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Break Me, Heal Me #2
A Heart as Black as Cole: Break Me, Heal Me, Book 2
My looks were profitable.
My voice, too.
But talent didn't make a person successful.
It always came down to who you knew, and I knew lots of bad people in high places.
I sold my soul to a devil in a fancy suit.
And he put me in front of the world.
I was more than a rockstar; I was a pawn, and he had me exactly where he wanted me.
With my songs calling pretty fans to the darkness where devils like him waited.
It meant nothing to me, leading people who loved me into Hell...
But then one dug her way out...
And she changed everything.
My voice, too.
But talent didn't make a person successful.
It always came down to who you knew, and I knew lots of bad people in high places.
I sold my soul to a devil in a fancy suit.
And he put me in front of the world.
I was more than a rockstar; I was a pawn, and he had me exactly where he wanted me.
With my songs calling pretty fans to the darkness where devils like him waited.
It meant nothing to me, leading people who loved me into Hell...
But then one dug her way out...
And she changed everything.
Audible Audio
Published September 30, 2026
About the author
Cori Zahara
20 books1,043 followersJust a weirdo, who has imaginary people talking to her...who she then writes books on, starting with the end of their story. Yes, I told you...weird.
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April 29, 2024This isn't a book for everyone. If you have triggers, please pick something else. Your mental health matters, and this is an extremely dark read.
I tell stories as they are told to me, and often, that means they are grim and graphic...though there will be beautiful moments, too. We need some light in the darkness...but with my books, there is so much darkness.
A reader once told me, "There's dark, and then there's you." Please, keep that in mind before reading.
I tell stories as they are told to me, and often, that means they are grim and graphic...though there will be beautiful moments, too. We need some light in the darkness...but with my books, there is so much darkness.
A reader once told me, "There's dark, and then there's you." Please, keep that in mind before reading.
March 17, 2025
Update: I got the amazing opportunity to listen to the audiobook for this and dude, I’m telling you, the narrators perform some kind of magic and brought this book to life and did such an incredible job.
Cori did it again, she found another way to break me and also get me to fall in love with another mmc that I probably shouldn’t like and forgive 😭 please check your triggers for this book because it did have some of the darkest scenes, one chapter actually had a warning on it because of the stuff that happened which I can see trigger a lot of people. However this book was so beautifully written, and in a way where you were scared to find out what would happen next because of the background information you find out in the beginning of the story. But honestly, I would 100% recommend
Cori did it again, she found another way to break me and also get me to fall in love with another mmc that I probably shouldn’t like and forgive 😭 please check your triggers for this book because it did have some of the darkest scenes, one chapter actually had a warning on it because of the stuff that happened which I can see trigger a lot of people. However this book was so beautifully written, and in a way where you were scared to find out what would happen next because of the background information you find out in the beginning of the story. But honestly, I would 100% recommend
May 3, 2024
Check your TWs!!!
That’s your only warning.
- phenomenal, outstanding, unlike anything I’ve read this year.
Cori Zahara absolutely annihilated my heart with this book, it was dark, disturbing, depraved; and so fucking beautiful, seeing these two scarred people come together, left me feeling so many emotions at once, I needed some time to stew in those before committing to a review.
Cat took hold of my heart so easily, and readily, as if every bit of those moments were my own.
Remi made me want to scream & punch him, all the while kissing him because he too carried on his own traumatic experiences.
10/10 recommend if you have no triggers, and are into the darkest themes of fiction.
Trust me, by the end of the book; you’ll wonder if things will feel right again, because it’ll have wrung you out, a dozen times.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S. I’m sending Cori my therapy bill. Lol.
Guys. The audiobook 😭👌🏻 run don’t walk!!!!
That’s your only warning.
- phenomenal, outstanding, unlike anything I’ve read this year.
Cori Zahara absolutely annihilated my heart with this book, it was dark, disturbing, depraved; and so fucking beautiful, seeing these two scarred people come together, left me feeling so many emotions at once, I needed some time to stew in those before committing to a review.
Cat took hold of my heart so easily, and readily, as if every bit of those moments were my own.
Remi made me want to scream & punch him, all the while kissing him because he too carried on his own traumatic experiences.
10/10 recommend if you have no triggers, and are into the darkest themes of fiction.
Trust me, by the end of the book; you’ll wonder if things will feel right again, because it’ll have wrung you out, a dozen times.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S. I’m sending Cori my therapy bill. Lol.
Guys. The audiobook 😭👌🏻 run don’t walk!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2025
This is the darkest book I've EVER read!!!
Check the TW‼️‼️
I'm very torn with this book, from the prologue it's describe Reno getting beaten up and it's very descriptive and graphic. Giving you an indication of how dark it's gonna be..... but it still cannot prepare you for some of the scenes I read.
The first half is Remi rescuing Cat, and then rekindling there love and you know he's keeping stuff from her, but she's happy he's being wonderful and your rooting for them......
The second half is set 12 years in the past...
Then the second half happens and she remembers the past........ wow..... he handed her over to trafficker for a bag of coke!!!!! then sees the abuse and does not help, repeatedly, he then rapes her and because of him she's given to the worse monster I've ever read about, for 11 YEARS!!!!
Hot pokers!!!!! 🙈😳🥺🥺😞
Second half of the book I hate him, he was abused himself but it didn't excuse all the things that happened to cat because of him. ALL the abuse she endured was because he handed her over, unforgivable. I just can't get past that, and struggle to see how Cat does??
All the things the he did which is why I can never forgive.
• hands her over to trafficker and leaves for a bag of drugs
•he walks away from her in the trafficker warehouse, witnesses a noose around her neck and blood dripping down her thigh from SA and walks away
•once she sold to a man, he initially stalks her, then pays said owner to spend the night, where he rapes her orally
• then owner pimps her out whilst Remi is passed out on the floor from drugs numerous times, and he knows she's being sold, and stilll chooses to do nothing.
•gets soo high that he chases her through the woods and rapes her vaginally
•lastly she gets sold to another owner and his two sons and wife, mutilate, sexually physically, mentally and emotionally abuse, and murder her unborn child. All to keep Remi in line.
By the end of the book we go back to present day. And Remi is the person we read about in the first half but with new information I just couldn't get past it and want Cat to leave and be happy with her sister, and tbh if Remi didn't make it out the book I would be absolutely fine, but he lives and she forgives him and they get their HEA. (But he doesn't deserve it)
Check the TW‼️‼️
I'm very torn with this book, from the prologue it's describe Reno getting beaten up and it's very descriptive and graphic. Giving you an indication of how dark it's gonna be..... but it still cannot prepare you for some of the scenes I read.
The first half is Remi rescuing Cat, and then rekindling there love and you know he's keeping stuff from her, but she's happy he's being wonderful and your rooting for them......
