Dishearten

Frayed Satin #2

by Greer Rivers

Dishearten: A Dark Ballet Reimagining

Blurb Coming Soon

Tropes:
Masked stalker
Scarred Hero
Hidden identity
Arranged marriage
Touch her and die
Villain gets the girl

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Stalker, Enemies To Lovers, Mafia Romance, Forced Proximity, Found Family

ebook

Published June 25, 2026

About the author

Greer Rivers lives by the mountains with her real-life book husband and their three furbabies. Obsessed with history and folklore, she’s also a sucker for reality TV and proudly owns her titles as a messy eater, shirt ruiner, and steadfast non-sharer of food and wine. She adores romance, especially the dark and twisty kind, and her main goal as an author is to create a safe place for readers to feel too much.

Reviews

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracking Laoise “Lucy” McKennon after she fled her home six months earlier, Hatton Fury makes a move to get close to her by taking a job alongside her on Wander Isle.

Home to The Rabbit Hole - a seemingly ordinary strip club with a far more sinister purpose - Wander Isle is the first place Lucy has felt even remotely safe since fleeing the life she would be forced into. Bound by a drunken pact between the Troisgarde and Fury families that was never supposed to amount to anything, she’s desperate to keep her head down. But Hatter’s arrival stirs up more than old feelings, and suddenly Castle, her enigmatic boss, is demanding more from her than ever before.

For all the reasons Lucy insists she shouldn’t trust anyone, let alone the newcomer, Hatter quietly becomes her safe place. But in Greer Rivers’ world, nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and the past has a nasty habit of collecting interest before it comes due.

The web of secrets, betrayals, and hidden agendas is so intricately woven that I spent the entire book trying to untangle it, on the edge of my seat, flipping the metaphorical pages because what. the. fuck. is happening?!

The secret pacts and feuding families with generations of bad blood, à la the Hatfield and McCoys, create the perfect backdrop for an epic slow burn gothic romance with teeth.

Need the next book. Immediately.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Action, Dark, Gothic, Mystery/Suspense, New Adult

Ending: 💗 {HEA}
Length: 📚📚📚📚📚📚1/2
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present • Past}
Emotions: 🤔🤯🫠🥵😍
Darkness: 🖤🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

✨ Tropes: Arranged Marriage, Billionaire, Forbidden, Forced Proximity, Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers, Heroine in Danger, Hidden Identity, Retelling/Reimagining, Rich Boy x Poor Girl, Rivalry (Family), Stalker, Workplace
 
💫 Microtropes: Backward Hat, Boy Obsessed, Caretaker/Protective MMC, Cat Dad, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Dyslexia Rep, “Good Girl”, Hand Feed, He Falls First, He Falls Harder, Masked MMC, Panty Thief, Pet Name (Bunny), Scarred, Secrets & Lies, She’s a Runner, Size Difference, Tattooed MMC, Tragic Past, Virgin FMC, “Who Hurt You?”

🔆 Character: Illegal Enterprises, Sex Worker (Stripper)

💋 Kinks: Dirty Talk, Domination, Finger Licking Good

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, MINE!, “My Wife”, Touch-Her-and-💀, Tracking/Spying

⛔️ Safety Squad: Animal Cruelty, Child Abuse (Not by MMC), Drugged (Not by MMC), Forced Sexual Exploitation (Not by MMC), Kidnapping/Captive (Not by MMC), OM Drama (Douchey Customer • One Sided), Suicidal Ideations/Attempt by FMC), Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, in the past and/or present, and to main and/or side characters. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: Sex Club, The Carolinas 🇺🇸

📣 Type: Dishearten is part of the Frayed Satin series of interconnected standalones. The couple gets their HEA/HFN, but the overarching storyline carries across the series. As such, this series will be best enjoyed when read in order.

⚠️ Warning: The angst in this slow-burn will edge you to the point of combustion!

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Han · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok so I don’t really like hidden identities an stuff but I loved the first book so much so pushed through. It’s easy to get confused in retellings I feel so I was confused at some points. I still liked the story though! So 3.25 ⭐️

Arranged marriage the parents made when they were about 13 I think or younger.
Safety virgin h, not a virgin H (didn’t seem like a manwhore either) because of the stalking I was wary that he was the reason she was a v by interfering but he didn’t know she was a v and he only stalked her for 6 months. He also had met her right before she went missing for the 6 months and that was the only time they had met, they didn’t do anything just had an almost kiss. He was also celibate for the 6 months and before that.
Obviously I wish it would have been the same as last book with the dual V’s. I’m glad he was celibate since they had met and for a while before then though.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hatch Fury/lethal and adorable! He understood the assignment that Lucy needs to know that she's safe. Lucy McKennon/baddie! Their chemistry together is EVERYTHING!!!!!!
The slow burn was absolute torture, but when that spice hits......holy smokin' hot!
A couple of my favorite things:
The reference of using butter knives and nail files for self protection! 😂
AND the way Hatch uses her books as a "manual". Very smart man indeed!

[Veena · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Jazzy Mermaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 for the Second Generation and phhheewww this one was just as sassy and impulsive as Lucy's parents book was.

Lucy runs and becomes her own Alice in Wander Isle and she is there to strip secrets snd herself.

Hatton "follows" her trail of playing cards and becomes the Hatter that trips over himself and truly has the mouth of a smart@s$.

These two not only work in the Rabbit Hole but go down one together where one knows identities, one keeps secrets and both get played by the man who controls the chess board.

Thrown for some loops, sneaky plots and heartfelt moments. Showcasing mental health, deep wounds and learning to trust self is laid within these pages.

I am looking forward to book 3 and seeing how this continues because I am a curious little bunny. ✨️📚✨️

[destiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

arc review to come 🖤

[Katie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this was a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. Dishearten is the second book in the second generation of the tattered curtain series and it certainly didn’t disappoint as Greer Rivers put her own spin on the classic Alice in Wonderland story.

