I See The Devil by Cyma Rizwaan Khan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read from December 30, 2013 to January 07, 2014 — I own a copy

This is all about the Good vs Evil and who's side is the good side. It would force you to pick a side then make you question if you are really capable of true goodness. AND at the end of the story, you would definitely view Satan and the Angels with a different light.

The story revolves around Jeremy Pearce a mental hospital escapist and his meeting with Lucifer the famous fallen angel, the devil himself. The manipulative charms of the devil is very much like the siren call so it's understandable how Jeremy readily falls into the devil's plan to bring forth the Apocalypse. Jeremy was told he was an essential ingredient for Lucifer's grand design for humankind or we should call it the idealistic re-designing of humankind. Lucifer's offer was tempting enough that I caught myself fantasizing about it. It is something most would die for and here, Lucifer eagerly proffers it. Of course nothing in life comes for free especially for such a coveted prize. What are you willing to sacrifice? Best still, who's life are you willing to use as a trading chip to secure said prize?

What good would come out of following the devil? Jeremy was lead into committing various horrid deeds, some was willingly done while there are others not as eagerly carried out by him. This crazy journey with the devil has certainly changed Jeremy. For the better or for the worst? I'll leave that to you to make that judgment for yourself. Afterall this story is about making the right choices and for that we need to polish our judgment skill.

I did like some aspects of this book. Like how it would sometimes compel me to evaluate myself, makes me think a little deeper. Asides from that there are a number of quotes I liked and below is a quote which is simple yet forceful enough to remind us of that we have always forgotten to take good advantage of our mind power. We should really be a good slave driver when it comes with our mind. Make it work harder for us. Abuse it more and often. Make it yield to us in total submission!

Most of us does tend to underestimate the power of the mind and the marvel of the universe. In essence we are all a mass of energies, each with our own unique frequencies. I believe that our thoughts are very much like radio signals to the universe to select the channels we wanted. Fundamentally, we hold our own future because our thoughts brings us our future. Hence do be careful of what you wish for >:D

I enjoyed trying to figure out Lucifer and having him keeping me on my toes. He is such an elusive guy. A goal driven entity fearless in pursuing his ideal and always confident with himself. Like Jeremy, I couldn't take his word without a measure of doubt although it is very hard not to be swayed by his persuasiveness. He could be so sweet and nice when he wanted to be.

There is a point where I felt the book zaps all my happiness away and I am left moping in the dark. Also there are times when I felt like putting the book aside to stop it from further draining my energy. Asides that, the going was painfully slow for me in the beginning and I had to push myself a little to continue. Maybe too much preaching from the devil? The brainwashing is tiring me out. Lol. As for the horror aspect, I am curiously undisturbed although it wasn't lacking in the morbid department since this is a horror fiction.

I am also not liking how some plots doesn't smooth over well enough for me to eat it up. Besides that, at times Jeremy's idiotic moves frustrates me and jolts me out of the believe-zone. Lastly I am sorry to say the ending didn't worked for me. It was anti-climax and too simplistic after all that initial grand buildup. I see strings hanging and I am itching to tie it up like a pretty bow just to quench my thirst to know how some things would end. Sniffing and pouting a little, the ending left me dying in a desert alone and lonely, that's figuratively speaking of course. Maybe it's just me... just my over inquisitiveness to be blamed for feeling such a way. Everybody does have their own unique perception right. Okay, if anyone is pressing to know if this one ends with a sweet happily ever after... click the spoiler below.

[yes, you are safe to proceed with this wonderfully dark book as you will certainly see the rainbows you wanted at the end of the tunnel. It may be a foggy one but it is a rainbow since the hero survived and gain much needed inner strengths he lacks of before his hellish journey. Safe to say it's a HFN. (hide spoiler)]

To be clear, I am happy with the outcome for the protagonist, only disappointed the ending was too mild, nothing like the earth shattering ending I expected.


*:--☆--:*:--☆:*:--☆--:*:--☆--:*:--☆--:*:--☆:*:--☆--:*:--☆--:*
NOTE: This is an ARC copy extended to me by the author.





BOOK DETAILS:

Title: I See The Devil
Author: Cyma Rizwaan Khan
Publication Date: January 5th, 2014
Type: Novel, 48,714 words (approximate)
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Supernatural
Tags/Keywords: asylum, mental hospital, mental patient, mental hospital escapist, devil, satan, fallen angel, Lucifer, angels, archangels, Antichrist, supernatural, mysticism, evil, darkness, immortality, apocalypse, darkfics, dark story, dismemberment, mutilation, dungeon, family issue, ghost/apparition, HFN, horror, injury, magic, special abilities, philosophical, physical abuse/torture, revenge-punishment, ruthless killer, murders, attempted murders, manipulative antagonist, stubborn and rebellious protagonist, substance-abuse, suicidal-suicide, supernatural, thriller.