The second half is set 12 years in the past...
Then the second half happens and she remembers the past........ wow..... he handed her over to trafficker for a bag of coke!!!!! then sees the abuse and does not help, repeatedly, he then rapes her and because of him she's given to the worse monster I've ever read about, for 11 YEARS!!!!
Hot pokers!!!!! 🙈😳🥺🥺😞
Second half of the book I hate him, he was abused himself but it didn't excuse all the things that happened to cat because of him. ALL the abuse she endured was because he handed her over, unforgivable. I just can't get past that, and struggle to see how Cat does??
All the things the he did which is why I can never forgive.
• hands her over to trafficker and leaves for a bag of drugs
•he walks away from her in the trafficker warehouse, witnesses a noose around her neck and blood dripping down her thigh from SA and walks away
•once she sold to a man, he initially stalks her, then pays said owner to spend the night, where he rapes her orally
• then owner pimps her out whilst Remi is passed out on the floor from drugs numerous times, and he knows she's being sold, and stilll chooses to do nothing.
•gets soo high that he chases her through the woods and rapes her vaginally
•lastly she gets sold to another owner and his two sons and wife, mutilate, sexually physically, mentally and emotionally abuse, and murder her unborn child. All to keep Remi in line.
By the end of the book we go back to present day. And Remi is the person we read about in the first half but with new information I just couldn't get past it and want Cat to leave and be happy with her sister, and tbh if Remi didn't make it out the book I would be absolutely fine, but he lives and she forgives him and they get their HEA. (But he doesn't deserve it)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2026
At this point, I think I’m actively searching for emotional damage in book form...
This book was dark, brutal, toxic and emotionally suffocating in a way that completely pulled me in. True pitch black romance. The kind that makes you stop for a second and wonder if maybe you’re the problem for being so invested in it.
I honestly have no idea how this managed to make me sympathise with certain things, but it did. And despite how heavy and messed up it felt, I couldn’t put it down.
This book was dark, brutal, toxic and emotionally suffocating in a way that completely pulled me in. True pitch black romance. The kind that makes you stop for a second and wonder if maybe you’re the problem for being so invested in it.
I honestly have no idea how this managed to make me sympathise with certain things, but it did. And despite how heavy and messed up it felt, I couldn’t put it down.
April 16, 2026
Pitch black romance. For real check the trigger warnings first. Intense HT, SA, R word, hidden societies, completely dark themes within the music industry & so much uncomfortable tension while piling on trauma. Amnesia trope. Blackened secrets. Complete obsession. Grotesquely messed all the way up. This one was almost too dark for me. Somehow there was still a happy ending, so there is that.
September 30, 2026
The 2 stars are for the narrators for doing a phenomenal job (Shiloh James & J. Tipstone) they really made Remi & Cat come to life.
But...
There is no need for this book to be 800+ pages. I ended up dnf'ing it at chapter 60. only 20 chapters from being done. The chapters were so long & repeditive. The interactions with some of the side-characters felt like fillers. They made no sense and had no impact on the plot. And tbh I'm still confused as to what the plot is? The time jump was so confusing and most of the time we went in circles and then brushed it off by starting a whole other scene without any conclusion. I had to relisten to some parts and make notes on were we in the past or the present now beacuse it all blurred as one. I also felt like there was a shock factor scene in each chapter. It felt like trauma dumping just for the sake of trauma and then lets move on to the next she's mine, assult, inner monologue scene.
Storytime.
Remi leads Cat into trafficking for a bag of coke. He's a rockstar but also a rapist? What do you mean he feels bad for what he did so he pays her master 10k$ for each visit to be with her, and he touches her after she's unconscious. But he just had to have because she's his. Yet, he keeps doing drugs and does nothing to save her. He's literally passed out on the floor while she's being raped by other men. He is a shitty character and using past trauma as an excuse to act the way he does is a big NO for me. He can get fucked. His trauma felt like it was there for the sake of having a broken character.
Cat on the other hand might be one of my most hated fmc's. She literally has amnesia and can't remember their past and most of the abuse she has suffered for years. And when I say suffered I'm talking torture, mutilation, death of an infant, gang raped, sold over and over again. And she somehow mysteriously forgives him & feels safe. FUCK OFF. Their "connection" felt forced and their was no tension it felt flat.
And Riley (Cat's) sister was also trafficked after they were taken at Remi's concert. SHE LOST A FUCKING EYE & all of her teeth and she also forgives Remi because her sister seems happy after they get married. Spoiler... He didn't tell Cat about their past because he was afraid that she'd change her mind AND wouldn't marry him. Their whole relationship is toxic and I wished that Remi died so Cat could finally heal and be happy.
You are probably thinking why are you even rating a book you didn't finish? Well since I've listen to over 70+ % of the audio (60 chapters) I can definetly give it a fair rating. I thought about forcing myself to finish it but I've been told that it won't do me any good. Because Cat will forgive him even after remembering what Remi did & the whole missing "plot" continues to the very end. I know reading is subjective. This book would have been a masterpiece like the Darkness Beyond The Daisies if it had been atleast 200 pages shorter and wasn't repeditive.
But...
There is no need for this book to be 800+ pages. I ended up dnf'ing it at chapter 60. only 20 chapters from being done. The chapters were so long & repeditive. The interactions with some of the side-characters felt like fillers. They made no sense and had no impact on the plot. And tbh I'm still confused as to what the plot is? The time jump was so confusing and most of the time we went in circles and then brushed it off by starting a whole other scene without any conclusion. I had to relisten to some parts and make notes on were we in the past or the present now beacuse it all blurred as one. I also felt like there was a shock factor scene in each chapter. It felt like trauma dumping just for the sake of trauma and then lets move on to the next she's mine, assult, inner monologue scene.
Storytime.
Remi leads Cat into trafficking for a bag of coke. He's a rockstar but also a rapist? What do you mean he feels bad for what he did so he pays her master 10k$ for each visit to be with her, and he touches her after she's unconscious. But he just had to have because she's his. Yet, he keeps doing drugs and does nothing to save her. He's literally passed out on the floor while she's being raped by other men. He is a shitty character and using past trauma as an excuse to act the way he does is a big NO for me. He can get fucked. His trauma felt like it was there for the sake of having a broken character.
Cat on the other hand might be one of my most hated fmc's. She literally has amnesia and can't remember their past and most of the abuse she has suffered for years. And when I say suffered I'm talking torture, mutilation, death of an infant, gang raped, sold over and over again. And she somehow mysteriously forgives him & feels safe. FUCK OFF. Their "connection" felt forced and their was no tension it felt flat.
And Riley (Cat's) sister was also trafficked after they were taken at Remi's concert. SHE LOST A FUCKING EYE & all of her teeth and she also forgives Remi because her sister seems happy after they get married. Spoiler... He didn't tell Cat about their past because he was afraid that she'd change her mind AND wouldn't marry him. Their whole relationship is toxic and I wished that Remi died so Cat could finally heal and be happy.