If you have read book one you will understand a bit more of the context of the story, but here’s a quick refresher: Sol, Kian and Sev the FMCs fathers bargained an arranged marriage between their first born daughters and the Fury sons many years ago. Now of course the guys didn’t really think that this debt would be cashed in but King Fury saw an opportunity to protect his family and strengthen his alliances, and as such on each of the daughters 22nd birthday they were to Wed a Fury son.

In the first book of the series we say Luna and Orion’s story but now Hatton and Lucy are taking the spotlight. At the end of unveiled we discover that Lucy has become aware of the Fury x Troisguard daughter bargain and she decides to flee and it is very calculated on her part because after months of running she ends up on the Wander Isle and similar to wonderland it is full of secrets at every single turn. This is where Lucy finds herself getting a job at the Black Rabbit so she can find out any information possible that may protect her family.

Now, we also have Hatton who is the Fury son that Lucy is arranged to wed. Hatton isn’t as strict with the marriage contract in comparison to his brother Orion and this leads him to making a deal with Lucy’s father Kian McKenna that if he finds her first he will end the marriage contract on the basis that he will protect Lucy himself. Throughout her time on the run Lucy has been leaving calling cards so to speak, which are cards from her father’s deck to note that she was in this place previously but has moved on. But not all hope is lost as these calling cards are how Hatton ends up on Wander Isle and he finds Lucy or Alice as she goes by here quite quickly.

Hatton finds himself down the rabbit hole that is the black rabbit which is ruled by a man named Castle who uses this as a place of manipulation to gather information on his customers. To keep his identity and Lucy’s a secret he takes on the Hatter persona so he can get a job at the club so he can keep a close eye on her.

I loved seeing both Lucy and Hatton’s character development from start to finish. Lucy was a woman who was running from her past and present and she slowly grew more confident and also with Hattons guidance because he knew the fierce woman she could be. Similar to Hatton, he went into this search believing that Lucy would always be the one that got away because those he cared about always got hurt in his world but he stepped up and became the man who fought and protected her.

This book was dark, sinful and honestly kept my kindle firmly in my hands at all times as I needed to know what happened next.

Thank you to the author who provided this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭

[Naz.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5 stars 2.5/5 spice

I enjoyed the story and the characters in it but it took me so long to finish it. I think it was longer than it needed to be. I liked how it was an Alice in wonderland retelling and how there were riddles and games. Castle was a very interesting character who really added to the story.

My favourite characters were definitely Hatton and Harry, especially when they are bantering with each other. I really hope Harry does end up with the love of his life at the end of the series. Hatton’s love-hate relationship with Kian was also funny. I adored how smitten Hatton was with his Princess Dinah cat.

I found Lucy’s character to just be ok. She was brave but for someone who was on the run to protect those she loved she didn’t really seem all that interested in connecting with them in the end. Hatton had to remind her to talk to her parents and we never saw her speak with Luna or even Brylie’s family.

I am looking forward to Brylie’s story, the setup for it at the end of this book was great.

- Alice in wonderland retelling
- Arranged marriage
- Hidden identity
- On the run
- Cat parents
- Stripper FMC
- Scarred, stalker MMC
- Dyslexia rep

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

WOW - what a wild ride down the rabbit hole!!

Greer held nothing back in this twisted reimaging of Alice in Wonderland. And the tagline for this book is perfect - He's her greatest threat, she's his only peace, and he gambled the one thing he loves most to keep her safe.

The very beginning was a bit slow for me (first chapter or two), but after that, all bets were off.

Yes, this book is long - but it doesn't truly feel that long once you get into the thick of everything.

I love that Greer truly plays on the fairytale and uses those elements to help create and tell this story. I love how she uses the ideology of the characters in Alice in Wonderland as a way to help readers understand the characters and their roles.

Add in the dark twists and turns with families and their history, Greer weaves one hell of a story.

As you can guess, I have purposely said very little about this one because this story needs to be experienced as though you have only the blurb to go on. Trust me, you'll thank me after you fall down the rabbit hole.

Bravo, Greer. Your talent never ceases to amaze me.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️/ 2🌶️

I have read almost all the books by Greer and was ready for this one, but boy, the world-building, the emotions, the push and pull were not at all what I was expecting! I loved every single thing about it. 🙌🏼

Hatten and Lucy are my fav now lol 🙃

Lucy, that girl is doing everything for others, and I loved her so much, and Hatten? That man is gone, even though his brain says no, his heart knows the truth! Loved these 2 so much! 💕

After that last epilogue, I cannot wait for Dash's story now!

Tropes: Hidden Identity, stalker, Alice in wonderland retelling - kindo of

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated that this book highlighted female agency as the center issue. With this whole Wilde-Fury feud, the women are used as pawns, and though Luna and Orion tried to address that in Unveil, it didn’t feel sufficient. Lucy and Hatton’s story addresses it head-on, and Hatton was genuinely regretful over this part. In the end, there wasn’t anything he could do about Lucy getting caught in the crossfire since her fate was sealed the moment the original deal was struck. Hatton did what he could which made up for the shitty (and inherently misogynistic) situation.
Though he was kind of doing a shitty job of protecting her…

After reading Unveil, from what Luna described, it seemed Lucy was going to be this meek, anxious scaredy-cat. But that’s not who she turned out to be at all. She’s brave, intelligent, and even ruthless when she needed to be. She was willing to start over and hide in countless different cities to protect herself and those she loved while also gathering intel from anyone who might’ve had information on her family. I enjoyed how her character played out in this respect.

On that note, I also loved the way her character was described. Most of the book, especially the beginning, is told through Hatton’s perspective. It reminds me a bit of “Paper Towns” by John Green, where we only have the perspective of the MMC, putting the pieces together of this enigmatic woman who ran away. They’re both obsessed with figuring out why she left, where she is, and in Hatton’s case, who she really is (since they technically have never properly met before). It gave Lucy a bit of mystery and developed both her’s and Hatton’s character more.

