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The Watch #1
The Bone Collector
Park Chen has spent most of his life as a killer—a deadly, deep cover operative known as the Bone Collector. Now, he’s been benched. Reassigned as an instructor at Project Watchtower, he’s tasked with training a school of psychopathic assassins while trying to keep a promise to his friends.
Gift Ayutthaya isn’t treated like a gift at all. If anything, his parents treat him as a burden, though a spoiled one. After an attempt on his life, they pass that burden onto someone else. Park. The man Gift’s been fantasizing about for years. A man who sees him as an adorable but incompetent distraction.
It’s no secret that Gift doesn’t belong at the Watch, but Park’s made a vow to keep him safe. Gift has made a vow, too. He’s going to use every weapon in his arsenal to find a way to seduce Park and make him love him, once and for all. Or die trying.
Loving Gift was never the issue—Park’s already there. But assignments at the Watch aren’t optional. To stay, Gift has to prove himself, something Park just can’t allow. Can Gift get Park to see that, when it comes to murder, Gift is aptly named? Or will he be relegated to the sidelines in both school and in love?
The Bone Collector is an action packed, smoking hot, age gap romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a rule-following assassin turned reluctant teacher of psychopaths and an adorable, off-limits, fumbling student who just can’t seem to stay away from each other. Prepare yourself for gratuitous violence, very dark humor, more blood than an ‘80s horror movie, and enough heat to fog up a window factory. This is book one in the The Watch series. Each book follows a different couple.
Gift Ayutthaya isn’t treated like a gift at all. If anything, his parents treat him as a burden, though a spoiled one. After an attempt on his life, they pass that burden onto someone else. Park. The man Gift’s been fantasizing about for years. A man who sees him as an adorable but incompetent distraction.
It’s no secret that Gift doesn’t belong at the Watch, but Park’s made a vow to keep him safe. Gift has made a vow, too. He’s going to use every weapon in his arsenal to find a way to seduce Park and make him love him, once and for all. Or die trying.
Loving Gift was never the issue—Park’s already there. But assignments at the Watch aren’t optional. To stay, Gift has to prove himself, something Park just can’t allow. Can Gift get Park to see that, when it comes to murder, Gift is aptly named? Or will he be relegated to the sidelines in both school and in love?
The Bone Collector is an action packed, smoking hot, age gap romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a rule-following assassin turned reluctant teacher of psychopaths and an adorable, off-limits, fumbling student who just can’t seem to stay away from each other. Prepare yourself for gratuitous violence, very dark humor, more blood than an ‘80s horror movie, and enough heat to fog up a window factory. This is book one in the The Watch series. Each book follows a different couple.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2023
About the author
Onley James
31 books3,093 followersOnley James lives in North Carolina with her daughter, her daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and a menagerie of animals, both good and evil. James splits her time between writing m/m romance and mainlining dangerous levels of caffeine and attempting to maintain her ever-slipping sanity.
When not at her desk you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do while avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television and doom scrolling on social media. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.
Stay up to date: www.onleyjames.com/newsletter
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Onley...
Want more: linktr.ee/OnleyJames
When not at her desk you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do while avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television and doom scrolling on social media. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.
Stay up to date: www.onleyjames.com/newsletter
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Onley...
Want more: linktr.ee/OnleyJames
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
November 23, 2023
I've been looking forward to this series because Onley James novels are typically fun and entertaining. This one wasn't.
Indeed, it dragged for me to the point I half-skimmed just to get through it.
My main complaints:
~ This is the first book in a series and since the author has no restraint, a veritable smorgasbord of secondary characters/future MCs is introduced.
The MCs interact more with their roommates/friends/colleagues than they do with each other. The story felt crowded and unfocused.
~ The MCs are one-dimensional. Gift is the stereotype of every soft, sweet K-pop idol. The psychopaths take him on as a pet and "emotional support human."
Park is a cold former assassin who tries to keep Gift at arm's length. The relationship development is nonexistent. Park goes from being Gift's self-imposed brother figure to reaming his ass.
And do not get me started on Gift hiding his fluent English from Park - not for a few days, mind you, but for MONTHS. No one other than a highly trained, experienced international spy, which Gift most certainly was not, could pull that off (never mind that it seems everyone except Park knows - people aren't that good at keeping secrets.)
~ The sex scenes are super cringe. Park fetishizes Gift to the max, but I guess that's okay because they're both Asian? Gross. Nope.
~ And the plot. LOL What plot? There's a girl's murder, a "game" all the "pods" play, revelations about Gift's background.
It's seemingly serious and complex but barely scratches the surface. My brain was screaming, Make it make sense!
~ What I liked about the Necessary Evils series is the dark humor, and that's entirely missing here. Everything feels fuzzy yet exaggerated.
The final scene where the bad guy is tortured is disturbing. I know he was an evil human, but, fuck, just shoot him already.
~The ending is not a HEA. It's a HFN maybe, which whatever. I don't care about the MCs or their future.
Indeed, it dragged for me to the point I half-skimmed just to get through it.
My main complaints:
~ This is the first book in a series and since the author has no restraint, a veritable smorgasbord of secondary characters/future MCs is introduced.
The MCs interact more with their roommates/friends/colleagues than they do with each other. The story felt crowded and unfocused.
~ The MCs are one-dimensional. Gift is the stereotype of every soft, sweet K-pop idol. The psychopaths take him on as a pet and "emotional support human."
Park is a cold former assassin who tries to keep Gift at arm's length. The relationship development is nonexistent. Park goes from being Gift's self-imposed brother figure to reaming his ass.
And do not get me started on Gift hiding his fluent English from Park - not for a few days, mind you, but for MONTHS. No one other than a highly trained, experienced international spy, which Gift most certainly was not, could pull that off (never mind that it seems everyone except Park knows - people aren't that good at keeping secrets.)
~ The sex scenes are super cringe. Park fetishizes Gift to the max, but I guess that's okay because they're both Asian? Gross. Nope.
~ And the plot. LOL What plot? There's a girl's murder, a "game" all the "pods" play, revelations about Gift's background.
It's seemingly serious and complex but barely scratches the surface. My brain was screaming, Make it make sense!
~ What I liked about the Necessary Evils series is the dark humor, and that's entirely missing here. Everything feels fuzzy yet exaggerated.
The final scene where the bad guy is tortured is disturbing. I know he was an evil human, but, fuck, just shoot him already.
~The ending is not a HEA. It's a HFN maybe, which whatever. I don't care about the MCs or their future.
November 24, 2023
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
How could anyone be so innocent and so devious at the same time?
Sweet, hot, a little kinky, violent and bloody, and of course a touch of suspense. Everything I have come to expect from an Onley James book, and it delivered on all fronts. I remember reading an excerpt a while back from a scene where the other students basically treat Gift like a pet, giving him and his chubby cheeks all of the cuddles, and I was immediately smitten. His character is a delight. Yeah, he’s got a bit of the ‘innocent blushing virgin’ thing going on, but that’s far from his entire personality. He needs to be taken care of, but also wants autonomy and to be his own man, which he is. He can take care of himself and stand up for himself when it’s needed, and he knows what he wants. That, along with letting the psychopaths in the assassin school manhandle him into hugs whenever they please, just made me go ‘awww’ basically all of the time. I want to adopt him.
Gift yelped as Payton grabbed him beneath his arms and dragged him into his lap, squeezing him tightly. “I missed you.”
I also liked Park a lot. There is of course an element of ‘forbidden fruit’ here as it’s student/teacher as well as ‘best friend’s kid’, but it wasn’t overdone, imo. They are all murderers teaching young adults to be assassins, so riding that high horse too hard would’ve gotten annoying really quick, lol. It was more of a personal moral dilemma situation. Park took charge in bed and has a strong protective streak, but he doesn’t smother Gift, which I appreciate.
