Bulletproof

by K.M. Moronova, Birte Mirbach (Translator)

»Wir sind die Dark Forces, Baby – der Stoff, aus dem deine Albträume sind.«

Als Briar Thornton nach Bane Falls zurückkehrt, um die Farm ihres verstorbenen Onkels für den Verkauf vorzubereiten, hätte sie am liebsten wieder kehrt gemacht. Nicht nur, dass ihr Verwandter ihr eine Bruchbude hinterlassen hat, sie wird plötzlich auch von einem Unbekannten beobachtet. Briar ahnt nicht, dass dieser Fremde Roman Syxx ist. Syxx ist berechnend, gefährlich – und nicht zuletzt deshalb zum Lieutenant der Dark-Forces-Einheit Icarus ernannt worden. Er und sein Team sind auf geheimer Mission in Bane Falls unterwegs. Bei diesem Einsatz darf nichts schiefgehen. Doch der ungeplante Neuling im Ort könnte alles zunichtemachen …

Enemies to Lovers trifft auf Small Town Vibes – die gehypte Dark-Military-Romance Reihe endlich auf Deutsch!

Bei diesem Buch handelt es sich um Dark Romance mit einer Leseempfehlung ab 18 Jahren. Im Buch sind Triggerwarnungen enthalten.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Dark, Military Fiction, Enemies To Lovers, Spicy, Contemporary

448 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2026

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, and #1 International bestselling author K. M. Moronova has enjoyed telling dreary stories as far as she can remember. She adores reading and writing dark-themed, romantic books with plot twists and emotional turns. Often, she is found drying flowers in her study or drinking tea while relaxing in her garden. She loves spending time with her partner, exploring the forest, and envisioning more devastating stories to tell.

Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️💫 [ 3.5 Star Review ]
❥ ☀︎ BULLETPROOF ☀︎ ❥ ☀︎ Is a full length standalone suspenseful dark romance set inside the elite special ops world of the Dark Forces by author K.M. Moronova. Spoken in dual POV's. Briar & Roman.

I’ve loved this world this author has created and was crazy excited to jump into this one, but I think I kind of enjoyed the grittiness of the underground trials more..

This gave me moments of confusion and other parts leaving me wanting more.

Briar is running on fumes, tired, alone in the world, hiding from an ex who literally buried her alive and left her for dead, the guy who she loved. No explanations as to why? A question she kept asking herself. Then she finds out that she's inherited a ranch by her late Uncle and has to go there to sort things out and get it ready for sale if that's what she wishes. Turning up late at night she encounters a car sitting there, instead of waiting around, she drives to the nearest 24 hour cafe it's here where she meets the extremely hot icarus dark forces squad led by Roman.

Roman is a trained killer, and I didn't really connect with his character which was a huge disappointment, he just seemed all over the place, toxic, snide comments, belittling and decides to give her a nicname 'Squirt'

I needed more of her story, like her there’s a big cloud surrounding her, we’re left not really delving deeper into her past, so she’s an unknown person to us. Though it does come with a twist. The same could be said about the guys, we know each and every one of them is hot, but again we’re not privy to their back stories. Just a bit about each one would have sufficed. So I didn’t really get much of a feel for them.

There was a lot of action which I was all here for, death, chaos, carnage, a plot twist.

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[nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

are we even surprised? because I’m not. I devoured this in one sitting it was that good.

I loved everything about this book: the plot, the setting, and especially the characters Briar, Roman, and the entire squad. miss Moronova has this undeniable talent for writing damaged, fractured characters who still end up finding one another amid the wreckage, and I fall for it every single time.

and that plot twist? absolutely unhinged. I’m not even exaggerating I had to reread the final chapters twice just to process what I’d read.

miss Moronova… you really had no business pulling a move like that. why would you do that again after Dark Forces? 😭 I’m still not over it.

“I wouldn’t dare rewrite our scars,”

💌 • thank you to K M Moronova and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Momma Eureka]