There were quite a few typos and grammatical errors, but I don’t mind that if it gets me the books sooner 😈

Sooo excited for Brylie & Dash’s story!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Sette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Greer Rivers and her team for the ARC of Dishearten! The following review is my own honest review and opinion of the novel.

I absolutely LOVED this novel. I’ve been a fan of Greer since the Tattered Curtain trilogy, and I have to say that Dishearten might be my favourite of the Frayed Satin series so far. The way the novel delves into the tragedies and backstories that shaped Hatch and Lucy’s characters was done really well. And as much as I liked Orion from the previous book, I think Hatch might be my favourite Fury brother so far.

There’s something about a man who yearns so damn hard even when he’s stalking and trying to do the right thing, even if it’s not going to be happy for him. I’m a sucker for that specific microtrope and Greer absolutely delivered!

Lucy was absolutely amazing as an FMC because there’s no denying that she’s a little more tender hearted and seemingly innocent compared to someone like Luna. But she’s complex because not only of her parents and their criminal ties, but the suffering she had gone through. I love how near the end we explore her more ruthless and confident side, especially as the Queen of Hearts.

The slowburn between them got to me real bad, and I’m genuinely obsessed. It’s a guaranteed HEA but it does leave off in a cliffhanger that ties straight into the next novel, which I’ve already preordered! I will say that that’s what I like more about this trilogy — while each of the novels can be read as standalone, it does build off on each other, and they’re very clearly part of the same universe.

If you’re a dark romance fan who loves a classical literature retelling, you can’t go wrong with reading this novel, or getting into this universe!

[My_book_obsession25 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Greer Rivers for the ARC!

I was so excited to continue this series, but I'll be honest Alice in Wonderland retellings and secret identity tropes aren't usually my thing. Because of that, I didn't connect with every part of the story as much as I hoped. Still, Greer writing kept me completely invested from beginning to end.

Lucy was definitely my favorite part of this book. She is such a sweetheart, and I loved that even after everything she's been through, she never lost her kind heart. She was easy to root for, and I just wanted to see her get the happiness she deserved.
And Hatton... this man. 🤭 He was so gone for Lucy before he even realized it himself, and watching him slowly come to that realization was honestly one of my favorite parts. He's protective, obsessed in the best dark romance way, and completely devoted to her. I loved seeing that side of him.

The chemistry between Lucy and Hatton was strong, and once they were together, I couldn't stop reading. Even though the retelling aspects and hidden identity storyline weren't my favorite, they didn't stop me from enjoying the journey because the characters and the writing carried the story.
Overall, this was another solid installment in the Frayed Satin series. It wasn't a perfect fit for my personal taste because of a couple of the tropes, but Greer Rivers once again delivered an addictive romance with characters I genuinely liked a lot.
I'm definitely looking forward for the tird book!

[Ashley (andtheniwasbookish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily my favorite book from Greer Rivers.

Easy.

The character building in Dishearten was awesome. Truly awesome. We got to see so many sides to Hatch and Lucy, and I absolutely adored their tension

While there is a big element of danger is all of Greer River's books that I've read, this one seems to be one of the bigger ones. On top of that, I feel like Brylie's story is going to be even more intense.

The storyline here, along with the additional players added such a depth to this story that I didn't even know I needed.

Overall: highly Recommend
Spice: open door

[Candace Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[bookish1.sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Greer's writing! I loved the Tattered Curtain series and I absolutely love this second generations series.

The Frayed Satin Series are dark ballet retellings with the kids of the main characters in the Tattered Curtain series. I love second generation novels and it's no secret how I feel about ballet. They are all standalones so you don't have to read any other book prior to this one but it does enhance the experience.

I love Alice In Wonderland and Greer did an amazing job capturing the trippy vibes of Wonderland in this retelling. I went down the rabbit hole and didn't want to come up for air.

I'm a sucker for secret identities and masks and mixing it with the Alice In Wonderland theme really added that little extra.

Lucy ran away from her past and arranged marriage to protect her friends but her fiance was not having it and finds her. She thinks the family she’s suppose to marry into is evil but she soon finds out her fiance is only evil to anyone who wants to harm her.

Hatch was everything! He's the perfect amount of protective and obsessive with a little pinch of crazy and we know I like my men a little crazy. The yearning this man does, thinking he's never going to have her is just chef's kiss. And his interactions with Kian were hilarious. I love Kian but I think Hatch one upped him in this book.

I loved every minute of it and you just have to dive in and experience this trippy rollercoaster for yourself.

[elaine ୨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

arc review to come 🤍

[Catherine Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so grateful to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of Dishearten! Dishearten is the second book in the second generation (first generation is the Tattered Curtain Series) series Frayed Satin, which are dark retellings of ballets. This was one of my most anticipated reads this year, as I LOVED the Tattered Curtain series and Rouge!

Before I start to talk about this book, this IS a standalone, but I personally highly recommend you read the Tattered Curtain series, or if you can't wait to read this one, at least read Rogue (a retelling of the Moulin Rouge x Romeo & Juliet) and Unveil (Swan Lake, and the first book in the series). I feel it really enhanced my reading experience knowing the first generation couples, and the stories that took place during their book. There are also references to plot points that happened in the first gen. book and the first book of Frayed Satin. Unveil sets the stage for the series, and although they are standalones as far as the couples go and their story, they flow into the next book, and there's an overarching plot that connects all the stories together.

Unveil was my first second generation book I have read, and Greer raised the bar super high, and she delivered with Dishearten as well! We first meet Lucy in the extended epilogue of Rogue as a little newborn baby, and now we see her all grown up, and find out more about her life leading up to the present. I also enjoyed seeing Kian and Lacey again, and like with Unveil, I love how they are still key players in the story, and are still very much involved in protecting their daughter and still very much the King and Queen of Las Vegas! It's a perfect bridge between the past generation and this generation of McKennons!

