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The Red Market
I am Caesar. Broken and conflicted. I am a man who gives false goodness to those who crave it. I provide solace to the ones who beg to be saved, giving them the goodbyes they want. But, my quiet little world is about to be shattered by the whispers from heaven and hell.
I am Mateo. Unlovable and unworthy. I am the boy everyone runs from. I keep love close to me in little jars of perfection, reminding me of a thousand goodbyes I never had to say, because I left them before they could leave me.
I am Svetlana. Dirty and Used. Birthed into brutality while still trying to comprehend my version of normal. I am an injured lamb, eaten by filthy wolves day after day. Just as salvation seems like it's within reach, a goodbye from this awful world is all that I wish for.
I am Mateo. Unlovable and unworthy. I am the boy everyone runs from. I keep love close to me in little jars of perfection, reminding me of a thousand goodbyes I never had to say, because I left them before they could leave me.
I am Svetlana. Dirty and Used. Birthed into brutality while still trying to comprehend my version of normal. I am an injured lamb, eaten by filthy wolves day after day. Just as salvation seems like it's within reach, a goodbye from this awful world is all that I wish for.
718 pages, Paperback
Published August 14, 2020
131 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
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September 1, 2020
woo wee.
First things first. This book right here is actually 2 books in 1 plus some extra scenes. These 2 books include:
The Goodbye Man
The Goodbye Girl
Next, lets take a look at the title of the book. The Red Market. For those of you who are literally coming in blind ... it is, as the book refers to it, the "Red Market organ trade".
Got your attention? trust me, you won't be disappointed. But of course, once you enter this book, you are greeted with a pretty thorough disclaimer. Read the disclaimer folks. It's there for a reason. Leave your biases at the door. It is truly the only way you can see this book for what it is and not truly through rose colored glasses. Rose colored here meaning .. through the life of one who has not gone through what these characters have gone through.
Better yet, I'm not even sure I even refer to the people in the book as characters. Why? because truth be told, the horrors and stories in these books are not far from what's out there. Just because we do not see it, does not mean it does not exist.
One thing that did come to mind once I reached the last page of this book was .. how different the two main books were to each other in a sense of how it was written. Yes, the story continued on in the second book ... but I felt the writing in the first book was almost poetic while the writing in the second book became .. story telling?
There are literally 3 main individuals in which the entirety of this book revolves around:
Svetlana
Caesar
Mateo
Svetlana. Oh, my dear Svetlana.
_________
I merely existed for hate. Some are birthed for love. Others for hate. That was me. To sustain the unthinkable. Some people are built for it. I suppose I was one of those people.
_________
I think it was dear Svetlana who was the main reason for the poetic writing.
And then we have Mateo.
_________
Life had lied to me. Needing someone is a lie. Real people don't exist. Everyone gets fucked by the world, thrown to hell, put through pain. Death is where it's at. Death is beauty. Simple. Forever.
_________
I am still not sure how I feel about Mateo. He was a complicated one for sure. In fact, they ALL were.
Svetlana said it best.
_________
When people care for those that are fucked by the world's ways, it hurts more than being beaten.
_________
This world we are thrown into.. you would think it is some sort of alternate universe when in fact folks, this is real life. This. Is. Real. Life. Hey, I grew up in the hood for a long time. A lot of things just don't surprise me. In fact, probably because my own childhood sucked so much ... some of the feelings our dear Svetlana expressed I really connected with (whether I wanted to or not).
_________
"...Where the fuck am I?" Hell sweet angel, you are in hell. Welcome, we all fit in so well here.
_________
Svetlana.
_________
It's ironic how in an instant, one can want to die and give up everything, only to wish for life and something more.
_________
Now, don't get me wrong ... despite the horrors of this hell on earth, we do get a taste of love. Love. When love is love, does it really matter or not in what form it comes? is there truly a perfect form of love?
_________
Is this the punishment for my life, because it is the worst thing I have ever felt. Love is the devil. Love will not shut up as it rages war on my head and heart. Love. Love. Love. I hate it. I hate myself for loving her. I hate her for letting me. I hate the truth that is seeping in, a truth I cannot deny forever. I feel it becoming real as I allow myself to finally accept it.
_________
As the saying goes, there is a fine line between love and hate. Both love and hate are intense emotions and sometimes the lines may or may not blur.
Sometimes at the beginning of these chapters, we are given little sayings/poems. I found them quite fascinating and striking at times. For instance, here's one at the beginning of one of Svetlana's.
__________
Drowning in my sorrow,
suffocating in my pain.
Enveloped by a cloud of black,
disgusting disdain.
Fighting off images of what will never be.
The merciless persona that people call me.
Shroud me in your toxic love, make it go away.
Lead me into temptation, clothe me in dismay.
Endless reveries are a mirroring
image of what I crave.
The lost little girl you see can never be saved.
