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Shattered In Darkness: A dark romance standalone
This is a dark romance standalone. It is trauma-heavy, psychological, depraved, violent, explicit and contains pitch-black elements. Recommended for 18+ years or older.
LOLA
I've spent years surviving my depraved stepfather. Quiet. Calm.
Compliant. The second I fight back, I pay for it. My momma can't save me, she's gone. I'm the leftovers of the girl I used to be.
Brody was my first love. It ended badly. No closure. Just scars that never stopped burning.
Now he's back, and he isn't the boy I remember. He's obsessive and angry. The way he looks at me doesn't feel like love. It feels darker.
He wants the truth. I want freedom.
A cabin in the snow. A locked door only he controls. A skull mask in the dark. Wind loud enough to swallow screams. Rules that tighten until fear turns into heat, and heat turns into shame.
And somewhere in that frozen darkness, we realize we're both caged.
BRODY
I didn't come back to make peace. I came back because she was the one thing I never got over, even when I tried to bury it under rage.
My father tells me what I need to be to survive. Obedient.
Controlled. Violent. I'm a ghost of the boy she loved. She's the enemy now, she's the reason I lost everything. I want to break her, to hear her scream. But, I still want her, and it makes me sick.
Then she disappears, and something in me snaps.
Lola isn't mine to save.
She's mine to keep.
LOLA
I've spent years surviving my depraved stepfather. Quiet. Calm.
Compliant. The second I fight back, I pay for it. My momma can't save me, she's gone. I'm the leftovers of the girl I used to be.
Brody was my first love. It ended badly. No closure. Just scars that never stopped burning.
Now he's back, and he isn't the boy I remember. He's obsessive and angry. The way he looks at me doesn't feel like love. It feels darker.
He wants the truth. I want freedom.
A cabin in the snow. A locked door only he controls. A skull mask in the dark. Wind loud enough to swallow screams. Rules that tighten until fear turns into heat, and heat turns into shame.
And somewhere in that frozen darkness, we realize we're both caged.
BRODY
I didn't come back to make peace. I came back because she was the one thing I never got over, even when I tried to bury it under rage.
My father tells me what I need to be to survive. Obedient.
Controlled. Violent. I'm a ghost of the boy she loved. She's the enemy now, she's the reason I lost everything. I want to break her, to hear her scream. But, I still want her, and it makes me sick.
Then she disappears, and something in me snaps.
Lola isn't mine to save.
She's mine to keep.
- GenresDark
470 pages, Paperback
Published August 17, 2026
About the author
Donna Kessler
10 books22 followersDonna Kessler is a self taught writer residing in North Carolina. She has been a lifelong lover of reading, writing and poetry. She began reading and writing when she was a young child as a way to express herself and escape from reality. She enjoys writing about dark, tragic and traumatic themes with emotional and psychological depth. Her favorite genres to read and write are contemporary dark romance with aspects of horror or mystery and poetry. She has two dogs and also enjoys painting, psychology, cleaning, caring for animals. Her main hope is that readers will find her books and truly connect with the emotional depth, character and the relationships in books.
I am author of HEARTS ENTANGLED IN WINTER'S FURY.
(NEW REVIEWERS: EDITION PUBLISHED IN 2025 IS NO LONGER RELEVANT. PLEASE REVIEW NEW EDITION BEING PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 16TH 2026)
I am author of HEARTS ENTANGLED IN WINTER'S FURY.
(NEW REVIEWERS: EDITION PUBLISHED IN 2025 IS NO LONGER RELEVANT. PLEASE REVIEW NEW EDITION BEING PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 16TH 2026)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 17, 2026
2.3 ⭐️
As a pitch black reader, this book does have the dark base but none triggers me, yet it might be triggering for you especially for sensitive readers, so yeah heavy on checking the tw. Heads up on the non con and rape scenes.
Honestly, the writing is not for me - it felt disconnected with the characters and plot, choppy and kinda trying too hard as well at some part (like in wanting to portrays that the characters is this and that - like oh he’s so dark, so bad, but truthfully revealed how he’s not that pitch black 😩, (they could pass as the usual morally grey, yeah), and most dialogues feels more of like just all talks, like they’ve been spitting cocky talks or trying to portrays that that’s them, yet that’s all, you know? and the well known scenes that had been in many books now, it just appeared as kinda unsuccessful attempts in this book, etc), in addition with too much exaggeration attempts in the plot that it came out as annoying for me..for example, when the characters keep saying things like they hate each other like from the earliest chapter till almost the end but no hate were in the room with them at all, because aside from showing they keep on thinking of each other & oogling each other, there’s no reason to suddenly and carrying that hate with each other other than miscommunication + ego + foolishness between them, and after almost the end of the book, the infamous night that they said had started their drifting apart was actually just a misunderstood - as I’ve already seen it from the start - yet still, absolutely annoyed me as it took that long to reveal, avoidable actually, but there it goes, keep mentioning the night until almost the end..most of the plot were unnecessarily been stretch out for nothing..maybe that’s due to the writing, or the plot need better rearranging or both..I’m really trying till the ending, but sorry..I honestly don’t mind the multi pov, but the writing style - the sentences and all were just not it and mostly I’m dreaded to keep on reading till finish. Also, some things unanswered - why can’t she really contacted them when she’s being stalked, was it Brody that did something about that or else? And what happened to Sophie from that point on, since she never reply Lola and whatnot, but reappeared at the ending like nothing happened?
The plot base is good, got the potential to be of a somewhat good, dark read, but yeah unsuccessful to be it for me..
Thank you for the ARC though, I might try another book from the author since this is my first of hers, maybe it’ll be different or something, right, idk..Anyway, if you like dark reads, this might be for you, as I’ve seen some others did enjoyed it..
Have a great day all 🖤
As a pitch black reader, this book does have the dark base but none triggers me, yet it might be triggering for you especially for sensitive readers, so yeah heavy on checking the tw. Heads up on the non con and rape scenes.
Honestly, the writing is not for me - it felt disconnected with the characters and plot, choppy and kinda trying too hard as well at some part (like in wanting to portrays that the characters is this and that - like oh he’s so dark, so bad, but truthfully revealed how he’s not that pitch black 😩, (they could pass as the usual morally grey, yeah), and most dialogues feels more of like just all talks, like they’ve been spitting cocky talks or trying to portrays that that’s them, yet that’s all, you know? and the well known scenes that had been in many books now, it just appeared as kinda unsuccessful attempts in this book, etc), in addition with too much exaggeration attempts in the plot that it came out as annoying for me..for example, when the characters keep saying things like they hate each other like from the earliest chapter till almost the end but no hate were in the room with them at all, because aside from showing they keep on thinking of each other & oogling each other, there’s no reason to suddenly and carrying that hate with each other other than miscommunication + ego + foolishness between them, and after almost the end of the book, the infamous night that they said had started their drifting apart was actually just a misunderstood - as I’ve already seen it from the start - yet still, absolutely annoyed me as it took that long to reveal, avoidable actually, but there it goes, keep mentioning the night until almost the end..most of the plot were unnecessarily been stretch out for nothing..maybe that’s due to the writing, or the plot need better rearranging or both..I’m really trying till the ending, but sorry..I honestly don’t mind the multi pov, but the writing style - the sentences and all were just not it and mostly I’m dreaded to keep on reading till finish. Also, some things unanswered - why can’t she really contacted them when she’s being stalked, was it Brody that did something about that or else? And what happened to Sophie from that point on, since she never reply Lola and whatnot, but reappeared at the ending like nothing happened?
The plot base is good, got the potential to be of a somewhat good, dark read, but yeah unsuccessful to be it for me..
Thank you for the ARC though, I might try another book from the author since this is my first of hers, maybe it’ll be different or something, right, idk..Anyway, if you like dark reads, this might be for you, as I’ve seen some others did enjoyed it..
Have a great day all 🖤
August 26, 2026
Shattered in Darkness by Donna Kessler
Genre: Dark|Pitch Black Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Type: Standalone
I’m not going to lie, as I read this, I wondered if the author hated her characters because wtf 😭. They go through some heavy trauma. This isn’t a fun book. It’s not an easy read but it’s beautiful transition from past and present POV is what truly brings this story alive. It brings you to the darkness with these characters and you’re hoping, evening praying that some sort of good will come.
If you love your books dark with heavy trauma and lots of triggers, you’ll love this. The writing is great and flows through beautifully. Definitely recommend you adding to your tbr!
