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Fault Lines #2
Bad Things
Xavier makes a lot of people nervous. The rest, he flat-out scares. More than his hulking, tattooed body, it's his predator's gaze that makes people feel vulnerable, as if he had the power to read their thoughts and see their soul. For his lovers, it's Xavier's ravenous appetite for all things carnal—for the taste of flesh under his tongue and the feel of a trembling body under his control, for whispered pleas and muffled cries—that makes him dangerous.
But recently, driven by a festering rage against the men who attacked his sister a decade ago, Xavier has developed a taste for a different kind of hunt and conquest: stalking men who do truly bad things and punishing the predators he sniffs out. The problem with vigilante justice, though, is sometimes the man in your trap is innocent.
Carson suspects he's playing a risky game with dangerous men. But the lies are convincing, especially when they're slipped to him among hundred dollar bills. He never guessed how big and dark the secret hidden under all the lies and money could be. And he has no idea he's not the predator, but the prey, until it's too late.
And you can't beg for mercy when there's a gag in your mouth.
But when Carson escapes from Xavier's trap, he's forced to accept that Xavier is far from his most dangerous enemy. Xavier may even hold the key to overcoming the painful past that has kept Carson prisoner for almost two decades.
But recently, driven by a festering rage against the men who attacked his sister a decade ago, Xavier has developed a taste for a different kind of hunt and conquest: stalking men who do truly bad things and punishing the predators he sniffs out. The problem with vigilante justice, though, is sometimes the man in your trap is innocent.
Carson suspects he's playing a risky game with dangerous men. But the lies are convincing, especially when they're slipped to him among hundred dollar bills. He never guessed how big and dark the secret hidden under all the lies and money could be. And he has no idea he's not the predator, but the prey, until it's too late.
And you can't beg for mercy when there's a gag in your mouth.
But when Carson escapes from Xavier's trap, he's forced to accept that Xavier is far from his most dangerous enemy. Xavier may even hold the key to overcoming the painful past that has kept Carson prisoner for almost two decades.
Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2014
99 people are currently reading
1658 people want to read
About the author
Varian Krylov
16 books497 followersGrowing up near Los Angeles, I spent much of my time frolicking in the Pacific Ocean and penning angst-twisted poetry. Now I'm living in sunny Spain writing pathos-riddled fiction. Ironically, two of my favorite things are traveling, and swimming in the ocean, despite increasingly intense phobias of sharks and flying.
I've always loved the music and substance of words, always loved writing in well-worn notebooks by hand, tapping at the keys of the computer, and, of course, conjuring up stories.
And from my earliest memories, I've always been fascinated—maybe obsessed?—with sex and sexuality.
In my writing, sex is the medium, the expression, and the tool of discovery for my characters' insecurities, the needs that drive them, the comfort they can't live without, the joy and relish of life that makes each of them intense, strange, and alluring.
I've always loved the music and substance of words, always loved writing in well-worn notebooks by hand, tapping at the keys of the computer, and, of course, conjuring up stories.
And from my earliest memories, I've always been fascinated—maybe obsessed?—with sex and sexuality.
In my writing, sex is the medium, the expression, and the tool of discovery for my characters' insecurities, the needs that drive them, the comfort they can't live without, the joy and relish of life that makes each of them intense, strange, and alluring.
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September 22, 2014
2 WTF stars. Review completed September 22, 2014
Favorite quotes:
After disliking Dangerously Happy I thought I'd play it safe and downloaded a sample before giving Bad Things a go. But, unfortunately, not even that could save me from another disappointment. I really disliked Xavier very much in Dangerously Happy and dedicating a story to that character meant that he needed to be redeemed. What came out of it, however, was more or less forgettable and Xavier wasn't redeemed, at least not in my book. I don't want a nice sweet bow at the end of a book and in between some vigilante justice, a whole lot of fucking and then more fucking, some pseudo psychoanalysis, plenty of sugar and cheese that did nothing at all to provide the story with much needed substance. I liked the beginning and I sure as heck had my absolute highlight when and Xavier were sexing it up (maybe Yet the more I read of Bad Things the less I enjoyed it. It was bad. The part where Xavi felt off and left me confused. How can anyone combine sweetness with It left a bad taste in my mouth. Besides, I don't label this 'dark'. Dark reads don't mix with 'let's hop onto the merry-go-round and eat cotton candy'.
There were many short, choppy sentences that annoyed me, i. e.
Showering together, even though he was going to work out and would have to shower again. Soapy caresses. A few wet kisses. Breakfast. Easy. Quiet.
The scene at 49 % made me bang my head on a table:
"What? You decided I was gay? And that made it okay to
"No. I saw that there was something I could give you. That there was a way I could make you choose me over and his money or whatever he was giving you."
Xavier was very generous with his Spanish expressions. So let me say something, too. Que mierda hablan!
And then at 93 %:
"Even I started to love you. The real you. Real love. And you started loving me, too. You already loved me, the first time you fucked me."
Within three days, the Whoever wants to believe that can do it but I don't.
Warning
Like I mentioned already there was a lot of fucking. I felt that there wasn't enough page time dedicated to really develop Xavi and Carson's (NON-)relationship. Instead, every issue was fucked or into oblivion, simply garnered with some sappy amateur psychobabble. In my book, that was gag-inducing. In consequence, the author never managed to redeem Xavier.
At 99 % the very best quote...
…but unfortunately the execution that led to that conclusion failed big time. However, I guess I'm ploughing a lonely furrow because everyone else loved it.
A few writing samples for your perusal:
A playful light in his dark eyes, that boyish grin pumping Carson full of adoration…
The way downturned mouth softened, Xavier could see his self-mutilated pride had been cauterized before it bled out.
Xavier ran his hand over Carson's hard dick, his hanging balls, his exposed hole, drinking down the nectar of Carson's stiff, trembling suspense, wondering if he'd guessed the significance...
Christ. He said it so, so sweetly, it darkened that pale shadow under the fullness in Xavier's chest.
Xavier laughed, channeling his real anxiety into an alchemical mask of self-doubt.
I had to read that twice. Alchemical refers to noble metal. It means changing a metal into gold, but it also means to transform something simple or common into something extraordinary or special.
He watched the rage and the horrible sadness that had been swelling and swelling in her drain away, like sand out of an upturned bottle.
And when Xavier dropped
Welcome to the healing world of magic dicks--brought to you by amateur therapists
Add in a HUGE and gag-inducing amount of sugar and cheese and top everything off with sad puppy-eye looks, a shy blink, lots of blushing and tons of adorable smiles and boyish and mischievous and endearing grins. Don't forget to repeat fear, sweet, tender, shy, adorable, luminous, sad, warm, and mischievous ad nauseam because it will help you to deal with your low self-confidence, your self-loathing and self-pitying thoughts. Plus, as a very nice side bonus, it will also help you to get over the and, in the end, you will magically fall in love with and, after all, that's exactly what he needed and wanted even though he wasn't aware of that little detail. And let's simply forget that he Et voilà. *waves magic wand* You're willing to love yourself again, to put all your hang-ups in the deepest corner of your mind and are fit to be released to the real world and overjoyed and eager to commit yourself to a relationship. You will proudly declare "I am a happy gay man," who, unfortunately, fell in love with an asshole. But, wait, he is such a terribly EMPATHIC man. Sorry, that's me being sarcastic. Let's forgive him all of his sins, shall we?
My reaction? Jesus fucking Christ is that cheesy. *insert major eye-roll*
It does get cheesier, though...
The common pet peeve of mine. Repetitiveness.
Situation as per September 20, 2014
195 x grin, grinned, grinning
Xavier grinned.
…Xavier gambled on a playful grin.
Xavier grinned and leveled a…
Xavier risked a flirtatious grin.
Xavier grinned. Again and again and again and again and again and again. *gags*
Sucking. Biting. Panting. Grinning.
He couldn't resist grinning.
Xavier gave him a teasing grin, and Carson…
…through his reps; that amused grin.
Xavier's taunting grin widened…
He grinned back at…
etc.
182 smile, smiles, smiled
…it bent into an irrepressible smile, his dark gaze so full of dangerous, vulnerable love,…
Such a radiant smile.
Xavier gave him another tender smile, …
Such a tender smile,…
Xavier gave him a sad smile, and…
God, that smile.
…took the book, his warm smile…
Xavier gave Carson a warm smile…
a wide, easy, slightly artificial smile.
They were just looks. Smiles.
God, his smile was the saddest thing Carson…
His smile stayed wide and warm…
Xavier said, smile as wide and warm as…
…had the sweetest, most true smile of anyone…
…Carson waited for Xavier's tender smile to bend into his amused grin.
No, a tender smile.
…gave him an impossibly sad smile.
etc.
68 x sweet
A sweet, deep but slow kiss.
Xavier said with sweet patience.
"Aren't you sweet. Lying to spare my feelings."
He said it so, so sweetly,…
Sweet Carson.
…melancholy under all that good, sweet warmth.
And those sweet whimpers.
…to every touch so fucking sweetly.
etc.
74 x sad, sadder, saddest, sadness, sadly
Pobre. He sounded so sad.
…that sad ache was crushed under a growing, shapeless rage,…
…under the weight of a sadness almost as heavy as it had been…
Face so sad you'd think…
How fucking good those sad looks of his…
Then sadder and sadder, minute by minute…
Sadder than ever.
