Beyond Hate

Beyond #3

by Lee McCormick

The only thing stronger than hate is... his obsession.
Otto

In another life, I’d loved Nikki. In another life, he’d betrayed me. Brought back by a corrupt company who deals in souls and reincarnation, I was promised a chance for revenge. I wasn’t born a psychopath, but death made me into one. Nikki made me into the monster I am.

The problem is, the man they say is Nikki is… different. His name is London, and he’s pure light and softness. I want to peel away his layers to see if the boy I knew—the boy who broke me—is still somewhere inside.

London

My life is thrown into a world of darkness and impossibility when I’m taken by a man who tells me he knows me, who tells me I betrayed him. I don’t know Otto, but something inside me recognizes him.

Even though he abducted me, chained me up… even though he made me watch him do unspeakable things… for some reason, my body craves his darkness. I want to run away, I want to run toward him. I need to know why I’m drawn to a man who wants to break me apart.

Beyond Hate is a dual POV dark romance set in a world where soulmates are real, and sometimes you’re given a second chance you didn’t know you needed. Expect high heat, high emotions, and a psychopath bent on revenge, who realizes the only thing he can’t live without is the one person he wants to kill. HEA guaranteed.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Audiobook, Second Chance, Fantasy

277 pages, Paperback

Published July 24, 2025

About the author

Lee McCormick has been writing since they were very young, and they've finally found the courage to offer up some of their favorite ideas to the world. Parent to two amazing kids and three pretty fantastic dogs, they've always been fascinated with dark romance and love that transcends time and reason.

When they aren't busy working on their novels, you can usually find them browsing queer romance recommendations or playing a video game. 

Reviews

[Renae Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond Hate is an intense romance between sweet and innocent London and psycho stalker Otto. Together, these two make quite a pair, with electrifying chemistry that is both intense and deadly. Otto is seeking revenge, which is solely targeted at London, who has no idea the monster he has awakened simply by existing.

London and Otto's insane journey from enemies to lovers takes some time, due to Otto's overwhelming jealousy, possessiveness, and anger towards his supposed enemy. Their cat-and-mouse game takes many forms and surprises along the way. One of my favorite aspects is how, once Otto discovers the truth, his shift from anger and revenge to primal possession and devotion is incredible to watch. At times, I felt bad for London's complete innocence being quickly shattered as he entered this criminal underworld.

Overall, this is a fantastic entry in the series— the primal possession mixed with fated love is a great combination that I couldn’t get enough of.

*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***

[angie_bookrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars | Painfully Intoxicating | Utterly Consuming

It’s not just dark romance. It’s soul deep horror and heartbreak, wrapped in the soft ache of a boy who wants to be loved and a man who can only love by destroying. Otto and London aren’t lovers. They’re haunted. Cursed. Tied together by lifetimes of blood, betrayal, and that twisted thing that lives somewhere between revenge and devotion.

Underneath all the chaos, all the blood and agony, there’s a devastating kind of yearning. A longing that shouldn’t exist...but does anyway. There are no safe moments in this book. Just stolen ones. Just flickers of connection in the middle of cruelty, and somehow, they made me ache harder than the torture scenes ever could.

The way Lee wrote Otto’s unraveling obsession...How he hated London for sins he couldn’t remember, and yet couldn’t stop touching him like he still belonged to him. It’s intimate and so achingly beautiful you want to cry while clenching your thighs.

Every moment was a war of want vs. fear.
Every scene layered with something feral underneath it all. Blood, chains, knives...and somewhere in the chaos, the softest little ache of love.

This isn’t romance. This is madness painted beautifully. And I couldn’t look away.

Lee has this terrifying talent of crafting villains we want to crawl toward — even when they promise to ruin us.

♡♡♡

Edit: September 18th.

Okay. I just finished listening to the audiobook, and I'm obsessed with Otto & London all over again!!

Zachary Zaba's narration is so damn good. Every single time I listen to him, I'm in awe of just how much emotion he puts into the characters.

10/10. Perfection. No notes.

