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Twisted Web #1
Shai
How do you play a game when there aren’t any rules?
Petty crook and drug dealer Elijah Page’s plan was simple. Stay off the feuding crime-lords’ radar for long enough to make a quick buck in the city, and then get out. He couldn’t have been more naïve. Captured and beaten by McIntyre, he escapes death, only to find himself in the hands of McIntyre’s opponent. Shai is an enigma, a man as charming as he is twisted. And he’s set his sights on possessing Elijah—body and soul.
Shai will stop at nothing until he’s ousted McIntyre. In the meantime, fate has provided him with an interesting distraction in the shape of the stubborn and rebellious Elijah. Elijah’s lips may say one thing, but his body says something else entirely. Elijah might think he has what it takes to go up against a man like Shai, but he’s wrong. He’s nothing but a fly in Shai’s web, and Shai will always be two steps ahead.
A game ensues. One that Elijah may not even realize he’s playing, or just how big a pawn he is. Everything is at stake. Possibly even his heart and mind. By the time Shai has finished with him, there might not be anything left of the man he used to be.
Let the games begin.
A dark mm romantic suspense featuring snakes as a weapon, a manipulative main character, and a few twists and turns along the way.
Petty crook and drug dealer Elijah Page’s plan was simple. Stay off the feuding crime-lords’ radar for long enough to make a quick buck in the city, and then get out. He couldn’t have been more naïve. Captured and beaten by McIntyre, he escapes death, only to find himself in the hands of McIntyre’s opponent. Shai is an enigma, a man as charming as he is twisted. And he’s set his sights on possessing Elijah—body and soul.
Shai will stop at nothing until he’s ousted McIntyre. In the meantime, fate has provided him with an interesting distraction in the shape of the stubborn and rebellious Elijah. Elijah’s lips may say one thing, but his body says something else entirely. Elijah might think he has what it takes to go up against a man like Shai, but he’s wrong. He’s nothing but a fly in Shai’s web, and Shai will always be two steps ahead.
A game ensues. One that Elijah may not even realize he’s playing, or just how big a pawn he is. Everything is at stake. Possibly even his heart and mind. By the time Shai has finished with him, there might not be anything left of the man he used to be.
Let the games begin.
A dark mm romantic suspense featuring snakes as a weapon, a manipulative main character, and a few twists and turns along the way.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2021
86 people are currently reading
828 people want to read
About the author
H.L. Night
2 books53 followersH.L Night is the darker pen name of H.L Day. Therefore, you can find her wherever H.L Day is as the devil on her shoulder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
June 27, 2021
3.75 ✨
This review is gonna be quick. Or atleast I’m gonna try. I have very little to say about this; not because I didn’t like it but because I flew through this so quickly that I didn’t even stop to write notes. And my memory is honestly kind of pathetic soo here we go
I really really liked this one. This was dark and twisted and so fucking manipulative to a limit that you start to actually think that the shit the Shai puts Elijah through is reasonable. Normal. Needed. This is what I call a fucking mindfuck.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”
Show let’s start with the characters shall we?
SHAI
My man. My twisted, cruel, egotistical man. It’s because of him that I have a sudden fear of snakes. And a sudden kink of them as well. He didn’t just fuck with Elijah, he fucked with me as well. He made me understand the most insane things and question the sane ones.
Elijah
Normal. That’s all I can say about him. He was such a strong character. Even with the power struggle and Dynamic we have going on here, we clearly see that Elijah is not weak. He made best of his situations and his decisions were smart but not ”oh this can only happen in books” smart.
Now the story:
- [ ⚫️] Elijah is kidnapped by a rival mob and they try to drown him
- [ ⚫️] Shai’s team finds him.
- [ ⚫️] Shai’s mom fucks him while he’s unconscious
- [ ⚫️] As a “test”- he is thrown into a dark room with a snake overnight to survive
- [ ⚫️] Shai fucks him (non-con)
- [ ⚫️] Shai gets him addicted to drugs
- [ ⚫️] Shai surgically inserts a knife/blade into his hand
- [ ⚫️] They fuck
- [ ⚫️] He’s given back to the rivals.
- [ ⚫️] He cuts himself open to take the knife from his arm to kill rival leader.
- [ ⚫️] Shai takes him back and it was all part of his plan
This was truly weird. I feel like you should be in a special mood to want to read this. And an even better mood to go through this.
-> the ‘she’ here (Nyoko) is a fucking snake that’s right yall. He’s talking about his snake. A fucking edit :Cobra. I’m shuddering rn.
They have scenes of them having sexual experiences with snakes in the room. And snakes on them. There’s a scene with them making out while the snake is killing another man.
* I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO CANNOT STOMACH THE SIGHT OF SNAKES
Overall: this was not a romance. I wouldn’t really call it romance. But I guess the romance is implied? It’s a dark tale with calculated moves and two man with different cravings for power.
This review is gonna be quick. Or atleast I’m gonna try. I have very little to say about this; not because I didn’t like it but because I flew through this so quickly that I didn’t even stop to write notes. And my memory is honestly kind of pathetic soo here we go
I really really liked this one. This was dark and twisted and so fucking manipulative to a limit that you start to actually think that the shit the Shai puts Elijah through is reasonable. Normal. Needed. This is what I call a fucking mindfuck.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”
Show let’s start with the characters shall we?
SHAI
My man. My twisted, cruel, egotistical man. It’s because of him that I have a sudden fear of snakes. And a sudden kink of them as well. He didn’t just fuck with Elijah, he fucked with me as well. He made me understand the most insane things and question the sane ones.
Elijah
Normal. That’s all I can say about him. He was such a strong character. Even with the power struggle and Dynamic we have going on here, we clearly see that Elijah is not weak. He made best of his situations and his decisions were smart but not ”oh this can only happen in books” smart.
Now the story:
- [ ⚫️] Elijah is kidnapped by a rival mob and they try to drown him
- [ ⚫️] Shai’s team finds him.
- [ ⚫️] Shai’s mom fucks him while he’s unconscious
- [ ⚫️] As a “test”- he is thrown into a dark room with a snake overnight to survive
- [ ⚫️] Shai fucks him (non-con)
- [ ⚫️] Shai gets him addicted to drugs
- [ ⚫️] Shai surgically inserts a knife/blade into his hand
- [ ⚫️] They fuck
- [ ⚫️] He’s given back to the rivals.
- [ ⚫️] He cuts himself open to take the knife from his arm to kill rival leader.
- [ ⚫️] Shai takes him back and it was all part of his plan
This was truly weird. I feel like you should be in a special mood to want to read this. And an even better mood to go through this.
“You and Nyoko have something in common. She gets tetchy too if I leave her on her own for too long. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to keep you both satisfied.” I suppressed a shudder as he stroked a hand along the length of her body. “I guess we’ll have to find a way for the three of us to spend some time together.”
-> the ‘she’ here (Nyoko) is a fucking snake that’s right yall. He’s talking about his snake. A fucking edit :Cobra. I’m shuddering rn.
They have scenes of them having sexual experiences with snakes in the room. And snakes on them. There’s a scene with them making out while the snake is killing another man.
* I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO CANNOT STOMACH THE SIGHT OF SNAKES
Overall: this was not a romance. I wouldn’t really call it romance. But I guess the romance is implied? It’s a dark tale with calculated moves and two man with different cravings for power.
And you are a whore, but you’re only a whore for me, which is exactly as it should be. And the word whore is so misunderstood. What does it mean? That someone has given their body over to someone else, that they can provide exactly what that person needs and that they’re good at it. If you ask me, that describes you perfectly.”
