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Monsters & Muses #1
Promises and Pomegranates
From USA Today bestselling author Sav R. Miller comes a dark and twisted romance inspired by the Hades and Persephone myth.
Doctor Kal Anderson assumes his heart worked at some point in his life. But at thirty-two years old, the organ in his chest seems to play a mechanical role at best. His cold, emotionless existence gives him an edge as a fixer and in-house physician for the Mafia, while his judgment is impartial and complication-free.
Until Elena Ricci, his boss’s twenty-year-old daughter.
After admiring the heartless doctor from afar most of her life, Elena catches him in a moment of weakness, and the pair shares a night of passion as they attempt to work each other from their systems. Only, the night seems to have the opposite effect. Elena is no longer a simple temptation to Kal, but a necessity.
An obsession.
One he won’t let anyone stand in his way of—even if that means crashing her wedding to another man, forcing her hand in marriage, and stealing her away to the corrupt island he resides on.
Alone with the man of her nightmares for the first time ever, Elena starts to chip away at the layers of ice surrounding his hardened heart. But the warmth and depravity from her new husband may not be worth the secrets unveiled, or the lives that will forever be altered.
Promises and Pomegranates is a standalone dark romance inspired by Hades and Persephone. Though it is not necessary, it is highly recommended to read their short prequel, Sweet Sin, before diving in. Visit the author's website for a detailed content warning list.
Doctor Kal Anderson assumes his heart worked at some point in his life. But at thirty-two years old, the organ in his chest seems to play a mechanical role at best. His cold, emotionless existence gives him an edge as a fixer and in-house physician for the Mafia, while his judgment is impartial and complication-free.
Until Elena Ricci, his boss’s twenty-year-old daughter.
After admiring the heartless doctor from afar most of her life, Elena catches him in a moment of weakness, and the pair shares a night of passion as they attempt to work each other from their systems. Only, the night seems to have the opposite effect. Elena is no longer a simple temptation to Kal, but a necessity.
An obsession.
One he won’t let anyone stand in his way of—even if that means crashing her wedding to another man, forcing her hand in marriage, and stealing her away to the corrupt island he resides on.
Alone with the man of her nightmares for the first time ever, Elena starts to chip away at the layers of ice surrounding his hardened heart. But the warmth and depravity from her new husband may not be worth the secrets unveiled, or the lives that will forever be altered.
Promises and Pomegranates is a standalone dark romance inspired by Hades and Persephone. Though it is not necessary, it is highly recommended to read their short prequel, Sweet Sin, before diving in. Visit the author's website for a detailed content warning list.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2021
14257 people are currently reading
121897 people want to read
About the author
Sav R. Miller
24 books5,885 followersJoin my Facebook reader group for exclusive content & to learn about new projects before anyone else: https://facebook.com/groups/savrmiller
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Sav R. Miller is a USA Today bestselling author of adult romance with varying levels of darkness and steam.
In 2018, Sav put her lifelong love of reading and writing to use and graduated with a B.A. in Creative Writing and a minor in Cultural Anthropology. Nowadays, she spends her time giving morally gray characters their happily-ever-afters.
Currently, Sav lives in Kentucky with her dogs Lord Byron, Poe, and Arrow. She loves sitcoms, silence, and sardonic humor.
Follow me on Instagram/Facebook: @srmauthor
Or Tik Tok: @authorsavrmiller
To keep up with all things Sav, subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/p2n6z9
Sav R. Miller is a USA Today bestselling author of adult romance with varying levels of darkness and steam.
In 2018, Sav put her lifelong love of reading and writing to use and graduated with a B.A. in Creative Writing and a minor in Cultural Anthropology. Nowadays, she spends her time giving morally gray characters their happily-ever-afters.
Currently, Sav lives in Kentucky with her dogs Lord Byron, Poe, and Arrow. She loves sitcoms, silence, and sardonic humor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,363 reviews
November 26, 2023
he fucked her mom ?
December 26, 2021
2.5 ✨
(Long review HAD to rant)
The way this book had SO MUCH POTENTIAL
But the execution ....
Mmmmmmmeh
Moral licensing I didn’t think twice about until the lines bled too fully for me to distinguish between them.
Until Elena.
The most forbidden of fruits.
Persephone to my Hades, as some used to call me. Springtime in a world rife with death and destruction.
Kal Anderson is a proper doctor who's...in the mafia
His mother died when he was very young and his father left him even before that.
He loved poetry because his mother used to recite him poems when she was in the hospital.
How do you control Death when it knows your every weakness?
Elena Ricci
The daughter of Rafael Ricci
She was.....well honestly I felt like the character lacked substance.
I mean I cannot literally find anything that can describe her other than the fact that she had a pomegranate tattoo on her rib and she loved poetry
Okay whatever so yeah
Rafael Ricci plucked Kal Anderson from the streets after his mother died and had him work for him.
The book starts with kal going in for a "meeting" with Rafael asking for his eldest daughter's hand in marriage
by showing him a video of them fucking (yep)
So apparently someone recorded it and sent it to them and taken the fact that Elena begged him to take her virginity she immediately was a liability to the Ricci empire.
Though it cost Rafael money because elena was already getting married to some lame ass bitch
So yeah he gives Kal a thumps up for the marriage proposal.
The day of the wedding. Elena gets all dressed up with her mother giving her a side eye because she was JEALOUS of her own daughter because she was the exact copy of her but with more potential of doing greater things.
This random person knocks on the door and tells her that her fiance is calling for her and would only see her and no one else.
She goes in and what she sees is her fiance on the floor all bloody and who killed him?
Mr Kallum Anderson 🤌
She's practically forced into the marriage and Kal keeps his hand around her throat while the priest says his prayers (that was hot not gonna lie)
He wanted a wife for a reason and that was getting money from his grandfather (the only way he'd get it is when he'd have a wife)
So yeah he takes her to this isolated island
And keeps her there locked af while Elena's family goes on telling the press that Kal Anderson kidnapped their daughter
“My slutty little wife likes making me lose control, hm?”
Kal and elena fuck a lot (I mean... duh ofc)
Also Kal had a blood kink and that man drew a K on her inner thigh and lapped up on that blood while he went down on her.
And also she had a blood kink so it was fine by her
They come back to Colorado just because she wanted to there for her sister's recital
Okay so yeah
Turns out there's a secret he's been hiding all along
The secret being that Kallum Anderson was very much infatuated by Carmen Ricci. Elena's mother.
