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Pulse Zero
There are moments when everything stops.
A breath. A heartbeat.
Even when it feels like an ending, it isn’t. It’s not a beginning either. It’s something narrower, a precise point in time. It’s a transition, a reconfiguration. The space between one pulse and the next. The point where one part of your life collapses inward and converges with the one to come.
That’s what happens to me the day I’m taken. Turns out, being Cason Bellrose comes with consequences no one bothered to mention.
But then the man who stole me is ripped away. Reese Morgan. His name still tastes like something unfinished.
Years later, I’m still chasing truth, closure, tearing through shadows that don’t want to be found. Whatever will help me move on. And the deeper I go, the more I become tangled in things I don’t understand.
Life changes people. But so does death.
If there’s something waiting for me in the dark, I’ll find it. Even if it means stepping into that space between one pulse and the next.
And not coming back the same.
Pulse Zero is a dark MM romance with toxic, obsessive supervillains and a hard-fought HEA. It's a spin-off of the Echoes duet but can be read as a standalone. Specific content warnings can be found on the author’s website.
A breath. A heartbeat.
Even when it feels like an ending, it isn’t. It’s not a beginning either. It’s something narrower, a precise point in time. It’s a transition, a reconfiguration. The space between one pulse and the next. The point where one part of your life collapses inward and converges with the one to come.
That’s what happens to me the day I’m taken. Turns out, being Cason Bellrose comes with consequences no one bothered to mention.
But then the man who stole me is ripped away. Reese Morgan. His name still tastes like something unfinished.
Years later, I’m still chasing truth, closure, tearing through shadows that don’t want to be found. Whatever will help me move on. And the deeper I go, the more I become tangled in things I don’t understand.
Life changes people. But so does death.
If there’s something waiting for me in the dark, I’ll find it. Even if it means stepping into that space between one pulse and the next.
And not coming back the same.
Pulse Zero is a dark MM romance with toxic, obsessive supervillains and a hard-fought HEA. It's a spin-off of the Echoes duet but can be read as a standalone. Specific content warnings can be found on the author’s website.
461 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2026
About the author
River Hale
10 books487 followersRiver Hale is a pseudonym, created because her mother once told her that she'll read everything she ever writes. She's a writer with a tea addiction and a love for everything dark, twisted, haunted, and beautiful. She's written and published more appropriate books that her mother is allowed to read under her real name, but she'll always have a special place in her heart for dark romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 26, 2026
6⭐️
I beta read this amazing book!!!!
HOLYYYYY mother of pearls i cant even think this was suchhhh a good book, THIS WAS SOOOO SOOOOO INMARKABLY GOOOD I AM IN SHAMBLES, WRECKED BY A PHENOMEL BOOK.
CASON AND REESE MY BELOVED BOYS. i love these men so much. The way it stated off by the kidnapping and it went crazy after that. I knew i would fall in love with them, and i was so right, i was so drawn to both of these men the way that cason loves his family, the way he cares, the way he is so hurting and yearning for love and affection adn when he meets reese his world legit crumbles and its history after that.
Reese his whole character lord i love this mann he really became one of my favorites the way he was so hot, so caring, so down bad for cason but most of yall he yearned for the same love and affection that cason was yearning for.
I wasn’t EXPECTING THIS BOOK AT ALLLLL (in the best way possible). Those plot twists that were plotted throughout i was left staring at the wall almost screaming. BECAUSE WHAT DO MEAN I WAS GAGGED. I started crying cause i was like oh god what just happened, not een the wall staring saved me from that.
However this book really picked up at a certain point it was already one that i read so fast but at a point i legit devoured the pages like I was hungry and boy was I hungry to read about cason and reese cause these men are so hot so much tension, so much yearning, so much worshiping of each other like call me obsessed like reese was of cason cause I was locked in and they have become such a piece of me. This whole book is apart of me in a way .
I was captivated from the very start, I became simple in awe of how the story progressed, how it flowedd so well how it left me speahcles and how it left me crying my eyes out like a baby cause thse men are soooooooooo cute but my broken boys yearning for a better life and ughhh i
River hale has done it again with another masterpiece, one thing to note is that if river hale releases a new book you ebttter pick that book up becauws you never know what to expect even while reading your on edge and boy was i on the edge of my seat throughout, this is simply so good and im so glad i became a beta reader because this book is one to watch out for.
I beta read this amazing book!!!!
HOLYYYYY mother of pearls i cant even think this was suchhhh a good book, THIS WAS SOOOO SOOOOO INMARKABLY GOOOD I AM IN SHAMBLES, WRECKED BY A PHENOMEL BOOK.
CASON AND REESE MY BELOVED BOYS. i love these men so much. The way it stated off by the kidnapping and it went crazy after that. I knew i would fall in love with them, and i was so right, i was so drawn to both of these men the way that cason loves his family, the way he cares, the way he is so hurting and yearning for love and affection adn when he meets reese his world legit crumbles and its history after that.
Reese his whole character lord i love this mann he really became one of my favorites the way he was so hot, so caring, so down bad for cason but most of yall he yearned for the same love and affection that cason was yearning for.
I wasn’t EXPECTING THIS BOOK AT ALLLLL (in the best way possible). Those plot twists that were plotted throughout i was left staring at the wall almost screaming. BECAUSE WHAT DO MEAN I WAS GAGGED. I started crying cause i was like oh god what just happened, not een the wall staring saved me from that.
However this book really picked up at a certain point it was already one that i read so fast but at a point i legit devoured the pages like I was hungry and boy was I hungry to read about cason and reese cause these men are so hot so much tension, so much yearning, so much worshiping of each other like call me obsessed like reese was of cason cause I was locked in and they have become such a piece of me. This whole book is apart of me in a way .
I was captivated from the very start, I became simple in awe of how the story progressed, how it flowedd so well how it left me speahcles and how it left me crying my eyes out like a baby cause thse men are soooooooooo cute but my broken boys yearning for a better life and ughhh i
River hale has done it again with another masterpiece, one thing to note is that if river hale releases a new book you ebttter pick that book up becauws you never know what to expect even while reading your on edge and boy was i on the edge of my seat throughout, this is simply so good and im so glad i became a beta reader because this book is one to watch out for.
June 19, 2026
Oh man. This was a WILD ride!!! The suspense was literally killing me!!
Reese Morgan and Cason Bellrose are the fucking definition of Ride or Die (or Ride AND Die 🤣 I crack myself up). But for real, they were intense as hell. The days they spent together in the basement as captor and captive was the best 25 days OF MY LIFEEEEE. 0mg. This could have been 500 pages of gun play and shower sex and I would have been totally fine with it.
Just kidding.
Kind of.
The years long build up to their relationship was heartbreaking and I will never get over all the lost time. But the emotional punch you get hit with when they finally reunite wasEVERYTHING I could have ever hoped for.
Case was such a fun character. His personality had me laughing and crying at the same time. His snarky sarcasm had me dying! Cason and Reese were complete opposites in that aspect. Reese is serious ALL THE TIME and Cason is... Cason 🤣You'll see.
Cason was so easy to fall in love with. And Reese... I mean, I'd get stuck in that basement with him ANY DAY. Like, Stockholm Syndrome me Daddy!! He's probably the sexiest man alive-ish. Right? Where's people magazine when you need em?
They were SO SO SO perfect for each other.
Pule Zero was emotional and action packed. The supernatural element was a huge surprise. The world building was FIRE! The plot twists were insane! Just when you think you know where the story is going, BOOM, twisted!
