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When Nothing Is All You've Got
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“Move like the wind, protect your face, keep your eyes on the target, and don’t get dead.”
I am the daughter of a King,
but I am no princess.
I am loathed by many,
but feared by more.
To one I was nothing,
to another I am everything.
I am a pawn in their game,
a fighter in their ring.
My name is Nada,
and this is life in the underworld.
“Move like the wind, protect your face, keep your eyes on the target, and don’t get dead.”
I am the daughter of a King,
but I am no princess.
I am loathed by many,
but feared by more.
To one I was nothing,
to another I am everything.
I am a pawn in their game,
a fighter in their ring.
My name is Nada,
and this is life in the underworld.
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About the author
Kirsty Dallas
23 books763 followersJust a girl who likes to write and stuff
Kirsty Dallas is an internationally acclaimed, bestselling author residing in the picturesque Northern Rivers of NSW, Australia.
Known for her unflinching honesty and masterful character development, Kirsty Dallas weaves stories that delve deep into unsettling themes, skillfully infusing heart-stopping action and a whirlwind of emotions into the pages of her books.
Kirsty's talent extends beyond the written word. She collaborated with renowned Australian director and screenwriter, Chris Sun, serving as a script editor and advisor on the horror feature film, "Boar," a chilling cinematic experience that was signed to Universal Pictures Australia and released to critical acclaim in 2018. Her commitment to the art of storytelling led her to further script editing roles, including Brendan Byrne's haunting thriller, "Our Social Playground," and co-writing "The Possessed," a globally-released sensation in 2022. Kirsty's latest cinematic endeavor, "Dark Moon," sees her once again contributing as a script editor and advisor, as it gears up for pre-production.
Kirsty Dallas continues to captivate readers and filmmakers alike with her passion for storytelling, promising more thrilling tales and cinematic adventures on the horizon.
www.kirstydallasauthor.com
Kirsty Dallas is an internationally acclaimed, bestselling author residing in the picturesque Northern Rivers of NSW, Australia.
Known for her unflinching honesty and masterful character development, Kirsty Dallas weaves stories that delve deep into unsettling themes, skillfully infusing heart-stopping action and a whirlwind of emotions into the pages of her books.
Kirsty's talent extends beyond the written word. She collaborated with renowned Australian director and screenwriter, Chris Sun, serving as a script editor and advisor on the horror feature film, "Boar," a chilling cinematic experience that was signed to Universal Pictures Australia and released to critical acclaim in 2018. Her commitment to the art of storytelling led her to further script editing roles, including Brendan Byrne's haunting thriller, "Our Social Playground," and co-writing "The Possessed," a globally-released sensation in 2022. Kirsty's latest cinematic endeavor, "Dark Moon," sees her once again contributing as a script editor and advisor, as it gears up for pre-production.
Kirsty Dallas continues to captivate readers and filmmakers alike with her passion for storytelling, promising more thrilling tales and cinematic adventures on the horizon.
www.kirstydallasauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
September 14, 2019
When nothing becomes something...
WoW!! I’m not sure I can do this book justice with my little old words. When Nothing Is All You’ve Got sure does pack a punch. This book was gritty and dark, but I never felt smothered in its darkness. I did not feel claustrophobic when I was pushed down into the bowels of the earth where there was no light to be found, I was led by a beacon…Nothing.
How can a father call his child Nada, specifically to make her know that she is nothing to him? Why would a man make his daughter feel unloved and disrespected? Even in the end I never understood why the King would hate his daughter so much that he would make pain the one constant in her life. Nada has learnt to be strong, tough and emotionally shut off. If she shows happiness, sadness or love in any way, it is used against her. People she loved were killed or forced against her just to make sure she knew her place in life, being owned by Kingsley…King of the Underworld.
I was mad at Nada’s father and what he forced her to be, but I can see that some of the alternatives were a lot worse. The Underworld is not a nice place to be. It is where all criminals are sent when they have committed a crime. The world is a different place in this story and it is run/ruled only seeing black and white and definitely no grey. If you committed a crime, it didn’t matter if there was a valid reason, you still committed a crime. This means that the Underworld is full of the worst type of criminals and others who may have made bad choices but are not really bad people. They try to identify them and segregate them, but when it comes down to it, they are all there together.
The Underworld is run by Kingsley and his soldiers. Kingsley came to his power because he knew how to kill and abuse his way to the top. His soldiers serve him because of the freedoms and luxuries afforded them for their blind obedience. This is not a nice place to live and if you’re a woman…it’s even worse.
Nada is a cage fighter. Her role is to entertain the masses. She is undefeated but works bloody hard to be the best. Kingsley keeps her alive because she wins, which means he wins. Nada’s trainer Dejohn has been the closest person to her and more like a father to her than Kingsley. Dejohn tries his hardest to protect her as much as he can, which is to make her faster, meaner and cold as ice.
Kingsley’s soldiers take advantage of their positions. Nada is treated badly by them because they see first-hand Kingsley’s disdain and rejection. It is not uncommon for Kingsley to have Nada whipped and beaten for infractions of his rules. Nada is used as an example of what can happen to you if you don’t bow down to the King. There is a hands-off rule applied to Nada but that was only put in place after she was attacked and the rule is only put there by Kingsley because her recovery took away time she could have been fighting.
Pretty much Nada’s life SUCKED. She is not afraid of dying and at times would almost welcome the escape. She perseveres and keeps going because she HOPES one day that she can help some of the Innocents who are there through no fault of their own, escape. She protects them as much as she can but eventually gets help from an unlikely source.
Shadow is one of Kingsley’s soldiers. He came to the Underworld not as the worst type of criminal, but in time he realised that he must become one of the worst to survive. Shadow is Kingsley’s right-hand man which gives him a place of power, but also puts him in Nada’s path. He is attracted to her strength and courage, knows he shouldn’t but can’t help but be drawn to her. He has seen her at her worst, helped to save her and saw her become his tough girl.
I found this review extremely hard to write. I can’t explain how much this story moved me. Yes, at times my stomach turned seeing what Nada had to face and live through. There is violence, degradation and abuse. Death is dealt with on a daily basis by the good and the bad. We see Nada keep on keeping on hoping that she will survive and be able to get to a better place and we see Shadow pretty much wake up and try to get back to being the person he was before the Underworld. While at times this story is ugly, it made the beauty stand out more prominently. When you find someone you want to keep, you protect them as much as you can and hope that you'll survive together.
When Nothing Is All You've Got is a love story with all its grisly, gross and disgusting darkness, but eventually, the roses petals unfold and Nothing becomes Something.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
WoW!! I’m not sure I can do this book justice with my little old words. When Nothing Is All You’ve Got sure does pack a punch. This book was gritty and dark, but I never felt smothered in its darkness. I did not feel claustrophobic when I was pushed down into the bowels of the earth where there was no light to be found, I was led by a beacon…Nothing.
How can a father call his child Nada, specifically to make her know that she is nothing to him? Why would a man make his daughter feel unloved and disrespected? Even in the end I never understood why the King would hate his daughter so much that he would make pain the one constant in her life. Nada has learnt to be strong, tough and emotionally shut off. If she shows happiness, sadness or love in any way, it is used against her. People she loved were killed or forced against her just to make sure she knew her place in life, being owned by Kingsley…King of the Underworld.
I was mad at Nada’s father and what he forced her to be, but I can see that some of the alternatives were a lot worse. The Underworld is not a nice place to be. It is where all criminals are sent when they have committed a crime. The world is a different place in this story and it is run/ruled only seeing black and white and definitely no grey. If you committed a crime, it didn’t matter if there was a valid reason, you still committed a crime. This means that the Underworld is full of the worst type of criminals and others who may have made bad choices but are not really bad people. They try to identify them and segregate them, but when it comes down to it, they are all there together.
The Underworld is run by Kingsley and his soldiers. Kingsley came to his power because he knew how to kill and abuse his way to the top. His soldiers serve him because of the freedoms and luxuries afforded them for their blind obedience. This is not a nice place to live and if you’re a woman…it’s even worse.
Nada is a cage fighter. Her role is to entertain the masses. She is undefeated but works bloody hard to be the best. Kingsley keeps her alive because she wins, which means he wins. Nada’s trainer Dejohn has been the closest person to her and more like a father to her than Kingsley. Dejohn tries his hardest to protect her as much as he can, which is to make her faster, meaner and cold as ice.
Kingsley’s soldiers take advantage of their positions. Nada is treated badly by them because they see first-hand Kingsley’s disdain and rejection. It is not uncommon for Kingsley to have Nada whipped and beaten for infractions of his rules. Nada is used as an example of what can happen to you if you don’t bow down to the King. There is a hands-off rule applied to Nada but that was only put in place after she was attacked and the rule is only put there by Kingsley because her recovery took away time she could have been fighting.
Pretty much Nada’s life SUCKED. She is not afraid of dying and at times would almost welcome the escape. She perseveres and keeps going because she HOPES one day that she can help some of the Innocents who are there through no fault of their own, escape. She protects them as much as she can but eventually gets help from an unlikely source.
Shadow is one of Kingsley’s soldiers. He came to the Underworld not as the worst type of criminal, but in time he realised that he must become one of the worst to survive. Shadow is Kingsley’s right-hand man which gives him a place of power, but also puts him in Nada’s path. He is attracted to her strength and courage, knows he shouldn’t but can’t help but be drawn to her. He has seen her at her worst, helped to save her and saw her become his tough girl.
I found this review extremely hard to write. I can’t explain how much this story moved me. Yes, at times my stomach turned seeing what Nada had to face and live through. There is violence, degradation and abuse. Death is dealt with on a daily basis by the good and the bad. We see Nada keep on keeping on hoping that she will survive and be able to get to a better place and we see Shadow pretty much wake up and try to get back to being the person he was before the Underworld. While at times this story is ugly, it made the beauty stand out more prominently. When you find someone you want to keep, you protect them as much as you can and hope that you'll survive together.
