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Jayden Sanders is a dead man.
Jayden is trying to reach Cairns when his car dies on the highway and leaves him stranded in a caravan park in Innisfail. As the rain comes down and the crocodile-infested river rises, Jayden becomes fascinated by the strange man who lives across the river—Hapi. What Jayden doesn’t know is that Hapi has already marked him for his own.
Hapi and his brothers, the sons of Horus, prepare the souls of the dead for their father, and each claim protection over a part of the body. When Hapi pulls Jayden from the flooded river, he claims Jayden’s lungs, and his breath, as his due. But what happens when he decides he wants more than that? Jayden refuses to believe it when Hapi tells him he’s dead, but his only hope of getting out of Innisfail alive is by playing along with Hapi’s delusions. And with Horus due to arrive any day, time is running out for Jayden.
Or maybe it already has.
Jayden is trying to reach Cairns when his car dies on the highway and leaves him stranded in a caravan park in Innisfail. As the rain comes down and the crocodile-infested river rises, Jayden becomes fascinated by the strange man who lives across the river—Hapi. What Jayden doesn’t know is that Hapi has already marked him for his own.
Hapi and his brothers, the sons of Horus, prepare the souls of the dead for their father, and each claim protection over a part of the body. When Hapi pulls Jayden from the flooded river, he claims Jayden’s lungs, and his breath, as his due. But what happens when he decides he wants more than that? Jayden refuses to believe it when Hapi tells him he’s dead, but his only hope of getting out of Innisfail alive is by playing along with Hapi’s delusions. And with Horus due to arrive any day, time is running out for Jayden.
Or maybe it already has.
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First published June 4, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
June 17, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is definitely a different type of book than what is the norm for me to read, but every so often I need this type of book. I was looking for dark and gritty and this fit the bill. Even though I enjoyed this I was left a bit disappointed. Let me tell you what I liked and what left me feeling blah.
Jayden, our main character, was very likable to me. When I feel for a character I become emotionally involved in their story. Jayden has not had an easy life and he isn’t even a true adult yet! He’s barely 20 I believe but he’s on his own and really has been all of his life. His father has not been around and his mother was an addict who died when Jayden was 15. Foster care didn’t work for him so he was in a group home until he aged out.
The book starts with him finding his way to his father with only a very old address to go by. He has no idea if his father will be there and if he is he has no idea if he’ll want to see him. His car has broken down and he catches a ride with a trucker. He winds up at a Caravan park and it being the rainy season it’s dreary, wet and miserable. He decides to stay for a bit at this park and see if he can get some temporary work to make some extra money before continuing his trip to find his father.
The setting of this book really is perfect and since the rain is constant I just felt it lent to this feeling that something was building, something that was not good for Jayden. He sees a man around the caravan park a few times who is scary but also intriguing. The park owner warns him to stay away from this man and his family but Jayden can’t help but wonder about this strange “almost attraction”he has.
One night Jayden falls into the river. When he wakes up he is in a shed and finds he’s the captive of this man whose name is Hapi. Hapi tells Jayden he’s already dead and is awaiting judgement before he can pass into the afterlife. Hapi claims he and his brothers are Egyptian gods and each of them will have a part of Jayden. Hapi will have his lungs and his other brothers will have his intestines, liver and stomach. This was creepy and poor Jayden has to just wait for who knows how long until Hapi’s father returns from somewhere for this judgement to begin. Jayden does not believe he’s dead but he knows he cannot convince Hapi so instead he decides to play along and hopes he can win Hapi’s affection. Their relationship, for lack of a better word, becomes sexual. Jayden cannot help how he feels with Hapi, the physical reaction his body has turns into him relying on Hapi as the only one who can truly save him.
I didn’t know how this book would end and I was kept on pins and needles while reading. I was crying while Jayden contemplated his life and how he just wanted to belong to someone. Even Hapi has a family, something Jayden never had. Jayden is so young and just wants more time to live his life. He was so alone and I felt that pain and longing and I just wanted to see Jayden escape somehow.
Hapi himself is a character than I felt was almost one dimensional. He doesn’t talk much and while we see some growth from him I didn’t fully feel a connection strong enough between him and Jayden. This was one problem I had that left me unsatisfied.
The other reason I was left feeling blah was the ending. I didn’t get answers to my questions and the book is left open to interpretation. At least this is how I felt. I have my ideas about things but I like when things are fully wrapped up in a bow and I get all the answers. I’m left a bit bereft after finishing this because I want to know more. I definitely want to know more about Hapi and I’d love to have had a glimpse inside of his mind. Being I was so emotionally invested in Jayden’s outcome I feel like I wasn’t satisfied enough to know what the future will bring.
I truly think I’m supposed to feel this way at the end and it’s a trick I both love and hate! I was surprised with how many feelings I had for Jayden. This isn’t a story for everyone and I may not have enjoyed it at all if I read it at another time. The beginning is a bit slow and there’s no romance but I think it served it’s purpose. Lisa Henry, writing as Cari Waites, left me with questions I will probably never get answers to. I will just have to be content with that and move on! But what the heck is it with that cat!!???? Maybe I missed something and someone can tell me!
June 9, 2021
3.5 stars
Jayden has had a hard life. His father left when he was 9, his mother died when he was 15, he moved into the foster system and aged out. He never had anything to call his own and always moved around. On the search for his father he stops at a rundown tourist spot. Here is where he meets Hapi and here is where his life ends and a new one begins.
Ummm wow that was different from my usual reads. It was darker than anything I read by Lisa Henry. Not sure you'd call this a love story but probably a severe case of Stockholm syndrome. Jayden had a hard life and it just seemed he could not catch a break. Hapi claiming him as his own is the first time he has someone want him in such a way. Yeah, lets just say the whole thing was pretty twisted.
*ARC provide by author, this is my honest review.*
Jayden has had a hard life. His father left when he was 9, his mother died when he was 15, he moved into the foster system and aged out. He never had anything to call his own and always moved around. On the search for his father he stops at a rundown tourist spot. Here is where he meets Hapi and here is where his life ends and a new one begins.
