"You might loathe me, but you are mine now, and if anyone tried to burn you at the stake, I’d make them wish they were never born.”

Well, I got my wish for the psychotic Dream Stalker to make an appearance. And what an appearance he made. Talan is fucked up lmao

It’s quite another thing to dance with the Dream Stalker seconds after he slit a man’s throat, then drank his mead.

Meet your newest morally grey boyfriend

"I like my beautiful things to have a bit of darkness in them.”

This was super fast-paced with forced proximity, fake um dating/fake mistress, lots of morally greyness, killing people left right and centre, and heart-pounding emotion. Pretty sure I didn’t even breathe properly for the last 20% of the book.

Deep asleep, he looks so peaceful— the beautiful monster who intends to destroy us all.

Nia continues to get shit done. That woman is strong, smart, resourceful, and just an all-around great FMC. She can plot, plan, and scheme to no end but she’s also not so perfect that things aren’t a struggle for her either. A realistic main character!

"And what happened to your man with the cheap velvet suit? Why didn’t you make a family with him, like other people?”
“He left me for a singer.” Also true.
“So, the man is a fucking idiot. Would you like me to torture him to death? I would use the rack again, if it made you happy.”

Raphael...Bitch, what the fuck?

I glance up and find the Dream Stalker lying awake, staring at the ceiling. Fuck. “Sorry,” I whisper. “I was asleep.”
“My dear Nia, you have absolutely nothing to apologize for. You should wrap yourself around me whenever you want.” His voice is a velvet caress over my skin.

Talan. Boy, you’re pushing your luck. Imma need some redeeming actions soon from him. Yes, he’s a sexy dream stalking, mind-fucking, morally grey killing machine, but he is also kinda evil lmao and needs to show some less evil qualities in the next book.

"And if I fucked you for real, Nia, I can assure you that you would not need to fake it.” His voice is a deep, velvety whisper that sends shivers over my skin."

That ending. How dare it end like that? I need book 3, my heart can’t take the wait.

“Why is your heart beating so fast?” he murmurs.
“Don’t you know everyone is scared of you?” Silence falls in the darkened room.
“Yes,” he says quietly, “but I didn’t think you were.”

Thank you to the authors for an eARC!