This book started 6 months after Unveil ended with Lucy running away from home after the events that happened in Unveil. The book starts out strong with Hatch having found Lucy, and having heated banter with Kian (his would be father in law). Hatch loves messing with Kian, and Kian is just so over Hatch's antics! The Alice in Wonderland references were weaved throughout the story wonderfully, and there were so many! From the characters to plot points to locations (such as the Rabbit Hole where Lucy "Alice" worked) the story did a great job of retelling Alice in Wonderland while also creating a story of its own. I also loved where the story took place-not in Lucy's hometown or Hatch's but one that was new to the both as someplace to live. The setting of Wander Isle was so well written. I could just picture myself there in the houseboat, on the docks, in the Rabbit Hole, and by the marsh!

I loved Lucy and Hatch! Hatch is the youngest Fury brother, and although he comes across (especially in Unveil) as unhinged and a bit of a wildcard, we learn a lot more about him in Dishearten, and why he is the way he is. We learn his humor he uses is a coping mechanism most of the time, as he dealt with extreme trauma as a 13 year old, as his mother died protecting him from an attack from the Wildes leaving him with extensive scarring inside and out. He carried that burden with him his whole life, and feels all Fury men are bad for the women in their life-and vows to protect Lucy from afar. I really enjoyed getting to know Hatch. He is deeply protective, funny, and although he does not shy away from protecting the ones he loves by any means, he is also soft and gentle with Lucy and the cats. The duality of Hatch is very well written! Lucy is the daughter of Kian and Lacey, and in Unveil she is portrayed as being a skittish character, and one who survived a kidnapping that wasn't talked about much amongst friends and family. We learn a lot more about Lucy in this book. We see her grow as someone who felt the best way to protect herself and those around her were to run, to standing her ground and being more confident in herself and taking charge as the Queen of Hearts (her McKennon title). Hatch and Lucy both dealt with extreme trauma with Lucy's heartbreaking kidnapping and all she endured during it, and Hatch with what happened with his mom. Both of them healed through one another, and both Lucy and Hatch felt more peace by telling each other their darkest secrets and memories. I love how they choose each other because they wanted to, not because they had too. Lucy definitely is Hatch's peace and he is hers!

Something I have to mention about this book is how much I loved the side characters! Out of all of the books in the series (both first and second generation), I would have to say that this book has some of the strongest secondary characters that really bring the book to life and enhance the story. I LOVED the cats (Dinah and Cheesy) and how much not only Lucy but Hatch and Harry grew to love them! Speaking of Harry-he was a great character! I loved how he was the first love of Hatch's grandma Fancy, and he still holds out a candle for her (and Hatch encourages him to make the first move again!). The banter between Harry and Hatch was SO funny too-it really broke up some of the darker moments in the book. I also enjoyed X, Duchess, Mariposa, the twins, Chef, and Iris. All of them are very complex characters who weave in and out of the plot in such wonderful ways. I even enjoyed one of the villains of the story, Castle. He was so complex, and manipulative, and his intellect and ability to read people was scary! He is a character that I am still guessing on if we will see more of later down the road-he seems like someone who won't just disappear.


I loved the references to the upcoming stories, and hints on how the series is going to continue. The other second gen children are all mentioned in Dishearten, and we hear a bit about Luna and Orion as well. Although there is a HEA for Lucy and Hatch, the overarching story line is still continuing, and Greer did an amazing job of making readers want to know what happens next in the feud between the families and what is happening with the Troisgarde.

Also-as always-Greer makes TOP TIER book music playlists. I HIGHLY suggest you listen to Dishearten's playlist Greer made. The first book playlist I ever listened to before reading was the playlist for Phantom, and it transformed my reading experience. Dishearten is no different with its playlist. I listened to it before I read, in-between reading, and after, and it truly enhances the book-the songs are perfect and capture the essence of the story and everything in between perfectly. You can tell how much effort was put into the playlist-the songs are all perfect for the book! I've also found so many great songs thanks to Greer! I will always say this piece in every review because it's just so true!

This is a 5⭐️ read, and I'm so excited to see this series continue, just like I was on the edge of my seat for this book to be released, I am even more excited to read the next book after all the twists and turns that we learned about in Dishearten! That ending though-I am counting down the days until the next story!

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

~I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.~

I was blessed to be chosen for the ARC team on this and you heard it here, she did it again folks. Stellar showing. I was hooked. I was wildly entertained the whole way through and ravenous for the before and next stories.

Smut? 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Alice in Wonderland? ♥️🎩🐇🐱🐛🍰☕
ASHEVILLE NC MENTIONED🚨🚨🚨😍🌄

Let me sing Greer's praises for a minute bcs I have infinite respect for how she handles really rough topics in her books. You can find the trigger warnings for her books both at the beginning and on her website and the way she presents these hard things is so obviously done with thought and care. The inclusion of disturbing and graphic scenes or topics isn't done gratuitously, nor is it the focus on the book or the character's only personality trait. Disturbing things don't need to be avoided, and Greer uses them the way they should be: devices that inform story, not overpower it. Books can have dark themes and dark events take place without it being assault-as-love. I'm so, so, SO for dark romance stories that aren't full of MMC-on-FMC-violence-packaged-as-love. We're better than that. Greer IS better than that. 💅

If anyone is wondering if these are truly standalone, yes. I unfortunately so far have only read Dreadful (highly recc, review and blog post) from the Tattered Curtain series and I didn't read book one of the Frayed Satin series, but I don't feel like I was missing anything vital to the story. Rest assured, I will certainly go back and read them now. But because I didn't read the other books, I needed a bit of info, which is where this comes in -->

--> I have a pet peeve about second and third (and so on) books being very info-dumpy about catching the reader up on what happened in book one, even in interconnected standalones. I feel like sometimes it can be very hand-holding, and bcs these books are interconnected but standalone you have to have some kind of way to (re)situate yourself in the world, and I really like how Greer did it. It felt woven into the context as opposed to a giant multi-page word vomit rehashing all of book one which I really appreciated.

