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The Cradled Common #3
Born For Marble : A Dark, Dystopian Romance
“Take no man.
Bear no children.
I am The Queen of The Cradle.”
In the dystopian land of The Cradle, ten-year-old Tuscany begins her reign. Crowned as Queen and Mother, she endures harsh medical treatments designed to carve a living deity worthy of the people's reverence.
Nurture. Inspire. Endure.
That is her Meaningful Purpose.
But Tuscany is more human than previous queens, becoming trapped in a cycle of mental instability, memory loss, and age regression.
Before she fades away, her father is killed, and her beloved brother takes the throne, granting her a Guardian to protect, guide, and sacrifice himself for her.
Kong the Unbreakable is a seven-foot-tall Guardian with a stoic demeanour and a heart torn between loyalty and honour.
As he stands watch at her door, night after night, he quietly falls in love with the girl hidden behind it, the one too afraid to step outside and be strong.
When Tuscany finally leads a campaign into the desert with Kong at her side, she tastes freedom for the first time. With each step away from her gilded cage, the closer she becomes to her stoic Guardian, and the fiercer her vows and her heart battle within her.
In The Cradle, love is not the goal; it is the rebellion.
⚠Warning: The Cradled Common is a series of interconnecting-standalones. Born For Marble can be read as a standalone, but will be best enjoyed after reading Born For Silk—Tuscany's brother's story.
Bear no children.
I am The Queen of The Cradle.”
In the dystopian land of The Cradle, ten-year-old Tuscany begins her reign. Crowned as Queen and Mother, she endures harsh medical treatments designed to carve a living deity worthy of the people's reverence.
Nurture. Inspire. Endure.
That is her Meaningful Purpose.
But Tuscany is more human than previous queens, becoming trapped in a cycle of mental instability, memory loss, and age regression.
Before she fades away, her father is killed, and her beloved brother takes the throne, granting her a Guardian to protect, guide, and sacrifice himself for her.
Kong the Unbreakable is a seven-foot-tall Guardian with a stoic demeanour and a heart torn between loyalty and honour.
As he stands watch at her door, night after night, he quietly falls in love with the girl hidden behind it, the one too afraid to step outside and be strong.
When Tuscany finally leads a campaign into the desert with Kong at her side, she tastes freedom for the first time. With each step away from her gilded cage, the closer she becomes to her stoic Guardian, and the fiercer her vows and her heart battle within her.
In The Cradle, love is not the goal; it is the rebellion.
⚠Warning: The Cradled Common is a series of interconnecting-standalones. Born For Marble can be read as a standalone, but will be best enjoyed after reading Born For Silk—Tuscany's brother's story.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2025
244 people are currently reading
2021 people want to read
About the author
Nicci Harris
22 books2,522 followersI write about women who make unattainable men fall hard and forever.
♥ Stalk me please:
https://linktr.ee/author.nicciharris
♥
"She (Nicci) shines in crafting novels that toe the line between dark and dangerous, and sweet and sexy, which culminates into a deliciously sinful story of passion, truth, and acceptance." - Jessica @jessicareadsit
♥ Stalk me please:
https://linktr.ee/author.nicciharris
♥
"She (Nicci) shines in crafting novels that toe the line between dark and dangerous, and sweet and sexy, which culminates into a deliciously sinful story of passion, truth, and acceptance." - Jessica @jessicareadsit
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
November 25, 2025
This was a romance I was waiting for! There was so much to this story and the pain and the backstory were almost unbearable. This world is brutal and cruel but they find a little bit of peace in their private sanctuary. Their was a special connection between them and Long understood his little queen in a way no ome else could. 🥹
This world is horrible and there are lots of triggers to be aware of, so make sure you prepare, but then just buckle up and let Nicci Harris take you on a journey.
My only detractors were that I wanted more time with them as a couple and I still dont understand how their relationship can work long term, as well as how the plot twist near the end works out.
4 Stars
3 on the spice scale
TW: check the authors site, too much to list😅
*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*
This world is horrible and there are lots of triggers to be aware of, so make sure you prepare, but then just buckle up and let Nicci Harris take you on a journey.
My only detractors were that I wanted more time with them as a couple and I still dont understand how their relationship can work long term, as well as how the plot twist near the end works out.
4 Stars
3 on the spice scale
TW: check the authors site, too much to list😅
*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*
Read
September 14, 2024Having to wait for Tuscany’s story might just kill me…
November 22, 2025
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: dystopian, taboo
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥1/2
Well worth the wait! Very much an emotional roller coaster ride. Great storyline with fabulous storytelling. I can’t wait to get more from this world!
Trope: dystopian, taboo
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥1/2
Well worth the wait! Very much an emotional roller coaster ride. Great storyline with fabulous storytelling. I can’t wait to get more from this world!
November 27, 2025
I had high hopes for this one. I loved Kong but I struggled connecting with Tuscany.
The twist at the end? The villain uses the h’s womb to create a baby. ☹️
Meanwhile the h and H can be together only at night, away from everyone. Not the happy ending I was hoping for.
The twist at the end? The villain uses the h’s womb to create a baby. ☹️
Meanwhile the h and H can be together only at night, away from everyone. Not the happy ending I was hoping for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2025
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️/2 🌶️
This book started with me bawling my eyes out. My whole heart went straight to Tuscany. That girl has been through so much. Her character is written so vividly that you can feel her anxiety, her struggles and the way her mind works. It’s raw, it’s painful and it’s so beautifully done.🥹
And Kong? That man is wow. I genuinely thought Rome was my favorite of the series, but now… I’m seriously questioning everything. Kong came in and stole the spotlight without even trying.
I’ll keep this short because this is one of those stories you need to experience yourself without spoilers. But here’s what I will say: this book will break your heart, make you cry, make you ache… and then slowly piece you back together until you’re so full of happiness you want to hug the main characters yourself 💜
This was such an emotional but a stunning read!🙌🏼
Trope: Age - gap, Innocent fmc
This book started with me bawling my eyes out. My whole heart went straight to Tuscany. That girl has been through so much. Her character is written so vividly that you can feel her anxiety, her struggles and the way her mind works. It’s raw, it’s painful and it’s so beautifully done.🥹
And Kong? That man is wow. I genuinely thought Rome was my favorite of the series, but now… I’m seriously questioning everything. Kong came in and stole the spotlight without even trying.
I’ll keep this short because this is one of those stories you need to experience yourself without spoilers. But here’s what I will say: this book will break your heart, make you cry, make you ache… and then slowly piece you back together until you’re so full of happiness you want to hug the main characters yourself 💜
This was such an emotional but a stunning read!🙌🏼
Trope: Age - gap, Innocent fmc
November 25, 2025
“Born for Marble” is the story of Tuscany and Kong.
A forbidden romance between the tortured, traumatized queen and her protective guard. We know about her from the previous books, but now we see graphic details of the torture she went through, and the sacrifices she made while being molded as the perfect queen. When she finally gets a chance to move out of her cocoon and experience life, the man who has always loved her is there for her, and she wants more.
Bittersweet story with loads of heartbreak, a slow burn romance and a hopeful ending.
I adored the heroines resilience and the hero’s devotion towards her.
Safe
3/5
A forbidden romance between the tortured, traumatized queen and her protective guard. We know about her from the previous books, but now we see graphic details of the torture she went through, and the sacrifices she made while being molded as the perfect queen. When she finally gets a chance to move out of her cocoon and experience life, the man who has always loved her is there for her, and she wants more.
Bittersweet story with loads of heartbreak, a slow burn romance and a hopeful ending.
I adored the heroines resilience and the hero’s devotion towards her.
Safe
3/5
November 26, 2025
Dual style narration 5/5🎧
Story 4/5⭐️
Spice 3/5🌶️
This one was very unexpected and I liked it, it was somewhat safe MMC turned out to be celibate for approximately 7 years (there were moments when I thought we were going to get those pesky OW scenes but even though close “the other shoe didn’t drop”! - much to my relief and joy!) The ending felt a bit abrupt and I wish we got more moments of their future together….
