What do you think?
Rate this book
Behind veils that hide them from mortal eyes, the Remnant Gods walk among mortals in this Urban Fantasy set in an alternate NYC.
Vesper Tallinn is an empath and artist who has been recruited by her best friend, an NYPD Detective, to help solve an unusual homicide.
When they discover that the victim was under the protection of the Remnant Gods, the investigation brings Vesper under the attention of Deimos, the new Power Broker of Manhattan. As she has been hiding from stalkers, being under anyone's attention is the exact last place she wants to be.
Too bad for her, Deimos had spent his entire life looking for Vesper, and now that he's found her, he intends to keep her.
Grit is for mature readers. Lots of crime, mayhem, and steamy sex scenes abound.
Vesper Tallinn is an empath and artist who has been recruited by her best friend, an NYPD Detective, to help solve an unusual homicide.
When they discover that the victim was under the protection of the Remnant Gods, the investigation brings Vesper under the attention of Deimos, the new Power Broker of Manhattan. As she has been hiding from stalkers, being under anyone's attention is the exact last place she wants to be.
Too bad for her, Deimos had spent his entire life looking for Vesper, and now that he's found her, he intends to keep her.
Grit is for mature readers. Lots of crime, mayhem, and steamy sex scenes abound.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2018
162 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Elle Cross
29 books114 followersHi, I'm Elle Cross, and I write Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. I live in NYC with my husband and the imaginary dog that we will one day adopt. I have a massive makeup collection and I'm grateful that, as a freelance makeup artist, I can justify buying even more.
When I'm not playing with color or my imaginary friends, I can usually be found in the nearest diner or bubble tea shop trying to take the perfect picture of my drink while my husband rolls his eyes.
(Yes, we're that couple. And, no, I don't post my food pics on my Instagram feed.)
To connect with me online, visit me here:
Website: http://ellecrossx.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ellecrossbooks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ellecross_x
Instagram: http://instagram.com/elle_cross
When I'm not playing with color or my imaginary friends, I can usually be found in the nearest diner or bubble tea shop trying to take the perfect picture of my drink while my husband rolls his eyes.
(Yes, we're that couple. And, no, I don't post my food pics on my Instagram feed.)
To connect with me online, visit me here:
Website: http://ellecrossx.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/ellecrossbooks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ellecross_x
Instagram: http://instagram.com/elle_cross
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
June 28, 2020
First and foremost I don't know what "SPECIAL" person label this book as a Reverse Harem because it's NOT!!!!!! What this book is and should be label as is a"Strong Alpha Male" because that's what the author provided.
Now don't get me wrong I did really like this book and have already jumped into book 2 and can't wait for book 3 because guys it's really that good. I mean the author comes off as Snooty Tootie with all her big words but damnit I got a dictionary and can follow right along... HA!
As far as the main characters are concerned I did like the heroine even though she's kinda going through an identity crisis and doesn't know where she comes from and has lost memories of what she may be. FYI she's still trying to figure that out in book 2.
But damn the hero of this book Deimos is a serious "Alpha Male" whom with one look can make you fall to your knees and worship him... DAMN!!!
Overall Rating:
4.5*~ A Really Good Read!
Now don't get me wrong I did really like this book and have already jumped into book 2 and can't wait for book 3 because guys it's really that good. I mean the author comes off as Snooty Tootie with all her big words but damnit I got a dictionary and can follow right along... HA!
As far as the main characters are concerned I did like the heroine even though she's kinda going through an identity crisis and doesn't know where she comes from and has lost memories of what she may be. FYI she's still trying to figure that out in book 2.
But damn the hero of this book Deimos is a serious "Alpha Male" whom with one look can make you fall to your knees and worship him... DAMN!!!
Overall Rating:
4.5*~ A Really Good Read!
July 21, 2018
I didn't hate this. In spite of it's flaws, it had potential. It had a great premise, and a fresh, new world. There's no jarring info dump attempting to explain the dynamics and set the scene. You're eased into it, but then you're left hanging, like the author forgot to explain the rest of it. There is so much that could have been done. It could have been great dammit!
That being said...
Oh my god. The mess.
The timeline is incredibly short. Far too short. I swear the book only spans a few days, which ruins the romance aspect. Who falls in love that quickly? ...People with issues. That's who. Far too much was happening with the plot for it to span only a few days.
Vesper had almost no personality or backbone, unless it served the plot, and especially not in the presence of Deimos. Nope. Around him she is a literal limp noodle. They're all a bit one dimensional caricatures to be honest, but since she is front and center, it's more obvious there.
Is this smut? Or is it fantasy? I literally could not tell. It read like a fantasy novel, until the long, copious sex scenes butted their heads in and overstayed their welcome. This woman needs to calm her vagina down, nobody has that much sex without pain, or even friction burn of some sort. Again... only a few days. Yet she has sex more than five times. On multiple occasions it ends one them starting all over again, hinting at an all night sex marathon. God. Damn. I have a leg cramp just thinking about it. That's not even getting into the fact that no guy can get straight back into it immediately afterwards. Lets be real here. It takes a minute or two.
