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Compound Series #1
Dark Empathy
For an empath, "How do you feel?" is never just a question.
Not when it can kill you.
These are the rules:
1. Rare and powerful empaths never escape the compound.
(Bastian Lucas escaped a year ago, and just because he’s been dragged back doesn’t mean he won't escape again.)
2. Compound officers don’t ask questions.
(Captain Henry Mortimer has always followed orders, but Bastian’s arrival—and the disappearance of one of Henry’s team—have him wondering things he probably shouldn't be wondering.)
When Major Valentine orders Bastian and Henry to investigate a series of murders committed by an asset with powers similar to Bastian’s, it brings to light more than just a cover up. Things like why an empath who shouldn't exist is killing senators, what’s really behind the compound’s sinister asset program, and whether Bastian and Henry will live to see the end of this case.
Because they're in danger of breaking rule number three as well:
3. Don’t fall in love.
Not when it can kill you.
These are the rules:
1. Rare and powerful empaths never escape the compound.
(Bastian Lucas escaped a year ago, and just because he’s been dragged back doesn’t mean he won't escape again.)
2. Compound officers don’t ask questions.
(Captain Henry Mortimer has always followed orders, but Bastian’s arrival—and the disappearance of one of Henry’s team—have him wondering things he probably shouldn't be wondering.)
When Major Valentine orders Bastian and Henry to investigate a series of murders committed by an asset with powers similar to Bastian’s, it brings to light more than just a cover up. Things like why an empath who shouldn't exist is killing senators, what’s really behind the compound’s sinister asset program, and whether Bastian and Henry will live to see the end of this case.
Because they're in danger of breaking rule number three as well:
3. Don’t fall in love.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2018
15 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Katy Morgan
3 books17 followersHi there!
I'm an indie fantasy author, editor, and YouTuber who writes about snarky, magical people doing snarky, magical things.
When I'm not writing or editing, I can generally be found cross stitching something sassy, daydreaming about hedgehogs, or drinking far too many mochas--usually all at once.
I'm an indie fantasy author, editor, and YouTuber who writes about snarky, magical people doing snarky, magical things.
When I'm not writing or editing, I can generally be found cross stitching something sassy, daydreaming about hedgehogs, or drinking far too many mochas--usually all at once.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
February 16, 2022
Empathy misused lacks sympathy
Experimental mistreatment of special people for personal gain and control is not acceptable, but can happen if no one questions those in charge. Controlling memories and medical records falsification to conceal ulterior motives and illegal research methods. Illegal hidden laboratory and and test facilities to keep secrets hidden from everyone, even the victims, is unconsciousable but necessary to keep 5he secret passageways hidden.
Experimental mistreatment of special people for personal gain and control is not acceptable, but can happen if no one questions those in charge. Controlling memories and medical records falsification to conceal ulterior motives and illegal research methods. Illegal hidden laboratory and and test facilities to keep secrets hidden from everyone, even the victims, is unconsciousable but necessary to keep 5he secret passageways hidden.
February 7, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Dark Empathy is the first book in the Compound series, which features a variety of powerful psychics, from empaths to fire starters, trackers, plant talkers, and people who can use electricity. It also features mentions of medical experimentation and torture, as well as gaslighting, mental and emotional manipulation, and suicidal ideation. If any of these cause distress, then I would suggest finding another book.
I found it hard to feel any emotional investment in these characters — which is ironic consider it’s about empaths. Perhaps it was because I didn’t feel as though I was invited to share the story with the characters. Rather than having introspective moments where the characters felt things, I was instead reading about events. And not events as they happened to the characters, but instead events that had already taken place; sad events, sure, but since neither Bastian nor Henry seemed too broken up about them, they didn’t feel all that sad, which left me to feel much the same.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Dark Empathy is the first book in the Compound series, which features a variety of powerful psychics, from empaths to fire starters, trackers, plant talkers, and people who can use electricity. It also features mentions of medical experimentation and torture, as well as gaslighting, mental and emotional manipulation, and suicidal ideation. If any of these cause distress, then I would suggest finding another book.
I found it hard to feel any emotional investment in these characters — which is ironic consider it’s about empaths. Perhaps it was because I didn’t feel as though I was invited to share the story with the characters. Rather than having introspective moments where the characters felt things, I was instead reading about events. And not events as they happened to the characters, but instead events that had already taken place; sad events, sure, but since neither Bastian nor Henry seemed too broken up about them, they didn’t feel all that sad, which left me to feel much the same.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
September 8, 2024
3.75 stars
Intriguing what's-going-on super-powers thriller. Not deep, but satisfying characterisation and enough twists to keep me reading. I've bought the second in the series.
Intriguing what's-going-on super-powers thriller. Not deep, but satisfying characterisation and enough twists to keep me reading. I've bought the second in the series.
September 28, 2025
4.5 stars. I enjoyed this one enough that I already bought the other two novels. I was a bit frustrated at how slow the Captain was to piece things together given what he's just learned. because it seemed like a manipulation to slow the plot, although later I realized he was manipulated, not the plot. So, now you know, if you want to read this. Be less judgy than me. :)
April 21, 2022
This is a great dystopian premise with a socko opening -- a secret compound where people with unusual talents (firestarting, plantspeaking, and for one of the MCs, empathy) -- are kept for purposes that turn out to be nefarious. The head of a quasi-military team that brings "potentials" in and retrieves escaped "assets" begins to have doubts about the mission, with exactly the consequences we hope to see in a sci-fi romance that plays on the enemies-to-lovers trope.
I liked Henry (quasi-military guy) and Bastian (empath) very much, but it also seemed to me that Bastian starts feeling friendly and flirtatious toward Henry way too soon, considering the circumstances under which they meet.
