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The Taskmaster
He sees her, he wants her.
She vows never to be tamed.
The Taskmaster, the player of games.
He hunts his victims, teases them, tortures and destroys.
It's what he was born to do.
It's all he knows.
And they deserve it.
Abigail Walters was next on his list.
She needed to learn the sins of her father had fallen on her shoulders.
He couldn't wait to have her in his kill room.
But she had dark secrets.
And he wasn't the only one watching her from the shadows.
Her darkness drew him in.
With her, all the rules changed. His games took on a new meaning.
He wanted to push her to her limits, in all the best ways.
He was her master.
But when predator meets predator, there can only be one winner.
The stakes are high and the cost even higher.
The stranger watching her will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
And in the game of murder, are there ever winners?
The Taskmaster is a standalone dark romance with a happy ever after. Please take note of the trigger warnings before starting the journey.
Tagline
Born in blood and raised in hell, he lived to rain chaos even the Devil would fear.
Until one day, she stumbled into his world...
And nothing was ever the same.
Are you ready to play my game?
She vows never to be tamed.
The Taskmaster, the player of games.
He hunts his victims, teases them, tortures and destroys.
It's what he was born to do.
It's all he knows.
And they deserve it.
Abigail Walters was next on his list.
She needed to learn the sins of her father had fallen on her shoulders.
He couldn't wait to have her in his kill room.
But she had dark secrets.
And he wasn't the only one watching her from the shadows.
Her darkness drew him in.
With her, all the rules changed. His games took on a new meaning.
He wanted to push her to her limits, in all the best ways.
He was her master.
But when predator meets predator, there can only be one winner.
The stakes are high and the cost even higher.
The stranger watching her will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
And in the game of murder, are there ever winners?
The Taskmaster is a standalone dark romance with a happy ever after. Please take note of the trigger warnings before starting the journey.
Tagline
Born in blood and raised in hell, he lived to rain chaos even the Devil would fear.
Until one day, she stumbled into his world...
And nothing was ever the same.
Are you ready to play my game?
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2025
400 people are currently reading
1927 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
October 10, 2025
Thank you for the ARC!!
Nikki J Summers is a one click for me so I was honored to be a part of her ARC team.
Overall rating: 5 ⭐️
HEA/HFN:HEA Married with a baby
POV: 1st dual
Emojis to describe MMC: 🔪🔥🪦🥵💔🩸
Emojis to describe FMC:💪🐈⬛🔪
Emojis to describe story as a whole: 🤯🥵🪦❤️💔
What I liked: Major Saw/Dexter vibes--kill games with retribution and revenge. Gotta love a bad guy who targets bad guys! I truly enjoyed everything about this book. I just love the way Nikki writes unhinged characters. I loved the way she kept Abigail a bit of a mystery until the end. I loved the way we knew who Isaiah was but still learned a lot about him throughout the story. I loved the way he loved and protected her. Major soft only for her vibes. I read the Soldiers of Anarchy series so I already knew who the Taskmaster was. You grow to love him in this story bc you’re not meant to love him in The Player. You think he’s the villain until you learn his backstory. I LOVE that.
What I didn’t like: If I could change anything I’d maybe change the ending (before the epilogue). I would have liked to see Abigail’s reaction to the boy in the cupboard. I also would have liked to read about their first ILYs. I don’t know why but that’s always a favorite moment for me.
Safety:
OW/OM drama:None
Cheating: None
3rd act breakup: Nope
Celibate: It seems as if both of them have only been with each other by choice. Both of them have been abused/rped but I don’t think either of them have been with anyone outside of those experiences.
Nikki J Summers is a one click for me so I was honored to be a part of her ARC team.
Overall rating: 5 ⭐️
HEA/HFN:HEA Married with a baby
POV: 1st dual
Emojis to describe MMC: 🔪🔥🪦🥵💔🩸
Emojis to describe FMC:💪🐈⬛🔪
Emojis to describe story as a whole: 🤯🥵🪦❤️💔
What I liked: Major Saw/Dexter vibes--kill games with retribution and revenge. Gotta love a bad guy who targets bad guys! I truly enjoyed everything about this book. I just love the way Nikki writes unhinged characters. I loved the way she kept Abigail a bit of a mystery until the end. I loved the way we knew who Isaiah was but still learned a lot about him throughout the story. I loved the way he loved and protected her. Major soft only for her vibes. I read the Soldiers of Anarchy series so I already knew who the Taskmaster was. You grow to love him in this story bc you’re not meant to love him in The Player. You think he’s the villain until you learn his backstory. I LOVE that.
What I didn’t like: If I could change anything I’d maybe change the ending (before the epilogue). I would have liked to see Abigail’s reaction to the boy in the cupboard. I also would have liked to read about their first ILYs. I don’t know why but that’s always a favorite moment for me.
Safety:
OW/OM drama:None
Cheating: None
3rd act breakup: Nope
Celibate: It seems as if both of them have only been with each other by choice. Both of them have been abused/rped but I don’t think either of them have been with anyone outside of those experiences.
October 6, 2025
Damn, that was a ride n half!
Isiah, an unhinged, psychopath with deleting qualities 🤭 I mean what’s not to love, his whole life has been a 💩show of extenuating circumstances but his method of controlling his situation is what makes him stand out. Lacking in empathy, he himself is humbled when he first sets eyes on Abigail, a policeman’s daughter but it is revenge he seeks. Their stories are separate until they cross over, each has their own deep, dark secrets. Will they overcome them? Will retribution be found? Without giving you too much!
“𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, 𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 🔪𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙠. “𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣, 𝙬𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙜𝙤 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣.”
I was invested in this one before I even started, Nikki did such a good promotion of selling me the story and it roped me in. The narrative she set with our S3rial MMC was enlightening, throw in Abigail’s side and you have a fanastic read, that keeps you gripped to the end. Spicy scenes, v!olence, intrigue and ruthlessness. Please read the trigger warnings ‘you have been warned’ ‼️
Isiah, an unhinged, psychopath with deleting qualities 🤭 I mean what’s not to love, his whole life has been a 💩show of extenuating circumstances but his method of controlling his situation is what makes him stand out. Lacking in empathy, he himself is humbled when he first sets eyes on Abigail, a policeman’s daughter but it is revenge he seeks. Their stories are separate until they cross over, each has their own deep, dark secrets. Will they overcome them? Will retribution be found? Without giving you too much!
“𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, 𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 🔪𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙠. “𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣, 𝙬𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙜𝙤 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣.”
I was invested in this one before I even started, Nikki did such a good promotion of selling me the story and it roped me in. The narrative she set with our S3rial MMC was enlightening, throw in Abigail’s side and you have a fanastic read, that keeps you gripped to the end. Spicy scenes, v!olence, intrigue and ruthlessness. Please read the trigger warnings ‘you have been warned’ ‼️
October 21, 2025
I believe? Is this the end? I could be wrong, and it's all wrapped up in a little bow.
Isaiah is in the last book now; it's his turn, and he sorts out revenge against all who've wronged him, and it's a list, and I'm glad he got every person. He deserves those cries; he also wanted revenge against the policeman who didn't come back for him, through his daughter.
Until he met his daughter Abigail, and she's interesting. He's feeling things he's never felt before, and his games are going to be different for her. He stalks and does little things like pay her debt off, making sure she's fed. You know, cute stuff, lol. But he's still crazy.
We learn they are connected with what happened to Abigail when she was younger. And this opens Isaiah's eyes that his girl didn't live a perfect life, even if her parents were always there for her. We finally get to see who was behind everything, and I'm glad he got his.
Angst, no ow/no om, no cheating, slight secondary character, drama, sexy times, no virgins (both were raped at a young age)
Recommend-yes
cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta/burn
Murder
Violence
Praise kink
Gore
Suicide
Death if a parent
Child neglect
Child cruelty
Child S.A (historical- for both MC)
Self-harm
Torture
Torture mine games
Kidnapping
Drugging
Drowning
Death by hypothermia
Human trafficking
Attempted S.A.
Stillborn at birth
Baby snatching/baby trafficking
Cancer
Anal play
Hea
Epilogue
Isaiah is in the last book now; it's his turn, and he sorts out revenge against all who've wronged him, and it's a list, and I'm glad he got every person. He deserves those cries; he also wanted revenge against the policeman who didn't come back for him, through his daughter.