…in Carson's sad eyes extinguish…
…the rage and horrible sadness that had been swelling…
…bright, warm beauty and its sad, filthy lostness.
etc.
107 x fear, fears, fearful, feared
…shrink to a spark of fear.
…up and need swept away fear like a devastating wave.
…a bright constellation of desperate fear.
…between fear and obedience.
…beautiful face of love and fear, incarnate.
…Fear and pride mingling, like…
Watched his fear flare up big and bright.
etc.
48 x shy
A shy but wide smile to make your heart warm and your cock hard.
Like a shy, nervous seduction.
Shy.
Shy all over again, like a colt who hadn't been broken.
Still so shy.
...it was because you were shy about letting me see you.
Shy and sweet.
His kiss shy and tentative.
etc.
35 x blush, blushing, blushed
Still blushing.
Was he blushing at the idea of watching that?
It made him blush.
Blushing like crazy, Carson obediently…
A beautiful, deep blush that said everything.
Carson was blushing and squirming under…
All Carson did was blushing.
He blushed.
Carson laughed, still blushing, but almost not caring.
When Carson blushed,…
etc.
57 x beautiful
"How beautiful we are," Xavier said, his voice so low and smooth it was like bathing in it.
Beautiful Carson. Every taunt, every threat…
That flame in his beautiful eyes burning like a barn on fire.
Beautiful back.
Did this beautiful man make love to you, when…
"You're so beautiful, Carson. You must hear it all the time. …"
Christ, it was beautiful, the way his abdomen--
…of a man, so fucking beautiful Carson almost blushed…
Fuck, they were beautiful.
Fuck, he was a beautiful tease.
etc.
Everything goes easier when Jesus and God are lending a helpful hand:
36 x Jesus
Jesus. Every time Carson turned red like that, Xavier's dick got…
"Jesus. Yes." Adorable, the way Carson hesitated for a…
"Jesus, Carson. We had a beautiful night. …"
"Jesus, Jesus," bucking, cock seizing against…
But Jesus, Jesus, even that wild terror…
etc.
112 x God
But, God, Carson wanted to hear it.
God, it felt cruel, hurting him like that.
"God, I love you, Xavi," he sighed.
God, that smile.
etc.
105 x warm, warmer, warmest, warmth, warming, warmly (too many warm smiles)
Wonderful but warning warmth sinking through Carson's chest, into his belly, then lower.
The term soul has been stressed 39 times. I think it would be good to use it sparsely because I don't take that crap seriously anymore. More often than not it's just trite, shallow, cheesy and melodramatic.
There. Looking into his eyes, watching his pleasure swallow his soul as his body convulsed and his throat contracted and a howling cry broke against his teeth.
This man was at ease in his wiry body, ardent, pouring his usually shielded soul forth.
I had a nice chat with a friend. Here are our emails:
I find it annoying when authors throw Spanish around in their stories in an excessive way.
puta Jesus Cristo
puta idiota
puta Dios
puta Cristo
puta Madre Maria
puta cabron
puta mentira
puta zapatos estrechos
puta pene maravillosa
etc.
The term puta has been mentioned 31 x in Bad Things.
My friend's response:
Spanish or any other language when it's not organic to the plot. You shouldn't notice, or if you notice it needs to feel natural, an integral part of the character, like the colour of his hair, for example.
We exchanged more messages but I'll quit here.
Bottom line, Bad Things left me extremely underwhelmed and disappointed. Given the fact that everyone loved this book, you might as well ignore my opinion and give it a go. I hope you'll enjoy it more than I did.
Favorite quotes:
After disliking Dangerously Happy I thought I'd play it safe and downloaded a sample before giving Bad Things a go. But, unfortunately, not even that could save me from another disappointment. I really disliked Xavier very much in Dangerously Happy and dedicating a story to that character meant that he needed to be redeemed. What came out of it, however, was more or less forgettable and Xavier wasn't redeemed, at least not in my book. I don't want a nice sweet bow at the end of a book and in between some vigilante justice, a whole lot of fucking and then more fucking, some pseudo psychoanalysis, plenty of sugar and cheese that did nothing at all to provide the story with much needed substance. I liked the beginning and I sure as heck had my absolute highlight when and Xavier were sexing it up (maybe Yet the more I read of Bad Things the less I enjoyed it. It was bad. The part where Xavi felt off and left me confused. How can anyone combine sweetness with It left a bad taste in my mouth. Besides, I don't label this 'dark'. Dark reads don't mix with 'let's hop onto the merry-go-round and eat cotton candy'.
There were many short, choppy sentences that annoyed me, i. e.
Showering together, even though he was going to work out and would have to shower again. Soapy caresses. A few wet kisses. Breakfast. Easy. Quiet.
The scene at 49 % made me bang my head on a table:
"What? You decided I was gay? And that made it okay to
"No. I saw that there was something I could give you. That there was a way I could make you choose me over and his money or whatever he was giving you."
Xavier was very generous with his Spanish expressions. So let me say something, too. Que mierda hablan!
And then at 93 %:
"Even I started to love you. The real you. Real love. And you started loving me, too. You already loved me, the first time you fucked me."
Within three days, the Whoever wants to believe that can do it but I don't.
Warning
Like I mentioned already there was a lot of fucking. I felt that there wasn't enough page time dedicated to really develop Xavi and Carson's (NON-)relationship. Instead, every issue was fucked or into oblivion, simply garnered with some sappy amateur psychobabble. In my book, that was gag-inducing. In consequence, the author never managed to redeem Xavier.
At 99 % the very best quote...
…but unfortunately the execution that led to that conclusion failed big time. However, I guess I'm ploughing a lonely furrow because everyone else loved it.
A few writing samples for your perusal:
A playful light in his dark eyes, that boyish grin pumping Carson full of adoration…
The way downturned mouth softened, Xavier could see his self-mutilated pride had been cauterized before it bled out.
Xavier ran his hand over Carson's hard dick, his hanging balls, his exposed hole, drinking down the nectar of Carson's stiff, trembling suspense, wondering if he'd guessed the significance...
Christ. He said it so, so sweetly, it darkened that pale shadow under the fullness in Xavier's chest.
Xavier laughed, channeling his real anxiety into an alchemical mask of self-doubt.
I had to read that twice. Alchemical refers to noble metal. It means changing a metal into gold, but it also means to transform something simple or common into something extraordinary or special.
He watched the rage and the horrible sadness that had been swelling and swelling in her drain away, like sand out of an upturned bottle.
And when Xavier dropped
Welcome to the healing world of magic dicks--brought to you by amateur therapists
Add in a HUGE and gag-inducing amount of sugar and cheese and top everything off with sad puppy-eye looks, a shy blink, lots of blushing and tons of adorable smiles and boyish and mischievous and endearing grins. Don't forget to repeat fear, sweet, tender, shy, adorable, luminous, sad, warm, and mischievous ad nauseam because it will help you to deal with your low self-confidence, your self-loathing and self-pitying thoughts. Plus, as a very nice side bonus, it will also help you to get over the and, in the end, you will magically fall in love with and, after all, that's exactly what he needed and wanted even though he wasn't aware of that little detail. And let's simply forget that he Et voilà. *waves magic wand* You're willing to love yourself again, to put all your hang-ups in the deepest corner of your mind and are fit to be released to the real world and overjoyed and eager to commit yourself to a relationship. You will proudly declare "I am a happy gay man," who, unfortunately, fell in love with an asshole. But, wait, he is such a terribly EMPATHIC man. Sorry, that's me being sarcastic. Let's forgive him all of his sins, shall we?
My reaction? Jesus fucking Christ is that cheesy. *insert major eye-roll*
It does get cheesier, though...
The common pet peeve of mine. Repetitiveness.
Situation as per September 20, 2014
195 x grin, grinned, grinning
Xavier grinned.
…Xavier gambled on a playful grin.
Xavier grinned and leveled a…
Xavier risked a flirtatious grin.
Xavier grinned. Again and again and again and again and again and again. *gags*
Sucking. Biting. Panting. Grinning.
He couldn't resist grinning.
Xavier gave him a teasing grin, and Carson…
…through his reps; that amused grin.
Xavier's taunting grin widened…
He grinned back at…
etc.
182 smile, smiles, smiled
…it bent into an irrepressible smile, his dark gaze so full of dangerous, vulnerable love,…
Such a radiant smile.
Xavier gave him another tender smile, …
Such a tender smile,…
Xavier gave him a sad smile, and…
God, that smile.
…took the book, his warm smile…
Xavier gave Carson a warm smile…
a wide, easy, slightly artificial smile.
They were just looks. Smiles.
God, his smile was the saddest thing Carson…
His smile stayed wide and warm…
Xavier said, smile as wide and warm as…
…had the sweetest, most true smile of anyone…
…Carson waited for Xavier's tender smile to bend into his amused grin.
No, a tender smile.
…gave him an impossibly sad smile.
etc.
68 x sweet
A sweet, deep but slow kiss.
Xavier said with sweet patience.
"Aren't you sweet. Lying to spare my feelings."
He said it so, so sweetly,…
Sweet Carson.
…melancholy under all that good, sweet warmth.
And those sweet whimpers.
…to every touch so fucking sweetly.
etc.
