Born, Darkly

Verga, esto si es dark dark. No se si debería analizarme internamente luego de leer esto y que me pareciera un libro 4 estrellas, no porque me gustara, sino la forma en la que me atrapo y me dejaba con ganas de mas y mas

I JUST WANTED TO SAY GOODNESS AND DAMN THE TENSION.

2.5 the pacing was a bit odd, i feel like the book would have been better if it was longer. not a fan of the writing style

serial killer x criminal physiologist ATEEEEE IT UPPP
the plot was really good agh, my brain is fucked that ending YALL-

- "I'm not here for myself, to resolve my psychotic tendencies. To be rehabilitated with the hopes of reentering society. I'm here for her."

- "Where do you feel you belong, Grayson?"
"With you, Dr. Noble. I belong right here with you."

- "All I know for sure is that we have a story. Ours is not a love story-we're too volatile, too explosive for monotony. No, our story comes with a warning. Beware."

- "What do you want?"
"I want to live. And I want you."

- "With her, I don't crave the abuse. I've enforced it for so long, it's damn near impossible to stop-but she's my answer. She's my salvation."

- "I won't accept anything less than her; she's my other half."

- "Pig."
"Salt."
"Tank."
"Flowers."
"Lilacs."
"Finger."
"String."
"Back."
"Pain.
"You're associating every word with me."

- "I crave to be just as free as him and all else that doesn't matter falls away. Grayson's touch...him tasting me, so wild and uninhibited...it's intoxicating. I've never been this exposed to anyone. God, the elation and pure, carnal pleasure is too much. It's all I can feel-all I want to feel. It's bliss. And it's hell. I was damned long before Grayson found me, and it was that dark note of my soul that called to him. I'm burning. I've set my whole world aflame to indulge this moment, and as he devours me, taking me within himself, consuming my willpower, I'd burn it all down for him-again and again."

- "We're a perfect match. Once you've sampled that perfection, that utterly seductive gratification, you cannot live without it. She's becoming a necessity, part of my addiction, and just as I can't quiet the compulsions, the absence of her stirs a restlessness, the fear of not having her a madness squirming inside my mind."

- "You're a monster."
"I'm your monster. Tell me, and you'll own me. Completely."

- "I don't fear death," "Not in the way most people do. I was of the mindset that once they killed me, my life, my purpose...it would be done. Finished. There's nothing to fear in that. I almost welcomed it, the chance to rest the relentless compulsions." "And then there was you."
"I fail to see how I have anything at all to do with it."
"You can't fear losing what you never knew existed. You changed everything, London. Now I can't simply cease because I want you too badly. I want what we could mean together."

- "One might consider that a suicide attempt. Especially when you're well aware half that dosage is enough to kill you."
"Maybe I did it just to see you one more time."

- "But for her...I can be more. I can be whole. The completeness that we mean together is a satisfaction to the compulsions that has consumed me for months. Demanding to be obtained. She is my salvation. And I am her long-awaited consequence."

- "Is that the number of lives you've taken?"
"Yes."
"Am I going to become number twelve? Just another scar on your flesh?"
"I won't let that happen."

- "I love everything about you even your sickness. It turns me on and drives me mad. The bad things you've done. I should despise what you are, but you caught me in your web, and I'm begging you to bleed me dry, that's how twisted you got me."

- "Our first kill. I'm drawn to her heat like a moth to the flame, like her body can ward off the demons of our past. She's my temple, and I want to kneel at her feet and worship."

- "Is this what love feels like?"
"This is what our love feels like."
"Then make me a sinner, Grayson. I don't want redemption. I want us."

- "Fuck. You're killing me."
"What if I could?"
"If you're going to tease, you better be willing to back it up."
"You're serious."
"I'd suffer any torture willingly if it came at your hands."

- "She’ll find me. No, ours is not a love story. Ours comes with a warning. And it’s not over yet. Of course, no one heeds warnings. If ours began with a beware, my story begins with a threat. Do not enter. I was spawned in hell itself.”

Was giving dub con at times -which I am not a fan of - but other than that this was a well written dark MASTERPIECE

🤨

This book wasn’t what I expected really. It was still enjoyable just not a favorite of mine. The main character, London, is a criminal psychologist and this is a forbidden romance story between her and her client, Grayson, whom is a serial killer. This book is a mix of Dexter, Harley Quinn & Joker, and a little dash of Saw. It was very different than what I’m used to. Grayson reminds me of Dexter but a little more twisted, which is where the sprinkle of Saw elements come in. Grayson presents traps/puzzles for his victims and some tend to be gruesome. The relationship between London and Grayson is very similar to that of Harley Quinn & Joker. Their "romance" was very twisted and it wasn't so much of a romance as it was mind games. But, considering the scenario of this book I guess that is to be expected. It wasn't a bad book, in my opinion. It was just an average read for me. Some may love this book, but it definitely won't be for everyone. This book is very dark, with very heavy topics that could be triggering to some, so just know that going into it. The ending of this book is what makes me want to continue on with the sequel. If it hadn't of been for the way this book ended I may not have decided to continue on with this story.

I have mixed feelings about this one.

It is quite well done for what it is. A review I read said it’s “Harley Quinn/ Joker meets Saw” and I do think that’s an accurate statement. 😂 As a psychological thriller I really enjoyed it, as a romance I was never sure if I wanted them to be together or not.

I will definitely read the second part after a small break. A very dark love story, interested to see where it goes!

AMÉ JODIDAMENTE ESTE LIBRO. MIS NUEVOS PSICÓPATAS FAV😌 ME VOY A LEER TODO DE ESTA SEÑORA? PROBABLEMENTE *ty diyva por tu recomendación*

crazy people i love them. 10/10 this book was amazing. no one understands them like i do my psychopaths

me decepciono solo un poquito pq tenía ALTAS expectativas pero igual ame, grayson está loco me encanta WHAT A MAN tengo miedo de continuar el segundo

DNF(190 pages) This book wasn't for me at all. I do not mind dark themes, angst, or some fucked up topics in books but this is kinda crazy in my opinion. Maybe it's because I study psychology but there were so many things that made no sense to me or seemed completely strange? Now, I would have let that passed if given a good reason but the thing is that the two main characters get interested in each other like right off the bat. London's curiosity is understandable at first, but it takes like 2 chapters for her to say that she wants him. What kind of psychologist are you? Also, I already know that Grayson falls into the antisocial spectrum (DSMV Cluster A) and he is obviously fucked up bc he is a fucking serial killer, and he goes for what he wants without thinking twice and blah blah blah, nonetheless, I don't care how much this explains his behavior, the fact that the first sort of intimate moment they have happens because he grabs her and drags her, to the point where I stopped reading bc I thought he would sexually assault her (I mean he kind of already was) like: NO. Straight up bad. The only thing I did like was the atmosphere. The author was capable of creating such a gloomy and smoky sensation when you read the words.

I honestly don't know what to make of this one. It's dark. It is a romance essentially between two serial killers, one of which being a criminal psychiatrist. The chemistry between the characters was extremely well written, but nevertheless disturbing. I would agree with other reviewers that this has elements of both Saw and the Joker/Harley Quinn vibes. Not sure if I'll read the second book.

***4 Stars*** Holy hell this was so fucking good!!! Definitely gets you inside your own head.

I figured sadistic serial killer « romance » is just not my thing.

I can see why some would give this a low/high rating.. It really does depend on the reader on whether you'll be into this type of "genre". Rated this 4 stars because of how interested I actually was with this book and it wasn't bad by all means—if you're excluding the parts where you'll feel guilty for liking it (in a book, of course).

I love it. Send me to hell.

No idea how to rate. mindfucked. 14.12. 20 Over a year later and am rating 3 stars because it is the first half of a great thriller but not a romance in any sense of the word or genre IMO.