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Hearts of Bluestone #3
Prince of Diamonds
Dray Sinclair has my hand in marriage—and my wrists in shackles.
I don't recall who upped the stakes. All I know is that suddenly, my whole life is in his hands.
Snakes come closer, wearing smiles, wanting my favour.
Dray moves as a suitor, stealing moments with me in the shadows of corridors.
But his dazzling mask is transparent to my eye.
He still is, and will forever be, evil to his core.
There is just one semester left at the academy, and my family has made it clear I’ll be passed off to Dray Sinclair almost the moment I graduate.
I am his betrothed, I am his suffering; his loathing and his lust.
Soon to be his prisoner.
I have no choice but to completely destroy all that I know, just for the chance to escape him.
No matter what everyone else thinks, this fight is not yet over.
I won’t go down easy.
I don't recall who upped the stakes. All I know is that suddenly, my whole life is in his hands.
Snakes come closer, wearing smiles, wanting my favour.
Dray moves as a suitor, stealing moments with me in the shadows of corridors.
But his dazzling mask is transparent to my eye.
He still is, and will forever be, evil to his core.
There is just one semester left at the academy, and my family has made it clear I’ll be passed off to Dray Sinclair almost the moment I graduate.
I am his betrothed, I am his suffering; his loathing and his lust.
Soon to be his prisoner.
I have no choice but to completely destroy all that I know, just for the chance to escape him.
No matter what everyone else thinks, this fight is not yet over.
I won’t go down easy.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2026
About the author
Quinn Blackbird
38 books806 followersQUINN BLACKBIRD is a wanderer, a caffeine addict, a concern to her teachers & a bit of a dork.
You can find Quinn buying gym equipment she never uses or being dragged out of the writing cave by pesky friends.
Mention "margarita" and she'll come ah-runnin.
QB's goal is to live on a farm with rescue animals and write!
Now beware!! Blackbird writes about everything she loathes. This makes for books that are darker, grittier, anti-heroes, messed-up characters, and dark worlds. It's not a guarantee you'll find redemption in her pages. Because, as Gaslight Her warns, 'sometimes, the villains win.'
popular questions answered:
*there is no reading order to the dark fae universe books ~ and yes, another dark fae book is coming!*
CONTACT:
FB Quinn Blackbird
FB READER GROUP: Quinn Blackbird and Her Blackbirds
You can find Quinn buying gym equipment she never uses or being dragged out of the writing cave by pesky friends.
Mention "margarita" and she'll come ah-runnin.
QB's goal is to live on a farm with rescue animals and write!
Now beware!! Blackbird writes about everything she loathes. This makes for books that are darker, grittier, anti-heroes, messed-up characters, and dark worlds. It's not a guarantee you'll find redemption in her pages. Because, as Gaslight Her warns, 'sometimes, the villains win.'
popular questions answered:
*there is no reading order to the dark fae universe books ~ and yes, another dark fae book is coming!*
CONTACT:
FB Quinn Blackbird
FB READER GROUP: Quinn Blackbird and Her Blackbirds
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 27, 2026
I don't know how I'm going to survive the wait till the next book. This was SO entertaining! I think I read all 3 books in 3 days. There are no words for how addictive and engaging this was. The drama, the highs and lows of the characters, the cliffhanger! I need more.
February 27, 2026
Prince of Diamonds, but the Prince is nowhere to be found.
Nonsensical rambling of shit I don’t even care about. Not enough Dray. And don’t even get me started on that fck ass ending everyone saw coming from miles away. Yawn.
Alright, now that I’ve actually finished the book let me give a proper review.
There is a lot of useless info in this book. I do not care about Oliver or Serena. They can get their own book. I do not care about Landon, James, Asta or mildred. Eric plays a vital role in the story, but goddam am I also tired of hearing about his creepy ass. This is Dray’s book, yet we’ve gotten more insight into who Oliver is than Dray.
I quite frankly don’t even care about the magic aspect. A couple paragraphs here and there is fine, but listing out everyone’s presentation for pages on end, was just boring as fck. Where is the romance ???
Olivia and Dray’s interactions were so minimal, you literally feel like you’re begging for scraps… IN THEIR OWN BOOK.
I just need to know why we should gaf (SPOILER) Serena is pr*gnant. Is it going to tie into Olivia somehow. She’s been nauseous throughout the book, seasoned food tastes bland to her, she has all the symptoms, but then again, Asta did (SPOILER) molly whop her ass. Idk, I have a theory on where this could go, but srs don’t understand why Serena and Oliver are so heavily focused on in a book that is not their own.
Also, Dray can fuck 😰
And for that I’m upping to 3 ⭐️
Nonsensical rambling of shit I don’t even care about. Not enough Dray. And don’t even get me started on that fck ass ending everyone saw coming from miles away. Yawn.
Alright, now that I’ve actually finished the book let me give a proper review.
There is a lot of useless info in this book. I do not care about Oliver or Serena. They can get their own book. I do not care about Landon, James, Asta or mildred. Eric plays a vital role in the story, but goddam am I also tired of hearing about his creepy ass. This is Dray’s book, yet we’ve gotten more insight into who Oliver is than Dray.
I quite frankly don’t even care about the magic aspect. A couple paragraphs here and there is fine, but listing out everyone’s presentation for pages on end, was just boring as fck. Where is the romance ???
Olivia and Dray’s interactions were so minimal, you literally feel like you’re begging for scraps… IN THEIR OWN BOOK.
I just need to know why we should gaf (SPOILER) Serena is pr*gnant. Is it going to tie into Olivia somehow. She’s been nauseous throughout the book, seasoned food tastes bland to her, she has all the symptoms, but then again, Asta did (SPOILER) molly whop her ass. Idk, I have a theory on where this could go, but srs don’t understand why Serena and Oliver are so heavily focused on in a book that is not their own.
Also, Dray can fuck 😰
And for that I’m upping to 3 ⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2026
Olivia let Dray love you!
I stayed up all night and through the morning to finish this book! 🥱 😴 Quinn, how dare you leave us with that cliffhanger! I can’t wait for book 4.
I love Quinn’s writing and characters, but tbh I wanted more Olivia and Dray. I’ve said this before in another review, but Olivia dear you are a spoiled brat, you live by the phase “you made your bed, now lie in it”.