74 x sad, sadder, saddest, sadness, sadly
Pobre. He sounded so sad.
…that sad ache was crushed under a growing, shapeless rage,…
…under the weight of a sadness almost as heavy as it had been…
Face so sad you'd think…
How fucking good those sad looks of his…
Then sadder and sadder, minute by minute…
Sadder than ever.
…in Carson's sad eyes extinguish…
…the rage and horrible sadness that had been swelling…
…bright, warm beauty and its sad, filthy lostness.
etc.
107 x fear, fears, fearful, feared
…shrink to a spark of fear.
…up and need swept away fear like a devastating wave.
…a bright constellation of desperate fear.
…between fear and obedience.
…beautiful face of love and fear, incarnate.
…Fear and pride mingling, like…
Watched his fear flare up big and bright.
etc.
48 x shy
A shy but wide smile to make your heart warm and your cock hard.
Like a shy, nervous seduction.
Shy.
Shy all over again, like a colt who hadn't been broken.
Still so shy.
...it was because you were shy about letting me see you.
Shy and sweet.
His kiss shy and tentative.
etc.
35 x blush, blushing, blushed
Still blushing.
Was he blushing at the idea of watching that?
It made him blush.
Blushing like crazy, Carson obediently…
A beautiful, deep blush that said everything.
Carson was blushing and squirming under…
All Carson did was blushing.
He blushed.
Carson laughed, still blushing, but almost not caring.
When Carson blushed,…
etc.
57 x beautiful
"How beautiful we are," Xavier said, his voice so low and smooth it was like bathing in it.
Beautiful Carson. Every taunt, every threat…
That flame in his beautiful eyes burning like a barn on fire.
Beautiful back.
Did this beautiful man make love to you, when…
"You're so beautiful, Carson. You must hear it all the time. …"
Christ, it was beautiful, the way his abdomen--
…of a man, so fucking beautiful Carson almost blushed…
Fuck, they were beautiful.
Fuck, he was a beautiful tease.
etc.
Everything goes easier when Jesus and God are lending a helpful hand:
36 x Jesus
Jesus. Every time Carson turned red like that, Xavier's dick got…
"Jesus. Yes." Adorable, the way Carson hesitated for a…
"Jesus, Carson. We had a beautiful night. …"
"Jesus, Jesus," bucking, cock seizing against…
But Jesus, Jesus, even that wild terror…
etc.
112 x God
But, God, Carson wanted to hear it.
God, it felt cruel, hurting him like that.
"God, I love you, Xavi," he sighed.
God, that smile.
etc.
105 x warm, warmer, warmest, warmth, warming, warmly (too many warm smiles)
Wonderful but warning warmth sinking through Carson's chest, into his belly, then lower.
The term soul has been stressed 39 times. I think it would be good to use it sparsely because I don't take that crap seriously anymore. More often than not it's just trite, shallow, cheesy and melodramatic.
There. Looking into his eyes, watching his pleasure swallow his soul as his body convulsed and his throat contracted and a howling cry broke against his teeth.
This man was at ease in his wiry body, ardent, pouring his usually shielded soul forth.
I had a nice chat with a friend. Here are our emails:
I find it annoying when authors throw Spanish around in their stories in an excessive way.
puta Jesus Cristo
puta idiota
puta Dios
puta Cristo
puta Madre Maria
puta cabron
puta mentira
puta zapatos estrechos
puta pene maravillosa
etc.
The term puta has been mentioned 31 x in Bad Things.
My friend's response:
Spanish or any other language when it's not organic to the plot. You shouldn't notice, or if you notice it needs to feel natural, an integral part of the character, like the colour of his hair, for example.
We exchanged more messages but I'll quit here.
Bottom line, Bad Things left me extremely underwhelmed and disappointed. Given the fact that everyone loved this book, you might as well ignore my opinion and give it a go. I hope you'll enjoy it more than I did.
March 12, 2021
This book… I swear to all the deities… It did things to me. Nice things. Not nice things. All kinds of things.
“The humiliations and defeats, given with a primitive honesty, end not in frustration, despair or futility, but in hunger, an ecstatic devouring hunger-for more life.”
~Anais Nin
Cards on the table. Bad Things won't be for everyone. It's intense, full of angst and… it's completely fucked. Seriously. F-U-C-K-E-D. The subject matter, Xavi and Carson's relationship, the situations they find themselves in, their reactions to those situations, all completely fucked. Yet, I totes loved them. I was enchanted from the start by Xavi in Dangerously Happy. I’m fairly certain that alone cements my depravity.
Xavi is an antihero. He gets things done using unorthodox methods, but he is loyal to those he loves. He'll do anything for them which is how he winds up in this clusterfuck of a situation. His sister, Elena, was gang raped at 18 which was the catalyst for a suicide attempt and her subsequent decision to enter law enforcement. At the beginning of Bad Things she witnesses a gang rape which dregs up the past for her and Xavi. For Xavi this translates into going undercover and isn't strictly legal. He sets out to right a wrong on a human trafficking case of Elena's that got dismissed on a technicality and ends up as a bouncer at Gomorrah where he meets Carson, the bartender, along with a cadre of unsavory characters.
Xavi is a tattoo artist and a sadist, but more than that, he's one of those people that have perfected the art of reading others. Not in that weird prescient way which is so popular in romance fiction-"the perfect dom", all-knowing, all powerful, precognitive… total bullshit. He watches, learns, looks for signals and isn't always right. Just 90th percentile. All of which makes him exceptional at the mindfuck and he mindfucks the bejesus out of Carson.
Carson is a naive, somewhat desperate young man who gets caught up in a situation that is bigger than him and through a series of events lands him in Xavi's basement naked, bound, gagged and terrified. The trouble is he's desperately, perhaps foolishly attracted to Xavi. An attraction he's denied since he was a boy thanks to some vile parents who decided to eviscerate a nine year old. The shame and humiliation that wafts off Carson feeds directly into Xavi’s sadistic nature.
Does Xavi go too far?
Probably.
Possibly.
I'm of the opinion that the ends justify the means which isn't a popular opinion, but there you have it. I told you. Depraved. *shrugs*
I think Carson needs Xavi and all the "scary" to face himself and the demons of his past. I also think Xavi needs Carson to bring some light into all that dark and to give him someone that's his. They've both been alone for far too long. Their relationship is unconventional in both its genesis and evolution, but it is one that I’ll not soon forget.
Cuffed to the bed (because Carson still needed that, not to surrender to Xavier, but to surrender to himself), and carefully (which didn’t necessarily mean gently) palpitate his soul, find his dark, empty places, and fill them all, one-by-one.
What I like about Ms. Krylov's writing style is her uncanny ability to plumb the depths of the human psyche. She is exceptional at illustrating how complex and unpredictable humans can be. She turns her characters inside out and gives you all of them, even the distasteful and irrational. She excels at illustrating the duality of weaknesses for what they are as well as strengths and individuality. The healing but not transformative power of love seems to be a constant in her work which is something I appreciate over magic cocks.
She has the erotica gift. Damn. She does for erotica what Jake Jaxson does for adult films-shows you the beauty of it. She captures the total experience from the emotions to the enivironment in such vivid detail it becomes visceral. As you can imagine, to achieve this takes words, but I'll give latitude when the author is painting a picture this gratifying.
“Holy Christ, the look on your face,” Xavier growled. “I want to fucking devour you. Like parents have that urge to eat their young.”
Word. <---pun intended.
This wasn’t the book I was expecting. I expected a more conventional romance between these two with more sadomasochism and traditional scening. What I got was more complex, and ultimately, more satisfying.
It’s not perfect. There are editing issues and I concede the story is not everyone’s cuppa, but it was perfect for me and probably some kindred depraved souls out there.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2021
**** 4.5 stars ****
This story is hot as fuck, porn hot! but
we have a solid plot!
Intense story, dark subject matter, depraved and kinky, some MMM, humiliation, dubious and brutal actions, rough sex but oh... *dreamy eyes* the relationship was so tender and just right. Two complex guys just perfect for each other.
Carson was just what Xavier needed to bring out his softener side. That entire rough and bad boy attitude needed a balance.
My lovely Carson,
I watch you disappearing from yourself. Like the centre of you turns into a black hole sucking you inside. But the moment I wrap my hand around your throat, pin you to the wall, hold you down, force you open, the centre of you lights back up and comes rushing toward me.”
Xavier was just what Carson needed. A person to force him accepts who he was and let go of all traumatic brainwash done by his family.
Xavi,
"You fought really fucking hard for eighteen years to be straight. Maybe now you’re going to have to work really fucking hard to be gay.”
Such a great characterization!
This story is hot as fuck, porn hot! but
we have a solid plot!
Intense story, dark subject matter, depraved and kinky, some MMM, humiliation, dubious and brutal actions, rough sex but oh... *dreamy eyes* the relationship was so tender and just right. Two complex guys just perfect for each other.
Carson was just what Xavier needed to bring out his softener side. That entire rough and bad boy attitude needed a balance.
My lovely Carson,
I watch you disappearing from yourself. Like the centre of you turns into a black hole sucking you inside. But the moment I wrap my hand around your throat, pin you to the wall, hold you down, force you open, the centre of you lights back up and comes rushing toward me.”
Xavier was just what Carson needed. A person to force him accepts who he was and let go of all traumatic brainwash done by his family.
Xavi,
"You fought really fucking hard for eighteen years to be straight. Maybe now you’re going to have to work really fucking hard to be gay.”
Such a great characterization!
April 18, 2017
2.5-3 stars
I expected to feel the way most of my GR peeps did by the end of this book (loving it). That didn't happen. I didn't connect with either MC. I couldn't bring myself to like them either. They only started making sense together at the very end. The beginning was OK. Then it got intense and disturbing. I didn't enjoy any of what happened in Xavier's basement. It turned me off of Xavier completely. I'm just not a fan of "rape" (who is) or the kind of "play" that makes a person feel humiliated. Even if in the end that is what that said person likes. Not my cuppa, capiche?
Carson was no better. He liked to play victim, but yet he wanted more. So yeah, nope.
Then there was the moments with Aiden and Dario. I didn't feel like it was needed. I was bored. I kind of skimmed some of those moments.
Then we moved on to the trial and of Xavier and Carson being thrown back together. I sometimes felt like I was reading different plots rolled up into one book. It didn't feel cohesive to me. I think maybe if Xavier was with Carson throughout everything in the book, or we got to see what was happening with Xavier while Carson was with Aiden and Dario it would have come together better for me.
The last 25/30% was probably the better parts of the book. Although I never felt like there was any real romance in this book. They had sex. A lot. But there was no real relationship. And the book seemed to go on for much longer than it needed to. It got tedious after awhile and I started to hate myself at the end for picking this as my next read. lol
So in the end this book just wasn't for me. But for many it was. So give it a go or don't. Either way, happy reading, dolls! xx
I expected to feel the way most of my GR peeps did by the end of this book (loving it). That didn't happen. I didn't connect with either MC. I couldn't bring myself to like them either. They only started making sense together at the very end. The beginning was OK. Then it got intense and disturbing. I didn't enjoy any of what happened in Xavier's basement. It turned me off of Xavier completely. I'm just not a fan of "rape" (who is) or the kind of "play" that makes a person feel humiliated. Even if in the end that is what that said person likes. Not my cuppa, capiche?
Carson was no better. He liked to play victim, but yet he wanted more. So yeah, nope.
Then there was the moments with Aiden and Dario. I didn't feel like it was needed. I was bored. I kind of skimmed some of those moments.
Then we moved on to the trial and of Xavier and Carson being thrown back together. I sometimes felt like I was reading different plots rolled up into one book. It didn't feel cohesive to me. I think maybe if Xavier was with Carson throughout everything in the book, or we got to see what was happening with Xavier while Carson was with Aiden and Dario it would have come together better for me.
The last 25/30% was probably the better parts of the book. Although I never felt like there was any real romance in this book. They had sex. A lot. But there was no real relationship. And the book seemed to go on for much longer than it needed to. It got tedious after awhile and I started to hate myself at the end for picking this as my next read. lol
So in the end this book just wasn't for me. But for many it was. So give it a go or don't. Either way, happy reading, dolls! xx
February 21, 2017
Ho-ly Shit! That was such an intense book! So not what I was expecting at all, but so incredibly good! I am not going to be able to put how I feel into words, but seriously, these characters are so..... wonderful, complex, soul-consuming!
This will sound cliche but the journey that both Xavi, but especially Carson goes through, to overcome their pasts is fucking incredible! It's written so eloquently (unlike this review) that my life was this book for the past few days.
That scene at 87% has probably become one of the most moving scenes I have ever read in romance! Fucking incredible.
Be warned, Xavier is a cruel bastard at the beginning, but we get it as the book progresses. Also there is on page sex with other characters (all male), but please please don't let that deter you, it works well within the story and for Carson and Xavier's relationship development.
Ugh I'm really scared that I've hyped this up too much now and you'll go out and not like it *please like it*.
This will sound cliche but the journey that both Xavi, but especially Carson goes through, to overcome their pasts is fucking incredible! It's written so eloquently (unlike this review) that my life was this book for the past few days.
That scene at 87% has probably become one of the most moving scenes I have ever read in romance! Fucking incredible.
Be warned, Xavier is a cruel bastard at the beginning, but we get it as the book progresses. Also there is on page sex with other characters (all male), but please please don't let that deter you, it works well within the story and for Carson and Xavier's relationship development.
Ugh I'm really scared that I've hyped this up too much now and you'll go out and not like it *please like it*.
November 8, 2018
Overall book rating: 4.5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
I’ve tried a Varian Krylov some time ago. Back in the days when MF was still high on my reading list. Truth be told I didn’t get far and I never finished it. But THIS....This was something I couldn’t put down. I just didn’t want to.
I am a firm believer of only reading “dark” reads when you are in the right state of mind. Only then can you appreciate what you reading and give it a fair chance. So stumbling on to this in my current state of mind I can only say WOW. WOW. I really really really liked this.
It surprised me that at the end of this book, the only thing I really focused on, the only thing that really mattered to me, was the depth of emotion between Xavier and Carson. All the F**** up churning of desire and hate and hope and loss and whatever the hell else they had bubbling up between them in gallons.
Xavier is so much more to me than just a psycho without limits. He is a blend between Dark and Light. Between Hurt and Comfort, Love and Hate, Punishment and Liberation. He is the Protector and the Avenger and ...most of all – Xavier is Carson’s savior.
He brings new meaning to the phrase – Cruel to be kind. And I LOVE HIM FOR IT! I love him for being the unapologetic ass in this story.
He makes Carson bleed in so many ways and through the hurt he brings him back to life. Because Xavier is brave enough to push too hard.
I even understood the part where Carson is forced to live with Aiden and D. They way I see it, Carson was so closed off for how many years, he imagined dreaming of soft and sweet. Tender loving and sharing. All things Xavier is not. Well, things he can be but Xavier will never be ONLY SWEET, he has a darker side and Carson had to experience the time with Aiden and Dario to get to know HIMSELF. He had to see that he yearns for an illusion. That what he dreams of and what he really wants / needs is not what the kind of love these two men share but rather his own flavor of caring. Something uniquely Xavier. If Carson didn’t get that opportunity he wouldn’t know this about himself.
I loved Carson. I hated what his stupid parents did to him and I will gladly take that bloody marker they used on his shirt when he was nine years old and write ASSHOLE over their faces. I hope it's a permanent marker that takes weeks to wash off.
Carson is so perfect for Xavier it makes me want to weep. Yes, there were times I wanted to repeatedly hit Xavier with a frying pan. But after everything, I love him just as much as I love Carter. Both in their own ways.
This was amazingly done.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
I’ve tried a Varian Krylov some time ago. Back in the days when MF was still high on my reading list. Truth be told I didn’t get far and I never finished it. But THIS....This was something I couldn’t put down. I just didn’t want to.
I am a firm believer of only reading “dark” reads when you are in the right state of mind. Only then can you appreciate what you reading and give it a fair chance. So stumbling on to this in my current state of mind I can only say WOW. WOW. I really really really liked this.
It surprised me that at the end of this book, the only thing I really focused on, the only thing that really mattered to me, was the depth of emotion between Xavier and Carson. All the F**** up churning of desire and hate and hope and loss and whatever the hell else they had bubbling up between them in gallons.
Xavier is so much more to me than just a psycho without limits. He is a blend between Dark and Light. Between Hurt and Comfort, Love and Hate, Punishment and Liberation. He is the Protector and the Avenger and ...most of all – Xavier is Carson’s savior.
He brings new meaning to the phrase – Cruel to be kind. And I LOVE HIM FOR IT! I love him for being the unapologetic ass in this story.
He makes Carson bleed in so many ways and through the hurt he brings him back to life. Because Xavier is brave enough to push too hard.
I even understood the part where Carson is forced to live with Aiden and D. They way I see it, Carson was so closed off for how many years, he imagined dreaming of soft and sweet. Tender loving and sharing. All things Xavier is not. Well, things he can be but Xavier will never be ONLY SWEET, he has a darker side and Carson had to experience the time with Aiden and Dario to get to know HIMSELF. He had to see that he yearns for an illusion. That what he dreams of and what he really wants / needs is not what the kind of love these two men share but rather his own flavor of caring. Something uniquely Xavier. If Carson didn’t get that opportunity he wouldn’t know this about himself.
I loved Carson. I hated what his stupid parents did to him and I will gladly take that bloody marker they used on his shirt when he was nine years old and write ASSHOLE over their faces. I hope it's a permanent marker that takes weeks to wash off.
Carson is so perfect for Xavier it makes me want to weep. Yes, there were times I wanted to repeatedly hit Xavier with a frying pan. But after everything, I love him just as much as I love Carter. Both in their own ways.
This was amazingly done.
November 10, 2018
This is my 4th (5th?) time reading this book. It never loses its place among my all time favorites. Every single time I read it, I am amazed.
It is creepy, dark, dirty, kinky and so very stark.
And yet, all I can think when I finish reading it again is, "ok, back to that favorites shelf my love" 😍
Original review below:
I read this book about six months ago...THREE TIMES
some of my reactions to it...
Sweet mommy dearest, I thought I was becoming jaded from reading too much. Losing interest in books. Either not finishing or picking up and putting them down over and over. Well, I was just riding the wave until this author crashed into my life. I don't care if she writes about men, women, or pretty yellow daisies, I’m reading all her freaking works.