Reese Morgan and Cason Bellrose are the fucking definition of Ride or Die (or Ride AND Die 🤣 I crack myself up). But for real, they were intense as hell. The days they spent together in the basement as captor and captive was the best 25 days OF MY LIFEEEEE. 0mg. This could have been 500 pages of gun play and shower sex and I would have been totally fine with it.
Just kidding.
Kind of.
The years long build up to their relationship was heartbreaking and I will never get over all the lost time. But the emotional punch you get hit with when they finally reunite wasEVERYTHING I could have ever hoped for.
Case was such a fun character. His personality had me laughing and crying at the same time. His snarky sarcasm had me dying! Cason and Reese were complete opposites in that aspect. Reese is serious ALL THE TIME and Cason is... Cason 🤣You'll see.
Cason was so easy to fall in love with. And Reese... I mean, I'd get stuck in that basement with him ANY DAY. Like, Stockholm Syndrome me Daddy!! He's probably the sexiest man alive-ish. Right? Where's people magazine when you need em?
They were SO SO SO perfect for each other.
Pule Zero was emotional and action packed. The supernatural element was a huge surprise. The world building was FIRE! The plot twists were insane! Just when you think you know where the story is going, BOOM, twisted!
June 28, 2026
Okay…WOW! That was a hell of a ride! This is such a unique story, very super science Villian, futuristic, matrix type stuff. The relationship between Cason and Reese is ON FIRE. I love that this story is told between the past and the present, SHOWING us the build up between them and the terrible things they went through while apart instead of just telling us about them. This story is emotional and a little painful, with a hard-earned HEA. The pacing was perfect. It was the perfect amount of emotion and angst plus the perfect amount of time where we see them together as a couple. Reese is my new favorite shadow daddy EVER. 🥵🔥🔥🔥🔥 These two together were amazing! Love the cast of side characters and of course Felix the cat!
I don’t believe you’d need to read the Echoes duet to enjoy this book (this is a spin off from that world with appearances from those main characters) but you should because those books are equally unique and exciting! It adds a lot of depth, I think, to have experienced those books too.
I don’t believe you’d need to read the Echoes duet to enjoy this book (this is a spin off from that world with appearances from those main characters) but you should because those books are equally unique and exciting! It adds a lot of depth, I think, to have experienced those books too.
June 28, 2026
I wasn't prepared for this. 😭😭💙 It was everything I didn't know I needed 🥹🥹🥹
June 26, 2026
ARC Review!
Came for the Captive/Captor trope, stayed for the Shadow Daddy and his bratty Menace. 😮💨
This book was not what I was expecting and all I can say is go in blind and I'll see you on the other end friend! Every surprise, twist and turn had me shook, screaming at my only other friend who had also read it, and rushing to the finish line because I could not put it down. Now I wish I would have savored it because what do you mean it's over 😩
If you are looking for something different and unique, something with mystery and suspense, something with freaky spice that will have you lookin at shadows in a whole new light 🫠, look no further, you have arrived at your destination 🙂↕️
Cason is the a tech whiz nephew of a billionaire whom finds himself kidnapped and held for ransom. Cason isn't above taking any advantage even if it means trying to seduce his "totally straight" captor. Cason is one of the funniest MC's in existence and Reece is not as immune to his charms as he would like.
Things do not go as planned for either of them. People are hurt. Questions go unanswered. And nothing is as it appears.
I won't say more because I don't want to give away any more of the plot, just trust me, this is your next favorite read. I've never been more confident, run don't walk besties 🏃♀️
Other Tropes you may be interested in:
😈 fighting as foreplay
😈 slutty shadows
😈 bi-awakening
😈 stockholming
😈 gunplay
😈 dubcon
Came for the Captive/Captor trope, stayed for the Shadow Daddy and his bratty Menace. 😮💨
This book was not what I was expecting and all I can say is go in blind and I'll see you on the other end friend! Every surprise, twist and turn had me shook, screaming at my only other friend who had also read it, and rushing to the finish line because I could not put it down. Now I wish I would have savored it because what do you mean it's over 😩
If you are looking for something different and unique, something with mystery and suspense, something with freaky spice that will have you lookin at shadows in a whole new light 🫠, look no further, you have arrived at your destination 🙂↕️
Cason is the a tech whiz nephew of a billionaire whom finds himself kidnapped and held for ransom. Cason isn't above taking any advantage even if it means trying to seduce his "totally straight" captor. Cason is one of the funniest MC's in existence and Reece is not as immune to his charms as he would like.
Things do not go as planned for either of them. People are hurt. Questions go unanswered. And nothing is as it appears.
I won't say more because I don't want to give away any more of the plot, just trust me, this is your next favorite read. I've never been more confident, run don't walk besties 🏃♀️
Other Tropes you may be interested in:
😈 fighting as foreplay
😈 slutty shadows
😈 bi-awakening
😈 stockholming
😈 gunplay
😈 dubcon
June 16, 2026
Cason + Reese
-mm romance
-enemies to lovers
-hacker x mercenary
-kidnapping
-stockholm syndrome (thats really just pining)
-shadow daddy
-toxic, obsessive supervillains
-dubcon/cnc
-age gap
-bi awakening
-gun, breath, + fear play
as always...river really fucked us in the big ol ass with his one & really it was just PERFECTTTT!! holy shit i did no expect that kind of twist coming even after everything we experienced with harrison & lane in echoes....but like still it was so unique & these crazy psychos were sooo down bad & absolutely everything!!
-mm romance
-enemies to lovers
-hacker x mercenary
-kidnapping
-stockholm syndrome (thats really just pining)
-shadow daddy
-toxic, obsessive supervillains
-dubcon/cnc
-age gap
-bi awakening
-gun, breath, + fear play
as always...river really fucked us in the big ol ass with his one & really it was just PERFECTTTT!! holy shit i did no expect that kind of twist coming even after everything we experienced with harrison & lane in echoes....but like still it was so unique & these crazy psychos were sooo down bad & absolutely everything!!
June 21, 2026
First of all thank you to River for this ARC!
This book completely blew me away!
I was transfixed from the start and then it held me like a vise grip and would not let go! I also think this was the most I highlighted in a book…👀
Cason and Reese. The chemistry between them was electric and consuming and while I don’t want to give too much away let’s just say that River’s writing is beautiful and I knew this from “Ricochet” but the way this one was written was truly so powerful. Like I can’t even put into words how good this book is. Like I’m rendered speechless now that I’m done and trying to process what I just finished. I envisioned a movie while I was reading. I laughed, I cried, I yearned. It truly tugs on every emotion and it’s a journey!
This book completely blew me away!
I was transfixed from the start and then it held me like a vise grip and would not let go! I also think this was the most I highlighted in a book…👀
Cason and Reese. The chemistry between them was electric and consuming and while I don’t want to give too much away let’s just say that River’s writing is beautiful and I knew this from “Ricochet” but the way this one was written was truly so powerful. Like I can’t even put into words how good this book is. Like I’m rendered speechless now that I’m done and trying to process what I just finished. I envisioned a movie while I was reading. I laughed, I cried, I yearned. It truly tugs on every emotion and it’s a journey!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“To those who died a little and lived anyway”
I don’t think I’ve gotten captured within the first sentence before even the prologue, but here we are! I can’t say enough how much I love the deeper theme of this. That we’re all just pieces of time, energy, beats, standstills, strung together one after the other to create our lives. It could stop at any moment, it’s all so fragile. One heartbeat does not guarantee another will follow.
First off, the descriptions are amazing. It’s all there. It gives you the feel, that atmosphere, the texture of the world around you. The sight from the character. River Hale has always been able to plop you down in a world so you can see it for yourself. You know it’s gonna be a rollercoaster.