Story 4/5⭐️
Spice 3/5🌶️
This one was very unexpected and I liked it, it was somewhat safe MMC turned out to be celibate for approximately 7 years (there were moments when I thought we were going to get those pesky OW scenes but even though close “the other shoe didn’t drop”! - much to my relief and joy!) The ending felt a bit abrupt and I wish we got more moments of their future together….
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2025
This was so much more than I was expecting from this story. The level of trauma Tuscany faced was insane. It was interesting and honestly, pretty refreshing, to see a coping mechanism like age regression used in response to that. It's hard to read sometimes because it's uncomfortable to see a grown woman want to carry around a stuffie or hide under the bed, but that's the point. Trauma doesn't always sharpen someone into a blade, like we see far too many times in romantasies. And of course, there's her relationship with Kong. That, too, is uncomfortable to read at times, because the "little queen" nickname was used when she was both a child and his sexual interest. But I think Harris did a good job of not letting it get creepy.
The second book is a standalone from my understanding and while it wasn't my favorite, I am glad to have gotten some insight into the "shadows", as they are a big part in keeping the Trade master in control of things in this novel. This was the perfect follow up to Rome's story and I am very much looking forward to what comes next.
The second book is a standalone from my understanding and while it wasn't my favorite, I am glad to have gotten some insight into the "shadows", as they are a big part in keeping the Trade master in control of things in this novel. This was the perfect follow up to Rome's story and I am very much looking forward to what comes next.
November 22, 2025
4.5 stars, 3.5 on the spice scale.
I was really looking forward to this one because I’ve loved the series so far, and we’d already seen glimpses of this couple in Book 1. As always, Nicci Harris does such a brilliant job of immersing you in the world and making you care deeply about the characters.
That said, this book is very dark and heartbreaking, especially in the first half. So definitely check the content warnings before diving in. Tuscany’s journey is harrowing, and it was tough to read about everything she’s endured and how she’s still struggling. But the writing is powerful, and the relationship that develops between her and Kong is both tender and forbidden, which makes it all the more compelling.
There’s a lot of political intrigue, danger, and emotional intensity, and while it’s a sad story, I couldn’t look away. For me, book 2 is still the standout in the series, but this one comes next—it’s beautifully written, devastating, and unforgettable.
*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*
I was really looking forward to this one because I’ve loved the series so far, and we’d already seen glimpses of this couple in Book 1. As always, Nicci Harris does such a brilliant job of immersing you in the world and making you care deeply about the characters.
That said, this book is very dark and heartbreaking, especially in the first half. So definitely check the content warnings before diving in. Tuscany’s journey is harrowing, and it was tough to read about everything she’s endured and how she’s still struggling. But the writing is powerful, and the relationship that develops between her and Kong is both tender and forbidden, which makes it all the more compelling.
There’s a lot of political intrigue, danger, and emotional intensity, and while it’s a sad story, I couldn’t look away. For me, book 2 is still the standout in the series, but this one comes next—it’s beautifully written, devastating, and unforgettable.
*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*
November 29, 2025
3.5☆
I loved Born for Silk it remains my favorite of this series. Born for Lace & Marbel sadly haven't stacked up the same for me. It was the plot that captured me in the first book, the world building, the love story. Book two and three seem to have swapped out plot for smut which leaves them feeling a little lackluster imo.
I loved Kong & Tuscany in book one, but that essence seemed a bit lost in this book. Also this didn't feel like a hea at all, but a backhanded one at that with how things turned out. A love still hidden in the dark and the other part i don't want to spoil just seemed so off base. I agreed with Rome on that one.
I loved Born for Silk it remains my favorite of this series. Born for Lace & Marbel sadly haven't stacked up the same for me. It was the plot that captured me in the first book, the world building, the love story. Book two and three seem to have swapped out plot for smut which leaves them feeling a little lackluster imo.
I loved Kong & Tuscany in book one, but that essence seemed a bit lost in this book. Also this didn't feel like a hea at all, but a backhanded one at that with how things turned out. A love still hidden in the dark and the other part i don't want to spoil just seemed so off base. I agreed with Rome on that one.
November 21, 2025
Oh little Tuscany how I hurt for you, you deserved all the love
ARC Review.
Oh how I didn’t want this book to end. I made myself stretch it out, forced myself to take my time cause I knew I wouldn’t want it to end.
I loved this book so much I can’t even begin to explain. A hurt heroine who is still strong, and her guardian who I instantly fell in love with. This story is beautiful and so good. I cannot recommend it enough.
A beautifully written story with such detail and depth.
Nicci Harris the writer you are! You create all my favourite book boyfriends
ARC Review.
Oh how I didn’t want this book to end. I made myself stretch it out, forced myself to take my time cause I knew I wouldn’t want it to end.
I loved this book so much I can’t even begin to explain. A hurt heroine who is still strong, and her guardian who I instantly fell in love with. This story is beautiful and so good. I cannot recommend it enough.
A beautifully written story with such detail and depth.
Nicci Harris the writer you are! You create all my favourite book boyfriends
November 25, 2025
PERFECTION, MASTERPIECE! This book was everything I knew it would be and more!
Tuscony and Kong are so perfectly suited for one another
This story is so horrifically tragic but also healing at the same time.
I won’t say much as I don’t went to spoil it for you all when you finally get to read it
But Nicci omg, I will forever tell you how incredibly talented you are, the way you write is purposeful and with the intent to your readers feel every single emotion
(Sorry, I should add that I had the absolute honour of beta reading this story🖤)
Tuscony and Kong are so perfectly suited for one another
This story is so horrifically tragic but also healing at the same time.
I won’t say much as I don’t went to spoil it for you all when you finally get to read it
But Nicci omg, I will forever tell you how incredibly talented you are, the way you write is purposeful and with the intent to your readers feel every single emotion
(Sorry, I should add that I had the absolute honour of beta reading this story🖤)
November 24, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Born for Marble is the 3rd book in the Cradled Common series and one I was highly anticipating after the first book. I was frustrated when Nicci Harris didn't immediately tell Tuscany's story in book 2, but I should know to trust Nicci's genius. This book was definitely worth the wait! It is a much more heartbreaking and emotional story than the previous two. Even though it was difficult to read with all the suffering and abuse Tuscany experienced, it was also a beautiful journey of strength and self-discovery.
Tuscany is the sister to Rome, from Born for Silk. She was excited to become the Queen of the Cradle at 10 years old, but her life was drastically altered when she was forced to go under a procedure that would forever take away her ability to have children. She also suffers through medical procedures so she doesn't age and ECT to keep her in line.
Her own father forced her to undergo these painful procedures and her brother Rome kills him once he learns of the abuse. Unfortunately the damage has already been done and Tuscany undergoes age regression to cope with her reality. The only person who protects and supports her completely is her brother's guard, Kong the Unbreakable. He sleeps outside her door and puts her above everything else.
Tuscany is finally going on her own mission to see the people and Kong will be her protector. This amps up the tension and longing between the characters. Their relationship is forbidden and angsty. The slow burn was killing me in the best way.
Kong was EVERYTHING!!! His devotion and love for his little queen were beautiful to read. I loved how he helped her through her mental health struggles and helped Tuscany find her strength.
There were some exciting twists and turns that truly shocked me. Nicci Harris is a masterful storyteller and she has built such a complex post-apocalyptic world that has captivated me completely. I highly recommend this series and this author.
Thank you to Nicci Harris for providing the ARC.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Born for Marble is the 3rd book in the Cradled Common series and one I was highly anticipating after the first book. I was frustrated when Nicci Harris didn't immediately tell Tuscany's story in book 2, but I should know to trust Nicci's genius. This book was definitely worth the wait! It is a much more heartbreaking and emotional story than the previous two. Even though it was difficult to read with all the suffering and abuse Tuscany experienced, it was also a beautiful journey of strength and self-discovery.
Tuscany is the sister to Rome, from Born for Silk. She was excited to become the Queen of the Cradle at 10 years old, but her life was drastically altered when she was forced to go under a procedure that would forever take away her ability to have children. She also suffers through medical procedures so she doesn't age and ECT to keep her in line.
Her own father forced her to undergo these painful procedures and her brother Rome kills him once he learns of the abuse. Unfortunately the damage has already been done and Tuscany undergoes age regression to cope with her reality. The only person who protects and supports her completely is her brother's guard, Kong the Unbreakable. He sleeps outside her door and puts her above everything else.
