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A Fresh Taste of Ink #6-7
The Final Stroke
“I’ve decided this is how I want to die — getting cucked by the man whose fiancé I’ve been fucking for months.”
With boyfriend and side piece suddenly under one roof, Trinket is living his worst nightmare and best fantasy all at once.
What should have been a disaster, introducing longtime boyfriend Zee to Mini (the man he’s been cheating with), has borne strange fruit. His ability to play the game has finally hit a wall. It isn’t just guilt, and it isn’t just the impracticality of cheating on Zee right under his nose.
It’s the fact that Zee and Mini actually seem to like each other.
With Mini’s resources yanked out from under him, forcing him to fall on the couple for a place to stay, he bounces back and forth between playful and downright rude. He resents Zee’s charity, but is fascinated by the man he’s spent so long cucking, and can’t resist antagonizing him.
Zee is remarkably tolerant of Mini’s abrasive ways. The two turn out to have more in common than the man they’re both sleeping with; they talk art, kink, and baggage. As Mini settles in as houseguest, he gets cozy with more than Zee’s credit card.
The more the strange, almost domestic peace stabilizes, the more anxious Trinket becomes.
What will happen when the truth finally comes out?
The Final Stroke is the third and final book in a high heat, slow burn MMM trilogy with a happy ending. The books follow the same story and cannot be read as standalones.
This trilogy was originally published as a series of seven books: A Taste of Ink, Lost in the Linework, A Guilty Canvas, A Stanza on Skin, A Darker Palette, The Color of Need, and A Final Stroke. The Final Stroke contains content from the sixth and seventh books. The series has been lightly revised, with a few small changes and an extended ending in the third book.
With boyfriend and side piece suddenly under one roof, Trinket is living his worst nightmare and best fantasy all at once.
What should have been a disaster, introducing longtime boyfriend Zee to Mini (the man he’s been cheating with), has borne strange fruit. His ability to play the game has finally hit a wall. It isn’t just guilt, and it isn’t just the impracticality of cheating on Zee right under his nose.
It’s the fact that Zee and Mini actually seem to like each other.
With Mini’s resources yanked out from under him, forcing him to fall on the couple for a place to stay, he bounces back and forth between playful and downright rude. He resents Zee’s charity, but is fascinated by the man he’s spent so long cucking, and can’t resist antagonizing him.
Zee is remarkably tolerant of Mini’s abrasive ways. The two turn out to have more in common than the man they’re both sleeping with; they talk art, kink, and baggage. As Mini settles in as houseguest, he gets cozy with more than Zee’s credit card.
The more the strange, almost domestic peace stabilizes, the more anxious Trinket becomes.
What will happen when the truth finally comes out?
The Final Stroke is the third and final book in a high heat, slow burn MMM trilogy with a happy ending. The books follow the same story and cannot be read as standalones.
This trilogy was originally published as a series of seven books: A Taste of Ink, Lost in the Linework, A Guilty Canvas, A Stanza on Skin, A Darker Palette, The Color of Need, and A Final Stroke. The Final Stroke contains content from the sixth and seventh books. The series has been lightly revised, with a few small changes and an extended ending in the third book.
454 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2022
42 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Daniel May
52 books643 followersDaniel May writes MM romance and erotica with a focus on dark contemporary, kink, and BDSM. Originally a lover of sci-fi and fantasy, he turned his sights on the erotic as a joke that went over surprisingly well.
Completed series: The Taste of Ink (rereleased as A Fresh Taste of Ink trilogy)
Ongoing series: Hanged Men
Facebook group, the Daniel May Maelstrom:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/23035...
Sign up for the newsletter at danielmayauthor.com to receive free bonus content, news, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at upcoming works.-
Completed series: The Taste of Ink (rereleased as A Fresh Taste of Ink trilogy)
Ongoing series: Hanged Men
Facebook group, the Daniel May Maelstrom:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/23035...
Sign up for the newsletter at danielmayauthor.com to receive free bonus content, news, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at upcoming works.-
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
May 18, 2022
What was this?
This series was about Trinket, who was in a relationship with one guy and started another one with someone else. Through the first two books we met and fell for Trinket. The dumbest dingdong to ever dingdong. Then surprisingly, we fall for Mini because deep down, he was a good guy outside the cheating. Zee was not someone I liked at all in those books.
Then we get to this book and I want Trinket to just walk away and find someone to love him. In this story, it is a Zee and Mini love fest and Trinket just happens to still live in the house. This is not a triad. This was two men who loved each other and barely tolerated Trinket.
I can tell you that I hated both Zee and Mini starting from the anniversary dinner to the end. I'm gonna spoil this a bit so stop reading if you must.
During this dinner, Zee gets to play the big savior for Mini regarding his former friend/landlord. Mind you, Francis was there but it was ok for Trinket to be upset. Then during the entire dinner, it was Zee and Mini. They literally do everything between them and Trinket was there to look out the window I guess. Poor Trinket dressed up for them only to be ignored. I mean they make a bet, but it doesn't really involve Trinket. They walk to the car and its all about Mini and Zee some more. Then they get home and again the scene is all about Zee and Mini. In fact, Mini tells Trinket he can wait since its been forever since he had someone good touch him. Really? But what frigging peeved me off was Mini asking Trinket to allow him being used by Zee to be his anniversary present.
Heck at one point Zee forced Mini to touch Trinket.
At that point I started actively hoping that Trinket left. Unfortunately, that does not happen. No we get the two who are in love refusing to get out of bed and Trinket is alone with his fish. Which to be honest, I was rooting for him to realize that he deserves more, take the fish and leave.
This series was about Trinket, who was in a relationship with one guy and started another one with someone else. Through the first two books we met and fell for Trinket. The dumbest dingdong to ever dingdong. Then surprisingly, we fall for Mini because deep down, he was a good guy outside the cheating. Zee was not someone I liked at all in those books.
Then we get to this book and I want Trinket to just walk away and find someone to love him. In this story, it is a Zee and Mini love fest and Trinket just happens to still live in the house. This is not a triad. This was two men who loved each other and barely tolerated Trinket.
I can tell you that I hated both Zee and Mini starting from the anniversary dinner to the end. I'm gonna spoil this a bit so stop reading if you must.
During this dinner, Zee gets to play the big savior for Mini regarding his former friend/landlord. Mind you, Francis was there but it was ok for Trinket to be upset. Then during the entire dinner, it was Zee and Mini. They literally do everything between them and Trinket was there to look out the window I guess. Poor Trinket dressed up for them only to be ignored. I mean they make a bet, but it doesn't really involve Trinket. They walk to the car and its all about Mini and Zee some more. Then they get home and again the scene is all about Zee and Mini. In fact, Mini tells Trinket he can wait since its been forever since he had someone good touch him. Really? But what frigging peeved me off was Mini asking Trinket to allow him being used by Zee to be his anniversary present.