Second off, I love brats. I don’t think you could get a bigger brat than Cason. Who else have you seen become an even bigger brat when confronted with trials and tribulations and death?! He’s not stupid, he’s not naive, he knows exactly what is happening to him, but his brat button just doesn’t seem to turn off. I do get it’s his shield, his protection, but it made him damn well entertaining. Who doesn’t love their dark romances sprinkled with a little (okay, a lot) of Stockholm Syndrome? In fairness, we got Stockholm syndrome right next to Cason, just as bad!
“A precise point in time, a transition, a reconfiguration, the point where 1 version of me dies on the floor with him and another one stands. The space between one pulse and the next where part of your life collapses and converges with the one to come.” Knowing that nothing will be the same, you will not be the same. What you were is dead and gone, and now you’re something different, forced to move forward with what you now have. “The promise of vengeance was the last thing I had of him, and now I have nothing left.” Wishing a feeling could be extracted, wishing to be free. These chapters made me FEEL deeply, my god, as confused and heartbroken as Case. This is such great writing, especially these chapters. He’s such a great MC with dry, self deprecating humor. You definitely laugh at his mischief and inner thoughts. He also gets kidnapped more than Princess Peach! Choke me harder, Daddy had me rolling my ass off! Rock bottom indeed.
Even at around the 35% mark on, I was this mess of laughing, on the verge of tears, and outraged all together. Outraged for both Case and Reese, laughing since Case is who he is, but also registering the pain behind it all. It’s one of those books you really don’t notice the spice (though it was good) cuz you’re so engrossed in the plot. The possessiveness, the yearning, love stretching beyond life and breath and understanding. It’s a 5 star read if I ever read one!
“He who fights monsters might take care lest he become a monster
Ever since the day Reese Morgan stole me, I’ve only ever burned for him
I meant erase every part of you that thinks it can exist without me”
This ended up being one of my favorite reads this year.
I don’t think I’ve gotten captured within the first sentence before even the prologue, but here we are! I can’t say enough how much I love the deeper theme of this. That we’re all just pieces of time, energy, beats, standstills, strung together one after the other to create our lives. It could stop at any moment, it’s all so fragile. One heartbeat does not guarantee another will follow.
First off, the descriptions are amazing. It’s all there. It gives you the feel, that atmosphere, the texture of the world around you. The sight from the character. River Hale has always been able to plop you down in a world so you can see it for yourself. You know it’s gonna be a rollercoaster.
Second off, I love brats. I don’t think you could get a bigger brat than Cason. Who else have you seen become an even bigger brat when confronted with trials and tribulations and death?! He’s not stupid, he’s not naive, he knows exactly what is happening to him, but his brat button just doesn’t seem to turn off. I do get it’s his shield, his protection, but it made him damn well entertaining. Who doesn’t love their dark romances sprinkled with a little (okay, a lot) of Stockholm Syndrome? In fairness, we got Stockholm syndrome right next to Cason, just as bad!
“A precise point in time, a transition, a reconfiguration, the point where 1 version of me dies on the floor with him and another one stands. The space between one pulse and the next where part of your life collapses and converges with the one to come.” Knowing that nothing will be the same, you will not be the same. What you were is dead and gone, and now you’re something different, forced to move forward with what you now have. “The promise of vengeance was the last thing I had of him, and now I have nothing left.” Wishing a feeling could be extracted, wishing to be free. These chapters made me FEEL deeply, my god, as confused and heartbroken as Case. This is such great writing, especially these chapters. He’s such a great MC with dry, self deprecating humor. You definitely laugh at his mischief and inner thoughts. He also gets kidnapped more than Princess Peach! Choke me harder, Daddy had me rolling my ass off! Rock bottom indeed.
Even at around the 35% mark on, I was this mess of laughing, on the verge of tears, and outraged all together. Outraged for both Case and Reese, laughing since Case is who he is, but also registering the pain behind it all. It’s one of those books you really don’t notice the spice (though it was good) cuz you’re so engrossed in the plot. The possessiveness, the yearning, love stretching beyond life and breath and understanding. It’s a 5 star read if I ever read one!
“He who fights monsters might take care lest he become a monster
Ever since the day Reese Morgan stole me, I’ve only ever burned for him
I meant erase every part of you that thinks it can exist without me”
This ended up being one of my favorite reads this year.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Cason is 22 years old, working part-time at the company his father and uncle built, drifting through life without any real direction or purpose.
Reese is fourteen years older, a mercenary hired to kidnap Cason. What begins as a terrifying captivity turns into something neither of them expected. Over the course of 25 days, walls come down, trust develops, and feelings begin to grow between them. Then everything falls apart. Cason is rescued, Reese is shot, and everyone believes him to be dead.
Four years later, Cason is still haunted by Reese's supposed death. Consumed by grief and anger, he creates a program capable of launching a devastating cyberattack against the people he believes were responsible for Reese's murder. Even after succeeding, he finds no peace. He remains stuck, unable to move forward with his life.
Three years after that, the impossible happens—Cason is kidnapped again. Even more shocking is discovering that his captor is Reese, very much alive.
But Reese is no longer the man Cason remembers.
After dying and being brought back to life, Reese has Ascended, gaining extraordinary abilities that allow him to control living shadows. He uses these powers to interrogate and torment Cason, believing him responsible for exposing and endangering others like him. The targets of Cason's cyberattack were fellow Ascended hiding from the man responsible for creating them all: Cason's uncle, a ruthless man determined to build an army of superhumans at any cost.
As secrets unravel, Reese and Cason realize that the feelings they developed seven years earlier never truly disappeared. When Cason himself dies and Ascends, the connection between them reignites with even greater intensity. Together, alongside other Ascended, they begin plotting revenge against the man responsible for so much pain and suffering.
This book had everything I love—high stakes, action, suspense, supernatural abilities, and a romance so intense it practically jumps off the page. Reese and Cason's relationship is messy, complicated, passionate, and impossible not to root for.
Pulse Zero kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Every time I thought I knew where the story was heading, River Hale threw in another twist that left me desperate to keep reading. The world-building was fascinating, the action scenes were gripping, and the emotional moments hit hard.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys MM romance mixed with science fiction, paranormal elements, and plenty of action. My only complaint is that I'll never get to experience reading it for the first time again.
Again, I received an advanced copy of this book with permission from the other to post a review.
Cason is 22 years old, working part-time at the company his father and uncle built, drifting through life without any real direction or purpose.
Reese is fourteen years older, a mercenary hired to kidnap Cason. What begins as a terrifying captivity turns into something neither of them expected. Over the course of 25 days, walls come down, trust develops, and feelings begin to grow between them. Then everything falls apart. Cason is rescued, Reese is shot, and everyone believes him to be dead.
Four years later, Cason is still haunted by Reese's supposed death. Consumed by grief and anger, he creates a program capable of launching a devastating cyberattack against the people he believes were responsible for Reese's murder. Even after succeeding, he finds no peace. He remains stuck, unable to move forward with his life.
Three years after that, the impossible happens—Cason is kidnapped again. Even more shocking is discovering that his captor is Reese, very much alive.
But Reese is no longer the man Cason remembers.
After dying and being brought back to life, Reese has Ascended, gaining extraordinary abilities that allow him to control living shadows. He uses these powers to interrogate and torment Cason, believing him responsible for exposing and endangering others like him. The targets of Cason's cyberattack were fellow Ascended hiding from the man responsible for creating them all: Cason's uncle, a ruthless man determined to build an army of superhumans at any cost.
As secrets unravel, Reese and Cason realize that the feelings they developed seven years earlier never truly disappeared. When Cason himself dies and Ascends, the connection between them reignites with even greater intensity. Together, alongside other Ascended, they begin plotting revenge against the man responsible for so much pain and suffering.