Until he met his daughter Abigail, and she's interesting. He's feeling things he's never felt before, and his games are going to be different for her. He stalks and does little things like pay her debt off, making sure she's fed. You know, cute stuff, lol. But he's still crazy.
We learn they are connected with what happened to Abigail when she was younger. And this opens Isaiah's eyes that his girl didn't live a perfect life, even if her parents were always there for her. We finally get to see who was behind everything, and I'm glad he got his.
Angst, no ow/no om, no cheating, slight secondary character, drama, sexy times, no virgins (both were raped at a young age)
Recommend-yes
cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta/burn
Murder
Violence
Praise kink
Gore
Suicide
Death if a parent
Child neglect
Child cruelty
Child S.A (historical- for both MC)
Self-harm
Torture
Torture mine games
Kidnapping
Drugging
Drowning
Death by hypothermia
Human trafficking
Attempted S.A.
Stillborn at birth
Baby snatching/baby trafficking
Cancer
Anal play
Hea
Epilogue
February 3, 2026
*3.5 REVENGE STARS*
"Who are you?" "The other half of you," I replied.
Don't get me wrong, I really liked the storyline and the characters, but I somehow expected more from this.
The first half of the book was immaculate with the gritty backstory, the stalking and the twisted revenge games, but it's the ending especially that had me bothered at times. Everything felt terribly convenient and a little rushed, I kind of expected a darker and more twisted finale I guess, along the lines of the games The Taskmaster likes to play.
Also, while I understand Abigail is traumatized and has a darker past than we would have imagined, it just doesn't make sense to me that she'd immediately fall for the handsome guy that suddenly keeps popping up everywhere, especially after she's been stalked for years. Oh well, we'll just go with the flow. I usually like a little more buildup to my romance and I also missed that a little bit. They had like 2 conversations and were suddenly infatuated. That's not love, that's lust.
The spice was nice though, or should I call it smut? 😂
"Who are you?" "The other half of you," I replied.
Don't get me wrong, I really liked the storyline and the characters, but I somehow expected more from this.
The first half of the book was immaculate with the gritty backstory, the stalking and the twisted revenge games, but it's the ending especially that had me bothered at times. Everything felt terribly convenient and a little rushed, I kind of expected a darker and more twisted finale I guess, along the lines of the games The Taskmaster likes to play.
Also, while I understand Abigail is traumatized and has a darker past than we would have imagined, it just doesn't make sense to me that she'd immediately fall for the handsome guy that suddenly keeps popping up everywhere, especially after she's been stalked for years. Oh well, we'll just go with the flow. I usually like a little more buildup to my romance and I also missed that a little bit. They had like 2 conversations and were suddenly infatuated. That's not love, that's lust.
The spice was nice though, or should I call it smut? 😂
November 3, 2025
Talk about a read!!! The title alone had me intrigued, the blurb even more so and from the very first chapters, I was glued!!
We actually meet the Taskmaster in The Player (another top read that I highly recommend!) and I was so intrigued by him! Here we finally out why he is the way he is and I swear, my heart broke for him! Thon boy was so let down, it's just sickeningly sad.
Then we meet Abigail who has an unknown connection to Isaiah through her Dad and what started out as a way to get back at someone, soon turns to infatuation and a longing for more and then finally a decision is made that he is taking what he wants and she is it!
We soon learn that her life isn't sunshine and once again, my heart hurt. These two just gel, their bond and connection is deep. He may be a psychopathic, stalking, twisted killer and she may be a policeman's daughter, but trust me when I say they belong together! These two broken souls deserve peace and it may not be the conventional way of finding it but I am still 100% behind them!!
4/4.5
We actually meet the Taskmaster in The Player (another top read that I highly recommend!) and I was so intrigued by him! Here we finally out why he is the way he is and I swear, my heart broke for him! Thon boy was so let down, it's just sickeningly sad.
Then we meet Abigail who has an unknown connection to Isaiah through her Dad and what started out as a way to get back at someone, soon turns to infatuation and a longing for more and then finally a decision is made that he is taking what he wants and she is it!
We soon learn that her life isn't sunshine and once again, my heart hurt. These two just gel, their bond and connection is deep. He may be a psychopathic, stalking, twisted killer and she may be a policeman's daughter, but trust me when I say they belong together! These two broken souls deserve peace and it may not be the conventional way of finding it but I am still 100% behind them!!
4/4.5
October 18, 2025
I love a good redemption arc. And i truly believed The Taskmaster was irredeemable. But this book was sheer brilliance. This is a tough read at times as Isaiah has suffered the worst of cruelties and endured unimaginable torment. Heed the TWs for your own MH. Nikki has given Isaiah his backstory and his motivation in all its painful detail. He isn't so unhinged without reason.
This narrative gives Isaiah a reason to live beyond vengeance. He finds an equally disturbed and morally grey soul in Abigail. She has her own trauma and has been on her own journey to take back control of her life. These two are two halves of one connected soul with their stories intertwined and predestined. And in all his socially unacceptable stalking ways, Isaiah's devotion to Abi is the basis for a gorgeous heart healing romance.
A brilliantly gritty and dark at times serial killer stalker romance.
This narrative gives Isaiah a reason to live beyond vengeance. He finds an equally disturbed and morally grey soul in Abigail. She has her own trauma and has been on her own journey to take back control of her life. These two are two halves of one connected soul with their stories intertwined and predestined. And in all his socially unacceptable stalking ways, Isaiah's devotion to Abi is the basis for a gorgeous heart healing romance.
A brilliantly gritty and dark at times serial killer stalker romance.
October 7, 2025
Nikki has once again manage to take me on one hell of a wild ride with The Taskmaster! I don’t even know where to start with this review, actually yes I do- Nikki is a phenomenal writer and she truly delivered with Isaiah and Abi.
My heart broke for Isaiah as a little boy and everything he suffered through. But the revenge he delivered was sweet. It was dark and twisted and I enjoyed every second of watching him eliminate the monsters who hurt him. I think one of the best parts of this book was how Nikki wrote Abi. They made one hell of a team. I loved how she had some darkness in her too.
Everything about this book was perfect and written excellently. I’ve read all of Nikki’s books and the Soldiers and Rebels are two of my most favorite series. This is one universe I hope Nikki has plans to keep adding to, because I honestly can’t get enough of it!! Well done Nikki for yet another amazing release! I’m ready for your next story!
My heart broke for Isaiah as a little boy and everything he suffered through. But the revenge he delivered was sweet. It was dark and twisted and I enjoyed every second of watching him eliminate the monsters who hurt him. I think one of the best parts of this book was how Nikki wrote Abi. They made one hell of a team. I loved how she had some darkness in her too.
Everything about this book was perfect and written excellently. I’ve read all of Nikki’s books and the Soldiers and Rebels are two of my most favorite series. This is one universe I hope Nikki has plans to keep adding to, because I honestly can’t get enough of it!! Well done Nikki for yet another amazing release! I’m ready for your next story!
October 27, 2025
4.75
I really enjoyed this one and getting to explore these characters. Isaiah is an interesting character to explore, he comes so far from when we first meet him. He very much accepts who he is and the role he plays and doesn't let anyone's views of him change that. Seeing him open up with Abigail and find something that he wants to explore and fight for, was really wholesome to watch especially knowing his past. Abigail is one tough character and she goes through so much, I did not see her history being what it was, I knew it was bad but I didn't think it would go in that direction. I loved how Nikki J Summers connected the characters in all the little ways. Abigail's dad gained more points in my book there at the end by watching him put Abigail first. The writing flowed so nicely and you get absorbed into the world, I loved the little crossovers, so I'm excited to pick those books up.
I really enjoyed this one and getting to explore these characters. Isaiah is an interesting character to explore, he comes so far from when we first meet him. He very much accepts who he is and the role he plays and doesn't let anyone's views of him change that. Seeing him open up with Abigail and find something that he wants to explore and fight for, was really wholesome to watch especially knowing his past. Abigail is one tough character and she goes through so much, I did not see her history being what it was, I knew it was bad but I didn't think it would go in that direction. I loved how Nikki J Summers connected the characters in all the little ways. Abigail's dad gained more points in my book there at the end by watching him put Abigail first. The writing flowed so nicely and you get absorbed into the world, I loved the little crossovers, so I'm excited to pick those books up.
