Curiosity Killed the Kitten

Overall 2.5 stars
Performance 3 stars
Story 1.5- 2 stars

I'm normally not a big dark romance reader, but have become a fan of Natasha Knight's books. She has a way of getting me invested in these broken anti-heroes that surprises me every time. I wanted to enjoy this one too, but unfortunately, Deviant was a miss for me. I knew going in that it was going to be a dark listen, but many situations in the book felt like they were there just for the shock value rather than actually adding anything to the story. Philip Alces did a good job narrating, but I didn't particularly enjoy his female voices and I thought his voice wasn't gruff enough to fully pull off our amoral hero.

The heroine, Mia, came across as too stupid to live, and all the hero, Julien, ever did in the book was have sex (with our h and OW in the beginning) or dole out punishments, which led to more sex. There are BDSM situations, forced seduction, and dubious consent in this one. It felt much more like Stockholm Syndrome rather than love and it was very hard to believe that Mia was always "dripping and ready" for Julien, after the things that he did to her. The main drama involving why Mia was on the run from her step family wrapped up really fast and was anticlimactic given how much build up there had been. Julien's 180 at the end made the epilogue feel disingenuous and though fans of dark romance/erotica may enjoy this one, Deviant just wasn't for me.

🎧AudiobookObsession

4 people found this helpful

A MUST-LISTEN FOR ALL DARK ROMANCE FANS!!

If you could sum up Deviant in three words, what would they be?

Dark, twisted and kinky!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deviant?

There were two. The first was when Mia wept in Julien's arms after confessing about her traumatic past. That proved to be a game changer in both their lives and we saw a more human side to Julien. And, on the flip side, the scene in the warehouse when Julien cruelly whipped Mia and then had dubious consent sex with her to extract the truth was so horrifying and titillating it gave me shivers!!

Have you listened to any of Philip Alces’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my favorite to date. He OWNED the role of Julien. His deep, masculine voice was both sinister and seductive, I literally quaked. And Philip emoted so beautifully in both the hero and heroine POV! I had heart palpitations throughout and it was such a visceral experience for me...I felt as if i was in the room with the characters experiencing it firsthand!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes! It killed me to have to stop for real life. It typically takes me three weeks to finish an audio and I binge listened to this in less than a week!!! It was amazeballs!

Any additional comments?

"I hold your life in my hands. You live at my pleasure, understand?"

I just finished the audiobook of DEVIANT, narrated by the marvelously talented Philip Alces, and OMG this heart palpitating, hot AF dark romance might in fact be my absolute FAVORITE Natasha Knight dark romance to date!

This story made me blush, quiver, squirm, cringe and shudder in equal measure!! Julien is one dirty-talking, dominant, DEPRAVED baddie who was oh so menacing yet also so deeply broken he made me love him despite his heinous acts. He is the epitome of the dark anti-hero who is "somewhat" reformed by his love for his sweet, painfully naive captive Mia but never quite sheds his devilish skin.

The sinister mercenary for hire originally plans on silencing the lovely peeping Tom after she catches him "on the job" but there is something about her that gets under his skin and in a rare moment of "kindness" he ends up taking the naughty little temptress hostage instead when he discovers she's on the run for her life!! When he learns that she is in mortal jeopardy from corrupt folks who are even more demonic than him, they strike an unsavory bargain where she promises him half a million in return for his around the clock protection. Of course there's a catch. She must do WHAT he says, WHEN he says it and defiance and disobedience are SWIFTLY punished. And we are not talking about love taps either! But can Julien really be trusted or is he about to pull off a MAJOR double-cross that will lead poor gullible Mia into the hands of the enemy? What ensues is an action packed, hyper erotic, seriously TWISTED dark thriller that titillates the senses and penetrates the heart!

I love dark, predatory Doms that scare me a little and OMG Julien did that in SPADES!! The sexual interludes were kinky and crude and very rough, and there were definitely a few BDSM encounters that pushed me WAY out of my comfort zone but there was also underlying tenderness too and as soul-shattering revelations come to light my heart ached for them both. It’s through the sheer power of Natasha Knight's writing that you can't NOT read (or in my case listen) even when things happen that steamrolls your hard limits. Her stories are just so darn addictive and emotionally gripping that against all odds you are fully invested in her couples finding light amidst the suffocating darkness!

