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Mold : Deceptive, Part Two
Think you understood them? You were only seeing one side.
Mold is the second and final book of the Deceptive Duet, told from his perspective that reveals a very different truth.
As obsession, desire, betrayal, and psychological manipulation collide, the line between love and control becomes harder to recognize.
Read Deceptive first. Then the question is no longer who’s telling the truth, but whose story this really is.
Mold is a psychological romance with thriller elements, exploring obsession, power, control, trust, and the dangerous spaces between what we know and what we believe.
Mold is the second and final book of the Deceptive Duet, told from his perspective that reveals a very different truth.
As obsession, desire, betrayal, and psychological manipulation collide, the line between love and control becomes harder to recognize.
Read Deceptive first. Then the question is no longer who’s telling the truth, but whose story this really is.
Mold is a psychological romance with thriller elements, exploring obsession, power, control, trust, and the dangerous spaces between what we know and what we believe.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
I truly enjoy the writing style. It has a quiet way of pulling the reader in, and I felt very connected while reading. The characters feel genuine and carefully written, and that really stayed with me. Getting to know Mark more deeply and learning about his background was especially meaningful.
The structure of the second part felt a little different for me at first. Since the ending was already known from the first part, the experience of stepping back from the main storyline took a bit of adjustment on my side as a reader. It wasn’t something negative — just a different rhythm than I initially expected. Once I settled into it, I found myself appreciating the emotional perspective it added.
I also want to say that I truly hope Mark’s and Alicia’s story will continue. I’ve grown fond of them, and I’d love to follow their journey further. And I would love to read more about Mike.😊
Thank you for sharing your story and your characters. They stayed with me longer than I expected.
The structure of the second part felt a little different for me at first. Since the ending was already known from the first part, the experience of stepping back from the main storyline took a bit of adjustment on my side as a reader. It wasn’t something negative — just a different rhythm than I initially expected. Once I settled into it, I found myself appreciating the emotional perspective it added.
I also want to say that I truly hope Mark’s and Alicia’s story will continue. I’ve grown fond of them, and I’d love to follow their journey further. And I would love to read more about Mike.😊
Thank you for sharing your story and your characters. They stayed with me longer than I expected.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Where to start....
Firstly - read Deceptive first. It's the set up for this book told through Alicia's (the FMCs) eyes.
Read it? No - go read it! Yes? Now let's get down to business!
From reading reviews of book 1 I apparently did not side with the majority of readers in respect of Mark, our MMC. Well I always suspected from Deceptive that he was a possessive golden retriever and he really is. Throughout the whole of Deceptive I didn't really perceive him as morally grey or any trope of that kind. He wasn't overtly manipulative either - clearly just a man with his own trauma that needed to feel like he had control over something. And Alek Voss, whilst describing Mark through Alicia's eyes lay those breadcrumbs. I actually liked him throughout Deceptive. Now draw back the curtain to Mold...
Initially I struggled to get on with Mark because I actually found him quite needy and whiny. If we're staying with the dog metaphor I suppose a puppy who wants to test boundaries, but is constantly worried about the implications of it from his metaphorical master.
I find the scenes where we have closed door really jarring. It feels like there should be a scene divider because in it's current form there's a pre sentence, immediately followed by a post sentence and it's very disorientating. Equally I feel like closed door does not fit Mark's character and genuinely feel like the story would benefit from say open door for their first intimate time together. I get that it may not feel necessary for Deceptive, but it would have added a huge amount for this book, even if there was just 2 spice scenes - not even in detail.
However...I do understand that ultimately the act of s*x itself is not what is important here. My interpretation is that Voss is providing commentary in both books on BD$M relationships and how dark romance portrays them. It's no secret that I am an advocate for k!nk and I am acutely aware of the educational gap in respect of misuse of BD$M dynamics, particularly surrounding consent and aftercare. So the focus in the spice scenes is really commenting on the set up and fall out. I particularly like the fact that it draws awareness that SM does not have to involve s*x itself - it is a freedom in itself. Saying this, I do get the impression from Mark's view that there is a huge amount of shame in respect of his Dom dynamics (and there are spoilers that I won't comment on). Does that make this problematic? In my opinion, no - this is a duet of psychological books and it should be making you question motivations.