There are things I genuinely enjoyed. But I've thought about it too long and all I can think about is how annoyed I am.
That being said...
Oh my god. The mess.
The timeline is incredibly short. Far too short. I swear the book only spans a few days, which ruins the romance aspect. Who falls in love that quickly? ...People with issues. That's who. Far too much was happening with the plot for it to span only a few days.
Vesper had almost no personality or backbone, unless it served the plot, and especially not in the presence of Deimos. Nope. Around him she is a literal limp noodle. They're all a bit one dimensional caricatures to be honest, but since she is front and center, it's more obvious there.
Is this smut? Or is it fantasy? I literally could not tell. It read like a fantasy novel, until the long, copious sex scenes butted their heads in and overstayed their welcome. This woman needs to calm her vagina down, nobody has that much sex without pain, or even friction burn of some sort. Again... only a few days. Yet she has sex more than five times. On multiple occasions it ends one them starting all over again, hinting at an all night sex marathon. God. Damn. I have a leg cramp just thinking about it. That's not even getting into the fact that no guy can get straight back into it immediately afterwards. Lets be real here. It takes a minute or two.
There are things I genuinely enjoyed. But I've thought about it too long and all I can think about is how annoyed I am.
February 20, 2019
Do you ever read a book where you feel like it probably made sense to the author in their head but when putting it into words they severely missed the mark in helping the reader understand what the hell is going on? The world building left me more confused than anything. It lacked flow. It had me rereading sentences several times. I felt like something was missing. I don’t need every little detail but this book needed just a little bit more. I wanted to love it based on the blurb but I just couldn’t get into the writing.
April 19, 2018
So Dark the Night is the only other book I've had from Elle Cross but I know I will always be reverently holding her books close to my heart. 90% of my reads are for a great escape. Therefore, it's only logical I go looking for reads that reflect me or my situation the least. I look for characters I find interesting but don't relate much in real life. 9% of my reads are for discovering, learning. The last 1% percent, I reserve for reads like Grit; the ones which make me feel like psychoanalyzing myself. And nobody likes being psychoanalyzed (esp if it's by one's self). But back to Grit-I see too much of myself which contradicts the major objective of escaping in the first place. I mean, it sucks that I have to be such a sissy girl but I just can't help and bitch-slap myself some hard loving.
Enough of that personal, weird monologue ish bit. I come here to review the magnificent read that is GRIT. The buildup of the plot, the settings, the characters...are slow enough to be savored and relished like refined dishes. But at the same time, the story delivers breath-stopping action scenes. I've always been in awe of that satisfying balance. For example, I'm slowly introduced to the politics between Remnant God tribes and Humans, as if easing me to a complicated system. Which is a very considerate thought on behalf of the author.
The story. The feelings. I'm overcome with tumultuous emotions throughout the whole ride. From Vesper and Corbin's journey to solve an unusual crime, to the personal adventures Vesper has had, the sensual dreams she keeps forgetting after...I may need a palate cleanser from being intoxicated by such powerful words. I mean, what's with them being craftily arranged to affect even the coldest of hearts? And yes, I'm referring to my unfeeling, black heart. It feels like I have experienced every vivid detail myself. Just...SUPERB!!!
Moving on to our characters. Grit is full of charismatic, real and well-rounded characters. As if the main ones aren't the only ones deserving of developed personalities. But for the sake of everybody, I'm only going to fangirl (hardcore) about Vesper, Deimos and Corbin.
Selfless. Strong. Stunning. All of those are our heroine, Vesper, and freaking more.
1. Selfless. Whenever people characterize selflessness, they often think of its heroic aspects. But Elle and Vesper are able to reveal the self-deprecating side of the same coin. The thing about people with the default of selflessness of a saint is that every time they do things most consider as noble sacrifices, they also condemn themselves to a world of hurt.
My only anchor was the vast frozen nothing inside of me. A no man's land. A null that I'd been patiently feeding and growing. At its center was an ice fortress, my mental construct that hid the heart of my power.
For fuck's sake, the woman's an empath on top of that. At first, she's only close with Corbin and Megan. Semi-close with Jack. Then later on, with Deimos. Can count her loved ones in one hand and all that jazz. But the lengths she will go to for them? Indefinite. For all her talk about being detached and distant, Vesper feels deeply and bleeds profusely.
2. Strong. The infamous preconceived notion with strong people is that apparently they don't break. That they must be invincible when in fact, they're actually not. And I think that's what makes Vesper strong, the self-acknowledgement of weaknesses and flaws.
3. Stunning. Need I say more?
I just, I really love her.
