This was interesting, frequently problematic (expected for a gothic), and constantly filled with overwrought dramatics, some of which were all too believable and others of which were completely implausible (although again, that's fairly standard for a gothic). Isadora is so very 19, and whether that's a good or bad thing will depend on the reader. It was fine for what it was intended to be, just be aware going in that no amount of "but we're soulmates!" will make this couple less creepy/doomed to be an eventual trainwreck.
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This book (mostly) didn’t disappoint!

Lucian and Isa are both cursed. Shitty parents, horrible circumstances, and plagued by rumors, these two have both had their fair share of pain. When Isa takes a job at Blackthorne Manor, everyone tries to convince her not to. Lucian Blackthorne is the devil, he killed his wife and kids, it’s bad luck to so much as pass by a Blackthorne. Rumors are abound in the small Massachusetts island where our story is set. Delightfully dreary, and reminiscent of Bronte moors and foggy clifftops, the castle in which Isa must go to work in is perfectly spooky.

Of course - zany adventures ensue. We get glimpses of Lucian’s past in between the present chapters. Lucian has lots of issues to say the least. It took me a long time to become interested in these past chapters. I’m not sure why because there’s no doubt that some utterly insane things were happening, but I found myself more interested in Isa’s perspective. I didn’t mind Lucian’s present-tense chapters, but really what carried me through this story was Lucian and Isa’s relationship, not anything to do with the sadism-fuck-club, or Isa’s mama drama.

That isn’t to say that I wasn’t intrigued by these things, I was especially on board when Laura dropped some MASSIVE knowledge bombs right at the end. And I did really want to know what actually went down with Amelia and Rourke. BUT, again, what I really wanted most was the romance, a very dark one at that, but still a romance nonetheless. Which, unfortunately, was certainly the most disappointing part of the whole affair - there just wasn’t enough. Around 100 pages to the end I realized how many loose ends there were in the plot still, and how Lucian and Isa weren’t really together in a satisfying way, and I just couldn’t help but not feeling confident there was any way everything could be wrapped up 100%. This turned out to be justified because their relationship was toooootally rushed. We had action, plot, action, plot, and smushed right in the last moment: a little bit of book store lovin’ and “oh right I’m in love with you’s”. NOT to mention the very weird excerpt of Lucian potentially killing and DEFINITELY torturing a very injured Patrick Boyd. I found the scene just... odd?? And I’m just not certain I really needed to have the closure of what happened to him, because it just left me rather confused on what exactly Lucian learned after everything. Same goes for the scene with Friedrich right beforehand, maybe I just didn’t follow what was happening, but it just didn’t make sense to me.

Anyways, all of this said, I enjoyed this!! I loved the chemistry between Lucian and Isa. I have such a thing for sassy, kinda bratty, mc’s being matched with powerful, controlling dudes and Lucian/Isa hit all those marks. The sex was always great, though I wasn’t much for the breath play stuff, and the romance that was there, was enjoyable and sweet. ( )