Ummm wow that was different from my usual reads. It was darker than anything I read by Lisa Henry. Not sure you'd call this a love story but probably a severe case of Stockholm syndrome. Jayden had a hard life and it just seemed he could not catch a break. Hapi claiming him as his own is the first time he has someone want him in such a way. Yeah, lets just say the whole thing was pretty twisted.
*ARC provide by author, this is my honest review.*
July 3, 2021
This felt like a movie, every little detail described in a way that makes the reader a watcher. Amazingly done!
Jayden is on the road, with little money, trying to find his father.
Lifting with truckers he’s on his way. He ends up at a caravan park, a place to dry and sleep. It’s raining nonstop, he’s soaked.
In a shop, his eyes meet a dark, piercing stare from a man with olive skin and slicked-back black hair. It’s Hapi, one of Horus’ boys, and his posture screams danger.
They live on the other side of the river.
Jayden gets a warning from the park owner, stay away from the river and the Horace boys.
Hapi makes a promise slash threat about Jayden’s life.
Live is cruel to Jayden, he still ends up in the river and Hapi’s hands around his throat.
He ends up in a dark shed on the other side of the river.
Jayden learns they are gods and Jayden is dead. He knows he’s alive, his body is still responding to Hapi touches.
The atmosphere is dark, dirt, damp, clammy, and muddy. There is hope but even more hopelessness.
While his death is getting nearer, his mind makes over time. Jayden’s past, present, and future are running before his eyes. Looking at Jayden and the slivers of hope rising now and then was heartbreaking. We are witnesses of it all and it fucking hurts to watch.
I was reading with my mouth open and an increased heart rate. It was captivating AF. I couldn’t stop, I had to know the next step.
Excellently written story, I loved every emotion. The build-up was shuddering and gruesomely, greatly done!
With other stories I peek sometimes at the end of a book but not with the dark ones, noooo, I want to be surprised with the end and yes I was! Ha!
This story is not for the faint of heart, it contains noncon, dubcon, violence.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you!!
Jayden is on the road, with little money, trying to find his father.
Lifting with truckers he’s on his way. He ends up at a caravan park, a place to dry and sleep. It’s raining nonstop, he’s soaked.
In a shop, his eyes meet a dark, piercing stare from a man with olive skin and slicked-back black hair. It’s Hapi, one of Horus’ boys, and his posture screams danger.
They live on the other side of the river.
Jayden gets a warning from the park owner, stay away from the river and the Horace boys.
Hapi makes a promise slash threat about Jayden’s life.
Live is cruel to Jayden, he still ends up in the river and Hapi’s hands around his throat.
He ends up in a dark shed on the other side of the river.
Jayden learns they are gods and Jayden is dead. He knows he’s alive, his body is still responding to Hapi touches.
The atmosphere is dark, dirt, damp, clammy, and muddy. There is hope but even more hopelessness.
While his death is getting nearer, his mind makes over time. Jayden’s past, present, and future are running before his eyes. Looking at Jayden and the slivers of hope rising now and then was heartbreaking. We are witnesses of it all and it fucking hurts to watch.
I was reading with my mouth open and an increased heart rate. It was captivating AF. I couldn’t stop, I had to know the next step.
Excellently written story, I loved every emotion. The build-up was shuddering and gruesomely, greatly done!
With other stories I peek sometimes at the end of a book but not with the dark ones, noooo, I want to be surprised with the end and yes I was! Ha!
This story is not for the faint of heart, it contains noncon, dubcon, violence.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you!!
June 2, 2021
In the seconds
“You breathe for me.” I’m not sure that I can pinpoint what exactly I feel after reading this intensely satisfying and twisted tale—and I’m sure that’s the point—but I do know I relished it. I wavered between sympathy and envy for Jayden as there’s something about Hapi that even when you’re cringing still draws you in and just won’t let go. The connection these two have is dark, steamy, gripping and exactly what I needed. Just, maybe don’t read it while it’s raining.
“You breathe for me.” I’m not sure that I can pinpoint what exactly I feel after reading this intensely satisfying and twisted tale—and I’m sure that’s the point—but I do know I relished it. I wavered between sympathy and envy for Jayden as there’s something about Hapi that even when you’re cringing still draws you in and just won’t let go. The connection these two have is dark, steamy, gripping and exactly what I needed. Just, maybe don’t read it while it’s raining.
June 18, 2021
DNF @34%
Before 34% even happens, the book is already insta-lust. Jayden is already feeling “attracted” to this random ass stranger who he has only seen from far away, he hadn’t even seen his face yet BUT he felt a “connection” already <——— get out of here with that shit.
Again, not even 34% has hit when the MC’s were already having sex (a handjob). No built up at all. Jayden just woke up, saw Hapi, Hapi saw him and blowjob ensued. Boring.
I left this pretty early on but I have a feeling this is going to be a “dark romance” full of insta-lust/love from Jayden towards Hapi with a healthy dose of Stockholm Syndrome.
I had a feeling it was going to be a bit dark but I didn’t know it was going to be darker than expected, insta-lust/love, Stockholm Syndrome everywhere, etc. Having your characters drooling all over each other before 34% even hit? No thanks. I knew the character was going to deal with dark themes, btw.
I personally despise insta-lust/love and the whole “love at first sight” crap on books (just on books). I need the build up, I need the tension, I need characters, who have never met before, to stop getting random erections when they see each other, I need for the characters to stop jumping into bed as soon as they meet (unless the story calls for it and it is well done. This one didn’t. There was literally no need for Hapi to give Jayden a handjob) I just…. 🥲
Also Egyptian Gods? They could have been part of “The Hills Have Eyes” and I wouldn’t have noticed. There was NO Egyptian Gods feel to it except the names.
This was messy lmao.
Before 34% even happens, the book is already insta-lust. Jayden is already feeling “attracted” to this random ass stranger who he has only seen from far away, he hadn’t even seen his face yet BUT he felt a “connection” already <——— get out of here with that shit.
Again, not even 34% has hit when the MC’s were already having sex (a handjob). No built up at all. Jayden just woke up, saw Hapi, Hapi saw him and blowjob ensued. Boring.
I left this pretty early on but I have a feeling this is going to be a “dark romance” full of insta-lust/love from Jayden towards Hapi with a healthy dose of Stockholm Syndrome.