He used to fucking write poetry and leave it on her bedroom balcony and ELENA used to collect them thinking they were for her and that is where she started liking Kal
( *honestly so embarrassing like ...yikes* )
And they had an affair long ago and he wanted her to leave his husband but she didn't so he got cold for the later of his life.
(We can all collectively say grooming yes)
Her mother out of pure jealousy tells elena about it
And she just stands up and goes to the recital
After giving a very dramatic exit.
At the recital:
Miss Elena is FURIOUS.
And she seduces him into fucking her which he is SO on board with because for him it was the only way of connecting to her
She fucks him because she wanted her mother to hear it and get furious because she's gets to have what her mother always wanted to from the inside.
After they fuck and her mother indeed hears it she goes off to somewhere no one knows about and then whined like a bitch that no one came for her
Even though kal was out there because out of a sudden he loves her.
Kallum Anderson ghosts her for a LONG ASS while.
And then sends her an annulment
And she's PISSED
So she comes back and they kiss and make up and he tells her that he loves her
Honestly literally that is the plot
Everything is a mess around it
*Things I liked in this book*
-the sex.😌
-the way them poems were written. Oh so beautiful.🤌
-the potential in the plot ✨✨
-the sex if I haven't mentioned it before.
-he calls her a cumslut and a horny lil bitch and his slutty wife hehe makes my heart flutter.🥰🥰
*Things I DIDN'T like in here*
-i low-key felt the title of husband and wife were used in a repetition. It felt like someone is reminding us again and again that they're married.
-the way the side characters worked because they didn't have that .... Tang in them you know
-the messy plot around the plot.
-the characters really had so much potential in them to be fucking bomb but they lacked a spine.
-i HATE it when the heroine forgives the hero just like that ....like ma'am he had an affair with your MOTHER and you're not even giving him a hard time? All he did was ghost you and no the "hE wAs hUrTiNg wHiLe wE wErE aWaY" doesn't count. Let him do his work dammit.
-the way I felt every time there was a chance of feeling some real emotions in the book was masked by a smut scene. Like yes once can be excused by saying that he hero wanted to waver that conversation away. But EVERYTIME they had a deep conversation that was important they fucked.
Also they had little to no chemistry outside of sex. And sex felt like a primary focus
The storyline was fucking confusing at times and not in a nice way
A lot of the story felt unexplained
Half of it just there without context
Also the fact that kal forced her into marriage for protection.
From who? From what? Like smh pls
Somehow felt like he just married her to get back at her mother because she broke his heart but then eventually fell in love with her god knows how.
*Whines*
The way I waited forever to read this ugh
I expected a lot more from this because damn Kallum Anderson as a character has so much damn fucking potential.
And Elena my gal just left me sighing
✌️
(Had to come and write about the bonus scene Sav released for us to get into the festive spirits)
Low-key should have been in the book for real.
Cause it would have fit perfectly.
Okay now time to be that bitch and tell you what i thought about it.
Sooooooo
We got to know that the poems he left were exchanged between them so idk why bring the whole mother thing into it.
Also ummmm she "begged" him to fuck her since she turned 18 but he didn't fuck her then. He waited for two years and the bonus scene is Kal taking Elena's virginity on her 20th bday.
He didn't fuck her in those two years BUT he would watch her through cameras. Ummmm okay.
Also for her first time he fucked her over a sink?!?
Also ummmmm he told her to suck his dick after he fucked her for the first time.
His dick had her virginal blood over it with the cum and she...sucked it and ... W.o.w.
Also he carved his initial on her skin with a knife and smeared the blood on her pussy and then lapped it up.
(He did bandage it up later like a respectable responsible king)
But yeah tbh this scene would have fit in the book like a sock.
Except from the graphics of it all
I low-key liked his inner monologue about her
Made sense.
✌️
(Long review HAD to rant)
The way this book had SO MUCH POTENTIAL
But the execution ....
Mmmmmmmeh
Moral licensing I didn’t think twice about until the lines bled too fully for me to distinguish between them.
Until Elena.
The most forbidden of fruits.
Persephone to my Hades, as some used to call me. Springtime in a world rife with death and destruction.
Kal Anderson is a proper doctor who's...in the mafia
His mother died when he was very young and his father left him even before that.
He loved poetry because his mother used to recite him poems when she was in the hospital.
How do you control Death when it knows your every weakness?
Elena Ricci
The daughter of Rafael Ricci
She was.....well honestly I felt like the character lacked substance.
I mean I cannot literally find anything that can describe her other than the fact that she had a pomegranate tattoo on her rib and she loved poetry
Okay whatever so yeah
Rafael Ricci plucked Kal Anderson from the streets after his mother died and had him work for him.
The book starts with kal going in for a "meeting" with Rafael asking for his eldest daughter's hand in marriage
by showing him a video of them fucking (yep)
So apparently someone recorded it and sent it to them and taken the fact that Elena begged him to take her virginity she immediately was a liability to the Ricci empire.
Though it cost Rafael money because elena was already getting married to some lame ass bitch
So yeah he gives Kal a thumps up for the marriage proposal.
The day of the wedding. Elena gets all dressed up with her mother giving her a side eye because she was JEALOUS of her own daughter because she was the exact copy of her but with more potential of doing greater things.
This random person knocks on the door and tells her that her fiance is calling for her and would only see her and no one else.
She goes in and what she sees is her fiance on the floor all bloody and who killed him?
Mr Kallum Anderson 🤌
She's practically forced into the marriage and Kal keeps his hand around her throat while the priest says his prayers (that was hot not gonna lie)
He wanted a wife for a reason and that was getting money from his grandfather (the only way he'd get it is when he'd have a wife)
So yeah he takes her to this isolated island
And keeps her there locked af while Elena's family goes on telling the press that Kal Anderson kidnapped their daughter
“My slutty little wife likes making me lose control, hm?”
Kal and elena fuck a lot (I mean... duh ofc)
Also Kal had a blood kink and that man drew a K on her inner thigh and lapped up on that blood while he went down on her.
And also she had a blood kink so it was fine by her
They come back to Colorado just because she wanted to there for her sister's recital
Okay so yeah
Turns out there's a secret he's been hiding all along
The secret being that Kallum Anderson was very much infatuated by Carmen Ricci. Elena's mother.