This book had everything I love—high stakes, action, suspense, supernatural abilities, and a romance so intense it practically jumps off the page. Reese and Cason's relationship is messy, complicated, passionate, and impossible not to root for.
Pulse Zero kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Every time I thought I knew where the story was heading, River Hale threw in another twist that left me desperate to keep reading. The world-building was fascinating, the action scenes were gripping, and the emotional moments hit hard.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys MM romance mixed with science fiction, paranormal elements, and plenty of action. My only complaint is that I'll never get to experience reading it for the first time again.
Again, I received an advanced copy of this book with permission from the other to post a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2026
Survival. Now, it’s something more. This is desperation, a fierce desire for both of us to run away from all our problems.
They started out as captor & captive…
They ended with heartache & lost souls.
And now…Well…Seven years later, the laws of science change everything for them both…
I’ll always be weak for him, but I’m done being weak to him.
This was an eye opener down a rabbit warren that I didn’t see coming!
Straight away you are pulled into the story, Cason Bellrose family & set up with the Bellrose Institute of bioscience. Cason is taken and held captive awaiting to see what his fate will be. What he didn’t expect either, was the drop-dead good looking man who’s holding his freedom in the palm of his hand.
In all of his years as an assassin, Reese has never come across anyone like Cason. Over the short time, the lines between them start to drift into new territory that Reese has never felt before and Cason has awoken a side to him he never knew.
The story soon changes however, going through the years with Cason with him trying to adapt to his new life and unsuccessfully failing. Readers will fall back in time with two characters from Echoes Duet with the story lining up in time and then this story jumps again in the years.
“Hello, little menace.”
This story suddenly changes, taking on a different network, following the current and becoming something hidden in the shadows. I really enjoyed the focus of the story getting to the main part of everything. You needed the first parts to really understand the characters, background and then made for a bigger impact.
I loved both of these characters, Cason & Reese and both were a surprise. They complemented each other really well & a lot happens that you cross your fingers for these two. Oh..and if you’ve ever wondered about gunplay or shadows…then you are in for a treat!
They started out as captor & captive…
They ended with heartache & lost souls.
And now…Well…Seven years later, the laws of science change everything for them both…
I’ll always be weak for him, but I’m done being weak to him.
This was an eye opener down a rabbit warren that I didn’t see coming!
Straight away you are pulled into the story, Cason Bellrose family & set up with the Bellrose Institute of bioscience. Cason is taken and held captive awaiting to see what his fate will be. What he didn’t expect either, was the drop-dead good looking man who’s holding his freedom in the palm of his hand.
In all of his years as an assassin, Reese has never come across anyone like Cason. Over the short time, the lines between them start to drift into new territory that Reese has never felt before and Cason has awoken a side to him he never knew.
The story soon changes however, going through the years with Cason with him trying to adapt to his new life and unsuccessfully failing. Readers will fall back in time with two characters from Echoes Duet with the story lining up in time and then this story jumps again in the years.
“Hello, little menace.”
This story suddenly changes, taking on a different network, following the current and becoming something hidden in the shadows. I really enjoyed the focus of the story getting to the main part of everything. You needed the first parts to really understand the characters, background and then made for a bigger impact.
I loved both of these characters, Cason & Reese and both were a surprise. They complemented each other really well & a lot happens that you cross your fingers for these two. Oh..and if you’ve ever wondered about gunplay or shadows…then you are in for a treat!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a Dark Romance so make sure you check the TWs before heading in! This is also a spin off from River's Echoes Duet...You DO NOT need to read those before this! This story is a stand alone so your good 🖤 This story does have a HEA but man is it hard fought and I will say this is definitely one of the years TOP reads for me!
🌶🌶🌶.5
Guys this story was twisty turney so I'm going to give a very obtuse spoiler free review here..
Cason comes from a very influential family so when he was abducted he actually wasn't as surprised as one might normally be. What was surprising though was that he spent FAR more time then he thought he would trapped in the dungeon basement. Due to this um...extended stay....he also got to know his Captor more then either of them bargained for. Reese is used to quick but thorough jobs so this seemingly normally snatch and pay was a no brainer. Cason is anything BUT normal though and he works his way under Reese's skin like no one has before. All of the warning bells start going off for Reese though when there is no response from his employer OR Cason's Family. Now they both have to make a choice ride this out and hope for the best....or....take a gamble on this connection they are building (no matter how strange it is under the conditions) and scram off together.
What they don't know...is someone already has a whole different set of plans for both of them...
Ok I'm leaving it at that...because seriously just when I think I have one thing figure out we dodged left and it was something completely different
This was amazing/fantastic/incredible! I was glued to the pages, like pulling an all nighter to read because I couldn't put it down. You know how you can just feel when a book is going to be awesome?! That was me with this book I just knew after seeing the Blurb/Tropes it was going to be a good one and it did not disappoint!
🌶🌶🌶.5
Guys this story was twisty turney so I'm going to give a very obtuse spoiler free review here..
Cason comes from a very influential family so when he was abducted he actually wasn't as surprised as one might normally be. What was surprising though was that he spent FAR more time then he thought he would trapped in the dungeon basement. Due to this um...extended stay....he also got to know his Captor more then either of them bargained for. Reese is used to quick but thorough jobs so this seemingly normally snatch and pay was a no brainer. Cason is anything BUT normal though and he works his way under Reese's skin like no one has before. All of the warning bells start going off for Reese though when there is no response from his employer OR Cason's Family. Now they both have to make a choice ride this out and hope for the best....or....take a gamble on this connection they are building (no matter how strange it is under the conditions) and scram off together.
What they don't know...is someone already has a whole different set of plans for both of them...
Ok I'm leaving it at that...because seriously just when I think I have one thing figure out we dodged left and it was something completely different
This was amazing/fantastic/incredible! I was glued to the pages, like pulling an all nighter to read because I couldn't put it down. You know how you can just feel when a book is going to be awesome?! That was me with this book I just knew after seeing the Blurb/Tropes it was going to be a good one and it did not disappoint!
Review of advance copy received from Author
"I don’t know if he’s dead. I don’t know if he’s alive. I don’t know anything except that something in me has broken and rearranged itself around the shape of him."
I love everything River Hale writes and Pulse Zero is no exception. Whilst this one can definitely be read as a standalone, my advice would be to get stuck into the Echoes duet first, starting with Memory Lane and then Echoes of the Past, just to give you the background story arc and to fall in love with Harrison and Lane (who play a strong cameo role in this one).
Then power on with Pulse Zero - and yes, I'm talking about binge-reading all three this weekend - and get your fill of our gorgeous broken pair, Cason and Reese. No spoilers, because you need to dive in and lose yourself to their stories.
What To Expect:
🩷 MM captor romance
💚 age gap
🖤 bi-awakening
🩷 fighting as foreplay
💚 dubcon
🖤 dark themes
🩷 first times
💚 all the steam
🖤 all the angst
🩷 mine
💚 PNR
🖤 second chance
🩷 HEA
Loved it! 4.5 stars rounded up 🌟
I love everything River Hale writes and Pulse Zero is no exception. Whilst this one can definitely be read as a standalone, my advice would be to get stuck into the Echoes duet first, starting with Memory Lane and then Echoes of the Past, just to give you the background story arc and to fall in love with Harrison and Lane (who play a strong cameo role in this one).
Then power on with Pulse Zero - and yes, I'm talking about binge-reading all three this weekend - and get your fill of our gorgeous broken pair, Cason and Reese. No spoilers, because you need to dive in and lose yourself to their stories.