The logistical weirdnesses / mistakes / plot holes bothered me more, though. How is it possible that the surveillance system in the compound doesn't seem to pick up audio? When the helpful IT guy's surveillance jammers kick in, the person using the jammer disappears from the surveillance, but in that case wouldn't whoever's monitoring the surveillance be surprised to find someone suddenly vanishing into thin air? How does one of the secondary characters find Henry and Bastian in their hiding place when they've been using a jammer? When Henry, Bastian, and the plantspeaker Laurel are hiding in a tree from the team tracking them, why are Henry and Bastian holding a conversation? How come the evil mastermind doesn't fire or imprison the helpful guard who allows Bastian to take a walk outside his cell, contrary to orders? When the evil mastermind suspects that someone under her command has a particular, easily testable power, why doesn't she just … test them, instead of trying to trick them into an admission? When a character is too weak to walk down one flight of stairs, why is no attention paid to their likely difficulty walking back up 19 flights?
This kind of thing, completely avoidable with some careful thought, threw me out of an otherwise engaging story over and over again. Dark Empathy could also have used a good copyeditor to fix the malapropisms: insipid when insidious is meant; wailing on someone instead of whaling on someone; vagrancies instead of vagaries. (And for heaven's sake, enough with the smirking! "Smirk" and variations thereof occur 11 times.)
I'm voluntarily reviewing an advance review copy that I got for free.
I liked Henry (quasi-military guy) and Bastian (empath) very much, but it also seemed to me that Bastian starts feeling friendly and flirtatious toward Henry way too soon, considering the circumstances under which they meet.
The logistical weirdnesses / mistakes / plot holes bothered me more, though. How is it possible that the surveillance system in the compound doesn't seem to pick up audio? When the helpful IT guy's surveillance jammers kick in, the person using the jammer disappears from the surveillance, but in that case wouldn't whoever's monitoring the surveillance be surprised to find someone suddenly vanishing into thin air? How does one of the secondary characters find Henry and Bastian in their hiding place when they've been using a jammer? When Henry, Bastian, and the plantspeaker Laurel are hiding in a tree from the team tracking them, why are Henry and Bastian holding a conversation? How come the evil mastermind doesn't fire or imprison the helpful guard who allows Bastian to take a walk outside his cell, contrary to orders? When the evil mastermind suspects that someone under her command has a particular, easily testable power, why doesn't she just … test them, instead of trying to trick them into an admission? When a character is too weak to walk down one flight of stairs, why is no attention paid to their likely difficulty walking back up 19 flights?
This kind of thing, completely avoidable with some careful thought, threw me out of an otherwise engaging story over and over again. Dark Empathy could also have used a good copyeditor to fix the malapropisms: insipid when insidious is meant; wailing on someone instead of whaling on someone; vagrancies instead of vagaries. (And for heaven's sake, enough with the smirking! "Smirk" and variations thereof occur 11 times.)
I'm voluntarily reviewing an advance review copy that I got for free.
February 17, 2021
One-of-a-kind Paranormal Fantasy.
This book was unlike any other paranormal/urban fantasy I've read. First, the psionic talents discussed (empathy, plant-affinity, memory-reduction, nullification) are really unusual and interesting. Plus, the villain is a high-ranking FEMALE military officer, which is a nice change of pace from most other paranormal fantasies. There are similarities with other urban fantasies -- a murderer is on the loose and the MC has to catch him. But while the MC is solving the crimes, his guard/captor/love interest has to figure out what's really going on at the compound. Oh, and did I mention that the heroes of the story are both men? I've never read a paranormal fantasy with m-m romance (this is a clean romance vs. explicit).
In fact, in almost every other urban fantasy with male MCs that I've read, the heroes are the gruff lone wolf type (think Jim Butcher or Kevin Hearne). But in this story, the male MCs have to overcome all the experimentation the villain has done to them (including messing with their memory) and are real underdogs in the fight. They need to gather allies and work together -- which makes it a more fun story than the classic "boy vs. world" adventure. I also liked the fact that no one in the book made a big deal out of the gay romance aspect of the story -- it's nice to see a story where the gay romance is part of the main characters' relationship (instead of side characters) AND there's no taboo/social pressure involved.
All in, I would recommend this book for someone looking for an unusual urban fantasy with male main characters.
This book was unlike any other paranormal/urban fantasy I've read. First, the psionic talents discussed (empathy, plant-affinity, memory-reduction, nullification) are really unusual and interesting. Plus, the villain is a high-ranking FEMALE military officer, which is a nice change of pace from most other paranormal fantasies. There are similarities with other urban fantasies -- a murderer is on the loose and the MC has to catch him. But while the MC is solving the crimes, his guard/captor/love interest has to figure out what's really going on at the compound. Oh, and did I mention that the heroes of the story are both men? I've never read a paranormal fantasy with m-m romance (this is a clean romance vs. explicit).
In fact, in almost every other urban fantasy with male MCs that I've read, the heroes are the gruff lone wolf type (think Jim Butcher or Kevin Hearne). But in this story, the male MCs have to overcome all the experimentation the villain has done to them (including messing with their memory) and are real underdogs in the fight. They need to gather allies and work together -- which makes it a more fun story than the classic "boy vs. world" adventure. I also liked the fact that no one in the book made a big deal out of the gay romance aspect of the story -- it's nice to see a story where the gay romance is part of the main characters' relationship (instead of side characters) AND there's no taboo/social pressure involved.
All in, I would recommend this book for someone looking for an unusual urban fantasy with male main characters.
