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The Mark
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 29, 2026
I loved Kade… but NICO! I absolutely love him.
Captive/Captor dark romance with a witty, sarcastic FMC, a brooding Russian MMC, and one of the best side characters. I adored the friendship between Nico and Freya. I couldn’t guess what would happen next, so it kept me on my toes. Would definitely recommend.
The ending was definitely unexpected and I’m so ready to see what comes next!
Captive/Captor dark romance with a witty, sarcastic FMC, a brooding Russian MMC, and one of the best side characters. I adored the friendship between Nico and Freya. I couldn’t guess what would happen next, so it kept me on my toes. Would definitely recommend.
The ending was definitely unexpected and I’m so ready to see what comes next!
October 8, 2026
First of all. If I could give this book more stars I definitely would! From the first chapters this book had me in a chockhold and the only thing I wanted was to read this book. Which kinda surprised me, because I wasn't expecting that. I've never read a captive / captor book but I was eating it up!
I loved Kade and Freya and how there relationship came to be. And Nico don't forget about him! I really hope he gets his own book, because he is hilarious! And I would love to read more of them. Also I kinda wished there would be more of the streams. It's like what someone said in another review. That it's like this murder dungeon but we're not seeing a lot of that. Which is also fine, don't get me wrong.
I also do feel some things in the book don't add up. Like one scene it's says that Nico, Freya and Kade are going to the control room. But then suddenly Freya is back in her cell and Kade is watching her? And there where more things like this where I was confused and just wondered what happens. . So I really hope this will be out of the book when it comes out. I love it to much so I didn't bother me a big deal, but it was confusing sometime.
The book ends on a cliffhanger and I can't wait to hopefully a next book some day!
Thank you for the ARC ❤️
I loved Kade and Freya and how there relationship came to be. And Nico don't forget about him! I really hope he gets his own book, because he is hilarious! And I would love to read more of them. Also I kinda wished there would be more of the streams. It's like what someone said in another review. That it's like this murder dungeon but we're not seeing a lot of that. Which is also fine, don't get me wrong.
I also do feel some things in the book don't add up. Like one scene it's says that Nico, Freya and Kade are going to the control room. But then suddenly Freya is back in her cell and Kade is watching her? And there where more things like this where I was confused and just wondered what happens. . So I really hope this will be out of the book when it comes out. I love it to much so I didn't bother me a big deal, but it was confusing sometime.
The book ends on a cliffhanger and I can't wait to hopefully a next book some day!
Thank you for the ARC ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2026
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion 🤗
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I can say I enjoyed this book. The development in the characters was there. I understood the attraction and “obsessions” by the MMC due to explanation that made sense. But the FMC insta attraction to the MMC didn’t quite make sense to me, but eventually I liked them together.
As a pitch black reader, I almost wish there were more tests the FMC needed to go through. The facility is described as a murder dungeon but you only really see 1 primary test done during the book and the rest was the MMC making sure she stayed locked in her cell. I wish there was more done to justify the “murder dungeon” whether to the FMC or background characters. I absolutely LOVE Nico though 😍
This book does end on a cliffhanger and I can say when it comes out, I’ll be reading that one as well! This first book had me wanting to continue to pick it back up and continue reading.
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I can say I enjoyed this book. The development in the characters was there. I understood the attraction and “obsessions” by the MMC due to explanation that made sense. But the FMC insta attraction to the MMC didn’t quite make sense to me, but eventually I liked them together.
As a pitch black reader, I almost wish there were more tests the FMC needed to go through. The facility is described as a murder dungeon but you only really see 1 primary test done during the book and the rest was the MMC making sure she stayed locked in her cell. I wish there was more done to justify the “murder dungeon” whether to the FMC or background characters. I absolutely LOVE Nico though 😍
This book does end on a cliffhanger and I can say when it comes out, I’ll be reading that one as well! This first book had me wanting to continue to pick it back up and continue reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2026
I loved the vibe from the start and I was genuily intrigued for the biggest part of the book. The story for me was a big hit. From the first few chapters, I knew Freya would be my type of FMC. She was sassy, reckless, sarcastic and stood her ground. But who I really fall in love with was Nico. Oh my! What a perfect combination of idiot, funny, dangerous, mysterious and caring. I loved every bit of him. Kade had a darker and more dangerous vibe. He definitely fit as the captor and the facility's boss.
On a more critical note, some parts felt too long and had repetitve thoughts. It didn't pull me out of the story but a few times I had a feeling of deja vu like I already read that sentence. Also, the ending was too much for me. I get the excitement of the twist but it didn't make sense to me. Maybe with more details I would have understand and enjoy it more.
It was overall a really captivating book and I appreciated the psychological game even more than expected.
On a more critical note, some parts felt too long and had repetitve thoughts. It didn't pull me out of the story but a few times I had a feeling of deja vu like I already read that sentence. Also, the ending was too much for me. I get the excitement of the twist but it didn't make sense to me. Maybe with more details I would have understand and enjoy it more.
It was overall a really captivating book and I appreciated the psychological game even more than expected.
September 28, 2026
Meet Kade and Freya. He’s a broody Russian. She’s a strong, sassy lady. Then there is Nico— funny guy and Rowan. This book is very dark, but man, what a read! I love a dark romance. I was sucked in from the first line. New author for me and I’m a huge fan. Spice is 🌶️🌶️🌶️ and stars are🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
September 28, 2026
I love this books it kept my interest threw the whole book and kept me asking why I loved all the character and the whole book over all I 100% recommend reading
October 6, 2026
Advanced Reader Copy
I personally recommend this book to fans of Hostile, Freida McFadden, and The Butterfly Garden.
