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Fated Fixation #2
Redamancy
A new city.
A new life.
And a sociopath determined to take back what’s his.
Ten years ago, Adrian Ellis vowed to hunt me down and claim me like a prize, but I haven’t heard a word since.
Now I’m thriving in New York City—with a blossoming art career, a fearless roommate-turned-best-friend intent to push me out of my comfort zone, and a true golden boy who has no idea how deep my darkness runs.
But just as I’m ready to move on, Adrian reappears in my city and my life. He swears he isn’t here for me, but as the seams of my carefully stitched world begin to fray, all signs point back to him, and I suspect he’s been pulling the strings longer than I’ve known.
I might’ve started this game a decade ago, but Adrian plans to finish it—and the stakes are higher than ever. He wants my life, my name, and me. Forever.
But we aren’t the only players on the board, and there are threats bigger than Adrian lurking in the shadows. If I’m going to survive this game, I’ll need to embrace every part of the darkness I thought I left at Lionswood.
Good thing I’m not interested in playing fair.
A new life.
And a sociopath determined to take back what’s his.
Ten years ago, Adrian Ellis vowed to hunt me down and claim me like a prize, but I haven’t heard a word since.
Now I’m thriving in New York City—with a blossoming art career, a fearless roommate-turned-best-friend intent to push me out of my comfort zone, and a true golden boy who has no idea how deep my darkness runs.
But just as I’m ready to move on, Adrian reappears in my city and my life. He swears he isn’t here for me, but as the seams of my carefully stitched world begin to fray, all signs point back to him, and I suspect he’s been pulling the strings longer than I’ve known.
I might’ve started this game a decade ago, but Adrian plans to finish it—and the stakes are higher than ever. He wants my life, my name, and me. Forever.
But we aren’t the only players on the board, and there are threats bigger than Adrian lurking in the shadows. If I’m going to survive this game, I’ll need to embrace every part of the darkness I thought I left at Lionswood.
Good thing I’m not interested in playing fair.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2025
405 people are currently reading
4728 people want to read
About the author
H.C. Dolores
7 books1,036 followersWhen HC Dolores is not writing (or reading) dark romance, you can find her hanging out with her one-eyed cat or her corgi.
For updates regarding her books, you can follow her on:
Facebook: HC Dolores Books
TikTok: @hcdolores
Instagram: @hcdolores
For updates regarding her books, you can follow her on:
Facebook: HC Dolores Books
TikTok: @hcdolores
Instagram: @hcdolores
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,290 reviews
July 29, 2025
reading this felt like going to your favourite restaurant only to be served undercooked meat
July 30, 2025
This book's rating is sinking faster than the Titanic
💀
I love it. I hate it. I mourn the book we could've had and never will...
If I have to describe this book with one word, it's 'rushed'😐 The story feels underdeveloped, their relationship is fast-tracked, some major plotlines are forgotten or oversimplified...
My theory: the author had either some personal reasons or writer's block and didn't write a word for this whole time, and when the first deadline was approaching (1st of July), she pushed back the publication date to the 26th of July. But then she submitted the work to Amazon on the 26th, that is why there was such a delay in approval only for this one book🤔
And that is also why the book feels undercooked😬 The beginning is actually gripping. Yes, it's slow. Yes, nothing much happens. But Adrian Ellis creeps on you in the background, and you wait for him with such anticipation and dread and thrill. You make predictions as to what he'll do, when he appears, and how he'll get Poppy back.
So when his first appearance happens, you're shocked and bamboozled . THIS IS HOW HE'S
GONNA PLAY IT? 💀🤣 And his strategy is working, because he was playing Poppy like a fiddle. Adrian was THE Manipulator of all manipulators and I loved the $hit out of him! 🔥🥵
Another thing that I enjoyed was the sexual tension between the MCs. I lacked it in the first book tbh, so to have it here was a treat. BUT! 🛑 The subsequent spice was almost non-existent, and I honestly would've preferred NOTHING to what we had🤦♀️
But alas, everything has its downsides, and the story went downhill in the end. It felt like we were skipping important plotpoints just to get faster to the HEA. The reunion was idiotic, the wedding - rushed. The pearl necklace THAT IS ON THE FUCKING COVER AND MENTIONED IN THE INTERVIEW DOESN'T MAKE IT APPEARANCE EVEN ONCE🤬
But what killed me the most is the PARENT DISPOSAL. They were built up as these impossible titans of Power and Influence, a Problem of Epic Proportions that stopped Adrian from pursuing Poppy for 10 YEARS!!!! 🆘🤬 and to have them disposed of so easily, with no consequence... It's laughable!
Pre-read rants:
UPD 3: that cover is GORGEOUS!!!👌🔥🔥🙌🙌🙌
UPD 2: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.!!!! There's a 10 years separation????? WHY??????????? GO, NO!!!!!😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
UPD 1: Can't wait for that cover reveal 😅😭🙈
Limerence was unforgettable, so I NEED book 2 like my next breath. Plus, July is my birth month, so what a present! 🙏🏼😭👑🔥
I love it. I hate it. I mourn the book we could've had and never will...
If I have to describe this book with one word, it's 'rushed'😐 The story feels underdeveloped, their relationship is fast-tracked, some major plotlines are forgotten or oversimplified...
My theory: the author had either some personal reasons or writer's block and didn't write a word for this whole time, and when the first deadline was approaching (1st of July), she pushed back the publication date to the 26th of July. But then she submitted the work to Amazon on the 26th, that is why there was such a delay in approval only for this one book🤔
And that is also why the book feels undercooked😬 The beginning is actually gripping. Yes, it's slow. Yes, nothing much happens. But Adrian Ellis creeps on you in the background, and you wait for him with such anticipation and dread and thrill. You make predictions as to what he'll do, when he appears, and how he'll get Poppy back.