“I loved you as a meek innocent virgin. I love you as my needy little baby. I love you as my mouthy little brat. I love all of you. Every incarnation. In this life and in all the rest.”
Overall, the entire premise of the series is seriously cool. A school for psychopaths and their neurotypical handlers where they learn to be the best assassins? It’s awesome, lol. Can’t wait for the next book.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Age gap
Size difference
Teacher/student
Former assassin
Parents’ best friend
Touch starved
Pining
Demisexual MC
Virgin MC
Office shenanigans
Degradation kink (mild, imo)
Biting/marking
Subspace and sub drop
Edging
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Mentions of the death of a child (past)
Degredation (slut, etc.)
Mentions of assault
Graphic violence
On page killing
On page torture (side character)
References to sexual abuse
(past, side character)
Explicit sexual Content
Spanking with a belt
Restraints
Brief Mentions of captivity
(side character)
Mentions of child theft
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
MCs age: 21 and 37
“Oh, come on. You made us clean up after [redacted] and now, we have to clean this, too?” Morgan whined, flopping onto one of the gym mats. Boone sighed. “Fine. Just this once, I’ll let the professionals handle it. But you will learn proper body disposal. Got it?” “Yes, sir,” they all said in unison.
Should he have been worried about how much he craved Park’s punishments? Even the edging? Maybe he should have been more worried about the fact that he was thinking about his sex life at an execution.
“I can feel you here,” Gift whined, touching his lower belly.
Is that it?” He felt Gift shake his head from his hiding spot before he said, “And also…I like when you’re a little mean to me. When you talk down to me just a little.” Gift leaned back to look at Park, still shy. “But only, like, a little. I don’t want you to be, like, really, really mean to me. Not verbally, anyway. That would make me cry.” “Not verbally, anyway.” Christ. Park gave him a reassuring smile. “I only want to make you cry when you feel good.[…]”
How could anyone be so innocent and so devious at the same time?
Sweet, hot, a little kinky, violent and bloody, and of course a touch of suspense. Everything I have come to expect from an Onley James book, and it delivered on all fronts. I remember reading an excerpt a while back from a scene where the other students basically treat Gift like a pet, giving him and his chubby cheeks all of the cuddles, and I was immediately smitten. His character is a delight. Yeah, he’s got a bit of the ‘innocent blushing virgin’ thing going on, but that’s far from his entire personality. He needs to be taken care of, but also wants autonomy and to be his own man, which he is. He can take care of himself and stand up for himself when it’s needed, and he knows what he wants. That, along with letting the psychopaths in the assassin school manhandle him into hugs whenever they please, just made me go ‘awww’ basically all of the time. I want to adopt him.
Gift yelped as Payton grabbed him beneath his arms and dragged him into his lap, squeezing him tightly. “I missed you.”
I also liked Park a lot. There is of course an element of ‘forbidden fruit’ here as it’s student/teacher as well as ‘best friend’s kid’, but it wasn’t overdone, imo. They are all murderers teaching young adults to be assassins, so riding that high horse too hard would’ve gotten annoying really quick, lol. It was more of a personal moral dilemma situation. Park took charge in bed and has a strong protective streak, but he doesn’t smother Gift, which I appreciate.
“I loved you as a meek innocent virgin. I love you as my needy little baby. I love you as my mouthy little brat. I love all of you. Every incarnation. In this life and in all the rest.”
Overall, the entire premise of the series is seriously cool. A school for psychopaths and their neurotypical handlers where they learn to be the best assassins? It’s awesome, lol. Can’t wait for the next book.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Age gap
Size difference
Teacher/student
Former assassin
Parents’ best friend
Touch starved
Pining
Demisexual MC
Virgin MC
Office shenanigans
Degradation kink (mild, imo)
Biting/marking
Subspace and sub drop
Edging
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Mentions of the death of a child (past)
Degredation (slut, etc.)
Mentions of assault
Graphic violence
On page killing
On page torture (side character)
References to sexual abuse
(past, side character)
Explicit sexual Content
Spanking with a belt
Restraints
Brief Mentions of captivity
(side character)
Mentions of child theft
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
MCs age: 21 and 37
“Oh, come on. You made us clean up after [redacted] and now, we have to clean this, too?” Morgan whined, flopping onto one of the gym mats. Boone sighed. “Fine. Just this once, I’ll let the professionals handle it. But you will learn proper body disposal. Got it?” “Yes, sir,” they all said in unison.
Should he have been worried about how much he craved Park’s punishments? Even the edging? Maybe he should have been more worried about the fact that he was thinking about his sex life at an execution.
“I can feel you here,” Gift whined, touching his lower belly.
Is that it?” He felt Gift shake his head from his hiding spot before he said, “And also…I like when you’re a little mean to me. When you talk down to me just a little.” Gift leaned back to look at Park, still shy. “But only, like, a little. I don’t want you to be, like, really, really mean to me. Not verbally, anyway. That would make me cry.” “Not verbally, anyway.” Christ. Park gave him a reassuring smile. “I only want to make you cry when you feel good.[…]”
November 21, 2023
I really hate to say this because I was so looking forward to this series, but I was really bored reading this 😬
Park and Gift just didn't hold my interest at all because they were just so nice and pleasant and proper, and that honestly bores me more than I realised in a character.
Even the possessiveness wasn't strong enough for me, I wasn't getting 'touch him and die' vibes from Park, and if you're telling me a character is dominant and possessive I expect it to be strongly evident in their entire personality.
Most frustrating was the sex scenes that went on for-fucking-ever and after the first one I just skipped over the rest.
What I did like was some of the other characters. I'm intrigued by Boone and Payton's 'relationship', also Remi and his psychopath (can't remember the characters name at all 😬😬) were interesting and I'm hoping there's a story there.
My favourite part of the whole book was when Aiden Mulvaney made his appearance. Even Mac and Archer's frequent presence didn't draw me in like I assumed it would.
That said, I do like the idea of the Watch Tower series and I'm genuinely hoping to enjoy the next story more than this one.
Park and Gift just didn't hold my interest at all because they were just so nice and pleasant and proper, and that honestly bores me more than I realised in a character.
Even the possessiveness wasn't strong enough for me, I wasn't getting 'touch him and die' vibes from Park, and if you're telling me a character is dominant and possessive I expect it to be strongly evident in their entire personality.
Most frustrating was the sex scenes that went on for-fucking-ever and after the first one I just skipped over the rest.
What I did like was some of the other characters. I'm intrigued by Boone and Payton's 'relationship', also Remi and his psychopath (can't remember the characters name at all 😬😬) were interesting and I'm hoping there's a story there.
My favourite part of the whole book was when Aiden Mulvaney made his appearance. Even Mac and Archer's frequent presence didn't draw me in like I assumed it would.
That said, I do like the idea of the Watch Tower series and I'm genuinely hoping to enjoy the next story more than this one.
January 16, 2024
⭐️ 3 stars ⭐️
The Bone Collector was a nice romance, but that’s about it.
I thought it would be darker, with more angst, more..something.
I enjoyed the tension between the characters, the mutual pining and build-up in the beginning.
Once they get together, though, the novelty faded and left me feeling pretty bored.
The plot is extremely slow and basically non-existent until around the 70% mark, where everything is happening and you’re just bombarded with information and everyone trying to tie all the loose ends all at once.
The smut was, again, nice.
It was as if they dipped their toe into kink land, but were afraid of actually going in.
Kinks aren’t for everyone of course, but maybe don’t tease me with all the possibilities without actually following through.
This series seems to be keeping the same vibe as the Necessary Evils series — a dark romance that’s actually very light and sunshine-y, cutesy and sweet romances, and barely any angst.