October 17, 2025
⚠️⚠️⚠️Check all TW⚠️⚠️⚠️
I loved This book so much. I 10/10 recommend reading this book. It took me a minute to get into it, but once I did I was hooked.
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I loved This book so much. I 10/10 recommend reading this book. It took me a minute to get into it, but once I did I was hooked.
Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
October 29, 2025
4.5⭐
I absolutely devoured this book in 24 hours!
if you like your book boys to be a obsessed with the FMC, tatted, pierced 😏, murderous and an utter cinnamon roll for the FMC alone.. then you are going to LOVE Isaiah.
Nikki's writing style is so immersive and makes you forget that you're reading because you get so lost in the story. The storyline is so fresh and i love a happy ending 🥰 it has left me wanting more from Isaiah and Abi!!!
Honourable mention to the spicy scenes, absolute feral perfection 🤌🏼🤭
I absolutely devoured this book in 24 hours!
if you like your book boys to be a obsessed with the FMC, tatted, pierced 😏, murderous and an utter cinnamon roll for the FMC alone.. then you are going to LOVE Isaiah.
Nikki's writing style is so immersive and makes you forget that you're reading because you get so lost in the story. The storyline is so fresh and i love a happy ending 🥰 it has left me wanting more from Isaiah and Abi!!!
Honourable mention to the spicy scenes, absolute feral perfection 🤌🏼🤭
March 10, 2026
Seeing the review I was so excited to read this book.
Yet, I am 43% in and it is soooooo slow and repetitive.
The MCs have met once at this point (when the FM was conscious) and I understood the MMC has some revenge to take but it is always the same 🙄 He kidnapped, he speaks with them and kills them, it’s the third time the same pattern happens. I skip some paragraph because they are just too irrelevant descriptions of gore. The MFC is not really the brightest light when it comes to her safety or thinking about her stalker, she does not even panic or think about it twice when going home.
I will finish this book but for now, it is a disappointment.
The following updates may have spoilers :
48% - Wtf ? Out of nowhere the FL hits an old lady and ties her up without any hesitation ?? Cold blood ? So far, the characters have zero chemistry except from finding the other « hot ». They have met one more time for 5min top chrono and barely spoke 🤡 it starts to be long…
49% Ok I don’t think I will be able to finish this book this is so annoying. The guy is doing a lecture on how to do the perfect crime and the FL is shit at planning the most basic plan. This girl does not THINK and this man just admitted with shitty remakes that he is a big bad guy but why would he say « Thanks. I’ve done it a lot » « I know what I am talking about » ok mister and do you want a gold medal ? Aren’t you supposed to be keep your secret ? The girl panicked by planting a knife in a throat ? Wtf ? And they kiss at that point?? After only knowing their names and jobs ? That’s it ? Ridiculous.
I was really really excited for this but it is so hard to read it. I really want to like it and agree with the other reviews but at this point I just can’t. Hopefully it will be better if I pick this book up again one day :,)
Yet, I am 43% in and it is soooooo slow and repetitive.
The MCs have met once at this point (when the FM was conscious) and I understood the MMC has some revenge to take but it is always the same 🙄 He kidnapped, he speaks with them and kills them, it’s the third time the same pattern happens. I skip some paragraph because they are just too irrelevant descriptions of gore. The MFC is not really the brightest light when it comes to her safety or thinking about her stalker, she does not even panic or think about it twice when going home.
I will finish this book but for now, it is a disappointment.
The following updates may have spoilers :
48% - Wtf ? Out of nowhere the FL hits an old lady and ties her up without any hesitation ?? Cold blood ? So far, the characters have zero chemistry except from finding the other « hot ». They have met one more time for 5min top chrono and barely spoke 🤡 it starts to be long…
49% Ok I don’t think I will be able to finish this book this is so annoying. The guy is doing a lecture on how to do the perfect crime and the FL is shit at planning the most basic plan. This girl does not THINK and this man just admitted with shitty remakes that he is a big bad guy but why would he say « Thanks. I’ve done it a lot » « I know what I am talking about » ok mister and do you want a gold medal ? Aren’t you supposed to be keep your secret ? The girl panicked by planting a knife in a throat ? Wtf ? And they kiss at that point?? After only knowing their names and jobs ? That’s it ? Ridiculous.
I was really really excited for this but it is so hard to read it. I really want to like it and agree with the other reviews but at this point I just can’t. Hopefully it will be better if I pick this book up again one day :,)
December 8, 2025
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Stand-alone: Yes***
Author: Nikki J. Summers
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 3/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Isaiah and Abigail
Trope(s): Dark Romance, Stalker, Serial Killer, Praise, Possessive MMC
‘She’d wake up soon. And then the moment would be broken. I didn’t want to break it. I’d never been this close to a woman before, and I was in a trance. Stirrings of desire made me question everything. I didn’t want to question myself. But I took another moment to savour how I felt. How my spine tingled as she made noises I’d never heard before. Light, tender, even satisfied. How she looked so fucking peaceful. What was it like to feel like that? To sleep so deeply you didn’t even stir when six-foot two inches of death was looming over you.’
If you have read Nikki before you know her books have darker themes. She lists the Trigger Warnings so go in eyes wide open. This book is full of them from start to finish. If you have read The Soldiers of Anarchy you will be familiar with The Taskmaster and Abigail. It takes a special kinda writer who can take a character from another book whom you were ready to throw down with, bring them back, tell their story and make you feel all the feels for them. Isaiah is unhinged y’all, but his trauma recognizes Abigail’s. This is not your feel good romance, this is tear your heart out, mark your soul, and pray on all of your feelings. It took me a bit to read the book, it is detailed, in depth, and dark. But, man did this book have a grip on me.
Isaiah Dalton’s life was a monumental tragedy. Twenty-four years ago, after the death of the people he knew as his parents, he was sent to Clivesdon House. Where an already broken boy was torn down. Vengeance became his only friend. And, now all those who helped in hurting him were finding out the hard way just how their cruelty shaped him.
When men turn up missing, the police investigation brings Officer Dan back into Isaiah’s realm of thought. The officer who saved him twenty-four years ago, but also believed the lies he was told too easily abandoning Isaiah to the wolves.
And, he has a daughter. Isaiah has his plans laid out carefully. Seems he needs to remind Officer Dan just how cruel the world can be.
Abigail Walters has a stalker. She’s in debt up to her eyeballs, but it is for a good cause. Because Abigail has her own secrets.
Isaiah’s well laid plans begin to splinter apart as he watches Abigail.
Drawn together through circumstances they will learn just how strangely connected they are.
“Who are you?” she asked, her eyes hazy as she stared back at me with a bewildered gaze.
“The other half of you,” I replied.
When your broken pieces are not only understood, but accepted.
Stand-alone: Yes***
Author: Nikki J. Summers
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 3/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Isaiah and Abigail
Trope(s): Dark Romance, Stalker, Serial Killer, Praise, Possessive MMC
‘She’d wake up soon. And then the moment would be broken. I didn’t want to break it. I’d never been this close to a woman before, and I was in a trance. Stirrings of desire made me question everything. I didn’t want to question myself. But I took another moment to savour how I felt. How my spine tingled as she made noises I’d never heard before. Light, tender, even satisfied. How she looked so fucking peaceful. What was it like to feel like that? To sleep so deeply you didn’t even stir when six-foot two inches of death was looming over you.’
If you have read Nikki before you know her books have darker themes. She lists the Trigger Warnings so go in eyes wide open. This book is full of them from start to finish. If you have read The Soldiers of Anarchy you will be familiar with The Taskmaster and Abigail. It takes a special kinda writer who can take a character from another book whom you were ready to throw down with, bring them back, tell their story and make you feel all the feels for them. Isaiah is unhinged y’all, but his trauma recognizes Abigail’s. This is not your feel good romance, this is tear your heart out, mark your soul, and pray on all of your feelings. It took me a bit to read the book, it is detailed, in depth, and dark. But, man did this book have a grip on me.
Isaiah Dalton’s life was a monumental tragedy. Twenty-four years ago, after the death of the people he knew as his parents, he was sent to Clivesdon House. Where an already broken boy was torn down. Vengeance became his only friend. And, now all those who helped in hurting him were finding out the hard way just how their cruelty shaped him.
When men turn up missing, the police investigation brings Officer Dan back into Isaiah’s realm of thought. The officer who saved him twenty-four years ago, but also believed the lies he was told too easily abandoning Isaiah to the wolves.
