Vengeance of Childhood Proportions : A Standalone Female Serial Killer Dark Romance

by Elise Gedicke

It’s been 15 years to the day. I’ve plotted, I’ve trained. They called me a nerd, a freak. They were wrong. I will exact my revenge with swiftness and cruelty.

They took my innocence, now I take their lives.

I anticipated every scenario, every outcome and contingency… Except for him. The Special Agent hunting the Atelihai Killer. He’s exactly what I need to quell the rage inside me.

But will he forgive my sins when he learns theirs?
***
Perfect for readers who love a morally complex antiheroine who burns the world down for justice, a Dom who meets his match, and a dark romance that doesn't flinch.
***
This book contains references

Sexual Content & Sexual assault by multiple assailants, male-male dub-con/non-con, BDSM lifestyle.

Violence & Serial murder, vengeance, parricide, kidnapping, physical torture, psychological torture, explicit gore.

Mental Health & Attempted suicide of a teenager, depression, forced institutionalization, victim blaming, victim shaming, abandonment.

Teenage pregnancy, teenage miscarriage.

Please read responsibly. Your mental health matters.

Genres: Dark Romance

516 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2025

About the author

Elise Gedicke is a full-time author from Florida who writes Motorcycle Club Romance, Mountain Man Romance, and Dark Romance. She lives in her camper and travels the United States with her beagle, Porthos. A Disney Adult, she claims her second home has wheels, but her first has a castle. Elise believes in the power of Found Family and the pursuit of Happily Ever After, even if the path to get there is a little twisted. Follow her on social media for a chance to meet her in person.

https://linktr.ee/elisegedickeauthor

Reviews

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do we all wear a mask at some point in our lives?

Fifteen years ago Holly went through something traumatic and her life ceased as she knew it, if this wasn’t enough she is slammed through more before Holly ended. 10 years in and we step into the dark with ‘Dani’, a new name, a rendition of her former self but still her revenge plan has started, a strict regime, serious planning and the ultimate justice will be served 😈 However, throw into the mix an agent, Mallory he’s pulled in to investigate and he meets ‘Dani’ in a 🐝DSM club, her wig and contacts a shield-a disguise, though their D/s relationship builds he’s still in the dark about her….

𝘼 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣. 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨.

I had a few ARCs in between this, so obvs for me I could put it down and come back to it 😉 It did draw me into the story, the revenge aspect was great, her relationship with ‘Jason’ and tbh he was brilliant 🤭, the D/s side with Master Mal was spicy, intense, a controlled environment for her but for me it missed the point between D/s and M/s a little 🤷🏻‍♀️ I found some parts repetitive, like from one page to the other, were just a carbon copy. The story is similar to The Mindf^*k Series but not as tense. If you love a strong FMC with a devious and revengeful mind, a dose of spice, 🐝DSM elements you will appreciate this one.

[Dru · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
🔥🔥🔥🔥

If you’ve ever read The Mindf*ck Series by S.T. Abby, this book hits similar vibes. It centers on a woman seeking revenge against the people who tore her world apart as a child. But this isn’t just about destruction; it’s about making damn sure everyone remembers who failed her, who hurt her, and who’s going to pay for it.

I loved Holly. She was calculated and patient, never rushing her revenge. She made sure every move counted. The story kicks off with a brief glimpse into her intense training and how she became not just a killer but a strategic force. She studied her targets, learned everything about them, and then used that knowledge to make their deaths personal.

Mal, the federal agent assigned to the case, spends most of the story chasing a ghost. As far as the world knows, Holly Marteen is dead. So who’s behind the killings? You can’t exactly arrest someone who’s supposedly six feet under.

One thing I really appreciated was the way the book portrayed BDSM. It didn’t just throw it in for shock value. There was genuine emphasis on consent, communication, aftercare, and a healthy Dom/Sub dynamic. Holly felt safe with Mal, and that safety allowed her to begin healing in unexpected ways. It added real emotional depth to their relationship.

If real life hadn’t gotten in the way, I easily could’ve devoured this in a day.

‼️‼️‼️Trigger Warning‼️‼️‼️
There are many triggers in this book. It is not a light grey romance, but dark romance teetering to black (if not already black) in the sense of triggers. I went in blind since I am not triggered and have read many questionably moral books. But, I am letting you know to put your mental health first if you are sensitive to some of the triggers.