Tuscany is finally going on her own mission to see the people and Kong will be her protector. This amps up the tension and longing between the characters. Their relationship is forbidden and angsty. The slow burn was killing me in the best way.
Kong was EVERYTHING!!! His devotion and love for his little queen were beautiful to read. I loved how he helped her through her mental health struggles and helped Tuscany find her strength.
There were some exciting twists and turns that truly shocked me. Nicci Harris is a masterful storyteller and she has built such a complex post-apocalyptic world that has captivated me completely. I highly recommend this series and this author.
Thank you to Nicci Harris for providing the ARC.
November 22, 2025
ARC REVIEW - I went into this book blind as I do all my books to ensure an open mind. I don't read trigger warnings they don't apply to my little black heart.
Now the book review, the story is set in a dystopian world which I felt was very grand and opulent and my imagination went to somewhere very much like Star Wars and the battle between good and evil but on a much better scale here in this book.
Tuscany in the early scenes is a happy playful child who wants to make everyone smile and she does. Her father is the Sire/King and the children are educated early on to follow his footsteps. She is chosen to be Queen Mother to all in their kingdom but to do this role she endures the removal of her womb and her skin is peeled to ensure she is beauty and perfection to all of those around here she also receives Electric shock treatment.
Through her life one man has been a constant the Heir's Guardian Kong he has sat many a time outside her door protecting her and when outside her door wasn't enough by her bedside his love for her is forbidden he is not allowed to touch her ever no man is, but as they travel on the tour together Tuscany's need for the truth keeps pushing them closer and closer together, the yearning and forbidden relationship was very much like Romeo and Juliette one of my favourite books of all time and I just devoured their love like a woman suffering PMS needs chocolate!
Please don't judge this book on its cover this book is more than just a sexy hot guy falling for a girl. The storyline is nothing I have read before and I've read hundreds of books before this, I didn't know where the plot was going at any point and I loved that.
We have so many tropes here Forbidden Romance/forced proximity/secret affair/touch her and die/age gap etc and the spice is written so natural into the book it doesn't feel forced or for ratings sake and it's hot!!
The Kindle and Audiobook are out on 25th November can I suggest you RUN to buy? It's truly an emotional rollercoaster of a book that I love!
#booktok #bookstagram #forbiddenromance
Now the book review, the story is set in a dystopian world which I felt was very grand and opulent and my imagination went to somewhere very much like Star Wars and the battle between good and evil but on a much better scale here in this book.
Tuscany in the early scenes is a happy playful child who wants to make everyone smile and she does. Her father is the Sire/King and the children are educated early on to follow his footsteps. She is chosen to be Queen Mother to all in their kingdom but to do this role she endures the removal of her womb and her skin is peeled to ensure she is beauty and perfection to all of those around here she also receives Electric shock treatment.
Through her life one man has been a constant the Heir's Guardian Kong he has sat many a time outside her door protecting her and when outside her door wasn't enough by her bedside his love for her is forbidden he is not allowed to touch her ever no man is, but as they travel on the tour together Tuscany's need for the truth keeps pushing them closer and closer together, the yearning and forbidden relationship was very much like Romeo and Juliette one of my favourite books of all time and I just devoured their love like a woman suffering PMS needs chocolate!
Please don't judge this book on its cover this book is more than just a sexy hot guy falling for a girl. The storyline is nothing I have read before and I've read hundreds of books before this, I didn't know where the plot was going at any point and I loved that.
We have so many tropes here Forbidden Romance/forced proximity/secret affair/touch her and die/age gap etc and the spice is written so natural into the book it doesn't feel forced or for ratings sake and it's hot!!
The Kindle and Audiobook are out on 25th November can I suggest you RUN to buy? It's truly an emotional rollercoaster of a book that I love!
#booktok #bookstagram #forbiddenromance
November 25, 2025
A touching romance masterpiece. In a dystopian world filled with rules and restrictions, Tuscany and Kong's forbidden love story is beautiful and full of yearning.
Tuscany is Queen of the Cradle. She is carved, trained and formed into the perfect, virginal goddess figure to be admired and adored. Kong is her brothers protector who has watched over her and protected her from afar for many years. He is burdened with the guilt of not being able to save her from the horrors she has lived through and the trauma she has survived.
NH has written a story so beautifully sensitive to Tuscany and her mental health. This story explores Kongs support and patience while Tuscany learns to live with her PTSD, age regression and BPD. He becomes her safe space where she can be herself without expectation. Tuscany had me in tears so many times. I've never wanted a happy ending for a character more. And this story arc is perfect. How this sometimes challenging narrative arc concludes could not be better. So much growth for these characters. And so much healing.
Mental illness representation
Spice.
Age Gap.
Possessive protector
Tuscany is Queen of the Cradle. She is carved, trained and formed into the perfect, virginal goddess figure to be admired and adored. Kong is her brothers protector who has watched over her and protected her from afar for many years. He is burdened with the guilt of not being able to save her from the horrors she has lived through and the trauma she has survived.
NH has written a story so beautifully sensitive to Tuscany and her mental health. This story explores Kongs support and patience while Tuscany learns to live with her PTSD, age regression and BPD. He becomes her safe space where she can be herself without expectation. Tuscany had me in tears so many times. I've never wanted a happy ending for a character more. And this story arc is perfect. How this sometimes challenging narrative arc concludes could not be better. So much growth for these characters. And so much healing.
Mental illness representation
Spice.
Age Gap.
Possessive protector
November 26, 2025
Born for Marble
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Oh Nicci Harris, the chokehold this Common Cradle series has on me is unreal and Born for Marble just keeps it going.
Tuscany and Kong's story drew me in from the beginning and I was done. My heart breaks for Tuscany, how she was so happy to be Queen and then broken immediately by the harsh truth of what was being done to her.
Oh Kong, Tuscany's Guardian who swears to protect her from the monster's and helps to keep her grounded. How can you not swoon when he says, "As you wish".
Everything in this book left me wanting more, in a good way. I didn't want it to end. Along with the love story, the dystopian background, political system, and social class breakdowns make this such an interesting read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Oh Nicci Harris, the chokehold this Common Cradle series has on me is unreal and Born for Marble just keeps it going.
Tuscany and Kong's story drew me in from the beginning and I was done. My heart breaks for Tuscany, how she was so happy to be Queen and then broken immediately by the harsh truth of what was being done to her.
Oh Kong, Tuscany's Guardian who swears to protect her from the monster's and helps to keep her grounded. How can you not swoon when he says, "As you wish".
Everything in this book left me wanting more, in a good way. I didn't want it to end. Along with the love story, the dystopian background, political system, and social class breakdowns make this such an interesting read.
Read
December 4, 2025DNF 25% - I love this series, but I’ve had to force myself through every chapter of this book. I don’t feel connected to any of the characters. The portrayal of the heroine’s mental health feels flat and stereotypical "mentally unwell woman." And the fact that the hero is attracted her when she is SO unwell feels so gross rather than swoony. The heroine’s campaign and it just isn’t compelling enough to function as the central plot. I am so immensely disappointed.
November 25, 2025
I have been waiting for Tuscany and Kong's story and it did not disappoint. Set in a dark, dystopian world, this is a story of hope, forbidden love, and healing.
This story broke my heart in the best possible way. The forbidden relationship, the tension, the longing—every moment builds toward one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever read.
This story broke my heart in the best possible way. The forbidden relationship, the tension, the longing—every moment builds toward one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever read.
November 25, 2025
So lucky to be giving you an ARC review on this amazing book. I love the Kong's loyalty, both to Tuscany & to Rome. How he is able to get through to both of them in different ways. I love the story development, and the acts of love shown throughout. And with Bled, Essen, Rome... I just couldn't be happier with how things turned out, with their relationships to Tuscany. The mental health struggles were written so well, and were equally f***ed up as they were beautiful. The way he would ask, are you feeling Strong or Little... 😍🥰 So many things.
Just when I think I can't love characters more, I read another one of Nicci's books.