Deimos. This hero...he's everything to me. Can I have a Deimos in my life, please? No, but really. I often don't pay that much importance to heroes in my reads. At least, no more than the heroines. Plus I often feel like they belong to their respective heroines. BUT. But but but, Deimos is like the holy grail of men. I can't help but want him-or one like him-for me. I have nothing to say against him whatsoever. I mean, if Vesper blushes on his presence, I might just swoon and faint. Also, you know Gordon Ramsay's meme about how he treats the kids on his cooking show vs the adults? Imagine him as Gordon Ramsay with Vesper as the kids and others as the adult? LMAO. He's just so gentle and so warm and so...masculine to her. With a mix of reverence on a whole other level. I might have melted every time he calls her darling (that's about 29 times, you guys!!!) /sighs
Corbin. She's that bff who deserved a separate book. She's awesome, complements Vesper the best and is the coolest boss-detective ever. Here's my favorite from her:
"Hey now. First, I believe in freedom of religion—I can worship whatever the hell I want. Second. Just because something's broke doesn't mean it can't be fixed. Not saying it should be fixed, just saying. Broken isn't the end of the world, it’s just the end of one way of being. Nothing more, nothing less."
I love it so much. I really do.
PS I'm adding this because I found out that this MIGHT be a reverse harem. I'm still not sure. OMFG. I mean, I love Deimos...but I also freaking love JACK!!! I'm so torn about it, tbh. BUUUT, whatever happens later on, my love for GRIT won't ever lessen. Of that I'm fucking sure of.
PPS Megan is a trip! So funny seeing her tease Vesper. She's like that comical younger sister-so full of charm and smile. Aaand, if this is indeed a reverse harem, aside from Deimos and Jack...I think Balin, Jules, Corso and Prince Arris are all good candidates!!! /winks
April 22, 2018
Hi my name is Gwen and I am a pre-book orderholic, it has been 1 day 10 hrs and 15 min since I last pre-ordered a book. But damn it's addictive, but in my case it's more like Russian roulette that usually involves me shooting myself in the foot more often than not, yet I keep on trying..
But for once, I've got a good one...but of course me being me ... I seem to have read these books in the wrong order and should have started with: So Dark the Night (The Brightling Court #1) So Dark the Night, for a better feel for the world building, but which I am reading now.
But you know what, I think this is the better of the two books, with a much stronger Urban Fantasy leaning my fav!
Also the world building was just great, I just loved the layers Elle created, with the Shade and Fade, which are edgy and dark. As well as characters that are intense, yet likeable... and what attraction between Vesper and Deimos WOW. It does have BDSM elements, BLEH.. but not too in your face LOL, and I hope it stays that way. The mystery element was strong, and with no obvious bad guys, it made for a very enjoyable read. Can't wait for the next book!!!
But for once, I've got a good one...but of course me being me ... I seem to have read these books in the wrong order and should have started with: So Dark the Night (The Brightling Court #1) So Dark the Night, for a better feel for the world building, but which I am reading now.
But you know what, I think this is the better of the two books, with a much stronger Urban Fantasy leaning my fav!
Also the world building was just great, I just loved the layers Elle created, with the Shade and Fade, which are edgy and dark. As well as characters that are intense, yet likeable... and what attraction between Vesper and Deimos WOW. It does have BDSM elements, BLEH.. but not too in your face LOL, and I hope it stays that way. The mystery element was strong, and with no obvious bad guys, it made for a very enjoyable read. Can't wait for the next book!!!
July 11, 2023
I love empath hs. I love when they’re working on some sort of crime and mystery. The execution of this one was bad though. Honestly I was confused for most of the book. I’m still confused tbh. The world building is awful. We’re immediately thrown in and being told so much at once. I found myself drifting off frequently and having to redress pages. Even with rereading certain things, things still didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. The romance was pretty insta. I just don’t see any real point in continuing on with this series.
Also this was recced in a RH group and this is not a RH. It’s my own fault I didn’t research better but that could have added to my confusion with the book because I just kept expecting more men lol.
Also this was recced in a RH group and this is not a RH. It’s my own fault I didn’t research better but that could have added to my confusion with the book because I just kept expecting more men lol.
March 18, 2019
Interesting
I finally went back and finished this off. It was definitely interesting and I really like Gesler and Deimos. The other supporting characters are pretty cool, too.
Looks like Gesler just may have something to answer for.
I finally went back and finished this off. It was definitely interesting and I really like Gesler and Deimos. The other supporting characters are pretty cool, too.
Looks like Gesler just may have something to answer for.
April 19, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Book one in the brand new Remnant Gods series. This book is just amazing! We got some incredible world building along with characters that we can love/hate all placed into a world full of magic. Vesper ends up wrapped up in a mess not of her making and as an empath the emotions are debilitating. Add in her guys as she meets them and maybe she will get some relief. All I know is that I was totally sucked into the story and could not put it down. I even whimpered when I reached the last page because I did not want it to end. If you enjoy PNR RH books then you have to go buy this!!! I loved every single minute of it so I give it 5/5 stars.