What was that at the end that Olivia was piecing together about her blood? What great evil lies beneath Oliver’s soul? Nona I was disappointed in how she treated Olivia, she is supposed to be the kind soul, I wish Olivia would had talked to her first before her father to gain an alliance at least to have someone in her corner. I thought this book we would get more answers about why Olivia’s parents are really against her reading about “Deadbloods”, I know it’s more than them afraid she would want to live with the Krums, and leave her family. I have a feeling it will tie back to her blood samples. I also hope she does find her print, I have high hopes that it will happen in book 4.
I stayed up all night and through the morning to finish this book! 🥱 😴 Quinn, how dare you leave us with that cliffhanger! I can’t wait for book 4.
I love Quinn’s writing and characters, but tbh I wanted more Olivia and Dray. I’ve said this before in another review, but Olivia dear you are a spoiled brat, you live by the phase “you made your bed, now lie in it”.
What was that at the end that Olivia was piecing together about her blood? What great evil lies beneath Oliver’s soul? Nona I was disappointed in how she treated Olivia, she is supposed to be the kind soul, I wish Olivia would had talked to her first before her father to gain an alliance at least to have someone in her corner. I thought this book we would get more answers about why Olivia’s parents are really against her reading about “Deadbloods”, I know it’s more than them afraid she would want to live with the Krums, and leave her family. I have a feeling it will tie back to her blood samples. I also hope she does find her print, I have high hopes that it will happen in book 4.
March 7, 2026
3.5 stars
I can’t decide whether to rate this 2 stars or 4, so I’ll settle for a heavy 3.
Consider this as proof that obsessive hate is real because I devoured this book while simultaneously being pissed off reading every second of it. This is NOT a dark romance, it’s a dark drama, fantasy, whatever you want to call it, but there’s nothing romantic about it. This is torture porn. Olivia goes through it with literally every person in her life. She’s rarely experienced genuine love or affection in her life, and it’s heartbreaking to see her so starved of it. I know Olivia is not without her flaws. She’s spoiled, self centred, complacent, petulant and slow to realize what everyone around her already knows. Her flaws are deep, but it’s hard to expect differently from a girl who grows up in an oppressive environment where even with endless amounts of wealth and comforts, she’s tightly controlled and constantly penalized in her desire for freedom and acceptance. What makes it more frustrating is that while she rages against this patriarchal society, she’s also so indoctrinated by the classism that comes with it. I appreciate the moments where she acknowledges the toxic cycles of this world, and how the people who are supposed to love and protect her only look out for themselves and their legacy, beating her down in the process.
Oliver, who Olivia has long since been disillusioned by, we see is not her ally despite their shared blood, but instead a man training to become just like her father, repeating the cycle of control and abuse from the men in this world. Olivia allows her complacency and compliance to be bought with her father’s black credit cards and other materialistic gains, so it’s often difficult to view her with any particular esteem. I’m sure Dray, obsessed as he his, will just be another man in Olivia’s life who controls her if he does succeed in marrying her.
Even when Olivia does try, wins are hard to come by in her world, as we’re constantly witnessing her desperate plans fall to dust with only blame and anger pointed towards her in its wake. It’s all so terribly unfair, and I suspect that’s part of what I hate about this series. It’s hard to understand whether its an artistic choice that makes Blackbird consistently have Olivia struggling in lonely places, or if its a writing fallacy that has Olivia putting the same hopes in the worst people and allowing herself to be hurt over and over again with no cost to anyone but herself. I guess I’m just tired of her being a victim. It’s hard to understand why she still doesn’t want to leave a world that has done nothing but beat her down, or why she still sometimes entertains the people who have made her life for hell for years when I just want her to screw everyone over and tell them all fuck off. Though I know these things are easier said than done.
While I have no love for Courtney (who didn’t even give Olivia the courtesy of a heads up over the article), she really called out that Dray swims in the entitlement of a man’s world where a woman isn’t allowed to say no. So what if Olivia slept with Eric? She owes Asta ZERO loyalty, in fact I wish she had done it again just as a FUCK YOU. So what if Olivia did a piece for that article? It’s all true!!! But Dray, a man who never hears the word no, can’t control his anger and as usual takes it out on Olivia. There’s no returning from hitting her. It happened once, it’ll happen again. Actually, this isn’t even the first time he’s hurt her. It’s been all but confirmed Dray is a psychopath. He drowned his “friend” as a child just because Langdon was playing with his toys. That’s the sort of think you hear about in serial killer documentaries. So I’m still baffled by people wanting interactions with him and Olivia, or for her to “let him love her”. His love is poison.
Anyway, overall I did enjoy this, so I guess I’ll wait longingly for the next one and hope it ends with Dray getting everything he deserves. And Oliver too because fuck him. Hopefully the writing will be less detailed on the unimportant things, there were so many pages of nothing happening, or of too many details on unimportant things (like the mock exam).
Lastly, I’m just really glad that Olivia (and Serena) has finally ran away, it took a lot of strength. Hopefully there’s a bit of a time jump and she can live freely if only for a little while.
In the mean time, on to the next
I can’t decide whether to rate this 2 stars or 4, so I’ll settle for a heavy 3.
Consider this as proof that obsessive hate is real because I devoured this book while simultaneously being pissed off reading every second of it. This is NOT a dark romance, it’s a dark drama, fantasy, whatever you want to call it, but there’s nothing romantic about it. This is torture porn. Olivia goes through it with literally every person in her life. She’s rarely experienced genuine love or affection in her life, and it’s heartbreaking to see her so starved of it. I know Olivia is not without her flaws. She’s spoiled, self centred, complacent, petulant and slow to realize what everyone around her already knows. Her flaws are deep, but it’s hard to expect differently from a girl who grows up in an oppressive environment where even with endless amounts of wealth and comforts, she’s tightly controlled and constantly penalized in her desire for freedom and acceptance. What makes it more frustrating is that while she rages against this patriarchal society, she’s also so indoctrinated by the classism that comes with it. I appreciate the moments where she acknowledges the toxic cycles of this world, and how the people who are supposed to love and protect her only look out for themselves and their legacy, beating her down in the process.
Oliver, who Olivia has long since been disillusioned by, we see is not her ally despite their shared blood, but instead a man training to become just like her father, repeating the cycle of control and abuse from the men in this world. Olivia allows her complacency and compliance to be bought with her father’s black credit cards and other materialistic gains, so it’s often difficult to view her with any particular esteem. I’m sure Dray, obsessed as he his, will just be another man in Olivia’s life who controls her if he does succeed in marrying her.
