I hate him. I hate him for what he did to me. I hate him because he has branded me forever, sucking me into his dark universe. An abyss of perversion and madness. An abyss of pleasure and pain from which I will never be able to go back nor save myself. I hate him because he made me taste danger and the forbidden, and now I'm addicted to it. I hate him because he freed my dark side that I always kept hidden. I hate him because despite what he's done to me, I can't stop wanting more. I hate him because I love him.
THE LION
I love her. I love her for what she did to me. I love her because she managed to hold the beast in me at bay. That violent, dark beast. That ruthless and dangerous animal capable of carrying out ignoble acts. I love her because I can't stop thinking about her. I love her because she allowed me to capture her, taste her, have her only for myself. I love her and will do everything in my power to keep her with me forever. I love her because I hate her.
This is the first volume of a duet. It's a dark romance dealing with topics that may disturb some readers. It's advised to read the trigger warning list at the beginning of the book before proceeding with the reading. This book ends with a cliffhanger. But don't worry: the second volume, RED SYNDROME is coming on the 30th of September!
Am I missing something? I get this is a dark romance, and insta-love or something like it, however the way he treats her? Soooooooo many red flags. And so many women give this five stars? Are y'all masochists? Maybe it's just me and I'm new to dark romance books, but this was definitely not for me. My apologies to the author, but I don't think I'm the audience for this one. 🤷
Okay, BookTok fam, let's get into it. "Black Syndrome" is a rollercoaster of dark romance goodness that had me OBSESSED from page one. I inhaled this book in a week because, honestly, putting it down was not an option. The author's writing style? Absolutely addictive. You sit, you read, and the next thing you know, it's 3 AM and you're still going.
Let's talk about Killian. Oh. My. God. He's one of the best morally grey characters I've ever encountered. Think Christian Grey, but with the intensity dialed up to 100. He's spicy, dark, and dangerously charming. Funny and clever, but beneath that cool exterior? A storm of emotions. He becomes obsessed with Ivy from the moment they meet, and his devotion is both terrifying and heart-melting. This guy would burn the world for her and wouldn't hesitate to deal with anyone who even glances her way. He's unhinged, sure, but his heart beats only for her. 😈❤️
And Ivy? She's all of us. A relatable queen who secretly buys dark romance books and hides them. SAME, GIRL, SAME. She's a fighter with a fiery spirit, but she also has a dark side calling out to her. She doesn't always follow the rules, sometimes just to get punished by Killian—and honestly, can you blame her? With Killian in the mix, I'd be tempted too. 😏🔥
The spice level in this book is off the charts. I mean, buckle up, because the scenes are insane. The second spice scene? It lives rent-free in my mind, and trust me, it will in yours too.
"Black Syndrome" is the perfect blend of slow burn, stalker vibes, and kidnap fantasy with a heavy dose of spice, drama, and romance.
And that cliffhanger???? Absolute TORTURE. I wanted to dive into the book and demand answers. The wait for the second book is killing me, and I'm counting down the days because I NEED more.
If you're into dark romance that's intense, spicy, and keeps you on the edge of your seat, "Black Syndrome" is your next must-read. Don't walk—run to get your copy. 🌑🔥📚
DNF. i opened this book in response to seeing someone say it’s for the girls with no limits. i had no issue with the themes and stuff. actually enjoyed them. it was the writing i had an issue with… my god i think i lost brain cells trying to read most of those sentences and any others just had me cringing. how is this guy ‘roaring’ everything he says???? my brain hurts. my eyes hurt. this book broke my reading streak. i couldn’t finish it and i couldn’t even pick up another book from how poorly this is written. i made it to the second punishment and didn’t even finish it. i physically could not force myself to continue. please for the love of whatever higher power you believe in, don’t read this book. i NEVER leave reviews, and esp not negative ones. tbch it’s rare i have anything actually bad to say abt a book, even the few that have made it into my dnf pile i don’t feel the need to leave a review as to why i didn’t finish it. but this one??? nah i couldn’t not. i just kept thinking what on earth what 12 year olds edgy dark romance wattpad story got published and why????how??????
