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The War at Waversea #1
Deafened by Silence
Rhys Waversea wants to watch the world burn, and Clayton Michaels will spark that flame.
It was supposed to be so simple. A fresh start where no one knows about the accident. No one knows I'm a deaf girl walking amongst the hearing, cocooned in my own silent world. So simple, if I had gone anywhere except Waversea Academy. Here, shadows cling to every wall. Privilege follows me like smoke, clogging my throat. There’s a poison running through this campus, and it's wearing the face of the founder's grandson.
From the moment I set foot on site, I’m dragged into the middle of a war between two jocks who claim to hate each other more than anything else. One watches me like he’s trying to unearth my secrets. The other shields me like he already knows them. Loyalties shift, the line between protection and possession blurring. I wanted a quiet life. What I got was a battlefield, and I’m the prize they’re both willing to destroy in the name of victory.
It was supposed to be so simple. A fresh start where no one knows about the accident. No one knows I'm a deaf girl walking amongst the hearing, cocooned in my own silent world. So simple, if I had gone anywhere except Waversea Academy. Here, shadows cling to every wall. Privilege follows me like smoke, clogging my throat. There’s a poison running through this campus, and it's wearing the face of the founder's grandson.
From the moment I set foot on site, I’m dragged into the middle of a war between two jocks who claim to hate each other more than anything else. One watches me like he’s trying to unearth my secrets. The other shields me like he already knows them. Loyalties shift, the line between protection and possession blurring. I wanted a quiet life. What I got was a battlefield, and I’m the prize they’re both willing to destroy in the name of victory.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 25, 2020
About the author
Maddison Cole
46 books718 followersMaddison Cole is a Why Choose Dark Romance Author hailing from the south east of the UK. She is a creative through and through, whether the medium is pencil, paint, wool or words.
In her books, you'll find a heavy dose of dark humour, men with filthy mouths, shocking twists, an abundance of spice and always a feisty female lead. When not writing, you can find Maddison hiding from her two children, two cats and husband with a dirty book and a naughty dessert.
Want to know where to start? To dip your toe in the water, try Beautiful Delusions, a spicy standalone with three brothers and a happily ever after. For a completed trilogy that will take your heart and run away with it, The Shadowed Souls series is sitting pretty and waiting. Stepbro, stalkers, twists and a basketball team of pure filth and fun. The ideal binge for a reverse harem lover!
In her books, you'll find a heavy dose of dark humour, men with filthy mouths, shocking twists, an abundance of spice and always a feisty female lead. When not writing, you can find Maddison hiding from her two children, two cats and husband with a dirty book and a naughty dessert.
Want to know where to start? To dip your toe in the water, try Beautiful Delusions, a spicy standalone with three brothers and a happily ever after. For a completed trilogy that will take your heart and run away with it, The Shadowed Souls series is sitting pretty and waiting. Stepbro, stalkers, twists and a basketball team of pure filth and fun. The ideal binge for a reverse harem lover!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
March 29, 2026
4.5⭐️ bully romance was 😮💨😮💨😮💨
October 21, 2025
ARC - Deafened by Silence - Maddison Cole
- Deaf FMC
- Bully vs Jock
- Damaged pasts
- Hate to want, lust to love
- Possession and obsession
- Why choose
- Touch her and ☠️ vibes
Release date - November 7th🗓️
“Running from our fears only feeds them. If we own our pain, it won’t have the power to hurt us anymore.”
So for all my fellow readers who devoured the Shadowed Souls trilogy as much as I did then I have some good news for you…Maddison is bringing us more characters into the Waversea universe and we now have the War at Waversea series🏀
Firstly we have our MMCs/FMC:
* Rhys - bully, possessive, out for revenge and gets what he wants
* Clayton - golden retriever with a twist, loyal and protective but self destructive and can’t let go
* Harper - sassy and bad ass, feisty, knows what she wants and resilient
So our FMC has lived a sheltered life since a tragic accident that resulted in her going deaf, but her goal is to move to Waversea Academy to study the sciences/medical fields and live a quiet life going by unnoticed. This is where she meets our two MMCs who are polar opposites, but believe me when I say you will love them for very different reasons and they most certainly don’t lead her into a quiet life!
Rhys is living in the shadow of his father with a troubled past and wants revenge and will burn his world down to get it and when he’s assigned to be Harper’s mentor this is where his obsession starts. He wants to break her and have his way with her when she defies him. He wants one night with her so the infatuation will pass, but is one night enough?
Clayton bumps into Harper randomly and ever since he is standing in the shadows, always at arms length to make sure she’s safe. His obsession grows instantly for her but his insecurities get in his way and he’s built walls to stop anyone getting close, he doesn’t want to stain her with his troubled past. He’s our antihero! Will Harper break down his walls?
This storyline has such great plot and I couldn’t put the book down, I needed to know what happened next! Following the characters through the story I was constantly on edge and the sexual tension that is between the characters, woah talk about edging🥵 This story ends on a cliffhanger, but I was NOT expecting the twist, but one thing I can assure you is that it was worth being kept on the edge and I cannot wait to hear what happens next in the story!
Thank you so much for choosing me to be an ARC in one of my favourite universes that you’ve created, I fell in love with the Shadowed Souls and now in this universe it’s the gift that keeps on giving🖤
- Deaf FMC
- Bully vs Jock
- Damaged pasts
- Hate to want, lust to love
- Possession and obsession
- Why choose
- Touch her and ☠️ vibes
Release date - November 7th🗓️
“Running from our fears only feeds them. If we own our pain, it won’t have the power to hurt us anymore.”
So for all my fellow readers who devoured the Shadowed Souls trilogy as much as I did then I have some good news for you…Maddison is bringing us more characters into the Waversea universe and we now have the War at Waversea series🏀
Firstly we have our MMCs/FMC:
* Rhys - bully, possessive, out for revenge and gets what he wants
* Clayton - golden retriever with a twist, loyal and protective but self destructive and can’t let go
* Harper - sassy and bad ass, feisty, knows what she wants and resilient
So our FMC has lived a sheltered life since a tragic accident that resulted in her going deaf, but her goal is to move to Waversea Academy to study the sciences/medical fields and live a quiet life going by unnoticed. This is where she meets our two MMCs who are polar opposites, but believe me when I say you will love them for very different reasons and they most certainly don’t lead her into a quiet life!
Rhys is living in the shadow of his father with a troubled past and wants revenge and will burn his world down to get it and when he’s assigned to be Harper’s mentor this is where his obsession starts. He wants to break her and have his way with her when she defies him. He wants one night with her so the infatuation will pass, but is one night enough?
Clayton bumps into Harper randomly and ever since he is standing in the shadows, always at arms length to make sure she’s safe. His obsession grows instantly for her but his insecurities get in his way and he’s built walls to stop anyone getting close, he doesn’t want to stain her with his troubled past. He’s our antihero! Will Harper break down his walls?
This storyline has such great plot and I couldn’t put the book down, I needed to know what happened next! Following the characters through the story I was constantly on edge and the sexual tension that is between the characters, woah talk about edging🥵 This story ends on a cliffhanger, but I was NOT expecting the twist, but one thing I can assure you is that it was worth being kept on the edge and I cannot wait to hear what happens next in the story!
Thank you so much for choosing me to be an ARC in one of my favourite universes that you’ve created, I fell in love with the Shadowed Souls and now in this universe it’s the gift that keeps on giving🖤
February 11, 2026
I wanted to like this book. The plot intrigued me, and I love the representation of a Deaf FMC. I just couldn't get into this book. The characters felt very young. I have read a lot of RH/why choose books in this genre. This book left me wanting. The people who rated 5 stars must be tripping
November 7, 2025
Harper, Clayton, + Rhys
-dark academia bully romance
-forced proximity
-bad boy + golden retriever jocks
-hate to want > lust to love > whychoose
-rivals & jealous/possessive mmcs
-deaf girl representation
this is a great start to this new series! the guys dynamic is fun & i can't wait to see how they end up coming together to share her...but obvs we got to get out of this little pickle we're in at the moment! haha im excited!
-dark academia bully romance
-forced proximity
-bad boy + golden retriever jocks
-hate to want > lust to love > whychoose
-rivals & jealous/possessive mmcs
-deaf girl representation
this is a great start to this new series! the guys dynamic is fun & i can't wait to see how they end up coming together to share her...but obvs we got to get out of this little pickle we're in at the moment! haha im excited!
