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Rhythm and Tempo #3

Grave Dissonance

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I have two things going for me in life; music and my best friend.

My world is black and white because it has to be. I need control to keep myself from spinning. Order helps me stay calm.

The only turbulence in my life is my bandmate and best friend. He is madness and chaos, but somehow he’s also my refuge.

I never expected to crave him with such intensity, and now I fear my desires will shatter the only stability I’ve ever known.

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2024

126 people are currently reading
1355 people want to read

About the author

Mila Crawford

102 books2,217 followers

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5 stars
357 (34%)
4 stars
316 (30%)
3 stars
261 (25%)
2 stars
72 (7%)
1 star
22 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
Profile Image for Kate V.
1,853 reviews370 followers
October 20, 2024
Grave Dissonance was a surprisingly very emotional read with all the filthy smut you’ve come to expect from Mila. The level of realness Mila infused in Marley and Iggy independently and within their connection was so endearing and heart squeezing. The depth of Marley’s turmoil was excruciatingly painful but Iggy’s devotion was more powerful.

“I’m broken,” I whisper. My confession has the opposite effect to what I intended. Iggy leans forward and brushes his lips along my neck.

“I’ll put you back together.”


Mila made Marley and Iggy fit together so seamlessly. They may have been different in many ways but the core of who they were satisfied each other in ways no else would even come close. It was beautiful to read.

”Motherfucker, I see you! I have always seen you. Even when I close my eyes to sleep, I see your damn face and those tragically beautiful eyes.”


I loved Marley and Iggy’s journey. The friendship they shared made their romantic relationship that much more meaningful and I adored that this story centered almost exclusively on their bond.

“I love you, Iggy. A world without you is a world I don’t want to live in. As fucked up as I am, I can stand it all, but what I can’t stand is losing you. I want a life with you.”


If you’ve read Mila, you know what to expect. Her smut pushes boundaries but I’ve found she can balance the depravity with sweet intimacy really well. I really enjoyed Marley and Iggy!



ARC provided for an honest review.
Profile Image for Brittany Ferraro.
253 reviews1,411 followers
September 1, 2025
Nothing like a little rockstar smut to start off my morning, paired with my pumpkin coffee, it was a recipe for success.

Mila always has such good audiobooks, and this one even threw in little sound effects. It just made the whole thing such a vibe. Teddy Hamilton and JF Harding are you kidding?! 10 out of fucking 10 experience 👏🏻😮‍💨🧎🏼‍♀️

For how short this book is, I was shocked at the impact it had on me. I loved their relationship, their connection, their chemistry. AND LAWD, were they hot.

(When Marley sent a woman with his 💦 dripping out of her and told Iggy to suck it out? I almost fainted.)

If you’re looking for a quick listen with hot rockstars, a little friends-to-lovers, great banter, and SOME GOOD BOYS 🤭 that’ll have you sweating and maybe even tearing up (don’t judge me, okay?? I’m an emotional girly), this one’s it
Profile Image for Lauri MissDysfunktion.
1,111 reviews39 followers
December 3, 2024
Grave Dissonance is a rockstar romance

I’ve not read Mila before and to be honest I’m not sure if I would again in the future. The premise for this book is a total vibe. But the execution is chaos and not that fun kinda I’m usually there for.
This felt rushed and not flushed out. Instead of building their dynamic it felt slapped together and at times very cringey.
Which is a shame because masked musician vibes is my jam. This was more like lumpy soup. Not altogether palatable.

Profile Image for Kari Lake.
243 reviews7 followers
August 22, 2025
I have not listened to the 1st two books in the series, but this one blew my mind. I'm still reeling from the emotions.

Duet Narration by JF Harding and Teddy Hamilton was utter perfection. Special guests Samantha Brentmoor and Jaclyn Kelso who are also amazing.

Marley and Iggy are amazing characters with depth and passion. Their story blew my mind and made me feel all the emotions. The ending made me cry happy tears.

Mila Crawford outdid herself on this one.
Profile Image for Cara.
600 reviews25 followers
Read
August 29, 2025
I dnf the book at 35% for two reasons:

The first reason is that the women are treated horribly. Yes, women, in plural.
The second reason is that i had to come here to check if what I was reading was an MF or an MM, or this book was mislabeled , because I had no idea. If you're a hardcore MM reader, this isn't the book for you, just like it isn't for me.
Profile Image for Daje1968.
527 reviews15 followers
November 13, 2024
DNF at 50%. Too much sex with groupies and treating women like shit. I was bored and annoyed.
Profile Image for Sladjana Svendsen.
240 reviews22 followers
August 12, 2025
Mila really knows how to break my heart, make me cry and also simultaneously make me hot and bothered within 2 pages.
Marley and Iggy are bestfriends and rockstars in Gutless Void. GD is an emotinal story filled with degrading filthy smut. 10 out of 10 for the spice. This book is perfection.