Comparing the MMCs eyes to 2 pieces of an iceberg was the 1st red flag 2nd red flag was the lack of punctuation throughout this entire book 3rd red flag was ‘Kinky Ivy’, need I say more?
The Cliffhanger was diabolical 🫢😱! I got into this book so quickly that I had to keep reading it. Killian was so unhinged but I loved him so much. Ivy in the other hand could have done with following the rules a bit better 😂, girl how many time must you be punished!
Overall this book was such an amazing read, the spicy parts was HOT.
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 could have been 5⭐️ but i just didn’t like him calling her Little Bird all the time. Spicy rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I had to DNF this book… from what i gathered it’s a poor mash-up of Haunting Adeline, hints of 50 Shades and a smidge of Den of Vipers.
I couldn’t get into it because it was too quick to get into the spice without any real build between the characters and it was honestly just frustrating to read, it put me off.
The whole “Kinky Ivy” thing made me cringe to my core, I understand it’s supposed to be humorous and an inner battle between rational and irrational thinking but it just didn’t do it for me and it was completely overused.
‘You used an inappropriate language’ and other things that didn’t make much sense grammatically, also the fact she referred to herself as Kinky Ivy in third person like 7 times in a four page timespan made me go what in the Wattpad am I reading.
Had to DNF when I came across a smut scene between CHILDREN. A 12 YEAR OLD GIRL AND 13 YEAR OLD BOY. no, im out. I tried getting past the horrid Grammer, misspelled words, misplaced phrases, repeating sentences, and the lack of character development. But I am gonna have to stop at the kids getting involved. Taboo or not, dark romance does not involve children.
Kind of telling that this book has been in my KU for months. I decided this year I would either read my KU library or remove them n start fresh (only 20 books lol) I digress ...
So, I thought it was going to be promising, the broken English throughout the book didn't help and I know the author is Italian living in France now but it was a lot of re-reading that took me away from the story.
The FMC whilst sassy, maybe also suffers from DID hence her use of kinky Ivy a lot who is apparently the masochist. I think this helped me with explaining that side of her in my head. The MMC has suffered abuse in childhood, as such this is where his sadistic side came into play.
It was slow paced, I felt a lot of things were repetitive and could have been a shorter more to the point book, if that makes sense 🤷
I was 50% into this book and was already thinking of my review and how I was most definitely not pursuing the second book. I’m glad I didn’t put it down because that ending has me in a chokehold 🤯 Guess where I’m headed? To the second book 😭
This is daaark romance core, omg, all the red flag and definitely on the pitch black scale of how dark some of the themes are, so check those trigger warnings, there’s a whole page and half of them 🫠
I finished this early in the morning, slept on it, and honestly I needed to just take a moment and digest, process everything that happened. So, this is a stalker, captive romance (which I love) that follows Ivy and Killian. Ivy is out with her friends on a night out, and she then wakes up, to learn that she’s in an unfamiliar environment, essentially having been kidnapped.
In Killian’s povs, you learn more about what happened, how things potentially have gone wrong, and where things are currently— Ivy on the other hand is understandably freaking the fuck out, and honestly, I lost count the amount of times I genuinely thought that Killian was going to kill her (not intentionally), but with how he lived his life by a set of rules, discipline, he was very much set in his ways, oh and he’s a highly skilled assassin. It was crazy. It was so fucking insane; Killian is a psychopath, a murderer; he’s literally trained to kill, having been in the KBG for the past 15 years, he’s definitely up there with the MMCs I’ve read that have had a traumatic childhood and literally don’t know anything different than the very regimented lifestyle that they go by. He’s sadist and it was fucking crazy. I had goosebumps on my goosebumps pls!!
Listen the Stockholm Syndrome that Ivy experienced was CRAZY. I don’t know if because of that, the “romance” between Ivy and Killian felt secondary, almost like it wasn’t present; he is very much obsessed with her; I wasn’t overly sold on their chemistry, but things between them were intense. I’m hoping that in the second book, it’s explored, I’m very much intrigued to see where things go from how things ended, I was still wholly convinced that Killian hadn’t forgave Ivy for her reckless behaviour.