Heck at one point Zee forced Mini to touch Trinket.
At that point I started actively hoping that Trinket left. Unfortunately, that does not happen. No we get the two who are in love refusing to get out of bed and Trinket is alone with his fish. Which to be honest, I was rooting for him to realize that he deserves more, take the fish and leave.
August 5, 2022
This is the one where the men finally figure out that mouths can be used for something other than in addition to sucking.
This is the one where Zee and Mini suss each other out, like what they see, and team up to tease, torment, and turn the tables on Trinket. Deservedly and delightfully!
This is the one where Trinket abandons any pretense of work and embraces the only viable career option for a classicist with an unfinished PhD: kept boy of a very determined sugar daddy. Good on ya, Trinket!
This is the one where Mini speaks some hard truths to Zee and Trinket about what they're doing and how they're hurting each other.
This is the one where they’re finally, FINALLY honest with each other – not just about the cheating and the secrets they’ve all been carting around, but about their feelings and hopes and fears and what they want even when they think they can’t have it.
This is the one where Zee, with an assist from Trinket, forces Mini to accept that he is worthy of love and affection and a home. And where Trinket, with his unconditional, accepting love for both of them, without jealousy, makes space for Mini and Zee to learn and love each other – differently from, but as deeply as, they love him.
This is the one where we find out in the epilogue that Trinket, at least, followed through on that whole therapist idea THANK OUR MERCIFUL LADY BEYONCÉ!!!!!!
This is the one that ends with our three weird, simultaneously-emotionally-incompetent-and-intelligent, sexy, lustful, smart, complementary, intense men living in polyam-triad-bliss complete with cat, koi, bonsai, and two stacked rings on each of their left hands.
This is the fantastic conclusion to a series that I expect to go back to again and again.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!!!🔥🔥🔥💜💜💜
Book 1 review here
Book 2 review here
This is the one where Zee and Mini suss each other out, like what they see, and team up to tease, torment, and turn the tables on Trinket. Deservedly and delightfully!
This is the one where Trinket abandons any pretense of work and embraces the only viable career option for a classicist with an unfinished PhD: kept boy of a very determined sugar daddy. Good on ya, Trinket!
This is the one where Mini speaks some hard truths to Zee and Trinket about what they're doing and how they're hurting each other.
This is the one where they’re finally, FINALLY honest with each other – not just about the cheating and the secrets they’ve all been carting around, but about their feelings and hopes and fears and what they want even when they think they can’t have it.
This is the one where Zee, with an assist from Trinket, forces Mini to accept that he is worthy of love and affection and a home. And where Trinket, with his unconditional, accepting love for both of them, without jealousy, makes space for Mini and Zee to learn and love each other – differently from, but as deeply as, they love him.
This is the one where we find out in the epilogue that Trinket, at least, followed through on that whole therapist idea THANK OUR MERCIFUL LADY BEYONCÉ!!!!!!
This is the one that ends with our three weird, simultaneously-emotionally-incompetent-and-intelligent, sexy, lustful, smart, complementary, intense men living in polyam-triad-bliss complete with cat, koi, bonsai, and two stacked rings on each of their left hands.
This is the fantastic conclusion to a series that I expect to go back to again and again.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!!!🔥🔥🔥💜💜💜
Book 1 review here
Book 2 review here
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2022
The trilogy concludes. Overall, I enjoyed this series. It felt like an elaborate thought experiment about sex and relationships and contains a lot of interesting, thought-provoking insights about these characters in particular and people in general. This is erotica that’s about the “why” as well as the “how,” and I know it will stick with me for a long time. I recommend this series, and the issues I have with book three are outweighed by the positives of books one and two.
My favorite theme in this book was the necessity – and difficulty – of not being ruled by your emotions when you’re in a scene, especially if you’re the one deciding how the scene will go. Mini gives a great speech about this, and it clarified for me why many of the Zee/Trinket scenes in the first two books felt uncomfortable for me: because both characters (especially Zee) were trying to deal with emotional issues through sex and use sex to solve their relationship problems. Their inability to be honest with each other meant they were just acting out their insecurities and frustrations through sex instead of connecting with each other. Honesty, forgiveness, and deciding how strongly to hold onto the past were key themes in this book and were handled well, though not as deftly as the themes raised in book one.
That being said, this was by far the weakest book in the trilogy for me. The pacing issues that became apparent in The Guilty Canvas are even more prominent here; a major development in the plot doesn’t occur until around 60%, and it changes things up enough that the resulting character development for all three characters could (and should) have taken up an entire book at least, but instead it’s crammed into the last 10-15% of the trilogy. Instead of learning how the characters are affected via the astute, nuanced character observations of the first book, here things are addressed mostly via monologues and long expository passages telling us, vaguely, how things changed over time (including seemingly in periods of time beyond the book’s end). There simply isn’t enough time for the reader to sit with these developments and adjust their perception of the characters.
I had also been hoping since the end of book one that we’d get more insight into Zee and Mini, and while we do get some, it’s nowhere near as detailed as what we know about Trinket. Which is maybe fair, since Trinket is our POV character after all, but it was still disappointing that at the end of the series, my mental pictures of Zee and Mini have as many blank spaces in them as details. I chalk this up to the pacing issues, too, because the major developments in the story came too late for there to be adequate time to also develop Zee and Mini as characters in their own right, beyond what they tell us about Trinket. And for a series that’s mostly about Trinket, he’s a surprisingly passive participant in the last third of this book, making his arc end on an anti-climactic note. The dynamic between the three characters just did not work for me in the end. Mini in particular changed so much as a character in order to facilitate the ending, and in a way that didn’t feel organic. As for Zee, I was hoping to find a reason to like him by the end, but he’s still the same petty, unkind person motivated mostly by a desire for self-aggrandizement and dominance as he was in the beginning and I don’t understand his appeal. At least with Mini there’s a detectable undercurrent of caring about Trinket; with Zee, I never felt the same thing, despite his various romantic pronouncements.
Finally, a few minor plot threads started in previous books were left unaddressed. These were minor threads so it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but they stood out to me enough at their introduction that I came up with various theories about them, so it was jarring to reach the end and realize they were never going to be resolved. On a related note, I frankly don’t understand why either of the two named side characters were in these books at all.
