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Never After #2
Scarred
She doesn't belong to him...she belongs to the crown.
Prince Tristan Faasa was never destined for the throne. That was always his brother, Michael. The same brother responsible for both Tristan's tormented childhood and the scar that mars his face. When their father dies, Michael is set to assume the throne, and Tristan is set to steal it. The leader of a secret rebellion, Tristan will stop at nothing to end his brother's reign. But when Michael's new betrothed, Lady Sara Beatreaux arrives, Tristan finds himself in the middle of a new kind of war. The kind that begs the question of what's more important, the crown or the woman about to wear it.
Sara has one plan. Marry the King and eradicate the Faasa line, even at the risk of her own peril. But she never expects the Scarred Prince. He's dangerous. Forbidden. And one of the men she's been sent to kill. But the line between hatred and passion has never seemed so thin, and as secrets come to light, Sara grows unsure of whom she can trust—torn between vengeance and the villain she was never supposed to love.
Scarred is a DARK Royal Romance and a complete standalone within The Never After Series (A series of fractured fairy tales inspired by our favorite villains). It is not a retelling or fantasy. It contains subject matter which may be triggering for some. Reader discretion is advised.
Prince Tristan Faasa was never destined for the throne. That was always his brother, Michael. The same brother responsible for both Tristan's tormented childhood and the scar that mars his face. When their father dies, Michael is set to assume the throne, and Tristan is set to steal it. The leader of a secret rebellion, Tristan will stop at nothing to end his brother's reign. But when Michael's new betrothed, Lady Sara Beatreaux arrives, Tristan finds himself in the middle of a new kind of war. The kind that begs the question of what's more important, the crown or the woman about to wear it.
Sara has one plan. Marry the King and eradicate the Faasa line, even at the risk of her own peril. But she never expects the Scarred Prince. He's dangerous. Forbidden. And one of the men she's been sent to kill. But the line between hatred and passion has never seemed so thin, and as secrets come to light, Sara grows unsure of whom she can trust—torn between vengeance and the villain she was never supposed to love.
Scarred is a DARK Royal Romance and a complete standalone within The Never After Series (A series of fractured fairy tales inspired by our favorite villains). It is not a retelling or fantasy. It contains subject matter which may be triggering for some. Reader discretion is advised.
447 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 4, 2022
About the author
Emily McIntire
25 books19.3k followersEmily McIntire is a USA Today, Publishers Weekly and Amazon Bestselling author whose stories serve steam, slow burns, and seriously questionable morals. Her books have been translated in over a dozen languages, and span across several sub-genres within romance.
A stage IV breast cancer thriver, you can find Emily enjoying free time with her family, getting lost in a good book, or redecorating her house depending on her mood.
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A stage IV breast cancer thriver, you can find Emily enjoying free time with her family, getting lost in a good book, or redecorating her house depending on her mood.
Sign up to Emily's VIP List and never miss a New Release! -> https://mailchi.mp/emilymcintire/sms-...
Upcoming Release:
Hexed
Find Emily!
Newsletter sign up -> https://mailchi.mp/emilymcintire/sms-...
Reader Group -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/mcincult
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TikTok -> https://www.tiktok.com/@authoremilymc...
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Website -> https://www.emilymcintire.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,677 reviews
August 31, 2022
– 1.5 stars
I want the same crack everyone who gave this 4/5 stars was smoking, I ordered this book and Amazon obviously delivered me a different book, cause it was so bad. 🥲
»»» Sara B. (h) «««
– the “B.” actually stands for boredom, bothersome & brat.
»»» Tristan Faasa (H) «««
– the god-complex Tristan has is getting out of hand...someone call help something is not right with that man's head, he got bullied too hard by his bigger brother when he was a kid and now he feels the need to compensate. 🤡
P.S. When Tristan drew a fucking heart on Sara B.’s thigh and wrote ‘Tristan’s property’ and Sarah B. actually getting that shit tattooed? They made me wish romance was dead.
I want the same crack everyone who gave this 4/5 stars was smoking, I ordered this book and Amazon obviously delivered me a different book, cause it was so bad. 🥲
»»» Sara B. (h) «««
“Be safe, my queen,” Daria whispers to my back. My heart sputters. “I’m no one’s queen. I’m just the one who will burn the crown.”
– the “B.” actually stands for boredom, bothersome & brat.
»»» Tristan Faasa (H) «««
“If you want a god to worship, ma petite menteuse, no need to look so far.”
“You thirst for power?” he rasps, his palm ghosting across my collarbone before wrapping around my throat. “I can fill you with it until you scream.”
“I’ve killed many men,” he whispers against me. “And I remember the face of every single one, soaking their image into my brain as they pray to me for absolution.”
– the god-complex Tristan has is getting out of hand...someone call help something is not right with that man's head, he got bullied too hard by his bigger brother when he was a kid and now he feels the need to compensate. 🤡
P.S. When Tristan drew a fucking heart on Sara B.’s thigh and wrote ‘Tristan’s property’ and Sarah B. actually getting that shit tattooed? They made me wish romance was dead.
March 8, 2023
it was perfect. perfect, perfect, perfect. everything down to the last minute detail.
after reading the atrocity that was “hooked” i didn’t have much hope for the rest of this series. but THIS?!? what the hell was in it?!? what opioid ?!! what drug ?!? this was pure and unadulterated CRACK!!
a few things i love: men that get jealous, strong and independent women, and unhinged scenes. and fuck yeah we got all of that in here. TRISTAN!!! the way this man gets FERAL over her?!? even when she’s not even his yet!!! this man was pathetic, miserable, tears in his eyes WHILE on his KNEES for her!!! no wonder this is a lion king retelling because this man was animalistic!! i’m fr about to do a line off this man’s stomach.
and Sara!! literally the baddest bitch in this story. the way she has Tristan wrapped around her little finger and she doesn’t even know it?!? she could ask him to walk into a burning building and he WOULD!! their chemistry had me giddy and drawing hearts in my book!!
the demonic possession this book has over me should be studied !!! not even a guillotine can separate me from the head i’m about to give- anyways…i’m convinced it doesn’t get any better than this but we shall see ☝🏽
after reading the atrocity that was “hooked” i didn’t have much hope for the rest of this series. but THIS?!? what the hell was in it?!? what opioid ?!! what drug ?!? this was pure and unadulterated CRACK!!
a few things i love: men that get jealous, strong and independent women, and unhinged scenes. and fuck yeah we got all of that in here. TRISTAN!!! the way this man gets FERAL over her?!? even when she’s not even his yet!!! this man was pathetic, miserable, tears in his eyes WHILE on his KNEES for her!!! no wonder this is a lion king retelling because this man was animalistic!! i’m fr about to do a line off this man’s stomach.
and Sara!! literally the baddest bitch in this story. the way she has Tristan wrapped around her little finger and she doesn’t even know it?!? she could ask him to walk into a burning building and he WOULD!! their chemistry had me giddy and drawing hearts in my book!!
the demonic possession this book has over me should be studied !!! not even a guillotine can separate me from the head i’m about to give- anyways…i’m convinced it doesn’t get any better than this but we shall see ☝🏽
January 10, 2022
4.75 ⭐️✨ listen — I loved hooked so much. but this? this was a masterpiece. The LION KING VIBES THIS GAVE? excuse me??? I never knew I needed a Mufasa love story until I got my hands on this book. Tristan mf Fassa was EVERYTHING, literally the embodiment of “i’ll burn the world down for you” !!!!!!! & Sara? if you’re like me and you need a STRONG FEMALE MC, then look no further because ms. queen right here has GOT you. i’m also a whore for slowburn so this really did it for me. even the side characters were amazing.. paul, timothy, sheina, AND SIMON?? i’m obsessed. the epilogue was to die for, specially the last couple sentences — the way I teared up? sos. the only reason why I didn’t give this a full 5 star was because I wanted a lil bit more emotional connection between the love interests throughout the book, but honestly it’s not even that deep, I clearly loved it regardless. i’m on my knees for tristan, did I mention that?
“The truth is, I am yours. Wholly. Inexplicably. Painfully. Unconditionally. And if you need to sacrifice my soul so you’re able to live with yours, then do it.”
“The truth is, I am yours. Wholly. Inexplicably. Painfully. Unconditionally. And if you need to sacrifice my soul so you’re able to live with yours, then do it.”
December 6, 2022
If someone were to tattoo “property of …” onto my thigh, I would have them arrested.
Also when he just left after she said that it would be a lie to say no one had ever touched her, I LAUGHED. What a petty man.
Here are some quotes from this beautiful and totally not disturbing book: trigger warnings for mention of SA below
1. “my self-discipline disintegrates when I picture her blood coating the length of my dick, proving she’s mine and no one else’s”
CALLING THE POLICE RIGHT NOW
2. “maybe she’s already forgotten that I threatened to let the town r*pe her while I killed everyone she loved.”
3. “It’s a heart. Not the kind that you see kids draw or the type that you would expect in paintings that depict love. This one is of the organ, blood dripping off its edges, and vessels running through the muscle. A thick chain wraps around its center and coils beneath it, a padlock on the end. I squint my eyes and look closer, realizing there’s writing on the lock.
Tristan’s Property.”
A crime against the art of tattooing
Also when he just left after she said that it would be a lie to say no one had ever touched her, I LAUGHED. What a petty man.
Here are some quotes from this beautiful and totally not disturbing book: trigger warnings for mention of SA below
1. “my self-discipline disintegrates when I picture her blood coating the length of my dick, proving she’s mine and no one else’s”
CALLING THE POLICE RIGHT NOW
2. “maybe she’s already forgotten that I threatened to let the town r*pe her while I killed everyone she loved.”
3. “It’s a heart. Not the kind that you see kids draw or the type that you would expect in paintings that depict love. This one is of the organ, blood dripping off its edges, and vessels running through the muscle. A thick chain wraps around its center and coils beneath it, a padlock on the end. I squint my eyes and look closer, realizing there’s writing on the lock.
Tristan’s Property.”
A crime against the art of tattooing
December 16, 2022
I was warned — I was told that this book would fall short, but I heed no mind. And now that I am disappointed, who am I to blame? Because as much as Hooked wasn't perfect, I enjoyed them, but Scarred feels like reading an entirely different work.
A thing that I love about McIntire's book is the disclaimer at the very beginning of the book because it helps the reader to lay the groundwork of the book's direction. So did I delve into the book with no expectation whatsoever since the author did say this will be a slow burn. However, as soon as I did, I realized that:
This also then makes me question if the only reason I enjoyed Hooked was because I was thrilled by the stamp of it being a Peterpan retelling, and everyone who knows me knows I am obsessed with Peterpan. Because not only this book has a predictable and boring storyline, the characters (even the H/h) are the blandest ones I've come to know.