When Nothing Is All You've Got is a love story with all its grisly, gross and disgusting darkness, but eventually, the roses petals unfold and Nothing becomes Something.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
March 21, 2016
༺**Complimentary Copy**༺ Provided by the author
"Kirsty Dallas" in exchange for an honest review..Thank you!!
TITLE: When Nothing Is All You've Got
AUTHOR: Kirsty Dallas
GENRE: A standalone Dystopian novel
RELEASE DATE: April 15th, 2016
MY RATING
A complex story that isn't just a romance, it's a battle of wits, a battle of survival, only the tough survive..
This may not be something I would usually read in this genre (Dystopian) BUT bugga me as soon as I started this I couldn't put it down, my eyes were glued to my ipad, then when I reached that very last page there I was sitting wanting more!!
WHEN NOTHING IS ALL YOU'VE GOT: Introduces us to Nada and Shadow, Nada is the Kings daughter in the underground world, and Shadow is the Kings right hand man. Nada's world is full of hatred, lust and violence, she was born in a world of darkness, her daily prison, where the sun never makes an appearance.
Nada was born to the Underworld King but she was no princess, she was treated as anything but a princess, there was no distinguishing her from the others, only her will to survive.
My name is Nada, which is Spanish for NOTHING. But there were a few who bothered to call me by that title. Most called me "Girl" the rest completely ignored me.
I loved to hate, Shadow my father's favourite assassin, my feelings for Shadow were full of conflict.
Nada's father doesn't care about her, the only thing he cares about when it comes to her is the profit he makes off her by pitting her up against other unfortunates in the ring.
"Move like the wind, protect your face, keep your eyes on the target...and don't get dead."
I was born to the Underworld King, but I am no Princess. I am nothing, and then again, to some I am everything. In an effort to subdue me, they use me as a fighter in their ring. Little do they know that by doing so, they've created a monster. My name is Nada and this is my life in the Underworld.
"For as long as I had suffered the Underworld, the girl had been here, but with each passing year, month, day, and now my hour, my want for her grew." - SHADOW
Within the underground world of the unfortunates they are split up in their different coloured sectors depending on the severity of their crimes. (White, Blue, Yellow, Red)
WHITE: This colour represented the innocents, the unfortunate bastards who were born in this world.
BLUE: They were underground for petty crimes they had committed in the outside world, theft, prostitution and vandalism.
YELLOW: They were in here for drug related offenses, arson, grand theft and also kidnapping.
RED: These were the worst of the worst, murderers and rapists.
Murderers and rapists, the worst of the worst, have been placed in powerful positions they would never be assigned to in any other world but ours.
If you committed any sort of crime you were sent to the underworld and condemned a life in hell, there were unfortunates locked in the underworld dungeons who should never have been sent down there in the first place, most innocents didn't belong there.
If you are wanting to read something totally unique with a tough as nails heroine and a likable male character then this book is definitely one you need to one click release day..Nada is as tough as they come, she's a killing machine, not by choice but for survival, to show weakness or any type of emotion in the underworld is your death toll calling you..
The only way in was to commit a crime, and the only way out was a cloud of ash and smoke via the incinerators.
MY THOUGHTS
I must admit I was a bit nervous going into this because of not reading this genre before, not really knowing what to expect but once I started reading this I forgot all about it being a Dystopian novel. I read through the night with this and this is unheard of with me, I love my sleep, but for the life of me I couldn't put this down, I had to find out what their demise was going to be, the trepidation of what might, could, would happen drove me insane with that need to rush through the pages to get to the end.
If I could name one song that this book would suit it would be "We found love" by Rihanna
"Kirsty Dallas" in exchange for an honest review..Thank you!!
TITLE: When Nothing Is All You've Got
AUTHOR: Kirsty Dallas
GENRE: A standalone Dystopian novel
RELEASE DATE: April 15th, 2016
MY RATING
A complex story that isn't just a romance, it's a battle of wits, a battle of survival, only the tough survive..
This may not be something I would usually read in this genre (Dystopian) BUT bugga me as soon as I started this I couldn't put it down, my eyes were glued to my ipad, then when I reached that very last page there I was sitting wanting more!!
WHEN NOTHING IS ALL YOU'VE GOT: Introduces us to Nada and Shadow, Nada is the Kings daughter in the underground world, and Shadow is the Kings right hand man. Nada's world is full of hatred, lust and violence, she was born in a world of darkness, her daily prison, where the sun never makes an appearance.
Nada was born to the Underworld King but she was no princess, she was treated as anything but a princess, there was no distinguishing her from the others, only her will to survive.
My name is Nada, which is Spanish for NOTHING. But there were a few who bothered to call me by that title. Most called me "Girl" the rest completely ignored me.
I loved to hate, Shadow my father's favourite assassin, my feelings for Shadow were full of conflict. Nada's father doesn't care about her, the only thing he cares about when it comes to her is the profit he makes off her by pitting her up against other unfortunates in the ring.
"Move like the wind, protect your face, keep your eyes on the target...and don't get dead."I was born to the Underworld King, but I am no Princess. I am nothing, and then again, to some I am everything. In an effort to subdue me, they use me as a fighter in their ring. Little do they know that by doing so, they've created a monster. My name is Nada and this is my life in the Underworld.
"For as long as I had suffered the Underworld, the girl had been here, but with each passing year, month, day, and now my hour, my want for her grew." - SHADOWWithin the underground world of the unfortunates they are split up in their different coloured sectors depending on the severity of their crimes. (White, Blue, Yellow, Red)
WHITE: This colour represented the innocents, the unfortunate bastards who were born in this world.
BLUE: They were underground for petty crimes they had committed in the outside world, theft, prostitution and vandalism.
YELLOW: They were in here for drug related offenses, arson, grand theft and also kidnapping.
RED: These were the worst of the worst, murderers and rapists.
Murderers and rapists, the worst of the worst, have been placed in powerful positions they would never be assigned to in any other world but ours.
If you committed any sort of crime you were sent to the underworld and condemned a life in hell, there were unfortunates locked in the underworld dungeons who should never have been sent down there in the first place, most innocents didn't belong there.
If you are wanting to read something totally unique with a tough as nails heroine and a likable male character then this book is definitely one you need to one click release day..Nada is as tough as they come, she's a killing machine, not by choice but for survival, to show weakness or any type of emotion in the underworld is your death toll calling you..
The only way in was to commit a crime, and the only way out was a cloud of ash and smoke via the incinerators.
MY THOUGHTS
I must admit I was a bit nervous going into this because of not reading this genre before, not really knowing what to expect but once I started reading this I forgot all about it being a Dystopian novel. I read through the night with this and this is unheard of with me, I love my sleep, but for the life of me I couldn't put this down, I had to find out what their demise was going to be, the trepidation of what might, could, would happen drove me insane with that need to rush through the pages to get to the end.
If I could name one song that this book would suit it would be "We found love" by Rihanna
May 29, 2016
What's What
Underground prison ruled by the FMC's tyrant father and his 'soldiers.' FMC is super badass fighter. MMC is her father's right hand lap dog.
Think the prison in "Chronicles of Riddick" ...
Think the toughness of Kyra and Riddick ...
So, this badass chick is hardened because her father robs her of her innocence, uses her as a fighter, and just all around terrorizes her. She's turned into a killing machine in a place where emotions like trust, love, etc will get you nothing but a knife in the back or between the legs :/ Yet, she's not as hardened as she's like to think. The innocents born into her world hold a soft spot with her. Her father's top soldier makes her feel .
Same with him. He's a hardened killer in a world where caring about anything and claiming anything as your own suddenly means you have something to lose... a weakness... a virtual death sentence. It makes him angry. But, there's only so long he can fight against what's meant to be his.
Change is brewing. Will the FMC & MMC be on the same sides of change?
Compliments
Very imaginative author. Good storytelling in that I can picture this world so clearly.
I loved the setting.
I loved a lot of the themes here, such as the namesake of this book - When Nothing Is All You've Got, - zero tolerance, and the grey area of innocence and guilt.
The angst between the FMC & MMC was palpable.
The characters were interesting and unpredictable.
A lot of dammed if you do, dammed if you don't situations.
The violence is brutal, bloody, and graphic, but I wouldn't expect anything LESS of a lawless underground prison.
Complaints
Repetition
On several occasions, plot details and scenes are told by one MC and then retold by the other MC. The breakdown of the prison color sectors, for example.
Relationship Dynamics
FMC was born in the underground prison. MMC has been there years. Story begins as we are told she lusts/hates him and he saved her once but has been apathetic to her for years since. All of a sudden, neither can fight or hide their feelings and desires any longer and our plot begins.
If the author wasn't going to detail the past or start at the beginning, then she needed to give the reader a believable reason why all of a sudden these two just can't continue being stoic.
There also needed to be more details between the FMC and her father as to WTF he hated her so much & tortured her endlessly.
Believability & Plot Holes
While I found the concept of the story fascinating, it had a shit ton of holes, such as
1) The King openly tortures his own child but has rules to protect other children and innocents from harm. The innocents have their own little sector and are just left alone by a bunch of killers and rapists? Really?
2) Lots of rape, torture, and killing going on one minute. The next minute I'm being told of some civilized "rule" within the society like that newbies are given a choice to choose a role in the society. Aka women can choose to be whores... Or they can choose to be seamstresses etc. Uhm, okay~
3) In 30+ years, no one ever thought to look for an escape through the "heavy steel grill" and pipes the FMC escaped through? CTFO!
4) The entire rebel line made zero sense. Who are these people? Why the fuck would rebels from the world up top give two shits about who is in charge of an underground prison that's left to its own wilds? No one gets out and only prisoners set foot inside the prison, meaning how'd they even know what was happening down there in the first place? How'd they sneak IN AND OUT of an underground prison undetected and just take up interrogation in one of the prison's rooms FOR HOURS? Why wait 8 years to raid the place and save the innocents? How'd the King know about Rebels in the first place, much less that they were concerned with him and infiltrating his prison?