What To Expect:
🩷 MM captor romance
💚 age gap
🖤 bi-awakening
🩷 fighting as foreplay
💚 dubcon
🖤 dark themes
🩷 first times
💚 all the steam
🖤 all the angst
🩷 mine
💚 PNR
🖤 second chance
🩷 HEA
Loved it! 4.5 stars rounded up 🌟
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc Review for Pulse Zero by River Hale. This is a spin off of the Echoes Duet and can be read as a standalone.
This book grabbed my attention because it has some of my favorite tropes and they were written so well. Cason Belrose is a hacker and works at Belrose institute, founded by his uncle and late father which focuses on private research and bioscience. Then he is kidnapped by Reese Morgan and Cason being his green haired brat self doesn’t make it easy on him. Reese is always in control that is until he meets his little menace who gets under his skin like no one ever has before. But then Reese is taken from Cason and years later there complex story continues.
There are so many things I loved about Pulse Zero. The way this was written and split into four parts kept me so intrigued. Cason is one of my favorite brats I’ve had the pleasure of reading about and he was so funny. I highlighted so much in this book. Reese fights his attraction to Cason but when he finally gives in it’s so hott🥵. Captor/captive is always one of my favorite tropes to read about but Cason and Reese turn into so much more. The supervillain aspect was something I absolutely loved. Reese can manipulate shadows. And the other supervillain powers through the story are unique and intriguing. Chapter 38 will live rent free in my head for the foreseeable future….. 🫠. I loved Reese and Cason together their chemistry was so intense and passionate. Both epilogues concluded the story perfectly. I really enjoyed reading this and can’t stress enough how well these tropes were written.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to ARC read Pulse Zero 🫶
This book grabbed my attention because it has some of my favorite tropes and they were written so well. Cason Belrose is a hacker and works at Belrose institute, founded by his uncle and late father which focuses on private research and bioscience. Then he is kidnapped by Reese Morgan and Cason being his green haired brat self doesn’t make it easy on him. Reese is always in control that is until he meets his little menace who gets under his skin like no one ever has before. But then Reese is taken from Cason and years later there complex story continues.
There are so many things I loved about Pulse Zero. The way this was written and split into four parts kept me so intrigued. Cason is one of my favorite brats I’ve had the pleasure of reading about and he was so funny. I highlighted so much in this book. Reese fights his attraction to Cason but when he finally gives in it’s so hott🥵. Captor/captive is always one of my favorite tropes to read about but Cason and Reese turn into so much more. The supervillain aspect was something I absolutely loved. Reese can manipulate shadows. And the other supervillain powers through the story are unique and intriguing. Chapter 38 will live rent free in my head for the foreseeable future….. 🫠. I loved Reese and Cason together their chemistry was so intense and passionate. Both epilogues concluded the story perfectly. I really enjoyed reading this and can’t stress enough how well these tropes were written.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to ARC read Pulse Zero 🫶
June 28, 2026
4.75/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ | 5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Pulse Zero by River Hale is not for the faint of heart. It is a dark, sprawling MM romance that explores the absolute limits of human endurance, psychological abuse, and the terrifying line between protection and monsterhood.
The story follows Cason Bellrose, whose life is irrevocably shattered the day he is taken. His connection to his captor, Reese Morgan, is complex, haunting, and deeply entrenched in the kind of dark obsession that defines the genre. Years later, Cason is still chasing closure, unraveling shadows, and stepping into the dark spaces where life and death converge.
I was absolutely floored by this book. It is a long, grueling journey, and yet I found myself pulling an all-nighter just to reach the finish line. Hale manages to pose a harrowing question: How much cruelty can be justified under the guise of protection before the protector becomes the monster they fear? The trauma Cason endures—seven years of psychological abuse—is handled with a weight that is difficult to process but impossible to look away from. Despite the Stockholm-syndrome dynamics, the HEA is earned with such intensity that it feels like a genuine triumph.
If you have a penchant for the dark and twisted, Pulse Zero is essential reading. It is masterfully written, with scientific elements so well-crafted they almost feel real.
Read the trigger warnings—this is a difficult, beautiful, and devastating story that I would read over and over again.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Pulse Zero by River Hale is not for the faint of heart. It is a dark, sprawling MM romance that explores the absolute limits of human endurance, psychological abuse, and the terrifying line between protection and monsterhood.
The story follows Cason Bellrose, whose life is irrevocably shattered the day he is taken. His connection to his captor, Reese Morgan, is complex, haunting, and deeply entrenched in the kind of dark obsession that defines the genre. Years later, Cason is still chasing closure, unraveling shadows, and stepping into the dark spaces where life and death converge.
I was absolutely floored by this book. It is a long, grueling journey, and yet I found myself pulling an all-nighter just to reach the finish line. Hale manages to pose a harrowing question: How much cruelty can be justified under the guise of protection before the protector becomes the monster they fear? The trauma Cason endures—seven years of psychological abuse—is handled with a weight that is difficult to process but impossible to look away from. Despite the Stockholm-syndrome dynamics, the HEA is earned with such intensity that it feels like a genuine triumph.
If you have a penchant for the dark and twisted, Pulse Zero is essential reading. It is masterfully written, with scientific elements so well-crafted they almost feel real.
Read the trigger warnings—this is a difficult, beautiful, and devastating story that I would read over and over again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Once again I’ve been made speechless by River they write books that just absolutely reel you in until your just fully consumed by the words. I was absolutely looking forward to this since it was announced and it didn’t disappoint in the slightest the story it’s self was amazing and just fully captured my full attention I just couldn’t put it down. I’m so glad I red the echoes duet before reading this not that you have to read before but I just liked it better that I understood some things more! Im so wrapped up and obsessed with this world that is pulse zero and the echoes duet I need so much more I hope we get to see more from this world! And I ate up all the little cameos we got of our sweet babies Harrison and Lane!! I’m obsessed with Cason he is as sassy as they come while also sometimes bratty and he just has such a big heart I swear there wasn’t a part he absolutely didn’t have me dying laughing through this whole book just the things he would say and his personality alone you can’t not love him when reading this! Reese was everything Cason needed someone who loved him just as strong and willing to protect him at all costs and quite literally was as soft as butter for him! It was fun and intense and left you sitting at the edge of your seat sometimes and I loved Cason and Reese they were everything their chemistry off the charts and the spice 🥵 absolutely so here for it. Not even death could keep them apart ❤️ I cannot wait to see what else River has in store for us !!
June 27, 2026
I was hooked from the first chapter! River Hale takes us on a wild ride in Pulse Zero. Suspend all belief and just enjoy it. Pulse Zero is a dark MM Romance. There is suspense, vigilante justice and a shadow daddy that will have you needing to rehydrate between the chapters. Buckle up B!tches!
Cason works for his uncle at the Institute in their IT department. He lost his father a few years ago and his mother is planning to move to North Carolina. Following a visit with his uncle, he is abducted and held for ransom. He meets Reese and they develop a rapport as abductee/abductor.
Cason is full on brat with snark and banter. He has this innate way of coping with traumatic circumstances through dark humor. He’s had a tough life and struggles socializing with others. Reese is a paid mercenary taking jobs through the dark net, no questions asked. He studies the behavior of his targets before abducting them then carries out his orders as instructed by his clients.
Pulse Zero was packed full of jaw dropping, suspenseful moments. We get more of Harrison and Lane (Echoes Duet). We also get to dive headfirst into the world of the Ascended and their various abilities. I was enthralled and loved every minute. Pulse Zero was edgy and unlike anything I’ve read.