⟣Tropes⟢
✅ Touch her and 💀
✅ 🖤 Morally Black FMC 🖤 *to everyone but MMC*
✅ Stabby/Badass Heroine
✅ Obsessive/JP MMC
✅ Multiple POV’s (first person)
✅ Enemies-to-Lovers (unknowingly)
✅ No OW/OM drama
✅ He falls first
✅ 🔥 Medium Burn 🔥
✅ Gore
✅ BDSM
✅ Serial Unaliver (FMC)
✅ MINE
✅ HEA

***I was given this as an ARC for free and writing a review voluntary. All opinions are my own.***

[ALR]

Justice is never black and white and sometimes what is deemed ¨justice¨ is the total opposite. I received an advanced reader copy of this book for free from BookSirens and the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts are my own.

All I can say is Wow! This book is truly not what I was expecting, but not in a bad way. You know when you hear about something terrible that happens and then you hear the end results of how justice prevailed and all you can do is think , this is just a joke, well then this book is for you. Holly endured an unspeakable tragedy at a very early age in life, that was made only worse by the fact that so many people (adults included) were involved and did not help her, or even try to. Instead of breaking her (although in a way I guess she was slightly ¨dented¨ by the events) she ends up becoming stronger with her thirst for revenge, in some of the most diabolical ways. As a federal agent Mal has seen the darkness and depravity that humankind can bestow on others but what truly is amazing is how it hasn’t darkened his outlook on things, especially in his earnest quest to fight for the victims. However who is the ¨true victim¨ in all of this? At first this new case seems simple enough, right up until he discovers what truly happened.

So I happen to love this author and have read (I believe) all her books. This is definitely much, much darker than anything she’s written before and probably darker than anything ¨romance¨ that I´ve read before. The meet up between Holly and Mal is different but done beautifully . Both strong leads they seem to complement each other perfectly, almost like they are the missing puzzle piece for each other, which may seem trite but quite accurate.

There is a heavy emphasis on the portrayal of the BDSM relationship between Mal and Holly, but the way it was written really blew my mind. It showcases the relationship aspect, not just the scene play and I have to say the way the BDSM part of the relationship was explained was done amazingly well and as someone who has read other books of the genre I have to say the explanation of everything and the meaning behind the actions in this book made it more enjoyable and relatable. There is an age gap between the two in years but both have been aged by the life they have so it doesn’t seem to big of a gap. There is also an almost anti hero aspect with Holly but Mal sees inside to her true nature. The relationship, even with the BDSM aspect, does focus a lot on the interaction between the two but the spice level is still high.

The fact that Mal emphasizes to Holly that ¨you are not less than¨ , which applied for many different areas of their relationship was one of my favorite things of the book. However, this book has many a sad moments, many dark moments, and many things that had me wanting to punch something so beware. It is not an ¨easy read¨ but it is a beautiful book to read. Still I cannot emphasize enough that you Must Read the Trigger Warnings for this book! It has many things that are disturbing, for many different reasons but the way the author blends the dark (which is highly descriptive) with the sweet is truly remarkable. Those of you familiar with the author know she has written some tragic scenes in her other books but this, well this is a whole different level. Still I highly recommend. 5 stars.

[Readernerd57_book_reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐ 3.5🌶️

✨Review Highlights✨
-Similar to the MindF*ck series by S.T. Abby.
-Strong FMC
-Dom MMC
-BDSM romance sub-plot
-Descriptive writing
-Some pacing problems for me
-Check triggers

I received this book for free and this is my honest review.

I would compare this book to the MindF*ck series by S.T. Abby. The plots are very similar and so are the trigger warnings. I would say that if you enjoyed that series you will probably enjoy this book. However I would say that this book is darker and does have quite a lot more detail when it comes to what happened to the FMC, and what she does to her victims. This book also has a romantic BDSM sub-plot, and there are triggers for that as well.

I really did like this book, it is very heavy and very dark and so full of justified feminine rage and I loved that for our FMC. I loved that Jason found her and helped her get to a place where she could avenge herself in the ways that she did.

I will say that Master Mal, MMC, said some questionable things in his first chapter about genders and how they are classified when a person is dead. However after researching I don't believe it was intended to be offensive it is just how a coroner has to file paperwork when it comes to a dead person.