5) The FMC has missing fingers, a machete wound to her back, broken ribs, a concussion, etc as she crawls through a pipe to freedom. She has no money. She's never seen daylight. She has no clue how the top-world works.. None! She has to travel miles and miles and miles INJURED and completely dumb to the world to get to a cabin. So how does the FMC make it?
The End Leaves Threads Unraveling
This book had too many threads going that weren't fleshed out &/or weren't finished - zero tolerance, prison dynamics and politics, top-world politics, rebel causes, innocents, secondary character' plights, etc.
The prison is still there. Zero tolerance is still implemented. Innocents will still be born in and trapped in the prison. Who knows where or who the rebels are. The rescued innocents are just off in Alaska somewhere.
I feel like the only plot thread the author finished was the FMC/MMC freedom & romance.
Even if the author had tried to tie it up, she created a story too big for 289 pages. No way could all that be presented, fleshed, and concluded in that short amount of book space.
Bottom Line
While I loved the concept, and I do feel that the author has a talent for visual-style writing & wordsmanship of her sentences, I can't give this more than three stars due to the amount of plot holes and storyline parts left floundering in the wind and the believably issues in the world building and ending.
Triggers: graphic violence and brutal fighting; retold rape of FMC; several attempted rape scenes, one of which includes a 14'ish girl; torture and killing; & MMC gets in-scene oral sex from OWomen before committing to FMC.
[image error]
Underground prison ruled by the FMC's tyrant father and his 'soldiers.' FMC is super badass fighter. MMC is her father's right hand lap dog.
Think the prison in "Chronicles of Riddick" ...
Think the toughness of Kyra and Riddick ...
So, this badass chick is hardened because her father robs her of her innocence, uses her as a fighter, and just all around terrorizes her. She's turned into a killing machine in a place where emotions like trust, love, etc will get you nothing but a knife in the back or between the legs :/ Yet, she's not as hardened as she's like to think. The innocents born into her world hold a soft spot with her. Her father's top soldier makes her feel .
Same with him. He's a hardened killer in a world where caring about anything and claiming anything as your own suddenly means you have something to lose... a weakness... a virtual death sentence. It makes him angry. But, there's only so long he can fight against what's meant to be his.
Change is brewing. Will the FMC & MMC be on the same sides of change?
Compliments
Very imaginative author. Good storytelling in that I can picture this world so clearly.
I loved the setting.
I loved a lot of the themes here, such as the namesake of this book - When Nothing Is All You've Got, - zero tolerance, and the grey area of innocence and guilt.
The angst between the FMC & MMC was palpable.
The characters were interesting and unpredictable.
A lot of dammed if you do, dammed if you don't situations.
The violence is brutal, bloody, and graphic, but I wouldn't expect anything LESS of a lawless underground prison.
Complaints
Repetition
On several occasions, plot details and scenes are told by one MC and then retold by the other MC. The breakdown of the prison color sectors, for example.
Relationship Dynamics
FMC was born in the underground prison. MMC has been there years. Story begins as we are told she lusts/hates him and he saved her once but has been apathetic to her for years since. All of a sudden, neither can fight or hide their feelings and desires any longer and our plot begins.
If the author wasn't going to detail the past or start at the beginning, then she needed to give the reader a believable reason why all of a sudden these two just can't continue being stoic.
There also needed to be more details between the FMC and her father as to WTF he hated her so much & tortured her endlessly.
Believability & Plot Holes
While I found the concept of the story fascinating, it had a shit ton of holes, such as
1) The King openly tortures his own child but has rules to protect other children and innocents from harm. The innocents have their own little sector and are just left alone by a bunch of killers and rapists? Really?
2) Lots of rape, torture, and killing going on one minute. The next minute I'm being told of some civilized "rule" within the society like that newbies are given a choice to choose a role in the society. Aka women can choose to be whores... Or they can choose to be seamstresses etc. Uhm, okay~
3) In 30+ years, no one ever thought to look for an escape through the "heavy steel grill" and pipes the FMC escaped through? CTFO!
4) The entire rebel line made zero sense. Who are these people? Why the fuck would rebels from the world up top give two shits about who is in charge of an underground prison that's left to its own wilds? No one gets out and only prisoners set foot inside the prison, meaning how'd they even know what was happening down there in the first place? How'd they sneak IN AND OUT of an underground prison undetected and just take up interrogation in one of the prison's rooms FOR HOURS? Why wait 8 years to raid the place and save the innocents? How'd the King know about Rebels in the first place, much less that they were concerned with him and infiltrating his prison?
5) The FMC has missing fingers, a machete wound to her back, broken ribs, a concussion, etc as she crawls through a pipe to freedom. She has no money. She's never seen daylight. She has no clue how the top-world works.. None! She has to travel miles and miles and miles INJURED and completely dumb to the world to get to a cabin. So how does the FMC make it?
The End Leaves Threads Unraveling
This book had too many threads going that weren't fleshed out &/or weren't finished - zero tolerance, prison dynamics and politics, top-world politics, rebel causes, innocents, secondary character' plights, etc.
The prison is still there. Zero tolerance is still implemented. Innocents will still be born in and trapped in the prison. Who knows where or who the rebels are. The rescued innocents are just off in Alaska somewhere.
I feel like the only plot thread the author finished was the FMC/MMC freedom & romance.
Even if the author had tried to tie it up, she created a story too big for 289 pages. No way could all that be presented, fleshed, and concluded in that short amount of book space.
Bottom Line
While I loved the concept, and I do feel that the author has a talent for visual-style writing & wordsmanship of her sentences, I can't give this more than three stars due to the amount of plot holes and storyline parts left floundering in the wind and the believably issues in the world building and ending.
Triggers: graphic violence and brutal fighting; retold rape of FMC; several attempted rape scenes, one of which includes a 14'ish girl; torture and killing; & MMC gets in-scene oral sex from OWomen before committing to FMC.
[image error]
May 11, 2016
I actually don't know where to start with my review and am not going to go over the story, that's been done to death in other reviews already. But what I will say is that whilst I loved the story and the writing I struggled with the constant and relentless violence, cruelty and apathy thereof; as well as the gross neglect and abuse. I get it's fiction but I really did struggle to get my head around it at times, and I felt this actually detracted from the story. Take away the constant and relentless violence and killing and there's not much left sadly. Some of the characters were beyond vile and I wonder how much they actually added to the story because there was very little goodness, instead I got the vileness on repeat.
I really would have liked the back-story fleshed out a lot more, like Shadow's past, Nada's mother and most of all an epilogue that went a lot further into the future rather than the month after it all kicked off. This was so glossed over, didn't work for me at all and left me feeling something was missing/lacking. I needed more of this detail as well as more of the romance and love story - if a book is classed in these genres then this is what I expect to read.
3 - 3.25 stars
I really would have liked the back-story fleshed out a lot more, like Shadow's past, Nada's mother and most of all an epilogue that went a lot further into the future rather than the month after it all kicked off. This was so glossed over, didn't work for me at all and left me feeling something was missing/lacking. I needed more of this detail as well as more of the romance and love story - if a book is classed in these genres then this is what I expect to read.
3 - 3.25 stars
January 21, 2019
I am a massive fan of dark reads, but I never thought I'd actually write one. My niche seemed to fall nicely into contemporary and comedy romance. BUT, this story needed to be written, my head would have exploded if I didn't get it out right away. <---- truly, it could happen.
Inspired by the combination of hope and resilience, hate and fear, 'When Nothing Is All You've Got' is a romance set in an Underground world of sin and debauchery. Caught in the harsh environment of this ugly world is a glimmer of hope, shadowed behind the death and despair.
Nada is our female lead. She is the Rhonda Rousey of this dark backdrop. She is fearless, defiant and deadly, and she long ago made peace with being a girl who meant nothing to everyone, unless she was in the ring. It is there she becomes somebody to everybody.
Shadow is the male lead, and he was once a man who earned a good, honest, living, laughed a lot, and loved a woman enough to kill for her. Then he was sentenced to live in the Underworld. He was unceremoniously dumped into this feral existence, and he stood up fighting and hasn't stopped since.
In a place where love, loyalty, and trust don't exist, two souls collide in a fierce battle for survival.
I know these kinds of stories aren't for everyone, it's a specific genre that is either loved or loathed, but I hope many of my loyal readers give it a try. I'm sure my ever persistent 'voice' will be found under the intense plot.
I hope you enjoy XX KD
Inspired by the combination of hope and resilience, hate and fear, 'When Nothing Is All You've Got' is a romance set in an Underground world of sin and debauchery. Caught in the harsh environment of this ugly world is a glimmer of hope, shadowed behind the death and despair.
Nada is our female lead. She is the Rhonda Rousey of this dark backdrop. She is fearless, defiant and deadly, and she long ago made peace with being a girl who meant nothing to everyone, unless she was in the ring. It is there she becomes somebody to everybody.
Shadow is the male lead, and he was once a man who earned a good, honest, living, laughed a lot, and loved a woman enough to kill for her. Then he was sentenced to live in the Underworld. He was unceremoniously dumped into this feral existence, and he stood up fighting and hasn't stopped since.
In a place where love, loyalty, and trust don't exist, two souls collide in a fierce battle for survival.
I know these kinds of stories aren't for everyone, it's a specific genre that is either loved or loathed, but I hope many of my loyal readers give it a try. I'm sure my ever persistent 'voice' will be found under the intense plot.
I hope you enjoy XX KD
April 15, 2016
A definite change of pace: Kirsty Dallas is an author I like to read because her books make me snort-laugh. Her porn star romances are funny and engaging (I can still picture Decker helicoptering….if you don’t know what I mean, check it out). Anyway, when I read the blurb for this book, I wasn’t sure how to take it. It’s about as non-funny as it gets. It’s definitely dystopian and it’s got some seriously dark and tragic moments. Yet Ms. Dallas has pulled it off - I may have cringed at times and held my breath at others, but what I couldn’t do was stop reading. I truly enjoyed my time with Nada and Shadow in the Underworld.