January 7, 2021
This was the first book that I have from this author and it was an ok read for me. I am not a fan of love triangles and if I had known that this was how the book was going to be, I probably wouldn’t have read it. That being said, if you are into love triangles, then this is the book for you. Good characters that will keep you invested.
November 21, 2025
Dnf @41%. This book has just been boring and nothing really going on. Plus one of the mmc’s is a complete dick. I can’t stand Rys and I don’t see how he could become likeable.
December 27, 2020
Clayton, Rhys and Harper are the MCs of the Perfectly Powerless. Each of them tells us his POV.
Harper is amazing! I realy liked her as a character. She's strong, no victim, and she's super kind and easy going. Clayton is a bad boy, but in a good way. Doesn't make much sense, but it will when you'll meet him. And there's Rhys (love thy name), a bad boy, and he's bad to the bone. He is filthy ritch, obnoxious and cares only for him self. In reality he's bored. Everything drops to his feet, he doesn't even have to lift a finger.
But not Harper! And that's what excites him.
There's much more to the story and to their backgrounds. But by giving you a hint, I'd just spoil too much!
Perfectly Powerless is a good start to the The War at Waversea Series. Knowing the genre, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Harper is amazing! I realy liked her as a character. She's strong, no victim, and she's super kind and easy going. Clayton is a bad boy, but in a good way. Doesn't make much sense, but it will when you'll meet him. And there's Rhys (love thy name), a bad boy, and he's bad to the bone. He is filthy ritch, obnoxious and cares only for him self. In reality he's bored. Everything drops to his feet, he doesn't even have to lift a finger.
But not Harper! And that's what excites him.
There's much more to the story and to their backgrounds. But by giving you a hint, I'd just spoil too much!
Perfectly Powerless is a good start to the The War at Waversea Series. Knowing the genre, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 26, 2026
Great plot idea, bad execution.
I don't know why a lot of the books I've been reading lately just don't manage to capture my attention. I started thinking it's me, but I also had some great reads, so I might just be unlucky in my reading choices lately.
Loved the idea and the insight into deaf culture, but this was just poor writing, needs a rewrite and major editing.
I don't know why a lot of the books I've been reading lately just don't manage to capture my attention. I started thinking it's me, but I also had some great reads, so I might just be unlucky in my reading choices lately.
Loved the idea and the insight into deaf culture, but this was just poor writing, needs a rewrite and major editing.
November 8, 2025
Shhh 🤫
Back at Waversea for a new term and a new set of unashamedly complicated MCs...colour me invested!
Our FMC, Harper, has worked her a$$ off to snatch a converted place at the elite college. Hoping to fly under the radar for several reasons, Harper hopes to sneak in, remain silent and get through it. Of course, nothing goes to plan, and what happens next is nothing short of loud!
I loved how the story unfolded, and we had our introductions to MMCs, as well as what they brought to the table. I am all in at this point.
I especially swooned so hard at the Easter eggs from previous books...I did let a tear escape...it's beautiful alright.
The plot be plotting in this book, and thankfully, we don't have to wait much longer for the next book. There's bully, there's trauma, there's unashamedly LOUD characters and of course, we get the 🌶🌶.
Come at me Maddison Cole, I can't wait for what comes next!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶
Back at Waversea for a new term and a new set of unashamedly complicated MCs...colour me invested!
Our FMC, Harper, has worked her a$$ off to snatch a converted place at the elite college. Hoping to fly under the radar for several reasons, Harper hopes to sneak in, remain silent and get through it. Of course, nothing goes to plan, and what happens next is nothing short of loud!
I loved how the story unfolded, and we had our introductions to MMCs, as well as what they brought to the table. I am all in at this point.
I especially swooned so hard at the Easter eggs from previous books...I did let a tear escape...it's beautiful alright.
The plot be plotting in this book, and thankfully, we don't have to wait much longer for the next book. There's bully, there's trauma, there's unashamedly LOUD characters and of course, we get the 🌶🌶.
Come at me Maddison Cole, I can't wait for what comes next!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶
January 2, 2021
There are 3 main character, Rhys, Clayton and Harper.
Rhys: rich, bully, brutal, with a vicious. His brutal upbringing has made him who he is and he owns it. He hates emotions and vacant he bothered until it comes to Harper.
Clayton: is the bad boy from the wrong side of town. Quiet and a loner. He seems to have a hero complex when it comes to Harper. He has secrets that he keeps close to his chest.
Harper: independent, sarcastic, fearless. She is attracted to both men for different reasons. She gets in the middle of a war that started well before her appearance. She is the catalyst that takes it to the next level.
The dynamics between the three is messy and brutal. There are times when Rhys takes things too far. The entire campus enables him. Harper to a certain degree let’s him get away with a lot. When she hits her limit it may already be too late for Clayton.
I wasn’t sure about this one but the story kept me wondering. I wanted Rhys to get his comeuppance but then he shared a part of his history. Then I felt sorry for him. Of course, he does something crass and cruel so I was back to hating him.
Harper had me confused to her relationship with Rhys.
Clayton was the real mystery. A lot to find out about him and his situation.
An emotion roller coaster with a lot of angst. The cliffhanger ending will have you impatiently waiting for the next battle in the war.
Rhys: rich, bully, brutal, with a vicious. His brutal upbringing has made him who he is and he owns it. He hates emotions and vacant he bothered until it comes to Harper.
Clayton: is the bad boy from the wrong side of town. Quiet and a loner. He seems to have a hero complex when it comes to Harper. He has secrets that he keeps close to his chest.
Harper: independent, sarcastic, fearless. She is attracted to both men for different reasons. She gets in the middle of a war that started well before her appearance. She is the catalyst that takes it to the next level.
The dynamics between the three is messy and brutal. There are times when Rhys takes things too far. The entire campus enables him. Harper to a certain degree let’s him get away with a lot. When she hits her limit it may already be too late for Clayton.
I wasn’t sure about this one but the story kept me wondering. I wanted Rhys to get his comeuppance but then he shared a part of his history. Then I felt sorry for him. Of course, he does something crass and cruel so I was back to hating him.
Harper had me confused to her relationship with Rhys.
Clayton was the real mystery. A lot to find out about him and his situation.
An emotion roller coaster with a lot of angst. The cliffhanger ending will have you impatiently waiting for the next battle in the war.
October 6, 2026
𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐈𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞.
This book is the reason why I am so glad that I didn't discover it until the next book was released. That damn ending. OMG. Seriously. I think that if I had to wait for the next book to find out what the hell is going on it would have more than likely driven me mad. Counting down the days until the release date.
Maddison Cole books have become an obsession at this point because not only does she write some of my favorite tropes but the stories that she tells in these books. Addictive. I knew the moment I started this book I wasn't going to be able to put it down. I devoured the book and I should have know that I was going to get emotionally attached to these characters have should have been prepared for some heartbreak which is exactly what I got in this book.
Deafened by Silence is the first book in the War at Waversea series which tells the story of Harper, Rhys and Clayton. Harper has wanted to go to college and get her life back on track after a tragedy that took both her parents and is now deaf. Rhys is the 'King' of Waversea with everyone bowing to his demands out of loyalty and fear. But mostly fear. Clayton is the quite one who is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and finds it difficult to open up.
Clayton and Rhys are both on the basketball team and there is an immediate hate between them. Both from two very different backgrounds and a rivalry that explodes both on the court but in the classroom. But both are drawn to Harper in their own different ways. Rhys was possess and destroy her but Clayton wants to protect her even though he doesn't believe he deserves any kind of friendship with her.
Things get pretty intense between them all. The push/pull is on another level. But I do love the relationship between Harper and each of the guys. She isn't one of the women who will fall at Rhys feet to please him and she brings Clayton out of his shell. Each relationship is different and unique but they all share the attraction and intense confusion on feelings.
Then at the end of the book... Again, I swear I do not know what the heck is going on and who is doing ALL of that. I don't even want to have theories because they are usually wrong 😂 But that ending broke me and my heart goes out to them. I really want to know what is going on so I'm diving straight into the next book to find out. An amazing book and story that has kept me hooked right from the very first chapter.
This book is the reason why I am so glad that I didn't discover it until the next book was released. That damn ending. OMG. Seriously. I think that if I had to wait for the next book to find out what the hell is going on it would have more than likely driven me mad. Counting down the days until the release date.