Tropes: MM, dark, enemies to lovers, kidnapping, hacker/mercenary, bi-awakening, stockholm syndrome, “Lima syndrome.” revenge, age gap (14 years), edging, gun play, breath play, fear play, bud con, cnc, touch him & die, shadow daddy, toxic, obsessive, super villains
Cason works for his uncle at the Institute in their IT department. He lost his father a few years ago and his mother is planning to move to North Carolina. Following a visit with his uncle, he is abducted and held for ransom. He meets Reese and they develop a rapport as abductee/abductor.
Cason is full on brat with snark and banter. He has this innate way of coping with traumatic circumstances through dark humor. He’s had a tough life and struggles socializing with others. Reese is a paid mercenary taking jobs through the dark net, no questions asked. He studies the behavior of his targets before abducting them then carries out his orders as instructed by his clients.
Pulse Zero was packed full of jaw dropping, suspenseful moments. We get more of Harrison and Lane (Echoes Duet). We also get to dive headfirst into the world of the Ascended and their various abilities. I was enthralled and loved every minute. Pulse Zero was edgy and unlike anything I’ve read.
Tropes: MM, dark, enemies to lovers, kidnapping, hacker/mercenary, bi-awakening, stockholm syndrome, “Lima syndrome.” revenge, age gap (14 years), edging, gun play, breath play, fear play, bud con, cnc, touch him & die, shadow daddy, toxic, obsessive, super villains
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don't think it's shocking by now that I love River Hale... But in case it is... I LOVE their writing so much 😍.
This book was EVERYTHING I wanted and more. It was surprisingly sweet, even in its darkness and I was so here for it. Reese is such a protective shadow daddy, and even when his actions towards Cason can be confusing, its because of how deeply he cares.
Cason was such a snarky, playful, bratty character and able to get under Reese's skin in ways no one else can 😈 and I loved every second of it. He's also surprisingly vulnerable when he lets his walls down but he really only does with a select few.. Reese being the main one and when they come together it's so beautiful 🥹.
I love these boys.. seriously... They are the epitome of soul mates, and I loved every second of their journey even as it broke my heart at times but Hale always pieces it back together, perhaps even better than it was before 🫶.
There's some dark elements in this book that'll keep you on the edge of your seat, I mean super humans falling in love definitely has some potention for fun 😈 and let me tell you.. potential was MET amazingly on this one.
I literally couldn't put this book down, I devoured it as fast as I could and I seriously hope River decides to do more books on this universe because I will be here for every second of it 🤩.
This book was EVERYTHING I wanted and more. It was surprisingly sweet, even in its darkness and I was so here for it. Reese is such a protective shadow daddy, and even when his actions towards Cason can be confusing, its because of how deeply he cares.
Cason was such a snarky, playful, bratty character and able to get under Reese's skin in ways no one else can 😈 and I loved every second of it. He's also surprisingly vulnerable when he lets his walls down but he really only does with a select few.. Reese being the main one and when they come together it's so beautiful 🥹.
I love these boys.. seriously... They are the epitome of soul mates, and I loved every second of their journey even as it broke my heart at times but Hale always pieces it back together, perhaps even better than it was before 🫶.
There's some dark elements in this book that'll keep you on the edge of your seat, I mean super humans falling in love definitely has some potention for fun 😈 and let me tell you.. potential was MET amazingly on this one.
I literally couldn't put this book down, I devoured it as fast as I could and I seriously hope River decides to do more books on this universe because I will be here for every second of it 🤩.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I saw that River Hale was writing a dark, toxic romance filled with chaos, kidnapping, and murder… I knew I had to read it.🤭
Give me all the dark and chaotic romances please thank you.
This book was an absolute rollercoaster. It pulled me in from the very first page and didn’t let go.🖤
These two were undeniably toxic… and somehow still completely stole my heart.🥹
Kidnapping? Check.
M*rder? Check.
Plot twists? Double check.
Cason was chaos in human form.
Bratty, unhinged, and, like Reese calls him : ‘little menace.” Reese was not exaggerating.🤣
I loved Cason so much. The things he says, the way he loves so fiercely, and his obsession with his cat Felix had me laughing
Reese is dangerous. a mercenary, but there’s so much more to him than that.
Also… excuse me… HELLO Shadow daddy 👀🥵
I’m not spoiling anything because this is one of those books you just have to experience and see where it takes you.
I think I found my new favorite River Hale book.🤩
The twists, the chaos, the moments that had me literally gasping out loud… and the spice? Uhm… wow 🥵
If you love dark, twisted romances with chaos, toxicity, and plot twists that keep you guessing, this one is definitely for you.
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.🖤
Give me all the dark and chaotic romances please thank you.
This book was an absolute rollercoaster. It pulled me in from the very first page and didn’t let go.🖤
These two were undeniably toxic… and somehow still completely stole my heart.🥹
Kidnapping? Check.
M*rder? Check.
Plot twists? Double check.
Cason was chaos in human form.
Bratty, unhinged, and, like Reese calls him : ‘little menace.” Reese was not exaggerating.🤣
I loved Cason so much. The things he says, the way he loves so fiercely, and his obsession with his cat Felix had me laughing
Reese is dangerous. a mercenary, but there’s so much more to him than that.
Also… excuse me… HELLO Shadow daddy 👀🥵
I’m not spoiling anything because this is one of those books you just have to experience and see where it takes you.
I think I found my new favorite River Hale book.🤩
The twists, the chaos, the moments that had me literally gasping out loud… and the spice? Uhm… wow 🥵
If you love dark, twisted romances with chaos, toxicity, and plot twists that keep you guessing, this one is definitely for you.
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.🖤
June 21, 2026
In the words of Schmidt (from new girl) .. NO NOTES. 10/10. Absolute home run.
Honestly I don’t even know where to begin with this book. I just absolutely freaking loved it! River just has a way with words and the way they write draws you in instantly. I just adore their writing style. And the humour is my humour to a T 🤭
I actually messaged River while reading this because I was just flabbergasted that she could write such detailed computer programming stuff (deffo not the correct lingo) and not actually be in the field 🤯 This book genuinely just blew me away with how much happened but also didn’t feel too much for a single book either!
Cason and Reese were such fun MMCs, Reese being our older brooding shadow daddy and Case being our playful little menace who uses humour as a comping mechanism (samies). They complimented eachother perfectly and the depth of their love honestly didn’t feel rushed or out of place due to the premise of the storyline. And we CANNOT forget about our sassy AF feline friend Felix who was quite literally my spirit animal.
The whole storyline was incredible, the characters were all amazing. The spice was literally so freaking HOT and the love was undeniable.
Thank you River for giving me the opportunity to read this book, you’re awesome 🤍🫶🏼
Honestly I don’t even know where to begin with this book. I just absolutely freaking loved it! River just has a way with words and the way they write draws you in instantly. I just adore their writing style. And the humour is my humour to a T 🤭
I actually messaged River while reading this because I was just flabbergasted that she could write such detailed computer programming stuff (deffo not the correct lingo) and not actually be in the field 🤯 This book genuinely just blew me away with how much happened but also didn’t feel too much for a single book either!
Cason and Reese were such fun MMCs, Reese being our older brooding shadow daddy and Case being our playful little menace who uses humour as a comping mechanism (samies). They complimented eachother perfectly and the depth of their love honestly didn’t feel rushed or out of place due to the premise of the storyline. And we CANNOT forget about our sassy AF feline friend Felix who was quite literally my spirit animal.
The whole storyline was incredible, the characters were all amazing. The spice was literally so freaking HOT and the love was undeniable.
Thank you River for giving me the opportunity to read this book, you’re awesome 🤍🫶🏼
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Ascension does reveal who you really are. Because I crossed Pulse Zero and came back wanting one thing more than I already did, just louder, deeper, stronger than I ever had before. One thing I would willingly burn the entire fucking world down for.