There is the World and the Underworld: Imagine a world where “just toss them in jail and throw away the key” is law of the land. Only “jail” is deep in the bowels of the Earth and there is no time off for good behavior, just a one way ticket to hell. That is the Underworld. There’s an attempt to maintain order in chaos, and there’s one man who rules with an iron fist. His name is Kingsley and his daughter is our heroine. She is a light in the darkness, though she’d consider herself anything but light. She’s Nada.
Nada is a hella strong heroine: Nada means nothing in Spanish. To have been labeled as nothing by her father, abused, beaten down and violated in numerous ways, yet still survive is a minor miracle. That she thrives, refuses to bow down, and that she kicks the ever loving butt of every person that challenges her in the cage? Makes her phenomenal. Nada came in and I couldn’t help but feel for the girl trained to show no emotion. As for her hero? Well, Shadow can get to her, slip beneath her defenses and make her feel. Too bad he’s her father’s right hand man.
Shadow is not a cuddly alpha hero: Shadow is a man who has fought for everything he has in the Underworld. His past is slowly revealed and exactly why he ends up in the Underworld is tragic but understandable. I thought Shadow’s unwanted fascination and eventual love for Nada played out in a believable manner based on these particular characters. Which leads me to...
There are dark elements and yet…: I’m well known by my blogmates to be the fluffy bunny. Dark isn’t where I live (you hush, Yaya). What I loved about this read is that I think there’s plenty of grittiness and darkness in the world and the violence and suffering that the characters go through [for those with triggers, there is rape, violent fights, blood and gore], but it never tipped into straight dystopian. Ms. Dallas doesn’t ignore the worldbuilding needed to frame her love story, but she never loses sight of what I love as a romance reader. I felt that Nada and Shadow’s relationship wasn’t easy but it was still a romance, and that’s not the easiest thing to do with a grittier read. I loved that balance between the darkness and hope for a better future.
Quibbles: If I have a quibble with anything, it’s that the twists weren’t big ones and easy to predict. Nada’s father is a hard man, but I would have liked to have seen a bit more depth to his characterization. Still, all in all, I was very satisfied with this story and I’m happy I read it.
[4.5 stars]
I really enjoyed Ms. Dallas’ foray into dystopian romance. Shadow and Nada made an impression and if I get a chance to read more of this world (*hint, hint Ms. Dallas*), I would not be disappointed. If you like a darker edge to your romances, yet want them to still *be* romances, I’d recommend this.
**ARC provided by author for review**
For more reviews, visit
September 6, 2020
3.5 stars
When Nothing Is All You've Got was an ok read for me. I wanted to love it but unfortunately the slow pace made it hard for me to connect. Nada is the daughter of the self proclaimed King of the Underworld and he hates the sight of her. So he has her trained to be a fighter in the cage. Nada was a hard character for me to connect to because she was really cold and brutal but as the story goes on you get to see the real her and she is so much more. Shadow is the Kings right hand man and has had his eyes on her for a long time and one day he finally decides she's going to be his. I loved Shadow with Nada, he appreciated her strength and I loved his possessiveness. In their moments together I loved how innocent Nada actually was. The ending seemed rushed and I wish the Epilogue was a little further into the future. Now while this one didn't blow me away I do plan to read more from this author.
When Nothing Is All You've Got was an ok read for me. I wanted to love it but unfortunately the slow pace made it hard for me to connect. Nada is the daughter of the self proclaimed King of the Underworld and he hates the sight of her. So he has her trained to be a fighter in the cage. Nada was a hard character for me to connect to because she was really cold and brutal but as the story goes on you get to see the real her and she is so much more. Shadow is the Kings right hand man and has had his eyes on her for a long time and one day he finally decides she's going to be his. I loved Shadow with Nada, he appreciated her strength and I loved his possessiveness. In their moments together I loved how innocent Nada actually was. The ending seemed rushed and I wish the Epilogue was a little further into the future. Now while this one didn't blow me away I do plan to read more from this author.
May 19, 2016
This book touched me in just the right way. I know it's categorized as a dystopian romance, however this book was so much more than that. I don't even know how to review it because it was that deep and moving to me.
Nada was one tough little heifer. Her father was a colossal Bastard who didn't give a crap about her. He treated her like crap, literally. About 99% of the story takes place in the underworld which is actually a prison for criminals. The underworld is deep, deep, deep in the ground. Each person thrown into the underworld is placed in a particular section depending on the type of crime they've committed. If they bring a valued skill that the King deems needed, they are placed in the section that's a little nicer for the ones who work for the king. They have a whore den and they have a red, blue, and white sect. The white is for all the innocents born in the underworld and has never seen the light of day.
Anyway, I loved Nada. I mean this heroin tops all other heroins, to me. This girl could look a man dead in his eyes and smile while ripping out his prostate through his anus, and tying it around his neck and choking him to death with it. At the same time she was sweet, selfless, and caring with a heart made of gold. How can a person be vicious and sweet you ask. Because she is and it works really well. This author has mad skilz when it comes to bringing out characters with distinct personalities.
Shadow was the Kings lap dog (Per Nada). He thought there was nothing good left in his heart after he committed his crime and was sentenced to the underworld. He was a ruthless killer who needed the right girl at the right moment to show him that his heart was not as cold as he thought. I couldn't help but route for Nada and Shadow.
The politics in this story felt all too real. Nada's history may have you shedding a few tears, but nothing you can't handle. There is corruption, murder, sex, good and evil, light and dark. This poor excuse for a review does not do this book any justice. I can't even touch on all that went on in this book, so forget even trying. This is a must read for those who love dystopians and post apocalypse reads.
Nada was one tough little heifer. Her father was a colossal Bastard who didn't give a crap about her. He treated her like crap, literally. About 99% of the story takes place in the underworld which is actually a prison for criminals. The underworld is deep, deep, deep in the ground. Each person thrown into the underworld is placed in a particular section depending on the type of crime they've committed. If they bring a valued skill that the King deems needed, they are placed in the section that's a little nicer for the ones who work for the king. They have a whore den and they have a red, blue, and white sect. The white is for all the innocents born in the underworld and has never seen the light of day.
Anyway, I loved Nada. I mean this heroin tops all other heroins, to me. This girl could look a man dead in his eyes and smile while ripping out his prostate through his anus, and tying it around his neck and choking him to death with it. At the same time she was sweet, selfless, and caring with a heart made of gold. How can a person be vicious and sweet you ask. Because she is and it works really well. This author has mad skilz when it comes to bringing out characters with distinct personalities.
Shadow was the Kings lap dog (Per Nada). He thought there was nothing good left in his heart after he committed his crime and was sentenced to the underworld. He was a ruthless killer who needed the right girl at the right moment to show him that his heart was not as cold as he thought. I couldn't help but route for Nada and Shadow.
The politics in this story felt all too real. Nada's history may have you shedding a few tears, but nothing you can't handle. There is corruption, murder, sex, good and evil, light and dark. This poor excuse for a review does not do this book any justice. I can't even touch on all that went on in this book, so forget even trying. This is a must read for those who love dystopians and post apocalypse reads.
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May 1, 2016
04/30/2016 -- 4 Stars
I was rather surprised I enjoyed this as much as I did. There were editing errors - enough that I lowered my rating a bit. I'd read this author again.
Happy Reading!
I was rather surprised I enjoyed this as much as I did. There were editing errors - enough that I lowered my rating a bit. I'd read this author again.
Happy Reading!
Want to read
March 30, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/30/2020)! 🎁
Read
July 6, 2016Dnf at 31%
At this point the 'hero' has had 2 sexual encounters with other women. This just ruins a romance for me. I'm out.
At this point the 'hero' has had 2 sexual encounters with other women. This just ruins a romance for me. I'm out.
May 20, 2016
OMG. 4.5 stars at least. I couldn't stop thinking about the book, even when it was done. My one complaint was I wanted the end to be even longer. It ended perfectly, but I just wanted more of that world. I can see a book two for it, and yet, it ended perfectly. *sighs* So good.
April 3, 2018
mind blown... Epic! This was amazing!
REVIEW:
When nothing is all you’ve got by Kirsty Dallas
Hope, is all they have!
“I’m not sure what I have left of a heart, Nada, but whatever I have left is…”
I’m not even sure I can do this book the justice with my simple words in this review I’m typing. When asked to review when nothing is all you’ve got, I was really hesitant, not because it’s a Dystopian cos I love all things para, UF and Fantasy. But because I normally stray away from your darker stories.
But in saying that, WOW wasn't I was hooked from the first 50 words. I was captivated by the next 100 words and by the end of the prologue I knew I wasn’t going to walk away!
“My name is Nada, Which is Spanish for nothing, but there were few who bothered to call me by that title. Most called me ‘girl’ the rest completely ignored me”
The setting of this story is set in the underworld, which is the prison underground. Where you live in a sector depending on the crime you have done, but some have been born there and they are White your Innocents, born tho this shit hell. Blue are your petty crimes, theft, prostitution and vandalism. Yellow is arson, kidnapping, drug related stuff. Red is the worst, Red is murder and rape. I swear it felt like I was watching a movie, or I was watching the show 100, which by the way is AMAZING, have you seen that? Good right!
Anyway, getting sidetracked.
Nada is living in the Red sector, tho she was born an innocent her father is the King of the underworld and he’s a big mean douche, like MASSIVVE DICK I wanted to throat punch him all the time, her mother was a junkie. Nada was thrown away like used trash she killed at the age of 13, trained to work the cage (fighting ring) learnt to fight at a wee age of 5 and unfortunately was raped at the age of 16. This girl’s life has been pretty hard, Nada is fast and deadly in and out of the cage ring too.
