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Spirit Realm #1
Séance
Book one in the Spirit Realm Duet...
I see dead people.
While it might sound cool, I can assure you, it’s not. The dead are even bigger assholes than the living.
I learned at a young age to be invisible. Even breathing wrong could set my father off. The beatings have become progressively worse as I’ve gotten older, and I fear I won’t survive to see my eighteenth birthday.
So I plotted my escape, and no one is more surprised that it worked than me!
The outside world is nothing like I expected and comes with its own set of problems—five of them to be exact. The five sexy men next door are flirty and fun, and even better, they know nothing about my past. I’m determined to keep it that way. Unfortunately, the dead won’t stay quiet, and death and destruction shadow my every footstep.
When one of the men stumbles into danger, I have to make the tough decision to reveal my secrets or allow him to suffer for my sins. Just when I think they accept my unique quirks, my past comes back to haunt me…literally. If I can’t learn to master my abilities, none of us will come out of this alive.
Meet the Rue, Hicks, Gunner, Ellis, and twins, Jameson and Jaceson.
** This book contains dark themes and violence. You have been warned. Read at your own risk.
I see dead people.
While it might sound cool, I can assure you, it’s not. The dead are even bigger assholes than the living.
I learned at a young age to be invisible. Even breathing wrong could set my father off. The beatings have become progressively worse as I’ve gotten older, and I fear I won’t survive to see my eighteenth birthday.
So I plotted my escape, and no one is more surprised that it worked than me!
The outside world is nothing like I expected and comes with its own set of problems—five of them to be exact. The five sexy men next door are flirty and fun, and even better, they know nothing about my past. I’m determined to keep it that way. Unfortunately, the dead won’t stay quiet, and death and destruction shadow my every footstep.
When one of the men stumbles into danger, I have to make the tough decision to reveal my secrets or allow him to suffer for my sins. Just when I think they accept my unique quirks, my past comes back to haunt me…literally. If I can’t learn to master my abilities, none of us will come out of this alive.
Meet the Rue, Hicks, Gunner, Ellis, and twins, Jameson and Jaceson.
** This book contains dark themes and violence. You have been warned. Read at your own risk.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2024
675 people are currently reading
461 people want to read
About the author
Stacey Brutger
50 books1,295 followersStacey Brutger lives in a small town in Minnesota with her husband and an assortment of animals.
When she's not reading (from the towering stack of books she can't resist buying), she enjoys creating stories about exotic worlds and grand adventures...then shoving in her characters to see how they'd survive. She enjoys writing anything paranormal from contemporary to historical.
~~~~~*****~~~~~*****~~~~~*****~~~~~
Where the fanged, furry and spell slingers fight the darkness inside their soul for a chance to claim the one they love.
When she's not reading (from the towering stack of books she can't resist buying), she enjoys creating stories about exotic worlds and grand adventures...then shoving in her characters to see how they'd survive. She enjoys writing anything paranormal from contemporary to historical.
~~~~~*****~~~~~*****~~~~~*****~~~~~
Where the fanged, furry and spell slingers fight the darkness inside their soul for a chance to claim the one they love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
did-not-finish
November 3, 2024DNF @ 15%
The “Heroes” objectify and ruminate about stalking the Heroine after meeting her for 3 seconds. Also the grandma is concerned the Heroine’s abusive dad will find them and hurt the Heroine…. Yet still goes on her vacation?? Make that make sense.
Nov 3, 2024
The “Heroes” objectify and ruminate about stalking the Heroine after meeting her for 3 seconds. Also the grandma is concerned the Heroine’s abusive dad will find them and hurt the Heroine…. Yet still goes on her vacation?? Make that make sense.
Nov 3, 2024
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2024
DNF at 20%. I have to agree with a lot of the other reviews of this book in that it's plot, characters and editing are all sub par at best. We start with a cliche virgin FMC who is abused by her father for her supernatural powers and hidden away from the world, who suddenly inherits a rich grandmother and a new life. These tropes themselves aren't innately bad, but they have to be done in a way that is creative and fresh- which didn't happen here. The FMC is a classic wattpad stereotype- unbelievably gorgeous but doesn't know it, naive and shy, smart and nerdy, feminine and dainty whilst still having 'curves in all the right places', super secret powers that make her an outcast and an abusive power-hungry family torturing her for fun. I hate that within seconds of meeting her- seeing her even- the guys all deduce that she's 'different' and 'not like other girls' because she smells different, or wears a flowery dress and is 'reserved'. The insta lust and insta protection vibes in this were horrendous, especially considering she's still a minor (17) and a victim of long lasting trauma. The guys are immediately overcome with lust, the need to protect and 'claim' her, and there's even a few thoughts of popping a boner etc when she smiles or something... too early on, this is gross. The grandmother too is a bit of a hypocrite for being so 'concerned' about her granddaughter then immediately leaving with pre-packed bags for weeks as soon as she moves in wtf. There were also numerous typos and errors, and overall, the whole book could have gone through a very thorough edit- I can't even recall a single character's description besides the FMC looking 'fuckable', the grandma looking 'flamboyant' and someone having hair thats 'long enough to touch the tip of their ears' OKAY AND WHAT?? This was such a shame for me because I love medium/psychic 'I see dead people' FMCs, a good RH and recently fell in love with another Stacey Brutger book published this same year- wtf? Hope her other books can hold up better than this poorly edited and overly cliched book. 2/10.
February 25, 2025
To be frank, this book annoyed me. I love ghost stories so whenever a psychic medium book comes out I give it the benefit of the doubt. Normally even when I don’t enjoy a book, that doesn’t automatically warrant 1 stars as I truly believe it is a matter of taste. However, this book was a less than stellar regurgitation of the most popular reverse harem books to come out over the past few years. Tropes are tropes because they work usually but this was less tropes and more lack of creativity.
What I liked:
Ghosts involved.
What I disliked:
Pretty much everything else.
The heroine has an interesting gift/curse but her character is not well developed and things seem to be added for convenience rather than logic. She has accelerated healing because she’s been abused so long? Even then, the amount of times the boys threw her over the shoulder when they knew she had broken ribs was two times too many for me.
The harem was quite literally every single RH ever. As soon as I knew we had twins, I was prepared for the manwhore/crazy and reserved/guarded combo but gosh if it wasn’t word for word that. Ignoring that because I can get over a well done stereotype (not that these were) but there were other issues. Immediately hearing how the men talked about other women let me know that this was going to be a “she’s not like other girls” books and it was. Everyone outside FMC is a “female” but yet we are expected to believe the guys are so protective of women and pillars of their empowerment. The author never shows this just tells us this is the case and then shows us they go through girls like tissue paper.
What upset me most about the harem was the unnecessary tropes and concepts thrown in seemingly either to make the plot bunnies possible or because it ups the harems cool. factor. Despite all the characters acting 16, they were 18 but in positions and situations of characters in their mid-20s. I would argue the story would have made sense if at least the men were older. The business type, the hacker, the street fighter, the drag racer, it is all just so overdone and adds nothing to the story. All of those character types have a place and none of them made sense in this book of 18 year olds crushing on their neighbor who sees ghosts.