Just when I think I can't love characters more, I read another one of Nicci's books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 30, 2025I absolutely love this series!
December 5, 2025
ok
A little disappointed in the story line, I wanted more from them as a couple. My least favourite in the series I think
A little disappointed in the story line, I wanted more from them as a couple. My least favourite in the series I think
December 20, 2025
Read for bookclub!
December 25, 2025
ARC REVIEW
Fable Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Goodreads Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Genre: Dystopian Romance
Tropes:
🖤mf romance
🖤hero obsessed
🖤age gap
🖤forbidden romance
🖤ptsd and age regression
Format: ebook
Pages: 464
Spice: 4 🌶️
S/S: The Cradled Common
Check trigger warnings for any book
These books are so good. I can’t wait for more. Whose story is next?
Lillian - @lillianbookreviews on instagram
Fable Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Goodreads Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Genre: Dystopian Romance
Tropes:
🖤mf romance
🖤hero obsessed
🖤age gap
🖤forbidden romance
🖤ptsd and age regression
Format: ebook
Pages: 464
Spice: 4 🌶️
S/S: The Cradled Common
Check trigger warnings for any book
These books are so good. I can’t wait for more. Whose story is next?
Lillian - @lillianbookreviews on instagram
December 28, 2025
Kong is tasked with protecting Tuscany, the Queen of the cradle, in a world where climate change and genetic engineering has destroyed most civilization leading most to depend on the trade and crown to survive. With her vow to be queen Tuscany must give up children and any chance for a partner and be as strong and unfeeling as marble. But this is breaks her and she goes on a trip where she gets to have some freedom and space from Master Cairo and grow into her own with many unfortunate disruptions but tons of growth and some spicy time with her bodyguard.
👑 Vows of a queen: For The Cradle, I will take no man, bear no children, and seal my Meaningful Purpose with the ultimate gift—my vessel for life.
—-
“Say your vows, my queen. Say them as the nurse accepts your gift to The Cradle. This is symbolic. A womb is the first gift a mother gives her child, a safe place to thrive. Your womb is the vessel for life, and you give it to The Cradle like all the queens that came before you.”
🍫 “Do you ever feel helpless, Kong the Unbreakable?” “Oh, yes,” he says. “When?” “Right now, little queen.”
🪨 I ruined their plans when my mind split in two, and both parts are me, but neither is enough.
—-
Master Cairo mentions me: my beauty. It is my only claim to exist: being pretty.
🦅 “Don’t let me hide. I’ve done it enough. Getting lost is too easy now. I want you to find me, even when I don’t want you to… please. I need someone to always find me.”
—-
“I will find you, little queen.”
🍊 We can all die, as long as you die first. And I’ll make it slow. Months. If you touch her again, I will make your end so long, so vividly nightmarish, you'll be merely a head and torso when your Shadows are activated. Do you understand me?”
🌼 And I want to see what freedom looks like on her, whether she’ll feel liberated away from the place that held her spirit in chains.
☀️ I’ll tell you. It’s about control. Men and women need two things. One is to be governed, to be organised, else anarchy breaks out, and the other is to be spiritual. A man is terror and muscle and presence, while a woman is compassion and empathy. He is order, and she is worship. The land needs both.
🚪 Sometimes, what we desire most has the worst consequences.
—-
We see the fantasy of the flame, the brilliance and beauty, until it is too close and the reality of it burns us.
👑 “What exactly are you hoping to hear?” “Plans,” I say straightaway. “Stories. Anything about the babes they take from the ruins. Anything about women being killed in raids. Orphans. I’m certain that Bled knows The Cradle’s secrets. We need as much information, recounts, and confessions as possible before I can take this to Rome.”
🍫 This was it. All I could take. The rejection and the final male to abandon me. The last I would ever allow! I wouldn’t abide it again. I would keep everyone at arm’s length, where they can’t chip at me, can’t hurt or disappoint me or leave me.
🪨 I’m quickly learning that women are the most precious and valuable asset to The Trade—they are the prize, the gift.
🦅 “As if I don’t dream every night of you dripping down my chin while I eat your pussy. As if I’m not haunted by the thought of you—so close yet so far."
—-
“Say, I command you to eat my pussy.” I open my mouth, voice barely audible. “I command you to eat my pussy.” A slow grin slides across his lips. “As you wish, little queen.”
🍊 “Promise me,” she whispers. “There will be no one else. I’ll have you executed.”
—-
She underestimates my obsession and devotion. Since that night in her bed, when I realised she was the main character in my story, there has been no other. If it’s not her, then it’s no one.
🌼 There is a fierceness to this act that forces all my blood to rush between my legs and my insides to clamp around nothing. Wanting. Pressure. His brows are tight. Mouth open, panting.
—-
"I'll eat my protein bites,” I say, breathily, though I try to be commanding—calm. Like he is. “You eat my pussy.”
☀️ Did you think that maybe it's not because you're weak but because you're strong? No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t cut you to stone.”
🚪 "No.” I roll my hips. “Like this. We can be quiet. I want to fuck the man by my door. I want to be eye to eye with you. You're so big, Kong, I won't be able to kiss you if we lie down."
👑 “Good girl,” I purr into her mouth. “You’re taking my cock so well.”
—-
“You like the way I fuck your sacred body? The way I defile it, taint it. You’re no longer their queen, their pure, untouched symbol. You’re for my pleasure now, little queen.”
🍫 “If you have needs or demands, they are mine to hear and meet. I am your Guardian. Your commands are mine. You’re mine.”
🪨 He sits but leans toward the headboard. Is he rejecting me? My chest tightens, but he's only retrieving a white pillow. He places it at his feet. "You're still my queen when your lips are around my cock."
🦅 We are all looking for purpose, for a reason to exist. Just because The Trade claimed this ideology to control The Cradle, doesn’t change that. We are all seeking meaning and purpose in life. It is an innate part of humanity.
🍊 “You should know that someone loves you with everything they are. That someone is irrevocably loyal to you. I do. I am. You’re not marble. You’re not their statue. You’re a chocoholic. A sunshiny, optimist who wants to save the world. You’re beautiful and raw, and your heart belongs to mine. I don’t recall the moment love took hold of my fucking soul for you, little queen. There wasn’t a specific event or conversation. No profound punch to the heart. It just did. I love you. Loving you feels as intrinsic as breathing. If something happens to me, I need you to remember this.”
🌼 “Kong the Unbreakable, if we die, I command you to find me in The Crust. After this is over, promise me we will have our forever in death.” His eyes open, his commitment hitting me right in the heart. "I told you, little queen. I'll find you. Where you are, I'll always go."
☀️ “And Kong is yours," he grunts fast, throwing those words out as if they mean nothing, though I know they do. They mean a lot. "He always has been,"
—-
“Just like with fucking Odio. The women in my life like to take my possessions.”
- 🤭
🚪 I know I want to help this boy, to keep him safe. It won’t be me who makes positive change in The Cradle. Not this generation, not Rome nor me. But it might be him—he’ll be the change.
👑 I drink her in. My Meaning. My Purpose. My life. Breath. My exhausted, aching soul. My everything.
🍫 I can’t choose my Purpose any more than the children filtering into the Hall can, but I can choose the path that weaves through it, can discover new ways rather than follow the old worn one. And I have a love that will hold me—Guard me—through it all.
👑 Vows of a queen: For The Cradle, I will take no man, bear no children, and seal my Meaningful Purpose with the ultimate gift—my vessel for life.
—-
“Say your vows, my queen. Say them as the nurse accepts your gift to The Cradle. This is symbolic. A womb is the first gift a mother gives her child, a safe place to thrive. Your womb is the vessel for life, and you give it to The Cradle like all the queens that came before you.”
🍫 “Do you ever feel helpless, Kong the Unbreakable?” “Oh, yes,” he says. “When?” “Right now, little queen.”
🪨 I ruined their plans when my mind split in two, and both parts are me, but neither is enough.
—-
Master Cairo mentions me: my beauty. It is my only claim to exist: being pretty.
🦅 “Don’t let me hide. I’ve done it enough. Getting lost is too easy now. I want you to find me, even when I don’t want you to… please. I need someone to always find me.”
—-
“I will find you, little queen.”