It’s fun for a while, but I was in the mood for something a little more over the edge.
CW and tropes(spoilers):
- Age gap
- Virgin MC
- Death, violence & brief torture
- Asian rep
- Spit swapping
- Edging
- Rimming
- Light d/s themes (use of safewords)
- Light bondage
- Mild degradation/praise kink
- Coming untouched scene
- Strict top/bottom
“You’re playing with fire,” Park warned, voice tight.
“I already feel like I’m in flames,” Gift said, breathless. “But I like it. I’d roll around in the coals if it meant you’d just give me what I want.”
The Bone Collector was a nice romance, but that’s about it.
I thought it would be darker, with more angst, more..something.
I enjoyed the tension between the characters, the mutual pining and build-up in the beginning.
Once they get together, though, the novelty faded and left me feeling pretty bored.
The plot is extremely slow and basically non-existent until around the 70% mark, where everything is happening and you’re just bombarded with information and everyone trying to tie all the loose ends all at once.
The smut was, again, nice.
It was as if they dipped their toe into kink land, but were afraid of actually going in.
Kinks aren’t for everyone of course, but maybe don’t tease me with all the possibilities without actually following through.
This series seems to be keeping the same vibe as the Necessary Evils series — a dark romance that’s actually very light and sunshine-y, cutesy and sweet romances, and barely any angst.
It’s fun for a while, but I was in the mood for something a little more over the edge.
CW and tropes(spoilers):
- Age gap
- Virgin MC
- Death, violence & brief torture
- Asian rep
- Spit swapping
- Edging
- Rimming
- Light d/s themes (use of safewords)
- Light bondage
- Mild degradation/praise kink
- Coming untouched scene
- Strict top/bottom
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 1, 2024I’m interested in some of the other characters, but I’m bored. I’m skimming. I just don’t care enough to be bothered. Stopping at 79%.
November 14, 2023
all the names in the world and yet you named one of your mcs as... gift. girl be fucking for real. overall, it wasn't the worst story ever (okay maybe it is) but everything was just so unmemorable.
November 14, 2023
1.5/5 ⭐️
This was pretty bad. The author’s fetish for Asian men is kind of gross tbh. Gift is literally Ever (from the Jericho’s Boys series). The two characters in the two different books are basically the same: chubby cheeks, soft hair, big chocolate eyes, super naive and innocent and uber cute. Even their personalities and sexual preferences are nearly identical.
The smut was fucking weird as well and I found myself skipping through it.
I didn’t believe the romance and the plot was fucking ridiculous AF.
I love the Necessary Evil series but this one is crap and would not recommend.
This was pretty bad. The author’s fetish for Asian men is kind of gross tbh. Gift is literally Ever (from the Jericho’s Boys series). The two characters in the two different books are basically the same: chubby cheeks, soft hair, big chocolate eyes, super naive and innocent and uber cute. Even their personalities and sexual preferences are nearly identical.
The smut was fucking weird as well and I found myself skipping through it.
I didn’t believe the romance and the plot was fucking ridiculous AF.
I love the Necessary Evil series but this one is crap and would not recommend.
November 25, 2023
Just no. I'm tired of recycled TV, and book references turned into another novel. I have watched Criminal Minds, I have watched and read the graphic novels of The Umbrella Academy, and Deadly Class. I understand ideas are not new but please try and make them interesting. For me this book is in the pile of the last 5 books I've read of this author. I think I'm finally done. It's also racist. Gross.
And that makes me sad.
And that makes me sad.
November 16, 2023
More of a miss than a hit for me 😮💨
2.5 ⭐️⭐️
Ugh… I didn’t love this which is a shame because Onley is one of my must read authors. I don’t know if I am interested enough to read anymore from this series…
I was so bored for most of the book, capital
B O R E D! A school for psycho assassins in training sounded interesting but the delivery was off the mark. We really didn’t get much of the school. If more time was spent on the mystery, the other students, the school, the teachers then the book would have been leaps and bounds better.
There are two sub plots but neither are all that interesting nor do they connect to each other. Subplot A was pretty much abandoned for Subplot B. Subplot A was resolved off page and in the freaking epilogue?!? Subplot B only gained traction in the last 10-15% of the book. The rest of the story meandered.
The MCs, Park and Gift, weren’t all that interesting. I didn’t get connected to them. I didn’t get immersed in their journey. The Onley charm, wit, and banter was seriously lacking in this. I actively disliked Park for a good portion of the book and Gift was lacking for me as well.
The real main characters in this book are definitely Gift’s chunky, plush, lush, fluffy, full cheeks and his virginity 🙄🥴 I didn’t know cheeks could be sooooo fetishized but alas. We spend over 200 pages listening to Park, Gift, and everyone else discuss his special gift. It got old real fast.
For me, age gap stories walk a very tight rope and when done right they are super sexy. I don’t think that this one was done particularly well. When you have a sheltered and naive MC who pouts and whines every 10 seconds it can read younger, much, much younger. Gift’s desperate need to fling his virginity at Park at every turn especially at inappropriate times becomes super cringey. What is with the insistent need to make Gift actions, thoughts, and manner childlike while insisting that he is an adult? If he is an adult have have act like one! Please.
The characterization of Gift came off as obsessive and fetishized. It makes him seem less like a person and more like parts instead of a whole. The is a fine line between cultural appreciation and fetish and unfortunately this feels likes it teeters too far over on the fetish side.
All in all this book was forgettable. I wouldn’t call this a bad book but I won’t called it a good one either.
I did like the last 10% and I liked Payton and want to know more about him but I don’t know if that slight interest is enough to make me want to read the rest of the series.
*** Why is this book called BONE COLLECTOR when we really learn nothing about him?
2.5 ⭐️⭐️
Ugh… I didn’t love this which is a shame because Onley is one of my must read authors. I don’t know if I am interested enough to read anymore from this series…
I was so bored for most of the book, capital
B O R E D! A school for psycho assassins in training sounded interesting but the delivery was off the mark. We really didn’t get much of the school. If more time was spent on the mystery, the other students, the school, the teachers then the book would have been leaps and bounds better.
There are two sub plots but neither are all that interesting nor do they connect to each other. Subplot A was pretty much abandoned for Subplot B. Subplot A was resolved off page and in the freaking epilogue?!? Subplot B only gained traction in the last 10-15% of the book. The rest of the story meandered.
The MCs, Park and Gift, weren’t all that interesting. I didn’t get connected to them. I didn’t get immersed in their journey. The Onley charm, wit, and banter was seriously lacking in this. I actively disliked Park for a good portion of the book and Gift was lacking for me as well.
The real main characters in this book are definitely Gift’s chunky, plush, lush, fluffy, full cheeks and his virginity 🙄🥴 I didn’t know cheeks could be sooooo fetishized but alas. We spend over 200 pages listening to Park, Gift, and everyone else discuss his special gift. It got old real fast.
For me, age gap stories walk a very tight rope and when done right they are super sexy. I don’t think that this one was done particularly well. When you have a sheltered and naive MC who pouts and whines every 10 seconds it can read younger, much, much younger. Gift’s desperate need to fling his virginity at Park at every turn especially at inappropriate times becomes super cringey. What is with the insistent need to make Gift actions, thoughts, and manner childlike while insisting that he is an adult? If he is an adult have have act like one! Please.
The characterization of Gift came off as obsessive and fetishized. It makes him seem less like a person and more like parts instead of a whole. The is a fine line between cultural appreciation and fetish and unfortunately this feels likes it teeters too far over on the fetish side.
All in all this book was forgettable. I wouldn’t call this a bad book but I won’t called it a good one either.
I did like the last 10% and I liked Payton and want to know more about him but I don’t know if that slight interest is enough to make me want to read the rest of the series.