The forbidden love sounds so promising and slow-burn supposed to serve as a wherein plot, methodically toward an explosive boiling point. Sadly, nothing was burning and there wasn't even tension between Sara and Tristan. I literally roamed through the book after the 30% mark because I couldn't find myself staying on a single page that long without falling asleep.
I was surprised to see that many had enjoyed this (like, why am I not on board with this). Maybe we were having a different prospect of what the book should be, I don't know; to each of their own. As for myself, I should've taken the warning seriously next time.
A thing that I love about McIntire's book is the disclaimer at the very beginning of the book because it helps the reader to lay the groundwork of the book's direction. So did I delve into the book with no expectation whatsoever since the author did say this will be a slow burn. However, as soon as I did, I realized that:
i) Era-themed is not my cup of tea if weren't done right — I think the reason why Hooked was an easy read was that it was set in a contemporary setting.
ii) Scarred is too slow for my liking — put an era-themed book with a deliberate build-up; better watch the paint dry anyway.
iii) The dialogue in this book is so calculated — it feels unnatural, consequently making some of the moments in the book sound just corny. I cannot take anything seriously, I'm sorry.
This also then makes me question if the only reason I enjoyed Hooked was because I was thrilled by the stamp of it being a Peterpan retelling, and everyone who knows me knows I am obsessed with Peterpan. Because not only this book has a predictable and boring storyline, the characters (even the H/h) are the blandest ones I've come to know.
The forbidden love sounds so promising and slow-burn supposed to serve as a wherein plot, methodically toward an explosive boiling point. Sadly, nothing was burning and there wasn't even tension between Sara and Tristan. I literally roamed through the book after the 30% mark because I couldn't find myself staying on a single page that long without falling asleep.
I was surprised to see that many had enjoyed this (like, why am I not on board with this). Maybe we were having a different prospect of what the book should be, I don't know; to each of their own. As for myself, I should've taken the warning seriously next time.
February 9, 2023
"I'd like to draw you. Just like this, with your face kissing the stars...I think it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
"Are you calling me beautiful?"
"I'm saying you could drive a man insane. Make him raze the world just to see you smile."
Listen.
No one is more surprised by my own ratings of this book, than me.
I'm actually sitting here, wrapped up in my blanket, like a miserable bookish burrito, rethinking my life choices and wondering what went wrong with this book.
Is it the book's fault? Is it me? Is it a bird? A plane? Batman with a spandex suit kink?
Who knows.
I just know this didn't end up well and I'm sad and I crave chocolate and possibly a tooth-rotting spicy rom-com to cheer me up.
🦁𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗗- 𝘽𝙔 𝙀𝙈𝙄𝙇𝙔 𝙈𝘾𝙄𝙉𝙏𝙄𝙍𝙀🦁
★𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: ⭐⭐
★𝗬𝗔/𝗡𝗔/𝗔: 🅰️/🅽🅰
★𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: 𝙽𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙰𝙵𝚃𝙴𝚁 #𝟸 (𝙱𝚄𝚃 𝙲𝙰𝙽 𝙱𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝙰𝚂 𝙰 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙴)
★𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦: 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴, 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶
★𝗣𝗢𝗩: 𝙳𝙾𝚄𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙿𝙾𝚅 - 𝙵𝙸𝚁𝚂𝚃 𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽 - 𝙿𝚁𝙴𝚂𝙴𝙽𝚃 𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙴
★𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: 𝙴𝙽𝙴𝙼𝙸𝙴𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂 - 𝚃𝙾𝚄𝙲𝙷 𝚇 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙳𝙸𝙴 - 𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙸𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙾 𝙷𝙰𝚃𝙴𝚂 𝙰𝙽𝚈𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝙱𝚄𝚃 𝙷𝙴𝚁 - 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙱𝙸𝙳𝙳𝙴𝙽 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴
★𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: 👥👥/5
★𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼/5
★𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧: 📜📜📜/5
★𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦 & 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: 💀💀💀💀/5 (𝙶𝚁𝙰𝙿𝙷𝙸𝙲 𝙳𝙴𝚂𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙿𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽 𝙾𝙵 𝚅𝙸𝙾𝙻𝙴𝙽𝙲𝙴/𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙳𝙴𝚁/𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙴, 𝙳𝚁𝚄𝙶 𝚄𝚂𝙴 - 𝙳𝙸𝚂𝙵𝚄𝙽𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻 𝙵𝙰𝙼𝙸𝙻𝙸𝙴𝚂 - 𝙵𝙼𝙲 𝙶𝙴𝚃𝚂 𝙰𝙻𝙼𝙾𝚂𝚃 𝚁*𝙿𝙴𝙳 - 𝚁𝙰𝙲𝙸𝚂𝙼)
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🔥🔥🔥/5 (𝚅𝙸𝚁𝙶𝙸𝙽 𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙾𝙸𝙽𝙴 - 𝙱𝙻𝙾𝙾𝙳/𝙺𝙽𝙸𝙵𝙴 𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙺)
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬 & 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🚒🚒🚒/5
★𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: 🤐🤐🤐🤐/5 (𝙳𝙸𝚁𝚃𝚈 𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙺, 𝙲𝚄𝚁𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙶, 𝙼𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙴 𝙻𝙰𝙽𝙶𝚄𝙰𝙶𝙴, 𝙶𝚁𝙰𝙿𝙷𝙸𝙲 𝙳𝙴𝚂𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙿𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝚂𝙴𝚇)
★𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘: 🌹🌹/5 (𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙱𝙸𝙳𝙳𝙴𝙽 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴 - 𝚂𝚄𝙱𝚃𝙻𝙴 𝙲𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶? 𝚂𝙷𝙴'𝚂 𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙳𝙸𝙲𝙺 𝙱𝚁𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁'𝚂 𝙱𝙴𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝙳)
★𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗘: ✔️ 𝚂𝙾𝚁𝚃 𝙾𝙵 𝙸 𝙶𝚄𝙴𝚂𝚂 𝙱𝚄𝚃 𝙽𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙾𝚄𝚂
★𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘: 𝙵/𝙼
★𝗥𝗘𝗣: 𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙰𝙻 𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙽𝙴𝚂𝚂
★𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗘𝗦-𝗧𝗢-𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: 🖤🖤/5
▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰
I've read and loved both Hooked and Wretched, but for some reason, this book was a let down of the worst king. The one that comes with boredom, to be precise.
I appreciated the "retelling" part (loved how the names were crafted around The Lion King's protagonists' or the quotes from the movie that were used, for example) and I also really liked the whole rebel king subplot, but in terms of romance, this book fell incredibly short for me, especially if we compare it to H and W.
I didn't feel the chemistry between the two main characters, not until when it started manifesting into actions and became obvious.
And I swear it has nothing to do with how much political intrigues the plot revolved around or the fact that the romance was a slow burn; slow burns are actually one of my favorite tropes, along with forbidden love, but I need something to work with in the space between "hi" and "let me come on your tits".
Tristan and Sara weren't bad, but their bond...I just didn't feel it in my belly and it gave me almost no emotion.
The smut was okay, but as tasteless as the rest of their relationship. I'm also incredibly tired of virgin heroines losing their V card and orgasming like they're porn stars on the set of their fourth film of the day. Lord have mercy on us mere mortals and on lazy clits everywhere.
Their characterization was slightly better.
I enjoyed Sara stubborness and how quickly she could put others in their place whenever they tried to wrong her, but she kind of lost a bit of her spark and her eges around the third act of the story. Tristan I liked a little better and, to be honest, if the book had been about him and the rebellion, I probably would have given this at least one more star.
That's to say, McIntire's writing never disappoints, no matter how dull the plot of her book is. I must admit, tho, that her dialogue weren't the best she's written in this. I missed a bit of her usual wit and the banter between Sara and Tristan was not my favorite by a long shot.
Not gonna lie, there were moments I thought I was wrong, that we were getting there, to the good part. But that was just what they were, unfortunately. Moments, too short and rare for salvation.
And, ugh...for some reason I started this 1) thinking the main characters were POC (because Lion Kind duh - and so the actual description threw me off), and 2) thinking this was set in modern times, but apparently it takes place in 1920s or something, but it was never really clear, and the writing certainly didn't help.
I also would like to start a petition to record the audiobook again with better narrators. Like I said in one of my reading updates, the narrator for Tristan sounded like a middle-aged history professor with coffee breath and patches on his tweed jacket's elbows. It was a major turn off and it made me cringe so much I managed to listen to only one chapter before I started fearing I'd develop a face paralysis and eventually turned to the e-book.
Sara's narrator was only slightly better, but not by much.
Anyway, I hate that I didn't like this, and I hate that I'll have to wait one more month to get my Never After fix, especially after this disastrous adventure.
But no worries, Madame McIntire, I still think you're the bestest and would love for this series to go on forever, even if I'll have to read about Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket being in a dom/sub polyamorous relationship with Mangiafuoco.
🚩𝙿𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝙱𝙻𝙴𝙼𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙲 𝙲𝙾𝙽𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚃 𝙰𝙻𝙴𝚁𝚃!*🚩
*𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜, 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍/𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚌/𝚝𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚌/𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎.
𝙸, 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠, 𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚣𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎:
-𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢;
-𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎;
-𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 "𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚌" 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜/𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙𝚜/𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜, 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗;
-𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚂𝙴 𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺𝚂, 𝚢'𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠?
December 28, 2022
4.25/5 ⭐
4/5 🌶️
Tristan was the character I didn’t know I needed. Slow burn, enemies to lovers at its finest. The pacing and development are so well done that they will leave you excited and wanting more. I loved this forbidden romances with a bad guy you just can't help but love (seriously, Tristan is devastating) and a cunning, strong-willed heroine who fights for what (and who) she loves. As someone who holds The Lion King near and dear, the Easter Eggs were fantastically clever.
So many great moments / Quotes:
“If something happens, know that I will find you in every lifetime, Sara Beatreaux. You are mine, and not even death can keep you from me.”
“The truth is, I am yours. Wholly. Inexplicably. Painfully. Unconditionally.” He moves my hand until the dagger presses against his throat. “And if you need to sacrifice my soul so you’re able to live with yours, then do it.”
“No, little doe, not here. They don’t get your tears.”
“She’s strong-willed. She’s fire. She’s the devil, parading as a snake, convincing people to eat the apple. Ma petite menteuse… My little liar.”
“Show me your pain, little doe. Give it to me so you don’t bear it alone,” I rasp against her mouth as I suck down her cries.”
4/5 🌶️
Tristan was the character I didn’t know I needed. Slow burn, enemies to lovers at its finest. The pacing and development are so well done that they will leave you excited and wanting more. I loved this forbidden romances with a bad guy you just can't help but love (seriously, Tristan is devastating) and a cunning, strong-willed heroine who fights for what (and who) she loves. As someone who holds The Lion King near and dear, the Easter Eggs were fantastically clever.