__________
woo wee folks. That is some deep stuff there. But beautiful as well. In fact, after I got to the end of this book, I thought of the image of a flower blooming in the middle of a desolate wasteland. It's impending doom almost inevitable in the eyes of many. But what many also fail to realize is that wildflowers are just that, this delicate thing made to survive in the wild, or in this case .. a living hell. Sometimes not only survive, but the only thing left to thrive.
__________
There is nothing in this world that is made up of perfection. Everything is flawed. Imperfect and fucking ugly.
__________
__________
Maybe that is what I was born to do; battle against all the beasts of the world.
__________
Book 2, for me took a strange turn. Or maybe it was meant to be this way. Like riding a wave, watching the rise and fall, rise and fall of the tides. But like I mentioned earlier, most of the first book was quite poetic in its prose. Most of my desire to highlight quotes came from primarily the first book.
Ahh..but the second book.
_________
Perhaps we are all too far gone?
_________
_________
...but as the pieces of time come back together like a painful puzzle, I am shriveling down to nothing but splinters of love and psychosis. I am totally unhinged, yet through this cacophony of chaos I am strangely finding myself.
_________
Readers .. where we find ourselves is just riding along on this rollercoaster. To be honest, is there truly another way to read this book? It's like being the ghost of Christmas present ... being there but being unable to do anything else but watch.
My overall impression? Man it was a great read in a sense that.. it was in your face. You know how people say the truth hurts? yea. that. But you are unable to look away. At least I wasn't.
Was it a love story? I am going to be leaning on the side of No. There was tastes of love, yes. Toxic love. Dysfunctional love. But in a the land of hell on earth, it was the only love. Does this make sense? You're not even sure if you should root for it, or be against it. All you can do is watch how it unfolds itself.
Was there a HEA? well, it's like a shakespearean tragedy in a sense. There is love. There is death. There is an ending.
For the hopeless romantic, I guess I can slightly lean towards the side of Yes. But I take the book as it is. I was along for ride and nothing more. Did I enjoy it? I'm not sure. Would I do it again? probably. Do I regret the ride? No.
I would say read it. Just to say you did. Just remember, as the same in real life, just because you don't see it ... doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
First things first. This book right here is actually 2 books in 1 plus some extra scenes. These 2 books include:
The Goodbye Man
The Goodbye Girl
Next, lets take a look at the title of the book. The Red Market. For those of you who are literally coming in blind ... it is, as the book refers to it, the "Red Market organ trade".
Got your attention? trust me, you won't be disappointed. But of course, once you enter this book, you are greeted with a pretty thorough disclaimer. Read the disclaimer folks. It's there for a reason. Leave your biases at the door. It is truly the only way you can see this book for what it is and not truly through rose colored glasses. Rose colored here meaning .. through the life of one who has not gone through what these characters have gone through.
Better yet, I'm not even sure I even refer to the people in the book as characters. Why? because truth be told, the horrors and stories in these books are not far from what's out there. Just because we do not see it, does not mean it does not exist.
One thing that did come to mind once I reached the last page of this book was .. how different the two main books were to each other in a sense of how it was written. Yes, the story continued on in the second book ... but I felt the writing in the first book was almost poetic while the writing in the second book became .. story telling?
There are literally 3 main individuals in which the entirety of this book revolves around:
Svetlana
Caesar
Mateo
Svetlana. Oh, my dear Svetlana.
_________
I merely existed for hate. Some are birthed for love. Others for hate. That was me. To sustain the unthinkable. Some people are built for it. I suppose I was one of those people.
_________
I think it was dear Svetlana who was the main reason for the poetic writing.
And then we have Mateo.
_________
Life had lied to me. Needing someone is a lie. Real people don't exist. Everyone gets fucked by the world, thrown to hell, put through pain. Death is where it's at. Death is beauty. Simple. Forever.
_________
I am still not sure how I feel about Mateo. He was a complicated one for sure. In fact, they ALL were.
Svetlana said it best.
_________
When people care for those that are fucked by the world's ways, it hurts more than being beaten.
_________
This world we are thrown into.. you would think it is some sort of alternate universe when in fact folks, this is real life. This. Is. Real. Life. Hey, I grew up in the hood for a long time. A lot of things just don't surprise me. In fact, probably because my own childhood sucked so much ... some of the feelings our dear Svetlana expressed I really connected with (whether I wanted to or not).
_________
"...Where the fuck am I?" Hell sweet angel, you are in hell. Welcome, we all fit in so well here.
_________
Svetlana.
_________
It's ironic how in an instant, one can want to die and give up everything, only to wish for life and something more.
_________
Now, don't get me wrong ... despite the horrors of this hell on earth, we do get a taste of love. Love. When love is love, does it really matter or not in what form it comes? is there truly a perfect form of love?
_________
Is this the punishment for my life, because it is the worst thing I have ever felt. Love is the devil. Love will not shut up as it rages war on my head and heart. Love. Love. Love. I hate it. I hate myself for loving her. I hate her for letting me. I hate the truth that is seeping in, a truth I cannot deny forever. I feel it becoming real as I allow myself to finally accept it.