September 22, 2021
I chose Dark Empathy for a uni assignment, and to be totally honest, this more modern fantasy genre (you know ... tablets and technology rather than elves and swords) is generally not my vibe. BUT. My god. This was such a ride! I ended up so invested in the characters, with the two protagonists perfectly balanced against each other: night against day, reason and feeling, strength and sensitivity. The romance is woven artfully through the action, and the LGBTQIA+ themes are natural and believable, just as they should be. I've managed to get my name on the list for a pre-release copy of the next book in the series and I cannot wait to read it!
June 20, 2025
4.25 stars - A paranormal/scifi thriller with a dash of romance and some great banter. Shocked this doesn't have more ratings! A really fun time.
January 14, 2022
Absolutely loved it. This is a new to me author, but it will not be the last book I read. The world building was awesome. It angered me how Bastian & the other "assets" were treated. The experiments were horrible. I really wished some very bad things would have happened to Dr. Wright & was really disappointed that didn't happen. I loved Laurel & what she went through broke my heart. So we have Henry who is a Captain at the compound that where Bastian is kept. He & his team is sent out to capture new assets when their powers manifest. He believes that he is bringing them back to the compound to help them control their powers. It takes him awhile to really believe what is going on. Bastian is the first empathy in hundreds of years & they use him to interrogate bad guys. Once he pulls their energy, they are able to record it to prove their guilt. What he doesn't know is what happens to them after this is done. Bastian has escaped from the compound & has been gone for a year when Henry is sent to retrieve him. There is a spark between these two from the moment they meet. Once Bastian is brought back, he & Henry are tasked to find a killer of some senators. Things slowly come to light about how the killer came to be & it's not pretty. We find out what happened with Laurel & all those assets. Dr. Wright & Major Valentine are truly evil beings. The romance is a slow burn & is not the focus of the story & normally that doesn't work for me, but it does here.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion
August 21, 2025
3.5
While I really enjoyed this, it felt like I was following along rather than fully invested in what was going on. I’m hoping I’ll become more attached in the next one, though honestly the love declarations felt off to me… it didn’t feel like they were there yet to me 😅
While I really enjoyed this, it felt like I was following along rather than fully invested in what was going on. I’m hoping I’ll become more attached in the next one, though honestly the love declarations felt off to me… it didn’t feel like they were there yet to me 😅
August 6, 2025
Dark Empathy is the first book in the Compound Series. This is the story of Bastian an empath and Henry a Compound officer. This was an interesting story and great start for the series. We learn a lot about the compound and the psychic assets who are kept there. This was a rollercoaster ride of action, Intrigue, and an interesting plot. I would definitely recommend this book.
July 23, 2020
This book was my perfect read.
Contemporary fantasy meets sci-fi action thriller meets paranormal suspense romance... When I first read the blurb, I was intrigued, but it took me the usual umpteen exposures before I actually bought the book. Then once I finally started reading, I virtually couldn't stop, and by halfway I was already regretting that I lived in a timeline where this book did not yet have a sequel.
Bastian is an empath recently escaped from (and then forcibly returned to) a contained, controlled life as a military asset used for interrogation. Henry is an effective, efficient captain working for the Compound, bringing in potentials with incredible unstable powers that their doctors can help harness, but unaware of what becomes of these potentials in levels deeper than his. When their paths cross on a murder investigation, the layers of conspiracy start to unravel.
I absolutely loved all of the characters in this book. Even the villains, who I loved to hate because they were so nasty and controlling and manipulative. Cheeky wounded Bastian and noble sensible Henry, who alternate POV, are both lovably solid and real, flawed and unique. I felt like I was with them whenever the story moved into their distinctive voices. Katy Morgan has done a spectacular job of crafting these characters into people you want to support and see succeed.
The book is perfectly paced, employing flashbacks sparingly but effectively to keep the majority of the story in the quickly moving present while still providing enough back story that the stakes feel significant. The world is interesting but we're only given as much of it as we need to focus on the story being told. The plot is tight, the motives realistic, and the romance is the kind of forbidden slow-burn that feels real and special but doesn't overtake the main plot. I was shipping these guys hard long before they'd figured each other out. Perfect balance of tension and warmth.
I'll eagerly await the sequel because this book was excellent. Zero faults, five stars.
Contemporary fantasy meets sci-fi action thriller meets paranormal suspense romance... When I first read the blurb, I was intrigued, but it took me the usual umpteen exposures before I actually bought the book. Then once I finally started reading, I virtually couldn't stop, and by halfway I was already regretting that I lived in a timeline where this book did not yet have a sequel.
Bastian is an empath recently escaped from (and then forcibly returned to) a contained, controlled life as a military asset used for interrogation. Henry is an effective, efficient captain working for the Compound, bringing in potentials with incredible unstable powers that their doctors can help harness, but unaware of what becomes of these potentials in levels deeper than his. When their paths cross on a murder investigation, the layers of conspiracy start to unravel.
I absolutely loved all of the characters in this book. Even the villains, who I loved to hate because they were so nasty and controlling and manipulative. Cheeky wounded Bastian and noble sensible Henry, who alternate POV, are both lovably solid and real, flawed and unique. I felt like I was with them whenever the story moved into their distinctive voices. Katy Morgan has done a spectacular job of crafting these characters into people you want to support and see succeed.
The book is perfectly paced, employing flashbacks sparingly but effectively to keep the majority of the story in the quickly moving present while still providing enough back story that the stakes feel significant. The world is interesting but we're only given as much of it as we need to focus on the story being told. The plot is tight, the motives realistic, and the romance is the kind of forbidden slow-burn that feels real and special but doesn't overtake the main plot. I was shipping these guys hard long before they'd figured each other out. Perfect balance of tension and warmth.