And, he has a daughter. Isaiah has his plans laid out carefully. Seems he needs to remind Officer Dan just how cruel the world can be.
Abigail Walters has a stalker. She’s in debt up to her eyeballs, but it is for a good cause. Because Abigail has her own secrets.
Isaiah’s well laid plans begin to splinter apart as he watches Abigail.
Drawn together through circumstances they will learn just how strangely connected they are.
“Who are you?” she asked, her eyes hazy as she stared back at me with a bewildered gaze.
“The other half of you,” I replied.
When your broken pieces are not only understood, but accepted.
October 17, 2025
More a 4.5 ⭐️
What a wild, dark, and addictive ride this book was…
I usually don’t start my reviews with content warnings, but for this one, I will: if you’re triggered by child abuse or neglect, please proceed with caution.
Now, for the rest of you—
this story is gritty, emotional, and completely unflinching in its dive into the uglier sides of trauma and revenge.
Tropes:
Stalker
Serial killers
Vigilante
Twisted tortured games
Unhinged MMC
Spice 🌶️🌶️.5
Content warnings
Child neglect / Child cruelty / Child trafficking
Murder
Violence
Torture / Gore
Self harm
Suicide ideation
Death of a parent
No protection (no pregnancy)
This story follows Isaiah (a man shaped by pure trauma and horror) and Abigail, a woman trying to survive her own demons.
When their lives intertwine, it becomes a mix of pure obsession, protection, games and something neither of them really understands (especially him, but he has his reasons, okay?).
Soon, it starts to feel like two broken souls recognizing the darkness in each other.
Isaiah is one of those characters who gets under your skin: terrifying and tragic all at once. You know he’s morally black, but you can’t help feeling for him.
The writing is sharp, emotional, and packed with tension that never lets up. That’s Nikk’s magic in all her books: she hooks you with her characters, makes you laugh and blush, then punches you in the face with her plots.
This one is no exception.
One more thing: I’m a sucker for crossovers in books, and a huge fan of the Soldiers of Anarchy series. So I giggled a few times 🫢
To quote and summarize:
“*Are you trying to kill me?” she joked breathlessly.*
*“I think you’re the only person I’ve met that I don’t want to kill.”*
*“I’ll take that as a compliment.”*
*“You should. I meet a lot of people.”*
I received this book as an ARC, this is my honest review. If you know me, you know that I don’t believe in sugarcoating my opinions 🙂
What a wild, dark, and addictive ride this book was…
I usually don’t start my reviews with content warnings, but for this one, I will: if you’re triggered by child abuse or neglect, please proceed with caution.
Now, for the rest of you—
this story is gritty, emotional, and completely unflinching in its dive into the uglier sides of trauma and revenge.
Tropes:
Stalker
Serial killers
Vigilante
Twisted tortured games
Unhinged MMC
Spice 🌶️🌶️.5
Content warnings
Child neglect / Child cruelty / Child trafficking
Murder
Violence
Torture / Gore
Self harm
Suicide ideation
Death of a parent
No protection (no pregnancy)
This story follows Isaiah (a man shaped by pure trauma and horror) and Abigail, a woman trying to survive her own demons.
When their lives intertwine, it becomes a mix of pure obsession, protection, games and something neither of them really understands (especially him, but he has his reasons, okay?).
Soon, it starts to feel like two broken souls recognizing the darkness in each other.
Isaiah is one of those characters who gets under your skin: terrifying and tragic all at once. You know he’s morally black, but you can’t help feeling for him.
The writing is sharp, emotional, and packed with tension that never lets up. That’s Nikk’s magic in all her books: she hooks you with her characters, makes you laugh and blush, then punches you in the face with her plots.
This one is no exception.
One more thing: I’m a sucker for crossovers in books, and a huge fan of the Soldiers of Anarchy series. So I giggled a few times 🫢
To quote and summarize:
“*Are you trying to kill me?” she joked breathlessly.*
*“I think you’re the only person I’ve met that I don’t want to kill.”*
*“I’ll take that as a compliment.”*
*“You should. I meet a lot of people.”*
I received this book as an ARC, this is my honest review. If you know me, you know that I don’t believe in sugarcoating my opinions 🙂
December 22, 2025
ngl first of all I LOVE THE PLOTTT ITS LIGIT WILDDDD AND THENN (mabye spoiled) but BROS A GREENN FLAG LOLL I mean he IS a stalker but HE KILLSS THE OTHER STALKERRR for the fmc which was wild plot to find out who the OTHER STALKER WAS OR IS😭😭 and thenn the mmc rips the other stalkers heart out at the end!??? OMGG I mean he deserved it! I was soo shocked to know that the mmc knew the other stalker or the other stalker knew the mmc lolll but yea he did and damnn that was wild ride
AND THE FACT THE MMC HELPED THE FMC TO K*LL lmaooo that was smth new ngl 💀
also this book had me ligit hooked on the plot and that was fun and the fact I was reading this WHILE my finals were going cause I needed to escape reality so I finished it in like 2 days Lmaoo
AND THE FACT THE MMC HELPED THE FMC TO K*LL lmaooo that was smth new ngl 💀
also this book had me ligit hooked on the plot and that was fun and the fact I was reading this WHILE my finals were going cause I needed to escape reality so I finished it in like 2 days Lmaoo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2025
Omg I have no words…this book was simply amazing!
Most definitely a top read of 2025 for me.
The way this book literally had me HOOKED from page one. I am not kidding that opening had me wanting to know what happened. And boyyyyy was it a ride.
This is probably going to be short and sweet because I don’t want to give anything away but know that you need to read this book if you love a serial unaliver, who stalks the FMC and then ultimately becomes obsessed and overly protective of her, that he unalives anyone that dares to touch or stalk her!
Isaiah and Abi were everything. I loved these two so much and then you get the twists and truths that came out from both of them and you will be done for!
.
.
.
5️⃣🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟♾️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻♾️
10/10 recommendation‼️ for all my dark romance loving girlies out there!
Most definitely a top read of 2025 for me.
The way this book literally had me HOOKED from page one. I am not kidding that opening had me wanting to know what happened. And boyyyyy was it a ride.
This is probably going to be short and sweet because I don’t want to give anything away but know that you need to read this book if you love a serial unaliver, who stalks the FMC and then ultimately becomes obsessed and overly protective of her, that he unalives anyone that dares to touch or stalk her!
Isaiah and Abi were everything. I loved these two so much and then you get the twists and truths that came out from both of them and you will be done for!
.
.
.
5️⃣🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟♾️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻♾️
10/10 recommendation‼️ for all my dark romance loving girlies out there!
October 8, 2025
Okay… I need a minute, but in a good way!! We first met The Taskmaster in the soldiers of anarchy series and I was so excited when Nikki announced he was getting his own story.
I loved this book, it pulled me in with emotions straight away!! How can I love a serial killer who (by rights) is a physio but I just want to hold him!!!
Amazing book, dark and twisted, keeps you gripped and guessing! Love the FMC also has dark secrets!! Well done Nikki!!!!
I loved this book, it pulled me in with emotions straight away!! How can I love a serial killer who (by rights) is a physio but I just want to hold him!!!
Amazing book, dark and twisted, keeps you gripped and guessing! Love the FMC also has dark secrets!! Well done Nikki!!!!
March 8, 2026
I loved this so much!! Isaiah is the definition of morally grey-serial killer, stalker, vigilante, even look at her at wrong and die vibes and I ate it up. Abigail has her own journey she is working on and although she grew up differently than Isaiah, she is more similar to him then what would you think. Isaiah is linked to the Soliders of Anarchy and it was great to see the connection carry over into this book. This has everything you are looking for in a dark romance
October 4, 2025
The Taskmaster by @nikkijsummersauthor
Nikki, what did you do to me? I couldn’t put this book down! I devoured it in one sitting. I'm exhausted, but it's totally worth it. This story had it all: gripping plot twists, spicy moments, and when I thought I knew what was coming, BAM! Everything flipped upside down. Honestly, this is my favorite book by Nikki so far. Well done, babe! 🤌
Nikki, what did you do to me? I couldn’t put this book down! I devoured it in one sitting. I'm exhausted, but it's totally worth it. This story had it all: gripping plot twists, spicy moments, and when I thought I knew what was coming, BAM! Everything flipped upside down. Honestly, this is my favorite book by Nikki so far. Well done, babe! 🤌
October 17, 2025
I'm not gonna lie… this book is not for everyone. You definitely need to read the trigger warnings before starting Taskmaster, the newest book by Nikki J. Summer. But if you enjoy dark, twisted stories and aren’t afraid of difficult topics, I strongly recommend reading Taskmaster.
