark and raw and had me question the sanity of a certain character. Like nothing I have ever read before I think that was one of the main reasons I was so drawn to this story. It was different and so well planned out that it had me continuously flipping page after page – dinner be damned. There were so many damaged characters in this book that my heart was breaking for them. In the beginning I was utterly disgusted with William (main panty melting character) because of what he was doing. I found myself wanting to tell him…
But later after the story continued to pull me in even deeper I found my heart softening a bit for William and even though I still found him a bit on the crazy side, I decided that I liked it and I wanted him too….
He is a complex character and there is a method to his madness and he brings you into his world and keeps you captive there until the very end. Over the course of the story I started falling in love with Number Thirteen (read it you will know who that is) because she started feeling things she didn’t understand and started to question things that maybe she shouldn’t question and slowly everything started falling into place.
All the characters have something in common they just don’t know it and when things started coming to the surface and pasts start to come to the present my mouth was literally…..
Everything and I do mean EVERYTHING started making sense to me and started falling into place and when wants and desires were finally in front of my face to enjoy Bella threw us a curveball that had me fuming and screaming………..
My heart broke, my breath stopped and my hope dwindled. It was over and I was sad I felt like what I wanted to happen wasn’t going to happen and I was sad. This is when the full picture, the full story of Number Thirteen starts to come out and you learn everything. Things you thought you knew you actually didn’t. Things you may not want to know you find out and the story starts to take a turn that left me broken.
When the darkness starts to settle and the sun starts to shine my heart is once again happy and Bella leaves me saying….
This is my favorite book of 2014 and let’s not forget there is another character you meet in this book – Ben…Oh Ben yes you will love him too and a birdie told me that maybe Bella might possibly give us Ben’s book and well I think that would be a wonderful idea Bella I say….
Get this book – like seriously – stop reading this flippin review and grab Number Thirteen and read it. Love it, live it, breathe it, drool over it (yes it happens)..Meet William, Number’s 1 – 13, Ben, everyone. Like them, love them, or love to hate them either way Bella Jewel wrote an amazing story that I will never forget and to everyone out there who wants to read something different and unique and want to fall in love with someone who is damaged well that’s easy it’s Number Thirteen….
March 21, 2014
DNF at 40%. Too boring, couldn't get into it.
March 28, 2014
MY RATING: ☆☆☆☆ "NUMBER THIRTEEN" by Bella Jewel
4 Twisted as Fuck Stars
Complimentary copy provided by the authors "Bella Jewel" in exchange for an honest review.
A disfigured monsters sadistic way of finding love
Imagine waking up, you have been kidnapped, drugged, you have no memory and no recollection of your name, but you soon learn that you are girl number thirteen!!
"Don't move, you move, you get punished, you will learn very quickly that the best way to survive is to do as you're told."
"The rules are rather simple, and if you follow then, you will be rewarded handsomely. If you disobey them, you will be punished accordingly. And let me assure you, girls, that punishment is not something you wish to experience."
"Time to meet your master"
Both are damaged goods in their own way
I'm pulled onto a lap, and I feel one hand land on my leg while another presses against my back, the arms around me are strong and commanding. I catch his scent when he moves, and he smells clean, like soap, I also get a hint of whiskey.
"Who are you?" I whisper hoarsely.
I read this a few days ago and it's still in my mind so that says alot when a author manages to do that, I really enjoyed this, it wasn't until nearing the end that I felt it lost the plot a wee bit (and this is only my opinion) it felt a bit rushed, which is why I'm not rating it 5 stars..
MY BLOG
http://tinyurl.com/mg95ecm
4 Twisted as Fuck Stars
Complimentary copy provided by the authors "Bella Jewel" in exchange for an honest review.
A disfigured monsters sadistic way of finding love
Imagine waking up, you have been kidnapped, drugged, you have no memory and no recollection of your name, but you soon learn that you are girl number thirteen!!
"Don't move, you move, you get punished, you will learn very quickly that the best way to survive is to do as you're told."
"The rules are rather simple, and if you follow then, you will be rewarded handsomely. If you disobey them, you will be punished accordingly. And let me assure you, girls, that punishment is not something you wish to experience."
"Time to meet your master"
Both are damaged goods in their own way
I'm pulled onto a lap, and I feel one hand land on my leg while another presses against my back, the arms around me are strong and commanding. I catch his scent when he moves, and he smells clean, like soap, I also get a hint of whiskey.
