My life was supposed to follow a perfect path: a nice job, mated by twenty-five, and children after that.
But fate has other plans.
Now, a week from turning twenty-five, I have a successful bookshop that I love, but the rest has remained elusive. Always within my reach but never managing to hang onto an alpha for long enough to mate... and then there is the pact in the back of my mind. An alcohol-fuelled promise on my twentieth birthday, jokingly giving my alpha childhood friends a chance if we're all single in five years.
I’m as single as they get, but who knows about them? We drifted apart when I moved up North to start my new life.
But that's when things turn a lot darker. I discover I have a stalker. Someone who knows me inside out, and this twisted obsession has turned dangerous.
My life isn't mine anymore. It belongs to him. To them.
This is a non-shifting dark and steamy reverse harem omegaverse standalone. Please note this is set in England in a completely fictional world. The characters are British and use British English.
Eve is a USA Today Bestselling Author with a specialty for steamy romance with strong female leads.
She lives in the UK, with her husband and five kids, so finding the time to write is short, but definitely sweet. Eve has a number of series, both completed and on the go and hopes to release some new and exciting projects, both paranormal and contemporary in the future, so stay tuned!
The male characters are abysmally psycho, she left us therefore it is acceptable to r*pe (because it is not dub/con when she is in an altered state of mind and thinks she’s hallucinating - sorry not sorry), drug, and mentally torture the poor girl BUT turns into we did it because we love her (rolling my eyes) when we find her being assaulted by her actual childhood rapist - PURR LEASE.
Not to mention one MMC being caught out so ‘attempts’ suicide and manipulates the poor girl into saving him from his pain that he created?! Ew just EW, cannot stand guys like that AND the grovelling was the most pathetic thing I have ever seen, here have a teddy bear instead of the nanny cam you have which you have because we stalked you - OHHHH THANK YOU KIND SIR, all is forgiven. 🤮
The romance, there is non, the FMC has a mental breakdown for the entirety of the book but in the last 5% claims she’s not a little girl anymore and she’s strong blah blah blah (like I haven’t just read a book full of your crying LOL) and the guys I can’t even tell you what they look like, why they even like her - I straight up didn’t like this book - SORRY
One of the alphas knew that the fmc had been raped in the past, by a magician. So he uses that to scare and terrify her. It was absolutely disgusting, just because he was mad that she left him he decided to trigger her PTSD. This book is about 3 alphas who don't understand consent & just want to control their omega, and of course there's no groveling. I still don't believe that they even love her, the things they did were disgusting
Let me preface this by saying “check your triggers”! As always Eve our wonderful queen has given us yet another addiction between the pages. I’m highly convinced if a man ain’t masked…. I don’t want it lol… send it back! Any ways to the story. Hazel is our sweet omega but she doesn’t come without her own past trauma and issues. She owns her own book store with just makes her a Queen by definition! And her three dark twisty men Zach, Noah, and Carter…. Chefs kiss perfection . Carter’s raw moments had me in tears almost, Noah’s growth gives me hope that real men may one day have hope. And Zach ahh or sweet vulnerable alpha. There were times I was a sobbing mess for this man.
If you like a story of men who are possessive, obsessed and well let’s just say a bit unhinged then this is 100% for you. Buckle up buttercups you’re in for a fun ride… like literally buckle up!!
I could see the potential but this ended up being really bad. I really didn’t like it, it was just all so pointless. Constant stupid reasons that made no sense. They wanted to make her theirs but thought breaking her and tormenting her was the way to do it, no real explanation as to why they couldn’t try maybe courting her?! And then the different stalker part was all so random. Like I said I could see the potential but the execution was shit in my opinion.