*** Why is this book called BONE COLLECTOR when we really learn nothing about him?
November 14, 2023
A fun introduction to this new series, this book was HOT🔥
Actual rating: 3.5
Park and Gift have explosive chemistry which Park can’t resist for long. Especially when Gift is a master in seduction and knows all the right buttons to push. And as always I appreciate the demi rep!
I’m looking forward to the rest of the series after being introduced to most of the cast here. They’re funny and silly and dramatic. Payton especially is going to ruin Boone’s life (in a good way!)
I do wish we got more background on Park, he’s still very mysterious with not a ton of depth. And having two plot lines that didn’t connect meant neither was fully formed and I didn’t feel fully satisfied by the quickly wrapped ending. Though I did fully enjoy the last scene with Kendrick and Aiden😈
It was nice to see cameos from Mac and Archer but they were super short/small which made sense while introducing the rest of the cast. I hope we continue to see them in the rest of the series!
Actual rating: 3.5
Park and Gift have explosive chemistry which Park can’t resist for long. Especially when Gift is a master in seduction and knows all the right buttons to push. And as always I appreciate the demi rep!
I’m looking forward to the rest of the series after being introduced to most of the cast here. They’re funny and silly and dramatic. Payton especially is going to ruin Boone’s life (in a good way!)
I do wish we got more background on Park, he’s still very mysterious with not a ton of depth. And having two plot lines that didn’t connect meant neither was fully formed and I didn’t feel fully satisfied by the quickly wrapped ending. Though I did fully enjoy the last scene with Kendrick and Aiden😈
It was nice to see cameos from Mac and Archer but they were super short/small which made sense while introducing the rest of the cast. I hope we continue to see them in the rest of the series!
December 5, 2023
The plot:
X-men school for the gifted psychopaths meets junior Criminal Minds.
Retired hit men are hired to teach at a secret government program, project Watchtower, that is posing as a grad school. This program intends to pair rich affluent psychopathic students with neurotypical students to be their handlers and their conscience in hopes of making them highly trained assassins to dole out justice Dexter style.
In practice, psychopaths become attached to their “emotional support humans”, students get very cozy with instructors, and all the chaos that you would imagine takes place at a school for the rich, psychopathic & highly connected ensues.
I have dabbled in several OJ series and silly little psychopaths is where she shines. This spin-off series seemed the most similar to her Necessary Evil’s series, which I personally think is some of her best work. I loved this entire cast of new characters. The relationship dynamic between the psychopathic students and their emotional support humans is incredible! They are possessive, touch starved, and absolutely hilarious. There were also a lot of cameos from OJ’s other series & I always enjoy a good cameo.
Contrary to a lot of the reviews I read, I was never bored. It had a lot of spelling errors and the couple felt bland at times they weren’t in the bedroom, but the plot was plotting. This story had spice, action, and adorably sweet moments. I thought it was a great palate cleanser.
The smut:
Marking
Dom/sub dynamic
“good boy” amongst many other nicknames in both Thai & English
Age gap (21 & 37) (taboo but no daddy kink)
Virgin MC (While this book is progressive in the sense that it does not put pressure on virginity as a construct associated with religion or shame etc, a lot of the plot hinged on this one character losing said virginity. It was handled mindfully with forethought and lots of discussion, but I felt it warranted a disclaimer.)
Praise w/ some degradation
Edging
I am kind of bummed that this is not a completed series because I would absolutely binge the shit out of it. Especially since the next book is about one of my favorite characters Payton & headmaster Boone.
Also, I know that neither of them is a professor but if Drake and Remi do not get their own book, I will sign OJ up for every free mailing subscription I can find. Mark my words.
X-men school for the gifted psychopaths meets junior Criminal Minds.
Retired hit men are hired to teach at a secret government program, project Watchtower, that is posing as a grad school. This program intends to pair rich affluent psychopathic students with neurotypical students to be their handlers and their conscience in hopes of making them highly trained assassins to dole out justice Dexter style.
In practice, psychopaths become attached to their “emotional support humans”, students get very cozy with instructors, and all the chaos that you would imagine takes place at a school for the rich, psychopathic & highly connected ensues.
I have dabbled in several OJ series and silly little psychopaths is where she shines. This spin-off series seemed the most similar to her Necessary Evil’s series, which I personally think is some of her best work. I loved this entire cast of new characters. The relationship dynamic between the psychopathic students and their emotional support humans is incredible! They are possessive, touch starved, and absolutely hilarious. There were also a lot of cameos from OJ’s other series & I always enjoy a good cameo.
Contrary to a lot of the reviews I read, I was never bored. It had a lot of spelling errors and the couple felt bland at times they weren’t in the bedroom, but the plot was plotting. This story had spice, action, and adorably sweet moments. I thought it was a great palate cleanser.
The smut:
Marking
Dom/sub dynamic
“good boy” amongst many other nicknames in both Thai & English
Age gap (21 & 37) (taboo but no daddy kink)
Virgin MC (While this book is progressive in the sense that it does not put pressure on virginity as a construct associated with religion or shame etc, a lot of the plot hinged on this one character losing said virginity. It was handled mindfully with forethought and lots of discussion, but I felt it warranted a disclaimer.)
Praise w/ some degradation
Edging
I am kind of bummed that this is not a completed series because I would absolutely binge the shit out of it. Especially since the next book is about one of my favorite characters Payton & headmaster Boone.
Also, I know that neither of them is a professor but if Drake and Remi do not get their own book, I will sign OJ up for every free mailing subscription I can find. Mark my words.
Want to read
October 13, 2023Edit: November now 🧍🏻
Dawg did this Fr just get delayed for another month?!?!? 😭 October seems to be the month of anticipated books, and I CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER
Dawg did this Fr just get delayed for another month?!?!? 😭 October seems to be the month of anticipated books, and I CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER
December 28, 2023
1.5
Byłam przekonana, że będzie mi się ta książka podobać. Powinna! Jednak zamiast świetnie napisanej historii dostałam coś tak dziwnego, płytkiego i nie trzymającego się kupy, że naprawdę rozważałam DNF. Główni bohaterowie praktycznie się nie komunikują. Intryga schodzi na dalszy plan przez totalnie nielogiczną dynamikę między głównymi postaciami. Poza tym naprawdę rozumiem, że autorka lubi tajskie BL drama, ale chyba oglądała tylko te nie najwyższych lotów. Dodaję 0.5 za Broon i Paytona.
Byłam przekonana, że będzie mi się ta książka podobać. Powinna! Jednak zamiast świetnie napisanej historii dostałam coś tak dziwnego, płytkiego i nie trzymającego się kupy, że naprawdę rozważałam DNF. Główni bohaterowie praktycznie się nie komunikują. Intryga schodzi na dalszy plan przez totalnie nielogiczną dynamikę między głównymi postaciami. Poza tym naprawdę rozumiem, że autorka lubi tajskie BL drama, ale chyba oglądała tylko te nie najwyższych lotów. Dodaję 0.5 za Broon i Paytona.
November 15, 2023
This is a great start to a new series by Onley James. This book had me hooked from page one. I loved reading about Gift and Park, and all of the side characters, especially the ones we already know and love. If you loved the Necessary Evils books, you’re gonna enjoy this one. I can’t wait for the rest of this series to come out.
November 23, 2023
This book was SO weird. While I enjoyed it for the most part, it didn't feel like the other books in NE, or their spinoffs.
I felt like 80% of this book focused on Gift's chunky cheeks and the other 20% was sexual pining.