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I don’t know Nikki, Otto. I don’t know who you were with him. I don’t know who I was when I was him. The only thing I know is us."

Beyond Hate is the third book in the Beyond series by Lee McCormick, and whilst they are standalones in that they feature a new couple each time, they are better read in order because of the overlap in themes, timelines and the overarching story. This is Otto and London's story.

What To Expect:

🖤MM romance
🖤very dark themes
🖤reincarnation/second chance
🖤violence
🖤all the spice
🖤soul mates
🖤touch him and d*e
🖤HEA

I totally loved the concept and characters in Beyond Time and whilst Beyond Hate doesn't have that 'wow' impact (because the secret's out!) I still enjoyed Otto and London's journey.

Definitely a recommended series.

4 stars

[DeniReadsMostlyMM · Rating 4 out of 5]

***ARC Review***

This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is the third installment in the Beyond Book series. This is a dark romance, so be sure to check out the Content Warnings, just in case. McCormick writes this story so well that you can’t help but be captivated by Otto and London. I love that this series focuses on past lives and I’m always so intrigued to see how McCormick weaves the thread of connections between the MCs. This book will have you in your feelings and put you on a roller coaster of emotions, (there were a couple of moments where I thought my heart would beat out of my chest), but it’s worth it in the end. It was interesting watching Otto come to terms with the fact that London really is different from Nikki. His need for revenge morphs into something else.

I appreciate how the book is split into the Before parts and present day (one month late). The present day parts help to highlight the intensifying connection between Otto and London. (Otto is obsessed with London). McCormick’s concept of soulmates and fate in this book and series is especially enticing. London and Otto have a few hurdles to tackle, but they make one another feel alive, less broken, and whole. There are a couple of reveals/surprises they will keep you on your toes in this book. It’s an engaging read from start to finish and it’s really alluring watching Otto and London achieve their hard-fought HEA.

[Wicked River Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much! The take on soulmates and second chances is so good.
I loved Otto and London together.

It was really exciting to see London come into own! He was always a little scrappy but overtime he started to fight back and push limits and I loved it.

Otto trying to reconcile what he thought he knew and what was in front of him when it came to London was interesting to see. Watching him war with himself over the revenge he thought he wanted against London from being wronged in his past and the feelings he was developing for him in present day and which choice meant more made this a great read.

I loved London and Otto slowly falling for each other and working through their issues. These two finding ways to connect and eventually finding safety in one another was nice. I had a great time with this and I love this series so much!!!


Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

🐒 Check trigger warnings.

❤️ ARC REVIEW 🖤

[Pyro Aleksandr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart. These two. Broken - revenge - pain driven. Another amazing story.

I wish we got more answers from the journal and more of Nikki and his brothers and what that whole family done etc. but like still great.

[Christina Sturgill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5 🌟
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Heroes: Otto and London

I really enjoyed the dynamic between these two. London is really sweet and just wants to be loved. Otto is a bit psychotic and stalks him. He's set on revenge and his target is London. It's hurt and anger that morphs into a dangerous obsession filled with jealousy and possessiveness. It's violent, dark, and a little twisted. But it also has moments of beauty where you see that slowly turn into love and devotion.
A sweet boy learning to stand up more and a broken boy trying to reconcile what he thought he knew with the truth. Incredible tension and chemistry right from the start. And a soul deep love with incredible steam. This book gave me everything I wanted and satisfied everything I need and love from Lee's books.

[Shannon Winning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whewwwwww, what a wild ride that was! I could NOT put this book down Otto and London had me tearing up the pages in there chaotic story!

Honestly I felt for both of them in this book, they break my hearts and has be smirking at the same time. Otto is out for revenge but he soon realizes that maybe there’s something better, he wants to utterly destroy London. Poor poor London cannot catch a break throughout this whole book, he lives a sad lonely life and then Otto comes in really turns it around… maybe not for the better at first but there’s no denying these two have a bond that goes way beyond this current life, sometimes souls truly remember each other no matter how long they’ve been apart.. it’s always searching always tied together even if one is determined to kill the other.