Once you read even the first few pages, you’ll be hooked. And BOY does it get better and better and better as it goes on. This one is more than an "I really loved it" one for me. I found myself replaying scenes, rereading pages, then rereading the entire book over again several times. There is so much depth to the characters. There are so many heart stopping moments. There is just so much in this one book.
The main character? You won’t know if you even LIKE him at some points. You begin to wonder if he is the good guy or the bad guy. And does it resolve? Hmmm, let me tell you... I did nothing but read the entire weekend, and the book was at the end; I had no more fingernails left and no sleep for two days, and I was STILL wondering. -What a ride!- Every time you think this book has given you all, it gives more. All the way through. I was at 95% and still freaking out over new things. Whew! What a book!
I was in such a fog after reading this book that I could hardly think of anything else. So, what did I do? I read it again! Then...I immediately picked up another of Krylov's books about a couple who made a cameo appearance in this one. And then...I read this one again.
In case you were wondering...this book rocked my world! My number one read of 2014.
It is creepy, dark, dirty, kinky and so very stark.
And yet, all I can think when I finish reading it again is, "ok, back to that favorites shelf my love" 😍
Original review below:
I read this book about six months ago...THREE TIMES
some of my reactions to it...
Sweet mommy dearest, I thought I was becoming jaded from reading too much. Losing interest in books. Either not finishing or picking up and putting them down over and over. Well, I was just riding the wave until this author crashed into my life. I don't care if she writes about men, women, or pretty yellow daisies, I’m reading all her freaking works.
Once you read even the first few pages, you’ll be hooked. And BOY does it get better and better and better as it goes on. This one is more than an "I really loved it" one for me. I found myself replaying scenes, rereading pages, then rereading the entire book over again several times. There is so much depth to the characters. There are so many heart stopping moments. There is just so much in this one book.
The main character? You won’t know if you even LIKE him at some points. You begin to wonder if he is the good guy or the bad guy. And does it resolve? Hmmm, let me tell you... I did nothing but read the entire weekend, and the book was at the end; I had no more fingernails left and no sleep for two days, and I was STILL wondering. -What a ride!- Every time you think this book has given you all, it gives more. All the way through. I was at 95% and still freaking out over new things. Whew! What a book!
I was in such a fog after reading this book that I could hardly think of anything else. So, what did I do? I read it again! Then...I immediately picked up another of Krylov's books about a couple who made a cameo appearance in this one. And then...I read this one again.
In case you were wondering...this book rocked my world! My number one read of 2014.
October 17, 2016
This. Fucking. Book. *scrubs face*
Hands down, the best MM I've read this year.
(spoilers in this review)
Let's get things out of the way by stating it wasn't perfect (to me, at least). A few parts I could've lived without, a tad "Good Will Hunting" in parts.
But fuck. It was pretty fucking close.
Xavier is fucked up. And not in a cute way. He is literally a psycho. He is LITERALLY psychotic. And I adore him. He's hilarious. And the things he does... there is no line for him. He doesn't even know what crossing the line means because in his world, there is no line.
He says some fucked up shit. His thoughts are along the lines of: God. He looks absolutely terrified. Doesn't he know what the does to me?
Fuuuuuucked up.
My pal CC has a great review for this book here that I'd suggest you read.
All of these stars are for Xavier. He is one of the most fucked up characters I've read about in MM romance who stays true to himself. His characterization is perfect. Excellent writing, and the author seems to really know and understand the characters. I disapprove (strongly) of characters who have a sudden change of heart because of love and they change their stripes. That doesn't happen at all in this book.
Gah. I'm ranting because I just finished it, but it's so fucking good.
The last line in this book? SHIVERS. SO GOOD. The way it ended was perfection. Precise. Clever. Not force-feeding the author all this corny bullshit. Just...perfect.
Don't read this book is bad things offend you.
If you aren't into MCs who literally get off on revenge-death-rape, then maybe it's not for you. Just saying.
(but it's still so fucking good)
October 26, 2016
4.5 stars
I loved it, although I was expecting it to be more dark. Goes to my favorites shelf.
I loved it, although I was expecting it to be more dark. Goes to my favorites shelf.
dnf
March 1, 2022First dnf of 2022, say hello to mommy.
dnf @ 26%
That’s it, I’m done. I was bored and frustrated by this. 🙄 It was a break room read, meaning I read about half a chapter at a time, and I think it’s the only reason I got this far. I started to get an inkling of what was gonna happen a few chapters back, but I was like ‘let’s power through this.’ I no longer want to do that, sorry. I think it was a good decision to make, though, especially after a couple of the more spoilery reviews confirmed some things for me.
⚠️⚠️
This is not BDSM, this is fetishizing abuse, pure and simple. Nothing wrong with people enjoying such themes in books, but give a girl some warning, please.
Oh, and I’m still not impressed by Krylov’s writing, the purple prose and short, choppy sentences were even more incongruous here than in book 1. I think I’ll just stay away from her other books from now on.
dnf @ 26%
That’s it, I’m done. I was bored and frustrated by this. 🙄 It was a break room read, meaning I read about half a chapter at a time, and I think it’s the only reason I got this far. I started to get an inkling of what was gonna happen a few chapters back, but I was like ‘let’s power through this.’ I no longer want to do that, sorry. I think it was a good decision to make, though, especially after a couple of the more spoilery reviews confirmed some things for me.
⚠️⚠️
This is not BDSM, this is fetishizing abuse, pure and simple. Nothing wrong with people enjoying such themes in books, but give a girl some warning, please.
Oh, and I’m still not impressed by Krylov’s writing, the purple prose and short, choppy sentences were even more incongruous here than in book 1. I think I’ll just stay away from her other books from now on.
December 22, 2014
Buy this book and read it now! Ms. Krylov writes a masterful piece of line blurring non-consent. In Bad Things, Xavier possesses a hero complex. His inability to make the males who raped his sister pay for their crimes fester in him. He's a big guy who keeps his body in peak shape as well as his mind. When his sister is once again threatened due to her job, Xavier can't stand by and watch. Since he comes across as a dumb thug body builder, he easily slips into the shadier side of life to secretly help her out.
This story is truly about bad things. The bad things humans do for fun. People who have too much money and without moral can cause the worst things to happen. These are the people Xavier wants to help his sister take down but to do so, he too steps into the dark side. The question is, does the ends justify the means? From Xavier's perspective - yes. It is up to the reader to decide if they agree.
Ms. Krylov paints a depraved picture of a sinister human trafficking organization. The way this corporation sells their human product is quite ingenious. Whilst it's reprehensible, it's amazing clever. The details Ms. Krylov puts into this story make it multi-layered and rich. The bad things which happen hold a reader hostage by enticing them to flip page after page to see what will happen next. The criminals in this story are not stupid. They are also easily identifiable. What is difficult to decide is who is the good guy. Are there good guys?
The character building in this book is phenomenal. Xavier is a complex character with an intense and dangerous side. His dominance exudes from his pores and any submissive within his vicinity will become weak in the knees. His style of interrogation is erotic and oh so wrong. He imprisons a pawn and takes his sweet time sexually torturing and humiliating the boy. This right here is how dark erotica should be written and it's so exquisitely stimulating. Intellectually, the reader knows Xavier crosses several lines and he is bad. However, his dialog and actions generate a lustful feeling and flame the reader's arousal. In some ways Ms. Krylov perverts BDSM into a bad manner yet it doesn't feel BDSM hostile. The way she writes the kinky sex never crosses the line into BDSM attacking. It ends up being a fabulous BDSM dark fantasy. Many readers may wish to suffer under Xavier's cruel punishing yet pleasuring hands.
The erotic aspect to this story blends perfectly with the plot. The way the ending occurs is believable and works out just the way a reader would want. That is, the relationship between Xavier and his little fucktoy. The ending for the criminal is not satisfactory. Perhaps this is to leave it open for another book in this world. A reader can only hope. This book is highly recommended to m/m readers who want something dark and erotic.
*provided by BDSM Book Reviews
This story is truly about bad things. The bad things humans do for fun. People who have too much money and without moral can cause the worst things to happen. These are the people Xavier wants to help his sister take down but to do so, he too steps into the dark side. The question is, does the ends justify the means? From Xavier's perspective - yes. It is up to the reader to decide if they agree.
Ms. Krylov paints a depraved picture of a sinister human trafficking organization. The way this corporation sells their human product is quite ingenious. Whilst it's reprehensible, it's amazing clever. The details Ms. Krylov puts into this story make it multi-layered and rich. The bad things which happen hold a reader hostage by enticing them to flip page after page to see what will happen next. The criminals in this story are not stupid. They are also easily identifiable. What is difficult to decide is who is the good guy. Are there good guys?
The character building in this book is phenomenal. Xavier is a complex character with an intense and dangerous side. His dominance exudes from his pores and any submissive within his vicinity will become weak in the knees. His style of interrogation is erotic and oh so wrong. He imprisons a pawn and takes his sweet time sexually torturing and humiliating the boy. This right here is how dark erotica should be written and it's so exquisitely stimulating. Intellectually, the reader knows Xavier crosses several lines and he is bad. However, his dialog and actions generate a lustful feeling and flame the reader's arousal. In some ways Ms. Krylov perverts BDSM into a bad manner yet it doesn't feel BDSM hostile. The way she writes the kinky sex never crosses the line into BDSM attacking. It ends up being a fabulous BDSM dark fantasy. Many readers may wish to suffer under Xavier's cruel punishing yet pleasuring hands.