Genre: Dark|Pitch Black Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Type: Standalone
I’m not going to lie, as I read this, I wondered if the author hated her characters because wtf 😭. They go through some heavy trauma. This isn’t a fun book. It’s not an easy read but it’s beautiful transition from past and present POV is what truly brings this story alive. It brings you to the darkness with these characters and you’re hoping, evening praying that some sort of good will come.
If you love your books dark with heavy trauma and lots of triggers, you’ll love this. The writing is great and flows through beautifully. Definitely recommend you adding to your tbr!
August 17, 2026
I got the opportunity to do an ARC read and honest review for this book.
3.75 rounded up to 4 🌟. 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Please check your triggers before picking this up. It is not a dark romance, it’s pitch black throughout the majority of the book. It covers some very dark themes.
I enjoyed this read for the most part, it gave me The Edge of Darkness vibes but even gorier.
This book is about our FMC, Lola, who loses her Mom and is left to survive life with her monster of a stepdad, Marcus (I’d happily string that man up by his balls). She is in love with her next door neighbour, Brody, who is our MMC. Everything is ripped apart after her Mom passes. Lola and Brody are ripped apart and we see flashbacks throughout the book that explain exactly what happened between Lola’s Mom passing and the current day. I really enjoy flashbacks as it’s like getting a little piece of a puzzle you’re yet to complete.
We are taken on a rollercoaster ride filled with heartbreak and insanity. There is so much trauma to unpack and some twists and turns along the way. Lola is seen as an object or a possession for a man to own throughout the book but she never loses the spark inside herself.
The first half of the book I struggled with a bit, it felt like the pacing was off but the second half brought it back.
My one gripe would be certain words or phrases being over used which made it a little bit hard for me to stay gripped but overall it was a good read
3.75 rounded up to 4 🌟. 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Please check your triggers before picking this up. It is not a dark romance, it’s pitch black throughout the majority of the book. It covers some very dark themes.
I enjoyed this read for the most part, it gave me The Edge of Darkness vibes but even gorier.
This book is about our FMC, Lola, who loses her Mom and is left to survive life with her monster of a stepdad, Marcus (I’d happily string that man up by his balls). She is in love with her next door neighbour, Brody, who is our MMC. Everything is ripped apart after her Mom passes. Lola and Brody are ripped apart and we see flashbacks throughout the book that explain exactly what happened between Lola’s Mom passing and the current day. I really enjoy flashbacks as it’s like getting a little piece of a puzzle you’re yet to complete.
We are taken on a rollercoaster ride filled with heartbreak and insanity. There is so much trauma to unpack and some twists and turns along the way. Lola is seen as an object or a possession for a man to own throughout the book but she never loses the spark inside herself.
The first half of the book I struggled with a bit, it felt like the pacing was off but the second half brought it back.
My one gripe would be certain words or phrases being over used which made it a little bit hard for me to stay gripped but overall it was a good read
Review of advance copy received from Author
🚨Readers should absolutely check content warnings before diving in.🚨
Shattered Into Darkness is not for the faint-hearted. From the opening chapters, it's clear that this is an exceptionally dark and emotionally brutal story packed with numerous triggers and difficult subject matter.
The author explores trauma, suffering, and the lasting impact of devastating experiences through deeply flawed, wounded characters who endure more than most people could imagine. The journey remained compelling, running a dual POV, and I found myself completely invested in the characters and their fight to survive both their circumstances and their inner demons - only stopping reading one night because my kindle needed charging!!
There's an even pace that allows the story to develop while still maintaining tension. There were no sections that felt rushed or overly drawn out; every chapter seemed to pull me further into the seemingly hopeless situation for Lola, who absolutely broke my heart. Brody is a massive red flag of a MMC, but (and it's a big but) his "love" for Lola is all consuming, and had events taken a different course, he would quite possibly be adorable!!
Two things I especially liked:
🖤The character work – The main characters felt authentic, damaged, and emotionally layered. Their struggles, resilience, and growth made them unique.
🖤The pacing and intensity – Despite the heavy themes and constant emotional pulls, the story remained well-paced and consistently engaging, keeping me invested from beginning to end.
Overall, Shattered Into Darkness is a harrowing, emotionally charged read that delivers exactly what dark romance/dark fiction readers look for: powerful emotion, complex characters, and an atmosphere that builds throughout the book, right to the end.
Overall Rating 4.5/5 ⭐
Spice Rating 5/5 🌶️(very detailed, lots of it, taboo topics)
I received a copy of Shattered in Darkness as an ARC. This review is left voluntarily and views are my own.
Shattered Into Darkness is not for the faint-hearted. From the opening chapters, it's clear that this is an exceptionally dark and emotionally brutal story packed with numerous triggers and difficult subject matter.
The author explores trauma, suffering, and the lasting impact of devastating experiences through deeply flawed, wounded characters who endure more than most people could imagine. The journey remained compelling, running a dual POV, and I found myself completely invested in the characters and their fight to survive both their circumstances and their inner demons - only stopping reading one night because my kindle needed charging!!
There's an even pace that allows the story to develop while still maintaining tension. There were no sections that felt rushed or overly drawn out; every chapter seemed to pull me further into the seemingly hopeless situation for Lola, who absolutely broke my heart. Brody is a massive red flag of a MMC, but (and it's a big but) his "love" for Lola is all consuming, and had events taken a different course, he would quite possibly be adorable!!
Two things I especially liked:
🖤The character work – The main characters felt authentic, damaged, and emotionally layered. Their struggles, resilience, and growth made them unique.
🖤The pacing and intensity – Despite the heavy themes and constant emotional pulls, the story remained well-paced and consistently engaging, keeping me invested from beginning to end.
Overall, Shattered Into Darkness is a harrowing, emotionally charged read that delivers exactly what dark romance/dark fiction readers look for: powerful emotion, complex characters, and an atmosphere that builds throughout the book, right to the end.
Overall Rating 4.5/5 ⭐
Spice Rating 5/5 🌶️(very detailed, lots of it, taboo topics)
I received a copy of Shattered in Darkness as an ARC. This review is left voluntarily and views are my own.
August 16, 2026
First off, a great read that I fully recommend if one is not faint of heart. Check your tw friends, it’s a doozy, but such a good one.
This isn’t a love story. But, it is about love. Toxic, brutal, messy, vengeful love.
I tore through this book in less than a day. The writing was unparalleled. I needed more. Wanted more. I had to know Brody and Lola’s story.
A story it was. The pain and literal torture this two went through was unimaginable, yet they came out on top.
My God Lola was mentally invincible, this girl deserves the world and all the love in it.
I hate that I love Brody, but I do. He is awful, he is sexy, he is sin, he is droolworthy. He is Lola’s. Lola is Brody’s.
This is my first book from this author and will not be my last!
This isn’t a love story. But, it is about love. Toxic, brutal, messy, vengeful love.
I tore through this book in less than a day. The writing was unparalleled. I needed more. Wanted more. I had to know Brody and Lola’s story.
A story it was. The pain and literal torture this two went through was unimaginable, yet they came out on top.
My God Lola was mentally invincible, this girl deserves the world and all the love in it.
I hate that I love Brody, but I do. He is awful, he is sexy, he is sin, he is droolworthy. He is Lola’s. Lola is Brody’s.
This is my first book from this author and will not be my last!
August 17, 2026
6⭐️♾️⭐️
ARC review
This is pitch black, with trauma, spice, healing
First thank you to Donna for the opportunity to read this
The first chapter enraged me and had me sat. The horrible abuse Lola experiences at the hands of her stepfather Marcus - hate him with a passion but he got his karma.
The torture Lola experiences at the hands of Brody - her first love, her first heartbreak, her monster
Brody is unhinged, he misunderstood her, he wants answers.
The MMC, FMC and all the other characters were written so well and the author portrayed the trauma and healing so well
One of my favourite books of the year
Out today - 17th August 2026
ARC review
This is pitch black, with trauma, spice, healing
First thank you to Donna for the opportunity to read this
The first chapter enraged me and had me sat. The horrible abuse Lola experiences at the hands of her stepfather Marcus - hate him with a passion but he got his karma.
The torture Lola experiences at the hands of Brody - her first love, her first heartbreak, her monster
Brody is unhinged, he misunderstood her, he wants answers.
The MMC, FMC and all the other characters were written so well and the author portrayed the trauma and healing so well
One of my favourite books of the year
Out today - 17th August 2026
August 10, 2026
This book was provided to me as an advance reader copy and my review is entirely voluntary. My thoughts, opinions, and comments are all my own!
Before you read this book: READ. THE. TRIGGERS.