July 7, 2021
tw: rape, gore, torture, drug abuse, pedophilia
well well well i finished another dark romance. another one that will surely keep up a certain number of nights. the best thing that happened here was that no part of this story was boring. it was unputdownable. is that even a word? i'm making that up. i remember before going to sleep last night i made a promise to myself to read only the first 2 chapters. you know, to test the waters if my time would be worth it. turned out, it was! i stayed up last night without knowing i almost devoured the first half of this story. definitely a page turner from start to finish. things are happening nonstop without letting the reader to breathe. as for the characters, damn these two, shai and elijah are tough bunch. especially shai. what shai did to elijah was plain brutal. i thought i was ready for some dark fucked up shit as it turns out i'm not. he pushed me to my limits on what i can digest and not digest in a dark romance. elijah was a champion through and through to survive everything. also, honestly is this even romance? i don't know i swear. it was something more evil, more wicked. lastly, the ending got me bothered and then i remembered that this is again a dark romance. for the dark romance readers, we definitely won in this.
It was doubtful he was dreaming about me. Not yet. But we'd get to that point . The point where I'd be the only thing he thought about, day or night, the thing that consumed his thoughts beyond all the others.
well well well i finished another dark romance. another one that will surely keep up a certain number of nights. the best thing that happened here was that no part of this story was boring. it was unputdownable. is that even a word? i'm making that up. i remember before going to sleep last night i made a promise to myself to read only the first 2 chapters. you know, to test the waters if my time would be worth it. turned out, it was! i stayed up last night without knowing i almost devoured the first half of this story. definitely a page turner from start to finish. things are happening nonstop without letting the reader to breathe. as for the characters, damn these two, shai and elijah are tough bunch. especially shai. what shai did to elijah was plain brutal. i thought i was ready for some dark fucked up shit as it turns out i'm not. he pushed me to my limits on what i can digest and not digest in a dark romance. elijah was a champion through and through to survive everything. also, honestly is this even romance? i don't know i swear. it was something more evil, more wicked. lastly, the ending got me bothered and then i remembered that this is again a dark romance. for the dark romance readers, we definitely won in this.
July 14, 2021
This book stopped working for me at 70% or so, when the story throws a plot twist that I saw coming a mile away but I still hoped it didn't happen... Well, it did. 🥲
The beginning was all that I was hoping, we have a small dealer being trapped by the capo because he dealt without permission in his part of the city. Stuff happens, the guy almost dies but he is saved by Shai's minions and becomes Shai's toy. I was ok with all of this and with the mindfuck, I didn't like that I saw how Shai was controlling him, I would have liked for me as a reader to be as clueless as Elijah, but I was not.
Hence the "plot twist", I saw it and I thought it wouldn't work in the story, I felt it could be too OTT but I kept reading because maybe I was wrong. I was right, a person can't control every single point of a situation without being weird and stupid. And yes, I know I'm a hypocrite because Sila's in Criminal Intentions did that, but I guess that's the difference between a good work from my perspective and a not so good work. I didn't feel it nor did I believe it, so the story lost me there.
The romance? Another thing that I didn't feel, I never felt that Elijah was kidnapped by the way he acted, he was with a monster but he fell so easily that I had a hard time overlooking that fact. Then the guy uses him and he's: ok, I get why you did it, it's ok, I love you... So yeah, no.
I just didn't buy it and I'm almost sure is a me thing. So don't mind me much. 🤭🤭❤
The beginning was all that I was hoping, we have a small dealer being trapped by the capo because he dealt without permission in his part of the city. Stuff happens, the guy almost dies but he is saved by Shai's minions and becomes Shai's toy. I was ok with all of this and with the mindfuck, I didn't like that I saw how Shai was controlling him, I would have liked for me as a reader to be as clueless as Elijah, but I was not.
Hence the "plot twist", I saw it and I thought it wouldn't work in the story, I felt it could be too OTT but I kept reading because maybe I was wrong. I was right, a person can't control every single point of a situation without being weird and stupid. And yes, I know I'm a hypocrite because Sila's in Criminal Intentions did that, but I guess that's the difference between a good work from my perspective and a not so good work. I didn't feel it nor did I believe it, so the story lost me there.
The romance? Another thing that I didn't feel, I never felt that Elijah was kidnapped by the way he acted, he was with a monster but he fell so easily that I had a hard time overlooking that fact. Then the guy uses him and he's: ok, I get why you did it, it's ok, I love you... So yeah, no.
I just didn't buy it and I'm almost sure is a me thing. So don't mind me much. 🤭🤭❤
July 9, 2021
I've not read about such a twisted character well since after my encounter with Maurice Swift from A Ladder to the Sky anyway before we proceed any further, here are some content warnings , non consensual sex, forced drug addiction, pedophilia, Stockholm syndrome, murder, torture & snakes!
Was it necessary to give a past story to justify Shai's present state? I Don't think so. I wanted him to be the master of game, manipulator and a person with ambiguous morality, who is always unpredictable and has no regret. All of which he was but then why ruining it by giving him to justify it. And there were couple mentions of kinky side of Shai, I wish author explored it more. These are just my only critic for it.
First of all let's make it clear It's not healthy, any captive captor relationship can never be healthy. But here It's designed such way to make you root for bad (which would be a huge understatement) guy for whom everything is game, everything is toy to play with, to control it. And he's the puppeteer controlling their fate. This book is like a grandmaster playing chess, everything is planned out, everything is manipulated that you got no option except accepting the fate and hoping for the best. As a reader i felt the suffocation in my bone, in my soul.
It made me uncomfortable many times but it was nearly impossible for me to quit it. I was lost in the labyrinth of contradictions. Shai is the devil in his most alluring form and Elijah is his pray. From his naive futile protests to submerging in the dark web of Shai he's a mess of contradictions. But by the end he becomes vicious one man cult for Shai. The transformation is satisfying. The intimacy was forced at first but it gradually become more interesting and Shai remains game as usual. No B word or L bomb were exchanged, but their actions were clear as day.
It was a pleasant read and i was disappointed when it ended so soon. But our beloved author is a fucking sweetheart. Bonus story of Shai prolonged my dreamy dark fantasies a bit more. Shai remained that same adorable bastard but It's Elijah who is needy, jealous bitch who will LITERALLY DO ANYTHING to have what is his own. Who knew our little caterpillar will turn into a gorgeous rare black butterfly! Huh!
This book is almost like :
do you dare?
Was it necessary to give a past story to justify Shai's present state? I Don't think so. I wanted him to be the master of game, manipulator and a person with ambiguous morality, who is always unpredictable and has no regret. All of which he was but then why ruining it by giving him to justify it. And there were couple mentions of kinky side of Shai, I wish author explored it more. These are just my only critic for it.
First of all let's make it clear It's not healthy, any captive captor relationship can never be healthy. But here It's designed such way to make you root for bad (which would be a huge understatement) guy for whom everything is game, everything is toy to play with, to control it. And he's the puppeteer controlling their fate. This book is like a grandmaster playing chess, everything is planned out, everything is manipulated that you got no option except accepting the fate and hoping for the best. As a reader i felt the suffocation in my bone, in my soul.
It made me uncomfortable many times but it was nearly impossible for me to quit it. I was lost in the labyrinth of contradictions. Shai is the devil in his most alluring form and Elijah is his pray. From his naive futile protests to submerging in the dark web of Shai he's a mess of contradictions. But by the end he becomes vicious one man cult for Shai. The transformation is satisfying. The intimacy was forced at first but it gradually become more interesting and Shai remains game as usual. No B word or L bomb were exchanged, but their actions were clear as day.
It was a pleasant read and i was disappointed when it ended so soon. But our beloved author is a fucking sweetheart. Bonus story of Shai prolonged my dreamy dark fantasies a bit more. Shai remained that same adorable bastard but It's Elijah who is needy, jealous bitch who will LITERALLY DO ANYTHING to have what is his own. Who knew our little caterpillar will turn into a gorgeous rare black butterfly! Huh!
This book is almost like :
do you dare?
June 18, 2021
Well, this is something different, it has an absolutely stunning storyline.
You can find depravity on every page. It’s a dark dark story, a lot is wrong and that’s so right.
I love to start with some trigger warnings so you can decide if this is what you are looking for or not: non-consensual sex – forced drug addiction – murder – snakes – Stockholm Syndrome.