The Alice and Wonderland things were SO on the nose. Kitchy? Yes. But, endlessly entertaining. It was fun to see all the ways the characters and tropes played out between the source material and this book, and it made me wish that I was more familiar with Lewis Carroll's work.

The characters didn't have as much depth as I would have liked, but I don't think they needed it? We were able to draw on the archetypes of the source characters (Alice, Hatter, Rabbit, Queen of Hearts) to have our expectations pre-set and be able to fill in some gaps, and I think that bcs Greer's characters stayed true enough to Carroll's characters, we were able to sit back and enjoy the story. I think it also worked really well to blend it into a story that takes places in the southeastern United States on a worn-down little coastal barrier island. It's not bright and shiny, but it's not "paddle faster, I hear banjos" either. We don't get a lot of (good) rep in stories like this and it was really refreshing to see it take place 1) not in a big fancy city, and 2) in the southeast where "the mountains and mountainfolk are creepy let's be ruralist about it" isn't the focus or atmosphere-maker. Things can exist in the south and the story won't fall apart, yall. Also, again: ASHEVILLE, REPRESENT 🫶

This book was pretty hefty, and I feel like the time was used very well. I think the timeline of it was a bit short (but that's pretty par for the course in this genre), but I never felt like it was dragging or rushing. I think there can be a tendency to quickly wrap up boss fights when you know there's gonna be a HEA (not a spoiler, I checked, it's advertised), but I think that like the rest of the book it was well paced and proportional. Just an excellent story. Now I really need to go read the rest of the books bcs I am THIRSTY.

🃏

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

"Look at me, Lucy." He tips my chin down to face him, gaze like burning coals searing us together. "Never take those pretty fucking eyes off me, got it?"

I love a retelling, especially one that has its own unique spin on the story. And an Alice in Wonderland retelling? Yes, please and thank you. I loved the author's spin on this story. I'll be honest, while I loved the premise in the series, I didn't wholly love the first book. It was entertaining, but was just missing a little something for me. But this one hit the spot for me in a way I wish the first book did.

I'm wholly obsessed with these Fury brothers. These men are absolutely feral; possessive and obsessive in the way that just hits so good. And Hatton Fury? This man was everything I love in an MMC. Is he dangerous but soft only for her? Yes. Is he so obsessed with Lucy that he follows her after she runs away from home, only so he could protect her while knowing he can never be with her? Yes and be still my heart.

He finally tracks Lucy down as she hides under a different persona in a club that runs on secrets and bets. I loved the unique world that was created in this book and the introduction of some new characters like X, who I fell so hard for as a secondary character, but I digress.

Hatton may have been promised Lucy in marriage through a bet that none of the fathers thought would ever come to be. But he knows that he can't have her and that's not what drives him. He just wants to keep her safe and I just loved that about him. The slow burn on this story was absolutely delicious. I also loved the twists and turns, especially on Lucy's history.

I will say that the pacing of the story was a bit off, which made the story drag in some parts. It felt a touch too long for what was needed, and I found myself getting easily distracted from 20-70%. At the 70% mark, the story really took off, and I was all in. The romance was fantastic, though I do wish we got to see more of Hatton and Lucy together. As much as I loved the build up, I also found myself wishing for more of them together. But it worked for the story so I can't complain too much.

This was an an action packed ride with a splash of sizzling romance and plenty of unhinged MMC vibes to hit the spot.

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

Find me on:

[Natalie 💞 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advance reader copy :)

••••••••••

I had the absolute pleasure in being an arc reader for this book!

⭐️: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

•••••••••••


First things first, I love Alice in wonderland. It’s my favorite vibe, dystopian world, and I love the mad hatter along with other characters. I always was on the search for any books inspired by wonderland and I’m so glad I’ve came across this book. I didn’t realize it was a series and that there was a book before this. However, I am glad I looked into it because now I can’t wait to read the first book and the rest of the series when it all comes out! :)

I really liked how all the characters had their own aesthetic and persona to them. Hatton is obviously my man, my man, my mannnn! Lucy (Alice) my sweetie, I’m glad she was more than what anyone would think she is. Even a villain character such as Castle had me on edge because he was such a hate and love character. Maybe it’s due to the fact that I love complex characters so I really resonated with this story. A little toxic side in me lowkey wants Castle to have a book too but I’m also scared that more into the series he’ll be even worse. Or maybe he’ll be an antihero character where he’s just that sarcastic a-shole that rage baits everyone but is actually a complexed sweet guy deep down. Who knows :).

A factor I kept seeing in the book that I really loved was how Hatton was like a dangerous character to everyone but Lucy. I really liked his vulnerable moments and how much he showed it. I think sometimes people tend to forget that dark characters have their soft sides too and it was refreshing to see that for him. His “please” moments and even when there was a scene where he cried for her. Ugh, legendary I swear.

The romance scenes between Hatton and Lucy were so intense and cute at the same time. Everything he did for her had me melting. I really liked her development when it came to her trusting him and becoming a character that ran all the time to finally finding a reason to stay.

I really liked all the small details that connected it to wonderland. I felt like a happy nerd that fully understood all the details and references. I also thought it was so cute how Cheshire was included and they were actually a real cat. It had me wanting to get another cat and naming them chessy.

Another small but repetitive detail I saw was how Lucy (Alice) was also being called the queen of hearts. Which I found pretty interesting because whenever I watched the movies I always thought that Alice really resonated the best with the Queen of hearts and that she really understood who the queen of hearts really was compared to others. So I really loved that detail.