Book one in the brand new Remnant Gods series. This book is just amazing! We got some incredible world building along with characters that we can love/hate all placed into a world full of magic. Vesper ends up wrapped up in a mess not of her making and as an empath the emotions are debilitating. Add in her guys as she meets them and maybe she will get some relief. All I know is that I was totally sucked into the story and could not put it down. I even whimpered when I reached the last page because I did not want it to end. If you enjoy PNR RH books then you have to go buy this!!! I loved every single minute of it so I give it 5/5 stars.
May 22, 2020
An amazing concept, great characters & fantastic world building!!!
I can't wait for more 😍
(Read using Kindle Unlimited)
Grit: The Remnant Gods #1
I absolutely loved this book. It'sexy, stylish & full of suspense. It has three great female characters & an excellent enigmatic male. 🔥💘
I do wish the whole 'Orphanage' background was explored more. I know it probably will be in future books, but it left me feeling like I had huge gaps in my knowledge. This was NOT enough to stop me devouring this wonderful read, however.😉🙏🌟
Debbie, 1970, UK
I can't wait for more 😍
(Read using Kindle Unlimited)
Grit: The Remnant Gods #1
I absolutely loved this book. It'sexy, stylish & full of suspense. It has three great female characters & an excellent enigmatic male. 🔥💘
I do wish the whole 'Orphanage' background was explored more. I know it probably will be in future books, but it left me feeling like I had huge gaps in my knowledge. This was NOT enough to stop me devouring this wonderful read, however.😉🙏🌟
Debbie, 1970, UK
April 24, 2018
This was pretty good but not without issues. I found Vesper and her abilities to be unique and interesting. The mystery and investigations really kept me attention. Corbin, her best friend, was just as intriguing and I loved how the contrast between the two was shown instead of told. Deimos was the typical alpha male but he surprised me a couple of time when it came to reactions. And Jack, God my heart hurts.
I picked this up because it came up on a RH group but after reading it, I'm not so sure now, which is sort of a bummer because I wanted her to choose Jack. :)
I did knock a star off of this because there were many things that were unclear. I could tell a great deal of work went into Vesper, but there were areas of world building that came up short, causing confusion which bugged me through the last 25% of the story.
This story is very action base with Vesper going from one situation to another very quickly. I wouldn't technically call it a romance. There is a ton of lust but since the emotional side of the story is muffled with the lack of inner thoughts when she finds out something new about herself or others and no emotional exploration, then the only things the reader is sure of is her feeling of friendship and feeling safe. I'm no saying there isn't heat because there is plenty of lust between her and Deimos and almost too much sex, though the sex wasn't highly explicit. There is just not the softer feelings of love and/or adoration. Well, I think she adored Jack, but even that is murky and wrapped up in her always referring to him a her friend so that got slotted into the feeling of friendship. The other reason I'm hesitant to call this a romance is if you take out her sexual relationship with Deimos, the story isn't effected so her relationship is not the driving the plot in any way.
After saying all of that, it might seem like I didn't enjoy the book, which couldn't be further from the truth. I really enjoyed the story, the world, and many of the characters. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to find out where this is going. Hopefully, many of my questions will be answered. And Jack. I need more of Jack.
I picked this up because it came up on a RH group but after reading it, I'm not so sure now, which is sort of a bummer because I wanted her to choose Jack. :)
I did knock a star off of this because there were many things that were unclear. I could tell a great deal of work went into Vesper, but there were areas of world building that came up short, causing confusion which bugged me through the last 25% of the story.
This story is very action base with Vesper going from one situation to another very quickly. I wouldn't technically call it a romance. There is a ton of lust but since the emotional side of the story is muffled with the lack of inner thoughts when she finds out something new about herself or others and no emotional exploration, then the only things the reader is sure of is her feeling of friendship and feeling safe. I'm no saying there isn't heat because there is plenty of lust between her and Deimos and almost too much sex, though the sex wasn't highly explicit. There is just not the softer feelings of love and/or adoration. Well, I think she adored Jack, but even that is murky and wrapped up in her always referring to him a her friend so that got slotted into the feeling of friendship. The other reason I'm hesitant to call this a romance is if you take out her sexual relationship with Deimos, the story isn't effected so her relationship is not the driving the plot in any way.
After saying all of that, it might seem like I didn't enjoy the book, which couldn't be further from the truth. I really enjoyed the story, the world, and many of the characters. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to find out where this is going. Hopefully, many of my questions will be answered. And Jack. I need more of Jack.
April 25, 2018
I started Grit quite late at night after I’d finished reading a book by another author. I thought the other book was good, almost 5 stars, but then I started Grit and it reminded me what a true 5 star read is.