My favorite theme in this book was the necessity – and difficulty – of not being ruled by your emotions when you’re in a scene, especially if you’re the one deciding how the scene will go. Mini gives a great speech about this, and it clarified for me why many of the Zee/Trinket scenes in the first two books felt uncomfortable for me: because both characters (especially Zee) were trying to deal with emotional issues through sex and use sex to solve their relationship problems. Their inability to be honest with each other meant they were just acting out their insecurities and frustrations through sex instead of connecting with each other. Honesty, forgiveness, and deciding how strongly to hold onto the past were key themes in this book and were handled well, though not as deftly as the themes raised in book one.
That being said, this was by far the weakest book in the trilogy for me. The pacing issues that became apparent in The Guilty Canvas are even more prominent here; a major development in the plot doesn’t occur until around 60%, and it changes things up enough that the resulting character development for all three characters could (and should) have taken up an entire book at least, but instead it’s crammed into the last 10-15% of the trilogy. Instead of learning how the characters are affected via the astute, nuanced character observations of the first book, here things are addressed mostly via monologues and long expository passages telling us, vaguely, how things changed over time (including seemingly in periods of time beyond the book’s end). There simply isn’t enough time for the reader to sit with these developments and adjust their perception of the characters.
I had also been hoping since the end of book one that we’d get more insight into Zee and Mini, and while we do get some, it’s nowhere near as detailed as what we know about Trinket. Which is maybe fair, since Trinket is our POV character after all, but it was still disappointing that at the end of the series, my mental pictures of Zee and Mini have as many blank spaces in them as details. I chalk this up to the pacing issues, too, because the major developments in the story came too late for there to be adequate time to also develop Zee and Mini as characters in their own right, beyond what they tell us about Trinket. And for a series that’s mostly about Trinket, he’s a surprisingly passive participant in the last third of this book, making his arc end on an anti-climactic note. The dynamic between the three characters just did not work for me in the end. Mini in particular changed so much as a character in order to facilitate the ending, and in a way that didn’t feel organic. As for Zee, I was hoping to find a reason to like him by the end, but he’s still the same petty, unkind person motivated mostly by a desire for self-aggrandizement and dominance as he was in the beginning and I don’t understand his appeal. At least with Mini there’s a detectable undercurrent of caring about Trinket; with Zee, I never felt the same thing, despite his various romantic pronouncements.
Finally, a few minor plot threads started in previous books were left unaddressed. These were minor threads so it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but they stood out to me enough at their introduction that I came up with various theories about them, so it was jarring to reach the end and realize they were never going to be resolved. On a related note, I frankly don’t understand why either of the two named side characters were in these books at all.
May 15, 2022
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews (thank you!), and this is my honest review.
Since the beginning of the first volume, when Mini and Trinket met (and shagged) for the first time, there's been this ongoing tension -- what will happen when/if Zee finds out? In this final volume, Mini moves in with them for pLoT ReaSoNs and we learn the answer -- and it's not what I expected. At all. In this climactic volume, it's all about relationships and about how kind people can be to one another. The three of them learn to trust each other, get along and, oh yeah, have a lot of really hot sex. It's a wonderful, triumphant conclusion with a sweet epilogue. I highly recommend the entire series.
Since the beginning of the first volume, when Mini and Trinket met (and shagged) for the first time, there's been this ongoing tension -- what will happen when/if Zee finds out? In this final volume, Mini moves in with them for pLoT ReaSoNs and we learn the answer -- and it's not what I expected. At all. In this climactic volume, it's all about relationships and about how kind people can be to one another. The three of them learn to trust each other, get along and, oh yeah, have a lot of really hot sex. It's a wonderful, triumphant conclusion with a sweet epilogue. I highly recommend the entire series.
June 27, 2022
I said in my review of The Guilty Canvas that Daniel May excels at writing explicit sex scenes that are both smoking hot and revelatory of character. Sticking with that assessment here, as Trinket brings the injured Mini back to the home he shares with Zee, and the relationships among the three of them break open to make something new and ... okay, I'll say it: moving. I found myself sort of leaking gently for most of the last third.
I'm weirdly reluctant to describe the developments in this book, even though the blurb says a fair bit and we know going in that there's going to be a happy ending. Let's say this: all three of them, Zee, Trinket, and Mini, get entirely honest and a lot more vulnerable. The growing intimacy between Zee and Mini was the real kicker for me: pain is very much not the thing that Mini finds hardest to accept, and that's where the slow leak from my eyes came in.
"Whatever's broken in you," [Mini] went on. "Will you let it keep you scared and alone forever?"
This last installment of the Taste of Ink series answers that question not only as Mini asks it of Trinket but also as all three of them ask it of one another. How that all works out surprised me over and over (well -- I was not surprised to learn that ) and then each step seemed completely in character and just right.
I have one complaint and I am probably the only reader to have it. Years ago, I read Yi-Fu Tuan's Dominance and Affection: The Making of Pets, and Tuan's discussion of bonsai put me off them forever. But Mini loves bonsai, and I love Mini, so I guess I can cope with the bonsai.
I've never read anything like the Taste of Ink series. I loved it in every way. The quality of the writing, the insight, the close examination of dominance and submission, love and vulnerability, kindness and cruelty, and of course Trinket, Mini, and Zee.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this review.
I'm weirdly reluctant to describe the developments in this book, even though the blurb says a fair bit and we know going in that there's going to be a happy ending. Let's say this: all three of them, Zee, Trinket, and Mini, get entirely honest and a lot more vulnerable. The growing intimacy between Zee and Mini was the real kicker for me: pain is very much not the thing that Mini finds hardest to accept, and that's where the slow leak from my eyes came in.
"Whatever's broken in you," [Mini] went on. "Will you let it keep you scared and alone forever?"
This last installment of the Taste of Ink series answers that question not only as Mini asks it of Trinket but also as all three of them ask it of one another. How that all works out surprised me over and over (well -- I was not surprised to learn that ) and then each step seemed completely in character and just right.
I have one complaint and I am probably the only reader to have it. Years ago, I read Yi-Fu Tuan's Dominance and Affection: The Making of Pets, and Tuan's discussion of bonsai put me off them forever. But Mini loves bonsai, and I love Mini, so I guess I can cope with the bonsai.
I've never read anything like the Taste of Ink series. I loved it in every way. The quality of the writing, the insight, the close examination of dominance and submission, love and vulnerability, kindness and cruelty, and of course Trinket, Mini, and Zee.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this review.
May 27, 2022
The Final Stroke is the conclusion to this series. It has been a wild ride reading this.
Overall, this installment started of great but fell flat during the last few chapters. I really did like the build up during the first few chapters towards the eventually Mini/Trinket/Zee dynamics and frankly I found their interactions during those times compelling, nuanced and heartfelt. Though all three were trying to understand where they truly stand with each other and despite the issues that they haven't discussed at that point, their relationship somehow felt more natural and balanced.
When I started reading this series, I didn't like Trinket at all especially when he started cheating on Zee but he has grown on me ever since. Trinket had come so far since then and I really liked that he was the bridge that connected Zee and Mini during the early parts of this book.
The later parts that strived to bring a satisfactory conclusion to this story was just not it. In fact, it was those chapters that made me sort of dislike Zee and Mini altogether. Maybe, my expectation of a well-balanced MMM relationship was misguided, but that ending just wasn't it. Also, that sudden plot involving Mini? So out of place and felt so shoe-horned just so the story resolution can get from point A to point Z in a flash.
The book could've ended somewhere before the anniversary dinner and it would've felt just as complete in my opinion.
Overall, I'd give this book 3 stars out of 5 stars. Despite my misgivings on the final book, I'd still encourage people to give this series a try since it really is an experience on its own. Also, please do heed the warnings provided.
I received an ARC of this book via GRR and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
Overall, this installment started of great but fell flat during the last few chapters. I really did like the build up during the first few chapters towards the eventually Mini/Trinket/Zee dynamics and frankly I found their interactions during those times compelling, nuanced and heartfelt. Though all three were trying to understand where they truly stand with each other and despite the issues that they haven't discussed at that point, their relationship somehow felt more natural and balanced.
When I started reading this series, I didn't like Trinket at all especially when he started cheating on Zee but he has grown on me ever since. Trinket had come so far since then and I really liked that he was the bridge that connected Zee and Mini during the early parts of this book.
The later parts that strived to bring a satisfactory conclusion to this story was just not it. In fact, it was those chapters that made me sort of dislike Zee and Mini altogether. Maybe, my expectation of a well-balanced MMM relationship was misguided, but that ending just wasn't it. Also, that sudden plot involving Mini? So out of place and felt so shoe-horned just so the story resolution can get from point A to point Z in a flash.
The book could've ended somewhere before the anniversary dinner and it would've felt just as complete in my opinion.
Overall, I'd give this book 3 stars out of 5 stars. Despite my misgivings on the final book, I'd still encourage people to give this series a try since it really is an experience on its own. Also, please do heed the warnings provided.
I received an ARC of this book via GRR and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
dnf
January 5, 2023Will not rate because Daniel May is not for me. I get the hype. The characters are great. The sex scenes are great. I don’t feel attaction or bond between the characters other than sexual chemisty.
After reading spoilers about the way the book ends I can only say. No.
DNF after the events at the tattoo parlour.
After reading spoilers about the way the book ends I can only say. No.
DNF after the events at the tattoo parlour.
May 18, 2022
The third and final book in the Taste of Ink trilogy! I think I am being generous with my 3 stars because this one really did not work for me. There were a lot of loose threads that amounted to nothing, the transition from a cheating story to (spoilers for plot) MMM absolutely did not work well. It felt like 3 distinct couples instead of a true MMM with the main POV character becoming irrelevant to most of the story. All the characters changed in ways I did not like and it cheapens the first two books a bit. I do still love the first 1.5 books but the last 1.5 is kind of a mess. Overall series rating: 3.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2022
Good lord. I feel like I need to go back and rerate the first two books, so that I can give this a higher rating, it gets all the stars.
Okay. I don’t even know what to say about this book. Partially because I’m kind of blown away by how good it was and how well it worked, and also because I don’t want to put this behind spoilers, and I’m not sure how I can talk about it without spoiling it?
Going into this last book, I did not like Zee. I didn’t like his relationship with Trinket, I thought they were doing a really bad and unsafe job of BDSM. It seemed like Zee was just really rough and like he genuinely wanted to hurt Trinket, and Trinket took it because he thought he wanted it and felt like he needed to be punished. But, then Mini ends up staying at their house after he got kicked out of his apartment, and I thought I knew where this was going, but then it totally didn’t, and it was so much better than I would have thought.
I’m honestly blown away by how good this series is. The amount of personal and relationship growth through massive amounts of kinky sex seems ridiculous, but it really works. I think that Trinket, Mini, and Zee were all in not great places at the beginning of the series, but are in a really good place at the end.
Another review of this series said that it broke their steam-meter. I rarely rate books by how steamy they are, though I may mention it. But, good lord, this series, and the third book especially, is just insanely hot. I don’t even understand how Daniel May wrote this. These are by far the hottest, sexiest books I have ever read.
Also, Mini is just the best, he must be protected at all costs.
Also, also, I need more tattoos…
Okay. I don’t even know what to say about this book. Partially because I’m kind of blown away by how good it was and how well it worked, and also because I don’t want to put this behind spoilers, and I’m not sure how I can talk about it without spoiling it?
Going into this last book, I did not like Zee. I didn’t like his relationship with Trinket, I thought they were doing a really bad and unsafe job of BDSM. It seemed like Zee was just really rough and like he genuinely wanted to hurt Trinket, and Trinket took it because he thought he wanted it and felt like he needed to be punished. But, then Mini ends up staying at their house after he got kicked out of his apartment, and I thought I knew where this was going, but then it totally didn’t, and it was so much better than I would have thought.
I’m honestly blown away by how good this series is. The amount of personal and relationship growth through massive amounts of kinky sex seems ridiculous, but it really works. I think that Trinket, Mini, and Zee were all in not great places at the beginning of the series, but are in a really good place at the end.
Another review of this series said that it broke their steam-meter. I rarely rate books by how steamy they are, though I may mention it. But, good lord, this series, and the third book especially, is just insanely hot. I don’t even understand how Daniel May wrote this. These are by far the hottest, sexiest books I have ever read.
Also, Mini is just the best, he must be protected at all costs.
Also, also, I need more tattoos…
June 18, 2022
God I loved these books so much. Not only are they the hottest, horniest books I've ever read, the story is so good I may need to read these at least once a year. I can't stop thinking about them. Mini, Trinket & Zee have burrowed their way into my heart, I love them so much. YMMV on the cheating storyline that's threaded throughout all of the books, but the resolution to that and the HEA is delicious and very satisfying. I was frankly surprised and happy with the outcome, as there's a big twist towards the end. It's a fantastic polyamory BDSM story.
Please just read the book descriptions so you know what to expect!
May has only been writing for 2 years and his voice and talent are incredible. How he strings a series of sex scenes together to depict romance, convey emotions, and develop characters is really effortless. The 3 of them are so different, but have perfect chemistry and just jump off the page. If you're looking for a scorching hot M|M|M series, I highly recommend these.
Also, I’ll forever be in love with the dirty talking, fully tattooed Mini 🖤
Please just read the book descriptions so you know what to expect!
May has only been writing for 2 years and his voice and talent are incredible. How he strings a series of sex scenes together to depict romance, convey emotions, and develop characters is really effortless. The 3 of them are so different, but have perfect chemistry and just jump off the page. If you're looking for a scorching hot M|M|M series, I highly recommend these.
Also, I’ll forever be in love with the dirty talking, fully tattooed Mini 🖤
August 19, 2022
As Mini would say I'm a "God damn feelings parade"
December 26, 2023
Leave it to Daniel May to actually follow through on delivering a slow burn romance within 7 books even while every single scene in those books results in sex 🤷♀️
December 10, 2022
4.5
noww why did this make me cry 🤡
noww why did this make me cry 🤡
June 23, 2023
Tell me your secrets.
Tell no more lies. Because three’s
a magic number.
Tell no more lies. Because three’s
a magic number.
December 30, 2024
I love everything except bid daddy taking it up the
June 18, 2024
Things come to a head in the final part of this series, and I've gotta say, you could kinda see where this was going, but it was a wild ride to get there. Trinket, our cheating protagonist, is one of the most self-centred and densest characters in all of MM. Not dense as in stupid, or even maliciously selfish, but just living in this bubble with little regard for anyone else. I actually really disliked him in the end, and had no sympathy for him at all. It's for this reason that I would have preferred this story to end in a dumpster fire rather than the smutty fairytale ending we get. I think it would have been far more satisfying for me to see Trinket get his comeuppance, than have his cake and eat it. Zee, his long-suffering boyfriend, was supernaturally forgiving and understanding, and while watching him and the side piece together was hot, it felt really unbelievable. I'll say it again though, this was genuinely some of the best, most thorough smut I have read in a very long time. And definitely one of the best infidelity stories I've ever read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2022
Not only was everything resolved how I was hoping for it to be resolved but it was done well!
Top notch!
Top notch!
Read
January 19, 2025Zee finally breaking his walls down, being vulnerable and open, even welcoming Mini into his own home, only for Trinket and Mini to play him for a fool behind his back. But I'd guessed it right, that Zee had known and accepted the cheating a long time ago. And when Trinket confessed, Zee was just fully resigned. Unsurprisingly, he partly blamed himself. That really was an easy way out for Trinket and Mini, honestly. I would have had them suffer more. Zee though, had a heart bigger than the world, still loved Trinket and eventually also fell in love with Mini in the end. It's the perfect ending. To cheat for a whole year and fuck your sidepiece within the vicinity of your partner, in places supposedly most intimate and private in the property of said partner, still hiding right under said partner's nose, with no remorse, that's just heartless behavior. I really wanted those idiots to burn. But then, it's kinda hard to overlook what Zee had done to Trinket, I think that fucked him up real good. In the end, there's just not enough reasons to excuse everyone's behavior.
I know it worked out well in the end, them being all lovey dovey and shit. It even started to get fun for me if I just force myself enough to temporarily forget about the infidelity, but I just can't. I have no one to blame this on but me.
If it had been in a different universe, an alternate reality, without the cheating I would have been so down bad for these three together. They had great dynamic together, insane chemistry, their personalities seemingly a perfect fit for each other, especially Mini and Zane. Just not in this premise and how it all began. I'm team Zee all the way. He should punish those two for eternity. But I guess they all deserve each other, each a different version of their own fuckups.
Despite my utter despise for this trope, I give the author full credit for a well-written book. I've seen high ratings and raving reviews enough to convince me to give this a try. Objectively, I was fine it. Wasn't surprised it's erotica. Subjectively, I can't in good conscience say I enjoyed all that. So like my previous reviews in the series, I'm gonna have to leave with no rating.
I know it worked out well in the end, them being all lovey dovey and shit. It even started to get fun for me if I just force myself enough to temporarily forget about the infidelity, but I just can't. I have no one to blame this on but me.
If it had been in a different universe, an alternate reality, without the cheating I would have been so down bad for these three together. They had great dynamic together, insane chemistry, their personalities seemingly a perfect fit for each other, especially Mini and Zane. Just not in this premise and how it all began. I'm team Zee all the way. He should punish those two for eternity. But I guess they all deserve each other, each a different version of their own fuckups.
Despite my utter despise for this trope, I give the author full credit for a well-written book. I've seen high ratings and raving reviews enough to convince me to give this a try. Objectively, I was fine it. Wasn't surprised it's erotica. Subjectively, I can't in good conscience say I enjoyed all that. So like my previous reviews in the series, I'm gonna have to leave with no rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2022
What a ride!!!
I can't believe it's over, I'm so sad.
I sure don't want to give anything away with my review of this book, there's nothing worse than a spoiler. I purposely never read any of the reviews on this or any of the books in this series because I didn't want to know what was going to happen (I love being surprised). I wanted everything to unfold organically and in Daniel May's own time.
As I said in my review of The Guilty Canvas... Daniel May is a teaser and deceiver, he's kept us all on our toes!
Read this series NOW, you won't be disappointed!!!
I can't believe it's over, I'm so sad.
I sure don't want to give anything away with my review of this book, there's nothing worse than a spoiler. I purposely never read any of the reviews on this or any of the books in this series because I didn't want to know what was going to happen (I love being surprised). I wanted everything to unfold organically and in Daniel May's own time.
As I said in my review of The Guilty Canvas... Daniel May is a teaser and deceiver, he's kept us all on our toes!
Read this series NOW, you won't be disappointed!!!
May 18, 2022
As stated in my ranty review of books 1-3, the series is addictive. I had to know Zee's reaction to the cheating.
I skipped the middle books & missed nothing but a nonstop Sex-fest.
What I don't understand... is why all the sudden Trink & Mini are saying Zee is a horrible, inattentive boyfriend. Like how much more attention does Trink need?
Go to work, dude!
Get a frigging hobby!
Validation comes from within.
Add something to someone else's life instead of being an emotional parasite.
Zee had the patience of a Saint. Selfless. Giving. FORGIVING. Attentive to mind-reading levels.
Mini is an enigma, the reader never knowing anything but surface level emotions. Deep down a good guy who should resent Trink for using him.
Trink is the worst MC I've read to date. Entitled. Spoiled. Lazy. Immature. Selfish. Narcissistic.
Trink being the narrator destroyed the series for me.
The worst.
Rewrites history to live in his Narcissistic delusional world where everything revolves around himself, lies to himself, while exploiting others with his woe-is-me attitude.
Trink didn't see Mini nor Zee as ppl. Mini was his ego-boasting blowup doll & Zee was his bank account doormat. And as long as the illusion didn't shatter, all was great. While emotionally exploiting both men with fake insecurities.
My issue wasn't with the cheating but with Trink.
HEA would've been Zee & Mini riding off into the sunset, with Trink growing up from the loss of their love, since he was incapable of loving anyone but himself.
Doesn't matter what the author told me, Trink's actions & inner voice said the opposite. Trink at one point honestly thought, "oh, I never realized Mini was a person. Maybe I should think of his feelings... I'll be sexy as an apology." Not an actual quote but the gist is there.
What awful inner monologue to excuse his own behavior while Mini gaslit Zee. I must've been reading a different book, when it was in Trink's POV, how suddenly Zee was abusive.
As soon as Trink got mad at Zee for withholding, his ass wouldn't hit the street with skidmarks.
I skipped the middle books & missed nothing but a nonstop Sex-fest.
What I don't understand... is why all the sudden Trink & Mini are saying Zee is a horrible, inattentive boyfriend. Like how much more attention does Trink need?
Go to work, dude!
Get a frigging hobby!
Validation comes from within.
Add something to someone else's life instead of being an emotional parasite.
Zee had the patience of a Saint. Selfless. Giving. FORGIVING. Attentive to mind-reading levels.
Mini is an enigma, the reader never knowing anything but surface level emotions. Deep down a good guy who should resent Trink for using him.
Trink is the worst MC I've read to date. Entitled. Spoiled. Lazy. Immature. Selfish. Narcissistic.
Trink being the narrator destroyed the series for me.
The worst.
Rewrites history to live in his Narcissistic delusional world where everything revolves around himself, lies to himself, while exploiting others with his woe-is-me attitude.
Trink didn't see Mini nor Zee as ppl. Mini was his ego-boasting blowup doll & Zee was his bank account doormat. And as long as the illusion didn't shatter, all was great. While emotionally exploiting both men with fake insecurities.
My issue wasn't with the cheating but with Trink.
HEA would've been Zee & Mini riding off into the sunset, with Trink growing up from the loss of their love, since he was incapable of loving anyone but himself.
Doesn't matter what the author told me, Trink's actions & inner voice said the opposite. Trink at one point honestly thought, "oh, I never realized Mini was a person. Maybe I should think of his feelings... I'll be sexy as an apology." Not an actual quote but the gist is there.
What awful inner monologue to excuse his own behavior while Mini gaslit Zee. I must've been reading a different book, when it was in Trink's POV, how suddenly Zee was abusive.
As soon as Trink got mad at Zee for withholding, his ass wouldn't hit the street with skidmarks.
July 12, 2022
I am floored by how much I loved this trilogy. Despite Kathleen’s rave review, I went into the first book pretty skeptical but the characters quickly won me over and I basically inhaled the first two installments. By now it should be clear I am completely Team Mini, always and forever. He is the reason to read this trilogy. But Zee was just as intriguing and, well, let’s just say Trinket had his moments.
This has to be the first time I’ve enjoyed an infidelity plot, much less an infidelity romance. I figured if anything could make me enjoy one of my hard limits, it would be the promise of it turning into a polyamorous triad. And now here I am, ready to rave about what Daniel May accomplished. If you have any interest in trying this yourself, quit reading this review and go download the first book posthaste. There will be spoilers for the first two books.
Book 3 is where everything comes together. It’s all been building toward when and how Zee would find out that Trinket has been cheating. With Mini now living with them (MY HEART!), it was only a matter of time. But until the reveal, we get to see all three men interacting together for the first time. This makes Trinket understandably nervous, not that he’s smart about it. Zee and Mini start to get to know each other, first as people and then sexually. It was such an interesting build. They function as antagonists and get off on verbally sparring. They were such a perfect match for each other and I loved how everything evolved.
Zee’s reveal was gratifying (I WAS RIGHT!) but also anticlimactic. I was hoping for more of a mindf*ck and that didn’t happen. At the same time, it revealed what a mastermind Zee has always been. However, Trinket was barely held accountable at all, which was inexplicable. I really needed him to suffer at least a little, instead of getting both men, a ton of anniversary presents, and all the orgasms he wants. Seriously, what do they see in Trinket that he can just do whatever the hell he wants without any consequences?! He had his endearing moments but he was also completely exasperating. As much as I believe these three need to be together and are better for it, Trinket went about it the wrong way and he’s lucky Zee was as understanding as he was. I thoroughly enjoyed how Zee worked things out with Mini, at least. It didn’t fully make up for the lack of Trinket-penalties but it went a long way.
One of my favorite scenes, funny enough, is when Zee and Mini run errands together. This happens early on, when they’re still making sense of each other. Mini is functionally there as Trinket’s friend so he’s giving advice about what gifts Zee should get him and the like. But they also have a really meaningful conversation about how Mini used to work with bonsai trees. There was such interesting symbolism there that set the stage for a lot else down the line. Including Then there was the reverence with which Zee treated
Another aspect I loved was how Mini came to take his place within the relationship. First, directly calling Zee out for his mistakes with BDSM and how it hurt Trinket. Second, how he took a more direct role as their functional sex therapist. Third, the development of friendship or at least mutual respect with Zee and how that turned into something more. Mini deserved to be loved, fully and completely. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Zee and Trinket knew when to respect Mini's boundaries/walls and when to bulldoze through them. Fourth, Mini never compromises who he is in the process. He was an absolute snarling delight. Sometimes offensive, sure, but it’s coming out of a place of insecurity and pain. It would be hard for him to immediately trust that he’s wanted there, that there’s room for him in their relationship. It was fascinating to watch how May handled this arc. Mini is basically a cat with the way he likes to toy with them and won’t let anyone get too close unless it’s on his own terms. He literally says he’s a like a stray cat: “Feed me and I’ll stick around, rub me the wrong way and I’m out.” This paved the way nicely for when he
Then there’s the anniversary itself, a full circle from where we began. Three years for Trinket and Zee and one year for Trinket and Mini and the start of something new for all three of them. The way Zee intuitively knew how to handle Mini and force him to confess his feelings was just perfect. I could see how this relationship was going to function—and function well—for decades to come. Trinket and Zee would never be healthy on their own. They need Mini for balance and he needs them as well. It makes me so happy to think of them living out their days together.
If I’m honest, this installment was probably closer to 4 or 4.5 stars but I can’t bring myself to give it less than 5 stars. I can't separate it out from the first two books and there's such power in seeing how it all came together, even if this installment wasn't quite as perfect. It didn’t feel as tightly plotted as the first two, maybe because of the amount of sex scenes. Those scenes were still hot—although I almost reached my personal limit with the amount of fluid exchange LOL—but they didn’t always feel like they were doing anything to move the plot forward.