I had a feeling it was going to be a bit dark but I didn’t know it was going to be darker than expected, insta-lust/love, Stockholm Syndrome everywhere, etc. Having your characters drooling all over each other before 34% even hit? No thanks. I knew the character was going to deal with dark themes, btw.
I personally despise insta-lust/love and the whole “love at first sight” crap on books (just on books). I need the build up, I need the tension, I need characters, who have never met before, to stop getting random erections when they see each other, I need for the characters to stop jumping into bed as soon as they meet (unless the story calls for it and it is well done. This one didn’t. There was literally no need for Hapi to give Jayden a handjob) I just…. 🥲
Also Egyptian Gods? They could have been part of “The Hills Have Eyes” and I wouldn’t have noticed. There was NO Egyptian Gods feel to it except the names.
This was messy lmao.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2022
If I hadn't read Ba-Pef and Shai before this, I might have liked it more.
This ended up not quite making it to the dark/mindfucky level I think it was aiming for, and that I like in a book. Mostly I ended up bored.
I liked the attention to detail, Hapi being the Nile flooding every year, and Jayden is a soggiboi from 3% on.
I did not get Stockholm/manipulation vibes here at all - I know Jayden thinks he's doing things to manipulate Hapi, but there wasn't enough emotional involvement to make it anything interesting. Trading on your body is a tale old as time, but it's not mindfucky if there's no mind component.
Hapi never had much personality to me. He had some poetry early on, and liked choking things, but...otherwise, nah.
I think a lot of the tension of "is he alive or is he dead" was ruined by it being too much telling in Jayden's thoughts, and not enough showing. I think the cat was the only symbol, and it mostly ended up being confusing.
Overall, not bad but it didn't work for me.
This ended up not quite making it to the dark/mindfucky level I think it was aiming for, and that I like in a book. Mostly I ended up bored.
I liked the attention to detail, Hapi being the Nile flooding every year, and Jayden is a soggiboi from 3% on.
I did not get Stockholm/manipulation vibes here at all - I know Jayden thinks he's doing things to manipulate Hapi, but there wasn't enough emotional involvement to make it anything interesting. Trading on your body is a tale old as time, but it's not mindfucky if there's no mind component.
Hapi never had much personality to me. He had some poetry early on, and liked choking things, but...otherwise, nah.
I think a lot of the tension of "is he alive or is he dead" was ruined by it being too much telling in Jayden's thoughts, and not enough showing. I think the cat was the only symbol, and it mostly ended up being confusing.
Overall, not bad but it didn't work for me.
June 3, 2021
“What if I don’t want to go to your heaven? What if I want to stay here with you?”
He felt Hapi’s breath catch. “Impossible.”
“I can want it, though,” Jayden said, lifting his chin to feel Hapi’s grip tighten slightly.
I’ve always loved reading about mythology. Though, generally, the ones I always find are in the paranormal genre and focus on Greek gods. So when I heard about this dark multi-author series with Egyptian deities in it, that piqued my interest.
It’s the first time I read a book by Lisa Henry’s pen name. But not the first time reading a book written by her. If I recall it correctly it was Red Heir and I found it hilarious. So I was really curious about this darker side of her writing. And it didn't disappoint.
The fact that the story was told from Jayden’s POV made it more twisted and interesting for us, the readers. Him being clueless about the situation and making assumptions about Hapi’s intentions got me questioning myself more than once. Is Hapi really a deity? Or just delusional?
I wouldn't say this is a romance, or at least not a conventional one. For me it is the perfect read if you are new to reading kinks. Or want to explore new ones. I don't think I’ve ever read about an MC with Stockholm syndrome before and now I'm quite curious about it. On the other hand, breath play is one of my favourite kinks in books and here was steamy AF. The way Hapi and Jayden connected at that level was perfect.
If you like or want to read a dark story (but not extremely dark) with a HFN ending and mythological characters, get a copy!
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a free and honest review*
May 30, 2021
When I start reading this book, darkness was all there was in my mind. I wasn’t disappointed. It was marvelous. It was exactly what I was expecting when I read about the concept of this series.
Hapi is a beautifully intriguing character. He is terrifying. I had no idea what to expect from him and I loved it. Jayden was also an interesting character, likable but not as remarkable as Hapi. His moments of sorrow were captivating. His ambivalence towards his situation made the story so much more interesting. For the ones looking for romance, there is a bit of it, maybe not the kind with beautiful words and cute displays of affection, but there is some. There are also very high heated scenes.
The plot was captivating. It was hard for me to stop reading. I wanted to know more and more; about Hapi, about the way he thinks, and about what was going on. It did take me a little bit to get to a moment when I was fascinated by the story, the start is a little slow, but once I was there, I was unable to keep myself away from the book. I think I will be thinking about it for a long time.
Overall it was an amazing book. I would recommend it to readers who like to go into darker themes. Definitely a great start to a series that I can’t wait to keep reading.
Hapi is a beautifully intriguing character. He is terrifying. I had no idea what to expect from him and I loved it. Jayden was also an interesting character, likable but not as remarkable as Hapi. His moments of sorrow were captivating. His ambivalence towards his situation made the story so much more interesting. For the ones looking for romance, there is a bit of it, maybe not the kind with beautiful words and cute displays of affection, but there is some. There are also very high heated scenes.
The plot was captivating. It was hard for me to stop reading. I wanted to know more and more; about Hapi, about the way he thinks, and about what was going on. It did take me a little bit to get to a moment when I was fascinated by the story, the start is a little slow, but once I was there, I was unable to keep myself away from the book. I think I will be thinking about it for a long time.
Overall it was an amazing book. I would recommend it to readers who like to go into darker themes. Definitely a great start to a series that I can’t wait to keep reading.