I'll eagerly await the sequel because this book was excellent. Zero faults, five stars.
August 25, 2025
Great paranormal take on the guard falls for prisoner trope. There is a murder mystery to be solved, but lots of other mysterious things going on at the compound that our two main characters have to figure out and then try to stop. The villain here is truly evil and you'll sympathize with some characters you won't expect to as you begin to see what's really going on. Great world building and fully developed characters. Looking forward to more in this series.
February 19, 2022
This book was fine, but I have two bones to pick. First, Bastian and Henry have zero chemistry. Second, there are things about Henry that Major Valentine really should have figured that she just doesn't?
January 21, 2022
Welcome to a world where there are people who are born with extraordinary gifts. Some people can start fires, some speak to plants, some are cyber readers who can hack anything. The possibilities seem to be endless. But like all amazing things, regular people find the need to collect those with gifts to exploit them for their own gain. And then there are the regular people who are worse than that. Cue our empath, Bastian, and his inability to take the torture anymore. Let's not forget his heavy handed snark and disdain for the authority at the Compound didn't endear him to the secret facility. Then of course they had to send the very chivalrous Captain Henry after him, with his quiet charm, need to protect others, and something secret. Together they just have to solve a series of murders that are being performed by another empath, who is seemingly free of the Compound.
Really liked this dual POV writing style. The inner monolog of the characters is very true on how you would feel/think in the situation and in real life. That you are saying one thing, but thinking another or a lot more than what you are really saying. Makes for a very endearing story. Also loved the instant chemistry between our MCs. The personalities of each character is relatable and easy to identify with.
The world building is also super great. I mean, I have questions, but I believe any good book will leave you with a lot of "what ifs" for you to ponder and dream about. I mention this because there are some holes/gaps in the weaving of the story, which kinda make you not 100% sure you understand what is going on. This didn't tale away from the story really, but there are some lingering questions even if there isn't an immediate answer. So it will be interesting to see how these things are explored/answered in other books. If you like urban sci-fi, I think you will like this one. It was a new to me author, and I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, but I am totally going to get the next book to see what happens in this world next.
Really liked this dual POV writing style. The inner monolog of the characters is very true on how you would feel/think in the situation and in real life. That you are saying one thing, but thinking another or a lot more than what you are really saying. Makes for a very endearing story. Also loved the instant chemistry between our MCs. The personalities of each character is relatable and easy to identify with.
The world building is also super great. I mean, I have questions, but I believe any good book will leave you with a lot of "what ifs" for you to ponder and dream about. I mention this because there are some holes/gaps in the weaving of the story, which kinda make you not 100% sure you understand what is going on. This didn't tale away from the story really, but there are some lingering questions even if there isn't an immediate answer. So it will be interesting to see how these things are explored/answered in other books. If you like urban sci-fi, I think you will like this one. It was a new to me author, and I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, but I am totally going to get the next book to see what happens in this world next.
November 11, 2020
I liked Dark empathy by Katy Morgan. It's the first book in the Compound series. It's a paranormal suspense story with a slow burn romance thrown in to tempt romance readers to try it. The romance is definitely not the focus of the story. It's something that sneaks up on Bastian and Henry. I liked the suspense part of the story, but I could see what would happen before it happened, so I wouldn't call it a suspenseful mystery. Finding out who was the John Doe empath was something that kept me interested in the story. However, by the end of the book, I was no further in figuring out who he was or where he had come from except that he was an experimented-on asset. Maybe that will be explained more in a future book. Bastian and Henry were interesting characters, and I really enjoyed Bastian's friend Laura, a spliced asset from another compound who can talk to trees.
There were a couple of things that I didn't like about the story, and removed a star because of it. I like reading stories that are written in the third person past tense with dual points of view. However, this story is told in third person present tense with dual points of view, and it is just wrong. Third-person stories are told only in the past tense. It made it really hard for me to get into the story. Because the story is told in the present tense, the author used parentheses to show when the characters have internal thoughts, instead of putting the internal thoughts in italics as they normally are in a story. Every time I saw a parenthesis, I would be pulled out of the story. It made the story a little less enjoyable for me because there were a lot of internal thoughts. This might only bother me, but I wanted to mention it so other readers could decide for themselves.
Overall, I liked this paranormal suspense book with a slow burn romance and a happy-for-now ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There were a couple of things that I didn't like about the story, and removed a star because of it. I like reading stories that are written in the third person past tense with dual points of view. However, this story is told in third person present tense with dual points of view, and it is just wrong. Third-person stories are told only in the past tense. It made it really hard for me to get into the story. Because the story is told in the present tense, the author used parentheses to show when the characters have internal thoughts, instead of putting the internal thoughts in italics as they normally are in a story. Every time I saw a parenthesis, I would be pulled out of the story. It made the story a little less enjoyable for me because there were a lot of internal thoughts. This might only bother me, but I wanted to mention it so other readers could decide for themselves.
Overall, I liked this paranormal suspense book with a slow burn romance and a happy-for-now ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 8, 2019
I picked this one based on the blurb and figured I knew what I was in for. I was surprised at the beginning! Great character portrayal, as they practically carry the story. It’s very slow paced story but the interaction between heroes manages to shine and keep the story interesting.
They happen to be on opposite sides of the fence: (or it looks that way!) Bastien is cynical and prisoner in a state run compound for people with extraordinary abilities. Despite everything that happened to him he still believes in good in people around him. Henry, on the other hand is part of compound security forces: specifically he leads retrieval team and it’s his duty to capture and bring in people like Sebastian. After more than a decade on the job, he suspects things in compound aren’t on the up and up, but can’t afford to care: he keeps quiet to protect his team. He is caught between his duty and his conscience. This is what more than anything kept my interest in the story.