The scenery starts right away with Elijah in high distress. The first chapter took already my breath away, literally. Imagine what the other chapters will do.
The city is split by a river, one side is owned by McIntyre the other by Shai. Both men are opposites but are determined to own the whole city.
The activities Elijah runs in the city, to survive, were a bad choice and certainly made in the wrong place.
In no time McIntyre keeps him in prison and beats him up. More death than alive he ends up being Shai’s property. Where McIntyre beats him almost to his end because of his unruled mouth, Shai loves Elijah’s attitude, if only for some distraction.
Shai is charming and sexy, but he’s also the personification of depravity.
Manipulated and overpowered by Shai, Elijah tries to keep his head up, this all to Shai’s delight.
Shai makes him feel loved and safe and then not, he is screwing with Elijah’s head.
A nice addition are Shai’s precious snakes, one even more dangerous than the other, Elijah is scared to death by Shai’s playthings… emphasis on the word playthings!
Shai is in Elijah’s dreams and nightmares, he’s everywhere. He’s not only the ruler of the city but definitely the ruler of a powerful game. Elijah isn’t even aware he’s the pawn.
It’s impossible to predict what goes on in Shai’s head and what his next step will be.
The author did an amazing job with the plot, absolutely magnificent.
I loved all the unpredictable twists and turns in this narrative. From out of nowhere BAM the story took another turn.
I love me some good-written disturbing stories, this is one of them!
It’s a dark, corrupt story with engaging corrupt characters, it was everything!
The pace and flow were wonderfully done, the plot well thought out. The environments, the circumstances, every move were excellently described, as a reader you’re totally absorbed and sucked into the scenes. Everything was extremely palpable, the despair, the fear, confusion, the venom, anxiety, hope, anticipation, trust, distrust, the helplessness, the addiction, disturbance, the love, and all the orgasms.
Bow to the author!
This narrative is a shining jewel among the stories on the dark bookshelf.
Highly recommended to the readers who love stories in this category!
Read and reviewed for LoveBytes LGBTQ bookreviews
You can find depravity on every page. It’s a dark dark story, a lot is wrong and that’s so right.
I love to start with some trigger warnings so you can decide if this is what you are looking for or not: non-consensual sex – forced drug addiction – murder – snakes – Stockholm Syndrome.
The scenery starts right away with Elijah in high distress. The first chapter took already my breath away, literally. Imagine what the other chapters will do.
The city is split by a river, one side is owned by McIntyre the other by Shai. Both men are opposites but are determined to own the whole city.
The activities Elijah runs in the city, to survive, were a bad choice and certainly made in the wrong place.
In no time McIntyre keeps him in prison and beats him up. More death than alive he ends up being Shai’s property. Where McIntyre beats him almost to his end because of his unruled mouth, Shai loves Elijah’s attitude, if only for some distraction.
Shai is charming and sexy, but he’s also the personification of depravity.
Manipulated and overpowered by Shai, Elijah tries to keep his head up, this all to Shai’s delight.
Shai makes him feel loved and safe and then not, he is screwing with Elijah’s head.
A nice addition are Shai’s precious snakes, one even more dangerous than the other, Elijah is scared to death by Shai’s playthings… emphasis on the word playthings!
Shai is in Elijah’s dreams and nightmares, he’s everywhere. He’s not only the ruler of the city but definitely the ruler of a powerful game. Elijah isn’t even aware he’s the pawn.
It’s impossible to predict what goes on in Shai’s head and what his next step will be.
The author did an amazing job with the plot, absolutely magnificent.
I loved all the unpredictable twists and turns in this narrative. From out of nowhere BAM the story took another turn.
I love me some good-written disturbing stories, this is one of them!
It’s a dark, corrupt story with engaging corrupt characters, it was everything!
The pace and flow were wonderfully done, the plot well thought out. The environments, the circumstances, every move were excellently described, as a reader you’re totally absorbed and sucked into the scenes. Everything was extremely palpable, the despair, the fear, confusion, the venom, anxiety, hope, anticipation, trust, distrust, the helplessness, the addiction, disturbance, the love, and all the orgasms.
Bow to the author!
This narrative is a shining jewel among the stories on the dark bookshelf.
Highly recommended to the readers who love stories in this category!
Read and reviewed for LoveBytes LGBTQ bookreviews
June 18, 2021
“Just give in to it, Elijah. You were mine from the first moment I saw you. We both knew that.”
“You locked me in a room with a snake.”
I sighed wearily. “Are you going to bring that up every time we disagree on something or have an argument? Would you rather my men had known that I was already giving you special treatment?”
And the award for the worst fictional mother of the year goes to… Shai’s mom!! Or… maybe not? Was all of it true? Or was it part of a twisted plan? I think it was up to us to decide and that was the beauty of this book.
If you enjoyed Hapi you’ll totally gonna love this. Though, in this one there isn't a paranormal take on the Egyptian deities . I’d admit that I’m always stuck with the same tropes I know I’ll enjoy. But this series is making me discover new kinks to read about and I’ve only read two so far. I'm truly excited to read the next books of this series!
Shai’s mind games were something else. And if you weren’t cautious reading between the lines it was easy to fall for every one of his tricks, like poor Elijah. And most of the time said tricks were rough to read, but you just wanted to keep reading and know how much Elijah was going to endure. Neither is to say that this relationship was far from normal, but in terms of disturbed ones they were perfect for each other.
Twisted characters. A tamed cobra. A wild black mamba. Clearly, not for people with ophidiophobia. Can’t wait to discover other books by this author!
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a free and honest review*
July 12, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
This is the second book I’ve read from the Malicious Gods books each written by a different author. I have to admit that for these stories supposedly revolving around Egyptian Gods I don’t see that much at all, especially in this book.
I did like a lot about this story. I think HL Day is a great author and if you haven’t checked out her books I highly recommend you do so. I’ve really enjoyed reading a few books by her and I am always impressed by her writing. I felt this story was just too long. It dragged and for me that took a lot of the enjoyment out of it.
Even though this was a “dark read” I didn’t get that feeling as much as I did when I read the first Malicious Gods book, Hapi. That book had an overall dark theme running through it plus the constant rain and POV only from one character added to it. This book we get two POV’s and I appreciated it but I felt like Shai, while being a very immoral character, felt too humanized to me. He wasn’t a mystery and I didn’t get any tie to the Egyptian God he was named after. It was mentioned but nothing was shown yo make you believe that.
I do have to say that the plan Shai had was brilliant! There was a lot going on that sneaks up on you and I loved that aspect! If there was a second book written I would definitely read it.
This series is interesting and I am looking forward to reading more!
This is the second book I’ve read from the Malicious Gods books each written by a different author. I have to admit that for these stories supposedly revolving around Egyptian Gods I don’t see that much at all, especially in this book.
I did like a lot about this story. I think HL Day is a great author and if you haven’t checked out her books I highly recommend you do so. I’ve really enjoyed reading a few books by her and I am always impressed by her writing. I felt this story was just too long. It dragged and for me that took a lot of the enjoyment out of it.
Even though this was a “dark read” I didn’t get that feeling as much as I did when I read the first Malicious Gods book, Hapi. That book had an overall dark theme running through it plus the constant rain and POV only from one character added to it. This book we get two POV’s and I appreciated it but I felt like Shai, while being a very immoral character, felt too humanized to me. He wasn’t a mystery and I didn’t get any tie to the Egyptian God he was named after. It was mentioned but nothing was shown yo make you believe that.
I do have to say that the plan Shai had was brilliant! There was a lot going on that sneaks up on you and I loved that aspect! If there was a second book written I would definitely read it.
This series is interesting and I am looking forward to reading more!
July 7, 2021
3.75 stars
My mind is still spinning and trying to process the maelstrom of emotions—shock, revulsion, fascination, titillation, and incredulity—that Shai aroused. The overwhelming darkness and unending mind games left me mentally tapped out by the end of the book. Please be warned that this review contains a few spoilers, but they’ll be clearly marked in a separate section. So, with that, let the fun and games begin!