_________
As the saying goes, there is a fine line between love and hate. Both love and hate are intense emotions and sometimes the lines may or may not blur.
Sometimes at the beginning of these chapters, we are given little sayings/poems. I found them quite fascinating and striking at times. For instance, here's one at the beginning of one of Svetlana's.
__________
Drowning in my sorrow,
suffocating in my pain.
Enveloped by a cloud of black,
disgusting disdain.
Fighting off images of what will never be.
The merciless persona that people call me.
Shroud me in your toxic love, make it go away.
Lead me into temptation, clothe me in dismay.
Endless reveries are a mirroring
image of what I crave.
The lost little girl you see can never be saved.
__________
woo wee folks. That is some deep stuff there. But beautiful as well. In fact, after I got to the end of this book, I thought of the image of a flower blooming in the middle of a desolate wasteland. It's impending doom almost inevitable in the eyes of many. But what many also fail to realize is that wildflowers are just that, this delicate thing made to survive in the wild, or in this case .. a living hell. Sometimes not only survive, but the only thing left to thrive.
__________
There is nothing in this world that is made up of perfection. Everything is flawed. Imperfect and fucking ugly.
__________
__________
Maybe that is what I was born to do; battle against all the beasts of the world.
__________
Book 2, for me took a strange turn. Or maybe it was meant to be this way. Like riding a wave, watching the rise and fall, rise and fall of the tides. But like I mentioned earlier, most of the first book was quite poetic in its prose. Most of my desire to highlight quotes came from primarily the first book.
Ahh..but the second book.
_________
Perhaps we are all too far gone?
_________
_________
...but as the pieces of time come back together like a painful puzzle, I am shriveling down to nothing but splinters of love and psychosis. I am totally unhinged, yet through this cacophony of chaos I am strangely finding myself.
_________
Readers .. where we find ourselves is just riding along on this rollercoaster. To be honest, is there truly another way to read this book? It's like being the ghost of Christmas present ... being there but being unable to do anything else but watch.
My overall impression? Man it was a great read in a sense that.. it was in your face. You know how people say the truth hurts? yea. that. But you are unable to look away. At least I wasn't.
Was it a love story? I am going to be leaning on the side of No. There was tastes of love, yes. Toxic love. Dysfunctional love. But in a the land of hell on earth, it was the only love. Does this make sense? You're not even sure if you should root for it, or be against it. All you can do is watch how it unfolds itself.
Was there a HEA? well, it's like a shakespearean tragedy in a sense. There is love. There is death. There is an ending.
For the hopeless romantic, I guess I can slightly lean towards the side of Yes. But I take the book as it is. I was along for ride and nothing more. Did I enjoy it? I'm not sure. Would I do it again? probably. Do I regret the ride? No.
I would say read it. Just to say you did. Just remember, as the same in real life, just because you don't see it ... doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
November 23, 2024
I thought it was repetitive. It was dark and wrong but I wanted enjoy it more.
Unfortunately .
Unfortunately .
October 17, 2020
I loved the dark themes in this book and it was filled with absolutely crazy characters but I just found the prose of the story over worded for me. I prefer books to get to the point without over explanation. Otherwise would have really loved this
February 11, 2021
Extremely dark...
Ok, I’m still reeling from this one! Please heed the authors warning. It is extremely dark and if that’s your jam, you wills definitely have a wild ride. Enjoy!
Ok, I’m still reeling from this one! Please heed the authors warning. It is extremely dark and if that’s your jam, you wills definitely have a wild ride. Enjoy!
October 18, 2024
”The Red Market” is likely the most disturbing book I’ve read in a very long time. It’s not a dark romance. The content is graphic and not pleasant, involving extreme abuse, and is told through Multiple POVs. I went in blind, as I do most of the time. Without giving too much away, “The Red Market” may not be for some readers as it does have depictions of mental illness that tie into the storyline, shmurder, MM, grape, and taboo relations. In addition, the 720 pages may deter many readers; however, “The Red Market” is two books in one: “The Goodbye Man” and “The Goodbye Girl.”
The authors conveyed details that genuinely made me pause for a time. I smelled the dumpster, could feel the grittiness of the sweat, picked up on the stale stench of the cigarette smoke, and questioned myself many times throughout the story, especially when Juan said, “Not all love is right.”
The Bonus Scenes were imperative to the story, and I’m glad they were initially removed and added to the end. This provided me with an almost jump-scare moment at the end of a horror movie when the credits roll.
Some scenes were a bit repetitive, but I mostly overlooked that. As I mentioned, “The Red Market” is not a romance or a happy story. But it is a story that crosses many lines, as each character finds their unique and unusual path to healing, no matter whether it is “normal.”
The authors conveyed details that genuinely made me pause for a time. I smelled the dumpster, could feel the grittiness of the sweat, picked up on the stale stench of the cigarette smoke, and questioned myself many times throughout the story, especially when Juan said, “Not all love is right.”