Once again Lee McCormick comes out with a great book that is something so different from what’s out there, I love the concept of this book, the kinks, the disbelief and just the feeling of two souls truly never forgetting about each other no matter the tragedy and no matter the obstacles.

PS I’m so glad we got that last chapter. 😭😭

[Sasha [latenightswithabook] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favourite book in the series so far. Otto is brought back from a past life and begins getting revenge on the people who wronged him. London throws a wrench into his plan by not being at all what Otto expected him to be. Otto’s confused and pretty much immediately disarmed by how innocent London is. I love how Otto wants to hate London but seems to be incapable from doing so right from the start.

The hurt/comfort in this is really great, both characters have been hurt by people in the past and they’re slow to trust (Otto much more than London). Because of his past, Otto feels the innate need to hurt London and London finds that he wants that as well - I also appreciated the attention given to aftercare when this part of the dynamic began to be explored in more depth.

The plot was really fun, it has all the hallmarks of a good dark romance with some captivity, torture, stalking and murder (I was a particular fan of the ending that was given to London’s ex). We also get some very satisfying character growth, I loved that London starts to become a bit more confident and comfortable in what he wants.

I’d definitely recommend this book (and series).

⭐ 4.5/5
🌶️ 3/5

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series never disappoints & neither did this book.Each book continues to surprise me.Once again I'm in awe and wonder over Lees unique story telling.All moral lines are crossed in this book & series & it's what makes it so compelling.The characters seem to deserve their suffering because of their actions in their past lives,but nothing is black or white.
Otto’s internal struggle is so strong.He is torn between vengeance and his growing affection for London & i couldnt help but feel for him.Poor London,he moves from one traumatic situation to another, being in an abusive relationship & then being kidnapped by a man who claims that he was killed by London in a past life & is going to make him suffer for it.
The whole 'Beyond' series is like nothing else.I was hooked from start to finish,I didn't want to put the book down. And just when I thought the emotional journey was over,we got the final pages & It felt like Lee was saying to us readers, "I'll tug at your heartstrings one last time." An absolutely unique series & i loved every page.

[Tate Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third in the series and the best.

London views himself as weak. But when he finds someone worthy of protecting he finds he is strong.

Otto is not broken, he’s been destroyed. He’s had his foundations ripped up and burned to ash and the only thing he has to love for is revenge.

London is my new favorite character (Theo and Wren are still the best couple). I don’t think I’ve connected strongly to a character like I have with him. I usually like the obsessive/possessive/violent one because he is so unlike myself the escape is welcomed. London is never sure where he belongs or if he’s worthy or who really are his friends or if he matters. until he realizes he is stronger than he thinks and then there is no holding him back. He fights for himself and he fights to protect the man he loves. It was awesome to watch his transformation.

CW: this is a bloody book, mind the warnings if there are tropes and k!nk you don’t enjoy.

[369Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
Otto is determined to get revenge on those who made his previous life a living hell. Most importantly, he looks forward to awakening Nikki’s consciousness. Nikki—who he’d once loved, and who betrayed him in the end. But London isn’t like Nikki. London is sweet and innocent, and unlocks a protective instinct in Otto that he doesn’t understand.

This book has dark themes and complicated pasts, just like the others in this series. It still gives the interesting, complicated romance tale that you enjoyed in the previous books!

This one kind of lost steam as the book progressed, but I still had fun. I definitely enjoy this author!

[Renly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to dive back into this world. And this book is my favorite so far of the whole series. 💜

Otto and London were everything I didn't know I needed. I was so excited to read more about them after they were introduced in Beyond Reason. The touch-him-and-die vibes, the kinks, Otto being Otto, all of it was absolutely fantastic.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Read It.

Dee's Grade: A

I love how these books explore the concept of fated mates in their own way. As with all the books in the series it's best to go in blind and just enjoy the story as it unfolds.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Home was blood, and danger. Home was his eyes going dark when he wanted to hurt me, and the feel of his mouth when he kissed away that pain. Home was the man standing in front of me. Home had found me when it should have been impossible—past death, beyond hate… it was here. Home was Otto."