If a book is creative or has a unique concept, even badly written I will say it has potential and give it 2-3 stars but this book was an over-saturation of the worst stereotypes and concepts with nothing new to add to the genre. It was average writing with internalized misogyny galore and the regurgitation of past (better written) characters of the genre.
What I liked:
Ghosts involved.
What I disliked:
Pretty much everything else.
The heroine has an interesting gift/curse but her character is not well developed and things seem to be added for convenience rather than logic. She has accelerated healing because she’s been abused so long? Even then, the amount of times the boys threw her over the shoulder when they knew she had broken ribs was two times too many for me.
The harem was quite literally every single RH ever. As soon as I knew we had twins, I was prepared for the manwhore/crazy and reserved/guarded combo but gosh if it wasn’t word for word that. Ignoring that because I can get over a well done stereotype (not that these were) but there were other issues. Immediately hearing how the men talked about other women let me know that this was going to be a “she’s not like other girls” books and it was. Everyone outside FMC is a “female” but yet we are expected to believe the guys are so protective of women and pillars of their empowerment. The author never shows this just tells us this is the case and then shows us they go through girls like tissue paper.
What upset me most about the harem was the unnecessary tropes and concepts thrown in seemingly either to make the plot bunnies possible or because it ups the harems cool. factor. Despite all the characters acting 16, they were 18 but in positions and situations of characters in their mid-20s. I would argue the story would have made sense if at least the men were older. The business type, the hacker, the street fighter, the drag racer, it is all just so overdone and adds nothing to the story. All of those character types have a place and none of them made sense in this book of 18 year olds crushing on their neighbor who sees ghosts.
If a book is creative or has a unique concept, even badly written I will say it has potential and give it 2-3 stars but this book was an over-saturation of the worst stereotypes and concepts with nothing new to add to the genre. It was average writing with internalized misogyny galore and the regurgitation of past (better written) characters of the genre.
April 1, 2025
DNF 21% there was nothing likable about this book.
* Grandma shows up just in time to save the poor, abused FMC. But instead of having grandma actually be a part of the story-you know teach the FMC about her abilities and history or to protect herself-the grandma goes off on a cruise. Not like the FMCs dad is after her or anything, totally safe to ditch her for a cruise. So grandma was literally just a disposable plot point to quickly get the FMC to the insta-love location.
* As stated above, hella insta-lust/love. Guys take one look at the FMC and she’s the Mary-est of Sue’s and so damned perfect. Gag.
* FMC is the absolute biggest contradiction. Literally locked away and abused but still conveniently knows everything. Says “I need to find myself first and learn to be on my own so I should stay away from these guys” but two chapters later is kissing one of the guys. Also it’s like the author didn’t know how to write her personality, the character was very bold one minute and then suddenly remembers she has trauma right after.
* I was told there’d be ghosts. Instead of a good story with some good smut I got this bipolar disaster of a book.
* Grandma shows up just in time to save the poor, abused FMC. But instead of having grandma actually be a part of the story-you know teach the FMC about her abilities and history or to protect herself-the grandma goes off on a cruise. Not like the FMCs dad is after her or anything, totally safe to ditch her for a cruise. So grandma was literally just a disposable plot point to quickly get the FMC to the insta-love location.
* As stated above, hella insta-lust/love. Guys take one look at the FMC and she’s the Mary-est of Sue’s and so damned perfect. Gag.
* FMC is the absolute biggest contradiction. Literally locked away and abused but still conveniently knows everything. Says “I need to find myself first and learn to be on my own so I should stay away from these guys” but two chapters later is kissing one of the guys. Also it’s like the author didn’t know how to write her personality, the character was very bold one minute and then suddenly remembers she has trauma right after.
* I was told there’d be ghosts. Instead of a good story with some good smut I got this bipolar disaster of a book.
November 8, 2024
Meh
Really hard to suspend disbelief with this one. Can't deal with the 'locked away from the world' heroine who knows nothing, except when they do know things and then that's explained away with glib excuses. Even worse when said heroine has been physically mistreated for years and years, but is miraculously fine with MCs who are into bdsm. And I predicted the last chapter less than halfway through the book.
Really hard to suspend disbelief with this one. Can't deal with the 'locked away from the world' heroine who knows nothing, except when they do know things and then that's explained away with glib excuses. Even worse when said heroine has been physically mistreated for years and years, but is miraculously fine with MCs who are into bdsm. And I predicted the last chapter less than halfway through the book.
March 31, 2025
I normally enjoy Stacey's books. But this one was sadly not it. Rue is a sheltered girl who was locked in her room and abused by her dad her whole life. When shes saved by her grandma her personality completely changes. She is very ignorant on what bird feed is, how to read other peoples body language is, and how to even interact with people. But somehow always reads the guys moods, bosses them around, was lowkey rude to a sales lady because she was a woman near her men? She says she cant swim but jumps out of a boat when they could've moved faster in it. Then somehow thinks the ghost is using powers on her to make her slower when shes trying to walk in deep water? Are you dumb?
She tells two of the guys about her gift but in a vague way. They somehow brush it off and act like they never got that information. They're confused on how she knows certain things but never ask. Most of her men have personality changes as well. Hicks is all protective of her when they first meet and then he turns into a "shes her for a devious reason, I must find out". Dude, you clearly know shes been abused and you're confused on her actions? It's like the author got confused on who her characters were and which direction she wanted to take them in. So many cringey and eye roll moments. Most of this book was EVERYONES in er monologue. And most of what happens is repeated in their inner monologue.
She tells two of the guys about her gift but in a vague way. They somehow brush it off and act like they never got that information. They're confused on how she knows certain things but never ask. Most of her men have personality changes as well. Hicks is all protective of her when they first meet and then he turns into a "shes her for a devious reason, I must find out". Dude, you clearly know shes been abused and you're confused on her actions? It's like the author got confused on who her characters were and which direction she wanted to take them in. So many cringey and eye roll moments. Most of this book was EVERYONES in er monologue. And most of what happens is repeated in their inner monologue.
April 7, 2025
2 stars — Because I finished it and that’s saying something.
So here’s the thing: Séance by Stacey Brutger isn’t the worst book I’ve ever read… but it might be the most accidentally infuriating one. I picked this up while in a book slump and had literally nothing else in the queue. That’s the only reason I made it past Chapter 3 without rage-quitting.
The characters? Eh. The plot? Meh.
But my real beef? The guys. Oh, the guys.
This is a reverse harem, which usually means I’m here for a good time. Instead, I got teenage boy-shaped adults with Batman-level trauma and a full LinkedIn resume by the time they’re supposedly 18 and heading to college next month. Like—tattoo shop apprenticeships, underground fighting ring experience, elite hacker status, stock market wizardry, AND emotionally intelligent caretakers with complex sexual preferences? Pick a lane. Or, you know, make them 28, not 18.