Alicia through Mark's eyes is interesting at the start. Bubbly? It's an odd way for him to see her given we see how she really plays a part in everything. So I suppose this is just another part that she plays - the bubbly colleague. And this series is all about the masks that we wear, more so for the fact that it is espionage. Speaking of which...
It was nice to have something that I suspected confirmed very early on in the book regarding the nature of the missions. I loved getting to see the variety of missions, given that Deceptive primarily takes place during two key missions. Getting to know Mike through Mark's eyes was interesting and I enjoyed seeing more of the organisation as a whole.
Honestly this ride was great, Alek. Lots to think about and I think this is a wonderful example of a morally grey MMC that has a lovely lore woven into him.
Thank you so much for the ARC. These are my honest thoughts.
Firstly - read Deceptive first. It's the set up for this book told through Alicia's (the FMCs) eyes.
Read it? No - go read it! Yes? Now let's get down to business!
From reading reviews of book 1 I apparently did not side with the majority of readers in respect of Mark, our MMC. Well I always suspected from Deceptive that he was a possessive golden retriever and he really is. Throughout the whole of Deceptive I didn't really perceive him as morally grey or any trope of that kind. He wasn't overtly manipulative either - clearly just a man with his own trauma that needed to feel like he had control over something. And Alek Voss, whilst describing Mark through Alicia's eyes lay those breadcrumbs. I actually liked him throughout Deceptive. Now draw back the curtain to Mold...
Initially I struggled to get on with Mark because I actually found him quite needy and whiny. If we're staying with the dog metaphor I suppose a puppy who wants to test boundaries, but is constantly worried about the implications of it from his metaphorical master.
I find the scenes where we have closed door really jarring. It feels like there should be a scene divider because in it's current form there's a pre sentence, immediately followed by a post sentence and it's very disorientating. Equally I feel like closed door does not fit Mark's character and genuinely feel like the story would benefit from say open door for their first intimate time together. I get that it may not feel necessary for Deceptive, but it would have added a huge amount for this book, even if there was just 2 spice scenes - not even in detail.
However...I do understand that ultimately the act of s*x itself is not what is important here. My interpretation is that Voss is providing commentary in both books on BD$M relationships and how dark romance portrays them. It's no secret that I am an advocate for k!nk and I am acutely aware of the educational gap in respect of misuse of BD$M dynamics, particularly surrounding consent and aftercare. So the focus in the spice scenes is really commenting on the set up and fall out. I particularly like the fact that it draws awareness that SM does not have to involve s*x itself - it is a freedom in itself. Saying this, I do get the impression from Mark's view that there is a huge amount of shame in respect of his Dom dynamics (and there are spoilers that I won't comment on). Does that make this problematic? In my opinion, no - this is a duet of psychological books and it should be making you question motivations.
Alicia through Mark's eyes is interesting at the start. Bubbly? It's an odd way for him to see her given we see how she really plays a part in everything. So I suppose this is just another part that she plays - the bubbly colleague. And this series is all about the masks that we wear, more so for the fact that it is espionage. Speaking of which...
It was nice to have something that I suspected confirmed very early on in the book regarding the nature of the missions. I loved getting to see the variety of missions, given that Deceptive primarily takes place during two key missions. Getting to know Mike through Mark's eyes was interesting and I enjoyed seeing more of the organisation as a whole.
Honestly this ride was great, Alek. Lots to think about and I think this is a wonderful example of a morally grey MMC that has a lovely lore woven into him.
Thank you so much for the ARC. These are my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First off, I want to thank Alek for giving me the opportunity to read this book before publication! I finished it yesterday and needed a little time to gather my thoughts.
But first: HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO US? That bit at the end?! You gave me some unexpected information and then left me thirsty for more! :))
I liked "Mold" more than "Deceptive". A lot of my questions were answered, and some of my suspicions were confirmed, so my little closure demon was content. Until that ending, anyway. :))
This book is told from Mark’s point of view, so we get to understand why our brooding MMC is so grumpy all the time and how he ended up in the agency. We also follow some of the missions he and Alicia work on together and see how their relationship develops. I really enjoyed discovering the things Alicia didn’t know and seeing familiar moments through his eyes.
I liked his backstory even more than Alicia’s. It felt more detailed and helped me connect with him. Seeing his story come full circle made me so happy. 🖤
One passage that really stayed with me questions the whole “and they lived happily ever after” idea:
“Why do all stories end there? Because that’s when the hard part actually begins and no one wants to talk about it.”