“You really like giving me orders, don’t you?”
“You really like making me give them to you.”
“I get kidnapped once and suddenly people take care of me. Typical.”
“I had spent years watching people break under this place. Freya seemed determined to find every boundary I had and lean against it until something moved.”
The plot of The Mark immediately pulled me in. An underground operation called The Mark, where people are kidnapped and tortured on live stream for wealthy clients. Dark, disturbing, romance, what more could a girly want?
The atmosphere of The Mark was described well; however, I wish we would have seen more. It's hard to wrap my head around this insane torture operation with how the FMC (Freya) was treated. A better look into the dynamics and maybe even a friendship between Freya and another captive would have been good.
Now, the romance between the FMC (Freya) and the MMC (Kade) could have used some work, it didn’t really hit the spot for me. There was essentially no development and very little chemistry. Freya had survived an abusive relationship and now was a captive and really didn’t make Kade work for it... like at all. The relationship growth did not match Freya’s personality. She was a strong, resilient, powerful woman who just fell into Kade’s hands, to be honest. For me, it takes more than a handsome morally grey man… we got to know literally nothing about Kade.
The pacing was rough, this book could have either been waaaay shorter or the length could have been utilized differently, a lot of depth in all areas was missing here. I would have rather lost a subplot if it meant learning more about The Mark and developing the romance. (To avoid spoilers, I’m not saying what said subplot was.)
Editing mistakes were also a small issue here. It was minimal things that honestly should have been caught by editors or beta readers.
Nico, a side character, was a true highlight for me. His humor and personality were exactly what this book needed, and I am SAT for a book centered around him, so fingers crossed for that in the future. (An ex-captive hunting him down for revenge would be a nice start) lol
There were definitely hints of a second book centered around Freya and Kade, I’m just not sure where their story can go from here, or even if it needs to go on.
All of that being said, this is the authors first book and while that was evident, there was noticeable potential. The author had a very good idea here and I really did enjoy Freya and Nico; Kade just needs some work. I enjoyed her writing style and overall, she did execute things well. I’d definitely give this author another shot!
I personally recommend this book to fans of Hostile, Freida McFadden, and The Butterfly Garden.
“You really like giving me orders, don’t you?”
“You really like making me give them to you.”
“I get kidnapped once and suddenly people take care of me. Typical.”
“I had spent years watching people break under this place. Freya seemed determined to find every boundary I had and lean against it until something moved.”
The plot of The Mark immediately pulled me in. An underground operation called The Mark, where people are kidnapped and tortured on live stream for wealthy clients. Dark, disturbing, romance, what more could a girly want?
The atmosphere of The Mark was described well; however, I wish we would have seen more. It's hard to wrap my head around this insane torture operation with how the FMC (Freya) was treated. A better look into the dynamics and maybe even a friendship between Freya and another captive would have been good.
Now, the romance between the FMC (Freya) and the MMC (Kade) could have used some work, it didn’t really hit the spot for me. There was essentially no development and very little chemistry. Freya had survived an abusive relationship and now was a captive and really didn’t make Kade work for it... like at all. The relationship growth did not match Freya’s personality. She was a strong, resilient, powerful woman who just fell into Kade’s hands, to be honest. For me, it takes more than a handsome morally grey man… we got to know literally nothing about Kade.
The pacing was rough, this book could have either been waaaay shorter or the length could have been utilized differently, a lot of depth in all areas was missing here. I would have rather lost a subplot if it meant learning more about The Mark and developing the romance. (To avoid spoilers, I’m not saying what said subplot was.)
Editing mistakes were also a small issue here. It was minimal things that honestly should have been caught by editors or beta readers.
Nico, a side character, was a true highlight for me. His humor and personality were exactly what this book needed, and I am SAT for a book centered around him, so fingers crossed for that in the future. (An ex-captive hunting him down for revenge would be a nice start) lol
There were definitely hints of a second book centered around Freya and Kade, I’m just not sure where their story can go from here, or even if it needs to go on.
All of that being said, this is the authors first book and while that was evident, there was noticeable potential. The author had a very good idea here and I really did enjoy Freya and Nico; Kade just needs some work. I enjoyed her writing style and overall, she did execute things well. I’d definitely give this author another shot!
October 12, 2026
I’ll start by saying that, yes, I know Kade is the MMC, but Nico absolutely STOLE THE SHOW. I loved him, and honestly, nobody is changing my mind about that! 😂❤️🔥
This book started with what felt like a man with a saviour complex and quickly spiralled into a murderous kidnapping situation. Freya was just trying to live her life and survive her relationship, and then, suddenly, everything changed. One night out, one questionable decision, and her entire world was turned upside down.
Meanwhile, Kade is running a business beneath a bar that caters to wealthy men with some seriously disturbing interests. The dark web is a terrifying place, but somehow, this book manages to take things to a whole new level. And, of course, Freya ends up right in the middle of it all.
Just when you think you’ve figured out what’s happening, the story throws another twist at you. A couple of them genuinely had me questioning EVERYTHING. And regardless of how this story ends, I’m incredibly curious about what’s happening in Russia because, judging by the way things are going, the fun is only just beginning. 👀
Some of my favourite quotes:
“You know, most kidnappers at least buy their victims dinner before staring at them like they’re the meal.”
“She looked like something Aphrodite herself would’ve dragged from the sea foam with blood still dripping from her hands.”
“…my body still reacted to him like destruction mistaken for salvation.”
“That unreadable expression that made it impossible to tell whether he was about to speak to you or put a bullet through your skull.”