Cross’s writing style is smooth and flawless, her world building and character development is phenomenal. All the different ability’s and Remnant Gods politics could of easily been confusing but Cross delivers it in a way that not only makes sense, but is truly captivating.
Vesper Tallinn is a powerful individual who can do extraordinary things, but she has a softer more vulnerable side. This is the second book I’ve read lately, where the heroine doesn’t need rescuing and yet neither is she all powerful and kickass; it is a refreshing change and makes it easier to relate to the character. Vesper’s colleagues and friends are a wonderful group of varying individuals; these side characters are interesting and likeable and offer more insight into Vesper’s life. Our hottie, Deimos, may be a true alpha but he treats Vesper with both adoration and respect - and hot damn, he’s sexy.
This is the second book I’ve read by Cross, the first is still waiting for me to finish reading it, and I could not put it down. Part of the reason might of been because it felt more like a true urban fantasy than paranormal or reverse harem - as I know Cross’s other books are RH, it’s worthwhile to note that so far Grit is not a RH although I’ve heard rumours regarding book two - and the writing felt more mature; all the characters are already grown which is definitely something I appreciate. Just like her other books, we definitely see some action; both in regards to mystery and fights, as well as in the bedroom (and/or kitchen table).
Grit has gone straight into my favourites folder which is reserved for those books that surpass 5 stars for me. Highly recommend.
Cross’s writing style is smooth and flawless, her world building and character development is phenomenal. All the different ability’s and Remnant Gods politics could of easily been confusing but Cross delivers it in a way that not only makes sense, but is truly captivating.
Vesper Tallinn is a powerful individual who can do extraordinary things, but she has a softer more vulnerable side. This is the second book I’ve read lately, where the heroine doesn’t need rescuing and yet neither is she all powerful and kickass; it is a refreshing change and makes it easier to relate to the character. Vesper’s colleagues and friends are a wonderful group of varying individuals; these side characters are interesting and likeable and offer more insight into Vesper’s life. Our hottie, Deimos, may be a true alpha but he treats Vesper with both adoration and respect - and hot damn, he’s sexy.
This is the second book I’ve read by Cross, the first is still waiting for me to finish reading it, and I could not put it down. Part of the reason might of been because it felt more like a true urban fantasy than paranormal or reverse harem - as I know Cross’s other books are RH, it’s worthwhile to note that so far Grit is not a RH although I’ve heard rumours regarding book two - and the writing felt more mature; all the characters are already grown which is definitely something I appreciate. Just like her other books, we definitely see some action; both in regards to mystery and fights, as well as in the bedroom (and/or kitchen table).
Grit has gone straight into my favourites folder which is reserved for those books that surpass 5 stars for me. Highly recommend.
October 22, 2018
Good start to this UF series by Elle Cross
I enjoyed reading this book when it first came out so it had been awhile since I had read it. As I remembered the story was a tad slow in the beginning, made it tough to get sucked into the story. But once it got to when the MC and the main guy started interacting, it was phenomenal! Can’t wait to learn more about Vesper, where she comes from, see what happens with Jack and her and Deimos (so much swooning went on with him hahaha). Also loved her friends, especially her assistant at her job. I definitely connected with her the most I think (because she is very similar to me ❤️. And holy moly I couldn’t listen to this during my lunch break because my face kept getting so hot and read. Those steamy scenes were on fire!
I thought the narrator did a good job, liked the different accents. Only thing that made it tough sometimes was her voice for Deimos was quieter, so I had to turn my volume up real loud and then bring it back down with Vesper and the other voices in that scene. Everything else was great.
I am gearing up to read Book 2 that just came out and am excited to know what happens (especially what Vesper’s powers will be, how Deimos and her deal with her feelings for Jack, if any other guys show up in this harem!). Excited for Grit 2 to also be on audio later this year (I hope 😍😘).
I enjoyed reading this book when it first came out so it had been awhile since I had read it. As I remembered the story was a tad slow in the beginning, made it tough to get sucked into the story. But once it got to when the MC and the main guy started interacting, it was phenomenal! Can’t wait to learn more about Vesper, where she comes from, see what happens with Jack and her and Deimos (so much swooning went on with him hahaha). Also loved her friends, especially her assistant at her job. I definitely connected with her the most I think (because she is very similar to me ❤️. And holy moly I couldn’t listen to this during my lunch break because my face kept getting so hot and read. Those steamy scenes were on fire!
I thought the narrator did a good job, liked the different accents. Only thing that made it tough sometimes was her voice for Deimos was quieter, so I had to turn my volume up real loud and then bring it back down with Vesper and the other voices in that scene. Everything else was great.
I am gearing up to read Book 2 that just came out and am excited to know what happens (especially what Vesper’s powers will be, how Deimos and her deal with her feelings for Jack, if any other guys show up in this harem!). Excited for Grit 2 to also be on audio later this year (I hope 😍😘).