I loved reading about her kicking ass!
“He was a rich man in a poor man’s world; therefore, he held all the power”
The king, Kinsley hates her, despises her does not acknowledge her as a daughter, makes her fight the cage, it’s that or the whore pit, he likes to think he owns her. But Nada doesn’t belong to no one. He is secretly afraid of her! He tossed her away when she was a babe, and Nada was raised by Dejon *sigh* the best daddy ever! Taught her to protect herself, taught her to fight. That is how she has survived!
“Yuh wrong. Yuh Nada. Yuh everything.” He pushed my fingers closed, forming my hands into fists. “Move like de wind,” He pressed a kiss to one fist. ”protect yuh face” He kissed my other fist. “Keep yuh eyes on de target” His gaze met mine.an don’t get dead”
*shills* like the Goosebumps!
Shadow, *snap* he was brilliant he was not born in the underworld. Shadow was sent to the underground for murder and is the king’s right hand man, the kings # 1 guard and the assassin, he hides in the shadows, the eyes and ears of the underworld. But there is something about Nada that makes him double think everything he has worked hard for in this new place.
“Nada meant nothing, but for some reason my heart and cock jumped at the mention of that simple, insignificant name.”
Nada and Shadow are drawn to each other their chemistry is epic, a true love story which is slowly built up perfectly, and the sexual tension leaping out from the pages.
“Somewhere deep within my chest didn’t want to see her broken”
Rebels, the rebellion group they want to help the whites, the innocents escape the underground to relocate them in the world above. Kingsley hears the rumours that they are moving against him he makes Shadow do some more dirty work for him.
When I was reading this, I was transported into their world, seriously felt like I was there watching it all happen, fighting for my own life. Right weird I know, but you haven’t read it to fully understand how real this felt!
When nothing is all you’ve got, gave me all the feels, I was going through all the emotions. It was dark but not that dark I was in fetal position rocking myself. Yes there is blood and gore, but there has to be they are living in world that is you stay alive or you be dead. You live in this hell fighting for your live or you work the whore pit.
“There is nothing you can do to me that hasn’t already been done. I’m fucking unbreakable”
Nada had me at the edge of my seat with a lump in my throat, I couldn’t stop reading and I wanted more. This was Dark and moving a compelling believable story that made you feel those feely feels!
Watching Nada and Shadow fall in love, realizing they could lose something in a world where they having nothing, is out of this world amazing. I can’t even explain these two, I seriously felt like I was right there watching them. I loved watching Shadow realize that he loves Nada and goes through so much personal growth to protect what is his!
“She would be his salvation in a world that dint usually offer second chances”
A world with no beauty, sure is beautiful to read about.
“See that girl over my shoulder? That women? Her name is Nada, and she’s fuckin’ mine. If you, or anyone else, so much as touch a hair on her outside the ring, you become mine, and not in a good time, suck my dick kind of way.”
The beast fight towards the end had me pacing while reading, I was beside myself I didn’t want to look away yet I had to pace it out while reading, I was gobbed smacked with tears in my eyes towards the end.
When a book like this makes you do all this, what is there not to love?
“One thing was becoming glaring obvious though: I wanted Shadow, I was his, and I was pretty sure he was mine, too.”
I’m not going to spoil the whole book in my review, this is by far my favorite book by Kirsty Dallas I think this has to be her best work yet!
I haven’t read that many amazing books this year, like 6+ stars… can I make that a rating? Well I just did, this was seriously the book for me to beat this year. The bar has been set!
You know that book you want to re-read all the time, this would be mine alongside my other favorites.
“After the crabs are gone, of course. We can’t have an outbreak of cock rot in the Underworld. Civil war would break out.”
If you go onto Amazon, its only 99cents to pre order! What are you waiting for?
6+++ Stars
Arc Received for an honest review… probably not a long review, but honestly I couldn’t just sum it up two paragraphs! Plus this is my review, my thoughts and opinions, Booklovers you must read this book!
Ang, PNR Book Lover Reviews
REVIEW:
When nothing is all you’ve got by Kirsty Dallas
Hope, is all they have!
“I’m not sure what I have left of a heart, Nada, but whatever I have left is…”
I’m not even sure I can do this book the justice with my simple words in this review I’m typing. When asked to review when nothing is all you’ve got, I was really hesitant, not because it’s a Dystopian cos I love all things para, UF and Fantasy. But because I normally stray away from your darker stories.
But in saying that, WOW wasn't I was hooked from the first 50 words. I was captivated by the next 100 words and by the end of the prologue I knew I wasn’t going to walk away!
“My name is Nada, Which is Spanish for nothing, but there were few who bothered to call me by that title. Most called me ‘girl’ the rest completely ignored me”
The setting of this story is set in the underworld, which is the prison underground. Where you live in a sector depending on the crime you have done, but some have been born there and they are White your Innocents, born tho this shit hell. Blue are your petty crimes, theft, prostitution and vandalism. Yellow is arson, kidnapping, drug related stuff. Red is the worst, Red is murder and rape. I swear it felt like I was watching a movie, or I was watching the show 100, which by the way is AMAZING, have you seen that? Good right!
Anyway, getting sidetracked.
Nada is living in the Red sector, tho she was born an innocent her father is the King of the underworld and he’s a big mean douche, like MASSIVVE DICK I wanted to throat punch him all the time, her mother was a junkie. Nada was thrown away like used trash she killed at the age of 13, trained to work the cage (fighting ring) learnt to fight at a wee age of 5 and unfortunately was raped at the age of 16. This girl’s life has been pretty hard, Nada is fast and deadly in and out of the cage ring too.
I loved reading about her kicking ass!
“He was a rich man in a poor man’s world; therefore, he held all the power”
The king, Kinsley hates her, despises her does not acknowledge her as a daughter, makes her fight the cage, it’s that or the whore pit, he likes to think he owns her. But Nada doesn’t belong to no one. He is secretly afraid of her! He tossed her away when she was a babe, and Nada was raised by Dejon *sigh* the best daddy ever! Taught her to protect herself, taught her to fight. That is how she has survived!
“Yuh wrong. Yuh Nada. Yuh everything.” He pushed my fingers closed, forming my hands into fists. “Move like de wind,” He pressed a kiss to one fist. ”protect yuh face” He kissed my other fist. “Keep yuh eyes on de target” His gaze met mine.an don’t get dead”
*shills* like the Goosebumps!
Shadow, *snap* he was brilliant he was not born in the underworld. Shadow was sent to the underground for murder and is the king’s right hand man, the kings # 1 guard and the assassin, he hides in the shadows, the eyes and ears of the underworld. But there is something about Nada that makes him double think everything he has worked hard for in this new place.
“Nada meant nothing, but for some reason my heart and cock jumped at the mention of that simple, insignificant name.”
Nada and Shadow are drawn to each other their chemistry is epic, a true love story which is slowly built up perfectly, and the sexual tension leaping out from the pages.
“Somewhere deep within my chest didn’t want to see her broken”
Rebels, the rebellion group they want to help the whites, the innocents escape the underground to relocate them in the world above. Kingsley hears the rumours that they are moving against him he makes Shadow do some more dirty work for him.
When I was reading this, I was transported into their world, seriously felt like I was there watching it all happen, fighting for my own life. Right weird I know, but you haven’t read it to fully understand how real this felt!
When nothing is all you’ve got, gave me all the feels, I was going through all the emotions. It was dark but not that dark I was in fetal position rocking myself. Yes there is blood and gore, but there has to be they are living in world that is you stay alive or you be dead. You live in this hell fighting for your live or you work the whore pit.
“There is nothing you can do to me that hasn’t already been done. I’m fucking unbreakable”
Nada had me at the edge of my seat with a lump in my throat, I couldn’t stop reading and I wanted more. This was Dark and moving a compelling believable story that made you feel those feely feels!
Watching Nada and Shadow fall in love, realizing they could lose something in a world where they having nothing, is out of this world amazing. I can’t even explain these two, I seriously felt like I was right there watching them. I loved watching Shadow realize that he loves Nada and goes through so much personal growth to protect what is his!
“She would be his salvation in a world that dint usually offer second chances”
A world with no beauty, sure is beautiful to read about.
“See that girl over my shoulder? That women? Her name is Nada, and she’s fuckin’ mine. If you, or anyone else, so much as touch a hair on her outside the ring, you become mine, and not in a good time, suck my dick kind of way.”
The beast fight towards the end had me pacing while reading, I was beside myself I didn’t want to look away yet I had to pace it out while reading, I was gobbed smacked with tears in my eyes towards the end.
When a book like this makes you do all this, what is there not to love?
“One thing was becoming glaring obvious though: I wanted Shadow, I was his, and I was pretty sure he was mine, too.”
I’m not going to spoil the whole book in my review, this is by far my favorite book by Kirsty Dallas I think this has to be her best work yet!
I haven’t read that many amazing books this year, like 6+ stars… can I make that a rating? Well I just did, this was seriously the book for me to beat this year. The bar has been set!
You know that book you want to re-read all the time, this would be mine alongside my other favorites.
“After the crabs are gone, of course. We can’t have an outbreak of cock rot in the Underworld. Civil war would break out.”
If you go onto Amazon, its only 99cents to pre order! What are you waiting for?
6+++ Stars
Arc Received for an honest review… probably not a long review, but honestly I couldn’t just sum it up two paragraphs! Plus this is my review, my thoughts and opinions, Booklovers you must read this book!
Ang, PNR Book Lover Reviews
November 10, 2017
4.5 Nada Stars!!
This book was amazingly good. It's so different from the books I've been reading lately.
It's set in a future where our world is divided into two parts: the underworld (for the bad folks) and the above-ground world (for the "good" folks).
Nada, our heroine, whose name means "nothing" is a young ass-kicking female fighter (by profession and as a means of survival) who was born in the underworld. The King of this world, Kingsley, is her father - a heartless, cold, calculating demon of a man who detests his daughter.