“Emotion is weakness. Curiosity is a weakness. Discipline is the only thing that separates men like us from the animals we sell to the audience.”
“Kade had the emotional range of a marble statue.”
“Right now, I was running the most expensive underground murder facility in Europe like a drunk toddler with a remote control.”
“Normally, my emotional support involved sarcasm and light property damage.”
Final thoughts: Nico, you absolute menace, you have my attention. 😂❤️🔥 This book had me hooked, the twists kept me guessing, and I’m officially invested in finding out what happens next. If Russia is where we’re heading, then buckle up, because I NEED to know what’s coming!
This book started with what felt like a man with a saviour complex and quickly spiralled into a murderous kidnapping situation. Freya was just trying to live her life and survive her relationship, and then, suddenly, everything changed. One night out, one questionable decision, and her entire world was turned upside down.
Meanwhile, Kade is running a business beneath a bar that caters to wealthy men with some seriously disturbing interests. The dark web is a terrifying place, but somehow, this book manages to take things to a whole new level. And, of course, Freya ends up right in the middle of it all.
Just when you think you’ve figured out what’s happening, the story throws another twist at you. A couple of them genuinely had me questioning EVERYTHING. And regardless of how this story ends, I’m incredibly curious about what’s happening in Russia because, judging by the way things are going, the fun is only just beginning. 👀
Some of my favourite quotes:
“You know, most kidnappers at least buy their victims dinner before staring at them like they’re the meal.”
“She looked like something Aphrodite herself would’ve dragged from the sea foam with blood still dripping from her hands.”
“…my body still reacted to him like destruction mistaken for salvation.”
“That unreadable expression that made it impossible to tell whether he was about to speak to you or put a bullet through your skull.”
“Emotion is weakness. Curiosity is a weakness. Discipline is the only thing that separates men like us from the animals we sell to the audience.”
“Kade had the emotional range of a marble statue.”
“Right now, I was running the most expensive underground murder facility in Europe like a drunk toddler with a remote control.”
“Normally, my emotional support involved sarcasm and light property damage.”
Final thoughts: Nico, you absolute menace, you have my attention. 😂❤️🔥 This book had me hooked, the twists kept me guessing, and I’m officially invested in finding out what happens next. If Russia is where we’re heading, then buckle up, because I NEED to know what’s coming!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2026
ARC review
Oh lord. How am I supposed to gather my thoughts about this?
Short version: I love Freya, I love Kade and I also love Nico. Each one of them completely different and man are they described well! Eve is incredible with story telling! Nico made me laugh so many times my stomach hurt. Freya made me feel like she was the fucking queen on FMC's and Kade.. that was melted and broken down into a mold created by his father, snapping.. oh my, was that a delight to witness!
I always keep notes while reading and my notebook has never met the nib of my pen so many times as when I was reading this.
Somehow I wanna say this story is based on broken things but actually I think it's based on what you've learnt, what's become normal to you and then realizing the is actually another way to do things, another path to walk!
It's violent, it's degrading, humans are treated like subject and depraved of life in the most horrible ways. Someone in control, emotionless, still somewhere deep inside a tiny glimpse of humanity is hiding and you only need something to spark it to life and it will erupt in to a big fucking bomb! Literally!
Then the twists.. holy shit. I was biting the living hell out of my fingers til they bled. The anxiety mixed with anticipation, the "wanna know" and the "don't want it to end" fought like two freaking dumbasses in my brain.
Think of you living your miserable life with someone you don't need or want, it's just a habit. Suddenly your world get turned upside down and you find your self in the arms of the most unhinged and evil men on the planet. Men thinking they own the world because they have more money than they could ever spend. Then think of a young woman with an attitud problem, bringing that whole fucking world down! I say what Beyonce said but with my own twist: who fucking run the world?
And of course there is smut! We love the smut don't we? It's not like super unhinged crazy but that wouldn't fit the story! Eve has found the perfect pace for this story regarding it all!
And then at last.... "somewhere in Russia"....... I can't stand the cliffhanger!
Oh lord. How am I supposed to gather my thoughts about this?
Short version: I love Freya, I love Kade and I also love Nico. Each one of them completely different and man are they described well! Eve is incredible with story telling! Nico made me laugh so many times my stomach hurt. Freya made me feel like she was the fucking queen on FMC's and Kade.. that was melted and broken down into a mold created by his father, snapping.. oh my, was that a delight to witness!
I always keep notes while reading and my notebook has never met the nib of my pen so many times as when I was reading this.
Somehow I wanna say this story is based on broken things but actually I think it's based on what you've learnt, what's become normal to you and then realizing the is actually another way to do things, another path to walk!
It's violent, it's degrading, humans are treated like subject and depraved of life in the most horrible ways. Someone in control, emotionless, still somewhere deep inside a tiny glimpse of humanity is hiding and you only need something to spark it to life and it will erupt in to a big fucking bomb! Literally!
Then the twists.. holy shit. I was biting the living hell out of my fingers til they bled. The anxiety mixed with anticipation, the "wanna know" and the "don't want it to end" fought like two freaking dumbasses in my brain.
Think of you living your miserable life with someone you don't need or want, it's just a habit. Suddenly your world get turned upside down and you find your self in the arms of the most unhinged and evil men on the planet. Men thinking they own the world because they have more money than they could ever spend. Then think of a young woman with an attitud problem, bringing that whole fucking world down! I say what Beyonce said but with my own twist: who fucking run the world?
And of course there is smut! We love the smut don't we? It's not like super unhinged crazy but that wouldn't fit the story! Eve has found the perfect pace for this story regarding it all!