There are a lot of traumatic, abusive, and emotionally volatile themes within this book. It. Is. DARK.
One thing I want to say is that this book was written absolutely beautifully. The author has a way of drawing in the reader so that you feel exactly what Lola and Brody are experiencing. Her words claw their way into you just as the pain, rage, lust, fear claw into the two main characters. They both have experienced trauma, with Lola’s life seeming to just be a whole bubble of trauma.
This book takes you down the dark path that converges through twists and turns between these characters. There is also A LOT of spice. So be prepared for that. All in all, I still couldn’t put the book down.
If you enjoy dark, DARK romance, then this book should absolutely be added to your TBR.
Before you read this book: READ. THE. TRIGGERS.
There are a lot of traumatic, abusive, and emotionally volatile themes within this book. It. Is. DARK.
One thing I want to say is that this book was written absolutely beautifully. The author has a way of drawing in the reader so that you feel exactly what Lola and Brody are experiencing. Her words claw their way into you just as the pain, rage, lust, fear claw into the two main characters. They both have experienced trauma, with Lola’s life seeming to just be a whole bubble of trauma.
This book takes you down the dark path that converges through twists and turns between these characters. There is also A LOT of spice. So be prepared for that. All in all, I still couldn’t put the book down.
If you enjoy dark, DARK romance, then this book should absolutely be added to your TBR.
August 10, 2026
ARC in exchange for honest review. 💙💙💙
While Brody lacks emotion for others, he understands his deep need is never ending for Lola. He feels Lola is his and WILL be his forever. Lola is dying piece by piece daily. She’s being abused by every single person in her life. She still holds on, and does what she can to survive the day.
What I love about Brody is how he never lies to himself about his feelings for Lola. He wants to consume her, even when he feels she betrayed him. Brody’s obsession for Lola has no end, it’s absolute. When they are both faced with the truth of their traumatic past, they realize how no matter how broken they may feel, their love for one another is everlasting. This book broke my heart but was incredibly well written. This is the story I have looked for in other books/authors but they were lacking. The pace never failed to keep me engaged, the story seemed realistic, and the characters gripped me. The HEA is highly deserved for both Brody and Lola. 5 ⭐️
While Brody lacks emotion for others, he understands his deep need is never ending for Lola. He feels Lola is his and WILL be his forever. Lola is dying piece by piece daily. She’s being abused by every single person in her life. She still holds on, and does what she can to survive the day.
What I love about Brody is how he never lies to himself about his feelings for Lola. He wants to consume her, even when he feels she betrayed him. Brody’s obsession for Lola has no end, it’s absolute. When they are both faced with the truth of their traumatic past, they realize how no matter how broken they may feel, their love for one another is everlasting. This book broke my heart but was incredibly well written. This is the story I have looked for in other books/authors but they were lacking. The pace never failed to keep me engaged, the story seemed realistic, and the characters gripped me. The HEA is highly deserved for both Brody and Lola. 5 ⭐️
August 10, 2026
I just finished the ARC of *Shattered in Darkness* by Donna Kessler, which follows the story of Lola and Brody. I couldn’t put it down! The writing was excellent, the plot engaging, and the smut scenes were well done. The ending really got to me—when he said her home is with her, it melted my heart. This book is a gem and comes out on August 17th. Definitely a five-star read!
September 5, 2026
this book was interesting and addicting to read. it was also very dark, especially in the second half of the book. it might have been a little too dark for me at times 😅. anyways, I absolutely loved the first half of this book, but the male lead, brody, pissed me off sometimes when him and lola were in the cabin lol. though, I loved the female lead, lola. she deserves the world. I’m glad these characters got their happy ending after everything they’ve been through.
August 18, 2026
‼️⚠️‼️I’m going to say this only once and you better fcking listen—CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS. I BEG OF YOU. This is not a light and fluffy romance. This is pure darkness, raw, vulnerable, and destructive. Please, please, please do yourself a favor and look first! MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS.‼️⚠️‼️
I had to rate in broken heart emojis—and if that’s not something you wanted—well too damn bad. Because that’s how my heart and soul felt.
This is and has been the most dark, heartwrenching, traumatic, painful and saddening story I have ever read. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It took me longer to read than most because of how devastating it was and my mental health matters. As does yours—so please check the trigger warnings. Please know what you’re diving into. And if you need to step away and take a little longer to read—then that’s okay.
Reading this through it’s entirety and finishing it—I don’t know how to feel. How am I supposed to rate something and review something that tore me to shreds? I’m at a loss because it was so emotional and traumatic but yet somehow the very fucked up love and feelings between Brody and Lola are somehow devastatingly beautiful. And I feel like that’s not something I should say. There were a few instances where their toxicity between each other was vicious. More so, Brody was vicious. And that’s not okay. In any case. But the way he is—the way he was shaped and manipulated—I understand his rage. His fury. His feelings of betrayal and untrust. My heart broke for him. But my heart was so much more broken and shattered for Lola. That woman—survived absolutely every horrifying and tragic and painful moment and I can’t help but mourn for her. She didn’t deserve any of that. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to be able to just pull her from those pages and erase that life for her. Make her safe. Make her forget all of it.
This was a tough read for me, I’m not going to lie. But I pushed my way through it because a part of me had hoped that there was at least a sliver of hope that she would be free of it all. The last 20% of this story, I kept catching myself holding my breath. Furrowing my brows, trying to hold back my sobs, my anxiety growing. But with it all—Lola and Brody were able to rid themselves of the monsters—with a vengeance. And those monsters, deserved every bit of pain and suffering. I have never hated characters so much in my reading. But those ones—they deserve to rot in the deepest depths of Hell there is. Even with the absolute heartache and devastation I felt throughout—somehow those pieces were imprecisely put back together. Lola and Brody are far from perfect, far from being healed—but they need each other. They understand each other’s darkness and together they slowly try to bring back a little brightness. I wanted nothing more than for them to be able to have some sliver of happiness and no longer live in fear—and they did get that in the end. Thank goodness too, because I don’t think my heart and soul could have handled any more devastation.
Thank you Donna for the early copy. As much as my heart was absolutely demolished, I appreciate you allowing me to be apart of this journey before the book released.
I had to rate in broken heart emojis—and if that’s not something you wanted—well too damn bad. Because that’s how my heart and soul felt.
This is and has been the most dark, heartwrenching, traumatic, painful and saddening story I have ever read. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It took me longer to read than most because of how devastating it was and my mental health matters. As does yours—so please check the trigger warnings. Please know what you’re diving into. And if you need to step away and take a little longer to read—then that’s okay.
Reading this through it’s entirety and finishing it—I don’t know how to feel. How am I supposed to rate something and review something that tore me to shreds? I’m at a loss because it was so emotional and traumatic but yet somehow the very fucked up love and feelings between Brody and Lola are somehow devastatingly beautiful. And I feel like that’s not something I should say. There were a few instances where their toxicity between each other was vicious. More so, Brody was vicious. And that’s not okay. In any case. But the way he is—the way he was shaped and manipulated—I understand his rage. His fury. His feelings of betrayal and untrust. My heart broke for him. But my heart was so much more broken and shattered for Lola. That woman—survived absolutely every horrifying and tragic and painful moment and I can’t help but mourn for her. She didn’t deserve any of that. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to be able to just pull her from those pages and erase that life for her. Make her safe. Make her forget all of it.
This was a tough read for me, I’m not going to lie. But I pushed my way through it because a part of me had hoped that there was at least a sliver of hope that she would be free of it all. The last 20% of this story, I kept catching myself holding my breath. Furrowing my brows, trying to hold back my sobs, my anxiety growing. But with it all—Lola and Brody were able to rid themselves of the monsters—with a vengeance. And those monsters, deserved every bit of pain and suffering. I have never hated characters so much in my reading. But those ones—they deserve to rot in the deepest depths of Hell there is. Even with the absolute heartache and devastation I felt throughout—somehow those pieces were imprecisely put back together. Lola and Brody are far from perfect, far from being healed—but they need each other. They understand each other’s darkness and together they slowly try to bring back a little brightness. I wanted nothing more than for them to be able to have some sliver of happiness and no longer live in fear—and they did get that in the end. Thank goodness too, because I don’t think my heart and soul could have handled any more devastation.
Thank you Donna for the early copy. As much as my heart was absolutely demolished, I appreciate you allowing me to be apart of this journey before the book released.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4/5 Star Rating.
This book destroyed me. Like, genuinely destroyed me.