I really wish we'd dived more into the assassin plot or at least the socialite's death rather than more sexual pining. I would have liked to see in detail why Gift was in hiding. I felt like that was glossed over at the end. Also, why is Park known as the Bone Collector? For this book being titled as such, we got like, ZERO backstory on it. The psychopaths obsessing over Gift was also really weird. I was confused as heck at the relationships between the psychopaths and their handlers and once again, felt like I got dropped into the middle of the story instead of the beginning.
I was SO damn excited for this book, especially since it got pushed back once again, but it was just so.... weird? Like the sexual pining aspect for me was just super cringy and I was so damn grumpy for how much of the book it took up while the actual plot was barely touched.
I felt like 80% of this book focused on Gift's chunky cheeks and the other 20% was sexual pining.
I really wish we'd dived more into the assassin plot or at least the socialite's death rather than more sexual pining. I would have liked to see in detail why Gift was in hiding. I felt like that was glossed over at the end. Also, why is Park known as the Bone Collector? For this book being titled as such, we got like, ZERO backstory on it. The psychopaths obsessing over Gift was also really weird. I was confused as heck at the relationships between the psychopaths and their handlers and once again, felt like I got dropped into the middle of the story instead of the beginning.
I was SO damn excited for this book, especially since it got pushed back once again, but it was just so.... weird? Like the sexual pining aspect for me was just super cringy and I was so damn grumpy for how much of the book it took up while the actual plot was barely touched.
![Profile Image for htemay [semi-hiatus].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1589600555i/53364289._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
November 16, 2023
This book started out as really strong for me but halfway through it, I started losing interested in Park and Gift and was more interested in the other characters instead. It was good to see Archer and Aiden Mulvaney but overall, this story just felt predictable. I don’t know, really, I was just not feeling the book on the second half.
I am interested in Payton/Boone and Remi/Drake’s book so I’ll be tuning in to that.
I am interested in Payton/Boone and Remi/Drake’s book so I’ll be tuning in to that.
November 12, 2023
Finally! Finally we’re fully in Project Watchtower for The Watch series, the second Necessary Evils spin-off series by the genius Onley James (the first spin-off series being Jericho’s Boys). We’re starting off with The Bone Collector, which considering that’s the notorious name one of the project’s instructors, Park, went by when he was still active in the field (and the second book is going to be called The Sin Eater, which was the field operative name of the head of the project), it seems that all the books in The Watch series are going to be titled after field operative names. I’m down.
I’m not going to go over the whole synopsis with you. That’s just blase. Let’s go over the tropes you know, and then I’ll go over what I found of interest that doesn’t come across in the blurb, shall we?
*Age-Gap Romance (oh yeah, it’s a good gap, too!)
*Teacher/Student (this one’s a little loosely interpreted, since Park, one of our MMCs, doesn’t teach much in this book because Gift, our other MMC, isn’t one of the students learning his speciality)
Tropes that the blurb doesn’t mention:
*Older brother/younger brother dynamic (they aren’t brothers, but Park insists on Gift using the honorifics for those roles)
*Daddy k!nk (Ohhhhhh yes. Our Park is a Daddy Dom and our Gift is his sweet baby boy (no ageplay))
*Semi-public k!nk, virginity k!nk, slight degradation k!nk, edging, impact play, filthy talk
*Touch him and you die
*Gift is manipulative, secretive, touch-starved, and needy
*Park is a possessive mofo
*Park is essentially Gift’s legal guardian and full-time bodyguard
Besides the extremely high heat rating of this book (it is super dooper freaking hot, you guys) and how well-written that spice is (good lord, Onley is trying to kill us all, ffs), it needs to be known this book is FUN. It’s hilarious. It’s like “Necessary Evils: High School Edition”. Imagine if the Mulvaneys, Jericho’s Boys, The Feelings Faction (IYKYK), and Elite Protection Services ALL went to the same boarding school. Some are there on merit via scholarship and some are there because they have connections. Some are there because they have both money and merit. There’s all genders, all walks of life, neurotypicals, neuroatypicals, geniuses, people of average intelligence…you get the picture. The point of the place is for the neuroatypicals to be matched with an emotional support human to keep them tethered to their humanity. It’s brilliant. It’s volatile. It’s going to either be wildly successful or they’re going to burn the world down. Either way, I’m going to have a wild-ass and fun time reading to see what they do while they screw each other into every available surface and torture the bad guys along the way.
Please be mindful of your own mental health before attempting to read this book and read the list of CW/TWs before you start. I don’t ever need them but you might. Take care of you.
I’m not going to go over the whole synopsis with you. That’s just blase. Let’s go over the tropes you know, and then I’ll go over what I found of interest that doesn’t come across in the blurb, shall we?
*Age-Gap Romance (oh yeah, it’s a good gap, too!)
*Teacher/Student (this one’s a little loosely interpreted, since Park, one of our MMCs, doesn’t teach much in this book because Gift, our other MMC, isn’t one of the students learning his speciality)
Tropes that the blurb doesn’t mention:
*Older brother/younger brother dynamic (they aren’t brothers, but Park insists on Gift using the honorifics for those roles)
*Daddy k!nk (Ohhhhhh yes. Our Park is a Daddy Dom and our Gift is his sweet baby boy (no ageplay))
*Semi-public k!nk, virginity k!nk, slight degradation k!nk, edging, impact play, filthy talk
*Touch him and you die
*Gift is manipulative, secretive, touch-starved, and needy
*Park is a possessive mofo
*Park is essentially Gift’s legal guardian and full-time bodyguard
Besides the extremely high heat rating of this book (it is super dooper freaking hot, you guys) and how well-written that spice is (good lord, Onley is trying to kill us all, ffs), it needs to be known this book is FUN. It’s hilarious. It’s like “Necessary Evils: High School Edition”. Imagine if the Mulvaneys, Jericho’s Boys, The Feelings Faction (IYKYK), and Elite Protection Services ALL went to the same boarding school. Some are there on merit via scholarship and some are there because they have connections. Some are there because they have both money and merit. There’s all genders, all walks of life, neurotypicals, neuroatypicals, geniuses, people of average intelligence…you get the picture. The point of the place is for the neuroatypicals to be matched with an emotional support human to keep them tethered to their humanity. It’s brilliant. It’s volatile. It’s going to either be wildly successful or they’re going to burn the world down. Either way, I’m going to have a wild-ass and fun time reading to see what they do while they screw each other into every available surface and torture the bad guys along the way.
Please be mindful of your own mental health before attempting to read this book and read the list of CW/TWs before you start. I don’t ever need them but you might. Take care of you.
June 8, 2024
So this was a bit much. I saw some ppl complaining in reviews that Rogue had too much sex and I thought, why are they reading Onley’s books if they don’t want that much sex? Don’t they realize that’s just how it goes? But then I read this haha. I guess some ppl just reached their limit before I did.
This book is like 75% sex. I didn’t really feel the connection between Park and Gift. They were definitely sexually compatible and it was super hot, but I didn’t really see or feel the love. They said they loved each other fairly early on, but it felt more like obsession to me.
They never clarify whether or not Park is a psychopath but it seemed to be leaning more toward no. Since he had no trouble admitting he loved Gift. But it was just so much sex and I would have enjoyed more of a real connection. It��s also crazy when you think about how fast it all happened. I think this took place over a matter of days. Maybe 2 weeks at most. They were having sex like 4 times a day. 😂
I did enjoyed the storyline of Gift’s mother though. Once they leaned into that more I really started to eat this up. And I’m still looking forward to book 2!
This book is like 75% sex. I didn’t really feel the connection between Park and Gift. They were definitely sexually compatible and it was super hot, but I didn’t really see or feel the love. They said they loved each other fairly early on, but it felt more like obsession to me.