The Bonus Scenes were imperative to the story, and I’m glad they were initially removed and added to the end. This provided me with an almost jump-scare moment at the end of a horror movie when the credits roll.
Some scenes were a bit repetitive, but I mostly overlooked that. As I mentioned, “The Red Market” is not a romance or a happy story. But it is a story that crosses many lines, as each character finds their unique and unusual path to healing, no matter whether it is “normal.”
May 10, 2023
DNF at 41%. Not only is the subject matter way grosser than I expected (no spoilers, but if you liked the movie A Serbian Film, you'll probably like this), the writing is just not good. I was wondering why a story like this was so long; it's because chapters are written over and over, the same thing happening from different characters' perspectives. The story lagged. I don't want to read the same thing happening over and over again, especially not THAT kinda stuff. And I have a pretty strong stomach.
Read
January 14, 2023Dnf. I couldn’t get into it at all.
August 23, 2020
Goodbye Man: Main characters: Svetlana, Caesar and Mateo. Svetlana is a prostitute who her father used to earn money for his drug habit. Svetlana was a sixteen year old Russian who met her fate when her world crashed into Caesar's house of death. Caesar was a harvester of body parts on the red market. Caesar was known as the goodbye man who offered people a place to die. Mateo was Caesar's nephew. Mateo prepared the bodies for harvesting.
Minor characters: Pavel and Juan.
Men in her world were selfish taking what they want uncaring of who they hurt. In Hunts Point they took from those who won't be missed or cared about. "We are all in the same kind of hell here, only surrounded by different monsters." Quote from story.
I cannot judge the darkness that surrounds this story as I was well informed of its punishable depths. I am not shocked by the abuse on these human beings. This story enlightened me to a world of monsters that I would have ignored or never considered.
The streets of Hunts Point were filled with diseased human beings. I learned a great deal about the world of disease minded people who have cravings for unworldly desires.
“Mateo is fucking unconscious people, Juan is missing an organ, where the fuck am I?” You are housed in a distorted empire of dysfunctional monsters that were cast aside by normal society.
These characters have unusual cravings, some are monsters, some are dysfunctional, and some are disease minded. Yet they all survive in a dark twisted world. It is not until love comes into play that the true hardship begins. Love complicates a diseased minded monster giving hope. Love cannot survive in a diseased body.
The story is told from alternating POV's from Svetlana, Caesar, and Mateo.
While these characters shared alternating POV's the story overlapped from one characters perspective into the others going back to the last scene showing the outcome from the others thought process. This is book one in a series so it ends with a cliffhanger ending.
Goodbye Girl: The Goodbye Girl started where The Goodbye Man ended with Caesar gone, Mateo and Hugo in Mexico City, and Svetlana kidnapped. Mateo continued to find refuge in his cold lifeless dolls. Mateo and Hugo worked together in the red market harvesting organs in Mexico City. The red market was a macabre underground world where organs were harvested from living bodies.
The Goodbye Girl was a dark psychological game of mutilation that empowered your mind with dysfunctional monsters who had unhealthy sexual cravings. This story expressed graphic sexual scenes of rape, violence, torture, and defilement. The male characters tended to be in an aroused state of rage from their sickened minds. The Goodbye Girl offered answers to the long awaited questions as to how these characters became dark monsters.
The authors reached deep into the darkest parts of ones psyche to create such insane characters. They showed cause and effect. Mateo was in a constant state of confusion. Svetlana was the curse between the men fighting for her love. The authors took you back to the beginning on how the disease infected minds were created and regulated. Mateo, Caesar, and Svetlana were misguided souls taught and punished under the rule of one person.
These characters loved with unconventional ideals that only like minded people could relate to. The love they knew was a sick love for disease minded people. These characters had inexcusable qualities. These Characters were conditioned and trained to become dysfunctional. The characters were unstable and they only new to understood a dysfunctional love. The characters had disease infested minds. The characters were referred to as crazy, diseased, infected, dysfunctional, mental, psychotic, sick, defective, and cursed.
The story dealt with a necrophiliac, an incestuous savage and a misophoniac. The story was about a tainted and infectious love triangle. This story showed love could be found in a macabre world of disease minded characters.
The further I read I began to understand how these monstrous characters were created and why they behaved they way they did. It was a forbidden taboo love like none I have ever experienced.
"God doesn’t exist in our world, if he did we would all be perfectly normal." Quite from the story.
Minor characters: Pavel and Juan.
Men in her world were selfish taking what they want uncaring of who they hurt. In Hunts Point they took from those who won't be missed or cared about. "We are all in the same kind of hell here, only surrounded by different monsters." Quote from story.
I cannot judge the darkness that surrounds this story as I was well informed of its punishable depths. I am not shocked by the abuse on these human beings. This story enlightened me to a world of monsters that I would have ignored or never considered.
The streets of Hunts Point were filled with diseased human beings. I learned a great deal about the world of disease minded people who have cravings for unworldly desires.