The writing in this book was done well. It was very descriptive and at times horribly disturbing, but it is meant to be that way. This book is meant to make you feel uncomfortable because of the subject matter. I do think that there are parts of the book that seem like filler, and take away from the story progression. I was sad about that because I really enjoyed the story, and I really liked that most of the time it has a steady progression forward. However when you get to these points especially after a really important or terrible thing happened I felt ripped out of the story.

Overall I would recommend this book if you liked the MindF*ck series or are a fan of feminine rage and dark romance. I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings before reading this book though.

[Kai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elise’s writing is truly impressive, particularly her ability to bring raw emotion to her characters. This is a story that pulls at your heartstrings, so I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings before diving in.

At the center of the book is Holly, a woman deeply scarred by traumatic events from her childhood that lead to even more tragic circumstances. Holly spends her late teens and all of her 20s meticulously planning her vengeance on the people responsible for her suffering—and those who covered it up. Her plan is flawless, until she meets Shawn "Mal" Mallory, an FBI agent who’s investigating a serial killer case in a small Alaskan town. Mal is at a crossroads in his career, struggling to balance the pursuit of justice with the red tape and politics of his job.

As someone who’s read BDSM-themed stories before, I found this one especially enlightening. Holly uses BDSM as a way of controlling her world, standing on the fringes of the community. But her encounter with Master Mal is unlike anything she’s experienced. The connection between them is immediate and intense, though when Holly realizes Mal is involved in the investigation surrounding her acts of vengeance, she’s torn between her past and the possibility of a future with him.

The complexity of Holly’s elaborate revenge schemes felt a bit overthought at times, and some of the scenes were hard to follow due to the lengthy explanations. The interactions between Holly and her victims were sparse, and we didn’t get much dialogue until the final confrontation with one of them, where the victim, seemingly resigned to his fate, reveals why he did what he did. It was a powerful moment, but it left me wanting a bit more closure on the emotional front.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am truly impressed with Elise's writing and ability to really rip emotions out of her characters. Please read the TW, I did but still didn't understand how this book would effect me.

We meet Holly a very traumatized woman from events that took place in her childhood that led to other tragic events. She works her Late teenage years and all of her 20's training and planning her vengeance on the many peop!e who were responsible and then not to forget the ones that covered it up. She had everything planned to perfection. She had not planned on Shawn "Mal" Mallory the FBI agent in charge of a serial killer case in an Alaskan small town. He is truly at a pivotal point in his career in balancing justice with red tape and the politics of the job.

I have read stories with BDSM in them before but feel I got a huge education about this community. Holly stood on the fringes mostly and used it as a way of controlling her world and then she has an encounter Master Mal and connects with him like she never has with anybody. When she finds out he is leading the investigation into the results of her vengeance, she is not sure if they can be together.

The elaborate way that she gets her vengeance with those that harmed her seem a bit over thought up and some scenes where difficult to follow due to explanation of it. We did not get much dialog with her and her victims until one of her last ones where he seemed to accept his fate and he told her why it happened.

This story is good and the writing is most excellent as usual with most of this authors books.

[Maelle C · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance, the blurb might give Mindfck Series* vibes, but it doesn’t take long to realize that this story stands firmly on its own. While both explore revenge and darkness, Elise Gedicke takes a very different approach—one that feels raw, grounded, and deeply personal.

This book is explicit, heavy, and unapologetically dark. I’m usually not a big fan of dom/sub dynamics, but the author’s writing made it work for me effortlessly. Nothing felt forced or gratuitous. Instead, the relationship develops slowly and deliberately, with clear rules, consent, boundaries, and even a contract, which made the dynamic feel authentic rather than romanticized or exaggerated.

The true strength of this book lies in Elise Gedicke’s writing. Her prose is powerful, intense, and painfully real. Nothing feels fake or overly dramatized—every emotion, every interaction feels earned. While Holly’s revenge is the driving force of the plot, it sometimes takes a step back to allow space for the evolving relationship between Holly and Mal, and surprisingly, that balance works extremely well.

I was fully invested from start to finish. My only small criticism is the ending, which felt slightly rushed compared to the depth and buildup of the rest of the story. I would have loved a bit more time to sit with the conclusion. That said, it doesn’t diminish the overall impact of the book.

With strong main characters, a compelling plot, and a writing style that pulls no punches, Vengeance of Childhood Proportions is a gripping, dark read that stays with you long after the final page.

[Brita Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been 15 years to the day now. Holly has plotted and trained. They've called her a nerd and a freak. They were all dead wrong. She's going to exact her revenge with a swiftness and cruelty they'll never see coming.