If you’re familiar with Nikki’s other books, you’ve probably met the Taskmaster in one of her previous stories. And in my opinion, this one is the darkest of them all. My heart literally broke for Isaiah and Abigail. Isaiah is a true psychopath - completely without remorse and far beyond redemption. Yet I still felt compassion for him. He went through things no child ever should.
Abigail, despite her initial appearance, hides something awful in the dark. Two broken souls - so different, yet so similar and connected. Isaiah’s obsession with Abigail could be seen as a violation of her privacy; he’s a stalker who doesn’t know boundaries. Yet I was like a moth to a flame. Even though I knew Isaiah’s actions were wrong, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of understanding for him. Abigail was exactly the same - mesmerized by this mysterious man, and honestly, I can’t blame her. 😃
The emotions and tension between them were incredible. The book has a few really spicy scenes, and Isaiah has an impressively dirty mouth. I really enjoyed this story.
If you’re familiar with Nikki’s other books, you’ve probably met the Taskmaster in one of her previous stories. And in my opinion, this one is the darkest of them all. My heart literally broke for Isaiah and Abigail. Isaiah is a true psychopath - completely without remorse and far beyond redemption. Yet I still felt compassion for him. He went through things no child ever should.
Abigail, despite her initial appearance, hides something awful in the dark. Two broken souls - so different, yet so similar and connected. Isaiah’s obsession with Abigail could be seen as a violation of her privacy; he’s a stalker who doesn’t know boundaries. Yet I was like a moth to a flame. Even though I knew Isaiah’s actions were wrong, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of understanding for him. Abigail was exactly the same - mesmerized by this mysterious man, and honestly, I can’t blame her. 😃
The emotions and tension between them were incredible. The book has a few really spicy scenes, and Isaiah has an impressively dirty mouth. I really enjoyed this story.
March 4, 2026
A heavily SAW inspired dark romance. The whole "let's play a game" thing was a bit odd and the romance portion did not progress like I thought it would given the SAW inspiration. (That is not a bad thing.) This had a lot more plot than I expected, and I am not mad at it. The number of flashbacks and memories was a bit tedious, but honestly there is a lot of backstory packed into 410 pages. With how much build up and backstory there was, I'm almost a bit disappointed that everything was wrapped up so quickly and easily. HEA for the win, but with that plot, the quick HEA was a little too easy.
January 16, 2026
It felt like it took me forever to get through this book, and it literally had nothing to do with the book itself. I really hate when life gets in the way of a good book.
I initially found this book on tiktok, from a video the author posted about it. I was instantly intrigued. I fully intended to read this over Thanksgiving break from work but...that didn't happen. I kept coming back to this book, but something told me to wait and read it when I had time to dedicate to it...yeah, that didn't happen and it took me what felt like ages to finish the book.
I've totally been in a dark romance mood lately, totally loving the serial killer romances coming out (hello Butcher & Blackbird)...and this definitely scratched the itch.
It's no secret that I've loved the anti-heroes for a while.
And that image is accurate for Isaiah because he 100% would burn the world for her.
This book is definitely dark, and not for the faint of heart.
There were so many twists and turns that when I was able to sit and read, I literally couldn't put it down.
One of my favorite tropes is the slow burn, and this fit the bill perfectly. It was a great build, but also steamy when they finally got together.
This is definitely a book worth reading.
I initially found this book on tiktok, from a video the author posted about it. I was instantly intrigued. I fully intended to read this over Thanksgiving break from work but...that didn't happen. I kept coming back to this book, but something told me to wait and read it when I had time to dedicate to it...yeah, that didn't happen and it took me what felt like ages to finish the book.
I've totally been in a dark romance mood lately, totally loving the serial killer romances coming out (hello Butcher & Blackbird)...and this definitely scratched the itch.
It's no secret that I've loved the anti-heroes for a while.
And that image is accurate for Isaiah because he 100% would burn the world for her.
This book is definitely dark, and not for the faint of heart.
There were so many twists and turns that when I was able to sit and read, I literally couldn't put it down.
One of my favorite tropes is the slow burn, and this fit the bill perfectly. It was a great build, but also steamy when they finally got together.
This is definitely a book worth reading.
October 31, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I have been waiting for Isaiah's story since he was introduced in The Player. I love that we got to read more of Isaiah's backstory which is horrific! Majority of the plot was a little obvious to me. I do wish that the revenge aspect of the story/plot were fleshed out. I loved the cameo of Adam!
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I have been waiting for Isaiah's story since he was introduced in The Player. I love that we got to read more of Isaiah's backstory which is horrific! Majority of the plot was a little obvious to me. I do wish that the revenge aspect of the story/plot were fleshed out. I loved the cameo of Adam!
October 18, 2025
FINALLY, my husband is here and FINALLY, a dark romance that doesn’t romanticise abuse. I was so exited for this book and the author did not disappoint. The best character of the decade. This is what authors think their ‘psychopaths’ are.
The writing is strong, the details are precise, the plot is original and well thought, and the story is rich with fascinating information. It’s clear that the author conducted extensive research on mental illness, different cultures and crime etc., making the book easily pass as a thriller. I especially appreciate the thoughtful inclusion of African and Asian cultural elements.
Isaiah, despite being a psychopath and a ‘bad boy’ demonstrates a clear sense of morality and discernment between right and wrong, guilty and innocent.
My only criticism is that the second part of the story was rushed: Isaiah fell in love and confessed his love too easy; now he hides his identity from her and two hour later they would kill a woman together. His personality in the last chapter seemed a little braggart, more accepting and divulging, and overall weaker than in the other books, and not in a “love made him soft” kind of way. Last and not least, the whole Q storyline, which drives much of the plot, did not get enough time and attention.
I am happy that he got his happy after all, I wished we had more of it though.
While Isaiah remains my favorite character, The Thief still stands as the strongest book in the series.
The writing is strong, the details are precise, the plot is original and well thought, and the story is rich with fascinating information. It’s clear that the author conducted extensive research on mental illness, different cultures and crime etc., making the book easily pass as a thriller. I especially appreciate the thoughtful inclusion of African and Asian cultural elements.
Isaiah, despite being a psychopath and a ‘bad boy’ demonstrates a clear sense of morality and discernment between right and wrong, guilty and innocent.
My only criticism is that the second part of the story was rushed: Isaiah fell in love and confessed his love too easy; now he hides his identity from her and two hour later they would kill a woman together. His personality in the last chapter seemed a little braggart, more accepting and divulging, and overall weaker than in the other books, and not in a “love made him soft” kind of way. Last and not least, the whole Q storyline, which drives much of the plot, did not get enough time and attention.
I am happy that he got his happy after all, I wished we had more of it though.
While Isaiah remains my favorite character, The Thief still stands as the strongest book in the series.
dnr
November 17, 2025Dnf 40%. Lost interest
Isaiahs story broke my heart but he was also really hard to like with his illogical hatred towards the fmc.
In the beginning he said “I don’t prey on innocent people” but he wanted to kill the fmc who was innocent just to get revenge on her father who was in no way a bad guy and tried but failed to help him when he was a kid. So his statements are contradictory and it made me dislike him. He called himself a vigilante but:“A girl that I could torment for my pleasure. A way to get back at Officer Dan (her father) and all the ways he’d let me down.”
He went through some horrible shit but his pov made it really hard to sympathize with him.
Safety:there is no ow/om drama (both abused at a young age so no virgins) but i hate when the author writes the fml all blushing and gasping and getting shy around the mmc while hes all cool and collected.
Also the summary kinda hinted at the fmc being a killer as well which isn’t really true and she was in fact very naive and tstl for a cop’s daughter.
Isaiahs story broke my heart but he was also really hard to like with his illogical hatred towards the fmc.
In the beginning he said “I don’t prey on innocent people” but he wanted to kill the fmc who was innocent just to get revenge on her father who was in no way a bad guy and tried but failed to help him when he was a kid. So his statements are contradictory and it made me dislike him. He called himself a vigilante but:“A girl that I could torment for my pleasure. A way to get back at Officer Dan (her father) and all the ways he’d let me down.”
