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Pretty for Master: M/M Master/slave Romance
Can a sociopath learn to love? Master plans to find out, and his captive agrees to lend a hand. But will Pretty lend his heart, too?
PRETTY
They call him the Mad Master. A giant in fancy clothes with a flower on his lapel, he rules his world like a king. He's as terrifying as he is enthralling and as cruel as he is kind.
All I've ever known is pain, so the way he loves to hurt me is nothing new. It's how he holds me that makes me wonder if I could be more than a redneck biker working the street corner. Like his pretty boy?
I won't get the chance to find out if the man trying to kill me catches up first. Or worse, Master might realize what an unlovable loser I am and not want me at all. Can a man that no one wants to love really win the heart of someone like him?
MASTER
I'm obsessed with a love I can't feel. I'm not sure what romance is, but it's all I think about—when I'm not thinking of pain. Because pain and torture are kind of this sociopath's thing.
Everything changes when I kidnap the most beautiful boy in the world to save him from a killer. I'm determined to give him the love he deserves, with lace and glitter and maybe a little pain on top, but how will that happen when I can't love?
Can a madman with no heart win the heart of another?
PRETTY
They call him the Mad Master. A giant in fancy clothes with a flower on his lapel, he rules his world like a king. He's as terrifying as he is enthralling and as cruel as he is kind.
All I've ever known is pain, so the way he loves to hurt me is nothing new. It's how he holds me that makes me wonder if I could be more than a redneck biker working the street corner. Like his pretty boy?
I won't get the chance to find out if the man trying to kill me catches up first. Or worse, Master might realize what an unlovable loser I am and not want me at all. Can a man that no one wants to love really win the heart of someone like him?
MASTER
I'm obsessed with a love I can't feel. I'm not sure what romance is, but it's all I think about—when I'm not thinking of pain. Because pain and torture are kind of this sociopath's thing.
Everything changes when I kidnap the most beautiful boy in the world to save him from a killer. I'm determined to give him the love he deserves, with lace and glitter and maybe a little pain on top, but how will that happen when I can't love?
Can a madman with no heart win the heart of another?
214 pages, Paperback
Published December 31, 2021
55 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Skylar Sweeney
17 books90 followersSkylar Sweeney is an author of M/M romance of all varieties (with a couple of transgender M/F and gender fluid ones thrown in!). He specializes in darkly sweet stories with quirky characters placed in usual situations.
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Skylar-Sweeney/
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/SkylarSweeneyWriter
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Skylar-Sweeney/
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/SkylarSweeneyWriter
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
December 31, 2021
Oh my freaking goodness, I loved this depraved, dirty, twisted, crazy, full of unpredictable turns, narrative.
It was a dark read, unprincipled, corrupted, and deliciously vicious.
What’s it all about? Ha! Master is far from sane, his basement is full of crates and the crates are full too. With? Not gonna spoil.
While Master writes about romance, he knows nothing about romance.
Pretty is the bitch of a biker gang. He’s no queer man, no, no, when you scream it enough in your head, you gonna believe it. He survives with a rough look and attitude. Beneath it is a beautifully confused, and vulnerable softie.
Kidnapped by a psychopath, Pretty understands fast enough this mountain of a man will sell him as a sex slave or maybe even kill him.
Master’s depraved psychopath mind wants to use but also save this pretty guy from his killers. Yes, you read it correctly, someone wants to kill this sweet pretty boy.
Master likes a challenge, could he make the pretty boy fall in love with him? The sociopath has an obsession. Imagine what an obsessed sociopath could do.
The story is full of unexpected turns, nothing predictable to find here! I found it thrilling. I found it all supremely thrilling and entertaining. Not for the faint of heart.
I’m not sure I was allowed but I laughed too, because dang, there was hilarious humor, depraved of course, lol.
What an awesomely written, unpredictable story, with a crazy plot. I enjoyed every part of it, the dark, the sick, obsessive, and possessive parts, the hurtful, tearful, revengeful, degrading, emotional, caring and sexy parts. You get the picture, I loved it all.
Read and reviewed for LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews
It was a dark read, unprincipled, corrupted, and deliciously vicious.
What’s it all about? Ha! Master is far from sane, his basement is full of crates and the crates are full too. With? Not gonna spoil.
While Master writes about romance, he knows nothing about romance.
Pretty is the bitch of a biker gang. He’s no queer man, no, no, when you scream it enough in your head, you gonna believe it. He survives with a rough look and attitude. Beneath it is a beautifully confused, and vulnerable softie.
Kidnapped by a psychopath, Pretty understands fast enough this mountain of a man will sell him as a sex slave or maybe even kill him.
Master’s depraved psychopath mind wants to use but also save this pretty guy from his killers. Yes, you read it correctly, someone wants to kill this sweet pretty boy.
Master likes a challenge, could he make the pretty boy fall in love with him? The sociopath has an obsession. Imagine what an obsessed sociopath could do.
The story is full of unexpected turns, nothing predictable to find here! I found it thrilling. I found it all supremely thrilling and entertaining. Not for the faint of heart.
I’m not sure I was allowed but I laughed too, because dang, there was hilarious humor, depraved of course, lol.
What an awesomely written, unpredictable story, with a crazy plot. I enjoyed every part of it, the dark, the sick, obsessive, and possessive parts, the hurtful, tearful, revengeful, degrading, emotional, caring and sexy parts. You get the picture, I loved it all.