The suspension of disbelief didn’t just fail—it plummeted off a cliff. The “bad boy” love interest in particular gave me emotional whiplash every other paragraph. One minute he’s “touch her and die,” the next he’s plotting to gaslight and torture her “for her own good.” Sir, pick a mood and commit.
The plot holes were deep enough to bury my last five brain cells. At one point they act like they need to “figure out what’s going on with her”… after already being told exactly what’s going on. Did everyone just forget the abuse reveal scene? Like, the whole thing? Cool, cool.
Honestly, I never write reviews. But this one annoyed me just enough to break that streak. So congratulations to Séance for waking me from my slump with sheer frustration. Sometimes hate-reading is its own kind of therapy.
Would I recommend it? Only if your Kindle battery is at 2% and the apocalypse has cut off all other reading material. Otherwise… hard pass.
So here’s the thing: Séance by Stacey Brutger isn’t the worst book I’ve ever read… but it might be the most accidentally infuriating one. I picked this up while in a book slump and had literally nothing else in the queue. That’s the only reason I made it past Chapter 3 without rage-quitting.
The characters? Eh. The plot? Meh.
But my real beef? The guys. Oh, the guys.
This is a reverse harem, which usually means I’m here for a good time. Instead, I got teenage boy-shaped adults with Batman-level trauma and a full LinkedIn resume by the time they’re supposedly 18 and heading to college next month. Like—tattoo shop apprenticeships, underground fighting ring experience, elite hacker status, stock market wizardry, AND emotionally intelligent caretakers with complex sexual preferences? Pick a lane. Or, you know, make them 28, not 18.
The suspension of disbelief didn’t just fail—it plummeted off a cliff. The “bad boy” love interest in particular gave me emotional whiplash every other paragraph. One minute he’s “touch her and die,” the next he’s plotting to gaslight and torture her “for her own good.” Sir, pick a mood and commit.
The plot holes were deep enough to bury my last five brain cells. At one point they act like they need to “figure out what’s going on with her”… after already being told exactly what’s going on. Did everyone just forget the abuse reveal scene? Like, the whole thing? Cool, cool.
Honestly, I never write reviews. But this one annoyed me just enough to break that streak. So congratulations to Séance for waking me from my slump with sheer frustration. Sometimes hate-reading is its own kind of therapy.
Would I recommend it? Only if your Kindle battery is at 2% and the apocalypse has cut off all other reading material. Otherwise… hard pass.
February 13, 2025
I have issues with this book
Ok, so first of all, the whole thing seemed "im not like other girls" second, dont like that they are all only 18, and somehow have extensive money, a house all to themselves and so much sexual experience that some of them have developed like dom kinks like wtf those are basically children. That being said, there is no real spice in the book, which is a blessing and a curse. The premise of the book seemed good, and i think maybe if they were aged up it could be better. But it also just severely stressed me out and ended on a cliffhanger so idk
Ok, so first of all, the whole thing seemed "im not like other girls" second, dont like that they are all only 18, and somehow have extensive money, a house all to themselves and so much sexual experience that some of them have developed like dom kinks like wtf those are basically children. That being said, there is no real spice in the book, which is a blessing and a curse. The premise of the book seemed good, and i think maybe if they were aged up it could be better. But it also just severely stressed me out and ended on a cliffhanger so idk
March 31, 2025
4.75⭐️
March 31, 2025
I love a book surrounded by angst and supernatural -- anything psychic-y peaks my interest. I was very excited for this book, and now I am very disappointed.
I expected a traumatized girl, untrusting, slightly crazy to be honest, slowly come out of her shell and learn to lean on others. Instead, it's like a thirteen year old who couldn't wait to write the romance.
It was too soon, too much, and too awful! There is 100% some potential for this book, however, the execution was not it for me. I couldn't suffer anymore of it, and that's saying something for me who rarely dnf's books
I expected a traumatized girl, untrusting, slightly crazy to be honest, slowly come out of her shell and learn to lean on others. Instead, it's like a thirteen year old who couldn't wait to write the romance.
It was too soon, too much, and too awful! There is 100% some potential for this book, however, the execution was not it for me. I couldn't suffer anymore of it, and that's saying something for me who rarely dnf's books
July 16, 2025
Similar in vibes to The Veil Diaries , but it is squashed into a duet, so there was no time for any actual relationship or plot development. There was way too much body objectification for my liking, and I found there to be a major mismatch between the stated age of the characters versus the experiences and archetypes they are meant to have and embody. It needs some editing due to inconsistencies, but more so, I think it could be reworked entirely.
November 15, 2024
This is book 1, and I can't wait for book 2!
This book reminded me of the Veil Diaries series, like she has powers over the dead and she ends up with a group of guys as her protectors/friends/lovers.
Spoilers....
Her name is Tally Rue. Usually goes by Rue. And let's be honest, that name is just kind of fvckin brutal. Like is it supposed to sound kinda witchy? Maybe idk. There has not been much backstory explaining her genealogy yet or explaining where her name came from.. and I would just like to pretend her name is like Rain or something else instead. Like it can be unusual, but why Tally Rue? Why does it sound like what jockeys yell when they whip their horses? Idk, maybe i'm the weird one for thinking that... Anyway... She has escaped her horrendously abusive parents to live with her grandma, and the boys next door are IMMEDIATELY obsessed w her. From the very first second. She's still got bruises on her face and body tho, so they recognize they need to go slow. Rue is just now learning how to live her life for the first time (she had been locked up her whole life and forced to try and use her ghost whispering talents to get any kind of business insight that might help her shitstain father amass more wealth)... Rue dyes her hair pink, she paints her toenails all different colors, she wears super fuzzy sweaters... all things she's wanted to try but never got a chance to. Rue is just a few weeks shy of her 18th birthday and she knows her father will try to steal her away again before then. He's been bribing people for years to build a case file that makes her look unstable and insane and like a danger to herself & others so that he can be her guardian even after she turns 18.... and even still knowing that, Rue doesn't get a security system for her gma's house..???? I mean... this was no surprise ending, I'm just saying......
The guys:
- There's Gunnar (the Zeke character). He is the big guy, the mechanic, the street fighter. He was born to be spare parts for his ill sister, and once she died, his parents hated him. Now he stays with the guys, and works to save enough money to go to the same college as them even tho he assumes they'll leave him behind someday.
- There's James. Jameson. Whichever. He's the Isaac character. He's kind of feral sometimes, like bipolar, but he's the extrovert and the flirt/the charmer. He will like melt your heart and make you just wanna cry and hold him when he acts just like an abused puppy that just wants Rue to love him 🥺. Him and his twin brother both have been affected by the ghosts around them all their lives but didn't realize it. They just thought they were going crazy...I guess? I don't remember their family backstory tho...