June 25, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Hapi is part of the Malicious Gods: Egypt collection, which is a set of four books by four different authors. Each story is set in the present day and, as indicated by the series title, features Egyptian gods/theology in the plot. Hapi is Cari Waites’ contribution to the set; her book is set in Australia and focuses on a very small cast: Jayden, the hero; Hapi, the anti-hero; Barry the resort owner; and short appearances from several of Hapi’s family members. Waites creates a world that is palpably monotonous, thanks to the interminable rain and dampness. This sets a mood where any activity feels welcome, even disaster. I liked how the literal grayness of the setting reflects the gray area that Jayden comes to exist in, and the gray area that is the book’s divine theme.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Hapi is part of the Malicious Gods: Egypt collection, which is a set of four books by four different authors. Each story is set in the present day and, as indicated by the series title, features Egyptian gods/theology in the plot. Hapi is Cari Waites’ contribution to the set; her book is set in Australia and focuses on a very small cast: Jayden, the hero; Hapi, the anti-hero; Barry the resort owner; and short appearances from several of Hapi’s family members. Waites creates a world that is palpably monotonous, thanks to the interminable rain and dampness. This sets a mood where any activity feels welcome, even disaster. I liked how the literal grayness of the setting reflects the gray area that Jayden comes to exist in, and the gray area that is the book’s divine theme.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
June 8, 2021
Lisa Henry, writing here as Cari Waites, writes a good story. A good dark story. The atmosphere of Hapi was perfection: A potential Egyptian deity of flooding and water, and breath. Set in Nth Qld during ongoing rain, you feel the moisture on you, the wet, and the kind you just can't get rid of quickly. Everything is damp. I swear I've been there and had a shower, dried off and then I was wringing wet again. I relived that experience as I read.
The Johnstone River in Innisfail is a backdrop, a rundown caravan park, mud, crocs, and then there's warnings of the dangerous Horus boys. And lost souls - whether literally or figuratively - reside here, as does fear, violence, some moments of off-kilter tenderness, and massive vulnerability. This book oozes the most visceral of reading experiences. The whole book is open to interpretation, the ending included.
Blog review at-
The Johnstone River in Innisfail is a backdrop, a rundown caravan park, mud, crocs, and then there's warnings of the dangerous Horus boys. And lost souls - whether literally or figuratively - reside here, as does fear, violence, some moments of off-kilter tenderness, and massive vulnerability. This book oozes the most visceral of reading experiences. The whole book is open to interpretation, the ending included.
Blog review at-
June 4, 2021
Wow, just wow. If you like it dark, angsty, and a little messed up with a touch of Stockholm Syndrome, this book is for you (and me!).
Jayden is a lost young man, who is struggling to find a connection in the world. Abandoned by his father when he was young, and his mother dead when he was 14, he’s in the system until he ages out. He gets a welfare check, has odds and ends jobs, and decides to travel North to an address he found that might be where his dad lives. He’s pretty sure it’s a wasted effort, but he doesn’t know what else to do. After a few rounds of bad luck, Jayden is kidnapped (and kinda rescued) by a very dark, somewhat violent, possessive, domineering, and extremely quiet Hapi. Thus begins the darker side of the story.
The author sets a beautifully terrifying stage in the continuous rain, the rundown home, the dark shed – the environment is described perfectly. The interactions between Jayden and Hapi are direct, brutal, yet build the mystery as to whom is correct about what’s going on – Jayden or Hapi. The story moves at a good pace, the results are surprising… and the mystery? You’ll see.
Well written, beautifully crafted.
Jayden is a lost young man, who is struggling to find a connection in the world. Abandoned by his father when he was young, and his mother dead when he was 14, he’s in the system until he ages out. He gets a welfare check, has odds and ends jobs, and decides to travel North to an address he found that might be where his dad lives. He’s pretty sure it’s a wasted effort, but he doesn’t know what else to do. After a few rounds of bad luck, Jayden is kidnapped (and kinda rescued) by a very dark, somewhat violent, possessive, domineering, and extremely quiet Hapi. Thus begins the darker side of the story.
The author sets a beautifully terrifying stage in the continuous rain, the rundown home, the dark shed – the environment is described perfectly. The interactions between Jayden and Hapi are direct, brutal, yet build the mystery as to whom is correct about what’s going on – Jayden or Hapi. The story moves at a good pace, the results are surprising… and the mystery? You’ll see.
Well written, beautifully crafted.
June 3, 2021
This book was a little off piste from my usual reading selection. I think I was expecting a little more actual ancient Egypt, but what we actually get is characters from ancient Egypt set in modern Australia.
The book is dark in the sense it’s always raining and every scene is miserable.....and yet.....
There is something magnetic about Hapi, a pull that cannot be denied and poor Jayden is stuck in a horror that he wants to cling to.
I Think you have to read it for yourself to truly understand, it’s like the quote from Harry Potter- ‘you’re gonna suffer but you’re gonna be happy about it’.
I received an ARC via GRR and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book is dark in the sense it’s always raining and every scene is miserable.....and yet.....
There is something magnetic about Hapi, a pull that cannot be denied and poor Jayden is stuck in a horror that he wants to cling to.
I Think you have to read it for yourself to truly understand, it’s like the quote from Harry Potter- ‘you’re gonna suffer but you’re gonna be happy about it’.
I received an ARC via GRR and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 8, 2021
This was an interesting one. Hapi and Jayden found something real together and I’m so happy with how the book ended, I was a bit worried about where it was going.
June 12, 2021
This did not have Egyptian Gods feel to it.... more like
Some crazy outback texas chainsaw massacre family....I just didn't get or find it attractive.
Some crazy outback texas chainsaw massacre family....I just didn't get or find it attractive.
June 4, 2021
4.5
Told exclusively from Jayden's pov, this not quite a romance story is claustrophobic and dark.
The scene setting is fantastic and the writing really made me think. Is Hapi a god? Are he and his brothers delusional?
It features non-con, dub-con and breath play (which isn't set up as consensual play, there are no safe words).
I really appreciated how ambiguous it was. The ending is left wide open to interpretation and is very much a HFN.
This is one that is going to stick with me for sure
Told exclusively from Jayden's pov, this not quite a romance story is claustrophobic and dark.
The scene setting is fantastic and the writing really made me think. Is Hapi a god? Are he and his brothers delusional?
It features non-con, dub-con and breath play (which isn't set up as consensual play, there are no safe words).
I really appreciated how ambiguous it was. The ending is left wide open to interpretation and is very much a HFN.
This is one that is going to stick with me for sure
June 4, 2021
I was so intrigued by the blurb for this, I love it when authors incorporate history and mythology into romances.