He used to fucking write poetry and leave it on her bedroom balcony and ELENA used to collect them thinking they were for her and that is where she started liking Kal
( *honestly so embarrassing like ...yikes* )
And they had an affair long ago and he wanted her to leave his husband but she didn't so he got cold for the later of his life.
(We can all collectively say grooming yes)
Her mother out of pure jealousy tells elena about it
And she just stands up and goes to the recital
After giving a very dramatic exit.
At the recital:
Miss Elena is FURIOUS.
And she seduces him into fucking her which he is SO on board with because for him it was the only way of connecting to her
She fucks him because she wanted her mother to hear it and get furious because she's gets to have what her mother always wanted to from the inside.
After they fuck and her mother indeed hears it she goes off to somewhere no one knows about and then whined like a bitch that no one came for her
Even though kal was out there because out of a sudden he loves her.
Kallum Anderson ghosts her for a LONG ASS while.
And then sends her an annulment
And she's PISSED
So she comes back and they kiss and make up and he tells her that he loves her
Honestly literally that is the plot
Everything is a mess around it
*Things I liked in this book*
-the sex.😌
-the way them poems were written. Oh so beautiful.🤌
-the potential in the plot ✨✨
-the sex if I haven't mentioned it before.
-he calls her a cumslut and a horny lil bitch and his slutty wife hehe makes my heart flutter.🥰🥰
*Things I DIDN'T like in here*
-i low-key felt the title of husband and wife were used in a repetition. It felt like someone is reminding us again and again that they're married.
-the way the side characters worked because they didn't have that .... Tang in them you know
-the messy plot around the plot.
-the characters really had so much potential in them to be fucking bomb but they lacked a spine.
-i HATE it when the heroine forgives the hero just like that ....like ma'am he had an affair with your MOTHER and you're not even giving him a hard time? All he did was ghost you and no the "hE wAs hUrTiNg wHiLe wE wErE aWaY" doesn't count. Let him do his work dammit.
-the way I felt every time there was a chance of feeling some real emotions in the book was masked by a smut scene. Like yes once can be excused by saying that he hero wanted to waver that conversation away. But EVERYTIME they had a deep conversation that was important they fucked.
Also they had little to no chemistry outside of sex. And sex felt like a primary focus
The storyline was fucking confusing at times and not in a nice way
A lot of the story felt unexplained
Half of it just there without context
Also the fact that kal forced her into marriage for protection.
From who? From what? Like smh pls
Somehow felt like he just married her to get back at her mother because she broke his heart but then eventually fell in love with her god knows how.
*Whines*
The way I waited forever to read this ugh
I expected a lot more from this because damn Kallum Anderson as a character has so much damn fucking potential.
And Elena my gal just left me sighing
✌️
(Had to come and write about the bonus scene Sav released for us to get into the festive spirits)
Low-key should have been in the book for real.
Cause it would have fit perfectly.
Okay now time to be that bitch and tell you what i thought about it.
Sooooooo
We got to know that the poems he left were exchanged between them so idk why bring the whole mother thing into it.
Also ummmm she "begged" him to fuck her since she turned 18 but he didn't fuck her then. He waited for two years and the bonus scene is Kal taking Elena's virginity on her 20th bday.
He didn't fuck her in those two years BUT he would watch her through cameras. Ummmm okay.
Also for her first time he fucked her over a sink?!?
Also ummmmm he told her to suck his dick after he fucked her for the first time.
His dick had her virginal blood over it with the cum and she...sucked it and ... W.o.w.
Also he carved his initial on her skin with a knife and smeared the blood on her pussy and then lapped it up.
(He did bandage it up later like a respectable responsible king)
But yeah tbh this scene would have fit in the book like a sock.
Except from the graphics of it all
I low-key liked his inner monologue about her
Made sense.
✌️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2021
I'll keep this nice and quick. This simply just wasn't my cuppa. The plot felt underdeveloped. There was very little meat to the story beyond the numerous sex scenes. And while the sex scenes were hot, they didn't make up for the lack of chemistry there was between the MCs. The story itself held a lot of potential, but for me, the execution was lacking. It felt like we started the book in the middle of the story. I would have loved some flashbacks here, because it would have added the meat that was missing for me. We start the book after things have taken place between Kal and Elena and I couldn't help but feel like that part of the development was just missing. It was like starting a book midway through the story. When I read a story, I want to feel it and not read it, you know? And that just wasn't the case here. The twist at the end? Well, if we got a little more character development on Kal, I suppose I would have reacted better to it. But as it was, it came off as shock value rather than an actual twist. All in all, an okay-ish read but not something that would stick with me.
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February 28, 2022
Why is that tiktok always recommend the stupidest books
January 14, 2024
(This review may contain minor spoiler)
Another day, another disappointing Hades and Persephone retelling. Dark romance can be such a hit or a miss, but this is probably the poorest execution of a mafia book I've ever read ((´д｀))
First of all, the plot is absurd and has lots of loopholes. The book begins with Kal confronting the don of the Ricci mafia in Boston about the blackmail on the sex tape of him and Elena that he received — which could put the group in jeopardy since Elena was initially engaged to another powerful man.
However, it felt as if some details or more in-depth explanations of important points were missing; and far enough, it makes me wonder if anything was really at stake. Especially when Kal mentioned somewhere in the book that it was him behind it to discovering that it was actually someone else. So, which side of the narrative do we want to dwell on right now?
And honestly, I get so tired of the typical narrative of a bad guy with a lost compliant girl stolen from her world. If you wanna write something of the same trope, at least give me something interesting and distinctive. This book is a bit tad predictable, I was contemplating DNF this. Tough luck, because my curiosity wins.
The spice and kink were okay but you're not selling me with just smut! The overall romance was just flat and I scarcely saw any of the characters' relationships develop. As much as I wanted to love Kal and Elena, I couldn't find myself to do so. What more when you know the history between Kal and Elena's mother which put me off and set the couple's dynamic at stale. Meh, idk; knowing my husband once slept with my mom would make me really uncomfortable though it was undeniable that Elena's mother is a screw loose and simply horrible.