They took her innocence without a second thought and now she's going to take their lives in vengeance.

Holly has anticipated every scenario, outcome, and contingency possible... except for Mal that is. He's the Special Agent who is hunting the Atelihai Killer. And Holly finds that he's exactly what she needs to settle the rage that swirls inside of her.

But, she wonders if he will forgive her sins once he learns of all of theirs?

YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please pay attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is content and scenes in this book that may not be suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times and should never be put at risk for anything.

Tropes: Shared World, Serial K!llers, Dark Romance, Dark, Suspense, and Romance.

Vengeance of Childhood Proportions by Elise Gedicke. There are times when we have to remember that justice can never be seen in terms of just black and white. And there are times when what we deem as “justice” is actually the total opposite.

This book was just amazing. It was not what I was expecting to be honest, but that's not a bad thing really. It made me think of all the times that I hear about something absolutely horrid happening and then I listen to the end results and how justice ended up prevailing and all I could think was, that was not justice, that's nothing but a joke. Well if you've had the same experience, this book is going to be for you.

Holly has gone through some of the most unspeakable traumas imaginable, and it happened at a very early age. And it was all made so much worse by the fact that there were so many people, including adults, who were involved and didn't try to help or protect her.

But, instead of the trauma breaking her, although I guess it kind of left her dented, it just made her stronger and left her with a drive for revenge, and it was a thirst for vengeance in the most wicked of ways.

Mal is a Federal Agent and he's seen all the darkness and depravity that mankind can dish out on each other. But, somehow he's managed to prevent it from darkening how we view on the world, and he has an honest mission to fight for all the victims he works with and for. But, this is the first case that he can't see who the real victim in this case really is. At first glance, it appears to be simple and clear-cut, but then he digs deeper and it starts to get harder to see the real victim from the bad guy.

I have had the opportunity to read several of Elise's books and I have to say that this is a much darker book than a lot of her other books. It's much different than a lot of her other books as well. But, she did a beautiful job in writing it. The way that Elise wrote Holly and Mal's first meeting is so different and it is so beautifully done. They are both very strong leads and they do rather complement each other perfectly, I felt like they were each other's missing piece.

Elise did write a rather heavy emphasis on there being a portrayal of BDSM in Holly and Mal's relationship, and she did a really great job in writing this part of their relationship and I was really impressed. I have read other books in the BDSM genre and I have to say that Elise did a really good job explaining everything and all the meanings behind all the actions made the book that much more enjoyable and relatable.

You can tell that there is some sort of age gap between Holly and Mal although it doesn't seem to be that large of an age gap. I felt as though Holly was kind of an anti-hero but I could see that Mal could see inside her true nature at the same time. Their relationship, with or without the BDSM aspect, is focused on their interactions, but Elise does keep the spice level high.

I loved how Mal emphasized to Holly that “you are not less than”, and you could apply this to say many different areas of not only their relationship but also to any different area of Holly's life. But, as much spice and great moments this book had, there were equal moments of sadness, darkness, and had me wanting to throw anything across the room.

I am going to tell you this right now, this is not an easy book to read, it is a beautiful book, but it is hard to read. The trigger warnings are there for a reason. This book does contain some very disturbing content, and for different reasons, and Elise manages to blend the pitch black (something that is very descriptive) with the sweet.

If you have read Elise's book you will know that she has some very tragic scenes. But, Vengeance of Childhood Proportions takes that all to a whole new level.

If you can handle the trigger warnings and your mental health is stable and you can handle how dark and descriptive this book can be, then I highly recommend this book.

[Tedra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent

Actually would've been a 4 star read if not for all the BDSM crap through out the story - although it wasnt written in a bad way,none of it added spice to the story at all.

Only liked the mmc so so- he was ass - well his inner monologue was. Author was repetitive with several facts like she has to hammer home a point by repeating a paragraph from a chapter before- very weird..

Full on exhibitionism was not listed in the tws.

Reading the inner monologue of the MMC talk about how enamored he is of the FMC, like he's gushing & all excited to see her right before you thinking about your new office desk being high enough so the FMC can sit under it, on the floor like a damn dog.
This is why I cant stand bdsm plot lines - love of your flipping life but you tell her that she has to walk 3 steps behind you at all times AND she has to call you sir even out of the bedroom.
She's not an equal & he's not in love.