So when his first appearance happens, you're shocked and bamboozled . THIS IS HOW HE'S
GONNA PLAY IT? 💀🤣 And his strategy is working, because he was playing Poppy like a fiddle. Adrian was THE Manipulator of all manipulators and I loved the $hit out of him! 🔥🥵
Another thing that I enjoyed was the sexual tension between the MCs. I lacked it in the first book tbh, so to have it here was a treat. BUT! 🛑 The subsequent spice was almost non-existent, and I honestly would've preferred NOTHING to what we had🤦♀️
But alas, everything has its downsides, and the story went downhill in the end. It felt like we were skipping important plotpoints just to get faster to the HEA. The reunion was idiotic, the wedding - rushed. The pearl necklace THAT IS ON THE FUCKING COVER AND MENTIONED IN THE INTERVIEW DOESN'T MAKE IT APPEARANCE EVEN ONCE🤬
But what killed me the most is the PARENT DISPOSAL. They were built up as these impossible titans of Power and Influence, a Problem of Epic Proportions that stopped Adrian from pursuing Poppy for 10 YEARS!!!! 🆘🤬 and to have them disposed of so easily, with no consequence... It's laughable!
Pre-read rants:
UPD 3: that cover is GORGEOUS!!!👌🔥🔥🙌🙌🙌
UPD 2: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.!!!! There's a 10 years separation????? WHY??????????? GO, NO!!!!!😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
UPD 1: Can't wait for that cover reveal 😅😭🙈
Limerence was unforgettable, so I NEED book 2 like my next breath. Plus, July is my birth month, so what a present! 🙏🏼😭👑🔥
August 7, 2025
**edit** well folks the author made a post today stating, writing & rewriting redamancy was draining mentally, physically, & challenging on her. that says it all, whatever energy & vibes you put out is what readers received bc it was quite challenging for me to enjoy this when she didn’t even enjoy writing our duo couple herself smh.
“Writing Redamancy was incredibly draining, both mentally and physically, a hundred times more than I expected it to be. I spent so much time writing and rewriting (and then rewriting some more and rewriting EVEN more). I appreciate all the patience and understanding more than you know 🖤”
hc dolores yo azz need to redeem yourself & start from scratch with redamancy maam. it’s been a hawt min since i have been pissed off aka 🚨 rant mode 🚨 activate. let’s get it! im getting MICKEY trigger all over again. let’s get into it!!! bc i was so invested in this duet. my feels ya. im heated. most of all im hurt. fucking biggest let down. this writer got me f up…. what kind of shit is this? especially the ending, this is your conclusion you saw & knew… aksijendjfjek sieijrjfhfhfhd someone hold me back bc these hands are ready to... anyway, months of waiting & this is all we get smh. ima stay mad & be mad still. we deserved more than this, when i say by THIS. trashhhHHHH. utter garbage. needs to be disposed of. fast pace. whiplash. short reunion live. nth resolved. no sex no nth (1 dry ass scene i don’t remember & care for). not much convo/interactions happening b/w the main characters. ending left INCONCLUSIVE. ain’t no epilogue either. i guess they didn’t deserved one ya know due to how many years the author tore them apart. let’s get dat right. this ain’t my husband adrian, but a stranger. this ain’t the fucking plot &/or writing i expected, but have hopes of you upgrading bc book 2 you should have done everything like poured everything into this b.tch. instead you (hc) fucking downgraded big time & did the bare minimum. author lost the spark. fucking shit show. how can *limerence* be my FAVE to *redamancy* being the biggest anticipated FLOP ever. the whole fucking point of book 2 & 10 years apart (separation was so unnecessary) i thought we was finna get some connection/growth, where they learn each other again & grow as an couple-to married newlyweds older darker version together. also would have love to see adrian hunt her down like he promised (cap), adrian being a doc like in a actual scene instead of just having a title, & poppy wannabe artist draw some shit, but no the whole time she drawing blank in a cafe. redamancy was supposed to give more darkness, excitement, & the thrill. but nah this was bland, dusty, & boring. the fact book 1 is longer than book 2 here is mind blowing. make it make sense? also we all wanted (needed) adrian’s pov, that could have been the highlight aka a hit. you fuckin’ know we was pleading/askin’ for adrian’s pov, so wtf? u ain’t delivered shit, but nah hc you wanna save that shit as a bonus or later down the road as a voting poll (i wish some writers was smarter & not dumber like this bc it’s a turned off) get tf outta here, this how i go irate. this was so fade to black. nth was descriptive & in depth. it was loopholes in this b!tch, so many questions unanswered. overall confusing ho€ you are. hc was writing this like she was running out of time. literally go watch wheel of time bc it seems like you were doing that instead. poppy was being a dumbass delulu when she knew wassup. weak ass play shit here. everything & everyone here is washed up. fucking lost me like how you lost this disgraceful sorry azz finale.
ps, let me go take back my limerence 5 stars bc how you start & END is always important, you can gain the stars back by doing… you already know wassup. we need a fuckin’ petition.
July 28, 2025
get this imposter out of my face, this is NOT the adrian ellis I fell in love with
July 28, 2025
this is a joke right? release the actual book.
July 31, 2025
Next time just email me.
Actually next time just leave the story on the cliffhanger at the end of book one because hc dolores you should never EVER put pen to paper again. Forget about those bonus chapters and forget about writing adrian's pov because I'm not even sure you remember the character you wrote in book one.
You know what forget Limerence, I don't think you even remember the story that's pitched in BLURB?!
"A sociopath determined to take back what's his." Adrian has as much determination as a wet napkin in a thunderstorm because that's the only thing that explains going from that to a decade, ten years, of no contact.
In the blurb Poppy states that she's "thriving in New York City" Do you and the dictionary have different definitions of thriving?? Or do you genuinely think that after ten. years. that doodling nothing on empty pages in random cafe's and being unable to pay rent without a roommate is a banging example of prosperity and growth?
What did you do to the icon from Limerence? the girl that poisoned a classmate to get into HIGHSCHOOL? the girl that was going to kill another a guy that she robbed of a chance of a future so her secret would be safe? Did my scheming and morally-bent diva take the wrong plane? Because book 1-Poppy Davis isn't who landed in nyc. Did she board the wrong flight and qbudget IQ version of her takeover?
That's the only explanation as to why Poppy couldn't figure out that the random (and frankly fucking pointless like why would I care that her friend's– whatever is was that went missing– went missing?? But if I had to recount every deadweight side plot and character in this story I'd be retelling 80% of the book) things happening in her life were connected to Adrian. Again I don't know what "suspecting" the blurb hinted at her doing but in the actual book it's obvious none of that could've been accomplished because she left her brain back on the plane. Unlike myself that clocked the most I-saw-that-coming "plot twist" ever, Poppy only found out Adrian bought her apartment building when she was snooping around in his office and finds some paper that incriminates him.