Maddison Cole books have become an obsession at this point because not only does she write some of my favorite tropes but the stories that she tells in these books. Addictive. I knew the moment I started this book I wasn't going to be able to put it down. I devoured the book and I should have know that I was going to get emotionally attached to these characters have should have been prepared for some heartbreak which is exactly what I got in this book.
Deafened by Silence is the first book in the War at Waversea series which tells the story of Harper, Rhys and Clayton. Harper has wanted to go to college and get her life back on track after a tragedy that took both her parents and is now deaf. Rhys is the 'King' of Waversea with everyone bowing to his demands out of loyalty and fear. But mostly fear. Clayton is the quite one who is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and finds it difficult to open up.
Clayton and Rhys are both on the basketball team and there is an immediate hate between them. Both from two very different backgrounds and a rivalry that explodes both on the court but in the classroom. But both are drawn to Harper in their own different ways. Rhys was possess and destroy her but Clayton wants to protect her even though he doesn't believe he deserves any kind of friendship with her.
Things get pretty intense between them all. The push/pull is on another level. But I do love the relationship between Harper and each of the guys. She isn't one of the women who will fall at Rhys feet to please him and she brings Clayton out of his shell. Each relationship is different and unique but they all share the attraction and intense confusion on feelings.
Then at the end of the book... Again, I swear I do not know what the heck is going on and who is doing ALL of that. I don't even want to have theories because they are usually wrong 😂 But that ending broke me and my heart goes out to them. I really want to know what is going on so I'm diving straight into the next book to find out. An amazing book and story that has kept me hooked right from the very first chapter.
March 23, 2026
Plot: 5/5 • Spice: 2.5/5 ➡️➡️➡️ Harper is off to college. Something she’s always dreamed of. She’s been assigned a mentor. The son, Rhys, the namesake of the college. Rhys is your typical guy with a lotttttt of daddy issues. Avoiding Rhys, Harper accidentally slips and is caught by Clayton. He saves her from embarrassment. One thing you should know about Harper is she’s deaf. She has a cochlear implant, and uses it pretty much when she needs to.
Rhys and Clayton are both on the basketball team. Clayton, a brooding guy with a dark past. He just got out of juvie. Here to turn his life around and make his brother proud. Rhys and Clayton hate each other. Fists, words, anger. All between them. So it’s perfect they pine after the same girl. for different reasons, Harper nonetheless.
You can tell Harper likes Rhys (eventually) by their push and pull. She craves it as much as he does. He pushes her and she thrives. You can tell Harper likes Clayton. Immediately. However, Clayton and his demons make their progression very slow. He needs her like oxygen, yet hes the one who fuels her fire.
This ends with Rhys making Clayton a deal. Debts paid, his mom’s cate taken care of, transfer to an online course load and leave. Leave Harper. He says no. Not even hours later he’s summon to the destroyed locker room. Blood everywhere. A letterman jacket with his brothers name and MURDERER on it. Clayton knows Rhys did this. Harper
must have told him his secret. Clayton gets Harper to a room. Shows her what happens and blames her. Scolds her. Hates her. He takes Rhys’ deal. Harper. Is. Devastated. She didnt do it. But he doesn’t care. He knows she did.
Rhys tries to corner Harper as she tries to leave. Resulting in them finding a camera in the room they were just in. someone’s watching. It wasn’t Rhys who tormented or attacked Harper in the beginning. It was someone else. Someone we don’t know about.
God, this was so good. I devoured this. Clayton’s pain. Rhys’ issues. Harper trying to find a life for herself. She’s kind of a badass bitch. I enjoy her as a FMC. I can’t decide who of the MMCs I like more yet.
College setting - Enemies to lovers - Touch her die - Rivals - Dark pasts - Daddy issues - Family loss - Revenge - Rich boy/Poor boy - Deaf FMC - Cliffhanger
Rhys and Clayton are both on the basketball team. Clayton, a brooding guy with a dark past. He just got out of juvie. Here to turn his life around and make his brother proud. Rhys and Clayton hate each other. Fists, words, anger. All between them. So it’s perfect they pine after the same girl. for different reasons, Harper nonetheless.
You can tell Harper likes Rhys (eventually) by their push and pull. She craves it as much as he does. He pushes her and she thrives. You can tell Harper likes Clayton. Immediately. However, Clayton and his demons make their progression very slow. He needs her like oxygen, yet hes the one who fuels her fire.
This ends with Rhys making Clayton a deal. Debts paid, his mom’s cate taken care of, transfer to an online course load and leave. Leave Harper. He says no. Not even hours later he’s summon to the destroyed locker room. Blood everywhere. A letterman jacket with his brothers name and MURDERER on it. Clayton knows Rhys did this. Harper
must have told him his secret. Clayton gets Harper to a room. Shows her what happens and blames her. Scolds her. Hates her. He takes Rhys’ deal. Harper. Is. Devastated. She didnt do it. But he doesn’t care. He knows she did.
Rhys tries to corner Harper as she tries to leave. Resulting in them finding a camera in the room they were just in. someone’s watching. It wasn’t Rhys who tormented or attacked Harper in the beginning. It was someone else. Someone we don’t know about.
God, this was so good. I devoured this. Clayton’s pain. Rhys’ issues. Harper trying to find a life for herself. She’s kind of a badass bitch. I enjoy her as a FMC. I can’t decide who of the MMCs I like more yet.
College setting - Enemies to lovers - Touch her die - Rivals - Dark pasts - Daddy issues - Family loss - Revenge - Rich boy/Poor boy - Deaf FMC - Cliffhanger
October 15, 2025
'I’ve never let anyone this close to seeing my soul bared, but it’s clear now that I’ve been longing for someone to share that with.'
🏀🖤Deafened by Silence by Maddison Cole 🖤🏀
Deafened by Silence is Maddison's newest why choose academy sports romance from the War at Waversea series.
'I won’t hide. I will thrive on their misconceptions, prove to everyone I don’t need my hearing to succeed.'
I had the absolute pleasure of Beta reading this and let me tell you this is one you will not want to miss out on!! I was hooked from the start to finish. I loved the dark academia setting, the world building was so detailed I could practically picture it!
'Revenge is a mean bitch, and this one might just be his downfall.'
I loved the diverse characters in this, especially with a deaf FMC. You can really tell the amount of research that went into building this character, her sassy/fiery nature was so relatable as well as her sweet innocent side.
'She may desire him, but she craves me.'
The boys 👏🏻 ok let's start with Rhys. The bad boy, the bully, the spoilt rich kid who goes after what he wants, who also has a secret sweet side. I didn't like him until I did and then I loved him. Then we have Clayton the good boy, the sweet protective gentleman who has a secret dark side. Both strong MCs, rivals, rags Vs riches, the tension kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. The one thing they do agree on, is protecting her 😍
“If we own our pain, it won’t have the power to hurt us anymore.”
The storyline was intense and captivating and the plot twists kept me guessing the entire time. Also the spice was 🔥 from the sexual tension to the smoking hot scenes 🥵 I also loved all of the side characters, especially A... She really helped bring Harper out of her shell. I cannot wait to see where this goes because that cliffhanger was insane!
Release day on 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐰:
https://books2read.com/deafenedbysilence
🏀Rival MMC's
🖤Stuck in the Middle,
🏀Deaf FMC
🖤Hate to Want
🏀The Bully vs the Jock.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
🏀🖤Deafened by Silence by Maddison Cole 🖤🏀
Deafened by Silence is Maddison's newest why choose academy sports romance from the War at Waversea series.
'I won’t hide. I will thrive on their misconceptions, prove to everyone I don’t need my hearing to succeed.'
I had the absolute pleasure of Beta reading this and let me tell you this is one you will not want to miss out on!! I was hooked from the start to finish. I loved the dark academia setting, the world building was so detailed I could practically picture it!
'Revenge is a mean bitch, and this one might just be his downfall.'
I loved the diverse characters in this, especially with a deaf FMC. You can really tell the amount of research that went into building this character, her sassy/fiery nature was so relatable as well as her sweet innocent side.
'She may desire him, but she craves me.'
The boys 👏🏻 ok let's start with Rhys. The bad boy, the bully, the spoilt rich kid who goes after what he wants, who also has a secret sweet side. I didn't like him until I did and then I loved him. Then we have Clayton the good boy, the sweet protective gentleman who has a secret dark side. Both strong MCs, rivals, rags Vs riches, the tension kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. The one thing they do agree on, is protecting her 😍
“If we own our pain, it won’t have the power to hurt us anymore.”