He went through some horrible shit but his pov made it really hard to sympathize with him.
Safety:there is no ow/om drama (both abused at a young age so no virgins) but i hate when the author writes the fml all blushing and gasping and getting shy around the mmc while hes all cool and collected.
Also the summary kinda hinted at the fmc being a killer as well which isn’t really true and she was in fact very naive and tstl for a cop’s daughter.
December 24, 2025
Wow what a book this was my first arc thabk you nikki j summers .
The Taskmaster was brillant what a way to introduce him. the dark sinster world to finding love what a brillant read
The Taskmaster was brillant what a way to introduce him. the dark sinster world to finding love what a brillant read
March 8, 2026
"𝑺𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒏. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏. 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒊𝒕. 𝑰'𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝑺𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕. 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝑰'𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆. 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅. 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕? 𝑻𝒐 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒔𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒙-𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖.!"
This was honestly one wild ride from beginning to end.
Isaiah Dalton is the kind of character you probably shouldn’t root for… yet somehow you still do. He’s unstable, ruthless, and completely shaped by a lifetime of brutal circumstances. Everything in his past pushed him toward becoming the man he is, and the way he takes control of his life—through calculated revenge—is what makes his story so gripping.
For most of his life, empathy hasn’t existed for Isaiah. That is, until Abigail enters the picture. Abigail Walters, the daughter of Officer Dan, becomes part of a plan Isaiah has been crafting for years. His intention is simple: make the man who failed him suffer by using the person he loves most. But things start to shift the moment Isaiah actually begins watching Abigail. Instead of the cold revenge he planned, he finds himself doing strange, almost gentle things for her—paying off her debts, making sure she has food, watching over her in quiet ways. It’s unsettling and oddly soft at the same time. And yet… Isaiah is still very much unhinged.
Both Isaiah and Abigail carry painful histories, and as their paths collide, the truth behind their pasts begins to unravel. What happened to Abigail years ago is more connected to Isaiah than anyone expected, and that realization changes everything. Watching Isaiah slowly confront emotions he’s never allowed himself to feel adds a whole new layer to his character.
Isaiah’s story also brings his long-awaited revenge arc to the forefront. The people who destroyed his childhood are finally forced to face the consequences of what they did. His list is long, and he methodically works through every single name. It’s dark, brutal justice, but after learning everything he endured at Clivesdon House twenty-four years ago, it’s hard not to understand why vengeance became the center of his world.
When men start disappearing, the investigation eventually pulls Officer Dan back into Isaiah’s orbit—the same officer who rescued him years ago but also accepted lies that left Isaiah abandoned to horrific abuse. Isaiah has never forgotten that betrayal, and targeting Abigail seemed like the perfect way to make Officer Dan remember.
But Abigail isn’t the simple pawn Isaiah expected. She’s drowning in debt for reasons that reveal just how much she’s been carrying alone. She also has secrets of her own, and the deeper Isaiah digs, the more complicated his plan becomes.
If you’ve read Nikki’s work before, you already know she doesn’t shy away from darker themes. This story is packed with heavy trigger warnings from beginning to end, and it definitely isn’t a light romance. Instead, it’s the kind of book that digs into trauma, revenge, and complicated emotions in a way that lingers long after you finish the last page. Readers familiar with The Soldiers of Anarchy will already know The Taskmaster and Abigail, but seeing Isaiah’s perspective adds a completely different emotional depth.
What impressed me most was how Nikki managed to take a character like Isaiah—someone many readers might have hated before—and give him a story that makes you feel for him despite everything. His darkness doesn’t disappear, but his connection with Abigail shows how two broken pasts can recognize each other.
This was actually my first time reading Nikki’s work, and I wasn’t sure what to expect going in. The story is intense, layered, and incredibly detailed, which made it a slower read for me—but in the best way. The deeper I got, the harder it was to step away from it.
Huge thanks to my love Jasz for recommending this one to me. I’m really glad I picked it up because it was emotional, dark, and completely unforgettable.
This was honestly one wild ride from beginning to end.
Isaiah Dalton is the kind of character you probably shouldn’t root for… yet somehow you still do. He’s unstable, ruthless, and completely shaped by a lifetime of brutal circumstances. Everything in his past pushed him toward becoming the man he is, and the way he takes control of his life—through calculated revenge—is what makes his story so gripping.
For most of his life, empathy hasn’t existed for Isaiah. That is, until Abigail enters the picture. Abigail Walters, the daughter of Officer Dan, becomes part of a plan Isaiah has been crafting for years. His intention is simple: make the man who failed him suffer by using the person he loves most. But things start to shift the moment Isaiah actually begins watching Abigail. Instead of the cold revenge he planned, he finds himself doing strange, almost gentle things for her—paying off her debts, making sure she has food, watching over her in quiet ways. It’s unsettling and oddly soft at the same time. And yet… Isaiah is still very much unhinged.
Both Isaiah and Abigail carry painful histories, and as their paths collide, the truth behind their pasts begins to unravel. What happened to Abigail years ago is more connected to Isaiah than anyone expected, and that realization changes everything. Watching Isaiah slowly confront emotions he’s never allowed himself to feel adds a whole new layer to his character.
Isaiah’s story also brings his long-awaited revenge arc to the forefront. The people who destroyed his childhood are finally forced to face the consequences of what they did. His list is long, and he methodically works through every single name. It’s dark, brutal justice, but after learning everything he endured at Clivesdon House twenty-four years ago, it’s hard not to understand why vengeance became the center of his world.
When men start disappearing, the investigation eventually pulls Officer Dan back into Isaiah’s orbit—the same officer who rescued him years ago but also accepted lies that left Isaiah abandoned to horrific abuse. Isaiah has never forgotten that betrayal, and targeting Abigail seemed like the perfect way to make Officer Dan remember.
But Abigail isn’t the simple pawn Isaiah expected. She’s drowning in debt for reasons that reveal just how much she’s been carrying alone. She also has secrets of her own, and the deeper Isaiah digs, the more complicated his plan becomes.
If you’ve read Nikki’s work before, you already know she doesn’t shy away from darker themes. This story is packed with heavy trigger warnings from beginning to end, and it definitely isn’t a light romance. Instead, it’s the kind of book that digs into trauma, revenge, and complicated emotions in a way that lingers long after you finish the last page. Readers familiar with The Soldiers of Anarchy will already know The Taskmaster and Abigail, but seeing Isaiah’s perspective adds a completely different emotional depth.
What impressed me most was how Nikki managed to take a character like Isaiah—someone many readers might have hated before—and give him a story that makes you feel for him despite everything. His darkness doesn’t disappear, but his connection with Abigail shows how two broken pasts can recognize each other.
This was actually my first time reading Nikki’s work, and I wasn’t sure what to expect going in. The story is intense, layered, and incredibly detailed, which made it a slower read for me—but in the best way. The deeper I got, the harder it was to step away from it.
Huge thanks to my love Jasz for recommending this one to me. I’m really glad I picked it up because it was emotional, dark, and completely unforgettable.
October 15, 2025
Condensed review:
I really enjoyed this book; I could not put it down. It had me hooked from the very first chapter. It broke my heart, put it back together, then broke it again and put it back together again. I was so immersed in this book. I highly recommend it! It had good characters, good writing, good plot, good spice and good humour.
Full Review below:
This book was a ride, and I had seen quotes and the blurb; I didn't check the trigger warnings, but I did review the tropes and figured I knew what this book was going to be like. Well, I assumed...and you know what happens when you assume? It makes an ass out of u & me. Well, not really in this case because it was a good shock for me. By the end of Chapter One, my heart was cracked; in Chapter Two, it broke. I was not expecting it. It was heartbreaking, but also a good surprise.
CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS
Tropes
✍🏼Stalker
✍🏼Serial Kill3r
✍🏼Praise
✍🏼Possessive unhinged tattooed biker MMC
✍🏼Heroine with dark secrets
✍🏼Twisted Games think "saw"
✍🏼Pierced MMC
The characters, Abigail and Isaiah. I really liked these two. They had both been through so much, but they were resilient and strong. I like their humour and the way they gravitated toward each other. I like that Abigail didn't open up to Isaiah straight away, that even though she knew he was dark and twisted and would probably help her, she wanted to claim back what was stolen from her for herself, and also not trust him implicitly. Obviously, that changes, and she does, but I mean, with what he does for her? I would too.