All the plot twists had me actually reacting and feeling so many emotions. Like ahhh I need the next book asap! Like please give it to me Greer, pleaseeee!!!

Overall the story was such an enjoyable read and I really hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did!

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dishearten by Greer Rivers (Frayed Satin, #2)

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Once again, in ‘Dishearten’, we are faced with a novel that requires significant contextual understanding, however, with a complete absence of articulation and narration. Given the gap between the two releases, a little bit of refreshing was needed for loyal readers. Nevertheless, around 20 per cent into the novel, my memory had caught up.

The Troisgarde pact continues, and we experience the questionable love story of Lucy McKennon and Hatton Fury. As told in the first instalment, Lucy has gone missing and has gone zero contact with family and friends. In ‘Dishearten’, we find her at The Rabbit Hole. A place that is somewhat confusing to the reader. Whilst we know that Lucy has committed to sex work at the club, the area surrounding it seems to be somewhat of an island, where she lives on a boat, and everything is within walking distance. Phrases such as the ‘mainland’ exhibit a scenery that is quite intimate and closed off from urban areas. The lack of world-building did inhibit my imagery of the novel, and I did desire more intentionality behind setting up what we come to know as ‘Wander Isle’.

We soon find out that the Rabbit Hole is not an ordinary club, but a sinister venue for big socialite, Castle, to get the wealthy in and their secrets out. Through his private dancers, he uses them as facilitators to retain stock for future blackmail. Unbeknownst to Lucy, she has now become part of his motives and her affluence—one that she attempts to keep hidden from the citizens of Wander Isle—comes back to bite her in the butt. Fortunately, her soulmate, Hatton Fury, has found her, and by keeping his identity hidden as the ‘Hatter’, he attempts to maintain a platonic relationship with her. In the time when the hidden identity trope is alive, their relationship is at its peak. Their intimate moments almost feel like a privilege, where we as readers are omniscient in the Rabbit Hole world.

Greer Rivers has an excellent pen throughout this novel, where she can maintain maturity and distinct voices persistently. Respective POVs exhibit contrasting emotions, and with plenty of disillusionment within the plot, she somehow maintains a strong dialogue without making the audience further confused. With the novel being an Alice in Wonderland dark retelling, there are elements of fantasy and delusion that are intertwined with reality. And unfortunately, it’s not always clear from what perspective we are getting. I occasionally found the narration difficult to understand, or hard to define whether we were experiencing Lucy and Hatton, or Alice and the Hatter. After realising that Castle himself has his clients take ’Smoke’ to inhibit their consciousness, I wonder if the fantasy-reality writing was a deliberate choice by Greer Rivers. Nonetheless, it did cause confusion at times.

The whole reading experience is quite unsettling in this novel. The audience doesn’t receive any comfort or reverie throughout the novel. Yet this is not the fault of the author’s writing style, but more on the plot she has created. Moments between Lucy and Hatter in her boat home are one of the few escapes readers receive. Their conversations are quite genuine, and despite the revelations of trauma, I did find humour and camaraderie built between the two.

‘Dishearten’ is a tumultuous plot, filled with plenty of twists and turns. At the outset, the audience almost feels omniscient in what is occurring on Wander Isle. However, we soon find that Castle is always a step ahead, and we become puppets to his master plan of gambling and secrets. The second instalment is very well written and has a plot that will keep anyone on their toes.

[Sharon Olding-Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touch her and die!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this advance copy. All the thoughts are my own.

Dishearten is a dark romance with an Alice in Wonderland reimagining full of hidden identities, arranged marriage, enemies to friends and then lovers, possessive protection, and plenty of "touch her and die" vibes that easily had me sucked into the book. Granted this is the second book in the Frayed Satin series. However, it is written so well that if you haven’t read the first book you will totally be able to understand everything going on.

The book begins with the FMC, "Alice" fleeing her home and life to protect her family and to escape an arrangement made long before she was born. Her father and prominent family had an agreement that promised their future children would marry, but "Alice" refuses to accept a life that was chosen for her. Believing she's protecting both herself and her family, she disappears, traveling from place to place and leaving behind a playing card at every stop hoping someone would come and “save” her before eventually settling on Wander Island.

What "Alice" doesn't realize is that "Hatter", the man she was promised to, has quietly been following her all along, not to force her into the arrangement, but to protect her. As more dangerous enemies emerge with far bigger plans for "Alice" as she and "Hatter" are pulled into a fight for survival. While "Alice" struggles to see her own worth and begins to question if she should even live, "Hatter" is determined to protect her even if it means ending others.

I really enjoyed this book overall. The romance, the protective hero, and the Alice in Wonderland connection made for an enjoyable and engaging read. I also appreciated that all of the questions I had throughout the story were answered by the end, so I never felt confused or left feeling like things were left unfinished. I love when books give me closure.

I will say there were parts of the story that felt a little predictable, which occasionally made it harder for me to keep reading. It wasn't because I wasn't enjoying the book because I absolutely was, but I found myself anticipating several of the twists before they happened. Even so, I was invested enough to keep turning the pages because who doesn't love watching enemies become lovers? Not to mention, I LOVE Alice and Wonderland, so that alone gave me the desire to watch the story unfold.

I do encourage you to check the trigger warnings prior to reading.

This is definitely a book to put on your TBR. This book will have you hoping that you have a Hatter in your life.

[MandysBookish Mind · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first few chapters took me a little while to settle into because it had been long enough since I read Unveil that I had forgotten some of the connections between the characters and families. As those memories came back, everything started falling into place, and I found myself completely invested again.

Lucy was such an easy character to love. She's incredibly innocent despite everything she's been through, and her decision to run away, believing it was the best way to protect everyone else, says so much about who she is. I was fascinated by the life she managed to build for herself. At first, her working as a stripper felt surprising given her personality, but as we learned more about her boundaries and why she avoided the VIP rooms, it all made perfect sense.