It was fascinating watching how Bastien and Henry act, their inner struggle and reaction to unenviable circumstances they are in. The villains (yes, plural) make terrifying kind of sense: it’s what makes this world so believable. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. They don’t see anything wrong with what they are doing. They consider it necessary: that’s why they are evil and why it was so easy to root for Bastian and Henry to do something about the situation.
The romance part is very light (think slow burn romance) but it does fit the story. It’s great paranormal story with dash of romance. The ending (which I’m hoping is set up for next book in series) is very sweet. It made up for all angst I suffered during the reading!
I received copy of this book in exchange for review.
The review is also posted on Gay Book Reviews
They happen to be on opposite sides of the fence: (or it looks that way!) Bastien is cynical and prisoner in a state run compound for people with extraordinary abilities. Despite everything that happened to him he still believes in good in people around him. Henry, on the other hand is part of compound security forces: specifically he leads retrieval team and it’s his duty to capture and bring in people like Sebastian. After more than a decade on the job, he suspects things in compound aren’t on the up and up, but can’t afford to care: he keeps quiet to protect his team. He is caught between his duty and his conscience. This is what more than anything kept my interest in the story.
It was fascinating watching how Bastien and Henry act, their inner struggle and reaction to unenviable circumstances they are in. The villains (yes, plural) make terrifying kind of sense: it’s what makes this world so believable. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. They don’t see anything wrong with what they are doing. They consider it necessary: that’s why they are evil and why it was so easy to root for Bastian and Henry to do something about the situation.
The romance part is very light (think slow burn romance) but it does fit the story. It’s great paranormal story with dash of romance. The ending (which I’m hoping is set up for next book in series) is very sweet. It made up for all angst I suffered during the reading!
I received copy of this book in exchange for review.
The review is also posted on Gay Book Reviews
April 15, 2022
"If it's dangerous, that's only because people are idiots. Water itself is just water. "
One of the best suspense SciFi/futuristic/fantasy reads I've read this year!!
I read this in two days - I had to sleep and watch the granddaughter otherwise I would have read it cover to cover in one sitting.
Bastian had been an 'asset' since Major Valentine rescued him as a child. He stopped believing in her "greater good" a long time ago and began fighting for something more. So when he finds himself being escorted back to the compound by Captain Mortimer he knows to bide his time until he can escape once again.
Only things don't work out as smoothly as he planned
"The waves going in and out, big and small, never stopping. "
I adored Bastian
He is just a touch broken when it comes to interacting with others
He uses humor to deflect from emotional vulnerabilities and sarcasm to keep everyone at arm's length and away from his darker truths
Henry is more a head-in-the-sand follow orders kind of guy
He does what he is told, disregards that niggling voice that is telling him something is not quite right
Until the truth is no longer something he can ignore and brush aside
But he has his secrets too and their revelation may cost him his life
There is so much to this story
Edge of your seat action
Heart pounding suspense and twists
Angst
Betrayals
A great cast of characters each with their own unique quirk - they complimented each other while making the story that much more adhesive(?)
The romance between these two is secondary to the awesome story -
in my opinion - They click right away however their relationship develops naturally over the course of the story
I could go on for days
I do want to say the blurb IMO as well as the cover did not do this story justice
Ramble over :)
I'm excited to see where the author takes this
One of the best suspense SciFi/futuristic/fantasy reads I've read this year!!
I read this in two days - I had to sleep and watch the granddaughter otherwise I would have read it cover to cover in one sitting.
Bastian had been an 'asset' since Major Valentine rescued him as a child. He stopped believing in her "greater good" a long time ago and began fighting for something more. So when he finds himself being escorted back to the compound by Captain Mortimer he knows to bide his time until he can escape once again.
Only things don't work out as smoothly as he planned
"The waves going in and out, big and small, never stopping. "
I adored Bastian
He is just a touch broken when it comes to interacting with others
He uses humor to deflect from emotional vulnerabilities and sarcasm to keep everyone at arm's length and away from his darker truths
Henry is more a head-in-the-sand follow orders kind of guy
He does what he is told, disregards that niggling voice that is telling him something is not quite right
Until the truth is no longer something he can ignore and brush aside
But he has his secrets too and their revelation may cost him his life
There is so much to this story
Edge of your seat action
Heart pounding suspense and twists
Angst
Betrayals
A great cast of characters each with their own unique quirk - they complimented each other while making the story that much more adhesive(?)
The romance between these two is secondary to the awesome story -
in my opinion - They click right away however their relationship develops naturally over the course of the story
I could go on for days
I do want to say the blurb IMO as well as the cover did not do this story justice
Ramble over :)
I'm excited to see where the author takes this
January 19, 2022
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
I really liked the idea behind this story - such a fascinating world was created and the characters were all so complex too. From the outset, I was rooting for Bastian as he was such a vulnerable character, hidden behind a supposedly unfeeling exterior. Even though he told everyone that he didn't form attachments and had shut off his own emotions, that was so blatantly untrue it just made me like him even more. Henry too was an interesting character. The pair clearly had good chemistry and it was nice to see how they first interacted and grew close whilst working on the case together.
While the plot is firstly about the string of murder/suicides, the underlying issues with the compound were at the heart of the story and led to lots of twists and turns. There were interesting secondary characters and I couldn't predict what would happen next. My only reason for knocking a star off is that, on occasion, I found Henry to blow far too hot and cold. After such a build up of the pair being united against a common 'enemy', at the drop of a hat it seemed that Henry randomly changed his stance, only to do an immediate u-turn once again. The story did get quite complicated and required a lot of concentration to follow along with. The ending is what I would describe as a HFN. It had clearly reached a break in the larger, long-term plot and both characters are left in a good place, although you can also feel that there's more to hear from them.