Read and reviewed for LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews
October 5, 2022
I thought this would be overly smutty, but basically it's a rather light read considering a pretty boy is kidnapped by a sadist and made into his girl. Well, not actually made into it, basically it's just the verbal expressions that go into it. So for the plot background rather something light.
Wonderful how the Mad Master is melting away.
"this pretty little thing tugged strings in the heart I didn’t know I had"
Wonderful how the Mad Master is melting away.
"this pretty little thing tugged strings in the heart I didn’t know I had"
May 14, 2022
This is simply a horribly written Wattpad story made into a book! It’s not even grammatically edited😂 I mean if you’re like me a former Wattpad junkie then you’d enjoy it somehow but as a book it’s simple terrible! Like there is no plot! No character development! Just weird sex scenes which I happen to enjoy coz am weird but other than that don’t expect anything from the story🙈
February 7, 2022
...the f*ck did I just read??
Before I dive into the f*ckery that is this book, I am forced to admit that I was never going to like this. That much was clear from page three. See as much as I love dark romances, this book violates a lot of my hard and fast ethics when it comes to writing. It's entirely possible to write a dark romance that is ethical. It has been done countless times and I know y'all are thinking of the same psychotic family I am. This book doesn't give a damn about any of that. It sees your ethics and raises you several homophobic slurs, straight up homophobia, and a Nazi. Alluding to sexual trauma? Nah, we're going to make jokes about it at the victims expense. All of that drops the book several stars for me. But that's not enough for some people so now I have to be the b*tch and tell you why this book is a mess.
The best way I can describe this book is weird, and not in a good way. What I think is supposed to be quirky characteristics and playful banter doesn't read that way at all. It just comes off as weird and uncomfortable. A lot of the word choice is just that... a choice, and an odd one. Like I think I was supposed to laugh but not once did I even smirk. I was just confused and slightly concerned about what this author might perceive as humorous and sexy. It's really hard to explain but if you read a couple pages you'll know exactly what I mean. That or you'll be rolling because apparently more than a few people are feelin' this.
Then there's the fact that these characters don't make a lick of sense, particularly Master (why no one in this book can be blessed with a real name I do not know. Baby naming websites are free). He's supposed to be this sadistic psychopath with no understanding of love yet he's a filthy rotten rich romance writer. (That's the biggest gag, someone getting stupid rich off of writing romance. I mean yeah you can make money but not swans in a pond in your backyard money). But the people he tortures are criminals so it's played off as "okay" and a redeeming quality. Spoiler alert, it's not. He also does this weird thing where he's going back and forth between wanting to torture Pretty (which he does) and wanting to be loved by him...??!! Look, I don't know what is going on here. If you do, help a girl out.
This is a perfect example of a book where you have to suspend your disbelief to enjoy it. Nothing about the plot makes any damn sense. Pretty and Master feel less like characters and more like people who took one or two improv classes, and then somehow got cast as the leads in their local kinky community playhouse production of whatever this is supposed to be (I cannot stress how strange the dialogue is). It's a lot and I'm exhausted. I don't know who this book is for but if you enjoyed it...go off I guess because there's about to be a second one. Two stars because I have no idea what I read, I just know I'm mad.
Before I dive into the f*ckery that is this book, I am forced to admit that I was never going to like this. That much was clear from page three. See as much as I love dark romances, this book violates a lot of my hard and fast ethics when it comes to writing. It's entirely possible to write a dark romance that is ethical. It has been done countless times and I know y'all are thinking of the same psychotic family I am. This book doesn't give a damn about any of that. It sees your ethics and raises you several homophobic slurs, straight up homophobia, and a Nazi. Alluding to sexual trauma? Nah, we're going to make jokes about it at the victims expense. All of that drops the book several stars for me. But that's not enough for some people so now I have to be the b*tch and tell you why this book is a mess.
The best way I can describe this book is weird, and not in a good way. What I think is supposed to be quirky characteristics and playful banter doesn't read that way at all. It just comes off as weird and uncomfortable. A lot of the word choice is just that... a choice, and an odd one. Like I think I was supposed to laugh but not once did I even smirk. I was just confused and slightly concerned about what this author might perceive as humorous and sexy. It's really hard to explain but if you read a couple pages you'll know exactly what I mean. That or you'll be rolling because apparently more than a few people are feelin' this.
Then there's the fact that these characters don't make a lick of sense, particularly Master (why no one in this book can be blessed with a real name I do not know. Baby naming websites are free). He's supposed to be this sadistic psychopath with no understanding of love yet he's a filthy rotten rich romance writer. (That's the biggest gag, someone getting stupid rich off of writing romance. I mean yeah you can make money but not swans in a pond in your backyard money). But the people he tortures are criminals so it's played off as "okay" and a redeeming quality. Spoiler alert, it's not. He also does this weird thing where he's going back and forth between wanting to torture Pretty (which he does) and wanting to be loved by him...??!! Look, I don't know what is going on here. If you do, help a girl out.
This is a perfect example of a book where you have to suspend your disbelief to enjoy it. Nothing about the plot makes any damn sense. Pretty and Master feel less like characters and more like people who took one or two improv classes, and then somehow got cast as the leads in their local kinky community playhouse production of whatever this is supposed to be (I cannot stress how strange the dialogue is). It's a lot and I'm exhausted. I don't know who this book is for but if you enjoyed it...go off I guess because there's about to be a second one. Two stars because I have no idea what I read, I just know I'm mad.
November 20, 2021
This book was all the way bonkers!