They never clarify whether or not Park is a psychopath but it seemed to be leaning more toward no. Since he had no trouble admitting he loved Gift. But it was just so much sex and I would have enjoyed more of a real connection. It��s also crazy when you think about how fast it all happened. I think this took place over a matter of days. Maybe 2 weeks at most. They were having sex like 4 times a day. 😂
I did enjoyed the storyline of Gift’s mother though. Once they leaned into that more I really started to eat this up. And I’m still looking forward to book 2!
December 29, 2023
It was fine. Not exactly what I was expecting when we first learnt of the new series and it's missing the humour and snark that made some of her other books so popular.
I'm sure I'll read more in the series but nothing comes close to Adam and Noah in the first NE book. I'm a sucker for punishment eagerly awaiting to feel that magic again but alas, I fear I shall be forever disappointed.
I'm sure I'll read more in the series but nothing comes close to Adam and Noah in the first NE book. I'm a sucker for punishment eagerly awaiting to feel that magic again but alas, I fear I shall be forever disappointed.
Read
November 25, 2023DNF 60%
December 27, 2023
I really wanted to love this; I’m such a fan of Onley James’s other work but this one just fell a bit short for me.
The plus side of this book was that I enjoyed the spice - this author knows how to write a sexy scene as well as all the affection and cuddling to go along with it. The writing in general was excellent.
I struggled with a number of points in this one:
- The Bone Collector. Why title it this? I literally know nothing about Park and his past and how he got that moniker. The book was all about Gift. It made no sense to all it this.
- The fetishisation of Gift. Gift is a cute Asian guy (he’s almost exactly the same as Ever in Paladin) and Park spends the whole book fetishising him… calling him a doll, a mouse, all these cute things, which is fine, we love a pet name. But I feel like he didn’t try to get under the surface any more than that, he barely knew Gift and his wants and desires at all… and he was far too obsessed with Gift’s virginity.
- Gift was a bit sexual-assulty. Idk, he went out of his way to almost force himself on Park. And Park kept being like ‘no we can’t, I’m your teacher’ but yet all the other teachers were like ‘just have sex with him’. Like is it forbidden or not?
- So many Harry Potter references. Like one is fine, it’s a cultural reference. I counted five in this book; five feels like you’re making a point.
- plot. What plot. In fact the main murder mystery but of the plot was wrapped up in a paragraph in the epilogue.
So idk. I usually love this author’s work (Elite Protection Services is one of my fave series of all time) but this one really missed the mark for me. I’ll carry on with the Jericho’s boys series but I really don’t know about this one.
The plus side of this book was that I enjoyed the spice - this author knows how to write a sexy scene as well as all the affection and cuddling to go along with it. The writing in general was excellent.
I struggled with a number of points in this one:
- The Bone Collector. Why title it this? I literally know nothing about Park and his past and how he got that moniker. The book was all about Gift. It made no sense to all it this.
- The fetishisation of Gift. Gift is a cute Asian guy (he’s almost exactly the same as Ever in Paladin) and Park spends the whole book fetishising him… calling him a doll, a mouse, all these cute things, which is fine, we love a pet name. But I feel like he didn’t try to get under the surface any more than that, he barely knew Gift and his wants and desires at all… and he was far too obsessed with Gift’s virginity.
- Gift was a bit sexual-assulty. Idk, he went out of his way to almost force himself on Park. And Park kept being like ‘no we can’t, I’m your teacher’ but yet all the other teachers were like ‘just have sex with him’. Like is it forbidden or not?
- So many Harry Potter references. Like one is fine, it’s a cultural reference. I counted five in this book; five feels like you’re making a point.
- plot. What plot. In fact the main murder mystery but of the plot was wrapped up in a paragraph in the epilogue.
So idk. I usually love this author’s work (Elite Protection Services is one of my fave series of all time) but this one really missed the mark for me. I’ll carry on with the Jericho’s boys series but I really don’t know about this one.
Read
November 30, 2023Finally DNF’d at 46%. I just can’t get into it. These two don’t work for me. I think I’ll stick with the Jericho’s Boys series and pass on this one.
January 26, 2024
The Bone Collector is the first book in Onley James's The Watch series, another spinoff series from her Necessary Evils series. It's a MM age gap romance. You don't need to have read Necessary Evils (specifically Lunatic) to read The Bone Collector, but I think it would add a lot more understanding and enjoyment if you did. This book is told from a third person dual point of view and has a happily ever after. You can expect an age gap, an assassin-turned-professor, a sheltered student, and the action, violence, and dark humour you've come to expect from Onley's work.
Synopsis: Gift has been treated like a spoiled child and burden for the entirety of his life. An assassination attempt on his life puts him into Park's care for protection. Park spent the majority of his life as one of the most renowned assassins in the world, and now he's been tasked with Gift's protection. When Park is needed as an instructor at Project Watchtower, Gift goes with him. Although Gift doesn't really belong at The Watch, he fits in well and excels in his classes. The one thing he still wants to ace? Seducing Park. Park's wanted Gift for months now, but he knows he's just not good for Gift...
It was great to meet Gift and Park, and pick up where we left off in Lunatic! Unfortunately, I have some mixed feelings about this book.
I'm sure this book was just an anomaly, and it won't stop me from reading the next book in the series! Looking forward to it!
Synopsis: Gift has been treated like a spoiled child and burden for the entirety of his life. An assassination attempt on his life puts him into Park's care for protection. Park spent the majority of his life as one of the most renowned assassins in the world, and now he's been tasked with Gift's protection. When Park is needed as an instructor at Project Watchtower, Gift goes with him. Although Gift doesn't really belong at The Watch, he fits in well and excels in his classes. The one thing he still wants to ace? Seducing Park. Park's wanted Gift for months now, but he knows he's just not good for Gift...
Boone snorted, giving him a dubious look. “I know you have the emotional intelligence of a potato. I know you’ve had longer relationships with your dry cleaner than any romantic partner. I know you see dating as some sort of act of domestic terrorism. Yet, you insist that boy have dinner with you - alone in your room - every night. What’s up with that?” Boone asked, voice dripping with mock innocence.
It was great to meet Gift and Park, and pick up where we left off in Lunatic! Unfortunately, I have some mixed feelings about this book.
Park would take care of Gift. Park was exceptionally good at caring for his things. And Gift was his. His to fuck. His to use. His to love.
I'm sure this book was just an anomaly, and it won't stop me from reading the next book in the series! Looking forward to it!
November 13, 2023
3.5 stars! (Seriously can we have that half star option now please?)
Anyway I was excited for this book to finally come out!! I loved the necessary evils series and this was basically another spin off. I thought the beginning was really good and I was super invested and then…it died a slow death not even half way through the book.
I liked that these two were pining for each other. I love a mutual pine and a mutual obsession which both of them had. I loved the assassin and the innocent boy thing going on but I just felt like it didn’t quite come together.
Gift pursued Park way too heavily and it bugged me that he kept throwing himself at him. It would have bugged me more had we not known Park was obsessed with Gift but still I hated that he kept getting rejected and then going back for more! He should have made Park work for it and not the other way around.
We kind of get slapped in the face with all the characters that are going to have a book in this series and it just seemed like an info dump. I like when I’m slowly introduced to future characters not bombed by all of them. But still I am intrigued by their stories.
I think what lost me was the first full sex scene being an entire chapter that was TWENTY FIVE minutes long!! I felt like it never ended. I don’t like my intimate scenes to be drawn out with hours of touching and foreplay, I like when the characters want each other so badly there’s no way they can go slow. And once I realized it was a D/s scene I lost interest and skimmed it. But then the next chapter, TWELVE minutes long is them just talking about their kinks. I didn’t think this was going to be a D/s relationship and that’s not really my thing. There was too much sex going on, it felt like that was all their relationship was, I mean even the epilogue was a sex scene!!