"Who are you?" I whisper hoarsely.
I read this a few days ago and it's still in my mind so that says alot when a author manages to do that, I really enjoyed this, it wasn't until nearing the end that I felt it lost the plot a wee bit (and this is only my opinion) it felt a bit rushed, which is why I'm not rating it 5 stars..
MY BLOG
http://tinyurl.com/mg95ecm
March 31, 2014
DNF 45%
before reading this book I saw one review saying this book was black and white .. I didn't understand it until I read it myself.
honestly this book wasn´t me at all. I can not read no more.
its not what I expected to be so I´m gonna stop reading it.
July 3, 2015
Huh...don't know what to say about this one, but I'll give it a go.
I don't think this was "dark" necessarily, but it does qualify as a "dark romance" for me, since the H and h met under dark circumstances. Cryptic? I know...my thoughts are following the same cryptic nature of this book.
It was more mystery than erotica for the first 60% and when the schmexy parts started finally, I just wasn't emotionally along for the ride. I felt too sorry for the H and h maybe? I dunno.
I didn't get William, the supposed H. I felt like he acted too immaturely for one that kept touting himself as a "teacher." I guess when it comes right down to it - I just didn't have the hots for him; I didn't want him.
The story was interesting and the character development was fine, but the editing needs some work.
In the end, I'd just have to say that it didn't float my boat.
I don't think this was "dark" necessarily, but it does qualify as a "dark romance" for me, since the H and h met under dark circumstances. Cryptic? I know...my thoughts are following the same cryptic nature of this book.
It was more mystery than erotica for the first 60% and when the schmexy parts started finally, I just wasn't emotionally along for the ride. I felt too sorry for the H and h maybe? I dunno.
I didn't get William, the supposed H. I felt like he acted too immaturely for one that kept touting himself as a "teacher." I guess when it comes right down to it - I just didn't have the hots for him; I didn't want him.
The story was interesting and the character development was fine, but the editing needs some work.
In the end, I'd just have to say that it didn't float my boat.
March 23, 2014
What a waste of two hours that was..
Me - almost the entire time ..
I did not even manage to finish it, I got to 60ish % and called it a day.
Without spoilers I cannot really explain but honestly..
This book seemed like a poor remake of tears of tess. A seriously crappy rip off, one with plot holes & a load of fucking nonsense thrown in.
January 31, 2016
I loved this, expected it to be darker than it was but I enjoyed it anyway
April 9, 2014
Number Thirteen is about Thirteen girls who are thrown into a world of confusion, hurt, pain and salvation.
For me this book was about The Thirteen Girls...
Saving Them...
Rebuilding Them...
And... Bringing Them Home.
Number Thirteen... She is intelligent, kind and strong.
Thirteen is in a group of 5 women, with Three, Four, Seven and Twelve. They have all lost their memories. Thirteen is the strongest of the group. She knows she just has to wait and be patient to find a way to escape. I loved Number Thirteen's guts, she didn't shy away from standing up for people or saying what she thought even if there was a consequence.
"Protecting us?" I cry, "How are you protecting us? You've stolen us from our lives. You've erased our memories. You punish us like we're dogs."
"I. Did. Not. Steal. You."
I would define this book as semi dark, I've read a lot of darker books but there was scene's from Thirteens memories that just ripped my heart out, they shocked me more than any other book.
In order to survive the Thirteen girls had rules...
1. Follow the rules - Be Rewarded
2. Break the rules - Be Punished
Simple, right?...
What if just questioning "why, where and please let me go" were breaking the rules... The girls weren't allowed to know, why, until the time was right, but how could you not fight the person that was imprisoning you... how could you not argue, that what they were doing was wrong... how could you not be scared for what this person wanted with you.
Master William... William confused me and I guess that's to be expected but I just didn't connect with him wholly. Some things I totally understood other things not at all. I didn't understand the punishments, the reasons behind why he did the things he did, and yes they are explained but why did it have to be done that way, why hurt whats already been hurt, broken & damaged before.
I understood Master Williams loneliness, I understood his need for control, I even understood what he was trying to accomplish. But I feel he did, unto others what was done to him and I don't think that's what William really wanted to betray, but it's what happened and that's part of my confusion and not connecting with him. I still loved William, at the start of the book I was instantly crying for him.