I couldn’t agree more. There’s still so much work to do after that supposed happy ending. Picking up the pieces and learning how to live with everything that happened might be the bigger fight. I really liked that the book gave space to that part of their story.
Alek Voss is a promising new author, and I like the way she writes her characters. They’re flawed, they make mistakes, and starting over doesn’t magically fix everything.
This book won’t be for everyone. It’s dark, so please check the trigger warnings before reading. But if you like messy characters, complicated relationships, and getting inside the head of a grumpy man with a lot more going on than he lets you see, give this one a try.
But first: HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO US? That bit at the end?! You gave me some unexpected information and then left me thirsty for more! :))
I liked "Mold" more than "Deceptive". A lot of my questions were answered, and some of my suspicions were confirmed, so my little closure demon was content. Until that ending, anyway. :))
This book is told from Mark’s point of view, so we get to understand why our brooding MMC is so grumpy all the time and how he ended up in the agency. We also follow some of the missions he and Alicia work on together and see how their relationship develops. I really enjoyed discovering the things Alicia didn’t know and seeing familiar moments through his eyes.
I liked his backstory even more than Alicia’s. It felt more detailed and helped me connect with him. Seeing his story come full circle made me so happy. 🖤
One passage that really stayed with me questions the whole “and they lived happily ever after” idea:
“Why do all stories end there? Because that’s when the hard part actually begins and no one wants to talk about it.”
I couldn’t agree more. There’s still so much work to do after that supposed happy ending. Picking up the pieces and learning how to live with everything that happened might be the bigger fight. I really liked that the book gave space to that part of their story.
Alek Voss is a promising new author, and I like the way she writes her characters. They’re flawed, they make mistakes, and starting over doesn’t magically fix everything.
This book won’t be for everyone. It’s dark, so please check the trigger warnings before reading. But if you like messy characters, complicated relationships, and getting inside the head of a grumpy man with a lot more going on than he lets you see, give this one a try.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Mold by Alek Voss is a gripping, dark romance that pulls you into a world of obsession, dangerous attraction, and morally complicated characters which I am here for! Just like the first book I was hooked!! The intense dynamic between Mark and Vanessa keeps you guessing I love how there are so many layers to mark his character was really interesting to read and Vanessa is bold and completely unpredictable. However I think my favourite badass was Alicia we love a strong independent woman! while the twists and psychological tension make it difficult to put the book down. One of the most compelling aspects is how the story explores the blurred line between desire and control, showing how love can become tangled with darker impulses. If you enjoy intense, unpredictable romance with a dangerous edge, Mold is definitely worth reading!
I look forward for what’s in store for us next I will definitely be reading this duo again.
I look forward for what’s in store for us next I will definitely be reading this duo again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow!
First of all thank you too Alex voss for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book before it's published.
This book is the 2nd book in the dark romance deceptive series.
It is told from his POV, it was just as good as the first book and gave closure to alot of questions.
I love the dynamic between mark and Vanessa and how she is a badass!
This series is a must read I'm not gonna give too much away as you need to read it for yourself to see!
First of all thank you too Alex voss for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book before it's published.
This book is the 2nd book in the dark romance deceptive series.
It is told from his POV, it was just as good as the first book and gave closure to alot of questions.
I love the dynamic between mark and Vanessa and how she is a badass!
This series is a must read I'm not gonna give too much away as you need to read it for yourself to see!
Review of advance copy received from Author
First,I want to thank Alek Voss for giving me the chance to read this amazing book! It is full of action,spicy,leaves you wondering what will happen next,captivating from the first page until the last! I love how protective the male character is and how smart the female character is ! And I can tell you something for sure,you will definitely love them !❤️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This story is amazing the details the events that happened it's a really great read if you like dark romance you will love this the plot is good deceptive is a good read but this is better imo it's before deceptive so a prequel and the author has written it amazing I am currently re reading it
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to be one of the first ones to read this book. I loved both books in this series but I think I liked this one better very good book and enjoyed reading it ❤
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, I want to thank Alek for the opportunity to read it in advance.
This book should come with warning label! I was in a reading slump for a while after I finished reading!
This book should come with warning label! I was in a reading slump for a while after I finished reading!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews