Listen, is this book good? No. Not really.
It’s got a weird obsession with a particularly Victorian idea of virginity, and only the loosest possible concept of the physical logistics of real human sex.
It’s distracting. These people need, like, so much sex ed. And also probably to see several doctors. And then to hire somebody to come and clean ALL of their furniture.
But is this book compelling? Yeah, actually.
Like, I get it.
Until somewhat recently, I really didn’t see the appeal of the whole Dark Romance trend. But a friend encouraged me to take another look at it – through the lens of a kind of reclamation fantasy – and I kinda see that.
The fantasy, here, is essentially the same as the fantasy of having, like, a pet T-Rex.
Hear me out!
It goes like this: You, and ONLY you, have this dangerous creature in your corner. It loves you. It would never harm you. It would, in fact, wreck BRUTAL VENGEANCE on anyone who WOULD harm you. The creature destroys everything in its path with its big ol’ fangs, until gentled by your touch. And then destroys things AGAIN when those things get too close to you. And ONLY you.
Does the mafia work like this? No. Are there men who are violent maniacs to everybody else but secretly nice to their wives? Statistically, no. But does that matter here? Also no!
Because this is the Pet T-Rex fantasy. He protects only you, and eats your enemies for brunch. With your favorite appetizers.
So, in PURSUIT of that fantasy:
– our heroine is almost total blank slate that can be easily projected upon
– our hero is basically just violent OR protective, depending on what the situation calls for.
– they each have exaggerated characteristics that suit the roles that they play, emphasizing his starting position as predator and hers as prey.
Until they aren’t: because the ultimate fantasy of prey-hood is safety. And what’s safer than being protected by your pet monster? Especially when it’s a bigger, badder monster than anyone that ever hurt you?
Even their sex scenes (contortive positions and excess fluids aside), re-enforce this dynamic. We start with fear – then, our heroine remembers she’s safe, and the idea that he’s dangerous to everyone except her is sexy.
This is, like, either the second or twenty-fifth in a series or something – but it doesn’t matter. The fake mafia cardboard cut-outs don’t matter. Like, half of them die by the end anyway. It’s a bloodbath.
But it’s a bloodbath with a strong sense of its own thematic ideas. I’ve got to give it that!
(Even if everybody does still, like, REALLY need to go talk to a doctor about a few things. The descriptions of this man’s penis have me pretty damn convinced that there’s ZERO blood left in the REST of his body!)
Anyway: will I read the rest of the series? Nope! Not really my thing.
But do I see what it’s got going for it? Yes. And that’s something!
Much love,
— Sarah
Cannonball Read 15 BINGO: Bodies
(this book is all sex and murder – both of which require having a physical form!)