**TW**
Non-consensual Sex, Forced Drug Addiction, Stockholm Syndrome, Murder, Snakes
Elijah Page
Elijah is a petty crook and drug dealer who ventures into the territory of a crime boss called McIntyre. Elijah is feisty and refuses to be broken even when McIntyre captures and tortures him for several weeks. Although McIntyre demands fealty from him, Elijah refuses to give in. He’s dumped into a river and left for dead, but Shai’s men fish him out.
Shai
Shai is a psychopath, master manipulator and rival crime boss in the city of Deadwood. McIntyre and Shai are locked in a stalemate to control the city, and Shai’s sole goal is to eliminate McIntyre. Intelligent, ruthless, and highly unpredictable, he gets off on control and evoking fear. The problem with Shai, however, is that he is so cruel and twisted that his character can sometimes veer into caricature territory.
**Spoiler Alert **
Some Messed Up Things That Happen
• Shai’s mother has sex with Elijah while he’s unconscious
• Snake encounters (more below)
• A date from hell (hint: includes a poisoning threat)
• Elijah is forcibly turned into a drug addict
• Forced surgery on Elijah
• Elijah is manipulated into committing murder
• Shai’s birthday present to Elijah is one of the McIntyre goons who tortured him
Shai’s Psychopathy
Shai views people as either tools to further his grand ambitions or toys.
“Elijah could be my cure for the restless feeling that had crept into my life of late. Everyone should have a hobby, and he would be mine, whether he wanted to be or not.”
Mindfuckery
The epic mind games that Shai plays are ultimately about dominance and control.
“It was doubtful he was dreaming about me. Not yet. But we’d get to that point. The point where I’d be the only thing he thought about, day or night, the thing that consumed his thoughts beyond all others…Elijah would be mine to bend and break, and to use as I wished, and in the end, he’d beg for that honor.”
The Snake Thing
A cobra named Nyoko and a black mamba are our main stars. Shai’s snakes are probably the most sensational aspect of the book. He uses them to terrorize people and keep them in line and of course, for killing. I know I’m in the minority, but I found the snakes somewhat of a contrived plot device. I’m aware that my reaction is probably because although I have a healthy respect for snakes, I’m not scared of them. My dad is a zoologist and used to handle snakes (cobras, green mambas) when I was growing up. He even kept frozen specimens in our freezer!
Stockholm Syndrome
Stockholm Syndrome is real and Elijah finally breaks.
“After an initial adjustment period, the new Elijah didn’t find it at all strange to have fallen for a man like Shai. He barely even questioned it. It just was. Shai was the center of his universe. His lover. His mentor. His reason for being. And any negativity, any questions that deviated from the narrative needed to stay firmly in the past.”
Forced Drug Addiction
The MC’s forced drug addiction is probably the toughest thing to stomach. Both Shai’s mother and Elijah are drugged but their cases elicit different reactions. When we learn that Shai’s mother is being drugged, she's already been portrayed as as a mad, witch-like figure who’s raped an unconscious Elijah. The groundwork has therefore already been laid for her drugging to seem almost rational. With Elijah though, all we feel is horror and revulsion at the way he is turned into a drug addict. He’s portrayed as an innocent victim. The scene where he is injected with Void is nightmarish. And it’s heartbreaking to witness Elijah’s downward spiral as an addict.
Sex and Non-consent
I don’t even know where to get started with the sex. The sex is explicit, raw and hot. But the non-consent part is a real doozy. I admit that I’ve read very few non-consent books, but I think that several scenes would make even non-consent connoisseurs queasy. Sex after drugging anyone? Or after forcible surgery? And then there’s the snake bit…
“I wanted him to keep fighting, to keep grinding himself against me, my cock filling more with every brush, every press against it. It was such a disappointment when he finally burned himself out, his body going still…”
Phew. I’m now in the market for a lighter read after this.
My mind is still spinning and trying to process the maelstrom of emotions—shock, revulsion, fascination, titillation, and incredulity—that Shai aroused. The overwhelming darkness and unending mind games left me mentally tapped out by the end of the book. Please be warned that this review contains a few spoilers, but they’ll be clearly marked in a separate section. So, with that, let the fun and games begin!
**TW**
Non-consensual Sex, Forced Drug Addiction, Stockholm Syndrome, Murder, Snakes
Elijah Page
Elijah is a petty crook and drug dealer who ventures into the territory of a crime boss called McIntyre. Elijah is feisty and refuses to be broken even when McIntyre captures and tortures him for several weeks. Although McIntyre demands fealty from him, Elijah refuses to give in. He’s dumped into a river and left for dead, but Shai’s men fish him out.
Shai
Shai is a psychopath, master manipulator and rival crime boss in the city of Deadwood. McIntyre and Shai are locked in a stalemate to control the city, and Shai’s sole goal is to eliminate McIntyre. Intelligent, ruthless, and highly unpredictable, he gets off on control and evoking fear. The problem with Shai, however, is that he is so cruel and twisted that his character can sometimes veer into caricature territory.
**Spoiler Alert **
Some Messed Up Things That Happen
• Shai’s mother has sex with Elijah while he’s unconscious
• Snake encounters (more below)
• A date from hell (hint: includes a poisoning threat)
• Elijah is forcibly turned into a drug addict
• Forced surgery on Elijah
• Elijah is manipulated into committing murder
• Shai’s birthday present to Elijah is one of the McIntyre goons who tortured him
Shai’s Psychopathy
Shai views people as either tools to further his grand ambitions or toys.
“Elijah could be my cure for the restless feeling that had crept into my life of late. Everyone should have a hobby, and he would be mine, whether he wanted to be or not.”
Mindfuckery
The epic mind games that Shai plays are ultimately about dominance and control.
“It was doubtful he was dreaming about me. Not yet. But we’d get to that point. The point where I’d be the only thing he thought about, day or night, the thing that consumed his thoughts beyond all others…Elijah would be mine to bend and break, and to use as I wished, and in the end, he’d beg for that honor.”
The Snake Thing
A cobra named Nyoko and a black mamba are our main stars. Shai’s snakes are probably the most sensational aspect of the book. He uses them to terrorize people and keep them in line and of course, for killing. I know I’m in the minority, but I found the snakes somewhat of a contrived plot device. I’m aware that my reaction is probably because although I have a healthy respect for snakes, I’m not scared of them. My dad is a zoologist and used to handle snakes (cobras, green mambas) when I was growing up. He even kept frozen specimens in our freezer!
Stockholm Syndrome
Stockholm Syndrome is real and Elijah finally breaks.
“After an initial adjustment period, the new Elijah didn’t find it at all strange to have fallen for a man like Shai. He barely even questioned it. It just was. Shai was the center of his universe. His lover. His mentor. His reason for being. And any negativity, any questions that deviated from the narrative needed to stay firmly in the past.”
Forced Drug Addiction
The MC’s forced drug addiction is probably the toughest thing to stomach. Both Shai’s mother and Elijah are drugged but their cases elicit different reactions. When we learn that Shai’s mother is being drugged, she's already been portrayed as as a mad, witch-like figure who’s raped an unconscious Elijah. The groundwork has therefore already been laid for her drugging to seem almost rational. With Elijah though, all we feel is horror and revulsion at the way he is turned into a drug addict. He’s portrayed as an innocent victim. The scene where he is injected with Void is nightmarish. And it’s heartbreaking to witness Elijah’s downward spiral as an addict.
Sex and Non-consent
I don’t even know where to get started with the sex. The sex is explicit, raw and hot. But the non-consent part is a real doozy. I admit that I’ve read very few non-consent books, but I think that several scenes would make even non-consent connoisseurs queasy. Sex after drugging anyone? Or after forcible surgery? And then there’s the snake bit…
“I wanted him to keep fighting, to keep grinding himself against me, my cock filling more with every brush, every press against it. It was such a disappointment when he finally burned himself out, his body going still…”
Phew. I’m now in the market for a lighter read after this.
June 28, 2021
OHMYFCKINGGOD
Oh my god! What did I just read. Loved every page of it. Dark and twisted, just two of my favorites. Phew!
Shai is the second book in the Malicious Gods: Egypt series, and I plan to read all the books, althouth all of them are standalones, so if you're looking for some dark read, go for it ;)
I enjoyed the hell out of this book, my only problem with it was that I couldn't imagine Shai as a God or in this case, a reincarnation. Shai was just a mob boss with a delusional mother. But anyway, it was so enjoyable and hot and dark and oh god, just perfect.
Loved the twisted story, the storytelling was amazing and I could imagine everything that happened on the pages. I was there with them and felt everything they felt. I was scared to death, I was afraid, I was excited and hot as hell.
It has many dark scenes, forced drug addiction, Stockholm Syndrome, snakes and poisons, guns, noncon... sounds yummy, yes? ;)
I was afraid of those dark scenes, because it sounds good and I love reading them, but the author is new to me and didn't know what to expect. Only mentions of those scenes? Fading in the darkness and leave to the readers imagination?! But noooo! It was well detailed and so well written. LOVED IT.
And the ending, ahh. It's still a romance. A dark one, but still romantic.
Highly recommend.
Oh my god! What did I just read. Loved every page of it. Dark and twisted, just two of my favorites. Phew!
Shai is the second book in the Malicious Gods: Egypt series, and I plan to read all the books, althouth all of them are standalones, so if you're looking for some dark read, go for it ;)
I enjoyed the hell out of this book, my only problem with it was that I couldn't imagine Shai as a God or in this case, a reincarnation. Shai was just a mob boss with a delusional mother. But anyway, it was so enjoyable and hot and dark and oh god, just perfect.
Loved the twisted story, the storytelling was amazing and I could imagine everything that happened on the pages. I was there with them and felt everything they felt. I was scared to death, I was afraid, I was excited and hot as hell.
It has many dark scenes, forced drug addiction, Stockholm Syndrome, snakes and poisons, guns, noncon... sounds yummy, yes? ;)
I was afraid of those dark scenes, because it sounds good and I love reading them, but the author is new to me and didn't know what to expect. Only mentions of those scenes? Fading in the darkness and leave to the readers imagination?! But noooo! It was well detailed and so well written. LOVED IT.
And the ending, ahh. It's still a romance. A dark one, but still romantic.
Highly recommend.
June 23, 2023
Genre: MM Romance
Type: Standalone Book 1 of 2 from Twisted Web duet
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
While the two leading forces of Deadwood fought for their territory, Elijah Page took the opportunity to make easy money. His petty crime spree was numbered after getting caught and left for dead. His second chance emerged when he was taken by the rival territory led by Shai. But being on the driven leader’s radar didn’t mean he was out of trouble.
I was drawn to Elijah right from the beginning with how he adapted to the situations he was thrown into. I liked Shai and his manipulative ways of getting what he wanted. The darkness and depravity in the story were pleasing to my needs.
Shai is a story of survival and ambitions. It would appeal to readers who enjoy dark MM Romance.
🗡🐍🗡. . . (F)BR with Twinsie CC! . . . 🗡🐍🗡
For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:
For graphics, trailers & author services visit Warhawke Design Studio.
Type: Standalone Book 1 of 2 from Twisted Web duet
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
While the two leading forces of Deadwood fought for their territory, Elijah Page took the opportunity to make easy money. His petty crime spree was numbered after getting caught and left for dead. His second chance emerged when he was taken by the rival territory led by Shai. But being on the driven leader’s radar didn’t mean he was out of trouble.
I was drawn to Elijah right from the beginning with how he adapted to the situations he was thrown into. I liked Shai and his manipulative ways of getting what he wanted. The darkness and depravity in the story were pleasing to my needs.
Sometimes I want to plunder and take, and sometimes I want nothing but sweet surrender.
Shai is a story of survival and ambitions. It would appeal to readers who enjoy dark MM Romance.
🗡🐍🗡. . . (F)BR with Twinsie CC! . . . 🗡🐍🗡
For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:
For graphics, trailers & author services visit Warhawke Design Studio.
January 3, 2022
Conflicted on how to rate this, so going safe with a 3. I'm feeling a pinch of animosity towards how things turned out in the end.
+ I was effectively entertained for the first 2/3rds of this book.
The plot: Great.
The MCs: Thoroughly interesting and complicated (until they weren't).
The setting: I feel safe calling it dystopian.
+ It's a good read at the end of the day. The writing quality here is definitely much higher than what I've been reading as of recent. Saw maybe one editing error, which for a Goodreads Author is like a blessing.
+ Snakes are cool. Snakes as torture devices can be interesting in this type of setting, and H.L. Night pulls it off.
? The trigger warnings were fairly accurate. Let that be fair warning to those who avoid certain themes. There's some fucked up stuff happening here. It was interesting until it felt forced. Those first 2/3rds definitely had some moments with the hair standing up on my arms seeing what was about to happen.
- This is probably just a me thing, but I didn't care for how things turned out in the end. I didn't like how Elijah ended up nor his thought process after all he went through. I didn't care for Shai's decisions in the end that felt contradictory to how he was presented. Maybe I just didn't get the vindication I wanted for Elijah as his story progressed. It just ended up not feeling right and left me unsatisfied at the ending. Perhaps that is exactly what was intended here.
- It's hard getting into the mind of a sociopath. It's hard getting into the mind of someone high on drugs. It's hard diving into many deep and dark themes and making them all believable. That was the trouble for me here. I feel like too many concepts were addressed at the same time, that none of them got the proper attention they probably needed.
At the end of the day, it was a good read. I just found myself not satisfied with how things ended up progressing, and it began around the final 3rd, making me want to read faster and move on to the next book.
+ I was effectively entertained for the first 2/3rds of this book.
The plot: Great.
The MCs: Thoroughly interesting and complicated (until they weren't).
The setting: I feel safe calling it dystopian.
+ It's a good read at the end of the day. The writing quality here is definitely much higher than what I've been reading as of recent. Saw maybe one editing error, which for a Goodreads Author is like a blessing.
+ Snakes are cool. Snakes as torture devices can be interesting in this type of setting, and H.L. Night pulls it off.
? The trigger warnings were fairly accurate. Let that be fair warning to those who avoid certain themes. There's some fucked up stuff happening here. It was interesting until it felt forced. Those first 2/3rds definitely had some moments with the hair standing up on my arms seeing what was about to happen.
- This is probably just a me thing, but I didn't care for how things turned out in the end. I didn't like how Elijah ended up nor his thought process after all he went through. I didn't care for Shai's decisions in the end that felt contradictory to how he was presented. Maybe I just didn't get the vindication I wanted for Elijah as his story progressed. It just ended up not feeling right and left me unsatisfied at the ending. Perhaps that is exactly what was intended here.
- It's hard getting into the mind of a sociopath. It's hard getting into the mind of someone high on drugs. It's hard diving into many deep and dark themes and making them all believable. That was the trouble for me here. I feel like too many concepts were addressed at the same time, that none of them got the proper attention they probably needed.
At the end of the day, it was a good read. I just found myself not satisfied with how things ended up progressing, and it began around the final 3rd, making me want to read faster and move on to the next book.
July 11, 2021
I don’t know what’s wrong with me - this book - well, I couldn’t put it down.
BUT despite dark romances being dark I still prefer there being that moment where the “dark” character shows their softer side? Or realises they love the mc?
Instead what we get in this book is kind of the opposite our mc changes to “dark” too which just gave me the the “dark” and none of the “romance”
I just wanted some more love and forgiveness I think, but maybe that’s me thinking of “dark romances” wrongly - some are just dark, they don’t always involve forgiveness or softer moments I guess.
But very intriguing read that I couldn’t put down.
BUT despite dark romances being dark I still prefer there being that moment where the “dark” character shows their softer side? Or realises they love the mc?