The only likeable thing about this book is its writing (though uninspiring) and also because Kal is a ✨doctor✨ (which ngl, is kinda hot). But other than that? It's nothing I haven't encountered for a hero from a mafia book and I can count with one hand how many mafia books I've read so far. So where does this book stand? I was also hoping that Elena's character will be given the foreground as I want to know her more than the missing-kidnapped girl but all the characters in this book were just shallow.
And the ending? Pretty confusing honestly. There were so many things happening that make no impact on the outcome of the story which made this overall, not up to scratch. I don't think I would be recommending this to anyone. Oh, well.
***
UDDATE:
I read the second book and it makes so much sense now. Kinda makes me feel bad for trashing this book but it still didn't make it any more good so, I stand with my rating.
Another day, another disappointing Hades and Persephone retelling. Dark romance can be such a hit or a miss, but this is probably the poorest execution of a mafia book I've ever read ((´д｀))
First of all, the plot is absurd and has lots of loopholes. The book begins with Kal confronting the don of the Ricci mafia in Boston about the blackmail on the sex tape of him and Elena that he received — which could put the group in jeopardy since Elena was initially engaged to another powerful man.
However, it felt as if some details or more in-depth explanations of important points were missing; and far enough, it makes me wonder if anything was really at stake. Especially when Kal mentioned somewhere in the book that it was him behind it to discovering that it was actually someone else. So, which side of the narrative do we want to dwell on right now?
And honestly, I get so tired of the typical narrative of a bad guy with a lost compliant girl stolen from her world. If you wanna write something of the same trope, at least give me something interesting and distinctive. This book is a bit tad predictable, I was contemplating DNF this. Tough luck, because my curiosity wins.
The spice and kink were okay but you're not selling me with just smut! The overall romance was just flat and I scarcely saw any of the characters' relationships develop. As much as I wanted to love Kal and Elena, I couldn't find myself to do so. What more when you know the history between Kal and Elena's mother which put me off and set the couple's dynamic at stale. Meh, idk; knowing my husband once slept with my mom would make me really uncomfortable though it was undeniable that Elena's mother is a screw loose and simply horrible.
The only likeable thing about this book is its writing (though uninspiring) and also because Kal is a ✨doctor✨ (which ngl, is kinda hot). But other than that? It's nothing I haven't encountered for a hero from a mafia book and I can count with one hand how many mafia books I've read so far. So where does this book stand? I was also hoping that Elena's character will be given the foreground as I want to know her more than the missing-kidnapped girl but all the characters in this book were just shallow.
And the ending? Pretty confusing honestly. There were so many things happening that make no impact on the outcome of the story which made this overall, not up to scratch. I don't think I would be recommending this to anyone. Oh, well.
***
UDDATE:
I read the second book and it makes so much sense now. Kinda makes me feel bad for trashing this book but it still didn't make it any more good so, I stand with my rating.
Read
December 26, 2021If I had a nickel for every dark ku romance I read that had blood and knife play I'd have enough nickels to buy these characters the therapy they obviously need
November 11, 2021
DISGUSTING.
He sleeps with her mother and marries her to get back at the mother. It is absolutely disgusting and I can’t believe she fucked him right after she found out… i can’t even…
He promises the whole book that he won’t let her go but the moment she decides she needs space and leaves him.. he doesn’t go after her but serves her with annulment papers. Hades my ass.
Since when is sleeping with the mother trope sexy? And it is absolutely disgusting and classless.
He sleeps with her mother and marries her to get back at the mother. It is absolutely disgusting and I can’t believe she fucked him right after she found out… i can’t even…
He promises the whole book that he won’t let her go but the moment she decides she needs space and leaves him.. he doesn’t go after her but serves her with annulment papers. Hades my ass.
Since when is sleeping with the mother trope sexy? And it is absolutely disgusting and classless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2022
oh boy this was bad. everything felt underdeveloped and i couldn’t feel any of the chemistry.
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Read
August 15, 2021When the only plot idea left is to have the hero in love with the heroine's mother and having already fucked her... just yuck 🤮
Someone should consider a career change 😬
Someone should consider a career change 😬
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2025
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 1.75/5
Here we are back on the 1 and 2-star string though I can't really say I'm surprised because I low-key expected it since me and dark romance have a tumultuous relationship. We've lived through so many highs and lows together, yet we've been on an all-time low lately.
And before you ask:
yes, I will be reading the rest of this series.
no, I don't think I'll really enjoy it.
yes, I'm still going to do it anyway.
The characters pissed me off so bad in this book, both of them and even the side characters.
Elena Ricci. Spineless. Doormat. Take your pick, both are accurate. She quite literally didn't care that he killed her fiancé and then basically forced her into marriage. I have no clue how a woman could love - or even lust after - a man who does all that?
She's about the same age as me, but she makes me think about how common sense is such a luxury these days, especially when it comes to woman thinking about men.
Though, it is a good time to say this: Stay safe out there my girlies!!
For you, it seems so.
Imagine thinking that about the guy who essentially forces you into a marriage. And we're not even talking about the virginity thing right now. 🤡
Yeah, you think? Yet, guess what you did? 🤡
She has a severe case of body-betraying syndrome.
ahhhh haha, love? is that what we're going to call it....thanks for the laugh tho 🤭
Kallum "Kal" Anderson. Horrific. Disgusting. Take your pick, because yet again both are accurate. What's even more accurate is this: Want to Punch. I read his chapters with the most horrified face I could muster up. I'm disgusted.
Also, until chapter 4, I thought he was a Kai instead of a KAL.
And then we have the fact that he calls her "little one"...
ewww, get the fuck out of here 😒😒😒😒😒....."little" anything as a nickname is super cringey if I'm being very honest.
The plot (and romance). Like I've said a couple times above he forces her into a marriage, they fuck a lot, and they end up loving each other by the end. How? Don't ask me, because your guess is as good as mine.
Anyways, for this book, think if The Sweetest Oblivion(without the sister's fiancé part) and Bound By Honor (minus the arranged marriage in that particular book) had a baby. If both books, or at least one, were your vibe, then you might enjoy this book. I, however, gave each books a 1-star and I guess we're here to continue the trend.
There was too much smut and too much insta-lust. I don't expect genuine feelings or even decent relationship development in dark romance anymore because that seems to be a benchmark that has evaporated.
They were lusting over each other from the very start and I mean I wasn't really surprised anyways because as I've said, I expected it.