Even when Olivia does try, wins are hard to come by in her world, as we’re constantly witnessing her desperate plans fall to dust with only blame and anger pointed towards her in its wake. It’s all so terribly unfair, and I suspect that’s part of what I hate about this series. It’s hard to understand whether its an artistic choice that makes Blackbird consistently have Olivia struggling in lonely places, or if its a writing fallacy that has Olivia putting the same hopes in the worst people and allowing herself to be hurt over and over again with no cost to anyone but herself. I guess I’m just tired of her being a victim. It’s hard to understand why she still doesn’t want to leave a world that has done nothing but beat her down, or why she still sometimes entertains the people who have made her life for hell for years when I just want her to screw everyone over and tell them all fuck off. Though I know these things are easier said than done.
While I have no love for Courtney (who didn’t even give Olivia the courtesy of a heads up over the article), she really called out that Dray swims in the entitlement of a man’s world where a woman isn’t allowed to say no. So what if Olivia slept with Eric? She owes Asta ZERO loyalty, in fact I wish she had done it again just as a FUCK YOU. So what if Olivia did a piece for that article? It’s all true!!! But Dray, a man who never hears the word no, can’t control his anger and as usual takes it out on Olivia. There’s no returning from hitting her. It happened once, it’ll happen again. Actually, this isn’t even the first time he’s hurt her. It’s been all but confirmed Dray is a psychopath. He drowned his “friend” as a child just because Langdon was playing with his toys. That’s the sort of think you hear about in serial killer documentaries. So I’m still baffled by people wanting interactions with him and Olivia, or for her to “let him love her”. His love is poison.
Anyway, overall I did enjoy this, so I guess I’ll wait longingly for the next one and hope it ends with Dray getting everything he deserves. And Oliver too because fuck him. Hopefully the writing will be less detailed on the unimportant things, there were so many pages of nothing happening, or of too many details on unimportant things (like the mock exam).
Lastly, I’m just really glad that Olivia (and Serena) has finally ran away, it took a lot of strength. Hopefully there’s a bit of a time jump and she can live freely if only for a little while.
In the mean time, on to the next
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2026
A Dark and Unforgiving Romance
If you claim to love the dark bully romance genre but have been left disappointed by stories that pull their punches, then Quinn Blackbird's Prince of Diamonds is the reality check you need. This book is a stark reminder of what the genre is truly supposed to be: uncomfortable, gritty, and unapologetically harsh. It's not a story for everyone, and it doesn't try to be, but for those of us who crave that authentic darkness, it's an absolutely compelling read.
What sets this series apart is its commitment to flawed, human characters. The female main character, Olivia, is far from the perfect, pliable heroine we often see. She's deeply flawed, occasionally mean, and makes choices that can be genuinely frustrating. Yet, it's precisely these imperfections that make her feel so true to life. Her reactions are messy and real, a refreshing departure from sanitized protagonists. Similarly, the male lead, Dray, is the embodiment of a true antihero. He's not a bad boy with a secret heart of gold; he is her childhood friend turned tormentor of ten years, and his complexity is what makes the dynamic so intense.
Book 3 is where the series finally delivers the steam I've been craving. After a long wait, the author has added a genuine layer of heat to Olivia and Dray's relationship, and it was well worth it. The tension that has been building for two books finally finds its release through a moment that neither character may have fully understood at the time. A series of mishaps and blurred lines unknowingly ignites something between them, giving us a scene that is both heated and fraught with the complex history they share. It's a payoff that feels earned within the brutal context of their story.
The plot thickens as Olivia comes to the shocking realization that her secret fiancé is none other than Dray himself. The book dives deep into her desperate quest to break the engagement and her fierce pushback against those who suddenly want to befriend her, drawn by the prestige of her connection to the "Prince of Diamonds." It's a lonely and powerful position she finds herself in, and watching her navigate this gilded cage is fascinating.
Be warned: there are scenes in this book that will make you uncomfortable. They are meant to. Blackbird doesn't shy away from the darker implications of a bully romance, which is precisely why this book stands out. All in all, Prince of Diamonds is a fantastic addition to the genre. It's an interesting, immersive read that finally gives us the steam and the payoff we've been missing, cementing the Hearts of Bluestone series as a true standout in dark romantic fiction.
If you claim to love the dark bully romance genre but have been left disappointed by stories that pull their punches, then Quinn Blackbird's Prince of Diamonds is the reality check you need. This book is a stark reminder of what the genre is truly supposed to be: uncomfortable, gritty, and unapologetically harsh. It's not a story for everyone, and it doesn't try to be, but for those of us who crave that authentic darkness, it's an absolutely compelling read.
What sets this series apart is its commitment to flawed, human characters. The female main character, Olivia, is far from the perfect, pliable heroine we often see. She's deeply flawed, occasionally mean, and makes choices that can be genuinely frustrating. Yet, it's precisely these imperfections that make her feel so true to life. Her reactions are messy and real, a refreshing departure from sanitized protagonists. Similarly, the male lead, Dray, is the embodiment of a true antihero. He's not a bad boy with a secret heart of gold; he is her childhood friend turned tormentor of ten years, and his complexity is what makes the dynamic so intense.
Book 3 is where the series finally delivers the steam I've been craving. After a long wait, the author has added a genuine layer of heat to Olivia and Dray's relationship, and it was well worth it. The tension that has been building for two books finally finds its release through a moment that neither character may have fully understood at the time. A series of mishaps and blurred lines unknowingly ignites something between them, giving us a scene that is both heated and fraught with the complex history they share. It's a payoff that feels earned within the brutal context of their story.
The plot thickens as Olivia comes to the shocking realization that her secret fiancé is none other than Dray himself. The book dives deep into her desperate quest to break the engagement and her fierce pushback against those who suddenly want to befriend her, drawn by the prestige of her connection to the "Prince of Diamonds." It's a lonely and powerful position she finds herself in, and watching her navigate this gilded cage is fascinating.
Be warned: there are scenes in this book that will make you uncomfortable. They are meant to. Blackbird doesn't shy away from the darker implications of a bully romance, which is precisely why this book stands out. All in all, Prince of Diamonds is a fantastic addition to the genre. It's an interesting, immersive read that finally gives us the steam and the payoff we've been missing, cementing the Hearts of Bluestone series as a true standout in dark romantic fiction.
February 28, 2026
so good
I will read anything and everything Quinn Blackbird writes. I devoured this book in one day.
Spoiler: I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t learn what Olivia’s secret is, although it’s heavily hinted. Also the gift mix up was pretty obvious the way Eric kept bringing up the gift. I was a little disappointed in Olivia. She’s consistently been impulsive and churlish, and I was hoping she’d be a bit more calculating and in control. Still a 5 star read. The scene setting, world building, explosive climax…chef’s kiss!