I honestly shouldn't be liking this book as much as I do. I definitely shouldn't be loving the MMC as much as I do, but oh my God, I loved him so much. I finished the book and couldn't even bring myself to think about another book because I was still so stuck in this one.
Every single character had so much depth, and every character actually played a role in the story. The MMC, FMC, and even the villains were written so well. And the villains? I hated them. Like, genuinely hated them. I wanted to gouge their eyes out every time they appeared. That's how perfectly they were written as villains.
The FMC did frustrate me at times, and honestly, I thought she was a little stupid in some situations. But I also understood where she was coming from. She didn't have a choice. The way she had to bow her head and keep living despite everything she went through was heartbreaking. Her life was so traumatizing, yet she kept going no matter what.
And then there was the MMC's love and hatred for her at the same time. That was portrayed so beautifully. He wanted answers, he misunderstood her, and everything between them was so complicated. Normally, if I see a book heavily based on misunderstandings, I stay away because it's one of the tropes I usually don't enjoy. But this book? I couldn't put it down.
I stayed up all night reading this. My eyes were literally burning because I desperately needed sleep, but I just kept flipping the pages because I needed to know what happened next.
And the worst part? Even now, when I think about the book, random scenes keep replaying in my head. And some of those scenes still hurt like hell. That's how deeply this story got to me.
I really, really appreciate the author for this book because she genuinely worked magic here. I loved how the story explored trauma, healing, and the fact that not everyone who gets what they want suddenly becomes a better person. Some people remain villains. Some people are shaped so deeply by their past that they can't simply change who they are.
I loved the characters. I hated the villains. I questioned everyone's decisions. I got frustrated, obsessed, emotionally destroyed and somehow, I still loved every second of it.
Four stars because this book absolutely wrecked me, and apparently I enjoyed being wrecked. 🖤
This book destroyed me. Like, genuinely destroyed me.
I honestly shouldn't be liking this book as much as I do. I definitely shouldn't be loving the MMC as much as I do, but oh my God, I loved him so much. I finished the book and couldn't even bring myself to think about another book because I was still so stuck in this one.
Every single character had so much depth, and every character actually played a role in the story. The MMC, FMC, and even the villains were written so well. And the villains? I hated them. Like, genuinely hated them. I wanted to gouge their eyes out every time they appeared. That's how perfectly they were written as villains.
The FMC did frustrate me at times, and honestly, I thought she was a little stupid in some situations. But I also understood where she was coming from. She didn't have a choice. The way she had to bow her head and keep living despite everything she went through was heartbreaking. Her life was so traumatizing, yet she kept going no matter what.
And then there was the MMC's love and hatred for her at the same time. That was portrayed so beautifully. He wanted answers, he misunderstood her, and everything between them was so complicated. Normally, if I see a book heavily based on misunderstandings, I stay away because it's one of the tropes I usually don't enjoy. But this book? I couldn't put it down.
I stayed up all night reading this. My eyes were literally burning because I desperately needed sleep, but I just kept flipping the pages because I needed to know what happened next.
And the worst part? Even now, when I think about the book, random scenes keep replaying in my head. And some of those scenes still hurt like hell. That's how deeply this story got to me.
I really, really appreciate the author for this book because she genuinely worked magic here. I loved how the story explored trauma, healing, and the fact that not everyone who gets what they want suddenly becomes a better person. Some people remain villains. Some people are shaped so deeply by their past that they can't simply change who they are.
I loved the characters. I hated the villains. I questioned everyone's decisions. I got frustrated, obsessed, emotionally destroyed and somehow, I still loved every second of it.
Four stars because this book absolutely wrecked me, and apparently I enjoyed being wrecked. 🖤
September 20, 2026
I had to force myself to finish...
Okay, so this is a pretty dark read. What happened to Lola is dark. You get a better sense of that and how completely evil Marcus is there at the end.
And usually I dont gripe about spelling errors, a little too much repetitiveness...
But...
It wasnt even any of that. It was the same scenes were repeated. Or the author started with one thought to end it with another.
Did he throw the dog bowl at her, or did he go pick it up, or did we forget we threw it and just took it up after picking up?
That was my breaking point for that type of beginning and ending with different ideas. I was over it.
One chapter beginning with him saying he sent for her to be kidnapped, where did that come from? That was his dad.
One chapter ended with him grabbing her hair and walking, the beginning of the next chapter is what I assume the beginning of her running in the dark cabin. A whole scene literally restarting.
Her hands and feet are tied together but clothes mysteriously come off.
His hands at her throat, then it comes to her throat.
It wasnt the repetitiveness of the certajn words at what was going on, it was the repetitiveness of the actions they'd literally just done.
Were they up against the wall, because the plaster wall was shaking, but the next breadth it was glass, then walls shaking then glass again.
Im also okay with stilted sentences, but when its so overdone you're literally reading through confusion to get through it... just meh.
And dont get me started on the psychopath that didnt care about his mom to him being completely unhinged about. The beginning started really strong. But he ended up with feelings a psychopath just doesn't end up with.
If you can get past all of that, lol, the plot was a banger. It was a very dark crazy plot that I forced myself to finish because it was there. But by the end it was not the same character from Brodys standpoint.
He would have walked away if she wanted it? He saw her cheat and just left, im sorry but psychopaths, again...
Nope, just, nope.
And what was with everything being blue? I just.... the plot was there. But the characters never even finished explaining things!
Ugh, okay.
Rant over.
Okay, so this is a pretty dark read. What happened to Lola is dark. You get a better sense of that and how completely evil Marcus is there at the end.
And usually I dont gripe about spelling errors, a little too much repetitiveness...
But...
It wasnt even any of that. It was the same scenes were repeated. Or the author started with one thought to end it with another.
Did he throw the dog bowl at her, or did he go pick it up, or did we forget we threw it and just took it up after picking up?
That was my breaking point for that type of beginning and ending with different ideas. I was over it.
One chapter beginning with him saying he sent for her to be kidnapped, where did that come from? That was his dad.
One chapter ended with him grabbing her hair and walking, the beginning of the next chapter is what I assume the beginning of her running in the dark cabin. A whole scene literally restarting.
Her hands and feet are tied together but clothes mysteriously come off.
His hands at her throat, then it comes to her throat.
It wasnt the repetitiveness of the certajn words at what was going on, it was the repetitiveness of the actions they'd literally just done.
Were they up against the wall, because the plaster wall was shaking, but the next breadth it was glass, then walls shaking then glass again.
Im also okay with stilted sentences, but when its so overdone you're literally reading through confusion to get through it... just meh.
And dont get me started on the psychopath that didnt care about his mom to him being completely unhinged about. The beginning started really strong. But he ended up with feelings a psychopath just doesn't end up with.
If you can get past all of that, lol, the plot was a banger. It was a very dark crazy plot that I forced myself to finish because it was there. But by the end it was not the same character from Brodys standpoint.
He would have walked away if she wanted it? He saw her cheat and just left, im sorry but psychopaths, again...
Nope, just, nope.
And what was with everything being blue? I just.... the plot was there. But the characters never even finished explaining things!
Ugh, okay.
Rant over.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Rounding up to 4 ⭐ for the sheer f***ed-up-ness of it all 🤪
🖤Pitch Black🖤
5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🔥
⚠️🚨⚠️🚨⚠️🚨⚠️🚨⚠️🚨
🖤 Are you ready for a 𝘗𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢-𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺, 𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭, 𝘝𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭 5 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘺, 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦?
…I thought I was… 😱
Holy hell! Brody and Lola (especially Brody) are like next level f***ed up.
Lola, mostly as a product of her environment, and Brody… Well, he was born ‘different’ and it just never got better for him. 💔
Lola was drawn to Brody’s darkness.
They sortta trauma bonded. They each provided what the other needed.
But things ended badly.
Lola disappears.
Brody leaves.
And now Lola is trapped with her controlling and abusive stepfather.
Brody returns with a vengeance and rage in his veins, believing Lola is his enemy.
His father has trained him to be a ‘fixer’ of sorts for all his dirty dealings and constantly fed him lies about Lola to keep him in line and on his side.
All the love Brody once held for Lola is now hatred and there’s nothing he won’t do to exact his revenge on her.
Even though love still exists in his deepest parts, he’s blinded by the darkness and the need to control. Control Lola in the most vile and depraved ways possible.
He wants to 𝙊𝙒𝙉 her.
He wants to 𝙍𝙐𝙄𝙉 her.
He doesn’t know how to show love.
He only knows pain and violence.
Well, that’s exactly what Lola needs, but 𝙾𝙽𝙻𝚈 if it’s from Brody.