September 24, 2018
I tried this book on a whim without much expectation, and was surprised to find myself immediately sucked into a fascinating, intricate world.
Cross has built a really complex world and deposits you right in the middle of it with no hand-holding or explanations. Instead, you are a viewer along for the ride, having to capture information about the world piece by piece from Vesper's thoughts and experiences. It can be confusing at times, but it also kept me really involved in the story as I was not given all the answers at once and had to work for them. It also added an almost voyeuristic tone which matched the sexual themes in the book.
I loved Vesper as a character. She was beautiful and a little broken and I felt drawn to her in the same way other characters in the book seemed drawn to her. I also really like her friends, Corbin and Megan, and wondered if they might eventually star in their own spin off books when this series is finished. And of course Deimos... I don't know what to say without creating spoilers, but he's magnificent.
I read this on KU, but I know it's a series I want to own and be able to re-read whenever so I've already purchased the sequel outright rather than borrowing it on KU. Highly recommend.
Cross has built a really complex world and deposits you right in the middle of it with no hand-holding or explanations. Instead, you are a viewer along for the ride, having to capture information about the world piece by piece from Vesper's thoughts and experiences. It can be confusing at times, but it also kept me really involved in the story as I was not given all the answers at once and had to work for them. It also added an almost voyeuristic tone which matched the sexual themes in the book.
I loved Vesper as a character. She was beautiful and a little broken and I felt drawn to her in the same way other characters in the book seemed drawn to her. I also really like her friends, Corbin and Megan, and wondered if they might eventually star in their own spin off books when this series is finished. And of course Deimos... I don't know what to say without creating spoilers, but he's magnificent.
I read this on KU, but I know it's a series I want to own and be able to re-read whenever so I've already purchased the sequel outright rather than borrowing it on KU. Highly recommend.
September 12, 2018
Grit? More like a terrible dimwit.
My terrible and lame jokes aside, I went into reading this book with some high hopes for lots of fun and action. What I got was almost... the total opposite. Sure, Vesper has a cool name and sure she's made of softer stuff, but the girl is a complete waste of a character. She was lifeless, lackluster, and I had zero idea why everyone was so inspired by her. Sure she's got OP mojo, but it was bland and unconvincing. Hell, I thought Corbin was the true heroine and quite honestly, lived up to the title and book cover a million times better.
And don't get me started on Deimos. Sure, he's not asshole extraordinaire which in my book is very refreshing. It's nice that Mr. Hot Pants isn't a grade a asshole with tons of dickery up his suited ass. I dig that. But what I couldn't get on board was his weird grandma phrases like, "oh my heavens!" and "good lord, me." He went from that to whip-me-daddy "Lord Master."
If you cringed reading that last line as much as I cringed while reading the book, then we totally are on the same page.
My terrible and lame jokes aside, I went into reading this book with some high hopes for lots of fun and action. What I got was almost... the total opposite. Sure, Vesper has a cool name and sure she's made of softer stuff, but the girl is a complete waste of a character. She was lifeless, lackluster, and I had zero idea why everyone was so inspired by her. Sure she's got OP mojo, but it was bland and unconvincing. Hell, I thought Corbin was the true heroine and quite honestly, lived up to the title and book cover a million times better.
And don't get me started on Deimos. Sure, he's not asshole extraordinaire which in my book is very refreshing. It's nice that Mr. Hot Pants isn't a grade a asshole with tons of dickery up his suited ass. I dig that. But what I couldn't get on board was his weird grandma phrases like, "oh my heavens!" and "good lord, me." He went from that to whip-me-daddy "Lord Master."
If you cringed reading that last line as much as I cringed while reading the book, then we totally are on the same page.
Currently reading
September 10, 2023This isn’t bad, though I only made it about 2/3 of the way through it.
I’ll pick it back up later when it suites my mood.
That said, it’s mislabeled as “Reverse Harem.” This is not a RH book.
Also, this would be great if we had a few POVs from the MMC. From what I have read, he’s barely present (I’ve only gotten to like 45% so that could very well change). This reads like a police procedural and knowing that there’s only one other book in the series, I’m not sure how much development can happen between the 2 main characters considering I’ve read almost half of book one and they’ve had maybe 3 conversations, 2 of those consisting only of the FMC nervously gibbering at her guy.
I’ll reiterate that this isn’t bad, at all. I liked it, but know I would appreciate it more when I’m in the mood for it. I thought I was reading a Reverse Harem book, and this is not that.
I’ll pick it back up later when it suites my mood.
That said, it’s mislabeled as “Reverse Harem.” This is not a RH book.