So many great moments / Quotes:
“If something happens, know that I will find you in every lifetime, Sara Beatreaux. You are mine, and not even death can keep you from me.”
“The truth is, I am yours. Wholly. Inexplicably. Painfully. Unconditionally.” He moves my hand until the dagger presses against his throat. “And if you need to sacrifice my soul so you’re able to live with yours, then do it.”
“No, little doe, not here. They don’t get your tears.”
“She’s strong-willed. She’s fire. She’s the devil, parading as a snake, convincing people to eat the apple. Ma petite menteuse… My little liar.”
“Show me your pain, little doe. Give it to me so you don’t bear it alone,” I rasp against her mouth as I suck down her cries.”
May 26, 2024
“You could burn down the entire kingdom until it’s nothing but charred rubble, and I would crawl over the embers with glee, so long as I could worship at your feet.”
Another dark fantasy retelling with tropes like forbidden romance, slow burn and dark romance with historical and royal vibes. Honestly, this book has some of the most amazing tropes, but still I didn't liked the way I thought I would. I had some great expectations after reading the synopsis and it wad enjoyable and a very quick read, but it didn't had the spark that I was looking for. Especially, since this series is practically about the stories where villain gets the girl. Tristan and Sara's witty banter and the delicious spicy scenes in this book made up for all of it. I must admit they were very hot together.
“I’m your future queen,” I whisper. “Maybe you should show some respect.”
His eyes spark at this, his hand reaching out and touching one of the spiral curls that’s fallen from my hairpin. He winds it around his finger, the corner of his mouth lifting into a mocking grin.
“Well then, I’ll be sure to work on my curtsy.”
➸ Tristan Fassa 'The Scarred prince': The rebel king of Gloria Terra is nothing but a vile, crude and dangerous man. Because of his bad reputation and his tattooed body everyone is afraid of him. Tristan's past was devastating and I hated how some people treated him so badly just because he was a little different. His past is the reason who he is now. Now, all he crave is REVENGE. He was annoying because he couldn't stop talking about his hard on every other second and because of his severe god complex. Though he does have a very useful and a smart mouth and the things he said?
“If something happens, know that I will find you in every lifetime, Sara Beatreaux. You are mine, and not even death can keep you from me.”
“She’s a fucking vision. The kind that should hang in galleries and be revered by the masses. The perfect type of art. Mine.”
“I am nothing, if I’m not yours.”
“I can’t feel anything but loving you.”
➸ Sara Beatreaux: I thought she would be a badass and witty woman not some damsel in dress because she said and I quote, “I’ve never been one with ideas of grandeur, thinking some white knight will ride in on his steed and save me like some helpless damsel in distress. There may be distress, but I’m no helpless damsel.” She is adventurous and cunning when planning to get revenge of her father's death. She is also good at putting up a façade of a innocent and a naive girl who wants nothing but to marry the king.
All Tristan and Sara ever wanted was revenge and nothing else. The moment Tristan met Sara he knew that she's not what she looks like. They became enemies who were ready to kill each other with their daggers at their throat. It all started with lust, obsession and insta-love. Tristan and Sara both saw something in each other which the others never did. They literally went from “Killing each other” to “Die for each other”. The whole burning down the world just to save each other and ruling the world together was actually amazing. A little too much and obsessive.
“The truth is, I am yours. Wholly. Inexplicably. Painfully. Unconditionally.” He moves my hand until the dagger presses against his throat.
“And if you need to sacrifice my soul so you’re able to live with yours, then do it.”
The starting really kept me intrigued and I thought yes this might me my favourite of this series. I don't know where and when I got bored and it felt like so much was happening, but also nothing was happening. The plot was intriguing but the mystery was really predictable which left me underwhelming when all the secrets and truth were unravelling. I'm not disappointed because I actually enjoyed most of the parts so its a win for me. I guess? The writing was easy and simple to read and pacing was normal considering it was a slow burn romance. But after reading two of Emily's books I now know that her stories kind of follow the same pattern of insta-love, lust, predictable plot twists and anticlimactic endings. The first half will make you want more and more but the second half will leave you with nothing just too much drama and rushed endings. I liked how the characters in this bopk were portrayed much better as compared to Hooked. They are still not so likable and a bit fucked up.
The ending was okay-ish. It wasn't what I expected and it was rushed and it felt a little anticlimactic like I already said. I would've liked it more if some things weren't skipped just to make this book a few pages short.
February 26, 2023
3.5 Little Doe Stars ⭐️
Everybody loves a bad boy and when that bad boy happens to be a disgustingly sexy SCARRED prince with black hair it is totally fair to say expectations are pretty high and I’m not ashamed to say I had skyscraper-level expectations for this. Unfortunately, this didn’t even peak at a two-story condo.
This is nothing "Lion King". The description was actually right! It is an embraced reimagining of Hamlet and if anything it would be a prequel to The Lion King, except in this one Mufasa is a cruel vindictive dick who beats on his brother and murdered his father. So said brother wants to get him back where it hurts most…stealing his crown and kingdom.
The main problem with this book was the writing! It was incredibly messy, like imagine on the level of a high school paper that you’d written the night before the deadline and had to come up with 5000 words at 2 o’clock in the morning. The general descriptions, the sentences and how things were laid out at times made no sense. I get EXTREMELY frustrated at books when I am forced to re-read sentences. If it happens once or twice I can overlook it; BUT in this the entire first 20% of the book, I was in a perpetual state of confused-mess. This made it very difficult to get into the story as I was constantly rereading stuff and needing to go back and try and put together in my mind what was fuck was going on because it wasn’t clearly communicated.
The pace and plotline of this were choppy and chaotic. I am not sure if it just felt this was because of the mediocre writing but things would happen off-page and then as the reader you are just thrown into the mix again - I had to page back a few times to make sure I WASN'T SKIPPING CHAPTERS by mistake. We are just shown the repercussions of these events, which is bad plot design in my opinion!
Next... in the BLURB and Author's note at the start "It is a fractured fairy tale: NOT FANTASY" - Genres on Goodreads - FANTASY???? Like what are you?? Honestly, this read like a fantasy, but there wasn't enough world-building to feel that this WAS FANTASY! There is this made-up kingdom that is close to FRANCE???? And they have guns and automobiles BUT they also use swords!!! I had no idea what time period this was in or what world.
The one thing I liked though is Tristan and Sara, but I didn't love them! I think I have been spoilt recently in ACTUAL fantasy where the characters have so much depth to their characterisation and the relationships are complex and convoluted. These are just two people who are horny and slightly psychotic that their attraction borders on obsessive possession... Again, like Hooked, this felt 100 pages too short to explain how quickly these characters say "I love you". BUT I don't think I would have been able to survive another 100pg of this!
As I alluded to in my mini review - I liked this more than Hooked only because I connected slightly more with the characters and agreed with the motivations they had - Also the way Tristan was with Simon was adorable! BUT I preferred the writing in Hooked...
So right now I am left underwhelmed, unsatisfied and disappointed that this was not amazing! I wanted the trend to be true that if you didn't fully love Hooked, you would like this - but sadly this one didn't do it for me either.
Would I still recommend this?
Yes - it's not terrible and I can see why people love this for what it is. It's a good way to pass the time - the smut was also fine, nothing scary and dark... just a few candle wax drips to excite you!
⊱------------------------------⊰
I didn’t love it, some parts were good though and I enjoyed this more than Hooked (but only barely), but I also did not vibe with this book… 😭😭😭😭😭
Ranty/not Ranty Review to come….when I get my thoughts in order
⊱------------------------------⊰
Bitch…don’t sell this as a “ Hamlet Retelling” when we all know it’s actually The Lion King…
Yes, I know The Lion King is based on Hamlet but let me live out my Scar Fantasy
Let’s see if Tristan does it more for me than James.
Everybody loves a bad boy and when that bad boy happens to be a disgustingly sexy SCARRED prince with black hair it is totally fair to say expectations are pretty high and I’m not ashamed to say I had skyscraper-level expectations for this. Unfortunately, this didn’t even peak at a two-story condo.
This is nothing "Lion King". The description was actually right! It is an embraced reimagining of Hamlet and if anything it would be a prequel to The Lion King, except in this one Mufasa is a cruel vindictive dick who beats on his brother and murdered his father. So said brother wants to get him back where it hurts most…stealing his crown and kingdom.
The main problem with this book was the writing! It was incredibly messy, like imagine on the level of a high school paper that you’d written the night before the deadline and had to come up with 5000 words at 2 o’clock in the morning. The general descriptions, the sentences and how things were laid out at times made no sense. I get EXTREMELY frustrated at books when I am forced to re-read sentences. If it happens once or twice I can overlook it; BUT in this the entire first 20% of the book, I was in a perpetual state of confused-mess. This made it very difficult to get into the story as I was constantly rereading stuff and needing to go back and try and put together in my mind what was fuck was going on because it wasn’t clearly communicated.
The pace and plotline of this were choppy and chaotic. I am not sure if it just felt this was because of the mediocre writing but things would happen off-page and then as the reader you are just thrown into the mix again - I had to page back a few times to make sure I WASN'T SKIPPING CHAPTERS by mistake. We are just shown the repercussions of these events, which is bad plot design in my opinion!
Next... in the BLURB and Author's note at the start "It is a fractured fairy tale: NOT FANTASY" - Genres on Goodreads - FANTASY???? Like what are you?? Honestly, this read like a fantasy, but there wasn't enough world-building to feel that this WAS FANTASY! There is this made-up kingdom that is close to FRANCE???? And they have guns and automobiles BUT they also use swords!!! I had no idea what time period this was in or what world.
The one thing I liked though is Tristan and Sara, but I didn't love them! I think I have been spoilt recently in ACTUAL fantasy where the characters have so much depth to their characterisation and the relationships are complex and convoluted. These are just two people who are horny and slightly psychotic that their attraction borders on obsessive possession... Again, like Hooked, this felt 100 pages too short to explain how quickly these characters say "I love you". BUT I don't think I would have been able to survive another 100pg of this!
As I alluded to in my mini review - I liked this more than Hooked only because I connected slightly more with the characters and agreed with the motivations they had - Also the way Tristan was with Simon was adorable! BUT I preferred the writing in Hooked...
So right now I am left underwhelmed, unsatisfied and disappointed that this was not amazing! I wanted the trend to be true that if you didn't fully love Hooked, you would like this - but sadly this one didn't do it for me either.
Would I still recommend this?
Yes - it's not terrible and I can see why people love this for what it is. It's a good way to pass the time - the smut was also fine, nothing scary and dark... just a few candle wax drips to excite you!
⊱------------------------------⊰
I didn’t love it, some parts were good though and I enjoyed this more than Hooked (but only barely), but I also did not vibe with this book… 😭😭😭😭😭
Ranty/not Ranty Review to come….when I get my thoughts in order
⊱------------------------------⊰
Bitch…don’t sell this as a “ Hamlet Retelling” when we all know it’s actually The Lion King…
Let’s see if Tristan does it more for me than James.
September 10, 2023
3 💫✨
Honestly i was having a hard time rating this book. i’m still not satisfied with the rating 😭
I dived into this book with zero expectations, given that i really hated the first book in the series. I expected to hate this one too but surprisingly I didn’t. It was really good. It was fast paced and entertaining. Had some really cute and swoon-worthy quotes 🫶🏻
characters
Tristan: this man and his mouth 😮💨. I didn’t love him but I didn’t hate him either so that’s good.Right? . Anyway I loved his relationship with Simon and how he cared about him. I actually enjoyed reading his pov only when he wasn’t talking about his d*ck. I loved the way he was like “ i’ll burn the whole world for u” and he literally did that burned the entire kingdom just so he can get her back 🤌🏻 Men who are so pathetically in love are my favorite. my favorite scene in the whole book was the one where he got down on his knees with tears in his eyes and confused his love for her. It was so unlike him which proved how desperate for her he really was. there was something very satisfying about seeing him cry 🤭
Sara: she's cool and also interesting.she wasn't the badass fmc I was promised to read about. But still she's better than Wendy and that's enough for me.tbh Her character leaked depth.i feel like her personality was revolving around her getting revenge and nothing more.I wanted to dive more into her character to know what she likes and what she doesn't like. But unfortunately we didn't get that.
The slow burn and the tension was good 😮💨 i liked how it wasn’t just the mmc who was on the gray side but the fmc as well. I liked banter and dynamic it was hot.Cringe sometimes 😬 I loved his obsession with her and how he saw her as his equal 🫶🏻
things I didn’t like and made me cringe so bad
— his constant hard on and the constant leaking between her legs 😭😭 she just poisoned someone and unintentionally looked at Tristan and instead of feeling guilty “ she was feeling desire pooling between her legs” 😭💀
— and Oh yeah there was this scene where someone was trying to physically assault her . But she defended herself and he watched that happen and he was literally like “my c*ck pulses from her violence” 😭 I actually laughed so hard when i read this because it was unexpected and it come out of nowhere 💀
— when he tattooed “Tristan’s property” on her inner thigh
😀 NO ✋🏻
But anyway i did enjoy it. It was very entertaining and i had so much fun doing it with my beautiful giuliana.I wouldn’t have enjoyed this book this much without you and your stickers 😂💖 love u beautiful 🫶🏻
“Are you calling me beautiful?” she whispers.
“I’m saying you could drive a man insane. Make him raze the world just to see you smile.”
Honestly i was having a hard time rating this book. i’m still not satisfied with the rating 😭
I dived into this book with zero expectations, given that i really hated the first book in the series. I expected to hate this one too but surprisingly I didn’t. It was really good. It was fast paced and entertaining. Had some really cute and swoon-worthy quotes 🫶🏻
characters
“The truth is, I am yours. Wholly. Inexplicably. Painfully. Unconditionally.” He moves my hand until the dagger presses against his throat. “And if you need to sacrifice my soul so you’re able to live with yours, then do it.”
Tristan: this man and his mouth 😮💨. I didn’t love him but I didn’t hate him either so that’s good.Right? . Anyway I loved his relationship with Simon and how he cared about him. I actually enjoyed reading his pov only when he wasn’t talking about his d*ck. I loved the way he was like “ i’ll burn the whole world for u” and he literally did that burned the entire kingdom just so he can get her back 🤌🏻 Men who are so pathetically in love are my favorite. my favorite scene in the whole book was the one where he got down on his knees with tears in his eyes and confused his love for her. It was so unlike him which proved how desperate for her he really was. there was something very satisfying about seeing him cry 🤭
Sara: she's cool and also interesting.she wasn't the badass fmc I was promised to read about. But still she's better than Wendy and that's enough for me.tbh Her character leaked depth.i feel like her personality was revolving around her getting revenge and nothing more.I wanted to dive more into her character to know what she likes and what she doesn't like. But unfortunately we didn't get that.
“But now there’s her.And everything else pales in comparison. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her by my side. She is everything. And if she’s hurting, I will torture the people who caused it until they beg me to let them die.”
The slow burn and the tension was good 😮💨 i liked how it wasn’t just the mmc who was on the gray side but the fmc as well. I liked banter and dynamic it was hot.
things I didn’t like and made me cringe so bad
— his constant hard on and the constant leaking between her legs 😭😭 she just poisoned someone and unintentionally looked at Tristan and instead of feeling guilty “ she was feeling desire pooling between her legs” 😭💀
— and Oh yeah there was this scene where someone was trying to physically assault her . But she defended herself and he watched that happen and he was literally like “my c*ck pulses from her violence” 😭 I actually laughed so hard when i read this because it was unexpected and it come out of nowhere 💀
— when he tattooed “Tristan’s property” on her inner thigh
😀 NO ✋🏻
But anyway i did enjoy it. It was very entertaining and i had so much fun doing it with my beautiful giuliana.I wouldn’t have enjoyed this book this much without you and your stickers 😂💖 love u beautiful 🫶🏻
January 10, 2022
5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“You thirst for power?” he rasps, his palm ghosting across my collarbone before wrapping around my throat. “I can fill you with it until you scream.”
Scarred is a deliciously dark and seductive 1910's royal romance of a scorchingly hot forbidden love between the King's bride-to-be and the Prince, the King's enigmatic younger brother.
If you're looking for a couple that paint themselves in every shade of morally grey with traces of villainy seeping through them, do not go far.
Meet Lady Sara Beatraux and the dangerous and wicked Prince, Tristan Faasa—known as the Scarred Prince. The story takes place in the 1910's but in an entirely fictional Kingdom.
— Forbidden Romance
— Court Intrigue
— Slowburn Enemies-to-lovers
— Extremely morally grey/villain love interest who is a hot dark-haired tattooed prince with an impressive artistic talent.
— Delicious spice
— Dark ambience
— Complex characters
Driven by a desire of vengeance, Lady Sara seeks to avenge the death of a loved one—the easiest way to ensure her plans come to fruition is by heading into the Lion's den and offer herself as a bride to King Michael Faasa III of Gloria Terra.
“I’m no one’s queen. I’m just the one who will burn the crown.”
As soon as Michael's bride-to-be sets foot in the Saxum Kingdom, Tristan knew behind that soft innocent exterior is a cunning temptress who thrists for power. But she is to be family right? And so Tristan plans to give his future sister-in-law a very warm welcome.
“I should kill you for making me feel this way.”
“So kill me, then,” she whispers.
“Death would be a gift. I’d rather see you suffer.”
Tristan and Sara are swept by a blinding passion and a dangerous attraction for one another that they can't help but dance their forbidden waltz.
“And if I were to take you?”
“Then I’m yours for the taking.”
Like, damn... you could feel the passion and chemistry between Tristan and Sara scorching right through the pages. The secret liaisons, the lingering hungry stares, hiding in dark corners. I thoroughly enjoyed every scene they were together. Their scenes were swoon-worthy, exciting, and nerve-wrecking.
And just like Sara, I could not help but be drawn to Tristan's dark allure and cruelty.
The court intrigue and drama was perfectly balanced with the romance, you truly felt there were so many things at stake and of course, there are quite a few plot-twists that catch you off guard.
The author promised a morally grey borderline villainous couple and she truly delivered! They committed devious and cruel actions but that is how their own world shaped them to be.
“I’d like to draw you. Just like this, with your face kissing the stars... I think it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
The author's writing style was intricate and quite immserive that I could not put the book down.
Honestly, this was such a fun and an immersive read. Definitely one of the best dark royal romance books.
Trigger Warnings: violence, death, substance abuse, torture, attempted se*ual assault, su*cide.
“You thirst for power?” he rasps, his palm ghosting across my collarbone before wrapping around my throat. “I can fill you with it until you scream.”
Scarred is a deliciously dark and seductive 1910's royal romance of a scorchingly hot forbidden love between the King's bride-to-be and the Prince, the King's enigmatic younger brother.
If you're looking for a couple that paint themselves in every shade of morally grey with traces of villainy seeping through them, do not go far.
Meet Lady Sara Beatraux and the dangerous and wicked Prince, Tristan Faasa—known as the Scarred Prince. The story takes place in the 1910's but in an entirely fictional Kingdom.
— Forbidden Romance
— Court Intrigue
— Slowburn Enemies-to-lovers
— Extremely morally grey/villain love interest who is a hot dark-haired tattooed prince with an impressive artistic talent.
— Delicious spice
— Dark ambience
— Complex characters
Driven by a desire of vengeance, Lady Sara seeks to avenge the death of a loved one—the easiest way to ensure her plans come to fruition is by heading into the Lion's den and offer herself as a bride to King Michael Faasa III of Gloria Terra.
“I’m no one’s queen. I’m just the one who will burn the crown.”
As soon as Michael's bride-to-be sets foot in the Saxum Kingdom, Tristan knew behind that soft innocent exterior is a cunning temptress who thrists for power. But she is to be family right? And so Tristan plans to give his future sister-in-law a very warm welcome.
“I should kill you for making me feel this way.”
“So kill me, then,” she whispers.
“Death would be a gift. I’d rather see you suffer.”
Tristan and Sara are swept by a blinding passion and a dangerous attraction for one another that they can't help but dance their forbidden waltz.
“And if I were to take you?”
“Then I’m yours for the taking.”
Like, damn... you could feel the passion and chemistry between Tristan and Sara scorching right through the pages. The secret liaisons, the lingering hungry stares, hiding in dark corners. I thoroughly enjoyed every scene they were together. Their scenes were swoon-worthy, exciting, and nerve-wrecking.
And just like Sara, I could not help but be drawn to Tristan's dark allure and cruelty.
The court intrigue and drama was perfectly balanced with the romance, you truly felt there were so many things at stake and of course, there are quite a few plot-twists that catch you off guard.
The author promised a morally grey borderline villainous couple and she truly delivered! They committed devious and cruel actions but that is how their own world shaped them to be.
“I’d like to draw you. Just like this, with your face kissing the stars... I think it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
The author's writing style was intricate and quite immserive that I could not put the book down.
Honestly, this was such a fun and an immersive read. Definitely one of the best dark royal romance books.
Trigger Warnings: violence, death, substance abuse, torture, attempted se*ual assault, su*cide.