Overall, this is a great start to a new series that is full of twists and turns (along with one very cute couple). I'd definitely recommend it to those who enjoy this genre.
I really liked the idea behind this story - such a fascinating world was created and the characters were all so complex too. From the outset, I was rooting for Bastian as he was such a vulnerable character, hidden behind a supposedly unfeeling exterior. Even though he told everyone that he didn't form attachments and had shut off his own emotions, that was so blatantly untrue it just made me like him even more. Henry too was an interesting character. The pair clearly had good chemistry and it was nice to see how they first interacted and grew close whilst working on the case together.
While the plot is firstly about the string of murder/suicides, the underlying issues with the compound were at the heart of the story and led to lots of twists and turns. There were interesting secondary characters and I couldn't predict what would happen next. My only reason for knocking a star off is that, on occasion, I found Henry to blow far too hot and cold. After such a build up of the pair being united against a common 'enemy', at the drop of a hat it seemed that Henry randomly changed his stance, only to do an immediate u-turn once again. The story did get quite complicated and required a lot of concentration to follow along with. The ending is what I would describe as a HFN. It had clearly reached a break in the larger, long-term plot and both characters are left in a good place, although you can also feel that there's more to hear from them.
Overall, this is a great start to a new series that is full of twists and turns (along with one very cute couple). I'd definitely recommend it to those who enjoy this genre.
February 20, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main characters in this book is Bastian(aka Lucas) and Henry. When I read the story, at some point I got confused, when they talk to Bastian and then referencing to Lucas. I thought first did I miss someone entering the story. Until it dawned on me when they spoke about that assets are addressed with last name as they call their jailers also by their last name. So now that is out of the way…
I loved the story where Bastian, who once escaped from the compound is forced to go back so he can be exploited for his gift. Luckily his friend Laura is left unharmed. There have been suicides going on under congressmen and woman. It's up to Bastian, with his babysitter Henry, to unravel the mystery. Only to find out there is another empath on the loose killing people. When things turn for the worse, Bastian doesn't want to be responsible for the people he thought he didn't love. Can Bastian prove there is another empath on the loose? Or will all turn on him and the Major wins?
There are many plot twists I didn't see coming. There was an equally amount of action as the misery of the people who have a gift and are subjected to crazy experiments. It was so compelling I read the story in record time. The world building is ok, but could be more invested how the these people got there powers. I cannot wait for the next story to unfold.
I found it a thrilling story, maybe not unique, but still written to keep you on the edge. There is heartbreak, friendship, torture, action, a bit of light LBQT , a surprising tenderness in a world where the assets are treated like experiments.
The main characters in this book is Bastian(aka Lucas) and Henry. When I read the story, at some point I got confused, when they talk to Bastian and then referencing to Lucas. I thought first did I miss someone entering the story. Until it dawned on me when they spoke about that assets are addressed with last name as they call their jailers also by their last name. So now that is out of the way…
I loved the story where Bastian, who once escaped from the compound is forced to go back so he can be exploited for his gift. Luckily his friend Laura is left unharmed. There have been suicides going on under congressmen and woman. It's up to Bastian, with his babysitter Henry, to unravel the mystery. Only to find out there is another empath on the loose killing people. When things turn for the worse, Bastian doesn't want to be responsible for the people he thought he didn't love. Can Bastian prove there is another empath on the loose? Or will all turn on him and the Major wins?
There are many plot twists I didn't see coming. There was an equally amount of action as the misery of the people who have a gift and are subjected to crazy experiments. It was so compelling I read the story in record time. The world building is ok, but could be more invested how the these people got there powers. I cannot wait for the next story to unfold.
I found it a thrilling story, maybe not unique, but still written to keep you on the edge. There is heartbreak, friendship, torture, action, a bit of light LBQT , a surprising tenderness in a world where the assets are treated like experiments.
January 18, 2022
DARK EMPATHY is the first book in an action-packed world where some people have special abilities. It's not all good though, as they can be captured and taken to The Compound, where they will be assessed and who knows what else...
Henry is a Captain of a Retrieval Team and is sent to capture an escaped asset, Bastian, an empath. Empaths are exceedingly rare but, as Henry and Bastian find out, Bastian is not the only one.
This story is full of twists and turns, although the big bad is identified easily enough. It's more the machinations of the Compound, and the people within it, that make this story so interesting.
There is a slight romance between Henry and Bastian but it doesn't take over the book. In fact, they go from being colleagues to declaring love. This is definitely an action book first and foremost.
One thing I would say is that internal thoughts and monologues are written within parentheses, instead of italics as is more common. Once I became used to this, it was okay, but it did throw me for a while.
On the whole, this was a thoroughly enjoyable book that gives the usual Sci-Fi Talents a twist that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Henry is a Captain of a Retrieval Team and is sent to capture an escaped asset, Bastian, an empath. Empaths are exceedingly rare but, as Henry and Bastian find out, Bastian is not the only one.
This story is full of twists and turns, although the big bad is identified easily enough. It's more the machinations of the Compound, and the people within it, that make this story so interesting.
There is a slight romance between Henry and Bastian but it doesn't take over the book. In fact, they go from being colleagues to declaring love. This is definitely an action book first and foremost.
One thing I would say is that internal thoughts and monologues are written within parentheses, instead of italics as is more common. Once I became used to this, it was okay, but it did throw me for a while.