So while they are at this school for psychopaths they get this assignment where they have to solve this cold case murder. The whole thing was kind of thrown to the side for another conflict but I felt like it could have been such a good plot if it was elaborated on!! The main conflict didn’t really excite me though I’m glad the villain finally got what was coming to him.
Idk I wish I would have liked this more. I know it sounds like I only have bad things to say but I think I wanted to like this book so bad that I’m so upset it didn’t live up to my expectations. Anyway I’ll probably continue the series. I can’t stay away from psychopaths lol.
NO CHEATING
NO OM DRAMA (well Gifts bestie is trying to help him get Park so he does things to try and make Park jealous. They do however touch a lot and sleep in the same bed often though they are just best friends)
ONE VIRGIN MMC
NO MANWHORES
D/s RELATIONSHIP
MURDER
TORTURE (though it’s tame compared to her other books)
NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP
Anyway I was excited for this book to finally come out!! I loved the necessary evils series and this was basically another spin off. I thought the beginning was really good and I was super invested and then…it died a slow death not even half way through the book.
I liked that these two were pining for each other. I love a mutual pine and a mutual obsession which both of them had. I loved the assassin and the innocent boy thing going on but I just felt like it didn’t quite come together.
Gift pursued Park way too heavily and it bugged me that he kept throwing himself at him. It would have bugged me more had we not known Park was obsessed with Gift but still I hated that he kept getting rejected and then going back for more! He should have made Park work for it and not the other way around.
We kind of get slapped in the face with all the characters that are going to have a book in this series and it just seemed like an info dump. I like when I’m slowly introduced to future characters not bombed by all of them. But still I am intrigued by their stories.
I think what lost me was the first full sex scene being an entire chapter that was TWENTY FIVE minutes long!! I felt like it never ended. I don’t like my intimate scenes to be drawn out with hours of touching and foreplay, I like when the characters want each other so badly there’s no way they can go slow. And once I realized it was a D/s scene I lost interest and skimmed it. But then the next chapter, TWELVE minutes long is them just talking about their kinks. I didn’t think this was going to be a D/s relationship and that’s not really my thing. There was too much sex going on, it felt like that was all their relationship was, I mean even the epilogue was a sex scene!!
So while they are at this school for psychopaths they get this assignment where they have to solve this cold case murder. The whole thing was kind of thrown to the side for another conflict but I felt like it could have been such a good plot if it was elaborated on!! The main conflict didn’t really excite me though I’m glad the villain finally got what was coming to him.
Idk I wish I would have liked this more. I know it sounds like I only have bad things to say but I think I wanted to like this book so bad that I’m so upset it didn’t live up to my expectations. Anyway I’ll probably continue the series. I can’t stay away from psychopaths lol.
NO CHEATING
NO OM DRAMA (well Gifts bestie is trying to help him get Park so he does things to try and make Park jealous. They do however touch a lot and sleep in the same bed often though they are just best friends)
ONE VIRGIN MMC
NO MANWHORES
D/s RELATIONSHIP
MURDER
TORTURE (though it’s tame compared to her other books)
NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP
November 17, 2023
Interesting only as an introduction to the series. good and problematic elements
Rating: 3.25🌈
The Bone Collector jump starts a new series about the school of young psychopaths, The Watchtower, that’s been assembled by the government using techniques and methodology on raising children who exhibit this type of behavior for the purpose of turning them into weapons. Off the record black operatives, who can operate at the highest levels of government and society.
The base of their scientific research is the Mulvaney family so it’s helpful to know that history and structures that help foster the development here. Those characters also play a role in this series.
It’s a Psychopaths R Us approach in some respects. Not so for the government.
I thought The Bone Collector had some strong elements but wasn’t the best book the author has written. Especially as a intro into a new series.
Best aspects of the book:
Gift Ayutthaya. One of the main characters, Gift shows up as a touch starved young man who hides his real personality behind an innocent facade. All along, he’s mentally assessing the situation and trying to figure out how to fit in, adjusting to a environment where his roommates are killers who have adopted him as an adorable pet and he’s a klutzy handler to be. This dynamic between Gift , Payton , and all other psychopaths in his personal “pod” is the most interesting and fascinating part of the story.
Gift and Payton’s non-sexual comfort, constant touch connection, along with the occasional puppy pile aspect of the other young killers when it comes to Gift is something I needed more of. The growth Gift exhibits from the start of the story is seen and communicated through his interactions here with the group.
The group, Payton , Dove, Remi, Mos, and the rest? Totally invested in. I wanted more of their assignment and murder mystery they were investigating. This segment was fascinating but the author let the whole thing fade away with just a few wrap up sentences. Shame.
Weaknesses of the story:
Park Chen. He starts and ends as a one dimensional character. We get little in depth background and, his emotional response to things and Gift are all less likely for the hardcore operator the author is trying to convey. Frankly, the only way we knew he was a scary assassin was that the author said so. Nothing in the story or character descriptions really made him look like a monster, the psychological killer he was supposed to be. Never bought it.
All James other books made those assassins feel gut wrenchingly raw, or deadly or whatever. But Park Chen? Nope.
And the manner in which Gift got through to him and into a sexual relationship after a ton of denial? Well , that was a sneeze and a breeze. Blink and it’s bye bye virgin and onto the D/s and pain kink! So much sex that the rest of the plot is forgotten.
Than the elements about Gift, his background, some of which was easily guessed at, others were a bit extreme. But it left the main focus, The Watch, and everything going on there behind, which felt like a huge mistake, narratively speaking. that’s where I wanted to be. And where my questions were.
That scenario wound up too fast. Left too many unanswered plots holes. Which I suppose might be revealed in the next novel.
Overall, I feel The Bone Collector suffers was a over abundance of a lackluster relationship, not enough of a story with the other elements that are forming the foundation of the series, weak villains, and uncertain focus. Half the couple I liked, the other didn’t feel realistic.
I’m looking forward to Peyton’s story because he’s one of the more dynamic characters here. And Gift and his relationship is more interesting than the romance of the main couple.
Interesting only as an introduction to the series.
The Watch:
The Bone Collector #1
The Sin Eater #2 - TBD
Connected series:
Necessary Evils - Mulvaney Family
Jericho’s Boy’s
Rating: 3.25🌈
The Bone Collector jump starts a new series about the school of young psychopaths, The Watchtower, that’s been assembled by the government using techniques and methodology on raising children who exhibit this type of behavior for the purpose of turning them into weapons. Off the record black operatives, who can operate at the highest levels of government and society.
The base of their scientific research is the Mulvaney family so it’s helpful to know that history and structures that help foster the development here. Those characters also play a role in this series.
It’s a Psychopaths R Us approach in some respects. Not so for the government.
I thought The Bone Collector had some strong elements but wasn’t the best book the author has written. Especially as a intro into a new series.
Best aspects of the book:
Gift Ayutthaya. One of the main characters, Gift shows up as a touch starved young man who hides his real personality behind an innocent facade. All along, he’s mentally assessing the situation and trying to figure out how to fit in, adjusting to a environment where his roommates are killers who have adopted him as an adorable pet and he’s a klutzy handler to be. This dynamic between Gift , Payton , and all other psychopaths in his personal “pod” is the most interesting and fascinating part of the story.
Gift and Payton’s non-sexual comfort, constant touch connection, along with the occasional puppy pile aspect of the other young killers when it comes to Gift is something I needed more of. The growth Gift exhibits from the start of the story is seen and communicated through his interactions here with the group.
The group, Payton , Dove, Remi, Mos, and the rest? Totally invested in. I wanted more of their assignment and murder mystery they were investigating. This segment was fascinating but the author let the whole thing fade away with just a few wrap up sentences. Shame.