It's all very à la the scene in book one where she snoops in his room and finds his journal. I really enjoyed that call back until Poppy finds his stalker binder where he's got everything from her dental records, to her social security number, to every guy she's went on a date with, written down. She goes on to have this deja-vu themed realization that the guy she fell in love with after finding out he murdered someone rather apathetically is "obsessive and disturbing" really girl? what could've clued you in? And I'm supposed to treat this as breakdown-worthy information...
Because she's oh-so shaken up that her murderer ex is a stalker (dpmo) she leaves his place and starts thinking of where she can go. After saying "everyone that I've ever looked at twice is in his file" she goes to the guy's she seeing house to crash for the night (he's barely relevant do not ask me his name) says "I'm putting an innocent guy's life at risk" and goes to bed. When she wakes up his dead body is in the kitchen and she's surprised.
Am I supposed to be surprised too?
The "higher-than-life" stakes mentioned in the blurb finally happens at the 80% mark: Adrian is framing her for what's-his-name's murder. And Because hc dolores shares as much determination as Adrian has to get Poppy back–so much so that he let ten years go by– to pacing a decent plot line, the climax of the book... happening at damn near 90% in... is introduced and concluded in the same chapter.
Let me give you the spark notes version of the beginning of chapter 25 to the end of chapter 25
• Adrian walks into her jail cell and starts monologuing with the subtly of a dc movie villain
• Adrian gives her the ultimatum of rotting in prison or coming home with him
• Poppy declines because to a girl that can't pay rent, an entire cell to herself is a bargain. No actually I gave the book one star for this scene alone because she was funny for comparing living in prison without technology to a free digital detox
• Adrian tells her he loves her and proposes–no knee.
The next chapter opens with "Eighteen hours later, we have an expedited courthouse ceremony" and that's the most you get of their wedding so I hope you weren't anticipating that or anything.
If you're wondering about the last line of the blurb and those "threats bigger than Adrian" mentioned. In the last 10% of the book we're introuced to Adrian's parents, Poppy kills his dad and THE END in bold letters. No epilogue.
I don't know what the fuck this was but it's not connected to the first book and I do not know these people. #NOTMYADRIANPOPPY
Actually next time just leave the story on the cliffhanger at the end of book one because hc dolores you should never EVER put pen to paper again. Forget about those bonus chapters and forget about writing adrian's pov because I'm not even sure you remember the character you wrote in book one.
You know what forget Limerence, I don't think you even remember the story that's pitched in BLURB?!
"A sociopath determined to take back what's his." Adrian has as much determination as a wet napkin in a thunderstorm because that's the only thing that explains going from that to a decade, ten years, of no contact.
In the blurb Poppy states that she's "thriving in New York City" Do you and the dictionary have different definitions of thriving?? Or do you genuinely think that after ten. years. that doodling nothing on empty pages in random cafe's and being unable to pay rent without a roommate is a banging example of prosperity and growth?
What did you do to the icon from Limerence? the girl that poisoned a classmate to get into HIGHSCHOOL? the girl that was going to kill another a guy that she robbed of a chance of a future so her secret would be safe? Did my scheming and morally-bent diva take the wrong plane? Because book 1-Poppy Davis isn't who landed in nyc. Did she board the wrong flight and qbudget IQ version of her takeover?
That's the only explanation as to why Poppy couldn't figure out that the random (and frankly fucking pointless like why would I care that her friend's– whatever is was that went missing– went missing?? But if I had to recount every deadweight side plot and character in this story I'd be retelling 80% of the book) things happening in her life were connected to Adrian. Again I don't know what "suspecting" the blurb hinted at her doing but in the actual book it's obvious none of that could've been accomplished because she left her brain back on the plane. Unlike myself that clocked the most I-saw-that-coming "plot twist" ever, Poppy only found out Adrian bought her apartment building when she was snooping around in his office and finds some paper that incriminates him.
It's all very à la the scene in book one where she snoops in his room and finds his journal. I really enjoyed that call back until Poppy finds his stalker binder where he's got everything from her dental records, to her social security number, to every guy she's went on a date with, written down. She goes on to have this deja-vu themed realization that the guy she fell in love with after finding out he murdered someone rather apathetically is "obsessive and disturbing" really girl? what could've clued you in? And I'm supposed to treat this as breakdown-worthy information...
Because she's oh-so shaken up that her murderer ex is a stalker (dpmo) she leaves his place and starts thinking of where she can go. After saying "everyone that I've ever looked at twice is in his file" she goes to the guy's she seeing house to crash for the night (he's barely relevant do not ask me his name) says "I'm putting an innocent guy's life at risk" and goes to bed. When she wakes up his dead body is in the kitchen and she's surprised.
Am I supposed to be surprised too?
The "higher-than-life" stakes mentioned in the blurb finally happens at the 80% mark: Adrian is framing her for what's-his-name's murder. And Because hc dolores shares as much determination as Adrian has to get Poppy back–so much so that he let ten years go by– to pacing a decent plot line, the climax of the book... happening at damn near 90% in... is introduced and concluded in the same chapter.
Let me give you the spark notes version of the beginning of chapter 25 to the end of chapter 25
• Adrian walks into her jail cell and starts monologuing with the subtly of a dc movie villain
• Adrian gives her the ultimatum of rotting in prison or coming home with him
• Poppy declines because to a girl that can't pay rent, an entire cell to herself is a bargain. No actually I gave the book one star for this scene alone because she was funny for comparing living in prison without technology to a free digital detox
• Adrian tells her he loves her and proposes–no knee.
The next chapter opens with "Eighteen hours later, we have an expedited courthouse ceremony" and that's the most you get of their wedding so I hope you weren't anticipating that or anything.
If you're wondering about the last line of the blurb and those "threats bigger than Adrian" mentioned. In the last 10% of the book we're introuced to Adrian's parents, Poppy kills his dad and THE END in bold letters. No epilogue.