And then there's Hatton. He might be one of the most beautifully broken characters in this series. He follows Lucy because he wants to protect her, but he never tries to control her. Even when every instinct tells him to keep her close, he respects her choices, and I loved that about him. As more layers of Lucy's story were uncovered, you could almost feel Hatton's heart breaking for everything she'd endured. His protectiveness wasn't about possession, it was the purest form of care, and it made him impossible not to love.

One of my favorite parts of their relationship was the conversations they shared. They were constantly balancing truth with secrets, honesty with caution. Neither of them was ready to fully trust, yet they continually gave each other pieces of themselves. Watching that trust slowly build made their relationship feel genuine and well-earned.

And when they finally gave in to the chemistry between them... Greer absolutely delivered. The connection wasn't rushed. The emotional bond came first, making every intimate moment feel earned rather than expected. But once those walls came down? Greer knows exactly how to write spice. Every scene felt like a natural extension of their relationship and carried just as much emotion as passion.

The pacing also worked well for me. It never felt rushed, but it also never dragged. Every chapter added another layer to the larger story, and I loved seeing how each character, and each revelation connected together into something much bigger than I expected.

I'll admit it took me an embarrassingly long time to connect some of the characters to their Alice in Wonderland counterparts. I had a general idea of where everyone fit, but I'm not always great at picking up on implied connections. By the end, I appreciated the Wonderland parallels even more than I did at the beginning, and I'm completely invested in seeing where Greer takes this series next. I received this as an ARC and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

I’m not good, and I’m sure as hell not patient. This is fast for you. But for me? It’s been a g*****n eternity.

[A. Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Frayed Satin series. This series is best read in order but could be standalones. If read out of order there will be secrets revealed. I did have a hard time remembering some of the specific details from the first book. Each book is about a new couple.

I liked the whole vibe of Alice in Wonderland at The Hole. There were certainly some interesting characters there. I could imagine the smoke hanging thick in the air making people lose their inhibitions. Castle is a character I wanted to know more about. I enjoyed that Lucy lived on a houseboat. I liked the cats being pampered pets. I liked the way Greer Rivers breaks the novel up into acts. That's a little nod to her previous novels.

Obviously, our characters are going to have to deal in the real world again. I mean they can't stay Alice and Hatter forever because that's not their real identities. Lucy and Hatch are the real characters. Alice and Hatter are the versions that's portrayed through the majority of this book. Alice and Hatter are what they wish they could be all the time. I do feel Lucy really struggled with being Lucy and Alice. Hatter was far closer to Hatch's real persona. Lucy really did evolve by the end of the novel. Lucy went from a pampered princess to a queen.

I have a few complaints. First, for a lengthy novel that takes place in a brothel, there aren't very many spicy scenes. I expected far more spice. Hatch has a wild and crazy personality that could've been played up more. Essentially since Hatch is supposed to be the black sheep of his family and that didn't really translate into his character. Lucy wasn't a very interesting character especially compared to other characters written by Greer Rivers. I wanted more from Lucy. The only thing that made Lucy's character interesting is what happened when she was younger.

I am really looking forward to the next novel. I think it will be the darkest story told so far. The setting will be a sanitorium. One of the characters was hidden there. There's a connection between the sanitorium and the spice or smoke in this novel.


I received an ARC of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

[A reading pigeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read this as an ARC in return for an honest review:)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5