🍊 We can all die, as long as you die first. And I’ll make it slow. Months. If you touch her again, I will make your end so long, so vividly nightmarish, you'll be merely a head and torso when your Shadows are activated. Do you understand me?”
🌼 And I want to see what freedom looks like on her, whether she’ll feel liberated away from the place that held her spirit in chains.
☀️ I’ll tell you. It’s about control. Men and women need two things. One is to be governed, to be organised, else anarchy breaks out, and the other is to be spiritual. A man is terror and muscle and presence, while a woman is compassion and empathy. He is order, and she is worship. The land needs both.
🚪 Sometimes, what we desire most has the worst consequences.
—-
We see the fantasy of the flame, the brilliance and beauty, until it is too close and the reality of it burns us.
👑 “What exactly are you hoping to hear?” “Plans,” I say straightaway. “Stories. Anything about the babes they take from the ruins. Anything about women being killed in raids. Orphans. I’m certain that Bled knows The Cradle’s secrets. We need as much information, recounts, and confessions as possible before I can take this to Rome.”
🍫 This was it. All I could take. The rejection and the final male to abandon me. The last I would ever allow! I wouldn’t abide it again. I would keep everyone at arm’s length, where they can’t chip at me, can’t hurt or disappoint me or leave me.
🪨 I’m quickly learning that women are the most precious and valuable asset to The Trade—they are the prize, the gift.
🦅 “As if I don’t dream every night of you dripping down my chin while I eat your pussy. As if I’m not haunted by the thought of you—so close yet so far."
—-
“Say, I command you to eat my pussy.” I open my mouth, voice barely audible. “I command you to eat my pussy.” A slow grin slides across his lips. “As you wish, little queen.”
🍊 “Promise me,” she whispers. “There will be no one else. I’ll have you executed.”
—-
She underestimates my obsession and devotion. Since that night in her bed, when I realised she was the main character in my story, there has been no other. If it’s not her, then it’s no one.
🌼 There is a fierceness to this act that forces all my blood to rush between my legs and my insides to clamp around nothing. Wanting. Pressure. His brows are tight. Mouth open, panting.
—-
"I'll eat my protein bites,” I say, breathily, though I try to be commanding—calm. Like he is. “You eat my pussy.”
☀️ Did you think that maybe it's not because you're weak but because you're strong? No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t cut you to stone.”
🚪 "No.” I roll my hips. “Like this. We can be quiet. I want to fuck the man by my door. I want to be eye to eye with you. You're so big, Kong, I won't be able to kiss you if we lie down."
👑 “Good girl,” I purr into her mouth. “You’re taking my cock so well.”
—-
“You like the way I fuck your sacred body? The way I defile it, taint it. You’re no longer their queen, their pure, untouched symbol. You’re for my pleasure now, little queen.”
🍫 “If you have needs or demands, they are mine to hear and meet. I am your Guardian. Your commands are mine. You’re mine.”
🪨 He sits but leans toward the headboard. Is he rejecting me? My chest tightens, but he's only retrieving a white pillow. He places it at his feet. "You're still my queen when your lips are around my cock."
🦅 We are all looking for purpose, for a reason to exist. Just because The Trade claimed this ideology to control The Cradle, doesn’t change that. We are all seeking meaning and purpose in life. It is an innate part of humanity.
🍊 “You should know that someone loves you with everything they are. That someone is irrevocably loyal to you. I do. I am. You’re not marble. You’re not their statue. You’re a chocoholic. A sunshiny, optimist who wants to save the world. You’re beautiful and raw, and your heart belongs to mine. I don’t recall the moment love took hold of my fucking soul for you, little queen. There wasn’t a specific event or conversation. No profound punch to the heart. It just did. I love you. Loving you feels as intrinsic as breathing. If something happens to me, I need you to remember this.”
🌼 “Kong the Unbreakable, if we die, I command you to find me in The Crust. After this is over, promise me we will have our forever in death.” His eyes open, his commitment hitting me right in the heart. "I told you, little queen. I'll find you. Where you are, I'll always go."
☀️ “And Kong is yours," he grunts fast, throwing those words out as if they mean nothing, though I know they do. They mean a lot. "He always has been,"
—-
“Just like with fucking Odio. The women in my life like to take my possessions.”
- 🤭
🚪 I know I want to help this boy, to keep him safe. It won’t be me who makes positive change in The Cradle. Not this generation, not Rome nor me. But it might be him—he’ll be the change.
👑 I drink her in. My Meaning. My Purpose. My life. Breath. My exhausted, aching soul. My everything.
🍫 I can’t choose my Purpose any more than the children filtering into the Hall can, but I can choose the path that weaves through it, can discover new ways rather than follow the old worn one. And I have a love that will hold me—Guard me—through it all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2025
NO. NO. NO. YOU CANNOT DO THIS TO ME. TUSCANY. MY HEART. i dnfed Born For Silk because the concept of breeding girls as a social NORM was very difficult for me to stomach. i picked Born For Marble up only because i am a sucker for the princess x knight trope. and let me tell u something!!!!!! the world, the politics, the religion were so interesting and unique. maybe id pick up Born for Silk again one day.
TUSCANY. MY BABYGIRL AND MY MOTHER. I LOVE HER SO MUCH. MY HEART WILL BURST.
i've grown to appreciate authors who could portray deeply tortured heroines without resorting to sexual assault because these days, too often, it feels unnecessary and carelessly tacked on. tuscany suffered from medical abuse. her body and mind–every piece of her–was violated, stolen and manipulated since she was 10 years old in efforts to make her a perfect marble queen. the abuse has caused her to experience age regression, shifting between a frightened child and a grown woman. that's why she's both my babygirl and my mother, both my sweet princess and my strong queen. my girl suffered so much. they used food for positive reinforcement, now she has eating disorder. and what they did to her hymen.... the revelation about her womb?!!!!!!!!! just messed up!! im so conflicted.
i teared up multiple times and im just so proud of her. (omg im gonna start crying again) shes so kind, so sweet, so soft yet SOOOOO STRONGGGGGGG. SHE WILL BE A GOOD QUEEN, GOOD MOTHER.
"I know you believe you were the problem... that you couldn't be what they wanted. Did you think that maybe it's not because you're weak but because you're strong? No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t cut you to stone.”
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS REASSURING HER, KONG
he's just the perfect man for her. he's exactly what she needs. i am actually so glad he isn't complicated. he loves her, he protects her, he will not hurt her, he will not betray her. since the start, i am certain of it. i'm so glad she gets to have a break whenever he is around. my girl had suffered enough. she doesn't need a complicated man. the way he knows the exact words she needs to hear everytime??? pls. i love him.
don't get me wrong, he is a very layered individual as well. i love his relationship with rome. i cannot say he is pure because duh, he's a knight, he has killed for the crown, guilty or innocent. but he's the best man their world could offer. ill take it! also his internal wars are so funny lol.
i think this is an excellent example of the princess x knight trope > (in this case, queen and queen's guard)
1. he knows his role. i just hate when knights turn obsessively dominant. like sir? you forget your place. you are talking to your queen? hello? im sooooo glad kong isn't like that. he can assert without disrespecting the queen. he can be dominant without acting as though he’s above her simply because she loves him. he doesnt try to prove his superiority. he doesn't ask her to runaway and abandon her crown. HE KNOWS HIS PLACE!
2. decade long angst?!!!!! FORBIDDEN FEELINGS. love or duty, possessiveness or jealousy. the stolen stares. she counts how many times he touches her. SECRET AFFAIRSSSSS.
one of my fave scenes is when he felt possessive and angry that other men were talking lewdness about her. he still thought of her reputation so he punished them accordingly. he was so considerate, he wanted to kill them but he thought it could ruin her campaign. (he just punished them in a different way). i love INTERNAL CONFLICT arghhh.