Also, this would be great if we had a few POVs from the MMC. From what I have read, he’s barely present (I’ve only gotten to like 45% so that could very well change). This reads like a police procedural and knowing that there’s only one other book in the series, I’m not sure how much development can happen between the 2 main characters considering I’ve read almost half of book one and they’ve had maybe 3 conversations, 2 of those consisting only of the FMC nervously gibbering at her guy.
I’ll reiterate that this isn’t bad, at all. I liked it, but know I would appreciate it more when I’m in the mood for it. I thought I was reading a Reverse Harem book, and this is not that.
June 26, 2018
Not sure if I'll ever get around to finishing this one. I hate how passive the main character becomes whenever she's around the male lead. Plus the characters and writing are so inconsistent, it's really difficult to follow. It feels like 3 different authors attempting to collaborate together without reading each other's work or engaging an editor to clean it up after. I usually give some slack to debut authors, but this is a bit too messy for me.
If anyone here has finished it and thinks I should continue, then let me know. Otherwise this one will will probably end its days on the DNF list.
If anyone here has finished it and thinks I should continue, then let me know. Otherwise this one will will probably end its days on the DNF list.
April 9, 2018
Elle is become one of my favorite authors Grit is amazing vesper is amazing Mc i love her. She so brave with little sas and she has the undying loyalty to her friends.Deimos omg don’t even get me start on him i absolutely love him. This book is full of suspenses and supernatural that keeps you guessing and at the edge of your seat. Elle has you completely submerged in her world never wanting to come out. Completely addicted i needed a couple days to recover from my book hangover. Sn i love her little chapter headers to.. not to mention her cover completely had me ready to read
April 18, 2018
I’m sorry but I’m not going to give you any spoilers of any kind because I’m not the type that does that. So all I’m going to say about this book is
holy moly what a freaking rush! I feel like I just took a running leap off the side of a cliff all throughout this whole book!!
Grit is a absolutely amazing story weaved by an awesome author! I absolutely loved this book, I loved the rush it gave me between every building climax that was in it. Not once was there ever a dull moment in this story, it was a constant building and releasing right up until the very end where I was left on the edge waiting for another release which I was denied. Yep you got it there’s a cliffhanger but oh what a awesome cliffhanger it was. I can not wait until the next book because I need that release that only the next book can give.
So yes I most definitely recommend this book to anyone who’s not afraid to take that step off the ledge all the while knowing that there’s no safety net or harness to stop their fall.
holy moly what a freaking rush! I feel like I just took a running leap off the side of a cliff all throughout this whole book!!
Grit is a absolutely amazing story weaved by an awesome author! I absolutely loved this book, I loved the rush it gave me between every building climax that was in it. Not once was there ever a dull moment in this story, it was a constant building and releasing right up until the very end where I was left on the edge waiting for another release which I was denied. Yep you got it there’s a cliffhanger but oh what a awesome cliffhanger it was. I can not wait until the next book because I need that release that only the next book can give.
So yes I most definitely recommend this book to anyone who’s not afraid to take that step off the ledge all the while knowing that there’s no safety net or harness to stop their fall.
May 10, 2018
Ok so after tripping around...
The verbal jungle for at least 15 chapters to a small clearing where things started to add up and make sense i liked this book. I recognize that its a hefty duty for an author to introduce a new world, lingo and circumstance and it pulled me forward each step of the way. I was interested enough to keep going even though slightly confused here and there. Good thing cuz its like that long as math problem that starts making sense at the final steps before the answer.
The verbal jungle for at least 15 chapters to a small clearing where things started to add up and make sense i liked this book. I recognize that its a hefty duty for an author to introduce a new world, lingo and circumstance and it pulled me forward each step of the way. I was interested enough to keep going even though slightly confused here and there. Good thing cuz its like that long as math problem that starts making sense at the final steps before the answer.
June 5, 2018
Well crafted ADULT urban fantasy
Cross has created a unique new world in which it is easy to immerse yourself. The plot line draws you in and her prose subtly gets its hooks in you and you realize it’s 3 am and you haven’t stopped reading yet. I personally could have done without some of the more graphic elements but they were well written. I like more plot less porn but overall it was such a great storyline that the graphically erotic sex scenes could be excused. Overall,a well written fresh new outlook on contemporary urban fantasy.
Cross has created a unique new world in which it is easy to immerse yourself. The plot line draws you in and her prose subtly gets its hooks in you and you realize it’s 3 am and you haven’t stopped reading yet. I personally could have done without some of the more graphic elements but they were well written. I like more plot less porn but overall it was such a great storyline that the graphically erotic sex scenes could be excused. Overall,a well written fresh new outlook on contemporary urban fantasy.
August 18, 2018
Perfect
This book was amazing! The story was obviously well thought out, it kept you guessing and the characters were all multi dimensional. The author left hints and teasers throughout for what’s to come but didn’t end on too much of a cliff hanger. She actually finished the story! I feel like a lot of authors these days end their books right in the middle rather than finishing one “chapter” and then moving on to a sequel. Definitely a pleasant surprise! It was an awesome world to delve into!