Shadow, our hero, is the male version of Nada's ass-kicking badness. He's sexy, he's alpha and he's just as much a prisoner in that world as is Nada.
Gradually the two form a bond and we as readers are able to watch their relationship flourish in a literal hell. It's beautiful and heartbreaking all the same and I LOVE IT.
The plot was greatness! Chemistry - amazing! Characters - addictive!
If you're wondering: the reason why I didn't give it a full 5 stars was because I would have loved to see more plot development regarding But ya know what? It barely and I mean barely takes away from from the amazingness that is this story.
I recommend this book to readers like me who are addicted to alpha males, readers who love a strong take-no-nonsense female lead, and readers who love dystopian plots.
This book was amazingly good. It's so different from the books I've been reading lately.
It's set in a future where our world is divided into two parts: the underworld (for the bad folks) and the above-ground world (for the "good" folks).
Nada, our heroine, whose name means "nothing" is a young ass-kicking female fighter (by profession and as a means of survival) who was born in the underworld. The King of this world, Kingsley, is her father - a heartless, cold, calculating demon of a man who detests his daughter.
Shadow, our hero, is the male version of Nada's ass-kicking badness. He's sexy, he's alpha and he's just as much a prisoner in that world as is Nada.
Gradually the two form a bond and we as readers are able to watch their relationship flourish in a literal hell. It's beautiful and heartbreaking all the same and I LOVE IT.
The plot was greatness! Chemistry - amazing! Characters - addictive!
If you're wondering: the reason why I didn't give it a full 5 stars was because I would have loved to see more plot development regarding But ya know what? It barely and I mean barely takes away from from the amazingness that is this story.
I recommend this book to readers like me who are addicted to alpha males, readers who love a strong take-no-nonsense female lead, and readers who love dystopian plots.
June 20, 2022
Dystopian reads are always a bit tough because the characters go through so much that sometimes the endings, no matter how good and happy they are, just don’t make up for the horrific stuff that the MCs have endured. This one was no different in that regard. There was enough of it that I did enjoy and the author did a good job at really building that suspense throughout the story. That ending was some next level soap opera shit though, lol.
March 30, 2016
A BUCKET LIST MUST READ!!!
OMG....what a freaking awesome read! Just FREAKIN A!
I love every aspect of this book. Cover, story line, words that are said, actions that are taken, the names of each character, the list goes on.
It would make an awesome movie and is KD's best work yet. Whilst reading I kept thinking OMG this is amazing...please keep going and don't disappoint. And KD went above and beyond and delivered!
I can't recommend reading this book enough! It's a bucket list must read. The sooner you start the sooner you get to relish in the words of K freakin D. Traveling in the underworld with Nada and Shadow, experiencing the awesomeness of When Nothing is all you've got.
I just wanted to immerse myself within the pages with Nada and Shadow but reality kept knocking on my door with - "Mum, me hungy, Mum, me poo"....Nooooooooooo!
Shadow, I will be right back.
PAUSE - Right...get food, wipe butt, curl back up and PLAY - Helloooo Shadow!
I read, I finished and I freakin Loved, loved, loved!
Now you go read and finish and love, love love too.
That is all!
OMG....what a freaking awesome read! Just FREAKIN A!
I love every aspect of this book. Cover, story line, words that are said, actions that are taken, the names of each character, the list goes on.
It would make an awesome movie and is KD's best work yet. Whilst reading I kept thinking OMG this is amazing...please keep going and don't disappoint. And KD went above and beyond and delivered!
I can't recommend reading this book enough! It's a bucket list must read. The sooner you start the sooner you get to relish in the words of K freakin D. Traveling in the underworld with Nada and Shadow, experiencing the awesomeness of When Nothing is all you've got.
I just wanted to immerse myself within the pages with Nada and Shadow but reality kept knocking on my door with - "Mum, me hungy, Mum, me poo"....Nooooooooooo!
Shadow, I will be right back.
PAUSE - Right...get food, wipe butt, curl back up and PLAY - Helloooo Shadow!
I read, I finished and I freakin Loved, loved, loved!
Now you go read and finish and love, love love too.
That is all!
November 29, 2018
This story begins with Nada being the best fighter of the underworld, and having the father who is king wanting to kill her. But he needs her right now because she makes him money. The problem is when Shadow is told to keep an eye on her things start to get a little bit more interesting.
Nada and Shadow each have pasts that haunt them, but Nada is fierce and Shadow is willing to do anything to protect her. However, this could end up leading to their ruin.
This book was different kind of dystopia novel. It was really interested, and overall a very good read.
It was extremely dark though. So, if your not into that or not in the mood for it then beware. It had a lot of twists and the plot line was great. And the relationship between Nada and Shadow was really pretty awesome, even though I wish we could have seen more between them.
But the story did end with an HEA oddly enough since there really wasn't much happy throughout the book.
Nada and Shadow each have pasts that haunt them, but Nada is fierce and Shadow is willing to do anything to protect her. However, this could end up leading to their ruin.
This book was different kind of dystopia novel. It was really interested, and overall a very good read.
It was extremely dark though. So, if your not into that or not in the mood for it then beware. It had a lot of twists and the plot line was great. And the relationship between Nada and Shadow was really pretty awesome, even though I wish we could have seen more between them.
But the story did end with an HEA oddly enough since there really wasn't much happy throughout the book.
July 31, 2018
I wasn't sure about this book when I started it, but it quickly captivated me. Shadow was such a hard, brutal man that I wasn't sure I liked him! Nada was fierce in her own way, fighting to survive. I loved how this book ended. So much action and lots of tears!! The perfect dystopia book!
January 29, 2023
A thought provoking dark story…
Take a moment to look at the cover of this book. It didn’t catch my attention until I started to write my review. The imagery of the colourful butterfly against the monotone background was all I needed to get my thoughts flowing. I know so many covers incorporate a butterfly into them, but the way it stands out against the unidentifiable girl/woman balancing it on her finger signified the essence of what I took from the story.
Nada is an innocent within the Underworld. From birth, she has been forced to live with charged criminals the above ground people consider unworthy of living in their light-filled world. Born of a meaningless moment of her father’s lust, he has forced her to live a life virtually estranged from him at the same time burdening her with a name and knowledge that she is the forsaken princess of the Underworld. Dejohn is the man delegated to raising her under the guidance of her cruel and heartless father, the King of the Underworld.
Nada’s name means “nothing”, and is meant to define her, humiliate her, yet it has the opposite effect of empowering her. Her father underestimated the power someone yields when they have nothing to lose. Nada constantly stands up to him in subtle and not so subtle ways to remind him of his error in assuming he can control everything in this world. Nada is the epitome of defiance, biding her time in a world where she shouldn’t belong but excels at existing on a frightening level.
Shadow is one of her father’s guards assigned to keep her watch. Nada has learned to not fear Shadow and it’s not until he is given the order to keep a closer eye on her, does their relationship shift from indifference to noticing each other. Trust is a dangerous ideology in their world, it can lead to death or worse, but with nothing to lose, Nada takes more risks than usual.
The landscape, the people, and their situations are as dark as you could imagine. Therefore, when the slightest gesture of kindness is shared, light streams through the cracks of despair providing the hope that sustains their existence. Kindness stems from several sources. What came through loud and clear is that judgment is subjective to the opinions of those metering it out. The victim being a result of the supposed fair and rightful justice served upon them.
Although starkly different in many ways, I had the Beyond Series in mind several times as I read this story. Possibly because of the isolation similarities and of them both being dystopian based stories. The caliber of the darkness was different, as were the relationships. What stood out most in this story is the impact on an innocent victim when they have been judged unfairly based on superficial evidence or prejudice. A dark story highlighting no matter how bad life can be, there’s always hope.
What I struggled with:
*Indifference
*Cruelty inflicted upon others through association
*Back story to sections of the plot, outlined but not expanded on
What I loved:
*That a broken heart can be soothed
*Nurturing makes a difference
*The power of the human spirit to survive, when death is not feared
*Dejohn and his wisdom
*Regan and her creativity
*Nada’s ability to create something out of apparently nothing!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
Take a moment to look at the cover of this book. It didn’t catch my attention until I started to write my review. The imagery of the colourful butterfly against the monotone background was all I needed to get my thoughts flowing. I know so many covers incorporate a butterfly into them, but the way it stands out against the unidentifiable girl/woman balancing it on her finger signified the essence of what I took from the story.
Nada is an innocent within the Underworld. From birth, she has been forced to live with charged criminals the above ground people consider unworthy of living in their light-filled world. Born of a meaningless moment of her father’s lust, he has forced her to live a life virtually estranged from him at the same time burdening her with a name and knowledge that she is the forsaken princess of the Underworld. Dejohn is the man delegated to raising her under the guidance of her cruel and heartless father, the King of the Underworld.
Nada’s name means “nothing”, and is meant to define her, humiliate her, yet it has the opposite effect of empowering her. Her father underestimated the power someone yields when they have nothing to lose. Nada constantly stands up to him in subtle and not so subtle ways to remind him of his error in assuming he can control everything in this world. Nada is the epitome of defiance, biding her time in a world where she shouldn’t belong but excels at existing on a frightening level.
Shadow is one of her father’s guards assigned to keep her watch. Nada has learned to not fear Shadow and it’s not until he is given the order to keep a closer eye on her, does their relationship shift from indifference to noticing each other. Trust is a dangerous ideology in their world, it can lead to death or worse, but with nothing to lose, Nada takes more risks than usual.
The landscape, the people, and their situations are as dark as you could imagine. Therefore, when the slightest gesture of kindness is shared, light streams through the cracks of despair providing the hope that sustains their existence. Kindness stems from several sources. What came through loud and clear is that judgment is subjective to the opinions of those metering it out. The victim being a result of the supposed fair and rightful justice served upon them.