ROME. ROME. ROME. he is the king and the main character of the Born For Silk. i am conflicted. i love that he loves tuscany. i hated that he failed her. at the same time, i understand why he would. in this story, he is already having his happy ending with aster and they seem perfect for each other as well. however, im still unsure if id finish their story. maybe i would just to see glimpses of tuscany and kong.
obviously, the age gap and height gap were disturbing, but i try to be more lenient and understanding when it comes to science fiction or fantasy genre because i get it, biology and social norms are often shaped by their worldbuilding. the flexibility and creativity of these genres are what make it great. they are supposed to be otherwordly. they are not supposed to follow our rules. however, there are still stories where these gaps were just straight up bullshit. good thing, this story is not one of them. i really enjoyed the worldbuilding. it actually felt like diving into a new world. horrifying, but exciting. this is why i read!
TUSCANY. MY BABYGIRL AND MY MOTHER. I LOVE HER SO MUCH. MY HEART WILL BURST.
i've grown to appreciate authors who could portray deeply tortured heroines without resorting to sexual assault because these days, too often, it feels unnecessary and carelessly tacked on. tuscany suffered from medical abuse. her body and mind–every piece of her–was violated, stolen and manipulated since she was 10 years old in efforts to make her a perfect marble queen. the abuse has caused her to experience age regression, shifting between a frightened child and a grown woman. that's why she's both my babygirl and my mother, both my sweet princess and my strong queen. my girl suffered so much. they used food for positive reinforcement, now she has eating disorder. and what they did to her hymen.... the revelation about her womb?!!!!!!!!! just messed up!! im so conflicted.
i teared up multiple times and im just so proud of her. (omg im gonna start crying again) shes so kind, so sweet, so soft yet SOOOOO STRONGGGGGGG. SHE WILL BE A GOOD QUEEN, GOOD MOTHER.
"I know you believe you were the problem... that you couldn't be what they wanted. Did you think that maybe it's not because you're weak but because you're strong? No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t cut you to stone.”
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS REASSURING HER, KONG
he's just the perfect man for her. he's exactly what she needs. i am actually so glad he isn't complicated. he loves her, he protects her, he will not hurt her, he will not betray her. since the start, i am certain of it. i'm so glad she gets to have a break whenever he is around. my girl had suffered enough. she doesn't need a complicated man. the way he knows the exact words she needs to hear everytime??? pls. i love him.
don't get me wrong, he is a very layered individual as well. i love his relationship with rome. i cannot say he is pure because duh, he's a knight, he has killed for the crown, guilty or innocent. but he's the best man their world could offer. ill take it! also his internal wars are so funny lol.
i think this is an excellent example of the princess x knight trope > (in this case, queen and queen's guard)
1. he knows his role. i just hate when knights turn obsessively dominant. like sir? you forget your place. you are talking to your queen? hello? im sooooo glad kong isn't like that. he can assert without disrespecting the queen. he can be dominant without acting as though he’s above her simply because she loves him. he doesnt try to prove his superiority. he doesn't ask her to runaway and abandon her crown. HE KNOWS HIS PLACE!
2. decade long angst?!!!!! FORBIDDEN FEELINGS. love or duty, possessiveness or jealousy. the stolen stares. she counts how many times he touches her. SECRET AFFAIRSSSSS.
one of my fave scenes is when he felt possessive and angry that other men were talking lewdness about her. he still thought of her reputation so he punished them accordingly. he was so considerate, he wanted to kill them but he thought it could ruin her campaign. (he just punished them in a different way). i love INTERNAL CONFLICT arghhh.
ROME. ROME. ROME. he is the king and the main character of the Born For Silk. i am conflicted. i love that he loves tuscany. i hated that he failed her. at the same time, i understand why he would. in this story, he is already having his happy ending with aster and they seem perfect for each other as well. however, im still unsure if id finish their story. maybe i would just to see glimpses of tuscany and kong.
obviously, the age gap and height gap were disturbing, but i try to be more lenient and understanding when it comes to science fiction or fantasy genre because i get it, biology and social norms are often shaped by their worldbuilding. the flexibility and creativity of these genres are what make it great. they are supposed to be otherwordly. they are not supposed to follow our rules. however, there are still stories where these gaps were just straight up bullshit. good thing, this story is not one of them. i really enjoyed the worldbuilding. it actually felt like diving into a new world. horrifying, but exciting. this is why i read!
November 22, 2025
ENG/ITA REVIEW
ENG
The next instalment in Nicci Harris's Cradled Common series is a story of great sacrifice and stubborn love, that between a goddess-like untouchable queen and her brooding loyal bodyguard. Delve into it to get all the feelings.
BLURB
Queen Tuscany of the Strait has been carved and modified since she was a girl to become the perfect marble monarch of the Cradle, the harsh dystopian world she lives into. Though taught to have no feelings, she has always had ones for her Guardian. Kong the Umbreakable is the otherworldly presence who assures order and security. He protects Tuscany to a fault, helping her from regressing further away into her trauma. But their love is forbidden and dangerous to the whole Cradle.
I'll be honest. I knew that this third book would have been painful given Tuscany's agonising past and her fragility. I braced myself and the pain arrived, but it was wonderfully sweet. While Tuscany slowly rises from her little self to be an incredible woman, it's Kong who amazed me; being huge and violent while showing tenderness and care to his little queen. Their forbidden relationship and their doomed future, together with betrayal, plot-twists and angst, angst, angst, made this story an heart-wrenching tale of hope and rebirth.
I marvelled at Nicci's ability to touch so gently and thoroughly delicate matters such as those of the frailty of human mind; and I also loved how she masterfully wrote these struggles within a story of love, passion and faith.
I'm honoured to be part of Nicci's ARC team and I can't wait for more -- how can I live without these books and their intensity?
RATE: 5/5
--
ITA
In un mondo distopico post apocalittico dove ognuno viene formato senza scampo ad un solo proposito, l'amore tra la regina e la sua guardia del corpo non è solo proibito, ma anche mortale.
TRAMA
Tuscany, regina di Cradle, il nuovo mondo post-apocalisse, viene violata, menomata e condizionata fin dalla tenera età per essere la figura divina perfetta, statuaria e impassibile degna della devozione dei suoi sudditi. È vittima di incubi e attacchi di panico, di una realtà che le sfugge e che sembra dimenticare e di una costante regressione. Al suo fianco, rimasto sempre nell'ombra, c'è Kong, guardiano indistruttibile e geneticamente modificato che la protegge e la ama sopra ogni cosa. I loro scambi proibiti e pericolosi sfociano presto in una passione dirompente che rischia di far piombare nel caos tutto ciò che li circonda.
La bellezza dei libri di Nicci Harris sta nel modo in cui crea personaggi sempre diversi, nonostante siano nello stesso mondo, e in come, soprattutto in questo caso, riesca a trattare temi delicati con estrema gentilezza mentre costruisce storie d'amore infuocate ed eroi protettivi e possessivi. Un mix meraviglioso.
Questa storia ha tutta la fragilità di Tuscany e la dolcezza inaspettata di Kong, con colpi di scena adrenalinici e un'ambientazione avvincente, arricchita da personaggi bellissimi. Ogni volta è un colpo al cuore e io non vedo l'ora di leggere altro: questa serie è perfezione!
VOTO: 5/5
ENG
The next instalment in Nicci Harris's Cradled Common series is a story of great sacrifice and stubborn love, that between a goddess-like untouchable queen and her brooding loyal bodyguard. Delve into it to get all the feelings.
BLURB
Queen Tuscany of the Strait has been carved and modified since she was a girl to become the perfect marble monarch of the Cradle, the harsh dystopian world she lives into. Though taught to have no feelings, she has always had ones for her Guardian. Kong the Umbreakable is the otherworldly presence who assures order and security. He protects Tuscany to a fault, helping her from regressing further away into her trauma. But their love is forbidden and dangerous to the whole Cradle.
I'll be honest. I knew that this third book would have been painful given Tuscany's agonising past and her fragility. I braced myself and the pain arrived, but it was wonderfully sweet. While Tuscany slowly rises from her little self to be an incredible woman, it's Kong who amazed me; being huge and violent while showing tenderness and care to his little queen. Their forbidden relationship and their doomed future, together with betrayal, plot-twists and angst, angst, angst, made this story an heart-wrenching tale of hope and rebirth.
I marvelled at Nicci's ability to touch so gently and thoroughly delicate matters such as those of the frailty of human mind; and I also loved how she masterfully wrote these struggles within a story of love, passion and faith.