The struggle Marley goes through breaks my heart. And page 99 made me cry for 10 min straight. But Iggy never turned his back on him. The love between them is amazing. And I ate this book up in a day.

The audiobook with Teddy Hamilton, JF. Harding - featuring Jaclyn Kelso and Samantha Brenmoor is a must!!
And Teddy Hamilton says my name, because Mila named a drunk groupie after me :)
Profile Image for ivymoonslibrary .
105 reviews4 followers
November 24, 2024
Marley and Iggy are two members of a band and have been best friends for many years and although the story takes place years after their friendship has already existed, I really enjoyed seeing flashbacks to how it began.
Even though the book is set in a context a little outside of our normality, there is a lot of respect, and their bond is something beautiful, both between the two main characters and between the other characters 💞

🎸 “I want it all. With you.”

The spicy in this book is probably one of the best I've ever read 🌶️🌶️
The chapters are short, the writing is smooth and it really takes a very short time to read. Despite there being so many hot moments there is still a good background plot that makes you feel the bond between the two mc even more.

🎸 “The lyrics are how I feel about you. I wish I could write you something original, but I’m a composer, not a lyricist, so I thought the next best thing would be to arrange the music. The lyrics make me think of you.”

I deeply loved Iggy's mother, Connie, who also represents a parent for all the other members of the band and who adopted Marley as her favorite son. The found family is very much felt and warmed my heart 🫂
I must say that I found the final part a bit rushed but at the same time I understand that it is proportionate to the rest of the story that, although short, manages to satisfy everything.
Profile Image for ᐯEᖇOᑎIᑕᗩ.
309 reviews26 followers
August 23, 2025
4⭐️
This was my first Mila Crawford book, and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to dive in. I grabbed Grave Dissonance when it first released but finally picked it up once the audiobook came out; narrated by Teddy Hamilton and J.F. Harding, and wow, what a good choice.

Marley and Iggy’s story pulled me right in. Best friends for nearly a decade, bandmates with this simmering, unspoken tension that’s been building for years. It all finally comes to a head here, and it’s every bit as intense and messy and beautiful as you’d hope. Their dynamic had that perfect mix of chaos and comfort, and I loved watching them give in to what’s always been between them.

Even though it’s a quicker read/listen, nothing about it feels rushed. There’s plenty of steam, but the emotional beats land too, and the narrators really brought it to life in a way that made the story even more gripping. Definitely glad I finally gave this one the attention it deserves.
Profile Image for Avery.
482 reviews21 followers
October 16, 2024
Marley and Iggy have been sharing for a long time. Being in close quarters on the road and a tour bus, as best friends, they have done it all together. But when they forgo a third party one night, neither can forget how it felt. Both struggle with the fact that they want each other, creating some conflict but also some extremely hot fun times. They just go together and fit just right when they finally pull their heads out of their asses. Their bond made is so that there will never be anyone who will satisfy them more.

Mila Crawford is so good at writing novella’s that are hot, spicy and still complete even at a lower page count. This was perfectly balanced with delicious smut on one side and a deep connection. I absolutely loved it!

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Alix.
94 reviews100 followers
September 30, 2025
I literally had the best time!

Mila has a knack for writing amazing smut whilst also giving us characters with depth!

I’m on a bit of a novella audiobook kick right now with struggling to read and Mila is basically keeping me afloat!

Teddy and JF Harding smashed it as always!
Profile Image for High Lady of Delulu.
525 reviews32 followers
August 12, 2025
Update after the audiobook reread

Hell yes!
Since my first time picking up Grave Dissonance, I've read a lot more by Mila.
And as much as I absolutely loved some of her other books - particularly Feral and Primal Beasts - this one remains my personal favorite.

Iggy and Marley are so vulnerable and hurt in their own ways and the way J.F. Harding and Teddy Hamilton brought this to life was incredible. Their insanely skilled narration magnified all the emotions and had me so invested - as if it were my first time reading the story.
Such an amazing audiobook!

Thank you so much Mila Crawford for an ALC of this book

---

That. was. HOT!

After Rudimentary Distortion, I had an idea of what I was going into. And while Gravce Dissonance was everything I'd expected it to be, it was also entirely not.