The smut was cringey, I could have done without it. I would have given this book like 2 extra stars if all the smut was knocked out of it. That's how much I didn't like it.
Overall, this is a no from me.
--------
pre-read: shaking in fear, but I'm giving dark romance the benefit of the doubt (yet again) 🤡
Here we are back on the 1 and 2-star string though I can't really say I'm surprised because I low-key expected it since me and dark romance have a tumultuous relationship. We've lived through so many highs and lows together, yet we've been on an all-time low lately.
And before you ask:
yes, I will be reading the rest of this series.
no, I don't think I'll really enjoy it.
yes, I'm still going to do it anyway.
The characters pissed me off so bad in this book, both of them and even the side characters.
Elena Ricci. Spineless. Doormat. Take your pick, both are accurate. She quite literally didn't care that he killed her fiancé and then basically forced her into marriage. I have no clue how a woman could love - or even lust after - a man who does all that?
She's about the same age as me, but she makes me think about how common sense is such a luxury these days, especially when it comes to woman thinking about men.
Though, it is a good time to say this: Stay safe out there my girlies!!
As if sleeping with Kal Anderson is the single most important thing in the universe.
For you, it seems so.
Imagine thinking that about the guy who essentially forces you into a marriage. And we're not even talking about the virginity thing right now. 🤡
"Given the absolute chaos of the last twenty-four hours, the complete upheaval of life as I once knew it, sex should be the last thing I’m worried about."
Yeah, you think? Yet, guess what you did? 🤡
She has a severe case of body-betraying syndrome.
“You cannot love a person fully without knowing the darkness etched into their soul.”
ahhhh haha, love? is that what we're going to call it....thanks for the laugh tho 🤭
Kallum "Kal" Anderson. Horrific. Disgusting. Take your pick, because yet again both are accurate. What's even more accurate is this: Want to Punch. I read his chapters with the most horrified face I could muster up. I'm disgusted.
Also, until chapter 4, I thought he was a Kai instead of a KAL.
And then we have the fact that he calls her "little one"...
ewww, get the fuck out of here 😒😒😒😒😒....."little" anything as a nickname is super cringey if I'm being very honest.
The plot (and romance). Like I've said a couple times above he forces her into a marriage, they fuck a lot, and they end up loving each other by the end. How? Don't ask me, because your guess is as good as mine.
Anyways, for this book, think if The Sweetest Oblivion(without the sister's fiancé part) and Bound By Honor (minus the arranged marriage in that particular book) had a baby. If both books, or at least one, were your vibe, then you might enjoy this book. I, however, gave each books a 1-star and I guess we're here to continue the trend.
There was too much smut and too much insta-lust. I don't expect genuine feelings or even decent relationship development in dark romance anymore because that seems to be a benchmark that has evaporated.
They were lusting over each other from the very start and I mean I wasn't really surprised anyways because as I've said, I expected it.
The smut was cringey, I could have done without it. I would have given this book like 2 extra stars if all the smut was knocked out of it. That's how much I didn't like it.
Overall, this is a no from me.
--------
pre-read: shaking in fear, but I'm giving dark romance the benefit of the doubt (yet again) 🤡
Read
June 9, 2024I need you book besties to tell me you get me when I say I bought this entire series without having heard of it before only because it was super discounted and the covers are pretty.
I need you guys to validate my actions even more now that I decided to dnf this first installment because I'm bored with it and decided to jump straight to book 2 🥲
I need you guys to validate my actions even more now that I decided to dnf this first installment because I'm bored with it and decided to jump straight to book 2 🥲
November 25, 2021
Horrible. Simply horrible.
I bought this book cause bookstagram recommended it, but it was in my opinion, a waste of money. I just wanted to finish this book for the sake of it.
The plot was all over the place and underdeveloped. The characters had no chemistry. I get that the book has been labelled as 'dark' but this was toxic.
The blood fetish is gross to be honest. Kal slept with Elena's mother and Elena forgives him for it. **Toxic**
Both Kal and Elena's character had no strength, no purpose. The side characters are poorly written. Then comes the constant swearing, it's just too much.
The one star I gave to this book is for the smut, cause that's well written I won't deny that.
I bought this book cause bookstagram recommended it, but it was in my opinion, a waste of money. I just wanted to finish this book for the sake of it.
The plot was all over the place and underdeveloped. The characters had no chemistry. I get that the book has been labelled as 'dark' but this was toxic.
The blood fetish is gross to be honest. Kal slept with Elena's mother and Elena forgives him for it. **Toxic**
Both Kal and Elena's character had no strength, no purpose. The side characters are poorly written. Then comes the constant swearing, it's just too much.
The one star I gave to this book is for the smut, cause that's well written I won't deny that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
October 28, 2023I was just sitting on a weirdly ugly and colorful table after walking for more than eight hours around new york and enjoying my gyro when I suddenly remembered that I, in fact, have read a dark romance before. Both of the books in this series actually!!!
And I forgot everything because I read it on a ten hour road trip to north carolina like two years ago or something 😗✌🏼.
And I forgot everything because I read it on a ten hour road trip to north carolina like two years ago or something 😗✌🏼.
October 15, 2021
If you want a dark spicy af mafia story then this is the book for you- this couples way of communication is to have sex LOL. Although, for a man who forced his wife into a marriage with him he also had some important morals like constantly checking for consent and trying his best to actually actively slowly open up to Elena. I loved these two, their chemistry, and their blood kink ;) but kals secret had me anxious half of this book bc if i was Elena i would castrate him for not telling me. Hence the knock off of a star- but for non sensitive readers I’m sure you’ll love every second LOL
April 12, 2022
this was so boring like honestly the only reason I forced myself to finish this was because I spent $20 on it. the characters felt so underdeveloped and where was the chemistry? the smut was well written I’ll give the author that but it felt like elena and kal were two strangers who didn’t even care about each other.
November 28, 2023
I was really excited to pick this one up because Hades and Persephone are my favorite Olympian couple. This take on myth is really really dark and gritty. So please read the TW before deciding reading it for yourself.
I will say, I actually did like like author’s writing. I like how nicely her words flowed. Miller does well at writing smut. I’m quite picky with my smut, so that is saying a lot. The novel is very sex driven, so I did feel like Miller did deliver in that aspect. But however, I did manage to find my myself confuse while imagining positions - particularly the shower scene. So it was decent overall.