I will read anything and everything Quinn Blackbird writes. I devoured this book in one day.
Spoiler: I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t learn what Olivia’s secret is, although it’s heavily hinted. Also the gift mix up was pretty obvious the way Eric kept bringing up the gift. I was a little disappointed in Olivia. She’s consistently been impulsive and churlish, and I was hoping she’d be a bit more calculating and in control. Still a 5 star read. The scene setting, world building, explosive climax…chef’s kiss!
March 1, 2026
Can't wait until book 4 is released!
I was so lost in this story that I could not put it down and read until I finished the book at 3:34 am in the morning. I don't know how I am going to find the patience to wait for book 4. I already purchased an advanced copy.
I was so lost in this story that I could not put it down and read until I finished the book at 3:34 am in the morning. I don't know how I am going to find the patience to wait for book 4. I already purchased an advanced copy.
February 28, 2026
One of the best series I’ve ever read! The writing flows like liquid honey 🍯
February 28, 2026
Only happy ending possible would be Olivia setting everyone on fire
February 28, 2026
I need MORE
February 28, 2026
unexpected
Olivia is really her own worst enemy . She’s kinda a spoiled brat that wants freedom but doesn’t want to change her lifestyle. Really like Serena who desperately wants to live her own life .
Olivia is really her own worst enemy . She’s kinda a spoiled brat that wants freedom but doesn’t want to change her lifestyle. Really like Serena who desperately wants to live her own life .
March 2, 2026
awesome
I love Quinn Blackbird books. Such a great writer with twists and turns. I can’t wait to read the next book.
I love Quinn Blackbird books. Such a great writer with twists and turns. I can’t wait to read the next book.
February 28, 2026
Best series! I wanted more Dray in the book, and with the ending, I’m not sure how this series will end. Either way I am intrigued and I love Quinn Blackbird’s writing, it’s so good! I can’t wait for the next book!!!
February 27, 2026
3.25⭐️
I adore Quinn Blackbird’s writing and her characters. Just like book 1 and 2, I devoured this one!
But…I was a little disappointed. This is a dark bully ROMANCE. With it being book 3/4 I thought we’d finally get a little bit more of that, and books 1 & 2 were building up to it because her books are always slow burn. There wasn’t really much and after 3 books and getting literal crumbs (even THAT scene was a bit tainted for me)…I couldn’t help but feel disappointed☹️
Can’t wait for the last one though. Hope we get more.
I adore Quinn Blackbird’s writing and her characters. Just like book 1 and 2, I devoured this one!
But…I was a little disappointed. This is a dark bully ROMANCE. With it being book 3/4 I thought we’d finally get a little bit more of that, and books 1 & 2 were building up to it because her books are always slow burn. There wasn’t really much and after 3 books and getting literal crumbs (even THAT scene was a bit tainted for me)…I couldn’t help but feel disappointed☹️
Can’t wait for the last one though. Hope we get more.
March 1, 2026
Darn cliffhangers! (Worth it)
We start off book 3 precisely where book 2 left us, with our FMC figuring out the MMC has been more than a few steps ahead.
The plot moves fast in this book, especially with the FMC making moves instead of merely reacting. One of the things I like about Olivia is her honesty with herself. She knows that while she wants better in her life, blindly leaving her society would be darn near impossible for her to do, as she has no real world skills or knowledge, something her family has been meticulous in their isolating behavior to her. Very little freedom, constantly tracked & monitored, no cell phone or private mail. Her acknowledgment of her lack of skills and her desire to live in luxury that is all she's known, makes her plans to thwart Dray pragmatic and not immature daydreams.
And then everything goes sideways, catastrophically.
The tension from page one til the cliffhanger ending was superb. I cannot wait for book 4!
We start off book 3 precisely where book 2 left us, with our FMC figuring out the MMC has been more than a few steps ahead.
The plot moves fast in this book, especially with the FMC making moves instead of merely reacting. One of the things I like about Olivia is her honesty with herself. She knows that while she wants better in her life, blindly leaving her society would be darn near impossible for her to do, as she has no real world skills or knowledge, something her family has been meticulous in their isolating behavior to her. Very little freedom, constantly tracked & monitored, no cell phone or private mail. Her acknowledgment of her lack of skills and her desire to live in luxury that is all she's known, makes her plans to thwart Dray pragmatic and not immature daydreams.
And then everything goes sideways, catastrophically.
The tension from page one til the cliffhanger ending was superb. I cannot wait for book 4!
March 1, 2026
Great
Great thank you can not wait for the next one. Make it soon. Thank you again. Love it love it
Great thank you can not wait for the next one. Make it soon. Thank you again. Love it love it
March 4, 2026
I love Olivia, I really really want to see how she evolves and Dray! Oh Dray! I need more of you and your dynamic with Olivia and how it's going to come down as a HEA I can't wait
February 28, 2026
keeps you on your toes
Very well written, had me on the edge the whole time. Literally read in one day. Of course ended on a cliffhanger!
Can’t wait for next book.
Very well written, had me on the edge the whole time. Literally read in one day. Of course ended on a cliffhanger!
Can’t wait for next book.
July 7, 2026
3.25 -> I liked it marginally better than book 2 (we’re back at the school setting, which I preferred)
Okay. My main gripe with this book that stops it from being a higher rating is the romance, and that is because there isn’t very much. I think I can count on one hand how many times Olivia and Dray interacted, for fuck’s sake. Like, and when I say interacted, I just mean meaningful interactions that meant something to me. I guess there was that blackout sex scene, but eh. But yeah, this book didn’t have much romance, and I wouldn’t have an issue with that IF THERE WAS A REAL PLOT to it! There needs to be things going on, and I don’t give a shit about practice magic tests with detailed descriptions of every side characters’ powers (it was a little more than halfway thru and omg it was so boring!).
Fuck everyone else in this book (Serena is kind of cool. I like her—she’s also a bitch, but she redeems herself in the end, though that’s all I’m saying to prevent spoilers). I wish I could say I love Dray, but he doesn’t get enough time on page with Olivia, and also, I don’t mind irredeemable male characters, but he does something really fucked near the end of this book with Asta, and omg, I would bash his head in the wall if I was Olivia’s father (I hate her father, by the way. I don’t like her mother, but I hate her father and her father’s mother, aka Ethel).