You are probably thinking why are you even rating a book you didn't finish? Well since I've listen to over 70+ % of the audio (60 chapters) I can definetly give it a fair rating. I thought about forcing myself to finish it but I've been told that it won't do me any good. Because Cat will forgive him even after remembering what Remi did & the whole missing "plot" continues to the very end. I know reading is subjective. This book would have been a masterpiece like the Darkness Beyond The Daisies if it had been atleast 200 pages shorter and wasn't repeditive.
August 2, 2026
Another heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, made me want to crawl out of my skin, 6 star read by Cori Zahara. ✨
Remi - OMG, I hated him so much at one point, especially in chapter 62, I just wanted to reach inside the book and strangle him with my bare hands! And at the same time I pitied him, because he was also so abused and his past is awful. I have no idea how she manages to do this every f*cking time. How I feel sympathy for the MMCs and like them, even when they do horrible things. Her writing is so good, it makes you get it. Not completely forgive, but understand. And in the end you love them, because they are victims, too. I couldn’t help but do so, just like Cat.
Oh, Cat - I love her. Fierce and amazing. So strong and defiant despite everything she went through. My heart broke for her so many times I lost count. But she never ever gave up, a true warrior of a woman.
Check the triggers! This is a very very heavy, pitch black story. ‼️‼️‼️
I can’t wait for Ollie’s book, especially with that ending. 🙊 I really hope Dec gets one, too! 🤞 The found family, along with all their cats and dogs, is everything!
Now, quotes:
"Please make him stop. Please make him stop. Please let his heart stop." 😭 Broke my heart and soul.
"It’s called heartbreak, little darling. Like I said, your body remembers me."
"Did you break my heart, Remi darling?" 💔
"You’d think I wouldn’t have fallen back in love with her, head over fucking ass, within a few fucking minutes." 🥹
"She has this strength that cannot break, a thousand blows and more to take, and yet here she is still standing." 🎸
"That was then. Now, I feel honored to even share your fucking space. Because you’re that ethereal to me. Your body still appeals to me because you were born to be mine. A blend of genetics created perfectly just for me to love." 🖤
"You’ve kept my heart beating for so many years. It’s only fair I give those years back to you." ✨
Remi - OMG, I hated him so much at one point, especially in chapter 62, I just wanted to reach inside the book and strangle him with my bare hands! And at the same time I pitied him, because he was also so abused and his past is awful. I have no idea how she manages to do this every f*cking time. How I feel sympathy for the MMCs and like them, even when they do horrible things. Her writing is so good, it makes you get it. Not completely forgive, but understand. And in the end you love them, because they are victims, too. I couldn’t help but do so, just like Cat.
Oh, Cat - I love her. Fierce and amazing. So strong and defiant despite everything she went through. My heart broke for her so many times I lost count. But she never ever gave up, a true warrior of a woman.
Check the triggers! This is a very very heavy, pitch black story. ‼️‼️‼️
I can’t wait for Ollie’s book, especially with that ending. 🙊 I really hope Dec gets one, too! 🤞 The found family, along with all their cats and dogs, is everything!
Now, quotes:
"Please make him stop. Please make him stop. Please let his heart stop." 😭 Broke my heart and soul.
"It’s called heartbreak, little darling. Like I said, your body remembers me."
"Did you break my heart, Remi darling?" 💔
"You’d think I wouldn’t have fallen back in love with her, head over fucking ass, within a few fucking minutes." 🥹
"She has this strength that cannot break, a thousand blows and more to take, and yet here she is still standing." 🎸
"That was then. Now, I feel honored to even share your fucking space. Because you’re that ethereal to me. Your body still appeals to me because you were born to be mine. A blend of genetics created perfectly just for me to love." 🖤
"You’ve kept my heart beating for so many years. It’s only fair I give those years back to you." ✨
August 7, 2025
i don’t even know how to put into words how I feel about this book, but I’ll try.
let’s start with the fact that i jumped into this book after seeing it labeled as “the darkest romance i’ve ever read” by many creators; we can agree to disagree: this is not a pitch dark romance; it’s a pitch black novel. full stop.
there’s no romance here, there’s deception and gaslighting and two extremely tortured and broken souls who should simply not be together.
they shouldn’t have ended together, stop. Remi knew from the beginning Cat was deceiving him just to find an escape from the most abusive situation to ever exist in, and yet he gaslighted her into thinking they were in love before she was taken away from him, never giving her the opportunity to know about his abuses (ABUSES, plural, because one wasn’t enough) before re-falling in love with him. it’s relatively easy, i think, to fall in love with your handsome and caring savior after 12 years of tortures as a sex slave, if you don’t know he’s the reason you were sold as a sex slave in the first place.
i’m not even bothered about the triggers, because i truly enjoyed the book; it wrecked me coming to know such devastating events are probably the reality of thousands of people.
i’m fully on board with people saying the trigger warnings are there for a reason. as i said this book it’s extremely dark. the only thing that got me through it is that it turns out i don’t have any triggers, because apparently i’m a sociopath.
all this being said, i truly recommend this book if you want to look into the reality of two victims, one of human trade, the other of abuse and neglect since he was a child. i think their story is beautifully written. i just don’t think their story should be a love one
let’s start with the fact that i jumped into this book after seeing it labeled as “the darkest romance i’ve ever read” by many creators; we can agree to disagree: this is not a pitch dark romance; it’s a pitch black novel. full stop.
there’s no romance here, there’s deception and gaslighting and two extremely tortured and broken souls who should simply not be together.
they shouldn’t have ended together, stop. Remi knew from the beginning Cat was deceiving him just to find an escape from the most abusive situation to ever exist in, and yet he gaslighted her into thinking they were in love before she was taken away from him, never giving her the opportunity to know about his abuses (ABUSES, plural, because one wasn’t enough) before re-falling in love with him. it’s relatively easy, i think, to fall in love with your handsome and caring savior after 12 years of tortures as a sex slave, if you don’t know he’s the reason you were sold as a sex slave in the first place.
i’m not even bothered about the triggers, because i truly enjoyed the book; it wrecked me coming to know such devastating events are probably the reality of thousands of people.
i’m fully on board with people saying the trigger warnings are there for a reason. as i said this book it’s extremely dark. the only thing that got me through it is that it turns out i don’t have any triggers, because apparently i’m a sociopath.
all this being said, i truly recommend this book if you want to look into the reality of two victims, one of human trade, the other of abuse and neglect since he was a child. i think their story is beautifully written. i just don’t think their story should be a love one
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2024
I very inpatiently waited for Cori to finish this book. I was not disappointed in it, and it was definitely worth the wait.