Although starkly different in many ways, I had the Beyond Series in mind several times as I read this story. Possibly because of the isolation similarities and of them both being dystopian based stories. The caliber of the darkness was different, as were the relationships. What stood out most in this story is the impact on an innocent victim when they have been judged unfairly based on superficial evidence or prejudice. A dark story highlighting no matter how bad life can be, there’s always hope.
What I struggled with:
*Indifference
*Cruelty inflicted upon others through association
*Back story to sections of the plot, outlined but not expanded on
What I loved:
*That a broken heart can be soothed
*Nurturing makes a difference
*The power of the human spirit to survive, when death is not feared
*Dejohn and his wisdom
*Regan and her creativity
*Nada’s ability to create something out of apparently nothing!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2016
Kirsty Dallas was gracious enough to give me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Let me begin by saying wow…amazing…no words can explain! I am a huge fan of dystopian, post-apocalyptic genre, but this book just captivated me from beginning to end. The story’s setting is in an underground prison system called the Underworld. The Underworld is separated by sector colors defining how bad your crime was that landed you in the underworld.
Red Sector is the worst representing the murderers and rapists. Being the worst they are the top of the food chain in the Underworld.
Yellow Sector is for drug offenders, arson, grand theft, and kidnapping.
Blue Sector signifies petty crimes like theft, prostitution, and vandalism.
White Sector is for the innocents, people who have not committed a crime but are in the underworld because they were born here.
Nada was born in the Underworld an innocent but she made her first kill and went from being a white to a red at a young age. Nada is a strong, lethal, fearless, and defiant woman who only is only popular when fighting in the arena. The arena by day is a market and gateway to the different sectors of the underworld. By night the arena is a place for fights, drinking and sex. Nada’s father happens to be the King of the Underworld; he rules over all color sectors. In a twisted way this makes Nada a princess, but trust me her life is no fairytale. She is treated anything but like a princess. Nada is a loner but Dejohn, Regan, and eventually Shadow worm their way into her life. Dejohn is Nada’s trainer/ father figure. He cares for her, looks after her and guides her through every fight. "Move like duh wind.” He pressed a kiss to one fist. “Protect yuh face.” He kissed my other fist. “Keep yuh eyes on de target.” His gaze met mine. “An’ don’t get dead.” (Dejohn) Regan is an innocent from the white sector who befriended Nada. Regan makes all her outfits for her fights and everyday life. Shadow is more complicated, he is the Kings right hand man, his assassin and most trusted solider. Nada and Shadow have this love hate relationship going on. Their confusing relationship started when Shadow found Nada in a storage room being raped and assaulted by her father’s soldiers. He defended her and delivered her to Dejohn to be taken care of. Slowly over the years he has noticed her more and more, his respect growing for her due to how she carries herself no matter who gets in her way.
(Shadow) “Tough girl? You actually prefer to be called nothing?” (Nada) “My name is Nada, and I don’t care what is means. It’s my name, and I fucking own it.”
All in all, this has been one of the most captivating whirlwind of dystopian reads I have had the pleasure to read in a while! This book is full of love, hate, lust, action, violence and overall darkness. I loved this book from page one to the very end and honestly wish Kirsty Dallas would continue on with this and make it into a series! (hint hint Kirsty haha)
Red Sector is the worst representing the murderers and rapists. Being the worst they are the top of the food chain in the Underworld.
Yellow Sector is for drug offenders, arson, grand theft, and kidnapping.
Blue Sector signifies petty crimes like theft, prostitution, and vandalism.
White Sector is for the innocents, people who have not committed a crime but are in the underworld because they were born here.
Nada was born in the Underworld an innocent but she made her first kill and went from being a white to a red at a young age. Nada is a strong, lethal, fearless, and defiant woman who only is only popular when fighting in the arena. The arena by day is a market and gateway to the different sectors of the underworld. By night the arena is a place for fights, drinking and sex. Nada’s father happens to be the King of the Underworld; he rules over all color sectors. In a twisted way this makes Nada a princess, but trust me her life is no fairytale. She is treated anything but like a princess. Nada is a loner but Dejohn, Regan, and eventually Shadow worm their way into her life. Dejohn is Nada’s trainer/ father figure. He cares for her, looks after her and guides her through every fight. "Move like duh wind.” He pressed a kiss to one fist. “Protect yuh face.” He kissed my other fist. “Keep yuh eyes on de target.” His gaze met mine. “An’ don’t get dead.” (Dejohn) Regan is an innocent from the white sector who befriended Nada. Regan makes all her outfits for her fights and everyday life. Shadow is more complicated, he is the Kings right hand man, his assassin and most trusted solider. Nada and Shadow have this love hate relationship going on. Their confusing relationship started when Shadow found Nada in a storage room being raped and assaulted by her father’s soldiers. He defended her and delivered her to Dejohn to be taken care of. Slowly over the years he has noticed her more and more, his respect growing for her due to how she carries herself no matter who gets in her way.
(Shadow) “Tough girl? You actually prefer to be called nothing?” (Nada) “My name is Nada, and I don’t care what is means. It’s my name, and I fucking own it.”
All in all, this has been one of the most captivating whirlwind of dystopian reads I have had the pleasure to read in a while! This book is full of love, hate, lust, action, violence and overall darkness. I loved this book from page one to the very end and honestly wish Kirsty Dallas would continue on with this and make it into a series! (hint hint Kirsty haha)
March 27, 2016
I received an Arc in exchange for an honest review
This is the romance between Nada and Shadow - Although it is not hearts, flowers and candle light dinners.
This is life in the underworld which is a prison below ground, where you live in your own tunnel depending upon the severity of your crime.
White - Innocent - born to the underworld.
Blue - Petty crime, theft, vandalism.
Yellow - Arson, kidnapping.
Red - Murder, rape. Dungeon under the red - Paedophiles and the Beast.
Nada is assigned to the red area, although she was born in the underworld to a junkie mother and Kinsley, she committed her first kill at 13, trained to fight at 5, and raped at 16. Daughter of Kinsley Duke other wise known as the king who is ruler of the underworld. He despises his daughter and treats her appallingly. It was her mentor and father figure Dejohn who suggested to her father that she fight in the arena to spare her another whipping hence her first kill.
The arena is the centre point which all four tunnels lead into where by day it holds the market. By night social gatherings, cage fighting.
Shadow was sent to the underworld for murder and is the kings right hand man, top soldier and assassin, lurks in the shadows and is the eyes and ears reporting back to the king. The king is now aware that the underworld has been infiltrated from above by rebels and their plans to free the innocents, but not who they are.
Nada is strangely drawn to Shadow although she doesn't understand why, she feels hatred towards him but also safe and protected when he is near by. Shadow wants to protect her but will not go against her father. This is a world of evil, where it's pure survival, kill or be killed.
After the king orders Nada to be stripped naked and Shadow to administer 10 lashes in the arena to set an example to the rest of the inmates that the king is to be obeyed by everyone. Nada's only friend Regan helps her spare her blushes by painting her body in the four colours of the underworld, this is the first indication Nada has that Regan may be part of another rebellion group.
Shadow knows Nada has secrets but not what they are and when he tells her about his life above and how he came to be sent to the underworld, she trusts him enough to show him the leaflet of a motel that she has hidden for the last 8 years. Realisation sets in and Shadow leaves knowing Nada is part of the rebels and plotting against her father.
A new inmate arrives named the Beast by the king, he has decided Nada will fight him and hopes he will win and rid him of his troublesome daughter. It's as Nada enters the arena to fight Beast that she sees Shadow suspended from the ceiling in a cage after being beaten and tortured, now she knows he didn't give up on her. During the fight and from his vantage point Shadow notices none of the whites are in the arena, Nada is being sacrificed to free the innocents. The underworld is being attacked.
Will Nada get her day?
Book will be released on 15th April 2016
This is the romance between Nada and Shadow - Although it is not hearts, flowers and candle light dinners.
This is life in the underworld which is a prison below ground, where you live in your own tunnel depending upon the severity of your crime.
White - Innocent - born to the underworld.
Blue - Petty crime, theft, vandalism.
Yellow - Arson, kidnapping.
Red - Murder, rape. Dungeon under the red - Paedophiles and the Beast.
Nada is assigned to the red area, although she was born in the underworld to a junkie mother and Kinsley, she committed her first kill at 13, trained to fight at 5, and raped at 16. Daughter of Kinsley Duke other wise known as the king who is ruler of the underworld. He despises his daughter and treats her appallingly. It was her mentor and father figure Dejohn who suggested to her father that she fight in the arena to spare her another whipping hence her first kill.
The arena is the centre point which all four tunnels lead into where by day it holds the market. By night social gatherings, cage fighting.
Shadow was sent to the underworld for murder and is the kings right hand man, top soldier and assassin, lurks in the shadows and is the eyes and ears reporting back to the king. The king is now aware that the underworld has been infiltrated from above by rebels and their plans to free the innocents, but not who they are.
Nada is strangely drawn to Shadow although she doesn't understand why, she feels hatred towards him but also safe and protected when he is near by. Shadow wants to protect her but will not go against her father. This is a world of evil, where it's pure survival, kill or be killed.
After the king orders Nada to be stripped naked and Shadow to administer 10 lashes in the arena to set an example to the rest of the inmates that the king is to be obeyed by everyone. Nada's only friend Regan helps her spare her blushes by painting her body in the four colours of the underworld, this is the first indication Nada has that Regan may be part of another rebellion group.
Shadow knows Nada has secrets but not what they are and when he tells her about his life above and how he came to be sent to the underworld, she trusts him enough to show him the leaflet of a motel that she has hidden for the last 8 years. Realisation sets in and Shadow leaves knowing Nada is part of the rebels and plotting against her father.
A new inmate arrives named the Beast by the king, he has decided Nada will fight him and hopes he will win and rid him of his troublesome daughter. It's as Nada enters the arena to fight Beast that she sees Shadow suspended from the ceiling in a cage after being beaten and tortured, now she knows he didn't give up on her. During the fight and from his vantage point Shadow notices none of the whites are in the arena, Nada is being sacrificed to free the innocents. The underworld is being attacked.