I'm honoured to be part of Nicci's ARC team and I can't wait for more -- how can I live without these books and their intensity?
RATE: 5/5
--
ITA
In un mondo distopico post apocalittico dove ognuno viene formato senza scampo ad un solo proposito, l'amore tra la regina e la sua guardia del corpo non è solo proibito, ma anche mortale.
TRAMA
Tuscany, regina di Cradle, il nuovo mondo post-apocalisse, viene violata, menomata e condizionata fin dalla tenera età per essere la figura divina perfetta, statuaria e impassibile degna della devozione dei suoi sudditi. È vittima di incubi e attacchi di panico, di una realtà che le sfugge e che sembra dimenticare e di una costante regressione. Al suo fianco, rimasto sempre nell'ombra, c'è Kong, guardiano indistruttibile e geneticamente modificato che la protegge e la ama sopra ogni cosa. I loro scambi proibiti e pericolosi sfociano presto in una passione dirompente che rischia di far piombare nel caos tutto ciò che li circonda.
La bellezza dei libri di Nicci Harris sta nel modo in cui crea personaggi sempre diversi, nonostante siano nello stesso mondo, e in come, soprattutto in questo caso, riesca a trattare temi delicati con estrema gentilezza mentre costruisce storie d'amore infuocate ed eroi protettivi e possessivi. Un mix meraviglioso.
Questa storia ha tutta la fragilità di Tuscany e la dolcezza inaspettata di Kong, con colpi di scena adrenalinici e un'ambientazione avvincente, arricchita da personaggi bellissimi. Ogni volta è un colpo al cuore e io non vedo l'ora di leggere altro: questa serie è perfezione!
VOTO: 5/5
November 26, 2025
Born for Marble is book three in the Cradled Common series and is the story of Tuscany and Kong. This is an age gap, dystopian, fantasy, dark romance. There are some dark themes and mental health aspects to this book so please check your trigger warnings prior to reading.
Through the first two books in the series, Born for Silk and Born for Lace, we have gotten to see the connection between Tuscany and Kong building. Born for Silk gave us a glimpse into Tuscany's world through Rome's eyes but nothing could have fully prepared us to the horrors she was subjected to become Queen of the Cradle. To be carved into marble, Tuscany is forced to endure medical treatments which fracture her mind, until her brother, Rome becomes King. Traumatized, Tuscany only has one person she can count on, Kong, her brother's guard and soon her Guardian.
Kong the Unbreakable has guarded the Rome since he was just a boy but when Rome becomes King, his duties and loyalty is split between his King and the Queen. Standing guard outside Tuscany's door, he vows to keep the monsters away and night after night, he quietly falls in love this the little Queen. Bound by a vow he made to the Cradle, Kong attempts to resist his little queen but when Tuscany leads a campaign away from the Estate, she challenges the vows they both took to the Cradle to finally be the Queen she knows the people needs and embrace the feelings she feels for her Guardian.
I have been waiting for Kong and Tuscany's book since I started this series. You could always feel the connection throughout the other books in the series and Born for Marble did an amazing job connecting all the dots that we got glimpses off. Tuscany was traumatized and although Kong had not be in the position to stop the horrors she faced when she became Queen, he and her brother stopped anything further happening when they had the power to do so.
The emotional connection that was built between Tuscany and Kong through the decades was evident to all those around them and the author did an amazing job weaving the storyline to show that connection grow. Kong's dedication to Tuscany was breathtaking, even when he thought he could be nothing but her Guardian. Tuscany's emotional growth was so well done while also staying true to her trauma and dealing with the mental health effects it had on her. This book is powerful, thought provoking and touches on the political and class aspects of the Cradle and wanting to do better for future generations.
This book is perfect for those readers who like a fantasy with darker themes but also has an epic love story for the ages. There are a few twists that you won't see coming and it will be interesting to see how Nicci brings that storyline to fruition. I received an advanced copy of this book and am leaving an honest review as a show of my appreciation.
Through the first two books in the series, Born for Silk and Born for Lace, we have gotten to see the connection between Tuscany and Kong building. Born for Silk gave us a glimpse into Tuscany's world through Rome's eyes but nothing could have fully prepared us to the horrors she was subjected to become Queen of the Cradle. To be carved into marble, Tuscany is forced to endure medical treatments which fracture her mind, until her brother, Rome becomes King. Traumatized, Tuscany only has one person she can count on, Kong, her brother's guard and soon her Guardian.
Kong the Unbreakable has guarded the Rome since he was just a boy but when Rome becomes King, his duties and loyalty is split between his King and the Queen. Standing guard outside Tuscany's door, he vows to keep the monsters away and night after night, he quietly falls in love this the little Queen. Bound by a vow he made to the Cradle, Kong attempts to resist his little queen but when Tuscany leads a campaign away from the Estate, she challenges the vows they both took to the Cradle to finally be the Queen she knows the people needs and embrace the feelings she feels for her Guardian.
I have been waiting for Kong and Tuscany's book since I started this series. You could always feel the connection throughout the other books in the series and Born for Marble did an amazing job connecting all the dots that we got glimpses off. Tuscany was traumatized and although Kong had not be in the position to stop the horrors she faced when she became Queen, he and her brother stopped anything further happening when they had the power to do so.
The emotional connection that was built between Tuscany and Kong through the decades was evident to all those around them and the author did an amazing job weaving the storyline to show that connection grow. Kong's dedication to Tuscany was breathtaking, even when he thought he could be nothing but her Guardian. Tuscany's emotional growth was so well done while also staying true to her trauma and dealing with the mental health effects it had on her. This book is powerful, thought provoking and touches on the political and class aspects of the Cradle and wanting to do better for future generations.
This book is perfect for those readers who like a fantasy with darker themes but also has an epic love story for the ages. There are a few twists that you won't see coming and it will be interesting to see how Nicci brings that storyline to fruition. I received an advanced copy of this book and am leaving an honest review as a show of my appreciation.
November 26, 2025
Tuscany of the Strait became Queen of the Cradle at just ten years old. In a single night her sunshine was shattered and, over the next decade, she was shaped into a marble figurehead; silent, perfect and meant to be worshipped for her Meaningful Purpose. Her pain became currency. Her terror became routine. All of it demanded by the cruel system that claimed to honour her.
Kong began his Trade at the same age. First guarding the king, then the prince and finally the Queen he was never meant to want. Strong, disciplined and fiercely loyal, he has spent ten years watching Tuscany from a distance, helpless to stop the horrors she endured. But his feelings shift, deepen and take root. He sees her, truly sees her, even when she can’t see herself. And he silently vows to be the one who protects her from the monsters, especially the ones in her own mind.
Their connection burns quietly but fiercely. Tuscany has always been drawn to her Xin De guard, craving the strength and safety he radiates. But she swore an oath of purity, and he swore one of duty… making their yearning forbidden, dangerous and impossibly tempting. As Tuscany slowly begins to reclaim her power, she uncovers the layers of manipulation behind the Cradle and the roles she and her brother, King Rome, were forced to play. Leaving her gilded cage, she steps into the world for the first time. Tuscany discovers what it means to be a woman, to choose for herself and to fight for freedom, with Kong at her side ready to destroy any threat to his little queen.
My heart broke for Tuscany again and again. Her trauma was heavy and confronting, yet her compassion never dimmed. Watching her rediscover her fire was incredible. Kong was everything she deserved… devoted, protective, gentle when she needed softness and unyielding when she needed strength. The way he cared for Little Tuscany during her most vulnerable moments was beautiful. And the chemistry? Absolutely delicious. I’m still thinking about that scene; Tuscany on the table, a veil over her head, Kong feasting on her in a room full of people (fans self).
I adored the emotional depth, the mental health representation and the hope woven throughout the ending. After everything Tuscany endured, seeing justice served (the villain got what they deserved) and a future open before her felt perfect.
This story is powerful, raw and unforgettable.
Please check the trigger warnings as there are heavy themes throughout.