Prerequisite I haven’t read this author before so wasn’t sure what to expect – probably an average BDSM romance. This was nothing like that! It was like falling down a rabbit hole! Master is a psychopath who has been asked for a favour by a previous ‘friend’ in the form of kidnapping a young man and keeping him prisoner. This is knowing that Master has a habit of treating his young men badly – think whips, chains, etc. And that was the normal part of the story!
I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m actually not going to say much else about the plot. I will say that in spite of myself, I actually kinda liked Master – he had the money to be able to do whatever the heck he wanted so he did. No compromises, no hiding from himself, nothing. And Pretty? Pretty needed someone like Master to help him see who he really was and figure out what he actually liked. I had a lot of sympathy for Pretty – he had an awful start in life and things just got worse. Imagine being kidnapped by a psycho being the best thing that could happen to you!
I laughed – a lot – sometimes at the misunderstandings between Pretty and Master, sometimes at the situations, and I also really enjoyed how bloodthirsty certain parts were, which surprised the heck out of me!
I would wholeheartedly take notice of the warnings that come with the book – this is so not safe, sane and consensual – but I finished this in one go because I really wanted to know what was going to happen! I will happily read something else by the author, especially as I now think I have an idea about how their mind works!
3.75 rounded up to 4/5 from me!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Prerequisite I haven’t read this author before so wasn’t sure what to expect – probably an average BDSM romance. This was nothing like that! It was like falling down a rabbit hole! Master is a psychopath who has been asked for a favour by a previous ‘friend’ in the form of kidnapping a young man and keeping him prisoner. This is knowing that Master has a habit of treating his young men badly – think whips, chains, etc. And that was the normal part of the story!
I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m actually not going to say much else about the plot. I will say that in spite of myself, I actually kinda liked Master – he had the money to be able to do whatever the heck he wanted so he did. No compromises, no hiding from himself, nothing. And Pretty? Pretty needed someone like Master to help him see who he really was and figure out what he actually liked. I had a lot of sympathy for Pretty – he had an awful start in life and things just got worse. Imagine being kidnapped by a psycho being the best thing that could happen to you!
I laughed – a lot – sometimes at the misunderstandings between Pretty and Master, sometimes at the situations, and I also really enjoyed how bloodthirsty certain parts were, which surprised the heck out of me!
I would wholeheartedly take notice of the warnings that come with the book – this is so not safe, sane and consensual – but I finished this in one go because I really wanted to know what was going to happen! I will happily read something else by the author, especially as I now think I have an idea about how their mind works!
3.75 rounded up to 4/5 from me!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2022
I can’t decide if this book is mad genius? Or a dumpster fire? It’s certainly different.
M/M, Master/boy, pain, and humiliation and degradation where they both get off on it
M/M, Master/boy, pain, and humiliation and degradation where they both get off on it
January 4, 2022
Delicious mm dark romance
Well it just goes to show that there is someone for everyone to love no matter who they are. This is definitely a dark mm story but Skylar Sweeney never takes things too seriously and she flips this trope around enough that it becomes almost flirty and fun. Okay well maybe I’m a bit weird too In what I enjoy reading.
If you like your mm romance on the darker side with lots of D/s, kidnapping, a romance author and psychopaths and very weird situations then you will probably like this book. To simplify things, do you like The Rocky Horror Picture Show? If you do then read this book.
Well it just goes to show that there is someone for everyone to love no matter who they are. This is definitely a dark mm story but Skylar Sweeney never takes things too seriously and she flips this trope around enough that it becomes almost flirty and fun. Okay well maybe I’m a bit weird too In what I enjoy reading.
If you like your mm romance on the darker side with lots of D/s, kidnapping, a romance author and psychopaths and very weird situations then you will probably like this book. To simplify things, do you like The Rocky Horror Picture Show? If you do then read this book.
July 9, 2022
Absolutely Hilarious and Entertaining!
I had no idea a book with tags this “dark” could be this hysterical. I laughed a lot. I enjoyed this book so much. Somehow, it’s a combination of four different, very dark books I’ve read recently but with its own charm and charisma. AND so much great comedy.
I very much would love to see more of these guys, maybe with the addition of Baby?
Excellent read!
I had no idea a book with tags this “dark” could be this hysterical. I laughed a lot. I enjoyed this book so much. Somehow, it’s a combination of four different, very dark books I’ve read recently but with its own charm and charisma. AND so much great comedy.
I very much would love to see more of these guys, maybe with the addition of Baby?
Excellent read!
May 14, 2022
This was a wild ride of a book. Poor pretty had been through so much in his life already that Master depravity seemed almost vanilla to him. This is definitely a dark rom com but actually dark and not like light dark aka gray. There was so many parts where I was laughing but it was just so fucked up. Definitely an enjoyable read and I am interested to read the next two in the series. The only reason this was not five stars was that there were quite a few typos and grammatical errors. Nothing too crazy but it did bring me out of the story a couple of times when certain sentences didn’t make sense.
January 2, 2022
I am not sure of my opinion on this novel.
He promised dark and unfortunately I was left unsatisfied.
The characters are not worked enough. The author could have delved into psychology. Sometimes feelings happen without a real cause. It feels like the writer decides they must be feeling this or that at a certain moment, but the path is so dark.
I would even say that the story itself lacks depth. The plot hangs on a thread and it's not the sexy scenes that really uplift it.
For my part, this is not a successful bet, I come away disappointed with my reading.