On the whole, this was a thoroughly enjoyable book that gives the usual Sci-Fi Talents a twist that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
February 4, 2022
Sebastian Lucas escaped the Compound, something unheard of. Now he is being dragged back after a year away. That does not mean he will not try again. Captain Henry Mortimer was the officer in charge of ensuring Bastian’s return. He is trained to complete his mission and not ask questions. Henry had no problem with that until the arrival of Bastian followed by the disappearance of one of his team. When Major Valentine assigns them to investigate murder of some Senators, Bastian and Henry are questioning everything. Why is there another empath when no others are thought to exist? How does the Compound’s asset program really function? And is it safe?
What an incredible world Katy Morgan has created! There are a variety of powers that manifest in an asset. When it is learned they have manifested, they are retrieved and brought to the Compound for training. Bastian knows there are darker forces at work. Nothing is as it seems. Henry is realizing that Bastian’s views have merit. Bastian is incredible with his snarky attitude as well as his rough charm. Henry is steady and followed orders but now is sensing there is something wrong. The two fall for each other but the timing is so poor. Love does not care.
What an incredible world Katy Morgan has created! There are a variety of powers that manifest in an asset. When it is learned they have manifested, they are retrieved and brought to the Compound for training. Bastian knows there are darker forces at work. Nothing is as it seems. Henry is realizing that Bastian’s views have merit. Bastian is incredible with his snarky attitude as well as his rough charm. Henry is steady and followed orders but now is sensing there is something wrong. The two fall for each other but the timing is so poor. Love does not care.
March 18, 2020
Dark Empathy is a paranormal suspense romance (? I'm so bad at genres), and it centres around a compound that makes experiments on "assets", people with paranormal skills. One of the main characters is an Empath which means he can read people's emotions and track emotional signatures. I thought that was interesting, and I loved learning about his powers. As someone who's always deeply affected by other people's feelings and the atmosphere in a room, I thought Bastian's abilities were very intriguing. I loved both Bastian and Henry; their characters were well developed, flawed and likeable. The love story was sweet and even though the suspense plot is the main focus, the development of their feelings for each other really made me cheer for them and wanting more. The secondary characters are great too, and the book is fun in an understated way.
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes paranormal stories with well-thought-out dilemmas, lovely characters and humour. I also loved the different assets skills, like reading emotions or a side character that can communicate with plants and trees.
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes paranormal stories with well-thought-out dilemmas, lovely characters and humour. I also loved the different assets skills, like reading emotions or a side character that can communicate with plants and trees.
May 11, 2022
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
3.5 stars
I did ultimately enjoy this book, but I think there are some areas that could use some smoothing out to be a better book. There was a lot of the world-building that I didn't think had enough explanation. The compound, the council, and the way the city locks down were all shown in bits and pieces, but I needed more to really understand how it all works together.
I did really like Bastien (actually look forward to seeing more of him in future books). Bastien has been through so much, and though he pretends not to care about others, we do see him sort of develop during the story. Henry took a bit more for me to begin to like him, but I think we see him grow in the story and his interactions (and care) with Bastien was really sweet in the later parts of the book. There are some good secondary characters in the story, but I think some could have used a bit more fleshing out (hopefully something to see in later books).
It was an okay first book, but hopefully the next one smooths out some of the rougher edges.
3.5 stars
I did ultimately enjoy this book, but I think there are some areas that could use some smoothing out to be a better book. There was a lot of the world-building that I didn't think had enough explanation. The compound, the council, and the way the city locks down were all shown in bits and pieces, but I needed more to really understand how it all works together.
I did really like Bastien (actually look forward to seeing more of him in future books). Bastien has been through so much, and though he pretends not to care about others, we do see him sort of develop during the story. Henry took a bit more for me to begin to like him, but I think we see him grow in the story and his interactions (and care) with Bastien was really sweet in the later parts of the book. There are some good secondary characters in the story, but I think some could have used a bit more fleshing out (hopefully something to see in later books).
It was an okay first book, but hopefully the next one smooths out some of the rougher edges.
February 9, 2022
Dark Empathy is the first book in the Compound series by author Katy Morgan. I would consider this story more of a murder mystery than a romance. I loved the world-building and the introduction of Empaths.
Bastian has been at the mercy of the Compound before. He left and was leading a happy life when they came and drugged him dragging him back into the hellish life, he thought he left behind.
Bastian is an Empath. He is kind, smart, and good at what he does.
Henry has a love-hate relationship with his job. He wants to make it more humane but doesn’t know-how. He is super kind and that is a problem for what he does.
There is only one thing I disliked about this story; it was flashbacks I am not a fan of them in general. I think for this story they were necessary but for me it's confusing. Other than that, I loved this story. This is my first time reading this author and I will be looking for more books in the future written by Ms. Morgan.
Four Twinkling Stars
Bastian has been at the mercy of the Compound before. He left and was leading a happy life when they came and drugged him dragging him back into the hellish life, he thought he left behind.
Bastian is an Empath. He is kind, smart, and good at what he does.
Henry has a love-hate relationship with his job. He wants to make it more humane but doesn’t know-how. He is super kind and that is a problem for what he does.
There is only one thing I disliked about this story; it was flashbacks I am not a fan of them in general. I think for this story they were necessary but for me it's confusing. Other than that, I loved this story. This is my first time reading this author and I will be looking for more books in the future written by Ms. Morgan.
Four Twinkling Stars
April 1, 2022
Enjoyable paranormal fantasy about an empath called Sebastian who has grown up in the compound, suffering untold experiments and treated like a prisoner. Managing to escape he is soon retrieved by Captain Henry Mortimer and returned to the compound.