The storyline was intense and captivating and the plot twists kept me guessing the entire time. Also the spice was 🔥 from the sexual tension to the smoking hot scenes 🥵 I also loved all of the side characters, especially A... She really helped bring Harper out of her shell. I cannot wait to see where this goes because that cliffhanger was insane!
Release day on 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐰:
https://books2read.com/deafenedbysilence
🏀Rival MMC's
🖤Stuck in the Middle,
🏀Deaf FMC
🖤Hate to Want
🏀The Bully vs the Jock.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
November 2, 2025
*Menage (MFM)
*Contemporary
*Multi-1st-PoV
*College Setting
*Bully Romance
*MMCs as rivals
*Deaf FMC
*Tragic Pasts
*Mid Burn
*Book 1 / 3
Tension, all the tension😳🔥
Wow we’ll talk about being able ugly in the middle! Poor Harper just wants a chance and a normal college experience. She’s a great FMC, she has tenacity, fire and a stubborn streak that means she won’t allow herself to be walked over and she’s more than happy to stand up for what she believes is right and what she wants 👑💪
Her fierce personality however attracts the two rivalling basketball players 🫣 Rhys is the son of the the college founder and a complete bully to everyone; he’s antagonistic arrogant and smug yet he’s hiding a lot of pain and loneliness 😖 his actions are manic and determined to hide his true emotions! On the other hand there’s Clayton, determined to play hero and protector even if that means saving Harper from him, blowing hot and cold as he feels 😣 again he’s hosing his own pain and guilt but he’s finally giving in to the hope she represents! Harper is just as drawn to each man and will not let their behaviours (their manipulation, blackmail, rage, etc) stand. The intense connections between our MCs is HAWT and the spice is 🌶️ however it appears that she may be a pawn in their rivalry and it drives wedges between their already fragile relationships 😢😢 yet I get a sense there may be a third party involved twisting this right up - especially after that cliffhanger!
The story flows smoothly and there’s always something happening to keep you engaged - whether it’s the characters themselves or an apparently plot twist - I found it easy to blast through this in one night as I couldn’t wait to see where it progressed; eagerly awaiting the next book 😀
*Contemporary
*Multi-1st-PoV
*College Setting
*Bully Romance
*MMCs as rivals
*Deaf FMC
*Tragic Pasts
*Mid Burn
*Book 1 / 3
Tension, all the tension😳🔥
Wow we’ll talk about being able ugly in the middle! Poor Harper just wants a chance and a normal college experience. She’s a great FMC, she has tenacity, fire and a stubborn streak that means she won’t allow herself to be walked over and she’s more than happy to stand up for what she believes is right and what she wants 👑💪
Her fierce personality however attracts the two rivalling basketball players 🫣 Rhys is the son of the the college founder and a complete bully to everyone; he’s antagonistic arrogant and smug yet he’s hiding a lot of pain and loneliness 😖 his actions are manic and determined to hide his true emotions! On the other hand there’s Clayton, determined to play hero and protector even if that means saving Harper from him, blowing hot and cold as he feels 😣 again he’s hosing his own pain and guilt but he’s finally giving in to the hope she represents! Harper is just as drawn to each man and will not let their behaviours (their manipulation, blackmail, rage, etc) stand. The intense connections between our MCs is HAWT and the spice is 🌶️ however it appears that she may be a pawn in their rivalry and it drives wedges between their already fragile relationships 😢😢 yet I get a sense there may be a third party involved twisting this right up - especially after that cliffhanger!
The story flows smoothly and there’s always something happening to keep you engaged - whether it’s the characters themselves or an apparently plot twist - I found it easy to blast through this in one night as I couldn’t wait to see where it progressed; eagerly awaiting the next book 😀
November 14, 2025
This book was a lot different than what I was expecting. I am a huge, huge fan of Harper. Her character is just amazing. Her strength, her determination her solitude. I love her. I have never read a book before with a deaf fmc before and all the positives and negatives that go along with her cochlear implants. I know some of it has been exaggerated technology wise, as the author mentioned, but it is still so eye opening and detailed that you can’t help but live a bit of it with Harper.
I’ve been battling with Clay and Rhys and I’m kind of stumped I don’t know how to feel, I’m definitely leaning toward my man Clayton. They are both so broken and at first I could not see a way out for them, and I just don’t know how they are going to reconcile their pasts to build a future. I feel like there’s definitely something going on in the background there’s a piece that hasn’t come to light yet and I think in book 2 we’re gonna get an awful awakening to something mind blowing. This does end on a cliffhanger, but not a hair pulling scream inducing one so don’t be nervous about that. All in all it was a good read and it’s left me wanting more. Can’t wait for book 2.
I’ve been battling with Clay and Rhys and I’m kind of stumped I don’t know how to feel, I’m definitely leaning toward my man Clayton. They are both so broken and at first I could not see a way out for them, and I just don’t know how they are going to reconcile their pasts to build a future. I feel like there’s definitely something going on in the background there’s a piece that hasn’t come to light yet and I think in book 2 we’re gonna get an awful awakening to something mind blowing. This does end on a cliffhanger, but not a hair pulling scream inducing one so don’t be nervous about that. All in all it was a good read and it’s left me wanting more. Can’t wait for book 2.
November 1, 2025
Rhys effing Waversea.
He's nothing more than a spoilt brat, born with a silver spoon in his mouth and probably had a Gucci onesie. I mean he wore a Louis Vuitton tarcksuit to a laboratory field trip. Dude is ridiculous. What's even more ridiculous is the fact that I absolutely fell in love with him. Not at first sight, probably not even second or third sight. But dude got under my skin and made me love him. The nerve.
The one who is quietly pursuing our dear and completely sassy Harper Adams is Clayton Michaels. And dude had me wrapped around his finger faster than you can say Yes Sir.
I absolutely loved this story. Harper is deaf, and just love how the guys don't bully her for it, don't make it a big deal. They just make it a part of them, knowing to face her so she can read their lips, and accepting she needs to put the mic on them. Just loved every bit and I need book 2 asap!
He's nothing more than a spoilt brat, born with a silver spoon in his mouth and probably had a Gucci onesie. I mean he wore a Louis Vuitton tarcksuit to a laboratory field trip. Dude is ridiculous. What's even more ridiculous is the fact that I absolutely fell in love with him. Not at first sight, probably not even second or third sight. But dude got under my skin and made me love him. The nerve.
The one who is quietly pursuing our dear and completely sassy Harper Adams is Clayton Michaels. And dude had me wrapped around his finger faster than you can say Yes Sir.
I absolutely loved this story. Harper is deaf, and just love how the guys don't bully her for it, don't make it a big deal. They just make it a part of them, knowing to face her so she can read their lips, and accepting she needs to put the mic on them. Just loved every bit and I need book 2 asap!
November 12, 2025
How could you put me through all of that!!! I loved every single second of it. There is so much to unpack in this book. We have such different characters all rolled into a great trio. The rich, if a bit psycho, Rhys. The stubborn but resilient Harper. Then our self loathing but strong protector Clayton. From page one we get sucked into Harper’s tragic backstory and how she lost her hearing to the point where she decides to finally get out on her own to waversea. There we meet the bully Rhys and his target,the scholarship student Clayton. The journey these characters take is heartbreaking and just all around emotion inducing. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next, especially after that epic cliffhanger! Definitely recommend!
May 25, 2026
Could not get past the first few pages. MFC came across like a complete jerk, her sarcasm was not “cute” at all, had no interest in continuing to be in her POV.
December 30, 2020
I’ve got this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’m going to give this book 3.5 stars, but it’s not the author’s fault. It’s mine.
I’ve read the previous series (or tried) called The Shadowed Souls and I struggled with it. The book is written in multiple POVs and it confused me a lot. I have finished the first book in the series and as you can maybe see having yet finished the second.
So I think that because I couldn’t really get myself to read that series, my brain took it upon itself to “protect” me from having this again.
Please, again, don’t take this wrong on the author, it’s most definitely, like 100% surely not her fault!
When I started this one, I went in hoping it’ll different than The Shadowed Souls series and even thought my brain didn’t want to hope and made me be behind, it was different. This book has 3 POVs and it was so much easier for my brain to navigate through.