He promised dark and unfortunately I was left unsatisfied.
The characters are not worked enough. The author could have delved into psychology. Sometimes feelings happen without a real cause. It feels like the writer decides they must be feeling this or that at a certain moment, but the path is so dark.
I would even say that the story itself lacks depth. The plot hangs on a thread and it's not the sexy scenes that really uplift it.
For my part, this is not a successful bet, I come away disappointed with my reading.
January 12, 2022
This was sooo good in a dark, twisted and hilarious sort of way! Master is a crazy piece of work, he’s maniacal, that’s the only word I can think to describe him. He kidnaps Pretty to save him from a killer but then becomes obsessed Pretty. I wondered at times how everything would pan out in the story, I was so glad I stuck with it. Nothing in this story was predictable but it honestly worked!! Absolutely loved it!!! This story gripped me in a sick kind of way, engaged me, it didn’t let me go! Overall, fantastic! The story was really well written, the pacing was perfect, highly recommend. I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received. My review is solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
October 9, 2023
Think Sweeney Todd and the Mad Hatter in a deranged Wonderland have a love child, with the main character played by Tim Curry and you have an inkling as to the utter insanity that is this book - and I loved every word! Heed the trigger warnings because the authors don't pull any punches as they weave a tale of a psychotic serial killer/vigilante and the completely clueless redneck himbo that he kidnaps, abuses, psychologically manipulates and ultimately transforms into his own sexual plaything!
"Master" is at one both utterly and completely off his rocker, while at the same time, undeniably brilliant and sadistic. His fixation on his newest pet, Pretty, starts out as a weird kind of rescue/keep him safe that quickly morphs into a deranged sort of experiment to answer the burning question: is a psychopath able to be loved! I won't even begin to list all the ways that the Master displays his utter lack of empathy or moral conscience, but I completely rooted for him despite these! Does that make me a bit twisted too - maybe - but I both loved and hated how he completely broke Pretty down and yet, he's not the true bad guy in this story - and that should give you an idea as to just how brilliant this book is! Not that it's all blood and torture and non-con, because it is also funny and insane and a total riot and I can not wait for the second book to continue this roller coaster ride with Master and Pretty! Something tells me we haven't even scratched the surface of just how unhinged these characters can get - and I'm in - all the way! 😁
November 28, 2021
Totally not sure how to respond to this. It was ridiculous, the whole thing is pure fiction (which I suppose is the point). I prefer my stories to be grounded in some way with a tether to reality.
When my daughter and I watch a movie we sometimes find ourselves shouting at the screen about the unrealities of a plot but then one of us has to step back and tell the other ‘It’s just a movie’. It felt like that throughout the book. This one sadly was not for me.
It had dark themes but I couldn’t take any of them seriously. It was like watching Johnny English when you are expecting James Bond. If that’s what you are looking for you will love it!
When my daughter and I watch a movie we sometimes find ourselves shouting at the screen about the unrealities of a plot but then one of us has to step back and tell the other ‘It’s just a movie’. It felt like that throughout the book. This one sadly was not for me.
It had dark themes but I couldn’t take any of them seriously. It was like watching Johnny English when you are expecting James Bond. If that’s what you are looking for you will love it!
January 4, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
This story features kidnapping, non-consent, and dubious consent. Those warnings are important, but they belie the dark humor, the odd couple connection, and the truly unbelievable romance arc. I will be honest and say that this story lacked a lot in the common-sense department. If you are looking for a tense suspense thriller, or even a dark BDSM romance, this book won’t likely hit the mark for you. It’s more a dark, BDSM-fantasy with twisted rom-com situations. Master’s depravity is almost goofy, especially in his infantile attempts to “romance” Pretty, who’s never had a romanced moment in his life. The story balances its darkness with the absurd—having a super “smart” house and estate that’s impregnable, except by random assassins and the Senator’s minions. The connection between Master and the Senator is so coincidental as to add to the tongue-in-cheek humor, to my mind. Even with dark themes like rape, murder, and corruption, there’s a deadpan humor underlying the situations.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
This story features kidnapping, non-consent, and dubious consent. Those warnings are important, but they belie the dark humor, the odd couple connection, and the truly unbelievable romance arc. I will be honest and say that this story lacked a lot in the common-sense department. If you are looking for a tense suspense thriller, or even a dark BDSM romance, this book won’t likely hit the mark for you. It’s more a dark, BDSM-fantasy with twisted rom-com situations. Master’s depravity is almost goofy, especially in his infantile attempts to “romance” Pretty, who’s never had a romanced moment in his life. The story balances its darkness with the absurd—having a super “smart” house and estate that’s impregnable, except by random assassins and the Senator’s minions. The connection between Master and the Senator is so coincidental as to add to the tongue-in-cheek humor, to my mind. Even with dark themes like rape, murder, and corruption, there’s a deadpan humor underlying the situations.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
February 18, 2022
This is a dark story with some comedy thrown in. Pretty is a sweet boy who is misunderstood. Master is a sociopath who helps Pretty see who he truly can become. Master may be crazy but Pretty is his. If you like dark BDSM romance with a touch of comedy this book is for you. Any book that can make me laugh and cry out loud is one I would recommend and this one did both.
January 21, 2022
Omg this book! It’s like AJ Sherwood meets dark romance. It’s hilarious and in places it’s absurd, but it’s hands down an enthralling read. I couldn’t put it down until it was finished. I can honestly say this is the first book I’ve read where I was laughing during a noncon (attempted noncon? 🤔) scene.