This story reminds me of the Dark Flame series by Kat Silver, though a lot tamer and without the vampires! Although there are plenty of characters with unusual powers insatead, you don’t really see much of them, and I think their was a missed opportunity to add colour and depth to the world by exploring what could have been possible.
Bastian and Henry are sympathetic characters, and their slow burn romance is lovely as they discover more about each other and find out what is going on around them.
Against the backdrop of a murder investigation, the plot is a little predictable, and it’s only the characters which engage and draw you in.
All in all, an well written book, penned in the third person POV which always takes me a while to get used to.
I received an ARC through Hidden Gems and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This story reminds me of the Dark Flame series by Kat Silver, though a lot tamer and without the vampires! Although there are plenty of characters with unusual powers insatead, you don’t really see much of them, and I think their was a missed opportunity to add colour and depth to the world by exploring what could have been possible.
Bastian and Henry are sympathetic characters, and their slow burn romance is lovely as they discover more about each other and find out what is going on around them.
Against the backdrop of a murder investigation, the plot is a little predictable, and it’s only the characters which engage and draw you in.
All in all, an well written book, penned in the third person POV which always takes me a while to get used to.
I received an ARC through Hidden Gems and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
August 20, 2025
I don’t know why I have not picked up on this series sooner because it’s one of the things that I love to read and this first book by Katy Morgan hit all the right notes for me. Bastian and Henry are not really enemies in the beginning, but they are definitely on opposing sides. The journey that they go through is mental and physical, but the mental side of the story was more interesting for me. Bastian begins as the much more interesting character and I was wondering if Henry was only there as a foil for Bastian. I was happy to find that Ms Morgan has written Henry as a character that develops more as the story progresses.
The whole plot develops in interesting ways and the whole book was a very exciting read that I really enjoyed. I am also happy to see that the series will be finished by Ms Morgan so because I can’t wait to find out what happens. I’m sure she has planted many hints in this first book that will become evident as the series continues.
I got a copy of this book from GRR and this is my honest opinion
The whole plot develops in interesting ways and the whole book was a very exciting read that I really enjoyed. I am also happy to see that the series will be finished by Ms Morgan so because I can’t wait to find out what happens. I’m sure she has planted many hints in this first book that will become evident as the series continues.
I got a copy of this book from GRR and this is my honest opinion
February 6, 2022
Paranormal. M+M
This is a rare case in which a sample moved me to buy the book. This is the first in what is to become a series yet to be written.
Sebastian Lucas is an empath, a man with very special abilities. He is not only able to sense other’s thoughts and feelings, he can also manipulate as well. An entity called the Compound captures and exploits those who manifest special abilities and Henry Mortimer is Captain of a team sent to gather potentials. Together with Bastien’s handler the two are sent to investigate a series of supposed suicides.
There’s one other factor here. The use of Bastien’s abilities causes him discomfort and is potentially life threatening but the Compound is interested only in results, not the lives of their assets.
With the aid of Bastian’s friend Laurel they escape, find refuge, and explore their relationship. Henry negates other’s abilities and does not feel; Bastian feels too much.
This is a rare case in which a sample moved me to buy the book. This is the first in what is to become a series yet to be written.
Sebastian Lucas is an empath, a man with very special abilities. He is not only able to sense other’s thoughts and feelings, he can also manipulate as well. An entity called the Compound captures and exploits those who manifest special abilities and Henry Mortimer is Captain of a team sent to gather potentials. Together with Bastien’s handler the two are sent to investigate a series of supposed suicides.
There’s one other factor here. The use of Bastien’s abilities causes him discomfort and is potentially life threatening but the Compound is interested only in results, not the lives of their assets.
With the aid of Bastian’s friend Laurel they escape, find refuge, and explore their relationship. Henry negates other’s abilities and does not feel; Bastian feels too much.
November 13, 2020
This book packs a punch. The plot is riveting and often distressing-- a secret base where people with powers are "safe" to practice their skills for the greater good...except not really. Henry, an officer who "retrieves" "assets" and Bastian, an empath and "asset" who definitely doesn't want to be retrieved, must work together, because everything's at stake. Secret bases? Check. Shady scientists? Check. Bizarre powers? Check. Corruption in the halls of power? Definitely check. Also the sweetest, most awkward but adorable chemistry between Henry and Bastian. This is definitely a plot-driven story, but the romance develops around all of the intrigue and peril, and it's pretty much perfect. Highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 14, 2025
I went into this book with an open mind. The concept of a government/quasi-government agency collecting and abusing people with psi talent isn't really new. And I'm not sure Katy Morgan added anything new to the genre.
Captain Henry Mortimer was willfully ignorant of the world around him. As long as he kept the blinders on and did what he was ordered to, he and his team were safe. Bastian blasted right through that non awareness. Bastian hated his talent and the way the Council used it. Together, they made a pretty raggedly pair. Their romance was low key. The plot was more focused on the mystery.
This wasn't a bad book. The mystery kept my attention. But I'm on the fence about recommending it. Shame, because I signed up for the next two. Maybe I'll enjoy them more.
I received a copy of this book from GRR and this is my review.
Captain Henry Mortimer was willfully ignorant of the world around him. As long as he kept the blinders on and did what he was ordered to, he and his team were safe. Bastian blasted right through that non awareness. Bastian hated his talent and the way the Council used it. Together, they made a pretty raggedly pair. Their romance was low key. The plot was more focused on the mystery.
This wasn't a bad book. The mystery kept my attention. But I'm on the fence about recommending it. Shame, because I signed up for the next two. Maybe I'll enjoy them more.
I received a copy of this book from GRR and this is my review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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