Lovely Violent Things / Hollow’s Row #2

Blurb

He’s the devil. And she’s his wicked game. 

Book two in the Hollow's Row series. 

Halen: The night I gave in to Kallum Locke, I sold my soul to the devil. Now that devil has returned for me, a daemon siphoning off what soul I have left.

The Harbinger killer has descended on Hollow’s Row amid an active case, where I’ve been hired as a consultant to profile two killers. One offering gruesome sacrifices to obtain an ancient philosophy, and the other a bad omen from my past.

A dark truth hovers at the edge of my memories—but is it real, or a trick by the chaos magician himself, meant to trap me in his web of lies and corruption.

Kallum is too consuming, his clashing green-and-blue eyes staring into my depths, demanding I feel the frenzy he teased from my soul.

I have to escape him. 

Kallum: I’ve tasted Halen St. James, my muse of heartbreak. I’ve sank my teeth into her tender flesh, lapped at her tears, marked her as mine…

So I’ll be damned if I let her go now. Not this time—not when I’m so close to revealing our truth. It’s easy to be tricked when you believe your own lies. And, oh, how my little Halen loves her pretty lies.

She’s obsessed with naming me the killer. She’s afraid of me, but I’m not the danger she should fear.

The moth is attracted to sweetness—and my little Halen is the sweetest damn thing.

Halen needs her big bad villain to protect her.

Triggers / Tropes

CONTEMPORARY DARK ROMANCE , ENEMIES TO LOVERS , THRILLER ROMANCE , SERIAL KILLER, RITUALISTIC MURDERS,  DISSOCIATIVE AMNESIA , TRAUMATIC MEMORY, SOCIOPATH , OBSESSION , DUAL POV, MORALLY DARK MC, SMUT 🌶️🌶️🌶️

My review

If you're anything like me, diving into this book might initially feel like trudging through knee-deep philosophical sludge. The first chapters are heavy with jargon and academic debates that seem more suited to a lecture hall than a thriller novel. I found myself yearning for the pulse-quickening thrill and fiery romance that the first book tantalizingly offered in bite-sized morsels. Instead, I felt like I was being force-fed a hefty chunk of dense prose.

However, once you push through the initial fog, the story begins to sparkle with the dark allure that drew me in from the start. 

The night when Halen succumbs to Kallum marks a thrilling descent into chaos. She essentially sells her soul to the devil, and the arrival of the Harbinger killer in Hollow’s Row intensifies the stakes. Now, amidst her current case, she also has a serial killer to deal with. And, if that wasn’t enough, Halen's mind is a storm of flashbacks – but are they genuine memories or the product of Kallum's dark influence?

Kallum, having found his muse, sinks his teeth into Halen, binding her to him in ways both seductive, terrifying and thrilling. His obsession adds an edge to their interactions, especially as another villain's gaze falls upon Halen. Kallum isn’t one to share his prey, and his possessiveness amps up the tension deliciously.

This book is a rollercoaster ride I couldn’t get enough of. Even when I could predict the plot twists, the story's charisma and dark themes kept me hooked. Rituals, serial killers, and a dash of steamy hot chemistry– it’s a heady mix that pulls you in and doesn't let go. The ambiance of Hollow’s Row, the ritualistic overtones, and the serial killer's sinister presence all weave together to create an atmosphere that's both chilling and captivating.

What’s truly exciting is knowing there's another book to get my grabby hands on. As Halen’s eyes begin to see the truths lurking in the shadows, the story promises even more twists and turns. I’m ready to dive back into this dark, thrilling world that has captivated my imagination.

So, if you can wade through the philosophical density at the start, book two will reward you with a gripping, darkly alluring tale that’s hard to put down. Buckle up for a wild ride – it’s one worth taking.