This is a very dark story, and it does not have a traditional HEA. I thought it was more of an ambiguous HFN, and I really enjoyed that aspect of not knowing.
As an Australian, it was weirdly comforting and, at the same time, off-putting to see so many Australian institutions referenced. I think it added an extra element of discord that non-Australians may not get, because everything seemed familiar and simultaneously foreign.
I'm a huge fan of this authors writing style, and I highlighted multiple passages in this book.
The dubious consent aspect is delicately handled, so that the reader can allow themselves to see these characters together despite the circumstances.
It's single POV, so you don't get to go inside Hapi's mind. This is an important aspect of the novel, as the tension relies of Jayden's confusion and inability to tell what is real.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I have chosen to leave an honest review.
This is a very dark story, and it does not have a traditional HEA. I thought it was more of an ambiguous HFN, and I really enjoyed that aspect of not knowing.
As an Australian, it was weirdly comforting and, at the same time, off-putting to see so many Australian institutions referenced. I think it added an extra element of discord that non-Australians may not get, because everything seemed familiar and simultaneously foreign.
I'm a huge fan of this authors writing style, and I highlighted multiple passages in this book.
The dubious consent aspect is delicately handled, so that the reader can allow themselves to see these characters together despite the circumstances.
It's single POV, so you don't get to go inside Hapi's mind. This is an important aspect of the novel, as the tension relies of Jayden's confusion and inability to tell what is real.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I have chosen to leave an honest review.
June 4, 2021
There's a struggle written into each word and line of this book and it takes the reader for quite a ride. The ups and downs of being in Jayden's head... it's something I won't forget anytime soon.
While not a typical romance - there is love here written in a dark way and it's big. The whole feel of the book will stay with you long after you finish.
While not a typical romance - there is love here written in a dark way and it's big. The whole feel of the book will stay with you long after you finish.
June 5, 2021
4.5 stars
That was so damn good. If not for the slow start (nothing really happened for the first 20ish% of the book) then I'd give it 5 stars. So hot, yet also heart-in-your-throat suspenseful and frightening. And just my kind of fucked up 😈
That was so damn good. If not for the slow start (nothing really happened for the first 20ish% of the book) then I'd give it 5 stars. So hot, yet also heart-in-your-throat suspenseful and frightening. And just my kind of fucked up 😈
July 19, 2021
4.5 stars; heavy but good
Obviously, if you don't like dark romances (even though this isn't really a romance) this book isn't for you. However, even if you do like your books on the the more grisly side, as a heads up, there is a bit of a horror element to this. And I don't mean horror ala early 2000 torture porn. More like the psychological mindf*ckery that is Get Out. Why am I talking about movies in a book review? Because I literally have no idea how to describe what I just read.
There's not too much I can say about the plot TBH. Partly because spoilers, but also because not too much happens. Aside from a few terrifying events and a lot of quality smut, we are third person deep (which is my favorite kind of perspective) with Jayden. Everything he is feeling and thinking and experiencing is palpable. You feel like you're stuck in the rain suffocating with him. So in that sense, this book is beautifully written. But at the same time, because we're in Jayden's head, this book is kind of a downer. Now, I love dark books so I don't mean that this book is "sad". I'm more so talking about this book weighs on you. It's heavy and thick and not a super great feeling which honestly might be the point.
And I knew how it was going to end because the author said as much in interview. But when I got to it I still felt a little off-kilter. I kind of wanted to do like Jayden and close my eyes and pretend it didn't happen.
Again, that might have been the point.
I don't really know how I feel about this book. It's a lot, it's heavy, and Hapi is... Actually I don't really know how I feel about him either. At least he kept his promise. I did like Jayden though. His reactions and motivation were realistic and relatable. This book is definitely worth your time if you like books like this. If you don't, steer clear. It's definitely an experience and that's what I wanted. I want an experience I can't get from your typical MM romance (even though once again, not really a romance). There were high stakes, it got my heart pounding more than once, and I learned a lot of Australian slang. 4.5 stars because this was really well done but it wasn't always fun to read. But again, probably at the point.
Obviously, if you don't like dark romances (even though this isn't really a romance) this book isn't for you. However, even if you do like your books on the the more grisly side, as a heads up, there is a bit of a horror element to this. And I don't mean horror ala early 2000 torture porn. More like the psychological mindf*ckery that is Get Out. Why am I talking about movies in a book review? Because I literally have no idea how to describe what I just read.
There's not too much I can say about the plot TBH. Partly because spoilers, but also because not too much happens. Aside from a few terrifying events and a lot of quality smut, we are third person deep (which is my favorite kind of perspective) with Jayden. Everything he is feeling and thinking and experiencing is palpable. You feel like you're stuck in the rain suffocating with him. So in that sense, this book is beautifully written. But at the same time, because we're in Jayden's head, this book is kind of a downer. Now, I love dark books so I don't mean that this book is "sad". I'm more so talking about this book weighs on you. It's heavy and thick and not a super great feeling which honestly might be the point.
And I knew how it was going to end because the author said as much in interview. But when I got to it I still felt a little off-kilter. I kind of wanted to do like Jayden and close my eyes and pretend it didn't happen.
Again, that might have been the point.
I don't really know how I feel about this book. It's a lot, it's heavy, and Hapi is... Actually I don't really know how I feel about him either. At least he kept his promise. I did like Jayden though. His reactions and motivation were realistic and relatable. This book is definitely worth your time if you like books like this. If you don't, steer clear. It's definitely an experience and that's what I wanted. I want an experience I can't get from your typical MM romance (even though once again, not really a romance). There were high stakes, it got my heart pounding more than once, and I learned a lot of Australian slang. 4.5 stars because this was really well done but it wasn't always fun to read. But again, probably at the point.
June 10, 2021
Any other author, and I'd read this for the smut. However, Cari Waites AKA Lisa Henry has a habit of taking this type of thing and transforming it into something pulse-pounding and mysterious. Hapi is no exception. Even though this book is indeed dark, dirty, and kinky, that didn't translate to hot and titillating for me. Instead, this felt like a psychological thriller, a cross between Southern gothic and Texas Chainsaw Massacre and magical realism. Look,it's difficult to define.