March 23, 2023
5/5⭐️
This was so fucking good!! So much better than I expected tbh. It was also such a huge improvement from Hooked imo. I absolutely loved the characters, the story, the plot, the setting and the romance!!! It was just everything I hoped it would be. I don’t think that any of the other books in the series will top this one because holy shit was this amazing!!
Like the romance aspect of this book was just so freaking immaculate, I couldn’t get enough of them!!
The forbidden love, the slow burn, the intensity and the chemistry?!?! So fucking good!!
Having to wait until the 60% mark of the book, for them to finally get to it was so freaking worth it!! Emily McIntire wrote the tension between Sara and Tristan so freaking well that I was ok with having to wait for them to finally get together!
It was just so fucking good and I’m honestly so in love with these two I’m not even kidding!!
Also don’t get me started on Tristan!! I mean I’ve always liked Scar as a a villain in the Disney movie but Tristan is just something else… He was just absolute perfection!!
We love sarcastic, smart and witty men!! Also the way he expresses himself through his words?!?! Had me on my god damn knees!! I love a man who knows how to sweet talk and he’s exactly that!! AND HE CAN DRAW?!?!?! Sign me tf up. If I was Sara, I would also fall in love with him!!
But Sara is also such a queen!! She was so freaking badass throughout the whole book and we love strong and sassy women on this account!!
Also the banter between her and Tristan?? To die for!!
And don’t even get me started on the smut!!! Literally had me screaming!
I also loved the plot of this book so so so much!! It was just so freaking good and had me flipping the pages! I honestly couldn’t stop reading. It was just sooooo good.
The setting of this book also made me enjoy it even more! I love reading about books that take place in castles and Royal Society!! It just gives this book so much more beauty to it imo.
What also made me enjoy this book even more, were the lion king references!! I just loved seeing little easter eggs of the script from the movie in this book. It just made the book even better than it already is (because the lion king is my favourite Disney movie everrrr)!
Overall, I’m absolutely in love with this book!! Probably one of my favourite dark romances so far!! It just gave everything it needed to give and more and I highly recommend this to anyone who loves morally grey characters, who would kill and die for their women!!
I’m also so excited for the next book in the series!
This was so fucking good!! So much better than I expected tbh. It was also such a huge improvement from Hooked imo. I absolutely loved the characters, the story, the plot, the setting and the romance!!! It was just everything I hoped it would be. I don’t think that any of the other books in the series will top this one because holy shit was this amazing!!
Like the romance aspect of this book was just so freaking immaculate, I couldn’t get enough of them!!
The forbidden love, the slow burn, the intensity and the chemistry?!?! So fucking good!!
Having to wait until the 60% mark of the book, for them to finally get to it was so freaking worth it!! Emily McIntire wrote the tension between Sara and Tristan so freaking well that I was ok with having to wait for them to finally get together!
It was just so fucking good and I’m honestly so in love with these two I’m not even kidding!!
Also don’t get me started on Tristan!! I mean I’ve always liked Scar as a a villain in the Disney movie but Tristan is just something else… He was just absolute perfection!!
We love sarcastic, smart and witty men!! Also the way he expresses himself through his words?!?! Had me on my god damn knees!! I love a man who knows how to sweet talk and he’s exactly that!! AND HE CAN DRAW?!?!?! Sign me tf up. If I was Sara, I would also fall in love with him!!
But Sara is also such a queen!! She was so freaking badass throughout the whole book and we love strong and sassy women on this account!!
Also the banter between her and Tristan?? To die for!!
And don’t even get me started on the smut!!! Literally had me screaming!
I also loved the plot of this book so so so much!! It was just so freaking good and had me flipping the pages! I honestly couldn’t stop reading. It was just sooooo good.
The setting of this book also made me enjoy it even more! I love reading about books that take place in castles and Royal Society!! It just gives this book so much more beauty to it imo.
What also made me enjoy this book even more, were the lion king references!! I just loved seeing little easter eggs of the script from the movie in this book. It just made the book even better than it already is (because the lion king is my favourite Disney movie everrrr)!
Overall, I’m absolutely in love with this book!! Probably one of my favourite dark romances so far!! It just gave everything it needed to give and more and I highly recommend this to anyone who loves morally grey characters, who would kill and die for their women!!
I’m also so excited for the next book in the series!
August 3, 2024
This is NOT a Lion King retelling in the sense that IT IS but the author would very much like to not be sued by the behemoth that is Disney, so please don’t call it that.
😅 Sorry, but there were too many elements present for me to call this anything but a VERY loose retelling.
Scar ✔️
Elephant Graveyard ✔️
Hyenas ✔️
Timon & Pumbaa… err I mean Timothy & Paul ✔️✔️
If you want to take it even further, this is the full breakdown of the characters…
* Sara B.- Sarabi
* Scarred Prince (Tristan)- Scar
* Michael Faasa - Mufasa
* Simon- Simba
* Kara- Kiara
* Sheina- Shenzi
* Edward- Ed
* Timothy- Timon
* Paul- Pumbaa
* Raf- Rafiki
* Zander- Zazu
As you can see, the gang’s all here…
A Lion King retelling certainly wasn’t on my 2024 bingo card, but I didn’t hate it. I enjoyed it a lot more than Hooked at the very least. Scar was definitely evil and a little too into torture for my taste, but something about the more medieval setting allowed me to look past those traits for the most part. He also didn’t kidnap her like Hook did, so there’s that.
I did like Tristan and Sara together but I am really not a fan of the way this author writes intimate scenes. There’s dirty talk and then there’s nasty talk and I think this author writes the latter. I’m sure some people are into that, but it’s not for me. It also felt on the verge of being nonconsensual. I would have liked at least one scene where she said no and he listened to know that he would not have forced her. He was bothered when someone else tried to force her but it seemed more because “she was his to touch” than because he was against forcing himself on a woman in general.
My expectations were honestly pretty low, but I would recommend this to the right person. I have to say that I do think this series is pretty overhyped though. If you love it, I’m happy for you, but I think it’s not for everyone. I’ll stick to morally gray men and let you keep your villains. 😅✌🏻
______________________________________________
Is this a Lion King retelling? 😅 Surely not, but I can’t think of any other scarred villain princes…
Giving myself permission to DNF this if it’s anything like Hooked. I was not a fan but decided to give the series one more shot.
😅 Sorry, but there were too many elements present for me to call this anything but a VERY loose retelling.
Scar ✔️
Elephant Graveyard ✔️
Hyenas ✔️
Timon & Pumbaa… err I mean Timothy & Paul ✔️✔️
If you want to take it even further, this is the full breakdown of the characters…
* Sara B.- Sarabi
* Scarred Prince (Tristan)- Scar
* Michael Faasa - Mufasa
* Simon- Simba
* Kara- Kiara
* Sheina- Shenzi
* Edward- Ed
* Timothy- Timon
* Paul- Pumbaa
* Raf- Rafiki
* Zander- Zazu
As you can see, the gang’s all here…
A Lion King retelling certainly wasn’t on my 2024 bingo card, but I didn’t hate it. I enjoyed it a lot more than Hooked at the very least. Scar was definitely evil and a little too into torture for my taste, but something about the more medieval setting allowed me to look past those traits for the most part. He also didn’t kidnap her like Hook did, so there’s that.
I did like Tristan and Sara together but I am really not a fan of the way this author writes intimate scenes. There’s dirty talk and then there’s nasty talk and I think this author writes the latter. I’m sure some people are into that, but it’s not for me. It also felt on the verge of being nonconsensual. I would have liked at least one scene where she said no and he listened to know that he would not have forced her. He was bothered when someone else tried to force her but it seemed more because “she was his to touch” than because he was against forcing himself on a woman in general.
My expectations were honestly pretty low, but I would recommend this to the right person. I have to say that I do think this series is pretty overhyped though. If you love it, I’m happy for you, but I think it’s not for everyone. I’ll stick to morally gray men and let you keep your villains. 😅✌🏻
______________________________________________
Is this a Lion King retelling? 😅 Surely not, but I can’t think of any other scarred villain princes…
Giving myself permission to DNF this if it’s anything like Hooked. I was not a fan but decided to give the series one more shot.
September 6, 2023
4.5 stars! This has to be one of my favorite dark romance stories! Also, the slow burn in this book was soooo good! This story takes you through the forbidden romance that's formed between two people whose last thought is to fall in love. The close proximity, enemies to lovers, and their journey to redemption made this book impossible to put down. This just became my favorite in the series but I can't wait to read the rest!
January 4, 2022
WOW! This Never After series is one of my favorites so far! This book was dark, sexy, and written perfectly.
My FAVORITE thing about this series is finding the little hidden treasures that are inspired by the original story, which in this case was Lion King…Nooo it’s not a retelling.
I love how Sara is so strong and a fighter in this story. She has known loss and uses the loss to fuel her to fight back.
Tristan, this man reeled me in from the start. And his dirty words were the icing on the cake.
The spice in this book was AMAZING. You need to read this!
My FAVORITE thing about this series is finding the little hidden treasures that are inspired by the original story, which in this case was Lion King…Nooo it’s not a retelling.
I love how Sara is so strong and a fighter in this story. She has known loss and uses the loss to fuel her to fight back.
Tristan, this man reeled me in from the start. And his dirty words were the icing on the cake.
The spice in this book was AMAZING. You need to read this!
February 11, 2022
I can’t believe I didn’t pick this book up sooner!!
Amazing!
TRISTAAAAAN. I LOVE YOUUUUU 😍
Both the characters were so convoluted, it made me chuckle. I ended up enjoying it more than I expected.
Amazing!
TRISTAAAAAN. I LOVE YOUUUUU 😍
Both the characters were so convoluted, it made me chuckle. I ended up enjoying it more than I expected.
January 12, 2022
1 Star
This was really bad... I feel like everyone else thought this was amazing, and I truly don't understand. The pacing in this was way off, the plot is boring and convoluted, the backstory is non-existent, the characters are SO unlikable, and the whole thing comes off as a bit confused. I finished it, but not before contemplating a DNF about 10 different times.
First, the plot is... strange. This is set in the 1910s, but think kingdom. From the very beginning nothing in the writing stood out to me as specific imagery pointing to the 1910s, so I think the setting is sort of a moot point. Even the backstory/world building is super unclear. It's a kingdom, there appears to be some sort of court system with dukes, duchesses, etc., but that's all we get. I don't even really understand the state of the kingdom, what the economy is like, or anything else. I'll go ahead and stop here and say maybe I have too high of exceptions, but I wish at least some of this was explained as it all very much ties into the characters and their motivations.