It is very dark in nature, and there is a whole shopping list of trigger warnings. Check yourself and make sure that this book is right for you. Your mental health matters above all else.
Remington 'Remi' Cole is a famous rockstar who is used as a decoy to lure young girls into a human trafficking ring. All of that changes when he meets "the one," Catharina 'Cat' Sutter. He starts only caring about her and trying to help her. He doesn't do a very good job as he self medicates his past trauma with numerous drugs and alcohol. He loses her, and it takes 8 years for him to finally find her again. In that time, he teamed up with his "brothers" to try and take down the trafficking ring. He is completely sober now and only wants to save "his girl." She has no memory of him now due to an injury. He struggles with telling her about their past and ruining their current happiness. More twists happen, and you should read the book to have the full story.
Cori knocked it out of the park again, and I am so happy to sing her praises!
It is very dark in nature, and there is a whole shopping list of trigger warnings. Check yourself and make sure that this book is right for you. Your mental health matters above all else.
Remington 'Remi' Cole is a famous rockstar who is used as a decoy to lure young girls into a human trafficking ring. All of that changes when he meets "the one," Catharina 'Cat' Sutter. He starts only caring about her and trying to help her. He doesn't do a very good job as he self medicates his past trauma with numerous drugs and alcohol. He loses her, and it takes 8 years for him to finally find her again. In that time, he teamed up with his "brothers" to try and take down the trafficking ring. He is completely sober now and only wants to save "his girl." She has no memory of him now due to an injury. He struggles with telling her about their past and ruining their current happiness. More twists happen, and you should read the book to have the full story.
Cori knocked it out of the park again, and I am so happy to sing her praises!
April 4, 2024
CHECK 🖤 YOUR 🖤 TRIGGER 🖤 WARNINGS ‼️
Now that we've settled that let's talk about this story! This is my first book I've read from Cori and man she doesn't disappoint. I was given the opportunity to read for her even though there might be a spoiler from a previous read and lucky for me I didn't notice it.. well maybe? I don't even know 🤣. Oh whatever moving on.
If you want your heart ripped out, put together is the most graceful way this is a must read. Now I'll use "graceful" lightly because there's some heavy sh😩t in this story. Cori does an amazing job of tying everything up but leaving you needing more.
Will they? Will they not?
Rockstar with a hidden world?
This will make you think about what's happening around too!
Now that we've settled that let's talk about this story! This is my first book I've read from Cori and man she doesn't disappoint. I was given the opportunity to read for her even though there might be a spoiler from a previous read and lucky for me I didn't notice it.. well maybe? I don't even know 🤣. Oh whatever moving on.
If you want your heart ripped out, put together is the most graceful way this is a must read. Now I'll use "graceful" lightly because there's some heavy sh😩t in this story. Cori does an amazing job of tying everything up but leaving you needing more.
Will they? Will they not?
Rockstar with a hidden world?
This will make you think about what's happening around too!
December 29, 2025
Audiobook Review: When I saw AHABAC was being made into an audiobook, I knew I had to listen. Cori is a favorite author of mine, and this book is very special to me. Despite the fact that I have already eyeball read this book before, this audiobook tore me to shreds! I give major props to the narrators for truly bringing Remi and Cat to life. This is a story that requires so much pain, heartbreak, and basically every difficult emotion you can think of, and they did a great job at it. Hearing Remi come to life with audio gave me literal chills. And Cat is my girl so being able to hear her was such so incredible. I love these two so much. Their story is so painful but so worth it in the end. I knew the audiobook was mess me up, but I was not prepared for how painful it was going to be. I love an audiobook that can absolutely devasted me and put me back together in the end. Absolute five star audiobook. Thank you BNA for the ALC.
“I’m going to go to sleep, and I hope you’re the one who wakes back up. You’ve kept my heart beating for so many years. It’s only fair I give those years back to you. You’ve always been my angel, but it’s time for me to be your angel now.”
🥺😭💔 IYKYK
Cori, you’ve wrecked me again and all I can do is thank you.
Now that I have had a little time to gather myself and thoughts, I will write my review.
For starters, I highly recommended reading The Darkness Beyond the Daisies before reading this if you care to read Daisies as things that happened in that will get spoiled in this one. I absolutely loved Daisies and was so eager to dive into this book so I could get more of this world and characters.
Well, this book was over 850 pages long and I finished it in two days if that says anything. I was so invested in Remi and Cat's story from start to finish and I did not want to put it down. I'm going to keep my review pretty vague as I don't want to spoil anything especially plot wise.
If you love a good DARK/pitch black romance with a broken/tortured MMC who is an addict and rockstar with stalker-like tendencies, you need to meet Remi. Certain circumstances catapult Cat, the FMC, into Remi's life and he develops an addiction to her that rivals his other addictions. Be warned many would say Remi is borderline or completely irredeemable but in my opinion, he has the best character growth, and I found myself having compassion and sympathy for him. Cat truly has been through the ringer and continues to do so but she is also extremely determined and resilient. I really liked her. Neither of these characters are perfect and they do make mistakes, but I think that's why I found it so easy to connection with them.
I don't want to go into more specifics about why this book really captured my attention as you just need to read it but I will say both of these MCs are deeply troubled and haunted/controlled by their traumas/past, but I couldn't help but find myself rooting for them and developing so much sympathy for their situations both together and individually. There is no shortage of action and plot development that only escalates the further you get into their story. In typical Cori fashion there was at least one plot twist that got me good and it's safe to say I cried/teared up several times.
I absolutely loved Cat and Remi. And I loved their love for each other. Remi truly redeemed himself in my eyes and I really appreciated how he took the time to help teach Cat to lover herself and her body. I couldn’t put this book down and I didn't want their story to end. The found family in this was also everything. I love this group of people so much and am dying to get more of them.
This is EXTREMELY dark (pitch black). Check the triggers before you read it.
“I’m going to go to sleep, and I hope you’re the one who wakes back up. You’ve kept my heart beating for so many years. It’s only fair I give those years back to you. You’ve always been my angel, but it’s time for me to be your angel now.”
🥺😭💔 IYKYK
Cori, you’ve wrecked me again and all I can do is thank you.
Now that I have had a little time to gather myself and thoughts, I will write my review.
For starters, I highly recommended reading The Darkness Beyond the Daisies before reading this if you care to read Daisies as things that happened in that will get spoiled in this one. I absolutely loved Daisies and was so eager to dive into this book so I could get more of this world and characters.
Well, this book was over 850 pages long and I finished it in two days if that says anything. I was so invested in Remi and Cat's story from start to finish and I did not want to put it down. I'm going to keep my review pretty vague as I don't want to spoil anything especially plot wise.