Omegaverse with no mm 1 omega 3 alphas No owd Omd- she’s kidnapped by 2 alphas, but she’s saved by ‘her alphas’ HFN Epilogue 3 months later, she has a consensual heat with them and they bond
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Just bad. The writing style was decent, the rest was garbage? I can do dark romance, the triggers weren’t bad for me. All in all this seemed fine, but execution was poor. Stalking FMC? Fine. Weaponizing her trauma? Not fine. Combined with the actual masked grapist showing up out of nowhere with the funniest reveal ever, it was weird. I legit laughed at “Leah’s Father” like who??? The book didn’t say I needed to read anything else, nor hint at it. But the MMCs called Leah and I was like??? Okay and then the mask came off and I don’t know this man? Also FMC had a complete connection to Ayden but oop gotta make him bad all of the sudden for reasons?? He was investigating the murder of her parents and seemed fine and now isn’t… oh and her parents aren’t murdered I guess? Literally feels like the author threw a bunch of ideas at a wall to see what would stick, and the poop is what did. And I laughed again when one of the dudes (they’re all the same don’t worry they have 0 discernible personalities) decides to commit the self unalive because he’s faced with the “consequences” of his actions, as if FMC doesn’t forgive him like 10 pages later. Gaslit her, emotionally and physically abused her, psychologically isolated her, literally made her relive her trauma to the point they basically manifested her grapist appearing….but yea sure threaten to jump off a bridge then do the dirty in her office like a day later that’ll soothe it all over. I didn’t think the book could get worse and then it did, swiftly. I only finished this to see how bad the train could wreck. I feel like the only people who enjoy this are corn addicts because what part of this book is satisfying? Nobody is likable, the plot is nonexistent, and the dialogue is laughable. You only get “spice” out of it, but the spice itself is essentially pain endured coercion until 85% through but that’s after you watch FMC figure out her would-be lovers are horrible people, so it’s not satisfying when she’s like “oh pants are off”. None of it is earned. Nothing likable here so good luck reading this. 1/10 stars - I give a 1 cause despite nearly every aspect of this book being a shortcoming, the author at least knows basic grammar(which is more than I can say about a lot of books on KU nowadays).
No he podido con este libro. Sencillamente nefasto.
De vez en cuando me gusta algo de dark romance pero este ha cruzado todas mis líneas, incluida una de las últimas: hay referencias a la excitación sexual que le produce a uno de los tres alfas el abuso infantil que sufrió la protagonista... Eso es pederastia. Que conste que releí el trozo para estar segura. También tendría que ver la versión original de la novela porque me descargué una traducción. Traducción en la cual, en la parte en la que el alfa mencionado se la casca pensando en los abusos de una niña, la traductora voluntaria ha omitido dicha parte con el mensaje de "omito esta parte por cuestiones éticas". Ese mensaje aparte de confirmar mi percepción de lo leído, pues me parece muy bien. Le pongo puntuación porque creo firmemente que un dark romance de este tipo no debe ser visibilizado ni leído.
The first thing I am going to say is please please please check your triggers. Eve has given us another amazing page turner but there are some serious triggers in this one.
I think from now on all my men need masks lol. Hazel our FMC is adorable and sweet, she has her own history but it is what makes her come alive off the pages. Our men, oh hot and steamy and so delicious. This is totally a must read and you will be begging for more.
I am always a sucker for an anti hero, i love Deadpool, Severus Snape, Tyrion Lannister, Han Solo, Give me a devil with a past and I am in 100% percent. That is what our MMCs give us, Obsessive, possessive, dark and twisted, I will never understand how Eve makes her books so amazingly addictive but i hope that never changes.
I mean…there’s a lot of holes here. I’m confused where the cop went? I’m confused about all the missing people and her parents? Like I get what’s she’s saying at the end but what? I’m confused how she can forgive them for literally r.ping her after she was assaulted (and one of the alphas knew that). I’m confused as to how she has to put their emotional needs first when they not once did that and decided to “grovel” and just en pathetic babies.