This book isn’t for the faint of heart. If you have triggers this isn’t for you. It’s actually a bit difficult to pick the proper rating because it’s a 9 based on potential triggers, but maybe a 6 based on dark impact. It’s twisted and depraved in the most delicious of ways.
Dark Scale rating: 9 for kidnapping, drugging, torture, noncon, dubcon, mutilation involving several d*cks, graphic descriptions of sexual abuse, and a bit of taboo with twincest references
This book isn’t for the faint of heart. If you have triggers this isn’t for you. It’s actually a bit difficult to pick the proper rating because it’s a 9 based on potential triggers, but maybe a 6 based on dark impact. It’s twisted and depraved in the most delicious of ways.
Dark Scale rating: 9 for kidnapping, drugging, torture, noncon, dubcon, mutilation involving several d*cks, graphic descriptions of sexual abuse, and a bit of taboo with twincest references
January 1, 2022
This book wasn't what I was expecting at all. The story was a wild ride from start to finish. It is a very dark MM romance with interesting and quirky characters. It is depraved, dirty, and has some hilarious and seriously twisted situations which is not limited to kidnapping, murder and dismemberment. The trigger warnings are there for a reason! Please keep this in mind before reading this book.
I wasn't sure how the book was going to come together, but it somehow was able to do so. The plot overall is not it's strongest point but it did its job well enough to make the story cohesive and to progress the development of the main characters and their relationship. There is a kind of twisted romance woven into the crazy things going on between the two leads. Master is cruel, controlling, rich and powerful and has gotten away with a lot of things in the past. He is a psychopath and believes he is unable to feel love. The closest he has come to that emotion was towards Pretty and Baby - his former "lover" and friend. Any real attempts on his part to court Pretty more often than not involve pain as that is the one thing he truly understands, thus most of the attempt falls flat. Ironic given his profession as a romance writer.
Pretty is a broken and messed-up young man. He survives with a rough look and attitude and is in denial about his sexuality. He's a victim of abuse and has suffered a great deal in his short life making him utterly vulnerable and quite susceptive to whatever small kindness shown to him. After being kidnapped, he resolved to do everything to survive but he didn't expect to fall for his captor.
There is definitely a power imbalance between Master and Pretty which was established early on, however as events unfold, we get glimpses of humanity and vulnerability in Master which gives his character depth and complexity. In the same vein, Pretty also has shown a steel spine and determination that belied his more submissive personality. It was then that it really clicks that whatever the two of them have works in a twisted way.
This is a 3.75 stars out of 5 stars for me.
I received an ARC of this book via GRR and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
I wasn't sure how the book was going to come together, but it somehow was able to do so. The plot overall is not it's strongest point but it did its job well enough to make the story cohesive and to progress the development of the main characters and their relationship. There is a kind of twisted romance woven into the crazy things going on between the two leads. Master is cruel, controlling, rich and powerful and has gotten away with a lot of things in the past. He is a psychopath and believes he is unable to feel love. The closest he has come to that emotion was towards Pretty and Baby - his former "lover" and friend. Any real attempts on his part to court Pretty more often than not involve pain as that is the one thing he truly understands, thus most of the attempt falls flat. Ironic given his profession as a romance writer.
Pretty is a broken and messed-up young man. He survives with a rough look and attitude and is in denial about his sexuality. He's a victim of abuse and has suffered a great deal in his short life making him utterly vulnerable and quite susceptive to whatever small kindness shown to him. After being kidnapped, he resolved to do everything to survive but he didn't expect to fall for his captor.
There is definitely a power imbalance between Master and Pretty which was established early on, however as events unfold, we get glimpses of humanity and vulnerability in Master which gives his character depth and complexity. In the same vein, Pretty also has shown a steel spine and determination that belied his more submissive personality. It was then that it really clicks that whatever the two of them have works in a twisted way.
This is a 3.75 stars out of 5 stars for me.
I received an ARC of this book via GRR and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
Read
January 17, 2022This one felt so original to me I couldn’t stop reading!!
Master is a serial kidnapper/torturer/killer😅/masochist/sadist and just an all around bag full of crazy.
Pretty has sold his body and has had people take it. He seems to just be trying to mentally survive his life by giving himself to the Boss of a local Motorcycle Club. He’s never really been given the chance to find himself in any way.
Well Pretty’s life gets turned upside down when Master Kidnaps him with plans to do his normal sexual torture games but is caught off guard by Pretty’s reactions.
And that how we get to watch as Master try to get Pretty to fall in love with him, without you know, using conventional romance😈.
Omg. Watching this crazy psychotic man try to win Pretty over while still being himself=crazy was so entertaining.
🚨this is a darker read so do head trigger warnings.
Can’t wait for the next book🖤❤️🔥🖤❤️🔥
Master is a serial kidnapper/torturer/killer😅/masochist/sadist and just an all around bag full of crazy.
Pretty has sold his body and has had people take it. He seems to just be trying to mentally survive his life by giving himself to the Boss of a local Motorcycle Club. He’s never really been given the chance to find himself in any way.
Well Pretty’s life gets turned upside down when Master Kidnaps him with plans to do his normal sexual torture games but is caught off guard by Pretty’s reactions.
And that how we get to watch as Master try to get Pretty to fall in love with him, without you know, using conventional romance😈.
Omg. Watching this crazy psychotic man try to win Pretty over while still being himself=crazy was so entertaining.
🚨this is a darker read so do head trigger warnings.