“Mateo is fucking unconscious people, Juan is missing an organ, where the fuck am I?” You are housed in a distorted empire of dysfunctional monsters that were cast aside by normal society.
These characters have unusual cravings, some are monsters, some are dysfunctional, and some are disease minded. Yet they all survive in a dark twisted world. It is not until love comes into play that the true hardship begins. Love complicates a diseased minded monster giving hope. Love cannot survive in a diseased body.
The story is told from alternating POV's from Svetlana, Caesar, and Mateo.
While these characters shared alternating POV's the story overlapped from one characters perspective into the others going back to the last scene showing the outcome from the others thought process. This is book one in a series so it ends with a cliffhanger ending.
Goodbye Girl: The Goodbye Girl started where The Goodbye Man ended with Caesar gone, Mateo and Hugo in Mexico City, and Svetlana kidnapped. Mateo continued to find refuge in his cold lifeless dolls. Mateo and Hugo worked together in the red market harvesting organs in Mexico City. The red market was a macabre underground world where organs were harvested from living bodies.
The Goodbye Girl was a dark psychological game of mutilation that empowered your mind with dysfunctional monsters who had unhealthy sexual cravings. This story expressed graphic sexual scenes of rape, violence, torture, and defilement. The male characters tended to be in an aroused state of rage from their sickened minds. The Goodbye Girl offered answers to the long awaited questions as to how these characters became dark monsters.
The authors reached deep into the darkest parts of ones psyche to create such insane characters. They showed cause and effect. Mateo was in a constant state of confusion. Svetlana was the curse between the men fighting for her love. The authors took you back to the beginning on how the disease infected minds were created and regulated. Mateo, Caesar, and Svetlana were misguided souls taught and punished under the rule of one person.
These characters loved with unconventional ideals that only like minded people could relate to. The love they knew was a sick love for disease minded people. These characters had inexcusable qualities. These Characters were conditioned and trained to become dysfunctional. The characters were unstable and they only new to understood a dysfunctional love. The characters had disease infested minds. The characters were referred to as crazy, diseased, infected, dysfunctional, mental, psychotic, sick, defective, and cursed.
The story dealt with a necrophiliac, an incestuous savage and a misophoniac. The story was about a tainted and infectious love triangle. This story showed love could be found in a macabre world of disease minded characters.
The further I read I began to understand how these monstrous characters were created and why they behaved they way they did. It was a forbidden taboo love like none I have ever experienced.
"God doesn’t exist in our world, if he did we would all be perfectly normal." Quite from the story.
April 21, 2022
Before I even dive into my review of this book, I have to say: check your triggers at the door because these two talented authors will push every single button within the pages of this book. Even those with very few/no triggers, like myself, will find their limits tested within this story…you have been warned.
This has been sitting on my TBR for a long while and I knew when I dived into this I would taken on a nightmarish trip thru the darkest underbelly of criminal organizations.
“Some people are born to destroy, and allow their madness to seep through until their roots can be fed by the fountain of insanity.”
Ashleigh and Mary introduced me to Caesar, Mateo, and Svetlana and took me on their harrowing journey of depravity, mental illness, and just how dark the path of survival can be. These authors didn’t gloss over or candy coat anything within this story.
It’s raw, pitch black, gritty, and heartbreaking - the kind of story that sticks to your bones but not in the warm and fuzzy kind. Ashleigh and Mary told a tale that will haunt me for the rest of my days, but taught me that even in the blackest of nights there can be a tiny glimmer of hope for those that choose to fight for it.
I wouldn’t necessarily call this a pitch black romance, as this toes the lines of psychological horror, but it does have its own twisted version of love. This is one of those rare books that I had to sit back and absorb everything I have just read, reminding myself that this is fiction. These authors created characters that were freaking lifelike in their pain and suffering, only to be made more real with their surrender to death like it’s an old friend and fight to live another day. Saying it has taboo elements doesn’t even begin to cover the relationships in this either.
But no matter how dark the path was within these pages - I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what happened next and see if a HEA even existed in this book.
The authors did a superb job of creating a world so rarely read about and hardly ever heard of. It’ll test all your strengths, courage and triggers. Definitely not for the light hearted, but one I will never forget.
This has been sitting on my TBR for a long while and I knew when I dived into this I would taken on a nightmarish trip thru the darkest underbelly of criminal organizations.
“Some people are born to destroy, and allow their madness to seep through until their roots can be fed by the fountain of insanity.”
Ashleigh and Mary introduced me to Caesar, Mateo, and Svetlana and took me on their harrowing journey of depravity, mental illness, and just how dark the path of survival can be. These authors didn’t gloss over or candy coat anything within this story.
It’s raw, pitch black, gritty, and heartbreaking - the kind of story that sticks to your bones but not in the warm and fuzzy kind. Ashleigh and Mary told a tale that will haunt me for the rest of my days, but taught me that even in the blackest of nights there can be a tiny glimmer of hope for those that choose to fight for it.
I wouldn’t necessarily call this a pitch black romance, as this toes the lines of psychological horror, but it does have its own twisted version of love. This is one of those rare books that I had to sit back and absorb everything I have just read, reminding myself that this is fiction. These authors created characters that were freaking lifelike in their pain and suffering, only to be made more real with their surrender to death like it’s an old friend and fight to live another day. Saying it has taboo elements doesn’t even begin to cover the relationships in this either.
But no matter how dark the path was within these pages - I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what happened next and see if a HEA even existed in this book.
The authors did a superb job of creating a world so rarely read about and hardly ever heard of. It’ll test all your strengths, courage and triggers. Definitely not for the light hearted, but one I will never forget.
September 5, 2020
Darkness at it's best.
Can you Imagine your worst nightmares manifested into a terrifying story full of every dark, sick and twisted scenario imaginable? Then you might be ready to take a walk on the Dark Side and survive The Red Market.
I first read these books back in 2016, so when this limited edition boxset came out I knew it was the perfect time for a much needed reread.
I remember that I hadn't read ANYTHING that came close to being as deeply dark and disturbing as these books so I was eager to see if they still had that WOW factor.
The answer was yes, even after all this time these books still took my breath away, made my hair stand on end and left me questioning my own fuxking sanity.
Such a fantastic series and a must read for any Lover of DARK Romance.
These two Authors created the ultimate Dark series when they created this world.
I've never met characters as psychologically damaged or deranged as these and still felt drawn to them. They even had me feeling sorry for them, maybe that makes me the fuxked up one...who knows?
Once you've met Ceaser, Mateo, Hugo and Svetlana you will never EVER! forget them. Nor would you want too.
I'm so excited for Red Market 3. That teaser at the end YES!!!! it has me all kinds of excited. 👏
Can you Imagine your worst nightmares manifested into a terrifying story full of every dark, sick and twisted scenario imaginable? Then you might be ready to take a walk on the Dark Side and survive The Red Market.
I first read these books back in 2016, so when this limited edition boxset came out I knew it was the perfect time for a much needed reread.
I remember that I hadn't read ANYTHING that came close to being as deeply dark and disturbing as these books so I was eager to see if they still had that WOW factor.
The answer was yes, even after all this time these books still took my breath away, made my hair stand on end and left me questioning my own fuxking sanity.
Such a fantastic series and a must read for any Lover of DARK Romance.
These two Authors created the ultimate Dark series when they created this world.
I've never met characters as psychologically damaged or deranged as these and still felt drawn to them. They even had me feeling sorry for them, maybe that makes me the fuxked up one...who knows?
Once you've met Ceaser, Mateo, Hugo and Svetlana you will never EVER! forget them. Nor would you want too.
I'm so excited for Red Market 3. That teaser at the end YES!!!! it has me all kinds of excited. 👏
7-tbr-ooit
September 25, 2020The Red Market is actually 2 books (The Goodbye Man & The Goodbye Girl) in one.... plus some extra scenes.
Revamped in 2020.
Revamped in 2020.
August 9, 2022
how do you review a book like this
1st part… I felt at times the scenes were written for shock value and yet written so descriptively, poetically . The inner dialogue of the characters were so eloquent.
And, This confused my brain, Svetlana deprived of human connection, education, life, is emotionally stunted and brutally traumatized since childhood- how can it be explain the h’s ability to articulate her thoughts in such a manner. It almost felt like it glamorized the h and her abuse. if that makes sense. This took me out of the story so many times.
It was raw in the way the authors described the brutality she endured. However I felt the authors dropped the ball in other areas. If you are going to go to these places, go there. These things happen everyday in this world. I am not sure the authors knew what they wanted this book to be or how to get there.
The second part was less poetic and more descriptively gritty. It was so so so repetitive and I skipped a lot. Because of the redundant inner dialogue of the characters, it stunted the story and it did not move forward. This was frustrating.
Still processing. Did not like the extended bonus chapters.
1st part… I felt at times the scenes were written for shock value and yet written so descriptively, poetically . The inner dialogue of the characters were so eloquent.
And, This confused my brain, Svetlana deprived of human connection, education, life, is emotionally stunted and brutally traumatized since childhood- how can it be explain the h’s ability to articulate her thoughts in such a manner. It almost felt like it glamorized the h and her abuse. if that makes sense. This took me out of the story so many times.
It was raw in the way the authors described the brutality she endured. However I felt the authors dropped the ball in other areas. If you are going to go to these places, go there. These things happen everyday in this world. I am not sure the authors knew what they wanted this book to be or how to get there.
The second part was less poetic and more descriptively gritty. It was so so so repetitive and I skipped a lot. Because of the redundant inner dialogue of the characters, it stunted the story and it did not move forward. This was frustrating.
Still processing. Did not like the extended bonus chapters.