Sort of… Eventually…
These two are seriously deranged 🤪
Y’all… I can’t express the level and amount of torture Lola experiences.
From her stepfather. From Brody. And from countless random men. It’s absolutely horrible and heartbreaking what she goes through.
❌ And Brody. My gawwwwwd! He’s awful! Brutal, malicious, deranged, tormented, unhinged, unstable, and completely off the rails. 😵
And not in the 𝕤𝕖𝕩𝕪-𝕣𝕖𝕕-𝕗𝕝𝕒𝕘. 😬
This is the blackest, most tainted, toxic type of love story from the deepest depths of hell.
Why are we drawn to this type of ‘𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵’? 🫣
No judgement here 🤘 I say, The Darker The Better.
Well, it doesn't get much darker, folks! 😈
This is Mean, and Ugly, and Violent, and Extremely Graphic.
⚠️ Enter at your own risk⚠️
Torture | Sexual Assault | Explicit Sexual Acts | Violence | Abuse | Trauma | Extremely Graphic
🖤Pitch Black🖤
5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🔥
⚠️🚨⚠️🚨⚠️🚨⚠️🚨⚠️🚨
🖤 Are you ready for a 𝘗𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢-𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺, 𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭, 𝘝𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭 5 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘺, 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦?
…I thought I was… 😱
Holy hell! Brody and Lola (especially Brody) are like next level f***ed up.
Lola, mostly as a product of her environment, and Brody… Well, he was born ‘different’ and it just never got better for him. 💔
Lola was drawn to Brody’s darkness.
They sortta trauma bonded. They each provided what the other needed.
But things ended badly.
Lola disappears.
Brody leaves.
And now Lola is trapped with her controlling and abusive stepfather.
Brody returns with a vengeance and rage in his veins, believing Lola is his enemy.
His father has trained him to be a ‘fixer’ of sorts for all his dirty dealings and constantly fed him lies about Lola to keep him in line and on his side.
All the love Brody once held for Lola is now hatred and there’s nothing he won’t do to exact his revenge on her.
Even though love still exists in his deepest parts, he’s blinded by the darkness and the need to control. Control Lola in the most vile and depraved ways possible.
He wants to 𝙊𝙒𝙉 her.
He wants to 𝙍𝙐𝙄𝙉 her.
He doesn’t know how to show love.
He only knows pain and violence.
Well, that’s exactly what Lola needs, but 𝙾𝙽𝙻𝚈 if it’s from Brody.
Sort of… Eventually…
These two are seriously deranged 🤪
Y’all… I can’t express the level and amount of torture Lola experiences.
From her stepfather. From Brody. And from countless random men. It’s absolutely horrible and heartbreaking what she goes through.
❌ And Brody. My gawwwwwd! He’s awful! Brutal, malicious, deranged, tormented, unhinged, unstable, and completely off the rails. 😵
And not in the 𝕤𝕖𝕩𝕪-𝕣𝕖𝕕-𝕗𝕝𝕒𝕘. 😬
This is the blackest, most tainted, toxic type of love story from the deepest depths of hell.
Why are we drawn to this type of ‘𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵’? 🫣
No judgement here 🤘 I say, The Darker The Better.
Well, it doesn't get much darker, folks! 😈
This is Mean, and Ugly, and Violent, and Extremely Graphic.
⚠️ Enter at your own risk⚠️
Torture | Sexual Assault | Explicit Sexual Acts | Violence | Abuse | Trauma | Extremely Graphic
August 21, 2026
Shattered in Darkness is a dark romance standalone that focuses on Lola and Brody, two that once as teenagers were first loves and now that love has become hate and distance. Lola knows the truth that she hides deep inside from the actions of her stepfather towards her to what she is forced to do as she gets older. No one can save her and on one knows how Lola really feels. The darkness, terror, desperation, fury, and sadness that eats her alive while she wears a complacent mask for the world to see.
Brody is dark, disturbed fury and nothing like the boy Lola knew. He blames her for everything not being aware of everything Lola has endured since they have been apart. To Brody, Lola is the reason he lost everything and the enemy. He is a trained killer and meant to be obedient to his father's wishes. Little does he know that they have a lot in common when it comes to following orders to avoid discipline.
Brody is obsessed with Lola and does everything to keep her for himself. Such obsession leads to abuse, captivity, torment, despair, suffering, pain, violence and a lot of psychological trauma. This book is not for the faint of heart so I beg you to read the trigger warnings before diving in. Brody and Lola are not a couple meant for happy ever after. In many ways this is a book about survival and enduring trauma but in the end both characters in their own way find their freedom and redemption.
This is a messy book that is deep and dark and will make you feel in ways you cannot imagine. For some that may have gone through abuse, violence, and trauma Shattered In Darkness can bury in deep. The stories may not be the same but that doesn't mean they won't hit home. The story focuses a lot on the past and old feelings and while this can seem repetitive anyone that has been through traumatic experiences with a first love can know well how the emotions are on nonstop repeat sometimes beyond our control.
If you are looking for a book that is deep, dark, traumatic, intense and sad in its own way I recommend Shattered In Darkness. Remember your mental health is a priority so always reading the triggers. Until next time, happy reading!
Brody is dark, disturbed fury and nothing like the boy Lola knew. He blames her for everything not being aware of everything Lola has endured since they have been apart. To Brody, Lola is the reason he lost everything and the enemy. He is a trained killer and meant to be obedient to his father's wishes. Little does he know that they have a lot in common when it comes to following orders to avoid discipline.
Brody is obsessed with Lola and does everything to keep her for himself. Such obsession leads to abuse, captivity, torment, despair, suffering, pain, violence and a lot of psychological trauma. This book is not for the faint of heart so I beg you to read the trigger warnings before diving in. Brody and Lola are not a couple meant for happy ever after. In many ways this is a book about survival and enduring trauma but in the end both characters in their own way find their freedom and redemption.
This is a messy book that is deep and dark and will make you feel in ways you cannot imagine. For some that may have gone through abuse, violence, and trauma Shattered In Darkness can bury in deep. The stories may not be the same but that doesn't mean they won't hit home. The story focuses a lot on the past and old feelings and while this can seem repetitive anyone that has been through traumatic experiences with a first love can know well how the emotions are on nonstop repeat sometimes beyond our control.
If you are looking for a book that is deep, dark, traumatic, intense and sad in its own way I recommend Shattered In Darkness. Remember your mental health is a priority so always reading the triggers. Until next time, happy reading!
Read
August 15, 2026
REVIEW OF ADVANCE READER COPY FROM AUTHOR
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 3.5/5
This was dark, messy, and seriously intense. I knew going in that this was going to be a heavy read, but some parts still caught me off guard.
Lola's situation was probably the hardest part for me to read. The amount of control and abuse she went through made her story heartbreaking, and I really felt for her throughout the book. Brody was a whole different kind of complicated. He was obsessed with Lola from such a young age, but years of anger, manipulation, and everything that happened between them turned that love into something incredibly toxic.
What kept me reading was wanting to see how their story would unfold after everything that happened between them. There were so many layers to their past, especially with Marcus and Richard, and I liked slowly finding out what actually happened and why Brody left Lola in the first place.
The story definitely doesn't shy away from the darkness. The abuse, captivity, manipulation, violence, and psychological elements are very heavy, so this is absolutely not a book I'd recommend going into blindly.
I also liked that the ending gave Lola a sense of freedom and finally brought some resolution to everything she had been through. Brody's redemption wasn't exactly clean or simple, but considering the kind of story this was, I appreciated that the characters had to deal with the consequences of everything that happened.
Overall, this was a 3.5-star read for me. It was definitely memorable and had some moments that genuinely got to me, but what made this a difficult read for me was the ongoing repetition. A lot of the same thoughts & emotions were revisited multiple times, and after a while it started to feel a little drawn out. I think the story could have had a stronger impact if some of those moments had been trimmed down.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 3.5/5
This was dark, messy, and seriously intense. I knew going in that this was going to be a heavy read, but some parts still caught me off guard.
Lola's situation was probably the hardest part for me to read. The amount of control and abuse she went through made her story heartbreaking, and I really felt for her throughout the book. Brody was a whole different kind of complicated. He was obsessed with Lola from such a young age, but years of anger, manipulation, and everything that happened between them turned that love into something incredibly toxic.
What kept me reading was wanting to see how their story would unfold after everything that happened between them. There were so many layers to their past, especially with Marcus and Richard, and I liked slowly finding out what actually happened and why Brody left Lola in the first place.