Kong began his Trade at the same age. First guarding the king, then the prince and finally the Queen he was never meant to want. Strong, disciplined and fiercely loyal, he has spent ten years watching Tuscany from a distance, helpless to stop the horrors she endured. But his feelings shift, deepen and take root. He sees her, truly sees her, even when she can’t see herself. And he silently vows to be the one who protects her from the monsters, especially the ones in her own mind.
Their connection burns quietly but fiercely. Tuscany has always been drawn to her Xin De guard, craving the strength and safety he radiates. But she swore an oath of purity, and he swore one of duty… making their yearning forbidden, dangerous and impossibly tempting. As Tuscany slowly begins to reclaim her power, she uncovers the layers of manipulation behind the Cradle and the roles she and her brother, King Rome, were forced to play. Leaving her gilded cage, she steps into the world for the first time. Tuscany discovers what it means to be a woman, to choose for herself and to fight for freedom, with Kong at her side ready to destroy any threat to his little queen.
My heart broke for Tuscany again and again. Her trauma was heavy and confronting, yet her compassion never dimmed. Watching her rediscover her fire was incredible. Kong was everything she deserved… devoted, protective, gentle when she needed softness and unyielding when she needed strength. The way he cared for Little Tuscany during her most vulnerable moments was beautiful. And the chemistry? Absolutely delicious. I’m still thinking about that scene; Tuscany on the table, a veil over her head, Kong feasting on her in a room full of people (fans self).
I adored the emotional depth, the mental health representation and the hope woven throughout the ending. After everything Tuscany endured, seeing justice served (the villain got what they deserved) and a future open before her felt perfect.
This story is powerful, raw and unforgettable.
Please check the trigger warnings as there are heavy themes throughout.
November 23, 2025
Born for marble, This book, as are ALL of Nicci's books, is emotionally raw and you will experience every emotion that you she can make you feel, you will smile and laugh, you will be sad and you will ugly cry and then you be so happy you will jump for joy in your mind. You will be sucked into the world that only Nicci can create and make you feel like you are there. She will always be my favorite author for her ability to write books in different genres and still have the ability to engross you completely in the story and wanting more. The spice level is less then we are used to, but the story building and telling all makes up for it!! Way to go Nicci!!
This emotional journey of a young girl full of smiles and sunshine. She is proud to be the chosen one and be the next Queen, she can't wait to take her vows. Then the life changing moment where she has been betrayed and robbed at such a delicate age causes the emotional trauma that breaks our hearts as readers. We are there and vividly feel the moment where "the sunshine in my heart turns to charcoal and ash" . This was the first time my heart broke for Tuscany and it was definitely not the last!!
She struggles mentally with this betrayal and finds herself fighting mental age regression to cope with the world when it is too much. The only one who knows what she needs and how to pull her out of her own mind is her obsessed bodyguard Kong, who knows that as much as she is the only one he desires and loves he can't touch her. When he finally does give in and touch her he makes it appear as though it is because she commands it, "as you wish my little Queen" but it is what his body and heart want.
I found myself at each turn of events being pulled into the mind of Tuscany, begging for her to find the strength that Kong offers her and envelope herself in it so she can be strong on her own.
Kong knows having her or touching her is wrong and could get him killed but he is losing his resolve to
As much as this book has you living each moment of this forbidden love story between two people who want to fulfill their meaningful purpose in life, they cannot deny that giving in and rebelling against the rules is the only way this story ends happily for them.
Tuscany deserves to feel loved and get her HEA along with her loyal guardian Kong!
Who has a new book boyfriend??
This emotional journey of a young girl full of smiles and sunshine. She is proud to be the chosen one and be the next Queen, she can't wait to take her vows. Then the life changing moment where she has been betrayed and robbed at such a delicate age causes the emotional trauma that breaks our hearts as readers. We are there and vividly feel the moment where "the sunshine in my heart turns to charcoal and ash" . This was the first time my heart broke for Tuscany and it was definitely not the last!!
She struggles mentally with this betrayal and finds herself fighting mental age regression to cope with the world when it is too much. The only one who knows what she needs and how to pull her out of her own mind is her obsessed bodyguard Kong, who knows that as much as she is the only one he desires and loves he can't touch her. When he finally does give in and touch her he makes it appear as though it is because she commands it, "as you wish my little Queen" but it is what his body and heart want.
I found myself at each turn of events being pulled into the mind of Tuscany, begging for her to find the strength that Kong offers her and envelope herself in it so she can be strong on her own.
Kong knows having her or touching her is wrong and could get him killed but he is losing his resolve to
As much as this book has you living each moment of this forbidden love story between two people who want to fulfill their meaningful purpose in life, they cannot deny that giving in and rebelling against the rules is the only way this story ends happily for them.
Tuscany deserves to feel loved and get her HEA along with her loyal guardian Kong!
Who has a new book boyfriend??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2025
This follows MMC Kong and FMC Tuscany. Kong has become a protector of the kingdom , King, and Queen of the cradle at the age of ten. -all ten-year-olds from the Lower-tower. They stand on the brink of their Purpose, ready to learn and grow into the roles they were born into—bred for. “Meaningful Purpose starts at ten,”
When Tuscany takes her vows to be the queen of the cradle, she doesn't realize what all it entails and is put through pain, the loss of her ability to bear children, and has to vow to have no man forever. Tuscany being the queen of the cradle is now the mother to all the children in the nursery's born from the silk girls.
Kong hears her screams, and sits outside of her door to protect her. The Cairo wanted to eliminate humanity and all the feelings one has. The torture that Tuscany endured for ten years was horrible and how she dealt with her fear by "becoming small" and going under her bed was tear jerking. I can see how she would try to go away and hide out in her own world to protect herself. I along with many others have been there in real life unfortunately . The Cairo attempting everything to make her marble was brutal.
I was so glad to see him get what was coming to him and for Tuscany to finally be able to show just how strong she is.
In the end Kong and Tuscany got their HEA with a little something extra!!! You have to read to find out!!
I also really enjoyed Tuscany's diary entry at the end and their epilogue was wonderful. I cannot wait to go now and listen to the audio that I purchased immediately upon its release! I am looking forward to the next installment.
I wish to change the world…
"Ten years old," I whisper. "They're just children, Kong. Born for Purpose before they've even… before they understand."
"Centuries of societal structure cannot be unravelled in mere months, little queen."
"I know,” I whisper. “But I can find the vulnerable ones. The scared ones. The ones who aren't ready for… their Purpose.” Ones like me. "And you will."
Thank you so much @author.nicciharris, @lou.w.reads and @sharrons.chapter .
I received an arc copy and am leaving an honest review.
Story: 5⭐️
Characters: 5⭐️
Character growth: 5⭐️
Spice: 2🌶️
When Tuscany takes her vows to be the queen of the cradle, she doesn't realize what all it entails and is put through pain, the loss of her ability to bear children, and has to vow to have no man forever. Tuscany being the queen of the cradle is now the mother to all the children in the nursery's born from the silk girls.
Kong hears her screams, and sits outside of her door to protect her. The Cairo wanted to eliminate humanity and all the feelings one has. The torture that Tuscany endured for ten years was horrible and how she dealt with her fear by "becoming small" and going under her bed was tear jerking. I can see how she would try to go away and hide out in her own world to protect herself. I along with many others have been there in real life unfortunately . The Cairo attempting everything to make her marble was brutal.
I was so glad to see him get what was coming to him and for Tuscany to finally be able to show just how strong she is.
In the end Kong and Tuscany got their HEA with a little something extra!!! You have to read to find out!!
I also really enjoyed Tuscany's diary entry at the end and their epilogue was wonderful. I cannot wait to go now and listen to the audio that I purchased immediately upon its release! I am looking forward to the next installment.
I wish to change the world…
"Ten years old," I whisper. "They're just children, Kong. Born for Purpose before they've even… before they understand."
"Centuries of societal structure cannot be unravelled in mere months, little queen."
"I know,” I whisper. “But I can find the vulnerable ones. The scared ones. The ones who aren't ready for… their Purpose.” Ones like me. "And you will."
Thank you so much @author.nicciharris, @lou.w.reads and @sharrons.chapter .
I received an arc copy and am leaving an honest review.
Story: 5⭐️
Characters: 5⭐️
Character growth: 5⭐️
Spice: 2🌶️
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