I hope in the next book (that’s supposedly coming out in a week or two!?) that there’s more romance, because we need more romance. And Dray doesn’t need to be redeemed at all, but I want to feel him being territorial over Olivia besides stopping Ethel’s cane or his sharp stares at Olivia (so many stares 🙄 which I usually like, but I’d honestly rather him more actual scenes with him rather than his intimidating, inexorable looks).
The book gets a 3.25 because of Olivia. Truly, I love this chick. She’s such a bitch, and she hates everyone in her life, and I relate to that a lot—that feeling of being lonely as fuck. I also have .25 more just because we’re back at the school again, and I don’t have to deal with Grandmother Ethel (who is another character who is mean as hell to Olivia).
Okay. My main gripe with this book that stops it from being a higher rating is the romance, and that is because there isn’t very much. I think I can count on one hand how many times Olivia and Dray interacted, for fuck’s sake. Like, and when I say interacted, I just mean meaningful interactions that meant something to me. I guess there was that blackout sex scene, but eh. But yeah, this book didn’t have much romance, and I wouldn’t have an issue with that IF THERE WAS A REAL PLOT to it! There needs to be things going on, and I don’t give a shit about practice magic tests with detailed descriptions of every side characters’ powers (it was a little more than halfway thru and omg it was so boring!).
Fuck everyone else in this book (Serena is kind of cool. I like her—she’s also a bitch, but she redeems herself in the end, though that’s all I’m saying to prevent spoilers). I wish I could say I love Dray, but he doesn’t get enough time on page with Olivia, and also, I don’t mind irredeemable male characters, but he does something really fucked near the end of this book with Asta, and omg, I would bash his head in the wall if I was Olivia’s father (I hate her father, by the way. I don’t like her mother, but I hate her father and her father’s mother, aka Ethel).
I hope in the next book (that’s supposedly coming out in a week or two!?) that there’s more romance, because we need more romance. And Dray doesn’t need to be redeemed at all, but I want to feel him being territorial over Olivia besides stopping Ethel’s cane or his sharp stares at Olivia (so many stares 🙄 which I usually like, but I’d honestly rather him more actual scenes with him rather than his intimidating, inexorable looks).
The book gets a 3.25 because of Olivia. Truly, I love this chick. She’s such a bitch, and she hates everyone in her life, and I relate to that a lot—that feeling of being lonely as fuck. I also have .25 more just because we’re back at the school again, and I don’t have to deal with Grandmother Ethel (who is another character who is mean as hell to Olivia).
April 13, 2026
Warning: spoilers.
I was so excited for this installment to come out. I read some of the other reviews, and honestly I get why Olivia is the way she is. At first, I didn’t like her character. Olivia is so flawed. She’s proud, pampered, spoiled. Her grades are average. She’s not athletic. People don’t take her seriously. She has no life skills. She probably couldn’t hold down a job. It’s a wonder we even root for her. Typically when you read a story the FMC has all of these amazing qualities. They live up to these high standards. Here you have Olivia with nothing much to recommend her, and you can’t help but cheer her on. In some reviews, people felt the book was too focused on Serena and Oliver, but what I think the story is pointing out is that Serena is the character we typically expect. She is driven and held back by the societal restrictions, and fights against them. If Olivia wasn’t a deadblood, she would never question her place. She recognizes this. What makes the ending so powerful is that Olivia has tried multiple times to run, but she isn’t brave enough to actually make the choice to leave. She never gets on the bus. The fact that she made the choice in the end was her finally making a decision for herself. I will say I’m curious if she is pregnant like Serena is.
Ok, some gripes I had. I feel like the interactions with Dray were sparse in this book. I also don’t know how we come back from him backhanding Olivia. I felt like he truly would make her happy, but there’s so much trauma he inflicted on her it’s unforgivable. I’m not certain how this story will conclude, but I think he deserved getting taken down a peg in this book.
Theories: so I have seen some theories and maybe I missed some key details. Someone said they thought Olivia was a half-breed whose magic was being suppressed. I’m not certain where that was alluded to in the book. I thought I remembered the second book emphasized that female deadbloods carried magic in their wombs and could pass it onto their children. It seemed like the child of a deadblood could be extremely powerful, and that some cultures revered them. What’s really strange is why Olivia’s parents forbid her to read anything about deadbloods. It’s made stranger when Dray shows confusion about their behavior. I also can’t piece together why Olivia thought of the vials of blood in the case near the end of the book. It was a weird thing to mention. Anyone have an idea of the significance? It’s been a while between books, so maybe there was a clue I missed.
I was so excited for this installment to come out. I read some of the other reviews, and honestly I get why Olivia is the way she is. At first, I didn’t like her character. Olivia is so flawed. She’s proud, pampered, spoiled. Her grades are average. She’s not athletic. People don’t take her seriously. She has no life skills. She probably couldn’t hold down a job. It’s a wonder we even root for her. Typically when you read a story the FMC has all of these amazing qualities. They live up to these high standards. Here you have Olivia with nothing much to recommend her, and you can’t help but cheer her on. In some reviews, people felt the book was too focused on Serena and Oliver, but what I think the story is pointing out is that Serena is the character we typically expect. She is driven and held back by the societal restrictions, and fights against them. If Olivia wasn’t a deadblood, she would never question her place. She recognizes this. What makes the ending so powerful is that Olivia has tried multiple times to run, but she isn’t brave enough to actually make the choice to leave. She never gets on the bus. The fact that she made the choice in the end was her finally making a decision for herself. I will say I’m curious if she is pregnant like Serena is.
Ok, some gripes I had. I feel like the interactions with Dray were sparse in this book. I also don’t know how we come back from him backhanding Olivia. I felt like he truly would make her happy, but there’s so much trauma he inflicted on her it’s unforgivable. I’m not certain how this story will conclude, but I think he deserved getting taken down a peg in this book.
Theories: so I have seen some theories and maybe I missed some key details. Someone said they thought Olivia was a half-breed whose magic was being suppressed. I’m not certain where that was alluded to in the book. I thought I remembered the second book emphasized that female deadbloods carried magic in their wombs and could pass it onto their children. It seemed like the child of a deadblood could be extremely powerful, and that some cultures revered them. What’s really strange is why Olivia’s parents forbid her to read anything about deadbloods. It’s made stranger when Dray shows confusion about their behavior. I also can’t piece together why Olivia thought of the vials of blood in the case near the end of the book. It was a weird thing to mention. Anyone have an idea of the significance? It’s been a while between books, so maybe there was a clue I missed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2026
Ughhhh I don’t even have words to express how much I love this whole series!!!! Seriously 10/10
During the books I’ve had this feeling that Serena was actually a really great and strong woman, gladly I was right.