Master William & Number Thirteen's... relationship was something I struggled with, as you would in a book like this. But I found myself accepting the relationship more as the book went on and you got to know more about why the girls were there. It still wasn't the great love story I like to read but it was a hot and steamy romance, about two people finding what they need in the other person.
I feel like my review is a little all over the place, but I'm trying not to spoil anything.
*** ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for a honest review ***
For me this book was about The Thirteen Girls...
Saving Them...
Rebuilding Them...
And... Bringing Them Home.
Number Thirteen... She is intelligent, kind and strong.
Thirteen is in a group of 5 women, with Three, Four, Seven and Twelve. They have all lost their memories. Thirteen is the strongest of the group. She knows she just has to wait and be patient to find a way to escape. I loved Number Thirteen's guts, she didn't shy away from standing up for people or saying what she thought even if there was a consequence.
"Protecting us?" I cry, "How are you protecting us? You've stolen us from our lives. You've erased our memories. You punish us like we're dogs."
"I. Did. Not. Steal. You."
I would define this book as semi dark, I've read a lot of darker books but there was scene's from Thirteens memories that just ripped my heart out, they shocked me more than any other book.
In order to survive the Thirteen girls had rules...
1. Follow the rules - Be Rewarded
2. Break the rules - Be Punished
Simple, right?...
What if just questioning "why, where and please let me go" were breaking the rules... The girls weren't allowed to know, why, until the time was right, but how could you not fight the person that was imprisoning you... how could you not argue, that what they were doing was wrong... how could you not be scared for what this person wanted with you.
Master William... William confused me and I guess that's to be expected but I just didn't connect with him wholly. Some things I totally understood other things not at all. I didn't understand the punishments, the reasons behind why he did the things he did, and yes they are explained but why did it have to be done that way, why hurt whats already been hurt, broken & damaged before.
I understood Master Williams loneliness, I understood his need for control, I even understood what he was trying to accomplish. But I feel he did, unto others what was done to him and I don't think that's what William really wanted to betray, but it's what happened and that's part of my confusion and not connecting with him. I still loved William, at the start of the book I was instantly crying for him.
Master William & Number Thirteen's... relationship was something I struggled with, as you would in a book like this. But I found myself accepting the relationship more as the book went on and you got to know more about why the girls were there. It still wasn't the great love story I like to read but it was a hot and steamy romance, about two people finding what they need in the other person.
I feel like my review is a little all over the place, but I'm trying not to spoil anything.
*** ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for a honest review ***
August 30, 2016
3.5 Disturbing Stars!
This is me after I’ve read this…
It is one of those, I thought I had it figured out but there was more to it and I didn’t see that coming. If the blurb alone don’t get your attention, the epilogue certainly will… the whole book definitely got my attention though I may have cringed a lot throughout the story. Trying to figure out how I feel about it after and honestly, I still haven’t figured that out yet.
The characters alone are intriguing. I didn’t know what William was really trying to do at first, all I know was he was trying to help them and teach them rules and consequences, and maybe making himself feel better in the process. Realistically, I definitely don’t condone his ways in doing them…. I find it disturbing. Taking in consideration why William is the way he is, broken…. and though my heart goes out to him, still… there’s a huge “still” going on here… it was creepy and he needs help.
Number Thirteen, a.k.a. Emelyn… I thought she was the sanest one amongst all of them and that’s saying a lot. I do admire her fighting spirit. Her thoughts were the ones I find most interesting. So she was falling for her captor and sees him for who he is… but I don’t know, I’m just not so sure. I just couldn’t go there.
So, this is me on the ending…
I’d say the system failed these girls. You don’t just set them off and say “you’re free” and not give them any means of help to get them going right? I felt like they weren’t really given help and choices. Even the psychologist opinion, I’m like, really? Hmmm…. Would Reid have agreed? Hehe…
And I do feel the ending a bit rushed.
The story has me dumbfounded. It is a different read and I find it quite disturbing that I’d need time to process everything and knowing even then, I’d still think that well, it is what it is…. And it certainly made an impression enough that had me thinking even long after I’ve finished reading it…. so that is good!
Written on Number Thirteen and William’s POV.