At first glance, the shades between Marley und Iggy, the two MMCs, seem so distorted and blurry. Almost as if they're the same person. The intensity of their dynamic, however, took form with how distinctly different they were. Not only from each other, but also from the image they outwardly projected.

Of course, one main aspect of this book is the smut and Mila did not disappoint. She said on her Instagram that writing a docking scene was so difficult and while I might not be able to confirm accuracy, she definitely not only made it make sense but made also insanely hot.

If I had one point of critique it is that I would have wished for at least an after thought on how Marley's mental health progressed. edit after the second read: I know now that that's how Mila writes and have grown to love the open story lines that feel like glimpses into core moments.

Grave Dissonance is spicy and erotic, but it also, among other things, deals with a complexity of anxieties, fears and the fact that sometimes the problem is not that the world doesn't love us, but that we don't feel deserving enough to believe it.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this steamy sequel of the series and personally cannot wait for the audiobook version!


I received a free ARC of the book and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Audiobook S1ut.
417 reviews37 followers
January 27, 2026
2.0 stars. The dialogue was.. really bad. Nobody talks like that.

It's very obvious that the author has a very limited understanding of kink. You don't walk around wearing a collar unless you ARE collared. The author seems to think that it means you want to be owned by a stranger, when it's actually a massive neon sign that says 'I'm already taken!! Don't address me unless my partner gives you permission!'

I might have received it better if the kink wasn't so centered around degradation. If that gets you hot, you'll like this better than I did. Personally, that's on my very, very short list of kinks that turns me off.

I don't want someone who loves me to call me names and tell me I'm a piece of shit.

Finally, the MC's are terrible people. Being an asshole doesn't make you an appealing dark romance MC, it just makes you an asshole. Breath play with strangers? Good luck trying to use your safe word. It's not responsible bdsm. Telling women you're having sex with to 'shut the fuck up'? There's no reason to be rude like that to a hookup, you can just ask them to be quieter (please).

Add in all the talk about 'the noises and darkness in my mind', making it sound like a 12 year old wrote this book.. it's a big no from me.

This definitely read like the author switched a FMC out for a MMC because queer romance is popular or something. Very little about the MCs relationship struck me as a relatable male friendship, 'bros before hos' and all of that, with the exception of how horribly they treated the women around them.

The two stars I gave were only for the narration.
Profile Image for Willie Mercedes.
1,488 reviews136 followers
October 19, 2024
Grave Dissonance took me on a rollercoaster of feels, sprinkled with Mila's signature smut! The friendship between the characters added a delightful twist to their romantic escapades, making their connection all the more special!

Marley and Iggy have a history thicker than a tour bus full of snacks! After countless adventures as best pals, one unforgettable night, they decide to skip the usual shenanigans, and suddenly, feelings bubble up like a fizzy drink!

Iggy's an enigma wrapped in a riddle—raised in a supportive nest, yet he dives into the dark with Marley like a superhero. The push-and-pull between them before they finally go official had me on the edge of my seat—I cherished every twist and turn of their love story!

Things to know
Child Neglect, Self Harm, Anxiety, Depression, Recreational Drug Use, Heavy use of MDMA, Dependancy on Ativan, Panic Attacks, Use of drugs leading to hospitalization, Public Sex, Degradation, Docking, Anal Sex, Impact play, Spit play, Come Play, Somnophilia, Breath play, Group Sex, rockstar romance, friends to lovers, forced proximity, mm romance
Profile Image for Kaija.
1,505 reviews29 followers
October 15, 2024
Easily top 3 books of Mila’s for me, I’d honestly go as far to say as the number 1 book of Mila’s imo.

“For anyone that’s ever struggled in darkness. May you always find the light.”

This is so emotional and just everything! My heart breaks for Marley and his past but I can understand why he is the way he is on a certain level.
It’s such an emotional story I think I find it more emotional because I’m like Marley in a sense and so I understand and connect with him in a way I rarely connect to a character.

Iggy is such an enigma, he has an amazing and loving family but he’s also not afraid to met Marley in his darkness and the push and pull before they finally become a couple was amazing I lived for those moments!

It’s hard to believe that this is a fairly short book because there’s just SO much!
I find that Mila Crawford is excellent at giving us the stories that push boundaries in so many ways, the emotions Mila puts into these books and the characters there’s nothing like it.