Not even death could keep us apart.
I’m speechless. Case and Reese did something for me that I just can’t explain. I love them so fucking much. I need all the bonus scenes and all of the cameos in future books. It gave me the same feelings I had during my reading of the Echoes Duet which was exactly what I wanted from this book. This universe is just amazing, and so interesting. This book has expanded it and taken it to a whole new level that I hope we get to see more of. I feel like this book answered so many question, but also left me having even more as well!
”And I have to admit the whole shadow daddy thing is intriguing. Very intimidating. In another life, this could’ve been a really weird kink.”
Now, Case. He’s so sassy, so bratty, and so lovable. He’s one of my all time favorite characters I’ve ever read. All of his sassy one-liners are just so funny. He was just so uniquely himself. Then you have Reese who was just perfect for him. Would do anything in the world for him including putting up with his shit. Chemistry? Out of this world. The spice? So spicy. Some of the kinks in this book are kinks I didn’t know I had or would find hot as hell. But here we are! These characters are all around amazing.
”All that fucking attitude, and you still end up surrendering to me. Such a pathetic and desperate whore when you want something, aren’t you? You’re starting to enjoy it. You’re fucking my shadows.”
I hope we get to see more of this universe. I need more of this. So much more. Like a Sebastian book? 👀 Ah, there are just so many possibilities with this world it’s insane. I cant wait to see what the future holds. But I have no doubt that River will absolutely knock it out of the park as always!
It’s then that I realize I never learned how to exist in a world where Reese Morgan isn’t breathing.
Please Note: I did receive a copy of this book in advance from the author for my honest review!
Ascension does reveal who you really are. Because I crossed Pulse Zero and came back wanting one thing more than I already did, just louder, deeper, stronger than I ever had before. One thing I would willingly burn the entire fucking world down for.
Not even death could keep us apart.
I’m speechless. Case and Reese did something for me that I just can’t explain. I love them so fucking much. I need all the bonus scenes and all of the cameos in future books. It gave me the same feelings I had during my reading of the Echoes Duet which was exactly what I wanted from this book. This universe is just amazing, and so interesting. This book has expanded it and taken it to a whole new level that I hope we get to see more of. I feel like this book answered so many question, but also left me having even more as well!
”And I have to admit the whole shadow daddy thing is intriguing. Very intimidating. In another life, this could’ve been a really weird kink.”
Now, Case. He’s so sassy, so bratty, and so lovable. He’s one of my all time favorite characters I’ve ever read. All of his sassy one-liners are just so funny. He was just so uniquely himself. Then you have Reese who was just perfect for him. Would do anything in the world for him including putting up with his shit. Chemistry? Out of this world. The spice? So spicy. Some of the kinks in this book are kinks I didn’t know I had or would find hot as hell. But here we are! These characters are all around amazing.
”All that fucking attitude, and you still end up surrendering to me. Such a pathetic and desperate whore when you want something, aren’t you? You’re starting to enjoy it. You’re fucking my shadows.”
I hope we get to see more of this universe. I need more of this. So much more. Like a Sebastian book? 👀 Ah, there are just so many possibilities with this world it’s insane. I cant wait to see what the future holds. But I have no doubt that River will absolutely knock it out of the park as always!
It’s then that I realize I never learned how to exist in a world where Reese Morgan isn’t breathing.
Please Note: I did receive a copy of this book in advance from the author for my honest review!
June 27, 2026
6 ⭐
MM
Dark romance
Enemies to lovers to enemies to …
Hacker X mercenary
Captor X captive
Bi- awakening
Age gap
Bub/con
Toxic
Well first WOW and then more F- WOW !!
I did get in to this blind, but since is Rivers I knew this had to be amazing and it fkn is!!!!
Damn it was perfect, action packed like literally couldn’t put it down, Reese and Carson= dynamite I fkn love Cason he was hilarious.. ”hi, I seem to be misplaced”
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
**possible spoilers**
since the beginning you already have the abduction and after well I certainly didn't expect that haha I was stupefied like wait a damn minute whaat just happened
In my defense I did called it, I knew it was that MF all along ahhaa, but then the plot twist it was literally perfect and I can’t get enough of this world I need more !
I already miss them
“Stockholm syndrome? Probably. Trauma response? Definitely. Embarrassing? Oh, absolutely
Thank you, River for an opportunity to read this AMAZING arc. This is my honest Review
MM
Dark romance
Enemies to lovers to enemies to …
Hacker X mercenary
Captor X captive
Bi- awakening
Age gap
Bub/con
Toxic
Well first WOW and then more F- WOW !!
I did get in to this blind, but since is Rivers I knew this had to be amazing and it fkn is!!!!
Damn it was perfect, action packed like literally couldn’t put it down, Reese and Carson= dynamite I fkn love Cason he was hilarious.. ”hi, I seem to be misplaced”
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
**possible spoilers**
since the beginning you already have the abduction and after well I certainly didn't expect that haha I was stupefied like wait a damn minute whaat just happened
In my defense I did called it, I knew it was that MF all along ahhaa, but then the plot twist it was literally perfect and I can’t get enough of this world I need more !
I already miss them
“Stockholm syndrome? Probably. Trauma response? Definitely. Embarrassing? Oh, absolutely
Thank you, River for an opportunity to read this AMAZING arc. This is my honest Review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**Review of advance author copy**
When I heard that River Hale was writing another book in the Echos universe I was so excited, even more excited that Harrison and Lane would be making cameos.
I really enjoyed this book. For those who like V.C. Schwab's Villian series, it reminded me a bit of that with a lot more smut, and sXm.
The main characters in the book eventually get super powers and Reese's superpower is the ability to controls lots and lots of shadows. When I saw there are enough shadows to experiment and fill all holes with, I mean it. It is very very close to tentacles and monster f*cking for those who are into it (which I very much am).
If you're into dark romances, I definitely recommend this book. While you don't need to read the original duet before reading this one, I highly recommend it as I think it would be a lot more enjoyable that way.
River Hale has done it again!
When I heard that River Hale was writing another book in the Echos universe I was so excited, even more excited that Harrison and Lane would be making cameos.
I really enjoyed this book. For those who like V.C. Schwab's Villian series, it reminded me a bit of that with a lot more smut, and sXm.
The main characters in the book eventually get super powers and Reese's superpower is the ability to controls lots and lots of shadows. When I saw there are enough shadows to experiment and fill all holes with, I mean it. It is very very close to tentacles and monster f*cking for those who are into it (which I very much am).
If you're into dark romances, I definitely recommend this book. While you don't need to read the original duet before reading this one, I highly recommend it as I think it would be a lot more enjoyable that way.
River Hale has done it again!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review (and thank you so much for the ARC!)
I did not know this book was missing from my life but it was. Cason Bellrose is a lost young man at the beginning of this book. Then one moment, one change, and his life is thrown into a new reality. He is taken and his captor is of course captivating. And Case is a good little brat and gets under his skin, it’s a bit Stockholm syndrome, but hey, it’s the beginning of something real for Case. And then another moment comes and another massive change. It’s all taken away, all that’s left is memories, hurt and the unknown and the need for answers and revenge. He misses Reese Morgan, he knows it’s messed up, but that was real for him. The story that follows is one where villains are real, superhero’s are real, and that death is actually a beginning of something new.
I adored Reese and Case together, their dynamic was perfect, Case softened Reese just a bit which was lovely. They worked together so well and understood each other so well, maybe it was the Stockholm syndrome? The plot of this book was also fun to read, I really enjoyed the sci-fi aspect to it and the superhero abilities as well. The jumps in time also showed how much change Case had gone through while still being stuck in that basement with Reese. Such a great read!