For the 60% of the book I needed to drag myself to read it. I gotta be honest tho, I skipped some lines and I’m not proud about that. I know Abigail put a lot of thoughts and time into this and I feel like I betrayed her.
Right now I really dislike the thinking of my brain!
However, after the 60% the book got so much better! I mean after the first steamy scene appeared, I got through the book in seconds, haha.
I’d say the book was slow in the beginning, there was a lot to catch up to and I bet that the author wanted us to know as much as possible about the characters.
Mentioning the characters. I freaking loved Harper! Like seriously! She was that type of heroine that doesn’t back down and is like a bull!
The fact that she also lost her hearing and needed to learn ASL (which I tried too, but failed unfortunately) was unfortunate but amazing in the book. I never read a book with a person who can’t hear or has implants/discs to help. This was fascinating to me and I loved it so much!
For the boys? Ugh, they are just…weird boys…one is worst than the other, although I gotta give some credit to Clayton as he is just trying to protect himself. Rhys tho? He’s just a stupidly broken rich boy who doesn’t know what to do with his emotions.
I’m really and truly sorry about my behaviour towards this book. I’m always trying to give multiple and fair shots to every author.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to review now 2 and a half books of yours, Mrs./Ms. Abigail Cole.
I’m going to give this book 3.5 stars, but it’s not the author’s fault. It’s mine.
I’ve read the previous series (or tried) called The Shadowed Souls and I struggled with it. The book is written in multiple POVs and it confused me a lot. I have finished the first book in the series and as you can maybe see having yet finished the second.
So I think that because I couldn’t really get myself to read that series, my brain took it upon itself to “protect” me from having this again.
Please, again, don’t take this wrong on the author, it’s most definitely, like 100% surely not her fault!
When I started this one, I went in hoping it’ll different than The Shadowed Souls series and even thought my brain didn’t want to hope and made me be behind, it was different. This book has 3 POVs and it was so much easier for my brain to navigate through.
For the 60% of the book I needed to drag myself to read it. I gotta be honest tho, I skipped some lines and I’m not proud about that. I know Abigail put a lot of thoughts and time into this and I feel like I betrayed her.
Right now I really dislike the thinking of my brain!
However, after the 60% the book got so much better! I mean after the first steamy scene appeared, I got through the book in seconds, haha.
I’d say the book was slow in the beginning, there was a lot to catch up to and I bet that the author wanted us to know as much as possible about the characters.
Mentioning the characters. I freaking loved Harper! Like seriously! She was that type of heroine that doesn’t back down and is like a bull!
The fact that she also lost her hearing and needed to learn ASL (which I tried too, but failed unfortunately) was unfortunate but amazing in the book. I never read a book with a person who can’t hear or has implants/discs to help. This was fascinating to me and I loved it so much!
For the boys? Ugh, they are just…weird boys…one is worst than the other, although I gotta give some credit to Clayton as he is just trying to protect himself. Rhys tho? He’s just a stupidly broken rich boy who doesn’t know what to do with his emotions.
I’m really and truly sorry about my behaviour towards this book. I’m always trying to give multiple and fair shots to every author.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to review now 2 and a half books of yours, Mrs./Ms. Abigail Cole.
September 6, 2026
Dnfd at 75%
So one issue I have with this book is it's pretty vague and just kind of Skips around. For instance it starts with the FMC being 19 and you know that her parents died when she was 10 or 11. And she lives with her aunt who apparently a hid her College acceptance letter for a month causing the FMC to miss A semester I'm coming late. The degree is something to do with sciencey stuff it's not really explained too much but it does come up in some of the classes. So I do like a lot of the representation of what she goes through with being deaf but it's also not exactly explained in the story at least to the point that I have read. You know her parents are dead but I don't know if their death and her hearing are connected and then randomly they're thrown in that she was kidnapped and I guess that is when she lost her hearing but I don't know if that's also connected to her parents death. It was never really explained at least at the point I stopped reading. It's very vague. One of the mmc's Rhys is a rich boy who is also a freshman and hates his daddy who happens to be connected to the College MMC shares a last name with the college. But he is your typical fuckboy who has daddy issues who apparently is trying to make his dad's businesses fail but also uses his daddy's money to support his life so there's that. But when the FMC is with the school admin talking about her restrictions around her disability she's just kind of annoying and then she walks outside and she overhears orange Ys talking to his dad on the phone about finding the blind girl and mentoring her because the father was making him. Then he spends like 3 days trying to find her because he didn't know who the student was. Because I guess he is trying to sabotage all the scholarship students so that the companies that are donating to the scholarships stop doing that and his bad feels. Except on a side note I don't actually know if the FMC is a scholarship kid because in the beginning she talks about driving an Audi which never gets brought up again her driving at all once she gets to campus so there's that. She also talks about the settlement with her parents' death. She doesn't talk about getting an allowance through the scholarships or anything like that so I don't think she actually is a scholarship kid. But the second MMC Clayton is a scholarship kid and he is big into basketball and you learn that the only reason he's at the school is because he has a brother named Jeremy who passed away somehow that was 4 years older and his dream was to go to the school and do basketball. His mom has dementia and doesn't realize that I guess Jeremy is dead so when he talks to her on the phone she thinks that he is Jeremy. Something to do with his funding helps pay for her medical care at the nursing home. But he gets an allowance for food and things like that. Well apparently Rhys bullies Clayton and Clayton is a big dude and kind of deals with it and all of the teachers and everyone knows that Rhys to throw his weight around because his daddy signs everyone's checks. Clayton had signed up for the basketball program and Rhys saw his name on the paperwork and decided to sign up too. It's not really discussed if they were actually a basketball player or if they just signed up on a whim and we're really good at it but they think they're like amazing. So the boys are always fighting like physically and Rhys does things like go to the admin building give one of the workers $100 breaks into the system and always messes with Clayton's financially so that he won't get his like meal accommodations and like all that drama. When Rhys finally finds the FMC he's mad because she doesn't like bow down to him or whatever and he decides to basically haze her with this like hog Run situation where he like chases her and has other people chase her and hog mask and Clayton finds out because there's some sort of like text messaging app or something for the campus and he goes and basically saves her. Then you learn that Rhys has a on again off again girlfriend and the only reason he is with her is because her dad is a financial supporter of the college and apparently his dad is sleeping with her mom or something like that but he also sleeps with a lot of people I don't know I've yet to meet him in the story other than through like one or two phone calls. Then long story short Clayton is a really good basketball player but r h y s would not let their coach bring him into play the game and the FMC basically got Rhys to let him play and she had to wear Rhys Jersey to one of his frat parties and they fucked and she fell asleep at the house and Rhys called Clayton to come get her from the house in the morning because he didn't want her to like fall in love with his dick I guess or something and when Clayton got there she woke up and was like oh my God I got to leave because I don't want to be here kind of thing and that caused Rhys to get off sentimental I don't know and was basically like you should love me. Now at 75% when I did decide the dnf she had yet to actually be with Clayton but she was with the other guy at twice. Also a background in this book is another girl who has five boyfriends and only two of them are currently at campus but they talk about her so I don't know if the story is actually supposed to be a reverse Harem or what it's just kind of all over the place.
Then around like the 70% mark they are at some sort of laboratory for a field trip and she keeps falling behind from the group and there's a scene where the lights go out and someone attacks her cochlear implant and it causes it to malfunction and she thought that it was Rhys but he said it was not him and it wasn't clayton. I'm not exactly sure who it was and I didn't really care skin through and check. Random parts Clayton has a roommate that's kind of weird and he ends up bringing them to a movie called Iron Man 2.0 which ends up being like a random porno and they run out. It's weird I don't know. Oh and there's a whole scene where apparently the FMC gets all butt hurt and basically blows up the fucking School lab because she's a dumbass. There's also a point where she's falling behind in schooling because she was originally homeschooled and apparently now they're in advanced freaking science classes instead of doing what most schools do where the first year would have been regular classes anyway so they can get their Associates degrees and she ends up buying a paper but Rhys also has the same paper because he has someone else do all his school work and he takes the fall for it but the fall is basically nothing because all the teachers give him passing grades for not even showing up to class or doing anything really because his name is basically on the building.
