sueread2030's reviews
721 reviews

 this was one of the best READS this year
absolutely amazing for the simple reason that the female lead gave no fuck about the four guys
, unlike other RH fantasy where the h immediately is attracted to the love interests and show numerous cases of BBS, Maven truly and passionately did not want anything to do with the four hot guys who were dying to get her attention. 🤣🤣 and I was there to cheer her all the way

I loved everything about this book
especially since there was like 2% spice
another bonus because the plot took importance and was not rushed or sacrificed for the smut
on to book 2 

 I have to say that the level of imagination and world building in this series is very top tier
I commence Islington for that

But.....isn't too much sometimes TOO MUCH

when you are still in the process of adding new information and revealing new characters in the 2nd half of the third 800+ page- book, then something will start to feel off and the story will become boring

I cannot, for the life of me, give you a step-by-step recount even if my life depended on it
something I can easily do with other fantasy books
because Islington kept adding and adding and adding
but here is what I go so far

Plot Overview SPOILERS....I think?!

The story revolves around the final battle to prevent the world’s destruction

There are four major characters and a ""specie""?? who play the crucial parts in the story

1- Caeden (Tal'kamar): Caeden, once a member of the Venerate, continues his quest for redemption. He must confront his past as Tal'kamar, who was manipulated by the dark force known as the Ell. Caeden’s journey involves uncovering the truth about the Jha'vett, an ancient device capable of reshaping reality, and deciding whether to use it to save the world or destroy it.

2-Davian: a young man with immense magical potential, struggles with his role in the conflict. He learns more about his connection to the Reservoir, a source of magical power, and his destiny to either save or doom the world. he must make sacrifices to ensure the survival of those he loves.

3- Asha: now a leader in her own right, works to unite the fractured nations against the threat of the *Venerate* and the weakening Boundary. She faces political intrigue and personal challenges, and like Davian is determined to protect her people.

4- Wirr: (he's my favorite) Davian’s best friend and the Northwarden’s son, plays a crucial role in rallying the armies of Andarra. He grapples with the weight of leadership and the moral dilemmas of using forbidden weapons to fight the enemy.

5- The Venerate: The remaining members of the Venerate, including Gassandrid and Diara, continue their plans to use the Jha'vett to reshape reality according to their vision. Their motivations and manipulations are revealed, showing how they were deceived by the Ell - I think????

Caeden learns that the Ell, a malevolent force, has been manipulating events for millennia to ensure its own survival. The Jha'vett is the key to either stopping the Ell or allowing it to achieve its goals.
meanwhile the Boundary, a magical barrier protecting the world from the Darklands, continues to weaken. Asha and Wirr work to delay its collapse while preparing for the inevitable invasion of monstrous creatures. Davian discovers that his unique connection to the Reservoir allows him to manipulate time. In the climactic battle, he uses this power to create a time loop, ensuring that the events leading to the Ell’s defeat are set in motion. However, this comes at the cost of his own life.

I think during the time this series was written, the ALL-TOO good main lead is expected to sacrifice himself for the GOOD of humanity without the chance of him/her coming out with HEA.

I would have liked that ending if there were any indication of Davian having flaws...Caeden I understood, but not Davian

still, this was tedious but enjoyable
liked book 2 the best
 

 You keep finding your voice, baby girl, and I'll listen. I'll try to listen even when you don't speak up, I promise you"

Oh Rome! That is what we truly want in a relationship. Listen and understand

I am not that often surprised by a book, let alone an MC Romance though they are my guilty pleasure. But it becomes the highlight of my day when a book does just that.

In my opinion, I dont think this is a dark romance. This is Romance with a dark theme
I do not think it is an MC romance. It is a romance with an MC member
I do not think it is a cheating romance. It is a romance that deals with the aftermath.

I think I have read two or three cheating books were I was rooting for the male lead to get back with the h and have their HEA.
Rome is one of them
and not because he did not plan on cheating or,at the moment, he did not know he was cheating but because of how he handled it.

I love books where we see "real humans" make mistakes. We are not all good or all bad. We are a mix and it is by our free-well to choose which side we lean towards.
Some mistakes are unredeemable
Others totally are

⚜ rating: 5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
⚜Genre: Contemporary Romance
⚜Theme: Second-Chance MC romance
⚜Targeted audience: Adults
⚜Characters: Caleb/Rome, Abby
⚜Representation: side-character disability
⚜ driven: Character driven
⚜Pace: medium
⚜TW: cheating, triggers of trauma, alcoholism, OW drama, double standards
⚜ tropes: betrayal and grovel, young love, claiming, he's celibate she is not
⚜ POV: double first person
⚜ spice 🌶🌶 🌶
⚜standalone: yes, but part of a series
⚜Ending: HEA
⚜Book read: KU

The Plot

though it is set in the MC world, this book focuses more on the drama and romance between Rome and Abby. something that the author clearly stated. And I was there for it all.

I loved that we got a look at how Caleb and Abby met then how their relationship progressed
I loved seeing their marital bless before everything crashed because it helped me feel how much Abby was betrayed and how much angst Rome was in

Stories that begin with the betrayal while showing little of their past life usually fail to make me feel the connection and frankly I don't care much about the characters

I did understand that the act of cheating itself was a sub-problem to the way Rome dismissed Abby's concern of his drinking habits, which lead to his fatal mistake

I also loved the way Hart managed to show us the male's double standard look
which leads me to the characters.

Rome/Caleb

God! I really disliked him in the prologue. The way he took one look at Abby, decided she is his, proceeded to act like it while still sowing his MC oats.
He prevented any boy from approaching Abby, waiting for her to come of age so he could claim her. meanwhile, he did not see anything wrong sleeping with the MC bunnies.

However, my mind changed when the chapters started and we see how much he loves her, and how much dedicated to his family he is. They have a son and a baby on the way but still he worships Abby in every way.

We learn that he has a drinking problem that he dismisses even though Abby clearly showed stated that he should get help. Because of that, one drunk night, he mistakes one of the hangarounds for his wife and let's her give him BJ. When he wakes and sobers up, he realizes how fucked up he is.

And here is the part where I was rooting form him. Not once he concidered hiding what he did from his wife. He did not encourage his brothers to do that also eventhough he knows they would have. He took responsibility, arranged for therapy sessions then confronted Abby.

From there on, everything was about Abby's happiness and emotions

and then the idiot digs his grave even deeper when he throws the "Male Standard" in Abby's face. When she asks him to leave he says, "I can't believe you're throwing everything away, you're throwing us aways, over ONE MISTAKE.....I didn't have sex with her...It was just a blowjob"

The way he belittled her anguish and acted as if she is the one creating problems pushed Abby to ask for divorce.

Abby

I absolutely adore a book with a strong female lead.
I stated before that "strong" does not mean "kick / fight/ bitch"

Abby went through all the emotions.
shocked, anger, shut down, crying, depression
all while 8 month pregnant

but then, she stepped up. She did not wallow whine
She took control of her life
found a job
tried casual hookups
tried dating

I read some reviews that tore her down for not going all the way with the other men. Seriously! She is comming out from the fact that the love of her life and only man she ever was intimate with cheated on her, also she just gave birth and still nursing, but you want her to be comfortable having sex with other men!

besides, if we want to concider Rome having BJ as cheating, then Abby giving BJ is not being cleibate.
otherwise, you are being double standard

the side characters

I loved all the side characters
especially the MCs. They were on Abby's side. Did not side with Rome just because he is a BROTHER. they clearly let him know how wrong he was

I loved Lia. hope she gets a book

Kim, the therapist, was amazing

Oh and the writing was very well done