Now, onto the characters. We have Lady Sara Beatreaux, our h. She is moving into the castle, as she is to be married to King Michael. Although, that's not her only goal. She's planning on advenging her father who was killed by the king. The king's little brother, Tristan, is our H. He's the reclusive sociopathic one. He often lurks in the shadows, is extremely anti-social, and has tons of tattoos. He bears a horrible facial scar, but of course, he's still gorgeous. Tristan has his own motivations that are later revealed, but I'll just say he hates his brother and seemingly the whole idea of their royal family. He holds a lot of rage based on past trauma. These two, while working through their own plans, find themselves entangled together due to what is essentially unwanted attraction? I guess that's the best way I can frame it. The development of their relationship is very slow burn.
Both characters are honestly terrible, and a huge reason why I hated this. I couldn't root, or even enjoy, either of them. Sara for example - I feel like she's a bit all over the place. She has moments of "softness". Caring for others, she explains how much she hates death after losing her father, etc. But at the same time has 0 regard for human life or anyone who stands in her way. It's very odd watching her flip from being quite caring to then justifying someone's death as a causality to her plans. It doesn't make her complex, it makes her seem psychotic. Her character is honestly dull and a bit annoying. As a side note on the backstory here, but I still have 0 idea why Sara was the woman chosen to marry Michael. We are told her father was a duke, and it sounds like her part of the kingdom/the kingdom as a whole is super poor and not doing well? But idk, nothing is ever fully explained.
Tristan, on the other hand, certainly isn't dull but he's psychotic and even harder to like than Sara. He's not just a morally grey, villain character. He is completely horrible, has no problem killing others or doing anything he can to get what he wants. I know this is a dark romance, but Tristan is truly irredeemable. Honestly, this isn't even that dark. It's just two terrible people, with nothing good or decent about them. Tristan's "love" for Sara is better described as a strange obsession.
Their relationship together is oddly developed, and way too slow. I felt like I was reading forever to finally find the spicy bits. Plus, disliking the characters made me disinterested in the romance and their development together. They both are sort of drawn to each other because they are equally selfish and messed up... That's their only connection, this idea they are both "dark" people...
Now, back to the plot. A main theme throughout the book are these rebels who hate the king and want to overthrow him. But again, the motivations aren't even that clear. Why exactly does Michael suck? Is the kingdom in that bad of shape? I think the story is alluding to people being super poor, but it's never truly shown or explained. Just that there's a group of "others" (hyenas) who live on the outskirts of society and hate the king. Like ok, but what about the rest of the kingdom? Again, none of this is well explained to the reader so it's difficult to care. With how slow and long the romance took to develop (honestly ugh so boring), I would expect the other storylines to be well explained. But this feels like it can't really stand up on its own. Then the ending was so rushed and awful. Sara and Tristan's plan was successful based on basically luck. None of their planning or strategy was made known to the reader. Everything just sort of exploded and worked out for them in the end. I don't know if this book was supposed to be a romance, a political coupe fiction, or something else entirely.
To be honest, I am really surprised so many people love this. I can usually tell when a book is not for me, but in this case I think the story is poorly done. Even if someone reads this purely for romance and smut - and ignores the plot + issues with the backstory/world building - you're still having to wait until at least 70% of the way through for the romance and smut to actually take place (and when it does it's like a couple of times)... I didn't love the first book in this Never After series, so I don't plan on continuing with the series or author.
This was really bad... I feel like everyone else thought this was amazing, and I truly don't understand. The pacing in this was way off, the plot is boring and convoluted, the backstory is non-existent, the characters are SO unlikable, and the whole thing comes off as a bit confused. I finished it, but not before contemplating a DNF about 10 different times.
First, the plot is... strange. This is set in the 1910s, but think kingdom. From the very beginning nothing in the writing stood out to me as specific imagery pointing to the 1910s, so I think the setting is sort of a moot point. Even the backstory/world building is super unclear. It's a kingdom, there appears to be some sort of court system with dukes, duchesses, etc., but that's all we get. I don't even really understand the state of the kingdom, what the economy is like, or anything else. I'll go ahead and stop here and say maybe I have too high of exceptions, but I wish at least some of this was explained as it all very much ties into the characters and their motivations.
Now, onto the characters. We have Lady Sara Beatreaux, our h. She is moving into the castle, as she is to be married to King Michael. Although, that's not her only goal. She's planning on advenging her father who was killed by the king. The king's little brother, Tristan, is our H. He's the reclusive sociopathic one. He often lurks in the shadows, is extremely anti-social, and has tons of tattoos. He bears a horrible facial scar, but of course, he's still gorgeous. Tristan has his own motivations that are later revealed, but I'll just say he hates his brother and seemingly the whole idea of their royal family. He holds a lot of rage based on past trauma. These two, while working through their own plans, find themselves entangled together due to what is essentially unwanted attraction? I guess that's the best way I can frame it. The development of their relationship is very slow burn.
Both characters are honestly terrible, and a huge reason why I hated this. I couldn't root, or even enjoy, either of them. Sara for example - I feel like she's a bit all over the place. She has moments of "softness". Caring for others, she explains how much she hates death after losing her father, etc. But at the same time has 0 regard for human life or anyone who stands in her way. It's very odd watching her flip from being quite caring to then justifying someone's death as a causality to her plans. It doesn't make her complex, it makes her seem psychotic. Her character is honestly dull and a bit annoying. As a side note on the backstory here, but I still have 0 idea why Sara was the woman chosen to marry Michael. We are told her father was a duke, and it sounds like her part of the kingdom/the kingdom as a whole is super poor and not doing well? But idk, nothing is ever fully explained.
Tristan, on the other hand, certainly isn't dull but he's psychotic and even harder to like than Sara. He's not just a morally grey, villain character. He is completely horrible, has no problem killing others or doing anything he can to get what he wants. I know this is a dark romance, but Tristan is truly irredeemable. Honestly, this isn't even that dark. It's just two terrible people, with nothing good or decent about them. Tristan's "love" for Sara is better described as a strange obsession.
Their relationship together is oddly developed, and way too slow. I felt like I was reading forever to finally find the spicy bits. Plus, disliking the characters made me disinterested in the romance and their development together. They both are sort of drawn to each other because they are equally selfish and messed up... That's their only connection, this idea they are both "dark" people...
Now, back to the plot. A main theme throughout the book are these rebels who hate the king and want to overthrow him. But again, the motivations aren't even that clear. Why exactly does Michael suck? Is the kingdom in that bad of shape? I think the story is alluding to people being super poor, but it's never truly shown or explained. Just that there's a group of "others" (hyenas) who live on the outskirts of society and hate the king. Like ok, but what about the rest of the kingdom? Again, none of this is well explained to the reader so it's difficult to care. With how slow and long the romance took to develop (honestly ugh so boring), I would expect the other storylines to be well explained. But this feels like it can't really stand up on its own. Then the ending was so rushed and awful. Sara and Tristan's plan was successful based on basically luck. None of their planning or strategy was made known to the reader. Everything just sort of exploded and worked out for them in the end. I don't know if this book was supposed to be a romance, a political coupe fiction, or something else entirely.
To be honest, I am really surprised so many people love this. I can usually tell when a book is not for me, but in this case I think the story is poorly done. Even if someone reads this purely for romance and smut - and ignores the plot + issues with the backstory/world building - you're still having to wait until at least 70% of the way through for the romance and smut to actually take place (and when it does it's like a couple of times)... I didn't love the first book in this Never After series, so I don't plan on continuing with the series or author.
July 2, 2024
3 stars ✮
❤️🔥 Her touch is the sweetest surrender. I decided long before ending up here that if she wished for me to die, I would lie down at her feet. I have no interest in fighting her. No interest in living if she doesn’t wish for me to be ❤️🔥
this was cute but nothing too special. I still enjoyed it <3 at the halfway mark I got kinda bored but it picked up at the end!
❤️🔥 Her touch is the sweetest surrender. I decided long before ending up here that if she wished for me to die, I would lie down at her feet. I have no interest in fighting her. No interest in living if she doesn’t wish for me to be ❤️🔥
this was cute but nothing too special. I still enjoyed it <3 at the halfway mark I got kinda bored but it picked up at the end!
September 13, 2023
3⭐️
Spoiler free
I’m not really into writing a huge review so this’ll be short, sorry💔
I’m not really into this genre too much and in all honesty I didn’t like the first book of the series (Hooked) because I couldn’t accept some of the topics (Stockholm Syndrome the most important of them all), but I wanted to give the author + the series a second chance and this was way better.
This book was good, but I’m still not really into dark romance (I’m trying though😅). It was a really fast read and really entertaining. Comparing it to Hooked (which are totally different) this is a masterpiece, at least Sara was a strong character, otherwise I would’ve kms. I liked all the references of The Lion King that the author wrote and the plot was good. Also, all my favorite tropes were on the book so that’s a win.
The characters were good, my favorite of course was Sara B.. She’s kind and very determined and I appreciated that because Wendy (Hooked FMC) was the complete opposite and I hated it. I also liked Tristan and his rebellion, but I didn’t like that he referred to himself like he was a God (I’m not religious but I hate men with huge egos). Michael is a piece of sh*t, that’s all I have to say. Simon was also my favorite character, a little boy who’s adorable, playing with a toy sword and looking up to Tristan as a role model.
Things I didn’t like:
-Why is Tristan 24/7 turned on?
-Sara’s tattoo (the property thing iykyk).
-Some chapters were meh.
-Not too much romance/spice.
And I don’t remember much more😅.
Thanks to my beautiful girl Hoda for buddy reading this book with me, I love you so much and cannot wait for the next one🤎🤍♥️.
Follow my bookstagram for more book stuff💕: https://instagram.com/lianasbooks_?ig...
Spoiler free
I’m not really into writing a huge review so this’ll be short, sorry💔
I’m not really into this genre too much and in all honesty I didn’t like the first book of the series (Hooked) because I couldn’t accept some of the topics (Stockholm Syndrome the most important of them all), but I wanted to give the author + the series a second chance and this was way better.
This book was good, but I’m still not really into dark romance (I’m trying though😅). It was a really fast read and really entertaining. Comparing it to Hooked (which are totally different) this is a masterpiece, at least Sara was a strong character, otherwise I would’ve kms. I liked all the references of The Lion King that the author wrote and the plot was good. Also, all my favorite tropes were on the book so that’s a win.
The characters were good, my favorite of course was Sara B.. She’s kind and very determined and I appreciated that because Wendy (Hooked FMC) was the complete opposite and I hated it. I also liked Tristan and his rebellion, but I didn’t like that he referred to himself like he was a God (I’m not religious but I hate men with huge egos). Michael is a piece of sh*t, that’s all I have to say. Simon was also my favorite character, a little boy who’s adorable, playing with a toy sword and looking up to Tristan as a role model.
Things I didn’t like:
-Why is Tristan 24/7 turned on?
-Sara’s tattoo (the property thing iykyk).
-Some chapters were meh.
-Not too much romance/spice.