- There's Jace. Jaceson. As much as it pains me to say it, I think his name is pronounced like Jason... yikes. Anyway... Jace is the more haunted brother. Keeps to himself. Almost shy in a kind of emo way maybe... He is really smart too, and I think they say he's like a little covert spy type, like a little thief in the night when he needs to be... (keep in mind that they're all only like 18, so the way they're described as like a combat strike team sometimes is just the silliest most confusing thing ever, but I digress...) I guess he's kind of the Ethan character but idk if he plays any instruments or if he sings or anything, so that makes it hard to compare lol...
- There's Ellis. The "sexy nerd" with the glasses and the high IQ. Except not really. Sure he's smart but he's also like cringey. Like he's a wannabe Dom..? What? He kind of keeps his distance for the second half of the book, thinking she's crazy for thinking she can see ghosts. Kind of the Miles character I guess, but I don't really like him.
- And then there's Hicks. I'm guessing the author gave him that name because it rhymes with Dicks? He is a massive A-hole for most of the book. Very cold to Rue. Like he glares at her 90% of the time, with the stare of a hardened killer (idk). he's suspicious of her. He thinks she's some kind of honey trap? I don't know! They're 18. They're not spies. Like who cares! But anyway... He is another of the quote unquote smart ones.. like the Leader almost, responsible for the investments or some shit. He literally goes to Rue's abusive father to find out if she's lying her or not, instead of just talking to her. And then he invites a bunch of bitches to confront Rue with a ouija board, to see if she'd admit to lying about her powers. Like wow way to master Gaslighting you fvcking dickhead.
. . . And he's definitely not like Asher so I guess that just leaves the kidnapper villain freak 🤷♀️ okay so it's not a perfect comparison!
I just loved the parts with Gunnar, James, and Jace hanging out with Rue... going on a picnic. Getting a tattoo. Picking out warded jewelry. It sucks that none of them except for James really believed in her abilities. I wish that was written differently. Now that her abilities have been proven to be real, the guys have to fix the mess that Hicks fvcking caused and rescue Rue from wherever her father stuck her. He hired fake psychiatric hospital employees to drug her and steal her out her house while she slept when she was recovering from the ouija board ordeal that Hicks put her through. Like wayyyy to goooo boys. Only James is safe from my wrath, that poor baby. He is not doing well now either. The other guys need to find and rescue Rue and then spend months if not years begging for forgiveness living like monks while James takes care of all of Rue's needs by himself for awhile....
This book reminded me of the Veil Diaries series, like she has powers over the dead and she ends up with a group of guys as her protectors/friends/lovers.
Spoilers....
Her name is Tally Rue. Usually goes by Rue. And let's be honest, that name is just kind of fvckin brutal. Like is it supposed to sound kinda witchy? Maybe idk. There has not been much backstory explaining her genealogy yet or explaining where her name came from.. and I would just like to pretend her name is like Rain or something else instead. Like it can be unusual, but why Tally Rue? Why does it sound like what jockeys yell when they whip their horses? Idk, maybe i'm the weird one for thinking that... Anyway... She has escaped her horrendously abusive parents to live with her grandma, and the boys next door are IMMEDIATELY obsessed w her. From the very first second. She's still got bruises on her face and body tho, so they recognize they need to go slow. Rue is just now learning how to live her life for the first time (she had been locked up her whole life and forced to try and use her ghost whispering talents to get any kind of business insight that might help her shitstain father amass more wealth)... Rue dyes her hair pink, she paints her toenails all different colors, she wears super fuzzy sweaters... all things she's wanted to try but never got a chance to. Rue is just a few weeks shy of her 18th birthday and she knows her father will try to steal her away again before then. He's been bribing people for years to build a case file that makes her look unstable and insane and like a danger to herself & others so that he can be her guardian even after she turns 18.... and even still knowing that, Rue doesn't get a security system for her gma's house..???? I mean... this was no surprise ending, I'm just saying......
The guys:
- There's Gunnar (the Zeke character). He is the big guy, the mechanic, the street fighter. He was born to be spare parts for his ill sister, and once she died, his parents hated him. Now he stays with the guys, and works to save enough money to go to the same college as them even tho he assumes they'll leave him behind someday.
- There's James. Jameson. Whichever. He's the Isaac character. He's kind of feral sometimes, like bipolar, but he's the extrovert and the flirt/the charmer. He will like melt your heart and make you just wanna cry and hold him when he acts just like an abused puppy that just wants Rue to love him 🥺. Him and his twin brother both have been affected by the ghosts around them all their lives but didn't realize it. They just thought they were going crazy...I guess? I don't remember their family backstory tho...
- There's Jace. Jaceson. As much as it pains me to say it, I think his name is pronounced like Jason... yikes. Anyway... Jace is the more haunted brother. Keeps to himself. Almost shy in a kind of emo way maybe... He is really smart too, and I think they say he's like a little covert spy type, like a little thief in the night when he needs to be... (keep in mind that they're all only like 18, so the way they're described as like a combat strike team sometimes is just the silliest most confusing thing ever, but I digress...) I guess he's kind of the Ethan character but idk if he plays any instruments or if he sings or anything, so that makes it hard to compare lol...
- There's Ellis. The "sexy nerd" with the glasses and the high IQ. Except not really. Sure he's smart but he's also like cringey. Like he's a wannabe Dom..? What? He kind of keeps his distance for the second half of the book, thinking she's crazy for thinking she can see ghosts. Kind of the Miles character I guess, but I don't really like him.
- And then there's Hicks. I'm guessing the author gave him that name because it rhymes with Dicks? He is a massive A-hole for most of the book. Very cold to Rue. Like he glares at her 90% of the time, with the stare of a hardened killer (idk). he's suspicious of her. He thinks she's some kind of honey trap? I don't know! They're 18. They're not spies. Like who cares! But anyway... He is another of the quote unquote smart ones.. like the Leader almost, responsible for the investments or some shit. He literally goes to Rue's abusive father to find out if she's lying her or not, instead of just talking to her. And then he invites a bunch of bitches to confront Rue with a ouija board, to see if she'd admit to lying about her powers. Like wow way to master Gaslighting you fvcking dickhead.
. . . And he's definitely not like Asher so I guess that just leaves the kidnapper villain freak 🤷♀️ okay so it's not a perfect comparison!
I just loved the parts with Gunnar, James, and Jace hanging out with Rue... going on a picnic. Getting a tattoo. Picking out warded jewelry. It sucks that none of them except for James really believed in her abilities. I wish that was written differently. Now that her abilities have been proven to be real, the guys have to fix the mess that Hicks fvcking caused and rescue Rue from wherever her father stuck her. He hired fake psychiatric hospital employees to drug her and steal her out her house while she slept when she was recovering from the ouija board ordeal that Hicks put her through. Like wayyyy to goooo boys. Only James is safe from my wrath, that poor baby. He is not doing well now either. The other guys need to find and rescue Rue and then spend months if not years begging for forgiveness living like monks while James takes care of all of Rue's needs by himself for awhile....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2025
Boring and slow.