There is a prequel prior to this novel, that I wish was just included in the novel entirely. There was some information from the prequel that I feel like wasn’t explained clearly, and didn’t make sense if you didn’t read it (like me) Like suddenly Elena had a the ‘K’ mark on her leg. For a few hot second, while reading this, I was very confused on where and how this suddenly appeared and how it came to be.
Kal, his profession was always been a little unclear. I know he was a doctor- what kind? We don’t know. He states he is also investor and that he works under Ricci inc. I’m not sure what Elena’s parents do either. I just know they are both rich.
Honestly without being told, I would have no idea there was a mafia involved. Yeah there was hints of rich shady business. But it wasn’t fully developed enough.
Kal is very possessive, he is the dark and mysterious type. He is the touch-her-and-you-die type of man.
“𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳.”
Kal was very much of a victim of grooming and Kal does have an affair with Elena’s mother. (Before they were dating, no cheating involved) yeah it’s a big irk and while being a victim is one thing, using Elena as revenge is another. I know this is a very much dark, twisted romance, but she was way to quick to forgive to for my liking it.
The night she finds out, she is crying upset and the hours later they are fucking and then Kal says to her: “𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴?” Was not for me. Very much not my cup of tea.
Elena is so hot and cold with her feelings with Kal. One minute she is upset and feelings abducted and the second she is falling in love. I really feel like the we really missed the spark that really drew them together. I didn’t see the romantic chemistry enough for them to be in love.
Elena was Kal’s match in terms of sex. They had strong sexual attraction. Elena was very raised sheltered. She was the good girl falling for the bad boy.
And Kal will say something along the lines of how Elena caught his eye a few years ago, I wish there was some flashback given to when he realized those feelings.
The blackmailer subplot was pushed to the side. It could have been a really interesting story if that had been a key plot point. I would have like there to have been more of a mysterious twist to the plot. But unfortunately, it fell short. Also the mom’s punishment felt underwhelming. It was just one line of her getting arrested. Also Elena sending out the evidence of Ricci inc also seemed lackluster- we don’t what the evidence was exactly.
Kal’s sister gets introduced, Violet. There was drama with money and funding and ultimately it didn’t go anywhere. I’m not sure what Violet’s purpose was.
A lot of the story felt confusing. I wish there was author had went in and added more depth. For example, Kal would repeat throughout the story about how all of this is to protect her. From who? The blackmailers?
Also the ending left on a big cliffhanger. There is an introduction of a new character and drama with a flashdrive that felt confusing and didn’t land with me.
Overall, I wish the story had more depth. There was a lot of details that felt missing. The smut was probably the best part of the book. I am curious, so i will be trying out the second novel in the series.
I will say, I actually did like like author’s writing. I like how nicely her words flowed. Miller does well at writing smut. I’m quite picky with my smut, so that is saying a lot. The novel is very sex driven, so I did feel like Miller did deliver in that aspect. But however, I did manage to find my myself confuse while imagining positions - particularly the shower scene. So it was decent overall.
There is a prequel prior to this novel, that I wish was just included in the novel entirely. There was some information from the prequel that I feel like wasn’t explained clearly, and didn’t make sense if you didn’t read it (like me) Like suddenly Elena had a the ‘K’ mark on her leg. For a few hot second, while reading this, I was very confused on where and how this suddenly appeared and how it came to be.
Kal, his profession was always been a little unclear. I know he was a doctor- what kind? We don’t know. He states he is also investor and that he works under Ricci inc. I’m not sure what Elena’s parents do either. I just know they are both rich.
Honestly without being told, I would have no idea there was a mafia involved. Yeah there was hints of rich shady business. But it wasn’t fully developed enough.
Kal is very possessive, he is the dark and mysterious type. He is the touch-her-and-you-die type of man.
“𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳.”
Kal was very much of a victim of grooming and Kal does have an affair with Elena’s mother. (Before they were dating, no cheating involved) yeah it’s a big irk and while being a victim is one thing, using Elena as revenge is another. I know this is a very much dark, twisted romance, but she was way to quick to forgive to for my liking it.
The night she finds out, she is crying upset and the hours later they are fucking and then Kal says to her: “𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴?” Was not for me. Very much not my cup of tea.
Elena is so hot and cold with her feelings with Kal. One minute she is upset and feelings abducted and the second she is falling in love. I really feel like the we really missed the spark that really drew them together. I didn’t see the romantic chemistry enough for them to be in love.
Elena was Kal’s match in terms of sex. They had strong sexual attraction. Elena was very raised sheltered. She was the good girl falling for the bad boy.
And Kal will say something along the lines of how Elena caught his eye a few years ago, I wish there was some flashback given to when he realized those feelings.
The blackmailer subplot was pushed to the side. It could have been a really interesting story if that had been a key plot point. I would have like there to have been more of a mysterious twist to the plot. But unfortunately, it fell short. Also the mom’s punishment felt underwhelming. It was just one line of her getting arrested. Also Elena sending out the evidence of Ricci inc also seemed lackluster- we don’t what the evidence was exactly.
Kal’s sister gets introduced, Violet. There was drama with money and funding and ultimately it didn’t go anywhere. I’m not sure what Violet’s purpose was.
A lot of the story felt confusing. I wish there was author had went in and added more depth. For example, Kal would repeat throughout the story about how all of this is to protect her. From who? The blackmailers?
Also the ending left on a big cliffhanger. There is an introduction of a new character and drama with a flashdrive that felt confusing and didn’t land with me.
Overall, I wish the story had more depth. There was a lot of details that felt missing. The smut was probably the best part of the book. I am curious, so i will be trying out the second novel in the series.
February 5, 2022
Dnf at 60%
Saw this recommended all over Tiktok and thought to read this without looking it up on goodreads. (A mistake on my part)I really tried to finish this, but just could not.
Saw this recommended all over Tiktok and thought to read this without looking it up on goodreads. (A mistake on my part)I really tried to finish this, but just could not.
March 19, 2025
My god this book is so bad 😭
I DNFed this shit at 50% because nothing really happened
I DNFed this shit at 50% because nothing really happened
November 30, 2022
Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.. the plot twist with the mom though… WHAT THE FUCK?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2021
Uhm what??? Maybe smut books just aren't for me anymore cuz I couldn't finish this shit. The Mc made me go "are u not embarazed this is rlly embarazing". If u wanna read straight up smut, sure go ahead you'll enjoy it but ME? iwas in for a bit of a love story as well. Iwas disappointed to say the least.