I don't know what the fuck this was but it's not connected to the first book and I do not know these people. #NOTMYADRIANPOPPY
July 29, 2025
I adored Limerence, and this book was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, so I’m really sad to give it only three stars. The beginning was solid—I liked how Adrian acted with Poppy when they first met (it was unexpected!)—but the more I read, the less I enjoyed it.
It felt like the author was running out of time to meet a deadline, and the second half of the book ended up feeling rushed. So many important moments were skipped, the whole situation with the parents remained vague, the ending was unexpected, and there was no epilogue. I was left with so many unanswered questions, and I honestly couldn’t believe it was over when I reached the last page.
I hope the bonus chapters will help fix some of this and give us a glimpse into this couple’s future.
Either way, I’ll definitely keep following the author and look forward to her future releases!
𝘗𝘳𝘦-𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥: Ahh, finally it's out!!
It felt like the author was running out of time to meet a deadline, and the second half of the book ended up feeling rushed. So many important moments were skipped, the whole situation with the parents remained vague, the ending was unexpected, and there was no epilogue. I was left with so many unanswered questions, and I honestly couldn’t believe it was over when I reached the last page.
I hope the bonus chapters will help fix some of this and give us a glimpse into this couple’s future.
Either way, I’ll definitely keep following the author and look forward to her future releases!
𝘗𝘳𝘦-𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥: Ahh, finally it's out!!
August 2, 2025
3.5 stars (that half star is for the cat really) - rounding this up to 4 bc I don’t think it’s fair that the GR average rating for this is 2.86. It wasn’t that bad of a book and I honestly think the writer didn’t do as bad of a job as others are making this book out to be.
I think it speaks to the quality of the writing that my main issue with the book is that I wish it was longer.
I wanted to give this a solid 4 star rating (as I read it in less than 24 hours), but I had a couple of issues with the pacing and overall plot. A lot of it having to deal with the set-up for this second book taking up 80% of the story and that the main villain(s)/antagonist(s) were handled over the course of 20 pages or less. Also there was zero smut, which isn’t usually an issue for me, but I feel like we were promised so many things at the end of book 1 too only to get a very short and vanilla bdsm scene at the end of this book. I also think they only kiss like 3 times throughout the course of the book 😅😅😅
There was lot of telling and not showing and I think the author had a lot of ground to cover after book 1, but for some reason didn’t in book 2. I was low key kind of shocked to download this in the morning and see that it was only 282 pages long. My initial thought was that it wasn’t enough to cover everything that needed to be covered, with the necessary emotional depth required of a revenge plot line with a 10 year separation.
I disliked that Poppy tried to date another man right after meeting up with Adrian again, and to be fair he didn’t “seem” interested at first (he was), but it took away from their romance even if it did end up adding to the plot in the long run.
I don’t want anyone to get the impression that I didn’t like this book, as it’s still leagues better than the vast majority of dark romance books on the market right now, but it did leave me a little dissatisfied. IMO this reminds me of how I feel about Keri Lakes books, like she has a great setup but always has a weak end to her books/series. Endings are hard to write.
I still really appreciated the way she wrote Poppy’s character. As typically dark romance fmcs aren’t as morally grey as she was written to be. I think she was a perfect match for Adrian.
I look forward to what HC Dolores writes in the future as she definitely has potential and will be an auto buy author for me going forward.
Pre-review:
I need this like air 🥰🥰🥰🥰 Limerence was perfection, but also technically a prequel. I can’t wait till Adrian finds Poppy again 👀👀👀 I just have this picture in my mind where he shows up to one of her art showings and secretly buys all of her paintings. I am unwell for this man 🙃🙃🙃.
This has just become one of my top anticipated reads of the year. Between this, Dark Mirror and Alchemised this is going to be a great year for reading. These gothic morally grey heros have me by the throat.
I think it speaks to the quality of the writing that my main issue with the book is that I wish it was longer.
I wanted to give this a solid 4 star rating (as I read it in less than 24 hours), but I had a couple of issues with the pacing and overall plot. A lot of it having to deal with the set-up for this second book taking up 80% of the story and that the main villain(s)/antagonist(s) were handled over the course of 20 pages or less. Also there was zero smut, which isn’t usually an issue for me, but I feel like we were promised so many things at the end of book 1 too only to get a very short and vanilla bdsm scene at the end of this book. I also think they only kiss like 3 times throughout the course of the book 😅😅😅
There was lot of telling and not showing and I think the author had a lot of ground to cover after book 1, but for some reason didn’t in book 2. I was low key kind of shocked to download this in the morning and see that it was only 282 pages long. My initial thought was that it wasn’t enough to cover everything that needed to be covered, with the necessary emotional depth required of a revenge plot line with a 10 year separation.
I disliked that Poppy tried to date another man right after meeting up with Adrian again, and to be fair he didn’t “seem” interested at first (he was), but it took away from their romance even if it did end up adding to the plot in the long run.
I don’t want anyone to get the impression that I didn’t like this book, as it’s still leagues better than the vast majority of dark romance books on the market right now, but it did leave me a little dissatisfied. IMO this reminds me of how I feel about Keri Lakes books, like she has a great setup but always has a weak end to her books/series. Endings are hard to write.
I still really appreciated the way she wrote Poppy’s character. As typically dark romance fmcs aren’t as morally grey as she was written to be. I think she was a perfect match for Adrian.
I look forward to what HC Dolores writes in the future as she definitely has potential and will be an auto buy author for me going forward.
Pre-review:
I need this like air 🥰🥰🥰🥰 Limerence was perfection, but also technically a prequel. I can’t wait till Adrian finds Poppy again 👀👀👀 I just have this picture in my mind where he shows up to one of her art showings and secretly buys all of her paintings. I am unwell for this man 🙃🙃🙃.
This has just become one of my top anticipated reads of the year. Between this, Dark Mirror and Alchemised this is going to be a great year for reading. These gothic morally grey heros have me by the throat.
July 28, 2025
Honestly how does one fuck up this badly from a an amazing first book?!?? I don’t even want to be a hater but this book felt like it was written from a 8year old, with nothing connecting the chapters, also reducing the characters depth and their relationship. It was dull and felt rushed and very out of nowhere.
HCDolores, take it back and rewrite it, thanks!
HCDolores, take it back and rewrite it, thanks!