Sadly I DNF this book ! Maybe I can pick up again at another time but I took an IMMEDIATE dislike to the FMC who was “naive” but not really…. Stupid is the correct word.
Which girl has been to an attempt murder by her ex, goes to a complete strange small town in the middle of the night with no cell service and right away and when I mean right away I mean in the first few pages of the book, seats with members of a motorcycle gang and agrees to “go home” with them? Stupid if you ask me….. if she was 15 and sheltered I would’ve understand but it wasn’t the case. She doesn’t go home with them but not because she didn’t want but because she was interrupted by the MMC who tries to make her leave the town in the most crazy way possible, which she doesn’t… I mean good for her for not allowing him to tell her what she was going to do but at the same time a knife to the throat in a cemetery is more than enough to make me hightail out of the stupid town. Then instead of laying low lshe also takes an immediate interest to a country guy who invites her to a party AND SHE GOES !!! What the hell happened to laying low in a small town where the possibility of encountering the guy that wanted to kill you literally last night will probably be 9 out of 10? She goes with the new guy who immediately has an awkward encounter with his “ex” but when she goes after him because he is taking too long, he appears to be making out with his ex !?! GIRL GO THE FUCK HOME, WHY ARE YOU SO STUPID? But the stupidity doesn’t stop there because she sees the MMC and she tries to disguise herself with a hoodie and low cap and he doesn’t recognize her because he can’t see her face and instead of LEAVING like any smart person she proceeds to have a drink with him and make small talk ! I MEAN ….. WHAT ???? There is only so much stupidity I can take it in a FMC and even though I am not giving it a chance, I really don’t want to give one. Rarely a have such strong feelings against a FMC right in the beginning so I will not put myself through that when I have a tbr that will probably outlive me at this point. I am sad because I love this series and I rated Leave me Behind, My knife your Heart & My blade your Back 5 ⭐️ but I have zero patience for this shenanigans here !

[Sophie ❦ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great concept, but the execution was completely off!

Briar is running from her ex after he tried to kill her, yet she’s distracted by every hot guy she sees in town, and they’re all a potential love interest. That’s completely normal. When she finally lands on Roman, there’s no pining, no tension, and no development. Just immediate spice that felt forced and awkward.

The plot was all over the place. Not even the side characters saved this for me since they weren’t that well developed. And don’t get me started on the fact the whole squad watched their first time!! I thought this was going to turn into a reverse harem for a second (and a little disappointed it didn’t).

Between the lack of a believable romance, and the weird pet name (Squirt, really?), I just couldn't get into this. I think this author’s writing style might just not be for me.

─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: Lethal squad, hidden pasts, and a small town setting… really hoping for some high tension in this one!

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[kitkat (semi-hiatus ♡︎) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down

"i'm bulletproof, bitch."

so... this is the most conflicted i've been about a book in a long time. on one hand, i had the time of my life reading this, but on the other i'm super disappointed by the ending. this book takes place in KM moronova's dark forces universe, which is, in my opinion, one of the most successful universes. these books are can be read as separate standalones/series, but there are a few references and characters that overlap. let me also preface this by saying that your knife, my heart, another book in the dark forces, is one of my all time faves, so my standards were sky high going into this.

the fmc, briar, is on the run from her husband who attempted to kill her, when she's informed that her estranged uncle has died and she's to inherit his ranch. obviously, she meets the hot icarus dark forces squad (and let me tell you, they are ALL hot), led by roman, a programmed killer. now, i do wish the setup of their relationship had been slightly better because briar is tripping over her feet for every single one of these men. but let's be honest, who wouldn't be???

i have conflicting feelings about roman because he's a bit toxic, but i think part of his character arc is learning how to be human again, which i appreciated. i do wish we had learned a bit more about his past, and maybe some of the other guys stories. his true character takes a bit to shine through, but when it does, it's well worth it, in my opinion.

the plot... phew. KM moronova is a SAVAGE when it comes to plot twists. it's the type of twist that you have to just sit with for a few minutes and let it sink in fully. she [km moronova] has this ability to drop the smallest of hints that appear to be worth nothing, but explain everything in the end.

this book does have darker aspects to it (and if you know me, you know i believe that the longer the TW list, the better the book), but there were instances of self harm that caught me off guard in this book. while i understood that there might be instances of it, i didn't understand that it would be a revolving theme in this book (both the fmc and mmc self harm on page as a coping mechanism and experience joy from it). having struggled in the past, if you're sensitive to these themes AT ALL, i would stay away from this book.

features:
- military romance
- dark (ish) romance (the themes are darker than the romance)
- open door spice
- found family
- enemies to loves
- red flag mmc
- betrayal
- graphic self harm

PLEAASEEE check your trigger warnings

quotes + unhinged reactions:

“No, you haven’t. Not even in your darkest of nightmares have you met a man like me.”

whose dog got off its leash?

“Who did you think I was? It’s not like I wanted to be dragged into a car with Satan’s right ass cheek.”

as if she aint satan's left ass cheek.

“No one knows what darkness truly looks like until it already has a hold of you,” Roman says cryptically. It sounds like a rehearsed statement. “No one knows how vicious the shadows are until
the Dark Forces are upon you.”

rawr.