I was lucky enough to ARC read this book and I CANNOT wait to get this on my shelf!
Profile Image for Samantha.
151 reviews9 followers
October 14, 2024
OMG! The wait was worth it with this one! I just wanted to jump in the book and hug Marley🥹
The storyline pulled at my heartstrings. Marley just wanted to be happy but his demons pulled him down at every turn. And Iggy the ever dominant who easily turned submissive only for Marley who would take any scrapes Marley threw his way.
The amount of love these guys shared was heartwarming! The spice did its thing but the plot drew me in and had me in a chokehold!

Mila completely crushed it yet again! My advice to the bookish world is RUN to get this book on October 21st cause it’s amazing!

Heavy on the mental health rep. This book gave a huge representation on those who suffer from extreme anxiety mixed with childhood trauma and how the two create a shitstorm of issues into adulthood.

I have read so many book by Mila and I have my picks but this one here is at the top of the food chain!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for angelictaleslibrary.
545 reviews12 followers
August 11, 2025
Grave Dissonance by Mila Crawford

Narrated in multi-cast duet by:
* J.F. Harding as Marley
* Teddy Hamilton as Iggy
And featuring Samantha Brentmoor & Jaclyn Kelso

I have two things going for me in life; music and my best friend.

Grave Dissonance is the 3rd book in the Rhythm and tempo series

This audiobook was an emotional rollercoaster..

This was such a beautiful heart breaking story. I love both Marley & Iggy so much.
The push and pull the undeniable tension had me feeling everything…

The spice was top tier everything tht Mila writes I love she is a auto buy author for me..
Profile Image for mar ❀.
67 reviews
September 30, 2025
I bought the audiobook to listen while studying… did I actually study? Not much 😅 but wow, it was worth it. From the moment I pressed play, I didn’t want to stop. I’ve got a soft spot for rockstars—especially when they’re bandmates—and a friends-to-lovers storyline is basically my ultimate weakness. The characters had so much personality, the narrators were fantastic, and the spice? Absolute perfection. Such a fun ride from start to finish, and now I already know I’ll be reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Curious Readss.
93 reviews9 followers
October 23, 2024
This was my first MM advanced read 4⭐️3.5🌶️ , even though I’m obsessed with MM romance is right now it’s a friends to lovers trope quick read basically its rock stars who have a masked on stage persona and two of the band mates have been friends a few years and are thick as thieves , They both have messed around with the same sex before, but they don’t want to mess up their friendship but secretly they both long to be with each other. It also has some mental health trauma from stuff in the past that they work through and overall a great read
Profile Image for Shelby.
371 reviews7 followers
October 21, 2024
Oh. My.God!!!! THE SPICE!!!! I am in love with this book!!!

It is SUPER smutty with degrading and praising kinks..

This book wat HOT!!! 🥵🥵

If you like MM romance with LOTS of smut, then you will love this!!!

It took me 3 hours to read it!! Yes only 3 hours!! I was not going to go to bed until I finished it....
Profile Image for briannasbooked.
88 reviews4 followers
October 22, 2024
This was my first book from Mila Crawford and I really enjoyed it! The length was perfect for a quick read, and the spice was so so good! Definitely can relate to Marley, and loved him and Iggy together! 🖤
Profile Image for Collurr📚✨.
87 reviews3 followers
August 15, 2025
again.. TEDDY HAMILTON AUDIO always gets 4+ stars from me. such a short book packed with emotions and mental health issues and two bestfriends finally getting together after being in love with each other. The tension, the spice, the push and pull? 5 ⭐️
Profile Image for Sammy.
235 reviews7 followers
September 1, 2025
Mila Crawford really snapped my spine and called it romance 😩🔥 Obsession, darkness, and spice so unhinged I had to put my Kindle down and just breathe. This book didn’t just ruin me, it buried me six feet under and I said THANK YOU. 🪦🖤
209 reviews71 followers
October 25, 2024
A spicy, emotional rollercoaster of a novella! Perfect balance of smut and story. 100% recommend for anyone that like spicy MM stories 🖤
Profile Image for Randinicole_reads.
760 reviews258 followers
August 6, 2025
4.5 ⭐️

mm romance
friends to lovers
rockstar
filthy good smut
good banter & push/pull
Profile Image for TC.
386 reviews3 followers
dnf
August 22, 2025
Just wasn’t my vibe. The chapter contained the word p*ssy too many times for my taste lol
Profile Image for YamiReadsAudioMM.
180 reviews
September 7, 2025
Audio 5🎧
Story 3⭐️
Spice 3🌶


Duet Narrators:
Teddy Hamilton 5⭐️
JF Harding 5⭐️
Dual POV, 1st person
Iggy and Marley
Rock stars in the same band
Friends to Lovers
HEA
Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews

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