...
So, now I have to wait until March to find out what the epilogue was all about! Gah!
There's a violence, gore, mind blowing sex, and a rapey situation if you need a trigger warning.
I totally dig these characters...every single one of the MCs. The guys are completely different and though the books are short (3 hours or less), it doesn't feel incomplete...except for the cliffhanger epilogue.
Now, spoilers...
Mari is accepting of the harem notion. Reaper is the MC president and the primary lover. He also comes from a background where women having multiple lovers is the norm. Jandro, the VP, is the smooth talking, sweetheart, friend to everyone, sorta dad-ish caretaker guys of the club, even though he is about the same age as the other guys. Gunnar is the angelic, flirty, sexy as sin go to guy that sorts all the outside resources, weapons, etc., that is also a weapons expert. Shadow is the dark, quiet, mysterious with an oh so tragic past, while being scarred and still smoking hot...and having few social skills. There's a rapey situation that is a misunderstanding with Shadow too.
Let's talk about said rapey situation a minute. Okay, Shadow has no social skills and he thinks Jandro sent Mari to have sex with him. Instead of letting him be in control, she fears him, so she rides him? And runs all over him. Then feels guilty for basically cheating on Reaper, so she feels bad? Really? Okay, I am not trying to be insensitive to these things and have luckily never felt like i was in a rapey situation or have been raped. But to me, she could have yelled or said something like, "You know I am with Reaper right?" Plus she says she was attracted to him initially upon meeting him, so is she justifying? I honestly don't know. Her actions don't show me her fear, and yeah he could snap her neck, but has he ever shown her any hint of violence toward her? No. He's odd and avoidant, yes. I am not buying that she felt threatened or that this was rape based on that. As I have said, I don't have first hand knowledge so maybe I am more accepting. Sorry if that offends.
(Side note- one of the ladies from RHR told us the difference between rape and rapey in regards to Venemous, a rapey book, so I am going with that understanding. Basically rape is violence for the sake of violence and brutalization of someone by taking their power. Rapey is or can be such a misunderstanding or cultural differences leading to etc. as was this case). I hope I explained that right. I forgot which thread it was said in and who said it.
The MC is a family unit that does what they must to survive. They may seem corrupt and evil, but they actually have morals and limit damage when they can to those who they think deserve it.
Mari is a medic and while she isn't the most perfect FMC, the rest of the characters more than make up for it. I'm totally invested in the story now.
Now the epilogue hints at some type if genre change to paranormal or fantasy. It mentions following the word of the gods, more about the animal bonds, and that by way of Reaper's sister and dead brother, some type of prophetic dream or sight or being able to communicate with the dead or something. I'm excited!
And the next book is months away!