I'm giving this 5 stars for the writing alone. It's clear this author is talented and I always love her work. She pulled me in the story and made me feel things for the characters. That being said, this kind of dark romance and stalker book was not for me and that's saying a lot because I love dark/stalker romance. Doesn't mean it won't work for some people and I'd never judge a person for liking this which is why I'm giving it 5 stars. This is an incredible story by an incredible author and that alone is worthy of all the stars. However the story line is not something i can stomach again and I'll say why this wasn't for me below so beware of spoilers after this point.
The three boys punish "their fated omega" by making her think she is losing her mind. She was SA'd as a child by a masked magician. The boys proceed to leave triggering items around her home and bookstore. They appear around corners, in alleys, in her home all wearing the same mask that magician wore and make her feel like she is losing her mind. That's not redeemable in any way for me. What man can say he loves a woman when he willingly reminds her of her childhood grapist. What will they do if she hurts them or betrays them again, when she didn't willingly do so the first time? Will they hang on to the masks and do this everytime? What about their children... what will they do to them or if a significant other was to do this to their daughter, would they be okay with it? I might have somewhat understood this if she had truly done something awful to them or had been made to look like she did.
They also had set up a dank basement. I love when stalkers take their victims in these books but still make sure they are comfortable and safe. A threadbare old gross mattress in an unfinished cold basement is not a place an alpha of any worth would want his omega. An omega who needs a soft safe place surrounded by soft things.
They hurt, terrorize and kill any alpha who goes on a date or two with her. So completely innocent men who did nothing wrong but ask a stranger on a date they liked get killed because these guys don't like that she went on a date. I like it when my gray antiheros kill bad men, but not innocent men for no logical reason. See in my brain those innocent men are someone's fated alpha, are someone's son, and they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time and it's not a comfortable feeling.
To make matters worse, the actual original masked magician comes to kidnap her during all this which in my personal opinion will damage her mind beyond repair after all of this stuff was done. Had she been in peak health clear and of strong mind she would have been able to see the signs of him coming or even be able to fight back instead she was questioning her reality and unsure if the things she was seeing were real. ALL BECAUSE OF THEIR ACTIONS!!!
You hear this from their POV. Their entire mindset is to punish her for leaving. Its to make her suffer for hurting them. It's all about what she has done to them and they have never once stopped to consider what she has suffered or what their actions will do to her soul. For that reason these men were unredeemable to me, they were not worthy of her love and in the future will only hurt her again no matter the fear they faced when they realized she was taken.
Again... this is just my opinion and we all know those mean jack sheet in this world so take a chance and read it yourself. You don't always know if something is for you until you try it.
No início eu estava curtindo bastante a leitura, parecia realmente ter uma grande questão por trás do fato da Hazel ter deixado eles e fugido como se não existisse o amanhã. Entretando, não foi o que aconteceu.
Por volta de 60%, o livro começou a embromar e a autora perdeu a mão completamente nas explicações e na atitude dos personagens.
Os homens já não precisam de absolutamente NADA para invalidar qualquer coisa que uma mulher diga, aí vem a autora e escreve um livro onde o estupr* pode ser relevado se você gosta de quem fez isso com você. Porque acredite se quiser, é isso que acontece aqui. E não adianta vir com esse papo meia boca comigo de non-con. Não existe isso aqui. E os próprios personagens falam isso. Eles assumem que fizeram isso.
Depois que essa situação de estrupro ocorre, ainda temos que presenciar o sequestro e uma das cenas mais nojentas e absurdas onde ela é sequestrada e molestada mais uma vez pelo homem que estruprou ela quando a mesma tinha 5 anos.
E ainda tivemos capítulos e mais capítulos, um mais patético que o anterior, onde esses três protagonistas masculinos se desculpavam das formas mais medíocres possíveis. Inclusive a autora copiou e colou vários aspectos dos dialogos. Aqui ela se repetiu três vezes e não conseguiu manter esses quatro em um mesmo cenário, a não ser que eles estivessem transando.
Gente, sério, tudo tem limites. Não é porque é ficção que deveriamos aceitar tais coisas escritas.
Os personagens masculinos são realmente vilões e estupradores. Não adianta chorar depois, falar que tá arrependido. Não há crianças, são homens adultos e todos sabiam o que estavam fazendo. ELES MESMOS DIZEM ISSO. Várias vezes
Li até o final, mas meu encanto morreu e o ódio pelos personagens só aumentava. Isso sem falar da pataquada que a autora fez colocando a Hazel como desequilibrada também depois do que ela fez antes de fugir. Como se fosse um "nossa, todos são maus, eles se merecem." Simplesmente NÃO.
Final corrido, um monte de coisa encaixada de última hora, resoluções enfiadas na ultima linha e um último capítulo ridículo.
Não sei o que pensar, não sei oq falar, não consigo me esquecer da cena horrorosa dela com o captor dela e nem o que os três protagonistas masculinos fizeram com ela e acharam ok fazer.
A todas as pessoas que tem o mínimo de sensibilidade com o tema eu te digo: PASSE LONGE. A todos que tem bom senso, NÃO LEIA.
A quem gosta de Dark, leia um que tenha mtas coisas sombrias, mas onde nenhuma delas seja feita contra a personagem feminina pelos protagonistas masculinos.
This was the BEST Dark Omegaverse I have EVER read. From page one I was hooked. I can not explain how much this story had me in my feelings. This was dark and sooo satisfying. I loved how this was more plot than whining Omega that we normally read about on OV. I fell so hard for this story. This had all the right triggers that I just love.
Hazel- she is a complicated character. She has a lot of bottled up trauma that comes full force throughout this whole book. We get to see step by step on how her minds works. Her character is strong, damaged and full of heart. She owns a bookshop and I think that is so kick A. I just loved her character all the way through, I felt for her and cheered her on.
Carter-he is the Prime Alpha and it shows throughout the whole story. He thinks he is doing the right thing but it wouldn't be a dark romance if that was true. I enjoyed reading his character get darker and darker. You can tell that he loves his pack and his omega. His vulnerability in certain parts was riveting. I honestly bawled my eyes out during those scenes. I love his dark side and his good side! He is definitely a red flag but I wouldn't change him for anything.
Noah- he is to smart for his own good. The way is mind works is insane. Some of the things that went through his head was so intense that it made me want to shake him. I loved how he only feels for Hazel, since his upbringing was not normal. I love how his character grows into something that is respectable and loved. I just want to hug him now.
Zach-oh my sweet vulnerable alpha. I loved him from the start. You could just tell that he had so much heart hiding behind his demons. He knew the things that was happening wasn't right but he also enjoyed at the same time. A certain scene had me snot crying and I am telling you that this is a must read. I wish I could just hold him and take care of him. He is my favorite out of the 3 alphas.
When I tell you this is a must read, I mean it. This is at my top 10 for the year and the year ain't over just yet. But I know that nothing will top it for a long time to come. I highly recommend this book and author. I would HIGHLY suggest reading the triggers on the authors page if you have any doubts going in. I absolutely LOVED this story and already read it twice.
A lot of reviews are complaining about the dark contents of this book and the MLs, but neither of these were issues for me, personally, to where it affected my reading. I felt the author provided an appropriate amount of warnings beforehand, that it's going to be a dark read and that the MLs aren't going to be good guys (the author literally calls the MLs "villains"). So, I knew what I was getting myself into.
What I did have issues with was the lack of development in certain areas and things not making sense as a result or being anticlimactic:
Almost the entirety of the story, we as readers, see Hazel having constant mental breakdowns, being afraid 24/7, and being vulnerable.
But then, towards the end, she suddenly remembers she is responsible for her parents' deaths and believes everyone should be afraid of her. After coming to this realization, she gains a backbone, confronts the MLs, THREATENS THEM, and tells them she's not helpless or weak.
Huhh???????
Her sudden change in attitude near the end does not align with how she acted throughout 94% of the book. It's like a complete new character possessed her body.
I'm not saying the FL can't be a complex character who can't be strong willed, dangerous, and vulnerable at the same time. But the problem is that, we only got to see her meek side and none of the danger. It'd be different if she exhibited any signs of being dangerous earlier on, but she didn't.
I think the author did this for "shock value", but having another side of her personality show through at the last 4% of the book feels completely out of place. It just doesn't make sense to me.
𝗘𝘅 𝟮.) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁
The masked magician being Leah's dad was anticlimactic.
We don't know Leah as a character, so having her dad be the antagonist and him having a big reveal didn't wow me or move me.
Had the masked magician been Carter's dad or someone else we actually got acquainted with, would've made things less anticlimactic and would've felt more personal.
⚠️ This, people, is not a book for everyone! I highly recommend you check the warning labels this book gives. ⚠️
This book had me floored, my mind spinning with the intensity every time I started a new chapter.
Growing up, Hazel's life was complicated at best. Hiding a secret is complicated. Presenting as an Omega is even more of a struggle than she wants to bare. But having to leave her best friend's behind so she can start fresh after the loss of her parents, undeniably heart-wrenching.
Taking the opportunity to try things on her own and become one of the few independent Omega's, Hazel leaves her friends since childhood; Carter, the leader of their group of ragtag teens and future lawyer, following in his family's footsteps. Zach, the artist and often most outgoing of the group. Then there is Noah, the phycologist in the making, quiet and analytical in a sense that is endearing and sometimes overbearing.
Just five years ahead and what was once a strong independent woman, is now an anxious, filled strung out Omega. Hazel struggles with constant rejections from the men she pursues, feeling like there is something wrong with her. Then there are the weird things happening around her, shadows appearing in the corner of her eye, like someone is watching her. Things in her home are being moved, and that creepy clown doll that brings the trauma she tries to bury up front to the surface.
Is Carter showing up just weeks before the pact she made with them before disappearing back then, have anything to deal with these strange events happening around her, or is her past coming back to haunt her?
This was a deliciously dark read filled to the brim with OTT O/J/P Alpha's and an Omega trying to set her own path. It was twisted, trauma induced and heartbreaking and things get worse before they get better. Absolutely one of my favorite reads this year.
I have to DNF this at 70%. I honestly tried to get through it but the plot didn’t make sense to me. Hazel is desperately looking for an alpha, meanwhile her 3 “best friends” who are also alphas are in love with her and apparently she has no idea. They make a pact with her that on her 25th bday that if she isn’t matched then they’ll all pack up which she actually hates the idea of but we have no idea why. Then she just randomly decides she’s going to leave the town she grew up in behind and doesn’t tell the 3 guys literally the next day. Lmao these guys obviously stalk her (hence the title) and threaten every alpha that tries to date Hazel for years. They do terrible things to her for leaving, SA during her heat (she does not consent nor is she aware they’re there), and they torment her by using her biggest fears against her and make her believe she’s losing her mind. She is anxiety ridden, lonely and DESPERATELY still trying to find an alpha because she wants a family. Yet still she is worried the best friends will show up to claim the pact?!? When Carter reveals that he’s been living in her neighborhood, she is terrified of him as well as the idea that he wants to be with her (even though she has no idea he’s been the one stalking her). No part of me believes these four were ever friends with each other let alone best friends. 70% of the way in and this is the first time Hazel and the other two alphas have even made actual contact with each other.
Do NOT even get me started on the subplot of the masked magician. You’re telling me these guys have been stalking and tormenting her with this dumb mask that she’s terrified of (rightfully so) because of a magician who SA’d her as a child and just coincidentally the SAME masked magician who she hasn’t seen since she was six is also stalking her at the same time?? Girl, I can only suspend my belief so much.
Stalked by the Alphas: Dark Reverse Harem Omegaverse by Eve Newton offers a unique and intense take on the Omegaverse trope, centered around Hazel, an omega trying to break free from her nature and past trauma. The story explores her complicated feelings of self-worth, independence, and her reluctance to accept the love of the three Alphas—Carter, Noah, and Zach—who have adored her since childhood. Their deep connection is undeniable, but Hazel's self-perception as "tainted" and "unworthy" complicates matters, leading her to push them away.
The dynamic between the characters is engaging, and there's a lot of potential in their bond, though the writing can feel repetitive at times. The constant focus on Hazel's internal struggles and anxieties can feel a bit excessive, sometimes interrupting the flow of the narrative. A tighter edit could have made the story even more impactful, trimming down repetitive sections and sharpening the emotional depth.
That said, if you're looking for a story where the Alphas have to grovel and fight for their omega, this one is still an entertaining read. The themes are heavy, and the emotions run deep, so readers should be mindful of potential triggers. Overall, Stalked by the Alphas offers a compelling blend of romance, tension, and psychological complexity, but could benefit from a bit more refinement in its execution.
I have read a few dark RH’s but I just found my line I don’t want to cross not even for fantasy books…..you started loosing me when one of the the main guys knew that she had been what I assumed molested when she was 5..and used it against her to sent her nuts..I forwarded it a bit and nope nope, she was actually raped when 5..I don’t condone rape in any form not even books, dark or not, specially by the so-called main guys who say they love her….it always boggles my mind with these woman in these books that are bullied, tormented, and now raped end up with the guys at the end of the story…are they idiots….how could you be with a person/persons that treat you that way….its not love…it’s only obsession…not healthy….so again I say, nope nope…. The story itself is a very lame excuse to why there doing it to her…the characters, men are not the type of men I personally would fantasise about…I do like a little rough/ kinky play in my stories, the main female though, shes not nuts shes just stupid…..so no I don’t recommend this book…I did read in a book where the author states that the triggers in the book should only be in stories but I disagree….the weirdos out there sometimes become who they are buy reading or watching this type of stuff….it went to that one step to far for me…….
Let me make it clear that there really wasn't anything wrong with the book. I made it half way through it. I stopped reading it because it really didn't make sense to me. The characters were being just plain dumb.
Now that might not bother everyone - so please do at least give it a try with KU.
There are many triggers in the book - but they don't bother me. I did score it higher than I probably would have because we want guys to do things to get us - even messed up things. But if triggers bother you, check them out before reading it.
** Spoilers:
If the guys were upset at her for leaving, they would have talked with her right as she moved at least - not wait 5 years to address it. They didn't give her an opportunity to explain the misunderstanding. When she passed out and hit her head, they would not have just let her deal with it. They care too much and would worry that she could have really hurt herself.
Some of her choices didn't make sense as well. Like when she left the card at work, that they replaced - I don't think she would have. She also grabbed the card, went to the police, without checking it to even make sure a picture was in it. This woman is to smart to not do it. Taking the meds didn't make sense without her talking with a professional dr to make sure there was no big medical condition that is influencing her environment. IDK.
This was a bit of a letdown. I love dark romance and RH, but this book didn't suit me. I had no issues with the writing, mainly the characters and plot. Indeed, toxicity and dark romance go hand-in-hand, but I like feeling connected to the characters or, at the very least, understanding their motives and intentions. I want to say, "Wow, this character has issues, but I get why they act(ed) the way they are." I can't say I feel that way about any of these characters.
Granted, I didn't make it very far into the book—maybe 20%—so if I had stuck it out longer, perhaps the MMCs' intentions and motivations would've made sense. But I can't justify their lack of divulging their feelings to the FMC from the beginning rather than putting her through this torture just for...what? I still don't know.
It's hard to fall for characters when you're questioning their life choices and don't feel like it's relatable at all. Literally, a conversation between these four could've saved everyone a lot of time and unnecessary hardship. And yes, the same can be said for many other dark romances. Yet in this book, the characters were willingly ignorant and chose the hard road instead of trying the logical approach first, and I just couldn't get past that. I wish the setup and foundation of the plot had been better executed.
This was probably one of the worst books I’ve read in a two year period. Definitely top ten. The MMCs are not redeemable, everything that they do and put the Fmc through is 100000% not redeemable. Spoilers The MMCs “got rid of” fmcs parents because they were going to send her off to a school. That’s just unrealistic/childish they thought they had been the cause of it (the Fmc had gotten rid of them then buried that secret within the depths of her mind). Then because the Fmc moves away they decided to haunt and stalk her doing things to psychologically tortuRë the Fmc. The one guy knew about her SA past and brainstormed ways to mess with her. You just can’t come back from that. Then they non-con her during her heat- the one guy knows her history and does this?! You can’t come back from all of it. if this was supposed to be an omegaverse then wouldn’t the Fmc, who spent so much time with them, know they were scent matches/compatible? The portion of omegaverse didn’t really add to the book. It definitely didn’t help the book any. There was a lack of depth or characterization to the leads. The Fmc is pathetic and while it’s understandable it’s just obnoxious that that is her main character trait. This book was a dumpster fire of fresh garbage.
This was looking to be an amazing book but **kind of spoiler**
Why did the MMCs go soft?
I kind of understand what the author was trying to do, but the guys all changed their tune after the FMC went through something horrible. Like, their personalities all changed from unapologetic, to seeing the error of their ways? No! They could have been kinder and pivoted their plans, but they should have remained the same in their not accepting not being with her in the end. Hell, the incident with the FMC should have reinforced their mentality with keeping the omega safe in their own way - and this would have made it an amazing psychological thriller….
This had the makings of being an amazing dark read, and then it kind of just turned into the run of the mill grovel… like, grovel for sure, but don’t change their personalities, morals or goals… I mean, the pact is the pact, I feel that should never have been negotiable… would have been more of a psychological thriller if the author made it work while still keeping the MMCs the same.
Hence the 4 stars… was disappointed with how we got to the HEA - could have still been a HEA if the theme of the book remained the same
DNF. This book was put in the romance category on Amazon and it really should not have been.
There's no 'romantic subplot' which is claimed inside of this book. This honestly, falls under horror and psychological horror.
The guys don't even like the fmc. They don't care about her. They just want her. They systematically destroy her psyche, and self worth.
They completely isolate her. They got rid of her friends and family (who died) in order to keep her alone. They mess with her anxiety meds and force her into a fragmented mind that way she will be completely dependent on them (their exact words).
When she was a teen, she told one of the mmcs that a clown raped her at a bday party when she was 5. His first thought? I want to rape her. His second thought? This is useful information to use against her later.
And they do. They intentionally trigger her and "watch with cold detachment." Then they rape her themselves after convincing her she's hallucinating the clown who first raped her. After, they say she deserved it.
There's nothing even remotely romatic about this and it really, really should not have been put in a romance category. It's not about triggers, it's misleading to say it's a psychological thriller with a romantic subplot. Because it isn't.
Okay I'm conflicted by this book if I'm being honest. Not by how much I enjoyed reading this book. That's a given to me because I haven't yet read a book by this writer that I haven't liked and this book is no different.
I should start by saying that the Alpha's within this book are pretty much dark anti-heroes. Obsessive and possessive to the extreme in their pursuit of what they want, which is Omega Hazel. Only some of what is done to her by them was somewhat morally grey. It's only when you gradually find out more about each Alpha that you kind of understand where their obsession stems from and that's where my conflict came from. I found myself liking them and all their dark bloodthirsty twistedness. Which came out more in protecting Hazel. Who had her own trauma, anxieties and panic attacks that came from events that have happened to her.
I couldnt help but love Hazel though. She managed to lead her own life and do a job she loves too with everything she was coping with.
This was a dark bittersweet read with damaged characters that were all trying to find love, a home and a family with each other amidst all the darkness that surrounded them. Just brilliant.