I loved Dray’s and Olivia’s cute moments (actually there is just one and she thought he was Eric… anywayssss hahahah, we at least kind of saw his feelings towards her)
I need book four asap!!!
During the books I’ve had this feeling that Serena was actually a really great and strong woman, gladly I was right.
I loved Dray’s and Olivia’s cute moments (actually there is just one and she thought he was Eric… anywayssss hahahah, we at least kind of saw his feelings towards her)
I need book four asap!!!
March 24, 2026
The royals meet hogwartz
You know the writing is good when you are disgusted with the bratty, spoiled rich girl, and all the rich kid politics. It's like a whole school of very wealthy, mean Malfoys looking down on all those less than. You find yourself immersed in a world of ultra wealth and feel so out of place because its not your world. You feel for the bullying of the FMC by everyone including her family. But you also want to scream and punch her for not knowing how to do anything for herself and not caring about anyone else. It's conundrum. I'm still trying to like this series. With the spectacular ending, I'm hopeful the story grows up.
You know the writing is good when you are disgusted with the bratty, spoiled rich girl, and all the rich kid politics. It's like a whole school of very wealthy, mean Malfoys looking down on all those less than. You find yourself immersed in a world of ultra wealth and feel so out of place because its not your world. You feel for the bullying of the FMC by everyone including her family. But you also want to scream and punch her for not knowing how to do anything for herself and not caring about anyone else. It's conundrum. I'm still trying to like this series. With the spectacular ending, I'm hopeful the story grows up.
February 28, 2026
I've read a lot of dark, bully books but some of them were a disappointment. Quinn writes exactly how it should really be, the ugliness, the vulnerability. Even though not much was revealed in this book, the tension is there and that's actually missing from other books. I didn't expect the ending.
March 8, 2026
on the edge of my chair
Wow! What a weaving emotional roller coaster ride. Book 4 can’t come fast enough. I loved the writing of Cursed Shadows and this series is proving to recapture all the feels and also be unique in itself.
Wow! What a weaving emotional roller coaster ride. Book 4 can’t come fast enough. I loved the writing of Cursed Shadows and this series is proving to recapture all the feels and also be unique in itself.
March 16, 2026
I FUCKING HATE OLIVER . HE LET THEM BEAT HER UO AND WONDERS WHY SHE DONT WANNA HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM .
I LOVE OLIVIA AND SHE IS EXACTLY LIKE ME .
I NEED MORE OLIVIA AND DRAY CRUMBS . LIKE LITERALLY ERIC HAVE MORE SCREENTIME THAN DRAY.
PLEASE I NEED MORE OF DRAY.
I LOVE OLIVIA AND SHE IS EXACTLY LIKE ME .
I NEED MORE OLIVIA AND DRAY CRUMBS . LIKE LITERALLY ERIC HAVE MORE SCREENTIME THAN DRAY.
PLEASE I NEED MORE OF DRAY.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2026
This series is getting better by the book, can't wait for the next!
March 7, 2026
I love this series, I'll always be a Cursed Shadows gal as I love the Dark Fae universe but the Videralli books are a very close second. Its a vicious, heartless, scheming world, where there is seemingly no room for kindness, mercy or compassion. Everyone is on the make and out for themselves.
This follows on almost directly from book 2 and the disastorous Debutante Ball where Olivia found out about Dray, his intentions and the engagement that is meant to be secret but that eveyrone seemed to know about except Olivia. She has an alliance with Landon where they pass on intelligence and rumours to each other, a I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine relationship.
Horrified and panic stricken she pleads with her parents to release her, detailing Dray's 10 years of torment and bullying but to no avail. In the witching world women from high families are only useful as bartering chips, there to make advantageous marriages and produce powerful offspring. And Dray is the equal of the Craven's in wealth, power and influence.
Its a peculiar universe, they have modern technology like mobile phones, planes, internet, and mod cons but in many ways its a throwback to the Victorian era where men are in charge, fathers, husbands, brothers or sons. Men make the important decisions, rule their family, what they say goes.
Women have no careers, no opportunity to earn their own money, to live independantly. As soon as they graduate Bluestone they are expected to get married and start producing babies. This only applies to the elites, aristos and gentry, the made ones or half breeds have more freedoms, a point which becomes apparent to Olivia.
As she enters her final semester at Bluestone the rumours about her engagement have spread and the Snakes, her brother Oliver, his fiancee Serena, Asta Strom and the others, including Dray treat her very differently. But she cant let on she knows so has to pretend ignorance. Dray is attentive, almost kind but Olivia isnt fooled. She knows how evil he is. And she knows her callous, self serving family will push her into his arms once they graduate.
She has to come up with a plan that will force Dray to end the engagement. And what a plan it is. In many ways this is a car crash of a book, not only for Olivia, but us readers as we watch through our fingers at the SNAFU as it unfolds. She's managed to burn her boats thoroughly and the book ends on a cliffhanger and a bombshell.
Olivia continues being her usual spoilt, apathetic self, she's deeply flawed but she is a product of her upbrnging. She has never had or been given the chance to make her own decisions, she's been kept as a virtual prisoner by her family, dependant on them for everything, desperate for love and approval which has often been absent. Its classic Stockholm Syndrome and yet this is also her world and she can be as mean and conniving as the best of them as we see on several occasions.
And as in the previous books we see tantalising hints as to her blood, her secrets, her potential parentage, which I hope will be answered in book 4. How it will all end is anyone's guess. A great read.
This follows on almost directly from book 2 and the disastorous Debutante Ball where Olivia found out about Dray, his intentions and the engagement that is meant to be secret but that eveyrone seemed to know about except Olivia. She has an alliance with Landon where they pass on intelligence and rumours to each other, a I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine relationship.
Horrified and panic stricken she pleads with her parents to release her, detailing Dray's 10 years of torment and bullying but to no avail. In the witching world women from high families are only useful as bartering chips, there to make advantageous marriages and produce powerful offspring. And Dray is the equal of the Craven's in wealth, power and influence.
Its a peculiar universe, they have modern technology like mobile phones, planes, internet, and mod cons but in many ways its a throwback to the Victorian era where men are in charge, fathers, husbands, brothers or sons. Men make the important decisions, rule their family, what they say goes.
Women have no careers, no opportunity to earn their own money, to live independantly. As soon as they graduate Bluestone they are expected to get married and start producing babies. This only applies to the elites, aristos and gentry, the made ones or half breeds have more freedoms, a point which becomes apparent to Olivia.