November 20, 2023
The plot and storyline were fresh and brutal to convey a tragic story that takes damaged characters that have no magical fix the moment they find each other. They’re deplorable and they stick to their guns. The writing is well-written and that deserves the stars I’ve given. Why not 4 or 5 stars, the length of book could have been consolidated down to a third of its effort if the descriptions or dialogue wasnt as repetitive. Nothing wrong with the different povs but every time we were on each character, we would be reminded of their motivations ever time the spotlight was on them. We get it you’re obsessed with your own depravity or situation. Caesar is tormented by sound and beating himself up over his lust. Svetlana was a lamb and then a lion and then a lamb. Losing her mind over time with torture and who to love. Mateo was love or murder and pulse or no pulse.. Over and over again. It was an interesting story but just dragged when we hear the same inner monologue done ever other chapter.
October 27, 2020
Extremely dark and twisty
This is an extraordinarily depraved and deep dive into the horrifying side of the underground world. Average people will never know or hear of this side of life while others are born into it. Some were made solely for this terrifying existence.
Even those that live in this dark side of life are scared of these guys and what lurks in them. You can't get more twisted.
I could not stop reading. This is the gory train wreck you can't look away from. Triggers galore. It is corruption, debauchery, and brutality to its fullest. It is well beyond your imagination and finely crafted. This is the epitome of demoralization and Its an amazing read if you can stomach it.
This is an extraordinarily depraved and deep dive into the horrifying side of the underground world. Average people will never know or hear of this side of life while others are born into it. Some were made solely for this terrifying existence.
Even those that live in this dark side of life are scared of these guys and what lurks in them. You can't get more twisted.
I could not stop reading. This is the gory train wreck you can't look away from. Triggers galore. It is corruption, debauchery, and brutality to its fullest. It is well beyond your imagination and finely crafted. This is the epitome of demoralization and Its an amazing read if you can stomach it.
May 15, 2022
Epic, raw, dark, intense, crazy
I’ve had it sitting on my kindle for quite some time and finally jumped into the story. I was f*rced into the story without remorse and lived the lives together with the characters.
The despair, the fear, the desperation is written so well, that I had to take breaths inbetween the chapters. The book is not a love story or a romantic partnership. This is a rough, tough journey of gloomy characters. Be prepared as you might need a couple of breaks to breath through and enter yourself again before you are able to move on.
The talent of this writer is outstanding. To tell such an overwhelming story full of despair in the way that makes it almost palpable is an Nobel price worthy performance. Kudos, Miss A.
I’ve had it sitting on my kindle for quite some time and finally jumped into the story. I was f*rced into the story without remorse and lived the lives together with the characters.
The despair, the fear, the desperation is written so well, that I had to take breaths inbetween the chapters. The book is not a love story or a romantic partnership. This is a rough, tough journey of gloomy characters. Be prepared as you might need a couple of breaks to breath through and enter yourself again before you are able to move on.
The talent of this writer is outstanding. To tell such an overwhelming story full of despair in the way that makes it almost palpable is an Nobel price worthy performance. Kudos, Miss A.
January 5, 2021
The Red Market
Wow..... This is one of those books you walk away from saying.... What the hell did I just read? You will either love it, or hate it. It is disturbing, disgusting, deranged and yet needs to be told. I pushed my way thru this book because I just knew it had a story that I needed to read and that's what i found. Although it's fiction, I'm sure there is more truth to this than some of us would really like to admit which is the really sad and disturbing part of the whole thing.
TRIGGER warnings..... To say the least. This book is raw to the core.
I have to give this author a huge thumbs up for writing a story this gripping with the raw emotion she wad able to.
Wow..... This is one of those books you walk away from saying.... What the hell did I just read? You will either love it, or hate it. It is disturbing, disgusting, deranged and yet needs to be told. I pushed my way thru this book because I just knew it had a story that I needed to read and that's what i found. Although it's fiction, I'm sure there is more truth to this than some of us would really like to admit which is the really sad and disturbing part of the whole thing.
TRIGGER warnings..... To say the least. This book is raw to the core.
I have to give this author a huge thumbs up for writing a story this gripping with the raw emotion she wad able to.
September 7, 2022
“My nightmares will always linger like a dark cloud, squeezing my heart just when it sensed it was starting to feel normal again.” - Lettie
This came highly recommended as a pitch read. My go to trope, I love anything delving into the psychological aspects, so it needed to be well executed. Half the battle labeling dark is the finesse. This didn’t quite make the grade.
There are moments of pure poetry, then the structure lets it down. Repetition drove me batty. This could easily be reduced by a third by removing crossovers.
Read the CW. There’s a large amount of shock value thrown in early on. Sadly, it downslides into inner monologue, told, not shown.
This came highly recommended as a pitch read. My go to trope, I love anything delving into the psychological aspects, so it needed to be well executed. Half the battle labeling dark is the finesse. This didn’t quite make the grade.
There are moments of pure poetry, then the structure lets it down. Repetition drove me batty. This could easily be reduced by a third by removing crossovers.
Read the CW. There’s a large amount of shock value thrown in early on. Sadly, it downslides into inner monologue, told, not shown.
October 10, 2020
Fantastically dark and taboo!