Can’t wait for the next book🖤❤️🔥🖤❤️🔥
November 21, 2021
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I knew going in that this book was going to be twisted. The trigger warnings are there for a reason and it is definitely something to keep in mind before reading this book. Are the characters completely twisted? Yes. Is there violence, cruelty and a good dose of craziness thrown in too? Absolutely. And yet this book somehow all comes together to form a bizzare but powerful story with a twisted kind of romance threaded through. From the outset, you are left off kilter because we don't even know the character's real names! Everyone in the story goes by nicknames or titles - Master, Pretty, Baby Daddy, Boss, The Senator ... the list goes on! You are completely transported from the real world and into a world that appears to be controlled by a sociopath with a vast amount of wealth.
Pretty is, without doubt, an extremely vulnerable character. He's a victim of abuse and has suffered a great deal in his short life. I was left feeling so much sympathy and empathy for him even as I was taken on this strange journey with him. Master is controlling, cruel and powerful, however it's the glimpses of humanity in him that give this strange tale that edge of romance. He believes that he can't love but wants to discover whether someone else could ever love him. His attempts to achieve this are misguided, often fall flat, still contain a need for pain but also make him weirdly endearing.
I can't really explain why exactly this book works. When you look back over the cliff notes of what this book contains and the language it uses, it really shouldn't work at all. And yet somehow I couldn't put it down. Somehow I was completely drawn into their story and left wanting to know more about their world and the future that Master and Pretty might have.
Before buying this book you MUST read the trigger warnings. It's not a lighthearted, easy read. It's dark, twisted and the characters don't play by the rules. If this sounds like your thing, definitely give it a go!
I knew going in that this book was going to be twisted. The trigger warnings are there for a reason and it is definitely something to keep in mind before reading this book. Are the characters completely twisted? Yes. Is there violence, cruelty and a good dose of craziness thrown in too? Absolutely. And yet this book somehow all comes together to form a bizzare but powerful story with a twisted kind of romance threaded through. From the outset, you are left off kilter because we don't even know the character's real names! Everyone in the story goes by nicknames or titles - Master, Pretty, Baby Daddy, Boss, The Senator ... the list goes on! You are completely transported from the real world and into a world that appears to be controlled by a sociopath with a vast amount of wealth.
Pretty is, without doubt, an extremely vulnerable character. He's a victim of abuse and has suffered a great deal in his short life. I was left feeling so much sympathy and empathy for him even as I was taken on this strange journey with him. Master is controlling, cruel and powerful, however it's the glimpses of humanity in him that give this strange tale that edge of romance. He believes that he can't love but wants to discover whether someone else could ever love him. His attempts to achieve this are misguided, often fall flat, still contain a need for pain but also make him weirdly endearing.
I can't really explain why exactly this book works. When you look back over the cliff notes of what this book contains and the language it uses, it really shouldn't work at all. And yet somehow I couldn't put it down. Somehow I was completely drawn into their story and left wanting to know more about their world and the future that Master and Pretty might have.
Before buying this book you MUST read the trigger warnings. It's not a lighthearted, easy read. It's dark, twisted and the characters don't play by the rules. If this sounds like your thing, definitely give it a go!
January 16, 2022
This book has left me actually speechless
I don’t even know where to begin this book is so dark it’s ridiculous. You’ve got a psychopath who is a known killer who kidnapped people out of prison just for his pleasure. When Masters baby ask for a favour he’s not impressed at first but when he sees a picture he agrees to take this young man in hand. And he kidnaps him And does untold things that are just wrong to this poor boy but the thing is we get to find out who he really is what he really wants and that’s all down to this master. I was so intrigued with this book that I just could not put it down. This book is not for everyone please look at the triggers before you buy this book but if you like dark reads wow is this one book you won’t be able to put down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I don’t even know where to begin this book is so dark it’s ridiculous. You’ve got a psychopath who is a known killer who kidnapped people out of prison just for his pleasure. When Masters baby ask for a favour he’s not impressed at first but when he sees a picture he agrees to take this young man in hand. And he kidnaps him And does untold things that are just wrong to this poor boy but the thing is we get to find out who he really is what he really wants and that’s all down to this master. I was so intrigued with this book that I just could not put it down. This book is not for everyone please look at the triggers before you buy this book but if you like dark reads wow is this one book you won’t be able to put down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 20, 2021
What a wild ride! From the authors bio:
“Skylar Sweeney brings the com from romcom to dark M/M romance with quirky characters placed in very dark and hilariously twisted situations.”
Truer words have never been spoken than the words above. With a line like “He was ExLax for the soul” how can you go wrong. This book was a riot in the best possible way.
Master was off the rails in nearly every part of this book. Pretty was a victim from the word go. Yet, SOMEHOW, this book just works! Master, in all of his sociopathic glory, actually does come to care in some form for Pretty. It’s not a typical picture of a “romance” book, but there are glimmers of it here and there. One cannot read this book without feeling absolute empathy and sympathy for Pretty. The things that have been done to him in his past? Goodness, it’s heartbreaking. But Master takes those things and molds them into something Pretty can not only live with, but use to his advantage.
I had no idea how this book was going to come together, but it somehow did. These unlikable characters became likable in way that I never imagined. There are triggers warnings all over the place. This is dark and definitely messed up, so heed that going in and then buckle up: it’s going to be a crazy ride!
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“Skylar Sweeney brings the com from romcom to dark M/M romance with quirky characters placed in very dark and hilariously twisted situations.”