☆ Alice In Wonderland Retelling
☆ Secret Identity
☆ Stalker Romance
☆ He Falls First
☆ Scarred Hero
☆ Masked Man
~~~~~~~
MRS RIVERS HAS DONE IT AGAIN!!! I am loving these second generation books! Phantom with Unveil was amazing, and Rouge with this one was amazing! And I cannot WAIT to see what the third book brings, because that ending was… lets just say a little insane… 🤭 But seriously, I love the Appalachia setting with the southern gothic vibe. It matches the families and the stories so well. A setting can make or break a book in my opinion, and this setting MADE this book! THE PLOT OH MY GOD! I loved everything that was hinted at Alice and Wonderland. The costumes, the places, the alias that Lucy used, and the room names! Such a good choice! And never in my 20 or so years of living have I ever even thought about living on a small house boat. GIVE ME ONE NOW!

Oh boy… Hatton and Lucy, Lucy and Hatton 😅 When I first started reading and I found out his name was Hatton I freaked out a little lmao I messaged Mrs. Rivers because Hatton is a family name and I was surprised because I have never seen that name in a book before!! It was fun to read and it helped that he went by Hatter most of the time 😂 (also, we love an allergy rep 💅 I too am deathly allergic to cats, so I completely understand the struggle 😭) And Lucy, sweet Lucy! She has such an empathic personality. She puts others before herself, and wants to see everyone succeed. Sometimes she puts herself in danger for the people she loves, but the right people help her find her place again. And her place is where she feels safe and loved. These two also had such great chemistry from the start!

I rated this a 2.5/5 on the spice scale. This story included open door sexual scenes between main characters that were just amazing hehehehe last chapter really had me going omggggg its every book girly’s DREAM to have a boyfriend like Hatton!

This book was awesome, and I seriously love everything that Mrs. Rivers puts out. Thank you again for the wonderful opportunity!!

[Brianne C · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Greer Rivers drops a new book, I'm already running to preorder it for my kindle BUT the second installment of the Frayed Satin series that is an Alice in Wonderland dark romance retelling?! I'm preordering before anymore details are released and this book DELIVERED on so many levels and ladies and gents; I give you "Dishearten".

Greer gave any girl who loves Dark Romance, a rabbit hole of twisted with so many secrets another way to understand what the meaning of a retelling really means and with Lucy and Hatch; hands down my favorite couple from her entire catalog of books. He becomes not only her villian, her protector at all means, the only sort of peace he finds in the darkness of their world that he can gamble everything as long as its his fiance, Lucy at the end of the path in the prickly rose garden which in returns has her jumping into his fairytale of love.

The twist and turns of "Dishearten" make you comtinue reading the 600+ pages until you get to the end and sit back and reflect of how well she slayed another retelling. As someone who understands Alice In Wonderland unlike many others, the ideology and plot she build is unlike any other retelling I have ever read and this will officially take the #1 spot of best romance retellings I have ever read. Each character like AIW, in "Dishearten" have their own character development and build out for a reason and it was easy for me to navaigate and any new reader will be able too aswell.

And lets talk about the last few chapters and the extended epilogue, it was written to make you wonder and leave you wanting the next book based on who the MMC will be and its going to definitely sprinkle more of our favorites from this series so make sure to snag it and add to your TBR today!

If your vibe is..
🗝Arranged marriage
🎩Masked stalker
🗝Forced proximity
🎩Touch her and die
🗝Hidden identity
🎩Southern Gothic Underground
🗝Villain gets the girl
..then its time you go down the rabbit hole and add Lucy and Hatch's story to your TBR!

[Camryn Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

۶ৎ 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙍𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨

#arcreview

ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★


Tropes- arranged marriage, southern gothic dark romance, on the run fmc, hidden identity, stalker mmc

—

Another Greer banger book! I am loving these next gen books so far and I can’t wait for the next one cause that ending was absolutely crazy and I know it’s gonna eat. This book was so freaking good but I already knew it was going to be because of the snippets that I’ve read but I was freaking hooked this book kept pulling me into all different places, I was lovinggg it

Lucy THE WOMAN YOU AREEE. Oh how I love her so much she reminds me of her mom so much honestly. Lucy has been on the run for the past 6 months after finding out that her dad made a deal about her getting married to a fury before she was even born. She is now on an island working as a stripper and laying low. My heart broke for her when I found out about the stuff she went through and how she held it all in like that’s my girllll

The chemistry between Hatton and Lucy is so amazing ugh I just love them and plus they both so hot together. One thing about Hatton he’s gonna chase his girl and has been for months he just knows they’re meant to be together.

Hatton Fury has known for a long time who his bride would be and so he tried to stay away but he just couldn’t especially after she ran away and he just had to chase her cause he’s been down bad for her and as he should be lol. I actually love Hatton he’s so amazing and he literally took Lucy cat with him while trying to find her even though he’s allergic like my heart just swoon for him

Their development in this book is everything and seeing them be open and honest with each other had me feeling good because you can just tell they’re so special together and love each other the way they both deserve. The plot and twists in this book was definitely something and I loved how it was done.

GIVE ME BOOK 3 nowwww cause I am ready



Thank You So Much for giving me this incredible arc !💐🖤

[Lyndsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW: HOLY FREAKING WOW! I was absolutely not expecting the direction this book would take but I ate every page of it up. All 650 of them. That’s right, this one’s a hefty one and I’m so glad it was! Getting to read Lucy and Hatch’s story in such a detailed way and not feeling rushed whatsoever was perfection. Also the slow burn between them? So freaking good. Add in Hatch’s humor and possessiveness, their banter, and the twists and turns this book takes and you’ve got a recipe for a book I can’t put down unless I have to. I love a good masked, obsessive, dangerous, even stalker-ish man, and the fact that no real names are used in The Rabbit Hole just adds a whole new layer to everything. Lucy, aka Alice, is definitely living in a wonderland of sorts after she ran away, but reality is coming and it’s coming dang fast. Especially since Hatch, aka Hatter, can’t stay away. And since they’re masked you just know that moment of realization is coming, but even that was done so well. I don’t want to spoil it, but let’s just say it’s not some massive third act breakup in the making which is why I loved how it was handled. Not saying they have a perfect relationship of course, but who could in their situation?? I also always love getting to see the parents in these second gen books, and man you get to see a ton of Kian in this one! (and a little bit of Lacey too of course!) That said, this is book two of this second gen series, and while it’s very different from Unveil and still can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading Unveil (and Rouge really) first to understand all the eggs, history, and the backstory on the marriage pact between the Fury’s and the Troisgarde. I’m genuinely so sad to be done with this one and having to leave this world again, and I could talk for days about this book alone, but I must venture on. On to the next book!

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so unfortunately I didn’t like this one as much as the first.

The author released the book and then took it off Kindle unlimited and then put it back on again because she uploaded the wrong manuscript. So I returned to library and then re-downloaded it again. So I don’t know if I read the wrong version but there were multiple errors. As well as repetitive lines. In more than one instance she said almost the exact same thing a few lines later.

Not going to lie I don’t think I really vibed with the whole Rabbit Hole story line, not really my thing.

This being the third book I have read by this author. I go back to my original statement from the first book that I read from her and that is that her characters seem to make really dumb choices sometimes.

It’s obvious from the start that Castle is a bad dude. Also Hatch is supposed to be playing it lowkey but does the complete opposite. Duchess who knows her family can’t be trusted takes their word over just confiding in Lucy and asking her for help. Like come on people, let’s think about things.


I did really like Hatch as a character. Lucy was okay, I didn’t feel that strong of an emotional connection between the two of them either, more from Hatch’s side than anything.


Also family is supposed to be a huge element of these books, and especially the relationship between the troisgarde daughters. Yet Lucy runs away to protect her best friends yet doesn’t wait to talk to Luna to see that she is in love with Orion and safe, then again once she discovers that Brylie is “dead” (so obviously not) you would think she would talk to Luna since they are all so close. But nothing, crickets. That is the part that makes the least sense to me, like what is going on here.

Anyway I actually loved book one and the fury brothers are actually amazing so I will read the next one, but yeah this book wasn’t really for me.