So one issue I have with this book is it's pretty vague and just kind of Skips around. For instance it starts with the FMC being 19 and you know that her parents died when she was 10 or 11. And she lives with her aunt who apparently a hid her College acceptance letter for a month causing the FMC to miss A semester I'm coming late. The degree is something to do with sciencey stuff it's not really explained too much but it does come up in some of the classes. So I do like a lot of the representation of what she goes through with being deaf but it's also not exactly explained in the story at least to the point that I have read. You know her parents are dead but I don't know if their death and her hearing are connected and then randomly they're thrown in that she was kidnapped and I guess that is when she lost her hearing but I don't know if that's also connected to her parents death. It was never really explained at least at the point I stopped reading. It's very vague. One of the mmc's Rhys is a rich boy who is also a freshman and hates his daddy who happens to be connected to the College MMC shares a last name with the college. But he is your typical fuckboy who has daddy issues who apparently is trying to make his dad's businesses fail but also uses his daddy's money to support his life so there's that. But when the FMC is with the school admin talking about her restrictions around her disability she's just kind of annoying and then she walks outside and she overhears orange Ys talking to his dad on the phone about finding the blind girl and mentoring her because the father was making him. Then he spends like 3 days trying to find her because he didn't know who the student was. Because I guess he is trying to sabotage all the scholarship students so that the companies that are donating to the scholarships stop doing that and his bad feels. Except on a side note I don't actually know if the FMC is a scholarship kid because in the beginning she talks about driving an Audi which never gets brought up again her driving at all once she gets to campus so there's that. She also talks about the settlement with her parents' death. She doesn't talk about getting an allowance through the scholarships or anything like that so I don't think she actually is a scholarship kid. But the second MMC Clayton is a scholarship kid and he is big into basketball and you learn that the only reason he's at the school is because he has a brother named Jeremy who passed away somehow that was 4 years older and his dream was to go to the school and do basketball. His mom has dementia and doesn't realize that I guess Jeremy is dead so when he talks to her on the phone she thinks that he is Jeremy. Something to do with his funding helps pay for her medical care at the nursing home. But he gets an allowance for food and things like that. Well apparently Rhys bullies Clayton and Clayton is a big dude and kind of deals with it and all of the teachers and everyone knows that Rhys to throw his weight around because his daddy signs everyone's checks. Clayton had signed up for the basketball program and Rhys saw his name on the paperwork and decided to sign up too. It's not really discussed if they were actually a basketball player or if they just signed up on a whim and we're really good at it but they think they're like amazing. So the boys are always fighting like physically and Rhys does things like go to the admin building give one of the workers $100 breaks into the system and always messes with Clayton's financially so that he won't get his like meal accommodations and like all that drama. When Rhys finally finds the FMC he's mad because she doesn't like bow down to him or whatever and he decides to basically haze her with this like hog Run situation where he like chases her and has other people chase her and hog mask and Clayton finds out because there's some sort of like text messaging app or something for the campus and he goes and basically saves her. Then you learn that Rhys has a on again off again girlfriend and the only reason he is with her is because her dad is a financial supporter of the college and apparently his dad is sleeping with her mom or something like that but he also sleeps with a lot of people I don't know I've yet to meet him in the story other than through like one or two phone calls. Then long story short Clayton is a really good basketball player but r h y s would not let their coach bring him into play the game and the FMC basically got Rhys to let him play and she had to wear Rhys Jersey to one of his frat parties and they fucked and she fell asleep at the house and Rhys called Clayton to come get her from the house in the morning because he didn't want her to like fall in love with his dick I guess or something and when Clayton got there she woke up and was like oh my God I got to leave because I don't want to be here kind of thing and that caused Rhys to get off sentimental I don't know and was basically like you should love me. Now at 75% when I did decide the dnf she had yet to actually be with Clayton but she was with the other guy at twice. Also a background in this book is another girl who has five boyfriends and only two of them are currently at campus but they talk about her so I don't know if the story is actually supposed to be a reverse Harem or what it's just kind of all over the place.
Then around like the 70% mark they are at some sort of laboratory for a field trip and she keeps falling behind from the group and there's a scene where the lights go out and someone attacks her cochlear implant and it causes it to malfunction and she thought that it was Rhys but he said it was not him and it wasn't clayton. I'm not exactly sure who it was and I didn't really care skin through and check. Random parts Clayton has a roommate that's kind of weird and he ends up bringing them to a movie called Iron Man 2.0 which ends up being like a random porno and they run out. It's weird I don't know. Oh and there's a whole scene where apparently the FMC gets all butt hurt and basically blows up the fucking School lab because she's a dumbass. There's also a point where she's falling behind in schooling because she was originally homeschooled and apparently now they're in advanced freaking science classes instead of doing what most schools do where the first year would have been regular classes anyway so they can get their Associates degrees and she ends up buying a paper but Rhys also has the same paper because he has someone else do all his school work and he takes the fall for it but the fall is basically nothing because all the teachers give him passing grades for not even showing up to class or doing anything really because his name is basically on the building.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2021
Perfectly powerless was everything I was hoping for! The spin-off from the Shadowed Souls Series seriously didn’t disappoint! It was very well written & had me flipping through pages needing more.
Harper is our female main character, she lost her parents in a tragic car accident that resulted in her being left deaf. She doesn’t allow this to make her weak, it has only made her stronger! She went to live with her auntie who sheltered her from the world but Harper wanted more from life and decided to enroll at Waversea College. Armed with T-shirt’s with hilarious Slogans on “I’m not ignoring you, I just don’t want to hear your bullsh*#” she is ready for the new chapter in her life.
Rhys & Clayton are the two swoon worthy male main characters, they are worlds apart from one another but equally broken at the same time. The two guys clash at every turn & loathe one another
Rhys is a seemingly cold hearted, spoilt rich guy whose father happens to own Waversea, but there’s more to this troubled soul than what meets the eye.
Clayton is a kind hearted guy, but is carrying the weight & guilt of his past on his shoulders, he keeps himself to himself and is at Waversea on a scholarship!
Harper had every intention to keep her head down and just focus on her work, that was until she met Rhys & Clayton. Harper is different to all the other girls at Waversea she is feisty, strong willed & intriguing to them. Rhys wants to break her, Clayton wants to save her! So much for keeping her head down, when she is equally drawn to both of them!
Perfectly powerless ended on a cliffy and I can’t wait to find out what happens to this love triangle in book 2
Harper is our female main character, she lost her parents in a tragic car accident that resulted in her being left deaf. She doesn’t allow this to make her weak, it has only made her stronger! She went to live with her auntie who sheltered her from the world but Harper wanted more from life and decided to enroll at Waversea College. Armed with T-shirt’s with hilarious Slogans on “I’m not ignoring you, I just don’t want to hear your bullsh*#” she is ready for the new chapter in her life.
Rhys & Clayton are the two swoon worthy male main characters, they are worlds apart from one another but equally broken at the same time. The two guys clash at every turn & loathe one another
Rhys is a seemingly cold hearted, spoilt rich guy whose father happens to own Waversea, but there’s more to this troubled soul than what meets the eye.
Clayton is a kind hearted guy, but is carrying the weight & guilt of his past on his shoulders, he keeps himself to himself and is at Waversea on a scholarship!
Harper had every intention to keep her head down and just focus on her work, that was until she met Rhys & Clayton. Harper is different to all the other girls at Waversea she is feisty, strong willed & intriguing to them. Rhys wants to break her, Clayton wants to save her! So much for keeping her head down, when she is equally drawn to both of them!
Perfectly powerless ended on a cliffy and I can’t wait to find out what happens to this love triangle in book 2
December 28, 2020
Perfectly Powerless • The War at Waversea Series • Book 1
*ARC Review*
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
@abigail_cole_author
Holy crap, I am speechless right now. This is my first read by Abigail & I'm wondering why! I literally could not put this book down.
Rhys is a grade A asshole & king of Waversea College. Harper is deaf after a horrible accident. Rhys sees her as a "charity case" and sets out to make her life hell. Clayton can't handle the way Rhys treats her & finds himself coming to her rescue often. The boys find themselves fighting over her attention & she makes the most of it.
Wow, wow, wow! First of all, Harper's character is a total badass & I want to be her when I grow up. The way she stands up for herself had me cheering her on. Yasss girl! Rhys is the tattooed bad boy you love to hate. I found myself loving him one second and wanting to kick his ass the next. Clayton is the strong, safe, knight in shining armor. I was just as confused as Harper about which guy I would pick, so I feel her pain. & let me just tell you, the sex was on fireeee 🔥
Abigail totally blew me away with this story. She leaves us with a cliffhanger, so I'm gonna need the next book...like yesterday 😉 Can't wait to read more about Rhys, Harper, & Clayton.