If you love a good DARK/pitch black romance with a broken/tortured MMC who is an addict and rockstar with stalker-like tendencies, you need to meet Remi. Certain circumstances catapult Cat, the FMC, into Remi's life and he develops an addiction to her that rivals his other addictions. Be warned many would say Remi is borderline or completely irredeemable but in my opinion, he has the best character growth, and I found myself having compassion and sympathy for him. Cat truly has been through the ringer and continues to do so but she is also extremely determined and resilient. I really liked her. Neither of these characters are perfect and they do make mistakes, but I think that's why I found it so easy to connection with them.
I don't want to go into more specifics about why this book really captured my attention as you just need to read it but I will say both of these MCs are deeply troubled and haunted/controlled by their traumas/past, but I couldn't help but find myself rooting for them and developing so much sympathy for their situations both together and individually. There is no shortage of action and plot development that only escalates the further you get into their story. In typical Cori fashion there was at least one plot twist that got me good and it's safe to say I cried/teared up several times.
I absolutely loved Cat and Remi. And I loved their love for each other. Remi truly redeemed himself in my eyes and I really appreciated how he took the time to help teach Cat to lover herself and her body. I couldn’t put this book down and I didn't want their story to end. The found family in this was also everything. I love this group of people so much and am dying to get more of them.
This is EXTREMELY dark (pitch black). Check the triggers before you read it.
November 18, 2025
3.5 I finished it, so I think that usually says a lot for my ADHD brain. I enjoyed it enough to see it through and these characters went through A LOT. Heavy on the triggers and definitely not for everyone. I think Remi does an amazing job at redemption especially coming from such a fucked up past himself. I love stories of overcoming addiction in general and think the author did a great job with that representation. I think the writing was just ok and didn’t have that “wow” factor that I love so much but it also was nowhere near bad or anything of that sort. I’m a huge mood reader so I think that could play a part. Beautiful ending and think these two absolutely deserved their HEA. All in all, I will definitely try more books from Cori ♥️
Oh also, 10/10 book cover- beautiful!
Oh also, 10/10 book cover- beautiful!
August 20, 2024
Cori Zahara definitely knows how to write about some traumatic stuff. Her books invoke all kinds of emotions.
I couldn't put it down. Did this book make me cry? Yes. Yes, it did. 🥹
I couldn't put it down. Did this book make me cry? Yes. Yes, it did. 🥹
August 15, 2025
DNF after 2 chapters, this author’s writing style is atrocious.
November 3, 2026
"You've kept my heart beating for so many years. It's only fair I give those years back to you."
And once again Cori Zahara gifts me an absolute fucking masterpiece that shredded my heart into tiny little pieces. My favorite part of this genuinely is that Remi is far from perfect and despite actively making changes to be better, he is still a deeply flawed character. Addiction is a life long battle that will influence every aspect of his life and relationship with Cat. This found family is one of my absolute favorites and I never want to leave them. I want Ollie's story and Dec's and oh my god just let me stay with them forever.
Cori never shys away from the darker side of things. Making every scene raw and real and graphic without glorifying the abuse. It's disgusting. It makes you sick at times(looking at you chapter 73)
I will be billing Cori for my therapy bill and gnawing at the bars of my enclosure until Ollie's book is in my hands. Thank you.
And once again Cori Zahara gifts me an absolute fucking masterpiece that shredded my heart into tiny little pieces. My favorite part of this genuinely is that Remi is far from perfect and despite actively making changes to be better, he is still a deeply flawed character. Addiction is a life long battle that will influence every aspect of his life and relationship with Cat. This found family is one of my absolute favorites and I never want to leave them. I want Ollie's story and Dec's and oh my god just let me stay with them forever.
Cori never shys away from the darker side of things. Making every scene raw and real and graphic without glorifying the abuse. It's disgusting. It makes you sick at times(looking at you chapter 73)
I will be billing Cori for my therapy bill and gnawing at the bars of my enclosure until Ollie's book is in my hands. Thank you.
Did Not Finish
August 27, 2025DNF at 66%
September 22, 2026
Audiobook 🎧
PLEASE CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE STARTING THIS ONE! ⚠️ This story deals with some VERY HEAVY and DARK content. ⚠️
I COULD NOT STOP LISTENING! 😭 Cori did it AGAIN, she reached straight into my chest and ripped my heart out! This was so well written with an incredible storyline that completely consumed me. So many gut-wrenching moments had me feeling devastated, and emotionally wrecked.
Both Remi and Cat have endured so much, and the darkness of their pasts makes their journey together even more heartbreaking.
I also loved getting to learn more about the characters from her previous book and seeing their stories unfold even more. 🖤 It added so much depth to the story!
I cannot wait to read the next one.
Shiloh James & J. Tipstone , did a phenomenal job. Each voiced multiple characters. You could hear the pain, heartbreak, anger, and vulnerability in their voices, it made the story feel so much more real.
Amazing! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
PLEASE CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE STARTING THIS ONE! ⚠️ This story deals with some VERY HEAVY and DARK content. ⚠️
I COULD NOT STOP LISTENING! 😭 Cori did it AGAIN, she reached straight into my chest and ripped my heart out! This was so well written with an incredible storyline that completely consumed me. So many gut-wrenching moments had me feeling devastated, and emotionally wrecked.
Both Remi and Cat have endured so much, and the darkness of their pasts makes their journey together even more heartbreaking.
I also loved getting to learn more about the characters from her previous book and seeing their stories unfold even more. 🖤 It added so much depth to the story!
I cannot wait to read the next one.
Shiloh James & J. Tipstone , did a phenomenal job. Each voiced multiple characters. You could hear the pain, heartbreak, anger, and vulnerability in their voices, it made the story feel so much more real.
Amazing! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
September 26, 2026
🖤ALC REVIEW🖤
⭐️𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4 / 5
🔥𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 3 / 5
💧𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬: none just super HEAVY
🎙️𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 5/5 - Shiloh James & J. Tipstone
🎧𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: DUET
I’m quickly becoming a Cori Zahara stan. This is my third from her & she just has a way of sucking you in. Before I dive in, these narrators were phenomenal!! I can’t even put it into words what I good job they did with these characters! BRAVO!
Now here we go…the is labeled as a pitch black romance, however, I feel like that is open for interpretation & depends on the reader. This was an emotionally brutal, heartbreaking & horrific story of two people that have gone through torture & pain (of different variations) & carry a TON of trauma…who do eventually find their way back to each other. Now was there romance? Sure there was & there was an “HEA”, but again I feel like you have to see their whole story & really dissect it to decide for yourself.
Remi is a rockstar that essentially sold his soul to traffickers so they can kidnap young people & sell them off. Cat was a fan of his & could have been SO much more but instead he handed her right over…& then some. I don’t know that I have ever liked (I say that loosely) an MMC & actually hated him at the same time before. Cat, the FMC, is probably one of the strongest FMCs I’ve read about yet. This girl has GONE…THROUGH…IT. Their story is messy, brutal & not for the faint of heart.