The erotic aspect to this story blends perfectly with the plot. The way the ending occurs is believable and works out just the way a reader would want. That is, the relationship between Xavier and his little fucktoy. The ending for the criminal is not satisfactory. Perhaps this is to leave it open for another book in this world. A reader can only hope. This book is highly recommended to m/m readers who want something dark and erotic.
*provided by BDSM Book Reviews
October 28, 2014
Rating: 2.5 stars
Living with the guilt of his sister’s rape, Xavier has grown and nurtured an inner hatred for many kinds of people. So it isn’t surprising when he decides to unofficially assist in an investigation into a human trafficking ring taking on the front of a high end club catering to rich men. And perhaps it isn’t too much of a stretch that he meets a very attractive man who may be key to ending it all.
If I had to describe Bad Things, I would say it was a road trip that starts off pleasantly, but ends frustratingly with traffic and detours. Xavier was definitely the more interesting of the two, but Carson (unfortunately) gets a good amount of page time. Their relationship starts off unconventionally to say the least, but the progression of it didn’t feel very believable. In a way, most of the emotional development was recognized in hindsight, which made for quite the jump in their opinions of one another quite a leap.
However, the unbelievable relationship between Carson and Xavier didn’t tone down the sex. Holy cow, talk about steamy. Bad Things probably ranks up there in terms of sexiest book of the year. But even too much of a good thing isn’t always…good. And after a while, I was actually getting tired of the sex scenes. Chalk it up to old age, but I need a little bit more than a good ol’ orgasm (or three).
In terms of plot, the book definitely had one to start. But somewhere along the way, it got derailed by the introduction of two characters from another book, Dangerously Happy. Perhaps if I had read this other book, I would have enjoyed the portion introducing them. Or perhaps not. Either way, I started skimming towards the middle as I realized not much was happening except for lots of sex, kissing, and picture taking.
And while the book starts off deliciously dark with an unconventional start of a messed up relationship, the last portion of the book was nothing but melodrama and sappiness. Which, is not my sort of thing unfortunately.
So overall, Bad Things just didn’t work for me. Great steaminess and one interesting character (Xavier). However, the story was probably 30% longer than it needed to be, and the plot felt derailed towards the middle. While I’m happy with how the the book ended, I’m not quite sure if it was worth the time and trouble to get there.
Living with the guilt of his sister’s rape, Xavier has grown and nurtured an inner hatred for many kinds of people. So it isn’t surprising when he decides to unofficially assist in an investigation into a human trafficking ring taking on the front of a high end club catering to rich men. And perhaps it isn’t too much of a stretch that he meets a very attractive man who may be key to ending it all.
If I had to describe Bad Things, I would say it was a road trip that starts off pleasantly, but ends frustratingly with traffic and detours. Xavier was definitely the more interesting of the two, but Carson (unfortunately) gets a good amount of page time. Their relationship starts off unconventionally to say the least, but the progression of it didn’t feel very believable. In a way, most of the emotional development was recognized in hindsight, which made for quite the jump in their opinions of one another quite a leap.
However, the unbelievable relationship between Carson and Xavier didn’t tone down the sex. Holy cow, talk about steamy. Bad Things probably ranks up there in terms of sexiest book of the year. But even too much of a good thing isn’t always…good. And after a while, I was actually getting tired of the sex scenes. Chalk it up to old age, but I need a little bit more than a good ol’ orgasm (or three).
In terms of plot, the book definitely had one to start. But somewhere along the way, it got derailed by the introduction of two characters from another book, Dangerously Happy. Perhaps if I had read this other book, I would have enjoyed the portion introducing them. Or perhaps not. Either way, I started skimming towards the middle as I realized not much was happening except for lots of sex, kissing, and picture taking.
And while the book starts off deliciously dark with an unconventional start of a messed up relationship, the last portion of the book was nothing but melodrama and sappiness. Which, is not my sort of thing unfortunately.
So overall, Bad Things just didn’t work for me. Great steaminess and one interesting character (Xavier). However, the story was probably 30% longer than it needed to be, and the plot felt derailed towards the middle. While I’m happy with how the the book ended, I’m not quite sure if it was worth the time and trouble to get there.
January 12, 2016
4.5
Xavier, the hulking, tattooed bruiser with the soft nougat centre. Carson, the beautiful boy with the beautiful cock. Add some organized crime shenanigans, deep-seated issues crippling both the main players, and some very interesting smearing of the non-con line and you've got a read that would appeal to those who like their erotica on the darker end of the spectrum.
I rather enjoyed it, and I will definitely check out the sequel when it comes out. :)
Xavier, the hulking, tattooed bruiser with the soft nougat centre. Carson, the beautiful boy with the beautiful cock. Add some organized crime shenanigans, deep-seated issues crippling both the main players, and some very interesting smearing of the non-con line and you've got a read that would appeal to those who like their erotica on the darker end of the spectrum.
I rather enjoyed it, and I will definitely check out the sequel when it comes out. :)
February 15, 2020
A great sequel to Dangerously Happy, which I also loved. I was hoping Xavier would get his own book. Parts of it made me a bit uncomfortable, although I understood why they were necessary. Carson's lack of insight into his own character and his almost constant fear of Xavier made me feel frustrated with him. I wanted him to show a bit of backbone. I like it when a book makes me feel emotional and this delivers in spades! Definitely a keeper and one I will read again and again!
October 16, 2014
A review by The Blogger Girls.
This story had a few different elements to it and turned out to be not quite what I expected. It centers around Xavier seeking revenge/justice for the rape of his sister and taking down the leaders of a sex trafficking ring.
There are basically three parts to this story, or at least, that’s how it read for me. First, we have Xavier and Carson. What a rocky start these two have. They meet at work while Xavier takes it upon himself to go undercover as a bouncer in order to infiltrate the sex traffickers. Carson is a bartender in the club who is somewhat innocent but gets sucked into helping the bad guys. He gets caught trying to spy on Xavier, which leads to Xavier keeping Carson captive in his basement and somewhat torturing him. There’s a fine line here as Carson responds to Xavier’s actions and treatment, which is pretty rough. Poor Carson was afraid of everyone – the bad buys and Xavier. I will admit that I really didn’t like Xavier much through this part of the story. He doesn’t seem to have very many actual redeeming qualities at this point, though there are reasons for his behavior.
Then, after things come to a head with the bad guys, Carson is brought to Xavier’s friends, Aidan and Dario, for safekeeping while they wait for the police to take everyone down. Whewwww, was this part of the story hot stuff. Aidan and Dario are completely in love, and I loved everything about them. I had not read their story, Dangerously Happy, but I most definitely want to after meeting them here. They show Carson a totally different side of things, and I wanted them to keep him forever.
The final part was back to Xavier and Carson. As much as Carson longed for what Aidan and Dario had, he couldn’t get Xavier out of his head. He found he craved what Xavier gave him. Now, this part is where Xavier turned things around and sort of won me over. Maybe because he showed more emotion and caring, I’m not totally sure. Xavier and Carson had a pretty volatile relationship for most of this, but they seemed to be a good fit, especially by the end.
This is gritty and dark, and even the parts I shouldn’t like, I found steamy and intriguing. While it took me a while to really get into this, I was on the edge of my seat after about halfway and didn’t want it to end. I loved the mix of edginess, steam and sweetness. This is the first book of Ms. Varian’s that I’ve read, and it surely won’t be the last.
September 24, 2014
Dnf @ 40%.
So this was a first for me with this author, and from what I've seen I don't think I'll read anything else based on other friends honest reviews whom I trust.
The choppy sentences I could deal, the over dramatic thinking that went into Xavier little ass brain, I can deal with that as well. The down low cop, I loved those seems.
Too me reading this Xavier was just as much a predator as the rapist, traffickers, and other criminals. I just couldn't understand how he believed his actions were justifiable and the rapist wasn't. Did he not think it wasn't rape but his victim was a grown man, or because they weren't teenage girls or his sister. Like if I'm going to read a book and the villain is the main character, please state in the beginning he is a psychopath and not have me read and getting madder during the first 40%.
I guess I decided to DNF because after the rape. Let's call a spade a spade people, Carson got free, what does he do? He decides to let Xavier know he is free and leaving. DAFUQ??? Why, I'm convinced he doesn't have Stockholm's Syndrome he is just dumb as fuck. I skimmed and then when Carson finally asked Xavier, why did he rape him? Well Xavier response that is wasn't rape, if was some poetic bullshit he said that I can't recall but it was bad. I definitely couldn't put up with the foolishness.
In conclusion don't use my review as a base on reading this. I'm not a good candidate. In fact I deleted it off my kindle as soon as the steam left my ears. I always wondered what happened to the club, but at this point I don't give a fuck anymore!
So this was a first for me with this author, and from what I've seen I don't think I'll read anything else based on other friends honest reviews whom I trust.
The choppy sentences I could deal, the over dramatic thinking that went into Xavier little ass brain, I can deal with that as well. The down low cop, I loved those seems.