This book was amazing! The story was obviously well thought out, it kept you guessing and the characters were all multi dimensional. The author left hints and teasers throughout for what’s to come but didn’t end on too much of a cliff hanger. She actually finished the story! I feel like a lot of authors these days end their books right in the middle rather than finishing one “chapter” and then moving on to a sequel. Definitely a pleasant surprise! It was an awesome world to delve into!
August 29, 2018
If I could give this more then 5 stars I totally would! This is a must read! So so good. New take on Gods, humans and new world order. I absolutely Loved it! Vsper is a strong FMC and very different from the FMCs I've read in awhile, its refreshing. Corbin is her hard, sassy,detective best friend and most of the Gods you meet in this one are not good or bad. I couldn't put this book down and finished in one night,totally worth the sleep deprivation. I can't wait to find out what happens in book2!
September 16, 2018
Vesper is a great new addition to Elle Cross' characters, she definitely has GRIT and this is the story of how she builds it. In this book, she fights tries to escape her past while also living in the present. Deimos is amazing and I think most girls would love a piece of him, but he only has eyes for Vesper, but my fav character is Jack and what he has suffered proves how much he loves her. I hope he is ok in the next book. This story is amazing and you don't even need to read the other story of her in this same world to understand this one. Keep writing this great stories Elle. 😍
November 2, 2022
While I loved the world this author was trying to build, it seemed to be missing or jumping time/dialog throughout the entire book. Because it was such a cool concept I have not personally read before, the plot jumps and dead ends did not deter me from wanting to finish. I’ll read the next book in the series. This book is marked as RH, and at least in this story, none of that plays out with the main characters, but I could see where that ground work was trying to be laid for the future possibly. I’m giving 3 stars for the world building but I’d give it two stars for execution.
April 26, 2018
Good book
I was thinking this book was just a run of the mill UF when I picked it up but It's not that at all. It's got a little BDSM in it really light so don't worry about that. It has descriptive sex scenes which are 🔥🔥🔥. I read this is a RH so she has only one guy in her harem so far. I am very interested to read the next book in the series. I liked the story but there is a lot that wasn't explained so maybe we will get more answers in later books.
I was thinking this book was just a run of the mill UF when I picked it up but It's not that at all. It's got a little BDSM in it really light so don't worry about that. It has descriptive sex scenes which are 🔥🔥🔥. I read this is a RH so she has only one guy in her harem so far. I am very interested to read the next book in the series. I liked the story but there is a lot that wasn't explained so maybe we will get more answers in later books.
June 9, 2018
An interesting start to a new series
Elle Cross is a new author for me but I found this to be a fascinating world that I look forward to learning more of. Our heroine is complex and, although she learns some of her back story, there is still a lot more for her (and us) to find out. Demos is protective and hot. I read this through Unlimited but it is one that I will buy as it is one to 're-read. Now to look into other books by this author.
Elle Cross is a new author for me but I found this to be a fascinating world that I look forward to learning more of. Our heroine is complex and, although she learns some of her back story, there is still a lot more for her (and us) to find out. Demos is protective and hot. I read this through Unlimited but it is one that I will buy as it is one to 're-read. Now to look into other books by this author.
July 30, 2020
Wow, just wow
This book is perfection of a level that is very very rarely seen. the crime procedural reminds me of the good urban fantasy books of the nineties, but in a whole new setting, far far away from thr cliches of the genre. Thank you, amazon algorithm to showing this diamond to me amid all the worthless cliched trash that populates the suggestion box lately. On to the next one of this series
This book is perfection of a level that is very very rarely seen. the crime procedural reminds me of the good urban fantasy books of the nineties, but in a whole new setting, far far away from thr cliches of the genre. Thank you, amazon algorithm to showing this diamond to me amid all the worthless cliched trash that populates the suggestion box lately. On to the next one of this series
April 28, 2018
I love Vesper and her friend and cop Corbin. This is an urban fantasy and I’m in love. Jake the incubus neighbor is hot, then we have the all powerful hotness that is Deimos. I can’t wait to see where these relationships go in the next installment. Vesper is an empath and has come across something that is going to turn her world in a tail spin ❤️
May 16, 2018
Now I am hooked to one more series. Loved the way that book is the same universe of the Brightling Court and we get to meet the Lord Master better as some others characters that appeared in So dark the night. These two series complements each other and we get to follow amazing female characters that are discovering who they are.
December 31, 2018
I read a lot of reviews saying the writing was good, but I had a really hard time getting into the story, having to read a sentence a few times to understand it. There was no flow, there were contradictory sentences in the same paragraph without a proper conjunction. Also things like “excepted”, instead of “accepted”.
The story seemed good, but I couldn’t get into it..
The story seemed good, but I couldn’t get into it..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews