A little prone to clichés, but a fun read. I wish the author spent more time developing the side plots as they didn't resolve in a satisfying way (imo). I still enjoyed Darcy and Elle's story, though.

Where do I even start with this mess of a book?

DNF @67%

TW: Kidnapping, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual Assault, rape, sexism, self harm, mental illness, death (on page), torture, toxic relationship, domestic abuse

To be fair, I knew I wouldn’t like this book, but I really did not expect it to be this bad. Right now, it has a 4.11/5 rating…it couldn’t be that bad, right?? Oh, I was wrong. I was so wrong.

Synopsis: After her estranged father sells her to settle a debt with the infamous band of brothers The Vipers, Roxy must work hard to stay safe or…lose her heart?

(Commence puking)

You Might Like This If
1. You enjoy dubious consent.
2. You enjoy reverse harem.
3. If you like smut, chances are this will be a satisfying read. The author is very good at building up tension before and during these scenes. Although, I must say that many of the scenes are extremely graphic. The pairing of violence and sex is a common theme within this book. If you like to explore those themes in conjunction with one another, this might be enjoyable for you.
4. You enjoy stories with multiple POVs.
5. You enjoy stories with unreliable narrators.

Ahem, now that that’s taken care of.

I HATE THIS BOOK.

Throughout this entire book I felt like I was in a freaking fever dream. Knight is truly an author to behold because somehow she managed to make me bored, angry, and just plain confused all at the same time.

Let’s introduce our cast of characters:
1. Ryder: he’s your everyday boss dude who thinks wearing suits is a personality trait.
2. Garrett: he’s our incel. He had a really traumatic experience with a woman and instead of fixing his shit and going to therapy, he has now turned to ~misogyny~
3. Diesel: I think his name explains it all. And while I don’t think an affinity for knife play means that you are a psychopath, he is definitely a psychopath. A murderous one at that. Weirdly enough, I think the author tries to use him for comic relief.
4. Kenzo: my favorite. He is the gambler of the group. He’s definitely misogynistic and rape-y, but he’s the best of the group.
5. Roxy: Annoying bitch with Stockholm syndrome who tries to convince you she doesn’t have Stockholm syndrome for 646 pages.

There are issues with this text, like, SERIOUS ISSUES. I feel like I must be missing something. Possibly, I am. I admit I am not a part of the BDSM community…but, idk, something tells me that Den of Vipers is an accurate depiction of a healthy BDSM relationship at all.

But you know what it is an accurate depiction of? Stockholm syndrome.

This book tries its hardest to convince the reader that in some way Roxy CHOSE to stay with the Vipers. That she loves them. That this isn’t manipulative, at all. And that to me is disgusting. It also does its hardest to slut shame women, but I mean, what do I expect from a book that is literally depicting an abusive relationship with ZERO self awareness.

Here’s some quotes to enjoy (Possible triggering content: gaslighting, SA)

"She doesn’t get to make Kenzo feel like he took her without consent. It would wreck him.”

🤡Are you kidding? It would hurt HIM???? IT WOULD HURT HIM??????

"She seems undisturbed by his rudeness, picking her nails with her new knife as she lounges. Why can’t she be this comfortable with us?”

Kidnapper wonders why kidnapee doesn’t treat him like a friend :/

"No deals, [Roxy], but know that tonight, I’m close to the edge. Plunge into that darkness, and you might not come back,” I warn.
She tilts her head…”Maybe I don’t want to.”

OMG i for real thought she was being suicidal here.

Listen, I think the last quote really speaks for the cheesiness and quality of writing, but I will just end on this.

“What if, without her, there is no us?
What if I can’t let her go?
What if I’m not strong enough?
What if I’m too much of a viper to release our prey?”

I am VIPER 🐍 ME NEED LADY 👿 or else...viper, no exist? 😪

This is existential for NO REASON.

BYe.

P.S. Where are the CONDOMS? Where is the PROTECTION? When is the last time y’all have gotten TESTED?

P.P.S. where is the PLOT

P.P.P.S. Where is the pegging?

Wow. This book. There's so much to say, I simply don't have the time. I do plan to update later with a more in depth review. But for now...

I'm just getting into this author, Kresley Cole. With half of the titles I've read from her, I've had a mixed reaction. I find that in the books I've actually enjoyed readying I was struck by two things: either her genius or being annoyed by how little everything connects. I'm talking about book to book--not scene to scene. There are a lot of loose ends. I feel the author kind of just lets slip by without properly addressing them. Oh, well...

I didn't have an as intense (read: annoyance) reaction to that in this book, but sometimes I wondered where in the world the author was trying to take us. This series is daunting enough in its length and sometimes stories can come across like she's just trying to prolong the inevitable: the end.

Either way, I did enjoy it. The characters were compelling. I was heartbroken at times and overjoyed at others. Do I think it's a literary breakthrough? No. Is it something you can use to escape for a little while? Yes.

 In a lot of ways, Shadow Kiss feels like a transition novel. While re-reading this, I'm realizing just how much Richelle Mead is setting up for the next book and beyond. I'm honestly impressed with the way she chose to navigate the story and expand the world. It was tense and enthralling the entire time.