Reviews

Flames of Lethe by Lexie Talionis

llsburg's review against another edition

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4.0

RH, SA, DFS (Dark Fantasy Smut - my term). Many readers did not approve of the book's redemption arc, but I think it is a smart twist. Overall, the creative cosmos and storyline of this book make it a far more worthwhile read than most books in the genre.

The setting is ingenious and propels the story: a bleak unending landscape (I just finished I Who Have Never Known Men which has a similar setting!), a daily renewing fire that heals all physical wounds and burns away clothing, universal amnesia, accepted polyamory due to a shortage of women, a shortage which sets up the idea that women are treated as commodities, and the seeming afterlife effect that leads to not needing food, water, air or rest. All of the wild, otherwise preposterous, scenarios set up in the story are rationally acceptable because of this strange world. It's a flawless pornographic environment!

Jo finds herself naked and confused next to a stranger whose name she somehow knows is Christopher. They explore their new hellscape together, forming a bond, until she runs into Adam whom she vaguely remembers loving in a former life. Eventually, the two antipathetic men must work together to save her, but can they learn to share her peaceably?

The book includes a brutal rape scene. And, though it is not "right," this is erotica, people. Be warned, then choose to read or not to read. I found the reconciliation between the abuser and their subject to be acceptable given the amnesia they suffered before growing their relationship. It adds the emotional jolts that make a sex story even more arousing. Honestly, I could not put the book down.

Unfortunately, after reading all of the reviews of the sequel, I doubt I will continue this series. Reasons being: disjointed narrative, whiny FMC, pregnancy, and seriously how can Jo not already appreciate what she has with Adam and Christopher?! But, I am satisfied having read it as a stand-alone.

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I love how many acronyms I learned reading this book and its other reviews lol!!

toreadtoad's review against another edition

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I found the first few chapters were long, and after persevering the story still became no clearer. Made it 54% in and just didn't like the character development, or understand any characters motivations - wasn't the right fit for me.

caraddishreads's review

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Lost interest already at 12%

horror_hussy's review

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1.0

Nah fuck this book

sunshine_haeven74's review

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2.0

Why the fuck would you write this.

That’s really all I can think about rn. I get that it’s Dark romance but I’m just so beside myself. Maybe I’m not the Dark romance girlie I thought I was? Idk.

I agree with some of the other reviews, the TWs should have been a lil more thorough.

faithrreads's review

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5.0

Very well written and a very unique and interesting exploration into some uncomfortable topics. It kept me on my toes and I loved it. Definitely read TWs if you have triggers.

foxy_lux's review

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4.0

Dark, Delicious and Disturbing.

The story takes us to a hostile place, where good and evil take forms we're not used to. Beware this is a dark book. Heed the authors warning! ⚠️ Some parts could be very disturbing for some people.

We follow a few people in their struggle to make sense of their new surroundings and figuring out who they are and how they got there.

And truth be told, by the time we find out how they got there and who they are, I found myself having a few of my own preconceptions of good and bad people challenged. The Darkness this book brings has a way of shining its own light on truths.

The World building is fantastic, the characters grow at a good paste. Every chapters lifts more of the veil that's clouding your mind as a reader. More than once I scratched my head in wonder and suspicion. The pace of the story was so great I finished it in one go. This book is so delicious I can't wait for the next part of the tale...

errineli's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0


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jugglingbooks's review

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challenging dark tense
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is dark. It kept me up until 2:30 AM reading and I finished it in about a day. I felt a lot of things throughout... I'm still feeling a lot. I didn't see all the twists coming throughout that's for sure.