I did not know this book was missing from my life but it was. Cason Bellrose is a lost young man at the beginning of this book. Then one moment, one change, and his life is thrown into a new reality. He is taken and his captor is of course captivating. And Case is a good little brat and gets under his skin, it’s a bit Stockholm syndrome, but hey, it’s the beginning of something real for Case. And then another moment comes and another massive change. It’s all taken away, all that’s left is memories, hurt and the unknown and the need for answers and revenge. He misses Reese Morgan, he knows it’s messed up, but that was real for him. The story that follows is one where villains are real, superhero’s are real, and that death is actually a beginning of something new.
I adored Reese and Case together, their dynamic was perfect, Case softened Reese just a bit which was lovely. They worked together so well and understood each other so well, maybe it was the Stockholm syndrome? The plot of this book was also fun to read, I really enjoyed the sci-fi aspect to it and the superhero abilities as well. The jumps in time also showed how much change Case had gone through while still being stuck in that basement with Reese. Such a great read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a spin-off of the Echoes duet and can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the duet, and I don't feel like I missed anything by not reading them first, but I'm definitely going to go and read them now because I loved Harrison and Lane.
Pulse Zero was amazing; it was exactly what I needed. This book had me hooked from the very first paragraph. River is an exceptional writer. The world that was created, the storyline, and the characters had me on the edge of my seat. I loved Case and Reese. Case is sassy and a mouthy brat who just doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut, which makes him so entertaining. Reese is a dream book boyfriend. He was strong, protective, and would do anything for Case. They were the perfect pair and you can'thelp but love them.The chemistry between them, along with the spicy scenes, practically sparked off the pages!!!
Pulse Zero was amazing; it was exactly what I needed. This book had me hooked from the very first paragraph. River is an exceptional writer. The world that was created, the storyline, and the characters had me on the edge of my seat. I loved Case and Reese. Case is sassy and a mouthy brat who just doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut, which makes him so entertaining. Reese is a dream book boyfriend. He was strong, protective, and would do anything for Case. They were the perfect pair and you can'thelp but love them.The chemistry between them, along with the spicy scenes, practically sparked off the pages!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had to think about how to write this review without giving too much away because not knowing exactly what to expect really makes the book what it is. For me going into it, knowing what I already did about River Hale’s writing I knew was in for a wild ride but DAMN I wasn’t expecting ALL THAT. This is easily one of the best books I have read this year, and Ive read a LOT of MM Romance. After so many, sometimes they start to blend together... not this one! I was shocked, over and over again, pretty much had to peel my jaw off the floor a few times... You think you know.. and then BAM. I was hooked from Chapter One and read it in 24hours. Fell in love with both MCs really quickly and I went through every emotion..I laughed, I cried (TWICE!!!), I was SHOCKED (more than once) and I had a DAMN GOOD TIME .... 🥵
Review of advance copy received from Author
I knew I was going to devour this book once I picked it up! I love this world and the men in it. Cason and Reese were great. Cason’s determination to fix what he knew to be a devastating injustice was interesting to see. He put in so much time and energy for his cause. Reese happened to be doing the same thing but in a completely different way for a different yet overlapping reason. Am I being frustratingly vague?! Yes! Because this world is one that I think is best enjoyed by letting it all unfold as you read. Do you need to read Memory Lane and Echoes of the past first?! No! This works as a standalone BUT reading the Echoes Duet gives you a little more insight into Harrison and Lane (side characters) and it’s a great read. The writing was great, the story held my interest and I’m hoping there’s an audiobook one day!
🩷ARC REVIEW💚
🩷ARC REVIEW💚
June 28, 2026
Are you looking for a toxic, possessive, spicy, age-gap MM romance with kidnapping, violence, and trauma?
Nothing about the relationship in this book is healthy, but for those wanting a yummy taboo fight-bite-scream-resist-say-no-while-restrained spicy scenes and morally bad characters, you'll get exactly what you wanted.
Some plot points are a little too neat and simple considering they span years and countless unknown variables. But there's a cat with the perfect amount of sass, some very interesting "strengths" in background characters, and a lot of kidnapper and monster spice.
I do wish there were some women with actual character development and influence in the story. That said, the dialogue is strong and fits very well with the MMCs and the book offered precisely what I expected. Have fun reading it, filthy readers.
Nothing about the relationship in this book is healthy, but for those wanting a yummy taboo fight-bite-scream-resist-say-no-while-restrained spicy scenes and morally bad characters, you'll get exactly what you wanted.
Some plot points are a little too neat and simple considering they span years and countless unknown variables. But there's a cat with the perfect amount of sass, some very interesting "strengths" in background characters, and a lot of kidnapper and monster spice.
I do wish there were some women with actual character development and influence in the story. That said, the dialogue is strong and fits very well with the MMCs and the book offered precisely what I expected. Have fun reading it, filthy readers.
June 27, 2026
Do not leave on your TBR, read it today
This book was wild. I haven't read the duet where Case was originally introduced but this book stands alone well enough to get thr background (and want to devour the backlist).
This was a very unique story and I'm here for every single bit of it. This story will wreck you and slowly put you back together over time.
This was my first River Hale book and this author officially made my auto one click list with this book.
Plus, Shadow Daddy. You can never go wrong with a Shadow Daddy and his Shadow Puppies.
I really hope this turns into a series because I'd love to see more from these guys, and maybe someone for Baz.
Do not let his book sit on your TBR. It deserves all the love. One of my top reads of 2026.
This book was wild. I haven't read the duet where Case was originally introduced but this book stands alone well enough to get thr background (and want to devour the backlist).
This was a very unique story and I'm here for every single bit of it. This story will wreck you and slowly put you back together over time.
This was my first River Hale book and this author officially made my auto one click list with this book.
Plus, Shadow Daddy. You can never go wrong with a Shadow Daddy and his Shadow Puppies.
I really hope this turns into a series because I'd love to see more from these guys, and maybe someone for Baz.
Do not let his book sit on your TBR. It deserves all the love. One of my top reads of 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I would give this book all the stars if I could, because 5⭐️ is definitely not enough. It was seriously mind blowing!
I went into this book not even reading the blurb, but it's River Hale, so of course it had to be amazing, and damn... what a journey this was. I practically devoured it in one go.
Cason and Reese have a chemistry like no other, and their story is a rollercoaster of dark, hilarious and absolutely hot. And talk about the plot twists... they twisted so hard in this book. But it also had a very hard earned and immensely satisfying HEA.
This book is definitely going to my all time favorites and I can't wait to read it again.
I went into this book not even reading the blurb, but it's River Hale, so of course it had to be amazing, and damn... what a journey this was. I practically devoured it in one go.
Cason and Reese have a chemistry like no other, and their story is a rollercoaster of dark, hilarious and absolutely hot. And talk about the plot twists... they twisted so hard in this book. But it also had a very hard earned and immensely satisfying HEA.
This book is definitely going to my all time favorites and I can't wait to read it again.
June 26, 2026
Pulse Zero grabs you from page one and doesn’t let you go! — Just as you think you know where the story is going, it completely shocks you😅 I loved it so much! Reese is obsessed with Case who is like his bratty forbidden fruit…😂 and their situationship quickly turns into so much more. But all is not as it seems and in order for them to be together, they’ll have to undergo some major changes. I know I’m being vague but I’m trying not to spoil the best parts 🥹 The banter is phenomenal, as is their electric love. Did I mention Reese is a real shadow daddy? 🖤 Just read it! — A huge thanks to author River Hale for the gifted copy.
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