I'm so glad that Abigail & Isaiah got the ending they both deserved. That bonus chapter had me sitting with a lump in my throat!
The spice was also very good, not too much, not too mild...nice and medium 😂 I also learnt a new piercing 😂
I enjoyed the setting of the book; being British, it was a realistic setting for me, and that helps me visualise everything. The writing was fantastic, like I said, by the end of Chapter One I was feeling feels, and I think that may be the quickest a book has ever made me feel something! Nikki writes in a way that immerses you, and you go through these emotions with the characters. There are a few times I wanted to cry for them, punch someone for them and laugh with them. I have a tendency to read for a little bit, scroll on my phone, then read, then draw, then read. I can't stay still, but I can't even lie, I could not put it down! The Kindle came with me to the toilet, it came with me while I made a drink, it may well have been glued to my hand. I was hooked
I highly recommend this book. The eBook is being released on 17th October, and the paperback is available now.
Quotes I liked/that gave me feels
Thank you, Nikki and Candi Kane PR, for the ARC
I really enjoyed this book; I could not put it down. It had me hooked from the very first chapter. It broke my heart, put it back together, then broke it again and put it back together again. I was so immersed in this book. I highly recommend it! It had good characters, good writing, good plot, good spice and good humour.
Full Review below:
This book was a ride, and I had seen quotes and the blurb; I didn't check the trigger warnings, but I did review the tropes and figured I knew what this book was going to be like. Well, I assumed...and you know what happens when you assume? It makes an ass out of u & me. Well, not really in this case because it was a good shock for me. By the end of Chapter One, my heart was cracked; in Chapter Two, it broke. I was not expecting it. It was heartbreaking, but also a good surprise.
CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS
Tropes
✍🏼Stalker
✍🏼Serial Kill3r
✍🏼Praise
✍🏼Possessive unhinged tattooed biker MMC
✍🏼Heroine with dark secrets
✍🏼Twisted Games think "saw"
✍🏼Pierced MMC
The characters, Abigail and Isaiah. I really liked these two. They had both been through so much, but they were resilient and strong. I like their humour and the way they gravitated toward each other. I like that Abigail didn't open up to Isaiah straight away, that even though she knew he was dark and twisted and would probably help her, she wanted to claim back what was stolen from her for herself, and also not trust him implicitly. Obviously, that changes, and she does, but I mean, with what he does for her? I would too.
I'm so glad that Abigail & Isaiah got the ending they both deserved. That bonus chapter had me sitting with a lump in my throat!
The spice was also very good, not too much, not too mild...nice and medium 😂 I also learnt a new piercing 😂
I enjoyed the setting of the book; being British, it was a realistic setting for me, and that helps me visualise everything. The writing was fantastic, like I said, by the end of Chapter One I was feeling feels, and I think that may be the quickest a book has ever made me feel something! Nikki writes in a way that immerses you, and you go through these emotions with the characters. There are a few times I wanted to cry for them, punch someone for them and laugh with them. I have a tendency to read for a little bit, scroll on my phone, then read, then draw, then read. I can't stay still, but I can't even lie, I could not put it down! The Kindle came with me to the toilet, it came with me while I made a drink, it may well have been glued to my hand. I was hooked
I highly recommend this book. The eBook is being released on 17th October, and the paperback is available now.
Quotes I liked/that gave me feels
I kept my thoughts and words inside. They were mine. Only mine. They were the one thing no one else could get at. Like a treasure, I kept them locked away.
I wasn't really the sit-down-with-others-and-shoot-the-breeze-over-drinks kind of guy. I was more a shoot-them-dead guy
One, two, The Master's coming for you. Three, four, I'm gonna fuck you on the floor
I want to play a game. You wanted to know who I really was, and on my body, I have a tattoo that'll tell you exactly who I am. I dare you to try and find it.
Thank you, Nikki and Candi Kane PR, for the ARC
October 18, 2025
The Taskmaster by Nikki J Summers has been one of my highly anticipated reads for the year. Having been introduced to the Taskmaster briefly in a previous book, his story was one I knew I needed to read. If you're new to Nikki's work, it isn't necessary to read any of her other books, however I do encourage you to take the trigger warnings seriously and prepare yourself if you need to.
The beginning of this story, and the flashbacks scattered throughout, you very quickly realise that Isaiah's journey will not be easy and that is confronting and one that will lay the foundations of a plot based on revenge and the need to make those who deserve it, pay.
Once Abi has entered the picture, it is clear that she harboured secrets of her own. While The Taskmaster was intent on having her play his games and repent for the sins of her father, it soon becomes apparent that he's far more intrigued by her to do anything. Given his history, Isaiah is attempting to understand what the feelings are that Abi evokes in him.
Nikki is a master at writing complex characters and Isaiah is no exception. His trauma has shaped the person he has become and this is evident in his mannerisms and his view on people, relationships and feelings. His brain has been forever altered and he thinks differently to everyone else. Abi is the same, however, her trauma has shaped her differently, yet they are very similar
"Who are uou?" she asked, her eyes hasy as she stared back at me with a bewildered gaze. "The other half of you," I replied.
Nikki has managed to interweave this contrast perfectly. The pace was steady and the suspense was a gradual build that kept you on the edge of your seat. There were plenty of twists and turns woven through the narrative that made this story hard to put down.
Once the truth for both of them was finally revealed, you began to see how intertwined Abi and Isaiah's pasts were and to witness everything come full circle was satisfying.
Abi and Isaiah recognised something in each other that only they could understand and the bond they were forming felt raw and emotional. You could feel how much being vulnerable with each other and handing that type of control over left them feeling exposed. This is a testament to Nikki's writing style.
"Sometimes, two broken souls find each other, not because they want to live in each other's pain or repeat the past, but because they know they see something no one else does. Something that'll help them make sense of it all. Something no one else would understand. I understand you, Abigail. I think, if you give yourself the chance, you might understand me too."
Overall, this was a masterfully crafted story of resilience and the will and determination to not let your trauma break you. Abi and Isaiah's past might have defined who they turned out to be in the present, but they now have the power to define their own future.
Fans of dark romance will not want to go past this one.
The beginning of this story, and the flashbacks scattered throughout, you very quickly realise that Isaiah's journey will not be easy and that is confronting and one that will lay the foundations of a plot based on revenge and the need to make those who deserve it, pay.
Once Abi has entered the picture, it is clear that she harboured secrets of her own. While The Taskmaster was intent on having her play his games and repent for the sins of her father, it soon becomes apparent that he's far more intrigued by her to do anything. Given his history, Isaiah is attempting to understand what the feelings are that Abi evokes in him.
Nikki is a master at writing complex characters and Isaiah is no exception. His trauma has shaped the person he has become and this is evident in his mannerisms and his view on people, relationships and feelings. His brain has been forever altered and he thinks differently to everyone else. Abi is the same, however, her trauma has shaped her differently, yet they are very similar
"Who are uou?" she asked, her eyes hasy as she stared back at me with a bewildered gaze. "The other half of you," I replied.
Nikki has managed to interweave this contrast perfectly. The pace was steady and the suspense was a gradual build that kept you on the edge of your seat. There were plenty of twists and turns woven through the narrative that made this story hard to put down.
Once the truth for both of them was finally revealed, you began to see how intertwined Abi and Isaiah's pasts were and to witness everything come full circle was satisfying.
Abi and Isaiah recognised something in each other that only they could understand and the bond they were forming felt raw and emotional. You could feel how much being vulnerable with each other and handing that type of control over left them feeling exposed. This is a testament to Nikki's writing style.
"Sometimes, two broken souls find each other, not because they want to live in each other's pain or repeat the past, but because they know they see something no one else does. Something that'll help them make sense of it all. Something no one else would understand. I understand you, Abigail. I think, if you give yourself the chance, you might understand me too."
Overall, this was a masterfully crafted story of resilience and the will and determination to not let your trauma break you. Abi and Isaiah's past might have defined who they turned out to be in the present, but they now have the power to define their own future.
Fans of dark romance will not want to go past this one.
December 16, 2025
When I completed this book, I wanted to give it 4/5, but it quickly changed from 4 to 5 for me.
I recommend reading The Player by the Soldiers of Anarchy. A good thing abt that series is that all the books are complete standalone; youdon'tt need to read other books. However, I recommend reading The Player before reading The Taskmaster, since that will show you the beginning of The Taskmaster.
