Sass

trying to explain to people why Wyn is an absolutely green flag despite having killed more people than the number of days i've been alive

*insert gif of the dude with the wall full of snippets and red thread*

but tbh if you want an actual morally gray character that would not hesitate to slaughter anyone in his way for his lover - this is the right place

4.5 stars“He tasted of red wine, blood, and audacity.”

Romeo 🤝 me

being whipped for Anita

this was an almost perfect read for me, but it had two tropes i despise with a passion. they were in the last chapter and epilogue (the epilogue is objectively good, just not my cup of tea), so i'll probably skip those if i ever reread the book:

<spoiler>

- first time sex being painful and resulting in bleeding

"Will it hurt?"

(...)

"I will feel uncomfortable"

(...)

His eyelids fluttered closed, and I realized it wasn't pain he was feeling, but pleasure. My throat was tight and i struggled to breath. Bastard. That wasn't fair.

(...)

"I can't wait any longer. Give me your pain if it becomes too much."

(...)

He pulled out of me, disappearing to the bathroom to return with a warm cloth. (...) Streaks of red marred the white material, and I winced.

If i could i'd wipe that chapter entirely from my memory so it doesn't mar my enjoyment of the rest of the story

- the other thing i have a personal feud with is the pregnancy trope, especially when the author gives us a smart and badass female lead like anita. it made sense with the epilogue the author did and anita thankfully remained badass but it still left a bitter taste in my mouth, especially with the awful sex scene in the chapter before it.

the action is over, time to get preggo </spoiler>

"I will strive to unlearn the lessons of my childhood and the century since for you."

This story is about Dain developing as a person and overcoming trauma told from the pov of Leah who happens to be his love interest. also there is some plot that can be ignored because it's pretty mid.

all four stars are for Dain, our soft male lead who doesn't know how to handle affection or kindness, and for Dain and Leah actually having healthy communication and being super sweet