This book is HEAVY AF & triggers need to be read thoroughly before diving in. But Cori’s writing just does something to you. She is raw, emotional, brutal, & leaves you thinking & feeling so much. When you do give her writing a shot (which I think you should if you can), make sure to give yourself breaks, she will have you on a rollercoaster but she’s worth it!
Thank you to Blue Nose & Cori Zahara for providing me with a complimentary ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.
⭐️𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4 / 5
🔥𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 3 / 5
💧𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬: none just super HEAVY
🎙️𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 5/5 - Shiloh James & J. Tipstone
🎧𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: DUET
I’m quickly becoming a Cori Zahara stan. This is my third from her & she just has a way of sucking you in. Before I dive in, these narrators were phenomenal!! I can’t even put it into words what I good job they did with these characters! BRAVO!
Now here we go…the is labeled as a pitch black romance, however, I feel like that is open for interpretation & depends on the reader. This was an emotionally brutal, heartbreaking & horrific story of two people that have gone through torture & pain (of different variations) & carry a TON of trauma…who do eventually find their way back to each other. Now was there romance? Sure there was & there was an “HEA”, but again I feel like you have to see their whole story & really dissect it to decide for yourself.
Remi is a rockstar that essentially sold his soul to traffickers so they can kidnap young people & sell them off. Cat was a fan of his & could have been SO much more but instead he handed her right over…& then some. I don’t know that I have ever liked (I say that loosely) an MMC & actually hated him at the same time before. Cat, the FMC, is probably one of the strongest FMCs I’ve read about yet. This girl has GONE…THROUGH…IT. Their story is messy, brutal & not for the faint of heart.
This book is HEAVY AF & triggers need to be read thoroughly before diving in. But Cori’s writing just does something to you. She is raw, emotional, brutal, & leaves you thinking & feeling so much. When you do give her writing a shot (which I think you should if you can), make sure to give yourself breaks, she will have you on a rollercoaster but she’s worth it!
Thank you to Blue Nose & Cori Zahara for providing me with a complimentary ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 4, 2024
After the complete devastation I was left in after reading Darkness Beyond the Daisies, I was so ready for Cori to break my heart again. And boy did she deliver!
I very impatiently waited for my ARC copy and immediately downloaded when it hit my inbox. From the very first page, I loved Remi and as much as I hated some of his choices, I never stopped loving him. Cat was so heartbreakingly damaged but so incredibly strong. Her story, the struggle and pain she endured, is so incredibly hard to read but so worth it.
I loved getting to see Jolie and Woodrow living their love story. I also loved getting to see more of the family dynamic between the ‘brothers’; we love morally gray (black?) men and these are some of the best out there.
Another epic love story (yes, it’s absolutely a love story) from Cori and I absolutely cannot wait to read Ollie’s story!
I very impatiently waited for my ARC copy and immediately downloaded when it hit my inbox. From the very first page, I loved Remi and as much as I hated some of his choices, I never stopped loving him. Cat was so heartbreakingly damaged but so incredibly strong. Her story, the struggle and pain she endured, is so incredibly hard to read but so worth it.
I loved getting to see Jolie and Woodrow living their love story. I also loved getting to see more of the family dynamic between the ‘brothers’; we love morally gray (black?) men and these are some of the best out there.
Another epic love story (yes, it’s absolutely a love story) from Cori and I absolutely cannot wait to read Ollie’s story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2024
OMG.
I almost DNF'd at like 30%.
I hated Remi. I could not forgive the things he did and the horrible things he was a part of. I hated him, and I did not want to read 800 pages about him because there was no way he could redeem himself.
But then, at 34%, I read the words:
"You've gone through so much, yet you can still smile because you can see the light in the darkest places. Like in my soul."
So, I decided to give him a chance 😂
If Catharina could see something good in him, then maybe I could too.
Cat... was the reason I pushed through. She's a survivor, and her heartbreaking story is a story worth telling.
This was a 5 star for me. I took my time, I pushed through the hard parts, I saw a broken man through someone elses eyes and I forgave him. Remington Cole deserves a chance to be seen and heard 🖤
I almost DNF'd at like 30%.
I hated Remi. I could not forgive the things he did and the horrible things he was a part of. I hated him, and I did not want to read 800 pages about him because there was no way he could redeem himself.
But then, at 34%, I read the words:
"You've gone through so much, yet you can still smile because you can see the light in the darkest places. Like in my soul."
So, I decided to give him a chance 😂
If Catharina could see something good in him, then maybe I could too.
Cat... was the reason I pushed through. She's a survivor, and her heartbreaking story is a story worth telling.
This was a 5 star for me. I took my time, I pushed through the hard parts, I saw a broken man through someone elses eyes and I forgave him. Remington Cole deserves a chance to be seen and heard 🖤
April 20, 2024
If enough people have said it then read the trigger warnings ⚠️ I mean really, really do! There are parts people may struggle with 😱I can’t say anymore as it will give too much away.
It took me a while longer to read this one, as there was a lot to take on board, analyse, digest and dissect 😬🥺 The storyline is very well written, makes you feel everything as if you were there and I’m going to state right now parts of this story I really wanted to be elsewhere. There is a lot of darkness, depravity, violation, degeneration and taboo within the story, it is essential in order for the book to flow to its conclusion, hence the trigger warnings. I hated Remi, not sure if still don’t even if Cat found forgiveness which I struggled with so much but she does attempt to explain her love/hate for him 😈
It took me a while longer to read this one, as there was a lot to take on board, analyse, digest and dissect 😬🥺 The storyline is very well written, makes you feel everything as if you were there and I’m going to state right now parts of this story I really wanted to be elsewhere. There is a lot of darkness, depravity, violation, degeneration and taboo within the story, it is essential in order for the book to flow to its conclusion, hence the trigger warnings. I hated Remi, not sure if still don’t even if Cat found forgiveness which I struggled with so much but she does attempt to explain her love/hate for him 😈
May 14, 2025
DNF at around 30% unfortunately!
As a mood reader, I suspect I just wasn’t in the right headspace for this one - especially since I adored The Darkness Beyond The Daisies and gave it a solid 5 star rating. Sadly, Remi and Cat didn’t grip me the way Woodrow and Jolie did. I found myself struggling to connect with their story and just wasn’t feeling invested enough.
This might be one I return to later when the mood strikes, but for now, it’s a soft DNF.
As a mood reader, I suspect I just wasn’t in the right headspace for this one - especially since I adored The Darkness Beyond The Daisies and gave it a solid 5 star rating. Sadly, Remi and Cat didn’t grip me the way Woodrow and Jolie did. I found myself struggling to connect with their story and just wasn’t feeling invested enough.