[Leigh Gaskill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otto is reincarnated after a horrific life and he wants REVENGE. And boy does he get it…until London.

I thought the way this book was written, different from the others, was great. I don’t want to say any more and give anything away so I will leave it at that!

*𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.*

[Lysa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way too many pages-long internal monologuing and minimal meaningful dialogue. It felt like the author was trying to hit a word count at some points. Shootout would be happening around the character, but 90% of the chapter focuses on the character stewing in his angry thoughts. Who’s doing the shooting? (Yes, I know this scene was referenced in a previous book, but I read that like a year (300 books) ago. I don’t remember specifics.) How is Otto escaping with little confrontation? The action is a complete afterthought. A lot of flip-flopping done by the characters without much explanation. One second Otto would be aboard on the “London is not Nikki” love train then in the next chapter - he’s back to being mad that “London is Nikki!” Make up your mind bro, I’m begging you. 😭
I’ve read other books by this author, and while many feature similar problems - they were still enjoyable. This was another miss for me.

[myqueerbookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond Hate is book 3 in Lee McCormick’s Beyond series. This is Otto and London’s story who were first introduced in Beyond Reason (book 2)

« I loved you & you killed me »
« soul mates »
« reincarnation »
« trauma bonding with your captor »
« dubcon »
« touch him & die »
« pain play & blood play »
« dacryphilla »

Lee McCormick is an auto-buy author at this point and delivers every single time. Otto and London as a couple are different from the other couples in this series, Axel and Xavier (book 2) and Kade and Seth (book 1). But yet they had all the unaliving, possessive, and touch him and die vibes that I love and have come to expect from this author.

In one of Otto’s previous lives, he was tortured and murdered, and blames the man he loved, Nikki. Otto was tortured for a year by Nikki’s mother while he was forced to watch and then eventually murdered. Otto believes that Nikki could have helped and saved him. Otto is hellbent on revenge. He finds Nikki’s soul in the body of London. He soon realizes that London is nothing like Nikki, he is sweet and soft. Otto’s plan of getting rid of London and bringing back Nikki to act out his revenge soon crashes and burns.

London is soft and sweet, and has experienced so much hurt through his life, and at the hands of past lovers. He loves Otto and needs Otto to love him like he needs air to breathe. The love between Otto and London is dark, obsessive, and all consuming. Otto will burn the world down and kill anyone who has hurt London. He craves London’s pain, blood, and tears; he wants to be the only to put marks on his body, the only one to cause his tears, and the only one to break him and put him back together. In the end, these two broken souls finally get their HEA.

My heart broke for Nikki, in the end it is realized that he never betrayed Otto and loved him deeply. I would love to see a novella of him getting his HEA in one of his future lives.


[I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.].

[Seraphina Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond Hate
Beyond Book 3
Lee McCormick

Otto & London
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

Soulmates
Dacryphylia
Pain / Bl00d play
Trauma bonding
Stalking

Soo this was beautiful

A group of people have the capabilities to bring past lives to the forefront

Otto wakes up after being murdered by a man he loved, his broker, Nikki.

But the man who he thinks Nikki's soul is in is a man named London.

London is nothing like Nikki

Previous to the death of Otto, Nikki and their brothers were hitmen, organized by his mother. Otto was brought into their family when he was little. He never quite felt comfortable doing what the family business was.

Nikki's mom tortured then killed him. Otto believes Nikki could have saved him, helped him. He thought he loved him.

Fast forward to now. Otto knows London is not Nikki.

“And I think I’ve known from the first time I held you that you’re… you.”

London is soft and tender. He is in an abusive relationship with a horrible man and works as a stripper.

Otto low key stalks him but also starts to see him for who he is. Not Nikki but London

This had a lot of action and suspense. But it was also emotional, seeing Otto come to terms with his past and views towards Nikki and London

“I don’t know Nikki, Otto. I don’t know who you were with him. I don’t know who I was when I was him. The only thing I know is us.”

