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Desolate
DESOLATE (Book II), The Grief Sequence Trilogy
This is the hollowing book. This is where it burns.
“You left me.”
“I never stopped looking for a way back.”
Kade Ryland was stripped of everything that made him human.
They caged him. Broke him. Tried to erase the only thing still keeping him alive—her.
They took everything, but he’s about to take it back. Because memory is a violent thing and Kade has never been good at letting go.
Juliet Rowe still knows how to play perfect.
Still smiles when she’s told. Still keeps her voice soft, her hands folded, her secrets buried.
But silence was never safety—only a prettier kind of prison.
The longer she wears the mask, the harder it is to remember who she was before it.
When they fall back into each other’s orbit, it’s not a reunion. It’s a hollowing.
This time, loving each other might just be the final blow. Because when love becomes a weapon, no one walks away clean.
This is the hollowing book. This is where it burns.
“You left me.”
“I never stopped looking for a way back.”
Kade Ryland was stripped of everything that made him human.
They caged him. Broke him. Tried to erase the only thing still keeping him alive—her.
They took everything, but he’s about to take it back. Because memory is a violent thing and Kade has never been good at letting go.
Juliet Rowe still knows how to play perfect.
Still smiles when she’s told. Still keeps her voice soft, her hands folded, her secrets buried.
But silence was never safety—only a prettier kind of prison.
The longer she wears the mask, the harder it is to remember who she was before it.
When they fall back into each other’s orbit, it’s not a reunion. It’s a hollowing.
This time, loving each other might just be the final blow. Because when love becomes a weapon, no one walks away clean.
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Published April 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 2, 2026
The second book in the series and follows on from Elegy.
We are thrown right into the foray from when Juliet was taken and what happens to her within ‘The Networks’ training houses and it’s not pretty 🤭 Meanwhile the stage has already been set to make it look like she’s gone abroad to study, heartbroken ensuring it seems feasible to her friends except Kade who knows better…but can he save her this time, as he is in too deep himself.
𝐼 𝓀𝑒𝑒𝓅 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓉𝓇𝒶𝓈𝓉, 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝒸𝓇𝓊𝑒𝓁𝓉𝓎 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝓉𝓈 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝓁𝑜𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝓇𝓊𝒾𝓈𝑒𝓈 𝒻𝒶𝒹𝑒.
Suffice to say this is one hell of a read, we do get a few answers but not them all. Characters we know return and some are new additions to the storyline. Aliya’s expressive writing ensures you want to know more and more until you are in their world completely. Prepare yourself for this one; there are WTF moments, still a little humour here and there, heartache, spicy times, violence and honestly, so much more that the narrative engulfs you. Can’t wait for the next one. Do read the trigger warnings ⛔️
We are thrown right into the foray from when Juliet was taken and what happens to her within ‘The Networks’ training houses and it’s not pretty 🤭 Meanwhile the stage has already been set to make it look like she’s gone abroad to study, heartbroken ensuring it seems feasible to her friends except Kade who knows better…but can he save her this time, as he is in too deep himself.
𝐼 𝓀𝑒𝑒𝓅 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓉𝓇𝒶𝓈𝓉, 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝒸𝓇𝓊𝑒𝓁𝓉𝓎 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝓉𝓈 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝓁𝑜𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝓇𝓊𝒾𝓈𝑒𝓈 𝒻𝒶𝒹𝑒.
Suffice to say this is one hell of a read, we do get a few answers but not them all. Characters we know return and some are new additions to the storyline. Aliya’s expressive writing ensures you want to know more and more until you are in their world completely. Prepare yourself for this one; there are WTF moments, still a little humour here and there, heartache, spicy times, violence and honestly, so much more that the narrative engulfs you. Can’t wait for the next one. Do read the trigger warnings ⛔️
April 29, 2026
Desolate is book 2 in The Grief Sequence Series and if you have not yet read Elegy, then you need to start there or you will not be able to follow the story.
I would describe Elegy as the warm up that gets the heart racing and the expectations set, almost dipping our toes into the world that Kade and Juliette have been pulled into, then Desolate comes along and it brings the chaos, the emotional damage and the impact.
Desolate sees a desperate and unraveling Kade willing to stop at nothing to save his Jules, the one person who he would kill and be killed for. Captivated and tortured by the network, Juliette’s existence is bleak, but she refuses to give up the glimmer of hope that Kade will find her and to let evil think that they have won.
This story is incredibly dark, raw, vulnerable and emotional. It does not shy away from extremely traumatic topics, and it does not soften the violence. If you are someone who likes your books extremely dark with a menu of triggers then my recommendation would be to go in blind and let the book hit you in the feels.
In my opinion, this story is a masterpiece in dark romance. I felt completely immersed in the story, fully connected to the main characters and invested in the outcome. When they cried and hurt, I felt every ounce of their pain and emotion, and parts of this book really broke my heart.
I can honestly say that part 3 can’t come quick enough, because I am hoping it will piece my heart back together again.