Read
July 28, 2025Welp, what was that ending??? That's it??? Really??? Just like that??? Please tell me there will be a newsletter with an extended epilogue, because that can’t just be the end, right??? Ugh! Come oooon. 😫
Oh well, at least I can always count on Adrian not to let me down. He stayed true to his promises all along. Such a shame, though, he ended up with someone like her.
As for Poppy, I don’t care about her at all (ever since book 1). She could take a hike for all I care (which I'll be glad about, honestly) because she never deserved him, not back then and definitely not now.
When it comes to celibacy, Adrian was, because of course he might be a psycho, but he's a faithful psycho. I wish I could say the same about Poppy, unfortunately that would be a bold-faced lie.
I think I hyped this over in my head way too much. Now that it didn't live up to MY expectations, the disappointment felt so heavy. Something's missing, and I can't exactly pinpoint what.
It's just that the first book was sooo good and had me really anticipating this one. Then we got this, and idk, this wasn't the reunion I had in mind. I just hoped for something more, I guess, and sadly it didn't deliver.
But then that could probably be because the book is freaking short. This was 10 years later and everything felt crammed and rushed. Why is that? 🫠
PS. They still got their HEA. I mean, they're married after all. 🤷♀️
Oh well, at least I can always count on Adrian not to let me down. He stayed true to his promises all along. Such a shame, though, he ended up with someone like her.
As for Poppy, I don’t care about her at all (ever since book 1). She could take a hike for all I care (which I'll be glad about, honestly) because she never deserved him, not back then and definitely not now.
When it comes to celibacy, Adrian was, because of course he might be a psycho, but he's a faithful psycho. I wish I could say the same about Poppy, unfortunately that would be a bold-faced lie.
I think I hyped this over in my head way too much. Now that it didn't live up to MY expectations, the disappointment felt so heavy. Something's missing, and I can't exactly pinpoint what.
It's just that the first book was sooo good and had me really anticipating this one. Then we got this, and idk, this wasn't the reunion I had in mind. I just hoped for something more, I guess, and sadly it didn't deliver.
But then that could probably be because the book is freaking short. This was 10 years later and everything felt crammed and rushed. Why is that? 🫠
PS. They still got their HEA. I mean, they're married after all. 🤷♀️
August 2, 2025
I went into this book with no expectations and honestly had a great time. I think it helps to understand that this is a very different book from the first one. They're both dark romances, but LIMERENCE was a dark academia coming of age story whereas REDAMANCY, set ten years in the future, feels more like a dark romcom that satirizes chick flicks set in NYC. For me, LIMERENCE was a high stakes and stressful read with a lot of momentum, whereas REDAMANCY felt lighter and more comedic in how it delivered the beats of its darker scenes, with more of a focus on the heroine and her development outside of the hero: this is her story, in a study of contrasts.
Poppy is a very interesting character to me because she's selfish and cruel in a way that a lot of authors don't let their FMCs be. I also liked how she got to be with other people during the separation and the hero didn't. Let her shop around and have a ho phase until she realizes what she's missing, okay? It's 2025. Not every FMC has to be celibate. Considering her underhandedness, it wouldn't have made sense to have her pining for Adrian when she left to teach him a lesson. I also liked the throwback to how scheming she is with how she managed her burgeoning art career. What kind of girl could end up with a psychopath and not be one of his victims? This one. Adrian even says it himself later: psychopaths don't feel love like other people, but an identification with someone who reflects traits they value in themselves. He likes that she's a schemer.
Their first meeting? Had me gasping. I'd been waiting and waiting and waiting for it, and when it finally happened, the pay-off was *chef's kiss* The last act? OMG. The ending? I WANTED MORE. God, I wish there was a slutty little epilogue. I wanted to see him do those three new things he said he'd been coming up with every day during their separation. By my calculations that's 3,650 new kinks, plus two bonus for leap year! H.C. Dolores how could youuuu. That's almost worse than the green juice slander.
I really enjoyed my time with the Fated Fixation series. It was amazing to see her succeed so wildly with LIMERENCE but I can't imagine the pressure to put out a sequel to a book that became so popular, so fast. For what it is, I think REDAMANCY is a good read. Don't be scared by the harsh reviews. Just go into it expecting it to be a slightly lighter and very extended epilogue to your favorite couple, all grown up. (I honestly can't wait to see what she writes next. I love finding a new favorite author. :D)
3.5 stars
Poppy is a very interesting character to me because she's selfish and cruel in a way that a lot of authors don't let their FMCs be. I also liked how she got to be with other people during the separation and the hero didn't. Let her shop around and have a ho phase until she realizes what she's missing, okay? It's 2025. Not every FMC has to be celibate. Considering her underhandedness, it wouldn't have made sense to have her pining for Adrian when she left to teach him a lesson. I also liked the throwback to how scheming she is with how she managed her burgeoning art career. What kind of girl could end up with a psychopath and not be one of his victims? This one. Adrian even says it himself later: psychopaths don't feel love like other people, but an identification with someone who reflects traits they value in themselves. He likes that she's a schemer.
Their first meeting? Had me gasping. I'd been waiting and waiting and waiting for it, and when it finally happened, the pay-off was *chef's kiss* The last act? OMG. The ending? I WANTED MORE. God, I wish there was a slutty little epilogue. I wanted to see him do those three new things he said he'd been coming up with every day during their separation. By my calculations that's 3,650 new kinks, plus two bonus for leap year! H.C. Dolores how could youuuu. That's almost worse than the green juice slander.
I really enjoyed my time with the Fated Fixation series. It was amazing to see her succeed so wildly with LIMERENCE but I can't imagine the pressure to put out a sequel to a book that became so popular, so fast. For what it is, I think REDAMANCY is a good read. Don't be scared by the harsh reviews. Just go into it expecting it to be a slightly lighter and very extended epilogue to your favorite couple, all grown up. (I honestly can't wait to see what she writes next. I love finding a new favorite author. :D)
3.5 stars
July 28, 2025
i'm gonna stay silent about this book.