Will Nada get her day?
Book will be released on 15th April 2016
May 3, 2016
3.25 stars. This was an interesting and different book. I liked parts of it, but it was also quite dark and depressing. This is a dystopian romance set in an America where criminals are sent to live in an underground society after they commit a crime. The underground society is governed by an evil man named Kingsley. Kingsley's daughter is Nada, an innocent who was born underground. She is hated by him and used as his pawn to gain power and riches by him making her cage fight. She is just trying to survive in this desolate world, fighting when her father commands. Her father beats her and she has been raped. She is a skilled fighter and wins all of her fights, which her father hates. He tries to belittle her, cuts her down, and even toys with killing her. She has two friends, her trainer, Dejohn and her friend, Ragen. Shadow is one of her father's right hand men. He begins to see that he can no longer just do what the king says. He has an attraction to Nada and he sees how strong and smart she is. He wants to help her and Kingsley tasks him with spying on her. Nada is also attracted to Shadow, but neither of them know if they can trust each other. They begin to spend time together and gradually begin to trust and build a relationship of sorts. But life is so hard and desolate. The king doesn't want them happy and tries to hurt them both and Nada's friends. It is hard to feel hopeful for their future and I actually wondered if they were both going to die. There is some other stuff going on. They both have secrets. A rebellion is brewing and they don't know who to trust, but time is ticking and finally it all comes to a head. I liked both Nada and Shadow once I got to know their characters. I was a little thrown off by the end. It is a HEA, but I turned out differently than I was expecting. So I wanted the ending to be a little more realistic but I was happy they got a HEA. I appreciate the story and the writing , but I'm not sure if I would say I enjoyed it. I just felt bad for everything Nada had gone through. This was my first book by Kirsty Dallas and I will probably give her another try in the future.
April 11, 2016
I received an Arc from the author for an honest review. It was a nice departure for this author from the other books that I have read from her. This author always has strong female lead characters in some shape or form in her books, but Nada is a bad ass. Usually, they start off almost looking weak and then begin to realize that they are strong and grow into it, but not Nada. She is strong from the get go, not just for herself but for others around her.
It is very rare that I read Dystopian type of stories, but this is one of my favorite authors and I was very interested. Nada is our hero unknowingly and unwillingly. She will do anything to help the innocent out of their prison that they have been unwillingly born into, but she doesn't want to be the face of a rebellion. Along the way she meets and a no hearts and flowers kind of way falls for a man named Shadow, who in many ways becomes her hero. He gives her hope, hope that she can maybe just be happy in a world of nothingness. That there may be a chance for them to survive this Hell and wasteland and make it a little bit of a better place.
I would recommend this book to everyone, it is different, dark, gritty.....and I love those love stories the best. Where the girl saves the guy and herself in the end and realizes she never really wasn't alone. Sometimes this book was a little wordy or maybe even repetitive...that doesn't mean I will just give up and throw the book away or pass on the author, those are just quirks of mine. The book and the characters are still great and I hope the author continues to venture out into new genres because she did a GREAT job with this one.
It is very rare that I read Dystopian type of stories, but this is one of my favorite authors and I was very interested. Nada is our hero unknowingly and unwillingly. She will do anything to help the innocent out of their prison that they have been unwillingly born into, but she doesn't want to be the face of a rebellion. Along the way she meets and a no hearts and flowers kind of way falls for a man named Shadow, who in many ways becomes her hero. He gives her hope, hope that she can maybe just be happy in a world of nothingness. That there may be a chance for them to survive this Hell and wasteland and make it a little bit of a better place.
I would recommend this book to everyone, it is different, dark, gritty.....and I love those love stories the best. Where the girl saves the guy and herself in the end and realizes she never really wasn't alone. Sometimes this book was a little wordy or maybe even repetitive...that doesn't mean I will just give up and throw the book away or pass on the author, those are just quirks of mine. The book and the characters are still great and I hope the author continues to venture out into new genres because she did a GREAT job with this one.
April 16, 2016
3.5 stars for a well written and unique story
Although I liked this book, I didn't love it. I guess Dystopia and Urban Fantasy just isn't my thing. I struggled at times with the dark underworld, the fighting, the unfortunates and the different coloured sectors. There were even times I wondered what was going on and had to go back and re read parts.
"I was born to the Underworld King, but I am no Princess. I am nothing, and then again, to some I am everything. In an effort to subdue me, they use me as a fighter in their ring. Little do they know that by doing so, they've created a monster. My name is Nada and this is my life in the Underworld."
With that being said, the author has an amazing imagination and I'm sure there are plenty of readers who will enjoy this book. I'm certain I will read more of this author's work but I now know dystopia just isn't something I can get into!!!!
Although I liked this book, I didn't love it. I guess Dystopia and Urban Fantasy just isn't my thing. I struggled at times with the dark underworld, the fighting, the unfortunates and the different coloured sectors. There were even times I wondered what was going on and had to go back and re read parts.
"I was born to the Underworld King, but I am no Princess. I am nothing, and then again, to some I am everything. In an effort to subdue me, they use me as a fighter in their ring. Little do they know that by doing so, they've created a monster. My name is Nada and this is my life in the Underworld."
With that being said, the author has an amazing imagination and I'm sure there are plenty of readers who will enjoy this book. I'm certain I will read more of this author's work but I now know dystopia just isn't something I can get into!!!!
April 1, 2016
Well what a story, not usually my genre but I still loved it. Dark, outright confronting, compelling reading with a love story that is different to say the least. I couldn't put this book down and read it in record time, which is something for me.
Nada is fast and deadly in the cage, but can show tenderness to the innocents. She was born underground in among the worst of humanity, hated by her father, the King, she was taken under the wing of DeJon. He taught her to fight just so she could survive and he taught her well, for survive she did. Nada had a secret though that no one knew about, hidden in a crevice within the stone wall of her sparse room and this is what she was staying alive for.
Shadow was her father's right hand man, he was mean and had plenty of blood on his hands, but he was slowly starting to take a lot of notice of Nada. He had respect for how she stood up for herself and stood up to the King. Shadow had an ache for her and decided she was for him, to love, to protect.
There is more than one secret in this underground hell, which eventually places Nada and Shadow fighting together for the greater good.
Nada is fast and deadly in the cage, but can show tenderness to the innocents. She was born underground in among the worst of humanity, hated by her father, the King, she was taken under the wing of DeJon. He taught her to fight just so she could survive and he taught her well, for survive she did. Nada had a secret though that no one knew about, hidden in a crevice within the stone wall of her sparse room and this is what she was staying alive for.
Shadow was her father's right hand man, he was mean and had plenty of blood on his hands, but he was slowly starting to take a lot of notice of Nada. He had respect for how she stood up for herself and stood up to the King. Shadow had an ache for her and decided she was for him, to love, to protect.
There is more than one secret in this underground hell, which eventually places Nada and Shadow fighting together for the greater good.
March 30, 2016
I was lucky enough to win an ARC of this book. I love para, dystopian, and fantasy romance, so it was right up my alley, and it didn't disappoint. When Nothing Is All You've Got takes you into an anti-utopian world, believable, and beautifully built. The characters are each flawed, as they should be for the environment they have found themselves bound to, and their flaws are what make them so loveable. Nada's unquestionable strength, Shadow's dark, intense soul, Dejohn's resilience and quiet love, Reagan's innocent beauty, and not to mention Kingsley's shattering evil, they all make this dystopian world come to life in a burst of chaos, lust, and violence. When Nothing Is All You've Got is absolutely in my list of top books for 2016! I would freaking love to see this made into a movie!!!! I could see the entire thing play out in my head while reading.
March 30, 2016
Torturously beautiful!
When Nothing Is All You’ve Got is a phenomenal read. From the beginning, I was _IN_ Nada’s Underworld. Phenomenal!
Super-charged with badassedness, it evoked so many potent emotions in me through what Nada and Shadow went through and felt along the way. So much heart and pain in this story. It’s a dark read, but one well worth your time.
This may be my new favourite Kirsty Dallas read, and I don’t stay that lightheartedly. I love her comedies. I love her contemporary romances. Violet Addiction was a new kind of stunningly, painfully, beautiful story from her and my favourite by far.
When Nothing Is All You’ve Got had me on the edge of the bed because of its heart and pain and beauty and hope. Kirsty blew this out of the water.
When Nothing Is All You’ve Got is a phenomenal read. From the beginning, I was _IN_ Nada’s Underworld. Phenomenal!
Super-charged with badassedness, it evoked so many potent emotions in me through what Nada and Shadow went through and felt along the way. So much heart and pain in this story. It’s a dark read, but one well worth your time.
This may be my new favourite Kirsty Dallas read, and I don’t stay that lightheartedly. I love her comedies. I love her contemporary romances. Violet Addiction was a new kind of stunningly, painfully, beautiful story from her and my favourite by far.
When Nothing Is All You’ve Got had me on the edge of the bed because of its heart and pain and beauty and hope. Kirsty blew this out of the water.
November 5, 2016
This was one of the best books I have read this year. I loved it. Yes this book has dark elements to it, but it also has a beautiful romance in a very unforgiving world. I loved the world that was created by this author and really liked the story. It kept me reading and wondering what would happen next. This book does have an HEA, which is always a must for me. Don't let the dark elements in this book keep you from reading it. You'll be missing out!
January 31, 2017
Rounded up to 4
I love the idea of this book but I wanted more of a connection with the characters. With all that happened to them I should have felt more. The author told the story, but I didn't feel the story.
I love the idea of this book but I wanted more of a connection with the characters. With all that happened to them I should have felt more. The author told the story, but I didn't feel the story.
November 5, 2017
I did not find the hero to be very likable. Just not my kind of story.
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