Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Gothic Reverse Harem Romance
Format: eBook/ARC
Pages: 442
Read: 08/03/22
Amazon Synopsis:
The territory master wants me for his bride, but his closest servant is my fated mate. Dare a woman ask for both a husband and her bonded companion?
When I was born, my father made a deal.
Now, to protect my remaining family, I must make good his bargain.
A rare specimen in a deadly and dissolving world, I am to belong to Malin Farrow: the master of Gudrune, and among the most feared leaders since the beginning of the Rift Events and all the monsters they bring with them.
Yet, despite his wicked reputation, and all the dark proclivities that make him infamous, he comes to love me--and I love him.
So what draws me to Eleison--his adversarial, standoffish, maddeningly beautiful footman with a beast in his heart?
For that matter...why must I be obsessed when Eleison can't stand to be near me?
**Inspired by Bluebeard, Beauty & The Beast, and Rapunzel, The Rift Bride is a reverse harem gothic romance set in a techno-Victorian universe. This entry features fated mates with a hot shifter on the one hand and age gap attraction with a dangerous older man on the other. It's a medium burn with no male cheating, jealous/possessive love, an HFN ending in an HEA series, and just the right amount of angst to balance out the very steamy scenes! 18+
**This series is by and large about VILLAINS who will get their happy ending, so be forewarned! Plot content can be dark and triggers include general BDSM, bondage, age gap romance, whipping/spanking, knifeplay, kidnapping, and some shocking twists in future volumes. Reader discretion is encouraged.
Advanced Review:
“In my environment, as in myself, I became aware of an intense battle between two energies. One drove me to stay home, where life was peaceful and quiet, and where the innocent joys of childhood could still be kindled up like a fire. But the other energy wished to break free. To abandon everything of that innocent childhood. To leap into the strange parallel reality of adults.”
For 2000 years the rift has affected Thecla’s world. The 2nd industrial era has now been joined with two new subsets of humans. The altered men and women now have a beast inside them and the Riftborn whose powers and gifts are not completely understood.
Thecla has both, but she has yet to discover this and understand what it means for her future.
The Rift is monitored for safety and protection, for when it occurs, it opens up an alternate reality where unimaginable creatures come through.
Seven years later, Thecla is now 17 years old and beginning a life on her own. It is the year 4083 when she receives a letter from the territory master summoning her to fulfill a promise made by her father. She learns she is an unregistered riftborn and a second generation altered and her life was promised to the territory master.
So begins her new life with Malin and Eleison.
My thoughts:
I absolutely love world building and this techno-victorian world was executed exceptionally well. Excellent creativity opening up to a dark world with an alternate reality where dangerous and mysterious creatures evolve. The rift causes the altered to suffer, shifting into creatures; the hidden beasts that are inside them adds even more danger to the world. Over time we learn more about them and why they are as they are. Very intriguing, indeed!
Thecla is an endearing character. We at first learn the innocence of her childhood and upbringing. She is adventurous, curious, and wants to experience the world around her. When she is summoned to the territory master, it was actually quite worrisome to know that her life was promised to the one person that everyone seemed to fear. Not knowing what was to become of her life and having to leave behind the only life she has ever known. As her character is developed, she grows in her confidence and learns that she is quite happy with her new life. She falls in love with Malin, the one man that her father always warned her against, but there is no denying her feelings. She also learns that she enjoys her masters' proclivities towards his sexual desires. This is where the story heats up and delves us into hot, spicy, and sexy, blush worthy scenes. Whew….. Very descriptive writing, leaving no doubt of what is occurring between Thecla and Malin. Their love for eachother is actually quite beautiful as it grows into a very strong bond.
Eleison is Thecla’s fated mate and there is no denying the desires between them. Can Thecla have both men and will Malin accept that she has a fated mate? I am choosing not to say too much about this part of the story as it would certainly reveal too many spoilers and that is no fun. It needs to be read to appreciate the reveal! Eleison is very dedicated to Malin and their relationship is a very important part of the story. There is much of Eleison’s character to appreciate and feel connected to.
I also need to mention Charlotte as she is a very strong character and she helps Thecla in many ways. From learning to fit into her new life, to accepting Malin as he is, and things not to do to put her life in any danger. Charlotte is also very dedicated to Malin and she is excellent at keeping secrets.
From the synopsis, it is very clear what type of story this is, but it is so much more. A whole new world and character’s to truly invest in. Hot and steamy scenes to fulfill those desires of reading a sizzling romance that ticks all the boxes in a reverse harem gothic romance that drips with sexual tension and release. A whole new world to become a part of!
Dark fantastical imagery, excellent world building, exciting character’s, erotic, lusty, passion and villian’s for the win!!
This part of the review will no tbe included on Amazon:
Now I must admit that I am not an expert in the genre and Regina took a chance on me accepting me to her team of ARC readers, I am pretty sure she knew…so from the bottom of my heart…thank you so much for putting your trust in me. As someone who appreciates an author's style of writing, I also knew that I was in for an adventure and I am always looking forward to diving into something new. One never knows what will be enjoyable until it is tried, so I am always willing to try a genre that is new to me. I really enjoyed reading this as it has those elements of darkness and world building that I love. I am definitely invested in these character’s now and I need to finish the journey so I am looking forward to reading book two. My first book by her was “Industrial Divinity” and it was phenomenal. It made an impact and has definitely hit my top 10 of the year.
Goodreads Author Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/
Amazon Author Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Ada-Dart/e/
Link to Regina's Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/
Review Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/
https://app.thestorygraph.com/user_reviews/
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/
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