Also, HER MOTHER?? SERIOUSLY KAL??? HOW? WHY?
YK what after rethinking it, u rlly shouldn't read this even for the smut. Let me just sum it up for u.
Basically Kal is a... "Doctor " in a Mafia (his back story is so boring, can't even care enough to mention it), he was recruited to this Mafia, after his mom died, by the Mc's father but u see that's not all.... Mr Kal here was groomed by the Mafia head's wife (the Mcs mom👍😀) and he used to write her poetry and put it in "her" balcony. Turns out it's Elena (the Mc) 's balcony (who Would've guessed🙄), since she's also obsessed with poetry they keep sending each other poems back and forth until one day she decides to confront him and also seduce him into taking her virginity onthe same fucking night.
Bad thing is elena here is promised to another, but Kal ofc bcs he's now, out of nowhere, obsessed with her decides to kill the man she's supposed to marry and to force her into a marriage then kidnap her in an island she's never heard of. One minute elena is all badass and "fuck u ure literally keeping me here 1gainst my will", the other minute shes horny and practically begs him to fuck her. And that he does.
Then the bullshit comes in. The mom tells elena abt the affair at a recital, she goes feral and decides to fuck Kal just so her mom could hear and then runs away. Then the imposter syndrome starts sweeping in bcs no one is searching for her BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. then our beloved 🙄sex god🙄 sends her an annulment. Here u might be thinking "she's gonna leave him, no doubt". Well no babes she doesn't, they just fuck after that and all of a sudden😵THEY'RE IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER. end of fucking story. What a waste of time. I hate booktok for even suggesting me this. And I hate myself more for picking it up.
Also, HER MOTHER?? SERIOUSLY KAL??? HOW? WHY?
YK what after rethinking it, u rlly shouldn't read this even for the smut. Let me just sum it up for u.
Basically Kal is a... "Doctor " in a Mafia (his back story is so boring, can't even care enough to mention it), he was recruited to this Mafia, after his mom died, by the Mc's father but u see that's not all.... Mr Kal here was groomed by the Mafia head's wife (the Mcs mom👍😀) and he used to write her poetry and put it in "her" balcony. Turns out it's Elena (the Mc) 's balcony (who Would've guessed🙄), since she's also obsessed with poetry they keep sending each other poems back and forth until one day she decides to confront him and also seduce him into taking her virginity onthe same fucking night.
Bad thing is elena here is promised to another, but Kal ofc bcs he's now, out of nowhere, obsessed with her decides to kill the man she's supposed to marry and to force her into a marriage then kidnap her in an island she's never heard of. One minute elena is all badass and "fuck u ure literally keeping me here 1gainst my will", the other minute shes horny and practically begs him to fuck her. And that he does.
Then the bullshit comes in. The mom tells elena abt the affair at a recital, she goes feral and decides to fuck Kal just so her mom could hear and then runs away. Then the imposter syndrome starts sweeping in bcs no one is searching for her BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. then our beloved 🙄sex god🙄 sends her an annulment. Here u might be thinking "she's gonna leave him, no doubt". Well no babes she doesn't, they just fuck after that and all of a sudden😵THEY'RE IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER. end of fucking story. What a waste of time. I hate booktok for even suggesting me this. And I hate myself more for picking it up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2021
2.5 confused stars ⭐️
What an odd book. When I first started this it felt like I had started a book midway through. At 34% in, I was still so confused. I felt like I was missing half of the story. So I went to GR and found out that sure enough, there’s a prequel! So off I went to read this prequel so I could figure out what the hell was going on. After signing up for the author’s newsletter (which is the only way to get a copy of the prequel), I dove in, hoping that my questions would be answered. But nope! Not only does the prequel not provide any background or history, it ends on a cliffhanger and this book doesn’t pick up where it leaves off! In fact, the cliffhanger from the prequel wasn’t ever resolved in this book.
The 2.5 stars that I’ve given this book are for the hot AF smexy scenes, because the plot was kind of a mess to be honest. There were huge holes, and maybe those holes will be patched up in later books, but since I wasn’t a huge fan of this one, I won’t be continuing with this series, so I guess I’ll continue to be confused.
What an odd book. When I first started this it felt like I had started a book midway through. At 34% in, I was still so confused. I felt like I was missing half of the story. So I went to GR and found out that sure enough, there’s a prequel! So off I went to read this prequel so I could figure out what the hell was going on. After signing up for the author’s newsletter (which is the only way to get a copy of the prequel), I dove in, hoping that my questions would be answered. But nope! Not only does the prequel not provide any background or history, it ends on a cliffhanger and this book doesn’t pick up where it leaves off! In fact, the cliffhanger from the prequel wasn’t ever resolved in this book.
The 2.5 stars that I’ve given this book are for the hot AF smexy scenes, because the plot was kind of a mess to be honest. There were huge holes, and maybe those holes will be patched up in later books, but since I wasn’t a huge fan of this one, I won’t be continuing with this series, so I guess I’ll continue to be confused.
February 14, 2023
Edit: I'll admit that I've come a long way since reading this book and that I've really broadened my horizons. However, I still genuinely dislike this book. Now, that doesn't mean that I'm completely writing off this author - because I'm not. I'd love to read more by Sav. It's just that P&P wasn't for me. The way the story was executed was poor. The smut was good - decent, even. The fact that irked me was the way Elena gave in so easy. Like yes, your husband was groomed by your mother. Yes, he had an affair. But then he sends you an annulment and you just go running back to him??? NO BITCH MAKE HIM GROVEL FFS😬 Anyways, that's just my opinion. Also I hate it when the MMCs are still infatuated with an OW (the h's mom in this case💀) and the fact that he was so vulgar about fucking the mom made me wanna🤮🤮🤮 Look, I don't mind a taboo romance. But PLEASE FOR FUCK'S SAKE make the H at least a lil bit respectful and not so disgusting HELPPPP (Laz I'm looking at you as well😐)
Fuck no. No. No. No. Legit DNFed this book at 14% when my suspicions were confirmed. I had high hopes for this book but now I feel like throwing up because I'm disgusted at the turn in events.