This is a short book, and I think that if it was longer I may have had trouble getting through it, but as it was, I read it from beginning to end in one sitting. I was completely immersed while feeling simultaneously detached from the characters and their struggle. When I say that I might have had trouble getting through it, that's because of the unrelenting darkness and depression that came over me while reading, not because I was bored. Because this didn't feel hugely sexy, which might have alleviated the dark subject matter, instead I felt as though I was weighed down when reading.
The cast in this book is relatively small, as is the location of all the events--the main character, Jayden, wakes up held captive by a mysterious family who believes that they are Egyptian gods. One in particular, Hapi, takes an interest in Jayden that develops into an obsession. Jayden believes that he can manipulate Hapi into saving him. There's a lot going on here, a lot of questions and a relationship between the two characters that I wouldn't exactly call love. Is Hapi deranged or is he actually an Egyptian god? Is Jayden alive or dead? Is what develops between the characters love or an obsession born of circumstances? If you're OK with these questions remaining unanswered, enjoy!
**I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review**
This is a short book, and I think that if it was longer I may have had trouble getting through it, but as it was, I read it from beginning to end in one sitting. I was completely immersed while feeling simultaneously detached from the characters and their struggle. When I say that I might have had trouble getting through it, that's because of the unrelenting darkness and depression that came over me while reading, not because I was bored. Because this didn't feel hugely sexy, which might have alleviated the dark subject matter, instead I felt as though I was weighed down when reading.
The cast in this book is relatively small, as is the location of all the events--the main character, Jayden, wakes up held captive by a mysterious family who believes that they are Egyptian gods. One in particular, Hapi, takes an interest in Jayden that develops into an obsession. Jayden believes that he can manipulate Hapi into saving him. There's a lot going on here, a lot of questions and a relationship between the two characters that I wouldn't exactly call love. Is Hapi deranged or is he actually an Egyptian god? Is Jayden alive or dead? Is what develops between the characters love or an obsession born of circumstances? If you're OK with these questions remaining unanswered, enjoy!
**I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review**
June 14, 2021
Goodness me this is a dark one!! If it were a pair of curtains it would be the darkest blackout blind that didn't let even a chink of light past so that the room was blacker than the blackest black hole!! And then some...
Oh but I loved it... it was sooooooo dark that my pulse was raised from the moment the one of the main characters got into the lorry whilst hitchhiking - who does that??????? From that point on I felt as though my heart was beating out of my chest the whole way through; the writing created the best atmosphere of angst and tension with elements of fear that could almost be smelt and when the brothers were approaching the garage my own anxiety levels were as high as the character's!! The constant falling rain, the racing river, the empty holiday park, the dampness, the mud, the dark, the lack of food, it all adds to the feelings of despondency, loss and lack of hope.
As the story moves into the real thick of things it's hard to believe that it could get any darker but it really does and with lots of delicious turns, which don't include peanut butter!
Our young main character really has no idea what is going on and initially whilst 'done to' eventually falls pray to 'Stockholm Syndrome' within the weird world of the second main character. Whether he ever really knows the truth about anything is so hard to tell but what he lives through is real at the time and the mind games continue.
This book is amazing; it's a psychological masterpiece entangled with historical mythological Gods, all played out somewhere in Australia and you should definitely add it to your kindle today. xx
My problem is that I need more of this book, I wasn't the least bit satisfied by the ending because that cat?????
I received a free copy of this book via Gay Romance Reviews and provide my honest review voluntarily
Oh but I loved it... it was sooooooo dark that my pulse was raised from the moment the one of the main characters got into the lorry whilst hitchhiking - who does that??????? From that point on I felt as though my heart was beating out of my chest the whole way through; the writing created the best atmosphere of angst and tension with elements of fear that could almost be smelt and when the brothers were approaching the garage my own anxiety levels were as high as the character's!! The constant falling rain, the racing river, the empty holiday park, the dampness, the mud, the dark, the lack of food, it all adds to the feelings of despondency, loss and lack of hope.
As the story moves into the real thick of things it's hard to believe that it could get any darker but it really does and with lots of delicious turns, which don't include peanut butter!
Our young main character really has no idea what is going on and initially whilst 'done to' eventually falls pray to 'Stockholm Syndrome' within the weird world of the second main character. Whether he ever really knows the truth about anything is so hard to tell but what he lives through is real at the time and the mind games continue.
This book is amazing; it's a psychological masterpiece entangled with historical mythological Gods, all played out somewhere in Australia and you should definitely add it to your kindle today. xx
My problem is that I need more of this book, I wasn't the least bit satisfied by the ending because that cat?????
I received a free copy of this book via Gay Romance Reviews and provide my honest review voluntarily
June 30, 2021
Definitely pay attention to the blurb. This book is not for the faint hearted. I had a hard time with this book. I'm not going to lie. I love everything about Egyptian and Greek gods and all the stuff that goes with it, and even knowing everywhere, in almost every story that Horus is an a**, this still was a little much. And it's odd for me because I like dark stories and such as well but something was off for me with this book. And I'm kind of sad about that.
I just wish I knew what to really say to be honest. I've read so many stories that deal with rape and torture, non-con, slavery, etc. But something about this non-con just got to me. Maybe it's something about Jayden that hit me. Jayden just wanted a family. In all his life, with all that he had been through, all he wanted was a family. And at every turn, he's been robbed of it. And the one time he thinks he might find closure as far as family, it's taken away from him again from gods who could care less about what humans could think. If they pick you, you're out.
The only redemption for me for this story was that Hapi finally did the right thing. But it still came at a cost. I forget what it's called….that survivor's thing after you've been kidnapped. And part of me wonders if that is what Jayden is really feeling. Because in the end, Hapi saved him. But Hapi still more or less treated him like crap so it's kind of a weird situation.
I don't know. I know not everyone likes what I do or dislikes what I do, so I'm just saying give it a read and see what you think for yourself. See if it's good for you. I hope it is.
I just wish I knew what to really say to be honest. I've read so many stories that deal with rape and torture, non-con, slavery, etc. But something about this non-con just got to me. Maybe it's something about Jayden that hit me. Jayden just wanted a family. In all his life, with all that he had been through, all he wanted was a family. And at every turn, he's been robbed of it. And the one time he thinks he might find closure as far as family, it's taken away from him again from gods who could care less about what humans could think. If they pick you, you're out.
The only redemption for me for this story was that Hapi finally did the right thing. But it still came at a cost. I forget what it's called….that survivor's thing after you've been kidnapped. And part of me wonders if that is what Jayden is really feeling. Because in the end, Hapi saved him. But Hapi still more or less treated him like crap so it's kind of a weird situation.
I don't know. I know not everyone likes what I do or dislikes what I do, so I'm just saying give it a read and see what you think for yourself. See if it's good for you. I hope it is.
June 11, 2021
I received an ARC of this from GRR and this is my honest review.
3.5 -4 stars rounded up.
Well, I have mixed feelings on this one now I've finished it. I knew going in that it was going to be dark, the author said it would be and I knew to expect it so that's not a criticism at all. Dark is good, I can deal with dark.
Even now I'm finished I'm still not sure what on earth was going on, which I think is kind of the point of the whole thing. Was it all real? Did Jayden die and are Hapi and his brothers really Egyptian gods ushering the dead to their version of heaven? Or are they merely living in some sort of fantasy where they think that's what they are, but really they just kidnap and murder people? Honestly, I don't know and that's the point of the story, I think. It leaves you wondering about all of that and that's okay.
I also knew it had an ambiguous ending so I was prepared for that. I really felt for Jayden though through the whole thing, he's had no life at all and being kidnapped and terrorised (or is he dead and they're preparing him for a ritual?) pretty much sums up how his life (death) is going.
I'm glad he got some measure of peace and contentment in the end, if not happiness. So if you want a story that will leave you thinking about it once you're done, this is it.
3.5 -4 stars rounded up.
Well, I have mixed feelings on this one now I've finished it. I knew going in that it was going to be dark, the author said it would be and I knew to expect it so that's not a criticism at all. Dark is good, I can deal with dark.
Even now I'm finished I'm still not sure what on earth was going on, which I think is kind of the point of the whole thing. Was it all real? Did Jayden die and are Hapi and his brothers really Egyptian gods ushering the dead to their version of heaven? Or are they merely living in some sort of fantasy where they think that's what they are, but really they just kidnap and murder people? Honestly, I don't know and that's the point of the story, I think. It leaves you wondering about all of that and that's okay.
I also knew it had an ambiguous ending so I was prepared for that. I really felt for Jayden though through the whole thing, he's had no life at all and being kidnapped and terrorised (or is he dead and they're preparing him for a ritual?) pretty much sums up how his life (death) is going.
I'm glad he got some measure of peace and contentment in the end, if not happiness. So if you want a story that will leave you thinking about it once you're done, this is it.
June 1, 2021
The Malicious Gods of Egypt series is multiauthor. Hapi, written by Lisa Henry as Cari Waites is a dark, dark tale of Horus and his four sons who represent the four canopic jars which accompany mummies in their tombs.
Jasper, a down on his luck twenty something, falls into a crocodile filled river and drowns. Or that's what he's told by Hapi, the man who rescues his body from the river. Problem is, Jasper doesn't think he's dead. And when he finds out that Hapi and his brothers are going to carve up his body to release his ba (soul) to the Egyptian heaven (Aaru), he seeks to escape the shed that the four brothers have him in. Because Jasper is pretty sure he's been imprisoned by serial killers. And is going to be their next victim.
The story takes place in the Queensland rainy season. And you can feel the grayness and the depression in it's very pages. There's angst in the form of regret for a life not truly lived. And sexual contact between the main characters of a... at best... dubious consent.
It's a book that will stay with you. Fitting tribute to the gods of Egypt and their religion that glorifies death.
I received an ARC of this book. And this is my review.
Jasper, a down on his luck twenty something, falls into a crocodile filled river and drowns. Or that's what he's told by Hapi, the man who rescues his body from the river. Problem is, Jasper doesn't think he's dead. And when he finds out that Hapi and his brothers are going to carve up his body to release his ba (soul) to the Egyptian heaven (Aaru), he seeks to escape the shed that the four brothers have him in. Because Jasper is pretty sure he's been imprisoned by serial killers. And is going to be their next victim.
The story takes place in the Queensland rainy season. And you can feel the grayness and the depression in it's very pages. There's angst in the form of regret for a life not truly lived. And sexual contact between the main characters of a... at best... dubious consent.
It's a book that will stay with you. Fitting tribute to the gods of Egypt and their religion that glorifies death.
I received an ARC of this book. And this is my review.
June 7, 2021
3.5 stars
I love the Stockholm Syndrom, the breath play, the dub-con, the twisted romance, and the mystery in the story. It's all so intriguing and kept me curious until the end. I like that we don't know what is real and what is delusional, if Hapi is the son of an Egyptian god, and if Jayden is dead or not. And I love the open ending.
What I didn't like about this book was how long it took to start the pace. For 20% or so, it's so slow and nothing really happening. Jayden keeps telling his story and talking about the place where he's at, but it gets old pretty quickly because it is so repetitive. Also, Jayden had a very sad life and he is so young (we don't know how old he is, but I got the idea that he is in his early 20s), but he acts a lot more mature than he "should" be, at least that was my impression!
I wish it had been longer because I couldn't connect well with Hapi, and I also wish we had had more of Horus to be able to decide whether we believe in the supernatural explanation of this story.
I love the Stockholm Syndrom, the breath play, the dub-con, the twisted romance, and the mystery in the story. It's all so intriguing and kept me curious until the end. I like that we don't know what is real and what is delusional, if Hapi is the son of an Egyptian god, and if Jayden is dead or not. And I love the open ending.
What I didn't like about this book was how long it took to start the pace. For 20% or so, it's so slow and nothing really happening. Jayden keeps telling his story and talking about the place where he's at, but it gets old pretty quickly because it is so repetitive. Also, Jayden had a very sad life and he is so young (we don't know how old he is, but I got the idea that he is in his early 20s), but he acts a lot more mature than he "should" be, at least that was my impression!
I wish it had been longer because I couldn't connect well with Hapi, and I also wish we had had more of Horus to be able to decide whether we believe in the supernatural explanation of this story.