Weaknesses of the story:
Park Chen. He starts and ends as a one dimensional character. We get little in depth background and, his emotional response to things and Gift are all less likely for the hardcore operator the author is trying to convey. Frankly, the only way we knew he was a scary assassin was that the author said so. Nothing in the story or character descriptions really made him look like a monster, the psychological killer he was supposed to be. Never bought it.
All James other books made those assassins feel gut wrenchingly raw, or deadly or whatever. But Park Chen? Nope.
And the manner in which Gift got through to him and into a sexual relationship after a ton of denial? Well , that was a sneeze and a breeze. Blink and it’s bye bye virgin and onto the D/s and pain kink! So much sex that the rest of the plot is forgotten.
Than the elements about Gift, his background, some of which was easily guessed at, others were a bit extreme. But it left the main focus, The Watch, and everything going on there behind, which felt like a huge mistake, narratively speaking. that’s where I wanted to be. And where my questions were.
That scenario wound up too fast. Left too many unanswered plots holes. Which I suppose might be revealed in the next novel.
Overall, I feel The Bone Collector suffers was a over abundance of a lackluster relationship, not enough of a story with the other elements that are forming the foundation of the series, weak villains, and uncertain focus. Half the couple I liked, the other didn’t feel realistic.
I’m looking forward to Peyton’s story because he’s one of the more dynamic characters here. And Gift and his relationship is more interesting than the romance of the main couple.
Interesting only as an introduction to the series.
The Watch:
The Bone Collector #1
The Sin Eater #2 - TBD
Connected series:
Necessary Evils - Mulvaney Family
Jericho’s Boy’s
April 5, 2024
I mentioned in a recent review that I find Onley James's books to be comforting. There's something reassuring about her use of familiar and beloved tropes such as obsessive love, found family, and confronting one's demons. Even the books of hers that aren't new personal favorites are still enjoyable to me. The Bone Collector is a great example of that.
I loved Gift. He was sweet, clever, and just a little bit manipulative (in a good way). He knows what he wants, and he fights hard for it. His heart is also so full of love for those around him. The way his classmates took to him immediately was both entertaining and heartwarming.
It was Park I had a bit more trouble connecting with. He wasn't given enough of an identity outside of his relationship with Gift. While he paired well with Gift, I never got a sense of who he was individually.
I think the central romance didn't give me as much as previous romances by James, because the characters started the book already in love with each other; the only tension surrounding them was if it was appropriate for them to have a physical relationship. So while sex is present in all of this author's books, it was almost too present here, since it was the only "hurdle" between them. And while the sex was hot, I found myself growing bored with it as the book progressed.
There was a plot surrounding the characters that was adequately resolved, and it was nice seeing some of the Mulvaneys get involved.
I will absolutely be reading more from this series. The other pairings teased here feel like they have the potential to be much more satisfying.
I loved Gift. He was sweet, clever, and just a little bit manipulative (in a good way). He knows what he wants, and he fights hard for it. His heart is also so full of love for those around him. The way his classmates took to him immediately was both entertaining and heartwarming.
It was Park I had a bit more trouble connecting with. He wasn't given enough of an identity outside of his relationship with Gift. While he paired well with Gift, I never got a sense of who he was individually.
I think the central romance didn't give me as much as previous romances by James, because the characters started the book already in love with each other; the only tension surrounding them was if it was appropriate for them to have a physical relationship. So while sex is present in all of this author's books, it was almost too present here, since it was the only "hurdle" between them. And while the sex was hot, I found myself growing bored with it as the book progressed.
There was a plot surrounding the characters that was adequately resolved, and it was nice seeing some of the Mulvaneys get involved.
I will absolutely be reading more from this series. The other pairings teased here feel like they have the potential to be much more satisfying.
February 3, 2024
So yea, this one came out near the end of 2023 and I’m just now getting to it. I have to be in the right mood for Onley James’ dark humor and boy, did the mood hit this time. I absolutely ADORED Park and Gift. Gift was so sweet and cute but deep down he was feisty and determined. And Park was OTT possessive while being in denial which made for a hilarious and delicious bout of pining.
“𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝘁, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝘆. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲. 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝘆.”
The way all the psychos and handlers gushed over Gift? Adorable. The way all the instructors teased Park about his obsession with Gift? Adorable.
Park was one dirty talking older man and Gift lived for it. All he wanted to do was he Park’s good boy and Park ALWAYS rewarded him. IM telling y’all, once Park doesn’t hold back anymore, the scenes were straight 🥵🥵
And let me not forget to mention the scooby gang. Omg, I love psychos and neurotypical handlers. This whole group, the bickering, the giddiness over weapons, I loved it all. And I can’t wait for more!
𝗕𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱. 𝗕𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲. 𝗕𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁. 𝗕𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝘂𝘁𝘁𝘆.
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd, Dual
Top/Bottom or Vers: Top/Bottom
Age Gap: 21 & 37
“𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝘁, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝘆. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲. 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝘆.”
The way all the psychos and handlers gushed over Gift? Adorable. The way all the instructors teased Park about his obsession with Gift? Adorable.
Park was one dirty talking older man and Gift lived for it. All he wanted to do was he Park’s good boy and Park ALWAYS rewarded him. IM telling y’all, once Park doesn’t hold back anymore, the scenes were straight 🥵🥵
And let me not forget to mention the scooby gang. Omg, I love psychos and neurotypical handlers. This whole group, the bickering, the giddiness over weapons, I loved it all. And I can’t wait for more!
𝗕𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱. 𝗕𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲. 𝗕𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁. 𝗕𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝘂𝘁𝘁𝘆.
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd, Dual
Top/Bottom or Vers: Top/Bottom
Age Gap: 21 & 37
January 27, 2024
The Bone Collector by Onley James
🤍 Age Gap
🤍 Teacher/Student
🤍 Size Difference
🤍 First Times
🤍 Demisexual Rep
🤍 Found Family
🤍 Dirty Talk, Praise Kink, Marking, Rimming, Edging, degradation (mild)
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Humour: 🤭🤭🤭
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂
Angst: 🥺🥺
Third person dual pov 👀
CW (from author): brief mentions of assault, past loss of a child, and well-deserved violence.
CW: blood and gore, torture, murder and attempted murder, mention of thoughts of abortion, stolen baby
🤍 Age Gap
🤍 Teacher/Student
🤍 Size Difference
🤍 First Times
🤍 Demisexual Rep
🤍 Found Family
🤍 Dirty Talk, Praise Kink, Marking, Rimming, Edging, degradation (mild)
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Humour: 🤭🤭🤭
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂
Angst: 🥺🥺
Third person dual pov 👀
CW (from author): brief mentions of assault, past loss of a child, and well-deserved violence.
CW: blood and gore, torture, murder and attempted murder, mention of thoughts of abortion, stolen baby
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2023
This was a solid book, fast-paced with a plot that maintains the same WTF is going on here that the Necessary Evils series had. I do like Park and Gift (Gift is such a little manipulative brat), and what we see of Payton (I’m looking forward to that book with him and Boone). But things felt a bit more surface than I would have expected, and for some reason the stakes didn’t feel as high as I would have thought.
I am glad at how things ended up for Kendrick, though. That was a long time coming.
I am glad at how things ended up for Kendrick, though. That was a long time coming.
November 17, 2023
4.5 stars!
Park and Gift were the perfect start to this new spin-off series. I really enjoyed this book and seeing the next generation of psychopath assassins and their handlers. I couldn't put the book down as I wanted to see what happened next and try to get the answers to my questions. I really adored the "kids" at the school and I hope many of them get a story of their own.
Park and Gift were the perfect start to this new spin-off series. I really enjoyed this book and seeing the next generation of psychopath assassins and their handlers. I couldn't put the book down as I wanted to see what happened next and try to get the answers to my questions. I really adored the "kids" at the school and I hope many of them get a story of their own.
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