*ARC Review*
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
@abigail_cole_author
Holy crap, I am speechless right now. This is my first read by Abigail & I'm wondering why! I literally could not put this book down.
Rhys is a grade A asshole & king of Waversea College. Harper is deaf after a horrible accident. Rhys sees her as a "charity case" and sets out to make her life hell. Clayton can't handle the way Rhys treats her & finds himself coming to her rescue often. The boys find themselves fighting over her attention & she makes the most of it.
Wow, wow, wow! First of all, Harper's character is a total badass & I want to be her when I grow up. The way she stands up for herself had me cheering her on. Yasss girl! Rhys is the tattooed bad boy you love to hate. I found myself loving him one second and wanting to kick his ass the next. Clayton is the strong, safe, knight in shining armor. I was just as confused as Harper about which guy I would pick, so I feel her pain. & let me just tell you, the sex was on fireeee 🔥
Abigail totally blew me away with this story. She leaves us with a cliffhanger, so I'm gonna need the next book...like yesterday 😉 Can't wait to read more about Rhys, Harper, & Clayton.
December 19, 2024
Brilliant Read
In true Maddison Cole fashion this book is amazing and had me hooked from the start. I'm loving Harper, Rhys and Claytons story.
In true Maddison Cole fashion this book is amazing and had me hooked from the start. I'm loving Harper, Rhys and Claytons story.
Did Not Finish
November 16, 2025DNF
December 14, 2025
DNF.....I just couldn't get into it. almost skimmed to the end. but didnt event want to bother
May 24, 2026
2.75⭐️
October 17, 2025
🏀🖤 ARC Review: Deafened by Silence (War at Waversea #1) by Maddison Cole 🖤🏀
"In a world built on noise, she turns silence into power."
Get ready, because Maddison Cole is coming for your heart, your sanity, and your TBR with Deafened by Silence, a dark, emotional, and explosively addictive why-choose academy sports romance that’s equal parts heart-wrenching and holy hot.
Harper just wanted a fresh start, a quiet life where no one knows she’s deaf or what she survived. But Waversea Academy has other plans. This elite, cutthroat school is a breeding ground for rivalry, privilege, and obsession. And right in the middle of it all? Two enemies who can’t stop fighting each other or falling for her:
🏀 Rhys Waversea — the arrogant, untouchable heir who hides his pain behind cruelty and control. The boy who wants to watch the world burn… and might just light the match himself.
🏀 Clayton Michaels — the golden boy with a dark side, a heart of loyalty, and a secret that could destroy them all.
And caught between them? Harper is the deaf girl they underestimate, the one who turns their world upside down with her resilience, rage, and soft defiance.
“If we own our pain, it won’t have the power to hurt us anymore.”
This book owns its title and it’s loud with emotion, tension, and slow-burn chemistry. Cole’s depiction of deafness is handled with such depth and care; it’s raw, empowering, and unapologetically real. Harper’s inner world is beautifully written, full of quiet rebellion and fierce independence.
The enemies-to-lovers energy between Rhys and Harper? 🔥
The protective devotion from Clayton? 🥺
The rivalry that turns to obsession? Chef’s kiss.
✨ What to Expect:
🏀 Deaf FMC representation (so well done)
🔥 Bully vs. Jock Rivalry
🖤 Why-Choose / Reverse Harem
🏫 Academy Setting with Dark Academia Vibes
💔 Trauma, Healing, and Found Strength
💞 Stuck-in-the-Middle Tension
🥵 Rivals-to-Lovers Energy
😱 A CLIFFHANGER that will ruin you
The writing is electric, the tension is lethal, and the spice? Absolute perfection. If you loved Filthy Elites or The Atlas Six but wished for more heat and heart, this one’s for you.
#DeafenedBySilence #MaddisonCole #WarAtWaversea #WhyChooseRomance #AcademyRomance #SportsRomance #BullyRomance #DeafRepresentation #DarkAcademia #ReverseHaremBooks #EnemiesToLovers #FierceFMC #SpicyReads #Bookstagram #BookReview #NewRelease2025 #HPRomance
"In a world built on noise, she turns silence into power."
Get ready, because Maddison Cole is coming for your heart, your sanity, and your TBR with Deafened by Silence, a dark, emotional, and explosively addictive why-choose academy sports romance that’s equal parts heart-wrenching and holy hot.
Harper just wanted a fresh start, a quiet life where no one knows she’s deaf or what she survived. But Waversea Academy has other plans. This elite, cutthroat school is a breeding ground for rivalry, privilege, and obsession. And right in the middle of it all? Two enemies who can’t stop fighting each other or falling for her:
🏀 Rhys Waversea — the arrogant, untouchable heir who hides his pain behind cruelty and control. The boy who wants to watch the world burn… and might just light the match himself.
🏀 Clayton Michaels — the golden boy with a dark side, a heart of loyalty, and a secret that could destroy them all.
And caught between them? Harper is the deaf girl they underestimate, the one who turns their world upside down with her resilience, rage, and soft defiance.
“If we own our pain, it won’t have the power to hurt us anymore.”
This book owns its title and it’s loud with emotion, tension, and slow-burn chemistry. Cole’s depiction of deafness is handled with such depth and care; it’s raw, empowering, and unapologetically real. Harper’s inner world is beautifully written, full of quiet rebellion and fierce independence.
The enemies-to-lovers energy between Rhys and Harper? 🔥
The protective devotion from Clayton? 🥺
The rivalry that turns to obsession? Chef’s kiss.
✨ What to Expect:
🏀 Deaf FMC representation (so well done)
🔥 Bully vs. Jock Rivalry
🖤 Why-Choose / Reverse Harem
🏫 Academy Setting with Dark Academia Vibes
💔 Trauma, Healing, and Found Strength
💞 Stuck-in-the-Middle Tension
🥵 Rivals-to-Lovers Energy
😱 A CLIFFHANGER that will ruin you
The writing is electric, the tension is lethal, and the spice? Absolute perfection. If you loved Filthy Elites or The Atlas Six but wished for more heat and heart, this one’s for you.
#DeafenedBySilence #MaddisonCole #WarAtWaversea #WhyChooseRomance #AcademyRomance #SportsRomance #BullyRomance #DeafRepresentation #DarkAcademia #ReverseHaremBooks #EnemiesToLovers #FierceFMC #SpicyReads #Bookstagram #BookReview #NewRelease2025 #HPRomance
November 9, 2025
Wow! This is why I love my fellow bookstagram friends on here! Finding books and authors I need to read! Deafened By Silence by Maddison Cole is book 1 in the War At Waversea series and it drew me in at 10pm and I couldn't put it down! Give me a great dark, why choose, college romance with so much angst and slowburn any day and I am hooked!
Harper has lived a very sheltered life after a devastating accident where she not only lost her parents, but also her hearing. She decides to move away and start over, gaining her freedom and attend Waversea Academy to study the sciences/medical fields to help in the area of deaf studies and live a quiet and peaceful life. Well, she definitely didn't get quiet! Rhys, the rich bully, his family founded the school, he's the guy that gets whatever he wants. But down deep is a boy who just wants to be loved and wanted and hides so much pain behind trying to be in control and his cruelty. And Clay, the sweet jock who feels an instant connection for her, he’s so loyal and wants to protect her while dealing with so much pain from his past and the insecurities of who he is and what he deserves. These three are heartbreaking at times! They will take you on a ride of so many emotions! They each have so many internal struggles and find something in each other. The guys hate each other and it's made worse by them both wanting Harper. The tension, the angst, the absolute edging, it’s written so good! And when they come together, hot as fire every single time. Leaves you wanting so much more!
Harper is raw, fierce, and heartbreakingly real and her deafness is written so powerful and real. You can feel the pain, the strength, and the fire behind every moment between these three so deeply. Every emotion will go through you! This ends on a crazy cliffhanger I did not see coming but thankful book 2 will be out in a few weeks! So loved finding a new author and can't wait to go back and read her other books in this world! Go read this book, it will pull you in from page one!