And then at last.... "somewhere in Russia"....... I can't stand the cliffhanger!
October 7, 2026
I'll start this by saying I know Kade is the MMC, but Nico stole the show. I absolutely LOVED him, and you can't change my mind about that fact!
Now, this started off like someone had a savior complex and then turned into a murderdy kidnapping. Freya was just living her life trying to survive her boyfriend, and then he was gone. She made a move, that changed everything. You chose to have a night out. Ladies, when an extra drink appears, just say no.
Kade is running a business underneath a bar that caters to wealthy men who like to see people hurt. The dark web is a wild place, but we already know this. This is exactly where Freya ends up.
Now, things get really twisty in her. They twist a couple of times that will leave you in shock. Regardless of the outcome of this one, I'm definitely curious about what's going on in Russia because it sounds like the fun is just beginning.
“You know, most kidnappers at least buy their victims dinner before staring at them like they’re the meal.”
"She looked like something Aphrodite herself would’ve dragged from the sea foam with blood still dripping from her hands."
"...my body still reacted to him like destruction mistaken for salvation."
"That unreadable expression that made it impossible to tell whether he was about to speak to you or put a bullet through your skull."
"Emotion is weakness. Curiosity is a weakness. Discipline is the only thing that separates men like us from the animals we sell to the audience."
"Kade had the emotional range of a marble statue."
"Right now, I was running the most expensive underground murder facility in Europe like a drunk toddler with a remote control."
"Normally, my emotional support involved sarcasm and light property damage."
“You know, you’re the only person I’ve ever met who got kidnapped by a criminal organisation and somehow ended up better off.”
Now, this started off like someone had a savior complex and then turned into a murderdy kidnapping. Freya was just living her life trying to survive her boyfriend, and then he was gone. She made a move, that changed everything. You chose to have a night out. Ladies, when an extra drink appears, just say no.
Kade is running a business underneath a bar that caters to wealthy men who like to see people hurt. The dark web is a wild place, but we already know this. This is exactly where Freya ends up.
Now, things get really twisty in her. They twist a couple of times that will leave you in shock. Regardless of the outcome of this one, I'm definitely curious about what's going on in Russia because it sounds like the fun is just beginning.
“You know, most kidnappers at least buy their victims dinner before staring at them like they’re the meal.”
"She looked like something Aphrodite herself would’ve dragged from the sea foam with blood still dripping from her hands."
"...my body still reacted to him like destruction mistaken for salvation."
"That unreadable expression that made it impossible to tell whether he was about to speak to you or put a bullet through your skull."
"Emotion is weakness. Curiosity is a weakness. Discipline is the only thing that separates men like us from the animals we sell to the audience."
"Kade had the emotional range of a marble statue."
"Right now, I was running the most expensive underground murder facility in Europe like a drunk toddler with a remote control."
"Normally, my emotional support involved sarcasm and light property damage."
“You know, you’re the only person I’ve ever met who got kidnapped by a criminal organisation and somehow ended up better off.”
September 27, 2026
3.5⭐️
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for The Mark and I had a blast reading it!
Freya was such a funny and strong FMC and I enjoyed seeing her learn and grow throughout the book. Kade was a broody Russian in the best way! There relationship was fun to see develop but I wish it was a bit of a slower burn for the two of them as it seemed like they gained feelings quite quickly. Though I say that as if I didn’t speed through this book because the writing was so easy to read.
Nico was my favourite character by far he was so funny and almost annoying but he balanced the characters personalities out perfectly!
(Potential SPOILER) Having one main setting was also really cool as the majority of the book is set in one location and the description made it really easy for me to picture the area in my head. I wish we saw more of the events in which happened down there though as we are almost locked behind a door and do not get to witness as much as I wished. Having this would have made Kade a much darker character because as much as he’s morally grey I wished he was darker (but that might be because I’ve read too many dark romance and my morally grey is morally black at this point).
Overall I had such a fun time reading this book and I would recommend, especially if you are beginning to dip your toes into darker romance. Thankyou so much for allowing me to read an ARC for this book and I can’t wait to see what Eve Paige writes next❤️
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for The Mark and I had a blast reading it!
Freya was such a funny and strong FMC and I enjoyed seeing her learn and grow throughout the book. Kade was a broody Russian in the best way! There relationship was fun to see develop but I wish it was a bit of a slower burn for the two of them as it seemed like they gained feelings quite quickly. Though I say that as if I didn’t speed through this book because the writing was so easy to read.
Nico was my favourite character by far he was so funny and almost annoying but he balanced the characters personalities out perfectly!
(Potential SPOILER) Having one main setting was also really cool as the majority of the book is set in one location and the description made it really easy for me to picture the area in my head. I wish we saw more of the events in which happened down there though as we are almost locked behind a door and do not get to witness as much as I wished. Having this would have made Kade a much darker character because as much as he’s morally grey I wished he was darker (but that might be because I’ve read too many dark romance and my morally grey is morally black at this point).
Overall I had such a fun time reading this book and I would recommend, especially if you are beginning to dip your toes into darker romance. Thankyou so much for allowing me to read an ARC for this book and I can’t wait to see what Eve Paige writes next❤️
September 29, 2026
Okay… I genuinely did NOT expect this book to pull me in the way it did. 😮💨🖤
There’s something about this group of characters that makes you want to question every single decision they make while simultaneously being completely invested in what happens to them. Kade especially had me going back and forth because there were definitely moments where I was like sir… what are you doing?! 😂 But somehow, I still found myself rooting for him.