“Because you are peculiar, Briar. Sad and broken. Lost and hopeless. You strive to survive so desperately, but you don’t know why.”

i see the tortured poets department has a new member. "quick quick, tell me something awful, like you are a poet trapped inside the body of a finance guy broken scarred hot ruthless robot guy"

Why do I sabotage myself with the softest of kisses from the cruelest men?

bitch why you be asking me

Very clever, Roman. Standing ovation.

yes, i read ovulation, not ovation.

“What would you make it say?” I whisper. Roman’s face softens, and a beautiful smile curves his lips. “That you cannot be overcome. You’re bulletproof.”

awww look at them being sweet and keeping it in their pants for once.

We stare at each other as the bodies dance around us and blur until all that’s in focus is us.

ALL THE THINGS SHE SAID, ALL THE THINGS SHE SAID RUNNING THROUGH MY HEAD RUNNIN THROUGH MY HEAD-

A manic smile spreads over my lips as I catch his gun and bring it to the bottom of his jaw. “I’m bulletproof, bitch.”

it's giving "i'm your daddy on the field, bitch." roman should consider himself lucky that he's hot enough to get away with saying stuff like this.

-

now it's time for the good stuff- this section includes MAJOR SPOILERS for BULLETPROOF and very minor spoilers for YOUR KNIFE MY HEART

soo... at the end of this book, general nolan promotes roman and retires. now THIS is what i have an issue with. if you've read your knife, my heart, you know that nolan is even more evil than this book makes him out to be. these "experiments" that he does with peoples really aren't a good solution for everybody. but heres the thing: it seems like roman is going to continue this "program". YEAH. he is BECOMING nolan. the same nolan who erases peoples memories, makes them immune to pain, and puts bulletproof mesh under their skin. and while i think that he [roman] believes can do good for the program and implement change, we all know he's psychotic. while he might not admit it, he's on the verge of a break, which i'm assuming is exactly what nolan wants. and he was also trained to be a killer! what fun.

anyway, thats the review xoxo

[Sam Sellner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0⭐️

First off, thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the eARC!

This dark, twisted military romance kicks off fast, throwing you straight into the action as Briar flees her unhinged ex and quickly runs into the main cast. Briar reads a bit naive at times and occasionally frustrating, but her fiery attitude keeps things interesting. Roman, on the other hand, brings a much darker presence, with a past that adds a heavy, unsettling edge to the story.

The chemistry is immediate, definitely leaning into insta-lust/love, and while the spicy scenes are entertaining, the writing and dialogue can feel a little cringey in places. That said, the tension is there, and it’s hard to put down.

Overall, it’s an engaging read with dark themes and emotionally damaged characters that pull you in right away. The plot twist was solid, but not particularly shocking. I’m still curious to see what else K.M. Moronova has to offer.

[Sheila]

Soo this will be about Lieutenant Roman Sixx from the Icarus squad and he's as mean as Bradshaw... I'm already sold🖤

[LollyDolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ Audio/Read. I don’t quite know what to make of this. It was… alrightishhhh. But something was missing and I still cannot put my finger on what. It felt totally unfinished, and when it ended I sat there thinking, is that it. Surely there needs to be a bit more to this 🤨

I did enjoy the dark military and underground criminal corruption plot. There is plenty of action, and it is kind of linked to the previous books. There is even a twist near the end that I did not see coming at all, but nothing actually gets concluded properly, so I am assuming there will be more 🤷🏻‍♀️

Much like K. M. Moronova’s Dark Forces duet, we are back with more human experimentation shenanigans. One being MMC Roman has bulletproof mesh under his skin, hence Bulletproof. He is also a Sia fan and the song Titanium gets referenced 🤨 which was cheesy. There are quite a few cringey moments sprinkled throughout.

Now the MCs. Briar… well. She basically rubs her thighs together every time a man so much as breathes in her direction. I kept thinking, calm down, love, you are going to start a bleedin’ fire at this rate. Even with everything she goes through, she is just bland. Her romance with Roman 🥱 not thrilling. It felt circumstantial he was there and it was probably his rank that got him first in line, could have been any of the squad or literally anyone 😬

Roman was hot, grumpy, secretive and scarred, the usual. I did not mind him until he nicknamed Briar “Squirt” because “he knew she was a squirter”. To be fair, he was correct, but still… absolutely not. Horrendous nickname. The rest of the squad calling her that too. No.

The audio was done well. Isabelle Turner and Walker Williams did a great job and kept me engaged through the action.