The moment Isaiah was introduced in The Player and the glimpse of backstory we get in that book, I just knew I had to read The Taskmaster after I was done with the series.
How can someone go through this horrific life at such a young age, and all I could think about is this shit really does happen in real life as well. How many children/babies go through this stuff, and it goes unheard.
The saying "monster arent born, they are created." - This is the perfect line to describe this book.
Spoilers-
When I started this book, I already had tears in my eyes, the description of Isaiah from the police officer pov made my heart ache. Also becuz of what is to come, I am glad Nikki didn't give us the detailed scene when Isaiah and Abi got rapped because I wouldn't be able to stop crying.
This was the perfect way to tell Isaiah's story and why he did what he did. I loved every single part of the book; more importantly, there were very few chapters that were mid - long range, which I prefer. I'd rather you give me more chapters than long-ass chapters.
Ok, going back to the story, the plot, the slow burn, and the smut, as well as the flow of the book, were really well written by Nikki. I loved every second of the torture scene done by Isaiah and him evolving at the same time.
I am still pissed at Dan, aka Abi's dad, HOW TF DO U NOT DO ANY SHYT WHEN YOUR DAUGHTER WENT MISSING. Atp i am not shocked when he literally believed the words of that rapist and pedo of Isaiah when he said Isaiah was adopted and so on. But still, how come you are that naive, and for us to find out he knew butwasn'tt sure and had to ask Isaiah, like fam grow a pair of balls and go to your daughter despite him covering up the murders that Abi did, it doesn't make things better.
The antagonist deserved more cruel death than he deserved and i am glad Isaiah had the balls (which ofc he did cuz abi's dad dont have atp) to rip the antagonist heart and serve it to Abi, NOW THAT'S WHAT YOU CALLED HUSBAND MATERIAL.
Plus, the revelation of Isaiah's actual background made me stunned, especially when we get to know that his rapist knew who he was and who his dadwaswas, and it all clicked why they never let him go.
The epilogue was really sweet, and I loved every second of it and how happy Isaiah and Abi were with their cute family (Dan, you can stay pressed respectfully) they truley deserve each other after all the hell they went through, and seeing Adam made me smile, and I knew he won't hurt Isaiah and that eventually one day all the guys would come around and Tia Bailey, i am glad she got to meet her son.
I recommend reading The Player by the Soldiers of Anarchy. A good thing abt that series is that all the books are complete standalone; youdon'tt need to read other books. However, I recommend reading The Player before reading The Taskmaster, since that will show you the beginning of The Taskmaster.
The moment Isaiah was introduced in The Player and the glimpse of backstory we get in that book, I just knew I had to read The Taskmaster after I was done with the series.
How can someone go through this horrific life at such a young age, and all I could think about is this shit really does happen in real life as well. How many children/babies go through this stuff, and it goes unheard.
The saying "monster arent born, they are created." - This is the perfect line to describe this book.
Spoilers-
When I started this book, I already had tears in my eyes, the description of Isaiah from the police officer pov made my heart ache. Also becuz of what is to come, I am glad Nikki didn't give us the detailed scene when Isaiah and Abi got rapped because I wouldn't be able to stop crying.
This was the perfect way to tell Isaiah's story and why he did what he did. I loved every single part of the book; more importantly, there were very few chapters that were mid - long range, which I prefer. I'd rather you give me more chapters than long-ass chapters.
Ok, going back to the story, the plot, the slow burn, and the smut, as well as the flow of the book, were really well written by Nikki. I loved every second of the torture scene done by Isaiah and him evolving at the same time.
I am still pissed at Dan, aka Abi's dad, HOW TF DO U NOT DO ANY SHYT WHEN YOUR DAUGHTER WENT MISSING. Atp i am not shocked when he literally believed the words of that rapist and pedo of Isaiah when he said Isaiah was adopted and so on. But still, how come you are that naive, and for us to find out he knew butwasn'tt sure and had to ask Isaiah, like fam grow a pair of balls and go to your daughter despite him covering up the murders that Abi did, it doesn't make things better.
The antagonist deserved more cruel death than he deserved and i am glad Isaiah had the balls (which ofc he did cuz abi's dad dont have atp) to rip the antagonist heart and serve it to Abi, NOW THAT'S WHAT YOU CALLED HUSBAND MATERIAL.
Plus, the revelation of Isaiah's actual background made me stunned, especially when we get to know that his rapist knew who he was and who his dadwaswas, and it all clicked why they never let him go.
The epilogue was really sweet, and I loved every second of it and how happy Isaiah and Abi were with their cute family (Dan, you can stay pressed respectfully) they truley deserve each other after all the hell they went through, and seeing Adam made me smile, and I knew he won't hurt Isaiah and that eventually one day all the guys would come around and Tia Bailey, i am glad she got to meet her son.
October 27, 2025
Brilliantly written!!
Nikki J Summers is one of my favorite and go to authors and she did not disappoint with this book.
I was looking forward to Isaiah's book since The Player and it was a brilliantly written book filled with so much hurt, trauma, and heartbreaking memories on one hand and redemption, hope and love on the other.
This book was emotional, action packed, suspenseful and filled with so many laugh out loud and swoony moments that I could not put it down. It stole my attention from the first page until the end.
Isaiah was always a blaring red flag, and morally grey MMC ,yet he had a human side that I loved, I sympathized with him and was definitely rooting for him to have a happily ever after.
My heart broke for the tragedy,abuse and trauma, he had to endure as a child,but this made him strong, and determined to get revenge and destroy everyone who hurt him and those who stood by and allowed it to happen.
When he started watching Abigail to figure out a way to use her against her father, the police officer who once promised to save him, he did not realise that he would encounter someone that shared his darkness.
His stalking quickly turned into obsession and then something more when he realized she was not as innocent as she seemed. He became very protective of her and felt a strong connection to her.
Abigail apparently had been through her own trauma, living with scars that mirrored Isaiah's yet she was strong, a little dark herself, and she did not fear him the way others did which drew him to her even more.
Abigail and Isaiah were two broken people who recognized this in each other . They were the perfect pair. They understood and accepted each other in a way no one else had ever done.
The chemistry between them was palpable, but also deeply emotional. Isaiah's softer side when he was with Abigail made my heart melt. The push and pull between them was delish and Abigail's sassy banter as well as Isaiah's confounding responses was hilarious.
I thoroughly enjoyed how they were able to work together to get their revenge and take back their power and control.
As usual, Nikki J Summers has given us another must read book that is intense, and heartbreakingly beautiful. A book about survival, healing, and finding love in the most unexpected situations.
Nikki J Summers is one of my favorite and go to authors and she did not disappoint with this book.
I was looking forward to Isaiah's book since The Player and it was a brilliantly written book filled with so much hurt, trauma, and heartbreaking memories on one hand and redemption, hope and love on the other.
This book was emotional, action packed, suspenseful and filled with so many laugh out loud and swoony moments that I could not put it down. It stole my attention from the first page until the end.
Isaiah was always a blaring red flag, and morally grey MMC ,yet he had a human side that I loved, I sympathized with him and was definitely rooting for him to have a happily ever after.
My heart broke for the tragedy,abuse and trauma, he had to endure as a child,but this made him strong, and determined to get revenge and destroy everyone who hurt him and those who stood by and allowed it to happen.
When he started watching Abigail to figure out a way to use her against her father, the police officer who once promised to save him, he did not realise that he would encounter someone that shared his darkness.
His stalking quickly turned into obsession and then something more when he realized she was not as innocent as she seemed. He became very protective of her and felt a strong connection to her.
Abigail apparently had been through her own trauma, living with scars that mirrored Isaiah's yet she was strong, a little dark herself, and she did not fear him the way others did which drew him to her even more.
Abigail and Isaiah were two broken people who recognized this in each other . They were the perfect pair. They understood and accepted each other in a way no one else had ever done.
The chemistry between them was palpable, but also deeply emotional. Isaiah's softer side when he was with Abigail made my heart melt. The push and pull between them was delish and Abigail's sassy banter as well as Isaiah's confounding responses was hilarious.
I thoroughly enjoyed how they were able to work together to get their revenge and take back their power and control.
As usual, Nikki J Summers has given us another must read book that is intense, and heartbreakingly beautiful. A book about survival, healing, and finding love in the most unexpected situations.
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