Epilogue - they decide to just let life take its course & if a baby happens, it happens they weren't going to do birth control but they also weren't going to pursue it- then next line is he got a vasectomy? Like what?

Yes, story is similar to the Mindf@ck series
But he's no Logan and she's no Lana.

Never, ever want to read the words piss slit ever again
Or read about the mole on the MMC's buttocks that looks like a "smear of shit".

[Jojo Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read pretty much everything Elise has written and this was so different from anything I’d read by her before and I was hooked from the first chapter.
Holly was just 15 and assaulted by fellow pupils, boys she had sat in classrooms with and cheered on by girls that had been either a bully or never even bothered to acknowledge her, they left her there to be found by the caretaker . If that’s not enough to push a kid to the edge nothing happened to her abusers, it was all pushed under the carpet for the sake of a hockey game. Even her parents took a bribe and had her sectioned following her attempt to end her life. From 18 to 30 she and the caretaker who found her and takes her under his wing plot revenge each one involved will pay with their life but she had planned to meet the man who becomes the centre of her world only snag is he’s the FBI agent looking for her.
I can not recommend this book more. The deaths are ingenious and unique, the love building between Holly and Mal is tinged with sadness because, as the reader, you know it’s got to crumble, the bond between Holly and Jason is forged in revenge and the light relief ( briefly) is brought to you by an Italian club owner and a beanbag

[Jessica Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I love a good revenge story, and this one delivered. It is very similar to The MindF*ck Series, and I am here for every bit of it. Holly was SA'd, raped, humiliated, and silenced for the sake of someone else's greedy vice. She trains, plans, and calculates her revenge on every single person who was involved in any way, shape, or form. What she doesn't take into consideration in all of her planning is that she would fall in love with the FBI agent tasked to solve the murder case. The murder case that she is responsible for.
The tension and relationship that is built between Holly and Mal is utterly delicious. He is a dom and wants her as a submissive, but what she believes are hard nos due to her past trauma soon becomes a safe space with Mal.
When all is said and done, Holly is supposed to be dead, but all signs point back to her so how is this possible? Mal's world is turned upside down when he finds out his "little owl" is none other than Holly, the suspect.
The spice in this book was top tier, and the BDSM was so well written that it didn't give you the illusion that it was going too far. Mal is not your typical dom, and I absolutely loved that about his character.

[Jordan Fiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vengeance of Childhood Proportions is part of the Till Death Do Us Part Series.

This was a great read with a very pitch black female lead. Holly has been put through something very traumatic. Instead of helping her, the town seemed to turn against her. When it gets to be too much for her, she tries to take matters into her own hands, but her parents turn against her and commit her. The only person who cares enough to help her through everything is Jason, the person who originally found her after her trauma. Now, many years later she is ready to get her revenge on those who have done her wrong. Along the way, she meets Mal, who helps awaken some of her sexual desires.

There are some very creative tortuous moments throughout this read. I don't blame Holly for anything she has done. I would honestly be in the same boat as her. She deserved her revenge and I was glad she was able to get it, for the most part. Her relationship with Mal becomes problematic when he figures some things out, but he needs to internally decide between what is right and wrong and what is owed to those wronged by others.

This was an intense read, but a good one.

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is dark, intense and rather disturbing at times. Please read the trigger warnings. Having said that, this book was well written with amazing characters that insisted that I read their story and induced my empathy. Holly has endured heart-rending trauma. All of the people she trusted let her down, didn’t stand up for and didn’t punish those responsible for her trauma. Holly has used that trauma to spur her transformation, after years of training by her mentor and friend, into an instrument of vengeance. Those who turned her world upside and victimized her are now her prey. As she goes about her lethal business, she encounters something new and unfamiliar to her. She never expected the attraction and connection she feels to FBI agent Shawn “Mal” Mallory who is investigating the killings, her handiwork. Holly is under no illusions that what is between them, (dare she call it love?), will last, especially if he discovers her deadly secret.

These characters and their story made it impossible to put this book down until I had read the last word. This twisty, fascinating and decidedly dark book has my recommendation.

[Dawn Litwiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just - WOW.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but it went way past any expectations I might have had.

I absolutely love this author and knew I would probably love this one as well, but I had no idea how deep into it and how much it would shred me up and put me through so many different levels of emotion that it did!