The story definitely doesn't shy away from the darkness. The abuse, captivity, manipulation, violence, and psychological elements are very heavy, so this is absolutely not a book I'd recommend going into blindly.
I also liked that the ending gave Lola a sense of freedom and finally brought some resolution to everything she had been through. Brody's redemption wasn't exactly clean or simple, but considering the kind of story this was, I appreciated that the characters had to deal with the consequences of everything that happened.
Overall, this was a 3.5-star read for me. It was definitely memorable and had some moments that genuinely got to me, but what made this a difficult read for me was the ongoing repetition. A lot of the same thoughts & emotions were revisited multiple times, and after a while it started to feel a little drawn out. I think the story could have had a stronger impact if some of those moments had been trimmed down.
August 17, 2026
Donna Kessler... We need words.
This book is DARK. Like "doing the nasty next to a dead body" dark. There is trauma, tragedy and the most evil soulless villain I have had the misfortune to encounter- you know who you are (Marcus).
Shattered in Darkness is tragic. Beautifully heartbreaking. It delves into the loss of innocence and the idea of perpetual, deep rooted rot within people. This isn't a story about love, it's one of survival- both for the characters AND for me because I swear you don't read this one, you survive it.
Every flashback shows us how Lola becomes the shell of who she was and we see her world unravel, piece by piece. There were moments when reading this book when I wondered whether Lola's continual survival was a curse rather than a blessing. The universe does her no favours and things seem to go from bad, to worse, to catastrophic and finally to the point of no return where I was sat staring at a wall thinking "no one can survive this".
Hell itself took Lola, played with her and spat her back out just to torment her some more. Just when I thought there couldn't be anymore emotional damage, I got to watch as a broken Lola found impossible inner strength... and chose to live, to not be broken any further- and it broke me!
This was truly a journey and the tension as I got to 81% of the way through had me almost throwing my kindle at the wall, we were getting dangerously close to the end of the book and Justice had yet to be served! Thankfully, Donna didn't leave me rocking in a corner for too long as the ending was the perfect conclusion to my emotional breakdown. That said, this book should come with an added trigger warning as it did make me late for lunch with a friend because I got sucked into reading it as I was getting ready- I could not put it down.
This book is DARK. Like "doing the nasty next to a dead body" dark. There is trauma, tragedy and the most evil soulless villain I have had the misfortune to encounter- you know who you are (Marcus).
Shattered in Darkness is tragic. Beautifully heartbreaking. It delves into the loss of innocence and the idea of perpetual, deep rooted rot within people. This isn't a story about love, it's one of survival- both for the characters AND for me because I swear you don't read this one, you survive it.
Every flashback shows us how Lola becomes the shell of who she was and we see her world unravel, piece by piece. There were moments when reading this book when I wondered whether Lola's continual survival was a curse rather than a blessing. The universe does her no favours and things seem to go from bad, to worse, to catastrophic and finally to the point of no return where I was sat staring at a wall thinking "no one can survive this".
Hell itself took Lola, played with her and spat her back out just to torment her some more. Just when I thought there couldn't be anymore emotional damage, I got to watch as a broken Lola found impossible inner strength... and chose to live, to not be broken any further- and it broke me!
This was truly a journey and the tension as I got to 81% of the way through had me almost throwing my kindle at the wall, we were getting dangerously close to the end of the book and Justice had yet to be served! Thankfully, Donna didn't leave me rocking in a corner for too long as the ending was the perfect conclusion to my emotional breakdown. That said, this book should come with an added trigger warning as it did make me late for lunch with a friend because I got sucked into reading it as I was getting ready- I could not put it down.
October 4, 2026
Please check triggers. I don't have triggers, but please do, especially anything to do with r*pe
So the writing for me was good. Not the best but I'm definitely glad it wasn't detailing every inch of a scene or repeating what just happened after 2 pages. Although the cabin scene I believe I felt like it deserved that kind of detail because one minute something is happening between our characters and the next all hell has broken loose. So it's got its drawbacks at times
I enjoyed the flashbacks at first, but some just felt like fillers. I know it was to give a better idea at Lola and Brody, who they were during that time period and how that shaped them, but they all weren't for me.
I honestly felt sorry for both Lola and Brody because of what happened and how both handled it but I just wish Lola had told Brody the first time it happened because I feel like they had this relationship before anything got worse for them and they were honest to each other but when pushing actually came to shove Lola was the first to clamp down.
Her stepfather... I can't remember his name cause I hated him so much is just ugh, and I wish Brody had done more to him, but that's just me.
I definitely feel bad for Brodys sister as well. While it seems that Brody and her lived under the same roof they definitely had different upbringings and exposures or lack there of to things their father was doing which I don't blame Brody for turning to dr*gs since Lola occasionally did as well.
I'm just sorry that I'm late to reading/reviewing this because my Kindle decided to poop on me, and I was never able to get it to work again after 2 weeks of struggling
So the writing for me was good. Not the best but I'm definitely glad it wasn't detailing every inch of a scene or repeating what just happened after 2 pages. Although the cabin scene I believe I felt like it deserved that kind of detail because one minute something is happening between our characters and the next all hell has broken loose. So it's got its drawbacks at times
I enjoyed the flashbacks at first, but some just felt like fillers. I know it was to give a better idea at Lola and Brody, who they were during that time period and how that shaped them, but they all weren't for me.
I honestly felt sorry for both Lola and Brody because of what happened and how both handled it but I just wish Lola had told Brody the first time it happened because I feel like they had this relationship before anything got worse for them and they were honest to each other but when pushing actually came to shove Lola was the first to clamp down.
Her stepfather... I can't remember his name cause I hated him so much is just ugh, and I wish Brody had done more to him, but that's just me.
I definitely feel bad for Brodys sister as well. While it seems that Brody and her lived under the same roof they definitely had different upbringings and exposures or lack there of to things their father was doing which I don't blame Brody for turning to dr*gs since Lola occasionally did as well.
I'm just sorry that I'm late to reading/reviewing this because my Kindle decided to poop on me, and I was never able to get it to work again after 2 weeks of struggling
August 31, 2026
This was my first time diving into a pitch-black romance, and I honestly think it goes beyond some of the darker romances I've seen on BookTok. I've never experienced a book this intense before, so finishing this story took a lot from me. The pain, trauma, and emotional weight were delivered exactly as promised. Even the trigger warning at the beginning wasn't exaggerating-it truly prepares readers for the darkness ahead.
A huge thank you to the author and Inked & Depraved Collective for providing me with a free ARC and for kindly granting me an extension until the end of August after I reached out. I finally managed to finish this book yesterday.
This story follows Lola and Brody, two characters whose journey is filled with passion, emotional intensity, and a lot of complicated feelings. Their story explores love, pain, trauma, and the darkness surrounding them. The chemistry between them was intense, and the emotional struggles throughout the book made their journey impossible to ignore.
What stood out to me most was how the author portrayed the characters' emotional battles and created such a heavy atmosphere throughout the story. Beyond the spicy scenes, the raw emotions and darker themes were what truly left an impact on me.
Overall, I rated this book 4.5/5. If you're planning to pick it up, please make sure to check the trigger warnings beforehand as this is definitely not a light read.
A huge thank you to the author and Inked & Depraved Collective for providing me with a free ARC and for kindly granting me an extension until the end of August after I reached out. I finally managed to finish this book yesterday.
This story follows Lola and Brody, two characters whose journey is filled with passion, emotional intensity, and a lot of complicated feelings. Their story explores love, pain, trauma, and the darkness surrounding them. The chemistry between them was intense, and the emotional struggles throughout the book made their journey impossible to ignore.
What stood out to me most was how the author portrayed the characters' emotional battles and created such a heavy atmosphere throughout the story. Beyond the spicy scenes, the raw emotions and darker themes were what truly left an impact on me.
Overall, I rated this book 4.5/5. If you're planning to pick it up, please make sure to check the trigger warnings beforehand as this is definitely not a light read.
August 29, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC Review
Okay… THIS is what I want when I pick up a pitch-black romance. 🖤
Tropes:
🖤 Pitch-black romance
🏠 Forced proximity
🔪 Touch her and die
⛓️ Captor × captive
❄️ Snowed in
Definitely check the trigger warnings before reading. This book goes DARK and absolutely does not shy away from it.
This was an easy 5-star read for me. The smut was smutty 🔥, the plot was genuinely fabulous, and the book completely lived up to its pitch-black romance label.
Lola was such a well-written FMC. She endured so much throughout the story, and watching everything she went through ultimately shape her into a stronger person was incredibly satisfying.