This might be one I return to later when the mood strikes, but for now, it’s a soft DNF.
Did Not Finish
April 29, 2024No rating. DNF at 17%
This book just exists for shock value.
This book just exists for shock value.
October 3, 2026
𝖆𝖚𝖉𝖎𝖔 𝖗𝖊𝖈 & 𝖗𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜
🌟:5 🌶️:3.5 🎧:5
Narrated by: Shiloh James & J. Tipstone in duet
•–•Some tropes I think you’ll love•–•
▪️ VERY dark romance
▪️ TW list a mile wide
▪️ please do your research
▪️ only you can protect your mental health
One thing you’ll learn quickly when you pick up a book by Cori, is that she does NOT come to play. You will get hurt and you will receive multiple punches to the gut. Sometimes one right after the other.
But the best thing about books by Cori, is her poetic style of writing, her intense and complex characters, and the way she takes you on a deep journey as she navigates you through some very difficult moments, and emotions. I mean you will truly feel like you’re actually living in this story by the end. Take that as you will. 🥴
Remi and Cat’s story is brutally heartbreaking. It put me through my paces over and over again. I mean.. the trauma, the obsession, the grief, the survival and gut-wrenching pain, and my god the guilt 🫠 this story was packed with such emotional complexity, that I’m literally speechless. & I’m still picking my jaw up off the floor from that ending. 👀☠️
So we had Shiloh James and J. Tipstone narrate in duet for the audio, and let me tell you something… they didn’t just read this book to you. No. They LIVED it with you it. The raw emotional performances from both narrators was 10/10, absolutely incredible. NO NOTES. Except to say, this is why I’m so thankful we have audiobooks. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to experience this book without the power of this narration.
If you’re someone who loves extremely dark romance, do yourself the biggest favor ever and put this audiobook in your ears immediately. No joke it’s a 6 star experience. 😍✨💖🫶🏼
🌟:5 🌶️:3.5 🎧:5
Narrated by: Shiloh James & J. Tipstone in duet
•–•Some tropes I think you’ll love•–•
▪️ VERY dark romance
▪️ TW list a mile wide
▪️ please do your research
▪️ only you can protect your mental health
One thing you’ll learn quickly when you pick up a book by Cori, is that she does NOT come to play. You will get hurt and you will receive multiple punches to the gut. Sometimes one right after the other.
But the best thing about books by Cori, is her poetic style of writing, her intense and complex characters, and the way she takes you on a deep journey as she navigates you through some very difficult moments, and emotions. I mean you will truly feel like you’re actually living in this story by the end. Take that as you will. 🥴
Remi and Cat’s story is brutally heartbreaking. It put me through my paces over and over again. I mean.. the trauma, the obsession, the grief, the survival and gut-wrenching pain, and my god the guilt 🫠 this story was packed with such emotional complexity, that I’m literally speechless. & I’m still picking my jaw up off the floor from that ending. 👀☠️
So we had Shiloh James and J. Tipstone narrate in duet for the audio, and let me tell you something… they didn’t just read this book to you. No. They LIVED it with you it. The raw emotional performances from both narrators was 10/10, absolutely incredible. NO NOTES. Except to say, this is why I’m so thankful we have audiobooks. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to experience this book without the power of this narration.
If you’re someone who loves extremely dark romance, do yourself the biggest favor ever and put this audiobook in your ears immediately. No joke it’s a 6 star experience. 😍✨💖🫶🏼
April 2, 2024
This book ripped me open and cut me out. I’d love to say it then stitched me back together (and it almost did), but I may irrevocably broken. I definitely recommended reading The Darkness Beyond the Daisies and An Untraditional Fairytale first. While this book is a standalone, it is part of a bigger world, and the character arcs from those two story lines made A Heart as Black as Cole a more compelling read.
This book is not for the faint of heart, full stop. I have no triggers, but if you do have ANY, you will hate this book. The demented and horrific experiences these characters go through, is unparalleled. There is a full list of trigger warnings, and they exist for good reason. I genuinely can’t explain the gruesome acts in this book without giving away spoilers, but just know there is Human/Sex Trafficking involved, and you’ve been warned.
Ms Zahara is the master of making MMC you love to hate. Remi will make you question your sanity and book the quickest appointment with your therapist you can get. He’s truly awful, but you’re given just enough back story and redeemable moments that you find yourself rooting for him anyways.
The FMC? Girl, nope. I don’t have it. She’s a powerhouse of mental and physical strength that would make me bow down and worship at her feet.
The book was a slow start for me, but I genuinely believe that was more adulting getting in the way than the quality of the story. Once I got into it though, I could not stop. Several junctures on the story, the FMC was told to “breath”, and I found myself needing the reminder as well. When I neared the end, I snuck reading at work (10/10 bad idea by the way), and had to close my office door and collect myself several times.
I don’t know how to recommend this book, because I genuinely don’t enjoy hurting people, but it’s a great read if you enjoy hurting yourself mentally and emotionally like the sadist I am.
This book is not for the faint of heart, full stop. I have no triggers, but if you do have ANY, you will hate this book. The demented and horrific experiences these characters go through, is unparalleled. There is a full list of trigger warnings, and they exist for good reason. I genuinely can’t explain the gruesome acts in this book without giving away spoilers, but just know there is Human/Sex Trafficking involved, and you’ve been warned.
Ms Zahara is the master of making MMC you love to hate. Remi will make you question your sanity and book the quickest appointment with your therapist you can get. He’s truly awful, but you’re given just enough back story and redeemable moments that you find yourself rooting for him anyways.
The FMC? Girl, nope. I don’t have it. She’s a powerhouse of mental and physical strength that would make me bow down and worship at her feet.
The book was a slow start for me, but I genuinely believe that was more adulting getting in the way than the quality of the story. Once I got into it though, I could not stop. Several junctures on the story, the FMC was told to “breath”, and I found myself needing the reminder as well. When I neared the end, I snuck reading at work (10/10 bad idea by the way), and had to close my office door and collect myself several times.
I don’t know how to recommend this book, because I genuinely don’t enjoy hurting people, but it’s a great read if you enjoy hurting yourself mentally and emotionally like the sadist I am.
September 30, 2026
~Alc Review~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A Heart as Black as Cole~Break Me, Heal Me #2~Cori Zahara~
~Duet Narration~Shiloh James & J Tipstone~
~Production~Blue Nose Audio~
"Who gives a fuck what others think. You will never belong to them. You’re mine. Only mine. And only our thoughts should count. And I will do fucking everything—fucking anything—to show you how special you are. How perfect you are."
♡Cori my therapist & I have a stack of bills to send you after this one. I seriously sat & stared at the wall for 3 business days after I finished this book just contemplating my life choices while rummaging through the emotional turmoil my body & brain went through while listening to this story. I've never had a love/hate relationship with an mmc as much as I did in this book.