July 28, 2025
Ngl I’m so disappointed 😭…. It just felt unfinished like there were so many loose ends and such a lack of closure from so many of the conflicts in both books. Also, all the resolutions were so quick that it just felt like so much yet nothing happened. Like whenever there was a pretty big conflict it would just get resolved within a few pages without anyone having time to even regret their actions or talk through things with other characters. It’s just so crazy Adrian faced no consequences, not even by Poppy, for anything he did. And I rlly did want him and poppy to have their happy ending but I mean let him grovel just a little at least 🙏🙏. Mind you this was one of my most anticipated reads cause the first one was great yet this felt so lackluster. I’m just so baffled that this is the same author that wrote the first book this one was way too rushed.
And also poor Tom omg 💔
Edit: I’m still pretty flabbergasted can she pls rewrite 🙏
And also poor Tom omg 💔
Edit: I’m still pretty flabbergasted can she pls rewrite 🙏
October 1, 2025
I liked this one, but not nearly as much as the first book.
I feel like if we had 150+ more pages, I would’ve liked it more. It had potential, but there were key things missing that kept me from fully connecting.
I really needed Adrian’s POV especially after the way the first book ended. 10 years went by, and we barely know what was going on in his life or what was going through his mind. How was he feeling? What did he think about Poppy during all that time? The same goes for her. It was frustrating not knowing how either of them processed everything that happened.
And then from around 79% onward, everything just happens back to back to back and it gave me whiplash. It felt rushed, and I was left wanting more from their reconnection, more emotional payoff, and just… more development overall.
The fact that I hadn't gotten Adrian's POV throughout the entire duet, and he still earned a spot in my top 10 book boyfriends, shows just how well the author wrote his character.
I feel like if we had 150+ more pages, I would’ve liked it more. It had potential, but there were key things missing that kept me from fully connecting.
I really needed Adrian’s POV especially after the way the first book ended. 10 years went by, and we barely know what was going on in his life or what was going through his mind. How was he feeling? What did he think about Poppy during all that time? The same goes for her. It was frustrating not knowing how either of them processed everything that happened.
And then from around 79% onward, everything just happens back to back to back and it gave me whiplash. It felt rushed, and I was left wanting more from their reconnection, more emotional payoff, and just… more development overall.
The fact that I hadn't gotten Adrian's POV throughout the entire duet, and he still earned a spot in my top 10 book boyfriends, shows just how well the author wrote his character.
July 28, 2025
this was fucking ass i’m so mad
August 8, 2025
Unfortunately, this sequel did not live up to Limerence. HC Dolores is a phenomenally talented author - that much remained clear even though this book was disappointing. I hope that if she chooses to read the reviews, that she takes to heart the feedback from disappointed fans who have faith in her ability to write a better book than this. After all, Poppy and Adrian are still fascinating to read, with strong characterization and crazy chemistry. Poppy’s manipulation to get the art gallery was entertaining and gave me high hopes for the rest of the book.
Ultimately, this pacing made it clear that this was quite rushed. I feel like I could even pinpoint where the author lost inspiration or ran out of time, or whatever led to this story (I think the proposal was the start of the switch to slapdash writing, in my opinion). We went from the first quarter of the book being a well-paced catch up on Poppy’s life ten years after the events of Limerence, to Adrian being Adrian, to the very abrupt introduction of characters, the main conflict, and the sudden solution with an unusually lazy and speedy resolution. I was actually shocked when I tried to go to the next page only to find the book was done.
There were also a number of continuity errors that would have been caught if there’d been time for editing (for example, Adrian’s car went back and forth from being a Lexus to being a BMW several times in the same scene). I wish that HC Dolores had pushed back the release date rather than releasing this book as it was. I am looking forward to her future work, and hope that this was just a case of growing pains for a new author.
Ultimately, this pacing made it clear that this was quite rushed. I feel like I could even pinpoint where the author lost inspiration or ran out of time, or whatever led to this story (I think the proposal was the start of the switch to slapdash writing, in my opinion). We went from the first quarter of the book being a well-paced catch up on Poppy’s life ten years after the events of Limerence, to Adrian being Adrian, to the very abrupt introduction of characters, the main conflict, and the sudden solution with an unusually lazy and speedy resolution. I was actually shocked when I tried to go to the next page only to find the book was done.
There were also a number of continuity errors that would have been caught if there’d been time for editing (for example, Adrian’s car went back and forth from being a Lexus to being a BMW several times in the same scene). I wish that HC Dolores had pushed back the release date rather than releasing this book as it was. I am looking forward to her future work, and hope that this was just a case of growing pains for a new author.
July 30, 2025
Gave nothing, and somehow took everything.
July 28, 2025
update 1: the way im obsessed with this book coming out is not healthy.
update 2: man i hate to say it but this book was so disappointing compared to the first book. i felt like the pacing was so rushed from the start and the characters lacked depth. there was so many repetitive scenes from the first book and the book was WAY to short. the ending and introduction of adrians parents at the end was way too abrupt.
it didn't even feel like this book was about the same characters in the first, you could probably read this as a standalone. for a 10 year timeskip, i expected more exploration into what happened in poppy and adrians lives or even some flashbacks where all the puzzle pieces of adrian entwining himself into poppys life started making sense.
overall, i really wanted to love this book but i felt like the author forgot the characters she was writing and the hype did not match the end product. i honestly hope the author can consider rewriting this because i strongly believe she is a good writer but this was just rushed.
update 2: man i hate to say it but this book was so disappointing compared to the first book. i felt like the pacing was so rushed from the start and the characters lacked depth. there was so many repetitive scenes from the first book and the book was WAY to short. the ending and introduction of adrians parents at the end was way too abrupt.
it didn't even feel like this book was about the same characters in the first, you could probably read this as a standalone. for a 10 year timeskip, i expected more exploration into what happened in poppy and adrians lives or even some flashbacks where all the puzzle pieces of adrian entwining himself into poppys life started making sense.
overall, i really wanted to love this book but i felt like the author forgot the characters she was writing and the hype did not match the end product. i honestly hope the author can consider rewriting this because i strongly believe she is a good writer but this was just rushed.
July 28, 2025
Okay so I’ve finished the book and um… what? This book was a year in the making and genuinely felt like a novella and not the book two we were all waiting for WTF?!?!? The first red flag was how short it was oh my god. 250 pages for an entire book two? The actual writing was gorgeous as always but it was so unbelievably rushed that it just didn’t make sense at all. I wish the author had made the book at least 350 pages so we had time to digest each plot point (Poppy & Adrian’s reconciliation and Adrian’s parents). This was honestly so disappointing as a sequel and the three stars comes from the fact that I actually did like it but relative to my expectations, it fell VERY short.