⚠️ Only read this book if you are okay with pitch black books, with severe taboo themes, and have no triggers. Take the authors' warnings seriously.
Both of these authors are new to me. I enjoy dark books, and I had to read it after seeing several recommendations. Phew! It is definitely beyond dark! The pain and suffering Lettie endured, the despair and hopelessness was enough to make me cry with horror. I very much enjoyed this story, and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys walking into the dark. 🖤
⚠️ Only read this book if you are okay with pitch black books, with severe taboo themes, and have no triggers. Take the authors' warnings seriously.
Both of these authors are new to me. I enjoy dark books, and I had to read it after seeing several recommendations. Phew! It is definitely beyond dark! The pain and suffering Lettie endured, the despair and hopelessness was enough to make me cry with horror. I very much enjoyed this story, and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys walking into the dark. 🖤
February 8, 2024
Holy f*ck. The trigger warnings on this are no joke, so read them and respond accordingly. Don’t jump into this without reading TW and then post about how sick this book made you and damn the writers. That’s rookie sh*t and weak-minded.
I loved this book a lot and the writing is superb. It’s gritty and real-life sh*t that none of us can imagine or easily comprehend.
Do the right thing with this info. It’s a phenomenal read if this book genre is your jam. Don’t f*cking read it if it’s not.
I loved this book a lot and the writing is superb. It’s gritty and real-life sh*t that none of us can imagine or easily comprehend.
Do the right thing with this info. It’s a phenomenal read if this book genre is your jam. Don’t f*cking read it if it’s not.
October 26, 2020
This is book one and two with some added extra scenes. If you love really dark stories then read this.
The Goodbye Man was my first dark read so these books will always have a special place in my heart as it opened up a genre to me I never even knew of.
I should really tell you about these books but I’m not going to. They are epic and a must read...if you dare lol
The Goodbye Man was my first dark read so these books will always have a special place in my heart as it opened up a genre to me I never even knew of.
I should really tell you about these books but I’m not going to. They are epic and a must read...if you dare lol
July 2, 2022
GoodBye
Well this story is DARK and I mean dark as they come. It definitely is not for the faint of heart and i would take the trigger warnings seriously. Boy is this girl put through the ringer. This story has me on edge and flipping the pages. It is a dark emotional read. I loved every dark word. I can’t wait to read more from these authors.
Well this story is DARK and I mean dark as they come. It definitely is not for the faint of heart and i would take the trigger warnings seriously. Boy is this girl put through the ringer. This story has me on edge and flipping the pages. It is a dark emotional read. I loved every dark word. I can’t wait to read more from these authors.
August 12, 2022
dark. vicious. brutal
A story that is dark, vicious and brutal. Check the trigger warnings. For me there didn’t seem to be much depth and the storyline didn’t make a whole lot of sense. The grammar and sentence structure was off for me as well. It’s twisted. Buckle up if you want to try it out.
A story that is dark, vicious and brutal. Check the trigger warnings. For me there didn’t seem to be much depth and the storyline didn’t make a whole lot of sense. The grammar and sentence structure was off for me as well. It’s twisted. Buckle up if you want to try it out.
October 4, 2023
This book was dark and not spicy or romantic at all. Yeah, there were some spicy scenes, but not very detailed and more poetic than anything. It felt like once the three main characters were in each other‘s lives, that each chapter had to be rewritten and shown in their point of view. That was extremely annoying and unnecessary and the main reason for me to DNF this book.
September 21, 2020
This book contains the Goodbye Man and the Goodbye Girl plus some bonus content.
This series is definitely not intended for all. But if you have no triggers, then this is the book for you. It has a little of everything from selling parts, to trying to capture the culprits. To ones crazy notion of what a final goodbye entitles.
This series is definitely not intended for all. But if you have no triggers, then this is the book for you. It has a little of everything from selling parts, to trying to capture the culprits. To ones crazy notion of what a final goodbye entitles.
February 18, 2021
Reading the same events from up to 3 points of view is getting real old real quick. It's a good story, but I don't love these people enough to need everyone's perspective.
Ok, so that 3 perspectives stuff didn't go on too long. Excellent pot of depravity.
Ok, so that 3 perspectives stuff didn't go on too long. Excellent pot of depravity.
August 26, 2020
Wow crazy yet so good
My heart broke for lettie a thousand times, even for Caesar and Mateo. Unlike anything I have ever read before this will stay with me a while!
My heart broke for lettie a thousand times, even for Caesar and Mateo. Unlike anything I have ever read before this will stay with me a while!
September 14, 2020
Holy shit. I can't even put into words the amount of depravity. If you like it dark, this is the book for you.
April 17, 2021
4*
I enjoyed this story even the taboo topics
But I felt certain points dragged
Will be trying more from these authors though
I enjoyed this story even the taboo topics
But I felt certain points dragged
Will be trying more from these authors though
June 30, 2023
Man, this book is dark and I mean pitch black. There is no light, there is no happy, but man, what a story!!
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