London and Otto were so intense in such a beautiful way. They were so passionate in the last bit.

They were truly meant for eachother

“I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you I’m worth it. I’ll spend the rest of every life making up for what happened in the past. But you have to love me too, Otto, or I think I might die. I can’t—”

This was so well done
I really enjoyed it

“The way I feel about you… it’s more than love. It’s obsession. It’s bottomless… endless. It’s terrifying, London.”

So thankful for this arc

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Lee McCormick is one of my favorite authors. I absolutely love the twists and turns in every book. In this latest one, we are back in the Beyond universe with Otto and London who we met in the previous book. It’s a dark and twisty soulmate story that is filled with lots of kinks.

Otto was brought back by Nathanial West and promised revenge. For him, that means making his adopted brothers pay…especially Nikki. His background is dark and gritty, full of torture and angst, and he has become the person they tried to make him into years ago.

London is fragile. He’s delicate. He’s broken. He’s living in an abusive relationship and is struggling to make it through life. Then, he’s taken by a man who keeps calling him Nikki. But…something in him is drawn to his kidnapper, and he doesn’t know why.

In this installment, we don’t really see much of the other “versions” of the characters. There is reference to Otto’s last life being a psychopath, but he isn’t present. Nikki is never brought to the surface. Instead, the book focuses solely on Otto and London. Both men have gone through some traumatic stuff. While Otto originally intends to get his revenge, he finds himself drawn to London in a different way. Once more we see two souls, bound across time, finding their way back to one another.

I have loved the concept of these books from the beginning. It’s unique and fascinating. Lee has a wonderful writing style that truly draws you into the world. It definitely makes it hard to put the book down. And that last chapter was the perfect ending…and hopefully the beginning of what’s next. Fingers crossed.

[Briar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow. Another amazing work from Lee McCormick. I’m absolutely obsessed with everything they write. If you loved the rest of the Beyond Time series, definitely don’t miss this new installment.

To start, I will admit it took me a little bit to get into this installment, but that is mostly because I didn’t 100% remember the ending of Beyond Reason so while I did know who Otto was, I was confusing Axel, Xavier, and Kade but after a quick refresher I was all good and quickly fell in love with both Otto and London.

“He was everything—my brother, my protector, my lover. My downfall, my betrayer. My killer.”

Otto has been reincarnated and wants revenge on Nikki who is the past life of London. London is currently an exotic dancer/stripper and in an abusive relationship. Otto kidnaps him and holds him hostage until the events of the end of book 2 occur and the facility they were at is destroyed and Otto lets London go. Eventually they are reunited when London receives threats against his life and their relationship progresses from there until the final showdown with another face from Otto’s past.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Otto and London a lot and how it was basically flipped from what it was like between Otto and Nikki. It was interesting seeing how Otto’s feelings changed over the course of his interactions with London and how he eventually realized London wasn’t Nikki and he didn’t want him to be. His desire to be with London became strong then his desire for revenge on Nikki.

I admit I would’ve liked to see more of Nikki and Otto’s past but this book was meant to be about Otto and London and looking toward the future and learning to let go of the past. I did enjoy the ending excerpt from Nikki’s journal though, that was a very nice wrap up and really brought the story together for me.

All in all, another great book in this series and I can’t wait for more from Lee.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

London doesn’t want to die. So it’s a good thing that Otto doesn’t plan on killing him— yet.
Thrown from one awful situation into another, London is taken from the frypan into the fire, and then dumped into a bucket of ice for good measure. Along the way he discovers: kinks, Stockholm Syndrome, arterial bleeding, a switchblade knife, what Otto looks like when feral and when tame.
Otto meanwhile discovers: what it feels like to be the big spoon, incandescent and possessive rage, how hot London looks with blood on him, and that sometimes it’s better to let go of the past instead. It just takes several corpses to get there.
We as the readers get to know some of the answers Otto is hunting, so that’s a satisfying bit to munch on. Lee ties the past and the future very nicely together, with no dropped threads or overly large plotholes. This book could also technically be read as a stand-alone, since it only very briefly touches on the events in Beyond Reason and doesn’t need much, if any, knowledge of the rest of the series to make sense.
You know that trope “I can fix him”? Yeah, that’s not this book. “I can make him worse” is much more appropriate; Otto is a live cannon who just needs a direction to shoot, and if he wants London to do the shooting, well, London wants him to break his ribs open and eat him alive, so they work out well together. 10/10.
(Otto is so hot, I want to run my hands through his hair.)

[Plaguedoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond Hate is another great story in the Beyond series.

Otto has been brought to the forefront after three reincarnations and has set his sights on London --- the reincarnation of his past lover and murderer, Nikki. He wants revenge: Only, London has not been given the injections and therefore has no memory of his previous lives. Otto struggles with his psychopathic desire to hurt London in place of Nikki while wanting to keep him safe at the same time.

This reincarnation of his ex-lover is nothing like the Nikki (now named London) he knew, and is completely opposite from the brave, skilled killer Nikki had been. London is small, soft-hearted, and somewhat meek, unable to protect himself from his abusive boyfriend---and the danger he finds himself in when Otto barges into his life.

I really liked Otto and London as a couple, and enjoyed how the mystery of the story wrapped up! Otto and London's situation reminded me a LOT of Seth/Clay and Kade. The relationship definitely had a similar aura. I also would have loved to have seen a bit more of their past life together, as I didn't get a good understanding of the situation with their mother/brothers and...well...WHY they lived the way they did, why their mother was the way she was etc. etc. I would love to see a ficlet/extra chapter with a bit more historical insight!

Overall: 4.5 rounded up
Spicy scale: 4/5

[Ashley -Goldstarreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otto and London’s story is so good. London is a stripper, who has an abusive boyfriend and is being stalked. One day his stalker changes, he can’t sense what has really changed but the intensity has ratcheted up and his fear level has gone from scared to terrified. His boyfriend doesn’t believe him and no matter what London does, he doesn’t feel safe. Then, his stalker kidnaps him and takes him to a facility where he is told about reincarnation and souls and that he used to be Nikki and that he was going to be killed by Otto, his stalker. Otto blames Nikki for his death, he feels betrayed by the man he used to know and love. He is torturing his two adoptive brothers when he takes London to add him to his torture. Now that Otto’s soul has been reincarnated and his memories are back, he wants his revenge. So much happens from here. So much delicious torture and depravity. So much love. So much blood. So much hate. This series and this world is unique and creative and interesting and I love revisiting. Well written with such endearing characters that you can’t help but love and of course hate too. There are villains in each of the stories. There are plot twists and turns. Thoroughly enjoyed reading Beyond Hate.

[J.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been looking forward to this book, and I wasn't disappointed.

Otto is obsessed with London, he's been since he met him again in this lifetime. He's been fixated on him in some way before Otto even became Otto again.

Otto wasn't the same person he used to be, and his way of loving became a confusing mix of dark and sweet, making his gestures and thoughts particularly interesting.

“I’d fill oceans with crimson if it meant I could keep all of your pain for myself.”

London, on the other hand, didn't have memories of their lifetime, but he was drawn to Otto all the same. They were completely different from how they used to be, but they still fit each other perfectly.

“Then make me cry, Otto. You can have all my tears for the rest of my life. All my pain, all my fear, as long as I’m yours. As long as you let me feel you. I know it doesn’t make sense, but yours is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to be.”

I feel bad for Nikki, though. We find out that he'd never betrayed Otto and that he'd always loved him deeply, but he never got his happy ending. I hope that he'll get a few lifetimes of happiness too.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Otto was promised revenge. Reincarnated by a corrupt soul-trading company, he returns to confront Nikki—the man who once loved him and then shattered him. But the person he finds isn’t the cruel betrayer he remembers. London, soft and radiant, seems nothing like the boy who turned Otto into a monster. Still, Otto is obsessed with uncovering the truth: is Nikki buried beneath London’s gentle exterior? London’s world unravels when Otto abducts him, claiming they share a dark past. Though terrified, London feels an inexplicable pull toward his captor. Otto’s violence repels him, yet his presence ignites something primal and confusing. As their twisted bond deepens, both men are forced to confront the blurred lines between love, vengeance, and fate.