Truer words have never been spoken than the words above. With a line like “He was ExLax for the soul” how can you go wrong. This book was a riot in the best possible way.
Master was off the rails in nearly every part of this book. Pretty was a victim from the word go. Yet, SOMEHOW, this book just works! Master, in all of his sociopathic glory, actually does come to care in some form for Pretty. It’s not a typical picture of a “romance” book, but there are glimmers of it here and there. One cannot read this book without feeling absolute empathy and sympathy for Pretty. The things that have been done to him in his past? Goodness, it’s heartbreaking. But Master takes those things and molds them into something Pretty can not only live with, but use to his advantage.
I had no idea how this book was going to come together, but it somehow did. These unlikable characters became likable in way that I never imagined. There are triggers warnings all over the place. This is dark and definitely messed up, so heed that going in and then buckle up: it’s going to be a crazy ride!
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2021
This book is almost impossible to review without giving spoilers, but I'm going to try it. Because this book deserves to be experienced in all of its insanity.
First, if you're looking for a traditional love story? Look elsewhere. There is very little traditional about this story, though Master enjoys trying to live out a few tropes throughout the story. This story is dark though. I'm talking kidnapping, mentions of murder, and quite a few other taboo topics are in here. Please, HEED THE TRIGGER WARNINGS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK!
But this story is fun. It was laugh out loud hilarious at some points, even while it was incredibly messed up.
The characters were really easy to root for. I felt for Pretty from the beginning. And Master? Well even with all of Master's insanity, I couldn't help rooting for him. One note about the character's names: They have no names. This book, while a dual POV, all takes place in Master's world, and in his world, people only have the names that he issues them. Therefore those are the only names in the book.
So again, this book? A wild ride. Definitely recommend if you're wanting something dark and messed up and dripping in soap opera levels of WTF. Do not recommend if you want a light fluffy read, because this has dark rom com vibes.
And I LOVED it.
** ARC PROVIDED BY GRR AND THIS IS MY HONEST REVIEW **
First, if you're looking for a traditional love story? Look elsewhere. There is very little traditional about this story, though Master enjoys trying to live out a few tropes throughout the story. This story is dark though. I'm talking kidnapping, mentions of murder, and quite a few other taboo topics are in here. Please, HEED THE TRIGGER WARNINGS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK!
But this story is fun. It was laugh out loud hilarious at some points, even while it was incredibly messed up.
The characters were really easy to root for. I felt for Pretty from the beginning. And Master? Well even with all of Master's insanity, I couldn't help rooting for him. One note about the character's names: They have no names. This book, while a dual POV, all takes place in Master's world, and in his world, people only have the names that he issues them. Therefore those are the only names in the book.
So again, this book? A wild ride. Definitely recommend if you're wanting something dark and messed up and dripping in soap opera levels of WTF. Do not recommend if you want a light fluffy read, because this has dark rom com vibes.
And I LOVED it.
** ARC PROVIDED BY GRR AND THIS IS MY HONEST REVIEW **
January 15, 2022
Great story
This is not a traditional love story. It’s a very dark romance with a lot of triggers. That being said, this book was great. I loved the characters, they were so real and so very well written. I can’t wait for the next story so I can read more about them.
This is not a traditional love story. It’s a very dark romance with a lot of triggers. That being said, this book was great. I loved the characters, they were so real and so very well written. I can’t wait for the next story so I can read more about them.
December 27, 2021
So this one was interesting. I don’t know if I’d necessarily say it was dark – don’t get me wrong, there were some elements – but it was more just out there. It didn’t follow a conventional path and it was unique enough that it was entertaining while balancing out some typical tropes that you’d find in a book like this. The characters were well crafted, had a good amount of depth, and kept you engaged and entertained throughout, though they were exaggerated at times, playing their “part” a little too strongly or too flashily.
Flashy. A good word for some of this book. Almost like it tried too hard in some spots and with some of the plot elements but, as a whole, it somehow worked. The sociopath element was a bit overworked/overthought by the character but, again, it worked. It helped explain some of the elements of the story if you didn’t understand the MC’s background.
Overall, I enjoyed it and will definitely look for the next in the series to see where this crazy story can go.
Flashy. A good word for some of this book. Almost like it tried too hard in some spots and with some of the plot elements but, as a whole, it somehow worked. The sociopath element was a bit overworked/overthought by the character but, again, it worked. It helped explain some of the elements of the story if you didn’t understand the MC’s background.
Overall, I enjoyed it and will definitely look for the next in the series to see where this crazy story can go.
December 12, 2021
This book is fun in a very warped and twisted way. If you have any triggers with violence,etc., you should probably skip this one. Read the trigger warnings please. This book is not in any way meant to reflect a healthy BDSM relationship. It is fiction and meant to be read as such! That being said, this book is weirdly sweet and satisfying. Master is certainly a bit of a psychopath who believes he is incapable of love. Pretty (we never know their “real” names) has lived a hard life and been used and abused in just about every way you can imagine. So when he finds himself at Master’s “mercy”, it is actually a bit freeing and enlightening. He never knew pleasure could come from pain. Like I said, this is a twisted yet fun book that ends with an HEA and some sweet revenge on those who have hurt Pretty in his life. These characters are very unique and the writer has quite a way of pulling you into this wonky little world.
January 1, 2022
**Trigger warnings** Please read the warnings for this book, as it has dark themes and is not for everyone.
This is a new to me author, that along with a story that was not what I was expecting, I took a while to get into the book and used to their writing style. I wasn't sure at first if I could finish reading this book, but I actually found myself not only enjoying it and sympathising to some degree Pretty and Master. There are no real names, so don't expect a Dave or George, rather Pretty and Baby boy.
This book is dark, twisted, so very dirty, it has many surprises and turns. The characters are much like the book, all having dark twisted ulterior motives but there is some levity with some of the miscommunications between Master and Pretty.
Overall I liked this book and if you like your books to have a darker feel to them, with heat, violence and some enjoyable bloodthirstiness to them, then I would recommend this to you.
This is a new to me author, that along with a story that was not what I was expecting, I took a while to get into the book and used to their writing style. I wasn't sure at first if I could finish reading this book, but I actually found myself not only enjoying it and sympathising to some degree Pretty and Master. There are no real names, so don't expect a Dave or George, rather Pretty and Baby boy.
This book is dark, twisted, so very dirty, it has many surprises and turns. The characters are much like the book, all having dark twisted ulterior motives but there is some levity with some of the miscommunications between Master and Pretty.
Overall I liked this book and if you like your books to have a darker feel to them, with heat, violence and some enjoyable bloodthirstiness to them, then I would recommend this to you.
November 27, 2021
4⭐️ from me. This was indeed a twisted, dark story. I really, really enjoyed it a lot!
Master is a sociopath who uses men for his own pleasure. Pretty is a broken and damaged man, who somehow finds himself trusting in Master.
Lots of delicious, dirty, filthy and sometimes upsetting scenes in this one. Just what I needed right now! Mind the trigger warnings if you’re going to read this one.
As twisted as this story was, I found myself laughing as well. Skylar Sweeney writes great, with humour and probably has a twisted imagination. Perfect for this kind of story.
The reason for not giving it a 5⭐️ is a scene at the end. I can’t mention to much without spoiling. But this scene made me feel a bit left out, meaning I wanted more description.
If you’re looking for dark, twisted stories that makes you think “what the f did I just read”, I highly recommend it!
Master is a sociopath who uses men for his own pleasure. Pretty is a broken and damaged man, who somehow finds himself trusting in Master.
Lots of delicious, dirty, filthy and sometimes upsetting scenes in this one. Just what I needed right now! Mind the trigger warnings if you’re going to read this one.
As twisted as this story was, I found myself laughing as well. Skylar Sweeney writes great, with humour and probably has a twisted imagination. Perfect for this kind of story.
The reason for not giving it a 5⭐️ is a scene at the end. I can’t mention to much without spoiling. But this scene made me feel a bit left out, meaning I wanted more description.
If you’re looking for dark, twisted stories that makes you think “what the f did I just read”, I highly recommend it!
January 5, 2022
This book is dirty, twisted, and simply a mindfuck. And I loved it!
Master is a romance author, but he is the most unstable and sociopathic person I have read about. I have no clue how he can be a romance novel when he doesn't know anything about romance himself, but somehow Skylar Sweeney made this work in this book.
Pretty has been kidnapped and expects the worst. Master is supposed to have an eye on him and can do with Pretty what he wants. But he also loves challenges, so he tries to make Pretty fall in love with him.
This book was so unusual, so dark, and full of hilarious and disturbing characters. I loved it. I don't want to spoil much about the story, as it has a lot of unexpected twists and turns. I just love the characters and the whole story.
Definitely a recommendation!
*I received this book as an ARC. I chose to leave an honest review.*
Master is a romance author, but he is the most unstable and sociopathic person I have read about. I have no clue how he can be a romance novel when he doesn't know anything about romance himself, but somehow Skylar Sweeney made this work in this book.
Pretty has been kidnapped and expects the worst. Master is supposed to have an eye on him and can do with Pretty what he wants. But he also loves challenges, so he tries to make Pretty fall in love with him.
This book was so unusual, so dark, and full of hilarious and disturbing characters. I loved it. I don't want to spoil much about the story, as it has a lot of unexpected twists and turns. I just love the characters and the whole story.
Definitely a recommendation!
*I received this book as an ARC. I chose to leave an honest review.*
January 10, 2022
I absolutely loved this dark, dub con, hurt comfort romance .
Such a great book with a solid storyline and great characters.
I eagerly look forward to reading more from this author.
A definite recommend
Such a great book with a solid storyline and great characters.
I eagerly look forward to reading more from this author.
A definite recommend
December 29, 2021
I don’t even know where to start with this one. It’s probably the most twisted and crazy book I’ve read to date. An just a little warning those trigger warnings are there for a reason so please read them before reading this book.
This is the first book of skylars that I have read. I liked the style of writing and as much as part me didn’t want to like the words I was reading I was sucked in.
It’s really hard to speak about this book without giving spoilers. Master is utterly bonkers, 100% pure crazy. He kidnaps pretty to keep him safe for his friend. Pretty has an history of being used and abused and slowly finds himself liking master.
As much as this book is unbelievable and insane I’ll 100% be getting the next book in the series when it releases
This is the first book of skylars that I have read. I liked the style of writing and as much as part me didn’t want to like the words I was reading I was sucked in.
It’s really hard to speak about this book without giving spoilers. Master is utterly bonkers, 100% pure crazy. He kidnaps pretty to keep him safe for his friend. Pretty has an history of being used and abused and slowly finds himself liking master.
As much as this book is unbelievable and insane I’ll 100% be getting the next book in the series when it releases
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