And I don’t remember much more😅.
Thanks to my beautiful girl Hoda for buddy reading this book with me, I love you so much and cannot wait for the next one🤎🤍♥️.
Follow my bookstagram for more book stuff💕: https://instagram.com/lianasbooks_?ig...
May 5, 2022
“The truth is, I am yours. Wholly. Inexplicably. Painfully. Unconditionally.” He moves my hand until the dagger presses against his throat. “And if you need to sacrifice my soul so you’re able to live with yours, then do it.”
⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙
I 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃 every single aspect of this book. I was fascinated by the world building. The plot is engrossing and i was utterly hooked on the story, the politics, the romance. The characters had many layers to them and I loved to see when the mask they wear fell and let us see their true self. I just freakin' loved 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆. The writing was easy to get into. The pacing is smooth. This story was very different from her previous book Hooked but still very intriguing. I was even more interested by this world and all the scheming and desception it had.
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
It kinda reminded of The Shadow Between Us with the whole marry the king and take his kingdom trope which I loved btw, and even tho they are similar in a way, the story is very different and managed to be unique and surprising.
Plus this was a very much darker Retelling with a lot more 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 moments between our two 𝐌𝐂, which I'm so here for that and the banter. God their interaction was 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒. Like seriously I can't even with their passion and chemistry, it was magnificent and so very twisted.
“He commands my body the same way he commands a room; effortlessly. I sink into his hold, allowing my mind to shut off for the first time all night.
For some reason, the way he’s holding me, the way he’s pulling me just a little too tight, and a little too close, makes tears crop up behind my eyes.
He makes me feel safe. Important. And I haven’t known that since my father. If I dig a little deeper, it’s easy to see that Tristan and I, we’re cut from the same cloth, and that’s part of the reason I can’t stand the sight of him. Because looking at Tristan is like looking in a mirror and seeing the pieces of myself I try so hard to hide.
But he doesn’t hide them, and I’m not quite sure how to handle that.”
⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙
Not to mention more vengeful and unhinged. But you won't hear me complain, I think we've already established where I stand in the dark universe. The more bloodshed the better. This was a morally grey story with so many cruel Borderline villainous moments and I devoured every 𝐅#𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 word of it.
“Tristan,” she murmurs.
My stomach flips, an inferno of lust raging through my middle and scorching up my throat.
“Say it again.”
“Say what?” she asks.
“My name, little doe,” I rasp. “Say my name.”
She blows out a heavy breath and I suck it in, desperate to taste her on my tongue.
“Tristan.” Her fingers tangle in the strands of my hair.
I lean my forehead against hers, lust ripping through me until I can’t see straight from how badly I want to strip her bare and fuck her raw. “I should kill you for making me feel this way.”
“So kill me, then,” she whispers, rising on her tiptoes and tugging on my roots, her nose grazing against mine.
“Death would be a gift.” My hips press into hers. “I’d rather see you suffer.””
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
Overall this was a very nice read and great story. Totally recommend it. Plus have you seen that cover. I'm melting over here. Also Check the TW, there are quite a few.
⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙
I 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃 every single aspect of this book. I was fascinated by the world building. The plot is engrossing and i was utterly hooked on the story, the politics, the romance. The characters had many layers to them and I loved to see when the mask they wear fell and let us see their true self. I just freakin' loved 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆. The writing was easy to get into. The pacing is smooth. This story was very different from her previous book Hooked but still very intriguing. I was even more interested by this world and all the scheming and desception it had.
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
It kinda reminded of The Shadow Between Us with the whole marry the king and take his kingdom trope which I loved btw, and even tho they are similar in a way, the story is very different and managed to be unique and surprising.
Plus this was a very much darker Retelling with a lot more 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 moments between our two 𝐌𝐂, which I'm so here for that and the banter. God their interaction was 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒. Like seriously I can't even with their passion and chemistry, it was magnificent and so very twisted.
“He commands my body the same way he commands a room; effortlessly. I sink into his hold, allowing my mind to shut off for the first time all night.
For some reason, the way he’s holding me, the way he’s pulling me just a little too tight, and a little too close, makes tears crop up behind my eyes.
He makes me feel safe. Important. And I haven’t known that since my father. If I dig a little deeper, it’s easy to see that Tristan and I, we’re cut from the same cloth, and that’s part of the reason I can’t stand the sight of him. Because looking at Tristan is like looking in a mirror and seeing the pieces of myself I try so hard to hide.
But he doesn’t hide them, and I’m not quite sure how to handle that.”
⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙
Not to mention more vengeful and unhinged. But you won't hear me complain, I think we've already established where I stand in the dark universe. The more bloodshed the better. This was a morally grey story with so many cruel Borderline villainous moments and I devoured every 𝐅#𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 word of it.
“Tristan,” she murmurs.
My stomach flips, an inferno of lust raging through my middle and scorching up my throat.
“Say it again.”
“Say what?” she asks.
“My name, little doe,” I rasp. “Say my name.”
She blows out a heavy breath and I suck it in, desperate to taste her on my tongue.
“Tristan.” Her fingers tangle in the strands of my hair.
I lean my forehead against hers, lust ripping through me until I can’t see straight from how badly I want to strip her bare and fuck her raw. “I should kill you for making me feel this way.”
“So kill me, then,” she whispers, rising on her tiptoes and tugging on my roots, her nose grazing against mine.
“Death would be a gift.” My hips press into hers. “I’d rather see you suffer.””
]|I{•---------⋘⋙---------------•⪼⦕࿅⦖⪻•---------------⋘⋙---------•}I|[
Overall this was a very nice read and great story. Totally recommend it. Plus have you seen that cover. I'm melting over here. Also Check the TW, there are quite a few.
April 4, 2023
No sabía que necesitaba esta historia hasta que la leí.
No estaba segura si darle una oportunidad a este libro, considerando que Hooked no me gustó nada. PERO AAA. Me encantó Scarred. La tensión entre Sara y Tristan? Chef's kiss. ES UN RETELLING DE EL REY LEON, pero el interés amoroso es Scar. UMMM? Si bien es un libro slow burn, creo que el ritmo estuvo perfecto. Además que valía la pena esperar por esas escenas spicy.
Amé de verdad prácticamente todo de de este libro.
No estaba segura si darle una oportunidad a este libro, considerando que Hooked no me gustó nada. PERO AAA. Me encantó Scarred. La tensión entre Sara y Tristan? Chef's kiss. ES UN RETELLING DE EL REY LEON, pero el interés amoroso es Scar. UMMM? Si bien es un libro slow burn, creo que el ritmo estuvo perfecto. Además que valía la pena esperar por esas escenas spicy.
Amé de verdad prácticamente todo de de este libro.
November 23, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up
I'm not sure how to feel about this. It wasn't good tbh. The first 60% was so BORING, and I struggled to read it. The story started to pick up around 70%, it was interesting; I liked the ending, which is the only reason I'm even considering giving this more stars.
_________________________________
Hooked | Review
Scarred | Review
Wretched | Review
Twisted | Review
Crossed | TBR
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I'm not sure how to feel about this. It wasn't good tbh. The first 60% was so BORING, and I struggled to read it. The story started to pick up around 70%, it was interesting; I liked the ending, which is the only reason I'm even considering giving this more stars.
_________________________________
Hooked | Review
Scarred | Review
Wretched | Review
Twisted | Review
Crossed | TBR
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February 26, 2024
2.25★ I guess I should’ve taken the title seriously because this book has indeed scarred me. I might fr have brain damage after reading this, but hey, at least it was better than the first book :)
September 21, 2022
Reread:01/09/2022-When he doesnt just call you plain pretty and means what he says:
"Are you calling me beautiful?"She whispers , her eyes wide as she looks my way
My tongue swipes across my lips and i lean in, my mouth brushing the edge of her ear."Im saying you could drive a man insane.Make him rave the world just to see you smile"
➸➸➸➸➸➸➸➸➸
a fantasy inspired by lion king? inspired by scar? SCARRRRR !! I love lion king so so much ,so of course I had to read this and I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED.
The story revolves around Sara Beatreaux , the daughter of a duke sent to the king as a candidate for marriage . Sara seeks to avenge her dead father and overthrow and rid the world of the Faasa family. She is warned to stay away from the kings scarred brother who dark rumor's follow but she cannot help but be swept by the beautiful and cunning prince into a scorching and passionate romance
"i should kill you for making me feel this way"
"so kill me then", she whispers.
"Death would be a gift . I'd rather see you suffer"
This book was addicting and hottttt . I feel Emily really captured and executed the lion king resemblance. Tristan (scar in this case) was a dark and complicated character , he really was messy and cruel and I really appreciated how he didn't have some abrupt change in his behavior after Sara came along , he was every bit the anti-hero while still earning my love . Sara could have been developed a bit better in my opinion , she didn't really have much character , what did she like ? who exactly was she ? but it was good enough and she certainly wasnt one of those annoying Mary sue characters , neither was she great at everything she did . The scenes between the two were absolutely steamy , with lingering stares , exciting situations and burning passion . I'm usually not one for smut but I actually didn't mind it being here . I do wish the physical attraction was focused on a little less however .For a book meant to be set back in 1910 it didn't really feel that way much , the book read more like a contemporary romance with bits of a fantasy world mix which kept the pace going .The plot with the court dealings and world building was done really well . I usually find myself unsatisfied and wanting more after a standalone and though I could take more of these two I find the book was ended suitably and we weren't left hanging .
"I'd like to draw you", I rephrase, moving in closer,my fingers dancing across her skin."just like this, with your face kissing the stars...I think its the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
if your moral compass is slight skewed , if your a bit on the insane side ( my kinda people) then I urge you to read the book .If you liked the cruel prince i think ud want to check this out too. its not gonna be everyone's kinda thing so be sure to check TW's before reading the book.
"Are you calling me beautiful?"She whispers , her eyes wide as she looks my way
My tongue swipes across my lips and i lean in, my mouth brushing the edge of her ear."Im saying you could drive a man insane.Make him rave the world just to see you smile"
➸➸➸➸➸➸➸➸➸
a fantasy inspired by lion king? inspired by scar? SCARRRRR !! I love lion king so so much ,so of course I had to read this and I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED.
The story revolves around Sara Beatreaux , the daughter of a duke sent to the king as a candidate for marriage . Sara seeks to avenge her dead father and overthrow and rid the world of the Faasa family. She is warned to stay away from the kings scarred brother who dark rumor's follow but she cannot help but be swept by the beautiful and cunning prince into a scorching and passionate romance
"i should kill you for making me feel this way"
"so kill me then", she whispers.