This was a very dark story which was a psychological and emotional descent into obsession, identity, and the haunting echoes of past lives. I was uncomfortable with some of the intensity of the story but I was also unable to put it down. This was an MM story with mature content.

*** Please read the trigger warnings and be kind to yourself.

[Mikaela (risqué.romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond Hate - Lee McCormick
4.25/5✨🌟

* Dark romance
* Second chance
* Sex in front of a dead body
* Light bondage

* SPOILERS *

𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳. 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦. 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦—𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘖𝘵𝘵𝘰.

When it comes to dark romances, I’m pretty particular about what kind I like and man, this was such an amazing. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and Otto and London were absolutely perfect.

Otto wanted the revenge and man, when he becomes obsessed with taking care of taking care of London, I was here for it. From possessive protector that Otto was over London, I was so enthralled in these two.

I need to read the first two books in this series because this was just so good. From the spice to the killing and the way at that Otto and London were drawn to one another. I just really loved how much Otto had changed when it came to London.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[S.K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been absolutely loving the stories in the ‘Beyond’ series and this one was no exception. I love all of the intricate details, the tiny signs that the previous soul is ‘hanging around’ that feed into the story – it’s delicious!

I felt so bad for London and despite the fact that Otto was insistent that all he wanted to do was hurt London, he was adamant that no one else was going to do it. The showing your love by murdering someone can go so wrong, but Otto did it perfectly – believe me, within the first two chapters you’ll already have a small list of people you want to send Otto after!

This was an excellent addition to the series and I very much enjoyed how absolutely off the wall Otto and London were together. Talk about jagged edges fitting perfectly – London realising and accepting this before Otto was not something I expected. This was a wild ride and I may have re-read a few parts just to make sure I’ve understood what happened. In the meantime, I’ll happily wait for whoever is our next couple!

[Emma Capella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m writing this fresh off the last line of the epilogue of Chasing Riddick, and @alexandrastpierrebooks —honey—you have absolutely delivered. This story was both beautiful and devastating, and honestly, I’m struggling to find the right words to capture everything I felt while reading.

I’m so grateful to have had the chance to read an ARC of Chasing Riddick and to meet Finn, Turtle, Riddick, and the rest of the crew. I cried five percent into the book—five percent!—and it was a emotional rollercoaster from there full of highs and lows.

Finn absolutely stole the show. He’s hilarious, and I highlighted so many of his one-liners I lost count. The banter had me laughing out loud, and I adored Finn's bright, chaotic energy and the way he moved through the world with both humor and heart.

This book has twists, surprises, joy, heartbreak—it’s the full package. Start to finish, it was incredible.

Believe me when I say: RUN, don’t walk, to grab your copy on release day. You won’t regret it!

[tobifun.pp · Rating 5 out of 5]

rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
spice: 🌶️🌶️
darkness: 🖤🖤🖤🖤
feelings: 😭😱🥵☠️😍🫠😡🥹

Beyond Hate is the third installment in the Beyond series. Ever since I read the end of Beyond Reason, I've been hoping that this book would be dedicated to Otto. And Yesss, my wish was granted!

Otto is on a quest for revenge against his tormentors from a previous life. When he found his last victim, London, he seems to be near the end of his quest.

But will he manage to give London the injections to bring out Nicky, the person responsible for his death?

Beyond Hate is a brilliant story! The thrill is at a level that almost made my heart stop more than once.

London and Otto have suffered so much in the past and deserve to finally get their HEA.

But along the way, Lee McCormick captivates us into a dark world with deep abysses.

I love this series and hope this is not the last book. I highly recommend reading the TWs!