Description:
Insanity goes deeper than the soul. At least that's what 27 year old Jeremy Pearce is beginning to experience. He sees the devil; a devil who is hell-bent on bringing down the apocalypse.
Will Jeremy be able to save the world before it's too late?

WHERE TO BUY:




* Reviewed on January 7th, 2014


*:--☆--:*:--☆:*:--☆--:*:--☆--:*:--☆--:*:--☆:*:--☆--:*:--☆--:*

Comment on December 27th, 2013:

View all my reviews

Crazy by Cari Waites
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read from November 17 to 18, 2013 — I own a copy

Braingasmic 5 Stars!

Braingasm feels so divine. It's SO gud, I shivers with delight.




The story leads you into a dreamscape of an unstable mind, you will never really know which is real and which is just a figment of a confounded mind.

The author has the ability to draw her readers into her character's surrounding and make them feel what they felt. Her words are focused and never excessive, just the right amount to nudge us along.

I could really feel the sense of angst and powerlessness displayed by Drew the protagonist, it gave me such thrills and lovely goosebumps. Makes my heart squeeze with just the right amount of empathy not interfering with my deviant side wishing for more distressing situations for Drew.

If rape and suicide is a trigger for you, be forewarned then. The suicide attempt scene was almost poetic the way it was presented. On the other hand, the rape scene was quite intense and real. Made me wanted to gouge the perpetrator's eyes out, step on it, squish it to pulp.

In short, this book is DEFINITELY for me. Half the time while reading it, I was fretting over when that kinky straitjacket on that cover is going to ever come into play or will it not be at all? Gasp, I would have been devastated if the latter was the case. You see, I have an obsession with bondage, the stricter it is the better it was for me. I was saved from my impending depression when Ms. Waites delivers a highly stimulating straitjacket bondage sex scene combine with a sling harness to boot! Oh, how I love her.

So okay with the kinky stuff, the next point which appeals to me was the Asylum/Mental hospital setting which incidentally was another fascination of mine too.

Hence, how could I not love this book? It has such an appealing and potent combination with just the right formulation for me:

[Asylum] + [Straitjacket] + [Drugging] + [Noncon/Dubcon] + [Sinister Doctor] = Lovely amount of Angst and Powerlessness
- End Result: a one way ticket to Cloud9 forever

Actually, what further cemented a 5 stars rating was the ending. It was non-stereotypical as it dares to be different yet staying true to the story and its theme.

Ms. Waites has once again delivered another memorable piece of dark erotica. Her previous work, Gamble Everything was also a fine example of quality dark erotica. To me, Ms. Waites has successfully captured the essence of dark erotica; It's arousing yet so wrong on many levels.

It is rare to find good dark erotica that stays true to its theme. Most would just plaster on a HEA/HFN no matter how unnatural it was for the story and worst off, some turned downright fluffy at the end! There are also those with the misconception that being dark and erotic means torture porn all the way. I find it hard to be aroused when the other party isn't the least bit enjoying it that's why I find forced seduction to be the best balance.

If you love dark, all-shades-of-wrong kind of noncon cum borderline dubcon stories, this is for you.

They said I was crazy. I said they were crazy. They outvoted me.

Drew thinks he isn't crazy just outvoted by those around him even his own parents. I'll let you be the judge of it.





BOOK DETAILS:

Title: Crazy
Author: Cari Waites
Publication Date: November 15th, 2013
Type: Short story, 8,370 words (approximate)
Genre: M/M, Gay, Erotica, Contemporary, BDSM, Dominance-Submission, Noncon/Dubcon
Tags/Keywords: gay, erotica, rough sex, bondage, bdsm, noncon, dubcon, dominance-submission, hand-job, blow-job, maledom, humiliation and degradation, virgin, rape, suicide attempt, straitjacket, sling harness, cuff-restraints, drugging, taboo, asylum, mental hospital, mental-illness, psychological disorder, young man, anal sex, oral sex, handjob, mindfuck, humiliation-degradation, realistic, reluctant-forced, restricted-freedom, erotic, darkfics, forced-seduction, captivity-confinement, angst

Description:
Drew's not crazy. The dreams he has at night of his doctor restraining and dominating him can't be true. Just because he's a patient in a mental health facility doesn't mean he's crazy. Right?

This 8200 word short contains explicit content, including: m/m, dubious consent, oral and anal sex. All characters are aged over 18 years.


WHERE TO BUY:

Previous Comment on November 16th, 2013: Click to expand (non-spoiler)

View all my reviews