Instead what we get in this book is kind of the opposite our mc changes to “dark” too which just gave me the the “dark” and none of the “romance”
I just wanted some more love and forgiveness I think, but maybe that’s me thinking of “dark romances” wrongly - some are just dark, they don’t always involve forgiveness or softer moments I guess.
But very intriguing read that I couldn’t put down.
February 17, 2022
Not bad, but too dark for me right now
Maybe I will enjoy it more later
Maybe I will enjoy it more later
June 13, 2021
Absolutely gripping
Told in dual pov this has a number of triggers - non-con, dub-con, addiction and scenes of drug use. A lot of violence and murder. Psychological manipulation and abuse.
Honestly, even when it made me deeply uncomfortable I struggled to put it down. It's one of those that if you can finish it, it will stay with you for a while. It leave you thinking about it. What is true? What is a manipulation?
Shai, the character and the book, is deeply twisted and dark but leaves you to decide for yourself if some things are lies or not. I loved and somehow hated every second of it
Told in dual pov this has a number of triggers - non-con, dub-con, addiction and scenes of drug use. A lot of violence and murder. Psychological manipulation and abuse.
Honestly, even when it made me deeply uncomfortable I struggled to put it down. It's one of those that if you can finish it, it will stay with you for a while. It leave you thinking about it. What is true? What is a manipulation?
Shai, the character and the book, is deeply twisted and dark but leaves you to decide for yourself if some things are lies or not. I loved and somehow hated every second of it
June 16, 2021
This type of book is not usually one I read but I gave it a chance. It was dark and it was twisted. It is filled with violence, torture, unwanted drug use and unconsented sex. It is a far cry from my usual light and fluffy reads.
Shai is a character that has no redeeming qualities, he is bad through and through. The manipulation game he played on Elijah was intense. He set a plan in motion when he found Elijah and I liked how that all panned out. Not how it happened but how the author made it play out. You have to pay attention to Shai's actions and words to understand how it was all as he says, "a game of chess." Shai is a master manipulator who gets what he wants and he doesn't care who he hurts to get it or how he gets as long as it's his. Like I said this book is twisted.
*ARC provided by GRR, this is my honest review.*
Shai is a character that has no redeeming qualities, he is bad through and through. The manipulation game he played on Elijah was intense. He set a plan in motion when he found Elijah and I liked how that all panned out. Not how it happened but how the author made it play out. You have to pay attention to Shai's actions and words to understand how it was all as he says, "a game of chess." Shai is a master manipulator who gets what he wants and he doesn't care who he hurts to get it or how he gets as long as it's his. Like I said this book is twisted.
*ARC provided by GRR, this is my honest review.*
March 5, 2022
I don’t know what I was expecting, but not that.
I enjoyed this story very much.
Shai is an unpredictable sadistic crime lord, and Elijah didn’t had a chance against him.
I’m not certain this book is a love story, when one of the main characters doesn’t know what love is and only understand power, mind games and dominance.
I can’t wait to read the second book of this series.
I enjoyed this story very much.
Shai is an unpredictable sadistic crime lord, and Elijah didn’t had a chance against him.
I’m not certain this book is a love story, when one of the main characters doesn’t know what love is and only understand power, mind games and dominance.
I can’t wait to read the second book of this series.
February 15, 2022
“McIntyre needs everyone to say yes to him. Whereas I like a fight. I like a challenge.” He licked his lips, his expression changing to something decidedly languorous. “Are you going to give me a fight? Or is it a case of all bark and no bite with you? Don’t disappoint me, Elijah. Never disappoint me.”
When a Stockholm story is well done, you end up rooting for the couple, even if you know the captive MC would be better off left alone. You feel like, in the end, that MC is gaining power from the relationship, or is in a better position than in the beginning of the story, even though, rationally, you know their agency really got stripped away. You know you could question the captor's motives (were they honest in the end, or were you just manipulated just like the other MC was?), but does it matter, really, as long as they're happy together in the end?
Shai did that SO well. It’s truly a dark romance because it goes further than just a list of CW (those are to be taken seriously btw); it’s the overall tone, the creepiness, the mindfuckery. It took me out of my comfort zone and I loved every minute of it. Both characters are amazing and I ended up really caring for Elijah while being utterly fascinated by Shai. This kind of story really only works if you’re being kept in the dark, so I enjoyed that it was mostly from Elijah’s POV. He’s neither a doormat nor an innocent in this criminal world, which made him a really fun captive. The few scenes from Shai’s POV were great, though: I love a good obsessed and unhinged MC, and he wasn’t giving too much (or anything, really) away. One thing annoyed me a little though; without spoiling anything, I felt like Shai’s POV cheated a little at one point to allow a later plot twist.
I couldn’t put this down even though I was low-key freaking out the whole time with all the twists and turns. There is a twisted kind of HFN that worked well for me, and worked even better with the 2 bonus short stories available on the author’s website. You’re still left with some questions at the end, but there’s apparently a sequel coming out this month which I’m very curious about!
When a Stockholm story is well done, you end up rooting for the couple, even if you know the captive MC would be better off left alone. You feel like, in the end, that MC is gaining power from the relationship, or is in a better position than in the beginning of the story, even though, rationally, you know their agency really got stripped away. You know you could question the captor's motives (were they honest in the end, or were you just manipulated just like the other MC was?), but does it matter, really, as long as they're happy together in the end?
Shai did that SO well. It’s truly a dark romance because it goes further than just a list of CW (those are to be taken seriously btw); it’s the overall tone, the creepiness, the mindfuckery. It took me out of my comfort zone and I loved every minute of it. Both characters are amazing and I ended up really caring for Elijah while being utterly fascinated by Shai. This kind of story really only works if you’re being kept in the dark, so I enjoyed that it was mostly from Elijah’s POV. He’s neither a doormat nor an innocent in this criminal world, which made him a really fun captive. The few scenes from Shai’s POV were great, though: I love a good obsessed and unhinged MC, and he wasn’t giving too much (or anything, really) away. One thing annoyed me a little though; without spoiling anything, I felt like Shai’s POV cheated a little at one point to allow a later plot twist.
I couldn’t put this down even though I was low-key freaking out the whole time with all the twists and turns. There is a twisted kind of HFN that worked well for me, and worked even better with the 2 bonus short stories available on the author’s website. You’re still left with some questions at the end, but there’s apparently a sequel coming out this month which I’m very curious about!
January 13, 2022
This was an excellent dark mindfucky romance! I really enjoyed it.
Both Elijah and Shai were well described, both through internal monologue and through their actions. It was very well balanced, so that I got a feel for who they were and what they looked like very quickly and smoothly.
The dual POV worked pretty well for me here, even though I don't usually like having villain POVs. Shai didn't spend a lot of time ruminating on Elijah, or rehashing scenes, or being generally boring. He did his own thing. Which was also great for contrast with how Elijah revolved around Shai, and Shai, while possessive, still had his own shit happening.
A+ Stockholm. It was fascinating to see how Elijah thought he could get one over on Shai, especially in the beginning, before being broken down over time (and by Void, which...woah.) The mind games of Shai were excellent. The sex was hot, though the Void sections were yikes.
The mother was yuck.
My one cranky thing: Anyway. Cranky, like I said.
It would probably be good if CSA was added to the content warnings, even though it was only a small comment and not anything graphic.
Both Elijah and Shai were well described, both through internal monologue and through their actions. It was very well balanced, so that I got a feel for who they were and what they looked like very quickly and smoothly.
The dual POV worked pretty well for me here, even though I don't usually like having villain POVs. Shai didn't spend a lot of time ruminating on Elijah, or rehashing scenes, or being generally boring. He did his own thing. Which was also great for contrast with how Elijah revolved around Shai, and Shai, while possessive, still had his own shit happening.
A+ Stockholm. It was fascinating to see how Elijah thought he could get one over on Shai, especially in the beginning, before being broken down over time (and by Void, which...woah.) The mind games of Shai were excellent. The sex was hot, though the Void sections were yikes.
The mother was yuck.
My one cranky thing: Anyway. Cranky, like I said.
It would probably be good if CSA was added to the content warnings, even though it was only a small comment and not anything graphic.
July 2, 2022
First of all, a huge thank you to Ayanna for this recommendation. I asked for dark and she provided!
I honestly don't know how to review this book without giving anything away. This was next level mind fuckery and the characters weren't the only ones being fucked with. Heed the trigger warnings, read Ayanna's review if you're on the fence at all and ignore that this book is labeled a "dark romance". It's dark, no doubt, but calling it a romance is definitely a stretch. I do not expect to hear wedding bells in Shai and Elijah's future and that is more than fine with me. I loved every cringe-inducing, wiggle in my chair, might-need-therapy-after-reading-this moment. I finished this days ago and can't stop thinking about it as well as book #2, which I will review next and also say pretty much nothing about. Ha!
I honestly don't know how to review this book without giving anything away. This was next level mind fuckery and the characters weren't the only ones being fucked with. Heed the trigger warnings, read Ayanna's review if you're on the fence at all and ignore that this book is labeled a "dark romance". It's dark, no doubt, but calling it a romance is definitely a stretch. I do not expect to hear wedding bells in Shai and Elijah's future and that is more than fine with me. I loved every cringe-inducing, wiggle in my chair, might-need-therapy-after-reading-this moment. I finished this days ago and can't stop thinking about it as well as book #2, which I will review next and also say pretty much nothing about. Ha!
October 22, 2022
Not sure if “enjoy” is the right word but I was certainly engaged from the start. Very twisty and there was an incredible pay-off. The POV choices were so perfect throughout, loved that we stuck with Elijah at certain points and being in Shai’s head was almost as creepy/fascinating as it was to witness him from Elijah’s POV.
Some surprising moments of humor were snuck in here too. Super interested in the next one!
Some surprising moments of humor were snuck in here too. Super interested in the next one!
June 10, 2021
It's rare that a book can shock me. Sure, there are surprises sometimes, but not true shock and awe. This book did it. It’s a 5+ star read, absolutely captivating.
But not for the reasons you might think. This book sinks into the abysmal depths of depravity, psychological manipulation, and dark, dark kink. Shai is the perfect case study of a psychopath and his on page actions will challenge you to keep track of what’s going on in the overall plot. Elijah is the focus of Shai’s… creativity and obsession… and we get to observe his slow mental breakdown (or evolution, depending on how you want to view it).
The pace of the story is perfect. It’s a little slow, to let you really sink into the different scenes and situations, but maintains a steady progression to the end. There are twists, turns, and some surprises in the character evolution, as well as the overarching plot, that just reinforce this author’s talent.
To avoid spoilers, I’m not going to mention much about the plot. The blurb is actually very accurate and gives a good overview.
I can’t say enough good things… and bad things… about this book. It’s one I will remember for a very long time, and enjoy reading again.
But not for the reasons you might think. This book sinks into the abysmal depths of depravity, psychological manipulation, and dark, dark kink. Shai is the perfect case study of a psychopath and his on page actions will challenge you to keep track of what’s going on in the overall plot. Elijah is the focus of Shai’s… creativity and obsession… and we get to observe his slow mental breakdown (or evolution, depending on how you want to view it).
The pace of the story is perfect. It’s a little slow, to let you really sink into the different scenes and situations, but maintains a steady progression to the end. There are twists, turns, and some surprises in the character evolution, as well as the overarching plot, that just reinforce this author’s talent.
To avoid spoilers, I’m not going to mention much about the plot. The blurb is actually very accurate and gives a good overview.
I can’t say enough good things… and bad things… about this book. It’s one I will remember for a very long time, and enjoy reading again.
September 14, 2023
I really want to give this 10+ stars..I love this author..well her lighter books but i'm a glutton for dark reads and this one really fills the spot....Shai is an amazing dark man..with his snakes and his ways....I will definitely be re-reading this..If you like your books different then pick this one up x
May 25, 2022
A few days later and I still don’t quite know what to make of this book. The plot was engaging, and I loved the surprise twist at the end. The romance was a bit less believable. Shai leans heavily into the idea of Fate dictating outcomes, which isn’t usually my favorite plot device. But overall it was a enjoyable read.
March 7, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
Shai is the first book in H. L. Night’s Twisted Web series (this first book is also part of the Malicious Gods: Egypt multi-author collection). It takes place in the modern day and the narrative is told in first person, usually from Elijah’s POV, but there are several chapters told from Shai’s perspective. Given the provenance of the book, readers will surely know this is not a warm-fuzzy story, but one that explores the darker (darkest?) aspects of human nature. Major themes (triggers, if you will) in the book are well noted by the author and include: non-consensual sex, Stockholm Syndrome, and forced drug addiction, among others.
The Stockholm Syndrome elements were so well done.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
Shai is the first book in H. L. Night’s Twisted Web series (this first book is also part of the Malicious Gods: Egypt multi-author collection). It takes place in the modern day and the narrative is told in first person, usually from Elijah’s POV, but there are several chapters told from Shai’s perspective. Given the provenance of the book, readers will surely know this is not a warm-fuzzy story, but one that explores the darker (darkest?) aspects of human nature. Major themes (triggers, if you will) in the book are well noted by the author and include: non-consensual sex, Stockholm Syndrome, and forced drug addiction, among others.
The Stockholm Syndrome elements were so well done.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
December 20, 2021
Amazing, everything I could want from a dark romance. And a very dark one indeed. Thank you so much, the one who recommended it to me.
Note: I have a problem with the fatphobia in this book that shoudn't be there at all and it's very present. Otherwise please check trigger warnings before reading, this is a very dark story.
Note: I have a problem with the fatphobia in this book that shoudn't be there at all and it's very present. Otherwise please check trigger warnings before reading, this is a very dark story.
June 5, 2021
This is good. Nice and dark, it pushes some real boundaries. It promises and delivers.
Shai is something, both the book and the MC, but Shai's mother is... extra.
Told through a dual POV, you get a clear look-see inside the thinking of Elijah and Shai. Are they the fuzziest, cuddliest MCs? Absolutely not, but they are intriguing for those who like a walk on the dark side of mm. I call it mm because while there is a romance, it is hella maladaptive.
There are clear TW inside the book.
Be aware. TW underneath spoiler.
Snakes. If they freak you out, you're in for some... heartburn.
Safer quote and snake.
The theme stays twisted throughout. A building relational intensity clearly exists.
I love foot-to-the-floor writing. H.L. Night, take a bow, any halo you had is tilted now.
Blog review at-
Shai is something, both the book and the MC, but Shai's mother is... extra.
Told through a dual POV, you get a clear look-see inside the thinking of Elijah and Shai. Are they the fuzziest, cuddliest MCs? Absolutely not, but they are intriguing for those who like a walk on the dark side of mm. I call it mm because while there is a romance, it is hella maladaptive.
There are clear TW inside the book.
Be aware. TW underneath spoiler.
Snakes. If they freak you out, you're in for some... heartburn.
Safer quote and snake.
The theme stays twisted throughout. A building relational intensity clearly exists.
I love foot-to-the-floor writing. H.L. Night, take a bow, any halo you had is tilted now.
Blog review at-
November 13, 2021
I wonder if simply saying this book is "dark" does any justice. Every time I thought it couldn't get any more disturbing, I was wrong. I must say it kept me fascinated until the very end.
July 12, 2021
This is so dark and I loved it
This is going to be the vaguest review I have ever written because there is literally no way to talk about this book without getting into spoilers. And mama, let me tell you, you do not want this book spoiled. If you like dark romances (and I mean DARK) this book needs to be experienced. I read a lot of dark romances but this book is something else entirely.
What I will say is you can expect morally ambiguous characters that are complex and fascinating, an engaging plot that was fun and full of twists, and an ending/ standoff (kind of) that I did NOT see coming.