As she enters her final semester at Bluestone the rumours about her engagement have spread and the Snakes, her brother Oliver, his fiancee Serena, Asta Strom and the others, including Dray treat her very differently. But she cant let on she knows so has to pretend ignorance. Dray is attentive, almost kind but Olivia isnt fooled. She knows how evil he is. And she knows her callous, self serving family will push her into his arms once they graduate.
She has to come up with a plan that will force Dray to end the engagement. And what a plan it is. In many ways this is a car crash of a book, not only for Olivia, but us readers as we watch through our fingers at the SNAFU as it unfolds. She's managed to burn her boats thoroughly and the book ends on a cliffhanger and a bombshell.
Olivia continues being her usual spoilt, apathetic self, she's deeply flawed but she is a product of her upbrnging. She has never had or been given the chance to make her own decisions, she's been kept as a virtual prisoner by her family, dependant on them for everything, desperate for love and approval which has often been absent. Its classic Stockholm Syndrome and yet this is also her world and she can be as mean and conniving as the best of them as we see on several occasions.
And as in the previous books we see tantalising hints as to her blood, her secrets, her potential parentage, which I hope will be answered in book 4. How it will all end is anyone's guess. A great read.
March 1, 2026
Overall, I loved the book and look forward to the finale! This installment delivered a lot of necessary exposition and gave us a deeper look into the inner workings of the Videralli world.
I felt a visceral anger toward Olivia's family. They know exactly how much torment and bullying she endures, yet they still expect her to not only take it, but to move on and accept Dray simply because it's "in the past." The hypocrisy and audacity of Oliver and Dray are staggering. They demand her compliance while trying to gaslight her into believing that harboring resentment over her trauma is just throwing a "tantrum" and no way to live. The final scene where all hell breaks loose was genuinely hard to read, it was undeniably the worst day of Olivia's life at Bluestone.
Serena absolutely surprised me, though. I never liked her and fully believed she was a pure opportunist, but she was actually playing her cards close to the chest until the very end. When Asta revealed that Serena never liked Olivia even as kids, it confirmed my suspicions that she couldn't be trusted. However, by the end of the book, it clicked: Serena resented Olivia because she knew that, if it weren't for Olivia's deadblood status, Olivia would have happily played the role of the compliant elite aristos, bowing to the whims of her family and Dray. Serena, who has always craved independence, was already suffocating under her own future as an undervalued wife, and she could not really connect to Olivia.
Moving into the final book, I really hope they don't get caught immediately and can experience at least some semblance of freedom. There is clearly more to the story, especially regarding Olivia's blood status. The hints are all there that she isn't actually a deadblood (my money is on her being a half-breed). Given QB's track record of writing irredeemable male protagonists, I know Dray isn't going to magically change his ways. But I was thrilled that, for once, Olivia gave him exactly what he deserved, making it crystal clear that she will not bend to his will.
P.S.
I felt a visceral anger toward Olivia's family. They know exactly how much torment and bullying she endures, yet they still expect her to not only take it, but to move on and accept Dray simply because it's "in the past." The hypocrisy and audacity of Oliver and Dray are staggering. They demand her compliance while trying to gaslight her into believing that harboring resentment over her trauma is just throwing a "tantrum" and no way to live. The final scene where all hell breaks loose was genuinely hard to read, it was undeniably the worst day of Olivia's life at Bluestone.
Serena absolutely surprised me, though. I never liked her and fully believed she was a pure opportunist, but she was actually playing her cards close to the chest until the very end. When Asta revealed that Serena never liked Olivia even as kids, it confirmed my suspicions that she couldn't be trusted. However, by the end of the book, it clicked: Serena resented Olivia because she knew that, if it weren't for Olivia's deadblood status, Olivia would have happily played the role of the compliant elite aristos, bowing to the whims of her family and Dray. Serena, who has always craved independence, was already suffocating under her own future as an undervalued wife, and she could not really connect to Olivia.
Moving into the final book, I really hope they don't get caught immediately and can experience at least some semblance of freedom. There is clearly more to the story, especially regarding Olivia's blood status. The hints are all there that she isn't actually a deadblood (my money is on her being a half-breed). Given QB's track record of writing irredeemable male protagonists, I know Dray isn't going to magically change his ways. But I was thrilled that, for once, Olivia gave him exactly what he deserved, making it crystal clear that she will not bend to his will.
P.S.
February 28, 2026
Damn, what a book. Honestly this might be the best romance series I've read in a while. It took me like a week to recover and process what the fuck I just read so let's begin!!
Like the previous two books, Olivia's dad and brother make me feel physically violent. Th way they completely strip her of her autonomy and then proceed to punish her for lashing out is actually enraging. It is honestly depressing how she is so desperate for love and affection that she accepts their mistreatment, but it makes so much sense for her character. And the fact that it was Oliver snitching on her the whole time!!!!!! Suffice to say, I wish it was a brick instead of a lamington that Olivia smashed into his face. The thing is - I do believe Oliver when he says he has looked out for Olivia and that she has no clue about all the things he has done to protect her. For example, when he broke his arm in the previous book, I think Dray definitely had something to do with that. But at the same time-I literally don't care. Oliver cares about his sister in a fucked up way where he isn't willing to question any of the violently patriarchal systems around them that harms her so greatly and in fact uses these systems to enact further harm on her and other women in his life.
Now let's move onto Dray...Jesus Christ he is such a compelling MMC. He's evil and I hate him and I want Olivia to kill him, but maybe I also kind of like them together?? It's clear that Olivia is literally the only thing that matters to him which is kind of hot. I have a prediction that in the next book, Dray is going to in some way stand up for Olivia against her family, and he'll realise that because of how she has been abused by her family her whole life, this is a way to manipulate her into seeking comfort and protection from him and only him. But we'll see. And when he found out Olivia fucked Eric, that was so satisfying until he fucking hit her!!! Also, I really like how this author is not afraid to go against mainstream romance conventions and have the FMC have sex with other people on page. Because it makes it so much fun when the MMC eventually finds out.
And finally: the ending. Serena, remember: your body, your choice-don't be afraid to abort that baby! I doubt she is going to though so hopefully she can raise it outside the confines of the patriarchal and elitist world she grew up in. People don't like Serena, but I do. It was always clear to me that she was just biding her time while looking for a way out. Her contempt for Olivia in the previous book is understandable as she knows Olivia would have been genuinely happy in this life had she not been shunned for being a deadblood. I wonder if Olivia will form a bond with this baby, because she might be its aunt and depending on how long her and Serena escape for, she will be helping to raise it. I feel like if this is the case, and especially if the child is a girl, it will give her the push she needs to finally properly reject the way she was raised. I also hope she gets a job and realises she can actually live without her family's money, and maybe she can also stop hating on poor people so much and really interrogate her classism and racism. Because that has been what has kept her complacent and complicit all these years: the security and 'love' she receives from her family. I mean even writing that, I don't think she will but it's nice to dream, right?