And then there’s Brody. 🥵🖤 I genuinely cannot say enough about this man. He isn't your typical morally gray MMC. He is morally BLACK. There is no pretending he's secretly a good guy underneath it all. He's dangerous, ruthless, and completely unapologetic about who he is. And honestly? That made him so much more compelling.
The ending was absolutely perfect and left me completely satisfied while also making me hope we get more from this author in the future.
If you love your romance dark, twisted, morally black, and unapologetically filthy, definitely add this one to your TBR. 🖤🔥
Okay… THIS is what I want when I pick up a pitch-black romance. 🖤
Tropes:
🖤 Pitch-black romance
🏠 Forced proximity
🔪 Touch her and die
⛓️ Captor × captive
❄️ Snowed in
Definitely check the trigger warnings before reading. This book goes DARK and absolutely does not shy away from it.
This was an easy 5-star read for me. The smut was smutty 🔥, the plot was genuinely fabulous, and the book completely lived up to its pitch-black romance label.
Lola was such a well-written FMC. She endured so much throughout the story, and watching everything she went through ultimately shape her into a stronger person was incredibly satisfying.
And then there’s Brody. 🥵🖤 I genuinely cannot say enough about this man. He isn't your typical morally gray MMC. He is morally BLACK. There is no pretending he's secretly a good guy underneath it all. He's dangerous, ruthless, and completely unapologetic about who he is. And honestly? That made him so much more compelling.
The ending was absolutely perfect and left me completely satisfied while also making me hope we get more from this author in the future.
If you love your romance dark, twisted, morally black, and unapologetically filthy, definitely add this one to your TBR. 🖤🔥
September 7, 2026
✨ARC Book Review ✨
Check your triggers!!
If possessiveness, unhinged, with a she’s MINE power struggle was a book…..Yup this is it. This book is pitch black, traumatic, psychologically unhinged just to name a few. 😬
In this story we have Brody and Lola, two shattered, broken souls stuck under the manipulative controlling ways of their “fathers”.
When Lola’s mother dies her world crumples and she left in the possessive, controlling hands of her stepfather (Marcus). Now that was definitely a man that I wanted to see be tortured in the way he did Lola. Whew, I was fussing and cussing with each thing he did to her. 🤬
Then there’s Brody, his father’s (Richard) “clean up man”. Also, stuck under his father’s control and manipulation while trying to determine who murdered his mother. Because the accident was no accident.
Brody is Lola’s first love. Lola is Brody’s obsession. What will he do when he’s told she’s a part of the unthinkable? Does he trust the information given or trust that his obsession is not capable of such acts?
Brody and Lola suffered such psychological and physical trauma all throughout this story that had my feelings being all over the place. I was pulling for these two broken souls to find their way through the darkness that shattered them.
Check your triggers!!
If possessiveness, unhinged, with a she’s MINE power struggle was a book…..Yup this is it. This book is pitch black, traumatic, psychologically unhinged just to name a few. 😬
In this story we have Brody and Lola, two shattered, broken souls stuck under the manipulative controlling ways of their “fathers”.
When Lola’s mother dies her world crumples and she left in the possessive, controlling hands of her stepfather (Marcus). Now that was definitely a man that I wanted to see be tortured in the way he did Lola. Whew, I was fussing and cussing with each thing he did to her. 🤬
Then there’s Brody, his father’s (Richard) “clean up man”. Also, stuck under his father’s control and manipulation while trying to determine who murdered his mother. Because the accident was no accident.
Brody is Lola’s first love. Lola is Brody’s obsession. What will he do when he’s told she’s a part of the unthinkable? Does he trust the information given or trust that his obsession is not capable of such acts?
Brody and Lola suffered such psychological and physical trauma all throughout this story that had my feelings being all over the place. I was pulling for these two broken souls to find their way through the darkness that shattered them.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Smut: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3/5)
**** Please check trigger warnings. This has pitch black elements and is not for everyone. ****
I would call this one a "darker than dark" romance but doesn't fully fall into the pitch black category for me.
Lola and Brody start out in love, but familial circumstances turn their fairytale into a living nightmare. Lola becomes her stepfather's victim, and Brody is forced to become his father's fixer. Years later, Brody returns full of rage and ready to claim her back, forcing them both to fight the psychological aftermath of long-term brainwashing.
Donna Kessler writes with raw intensity, making me feel Lola's and Brody's trauma down to the soul. Lola’s story was completely heartbreaking and Brody's rage was vibrating through the pages, and I just wanted to hug them both.
Although slightly predictable, this was a fantastic gripping read!Check trigger warnings before starting! This has incredibly heavy elements and is not for the casual romance reader. But if you have no triggers, add this to your TBR immediately!
Smut: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3/5)
**** Please check trigger warnings. This has pitch black elements and is not for everyone. ****
I would call this one a "darker than dark" romance but doesn't fully fall into the pitch black category for me.
Lola and Brody start out in love, but familial circumstances turn their fairytale into a living nightmare. Lola becomes her stepfather's victim, and Brody is forced to become his father's fixer. Years later, Brody returns full of rage and ready to claim her back, forcing them both to fight the psychological aftermath of long-term brainwashing.
Donna Kessler writes with raw intensity, making me feel Lola's and Brody's trauma down to the soul. Lola’s story was completely heartbreaking and Brody's rage was vibrating through the pages, and I just wanted to hug them both.
Although slightly predictable, this was a fantastic gripping read!Check trigger warnings before starting! This has incredibly heavy elements and is not for the casual romance reader. But if you have no triggers, add this to your TBR immediately!
September 23, 2026
First and foremost if you HAVE triggers CHECK the warnings BEFORE reading!
Lola - FMC
Brody - MMC
Marcus - Stepfather of Lola
Sophia - Lola’s neighbor / BFF and Brody’s sister
This story is truly full of all kinds of trauma and some secrets. Lola’s mom dies which then the abuse from her step father is worse. Marcus is part of something bigger just like Brody’s father too.
Lola & Brody were once together and then Lola was snatched up from her step father without being able to say a word to Brody. That made him angry and harbor bad feelings towards Lola. Despite not knowing all the kinds of abuse she has endured by Marcus.
Sophia is Lola’s only true escape & safe place for short periods of time when she’s allowed to leave her house.
The story goes back and forth between the past & present on different POVs and by doing so it gives more details on certain events. Plus better understanding too.
There’s truly a lot to unload from this trauma filled story which had my attention from the beginning.
Thank you to Donna Kessler for the advance copy and this is my honest review.
Lola - FMC
Brody - MMC
Marcus - Stepfather of Lola
Sophia - Lola’s neighbor / BFF and Brody’s sister
This story is truly full of all kinds of trauma and some secrets. Lola’s mom dies which then the abuse from her step father is worse. Marcus is part of something bigger just like Brody’s father too.
Lola & Brody were once together and then Lola was snatched up from her step father without being able to say a word to Brody. That made him angry and harbor bad feelings towards Lola. Despite not knowing all the kinds of abuse she has endured by Marcus.
Sophia is Lola’s only true escape & safe place for short periods of time when she’s allowed to leave her house.
The story goes back and forth between the past & present on different POVs and by doing so it gives more details on certain events. Plus better understanding too.
There’s truly a lot to unload from this trauma filled story which had my attention from the beginning.
Thank you to Donna Kessler for the advance copy and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Shattered In Darkness by Donna Kessler arc review 📚🖤
Honest spoiler free review .
Thank you so much Donna for accepting me as an arc reader ! I can’t wait to check out more of your books .
I absolutely loved this book , the plot ? Amazing , the spice ? Spicy , the tension and pacing of the book ? Perfect .
This book is definitely not for the beginner dark romance readers , but the way Donna writes the heavy topics throughout this book makes you feel for the main characters. Brody is definitely Morally black, he does some questionable things throughout this book , but he has his reasons . But can I say he’s absolutely yummy ?
Lola sweet Lola , definitely got served a rough hand in life . Some moments during this book I just wanted to hug her, but In some moments I wanted to give her a high five and say “ atta girl “.
Definitely recommend if you’re into the pitch black dark romance.
5 ⭐️
3.5 🌶️
Honest spoiler free review .
Thank you so much Donna for accepting me as an arc reader ! I can’t wait to check out more of your books .
I absolutely loved this book , the plot ? Amazing , the spice ? Spicy , the tension and pacing of the book ? Perfect .
This book is definitely not for the beginner dark romance readers , but the way Donna writes the heavy topics throughout this book makes you feel for the main characters. Brody is definitely Morally black, he does some questionable things throughout this book , but he has his reasons . But can I say he’s absolutely yummy ?