I would describe Elegy as the warm up that gets the heart racing and the expectations set, almost dipping our toes into the world that Kade and Juliette have been pulled into, then Desolate comes along and it brings the chaos, the emotional damage and the impact.
Desolate sees a desperate and unraveling Kade willing to stop at nothing to save his Jules, the one person who he would kill and be killed for. Captivated and tortured by the network, Juliette’s existence is bleak, but she refuses to give up the glimmer of hope that Kade will find her and to let evil think that they have won.
This story is incredibly dark, raw, vulnerable and emotional. It does not shy away from extremely traumatic topics, and it does not soften the violence. If you are someone who likes your books extremely dark with a menu of triggers then my recommendation would be to go in blind and let the book hit you in the feels.
In my opinion, this story is a masterpiece in dark romance. I felt completely immersed in the story, fully connected to the main characters and invested in the outcome. When they cried and hurt, I felt every ounce of their pain and emotion, and parts of this book really broke my heart.
I can honestly say that part 3 can’t come quick enough, because I am hoping it will piece my heart back together again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If I had to count how many times I cried during this book I probably wouldn't be able to...I was broken and then half put back together and then broken again!?!?!
This story is not for the weak, it's gut wrenching and has you nibbling on your nails for hours waiting for the pain to end. You feel deeply for every main character and want to murder the others with your own hands 😃
Definitely check trigger warnings before going into this one bc theres a LOT that goes on and way more pain than comfort.
Alyia has done an amazing job at handling these heavy topics and dealing with them with such care that they still hold the same impact but don't leave you *too* emotionally damaged.
You feel so immersed in the story that you genuinely feel as lost and hopeless as the characters do while also feeling that desperate thread of hope that they cling too.
Everything about this story and these characters holds a special place in my heart. A god tier series for me.
I would highly recommend this series!
This story is not for the weak, it's gut wrenching and has you nibbling on your nails for hours waiting for the pain to end. You feel deeply for every main character and want to murder the others with your own hands 😃
Definitely check trigger warnings before going into this one bc theres a LOT that goes on and way more pain than comfort.
Alyia has done an amazing job at handling these heavy topics and dealing with them with such care that they still hold the same impact but don't leave you *too* emotionally damaged.
You feel so immersed in the story that you genuinely feel as lost and hopeless as the characters do while also feeling that desperate thread of hope that they cling too.
Everything about this story and these characters holds a special place in my heart. A god tier series for me.
I would highly recommend this series!
May 19, 2026
… I’m hurting, everything hurts.. I… I need time… This book, it broke me, I have been crying for hours and it wont stop.. I just, need time.. *sobbing on the bed*
I wish I could use a gif for this review.. I mean seriously ugly crying and snot everywhere! Thankfully I was smart enough that I didn’t read this in public..
Kade, I am hurting for him.. He is just everything and he doesn’t even know that! I just want to hold him and make everything better *starts sobbing again*
And Jules, my gosh, the things she went through! I need to hug her too and make everything better.
Their friends, yeah, ride or d** people! You will know what I mean in the end..
Few people made me so angry! I need them to be tortured! Thos sick a**holes!
I know this review makes zero sence and I am jumping between things but you nee to understand that I AM A MESS! My brain don’t work, nothing works! I don’t have the words! This book is absolutely MASTERPIECE!
You need to be an amazing author for me to feel the things I am feeling right now! I am not even kidding! Alyia is born to be a writer!
I wish I could use a gif for this review.. I mean seriously ugly crying and snot everywhere! Thankfully I was smart enough that I didn’t read this in public..
Kade, I am hurting for him.. He is just everything and he doesn’t even know that! I just want to hold him and make everything better *starts sobbing again*
And Jules, my gosh, the things she went through! I need to hug her too and make everything better.
Their friends, yeah, ride or d** people! You will know what I mean in the end..
Few people made me so angry! I need them to be tortured! Thos sick a**holes!
I know this review makes zero sence and I am jumping between things but you nee to understand that I AM A MESS! My brain don’t work, nothing works! I don’t have the words! This book is absolutely MASTERPIECE!
You need to be an amazing author for me to feel the things I am feeling right now! I am not even kidding! Alyia is born to be a writer!
May 8, 2026
This book was one of my favorites. If you haven’t read Elegy, you need to. Then you need to pick up Desolate! This book is so dark the network terrifies me. Kade & Juliet are entwined forever in darkness, and I only hope they find the light together. Can’t wait for Requiem.
Alyia writes beautifully. Her writing is lyrical, sexy and romantic but also stunningly whimsical, with a load of darkness for those of us who can’t get enough of it.
I can’t wait for book 3! Bring it on babe.
Alyia writes beautifully. Her writing is lyrical, sexy and romantic but also stunningly whimsical, with a load of darkness for those of us who can’t get enough of it.
I can’t wait for book 3! Bring it on babe.
May 6, 2026
(This is an arc review) OMG pls read this soooo good loved it 🫶
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews