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Devil's Cradle #1
The Wicked in Me
No one really knows what they are. Only that they're the first civilization. Aeons, they call themselves. They're immortal. Powerful. Secretive.
And they'll come for her.
Witch Wynter Dellavale knows that for certain. Because in unfairly trying to execute her, they started a chain of events they're struggling to stop. Needing safety, she flees to Devil's Cradle, the home of monsters. A place for the outcasts, the fugitives, the crazies. A place ruled by the Ancients, seven beings who were once banished by the Aeons. Among the Ancients is the infamous Cain, brother of Abel and embodiment of jealousy - who, on another note, wants her in his bed.
There's a heavy price for the safety the Ancients offer, but Wynter will have to pay it. She can't take on the Aeons alone. And she has no intention of dying - been there, done that.
Not that she'll be the easy prey the Aeons are expecting. They have no knowledge of the ... thing that lives inside her. You see, when witches are brought back from the afterlife, they don't always come back the same.
And they don't always come back alone.
And they'll come for her.
Witch Wynter Dellavale knows that for certain. Because in unfairly trying to execute her, they started a chain of events they're struggling to stop. Needing safety, she flees to Devil's Cradle, the home of monsters. A place for the outcasts, the fugitives, the crazies. A place ruled by the Ancients, seven beings who were once banished by the Aeons. Among the Ancients is the infamous Cain, brother of Abel and embodiment of jealousy - who, on another note, wants her in his bed.
There's a heavy price for the safety the Ancients offer, but Wynter will have to pay it. She can't take on the Aeons alone. And she has no intention of dying - been there, done that.
Not that she'll be the easy prey the Aeons are expecting. They have no knowledge of the ... thing that lives inside her. You see, when witches are brought back from the afterlife, they don't always come back the same.
And they don't always come back alone.
397 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2023
870 people are currently reading
9082 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Wright
69 books14.5k followersSuzanne Wright lives in England with her husband, two children, and her Bengal cats. When she's not spending time with her family, she's writing, reading, or doing her version of housework - sweeping the house with a look.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 795 reviews
March 15, 2025
I am a HUGE Suzanne Wright fan and have read everything she’s published. Multiple, multiple, multiple times over. Therefore, I was seriously looking forward to this book…the beginning of a new series? Based on biblical characters? Should have been a slam dunk.
I have blatantly discussed my lack of objectivity when it comes to Wright books and my complete and dedicated fangirling. So my rating here shocks me more than anyone.
Sadly, this just didn’t do it for me. I loved Wynter and her crew/“notcoven” of misfits, but something about Wynter and Cain together missed the mark for me. I just wasn’t feeling their connection, which has NEVER happened to me with a Wright book. I also didn’t like how this book ended with so many unanswered questions and loose ends. And also, the word “simply” was used 88 times. Just saying.
But oh well. Can’t win them all. That said, I am still majorly down for the cause here and, despite not loving this one on my first go around, am still very much looking forward to book two.
I have blatantly discussed my lack of objectivity when it comes to Wright books and my complete and dedicated fangirling. So my rating here shocks me more than anyone.
Sadly, this just didn’t do it for me. I loved Wynter and her crew/“notcoven” of misfits, but something about Wynter and Cain together missed the mark for me. I just wasn’t feeling their connection, which has NEVER happened to me with a Wright book. I also didn’t like how this book ended with so many unanswered questions and loose ends. And also, the word “simply” was used 88 times. Just saying.
But oh well. Can’t win them all. That said, I am still majorly down for the cause here and, despite not loving this one on my first go around, am still very much looking forward to book two.
![Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1647896333i%2F31792110._UX200_CR0%2C96%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
January 22, 2023
⤅ Finishing this book was SUCH A CHORE.
I've dipped into Suzanne Wright in the past, enjoyed some books, got bored by others. Her huge backlist of shapeshifter books is mildly intimidating, so I was excited to see that she had a brand-new and unrelated series coming out. Time for a fresh start!
Or so I thought. Actually this book is boring as hell . Let's rewind.
Wynter Dellavale is a witch who's grown up in Aeon, a mystical city ruled by immortals also known as Aeons. Basically, these immortals are the original humans - we have Adam, Eve, Abel, and assorted made-up additions like 'Saul' and 'Lailah'. It's considered a great honour for the city inhabitants to serve the Aeons, which is why Wynter's coven is determined to get rid of her. She has an 'undead soul' because she was brought back to life after being murdered as a child, and her coven know that they'll never be selected to serve the Aeons if one of their members is tainted like this.
Luckily, their attempt to murder Wynter is derailed by the fact that she has an inner monster gifted to her by the goddess Kali. She manages to escape and flee to another mystical city known as Devil's Cradle, which is ruled by another set of immortals called the Ancients. The Ancients were exiled from Aeon millennia ago, and they're led by Cain, who instantly decides to seduce Wynter when she presents herself to him.
This is honestly as much of the plot as I can be bothered to give, so let's go straight into why this book was so shite.
❌ The worldbuilding is utterly crap. We have random biblical figures like Abel and Cain, then random deities from a TOTALLY different religion like Kali. Wright is just picking and choosing whatever she wants here, without a single thought as to how to make it coherent and meaningful. Then we have Norse mythology implants like berserkers too, and it all felt so haphazard. Nothing is properly explained. Like, how come the Aeons and Ancients are immortal? What does the existence of Abel and Cain (and other such figures, e.g. Lilith) mean in a wider religious context? Clearly these are not questions Wright contemplated before deciding to shove the characters into a book.
❌ The dialogue and prose just made me cringe. Every single character speaks the same way, and that's the way the author speaks. Like, everyone CONSTANTLY started sentences with 'Hmmm', and referred to T-shirts as 'tees'. Which is not something I've ever heard in real life, but whatever. You seriously expect me to believe that characters ranging from millennia old, to centuries old, to decades old, all sound exactly the same and have exactly the same speech quirks?
❌ Linked to the above: Cain is supposed to be literally thousands of years old, but he did not give off that vibe at all. He was every super-basic fantasy hero I've ever encountered: tall, dark, handsome in a 'dangerous way', the works. There was nothing memorable about him whatsoever, and certainly nothing to indicate that he had a ton of age and power. Wynter was slightly better in the character stakes, but she was also extremely basic for a fantasy heroine. She has unique Mary Sue-esque powers and the standard feisty personality. I can see how some readers might like the fact that she's very pragmatic about a relationship with Cain, but the total lack of chemistry between them torpedoed that for me.
❌ The romance is SO BAD, bloody hell. Cain's insta-attraction to Wynter is immediately reciprocated, the pair of them have sex on literally the second night they see each other, and thereafter Cain becomes ultra-possessive over her. The thing is, I couldn't enjoy his possessive behaviour at all, because there was zero basis for it. He's THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD and somehow telling us that Wynter is uniquely attractive to him (#notlikeothergirls) despite having known countless women? We aren't shown anything about Wynter that would captivate someone who's that old and experienced. The sex scenes are some of the worst I've ever read, totally devoid of any steam or chemistry. I have no idea why the characters are attracted to each other beyond some mild lust.
❌ The plot is just meh. It was enough to keep me reading, I suppose, but Wright is extremely bad at describing things so I actually have no idea how I didn't DNF. She writes about all these magical underground cities etc without once successfully making me feel like I could picture them, let alone feel like I'd been transported there. The only word I can think of to characterise the prose style is bland.
❌ A smaller point, but Wynter arrives in Devil's Cradle with a coven she found while running from Aeon, and the way they're constantly described as 'kooky and insane' drove me round the bend. First of all, they are NOT that crazy! There's a woman who likes to experiment on herself with potions, a mage who's a pathological liar, and a couple of others, but seriously nothing that necessitates every single character (including the Ancients, who should really have more life experience) going on about their insanity. Wynter's coven was described as 'insane' so many times, it was like I was being hit over the head as Wright desperately tried to convince me how 'quirky' they were. It reminded me of a girl I went to school with who loved doing things to make herself look quirky, like deliberately leaving blobs of paint on her face after art lessons or sitting cross-legged in chairs. This try-hard attempt to paint the coven as kooky rulebreakers ruined one of the few good things about the book, which is the banter between them.
⤅ Overall
Thank God the book's over. I am genuinely surprised Wright's put out such a bad book, especially since it was picked up by a mainstream publisher. Like Kristen Ashley, I think she might have just got to the point where her writing style is unbearable.
I've dipped into Suzanne Wright in the past, enjoyed some books, got bored by others. Her huge backlist of shapeshifter books is mildly intimidating, so I was excited to see that she had a brand-new and unrelated series coming out. Time for a fresh start!
Or so I thought. Actually this book is boring as hell . Let's rewind.
Wynter Dellavale is a witch who's grown up in Aeon, a mystical city ruled by immortals also known as Aeons. Basically, these immortals are the original humans - we have Adam, Eve, Abel, and assorted made-up additions like 'Saul' and 'Lailah'. It's considered a great honour for the city inhabitants to serve the Aeons, which is why Wynter's coven is determined to get rid of her. She has an 'undead soul' because she was brought back to life after being murdered as a child, and her coven know that they'll never be selected to serve the Aeons if one of their members is tainted like this.
Luckily, their attempt to murder Wynter is derailed by the fact that she has an inner monster gifted to her by the goddess Kali. She manages to escape and flee to another mystical city known as Devil's Cradle, which is ruled by another set of immortals called the Ancients. The Ancients were exiled from Aeon millennia ago, and they're led by Cain, who instantly decides to seduce Wynter when she presents herself to him.
This is honestly as much of the plot as I can be bothered to give, so let's go straight into why this book was so shite.
❌ The worldbuilding is utterly crap. We have random biblical figures like Abel and Cain, then random deities from a TOTALLY different religion like Kali. Wright is just picking and choosing whatever she wants here, without a single thought as to how to make it coherent and meaningful. Then we have Norse mythology implants like berserkers too, and it all felt so haphazard. Nothing is properly explained. Like, how come the Aeons and Ancients are immortal? What does the existence of Abel and Cain (and other such figures, e.g. Lilith) mean in a wider religious context? Clearly these are not questions Wright contemplated before deciding to shove the characters into a book.
❌ The dialogue and prose just made me cringe. Every single character speaks the same way, and that's the way the author speaks. Like, everyone CONSTANTLY started sentences with 'Hmmm', and referred to T-shirts as 'tees'. Which is not something I've ever heard in real life, but whatever. You seriously expect me to believe that characters ranging from millennia old, to centuries old, to decades old, all sound exactly the same and have exactly the same speech quirks?
❌ Linked to the above: Cain is supposed to be literally thousands of years old, but he did not give off that vibe at all. He was every super-basic fantasy hero I've ever encountered: tall, dark, handsome in a 'dangerous way', the works. There was nothing memorable about him whatsoever, and certainly nothing to indicate that he had a ton of age and power. Wynter was slightly better in the character stakes, but she was also extremely basic for a fantasy heroine. She has unique Mary Sue-esque powers and the standard feisty personality. I can see how some readers might like the fact that she's very pragmatic about a relationship with Cain, but the total lack of chemistry between them torpedoed that for me.
❌ The romance is SO BAD, bloody hell. Cain's insta-attraction to Wynter is immediately reciprocated, the pair of them have sex on literally the second night they see each other, and thereafter Cain becomes ultra-possessive over her. The thing is, I couldn't enjoy his possessive behaviour at all, because there was zero basis for it. He's THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD and somehow telling us that Wynter is uniquely attractive to him (#notlikeothergirls) despite having known countless women? We aren't shown anything about Wynter that would captivate someone who's that old and experienced. The sex scenes are some of the worst I've ever read, totally devoid of any steam or chemistry. I have no idea why the characters are attracted to each other beyond some mild lust.
❌ The plot is just meh. It was enough to keep me reading, I suppose, but Wright is extremely bad at describing things so I actually have no idea how I didn't DNF. She writes about all these magical underground cities etc without once successfully making me feel like I could picture them, let alone feel like I'd been transported there. The only word I can think of to characterise the prose style is bland.
❌ A smaller point, but Wynter arrives in Devil's Cradle with a coven she found while running from Aeon, and the way they're constantly described as 'kooky and insane' drove me round the bend. First of all, they are NOT that crazy! There's a woman who likes to experiment on herself with potions, a mage who's a pathological liar, and a couple of others, but seriously nothing that necessitates every single character (including the Ancients, who should really have more life experience) going on about their insanity. Wynter's coven was described as 'insane' so many times, it was like I was being hit over the head as Wright desperately tried to convince me how 'quirky' they were. It reminded me of a girl I went to school with who loved doing things to make herself look quirky, like deliberately leaving blobs of paint on her face after art lessons or sitting cross-legged in chairs. This try-hard attempt to paint the coven as kooky rulebreakers ruined one of the few good things about the book, which is the banter between them.
⤅ Overall
Thank God the book's over. I am genuinely surprised Wright's put out such a bad book, especially since it was picked up by a mainstream publisher. Like Kristen Ashley, I think she might have just got to the point where her writing style is unbearable.
February 4, 2023
I LOVED IT.
AS SOON AS IT DROPPED ON MY KINDLE I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED WHAT I WAS READING.....
The banter in this book was elite. Suzanne Wright's stories are amazing to read. Her work exudes individuality, separating her from other authors in this genre. Wynter and Cain are hands down one of my favourite couples EVER!!! The secondary characters are a great add on to the story. Wynters coven was the epitome of found family. They treated eachother as such; each character had a fascinating backstory that really blended well. The plot really was unlike anything I've yet to read which was made evident by the way I could not put it down!!
As soon as I finished this book I had the urge to turn back to page 1 and start all over again.
I'm excited to see where this series leads. I see myself rereading her works in the meantime while I wait for more. Highly recommend you read anything from this author.
AS SOON AS IT DROPPED ON MY KINDLE I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED WHAT I WAS READING.....
The banter in this book was elite. Suzanne Wright's stories are amazing to read. Her work exudes individuality, separating her from other authors in this genre. Wynter and Cain are hands down one of my favourite couples EVER!!! The secondary characters are a great add on to the story. Wynters coven was the epitome of found family. They treated eachother as such; each character had a fascinating backstory that really blended well. The plot really was unlike anything I've yet to read which was made evident by the way I could not put it down!!
As soon as I finished this book I had the urge to turn back to page 1 and start all over again.
I'm excited to see where this series leads. I see myself rereading her works in the meantime while I wait for more. Highly recommend you read anything from this author.
January 12, 2023
I inhaled it while I should have done some studying. At the same time I did a lot of skipping (the sex, and there was a lot). I know she writes mostly erotica/erotic romance nowadays, but I still read her books for her stories (or lately the hint of story) and, yes, the snarky heroine.
If you have read the Dark In You, you have read this book already though.
I don’t think I’ll keep reading this series (and not because I really should have studied today :D), as I’m growing tired of snark and sex being used instead of characterisations and romance. Yes, it’s category romance. I still expect more.
If you have read the Dark In You, you have read this book already though.
I don’t think I’ll keep reading this series (and not because I really should have studied today :D), as I’m growing tired of snark and sex being used instead of characterisations and romance. Yes, it’s category romance. I still expect more.
Want to read
January 4, 20222/1/22
New from Suzanne Wright!! I cannot wait to read!
New from Suzanne Wright!! I cannot wait to read!
April 12, 2025
the wicked in me is the first within a three-book series that follows wynter dellavale, a witch from a city called aeon where immortals known as ‘aeons’ rule, who comprise of original humans bearing biblical names such as eve, adam and abel. it’s an absolute honour to be servants to the aeons and it’s the reason wynter’s coven are determined to exile her after ensuring her memories are removed, as wynter carries around an ‘undead soul’, having been resurrected following being murdered as a child. thankfully for wynter, she was blessed with a horrific monster by the goddess kali and the coven’s attempts to murder wynter are derailed, which leads wynter towards devil’s cradle, a safe haven for outcasts governed by different immortals called ‘the ancients’.
for me, suzanne wright’s books are mind-numbing entertainment that never demands my full, undivided attention; however, they manage to satisfy me with an enjoyable narrative. they don’t contain detailed small crises or jaw-dropping moments to create an intricate long-plot, but the stories are fun and amusing, and the characters are usually humorous and distinct. we’re always offered the sassiest female lead to have ever existed, who somehow manages to captivate the untamable male lead character, accompanied by a cohort of side characters who offer amusing exchanges and quirky personalities. i’m sure the intention of suzanne wright’s latest series, devil’s cradle was supposed to be fulfilling, but it was the total opposite—boring, awfully written and expressed itself as nothing more than a smut-filled fanfiction of your favourite characters. if you have read knox thorne and harper wallis’ journey in the dark in you series, then devil’s cradle is the watered-down version of it.
♡ cain
perhaps it’s unfair to compare cain with knox, but there’s nothing memorable to his character as he’s literally a carbon copy of knox thorne—classic tall, dark and handsome with immeasurable powers, an untamable lifestyle and unrivalled immortality. everyone within devil’s cradle reveres cain, or is otherwise petrified of his status as an ancient. however for someone who’s supposed to be old, nothing in his speech patterns or demeanour supported his age and power. he came across as flat and his characterisation underwhelmed me to an extreme amount.
♡ wynter dellavale
similar to cain, wynter bears an inner monster that bestows her with an incredible amount of strength when she’s threatened or ‘murdered’. however, we’re left wondering what this monster is and the reason this particular creature is terrifying. i assume this is to make wynter different from suzanne wright’s other female characters and also strong in her own way. wynter’s a more interesting character than cain, but she’s quintessentially ‘not like other girls’ and possesses a feisty attitude that is no different to this author’s other characters.
♡ cain + wynter
the so-called romance between cain and wynter failed to interest me, as the sex scenes were often and recurrent, they started to blur into each other. the inclusion of these scenes made little to no sense, as it didn’t further the romantic connection between cain and wynter. they were written in similar fashion, i had to skim them as they lacked a serious amount of steam and chemistry. to be frank, the scenes came across as written to call this book ‘romantic erotica with a dash of fantasy’ and this made me less enthused to read this series. cain’s instant attraction to wynter really derailed proper growth for the relationship and his immediate possessive nature over wynter lacked real justification. him being thousands of years old, yet finding wynter uniquely attractive? unbelievable.
the world-building in this book is lacking and the inconsistencies are obvious. what started with biblical names—abel and cain, adam and eve, etc.—is then infiltrated with names and creatures from other, unrelated religions and mythologies. we have kali from hinduism; berserkers, who are warriors derived from norse and germanic history and folklore; nyx and nemesis, who are mother and daughter in greek mythology. i’m sure the list can continue, but i’ve made my point. there's no connection, or at least an obvious one that can make this jumbled mess justifiable. there’s also a distinct lack of answers to the reasons things are as is in this world, such as the reason for the aeons and the ancients being immortal.
there was a lot of information dumping in the format of telling but not showing the readers anything, with a distinct lack of cohesion. suzanne wright is terrible at describing scenes and environments, it was hard to picture myself, let alone the characters, in what should have been immersive underground cities. the prose and dialogue did not fit the narrative whatsoever, with an incredibly odd mixture of fantasy and modern language that really didn’t suit the characters and the personalities the author was aiming for. in the end, all of the characters started to follow similar speech patterns and quirks.
it is no secret that found families are one of my favourite elements of fantasy stories, but the wicked in me has to have one of the worst depictions of this trope. wynter’s coven was “crazy”, but realistically they were just weird individuals with quirks—one woman likes to experiment on herself with potions; a mage is a pathological liar; an older woman is obsessed with smut and romance novels, and there’s others but nothing necessitates the constant reference back to them being insane. it’s a shame because the banter shared between the coven members was perhaps the best feature of them and this book.
i could continue writing about all of the aspects of this book that frustrated me beyond recognition, but i’ll finish by confirming that this book is a lot and not in an entertaining way. i feel like this could’ve been an enjoyable read, if it benefitted from an extreme amount of editing and polishing, reworking some plot-lines and with broadened, but finessed world-building and magic systems.
────────────────────
˖⁺‧₊♡ pre-read review ⋙
if there’s an author who can, without fail, cure my reading slump, it’s suzanne wright! begging right now for a miracle. i love that this isn’t another shifter or demon book for something a little different!
follow me on: instagram
for me, suzanne wright’s books are mind-numbing entertainment that never demands my full, undivided attention; however, they manage to satisfy me with an enjoyable narrative. they don’t contain detailed small crises or jaw-dropping moments to create an intricate long-plot, but the stories are fun and amusing, and the characters are usually humorous and distinct. we’re always offered the sassiest female lead to have ever existed, who somehow manages to captivate the untamable male lead character, accompanied by a cohort of side characters who offer amusing exchanges and quirky personalities. i’m sure the intention of suzanne wright’s latest series, devil’s cradle was supposed to be fulfilling, but it was the total opposite—boring, awfully written and expressed itself as nothing more than a smut-filled fanfiction of your favourite characters. if you have read knox thorne and harper wallis’ journey in the dark in you series, then devil’s cradle is the watered-down version of it.
so this was cain… the originator of murder, the ancestor of envy, the quintessential personification of sin.
♡ cain
perhaps it’s unfair to compare cain with knox, but there’s nothing memorable to his character as he’s literally a carbon copy of knox thorne—classic tall, dark and handsome with immeasurable powers, an untamable lifestyle and unrivalled immortality. everyone within devil’s cradle reveres cain, or is otherwise petrified of his status as an ancient. however for someone who’s supposed to be old, nothing in his speech patterns or demeanour supported his age and power. he came across as flat and his characterisation underwhelmed me to an extreme amount.
the way she carried herself, the steel in her spine, the sharpness in her eyes, the magick that hummed around her like an aura of electricity—all of it came together in a very pretty package.
♡ wynter dellavale
similar to cain, wynter bears an inner monster that bestows her with an incredible amount of strength when she’s threatened or ‘murdered’. however, we’re left wondering what this monster is and the reason this particular creature is terrifying. i assume this is to make wynter different from suzanne wright’s other female characters and also strong in her own way. wynter’s a more interesting character than cain, but she’s quintessentially ‘not like other girls’ and possesses a feisty attitude that is no different to this author’s other characters.
“you like the taste of all that darkness, don’t you?”
♡ cain + wynter
the so-called romance between cain and wynter failed to interest me, as the sex scenes were often and recurrent, they started to blur into each other. the inclusion of these scenes made little to no sense, as it didn’t further the romantic connection between cain and wynter. they were written in similar fashion, i had to skim them as they lacked a serious amount of steam and chemistry. to be frank, the scenes came across as written to call this book ‘romantic erotica with a dash of fantasy’ and this made me less enthused to read this series. cain’s instant attraction to wynter really derailed proper growth for the relationship and his immediate possessive nature over wynter lacked real justification. him being thousands of years old, yet finding wynter uniquely attractive? unbelievable.
the world-building in this book is lacking and the inconsistencies are obvious. what started with biblical names—abel and cain, adam and eve, etc.—is then infiltrated with names and creatures from other, unrelated religions and mythologies. we have kali from hinduism; berserkers, who are warriors derived from norse and germanic history and folklore; nyx and nemesis, who are mother and daughter in greek mythology. i’m sure the list can continue, but i’ve made my point. there's no connection, or at least an obvious one that can make this jumbled mess justifiable. there’s also a distinct lack of answers to the reasons things are as is in this world, such as the reason for the aeons and the ancients being immortal.
there was a lot of information dumping in the format of telling but not showing the readers anything, with a distinct lack of cohesion. suzanne wright is terrible at describing scenes and environments, it was hard to picture myself, let alone the characters, in what should have been immersive underground cities. the prose and dialogue did not fit the narrative whatsoever, with an incredibly odd mixture of fantasy and modern language that really didn’t suit the characters and the personalities the author was aiming for. in the end, all of the characters started to follow similar speech patterns and quirks.
it is no secret that found families are one of my favourite elements of fantasy stories, but the wicked in me has to have one of the worst depictions of this trope. wynter’s coven was “crazy”, but realistically they were just weird individuals with quirks—one woman likes to experiment on herself with potions; a mage is a pathological liar; an older woman is obsessed with smut and romance novels, and there’s others but nothing necessitates the constant reference back to them being insane. it’s a shame because the banter shared between the coven members was perhaps the best feature of them and this book.
i could continue writing about all of the aspects of this book that frustrated me beyond recognition, but i’ll finish by confirming that this book is a lot and not in an entertaining way. i feel like this could’ve been an enjoyable read, if it benefitted from an extreme amount of editing and polishing, reworking some plot-lines and with broadened, but finessed world-building and magic systems.
────────────────────
˖⁺‧₊♡ pre-read review ⋙
if there’s an author who can, without fail, cure my reading slump, it’s suzanne wright! begging right now for a miracle. i love that this isn’t another shifter or demon book for something a little different!
follow me on: instagram
January 23, 2023
Well! This was a huge disappointment. See, I was secretly hoping for a Knox/Harper dynamic - all the makings were there but Cain and Wynter fell so far short they aren't even on the scale. There was so much fluff and waffle and not enough feelings/connection shown between the two of them. In fact, there was more between Wynter and her coven than there was between Cain and Wynter.
And don't even get me started on slogging though that marathon for it to end without me still not knowing what monster lurks inside Cain. WTF??
Never in the history of me reading SW's (usually) epic books has it taken me just short of 2 weeks to read. Never. And so I feel 2 stars is me being overly generous.
And don't even get me started on slogging though that marathon for it to end without me still not knowing what monster lurks inside Cain. WTF??
Never in the history of me reading SW's (usually) epic books has it taken me just short of 2 weeks to read. Never. And so I feel 2 stars is me being overly generous.
January 21, 2024
Awesomeness!!!
January 21, 2024
2nd read - January 2024
I've exactly the same thoughts as the first time I read this story.
1st read - January 2023
I love all of Suzanne Wright's books, although I can't resist the impression that they are all written according to a 'proven recipe' if you get what I want to say.
I've exactly the same thoughts as the first time I read this story.
1st read - January 2023
I love all of Suzanne Wright's books, although I can't resist the impression that they are all written according to a 'proven recipe' if you get what I want to say.
May 22, 2023
We've got us a date!!!
❣️October 6, 2022❣️
Edit: ❣️January 12, 2023❣️
---------------
Hold up
Edit: ❣️January 12, 2023❣️
---------------
Hold up
January 13, 2023
5 Burn For You Stars!
If you’ve read any of my reviews after reading a Wright romance, then you know I f*cking adore this author. This new series is top notch and I loved it.
Wynter is special and carries something deadly and sinful in her after dying young. The entity within her has an agenda and Wynter is happy to play sentient host. When she is exiled from her coven, she finds protection from the Ancients in Devils Cradle. Catching the eye of Cade, an Ancient with many secrets, was not part of the plan but there’s no denying the connection and chemistry these two have.
Cade rivals Knox (one of my favorite book husbands of all time). He’s mysterious, dripping with sex appeal, possessive, dominant, and treats Wynter like the diamond she is. His character is so deliciously deviant. The monster inside him is an interesting extension of him and I look forward to learning more about his monster and the role they’ll play in the coming war between the Aeons and the Ancients.
Wynter guards her secrets and plays the role of weaker until she has to be strong and I loved that about her. She fights for what she believes in and once you’re in her circle, her loyalty is unparalleled. She’s strong but vulnerable when she is just with Cade and I loved reading about her more sensual side. Loved her character so much.
Cade and Wynter were everything. They reminded me heavily of the relationship Harper and Knox have and it was so perfect. Their chemistry was off the charts hot and the steam in here had me 🥵🥵🥵. I loved their us against the world connection even though they are still learning to trust each other. It’s so refreshing to read romance where the angst is external rather than internally in the relationship. Cade and Wynter were the perfect pair and matched each other in power and wit.
Even though the relationship felt familiar (I’m not complaining), the plot was unique and fresh and I look forward to their future. This also had Wright’s signature humor that had me laughing out loud several times. This ends on a HFN for the relationship but more of a cliffhanger for a coming battle and the answers to all the questions that the characters and the reader has. Suzanne, please never stop writing. Now I think I’ll go reread Knox and Harper 😂.
If you’ve read any of my reviews after reading a Wright romance, then you know I f*cking adore this author. This new series is top notch and I loved it.
“I’m not just going to fuck you, sweet witch. I’m going to ruin you. Corrupt you. Consume you.” His tongue traced the shell of her ear. “You’ll break. You’ll cry. You’ll feel like you’re mine.”
Wynter is special and carries something deadly and sinful in her after dying young. The entity within her has an agenda and Wynter is happy to play sentient host. When she is exiled from her coven, she finds protection from the Ancients in Devils Cradle. Catching the eye of Cade, an Ancient with many secrets, was not part of the plan but there’s no denying the connection and chemistry these two have.
“Just so there are no misunderstandings, I want you. I want your taste in my mouth. I want my cock in your body. I want my fingers in your mind.”
Cade rivals Knox (one of my favorite book husbands of all time). He’s mysterious, dripping with sex appeal, possessive, dominant, and treats Wynter like the diamond she is. His character is so deliciously deviant. The monster inside him is an interesting extension of him and I look forward to learning more about his monster and the role they’ll play in the coming war between the Aeons and the Ancients.
“I like the smell of your magick. Jasmine and black pepper. It hums with chaos. So much potential for destruction.”
Wynter guards her secrets and plays the role of weaker until she has to be strong and I loved that about her. She fights for what she believes in and once you’re in her circle, her loyalty is unparalleled. She’s strong but vulnerable when she is just with Cade and I loved reading about her more sensual side. Loved her character so much.
Cade and Wynter were everything. They reminded me heavily of the relationship Harper and Knox have and it was so perfect. Their chemistry was off the charts hot and the steam in here had me 🥵🥵🥵. I loved their us against the world connection even though they are still learning to trust each other. It’s so refreshing to read romance where the angst is external rather than internally in the relationship. Cade and Wynter were the perfect pair and matched each other in power and wit.
“But Wynter … he fucking burned for her.”
Even though the relationship felt familiar (I’m not complaining), the plot was unique and fresh and I look forward to their future. This also had Wright’s signature humor that had me laughing out loud several times. This ends on a HFN for the relationship but more of a cliffhanger for a coming battle and the answers to all the questions that the characters and the reader has. Suzanne, please never stop writing. Now I think I’ll go reread Knox and Harper 😂.
January 17, 2025
Wow, I loved this so much, I do adore this author's writing and this wasn't my first book by them by any means, but here I was reminded once again why they are an auto-buy author for me and i raced through this in a single evening. My favourite series by this author is The Dark in You, Knox and Harper hold one of my top spots for favourite pairings in a paranormal romance novel. Well, Wynter and Cain are currently becoming a serious contender now as well. Loved Wynter and adored Cain and this was an easy read that was effortless and so enjoyable.
This is a fantasy/paranormal romance read and the fantastical elements in this take place in a present-day world but within secret pockets hidden from mundane everyday humans, so a world within a world. Wynter Dellavale is a witch with dark magic, she belongs to a coven that since some traumatic events in her childhood places her apart, hence she's treated with suspicion and alienation by her fellow witches and mages.
Her town is governed by Aeons powerful immortal beings and her coven's most heartfelt wish is to be invited to live in the subterranean city below. To do this they decide that Wynter must be exiled, her magic too dark and different to co-exist. Expecting to have her memory of Aeon wiped instead Wynter finds herself on the run after she vows vengeance when the truth of Aeon and all who leave it is finally revealed.
Taking refuge in Devil's cradle, the fabled home of monsters, home to the Ancients, the Aeon's sworn enemies with a ragtag bunch of found family is the best protection Wynter can think of. It's here she meets Cain an otherworldly and powerful ancient, the price for her resendency and safety is partial relinquishment of her soul and almost instantly she feels a connection and attraction to the powerful male as he does to her.
With secrets being kept on both sides, these two come together and Wynter's presence in Cains's life pushes back the darkness of his long-eeked existence. His plans to sleep for a spell were put on hold with her arrival in his life.
This has found family, humour, passion, magic and so much more. I loved the dynamic between Wynter and her crew, they are such a bunch of misfits but they just slot together so perfectly. I liked the lack of artifice and drama between Wynter and Cain, there is no unnecessary conflict they behave like adult beings and communicate honestly and though both are keeping their origins and secrets close, it also felt open in as such they both recognise that unless they reveal their own cards they have no business expecting the other to be forthcoming either. Yes, it's kinda insta, as in there's no artifice behind their initial lust, but this works well and the story though not finished yet did conclude on an HFN, so no major cliffhangers either. I also totally appreciate the fact that Wynter is equally as vengeful as Cain, to many heroines are not this way inclined and I loved that Wynter totally matched Cain's energy in this, she's bad-ass and she owns it
This was well-written and such an easy read that consumed me totally. I can't wait to begin the next instalment in the series and discover more. I recommend reading this or even anything written by this author.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
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January 16, 2023
2.75 stars? (I feel like I’m being to generous lol)
😫I love Suzanne Wright and was so excited about a new series (especially since this was originally going to be released last year), her reads are comforting/auto-clicks for me, but imo I don’t know that this more complex PNR world building is totally her forte 😓 I love her shifter series’ and her demon series, but once she introduced angels to the demon series it got too weird and I feel like the same thing happened here.
In addition:
-the banter with Wynter’s “crew”/coven was OTT, cringey and always went on for way too long
-there was a lot of telling vs showing/info dumping
-the magic etc was all so random and had no real basis or background: there was “dark” and “light” magic and like chanting sometimes but mostly not, people could do anything they wanted with no explanation
-the selling only part of your soul thing (also why the fuck does him licking her palm/mark feel like he’s licking her pussy…like he could just lick any of his claimed palms and they’d feel the same…whyyy 😵💫)
-there were covens, mages, fae, “aeons”, “ancients”(no real explanation for what either of those are yet or their magic system), shifters, vampires, beserkers, etc etc. aka just a shit ton of magical beings…
-oh and there was a big battle scene at the end that I found really long and boring 😅 in SW defense I almost always find battle scenes boring, I think they’re really hard to write well. Additionally, Cain was touted as the biggest, baddest ancient and so much more powerful than anyone and I don’t feel like he did anything that remarkable. It seemed like a fair fight with the aeons and that the other ancients contributed just as much so that was a bit of a let down as well.
I could go on forever about all the random shit that annoyed me but the one take away is: this book was a lot. I just feel like it would’ve really benefited from being edited down/polished and with some more robust world building/magic systems. I still love SW and will read anything she writes, but this one didn’t really work for me 😕
PS I am super intrigued by the potential for an MM, perhaps even an all male ménage that seems to be being seeded rn with Xavier (one of Wynter’s coven members) and an alpha werewolf (and his bf?!)…will SW go there? Can’t wait to find out lol It wouldn’t be until at least book 4 of this series though bc the next two are still about Cain and Wynter and books only release one per year so that would be years away 🫠
😫I love Suzanne Wright and was so excited about a new series (especially since this was originally going to be released last year), her reads are comforting/auto-clicks for me, but imo I don’t know that this more complex PNR world building is totally her forte 😓 I love her shifter series’ and her demon series, but once she introduced angels to the demon series it got too weird and I feel like the same thing happened here.
In addition:
-the banter with Wynter’s “crew”/coven was OTT, cringey and always went on for way too long
-there was a lot of telling vs showing/info dumping
-the magic etc was all so random and had no real basis or background: there was “dark” and “light” magic and like chanting sometimes but mostly not, people could do anything they wanted with no explanation
-the selling only part of your soul thing (also why the fuck does him licking her palm/mark feel like he’s licking her pussy…like he could just lick any of his claimed palms and they’d feel the same…whyyy 😵💫)
-there were covens, mages, fae, “aeons”, “ancients”(no real explanation for what either of those are yet or their magic system), shifters, vampires, beserkers, etc etc. aka just a shit ton of magical beings…
-oh and there was a big battle scene at the end that I found really long and boring 😅 in SW defense I almost always find battle scenes boring, I think they’re really hard to write well. Additionally, Cain was touted as the biggest, baddest ancient and so much more powerful than anyone and I don’t feel like he did anything that remarkable. It seemed like a fair fight with the aeons and that the other ancients contributed just as much so that was a bit of a let down as well.
I could go on forever about all the random shit that annoyed me but the one take away is: this book was a lot. I just feel like it would’ve really benefited from being edited down/polished and with some more robust world building/magic systems. I still love SW and will read anything she writes, but this one didn’t really work for me 😕
PS I am super intrigued by the potential for an MM, perhaps even an all male ménage that seems to be being seeded rn with Xavier (one of Wynter’s coven members) and an alpha werewolf (and his bf?!)…will SW go there? Can’t wait to find out lol It wouldn’t be until at least book 4 of this series though bc the next two are still about Cain and Wynter and books only release one per year so that would be years away 🫠
January 3, 2023
Briefly - Damn I enjoyed this though it may not be for everyone...!
In full
OK - so there's this civilisation, the Aeons. They are ancient, powerful, immortal and have a complete disdain for everyone else. Wynter Dellavale is a mortal (kind of!) and a witch. A new coven is to be selected by the Aeons and the one Wynter's is in is in the running. However the Priestess of the coven feels Wynter is the weak link to them being selected as her magic is "dark". It is decided that she should be exiled. The snag is that if you are exiled you lose everything including your powers and your memory. That idea does not appeal to Wynter and it's is just possible she holds some secrets that might help her and "inconvenience" the Aeons.
She ends up with a bunch of very interesting people seeking sanctuary with the Ancients at their home, the Devil's Cradle…
I was telling a friend very enthusiastically about this book along these lines. It's pacey and has a decent story line. The fantasy/magic is good as is world building. I really love Wynter's "crew" as she prefers to describe them rather than their view that they are a coven. It was - for me - laugh out loud funny at times (if somewhat impolite!). It's playful, modern in feel and Wynter is a great and very sassy character (and she's not the only one).
And then I said to the aforementioned friend "I feel I should point out to you that parts of it I found pretty erotic…" :). As I understand it people out there might take offence at the fairly graphic sexual activity here ;). The sex, which was interesting, was quite highly charged. However it felt completely appropriate to the story for me. I guess you have to read it to see what I mean and views may differ.
This may not be a great literary milestone book but I found it a highly entertaining read where the storylines develop well over time. Some of the characters are not particularly deep but the main ones again develop over the course of the book. Overall I really liked this fantasy tale - I have one really big complaint though - I want to read the next book NOW (please).
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
OK - so there's this civilisation, the Aeons. They are ancient, powerful, immortal and have a complete disdain for everyone else. Wynter Dellavale is a mortal (kind of!) and a witch. A new coven is to be selected by the Aeons and the one Wynter's is in is in the running. However the Priestess of the coven feels Wynter is the weak link to them being selected as her magic is "dark". It is decided that she should be exiled. The snag is that if you are exiled you lose everything including your powers and your memory. That idea does not appeal to Wynter and it's is just possible she holds some secrets that might help her and "inconvenience" the Aeons.
She ends up with a bunch of very interesting people seeking sanctuary with the Ancients at their home, the Devil's Cradle…
I was telling a friend very enthusiastically about this book along these lines. It's pacey and has a decent story line. The fantasy/magic is good as is world building. I really love Wynter's "crew" as she prefers to describe them rather than their view that they are a coven. It was - for me - laugh out loud funny at times (if somewhat impolite!). It's playful, modern in feel and Wynter is a great and very sassy character (and she's not the only one).
And then I said to the aforementioned friend "I feel I should point out to you that parts of it I found pretty erotic…" :). As I understand it people out there might take offence at the fairly graphic sexual activity here ;). The sex, which was interesting, was quite highly charged. However it felt completely appropriate to the story for me. I guess you have to read it to see what I mean and views may differ.
This may not be a great literary milestone book but I found it a highly entertaining read where the storylines develop well over time. Some of the characters are not particularly deep but the main ones again develop over the course of the book. Overall I really liked this fantasy tale - I have one really big complaint though - I want to read the next book NOW (please).
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
March 3, 2023
Cain: I'm *this* powerful being capable of apocalypse.
Wynter: I'm an *equally* badass creature.
But what do they turn out to be ? A mix of supernatural jargon mess. The concept itself is discombobulated. The plot is non existent. I do not care about covens and witches. The whole story being nothing but coven BS. They keep talking in vague terms. I would rate it a 1.5 but SW has been my comfort author since '14.
Wynter: I'm an *equally* badass creature.
But what do they turn out to be ? A mix of supernatural jargon mess. The concept itself is discombobulated. The plot is non existent. I do not care about covens and witches. The whole story being nothing but coven BS. They keep talking in vague terms. I would rate it a 1.5 but SW has been my comfort author since '14.
November 25, 2022
For full transparency, this is not usually the type of book I read. I requested this on the basis of the beautiful cover and the description featuring witches and other fantastical elements I enjoy. I know that dark romance is a very popular subgenre within fantasy fiction, and can totally see other readers loving this, but it was not for me.
My main issue with it is that every single element felt flat and did not live up to its potential. The actual plot between Wynter, the Aeons, and the Ancients was fascinating and something I was really looking forward to being explored further, but it was constantly put on the back burner for other storylines that went nowhere and added nothing to the overall narrative. The characters were incredibly one-dimensional and we found out hardly anything about any of them despite there being nearly 400 pages. All of the ensemble characters were just there to be wacky and quirky and it just came across as cringe-worthy. I started off the book enjoying their group scenes the best, but by the end I was rolling my eyes at the same rehashed jokes.
The romance was one of the worst cases of Insta-Love I’ve ever read. There was zero build-up, tension, or intimacy created between Wynter and Cain. They just instantly got to having sex with each other and these scenes were so repetitive and formulaic once you’ve read the first one you needn’t bother with the rest.
The writing also came across as very juvenile. We were told about these incredibly powerful fantastical beings that were constantly referred to as ‘dudes.’ Like I said before, I thought the book had fantastic potential, but ultimately the execution was unsophisticated.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
My main issue with it is that every single element felt flat and did not live up to its potential. The actual plot between Wynter, the Aeons, and the Ancients was fascinating and something I was really looking forward to being explored further, but it was constantly put on the back burner for other storylines that went nowhere and added nothing to the overall narrative. The characters were incredibly one-dimensional and we found out hardly anything about any of them despite there being nearly 400 pages. All of the ensemble characters were just there to be wacky and quirky and it just came across as cringe-worthy. I started off the book enjoying their group scenes the best, but by the end I was rolling my eyes at the same rehashed jokes.
The romance was one of the worst cases of Insta-Love I’ve ever read. There was zero build-up, tension, or intimacy created between Wynter and Cain. They just instantly got to having sex with each other and these scenes were so repetitive and formulaic once you’ve read the first one you needn’t bother with the rest.
The writing also came across as very juvenile. We were told about these incredibly powerful fantastical beings that were constantly referred to as ‘dudes.’ Like I said before, I thought the book had fantastic potential, but ultimately the execution was unsophisticated.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
October 22, 2024
I'm so excited there is a new series from one of my favorite authors. This was a great start to the series. I love how strong Wynter is. I also love her cool attitude. Her crew is hilarious, but that Hattie is a bit much for me. Cain is awesome. I love his possessiveness of Wynter. I can't help but compare him to Knox and he isn't quite at his level yet, but I have hopes he'll get there in the next book. Overall, I enjoyed this very much and I can't wait to see what will happen next.
May 14, 2023
This may be the only time I have enjoyed lust at first sight haha
As a fantasy reader I can definitely see the flaws in this book but I had a great time reading it so I’m willing to overlook the lack of world building and the pure lust based romance because I fell in love with the Bloodrose Coven characters, Hattie, Xavier, Delilah & Anabel had me laughing out loud with their interactions.
This is not a heavy, life changing story, it’s almost a rom com fantasy with lots of spicy scenes, as long as you manage your expectations you should have a good time
As a fantasy reader I can definitely see the flaws in this book but I had a great time reading it so I’m willing to overlook the lack of world building and the pure lust based romance because I fell in love with the Bloodrose Coven characters, Hattie, Xavier, Delilah & Anabel had me laughing out loud with their interactions.
This is not a heavy, life changing story, it’s almost a rom com fantasy with lots of spicy scenes, as long as you manage your expectations you should have a good time
January 27, 2024
I gave up on this one and officially DNF'd it at the 45% mark. And honestly, the ONLY reason I made it that far was because I bought the special hardcover edition from Goldsboro Books and I was desperately trying to find a reason to justify the purchase.
It seems Suzanne Wright is beloved by some, and that's awesome—I don't want to knock her or her fanbase with this review.
For me and my personal tastes, this was really subpar. I didn't care for the info-dump style exposition, I thought the dialogue was too on-the-nose and too similarly vague from character to character, and the confusing mishmash of biblical + religious + magical concepts and tropes was just too much for what was a very basic plot.
Glad others seem to enjoy this one! Just a pass from me.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
It seems Suzanne Wright is beloved by some, and that's awesome—I don't want to knock her or her fanbase with this review.
For me and my personal tastes, this was really subpar. I didn't care for the info-dump style exposition, I thought the dialogue was too on-the-nose and too similarly vague from character to character, and the confusing mishmash of biblical + religious + magical concepts and tropes was just too much for what was a very basic plot.
Glad others seem to enjoy this one! Just a pass from me.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
January 13, 2023
To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I usually enjoy Suzanne’s books, but this one was not for me. I think when you’ve read a number of books by this author—in particular her Dark In You series—you quickly realize she uses the same formula every single time. And unfortunately it gets really boring and predictable. I enjoyed the start of the book, but not even halfway through it, I was already skimming parts of it. The constant over the top banter between Wynter’s coven became excessively annoying, the jealous ex-girlfriend that’s in each of Suzanne’s books was, again, so genuinely annoying and predictable, the fact that both main characters are keeping secrets from each other made sense at first, but after a while it became really frustrating and led to some stupid decisions which annoyed me even more. Even the romance aspect fell flat for me, I didn’t feel any connection between the hero and heroine, the sex was hot, but no real development in their relationship, I couldn’t connect with them and didn’t feel any chemistry between them. I also did not know this was going to end on a cliffhanger, the couple is together at the end but it is very much a HFN with many secrets between them still and a lot of unresolved drama. Nothing wrong with that, I just expected a full story which isn’t the case.
All in all, unfortunately not a win for me which I’m really sad about because I was very excited about this new series. I think if you are new to this author’s books, you might really like it, but when you’ve read a bunch, the similarities between each book become extremely noticeable and, while the storyline is somewhat different, the fact that the formula is always the same is super tiring. I probably won’t be reading the next one. I ended up skimming the last three chapters, I was no longer interested.
All in all, unfortunately not a win for me which I’m really sad about because I was very excited about this new series. I think if you are new to this author’s books, you might really like it, but when you’ve read a bunch, the similarities between each book become extremely noticeable and, while the storyline is somewhat different, the fact that the formula is always the same is super tiring. I probably won’t be reading the next one. I ended up skimming the last three chapters, I was no longer interested.
January 13, 2023
This book was a complete let down for me. I’ve been reading this author for years, started with her book Rags then Feral Sins and those to my knowledge were enjoyable but this book was a complete let down. At this point, I’m expecting growth from an author who have been writing for such a long time but this book has proven its a no.
Wynter and her ‘crew’ all read as if they were teenagers even Hattie who’s meant to be an elder😳 I felt like I was reading Taryn and Trey’s grandmother Greta with a few changes here and there.
The world of Cain and the Ancients and Aeons could have been such an epic story but unfortunately it was a big let down by how flat it all felt. The so called romance between Cain and Wynter was just cringey. And that licking thing of his mark on her palm in place of actually giving her head was stupid IMO.
I can’t get over how flat, silly in lots of places in the book and repetitive it all was. Hugely disappointed. Think it’s time I move on from this author. The stories are all just running in the same direction with the women being portrayed as strong but they come across as mean and horrible and the men all sound the same. Definitely time to leave this author behind.
*The book was an ARC received via Netgalley*
Wynter and her ‘crew’ all read as if they were teenagers even Hattie who’s meant to be an elder😳 I felt like I was reading Taryn and Trey’s grandmother Greta with a few changes here and there.
The world of Cain and the Ancients and Aeons could have been such an epic story but unfortunately it was a big let down by how flat it all felt. The so called romance between Cain and Wynter was just cringey. And that licking thing of his mark on her palm in place of actually giving her head was stupid IMO.
I can’t get over how flat, silly in lots of places in the book and repetitive it all was. Hugely disappointed. Think it’s time I move on from this author. The stories are all just running in the same direction with the women being portrayed as strong but they come across as mean and horrible and the men all sound the same. Definitely time to leave this author behind.
*The book was an ARC received via Netgalley*
August 3, 2023
As a witch, Wynter could never remember a time when she fit in with her coven. So it came as no surprise when she was pushed out and exiled. On her own, she finds herself with surrounded by people who got her, who also knew what it was to be alone and hunted, creating the family she'd always wanted.
Out of options for survival, the group seeks shelter in Devil's Cradle. When they meet Cain (yes, that Cain), things start looking up. He offers them protection, for a price—a tether to their souls. After that, life is good aside from the Aeons who exiled Wynter constantly sending people to kill and/or capture her.
Fun times!
Find more here: The Wicked In Me
✫ The Crew: Xavier was a compulsive and convincing liar, skilled at necromancy; Hattie was able to shift, was quite lovable, and had a penchant for killing her husbands; Delilah was a skilled witch with a penchant for karma potions; and Anabel was scared of her own shadow, except when her 'other' side came out.
✫ Wynter: there was so much to learn about this incredibly fierce and loyal character. I still don't know all there is to know and am super excited to learn her secrets.
✫ Cain: once a part of the Aeon group, he and his friends went to war with them and have been punished ever since. His thirst for vengeance is only matched by his obsession with Wynter. I can't wait to find out all there is that makes up this male. I'm very intrigued by him.
✫ The other Ancients: they all offer something unique to the dynamic of this story. Even Ishtar's dramatics kept me entertained. I do hope that everything they wish for, especially their freedom, is given to them.
I'm the fool who read this book, not knowing that it was the first in a trilogy. When can I get the next book in my hands?
Out of options for survival, the group seeks shelter in Devil's Cradle. When they meet Cain (yes, that Cain), things start looking up. He offers them protection, for a price—a tether to their souls. After that, life is good aside from the Aeons who exiled Wynter constantly sending people to kill and/or capture her.
Fun times!
Find more here: The Wicked In Me
✫ The Crew: Xavier was a compulsive and convincing liar, skilled at necromancy; Hattie was able to shift, was quite lovable, and had a penchant for killing her husbands; Delilah was a skilled witch with a penchant for karma potions; and Anabel was scared of her own shadow, except when her 'other' side came out.
✫ Wynter: there was so much to learn about this incredibly fierce and loyal character. I still don't know all there is to know and am super excited to learn her secrets.
✫ Cain: once a part of the Aeon group, he and his friends went to war with them and have been punished ever since. His thirst for vengeance is only matched by his obsession with Wynter. I can't wait to find out all there is that makes up this male. I'm very intrigued by him.
✫ The other Ancients: they all offer something unique to the dynamic of this story. Even Ishtar's dramatics kept me entertained. I do hope that everything they wish for, especially their freedom, is given to them.
I'm the fool who read this book, not knowing that it was the first in a trilogy. When can I get the next book in my hands?
January 12, 2023
5 ‘Body and Soul’ Stars
Well, I’ll be DAMNED (pun intended)!!! I just knew it, this Devil’s Cradle series ROCKED. My. World!!! That’s right, my all time favourite PNR series Dark In You – the one where this spin off originates – has some serious competition. Consider my mind BLOWN!!!
Wynter’s background broke my heart, but her crew is making her heal as well as driving her insane, and I adored every single one of those crazies. When they decide too seek asylum in Devil’s Cradle, it’s like it was fated, because the Ancients are the perfect adversaries for the Aeons, given their millennia’s old history.
I’ll not spoil anything, but as soon as Wynter comes to Devil’s Cradle to seek refuge, and none other than Cain himself greets her, she more than caught his eye, it’s like she’s HIS from the get go, that’s how insane their chemistry and attraction was. Adding to that that Cain is as OTT Alpha as my beloved Knox, she didn’t stand a chance, not that she wanted, lol, because he was the OBSESSED with Winter…
But Wynter . . . he fucking burned for her.
Their relationship fast tracked, but understandably so, these are INTENSE beings, from the get go, after all, but I loved their ‘no BS’ attitude in all things, these are my kind of people.
And talking about people, ALL the side characters are so intriguing and nuts – specially her quirky and bad@ss crew – but also Cain’s crew, the other Ancients, that I can’t wait for find more out about them. There was never one dull moment on the book, I tell you, I DEVOURED it in one sitting. Yep, from the first page I was hooked, enraptured, and like Cain, OBSESSED!
“I’m not just going to fuck you, sweet witch. I’m going to ruin you. Corrupt you. Consume you.” His tongue traced the shell of her ear. “You’ll break. You’ll cry. You’ll feel like you’re mine.”
His to pleasure, rule, ruin, corrupt, play with—whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
Cain and Wynter are a match made in heaven – or should I say hell, lol? – I was addicted from the very first meeting, and want to know it all, not only are they evenly matched power wise, but their chemistry was crackling in every moment they were near each other, it was a palpable thing, therefore it was no surprise that their steamy times are some of the sexy and hottest I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
Wicked in Me had it all: sexy romance, hilarious ROFL moments, mind grabbing banter, and some brilliant action and suspense scenes, it really gave us everything, and still Ms. Wright left me begging for more!
Gahhh, how am I supposed to live, and satisfy my romance lover heart until their next book comes out?! NEED… IT…
“I want you to belong to me so completely that I own your every fucking thought.”
“You’re just as fucking insane as I am.”
ARC kindly provided by the author via Netgalley and Piatkus / Little Brown Book for an honest review
Well, I’ll be DAMNED (pun intended)!!! I just knew it, this Devil’s Cradle series ROCKED. My. World!!! That’s right, my all time favourite PNR series Dark In You – the one where this spin off originates – has some serious competition. Consider my mind BLOWN!!!
Wynter’s background broke my heart, but her crew is making her heal as well as driving her insane, and I adored every single one of those crazies. When they decide too seek asylum in Devil’s Cradle, it’s like it was fated, because the Ancients are the perfect adversaries for the Aeons, given their millennia’s old history.
I’ll not spoil anything, but as soon as Wynter comes to Devil’s Cradle to seek refuge, and none other than Cain himself greets her, she more than caught his eye, it’s like she’s HIS from the get go, that’s how insane their chemistry and attraction was. Adding to that that Cain is as OTT Alpha as my beloved Knox, she didn’t stand a chance, not that she wanted, lol, because he was the OBSESSED with Winter…
But Wynter . . . he fucking burned for her.
Their relationship fast tracked, but understandably so, these are INTENSE beings, from the get go, after all, but I loved their ‘no BS’ attitude in all things, these are my kind of people.
And talking about people, ALL the side characters are so intriguing and nuts – specially her quirky and bad@ss crew – but also Cain’s crew, the other Ancients, that I can’t wait for find more out about them. There was never one dull moment on the book, I tell you, I DEVOURED it in one sitting. Yep, from the first page I was hooked, enraptured, and like Cain, OBSESSED!
“I’m not just going to fuck you, sweet witch. I’m going to ruin you. Corrupt you. Consume you.” His tongue traced the shell of her ear. “You’ll break. You’ll cry. You’ll feel like you’re mine.”
His to pleasure, rule, ruin, corrupt, play with—whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
Cain and Wynter are a match made in heaven – or should I say hell, lol? – I was addicted from the very first meeting, and want to know it all, not only are they evenly matched power wise, but their chemistry was crackling in every moment they were near each other, it was a palpable thing, therefore it was no surprise that their steamy times are some of the sexy and hottest I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
Wicked in Me had it all: sexy romance, hilarious ROFL moments, mind grabbing banter, and some brilliant action and suspense scenes, it really gave us everything, and still Ms. Wright left me begging for more!
Gahhh, how am I supposed to live, and satisfy my romance lover heart until their next book comes out?! NEED… IT…
“I want you to belong to me so completely that I own your every fucking thought.”
“You’re just as fucking insane as I am.”
ARC kindly provided by the author via Netgalley and Piatkus / Little Brown Book for an honest review
November 2, 2023
11/01/23 reread
I stand by everything I wrote in my previous review, I would only add two things.
1) I liked the secondary characters a little less this time around, as their personalities and interactions felt a little fake/forced to me at times.
2) For two people who are so often described as being mega-powerful, Cain and Wynter didn't show that in the final battle. I couldn't help but think of Knox... with him I KNOW he'll wipe the floor with anyone, but Cain? Idk, he struggled a bit too much for my liking. I hope in the next book the author shows more than tells us how strong they are.
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01/12/23 3.5 stars!
Ok, I literally just finished reading the book, and I'm unsure how to put into words how I feel.
It was entertaining, and there was a lot of detail put into the world-building aspect of it. I loved the secondary characters, and I simply want to be Wynter lol she's a power in her own right. However, although I really enjoyed reading the book, I did not love it.
Romance: it took me so long to feel a real connection between Cain and Wynter. I feel like there could've been less description of sex scenes and more of them actually talking and connecting and spending time together outside of the bedroom.
Plot: There's a big plot at play here, more than there usually is in SW's books. You should know it will extend to the sequels, so it kinda ends on a cliffhanger, but not on one that would put you on the edge of your seats. The battle for this one is finished, but it will be continued.
Secondary characters: OMG, the best part of this book for me is definitely the (not) coven of misfits Wynter formed! Each of them has something to add to the group and has their own personality. They were so much fun to read. I loved their interactions, though I have no idea how Wynter deals with all of that on a regular basis lol. The other Ancients also bring a lot to the table and I can't wait until each gets their own stories, but one step at a time. I can wait until Wynter and Cain's stories are told......
lol anyway, let me wrap this up bc it's getting too long. If you're a SW die-hard fan, you'll undoubtedly like this book. As I said, some things were a little lacking for me. Besides the romance aspect of it, I also got a little bored during the final battle, and there was just something missing for me but I can't put my finger on it.
I'm torn, I wanted to love this book so badly, but I didn't. But I'll gladly read any books SW writes, so I can't wait for the sequel. Maybe things will make more sense then.
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01/11/23
I'm literally counting down the hours... Only 5 hours until I get this baby in my kindle!!
Can't wait!!
I stand by everything I wrote in my previous review, I would only add two things.
1) I liked the secondary characters a little less this time around, as their personalities and interactions felt a little fake/forced to me at times.
2) For two people who are so often described as being mega-powerful, Cain and Wynter didn't show that in the final battle. I couldn't help but think of Knox... with him I KNOW he'll wipe the floor with anyone, but Cain? Idk, he struggled a bit too much for my liking. I hope in the next book the author shows more than tells us how strong they are.
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01/12/23 3.5 stars!
Ok, I literally just finished reading the book, and I'm unsure how to put into words how I feel.
It was entertaining, and there was a lot of detail put into the world-building aspect of it. I loved the secondary characters, and I simply want to be Wynter lol she's a power in her own right. However, although I really enjoyed reading the book, I did not love it.
Romance: it took me so long to feel a real connection between Cain and Wynter. I feel like there could've been less description of sex scenes and more of them actually talking and connecting and spending time together outside of the bedroom.
Plot: There's a big plot at play here, more than there usually is in SW's books. You should know it will extend to the sequels, so it kinda ends on a cliffhanger, but not on one that would put you on the edge of your seats. The battle for this one is finished, but it will be continued.
Secondary characters: OMG, the best part of this book for me is definitely the (not) coven of misfits Wynter formed! Each of them has something to add to the group and has their own personality. They were so much fun to read. I loved their interactions, though I have no idea how Wynter deals with all of that on a regular basis lol. The other Ancients also bring a lot to the table and I can't wait until each gets their own stories, but one step at a time. I can wait until Wynter and Cain's stories are told......
lol anyway, let me wrap this up bc it's getting too long. If you're a SW die-hard fan, you'll undoubtedly like this book. As I said, some things were a little lacking for me. Besides the romance aspect of it, I also got a little bored during the final battle, and there was just something missing for me but I can't put my finger on it.
I'm torn, I wanted to love this book so badly, but I didn't. But I'll gladly read any books SW writes, so I can't wait for the sequel. Maybe things will make more sense then.
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01/11/23
I'm literally counting down the hours... Only 5 hours until I get this baby in my kindle!!
Can't wait!!
January 20, 2024
I'm a big fan of Suzanne Wright, and so I was thrilled to see she started a new series. And it was as fun as I've come to expect from her.
It's a fun twist on mythology, with these big classic figures - Cain, Abel, Inanna, Ishtar, etc - as some kind of supernatural. I say some kind, because it's still not clear exactly what they are - it's layered into Cain's backstory (the MMC), and I think we'll get that info as he becomes comfortable with sharing it. It's cool, I like the unfolding.
So these are powerful, ancient, immortal supes that had a big falling out centuries ago - echoes of the Biblical angelic war - they broke into factions and the 7 surviving losers were imprisoned in Devil's Cradle, this ... mysterious valley-type location on Earth. The Aeons - winners, supposedly good, but actually evil douchebags - are also in their own valley-ish location on Earth (that in this book, inspired the stories of Eden), hidden from humanity.
Wynter, the FMC, is fantastic. She's had some serious shit in her life, but she doesn't let it beat her down. She's compassionate, loyal, protective of her crew (who are freaking hilarious secondary characters in this book), and a hell of a fighter. She fascinates Cain, and the two are drawn together like magnets.
I can't wait to see where the story goes. Here's hoping the next book comes out soon!
It's a fun twist on mythology, with these big classic figures - Cain, Abel, Inanna, Ishtar, etc - as some kind of supernatural. I say some kind, because it's still not clear exactly what they are - it's layered into Cain's backstory (the MMC), and I think we'll get that info as he becomes comfortable with sharing it. It's cool, I like the unfolding.
So these are powerful, ancient, immortal supes that had a big falling out centuries ago - echoes of the Biblical angelic war - they broke into factions and the 7 surviving losers were imprisoned in Devil's Cradle, this ... mysterious valley-type location on Earth. The Aeons - winners, supposedly good, but actually evil douchebags - are also in their own valley-ish location on Earth (that in this book, inspired the stories of Eden), hidden from humanity.
Wynter, the FMC, is fantastic. She's had some serious shit in her life, but she doesn't let it beat her down. She's compassionate, loyal, protective of her crew (who are freaking hilarious secondary characters in this book), and a hell of a fighter. She fascinates Cain, and the two are drawn together like magnets.
I can't wait to see where the story goes. Here's hoping the next book comes out soon!
December 30, 2022
I am a huge fan of Susanne Wright's works so The Wicked In Me was one of my most anticipated books! The plot was fabulous and really stood out from other books of the genre. This book started off really strong and I was extremely intrigued about Wynter and her past. Unfortunately though, her character began to grate on me since she was presented as overly cocky and could do no wrong. Hopefully her character will develop more in the sequel because in this book she was a classic example of a Mary Sue.
The romance in this book unfortunately didn't really work for me. It was an instalove, which is a trope that can be good but in this instance it didn't quite work. Wynter and Cain had little to no chemistry and their relationship was limited to lust, which resulted in none of the cute couple scenes that you would expect from a romance heavy book.
The humour was rather cringey, immature, which usually wouldn't bother me too much but unfortunately it took up multiple pages and did nothing to contribute to the overall plot. It made the book feel like a very rough first draft.
Overall, despite the abovementioned flaws, The Wicked In Me is an entertaining and enjoyable book. I'm sad that I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped but I will definitely give the sequel a chance.
The romance in this book unfortunately didn't really work for me. It was an instalove, which is a trope that can be good but in this instance it didn't quite work. Wynter and Cain had little to no chemistry and their relationship was limited to lust, which resulted in none of the cute couple scenes that you would expect from a romance heavy book.
The humour was rather cringey, immature, which usually wouldn't bother me too much but unfortunately it took up multiple pages and did nothing to contribute to the overall plot. It made the book feel like a very rough first draft.
Overall, despite the abovementioned flaws, The Wicked In Me is an entertaining and enjoyable book. I'm sad that I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped but I will definitely give the sequel a chance.
January 17, 2023
Beware Spoilers
I have loved most of SW books in the past but the Olympus Pride wasn't really my jam anymore. So I can say
FINALLY WE GET SOMETHING NEW.
It is fresh, entertaining and unique. I loved every moment of it. It is intricate and fabulous.
Eons ago Aeons & Ancients fought. The Ancients were banned to Devil's Cradle. Many years later Aeons and Ancients are about to go to battle again.
Wynter and hercrewcoven (as that is what they are) seek asylum with the Ancients at Devil's Cradle. Wynter especially needs extra protection that that the lady can't take care of herself. She totally can. She and her merry band of misfits can take on anyone.
Wynter and hercrewcoven pledge part of their soul to Cain in exchange for staying at Devil's Cradle. These two both have secrets but the chemistry is off the charts.
There were times where I felt I was back with Harper & Knox but not enough to deter me from the book/series.
I love Wynter and most of the time I loved Cain. Don't know how I feel about the whole soulgasm pain/pleasure thing.
In time some secrets are revealed and some aren't. But that only means we get more books.
I have loved most of SW books in the past but the Olympus Pride wasn't really my jam anymore. So I can say
FINALLY WE GET SOMETHING NEW.
It is fresh, entertaining and unique. I loved every moment of it. It is intricate and fabulous.
Eons ago Aeons & Ancients fought. The Ancients were banned to Devil's Cradle. Many years later Aeons and Ancients are about to go to battle again.
Wynter and her
Wynter and her
There were times where I felt I was back with Harper & Knox but not enough to deter me from the book/series.
I love Wynter and most of the time I loved Cain. Don't know how I feel about the whole soulgasm pain/pleasure thing.
In time some secrets are revealed and some aren't. But that only means we get more books.
May 4, 2024
4 stars
Holy Shit! This book read as if it was the result of a fever dream - the good kind, the one that feels wacky, weird, nonsensical, but at the same time, cool, fun and with a sense of its own. For once, I don't get why this one book has such divisive reviews, with the so-low ratings leading the top. I get that YMMV, but there is so much to enjoy in the story that I just don't get the very low ratings 🤨🤷♀️.
Moving on. The plot was essentially a mish-mash of biblical/ mythological elements, loads of paranormal/ fantasy standard (and not so standard! 😋) lore and with some obliquely placed RL pop culture reference. It could have felt kind of jarring, like too much is too much and beggaring for belief... BUT it was so well done in a 'devil may care' way that does not take itself too seriously, that the whole experience was a pure wicked, mad joy read. SW's flowing writing style helped loads in that. It made this book so easy to read that I just kept turning pages to see what was next.
The romance between Wynter and Cain is very sizzling. It is still at budding stage, because the greater plot outlines took much space so far, but it looks very promising. Cain is already falling harder than her 😊, but I do hope that Wynter will catch up. What I loved about them both, is their laid back yet possessive attitude in their relationship. Wynter is unsure they are even a 'they' but that does not prevent her from enjoying the moment, while Cain can't let her go but knows there is so much separating them ahead yet does not let it waste his time with her. Which fits their respective preternatural nature () and is also what binds them together so strongly against external attempts to break them with distrust (re: Ishtar, Lailah, to name a few). And since this is a trilogy, even if their romance ends up not blooming into epic romance range, I would not mind much, because the whole plot extravanganza is such a fascinating and rewarding read already.
I will admit that at times the book became a bit repetitive in its themes. For instance, the shenanigans of Wynter's insane crew was an absolute delight to read; sure, it felt like rehashed comedic relief towards the end of the book, but done in such high style that I could not begrudge them a laugh. Also, the world building had the odd quality of being both vague in its greater outlines yet vivid and attractively so in its details. But it felt also glorious and epic that any perceived plot weakness was so easy to take in stride and laid aside. I am not even having make-or-break expectations for the trilogy to conclude smartly; I would love for it to be so, but I will be well satisfied if the ride remains as wild and fun as in this first book.
Now, my biggest problem is that this series is a trilogy. The next book, The Nightmare in Him, is already giving me the come-hither look, but I know I will expire if I don't get to read the 3rd one right after. And it being due only in 2025, feels right now like a torture. But delaying picking up the next book will likely make me forget some elements from Book 1. Tough call, lol. I wish authors whipping up trilogies would consider all this before spacing too much the publications, esp. when the stories are so addictive 😅. I hope that there will be a 'Story so far' at the beginning of Book 3 at least.
Pending answers (that will probably be answered by the end of the trilogy):
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2023
DNF AT 11%
no idea how this book has such high ratings. the writing was straight out of an early 2013 fanfiction.net one-shot.
no idea how this book has such high ratings. the writing was straight out of an early 2013 fanfiction.net one-shot.
January 17, 2023
Good but too much repetition and a male lead we didn’t need.
Did y’all ever watch BBT/Big Bang Theory? If not,that’s ok , I loved it but that of course is NOT why I’m mentioning it. Sheldon,one of the more peculiar of the characters on there ( with a cast full of them ) gets a girlfriend Amy ,and of course he gets excited to share his favorite things with her,one of those being “ Raiders of the Lost Ark”.
Amy doesn’t enjoy the movie,and when asked why she felt it was mediocre at best,she explains how Indiana Jones wasn’t pertinent to the plot. She explains how everything would have happened as it did with or w/out Indiana.
And as far as I could see the same is true of this story and Cain. Wynter saves herself ALL through out the story,starting at the beginning where she’s being “exiled” from a “coven” of witches that felt more like a cult ( I mean when your being treated worse than the dirt underneath your feet and you can’t give a good reason why your there,it’s gotta be a cult) and ending when said coven/cult comes after her at the end of story and she and her group kill them and send their remains etc. to a netherworld.
Unneeded.
She gets to the Cradle area and they are allowed to stay and her and her crew set up shop and take care of themselves . Entirely. Full stop. No one protects them from others,they fight their own battles and make their own way. And despite the repetition of their endless arguments,sometimes literally over nothing ,I had a great time with them! If the story could have been just about Wynter’s adventures with her wacky crew,I thoroughly believe I’d have had a great time!
But Noooooooo!
We had to have Cain the giant pit stain!
Cain - the giant selfish,self absorbed,over-the-top,toxically possessive d-bag bed buddy.
And honestly that is ALL he is ! The five star reviews obviously think differently ( how on earth 🌏🌎 🌍 they do I just can’t get!) but he is.
The moment he sees her,”rake thin body” ( eeeew) and hair “straight as rain”( huh? Rain doesn’t necessarily fall straight.) and pretty eyes,all our horn dog/monster can think is bedding her. And bed her he does, of course, and what does he do the VERY first time he gets his hands on her ? He “plugs” her,( sounds like anal play, I know)which though I don’t enjoy in this writers stories it would have been better than what he does here. By “plugging” her , he makes it to she can find no satisfaction sexually w/out him.
W. T. H?!?!?!
You heard me . First time he touches her sexually he makes it to where only HE can get her off sexually . Seriously?!?! No,seriously. That’s just how toxically selfish and up his own rear this guy is. No apologies. Of course. He comes from this writers school of ,” Hey, I’m “self aware” enough to know I’m a colossal d bag and I admit it ,so it’s therefore ok,school of male leads. Yeah,no, it’s not ok to take away the female leads sexual agency just because your guy is a f’ed d bag and toxically selfish and deeply insecure. While Wynter is off earning a living with her crew and sometimes literally fighting to survive, Cain is just either sitting around stewing in his own ennui feeling sorry for himself or having meeting about the enemy Aeons or Wynter and how much “she IS HIS” ,or boring unneeded fake OW drama. Wynter gets up has a day full of work,gets killed comes back,sends the her potential killers to a netherworld all the while Cain sat on his ass and had meetings.
Then of course her day ends in unneeded,overly dominant, repetitive,do as I say sex . Why ? Because his dick her crack. Cain is disgusting 🤢 🤮 to me . He was just there literally to share her bed. Nothing else. He sees her soul,her spirit, that beautiful essence that makes us who we are as nothing more than a giant erogenous zone. Ick.
They don’t trust each other,are keeping secrets til the very end. No growth. And that with the little to no world building, it was quite frustrating by the end. I felt like I’d gone somewhere and no where all at the same time.
I’d say I loved it with just Wynter and her crazy crew! They were repetitive but fun! But Cain the stain was unneeded and disgusting 🤢 and boring .
Read if your a fan but I’d say skip if your not . Try ‘Dark in you” instead.
Did y’all ever watch BBT/Big Bang Theory? If not,that’s ok , I loved it but that of course is NOT why I’m mentioning it. Sheldon,one of the more peculiar of the characters on there ( with a cast full of them ) gets a girlfriend Amy ,and of course he gets excited to share his favorite things with her,one of those being “ Raiders of the Lost Ark”.
Amy doesn’t enjoy the movie,and when asked why she felt it was mediocre at best,she explains how Indiana Jones wasn’t pertinent to the plot. She explains how everything would have happened as it did with or w/out Indiana.
And as far as I could see the same is true of this story and Cain. Wynter saves herself ALL through out the story,starting at the beginning where she’s being “exiled” from a “coven” of witches that felt more like a cult ( I mean when your being treated worse than the dirt underneath your feet and you can’t give a good reason why your there,it’s gotta be a cult) and ending when said coven/cult comes after her at the end of story and she and her group kill them and send their remains etc. to a netherworld.
Unneeded.
She gets to the Cradle area and they are allowed to stay and her and her crew set up shop and take care of themselves . Entirely. Full stop. No one protects them from others,they fight their own battles and make their own way. And despite the repetition of their endless arguments,sometimes literally over nothing ,I had a great time with them! If the story could have been just about Wynter’s adventures with her wacky crew,I thoroughly believe I’d have had a great time!
But Noooooooo!
We had to have Cain the giant pit stain!
Cain - the giant selfish,self absorbed,over-the-top,toxically possessive d-bag bed buddy.
And honestly that is ALL he is ! The five star reviews obviously think differently ( how on earth 🌏🌎 🌍 they do I just can’t get!) but he is.
The moment he sees her,”rake thin body” ( eeeew) and hair “straight as rain”( huh? Rain doesn’t necessarily fall straight.) and pretty eyes,all our horn dog/monster can think is bedding her. And bed her he does, of course, and what does he do the VERY first time he gets his hands on her ? He “plugs” her,( sounds like anal play, I know)which though I don’t enjoy in this writers stories it would have been better than what he does here. By “plugging” her , he makes it to she can find no satisfaction sexually w/out him.
W. T. H?!?!?!
You heard me . First time he touches her sexually he makes it to where only HE can get her off sexually . Seriously?!?! No,seriously. That’s just how toxically selfish and up his own rear this guy is. No apologies. Of course. He comes from this writers school of ,” Hey, I’m “self aware” enough to know I’m a colossal d bag and I admit it ,so it’s therefore ok,school of male leads. Yeah,no, it’s not ok to take away the female leads sexual agency just because your guy is a f’ed d bag and toxically selfish and deeply insecure. While Wynter is off earning a living with her crew and sometimes literally fighting to survive, Cain is just either sitting around stewing in his own ennui feeling sorry for himself or having meeting about the enemy Aeons or Wynter and how much “she IS HIS” ,or boring unneeded fake OW drama. Wynter gets up has a day full of work,gets killed comes back,sends the her potential killers to a netherworld all the while Cain sat on his ass and had meetings.
Then of course her day ends in unneeded,overly dominant, repetitive,do as I say sex . Why ? Because his dick her crack. Cain is disgusting 🤢 🤮 to me . He was just there literally to share her bed. Nothing else. He sees her soul,her spirit, that beautiful essence that makes us who we are as nothing more than a giant erogenous zone. Ick.
They don’t trust each other,are keeping secrets til the very end. No growth. And that with the little to no world building, it was quite frustrating by the end. I felt like I’d gone somewhere and no where all at the same time.
I’d say I loved it with just Wynter and her crazy crew! They were repetitive but fun! But Cain the stain was unneeded and disgusting 🤢 and boring .
Read if your a fan but I’d say skip if your not . Try ‘Dark in you” instead.
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