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teresab78's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars - Lots of action both in and out of bed. Hurts and healing, love deepening and acknowledged. Love this series!!!
kavasghost's review against another edition
2.0
So sometimes within this book I kIndia stopped caring about the story. For some reason I thought it dragged, especially since I felt like the second scenes started interrupting the story and I kept getting bored throughout.
I was also sad that it’s not actually fantasy and the bid reveal was kinda anticlimactic.
I really enjoyed the first two books but this one was kinda meh
I was also sad that it’s not actually fantasy and the bid reveal was kinda anticlimactic.
I really enjoyed the first two books but this one was kinda meh
galleytrot's review against another edition
- 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
FIRST READ: Jun 2023
SECOND READ: Jul 2023
FORMAT: Audio
FORMAT: Audio
BRIEF SUMMARY:
In this fictional historic adventure/fantasy/erotica, Jon is settling into his role as Captain Black while navigating back home through the black mountains, with Tom standing loyally at his side, and Baltsaros in a state of flux between madness and lucidity. When long-repressed memories burst through his defences, Baltsaros becomes convinced of one thing: the key to ending his spells of psychosis lies in redemption for his most unforgivable failing. Returning to the helm after a period of recovery, he sets course for his homeland with his first mate and quartermaster both willing to live or die foolishly at their captain’s side.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 4.75 / 5⭐
Here in book three, we have the culmination of the struggles and the horrors of the previous books. Each of our men have gone through a metamorphosis of some sort by now, and there is a need to reconcile who they are with who they once were.
Jon has more or less come into his own aboard Baal’s Heart, although he faces some challenges in commanding respect and doling out punishment for crimes. He worries that Baltsaros’s obsessions will only bring him ruin, while his own hyperfixation takes up space in his mind and disrupts his composure. On top of this, while his bonds with Tom and Baltsaros are more or less cemented, it’s his turn to feel shoved off to the side while the other two men firm up their bond with one another.
This book is not Tom’s book. Out of our three characters, I feel like he reached his peak growth in the previous one, and now he’s sort of just along for the ride. He does struggle a bit with Jon’s form of affection, which doesn’t entirely fulfil Tom’s needs. Outside of the relationship, he is learning what it takes to forge and foster friendships that do not revolve around his more carnal needs. We also get more insight in this book about the time between Baltsaros picking him up and making him his first mate.
Baltsaros has a dark and horrendous past that he needs to face if he expects to move forward. The walls that more or less separated him from his humanity are crumbling down, but not without great cost to his state of mind. He is beginning to better understand what Tom means to him – has always meant to him – and how, like Jon, he wasn’t able to meet Tom’s needs on his own. But for all of the growth and the progress he has experienced, the solution to his madness still lays for exacting a ruthless and unforgiving retribution that will absolve him of his sins.
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 4.25 / 5⭐
I have complex feelings about this book. While I am willing to admit that it wasn’t as good as the previous two, the series as a whole has been a completely unforgettable five-star experience. I think that this book suffers a bit from Jon and Tom already having their own books, by which I mean: while each of those characters were going through their arcs, there were still other terrible characters around them informing said arcs. For Baltsaros, he is metaphorically (and for a good chunk of the book, literally) on his own. A lot of this book felt like Jon and Tom doing things independent of Baltsaros, and simply checking in on his progress now and then, until all three could reconnect for their final closure.
Additionally, there were a lot of side-characters who felt as though they were set up to be important in some key way, but they just sort of vanish from the story and go off to do their own things, never to be heard from again. That, and a lack of resolution or explanation for Jon’s dreams, made this third book feel somewhat incomplete.
I will once again insist that Ferraiuolo’s performance in the audiobook is phenomenal. I don’t think I could consume these books in any format that isn’t audiobook. Without his narration, it simply couldn’t be the same – or if it could, I simply don’t want to find out. I experienced this series through the library, but I must insist on owning it and supporting those who facilitated its production.
I will once again insist that Ferraiuolo’s performance in the audiobook is phenomenal. I don’t think I could consume these books in any format that isn’t audiobook. Without his narration, it simply couldn’t be the same – or if it could, I simply don’t want to find out. I experienced this series through the library, but I must insist on owning it and supporting those who facilitated its production.
FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 4.5 / 5⭐
If you’ve made it this far into the series, then you already know what you’re in for when it comes to content. This book is steamy, cruel, and unforgiving where it comes to potentially triggering content – even moreso than its two predecessors. While the worst is not overly explicit or graphic, It is there, and it is not shy about being there. Buckle up for the content warnings.
This book has representation for gays, bisexuals, and lesbians. Women are represented in roles and positions of authority without discrimination based on their gender. There is a wide variety of representation in diversity in this book.
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Death, Gore, and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Body horror, Cannibalism, Confinement, Drug use, Trafficking, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual assault, Torture, and Vomit
Minor: Pedophilia, Dementia, Drug abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Suicide, and Addiction
friends2lovers's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Drug use
Minor: Infidelity, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail
Sexual Content:cadiva's review against another edition
4.0
Rather abrupt conclusion to the piratical threesome
I enjoyed this one but it felt like it ended rather abruptly with a conclusion that seemed to be missing bits.
This third book is also much more of the adventuring and less of the relationship elements between the three men as they try to recover the Captain's mind and memories.
The villain of the piece also seemed to appear from nowhere and there was odd conflict brought in to create tension between the three men.
Still, it was a riotous ride on the high seas and filled with loads of epic moments.
I enjoyed this one but it felt like it ended rather abruptly with a conclusion that seemed to be missing bits.
This third book is also much more of the adventuring and less of the relationship elements between the three men as they try to recover the Captain's mind and memories.
The villain of the piece also seemed to appear from nowhere and there was odd conflict brought in to create tension between the three men.
Still, it was a riotous ride on the high seas and filled with loads of epic moments.
vargas's review against another edition
3.0
Well, this was never a fairytale, but I can't stop feeling a little unsettled because of the events in the last chapters. But I think this is the kind of stories I enjoy most, stories that affect me, pushing me out of my comfort zone, where never happens what I want to happen, because, where's the fun in that?
gabeisnotanangel's review against another edition
4.0
Oddly unsatisfactory
I felt for Jin in thus one. Never once did I feel like he was actually valued or loved by either men. When the second boom ended I believed Tom loved him at least. But then Tom fools around so e other guy whom he thinks about far more than the nan he supposedly loves. Then when Baltros and Tom shut him out after he hasn't seen Bal in three months? He slept on the fucking patio! Outside. And neither nan seemed to give a crap. It was lime Jon's only purpose was to BRI g them together. Neither man deserved Jon and I kept hoping he ditch both assho!es and find someone who actually loved him. But no he settled . The story was good and even though I ended up feeling utter disgust for everybody but Jon it was a good story.
I felt for Jin in thus one. Never once did I feel like he was actually valued or loved by either men. When the second boom ended I believed Tom loved him at least. But then Tom fools around so e other guy whom he thinks about far more than the nan he supposedly loves. Then when Baltros and Tom shut him out after he hasn't seen Bal in three months? He slept on the fucking patio! Outside. And neither nan seemed to give a crap. It was lime Jon's only purpose was to BRI g them together. Neither man deserved Jon and I kept hoping he ditch both assho!es and find someone who actually loved him. But no he settled . The story was good and even though I ended up feeling utter disgust for everybody but Jon it was a good story.