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ash_jane's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
krisssreads's review against another edition
4.0
When you ask the smutbook group what is the darkest, dirtiest non consensual book they’ve ever read and 40+ people recommend this one specifically and yet I feel like I shouldn’t even rate this book on the grounds of it being morally wrong but here we are… this book was fucked to the point shit was hard to stomach but it was worth it.
For character understanding:
Sau
For character understanding:
Sau
kiki6k's review against another edition
5.0
This is an incredibly gripping story. It’s dark, and stays dark throughout the entire things. Things don’t “just get better” in this story. You get to read about some real truths and darkness too (which the author notates and the end, even though this is fiction- she touches base on real life issues that happen in our world.) Sau is both an incredibly strong women, and very much a human as well. She makes mistakes, has feelings, acts impulsively and wants to protect her children. She loses everything, and nearly herself many times. You will have to check the trigger warnings for this book because it checks every single one on the list. The hot scenes almost make up for the dark- but many of them are filled with darkness too. I’m not shocked by anything I’ve read in this book- but it’s written very well that I couldn’t put it down without thinking about it again. Overall a really good read if you need something that is intense and emotionally taunting.
megshelton's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What a masterpiece of nonstop trauma, challenging the willpower for a small girl to find a way to heal both physically and mentally through womanhood one traumatic blow after the other. Yes it’s heavy material that can make many uncomfortable, but if you are aware of the ugly reality that surrounds you in the real world, it’s not hard to realize that people live through these very things in real life (minus the supernatural aspects). I have to applaud Miranda for being that bitch and not making people “safe” or “off limits” to the brutality because of age, gender, or status. To have so many moments where you just think “damn…that’s fucked” but have this vice grip on your mind where you can’t put the book down and have to see things through. “To fight for them”. Slow clap standing ovation to you Miranda Grant, for being brave enough to write a compelling story full of so much fight, anguish, trauma, torture, brutality, love, healing, forgiveness, and soul. I can’t wait to read Cursed to be mine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Blood, War, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Rape, Emotional abuse, Murder, Child death, and Child abuse
inkshadows's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, War, Cursing, Death, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Rape, Domestic abuse, Torture, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, and Self harm
Moderate: Death of parent, Genocide, and Trafficking
Minor: Child abuse and Pregnancy
jess_l_lovessmut's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Holy Moly!! It is very dark and so freaking creative which left me wanting to leave a great review but holy hell I got so frustrated with these characters. Not characters... Sau! I wanted to jump in the book and ring her neck. I know is was circumstantial but geez woman! Although, lets not leave Caden out, he drove me mad sometimes too. For the love of everything... please read the triggers because I hate seeing an author get bad reviews when the warning is at the beginning of the book for this reason. Also, Aleric is f*cking hilarious. He had me howling! Call me crazy but the story was great.
lady_h_reads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Review for the Hard Version of Madness Behind the Mask
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️½
Antonio does not own her. He is not her husband. He might have left his mark on her, but I will wash him from her memories, give her new ones to sleep to, to find comfort in rather than pain.
I am obsessed with this book! The level of darkness is no joke! I thought I’d been jaded reading so many dark books recently, but I FELT this one. I found it even better than the first book in the series! This is DARK DARK. Please check TWs before reading. Unless you have none, then dive right in!
I have so much compassion for the FMC, Sau. She is a tragic character who has gained and lost so much. My feelings towards the other MCs are so convoluted. I can't tease out if I hate them or not.
It's a fast-burn MF romance though there are additional players who have noncon engagements with Sau. There is a mixture of con, noncon, dubcon, and punishment scenes.
It has a non-traditional HEA (I would classify it closer to a bittersweet HFN). You could conceivably read this as a standalone, though it is part of an interconnected series and occurs chronologically before the rest of the series.
⚠️ Significant triggers. Please visit the author’s website https://mirandagrant.com/madness-behind-the-mask for an extensive list. ⚠️
Genre: Dark Paranormal Mafia Romance
Tropes/Features: VERY dark elements, mafia, arranged marriage, witch FMC, witch MMC, werewolf, vampire, virgin FMC, con/noncon/dubcon, revenge
Narrator: Multiple 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: MF (scenes where F is taken), fast burn, spicy (kinks)
Book Type/Ending: Prequel novel in Book of Shadows series, can be read as a standalone, non-traditional HEA
TW/CW: Extensive list available on author’s website https://mirandagrant.com/madness-behind-the-mask, soft version does not contain several of the triggering elements.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Death of parent, Child death, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Torture, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
meg_sie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Blood, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Death, and Rape
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
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