Freya was such an interesting FMC too. I loved that she wasn’t written as someone who simply gets swept along by everything happening around her. The chemistry, tension and complicated relationships kept me turning the pages because I needed to know where everything was going to end up.
And Nico… 👀 I have THOUGHTS. Let’s just leave it at that.
What I enjoyed most was how messy the characters were. Nobody felt completely innocent, and their choices had me questioning who I could actually trust. There were definitely a few moments where I wanted more explanation, but honestly, I was having way too much fun with the story to sit there and overanalyse everything.
This was my first Eve Paige book, and she definitely got my attention. The book had that addictive “just one more chapter” feeling, and suddenly it’s way too late and I’m still reading. 😂
Dark, messy, intense, morally questionable men, complicated relationships and enough drama to keep me hooked. Exactly the kind of chaotic reading experience I apparently needed. 🖤
5 ⭐️ because I came for the romance and stayed for the absolute mess. 😂🌶️
There’s something about this group of characters that makes you want to question every single decision they make while simultaneously being completely invested in what happens to them. Kade especially had me going back and forth because there were definitely moments where I was like sir… what are you doing?! 😂 But somehow, I still found myself rooting for him.
Freya was such an interesting FMC too. I loved that she wasn’t written as someone who simply gets swept along by everything happening around her. The chemistry, tension and complicated relationships kept me turning the pages because I needed to know where everything was going to end up.
And Nico… 👀 I have THOUGHTS. Let’s just leave it at that.
What I enjoyed most was how messy the characters were. Nobody felt completely innocent, and their choices had me questioning who I could actually trust. There were definitely a few moments where I wanted more explanation, but honestly, I was having way too much fun with the story to sit there and overanalyse everything.
This was my first Eve Paige book, and she definitely got my attention. The book had that addictive “just one more chapter” feeling, and suddenly it’s way too late and I’m still reading. 😂
Dark, messy, intense, morally questionable men, complicated relationships and enough drama to keep me hooked. Exactly the kind of chaotic reading experience I apparently needed. 🖤
5 ⭐️ because I came for the romance and stayed for the absolute mess. 😂🌶️
October 6, 2026
I want to give some context to this rating because while I LOVED the characters and the sky high potential this story has, there are some things that held me back from a higher rating.
First, there were just some formatting issues that I just thought as an ARC would be addressed in the final copy, but unfortunately were not. There were some duplicate lines and paragraphs... those can be overlooked, totally understandable. But then there were some parts that were completely out of context and a couple instances where the POV switched out of context and without warning.
I feel that the plot and character development left a bit to be desired, and could have been expanded upon, most importantly between Kade and Freya. It felt like there really was no major connection between them other than instant lust. Seems like she and Nico had a deeper understanding of each other by the end of it.
The point of this review however was not to bash this book, because I really did enjoy it! Freya being the badass she is, taking no shit, discovering her voice, and finding love despite literally having THE SHITTIEST hand dealt.. I mean, come on. We all love an FMC who can handle her own!
The absolutely unhinged banter had me giggling the whole time and the spice was perfectly done. Ultimately if there ever came a second book, which sounds like there could be...(??) I would DEFINITELY read it. I would also loovveeeee to see Nico get his own story! 😍😏
First, there were just some formatting issues that I just thought as an ARC would be addressed in the final copy, but unfortunately were not. There were some duplicate lines and paragraphs... those can be overlooked, totally understandable. But then there were some parts that were completely out of context and a couple instances where the POV switched out of context and without warning.
I feel that the plot and character development left a bit to be desired, and could have been expanded upon, most importantly between Kade and Freya. It felt like there really was no major connection between them other than instant lust. Seems like she and Nico had a deeper understanding of each other by the end of it.
The point of this review however was not to bash this book, because I really did enjoy it! Freya being the badass she is, taking no shit, discovering her voice, and finding love despite literally having THE SHITTIEST hand dealt.. I mean, come on. We all love an FMC who can handle her own!
The absolutely unhinged banter had me giggling the whole time and the spice was perfectly done. Ultimately if there ever came a second book, which sounds like there could be...(??) I would DEFINITELY read it. I would also loovveeeee to see Nico get his own story! 😍😏
September 27, 2026
✨✨ARC review✨✨
okkkkk first of all, calling this a dark romance feels a little misleading because this was more on the PITCH BLACK end of the spectrum. like one fucking episode of Criminal Minds and suddenly I’m questioning every single thing about myself 😭 stockholm called and wants its fucking syndrome back.
Kade, now he is a morally black man. actually, scratch that. does this man even HAVE a moral compass??? was there ever a compass to begin with??? because holy fucking shit. this man is a walking criminal investigation. and yet. AND YET. here I am, ready to defend him with my fucking LIFE.
because honestly, who the fuck can blame him when you look at the way he was raised? 😭 no, I am not saying he is innocent. I am saying that I have chosen my side, I have made my bed, and I will be lying in it. because at the end of the day, we all deserve some love and happiness, and I am choosing to believe Kade deserves his too. LET THE MAN HAVE SOMETHING GOOD FOR ONCE.
and honestly? seeing his moral compass change was something I really enjoyed. character development, baby!!! we love to see it🫶🏼
HOWEVER. I do have ONE tiny little question. what exactly happened to the rest of the girls after Nico did what he did??? hello??? are we just going to move past that??? because I have QUESTIONS. there are definitely some loopholes here and there, but you know what? I have decided that I simply do not have the time, energy, or brain cells to investigate them. I will not be thinking about the plot holes. I will be thinking about NICO.
because NICO was the best. thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
also, lowkey wishing this had been a RH because WHY should Freya have to choose when she could have a Kade AND Nico sandwich??? hello??? let the girl LIVE. and fuck it, throw in some redemption for Rowan while we're at it. I believe in second chances. I believe in character development. I believe in women getting everything they fucking want.
fucking hell, the bunch of them. not a single normal person in sight. nice vibes, questionable morals, several criminal investigations waiting to happen.
anyway. I loved it. I loved Nico. I have clearly learned absolutely nothing.
great vibes, thank you, bye🫡🖤
okkkkk first of all, calling this a dark romance feels a little misleading because this was more on the PITCH BLACK end of the spectrum. like one fucking episode of Criminal Minds and suddenly I’m questioning every single thing about myself 😭 stockholm called and wants its fucking syndrome back.