Overall, the romance was pretty lacklustre but the action was not bad. For me the MCs did not seem that arsed about each other, they could have been anyone, and when the “I love yous” came out I just thought nope, I am not having it 🤣. I enjoyed the Dark Forces worldbuilding more than anything. Although I am not overly fussed about the characters in this story, there are characters from previous books that I would happily read about, so I will keep an eye out. There is a lot of unfinished business, fingers crossed the romance side is better next time. That is it 🙌🏻❤️

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

"Why do I sabotage myself with the softest of kisses from the cruelest men?"

The ending and the twists were absolutely amazing! I was so shocked, and did not expect any of it. And then… General Nolan. I really hope there will be another book after this, because I want more of General Syxx and his squad.

But that was in the last 20% of the book. That kind of saved it for me. The small-town setting was nice, but story-wise there was something missing for me. Roman and Briar also developed feelings for each other so fast. It felt rushed. I still loved them, though. They deserved to find love after all they went through, and Roman was so soft for Briar. They're so perfect for each other. 💗

"Roman Syxx, he’s so fucking deranged. He loved when I push his buttons, and damn it if I don’t get a high out of it too."

The Icarus squad also became my favorite squad from all the dark forces books. Throughout the book, they had such a strong family dynamic that I just fell in love with. I was so sad when John died, even though I expected at least one of them to die.

I had high expectations for this because I absolutely loved the last two books (the duet) and while I mostly enjoyed it, it didn’t hit as hard as Your Knife, My Heart and My Blade, Your Back.
It still gets 4 stars because of the twists at the end and because of Roman & Briar and their found family.💗

tropes:
- military romance
- enemies to lovers
- small town setting
- secrets & missions
- found family
- plot twists & surprises

series ranking:
1. My Blade, Your Back (#3, 4.5⭐️)
2. Your Knife, My Heart (#2, 4⭐️)
3. Bulletproof (#4, 4⭐️)
4. Leave Me Behind (#1, 3.25⭐️)

favorite quotes:

"Because you just know when it’s close. Death is a cold, vile grip against your ribs. A knocking at the cusp of your hopes and dreams. You’ll know."

"I love you, Briar. I love you, and I’m not letting you go again. Not ever. No matter what you do to me. I will never let you go."

"Sometimes I wonder if the only part of me that’s actually bulletproof is my wicked soul."

"No one knows what darkness truly looks like until it already has a hold of you,” Roman says cryptically. It sounds like a rehearsed statement. “No one knows how vicious the shadows are until the Dark Forces are upon you."

"You always reminded me of her, of Private Gallows."

"General Syxx, I wish you a long and successful campaign.“ He gives Roman a cruel grin and a slight nod."

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

What in the actual fuck was that ending?? Like … that’s it? We’re done?? 😭 I will say, it’s probably better than some of the other endings, but I still just sat there like … wait. That’s all?

Also, apparently I completely missed Cam’s cameo, which feels like a personal failure at this point 😂🤦‍♀️ I did catch the Miss Gallows reference though, so 2 points for me 🙌

The wishy washy love interests had me confused. I kept waiting for it to actually mean something or go somewhere, but it never did.

There’s just something missing here. I can’t even fully explain what it is, but I felt it the whole time. And yet … I’m still going to keep reading her books because they somehow still satisfy something in me.

[Miglė · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC read ✨ A bit different angle than usual Moronova’s style 😁 It was a bit strange cause naturally, I am comparing this book to DF duet and LMB but I like Bulletproof more than the DF duet. Please don’t come for me 😆

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t even get me started on her nickname

[Kriste ☾Papartis ir knyga☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aš labai mėgstu K. M. Moronova. Rimtai. Jos ankstesnės knygos turėjo tą raw, tamsų, kabinantį jausmą. Ir būtent dėl to Bulletproof man buvo toks nusivylimas. Nes čia jaučiasi visai kitas rašymas. Ir man jis… neveikia.

Idėja? Gera. Tikrai. Mergina bėga nuo ex, kuris bandė ją nužudyti – hello, čia jau turim įtampą, pavojų! Bet vietoj to gaunam FMC, kuri vos atsidūrusi naujam mieste pradeda reaguoti į kiekvieną praeinantį vyrą kaip į potencialų meilės interesą. Atsiprašau, bet… kur trauma? Kur baimė? Kur bent minimalus realizmas?

Ir tada Roman.