Review also posted here :
http://slitsread.wordpress.com/2014/0...
and link shared here :
https://www.facebook.com/SLiTsReaD
This is me after I’ve read this…
It is one of those, I thought I had it figured out but there was more to it and I didn’t see that coming. If the blurb alone don’t get your attention, the epilogue certainly will… the whole book definitely got my attention though I may have cringed a lot throughout the story. Trying to figure out how I feel about it after and honestly, I still haven’t figured that out yet.
The characters alone are intriguing. I didn’t know what William was really trying to do at first, all I know was he was trying to help them and teach them rules and consequences, and maybe making himself feel better in the process. Realistically, I definitely don’t condone his ways in doing them…. I find it disturbing. Taking in consideration why William is the way he is, broken…. and though my heart goes out to him, still… there’s a huge “still” going on here… it was creepy and he needs help.
Number Thirteen, a.k.a. Emelyn… I thought she was the sanest one amongst all of them and that’s saying a lot. I do admire her fighting spirit. Her thoughts were the ones I find most interesting. So she was falling for her captor and sees him for who he is… but I don’t know, I’m just not so sure. I just couldn’t go there.
So, this is me on the ending…
I’d say the system failed these girls. You don’t just set them off and say “you’re free” and not give them any means of help to get them going right? I felt like they weren’t really given help and choices. Even the psychologist opinion, I’m like, really? Hmmm…. Would Reid have agreed? Hehe…
And I do feel the ending a bit rushed.
The story has me dumbfounded. It is a different read and I find it quite disturbing that I’d need time to process everything and knowing even then, I’d still think that well, it is what it is…. And it certainly made an impression enough that had me thinking even long after I’ve finished reading it…. so that is good!
Written on Number Thirteen and William’s POV.
Review also posted here :
http://slitsread.wordpress.com/2014/0...
and link shared here :
https://www.facebook.com/SLiTsReaD
March 21, 2014
...but after reading this I was like...
Obviously, this was not the book for me.
This started off pretty promising with the prologue and I like the ideea of 13 girls and the lack of memory. ( I guess that’s all )
The idea of the story was not so bad, but for me sometimes it was confusing, with to many pointless facts and situations like : William is rich, but he can’t afford a plastic surgery, Number Six disappearance ( we don’t know what happened with her ), the police can’t find out where did he bought the girls… and so on..
The ending was so ridiculous. OMG!!! The police drop all the charges, the girls decide that they must go bach to Master William, suddenly Will loves Number 13 and they all live happily ever after.
William speaks Romanian when it has nothing to do about him or his family. And his Romanian is crap.
The translation in Romanian is all wrong. For example:
“ A beautiful heart can never love a dark heart. But a dark heart can crave a beautiful one, and it will. I will crave you, beauty. ” ( in english )
“ O inima frumos nu poate iubi o inima intunecata. Dar o inima intunecata poate tanjesc dupa un frumos si asa va fi. Eu va va astepta cu nerabdare, frumusete. “( Romanian )
The correct translation in Romanian:
O inima frumoasa nu poate niciodata sa iubeasca o inima intunecata. Dar o inima intunecata poate ravni una frumoasa si va ravni. O sa te ravnesc frumusete!
December 19, 2016
Ni sé cómo llegué a éste libro, creo que en realidad cuando lo añadi a la lista no leí de qué trataba y pensé en 13 de House y la portada se veía muy YA, así que salté sin saber nada y aunque no es para nada mi tipo de lectura ¡LA AMÉ!. No creo estar de acuerdo con sus métodos ni entender sus motivaciones pero funcionó bien para las chicas y para él; no es un libro feliz de los que me gusta leer pero al menos no fue taaan dark que me hiciera llorar más de la mitad del libro.
I'm not sure why I pick this book, don't think I read the summary but somehow I have it and even when it's not my cup of tea just need to say that I LOVE IT.
I disagree with almost everything that happened there, still don't understand what he was trying to do but still work out really good. I love happy books with hea, this one was no so happy but it wans't dark so I enjoy it.
Some would no like it because
I'm not sure why I pick this book, don't think I read the summary but somehow I have it and even when it's not my cup of tea just need to say that I LOVE IT.
I disagree with almost everything that happened there, still don't understand what he was trying to do but still work out really good. I love happy books with hea, this one was no so happy but it wans't dark so I enjoy it.
Some would no like it because
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