Rate: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 3/5🌶️🌶️🌶️
🧡 Deaf FMC
🏀 Bully x Jock
🧡 Damaged pasts that never healed
🏀 Hate to want ➜ Lust to love
🧡 Possessive, obsessive, only mine energy
🏀 Why Choose
🧡 Touch her and ☠️ vibes
Harper has lived a very sheltered life after a devastating accident where she not only lost her parents, but also her hearing. She decides to move away and start over, gaining her freedom and attend Waversea Academy to study the sciences/medical fields to help in the area of deaf studies and live a quiet and peaceful life. Well, she definitely didn't get quiet! Rhys, the rich bully, his family founded the school, he's the guy that gets whatever he wants. But down deep is a boy who just wants to be loved and wanted and hides so much pain behind trying to be in control and his cruelty. And Clay, the sweet jock who feels an instant connection for her, he’s so loyal and wants to protect her while dealing with so much pain from his past and the insecurities of who he is and what he deserves. These three are heartbreaking at times! They will take you on a ride of so many emotions! They each have so many internal struggles and find something in each other. The guys hate each other and it's made worse by them both wanting Harper. The tension, the angst, the absolute edging, it’s written so good! And when they come together, hot as fire every single time. Leaves you wanting so much more!
Harper is raw, fierce, and heartbreakingly real and her deafness is written so powerful and real. You can feel the pain, the strength, and the fire behind every moment between these three so deeply. Every emotion will go through you! This ends on a crazy cliffhanger I did not see coming but thankful book 2 will be out in a few weeks! So loved finding a new author and can't wait to go back and read her other books in this world! Go read this book, it will pull you in from page one!
Rate: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 3/5🌶️🌶️🌶️
🧡 Deaf FMC
🏀 Bully x Jock
🧡 Damaged pasts that never healed
🏀 Hate to want ➜ Lust to love
🧡 Possessive, obsessive, only mine energy
🏀 Why Choose
🧡 Touch her and ☠️ vibes
October 29, 2025
Maddison Cole is back and for those of us who devoured the Shadowed Souls trilogy, rejoice! She’s dragging us straight back into the haunting halls of Waversea. Deafened by Silence isn’t just a return to her world; it’s the start of something darker, sharper, and utterly addictive.
The dark academia setting is perfection moody, secretive, and brimming with tension. You can feel the chill of the old stone walls and the danger hiding in every shadow. Cole’s world-building is so vivid it’s almost cinematic, the kind of writing that makes you forget you’re reading.
At the heart of it all is Harper, a deaf heroine who refuses to be defined by her silence. Fierce, clever, and quietly resilient, she’s the calm and the storm all at once the kind of character who lingers long after you close the book.
Then there’s Rhys and Clayton.
Rhys the rich, tattooed king of the academy is equal parts cruel and vulnerable. The boy you promise to hate until you can’t.
Clayton the golden boy with a darker edge is gentle where Rhys is sharp but just as capable of wrecking you. Their rivals to protectors tension had me hooked from start to finish.
The love triangle (Rhys- Harper - Clayton) is chef’s kiss all tension, longing, and heartbreak. And while it’s MFM (no sword crossing, sadly), the chemistry between the guys begs for it. Every glance and argument crackles with emotion, turning this romance into a power play built on desire and danger.
Just when you think you can breathe… that cliffhanger hits. Brutal. Brilliant. Maddison Cole truly knows how to leave readers begging for more.
Special mention to Addy, Harper’s loyal roommate she’s the warmth this dark world needs, and I’d love to see her get her own story. Cameos from Shadowed Souls tie everything together perfectly, making this feel like a true expansion of the universe.
Deafened by Silence is a masterclass in tension and atmosphere a story of power, perception, and the quiet kind of strength that changes everything. Waversea still has secrets to tell, and this time, the silence is deafening.
📚 ARC provided voluntarily thoughts are 100% my own.
The dark academia setting is perfection moody, secretive, and brimming with tension. You can feel the chill of the old stone walls and the danger hiding in every shadow. Cole’s world-building is so vivid it’s almost cinematic, the kind of writing that makes you forget you’re reading.
At the heart of it all is Harper, a deaf heroine who refuses to be defined by her silence. Fierce, clever, and quietly resilient, she’s the calm and the storm all at once the kind of character who lingers long after you close the book.
Then there’s Rhys and Clayton.
Rhys the rich, tattooed king of the academy is equal parts cruel and vulnerable. The boy you promise to hate until you can’t.
Clayton the golden boy with a darker edge is gentle where Rhys is sharp but just as capable of wrecking you. Their rivals to protectors tension had me hooked from start to finish.
The love triangle (Rhys- Harper - Clayton) is chef’s kiss all tension, longing, and heartbreak. And while it’s MFM (no sword crossing, sadly), the chemistry between the guys begs for it. Every glance and argument crackles with emotion, turning this romance into a power play built on desire and danger.
Just when you think you can breathe… that cliffhanger hits. Brutal. Brilliant. Maddison Cole truly knows how to leave readers begging for more.
Special mention to Addy, Harper’s loyal roommate she’s the warmth this dark world needs, and I’d love to see her get her own story. Cameos from Shadowed Souls tie everything together perfectly, making this feel like a true expansion of the universe.
Deafened by Silence is a masterclass in tension and atmosphere a story of power, perception, and the quiet kind of strength that changes everything. Waversea still has secrets to tell, and this time, the silence is deafening.
📚 ARC provided voluntarily thoughts are 100% my own.
November 6, 2025
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.
This is the story of Harper, Clayton and Rhys. One is the man who saves her when she needs it and the other is her bully. Harper is deaf but she can hear with the help of her implants and it has been her dream to go to Waversea Academy. She is there on a scholarship and is so excited to be there. A accident took not only her parents but her hearing and she has lived a sheltered life of a hermit pretty much ever since. She is determined to show the world she is no different from any of the other people at the Academy. Rhys father owns the Academy. He is a guy who has had everything handed to him his entire life and he knows there is power in that. So much power that the hates it but isn't afraid to throw it around. He is not a fan of his father and is determined to blow his world up and take everything from him. Clayton is there too on a scholarship and he lost his brother and is now there living his brother's dream. If his brother was going to do it Clayton will let him live still through him. He is a basketball player and darn good at this too. But that puts him on Rhys radar and he is absolutely horrible to him. I have to say I got to know Rhys in this book and I was not much of a fan. But, by the end he was growing on me. He is a spoiled rich kid in his attitude. Everyone is expendable and usable and Harper has thrown a big old bomb into his life and now things are upside down and he has not a clue how to deal with that. Clayton is also attracted to Harper and she adores him. He is kind of her. He helps her study and saves her every single time she needs saving. She is the first and basically only person's hes ever opened up too. And in turn she opens up to him. Until it all explodes and Rhys is standing this with a bomb in his hand. This book is so good. I don't think I realized this was not a standalone and the way it ended I was shook. This book is really good and I have a feeling the next one is going to be even more some. You do not want to miss this book.
This is the story of Harper, Clayton and Rhys. One is the man who saves her when she needs it and the other is her bully. Harper is deaf but she can hear with the help of her implants and it has been her dream to go to Waversea Academy. She is there on a scholarship and is so excited to be there. A accident took not only her parents but her hearing and she has lived a sheltered life of a hermit pretty much ever since. She is determined to show the world she is no different from any of the other people at the Academy. Rhys father owns the Academy. He is a guy who has had everything handed to him his entire life and he knows there is power in that. So much power that the hates it but isn't afraid to throw it around. He is not a fan of his father and is determined to blow his world up and take everything from him. Clayton is there too on a scholarship and he lost his brother and is now there living his brother's dream. If his brother was going to do it Clayton will let him live still through him. He is a basketball player and darn good at this too. But that puts him on Rhys radar and he is absolutely horrible to him. I have to say I got to know Rhys in this book and I was not much of a fan. But, by the end he was growing on me. He is a spoiled rich kid in his attitude. Everyone is expendable and usable and Harper has thrown a big old bomb into his life and now things are upside down and he has not a clue how to deal with that. Clayton is also attracted to Harper and she adores him. He is kind of her. He helps her study and saves her every single time she needs saving. She is the first and basically only person's hes ever opened up too. And in turn she opens up to him. Until it all explodes and Rhys is standing this with a bomb in his hand. This book is so good. I don't think I realized this was not a standalone and the way it ended I was shook. This book is really good and I have a feeling the next one is going to be even more some. You do not want to miss this book.
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