The plot was fast paced, suspenseful and uber exciting, with spine-tingling twists and turns! And while this was not a romantic love story by ANY means--Julien is a cold-blooded assassin AND a cruel sadist who enjoys humiliating and punishing as much as pleasuring and protecting--the emotional journey these characters embarked on was intricate and multi-layered and the intimate bond that these characters forged was deeply profound. I loved how Mia saw the best in Julien even when he was at his VERY WORST! And after an EXPLOSIVE showdown with the bad guys, the romantic payoff was perfecto. Ms. Knight ultimately served up a beautiful, poignant HEA that warmed my heart and gave me delicious goosebumps! Bottom line? DEVIANT is a DARK, TWISTY, SIZZLING HOT must-listen for romance fans who love to take a walk on the depraved side!

3 people found this helpful

Ok book. Major BDSM

This book was ok. Good but not great. One of the rougher BDSM books that I've listened to. This is not a use a safe word and everything stops type of Dom/Sub relationship.

6 people found this helpful

Dark and so very twisted

Natasha Knight is a new author to me and what a dark, twisted not to mention story Deviant is. Narrated by Philip Alces who is also new to me.

This was an extremely hot, spicy story but be warned it is extremely dark and at times it non consensual.

Julien is a mercenary for hire, dominant and broken man who looks at life in a depraved way, an anti hero if you will.

After witnessing unspeakable horrors, Julien plans to silence Mia. However after realising she is on the run, he initially kidnaps sweet and naive Mia.

Deviant is full of confronting BDSM scenes that will at times, test your limits, they certainly pushed mine. The chemistry between Julien and Mia was intense; their story was suspenseful and fast paced with many dark twists and turns.
#AudiobookObsessionReviewer

2 people found this helpful

Dark, Rough and Raw

Let me start by saying that i could see how this book would have triggers for some. The lead character is basically kidnapped for lack of a better description. Her captor is a Hit man who is rough, raw and a major A hat. a weird connection starts forming between them which results in scenes that could be closely construed as being taken against her will. This book is full of wild, Raw, Dirty sex but also has a story as well. I loved it. If dark, captor, rough reads aren't your thing, this was your warning. that being said, the connection that develops between the two ends up being heart warming and honest, HEA guaranteed.

2 people found this helpful

It you enjoy rape... Disgusted

Just because a body reacts does not make it any less rape. This book disgusts me, I had to turn it off because I found myself trying to fast forward past rape/molestation/abuse scenes constantly. There was no mutual consent. I found myself hoping the hero would die a gruesome death and new I had to stop listening... I can deal with a morally grey hero... This guy wasn't grey, he was disgusting.

2 people found this helpful

VERY VERY HOT. WORTH THE CREDIT

I was worried at first but as soon as. I started I couldn't stop. I finished it in on day. To my followers get ready cuz you are going to need some cuddle time from your other half or your friend BOB. Julian is as insatiable as they come. He looks a lil car cra on the cover but "He Can Get All Of It"

12 people found this helpful

The voyeur and the hit man

Julien is a cocky kinkster as dangerous as he is sexy. His raunchy antics catch the eye of the secretive Mia and little does she know her rear window routine will be her most dangerous game.

The chemistry between this pair is electric. Make sure you have headphones on or the windows up for this listen because the good parts are straight fire.

I would recommend this to fans of romantic suspense, erotic with a alpha/bdsm element and dangerous bad boys you hate to love

🎧AudiobookObsession🎧

1 person found this helpful

Terrible

The beginning was a good start then it went downhill fast. The female main character was kidnapped by a murderer and was ok with him having sex with her THE FIRST NIGHT HE TOOK HER. She could have said no b/c he said he wouldn't rape her, however she didn't stop him. What kind of sane healthy intelligent woman thinks with her private parts immediately after being kidnapped. I love a good Stockholm Syndrome story but it has to be GOOD and well thought out. This was not it. Very dissapointing.

1 person found this helpful

Holy Goodness!

Well this was a good hot steamy read. The heroine did get on my nerves at times. She never listened and always ended up in trouble. Well worth the credit.

1 person found this helpful