This review will be on all three books. 

 

<ul> 

<li><b>Found On</b>: KU(US)</li> 

<li><b>Available On</b>: Amazon</li> 

<li><b>Audio</b>: Y</li> 

<li><b>Genre(s)</b>: dark erotic romance, why choose spoke & wheel (MFMM), bully erotic romance</li> 

<li><b>Demographic</b>: NA</li> 

<li><b>Page Count</b>: 356 (book 1), 422 (book 2), 538 (book 3)</li> 

<li><b>Tropes</b>: bullies/cruel heroes, naïve-ish FMC, stepsiblings (MMC1 + FMC), college setting, grumpy/ice heroes, enemies to lovers, virgin FMC, rich MMCs, silk & steel FMC 

<li><b>POV</b>: Multi, first, present</li> 

<li><b>Reproduction</b>:

Y – book 3

</li> 

<li><b>Third Act Conflict</b>: book 1

Internal

, book 2

Internal & External

, book 3

External

</li> 

<li><b>Intimacy</b>: sexual with penetration (graphic, on-page, plentiful), sensual (graphic, on-page, plentiful), emotional (moderate, on-page)</li> 

<li><b>Standalone</b>: N</li> 

<li><b>Connected to Other Works</b>: Y</li> 

<li><b>Other Notes</b>:

CSA (non-graphic, largely off-page), abuse, assault, nonconsented bruising, nonconsented microchipping, nonconsented blood play, consented blood pray, praise kink, siblings kink, clothing depravation, nonconsented humiliation & degradation, OWD, OMD, loss of parents, vindictive exes, fraternities being more than typical fraternities, death of minor characters, murder, killing, arson, anal, somnophilia (consented and nonconsented), exhibitionism, voyeurism, ableism, revenge, thug antics

</li> 

<li><b>Personal Rating</b>: Book 1

3.75⭐️|4🌶|4♨️|

; Book 2

4 ⭐️|4🌶|4♨️|

; Book 3

4⭐️|5🌶|5♨️|

</li> 

</ul> 

 

<b>CHARACTERS</b> 

 

<ul> 

<li><b>Story</b>. FMC. Early 20s. Survivor. Does what she needs to do. Naïve in some ways but competent in others. BAMF when needed. Insecure but for good reasons. Knows how to plan. 4⭐️ </li> 

<li><b>Killian Payne (Lord of Pain)</b>. MMC1. Early-mid20s. Frat legacy of LDZ through father. Grumpy. Ice king. Ritualistic due to football. Embodied “Bad at Feelings” AO3 tag. Has to learn how to be sweet instead of sour. Hellhound with a wounded heart. “Killer”. 4.75⭐️</li> 

<li><b>Dmitri Rathbone (Lord of Wrath)</b>. MMC2. Tortured artists.

Legally illiterate.

Came from unfortunate circumstances with an unexplained older sibling. Rath is cruel; Dmitri is kind. Smoker. Junkie. Knows the ins and outs of the streets. Tatted and pierced typical bad boy devil-may-care. Music and p*ssy eating is his kink. 4.75⭐️</li> 

<li><b>Tristian Mercer (Lord of Mercy)</b>. MMC3. The rich pretty boy. Obsessive in health and nutrition. Voyeuristic. Control freak. Loves his little sisters to death. Unrepentant when it comes to safety measures. 4.75⭐️</li> 

 

</ul> 

 

<b>OVERVIEW OF PLOT</b> 

 

<b>Book 1</b>. 

 

When Story learns there’s no one to save her, she decides to save herself—by running into the house of the three young men who could destroy her instead. At Forsythe University, fraternities are more than beer bashes—they run the city through their dark connections, and Story’s stepbrother Killian and his friends Tristian and Dmitri are the “Lords” of the LDZ fraternity as well as Story’s best bet to security. How? By becoming the Lady of the Lords; a toy for them to use to win against other frats…and each other. Story’s reentry into the lives of this twisted trio causes them to up the stakes in their friendships with each other with Story’s announcement she’s a virgin. In their games with each other of controlling Story’s life, they’ll see which one scores her v-card and the privilege of breaking her. But games are only games when you know you’re playing them. And these young, twisted men may find themselves players in Story’s own games. 

 

<b>Book 2</b>. 

Secrets out about the game to win Story’s virginity, and it’s time for Story to move. Where her revenge once faltered is now back under full force, but she needs to hide her steel within silk. There may be enemies not-so-lurking in every corner, but Tristian, Killian, and Dmitri will understand what it’s like to have an enemy win. 

 

And for that enemy to offer a new game: <i>no</i> games. 

 

<b>Book 3</b>. (Favorite of the threee) 

Even with ever-changing dynamics, it doesn’t change the fact that, through the menageries of messed-up mayhem these four have been through, there’s still an underlying connection. There may be no more games or punishments or absolute control, but there still are unresolved feelings and unresolved mystery. This trio may be learning how their messed-up minds can coexist in a happily-ever-after, but reaching the end of that story may prove challenging when their enemies reveal themselves, enemies they hadn’t seen coming. 

 

<b>OVERALL</b> 

 

I loved this trilogy. I bought the ebooks. And I reread them a lot. 

 

Positive notes: 

<ul> 

<li>All the MMCs have distinct personalities and the trilogy shows you why they would choose to share Story not just erotically but romantically, how they navigate jealousy, how they navigate communication, etc. Loved that.</li> 

<li>Story’s shown why she would choose all three MMCs as well.</li> 

<li>Great, great erotic scenes!</li> 

<li>The sensuality was amazing too. No notes.</li> 

<li>Story’s revenge wasn’t far-fetched or thwarted easily. She was smart and well-thought-out in so much of her planning and execution. Good for her.</li> 

<li>This was an actual dark bully erotic romance. This was unconventional non-contemporary from the jump. MMCs were legitimate “bullies” to the FMC. But we saw how that darkness shaped their romantic and erotic relationship. I appreciate that.</li> 

<li>So much growth! I loved seeing how all four grew in their goals, priorities, and expressions of affection.</li> 

</ul> 

 

Having said that, I have a few negative-neutral notes: 

<li>Definitely were times I didn’t vibe with Story, mainly because of her not really understanding the assignment. Coming into a den of tigers means wearing stripes, and Story still tried to be “smart” about it. There were times I wished she remembered <i>she</i> signed up for this. Also, there were some moments of BBS, but I think, in the end, they were warranted.</li> 

<li>I don’t know friends who call each other “Brother” unironically often, so hearing that was odd. I did like Killian and Story calling each other “sister” and “brother” respectively though.</li> 

<li>The

pregnancy plot. It just made me go WHY.

</li> 

<li>I respect conflicting feelings on Story’s revenge on wrath. That type of revenge definitely felt more weighted than what she did to the others. I get why it happened, but I respect anyone who disliked it.</li> 

<li>I don’t know why Dmitri’s brother was mentioned. Here I thought he’d actually make some sort of comeback.</li> 

<li>All women characters beyond the FMC were slutshamed.</li> 

<li>I  wish Story had made some friends or had…anyone on her side. She was a bit of blank slate beyond her trauma. I  would’ve loved to see her have passions and interests beyond the MMCs. It’s why I didn’t rank her high enough.</li> 

</ul> 

 

I have dipped my toes into the second trilogy, but I don’t like FMC, so I think I’ll retain my love for the Lords. Good series, and I will rec this on dark bully erotic romance request threads.