Honestly, if I didn't like the author, I would give this book negative 5 stars. The author does warn in the beginning that our 'Heroes' are villains, but the warning doesn't adequately prepare you for the extent of their cruel and selfish actions. There are morally gray villians that do bad things for bad but at least a tiny bit good reasons and then there are villains that do sick twisted cruel things for their own selfish wants and needs and justify it because they're in 'love'. These men are the latter. The decisions made and tactics used by our male main characters were deplorable and, in my opinion, unforgivable. Especially in the maybe 30 pages or so allotted for the unconvincing 'groveling' and forgiveness stage. Part of which, involved more manipulation in the form of threats of self-harm. The reasons behind their choices were flimsy, and even while they claimed it was to 'protect' the female main character, on the same page they were also thinking about how she deserved this for leaving them.
One star given because it was well-written, one star for the Author, 0 stars for the characters, plot line and execution.
What the hell... I can't NOT recommend this enough. (I've read plenty of dark romance but wtf is this?
There is no romance in this. The mmc's are literally psychologically torturing the fmc and TRYING to break her?
They leave her things that remind her of a sexual assault when she was younger!!
They are also lacing the herbs she takes for anxiety...
One of them wants to literally take her by force. Not cnc.. just nc...
"Ever since she told me about the abuse she suffered ,I wanted to see it. I want to feel it. I want to be the cause of that fear." pg. 39
"I violated her privacy and stripped her for my own viewing pleasure. I could've claimed her right there, and she would've been powerless to stop me, but where is the fun in that?" pg. 67
".. just like we've dealt with every other alpha who's tried to get close to Hazel over the years, just like every person in her life that has tried to take her away from us or control her. Her friends. Her parents... they were all part of the plan to isolate her." pg. 83
So this is a darker, but maybe not super dark OV and it's actually not overly spicy. Maybe 3 main scenes I'd say but appropriate in this book. Also no MM. There are triggers in this book and one is non-con BUT let's be real, it seems like it was actually r*pe. I can see it argued for non-con since they didn't hurt her and trying to help, but that's not how I saw it personally even though it didn't really bother me due to the circumstances. There is also almost but not quite SA and talk about past child SA. The plot was good, in the first half of the book I wasn't sure how they were going to redeem themselves but there's a twist or 2 there that makes it work. I did think it was a bit fast how she went from scared and vulnerable to making threats as well as how fast the guys changed their tunes too. But overall I thought the book was well written and was entertaining.
Very underwhelming. For supposed alphas, they struggle to execute a single plan without constantly abandoning or altering it from the start. And what exactly have they been doing? For five years, they supposedly kept such a close watch on her, how much free time did they have ? The chemistry was almost nonexistent, with barely any effort put into relationship development. The lack of imagination was glaring—especially with the introduction of another group of stalkers essentially doing the same thing. It felt redundant and unoriginal. Their sudden appearance was poorly explained, and it made no sense how these three guys were completely oblivious to them being around her.
The FMC’s sudden transformation into a badass and her abrupt revelations about her parents in the end were completely unbelievable. There was no buildup or explanation.
I found myself skimming to the end because it just wasn’t engaging.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really did struggle to finish this book; Despite really being intrigued by the premise of the story, a lot of the content was revolving around a bunch of unhealed trauma from the *entire* cast of main characters.
Some of the main issues feel like they were hastily compartmentalized, and closure was just kind of implied.
The book felt focused way too much on this “big trauma” and “secrets”, but never really gave me the feeling that things were resolved fully.
One of the characters was a lawyer, one of them was a shrink, and the other one… What did he do? I feel like the characters could’ve been way more developed and nuanced, definitely miss the mark here.
Lots of triggers/confusion here, especially revolving around non-consensual activities.
All in all, this could’ve been a lot better, but it wasn’t horrible. The idea was solid, just lacked development imo. I doubt I’ll read any more books by this author for a while.