It is very dark and there are some huge TW, but as much as the story shows that as much as our “heroine” had been through, she was just broken enough to make it out stronger and with justice/vengeance her focus. She can’t let a Fed get in her way, no matter the feelings they stir up in each other. They both have a job to do, but lines get blurred and everything isn’t always black and white and they have to navigate it all while dealing with some horrendous things.

The plot, flow and character development is perfection as always from Elise and I know it is a standalone book, but I wanted more! It made me go through every gut wrenching feeling whether it was good or bad and I ate up every moment with pleasure!

[Jessica Fahey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sucked me in from the very beginning and never let go! I wish I could read it again for the first time! I absolutely loved this book, the writing style, the descriptiveness, ALL of IT!

Vigilante justice and revenge killing for the heinous acts that Holly endured and took years to recover from was exciting to read. The methodical ways of death for each of the people involved was well described and planned. Jason found her that day and prepared her for her revenge but left the deaths to her.

Master Mail was a great addition to the mix! Loved that he just happened to be the agent in charge of her case. I loved the relationship that grew between Holly and Mal. Outside life had no bearing on their agreement or desire for one another.

Had some concerns Jason would change that during the book.

I can’t say enough great things about this book and these characters! Had many feels of the Mindf@ck Series.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is extremely similar to the Mindf*ck series but a tad darker. The SA and trauma of the FMC was gone over in more detail so check your TW. The largest difference between the two is the BDSM subplot in this book. I think that was a nice touch and though some of the dialogue was cringe at times, I think it’s a great introduction into that whole world for people that may not know that much about it and I thoroughly enjoyed the education. It’s also a lot spicier than the Mindf*ck series which is always appreciated imo. 🥵

I really enjoyed the FMC, she was strong and so complex. Her relationship with Mal was nicely written and I enjoyed their growth together. The only thing I disliked a bit was when they revealed to us at the end that he was actually mega-rich the entire time. It kind of felt like plot convenience more than a detail that made sense to the story but I didn’t hate it enough to let it take away from the ending. I think the whole book was a wild ride and I ate it up.

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not for the faint hearted. Empowering in so many ways—Triggering in a million more. Heavy. Therapeutic. Emotional. I have goosebumps. I love this book—Beautiful story … in its resolution. It has left me raw—this is one that will remain with me for days. Weeks. Probably longer. The ending was perfect. Mal is amazing and perfect for his little owl. If we were all so lucky to find our own Mal.

*** Recommended ***

MMC:
* Mal
FMC:
* Little Owl
* Holly
* Dani
* Phoebe
HEA/Cliffhanger:
* HEA
Epilogue:
* Yes
Tropes:
* Dark suspense romance
* Vigilante romance
* Serial killers
* BDSM
* MF
Triggers:
* 18+
* Sex
* Violence
* R ape
* Abuse
* Death
* Suicide
Burn Speed:
* Fast
Spice Level:
* 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 1/2

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Debleena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a worthy opponent to the Mindfuck series by S.T. Abby. The only complaint I had with this book was that it ended way too soon 🥺.
I personally felt that it would have been better if Emmet was made to live as a rapedoll because he was the sick mastermind, in place of Ro Ro(won't even dignify the rapist with the name written on his birth certificate).
Absolutely absolutely loved Holly and Mal. Jason was amazing in his antisocial sociopathic fucked up way. This book is an absolute jewel and a masterpiece.
Hats off to the author for creating an amazing story that has the mix of suspense, revenge, action, and bdsm lifestyle. The flow of the story was natural and the character development was great.
Definitely one of the best books on strong FMC that's out there. ❤️❤️

[Little Blue Butterfly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly has prepared for and waited 15 years to seek vengeance on those who have wronged her. Vengeance is definitely well deserved!! The people who victimized her since childhood are truly extremely terrible people!! Holly has truly had ENOUGH!! My heart really breaks for Holly. What she endured was horrible. She comes back as a total badass though 🖤 Mal is a Special Agent that’s on her trail, even though he doesn’t realize Holly is the killer he’s looking for. Mal is a good man, who stands up for victims. Unfortunately Holly is conflicted. She has to continue what she has set out to do, but she can’t help falling for this good man. Can Holly tell Mal the truth?? How would Mal react??…..
I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK 💙🦋🩵

[Heather Lachelle Fulmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, Intense, and Emotionally Charged

A dark, intense, and psychologically layered read with a heroine who commands every page. If you’re drawn to stories that blend trauma recovery with BDSM dynamics—and don’t shy away from heavy themes—this one will stay with you.