Standing freaking ovation for the duet narrated performance Siloh & J delivered in this audiobook! When I tell you my jaw was on the floor the majority of this book due to the raw emotion pouring out of their mouths I'm not lying....I'm surprised I got my mouth to close when it was over. The performance in this audio is guaranteed to make my top 3 this year no questions asked!
If you haven't had the chance to step into the Break Me, Heal Me world & you love your books as dark as my soul currently feels look no futher you found them!♡
~As Always Happy Reading~
~Thank you Cori & Blue Nose for this Alc, all thoughts are my own~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A Heart as Black as Cole~Break Me, Heal Me #2~Cori Zahara~
~Duet Narration~Shiloh James & J Tipstone~
~Production~Blue Nose Audio~
"Who gives a fuck what others think. You will never belong to them. You’re mine. Only mine. And only our thoughts should count. And I will do fucking everything—fucking anything—to show you how special you are. How perfect you are."
♡Cori my therapist & I have a stack of bills to send you after this one. I seriously sat & stared at the wall for 3 business days after I finished this book just contemplating my life choices while rummaging through the emotional turmoil my body & brain went through while listening to this story. I've never had a love/hate relationship with an mmc as much as I did in this book.
Standing freaking ovation for the duet narrated performance Siloh & J delivered in this audiobook! When I tell you my jaw was on the floor the majority of this book due to the raw emotion pouring out of their mouths I'm not lying....I'm surprised I got my mouth to close when it was over. The performance in this audio is guaranteed to make my top 3 this year no questions asked!
If you haven't had the chance to step into the Break Me, Heal Me world & you love your books as dark as my soul currently feels look no futher you found them!♡
~As Always Happy Reading~
~Thank you Cori & Blue Nose for this Alc, all thoughts are my own~
March 30, 2024
She’s done it again!! 🖤😬
After reading ‘Darkness Beyond The Daisies’ I did not think she would be able to shock me anymore than she did with that book. Boy was I wrong …. I would highly encourage you to read that book before jumping into this as there are many side characters who appear in the first book. Understanding them and their history will help you to understand the story better 🖤
Please be mindful to check all trigger warnings prior to jumping into this! And please, if you think those triggers would affect you, this is not the book for you! So please don’t go jumping in, and then bashing the author because you were triggered! The warning is there for YOU to decide!
So this story follows Remington Cole and Catharina. Remi, who to the world, is a famous rockstar pulling in the thousands of fans to his concerts. But unknowing to all the secrets that he hides for all to see. Cat, a sweet 18 year old girl who has dreamt of the day she would finally meet her famous crush, finally gets that opportunity. Not knowing that her actions would be the cause to her life falling apart! I can’t say too much as I would think it would be a huge spoiler.
Urgh! I’m literally shook from this story! I wish I could rate this more just because I was hooked, and it did test my limits of how far I could take it.
I applaud Cori! It was beautifully written 🖤
After reading ‘Darkness Beyond The Daisies’ I did not think she would be able to shock me anymore than she did with that book. Boy was I wrong …. I would highly encourage you to read that book before jumping into this as there are many side characters who appear in the first book. Understanding them and their history will help you to understand the story better 🖤
Please be mindful to check all trigger warnings prior to jumping into this! And please, if you think those triggers would affect you, this is not the book for you! So please don’t go jumping in, and then bashing the author because you were triggered! The warning is there for YOU to decide!
So this story follows Remington Cole and Catharina. Remi, who to the world, is a famous rockstar pulling in the thousands of fans to his concerts. But unknowing to all the secrets that he hides for all to see. Cat, a sweet 18 year old girl who has dreamt of the day she would finally meet her famous crush, finally gets that opportunity. Not knowing that her actions would be the cause to her life falling apart! I can’t say too much as I would think it would be a huge spoiler.
Urgh! I’m literally shook from this story! I wish I could rate this more just because I was hooked, and it did test my limits of how far I could take it.
I applaud Cori! It was beautifully written 🖤
April 8, 2024
REMI!!
Jfc. This book tore me to pieces in the best way possible. I don’t remember the last time I cried so much about literally anything.
Once again it’s an absolutely beautifully written story by this author. I love how dark her themes are but she still writes them so beautifully and doesn’t make the triggers read as shock value or glorify them. They’re simply a part of the story that needs to be told and she does it so well.
One of my favourite types of mmcs is the pitch black ones that soften to morally grey once they realize how much they’ve hurt the fmc. Remi, oh remi. The way he obsessed and loved Cat just broke my heart and glued it back together over and over. Every bad thing he did was from his trauma and addiction. He was so addicted to her that he didn’t care what happened to her as long as he got her. Then when he loses her and gets her back, he’s so patient and lovely to her. My little heart couldn’t take it. And don’t get me started on the actual heart storyline, that was so tragic and I sobbed so hard with that note.
This review probably doesn’t even make sense but I just had to get it out of my system.
Jfc. This book tore me to pieces in the best way possible. I don’t remember the last time I cried so much about literally anything.
Once again it’s an absolutely beautifully written story by this author. I love how dark her themes are but she still writes them so beautifully and doesn’t make the triggers read as shock value or glorify them. They’re simply a part of the story that needs to be told and she does it so well.
One of my favourite types of mmcs is the pitch black ones that soften to morally grey once they realize how much they’ve hurt the fmc. Remi, oh remi. The way he obsessed and loved Cat just broke my heart and glued it back together over and over. Every bad thing he did was from his trauma and addiction. He was so addicted to her that he didn’t care what happened to her as long as he got her. Then when he loses her and gets her back, he’s so patient and lovely to her. My little heart couldn’t take it. And don’t get me started on the actual heart storyline, that was so tragic and I sobbed so hard with that note.
This review probably doesn’t even make sense but I just had to get it out of my system.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2026
Cori never fails to leave me in awe of the stories she writes. The darkness in this rivals The Darkness Beyond the Daisies, but in a different way. For this one too, definitely mind your triggers. This author isn't afraid to take the story THERE if it needs to go there, and does it so well written too. Remi and Cat's love story has the darkest of origins and takes such sharp twists and turns through the shadows as you learn it that their happily ever after, while tragic in some ways, is such a hard fought win that will have your heart in your throat while crying happy tears. It was also good to see Jolie and Woodrow/Woody/Hell all again after reading their story, getting to know Dec and Ollie more as well, and seeing the tight knit family that they have all built with each other as well, and how Cat was welcomed in once she arrived. I can't wait to learn more about Ollie and still get to see peeks of everyone else when it's his story's turn too! No matter which way you take in this story you'll love it if you like your romance dark and brutal at times, but the way the narrators in the audio bring this to life? *Chef's kiss*
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