This also needed to delve more into Trinket processing his trauma in real time. It was disconcerting that all of Trinket’s progress was marked through sex. That’s how he realized he didn’t want to hurt Zee anymore, how they integrated the bad first time, etc. And sure, sex can be a part of healing but it should not be the only source. That’s part of what got him into trouble in the first place. We find out he’s in therapy in the epilogue—a much-needed step—but I would have liked to have seen that start earlier in the book and for him to own more of his actions.
But these are minor issues in the face of what Daniel May accomplished in this trilogy as a whole. It’s an astounding work that surprised me and made me feel refreshed about the romance genre as a whole. Highly recommended to anyone willing to take a chance.
Characters: Trinket is an academic (Ancient Greek mythology and history) and a submissive with very long hair. Zee is an architect and inexperienced Dominant with touch-aversion. Mini is a tattoo artist and experienced Dom/Switch with a tongue piercing and dyslexia. Trinket and Zee seem to be Asian. All three men seem to be gay. (Trinket asked Zee in book 2 if he was into women and he sidestepped that question in favor of a discussion countering gender roles so it’s possible he could be bi or pan.) Per book 1, Zee could be read as demisexual. Zee and Trinket were friends for many years; they celebrate their third anniversary in this book, which also marks one year together for Trinket and Mini.
Content notes: , infidelity (MMC cheats on other MMC with third MMC, comes clean this book), image-based sexual abuse (Trinket shows Zee’s nude photos to Mini without Zee’s knowledge or consent), past sexual trauma/dubious consent (bad first time), past substance abuse for Zee (), Mini recovering from injuries after he was physically assaulted and kicked out of his home (broken fingers, suborbital fracture, stitches, bruised ribs), body modification (nipple piercings), past cigarette burns (kink, not abuse), discussion of how tattooing was originally for enslaved and criminals, Mini has dyslexia (not brought up in this book), unprotected sex, on page sex, menage, DP, D/s, masochism, sadism, rough sex, degradation play, spitting, fluid exchange, impact play, pain play, bondage, orgasm control, edging, rimming, anal play, hair pulling, biting, somnophilia, exhibitionism, public sex, office sex, biting, sex toys, lingerie, sexting, consensual slut-shaming, alcohol, inebriation, cigarettes, marijuana references, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, reference to MMC’s past appendectomy
*Buddy read with Vicky!
This has to be the first time I’ve enjoyed an infidelity plot, much less an infidelity romance. I figured if anything could make me enjoy one of my hard limits, it would be the promise of it turning into a polyamorous triad. And now here I am, ready to rave about what Daniel May accomplished. If you have any interest in trying this yourself, quit reading this review and go download the first book posthaste. There will be spoilers for the first two books.
Reviews:
1. The Taste of Ink
2. The Guilty Canvas
Book 3 is where everything comes together. It’s all been building toward when and how Zee would find out that Trinket has been cheating. With Mini now living with them (MY HEART!), it was only a matter of time. But until the reveal, we get to see all three men interacting together for the first time. This makes Trinket understandably nervous, not that he’s smart about it. Zee and Mini start to get to know each other, first as people and then sexually. It was such an interesting build. They function as antagonists and get off on verbally sparring. They were such a perfect match for each other and I loved how everything evolved.
Zee’s reveal was gratifying (I WAS RIGHT!) but also anticlimactic. I was hoping for more of a mindf*ck and that didn’t happen. At the same time, it revealed what a mastermind Zee has always been. However, Trinket was barely held accountable at all, which was inexplicable. I really needed him to suffer at least a little, instead of getting both men, a ton of anniversary presents, and all the orgasms he wants. Seriously, what do they see in Trinket that he can just do whatever the hell he wants without any consequences?! He had his endearing moments but he was also completely exasperating. As much as I believe these three need to be together and are better for it, Trinket went about it the wrong way and he’s lucky Zee was as understanding as he was. I thoroughly enjoyed how Zee worked things out with Mini, at least. It didn’t fully make up for the lack of Trinket-penalties but it went a long way.
One of my favorite scenes, funny enough, is when Zee and Mini run errands together. This happens early on, when they’re still making sense of each other. Mini is functionally there as Trinket’s friend so he’s giving advice about what gifts Zee should get him and the like. But they also have a really meaningful conversation about how Mini used to work with bonsai trees. There was such interesting symbolism there that set the stage for a lot else down the line. Including Then there was the reverence with which Zee treated
Another aspect I loved was how Mini came to take his place within the relationship. First, directly calling Zee out for his mistakes with BDSM and how it hurt Trinket. Second, how he took a more direct role as their functional sex therapist. Third, the development of friendship or at least mutual respect with Zee and how that turned into something more. Mini deserved to be loved, fully and completely. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Zee and Trinket knew when to respect Mini's boundaries/walls and when to bulldoze through them. Fourth, Mini never compromises who he is in the process. He was an absolute snarling delight. Sometimes offensive, sure, but it’s coming out of a place of insecurity and pain. It would be hard for him to immediately trust that he’s wanted there, that there’s room for him in their relationship. It was fascinating to watch how May handled this arc. Mini is basically a cat with the way he likes to toy with them and won’t let anyone get too close unless it’s on his own terms. He literally says he’s a like a stray cat: “Feed me and I’ll stick around, rub me the wrong way and I’m out.” This paved the way nicely for when he
Then there’s the anniversary itself, a full circle from where we began. Three years for Trinket and Zee and one year for Trinket and Mini and the start of something new for all three of them. The way Zee intuitively knew how to handle Mini and force him to confess his feelings was just perfect. I could see how this relationship was going to function—and function well—for decades to come. Trinket and Zee would never be healthy on their own. They need Mini for balance and he needs them as well. It makes me so happy to think of them living out their days together.
If I’m honest, this installment was probably closer to 4 or 4.5 stars but I can’t bring myself to give it less than 5 stars. I can't separate it out from the first two books and there's such power in seeing how it all came together, even if this installment wasn't quite as perfect. It didn’t feel as tightly plotted as the first two, maybe because of the amount of sex scenes. Those scenes were still hot—although I almost reached my personal limit with the amount of fluid exchange LOL—but they didn’t always feel like they were doing anything to move the plot forward.
This also needed to delve more into Trinket processing his trauma in real time. It was disconcerting that all of Trinket’s progress was marked through sex. That’s how he realized he didn’t want to hurt Zee anymore, how they integrated the bad first time, etc. And sure, sex can be a part of healing but it should not be the only source. That’s part of what got him into trouble in the first place. We find out he’s in therapy in the epilogue—a much-needed step—but I would have liked to have seen that start earlier in the book and for him to own more of his actions.