Overall, great book and I need the next one.
Like the previous two books, Olivia's dad and brother make me feel physically violent. Th way they completely strip her of her autonomy and then proceed to punish her for lashing out is actually enraging. It is honestly depressing how she is so desperate for love and affection that she accepts their mistreatment, but it makes so much sense for her character. And the fact that it was Oliver snitching on her the whole time!!!!!! Suffice to say, I wish it was a brick instead of a lamington that Olivia smashed into his face. The thing is - I do believe Oliver when he says he has looked out for Olivia and that she has no clue about all the things he has done to protect her. For example, when he broke his arm in the previous book, I think Dray definitely had something to do with that. But at the same time-I literally don't care. Oliver cares about his sister in a fucked up way where he isn't willing to question any of the violently patriarchal systems around them that harms her so greatly and in fact uses these systems to enact further harm on her and other women in his life.
Now let's move onto Dray...Jesus Christ he is such a compelling MMC. He's evil and I hate him and I want Olivia to kill him, but maybe I also kind of like them together?? It's clear that Olivia is literally the only thing that matters to him which is kind of hot. I have a prediction that in the next book, Dray is going to in some way stand up for Olivia against her family, and he'll realise that because of how she has been abused by her family her whole life, this is a way to manipulate her into seeking comfort and protection from him and only him. But we'll see. And when he found out Olivia fucked Eric, that was so satisfying until he fucking hit her!!! Also, I really like how this author is not afraid to go against mainstream romance conventions and have the FMC have sex with other people on page. Because it makes it so much fun when the MMC eventually finds out.
And finally: the ending. Serena, remember: your body, your choice-don't be afraid to abort that baby! I doubt she is going to though so hopefully she can raise it outside the confines of the patriarchal and elitist world she grew up in. People don't like Serena, but I do. It was always clear to me that she was just biding her time while looking for a way out. Her contempt for Olivia in the previous book is understandable as she knows Olivia would have been genuinely happy in this life had she not been shunned for being a deadblood. I wonder if Olivia will form a bond with this baby, because she might be its aunt and depending on how long her and Serena escape for, she will be helping to raise it. I feel like if this is the case, and especially if the child is a girl, it will give her the push she needs to finally properly reject the way she was raised. I also hope she gets a job and realises she can actually live without her family's money, and maybe she can also stop hating on poor people so much and really interrogate her classism and racism. Because that has been what has kept her complacent and complicit all these years: the security and 'love' she receives from her family. I mean even writing that, I don't think she will but it's nice to dream, right?
Overall, great book and I need the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2026
{dark paranormal academia; m/f; single pov; one explicit scene}
~ NOTE: 3rd in the series! ~ and an improvement from book 2 (for the romance)
Such tiny things are blown out of proportion, and I have to overcome my disbelief that a momentary bit of weeping can disrupt a family.
This is the third part of a trilogy, and I have mixed feelings about Olivia, the main character. Olivia’s absolutely useless, and I feel sorry for Dray, who is set to marry her. She imagines herself married to someone else because Dray has bullied her through life. But everything I read about her is the exact opposite of any FMC you expect. She’s unmotivated except for her piano-playing, which means she is failing school. She wants to keep her life of luxury without any of the entrapments like family obligations, which means she would live at home with her married brother (who would inherit the property). I am sure Oliver, her brother, hates that idea. She tries to run away frequently but never applies herself beyond the nearest bus stop. No wonder her family is fed up.
However, I have been that depressed. The type of depression that is self-destructive and leaves you friendless, family-less, and unable to recover. It takes a catastrophe to change one’s patterns, and everyone thinks Olivia is a dullard. The family wants her to marry, and quickly. Her pedigree is the only thing that anyone would find appealing.
I want her to find another escape plan. Really. I need her to become someone I can root for, already. But Olivia lives in a world of luxury where educated women still become housewives. I don’t want to give anything away, but she suddenly finds a friend who shakes her into making the decision.
The Romance:
In a society where men rule the house, Dray has indicated he would give her some leeway. I get the impression that he adores her; his girl-dar is atuned to her, so he always knows where she is .
Olivia is too self absorbed to notice the small kindnesses.
--whew! Steamy hallway scene
--Consensual
Writing Style:
“He was playing in the mud of my ignorance,”
Yes, there is introspection. The style is poetic and smart, and I like to point that out for readers needing prose that is not amateur.
~ NOTE: 3rd in the series! ~ and an improvement from book 2 (for the romance)
Such tiny things are blown out of proportion, and I have to overcome my disbelief that a momentary bit of weeping can disrupt a family.
This is the third part of a trilogy, and I have mixed feelings about Olivia, the main character. Olivia’s absolutely useless, and I feel sorry for Dray, who is set to marry her. She imagines herself married to someone else because Dray has bullied her through life. But everything I read about her is the exact opposite of any FMC you expect. She’s unmotivated except for her piano-playing, which means she is failing school. She wants to keep her life of luxury without any of the entrapments like family obligations, which means she would live at home with her married brother (who would inherit the property). I am sure Oliver, her brother, hates that idea. She tries to run away frequently but never applies herself beyond the nearest bus stop. No wonder her family is fed up.
However, I have been that depressed. The type of depression that is self-destructive and leaves you friendless, family-less, and unable to recover. It takes a catastrophe to change one’s patterns, and everyone thinks Olivia is a dullard. The family wants her to marry, and quickly. Her pedigree is the only thing that anyone would find appealing.
I want her to find another escape plan. Really. I need her to become someone I can root for, already. But Olivia lives in a world of luxury where educated women still become housewives. I don’t want to give anything away, but she suddenly finds a friend who shakes her into making the decision.
The Romance:
In a society where men rule the house, Dray has indicated he would give her some leeway. I get the impression that he adores her; his girl-dar is atuned to her, so he always knows where she is .
Olivia is too self absorbed to notice the small kindnesses.
--whew! Steamy hallway scene
--Consensual
Writing Style:
“He was playing in the mud of my ignorance,”
Yes, there is introspection. The style is poetic and smart, and I like to point that out for readers needing prose that is not amateur.
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