Kade, now he is a morally black man. actually, scratch that. does this man even HAVE a moral compass??? was there ever a compass to begin with??? because holy fucking shit. this man is a walking criminal investigation. and yet. AND YET. here I am, ready to defend him with my fucking LIFE.
because honestly, who the fuck can blame him when you look at the way he was raised? 😭 no, I am not saying he is innocent. I am saying that I have chosen my side, I have made my bed, and I will be lying in it. because at the end of the day, we all deserve some love and happiness, and I am choosing to believe Kade deserves his too. LET THE MAN HAVE SOMETHING GOOD FOR ONCE.
and honestly? seeing his moral compass change was something I really enjoyed. character development, baby!!! we love to see it🫶🏼
HOWEVER. I do have ONE tiny little question. what exactly happened to the rest of the girls after Nico did what he did??? hello??? are we just going to move past that??? because I have QUESTIONS. there are definitely some loopholes here and there, but you know what? I have decided that I simply do not have the time, energy, or brain cells to investigate them. I will not be thinking about the plot holes. I will be thinking about NICO.
because NICO was the best. thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
also, lowkey wishing this had been a RH because WHY should Freya have to choose when she could have a Kade AND Nico sandwich??? hello??? let the girl LIVE. and fuck it, throw in some redemption for Rowan while we're at it. I believe in second chances. I believe in character development. I believe in women getting everything they fucking want.
fucking hell, the bunch of them. not a single normal person in sight. nice vibes, questionable morals, several criminal investigations waiting to happen.
anyway. I loved it. I loved Nico. I have clearly learned absolutely nothing.
great vibes, thank you, bye🫡🖤
October 13, 2026
Overall, i enjoyed this book! I liked the idea and premise of the story, but i feel like execution fell a bit flat for me. I had more questions than answers. I wish that the whole murder dungeon thing would have been explained more. I also wish we would’ve been able to see more inside Kade’s head. I don’t think we needed Nico’s chapters and they should’ve been used to further our knowledge about Kade and his feelings towards Freya and how he wanted to be different. The flip didn’t seem organic to me. I also felt that the romance between Kade and Freya wasn’t actually built well. It just happened without much buildup. I almost thought it was going to be a love triangle between Freya, Nico, and Kade.
Now for the good stuff! I LOVED freya. I loved how strong, resilient, and a little weird she was. I found it so interesting that she didn’t panic when brought into a literal murder dungeon but was like you know what… I’m going to make this hard for my kidnappers. She was so resilient throughout the whole book and i found that really charming. I liked the humor Nico brought throughout the book. The tie to the Hales was a really interesting choice and i found it nice to read about. It was a little spicy, but the spice was written well and it wasn’t overdone in my opinion.
Thank you to Eve Paige and her team for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
Now for the good stuff! I LOVED freya. I loved how strong, resilient, and a little weird she was. I found it so interesting that she didn’t panic when brought into a literal murder dungeon but was like you know what… I’m going to make this hard for my kidnappers. She was so resilient throughout the whole book and i found that really charming. I liked the humor Nico brought throughout the book. The tie to the Hales was a really interesting choice and i found it nice to read about. It was a little spicy, but the spice was written well and it wasn’t overdone in my opinion.
Thank you to Eve Paige and her team for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
October 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**The Mark by Eve Paige**
This book completely consumed me. 🖤
The level of detail in the story had me feeling completely immersed in the world, and considering just how dark and disturbing that world is, that’s definitely saying something! The underground facility, the kidnapping and torture, and the psychological element all came together to create a story that had me hooked.
I absolutely loved Nico. His sarcasm and dark humour brought some much-needed comedy into such a brutal and intense story, and I found myself really looking forward to his moments.
This book had me constantly wanting more. I genuinely couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. And that ending… 👀
There’s a **major twist towards the end** that I absolutely did NOT see coming, but I’m saying nothing because this is one of those books you really need to experience for yourself.
Dark, disturbing, gripping and completely addictive. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that get seriously dark and keep you guessing, **add this one to your TBR.** 🖤
**The Mark by Eve Paige**
This book completely consumed me. 🖤
The level of detail in the story had me feeling completely immersed in the world, and considering just how dark and disturbing that world is, that’s definitely saying something! The underground facility, the kidnapping and torture, and the psychological element all came together to create a story that had me hooked.
I absolutely loved Nico. His sarcasm and dark humour brought some much-needed comedy into such a brutal and intense story, and I found myself really looking forward to his moments.
This book had me constantly wanting more. I genuinely couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. And that ending… 👀
There’s a **major twist towards the end** that I absolutely did NOT see coming, but I’m saying nothing because this is one of those books you really need to experience for yourself.
Dark, disturbing, gripping and completely addictive. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that get seriously dark and keep you guessing, **add this one to your TBR.** 🖤
October 6, 2026
Wow this book was intense! I waited forever for it and it did not disappoint what so ever. Freya was just a normal girl that led a boring life with her freeloaders abusive boyfriend. Then she gets drugged by a guy she thought was just hitting on her and well...things ended up getting worse. She was thrown in a cell in a murder dungeon where rich people watch people get killed for money. The idea was amazing, like who knows things may exist like this in the real world and we would never know. The story got even better when Nico became involved and started a friendship with Freya and then Kade started becoming obsessed and well...the story gets even crazier after that! Im not going to say anything else but it is intense and so many things happen and the freaking plot twist at the end! I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
I recieved an advance reader copy of this book for an honest voluntary review.
I recieved an advance reader copy of this book for an honest voluntary review.
October 4, 2026
ARC Review The Mark by Eve Paige
So I’m doing this review a little differently,
Rating-3 ⭐️ (Story: 3 ⭐️ - Potential: 4.5 ⭐️)
What worked for me:
Great concept and an great cast of main and side characters!
What didn’t work for me:
I struggled to feel any chemistry between Kade and Freya, then in the ARC copy there was the formatting issues which with it being published I thought I’d give that copy a read only to find it was the same, which did make it disorienting to read, some paragraphs come up in the middle of a page but headed where you can at least notice them, then others would be in the middle of a paragraph in the same font it would say the chapter so that made me miss the POV change sometimes, then there were paragraphs repeating and changes from who was talking to who or where they were.
Even with not feeling the chemistry with the MC’s without all the other issues it would have been a 4/4.5 stars but basing it on everything in the published copy I can only give 3 stars which is just for the story alone as the author has came up with something great here that works, which if it ever gets re-edited I’d love to read again. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
So I’m doing this review a little differently,
Rating-3 ⭐️ (Story: 3 ⭐️ - Potential: 4.5 ⭐️)
What worked for me:
Great concept and an great cast of main and side characters!
What didn’t work for me:
I struggled to feel any chemistry between Kade and Freya, then in the ARC copy there was the formatting issues which with it being published I thought I’d give that copy a read only to find it was the same, which did make it disorienting to read, some paragraphs come up in the middle of a page but headed where you can at least notice them, then others would be in the middle of a paragraph in the same font it would say the chapter so that made me miss the POV change sometimes, then there were paragraphs repeating and changes from who was talking to who or where they were.
Even with not feeling the chemistry with the MC’s without all the other issues it would have been a 4/4.5 stars but basing it on everything in the published copy I can only give 3 stars which is just for the story alone as the author has came up with something great here that works, which if it ever gets re-edited I’d love to read again. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 8, 2026
The Mark, by Eve Paige is not morally gray, it’s pitch back, full of bad men doing bad things.
It is also a story about resilience, growth and yes, friendship and love.
Freya, our FMC has had a difficult life, but get into worst situations every step of the way, never losing her strength.
Our MMC, controlled, unyielding and so totally obsessed with our FMC that he will burn the world down for her.
Also the banter was amazing, and the spice was spicing!
I just felt some parts could use a bit more editing, with a few continuation errors but the plot and action is great. Can’t wait for the next book!
I am very thankful to have been chosen to receive an advance review copy for free and I am happily leaving this review voluntarily.
It is also a story about resilience, growth and yes, friendship and love.
Freya, our FMC has had a difficult life, but get into worst situations every step of the way, never losing her strength.
Our MMC, controlled, unyielding and so totally obsessed with our FMC that he will burn the world down for her.
Also the banter was amazing, and the spice was spicing!
I just felt some parts could use a bit more editing, with a few continuation errors but the plot and action is great. Can’t wait for the next book!
I am very thankful to have been chosen to receive an advance review copy for free and I am happily leaving this review voluntarily.
September 25, 2026
“I own you,” I continued, my voice low. “He never did.”
A refreshing captor/captive dark romance with a witty, sarcastic FMC, a brooding, controlled, morally grey MMC and one of the most enjoyable support characters since Carrion Swift!
This story starts with action and doesn’t slow down until the very last page. The ending had a twist that wasn’t easily guessed and was enough of a mystery still to have me wanting more.
I would have liked to have had a little more character background and development and in some places the pacing felt a little off and the continuity suffered a little for it.
All in all, though, this was an extremely enjoyable read and satisfied this dark fantasy romance reader’s yearning for some straight up dark romance keep an eye on this author. She did a frat job in this one!
Nico, will you marry me?!!
A refreshing captor/captive dark romance with a witty, sarcastic FMC, a brooding, controlled, morally grey MMC and one of the most enjoyable support characters since Carrion Swift!
This story starts with action and doesn’t slow down until the very last page. The ending had a twist that wasn’t easily guessed and was enough of a mystery still to have me wanting more.
I would have liked to have had a little more character background and development and in some places the pacing felt a little off and the continuity suffered a little for it.
All in all, though, this was an extremely enjoyable read and satisfied this dark fantasy romance reader’s yearning for some straight up dark romance keep an eye on this author. She did a frat job in this one!
Nico, will you marry me?!!
October 14, 2026
ARC Review
This concept was so different from what I usually read, and honestly, the author completely pulled it off for me.
First things first: please make sure to read the trigger warnings before jumping in.
I’ll admit I wanted a little more physical chemistry between the MMC and the FMC at times. But then again... when you have Kade AND Nico to obsess over, who can complain?