June 16, 2021
I can’t tell you whether this is a book with a dark supernatural reimagining of Egyptian Gods hidden in the (very, very damp) margins of Australian society or a psychological thriller about criminals who share the delusion of Godhood in those same rainy, dreary margins, and that’s a large part of the story’s appeal. I can tell you that Jayden, the young protagonist who’s never had a family or a home, is caught up in the darkness and his love story is either his salvation or damnation, depending on which interpretation you want to go with. This is a beautifully crafted, deeply mesmerizing read that is both compelling and disturbing on any number of levels. I love that it’s impossible to know what’s really happening, even as my heart breaks for Jayden, doing the best he can under unthinkable (literally) circumstances. From beginning to end, this one took me off guard, and I’ll be thinking about it for a while. Well worth a read.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 24, 2021
“Hapi” is book one in the Malicious Gods:Egypt collection, and this one features Horus and his sons. I actually wanted more on Hapi, his brothers and Horus, we weren’t really given much on them. Once you get past the beginning, which is slow, it picks up and we, the reader, get to decide if Jayden is really dead or not. I felt that Jayden really had a horrible case of Stockholm Syndrome towards Hapi, and just wanted someone to want him for the first time in his life. I really wanted Jayden to have a little more fight in him than he had, and less insta-love towards Hapi, he accepted things way too easily. I would recommend this if you’re looking for a slightly darker read but definitely look at the trigger warnings before hand. Some readers weren’t happy with the ending, I actually liked that it was an ambiguous ending. I know it sounds like I didn’t like this one but I did, I just wanted more from Jayden and Hapi.
I give this book 3 stars.
This review is based on an advanced copy received from the author.
I give this book 3 stars.
This review is based on an advanced copy received from the author.
June 9, 2021
More like 2.5 but rounded up due to the quality of the writing.
Dark ✅
Mysterious ✅
Well-written ✅
Atmospheric ✅
But.
I’ve really enjoyed the twisted tales of Lisa Henry’s alternate pen name, but this one left me confused as to what it was that I read. There was some steam, little “relationship” development, and the sense of dread permeated to such a degree, that not even the HEA was enough for me to snap out of it. Talking of HEAs, everything was very conveniently wrapped. Maybe I wasn’t in the right mood for something like this, who knows. The ending was open to interpretation, which can be amazing at times, but I spent the whole time reading REALLY dying to figure out what’s going on, so to leave it so open-ended feels like a cop out.
This is Cari Waites, aka Lisa Henry, so the writing is superb, naturally drawing you into this foreboding, ultra creepy set up for the story. Just be aware of what this is and what it’s not to avoid disappointment.
Dark ✅
Mysterious ✅
Well-written ✅
Atmospheric ✅
But.
I’ve really enjoyed the twisted tales of Lisa Henry’s alternate pen name, but this one left me confused as to what it was that I read. There was some steam, little “relationship” development, and the sense of dread permeated to such a degree, that not even the HEA was enough for me to snap out of it. Talking of HEAs, everything was very conveniently wrapped. Maybe I wasn’t in the right mood for something like this, who knows. The ending was open to interpretation, which can be amazing at times, but I spent the whole time reading REALLY dying to figure out what’s going on, so to leave it so open-ended feels like a cop out.
This is Cari Waites, aka Lisa Henry, so the writing is superb, naturally drawing you into this foreboding, ultra creepy set up for the story. Just be aware of what this is and what it’s not to avoid disappointment.
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June 14, 2021I actually CANT give a rating for this book.
The blurb made it sounds interesting and that its a relationship, and love interest on both sides
But what I read and I finished the story, wasnt this blurb.
I kept expecting something more.
Jayden has never had anything, a proper home life, family or support. After aging out of the system, he follows in his fathers footsteps to find him. Meeting Hapi in grocery store in Innisfail, hes intrigued by the stranger, that seems to captivate him and take his breath away.
He finds out later its one of those Horus boys he should stay away from. During a storm he somehow ends up chained in a shed on their property, each claiming to keeping a part of him. Though he only wants Hapi.
I kept expecting to have Hapis views on Jayden, this possibly would have changed my enjoyment of the story. As it is, I didnt like the story, but I didnt hate it. It was meh.
The blurb made it sounds interesting and that its a relationship, and love interest on both sides
But what I read and I finished the story, wasnt this blurb.
I kept expecting something more.
Jayden has never had anything, a proper home life, family or support. After aging out of the system, he follows in his fathers footsteps to find him. Meeting Hapi in grocery store in Innisfail, hes intrigued by the stranger, that seems to captivate him and take his breath away.
He finds out later its one of those Horus boys he should stay away from. During a storm he somehow ends up chained in a shed on their property, each claiming to keeping a part of him. Though he only wants Hapi.
I kept expecting to have Hapis views on Jayden, this possibly would have changed my enjoyment of the story. As it is, I didnt like the story, but I didnt hate it. It was meh.
January 28, 2022
What in the Egyptian god name did I just read! 🤯 This book game me chills and goose bumps as it progressed. Beautifully written with a perfect ending! My poor baby Jayden. He lives through everyone’s worst nightmare. I cried for him and his sad life. He made me question what it means to be alive and are things we chase worth chasing or are our problems really significant in the grand scheme of things. What will I think about when I face my mortality and what will I regret. Am I living a life worth living. Yup it got really dark and deep for a little.
And Hapi!!! Or shall I say Happy 🤭 I loved that there wasn’t insight into what was going on in his psychotic delusional mind! It adds to the mystery of the man. We all had to figure him out like Jayden. He kept us on our toes or hanging by our throats lol
Read this book on a rainy cold day and you will need a hot shower just to shake off the chills it will give you. It does end in a happy ending so be brave! I truly enjoyed this book!
And Hapi!!! Or shall I say Happy 🤭 I loved that there wasn’t insight into what was going on in his psychotic delusional mind! It adds to the mystery of the man. We all had to figure him out like Jayden. He kept us on our toes or hanging by our throats lol
Read this book on a rainy cold day and you will need a hot shower just to shake off the chills it will give you. It does end in a happy ending so be brave! I truly enjoyed this book!
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