I’m always intrigued by the tortured mmc, especially if he’s on the antihero side, and very much so about what Killian had been through when he was with the KGB.
I think the plot definitely has a lot potential, I’m very much looking forward to what’s to come in the second book of this duology; but also did feel like it lacked in parts of its execution, and there was some pacing issues and clunkiness with some sentences/phrasing/writing that just felt like I needed to take a breath, or just random, didn’t flow well.
The spice was all the hot chilli peppers, my goodness me— check those triggers! 🥵🫠
Tropes
Dark romance Hate to love Stalker romance Captive romance Touch her and die
This booooook!! Ughhh it was one of those books you couldn’t put down! It sucks you in right from the start! It’s got lots of spice and it is very dark so always check your triggers but I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to take a walk on the dark side! 10/10 RECOMMEND! I didn’t want it to end and it’s something I would pick up and read again! I can’t stop thinking about it!
I liked this book- the characters were Weil written- however, I feel that the Stockholm syndrome aspect is brushed over rather than addresses and made a proper part of the storyline and that the romance aspect felt a bit rushed but Dark romance isn’t for everyone and aside from those things I’m looking forward to book two!!
Black syndrome is epic!< I'd honestly ignore any comments people make and suggest trying the book as it's each to their own tastes.
Killian will get what he desires, even if that takes a little unhinged kidnapping to get her, but hes giving up everything while risking everything, including their life's. All while being a smoking hot perfectly huge in the best areas mmc.
This book is a dark romance reader's dream. It's hotter than hot with a master who knows how to shall we say work with his hands! There's utterly dripping trigger warnings. ovisly check ur triggers, but if u like your mmc pitch, black, then you will enjoy this. Cliffhanger hanger alert but book 2 is out so no real issues there.
Will she fall for him before it's to late ? Can he let go of his controlling master ways or will she actually learn to crave them. Ovisly rules are made for breaking.
I bought this book after seeing a video on TikTok, and I am so glad I did. This was the first book I read from this author. It was so good. This is a dark romance, so check triggers. The FMC Ivy is kidnapped by the MMC Killian. She is held captive at his house. The relationship develops between them as Killian tries to keep her safe from the outside dangers. Ivy can be stubborn and hard-headed, but the growth at the end of the book is worth it. Killian is morally grey with shades of black. The spice is spicy, and the writing from the author is so good. I can't wait for Book 2 to come out. Check your triggers before diving in. Must add to your TBR
The MMC is completely unhinged and this book is DARK, there were definitely times I had to stop reading to take a lap around the room and come back to it. It gave me 365 Days vibes and you definitely need to read the trigger warnings before you start. There’s a wild cliffhanger at the end and I’m looking forward to reading book 2. I didn’t like the little bird nickname and the “Kinky Ivy” cringed me out. Love that at the beginning of the book the author gives you a playlist and lists all the spicey chapters. She know what a girl wants 😍 Would recommend for my dark romance girlies out there.
Killian (the mmc) is deliciously dark. Ivy is taken by him and held captive. Book 1 follows their dynamic while she struggles with her feelings, and he struggles with his dominance. Will Ivy ever follow his rules? Ends on a cliffhanger, book 2 releases 30th Sept 24.
The grammatical errors alone had me calling it quits at 31%. Normally, I can push through those errors, but this one was rough. Definitely was not proofread at all.
Okay, I hate to do this but I had to DNF Black Syndrome at 32% 😬. I really tried to push through but I couldn’t stay hooked. The plot was moving at snails pace, and the main characters? Don’t even get me started.
The hero was supposed to be this dark, brooding and mysterious man but he just felt so…bland? The FMC was so frustrating and I couldn’t connect with her at all.
And the chemistry? Non existent. I was hoping for tension and explosive moments, but it all just felt really flat to me. Like they were just going through the motions without any real spark.