I was WAITING for à Nico an Freya moment. OR a Freya, Kade AND Nico moment 👀🤣
Overall, I really, really liked it. There was a major plot twist at the end that completely caught me off guard! If you love a good dark romance, I highly recommend this one. You’re going to fall in love with the badass Freya and mister director Kade! 🖤
This concept was so different from what I usually read, and honestly, the author completely pulled it off for me.
First things first: please make sure to read the trigger warnings before jumping in.
I’ll admit I wanted a little more physical chemistry between the MMC and the FMC at times. But then again... when you have Kade AND Nico to obsess over, who can complain?
I was WAITING for à Nico an Freya moment. OR a Freya, Kade AND Nico moment 👀🤣
Overall, I really, really liked it. There was a major plot twist at the end that completely caught me off guard! If you love a good dark romance, I highly recommend this one. You’re going to fall in love with the badass Freya and mister director Kade! 🖤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2026
✨ARC REVIEW✨
this was such a great read.
im already a sucker for brooding man. add a russian accent? SAT!
a fmc who knows how to push buttons using sarcasm? yes. love to see it.
the characters were amazing and so fun. i loved the writing style and all.
it definitely makes you wanna keep reading. it’ll hold your attention for so long because you just wanna know what’s going to happen.
i love a dark romance and this one definitely hit the mark😉
this was such a great read.
im already a sucker for brooding man. add a russian accent? SAT!
a fmc who knows how to push buttons using sarcasm? yes. love to see it.
the characters were amazing and so fun. i loved the writing style and all.
it definitely makes you wanna keep reading. it’ll hold your attention for so long because you just wanna know what’s going to happen.
i love a dark romance and this one definitely hit the mark😉
October 4, 2026
WOW.
LOVED every second of this book. just when I thought okay I have an idea of how this book is going, a wrench was thrown in.
I loved how niko and Kade are written, made me think well let’s just make this a why choose👀 love the characters, and I just genuinely can’t wait to see what’s next for them. ESPECIALLY after that epilogue like HELLLOOOO.
LOVED every second of this book. just when I thought okay I have an idea of how this book is going, a wrench was thrown in.
I loved how niko and Kade are written, made me think well let’s just make this a why choose👀 love the characters, and I just genuinely can’t wait to see what’s next for them. ESPECIALLY after that epilogue like HELLLOOOO.
October 2, 2026
↳˗ˏˋarc reviewˊˎ˗ ↴
⋆ ★ the mark by eve paige
[ book releases october 31 ]
my review :
i was honestly struggling to get through this one, mostly because i feel like it needed a lot more editing. i found myself getting really confused about what was happening, and the deeper i got into the story, the more repetitive and jumbled everything started to feel.
don’t get me wrong, i do think this story has a lot of potential. i was actually really drawn in at the beginning, which made it even more frustrating when i started losing track of things. i tried to push through, but by page 310, i just couldn’t do it anymore.
i did really enjoy the characters, though. i liked kade, nico, freya, and even rowan. all four of them were interesting, and i definitely wanted to know more about them.
thank you arthur for giving me the chance to read this book!
⋆ ★ the mark by eve paige
[ book releases october 31 ]
my review :
i was honestly struggling to get through this one, mostly because i feel like it needed a lot more editing. i found myself getting really confused about what was happening, and the deeper i got into the story, the more repetitive and jumbled everything started to feel.
don’t get me wrong, i do think this story has a lot of potential. i was actually really drawn in at the beginning, which made it even more frustrating when i started losing track of things. i tried to push through, but by page 310, i just couldn’t do it anymore.
i did really enjoy the characters, though. i liked kade, nico, freya, and even rowan. all four of them were interesting, and i definitely wanted to know more about them.
thank you arthur for giving me the chance to read this book!
October 6, 2026
Arc read
It took me a while to start enjoying the book. There were some issues that I noted. However, I am completely obsessed with Nico!! He made me laugh at his nonsense and I am here for it. I loved freyas sass and ability to separate herself from the situation. She had already been thought a lot in her life and felt that this was just another step. Hopefully this reaches readers that may appreciate it more than I. I loved the idea of the concept and look forward to seeing what’s next!
It took me a while to start enjoying the book. There were some issues that I noted. However, I am completely obsessed with Nico!! He made me laugh at his nonsense and I am here for it. I loved freyas sass and ability to separate herself from the situation. She had already been thought a lot in her life and felt that this was just another step. Hopefully this reaches readers that may appreciate it more than I. I loved the idea of the concept and look forward to seeing what’s next!
October 12, 2026
Thanks to the author for providing me this book early. And O My God! I loved this book. If this is the first book in the series, i need to know what is next. This was so messed up. The book is written with humor, despite the heavy topics. You have a fearless FMC and a dark MMC. But I really fell in love with the side character Nico. The story begins with a kidnapping. Then there is the murder dungeon. Kind of creepy. This story is about friendship and survival. And finding your way back to who you really are. I recommend this book anytime. Don't forget the trigger warnings.
October 1, 2026
It has so much potential...but needs TONS of editing. It was like reading 3 different versions of the book in 1 sitting making it so confusing. One minute Nico is with Freya, the next Nico is with Kade telling Kade to follow him, but then Kade finds Freya with Nico. Thats just 1 example out of many that I can give without actually spoiling anything.
October 4, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. It was so good and NICO! Oh my gosh. Amazing amazing read.
October 14, 2026
This was an ARC read/review. It was a really great book. Once you got to reading it aaa hard to put down!! The characters were well written and the story flowed nicely. Some dark stuff but plenty of fun banter with NICO made up for it.
October 7, 2026
It was a great book, only issue for me was, there was a lot of repeating things throughout the book. Full paragraphs duplicated. Otherwise, this was an AMAZING book!!
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