Lola sweet Lola , definitely got served a rough hand in life . Some moments during this book I just wanted to hug her, but In some moments I wanted to give her a high five and say “ atta girl “.
Definitely recommend if you’re into the pitch black dark romance.
5 ⭐️
3.5 🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC copy from the author.
This is a pitch black standalone romance with content that may be upsetting for some readers, so I would recommend reading the trigger warnings first. The story follows Lola and Brody, and I found both of them easy to connect with. I enjoyed how they articulated themselves, in a way that seemed to resonate with me, and I liked how darkness seemed to be a recurring theme in both narratives.
Aside from the romance and characters, another strong point for me was the tension in the writing and the unpredictability.
I found Lola and Brody's love story to be very complex and messy, and so this felt like an intense read, in a positive way. Their story felt very raw and real, but that's how I like my love stories because they resonate with me. I also have a soft spot for a masked MMC because I feel like that always adds something to the character.
If you enjoy pitch black romance that will play with your emotions, consider adding this one to your TBR. Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC copy.
This is a pitch black standalone romance with content that may be upsetting for some readers, so I would recommend reading the trigger warnings first. The story follows Lola and Brody, and I found both of them easy to connect with. I enjoyed how they articulated themselves, in a way that seemed to resonate with me, and I liked how darkness seemed to be a recurring theme in both narratives.
Aside from the romance and characters, another strong point for me was the tension in the writing and the unpredictability.
I found Lola and Brody's love story to be very complex and messy, and so this felt like an intense read, in a positive way. Their story felt very raw and real, but that's how I like my love stories because they resonate with me. I also have a soft spot for a masked MMC because I feel like that always adds something to the character.
If you enjoy pitch black romance that will play with your emotions, consider adding this one to your TBR. Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ALL READERS SHOULD REVIEW TRIGGER WARNINGS! TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY!
AGAIN READ TRIGGER WARNINGS!!!
Shattered In Darkness was an absolute pitch black romance! I'm talking, go to a windowless basement and turn off all the lights - pitch black.
Honestly, I've been trying to figure out how to review Shattered In Darkness. While I couldn't walk away from the book because I NEEDED to know how Lola and Brody's story ended.... Though it was an addictive story, I didn't feel like it was 'complete'. I was left with questions.
For how much trauma and torture this book had I wish it had SOME healing. Something. The very last chapter I think was meant to do that but it felt more like the book just ended.
The book has multiple grammar and spelling errors. I almost DNF it because of it.
Because I did like the story and I felt like I needed to see what happened to the characters, I gave it 3 stars.
AGAIN READ TRIGGER WARNINGS!!!
Shattered In Darkness was an absolute pitch black romance! I'm talking, go to a windowless basement and turn off all the lights - pitch black.
Honestly, I've been trying to figure out how to review Shattered In Darkness. While I couldn't walk away from the book because I NEEDED to know how Lola and Brody's story ended.... Though it was an addictive story, I didn't feel like it was 'complete'. I was left with questions.
For how much trauma and torture this book had I wish it had SOME healing. Something. The very last chapter I think was meant to do that but it felt more like the book just ended.
The book has multiple grammar and spelling errors. I almost DNF it because of it.
Because I did like the story and I felt like I needed to see what happened to the characters, I gave it 3 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Happy Ever After, Friends to Lovers, Cute Dates under the Moonlight
These tropes are what you love and what you want? You're not gonna get any of those in this book.
This is a pitch-black romance, where love turns into obsession. Where hate is king.
IMPORTANT: read the trigger list, there are a lot.
This is gonna be a hard one to rate, because i didn't *love* it. But it captivated me, it intrigued me, it terrified me.
It made me SO uncomfortable. Which i'm pretty sure is one of the goals of the book. It reminds me of Haunting Adeline, if Zade was actually a monster, and where the hunt is not a game, and on crack.
I read this in less than 48 hours, it had me going for "one more chapter", wanting to see where the story ends.
This is not a feels good book. If you want the total opposite, then this is the book for you.
These tropes are what you love and what you want? You're not gonna get any of those in this book.
This is a pitch-black romance, where love turns into obsession. Where hate is king.
IMPORTANT: read the trigger list, there are a lot.
This is gonna be a hard one to rate, because i didn't *love* it. But it captivated me, it intrigued me, it terrified me.
It made me SO uncomfortable. Which i'm pretty sure is one of the goals of the book. It reminds me of Haunting Adeline, if Zade was actually a monster, and where the hunt is not a game, and on crack.
I read this in less than 48 hours, it had me going for "one more chapter", wanting to see where the story ends.
This is not a feels good book. If you want the total opposite, then this is the book for you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy received from Author.
"No more lies. No more poison."
Shattered in Darkness completely took me to another world, a very dark, intense, and pitch-black one. Donna Kessler put an incredible amount of effort into the FMC and MMC, allowing us to deeply know Lola and Brody and understand their characters inside and out.
Their story is sad, broken, and emotionally heavy. Watching Brody become a monster and Lola become a shell of herself was devastating. Despite being used by the monsters around them, they manage to find comfort and solace in each other.
The pacing was great and kept me turning pages late into the night. It is a very dark and twisted ride, so you definitely need to check the trigger warnings before jumping in. If you love morally black characters and an addictive storyline, you will really enjoy this book!
"No more lies. No more poison."
Shattered in Darkness completely took me to another world, a very dark, intense, and pitch-black one. Donna Kessler put an incredible amount of effort into the FMC and MMC, allowing us to deeply know Lola and Brody and understand their characters inside and out.
Their story is sad, broken, and emotionally heavy. Watching Brody become a monster and Lola become a shell of herself was devastating. Despite being used by the monsters around them, they manage to find comfort and solace in each other.
The pacing was great and kept me turning pages late into the night. It is a very dark and twisted ride, so you definitely need to check the trigger warnings before jumping in. If you love morally black characters and an addictive storyline, you will really enjoy this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first truly pitch-black romance, and it completely captivated me with its raw intensity. Emotionally gut-wrenching and action-packed, the story plunged into deep, toxic connections between the two main characters—sometimes destructive, sometimes strangely perfect. Amidst the chaos, I believed they complemented each other perfectly, each fulfilling the other's deepest needs. It’s a genuine trauma bond that keeps you on the edge of your seat. There were moments I thought, 'This can't possibly work,' yet I always felt in my gut that they were true soulmates. Be warned, this story can be very triggering for some readers, so I strongly recommend checking trigger warnings first. I loved every second of it—their fierce fight and unwavering devotion truly struck a chord with me. I devoured this in one sitting, staying up all night because I couldn’t put it down.
August 17, 2026
🛑Check your TWs, this is ⚫️Pitch ⚫️ 🛑
Straight out of the gate the darkness envelopes the environment setting the scene for the plot. There is no sunshine, no rainbows after a storm, or birds singing blissfully on a summer day. It is darkness, thick and all consuming.
Those that were meant to protect Lola tried to shatter her, control her, contain her. Each event bled a little life out of Lola one page at a time. Brody was her first love, her first heart break, her first interaction with how brutal and messy love and life can be.
Brody is obsessed, and Lola is HIS and he will settle for nothing less. He is a trained killer and his training mirrors some of the psychological abuse Lola has suffered as well.
Some actions Lola did had me questioning things, but stepping back and seeing it from her perspective it is understandable. Take on the monster you already know or defy that monster and see what depths of the devil will show.
This story is messy, traumatic, a tangled web of misunderstandings and lies by omission, but what do you get when nature and nurture both bleed black?
Shattered in Darkness
Thank you Donna for this copy and this is my honest review.
Straight out of the gate the darkness envelopes the environment setting the scene for the plot. There is no sunshine, no rainbows after a storm, or birds singing blissfully on a summer day. It is darkness, thick and all consuming.
Those that were meant to protect Lola tried to shatter her, control her, contain her. Each event bled a little life out of Lola one page at a time. Brody was her first love, her first heart break, her first interaction with how brutal and messy love and life can be.
Brody is obsessed, and Lola is HIS and he will settle for nothing less. He is a trained killer and his training mirrors some of the psychological abuse Lola has suffered as well.
Some actions Lola did had me questioning things, but stepping back and seeing it from her perspective it is understandable. Take on the monster you already know or defy that monster and see what depths of the devil will show.
This story is messy, traumatic, a tangled web of misunderstandings and lies by omission, but what do you get when nature and nurture both bleed black?
Shattered in Darkness
Thank you Donna for this copy and this is my honest review.
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