Honestly I forced myself to keep reading and waiting for that “it” factor to kick in but realised that wasn’t going to happen.
Wow! The undeniable electricity, lust, dark desire and love between Killian and Ivy is epic. How can you be insanely attracted to the man that kidnapped you? How can you fall in love with the man that punishes you? Ivy is unlike other women, she contains a dark side that can only be unleashed by Killian. How is all this possible? The circumstance of Ivy’s kidnapping and Killian’s secret identity is just the tip of that iceberg. This book is so well written and keeps you captivated from start to finish but beware because it ends with a cliffhanger. You’ll be so eager to read the next book Red Syndrome when you finish this one! 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and 5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Black Syndrome is a dark and captivating romance that dives deep into the psychology of its morally grey characters. The Lion, with his possessive nature, and the Sparrow, trapped in her emotional torment, create a complex dynamic that pulls the reader in. Both characters have haunting pasts that shape their intense relationship, and while I wanted the Sparrow to escape, I couldn’t help but root for her to heal the Lion emotionally. This book perfectly balances danger, forbidden desires, and emotional depth, making it hard to hate even the most flawed character. I was not expecting the ending and it left me wanting more. It’s a gripping tale of love, hate, and addiction.
This book was fantastic. The dark tendencies and the possessive MMC along with the first FMC who like to pick and poke to get in trouble was everything! Ya’ll you have to read this book! The end will surprise you and leave you on a cliff so just make sure you have the second book!
I love the way Faith built the character relationships in this. How she really dove into building each characters personality too. The fact that our man Killian will ruin the world just to protect and have Ivy is so delicious! Obviously there are dark aspects to this book so check your triggers but overall I LOVED it! I can’t wait to read Book two Red Syndrome!
I thought this book was fantastic! It's a dark romance with plenty of spice! It's definitely dark so check the trigger warnings but the darker the better in my opinion lol. I loved the characters especially Killian! Ivy was feisty at times too which I loved. The plot was really good also. The writing in this book was beautiful and very descriptive. It does end on a cliffhanger but the second one "Red Syndrome" will be out this year! I can't freaking wait! Overall I highly recommend this book to all my dark romance lovers!
Can I just say WOW. What a roller coaster of emotions with this one. I went into this book blind and it did not disappoint. So we have Killian who is all the right kind of unhinged and morally grey. And Ivy who has a dark secret obsession. The spice level in this book was spicen. I absolutely devoured this book. If you’re looking for your next dark romance with all the right triggers this is the one for you. Definitely check your triggers with this one because it’s filled with them. If you can get beyond those this is definitely worth the read!!!
Wow from start to finish this had me hooked!! There were times I wanted to smack Ivy to scream at her "he's not lying to you he loves you!!!" The way he loves her but needs the controll omg where do I find that? The way she. Makes him lose control..... I'm so invested in this that Im jumping straight into the next as soon as I write this..... I NEED TO KNOW what happens next!!!!!! I also need to smell amber and leather like yesterday!!! And I can't be held responsible for how I react to any man wearing this scent....
Wow! The many spicy scenes in this book aren‘t for the faint of heart ! It draws you into the world of Bdsm and let‘s you stay speechless. I loved that the story begins right away! Also i loved that he‘s a russian kgb agent 🤭 the cliffhanger at the end was unexpected and i‘m curious to know how the story of ivy and killian goes on..
I don't know where to start. I really liked the book. the story, the tension between the characters, the perfect amount of spice. I was very intrigued and really wanted to know what would happen next. and Killian🥵he is a hugh 😏masterpiece 👀but kinky ivy 😮💨uff this girl is finger licking good. I love her . I can't wait to read the next part because the ending destroyed me. I Need more
Killian puts his life in danger when he betrays his higher ups, for a girl who he just met when he has never done anything like it before due to his deep routed fear with rule breaking. You follow ivy on her fight for freedom but does she really want to become free anymore? Black syndrome is a slow burn, dark captive and kidnapper romance with a whole lot of spice🖤