Too slow and overdone on the monologues or self reflections. Boring read and nothing really happened with the heroine being weak and powerless except being a medium.. Lots of telling and repetitive details. Disappointed.
Too slow and overdone on the monologues or self reflections. Boring read and nothing really happened with the heroine being weak and powerless except being a medium.. Lots of telling and repetitive details. Disappointed.
April 29, 2025
another virgin FMC
With manwh*re harem. So over this trope. Dnf I just couldn’t make myself get interested in the characters once I realized this was that trope again. Ashame, really. It seemed like the plot had potential.
With manwh*re harem. So over this trope. Dnf I just couldn’t make myself get interested in the characters once I realized this was that trope again. Ashame, really. It seemed like the plot had potential.
November 5, 2024
DNF 17% (pg 71)
I don't normally drop a book so soon, but I knew early on that I wasn't going to like the direction of this book. Based on the synopsis, I thought this book had great potential. The book didn't start out slow or boring and immediately brought the reader into the drama... but then the author introduced the harem and this book quickly went downhill.
Rue is a 17-yr old who has been imprisoned and abused her entire life. She has been sheltered and has never felt love or experienced a kind touch. Yet somehow, this same girl who has only experienced abuse at the hands of a man is suddenly boy crazy and getting hot and bothered during the first meeting with her future harem. I would've understood shyness and blushing, but...
***SPOILER ALERT***
She gave her 1st kiss away the FIRST day she met her men. When she did this, I immediately stopped reading. I don't like instalove and I especially don't like when authors take traumatized heroines and make them conveniently forget about their fears and hesitance to be touched, just to speed things along in the "romance department". It's not believable in the slightest and takes me out of the book.
Another thing that was simply unbelievable is Rue being left to her own devices. She was saved by her grandma, moved in with her, and then on the same day, her grandma left her alone to go on a cruise. I'm sorry, what? So let me get this straight...Rue is underage, still black &blue from her last beating, ignorant of many things due to being confined and controlled her whole life, has an abusive father who promises to get her back, but the grandma (basically the author) thought it was perfectly fine to leave Rue alone. The reason? Because she was in good hands with her new neighbors, her harem. A harem of strangers, but it's okay because they are instantly enamored by her, so of course they'll do anything to protect her. Riiiighhtttt.
Oh and don't forget no one has ever really taught Rue how to properly use her powers so all her knowledge is from research and trial&error. Interestingly enough, her grandma could help teach her, but I guess the author felt it was more important to send her on a cruise and quickly establish a relationship between Rue and her men.
***END OF SPOILER***
I feel so disappointed by this book. Maybe things would've improved if I had continued reading, but I honestly didn't want to waste time reading a 300+ pg book when there are already red flags in the 1st 100pgs of the book. I've read Stacey's books before but this book almost felt lazy. There was no attempt to make sense out of certain things or any courting for the romance. Maybe others can get past this, but I can't.
I don't normally drop a book so soon, but I knew early on that I wasn't going to like the direction of this book. Based on the synopsis, I thought this book had great potential. The book didn't start out slow or boring and immediately brought the reader into the drama... but then the author introduced the harem and this book quickly went downhill.
Rue is a 17-yr old who has been imprisoned and abused her entire life. She has been sheltered and has never felt love or experienced a kind touch. Yet somehow, this same girl who has only experienced abuse at the hands of a man is suddenly boy crazy and getting hot and bothered during the first meeting with her future harem. I would've understood shyness and blushing, but...
***SPOILER ALERT***
She gave her 1st kiss away the FIRST day she met her men. When she did this, I immediately stopped reading. I don't like instalove and I especially don't like when authors take traumatized heroines and make them conveniently forget about their fears and hesitance to be touched, just to speed things along in the "romance department". It's not believable in the slightest and takes me out of the book.
Another thing that was simply unbelievable is Rue being left to her own devices. She was saved by her grandma, moved in with her, and then on the same day, her grandma left her alone to go on a cruise. I'm sorry, what? So let me get this straight...Rue is underage, still black &blue from her last beating, ignorant of many things due to being confined and controlled her whole life, has an abusive father who promises to get her back, but the grandma (basically the author) thought it was perfectly fine to leave Rue alone. The reason? Because she was in good hands with her new neighbors, her harem. A harem of strangers, but it's okay because they are instantly enamored by her, so of course they'll do anything to protect her. Riiiighhtttt.
Oh and don't forget no one has ever really taught Rue how to properly use her powers so all her knowledge is from research and trial&error. Interestingly enough, her grandma could help teach her, but I guess the author felt it was more important to send her on a cruise and quickly establish a relationship between Rue and her men.
***END OF SPOILER***
I feel so disappointed by this book. Maybe things would've improved if I had continued reading, but I honestly didn't want to waste time reading a 300+ pg book when there are already red flags in the 1st 100pgs of the book. I've read Stacey's books before but this book almost felt lazy. There was no attempt to make sense out of certain things or any courting for the romance. Maybe others can get past this, but I can't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
August 3, 2025All over, a big nope. There were far too many similarities to The Veil Diaries: twins - 1 of them manic, the giant grumpy mechanic, the computer geek with green eyes and a dom kink, protection jewelry, parties they shouldn't be attending, ... And the info-dumping. OMG, the first third of the book is nothing but inner monologue info-dumps. I seriously about didn't make it through that part. Then she has absolutely no contingency plans? None? She's a genius and has escaped his hold but no backed up photos of his abuse, no background digging on the lying doctors, no bank transactions showing he's paying people off, nada. No plans on how to keep herself safe from him at all. And no plans with the guys once she tells them, either. So...what's the point? Where is this supposed to go? She could apparently contact a lawyer from her imprisonment about finding alternate family but now she's 18. Having someone involuntarily committed takes effort. Even $ only goes so far. It would have been easier to have a "Brittany order"- a conservatorship- than have her even fake taken into custody. And a lot harder for her to escape it. Money wasted, and he doesn't seem the sort to waste money. There were just too many plot holes, on top of the dumps, on top of the similarities, on top of the odd dialogue, on top of the weird random mean girl trope, ... And these guys are teens? They make some very odd choices for teen guys. There's suspension of reality in almost any fictional story. This just chucked it out the window and waved it goodbye.
November 5, 2024
Great book
I fell in love with the characters. Especially Rue. She’s described as super innocent and naive to most interactions with people other than her father and his associates. She’s brutally beaten and abused by her father before she’s rescued by her maternal grandmother which is where she meets the guys. Hicks is the first to see her, he does his best not to fall for her and does everything in his power to prove she will tear the guys apart (Jameson, Jaeson, Gunnar and himself) but he is the one that tears them all apart by going to her dad and telling him where she is. He finds her and admits her to a psychiatric hold but there’s no hospital. The guys just let them take her and not follow after them… hicks finally believed her after the fiasco at his party with the bad spirit that tried to kill her. Stupid Brenda showed up with a ouiji board and invites in the bad spirit. Rue had saved a girl from a bakery freezer in the grocery store from dying when she saw her spirit floating around, she saved a mother and 2 kids from a water spirit and then saved the guys from the bad spirit at the party. So they finally beleive her but it’s to late. She’s done with no trace all due to Hicks and his involvement with her dad. Pretty sad really. Can’t wait for the next book!
I fell in love with the characters. Especially Rue. She’s described as super innocent and naive to most interactions with people other than her father and his associates. She’s brutally beaten and abused by her father before she’s rescued by her maternal grandmother which is where she meets the guys. Hicks is the first to see her, he does his best not to fall for her and does everything in his power to prove she will tear the guys apart (Jameson, Jaeson, Gunnar and himself) but he is the one that tears them all apart by going to her dad and telling him where she is. He finds her and admits her to a psychiatric hold but there’s no hospital. The guys just let them take her and not follow after them… hicks finally believed her after the fiasco at his party with the bad spirit that tried to kill her. Stupid Brenda showed up with a ouiji board and invites in the bad spirit. Rue had saved a girl from a bakery freezer in the grocery store from dying when she saw her spirit floating around, she saved a mother and 2 kids from a water spirit and then saved the guys from the bad spirit at the party. So they finally beleive her but it’s to late. She’s done with no trace all due to Hicks and his involvement with her dad. Pretty sad really. Can’t wait for the next book!
October 6, 2025
I both hated and sort of like this book I’m very conflicted.
It’s literally filled with things I hate:
She has supernatural powers that she was both abused for and taken advantage of for, and a grandmother ones out of the woodwork to rescue her days before her 18th birthday. But then takes off on a trip leaving her alone with a group of guys next door to keep watch over her. Knowing she not only isn’t safe from her father, but also needs to learn more about her powers. Uh huh. Sure.
Of course it’s insta protector mode for most of the guys, save for the one hold out who has to be the ass and ruin everything. And he does ruin things in glorious fashion.
The guys are manwhores while she is the virginal perfect and gorgeous girl who is not like all the other girls with all the perfect curves, but doesn’t know it. She was hidden away and abused all her life, yet has very little trouble jumping into a RH relationship with all the guys. There are a few mentions of her sheltered life, but also her being ok with one guys hands in her pants in a book store.
By the end, I actually felt better about the book. It felt less cliche. I was hoping she’d hold out and tell them all to fuck off. It’s a doozy of cliffy. I will be reading the next one to see what happens, so even though it started with some of the frustrating cliche tropes it did catch me as I kept reading.
It’s literally filled with things I hate:
She has supernatural powers that she was both abused for and taken advantage of for, and a grandmother ones out of the woodwork to rescue her days before her 18th birthday. But then takes off on a trip leaving her alone with a group of guys next door to keep watch over her. Knowing she not only isn’t safe from her father, but also needs to learn more about her powers. Uh huh. Sure.
Of course it’s insta protector mode for most of the guys, save for the one hold out who has to be the ass and ruin everything. And he does ruin things in glorious fashion.
The guys are manwhores while she is the virginal perfect and gorgeous girl who is not like all the other girls with all the perfect curves, but doesn’t know it. She was hidden away and abused all her life, yet has very little trouble jumping into a RH relationship with all the guys. There are a few mentions of her sheltered life, but also her being ok with one guys hands in her pants in a book store.
By the end, I actually felt better about the book. It felt less cliche. I was hoping she’d hold out and tell them all to fuck off. It’s a doozy of cliffy. I will be reading the next one to see what happens, so even though it started with some of the frustrating cliche tropes it did catch me as I kept reading.
Read
November 16, 2024MFMMMM, paranormal, slow burn, not-like-other-girls innocent virgin FMC, MMCs instalove/obsession, found family friendships, twin MMCs, unfinished series.
Aspects reminded me of the Veil Diaries series by BL Brunnemer except the MCs are starting college (not high schoolers) and the MCs are in instalove with her so the relationship progresses faster though it’s def a slow burn. Just a bit of steam in this first book. If you liked veil diaries series I bet you’d like this one.
A few things about the FMC didn’t fit her backstory imo. Considering how sheltered the FMC is, has literally never spoken to a guy her age kinda inexperienced, yet upon first meetings of the guys she can barely resist touching their asses or imagining dirty things with them? Idk this part didn’t seem to match her history and made me roll my eyes a couple times.
I prefer when the MCs develop feelings for each other rather than it being so instant. I also don’t particularly enjoy the darling special FMC who isn’t like other girls and is amazing at everything type. Considering this, I’m not the target reader for this book. All that being said, I did finish the book and would have considered reading book 2 if the release date wasn’t roughly a year away.
Aspects reminded me of the Veil Diaries series by BL Brunnemer except the MCs are starting college (not high schoolers) and the MCs are in instalove with her so the relationship progresses faster though it’s def a slow burn. Just a bit of steam in this first book. If you liked veil diaries series I bet you’d like this one.
A few things about the FMC didn’t fit her backstory imo. Considering how sheltered the FMC is, has literally never spoken to a guy her age kinda inexperienced, yet upon first meetings of the guys she can barely resist touching their asses or imagining dirty things with them? Idk this part didn’t seem to match her history and made me roll my eyes a couple times.
I prefer when the MCs develop feelings for each other rather than it being so instant. I also don’t particularly enjoy the darling special FMC who isn’t like other girls and is amazing at everything type. Considering this, I’m not the target reader for this book. All that being said, I did finish the book and would have considered reading book 2 if the release date wasn’t roughly a year away.
October 31, 2024
DNF around 25%
If an author is going to write a character that suffers from a current injury (in this case broken ribs) and a past that includes horrific abuse, that character should start acting like they have those things.
The FMC supposedly has broken ribs, yet she doesn't talk about wrapping them, she runs (yes RUNS) down the stairs, helps put together a heavy piece of furniture and her grandmother hugs her tightly.
No she fucking didn't do any of those things. Not with broken ribs, ten days from when they happened.
Also, if the abuse she suffered was sooooo traumatic, her grandmother would not have left the FMC alone to go on a cruise. Especially when the father is going to come after the FMC. No.
The writing was sophomoric, dialogue unbelievable, and the chapters and characters were written without any thought as to the events that had previously transpired. The author essentially stitched together scenes and did not think as to how actions could help shape future interactions.
The idea of the story is what caught my eye, but sadly the execution was lackluster.
If an author is going to write a character that suffers from a current injury (in this case broken ribs) and a past that includes horrific abuse, that character should start acting like they have those things.
The FMC supposedly has broken ribs, yet she doesn't talk about wrapping them, she runs (yes RUNS) down the stairs, helps put together a heavy piece of furniture and her grandmother hugs her tightly.
No she fucking didn't do any of those things. Not with broken ribs, ten days from when they happened.
Also, if the abuse she suffered was sooooo traumatic, her grandmother would not have left the FMC alone to go on a cruise. Especially when the father is going to come after the FMC. No.
The writing was sophomoric, dialogue unbelievable, and the chapters and characters were written without any thought as to the events that had previously transpired. The author essentially stitched together scenes and did not think as to how actions could help shape future interactions.
The idea of the story is what caught my eye, but sadly the execution was lackluster.
January 6, 2025
And the award for first DNF of 2025 has been announced! And for comparison, I only DNF’d six books last year, which was about one percent of what I read. I push through with blind optimism and hope it gets better. This one just wasn’t.
The writing in this was god awful. So damn clunky and it’s pretty much ooh, they’re hot. I’m aroused looking at them and imagining the things we could do naked. With. Every. Single. Character. It doesn’t matter whose POV it’s in, or what’s happening in the world, this is the story. The characters are inconsistent and it’s just literally the dumbest thing I’ve read in a really long time. So many things change at the drop of a hat for no reason, or directly contradict something that was said the page earlier.
And where the hell are the ghosts?
We get a brief mention at 30%, and even then it’s a retelling scene, not while it’s actually occurring. At 50% we finally get a decent snippet of ghost going on, then it freaking disappears after a paragraph. I finally gave myself permission to quit at 55% because I just couldn’t anymore. Hot garbage.
The writing in this was god awful. So damn clunky and it’s pretty much ooh, they’re hot. I’m aroused looking at them and imagining the things we could do naked. With. Every. Single. Character. It doesn’t matter whose POV it’s in, or what’s happening in the world, this is the story. The characters are inconsistent and it’s just literally the dumbest thing I’ve read in a really long time. So many things change at the drop of a hat for no reason, or directly contradict something that was said the page earlier.
And where the hell are the ghosts?
We get a brief mention at 30%, and even then it’s a retelling scene, not while it’s actually occurring. At 50% we finally get a decent snippet of ghost going on, then it freaking disappears after a paragraph. I finally gave myself permission to quit at 55% because I just couldn’t anymore. Hot garbage.
November 17, 2024
5/5 stars
HOLY SHIT!
I PICKED UP THIS BOOK TODAY AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN. I read this entire 400 page book in ONE sitting in just a couple hours… and now I find out that I have to WAIT for the next book. I really hope that it comes out January 1st of 2025 or I am actually going to lose my mind.
This book had me legit gasping for air, screeching, all of the emotions. I even started crying. I went into this book not expecting a lot, but I came out of it WITH SO SO MUCH! I love Pookie more than I can even begin to describe. She is so perfect and has been through SO much, and I need to know what happens next. I love all of the guys, BUT SCREW HICKS. You have some major groveling to do, and I can’t wait to see it. Jameson was such a sweetheart, and EVERYONE ELSE NEEDS TO GROVEL
Please if you haven’t, pick up and read this book now. It will actually change your life.
*UPDATE*
NOOOOOOOO THE NEXT BOOK DOESNT COME OUT UNTIL NEXT DECEMBER. THIS ACTUALLY RUINED MY NIGHT, AND I AM GOING TO START CRYING.
HOLY SHIT!
I PICKED UP THIS BOOK TODAY AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN. I read this entire 400 page book in ONE sitting in just a couple hours… and now I find out that I have to WAIT for the next book. I really hope that it comes out January 1st of 2025 or I am actually going to lose my mind.
This book had me legit gasping for air, screeching, all of the emotions. I even started crying. I went into this book not expecting a lot, but I came out of it WITH SO SO MUCH! I love Pookie more than I can even begin to describe. She is so perfect and has been through SO much, and I need to know what happens next. I love all of the guys, BUT SCREW HICKS. You have some major groveling to do, and I can’t wait to see it. Jameson was such a sweetheart, and EVERYONE ELSE NEEDS TO GROVEL
Please if you haven’t, pick up and read this book now. It will actually change your life.
*UPDATE*
NOOOOOOOO THE NEXT BOOK DOESNT COME OUT UNTIL NEXT DECEMBER. THIS ACTUALLY RUINED MY NIGHT, AND I AM GOING TO START CRYING.
April 13, 2025
Great premise - could have been better executed
This is a review of the entire duo - no spoilers though.
Plusses: quite an original concept.
Negatives: under explored concept / supernatural aspects. For an overly controlled & abused young woman she had some surprising if also under explored skills and experience. Too many plot holes.
Summary: five men is too many for this author. The favorites of the author are clear in no time with some of the men barely fleshed out across the duo. Two could easily have been combined with zero impact on the story - it’s worth a read just to think about who the story could have done without - but If you get to the end and all you know of a main character is ‘grumpy leader’ it’s a bit disappointing. Childhood trauma is not a character trait. And they have such a potentially interesting backstory which was not capitalized on.
Overall: excellent concept. Five star potential. Poorly executed with missed opportunities for greatness and sadly two dimensional characters amongst the ‘harem’
This is a review of the entire duo - no spoilers though.
Plusses: quite an original concept.
Negatives: under explored concept / supernatural aspects. For an overly controlled & abused young woman she had some surprising if also under explored skills and experience. Too many plot holes.
Summary: five men is too many for this author. The favorites of the author are clear in no time with some of the men barely fleshed out across the duo. Two could easily have been combined with zero impact on the story - it’s worth a read just to think about who the story could have done without - but If you get to the end and all you know of a main character is ‘grumpy leader’ it’s a bit disappointing. Childhood trauma is not a character trait. And they have such a potentially interesting backstory which was not capitalized on.
Overall: excellent concept. Five star potential. Poorly executed with missed opportunities for greatness and sadly two dimensional characters amongst the ‘harem’
July 27, 2025
The male leads are scum. It goes into how hot she is but when they talk to her notice shes beaten tf up. You didnt notice that while checking how hot she was? Really? The way they talk about her and women is so disgusting. It talks about how badass the MLS are but they are all like 18. Be fr, they are barley adults. And the female lead? Shes a minor. Idk how old the author is but writing smut about minors is disgusting. This had a really interesting plot but the author made it brain rot porn. One ML even wanted to spy on her through cameras in her house without her consent. These men compare women to furniture or going through tissues. Another literally says we are not nice or sweet to the opposite sex. One compliments her by tearing other women down, saying unlike most women she barely talks about herself. And this is where I stopped this awful book. And the FML is written as Im not like other girls, Slender but curves in all the right places, Dont know how pretty she is and is perfect without trying. It was also instant lust/ love with an abused minor. O hated this book so much
May 10, 2025
edit after reading other reviews
Most people read to escape and unwind. They want the fantasy and don't expect PNR books to be realistic. They also don't read looking for editing mistakes. If you don't like the book due to the plot or an annoying character, fine, but don't not read something because it wasn't realistic or the grammar and mechanics aren't perfect.
Very rarely will a book draw me in and have me blocking out the entire world. Seance did, and no one was more surprised than me. Rue sees dead people (I had to do it). She has since she was in a little girl. Her mother and father used and abused her until she finally escaped. She would never be normal, but with the help of the five men next door, she is finally starting to live. Her father wants her back, and he will do anything to make that happen.
I'm a sucker for a good PNR. This was such a unique story that the reverse harem part took a back seat. I'm so glad book 2 is already out!
Most people read to escape and unwind. They want the fantasy and don't expect PNR books to be realistic. They also don't read looking for editing mistakes. If you don't like the book due to the plot or an annoying character, fine, but don't not read something because it wasn't realistic or the grammar and mechanics aren't perfect.
Very rarely will a book draw me in and have me blocking out the entire world. Seance did, and no one was more surprised than me. Rue sees dead people (I had to do it). She has since she was in a little girl. Her mother and father used and abused her until she finally escaped. She would never be normal, but with the help of the five men next door, she is finally starting to live. Her father wants her back, and he will do anything to make that happen.
I'm a sucker for a good PNR. This was such a unique story that the reverse harem part took a back seat. I'm so glad book 2 is already out!
August 24, 2025
1.5 Stars
I had a lot of issues with this book.
I agree with everything the other reviewers mention about the way this book was written. I do want to mention one thing though....
It really creeps me out when characters are put into romantic/sexual relationships before they’re even 18. What’s worse is that the guys in this story are portrayed as manwhores who immediately sexualize a girl who has been abused and locked away her entire life. She’s never even been around people her own age—let alone experienced attraction or understood what it feels like. At that point, anything sexual directed toward her feels predatory.
Instead of showing her care and concern, the guys are all lasciviousness, innuendo, and boners. Everything about this creeped me right the fuck out.
Honestly, I DNF'd this at like 35% and I felt like I was reading a prelude to date rape or a set up for grooming.
I had a lot of issues with this book.
I agree with everything the other reviewers mention about the way this book was written. I do want to mention one thing though....
It really creeps me out when characters are put into romantic/sexual relationships before they’re even 18. What’s worse is that the guys in this story are portrayed as manwhores who immediately sexualize a girl who has been abused and locked away her entire life. She’s never even been around people her own age—let alone experienced attraction or understood what it feels like. At that point, anything sexual directed toward her feels predatory.
Instead of showing her care and concern, the guys are all lasciviousness, innuendo, and boners. Everything about this creeped me right the fuck out.
Honestly, I DNF'd this at like 35% and I felt like I was reading a prelude to date rape or a set up for grooming.
December 3, 2024
Spoiler alert
Ok so I love this author and all of her books are always good. This one for me was not a 5 star and it's based on a personal preference tbh. I hate when any author has to emphasize the fact that the man or men are so called "whores". A brief little mention is fine but reading it over and over for me is a huge turn off to the book .... like we get it. Other then that the story plot was good . The older books by this author aren't as over the top with it from what I can remember but I've noticed alot of authors lately having been doing this and it makes me hesitant to read those authors books again . This is my personal opinion and if that whole I'm a " fuck em and leave em guy" or " I sleep with anyone " doesn't bother you then definitely pick this up as the story is pretty good if you can get past that.
Ok so I love this author and all of her books are always good. This one for me was not a 5 star and it's based on a personal preference tbh. I hate when any author has to emphasize the fact that the man or men are so called "whores". A brief little mention is fine but reading it over and over for me is a huge turn off to the book .... like we get it. Other then that the story plot was good . The older books by this author aren't as over the top with it from what I can remember but I've noticed alot of authors lately having been doing this and it makes me hesitant to read those authors books again . This is my personal opinion and if that whole I'm a " fuck em and leave em guy" or " I sleep with anyone " doesn't bother you then definitely pick this up as the story is pretty good if you can get past that.
December 31, 2024
This was okay. Entertaining enough to keep my attention as a pallet cleanser, but very predictable. I very rarely feel the need to rationalize paranormal or fantasy plots, but I struggled with the main characters all being 18 years old. It’s hinted that the MMCs are somehow deadly/dangerous? And somehow great enough with investments live in a mansion? And all with established sexual kinks? My inner elder millennial couldn’t help but wonder where everyone’s parents were? The day-to-day lives of the main characters were way less believable to me than the “I see dead people” plot. Also, it was unnecessary to make the FMC so damn helpless she didn’t know how to crack an egg? Come on now. 🤦🏻♀️
I won’t be actively searching for the next book to come out but I’m sure I’ll still read it eventually.
I won’t be actively searching for the next book to come out but I’m sure I’ll still read it eventually.
August 22, 2025
Really liked it but a few things seemed a little inconsistent
Liked it but there are a few things that were inconsistent. Like at the lake the oar fractured or cracked her ribs but she was fine hugging and being hauled over shoulders, etc, etc(given I've never had cracked/fractured ribs so I wouldn't know if that would be possible but that doesn't seem right). Gunner, like the night after he was super beaten up, so badly he couldn't even stand, was suddenly able to go shopping for hours and get a tattoo. There's also the fact that Rue gave Jace one of her warded rings and told him about her abilities but later on it seemed like she hadn't told him at all and instead just hinted and never gave him one of her rings. Also, the fact that Gunner, when he went to her house to pick her up for shopping, read that diary and yet it was a complete surprise to him as well.
Liked it but there are a few things that were inconsistent. Like at the lake the oar fractured or cracked her ribs but she was fine hugging and being hauled over shoulders, etc, etc(given I've never had cracked/fractured ribs so I wouldn't know if that would be possible but that doesn't seem right). Gunner, like the night after he was super beaten up, so badly he couldn't even stand, was suddenly able to go shopping for hours and get a tattoo. There's also the fact that Rue gave Jace one of her warded rings and told him about her abilities but later on it seemed like she hadn't told him at all and instead just hinted and never gave him one of her rings. Also, the fact that Gunner, when he went to her house to pick her up for shopping, read that diary and yet it was a complete surprise to him as well.
November 25, 2024
I need book 2 right now. Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!? I don't think I can wait until September to read what happens next.
First of all....fuck all y'all except Jameson- you're my current favorite. Hicks, you are my absolute least favorite. Gunner, Jaceson, Ellis I had such high hopes for you three- especially you Gunner- I mean come on!
I can't wait for Nan to get back from her trip and kick all your asses. ESPECIALLY you Hicks.
My poor girl, Rue, deserves so much better and I hope book 2 delivers that.
THE GROVEL HAD BEST BE TOP OF THE LINE.
First of all....fuck all y'all except Jameson- you're my current favorite. Hicks, you are my absolute least favorite. Gunner, Jaceson, Ellis I had such high hopes for you three- especially you Gunner- I mean come on!
I can't wait for Nan to get back from her trip and kick all your asses. ESPECIALLY you Hicks.
My poor girl, Rue, deserves so much better and I hope book 2 delivers that.
THE GROVEL HAD BEST BE TOP OF THE LINE.
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