But these are minor issues in the face of what Daniel May accomplished in this trilogy as a whole. It’s an astounding work that surprised me and made me feel refreshed about the romance genre as a whole. Highly recommended to anyone willing to take a chance.
Characters: Trinket is an academic (Ancient Greek mythology and history) and a submissive with very long hair. Zee is an architect and inexperienced Dominant with touch-aversion. Mini is a tattoo artist and experienced Dom/Switch with a tongue piercing and dyslexia. Trinket and Zee seem to be Asian. All three men seem to be gay. (Trinket asked Zee in book 2 if he was into women and he sidestepped that question in favor of a discussion countering gender roles so it’s possible he could be bi or pan.) Per book 1, Zee could be read as demisexual. Zee and Trinket were friends for many years; they celebrate their third anniversary in this book, which also marks one year together for Trinket and Mini.
Content notes: , infidelity (MMC cheats on other MMC with third MMC, comes clean this book), image-based sexual abuse (Trinket shows Zee’s nude photos to Mini without Zee’s knowledge or consent), past sexual trauma/dubious consent (bad first time), past substance abuse for Zee (), Mini recovering from injuries after he was physically assaulted and kicked out of his home (broken fingers, suborbital fracture, stitches, bruised ribs), body modification (nipple piercings), past cigarette burns (kink, not abuse), discussion of how tattooing was originally for enslaved and criminals, Mini has dyslexia (not brought up in this book), unprotected sex, on page sex, menage, DP, D/s, masochism, sadism, rough sex, degradation play, spitting, fluid exchange, impact play, pain play, bondage, orgasm control, edging, rimming, anal play, hair pulling, biting, somnophilia, exhibitionism, public sex, office sex, biting, sex toys, lingerie, sexting, consensual slut-shaming, alcohol, inebriation, cigarettes, marijuana references, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, reference to MMC’s past appendectomy
*Buddy read with Vicky!
December 21, 2024
“I’ve decided this is how I want to die,” said Mini, leaning back a little, looking out the window with an honestly content expression on his face. “Getting cucked by the man whose fiancé I’ve been fucking for months.”
This was a goddamn masterpiece.
This was a goddamn masterpiece.
April 6, 2023
Okay I did it! I read this series. I am glad I stuck it out through all three to get to the end but like many other reviewers, I am at a bit of a loss about how to collect my thoughts.
The thing that feels truest to me is that Mini is the absolute best part of this series. He was really a joy to read and witness. I loved his arc from anti hero of sorts to disgruntled house cat. I only liked Trinket and Zee when I was seeing them through the observations Mini makes about them.
Ultimately, this series worked for me because of the strength of Daniel May's writing but I definitely had to hate-read through some of these antics and push to get to the resolution.
The thing that feels truest to me is that Mini is the absolute best part of this series. He was really a joy to read and witness. I loved his arc from anti hero of sorts to disgruntled house cat. I only liked Trinket and Zee when I was seeing them through the observations Mini makes about them.
Ultimately, this series worked for me because of the strength of Daniel May's writing but I definitely had to hate-read through some of these antics and push to get to the resolution.
May 21, 2022
This is the conclusion of the trilogy and, as you might expect…a lot happens. I wasn’t sure how the author was was going to get Trinket, Mini and Zee from where they were: each a part of a seriously hot but deeply unstable and emotionally problematic situation in which Trinket’s cheating is the lynchpin, to where they end up, which…better for all of them. I liked the dynamic between Mini and Zee, and it actually made me want to know more about who they each are, absent the lens of Trinket’s perspective: he’s the central character and very much the star of his own life experience, and sometimes seems unaware and even uninterested in the things that drive the people who are ostensibly super important in his life. This can make anyone who *isn’t* him a bit more enigmatic to readers than I might have wanted, but is actually very on brand for him as a character, so I get it. Overall, a satisfying conclusion to a really interesting (in a good way!) series.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
May 28, 2022
This is the final, and my favorite, book in what is now a trilogy. By now we know the characters, we have challenged our initial beliefs about them, and now we (or at least me) want a satisfying conclusion to all of this tension/drama/sexiness. The book brings all three together finally, and throws in a lot of emotions and (of course) smoking hot scenes and a big reveal. This is really where the series goes from erotica to MMM romance territory. I was happy with the ending and this was a fun and surprising ride from beginning to end. It kept me on the edge of my seat, so I am happy that the ending delivered.
**I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review***
**I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review***
August 11, 2024
mini mini mini!!! he's my fave fr but also what kinda name is mini smh
May 31, 2022
Zee + Mini + Trinket 🔥
4.5 Stars 🌟
Damn!! What a way to wrap up this trilogy! It was complex, it was emotional and it was most definitely Sexy AF....🔥 it was everything that I had hoped it would be and then some!!! When I first started this whole series, I will admit that I was reluctant...I am not a fan of blatant cheating in stories...however, IMO the author did a fantastic job of making it work and work well...my only gripe would be that we didn't get multiple POV's....with that being said this has got to be one of my all time favorite trilogies and I would strongly recommend reading...it was certainly a kinky ride!
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
4.5 Stars 🌟
Damn!! What a way to wrap up this trilogy! It was complex, it was emotional and it was most definitely Sexy AF....🔥 it was everything that I had hoped it would be and then some!!! When I first started this whole series, I will admit that I was reluctant...I am not a fan of blatant cheating in stories...however, IMO the author did a fantastic job of making it work and work well...my only gripe would be that we didn't get multiple POV's....with that being said this has got to be one of my all time favorite trilogies and I would strongly recommend reading...it was certainly a kinky ride!
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
May 28, 2022
How can something so filthy be so sweet?!? I loved The Final Stroke. What started as erotica focused on cheating and BDSM became something romantic in its own way. Trinket, Zee, and Mini grew so much over the course of the series, and I love how necessary they became to one another. May does an amazing job of giving all three characters dimension, and I love how Mini and Zee need each other as much as they need Trinket and how they’re able to be vulnerable with each other. It’s messy, raw, and beautiful.
May 28, 2022
This was everything I could have hoped for for a happy resolution for everyone involved. When all is finally revealed, it’s more electrifying than even I could have expected. These three are truly something unexpected in the best way. I didn’t see a way forward through the chaos they created, but amazingly this was the most satisfying HEA I think the characters could have asked for. It was worth every moment not to peek ahead despite how desperately I wanted to. They’re still the very steamy group you know if you’ve been here since book 1, but it’s those tender moments that sneak up on you.
July 27, 2025
How and why did this series cook so hard?
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