Too me reading this Xavier was just as much a predator as the rapist, traffickers, and other criminals. I just couldn't understand how he believed his actions were justifiable and the rapist wasn't. Did he not think it wasn't rape but his victim was a grown man, or because they weren't teenage girls or his sister. Like if I'm going to read a book and the villain is the main character, please state in the beginning he is a psychopath and not have me read and getting madder during the first 40%.
I guess I decided to DNF because after the rape. Let's call a spade a spade people, Carson got free, what does he do? He decides to let Xavier know he is free and leaving. DAFUQ??? Why, I'm convinced he doesn't have Stockholm's Syndrome he is just dumb as fuck. I skimmed and then when Carson finally asked Xavier, why did he rape him? Well Xavier response that is wasn't rape, if was some poetic bullshit he said that I can't recall but it was bad. I definitely couldn't put up with the foolishness.
In conclusion don't use my review as a base on reading this. I'm not a good candidate. In fact I deleted it off my kindle as soon as the steam left my ears. I always wondered what happened to the club, but at this point I don't give a fuck anymore!
November 7, 2018
4.75 Stars! Loved this story! I especially loved Xavi!
October 30, 2014
What a fantastic surprise this book was. It has everything I love all wrapped up in one neat little package. Xavier and Carson are both very complex individuals, each with their own dark past and when they first get together you're not really sure which direction it's headed or if things are getting out of control.
It's extremely dark in places, it won't be for everyone that's for sure and there are some seriously shocking moments. However, this book has many surprises, it twists and turns and keeps you right on the edge of your seat throughout. Somehow, after the first intense and brutal beginning love begins to blossom between Xavier and Carson and when it finally happens it's bloody terrific. This is a definitely a contender for one of my favourite books of the year!
"You're a beautiful lover. You look and touch with such earnest curiosity and want. When I'm inside you, you look at me so openly, it's like you're giving your soul to me. And your body. Your kisses. Touching you, kissing you, you make me feel like you'd feed me with the last bit of strength, of self you had, completely selflessly."
It's extremely dark in places, it won't be for everyone that's for sure and there are some seriously shocking moments. However, this book has many surprises, it twists and turns and keeps you right on the edge of your seat throughout. Somehow, after the first intense and brutal beginning love begins to blossom between Xavier and Carson and when it finally happens it's bloody terrific. This is a definitely a contender for one of my favourite books of the year!
"You're a beautiful lover. You look and touch with such earnest curiosity and want. When I'm inside you, you look at me so openly, it's like you're giving your soul to me. And your body. Your kisses. Touching you, kissing you, you make me feel like you'd feed me with the last bit of strength, of self you had, completely selflessly."
February 6, 2017
MM and MMM. Stopped @ 60% and skimmed to end. I differ from the crowd. I really loved the non-con BDSM - it was delicious. I didn't like the romance.
I wanted a one-on-one dedicated relationship between the MCs. I wanted their character development to be intertwined with their own relationship development, not with other men. So with this, I did not like Carson working through his issues - accepting that he liked gay sex, discovering that he needed kinky sex, and realizing that he wanted only Xavier - with OM, and not with Xavier.
I loved Xavier with his kinky sadistic shell and soft heart. It was easy to forgive him for his personal vengeance of torturing rapists. Surprisingly, I couldn't stand winy baby Carson. His insecurities over being gay and needing kinky sex were so severe and drawn out to where I lost patience and quit caring.
I wanted a one-on-one dedicated relationship between the MCs. I wanted their character development to be intertwined with their own relationship development, not with other men. So with this, I did not like Carson working through his issues - accepting that he liked gay sex, discovering that he needed kinky sex, and realizing that he wanted only Xavier - with OM, and not with Xavier.
I loved Xavier with his kinky sadistic shell and soft heart. It was easy to forgive him for his personal vengeance of torturing rapists. Surprisingly, I couldn't stand winy baby Carson. His insecurities over being gay and needing kinky sex were so severe and drawn out to where I lost patience and quit caring.
November 3, 2014
Primarily cheap porn written for money. I was hoping for a good story with some sex in it from all the high ratings that the book received. What I got was the brief outline of a story about human trafficking and sex. The thing is that men do not screw around the way that Carson and Xavier did. The tears and the incessant flirting belong in an old corset buster.
Read
December 28, 2020Decided to dnf because I realized that life is too short for the things that don’t make us happy. I love some dark themes in books but please don’t be boring.
October 17, 2014
Krylov is really an amazing author with the capacity to get into your head and just play around until you don't know which way is up, down, or sideways. Xavier, who for all rights and purposes we should see as one fucked up dude to stay away from, becomes this guy with multiple sides. It's not that you always understand what he does - but you get it. It's not empathy - it's more like a vivid peak into rationale that you might not agree with but you still understand in context. I really did not like him overmuch in Dangerously Happy but here he really comes into his own. He's still a loose cannon - but he's a loose cannon with a mission.
Carson is just this naive guy who really has a clue but lets his pocketbook overrule his brain. And then he lets his dick overrule his brain. See a pattern? Yeah. Well. I thought the chemistry in this was absofuckinglutely amazing. Sizzling.
I appreciated the look into human trafficking without the stark harsh in your face reality. It isn't glossed over but it is definitely more talk and less show. I'd of been fine with the show frankly and I think the book would have had more emotional impact with it that way but the point gets across. I think I'm just demented that way - to find out what happens to people who tragically end up in this situation - and how you could end up in a place you would not consciously choose when your priorities are skewed and you are backed in a corner.
Carson is just this naive guy who really has a clue but lets his pocketbook overrule his brain. And then he lets his dick overrule his brain. See a pattern? Yeah. Well. I thought the chemistry in this was absofuckinglutely amazing. Sizzling.
I appreciated the look into human trafficking without the stark harsh in your face reality. It isn't glossed over but it is definitely more talk and less show. I'd of been fine with the show frankly and I think the book would have had more emotional impact with it that way but the point gets across. I think I'm just demented that way - to find out what happens to people who tragically end up in this situation - and how you could end up in a place you would not consciously choose when your priorities are skewed and you are backed in a corner.
December 12, 2014
Loved 'Dangerously Happy ' and couldn't wait to get my greedy hands on this.....
DNF at about 32%, really struggled to get into it< just hated the way Xavier was treating Carsen
2 stars because Xavier was dam HOT with his commanding dominance, just not enough to continue
DNF at about 32%, really struggled to get into it< just hated the way Xavier was treating Carsen
2 stars because Xavier was dam HOT with his commanding dominance, just not enough to continue
August 12, 2016
Ok there was some real heat in this book and then there were gaps in time or dramatic storyline changes that just seemed too easy. The intensity between Xavier & Carson in the basement scenes were smokin, but then suddenly Carson is shipped off to be with Dario & Aiden who had no relevance to the story, then the story neatly placed Xavi & Carson in witness protection ! It was like three different stories / events were neatly layered on top of each other.
I enjoyed many parts of this story but it felt like there were many unfinished elements. Just not sure about the flow
I enjoyed many parts of this story but it felt like there were many unfinished elements. Just not sure about the flow
August 8, 2015
What did I think, Goodreads?
Wow, just wow. that's what.
Not even for the story in and of itself - the underlying criminal case was heartbreaking enough, but most things related with the criminal case were dealt with off page, and - at least for me - many of the details, clues and so on were rather far-fetched. Carson and Xavi spent a good part of this book apart I greatly enjoyed meeting Dario and Aidan again, seeing them through Carson's eyes and camera lens.
HOwever, the focal point of the story is on Carson's character journey, and also on the (dare I call it "romance"? Well...)romance between Carson and Xavi. And that's where the wow comes in.
Carson's and Xavi's beginnings made me squirm with discomfort. Expressions like "brainwashing", "Stockholm Syndrome" came to mind at what Xavi did with, and to, Carson. And in hindsight, the entire plot is actually quite ridiculous, from premise to actual execution to implication to outcome. Also, while readability has somewhat improved since book one, there are still those paragraph-length sentences, there 's overly flowery prose and a certain repetitiveness regarding word choice. However, while reading, I was totally, absolutely immersed and engrossed. I felt with them, I was scared with Carson and triumphant with Xavi. I was THERE with them. Which, as I see it, means that the writing was fabulous. It made me switch off my rational brain (which would normally cringe at all the issues I mentioned above) completely, and that's perfect escapism, transporting me to another world and making me swallow said world hook line and sinker. It's utter delight.
If that's your kink too, I can't recommend this book highly enough.
Wow, just wow. that's what.
Not even for the story in and of itself - the underlying criminal case was heartbreaking enough, but most things related with the criminal case were dealt with off page, and - at least for me - many of the details, clues and so on were rather far-fetched. Carson and Xavi spent a good part of this book apart I greatly enjoyed meeting Dario and Aidan again, seeing them through Carson's eyes and camera lens.
HOwever, the focal point of the story is on Carson's character journey, and also on the (dare I call it "romance"? Well...)romance between Carson and Xavi. And that's where the wow comes in.
Carson's and Xavi's beginnings made me squirm with discomfort. Expressions like "brainwashing", "Stockholm Syndrome" came to mind at what Xavi did with, and to, Carson. And in hindsight, the entire plot is actually quite ridiculous, from premise to actual execution to implication to outcome. Also, while readability has somewhat improved since book one, there are still those paragraph-length sentences, there 's overly flowery prose and a certain repetitiveness regarding word choice. However, while reading, I was totally, absolutely immersed and engrossed. I felt with them, I was scared with Carson and triumphant with Xavi. I was THERE with them. Which, as I see it, means that the writing was fabulous. It made me switch off my rational brain (which would normally cringe at all the issues I mentioned above) completely, and that's perfect escapism, transporting me to another world and making me swallow said world hook line and sinker. It's utter delight.
If that's your kink too, I can't recommend this book highly enough.
December 24, 2020
I’m very conflicted about this book. And the rating.
Dangerously Happy is one of my favorites this year, but it took me a long time to read another book by Varian Kyrlov.
There’s nothing pretty about this book. But it was beautiful in its own dark and twisted way.
I still don’t know if Xavier is a good person. He obviously had done very bad things and sometimes I was so angry and frustrated, I just wanted to quit.
This book Isn’t for everyone. A lot of triggering tropes. It took me a lot of effort to finish it and even more effort to process it. But I couldn’t putt it down... it was captivating.
Dangerously Happy is one of my favorites this year, but it took me a long time to read another book by Varian Kyrlov.
There’s nothing pretty about this book. But it was beautiful in its own dark and twisted way.
I still don’t know if Xavier is a good person. He obviously had done very bad things and sometimes I was so angry and frustrated, I just wanted to quit.
This book Isn’t for everyone. A lot of triggering tropes. It took me a lot of effort to finish it and even more effort to process it. But I couldn’t putt it down... it was captivating.
May 25, 2023
3.5 stars
April 8, 2016
4.5 stars
We met Xavier in Dangerously Happy. He was a bit scary to say the least. He is huge and strong and intimidating. Xavier is carrying around a lot of anger and need for revenge.
Carson is living a half-life. His inner-self is burning for acceptance and real love, but he keeps that fire snuffed out.
Xavier and Carson meet at work. Carson is just floating through life. He's finally found a job that pays well bar tending. Xavier took the job to get closer to men he knows are involved in some pretty atrocious activities. A few things happen that lead to Carson being held prisoner in Xavier's basement. Xavier skirts a thin line between miracle worker and madman.
This book is a story of healing through the therapy of sex. I can see how some would label the sex as excessive, but if all the different scenes are broken down, they each show an important step on the road to healing. Every moment is significant and serves a specific purpose. Some parts are so touching that I was tearing up. Reading the story of Xavier and Carson was a spiritual experience for me.
This book contains some BDSM, M/M/M scenes, the art of photography, painful pasts, psychology and love. So much happens within, but most I can't discuss because it needs to be experienced. I would ruin the point in my delivery of an explanation. While reading, I could actually feel the adoration of the male form that I believe the author was trying to convey. The bodies were worshiped. It wasn't all about hard dicks and 6 pack abs.
I give this book 5 deep stars and recommend you read it. In the words of Xavier—
***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***
FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.bl...
We met Xavier in Dangerously Happy. He was a bit scary to say the least. He is huge and strong and intimidating. Xavier is carrying around a lot of anger and need for revenge.
Carson is living a half-life. His inner-self is burning for acceptance and real love, but he keeps that fire snuffed out.
Xavier and Carson meet at work. Carson is just floating through life. He's finally found a job that pays well bar tending. Xavier took the job to get closer to men he knows are involved in some pretty atrocious activities. A few things happen that lead to Carson being held prisoner in Xavier's basement. Xavier skirts a thin line between miracle worker and madman.
[...] but then Carson stopped protesting. Stopped struggling. That happened, sometimes. One of the strange, beautiful effects of the gag: when a man can't move, and you take his voice away, he stops being an actor, an agent who does things to control his environment and his fate.
This book is a story of healing through the therapy of sex. I can see how some would label the sex as excessive, but if all the different scenes are broken down, they each show an important step on the road to healing. Every moment is significant and serves a specific purpose. Some parts are so touching that I was tearing up. Reading the story of Xavier and Carson was a spiritual experience for me.
This book contains some BDSM, M/M/M scenes, the art of photography, painful pasts, psychology and love. So much happens within, but most I can't discuss because it needs to be experienced. I would ruin the point in my delivery of an explanation. While reading, I could actually feel the adoration of the male form that I believe the author was trying to convey. The bodies were worshiped. It wasn't all about hard dicks and 6 pack abs.
"Can you see it? How connected we are? How deeply we've learned each other, how we know each other now?"
I give this book 5 deep stars and recommend you read it. In the words of Xavier—
"Go on. Be hungry. Be selfish. Be greedy. Revel in it."
***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***
FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.bl...
January 15, 2016
4.25 stars
August 25, 2015
My friend Dani described this book as "a dark erotic dub/non-con tale and mind food: my favourite mix." Check out her awesome review.
The two main characters here meet under fucked up circumstances, to say the least. Carson, a naive, pretty-eyed bartender, gets caught up in Xavier's misguided sense of vigilantism. Blackmail, bondage, and sex ensue, and - somehow - both men find bruised parts of their psyche healed by the other.
That said, I can't honestly root for this relationship. I had to do intense mental gymnastics to sort through the weird and wonderfully twisted dynamic Xavi and Carson have. But one thing they do share - HEAT. Holy fuck their sex scenes were incredibly intense.
And more positives:
I loved (to hate) Xavi. I loved being in the mind of a predator, and his aggressive, imposing sexuality. Domination erotica isn't often told from the Dom's perspective, and I was in *heaven* reading this. Knowing, of course, that in reality Xavi is terrifying and not great hero in any sense of the word.
I loved the subversion of "loss of virginity" trope.
...Did I mention the sex?
And onto the negatives:
1. Why was this book centered around the inhumanity of forced prostitution and human trafficking? Knowing that the mob bosses were operating in the background dampened all of the great noncon sex scenes. Because Xavi is not a good person and he's doing the same thing to Carson that the criminals were doing to minors... the same criminals he wanted to catchand rape and murder. There are tons of other crimes to choose from. Why not black market art deals? Identity theft? Or drug smuggling? Political corruption? Why did it have to be kidnap and rape, two things Xavi does oh so well.
If at any point a character has to ask, "Did I rape you," you know the situation is toxic.
This book blurred lines in a bad way.
Which brings me to the next point: Carson.
2. I really, strongly disliked Carson.
3. Since Carson is so immature, the relationship beginnings take on another level of fucked-up-ness
...But did I mention I love fucked-up relationships?
Both these men - one, ultimately despicable, the other, extremely bland - are people I would never want to know IRL.** But in their story, they are self consistent, they improve each other, and they grasp at happiness. In the meantime, they have fucking amazing sex.
I've grown accustomed now to hating Krylov's characters but loving their stories, and Bad Things fits the bill. It's an odd line to walk. I loved that the story went there, diving into the grey murkiness of dubious consent; it reveled in the rapey wrongness of humiliation kink and mindfucking a virgin. There's sex everywhere, eroticism thrumming in every page. I loved it. LOVED IT. Kudos to Varian Krylov!
Just don't expect me to call this book a romance with a happy ending :P
**on second thought, if Xavier liked women, I would jump his bones in a heartbeat.
The two main characters here meet under fucked up circumstances, to say the least. Carson, a naive, pretty-eyed bartender, gets caught up in Xavier's misguided sense of vigilantism. Blackmail, bondage, and sex ensue, and - somehow - both men find bruised parts of their psyche healed by the other.
That said, I can't honestly root for this relationship. I had to do intense mental gymnastics to sort through the weird and wonderfully twisted dynamic Xavi and Carson have. But one thing they do share - HEAT. Holy fuck their sex scenes were incredibly intense.
And more positives:
I loved (to hate) Xavi. I loved being in the mind of a predator, and his aggressive, imposing sexuality. Domination erotica isn't often told from the Dom's perspective, and I was in *heaven* reading this. Knowing, of course, that in reality Xavi is terrifying and not great hero in any sense of the word.
I loved the subversion of "loss of virginity" trope.
...Did I mention the sex?
And onto the negatives:
1. Why was this book centered around the inhumanity of forced prostitution and human trafficking? Knowing that the mob bosses were operating in the background dampened all of the great noncon sex scenes. Because Xavi is not a good person and he's doing the same thing to Carson that the criminals were doing to minors... the same criminals he wanted to catch
If at any point a character has to ask, "Did I rape you," you know the situation is toxic.
This book blurred lines in a bad way.
Which brings me to the next point: Carson.
2. I really, strongly disliked Carson.
3. Since Carson is so immature, the relationship beginnings take on another level of fucked-up-ness
...But did I mention I love fucked-up relationships?
Both these men - one, ultimately despicable, the other, extremely bland - are people I would never want to know IRL.** But in their story, they are self consistent, they improve each other, and they grasp at happiness. In the meantime, they have fucking amazing sex.
I've grown accustomed now to hating Krylov's characters but loving their stories, and Bad Things fits the bill. It's an odd line to walk. I loved that the story went there, diving into the grey murkiness of dubious consent; it reveled in the rapey wrongness of humiliation kink and mindfucking a virgin. There's sex everywhere, eroticism thrumming in every page. I loved it. LOVED IT. Kudos to Varian Krylov!
Just don't expect me to call this book a romance with a happy ending :P
**on second thought, if Xavier liked women, I would jump his bones in a heartbeat.
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