Turėjo būti tas „dark, pavojingas, bully“ tipas. Buvo pažadėta. Negavom. Vieną kartą kažką grubiau pasako, o po to… viskas. Jokio build-up, jokio tikro enemies to lovers, jokio.. Tiesiog bam – spice. Ir ne tas geras „pagaliau“ spice, o tas, kur skaitai ir galvoji „palauk, mes čia jau?“.
Santykiai tarp jų visiškai neįtikino. Nėra chemijos, nėra įtampos, nėra priežasties rūpintis. Atrodo, kad autorė tiesiog skubėjo „nu gerai, dabar jie kartu“, bet pamiršo sukurti kelią iki to.

O tas… pravardės reikalas.
„Squirt“.
Ne.
Tiesiog ne.

Plotas irgi išsibarstęs. Per daug visko vienu metu, bet niekas neišvystyta iki galo. Yra idėjų, yra užuominų, yra „čia gal bus svarbu“, bet gale sėdi ir galvoji – ok, bet kur visa tai nuėjo? Daug kas tiesiog palikta kabėti. Atrodo, kad istorija buvo parašyta skubant, nesuteikiant nei veikėjams, nei siužetui laiko kvėpuoti.

Tas naujas rašymo stilius. Jaučiasi toks… supaprastintas, pagreitintas, biški „BookTok friendly“. Daug šoko, mažai turinio. Daug momentų, kurie atrodo sukurti tam, kad būtų cituojami ar šokinėtų TikTok’e, bet ne tam, kad kurtų tikrą istoriją. Ir man labai gaila tai sakyti, nes aš pasiilgau senos Moronovos. Tos, kuri rašė lėčiau, giliau, skaudžiau, bet tikriau.

Jei neskaitėt jos ankstesnių knygų , tai labai rekomenduoju pradėti nuo jų. Tada suprasit, kodėl šita taip stipriai nesueina.

Ar knyga bloga? Ne visiškai. Ji skaitosi greitai, idėja turi potencialo.
Bet ar ji išpildyta taip, kaip galėjo būti? Tikrai ne.
Man – 2⭐
Ir labai aiškus jausmas, kad autorė gali daug geriau. 🖤

[taylor ❤️‍🔥 · Rating 3 out of 5]

“𝙞 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨.”

rating: 3.5 ★

re-entering the world of the dark forces we are introduced to the icarus squad. they are tasked to blend into a small montana town in order to uncover a gate into the dealings of the underworld. the icarus squad is lead by no other than the cold hearted roman syxx, who forms no attachments and has no hesitation in eliminating his targets. enter briar, a young woman with no family, on the run from an ex who tried to murder her. she finds herself in a small town in montana where she is cleaning up her deceased uncles “farm” to sell. what briar thinks will be a couple of months of cleaning and free housing quickly turns into violence and finding herself way into a dark world that she never knew existed.

i want to start off by saying i absolutely love this universe that moronova created and i will always keep coming back for more. every single time she releases one of these books i consume them within a matter of hours (not days). the way she always manages to weave in plot twists multiple times throughout the story always makes me keep my head on a god damn swivel when im reading these books.

i really wanted to rate this one higher, but something just felt a little bit off with this one? in comparison to the other books in this series it just didn’t feel quite as dark as im used to. there wasn’t a ton of character development and it did also start to make my eye twitch towards the end when he just kept calling her a whore, so there’s that.

[Marija Unkind · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really drawn into the story. It still had a military vibe, but it felt different from the author’s previous books. I loved that it brought a more unique concept instead of focusing only on missions and experiments.

I found myself really invested in the overall plot and suspense. The side characters were so good too!

There were moments when both main characters frustrated me a little. I understood why the author wrote them that way, but their dynamic did not fully work for me. There were also a few cringe-worthy phrases and moments that pulled me out of the story at times.

Still, overall I enjoyed the journey. It was an entertaining read with plenty of twists and turns, and I had a good time with it!

"Because you are peculiar, Briar. Sad and broken. Lost and hopeless. You strive to survive so desperately, but you don't know why."

“The darkness in him is insatiable, and I want to take a peek inside.”

“Sometimes I wonder if the only part of me that's actually bulletproof is my wicked soul.”

Thank you to K.M. Moronova, Bloom Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC 🖤
All opinions are my own.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Errrmm 😬 I'm gonna hate myself for this, I know I am, but this was just ok. It's not KM's best work. It felt very rushed and pumped out like a cash grab and I really hate to say that cause I believe she is a very good writer.

The characters were under developed. When one of the characters died I was like "OK". No tears, no feeling of sadness, no heartbreak. Nothing.

Some of the scenes were choppy, like 1 min he's crouched, the next he is walking. Or a gun is pushed into her chest but they are on a bike and her chest is pressed to his back.

The ending was rushed and all of a sudden Roman decides on the final page he's gonna become the next General, yet he's spent the entire book wanting to have his freedom? Also I noticed some similarities between this and the first in this standalone series Leave Me Behind.

Will I read this again? Possibly, but I'm in no rush to.

[xaravis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the ARC of Bulletproof by K.M. Moronova, to be published on 26th of April 2026.

I want to start by saying that K.M. Moronova is my auto-buy author and I read all the books in the Dark Forces universe and unfortunately Bulletproof just didn’t hit the spot for me.

First 50% of the book was really difficult to get through, extremely cringe, rushed and full of plot holes. It would definitely benefit from some extra editing, a lot of repetition of certain words (“casing” & “crotch rocket” were just some that I remember). The second half picked up a bit and redeemed itself, therefore I bumped the final rating to 3⭐️ (and I’m thinking I’m being generous but there were some parts that I liked and I even shed a tear).

The FMC, Briar, was really irritating and her behaviour was really questionable, she came across as bratty and generally insufferable. By chapter 3 she was salivating and clenching her thighs over 6(!) guys. Considering she was almost killed by her ex and supposedly had trauma because of that she was very quick to trust every guy she met and blushing at every attention she has been given. Also she tried to play hard but ended up being a pushover with no moral spine.

Roman, the MMC, apparently has a very dark past that we only get glimpses of, but he is being a total jerk towards Briar for no reason. The nickname given was just another level of cringe. Also kept calling the FMC “whore” (or “whoreton”?!?!?) to push her away and I thought that was just a bit extreme and also juvenile. They both play this push and pull game and lie to each other but then get mad that the other person is keeping secrets 🙄

The spicy scenes, especially the first one were extremely cringe and the commentary during that scene made me roll my eyes so bad it hurt.

Some of the plot twists were good but some just didn’t add up because of the plot holes. Like whole dark forces squad spilling secrets about their operation to FMC shortly after meeting her but few days before they were trying to run her out of town? Also, I wish we got more insight into the Bulletproof soldier concept it had so much potential but we really got nothing 🙈 I was waiting for the ending to hit but I got nothing but disappointment 🥲

Overall, the book felt rushed and was full of plot holes, cringe dialogue and bad spicy scenes. It had potential but unfortunately it didn’t deliver and it’s my least favourite from the whole Dark Forces universe.

[Lida Lydia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Y’all need bookish standards, that’s what.

I genuinely don’t know what the hell I expected after the absolute fiasco that was Leave Me Behind, but this one? I couldn’t even get past the first 30 pages.

Our “hero” comes barging in, immediately swinging his dick about what a big bad scary wolf he is, and then at the first sight of the heroine he’s already trying to kick her out of town? Like… okay?? I rolled my eyes so hard during that whole interaction I nearly backflipped.

And don’t even get me started on the vibe - because apparently we’re supposed to find this man intimidating and sexy, but he reads like a walking red flag with a God complex and zero chill. Not mysterious, not brooding - just exhausting.

Also, I refuse to believe this is what passes for “chemistry” now. If your entire dynamic is just him being aggressive and her… existing in his general direction, that’s not tension, that’s a headache.

Maybe it gets better later. I wouldn’t know. I chose peace.

[fromthestudyof · Rating 5 out of 5]

any book I read in less than 24 hours gets 5 stars that’s the rule

this dark romance is laced with something bc I could not put it down

think suicide squad sent on a mission in a small Montana town & an innocent woman gets wrapped up in all the drama

I read KM’s other dark forces books over Thanksgiving last year & read them both in one sitting each. truly they are crack

I think the Your Knife My Heart duology is still my favorite from this series so I think my ranking is now:
1. Your Blade My Back x Your Knife My Heart (tied)
2. Bulletproof
3. Leave Me Behind

This MMC was definitely quicker to be down bad but that’s what I wanted - a fast & addicting dark romance less than 350 pages

I think this book wasn’t quite as dark as the other Dark Forces books, but I do think you need to read those before this one to really understand the world & circumstances. I’d say on the sliding scale of dark romance this is somewhere in the medium gray area

5 stars bc read in less than 24 hours - would probably be around a 4.25 otherwise

[Smutty Little Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7 Stars

I am really conflicted on my feelings on this book. Let me start by saying I prefer to go into books blind and what I was expecting from this book is nothing like the storyline I got. I will say, if you have read the rest of this world, this book is nothing like the rest.

This is one of those books that I didn't love but also didn't hate. I felt literally nothing when the plot twist happened and the actions of everyone in this book made absolutely no sense to me and the characters they supposedly are.

I don't know. This book was not for me, but it might be for you.

[Magically Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure what is put into dark military books that make me consume them fast and hard. And this one was the same!!

Briar ….. To word this nicely, you are not going to really like/love her till the ending pretty much. She’s giggly, shy, but yet “knows” that things aren’t right but doesn’t listen to any instinct. Not all her choices are bad but from the start you’re shaking your head. Then you see why and you feel like you judged too soon. But her choice in Roman was a good one.

Roman is something. He’s the bad boy you know you can’t change and just say f it and go in legs first. I wasn’t a fan of the self mutilation but I get why he does it. Why keep the bad when you can make it good. And then when he fold for her!!! Loved that moment. I will take more of him. And what happens next… I want to know where they all go.

Can’t wait for the next one!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Dual 1st POV
Publisher: Bloom Books
Pages 400

Dark Romance
Military/Dark Forces
Forced Proximity
Scarred MMC
He Falls Hard
Breeding Kink

Thank you to Bloom Books, and author K.M. Moronova, for providing me with the eARC of “Bulletproof”.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐️
In Bulletproof, we follow Briar, a young woman on the run from an abusive ex-boyfriend who once tried to kill her. After her uncle’s death, she returns to the small town of Bane Falls, hoping to find some kind of safety or closure. What she doesn’t know is that a secret unit of the Dark Forces, known as Icarus, is stationed there. Among them is Roman Syxx, the cold and dangerous lieutenant of the group. As the story unfolds, Briar and Roman—both shaped by their own trauma—find themselves drawn to each other in a way that is as unsettling as it is inevitable.

Going into this book, my expectations were very high, especially since I absolutely loved Leave Me Behind, Your Knife, My Heart, and My Blade, Your Back. I had been looking forward to another installment in the Dark Forces series for a long time. Unfortunately, Bulletproof didn’t fully live up to those expectations.

One of the biggest issues for me was the setting. Compared to the previous books, which thrived on their dark, "underground" atmosphere, the small-town setting of Bane Falls felt less intense and lacked the same sense of danger and tension. It made the story feel less gripping overall, and I missed the edge that defined the earlier installments.

I also struggled to connect with the characters. Briar and Roman, in particular, didn’t quite work for me. While their shared trauma had the potential to create a deep and compelling bond, the chemistry between them felt underdeveloped. Their relationship didn’t fully convince me, which made it harder to stay emotionally invested in their story.

That said, K.M. Moronova still manages to surprise with her plot twists. There was a key twist in this book that I genuinely didn’t see coming, and it added an element of intrigue that kept me reading. However, even this twist—like other parts of the plot—didn’t always feel entirely coherent or fully thought through, which slightly weakened its impact.

Overall, while Bulletproof has its moments, it felt less consistent and less immersive than the previous entries in the series. I’m still hopeful that the next installment of the Dark Forces series will return to the intensity and emotional depth that made the earlier books so compelling.

[Tasha Penney · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was just weird??? For a dark romance this felt incredibly cringy. The nicknames “squirt”?!?!!! GET OUT. The fmc was insufferable and the MMC was incredibly immature

They’d have sex and he’d immediately call her names (whore, slut etc) like I’m sorry how old are you? Grow up. And then she’d instantly do it again and this happened EVERY TIME. There was a barely a relationship or connection between them at all

I liked the link between the dark forces world and there were a few moments I enjoyed but overall this was just stupid

[Victoria Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC reader! Thank you to Bloom Books\Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this book before release!

Bulletproof is the newest installment in the Dark Forces universe, and it’s one of those stories that starts with a quiet sense of curiosity then suddenly takes off and completely knocks you off balance. That twist? I did not see it coming.

Briar is trying to outrun a past that won’t let her go. When she inherits her uncle’s farmhouse, she heads to a small town with one goal: sell everything and get the cash she needs to disappear for good. Simple plan….until it isn’t. Because the town, and especially a certain group of men, quickly prove to be anything but ordinary.

Roman is a weapon…literally. Engineered by Dark Forces, his focus has always been the mission and his team. But the moment Briar enters his orbit, that focus starts to crack. He’s drawn to her in a way he can’t explain and isn’t supposed to feel. As their connection deepens and her possible ties to his mission come to light, Roman is forced to question everything. Is Briar a threat… or the answer? Watching Roman slowly pull his walls down was beautiful.

K.M. Moronova delivers strong character development once again, with emotional depth that makes the relationships feel intense and real. The trauma bonding is seamlessly woven in, and the tension builds perfectly alongside the mystery. And that ending!!!!!! Just enough of a cliffhanger to leave me desperate for the next book.