"Death would be a gift . I'd rather see you suffer"
This book was addicting and hottttt . I feel Emily really captured and executed the lion king resemblance. Tristan (scar in this case) was a dark and complicated character , he really was messy and cruel and I really appreciated how he didn't have some abrupt change in his behavior after Sara came along , he was every bit the anti-hero while still earning my love . Sara could have been developed a bit better in my opinion , she didn't really have much character , what did she like ? who exactly was she ? but it was good enough and she certainly wasnt one of those annoying Mary sue characters , neither was she great at everything she did . The scenes between the two were absolutely steamy , with lingering stares , exciting situations and burning passion . I'm usually not one for smut but I actually didn't mind it being here . I do wish the physical attraction was focused on a little less however .For a book meant to be set back in 1910 it didn't really feel that way much , the book read more like a contemporary romance with bits of a fantasy world mix which kept the pace going .The plot with the court dealings and world building was done really well . I usually find myself unsatisfied and wanting more after a standalone and though I could take more of these two I find the book was ended suitably and we weren't left hanging .
"I'd like to draw you", I rephrase, moving in closer,my fingers dancing across her skin."just like this, with your face kissing the stars...I think its the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
if your moral compass is slight skewed , if your a bit on the insane side ( my kinda people) then I urge you to read the book .If you liked the cruel prince i think ud want to check this out too. its not gonna be everyone's kinda thing so be sure to check TW's before reading the book.
February 9, 2023
”…he’s as dangerous as he is unhinged…”
Yumm… if he is NOT slightly unhinged, tempted by violence, and absolutely obsessed with you — would we even want him??
Scarred has all of the things I have come to expect of McIntire’s fractured fairy tales. A fierce heroine, a scorching hot antihero, classic fairy tale easter eggs, twists, violence, and melty heat. This was an excellent addition to the series. I knew I would love it. I have complete faith in McIntire and my book besties. Many thanks to ALL of you babettes! 🫶
Now the best part! There were so many good quotes, it was difficult to narrow down.
Quotes
”Life is about appearances.”
He’s unsettling. …maybe that’s just his darkness reaching out and trying to find the blackest parts of mine.
That’s the difference between me and other people. They run away from the bad things, and I become them.
“Sometimes, it’s hard to know who you are when there’s pressure to be something else.
I never realized how suffocated it makes me to be surrounded by people.
“Do you ever feel like you can’t turn it off?” I continue. “Your thoughts, I mean.” “Always.”
It’s intoxicating to have a man willing to do anything just so he can keep touching you.
But now there’s her. And everything else pales in comparison.
And when we die, I’ll hunt her down in the afterlife and figure out a way to brand her soul.
━━━ BR with Capri! ━━━
Yumm… if he is NOT slightly unhinged, tempted by violence, and absolutely obsessed with you — would we even want him??
Scarred has all of the things I have come to expect of McIntire’s fractured fairy tales. A fierce heroine, a scorching hot antihero, classic fairy tale easter eggs, twists, violence, and melty heat. This was an excellent addition to the series. I knew I would love it. I have complete faith in McIntire and my book besties. Many thanks to ALL of you babettes! 🫶
Now the best part! There were so many good quotes, it was difficult to narrow down.
Quotes
”Life is about appearances.”
He’s unsettling. …maybe that’s just his darkness reaching out and trying to find the blackest parts of mine.
That’s the difference between me and other people. They run away from the bad things, and I become them.
“Sometimes, it’s hard to know who you are when there’s pressure to be something else.
I never realized how suffocated it makes me to be surrounded by people.
“Do you ever feel like you can’t turn it off?” I continue. “Your thoughts, I mean.” “Always.”
It’s intoxicating to have a man willing to do anything just so he can keep touching you.
But now there’s her. And everything else pales in comparison.
And when we die, I’ll hunt her down in the afterlife and figure out a way to brand her soul.
━━━ BR with Capri! ━━━
January 14, 2022
The plot was set in 1910 but the writing style was very contemporary if you know what i mean. This bothered me a lot and i had difficult time connecting with the story.
The H or Tristan was supposed to be this bad villain "the rebel king" but i found him very forced. The twists were predictible and the first part was so slow and boring.
The best thing about this book is the cover.
The H or Tristan was supposed to be this bad villain "the rebel king" but i found him very forced. The twists were predictible and the first part was so slow and boring.
The best thing about this book is the cover.
January 24, 2022
If you want to burn down hell, you must learn to play the devil’s game.
Emily Mcintire's Scarred was a hell of tale of two very damaged people who lived for revenge against the self absorbed king of Faasa! The thing is one is his own brother who he bullied,scarred and treated like shit! Tristan has been buying his time waiting to kill and strip his brother Michael of his throne since his fathers death. He knows that Michael and his advisors along with their own mother are behind his fathers death. But when his brother's advisors tell him as king he must get married to calm down his people and stop a revolution from happening its Sara who's in line to be the next queen.But what king Michael doesn't know is Sara has been waiting for her chance for she has been groomed to be the perfect wife and now is her chance to avenge her fathers death. You see her father went to ask king Michael to help his starving people but all he got was death. Sara will not only kill all the royal family but she will burn all they have to the fucking ground! What a dark romance this was! Tristan is deeply jaded and dangerous! He's not above burning someone alive and doing what he believes is payback. I love villains but at first I was like this guy is too twisted! Yes he was bullied and treated like shit by his asshole brother and his friends and his own brother scarred him just to make him more different and a outsider, but damn!!!! But when Sara walks into the picture you see a different side. At first he's a real dick and plays with her like a cat would with a mouse and just screws with her but he soon finds out just how strong his little doe really is and its not long before he sees the true Sara and realizes he's meant his match! Sara might look like the perfect and beautiful woman who does what she told but her heart is almost as poisonous and vengeful as Tristan's! Theirs is a dark sexual mating mixed with twisted pain and pleasure and both are totally into it. The writing is very good and the characters certainly very memorable. I will caution that this is a very adult themed read with candle play,ruff sex and facial edjaculating and adult language but its all consensual. This is not a sweet romance or for the faint of heart, but it is a awesome read none the less. Until next time Luv's💕💋
Emily Mcintire's Scarred was a hell of tale of two very damaged people who lived for revenge against the self absorbed king of Faasa! The thing is one is his own brother who he bullied,scarred and treated like shit! Tristan has been buying his time waiting to kill and strip his brother Michael of his throne since his fathers death. He knows that Michael and his advisors along with their own mother are behind his fathers death. But when his brother's advisors tell him as king he must get married to calm down his people and stop a revolution from happening its Sara who's in line to be the next queen.But what king Michael doesn't know is Sara has been waiting for her chance for she has been groomed to be the perfect wife and now is her chance to avenge her fathers death. You see her father went to ask king Michael to help his starving people but all he got was death. Sara will not only kill all the royal family but she will burn all they have to the fucking ground! What a dark romance this was! Tristan is deeply jaded and dangerous! He's not above burning someone alive and doing what he believes is payback. I love villains but at first I was like this guy is too twisted! Yes he was bullied and treated like shit by his asshole brother and his friends and his own brother scarred him just to make him more different and a outsider, but damn!!!! But when Sara walks into the picture you see a different side. At first he's a real dick and plays with her like a cat would with a mouse and just screws with her but he soon finds out just how strong his little doe really is and its not long before he sees the true Sara and realizes he's meant his match! Sara might look like the perfect and beautiful woman who does what she told but her heart is almost as poisonous and vengeful as Tristan's! Theirs is a dark sexual mating mixed with twisted pain and pleasure and both are totally into it. The writing is very good and the characters certainly very memorable. I will caution that this is a very adult themed read with candle play,ruff sex and facial edjaculating and adult language but its all consensual. This is not a sweet romance or for the faint of heart, but it is a awesome read none the less. Until next time Luv's💕💋
May 7, 2023
DNF at 55%
So I hated Hooked. (This is relevant info, bare with.)
I didn't plan on picking this up.
Then, this TikTok of me breaking down recs for 'I will raze the entire earth to save you' went viral and my comments were infiltrated with people saying I needed to read Scarred, aaaaaand that it was much better than Hooked.
Turns out I hate this too.
→ worldbuilding? abysmal.
→ descriptive writing so I can picture something, ANYTHING in my head? non-existent.
→ number of times "Tristan's 🐓 stiffened" in non-sexual settings? concerning.*
→ number of characters I gave a single shit over? zero.
*Also, would it kill you to switch it up? There are other ways to convey a character is turned on. Jesus.
One thing is very clear: Emily McIntire's books are absolutely not for me and I will never pick up anything else she writes.
So I hated Hooked. (This is relevant info, bare with.)
I didn't plan on picking this up.
Then, this TikTok of me breaking down recs for 'I will raze the entire earth to save you' went viral and my comments were infiltrated with people saying I needed to read Scarred, aaaaaand that it was much better than Hooked.
Turns out I hate this too.
→ worldbuilding? abysmal.
→ descriptive writing so I can picture something, ANYTHING in my head? non-existent.
→ number of times "Tristan's 🐓 stiffened" in non-sexual settings? concerning.*
→ number of characters I gave a single shit over? zero.
*Also, would it kill you to switch it up? There are other ways to convey a character is turned on. Jesus.
One thing is very clear: Emily McIntire's books are absolutely not for me and I will never pick up anything else she writes.
January 3, 2023
Can you give a book more than 5 stars, because this book deserves at least like a 10/5.
TOP TIER EVERYTHING. This gave me fantasy meets dark romance with a little bit of spice. This is the definition of enemies to lovers and slowburn. THE TENSIONS! THE ANGST!
Tristan was deliciously morally grey, I adored him. Sara B. TALK ABOUT A STRONG HEROINE.
Like there is nothing I didn't love about this book and when I tell you, you need it. You Need It.
This book is making it to my top reads of 2021, 2022 (bc that's when it releases) and of all time. Like I need a reread NOW.
Emily, my love, thank you for this incredible story & always delivering exactly what we need.
I cannot wait for you guys to read this ! Like literally take the day off on Jan 4th to read this, I'll write you a doctor's note if you need one.
TOP TIER EVERYTHING. This gave me fantasy meets dark romance with a little bit of spice. This is the definition of enemies to lovers and slowburn. THE TENSIONS! THE ANGST!
Tristan was deliciously morally grey, I adored him. Sara B. TALK ABOUT A STRONG HEROINE.
Like there is nothing I didn't love about this book and when I tell you, you need it. You Need It.
This book is making it to my top reads of 2021, 2022 (bc that's when it releases) and of all time. Like I need a reread NOW.
Emily, my love, thank you for this incredible story & always delivering exactly what we need.
I cannot wait for you guys to read this ! Like literally take the day off on Jan 4th to read this, I'll write you a doctor's note if you need one.
February 27, 2023
Okay I LOVED this. I reallllly don’t see how anything else in the series could top it. 😩
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