Holly is the heart of the story and easily its greatest strength. After spending fifteen years shaping herself around the trauma she endured, her transformation into a cold, controlled, and strategic force is both gripping and heartbreakingly understandable. She’s fierce, flawed, and unforgettable—a protagonist who refuses to be flattened into a victim.

This story dives deep into the shadows—part dark romance, part thriller, and fully committed to exploring the messy aftermath of trauma.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly this book was so very well written that the disturbing just creeps up until that is how you read and u detestable how horrible having the live of Holly would be. Love this author because she is so through in her writing but I should not have read this one because now I see that poor girl in my minds eye and frankly what she did was so justified.

I really hope this was not written from anything true to life but the research Elise had to have done would have been very difficult. Hopefully the next book won’t be so very dark.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Systematic Revenge.

So many people took from her; now, Holly is back to take from them. It's been YEARS since the abuse, bullying, everything. Time heals all wounds. But not the ones that are burned into her mind, her soul, her essence. Everything was taken away from her. Now she's on the hunt. When the Agent Mal shows up, she is torn. He is NOT part of her plan.

This book is a rabbit hole. Once you start you won't be able put it down. You'll need to know if Holly finishes her plans of revenge and what happens with the FBI Agent Mal. Does Holly get her closure? Does Mal get his woman?

Fast paced. Dark.

[Cynthia Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book serves its purpose! What an intriguing book. I love dark romance books. I love all kinks and tropes, this book has what I like. You’ve got the BDSM and kinks. This story has a very strong FMC named Holly, what a tragic story she had. The MMC if I would meet him in really life that would be amazing. The second MC Jason was interesting in many ways. In ways I felt he was very disturbed. This girl had her plan planned out but not for falling in love. When reading this story at first I felt like I was reading a mix of 50 shades of gray and a bit of silence of the lambs. Almost like I a romance murder mystery. It was a lovely story and loved every bit of it.

[Zulma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Holly. Boy was I not expecting this. I have read the majority of MC books by Elise and this storyline was unexpected. I loved it though the revenge and the detailed of it all. Holly was a teen when she was attacked and left for dead naked in the school auditorium. Her story makes you look at bullies, small towns, gambling different. The way someone would go to the max to cover things to protect themselves.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Library.of.linds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a HUGE Elise fan! I love her MC series so I was so excited when she said she was writing a darker book. My black heart was so happy. I was expecting light gray but maaaaaan I was pleasantly surprised.

Holly did not have a very good high school experience, so she vows to get her revenge, one at a time. I was not expecting this at all but now I really wish this was a series too!!

I am fully convinced that Elise can’t write a bad book, so I will gladly read anything she writes!! I need more dark books please ma’am. 🤪

[Christina Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vengeance of Childhood Proportions is the fifth book in the Till Death Do Us Part series written by Elise Gedicke. This is a dark romance, please check the trigger warnings.

The book follows Holly and Shawn (Mal). The FMC is Holly. In high school, she endured a traumatic experience. Since then, her sole purpose in life is revenge with the help of Jason. The man who found her that day. The MMC is Mal, a federal agent assigned to finding her.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anne Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a surprise as previous books read by this author were in the main Via Daemonia series, but once I recovered from the shock I thoroughly enjoyed the story. As always, a well written story ; this storyline showed the horrendous consequences of teenage bullying and basically human greed. A great story, certainly a worthwhile read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenn M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Serial Killer Romance Read!

Wow! I have read every book from this author and this is much darker than her other books. This is truly about vengeance and Holly is amazing! What she endured was horrific and traumatizing but she made it and she ruled over it. She found her partner in Mal and their journey to their HEA was not easy, it was HOT! I loved this book so much and hope she writes more books like it!

[Dusty Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vengeance is sweet

All she wants is vengeance against all of those who hurt her and destroyed her life and 15 years later she starts that. She also wants love and someone to give her the ability to fly in a safe manner. Enter Mr FBI agent who happens to be hunting for a serial killer in her area. Can everyone get what they need? A must read!! Please check triggers if that's a thing for you. Would give it 10 stars if I could.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I loved this book. I met the author and when she told me about the book it was giving me MFS vibes. While they are kinda similar it was so good in its own way. I loved both the FMC and MMC. The whole book was amazing. My one and only small critique would be that I would have liked a little bit more in the epilogue. Would definitely recommend this book. If you buy it but the hard cover special edition bc it’s absolutely stunning.