This story had everything: moments that made me laugh, scenes that had me theorizing, emotional hits that lingered, and spicy scenes that had me fanning myself!

Tropes:
🖤 Dark Military
🖤 Small Town
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Hidden Identity
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Found Family
🖤Bully Romance

Quotes:

“His villainous vibe is what my darkest dreams are made of.”


“She's not a scar I want to alter. She's one I never want to heal.”


“Sometimes I wonder if the only part of me that’s actually bullet-proof is my wicked soul.”

[mia:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I don’t want to alter any of the scars I get when they’re for you.”

oh. my. goodness. 🥹 it was enemies to lovers on a whole other level. it was action packed, high tension, and full of secrets. sweet roman. 🥹 ugh, i hated that he felt unlovable. the way he protected her even though she was his enemy…? the way he kept showing up for her even when he was on death’s door…? swoon. 😭🥹🥺

also, can we talk about the spice??? ummm… it took me off guard, that’s for sure. 🙂‍↕️🤭 definitely not what i expected, but i’m not complaining. 😌 i loved briars personality so much. she took his attitude and matched it perfectly. im such a sucker for the ‘i’m this way to everyone but you.’ and that is roman to a T. 😫😍😌.

this book will have you on the edge of your seat, wanting to know what happens next. you might tear up at times… i definitely did… but it’s such a good book, ugh. i loved every second. 🥹 i know it seems like i’m saying a whole lot of nothing, but i just can’t risk spoiling anything. just know… your heart will be racing. 🤭🥹🖤 i can’t wait for the next book in this series!! 🤭

It was a stupid thing to do, not like me in the slightest. But with her, I couldn’t stop myself.

“Because you didn’t let a grumpy, broken thing like me keep you from seeing the real me.”

“You scare me more than anything.”

“I let you in because you crashed in headfirst.”

“You saved me first.”

[Ashley Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love stepping into K.M. Moronova’s worlds, and her dark military romances never miss. Bullet Proof pulled me in right away, and I really enjoyed how the story blended that intense, high stakes edge with a small town backdrop. It added a fresh layer to the tension.

Briar was an absolute badass. Everything she endured and the way she carried herself through it made her such a strong, compelling FMC. Rowan delivered exactly what I wanted too, broody, morally gray, but with that hidden heart that makes you fall for him anyway.

The plot had some twists that genuinely caught me off guard, which made the ride even more fun. Overall, this was a gripping, emotional read that kept me hooked from start to finish.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this arc.
i really enjoyed this book and its not surprising considering K.M Moronova is one of my fav authors and an auto read author for me. This had me feeling so many different emotions. And ofc it was an easy read as you get thrown into stuff right away and the writing is fast paced.
Make sure you read the trigger/content warnings before going into this book as it has some heave topics.

[SylG · Rating 1 out of 5]

Compering to other books by K. Moronova, this one was chaotic, lacking in characters development and with lots of cringey spice. While her other books kept me interested with plot, this seems very plain and unclear in the same time. I don't think I'll pick more of her books.

[ᯓ★ emely ⋆˚✿˖° · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5/5 ⭐️

This ARC pulled me in immediately with a fast, tension-filled opening that had me hooked from the first scene. The diner entrance was especially memorable, setting the tone with action and intrigue right away. From the start, I was completely obsessed with Roman, and Briar’s sarcastic, sharp personality added a lot of fun to the dynamic. The whole squad has great chemistry, and their interactions kept things lively. There’s honestly never a dull moment, and the bickering between Roman and Briar was especially entertaining.

That said, there were a few elements that didn’t fully work for me. Some of the spice scenes felt a bit over-the-top for my taste, which pulled me out of the story at times. I also struggled with the FMC. She came across as quite naive and often made questionable choices, and her attraction to multiple members of the squad made the central romance with Roman feel less convincing.

Pacing was another issue. The first 70% of the book felt slower than necessary, while the final 30% moved too quickly, making key moments feel rushed. Because of that, the ending, particularly in terms of the romance, felt somewhat unsatisfying and lacked the payoff I was hoping for.

Overall, this was an engaging and entertaining read with strong character dynamics and a gripping start, but uneven pacing and a less convincing romance held it back from being a standout for me.

[Isalyne]

From authors insta:
Enemies to lovers, Small town dark military romance, but he's the lieutenant on an undercover squad and literally tries to run her out of town...
Bulletproof is a dark military romance standalone in the Dark Forces universe that will have Booktok absolutely feral.