If you want to go in blind, this is where you stop reading, heed the trigger warning, and go read the book. But if you want a little more background, continue.
There is an overall mystery/ plan here that you can figure out. I did but I didn't do it quickly. Clues are there if you're looking, and if you put yourself in the right mindset you can piece them together but it's not easy. However, that's my favorite kind of mystery. The one where I can solve it along with the characters. That being said, I had no clue what was going to happen a good 70 to 80% of this book.
The word suspense is not used lightly here. My heart was pounding through so much. And that is not to say that this book starts at 100 and stays there. There are definitely dips and changes and moments are given weight and time to settle. But you do have to stay alert because this book is wild and twisted and so beautifully written. Seriously, how this author was able to get me to care about someone as twisted as Shai while still feeling for Elijah I will never know.
This is still a romance in the end (kind of) so there is an HEA of sorts. It's not a healthy one by any means but our main characters are happy and I guess that's all that matters. However, there are still some serious steaks here. People get hurt, terrible things happen, and people die. Elijah does not get out unscathed and how he survived at all I'm still reeling from. I mean it's not nonsensical, don't get me wrong but still. Maybe Shai really does control fate. That or Elijah is part cat
I devoured this book and that is rare for me. But this book is really hard to put down because it's such a wild ride. It's suspenseful, it's smutty, it's crazy, and I loved every second of it. Including the epilogue! I'm even cool with the unanswered questions. Granted I didn't see the events that led up to those questions coming at all but I'm okay not having a definitive answer. Five stars because I high key low-key kind of want a pet snake now. But not like Shai. I'm not crazy and I don't have nine lives like Elijah.
This is going to be the vaguest review I have ever written because there is literally no way to talk about this book without getting into spoilers. And mama, let me tell you, you do not want this book spoiled. If you like dark romances (and I mean DARK) this book needs to be experienced. I read a lot of dark romances but this book is something else entirely.
What I will say is you can expect morally ambiguous characters that are complex and fascinating, an engaging plot that was fun and full of twists, and an ending/ standoff (kind of) that I did NOT see coming.
If you want to go in blind, this is where you stop reading, heed the trigger warning, and go read the book. But if you want a little more background, continue.
There is an overall mystery/ plan here that you can figure out. I did but I didn't do it quickly. Clues are there if you're looking, and if you put yourself in the right mindset you can piece them together but it's not easy. However, that's my favorite kind of mystery. The one where I can solve it along with the characters. That being said, I had no clue what was going to happen a good 70 to 80% of this book.
The word suspense is not used lightly here. My heart was pounding through so much. And that is not to say that this book starts at 100 and stays there. There are definitely dips and changes and moments are given weight and time to settle. But you do have to stay alert because this book is wild and twisted and so beautifully written. Seriously, how this author was able to get me to care about someone as twisted as Shai while still feeling for Elijah I will never know.
This is still a romance in the end (kind of) so there is an HEA of sorts. It's not a healthy one by any means but our main characters are happy and I guess that's all that matters. However, there are still some serious steaks here. People get hurt, terrible things happen, and people die. Elijah does not get out unscathed and how he survived at all I'm still reeling from. I mean it's not nonsensical, don't get me wrong but still. Maybe Shai really does control fate. That or Elijah is part cat
I devoured this book and that is rare for me. But this book is really hard to put down because it's such a wild ride. It's suspenseful, it's smutty, it's crazy, and I loved every second of it. Including the epilogue! I'm even cool with the unanswered questions. Granted I didn't see the events that led up to those questions coming at all but I'm okay not having a definitive answer. Five stars because I high key low-key kind of want a pet snake now. But not like Shai. I'm not crazy and I don't have nine lives like Elijah.
July 13, 2021
“You locked me in a room with a snake.”
“Are you going to bring that up every time we disagree on something or have an argument?
What a ride! One of the best dark books I've ever read. Shai is so twisted and morally dubious, but he is so certain of the things he does that I started agreeing with him sometimes LOL
Elijah was a character that evolved a lot in the story, partially because he had to adapt to his new situation to survive, partially because of Shai's influence over him. The way Shai entered Elijah's mind and rearranged his view of things was fascinating to read
This book was dark almost all the time and I was always on the edge, always waiting for the next "horrible" thing that would happen. It was like that until the very last word! I had many mixed emotions while reading, loving and hating, being surprised and disgusted, and all of that just made the experience amazing. The end was perfect, absolutely suitable for the storyline.
However, the paranormal god theme wasn't as present in this book as I thought it would be. There is a parallel of Shai controlling people's faith, just like the god did. But it was more a human skill of manipulating people into doing what he wanted than a god skill.
Many trigger warnings for this one: non-con / dub-con, mention of child abuse in the past, cold-blooded murders, beating, torture, mind games, snake play, poisoning, captivity, forced drug addiction & more.
“Are you going to bring that up every time we disagree on something or have an argument?
What a ride! One of the best dark books I've ever read. Shai is so twisted and morally dubious, but he is so certain of the things he does that I started agreeing with him sometimes LOL
Elijah was a character that evolved a lot in the story, partially because he had to adapt to his new situation to survive, partially because of Shai's influence over him. The way Shai entered Elijah's mind and rearranged his view of things was fascinating to read
This book was dark almost all the time and I was always on the edge, always waiting for the next "horrible" thing that would happen. It was like that until the very last word! I had many mixed emotions while reading, loving and hating, being surprised and disgusted, and all of that just made the experience amazing. The end was perfect, absolutely suitable for the storyline.
However, the paranormal god theme wasn't as present in this book as I thought it would be. There is a parallel of Shai controlling people's faith, just like the god did. But it was more a human skill of manipulating people into doing what he wanted than a god skill.
Many trigger warnings for this one: non-con / dub-con, mention of child abuse in the past, cold-blooded murders, beating, torture, mind games, snake play, poisoning, captivity, forced drug addiction & more.
July 13, 2021
I don’t even know why I hesitated to read this book. Yes, it’s dark and twisted enough to be very much out of my wheelhouse, but it’s also written by one of my auto-read authors. Shai exceeded my expectations in almost every way and I wouldn’t miss the chance to see more of what comes next from this author or couple.
I’ve really come to crave the unexpected in books of late, and time and time again H.L Day, writing as H.L Night here, delivers just that. Elijah is an incredibly interesting character. Though I wouldn’t quite call him admirable, his strength and resilience certainly are. The author does a great job fleshing out his emotions and personality in a way that makes it easy to empathize and root for his survival, even if he has questionable practices. Shai was a different sort of antihero than I’ve read before, but no less intriguing than Elijah. I enjoyed watching their cat and mouse game and trying to guess Shai’s motivations or just what would happen next in the book.
Like most of this author’s works, Shai is so very original and addictive, even when it challenges the bounds of romance. Add in the smooth writing, unique and well-developed characters, action, and some twists, and you have an incredibly entertaining story I’d definitely recommend to any reader looking for something different, especially if you feel stuck in a reading rut. And if you’re on the fence as to if this book is too dark for your tastes, I encourage you to give it a try, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in the least.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
I’ve really come to crave the unexpected in books of late, and time and time again H.L Day, writing as H.L Night here, delivers just that. Elijah is an incredibly interesting character. Though I wouldn’t quite call him admirable, his strength and resilience certainly are. The author does a great job fleshing out his emotions and personality in a way that makes it easy to empathize and root for his survival, even if he has questionable practices. Shai was a different sort of antihero than I’ve read before, but no less intriguing than Elijah. I enjoyed watching their cat and mouse game and trying to guess Shai’s motivations or just what would happen next in the book.
Like most of this author’s works, Shai is so very original and addictive, even when it challenges the bounds of romance. Add in the smooth writing, unique and well-developed characters, action, and some twists, and you have an incredibly entertaining story I’d definitely recommend to any reader looking for something different, especially if you feel stuck in a reading rut. And if you’re on the fence as to if this book is too dark for your tastes, I encourage you to give it a try, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in the least.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
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