July 29, 2025
3.5
so….where’s the rest of the book?
i feel like someone just stole my food while i was in the middle of eating it…..
so….where’s the rest of the book?
i feel like someone just stole my food while i was in the middle of eating it…..
July 28, 2025
2.5 what a let down. Poppyadrian I’m so sorry I wasn’t your author
July 28, 2025
this could have been an email
July 31, 2025
So, I will be very honest here. This part 2 is nothing compared to part1. Redamancy was a fast paced+ nonsense+ bullshit novel. The entire duet lost its charm, poppy , the character was of a 28 years old woman so weak and pathetic. Whereas Adrian , the doc , who is saving lives in one hand and murdering people ? Like seriously? Nobody knows how , when , what happened , unncessary 10 years gap; weak storyline; no intimacy between the fmc and mmc; no sparks , nothing. Short , boring and fast paced story. I WASTED MY TIME READING THIS,
SO MUCH EXCITEMENT FOR THIS BOOK AND THE AUTHOR SUCCESSFULLY RUINED IT. YOU RUINED THE CHARS SO BADLY; I WISH THEIR STORY ENDED IN PART1 ITSELF.
The ending was just rubbish. They are just killing people and poppy killed Adrian s Dad ? Like wtf?
" its been taken care of"? ??? At 28 years a cardiac surgeon is killing people for revenge + sociopathic doctor; weak and delusional fmc; ending sucks; no epilogue.
Adrians pov was completely forgotten by the author.
This book is utter bullshit. I regret i came across this author.
SO MUCH EXCITEMENT FOR THIS BOOK AND THE AUTHOR SUCCESSFULLY RUINED IT. YOU RUINED THE CHARS SO BADLY; I WISH THEIR STORY ENDED IN PART1 ITSELF.
The ending was just rubbish. They are just killing people and poppy killed Adrian s Dad ? Like wtf?
" its been taken care of"? ??? At 28 years a cardiac surgeon is killing people for revenge + sociopathic doctor; weak and delusional fmc; ending sucks; no epilogue.
Adrians pov was completely forgotten by the author.
This book is utter bullshit. I regret i came across this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2025
So far
Redamancy
is shaping up to be my biggest disappointment of the year.
If you had told me this was the same Adrian from the first book, I would've laughed my ass off and said no way in hell. He was so manipulative and unhinged but also funny and charming.
He was always ten steps ahead of everyone and actually smart, so 18-year old Adrian had more character in his pinky than this shadow of a man. This Adrian had zero character or charm.
He was so underwritten and so rushed that none of his actions made any sense.
Seriously, what was the author thinking?
First, the 10 year time jump was completely unnecessary when the main characters were still emotionally stuck in the past. Fine, Adrian is a whole ass surgeon now, good for him but Poppy was still the same poor, struggling girl with the same issues and insecurities. The blurb says she's thriving in New York City-with a blossoming art career??? what?where? didn't we all read the same book? she can barely afford her shitty apartment with a roommate and her career is down the drain, she barely has any if you count the face painting at children birthdays.
She left Adrian to go to art school and live life on her own terms, but she spent the whole 10 years pining after him, stuck in the past. 🤐
Then, all of a sudden, Adrian shows up and she turns into a babbling mess. So many of his manipulative traps were painfully obvious to everyone except Poppy, I guess since she had two brain cells.
Don’t even get me started on the plot, it was horrible and so so rushed.
The whole storyline with Adrian setting up Poppy for murder was ludicrous and the way the charges were dropped was laughably nonsensical. And Poppy forgiving him so easily and marrying him so fast, that was so unlike them!!
The whole point of the 10 year separation was the drama with his parents and his inheritance and that was carelessly resolved in the last chapter.
I’m not even going to comment on Poppy’s legal drama with LuAnne and Joe, which was apparently forgotten and never resolved, honestly poor LuAnne she didn't deserve such a shitty friend as poppy.
This book didn’t even have an actual ending—it just stopped, with so many plot points left unresolved. Just… horrible. All of it.
If you had told me this was the same Adrian from the first book, I would've laughed my ass off and said no way in hell. He was so manipulative and unhinged but also funny and charming.
He was always ten steps ahead of everyone and actually smart, so 18-year old Adrian had more character in his pinky than this shadow of a man. This Adrian had zero character or charm.
He was so underwritten and so rushed that none of his actions made any sense.
Seriously, what was the author thinking?
First, the 10 year time jump was completely unnecessary when the main characters were still emotionally stuck in the past. Fine, Adrian is a whole ass surgeon now, good for him but Poppy was still the same poor, struggling girl with the same issues and insecurities. The blurb says she's thriving in New York City-with a blossoming art career??? what?where? didn't we all read the same book? she can barely afford her shitty apartment with a roommate and her career is down the drain, she barely has any if you count the face painting at children birthdays.
She left Adrian to go to art school and live life on her own terms, but she spent the whole 10 years pining after him, stuck in the past. 🤐
Then, all of a sudden, Adrian shows up and she turns into a babbling mess. So many of his manipulative traps were painfully obvious to everyone except Poppy, I guess since she had two brain cells.
Don’t even get me started on the plot, it was horrible and so so rushed.
The whole storyline with Adrian setting up Poppy for murder was ludicrous and the way the charges were dropped was laughably nonsensical. And Poppy forgiving him so easily and marrying him so fast, that was so unlike them!!
The whole point of the 10 year separation was the drama with his parents and his inheritance and that was carelessly resolved in the last chapter.
I’m not even going to comment on Poppy’s legal drama with LuAnne and Joe, which was apparently forgotten and never resolved, honestly poor LuAnne she didn't deserve such a shitty friend as poppy.
This book didn’t even have an actual ending—it just stopped, with so many plot points left unresolved. Just… horrible. All of it.
October 25, 2025
What was that???? 😬 For one of my anticipated releases this was bad 😐.
This was such a disappointment 😔. I expected more from this book especially after how the first book was sooo good. 💀💔
This was like eating unsalted food, will you eat it? Yes Is it good? No.
The chemistry between them vanished into thin air 🤦🏾♀️. The plot, if you'd even call it that, wasn't giving. 💀
This feels like something she wrote at the last minute and said here you go 😭😭.
I gave this two stars because of the beautiful cover.
This was such a disappointment 😔. I expected more from this book especially after how the first book was sooo good. 💀💔
This was like eating unsalted food, will you eat it? Yes Is it good? No.
The chemistry between them vanished into thin air 🤦🏾♀️. The plot, if you'd even call it that, wasn't giving. 💀
This feels like something she wrote at the last minute and said here you go 😭😭.
I gave this two stars because of the beautiful cover.
December 26, 2025
*sigh* 😔 after so much anticipation, so long waiting. I don’t really give books low rating because I am picky with my reading but I had high hopes for this one that I didn’t think it would fall so flat. I have so many questions and I am actually sad. Why did we get a book two???? The whole story line could have been added to the end of book one and it would have made a wonderful ending but now book two just spoilt everything 🥲. Where was the chemistry? The angst?? The story was rushed. Poppy was boring, always in her head. We didnt even get to see what took place within the 10years of longing and waiting. *sigh* I can rant and keep ranting but this is just how I felt reading it and I strrruggled to finish it *after skimming a lot * there is so much we still don’t understand or even know. But overall I wish I didn’t read this one at all. I would have been living in my dream world with book one and be at peace but now ….😭😭😭😭
July 28, 2025
fuck this shit and these characters and the storyline this was the biggest waste of my time
July 29, 2025
honestly, I wish I never read this book. I wish I had just left it at Limerence because this was so rushed it was so removed from the original book that I just feel like it’s a whole new separate book with new separate characters. The ending was so rushed I understand that she had issues with Amazon approving the release of the book so I’m not holding that against her. However, what I am holding against her is the fact that this book was just so rushed and it completely almost overshadows the first book. I am very disappointed in HC Dolores. I don’t know what to do I generally wish I’d never read this book especially because I have been waiting so long for it but wow.
Want to read
July 28, 20257/28/2025 update:
***Oh shit...reviews are rolling in from people that actually LOVED the first book and they HATE it! 💀💀💀
Don't try to get to the book using the link on Goodreads because it appears to be broken. I lowkey thought the author had already snatched the book because of how poorly it was being received, but I was able to find it on Amazon. I just had to search for it on the website. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....as someone who didn't really enjoy the first one, I'm surprised to say that I'm actually excited to check this out. Almost akin to that feeling when I NEED to see the crime scene photos...like I know it's going to be a mess and I shouldn't want to look, but something in me just HAS to so I get the confirmation on what I already knew, ya know what I mean? This book is now my official crime scene exhibit. 😬😬😬
Wish me luck!!!
3/31/2025 upddate:
10 years 😳 seems like an awfully long time for two people to be potentially celibate… and I know there are going to be some highly pissed off readers if they’re not. 🫣
Still, even if the author chooses to make them celibate, that seems VERY unrealistic. 🤷♀️
The ONLY way I can see this working out is if she leans heavily into Adrian’s obsessive 💀, psycho 🔪 tendencies and has him in the “shadows” for that whole 10 year period pulling strings Poppy is unaware of that prevents her from ever pursuing another relationship and has him setting up the game board for an epic play.♟️
Because there’s no way he would ever just let her go with the way his character has already been established. I’d hate to see the author abandon the integrity of her original story. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. 🕰️🤞😬
***Oh shit...reviews are rolling in from people that actually LOVED the first book and they HATE it! 💀💀💀
Don't try to get to the book using the link on Goodreads because it appears to be broken. I lowkey thought the author had already snatched the book because of how poorly it was being received, but I was able to find it on Amazon. I just had to search for it on the website. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....as someone who didn't really enjoy the first one, I'm surprised to say that I'm actually excited to check this out. Almost akin to that feeling when I NEED to see the crime scene photos...like I know it's going to be a mess and I shouldn't want to look, but something in me just HAS to so I get the confirmation on what I already knew, ya know what I mean? This book is now my official crime scene exhibit. 😬😬😬
Wish me luck!!!
3/31/2025 upddate:
10 years 😳 seems like an awfully long time for two people to be potentially celibate… and I know there are going to be some highly pissed off readers if they’re not. 🫣
Still, even if the author chooses to make them celibate, that seems VERY unrealistic. 🤷♀️
The ONLY way I can see this working out is if she leans heavily into Adrian’s obsessive 💀, psycho 🔪 tendencies and has him in the “shadows” for that whole 10 year period pulling strings Poppy is unaware of that prevents her from ever pursuing another relationship and has him setting up the game board for an epic play.♟️
Because there’s no way he would ever just let her go with the way his character has already been established. I’d hate to see the author abandon the integrity of her original story. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. 🕰️🤞😬
August 11, 2025
Before reading,
You know most people’s roman empire is like acotar or tog or fourth wing? Me? This shit right here is my roman empire.
I never read unfinished series or books but this shit is like a fucking drug. I need this man in my life as soon as possible.
He is my number one NUMBER ONE book boyfriend of all time. Im even going to say fuck all of the other ones this shit is it.
Never have i ever felt this passionate about a book before and i fear this one…
Fricking ADRIAN
After reading,
Wow. What a letdown… There was barely even any romance.
The ending was abrupt. I know there is a bonus chapter coming soon, but this just felt like a bonus for the first book. There is so many unanswered questions and the book could have used Adrian’s POV.
Only reason that this book is four stars is due to the first book. I’m just disappointed. I waited so long for this book.
You know most people’s roman empire is like acotar or tog or fourth wing? Me? This shit right here is my roman empire.
I never read unfinished series or books but this shit is like a fucking drug. I need this man in my life as soon as possible.
He is my number one NUMBER ONE book boyfriend of all time. Im even going to say fuck all of the other ones this shit is it.
Never have i ever felt this passionate about a book before and i fear this one…
Fricking ADRIAN
After reading,
Wow. What a letdown… There was barely even any romance.
The ending was abrupt. I know there is a bonus chapter coming soon, but this just felt like a bonus for the first book. There is so many unanswered questions and the book could have used Adrian’s POV.
Only reason that this book is four stars is due to the first book. I’m just disappointed. I waited so long for this book.
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