*SPOILERS*
How fucking gross is it when you find out that your husband has fucked your mum? JESUS FUCKING CHRIST MISS AUTHOR I -
I'm sorry but fucking a family member/friend makes it an instant DNF for me. Also fuck you BookTok for actually making me believe this book was good. *visibly shudders*🤢🤮
P.S. The fact that the MMC was groomed does not excuse his behavior and how he wanted to get revenge on the mother by fucking with her daughter. Like fucking gross bro, NO🥴
*END OF SPOILERS*
Fuck no. No. No. No. Legit DNFed this book at 14% when my suspicions were confirmed. I had high hopes for this book but now I feel like throwing up because I'm disgusted at the turn in events.
*SPOILERS*
How fucking gross is it when you find out that your husband has fucked your mum? JESUS FUCKING CHRIST MISS AUTHOR I -
I'm sorry but fucking a family member/friend makes it an instant DNF for me. Also fuck you BookTok for actually making me believe this book was good. *visibly shudders*🤢🤮
P.S. The fact that the MMC was groomed does not excuse his behavior and how he wanted to get revenge on the mother by fucking with her daughter. Like fucking gross bro, NO🥴
*END OF SPOILERS*
January 3, 2023
This book people is everything I needed but didn't know I needed. This was my first book from Ms Miller and trust me I will be reading more because omg did I love this book.
This was a dark, Hades & Persephone retelling but make it mafia and spicy. Kallum, Kallum, Kallum, the doctor and man you need. The story follows Elena and a new obsession of mine Kallum. Kal is a retired doctor and hitman for Elena's father, a Bostonian Don, who wiggles his way into a marriage of convenience with Elena.
This book was perfectly balanced between plot and spice and I loved every second of it. It was the unaliving people for me, the marking for me, the "little one" for me.
I can't wait for more of her books.
This was a dark, Hades & Persephone retelling but make it mafia and spicy. Kallum, Kallum, Kallum, the doctor and man you need. The story follows Elena and a new obsession of mine Kallum. Kal is a retired doctor and hitman for Elena's father, a Bostonian Don, who wiggles his way into a marriage of convenience with Elena.
This book was perfectly balanced between plot and spice and I loved every second of it. It was the unaliving people for me, the marking for me, the "little one" for me.
I can't wait for more of her books.
gonna-pass
August 13, 2024Note for me:
May 22, 2022
Let’s just be clear, I am an absolute sucker for a crazy MMC. I’m not just talking morally grey, I’m talking borderline psychotic. What does that say about me? I don’t care.
Now, in the last few weeks I have consumed, what some may consider, an unhealthy amount of mafia romances. What I can tell you is that it’s very difficult to have a “fresh” take on this genre. For me, they are really character driven. And I have no problem with that and Promises and Pomegranates wasn’t any different.
Whilst the story wasn’t plot driven, I am OBSESSED with the characters.
Elena, a marshmallow with a razor sharp edge. Whilst she was a tiny bit young for my liking, I really loved seeing the journey of exposing her darkness.
Kallum, you crazy crazy man. As I said, I love the darkest of MMCs and Kal gave me everything I wanted. It’s always fun to see a dark character’s gooey depths.
I also love the very subtle and not so subtle connections to Hades and Persephone.
I know this story has gotten a lot of criticism but it’s exactly what I wanted and needed.
I am already reading through book 2 and bless my cotton socks, am I happy.
Now, in the last few weeks I have consumed, what some may consider, an unhealthy amount of mafia romances. What I can tell you is that it’s very difficult to have a “fresh” take on this genre. For me, they are really character driven. And I have no problem with that and Promises and Pomegranates wasn’t any different.
Whilst the story wasn’t plot driven, I am OBSESSED with the characters.
Elena, a marshmallow with a razor sharp edge. Whilst she was a tiny bit young for my liking, I really loved seeing the journey of exposing her darkness.
Kallum, you crazy crazy man. As I said, I love the darkest of MMCs and Kal gave me everything I wanted. It’s always fun to see a dark character’s gooey depths.
I also love the very subtle and not so subtle connections to Hades and Persephone.
I know this story has gotten a lot of criticism but it’s exactly what I wanted and needed.
I am already reading through book 2 and bless my cotton socks, am I happy.
Read
February 26, 2025dnf @23% I really tried😭💀
March 14, 2022
Books are so subjective and this one seems to have a real mixed bag of reviews I myself fell in the absolutely loved it camp and I devoured every single delicious decadent word. I would definitely advise reading the prequel first though otherwise, you’ll feel like you’ve been dropped into this mid narrative for sure. Got to say I was initially a tad confused about the finish of the prequel as this didn’t seem to pick up directly after that. But I interpreted it as that Elena had been dreaming about Kal abducting her so I put it down to that implied implication but that is probably my only real niggle with this the totally ambiguous cliffhanger everything else I really loved. Also if you want to experience the deleted smut scene from the prequel it’s available via the author's newsletter.
So this is a loosely based dark contemporary retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth and in my opinion, it’s a very loose one in fact if It wasn’t mentioned I wouldn’t have guessed not that I was that bothered. It’s set in the mafia world and tells the story of Kallum Anderson nicknamed Doctor death and Elena Ricci daughter of a mafia Don he does business for. Forced into an unwanted marriage with Kal after he gets rid of her current betrothed and then whisked her off to an island location where he keeps a residence this supposed perfect daughter is going to discover so many new things about her own self as Kallum drags her totally into his world.
Elana and Kal’s lives are more intertwined than she could ever have imagined and he has secrets he’s keeping close to his chest. His fascination bordering on obsession has been ongoing for a couple of years and Kal has pulled strings to place Elena exactly where he wants her namely as his.
Kal has had a hard life and Elena’s parents have directly contributed to the man he is today. His reputation is rightfully earned and he revels in the darkness his earned moniker of Doctor Death is totally valid cross him at your peril. Elena has always been a people pleaser doing what is expected of her as the dutiful mafia princess. Her life was prearranged her choices, not her own that is until Kal throws a spanner in the works and opens her up to new horizons in the most unexpected way.
Despite outside appearances, Elana is more than a match for Kal her hidden darkness perfectly matching the one he wears so openly on his skin. Their encounters together were electric and crudely delicious and there are lots of extreme depravities that this two explore here. There’s knife play, breath play and blood galore and Elena isn’t phased one bit by any of Kal’s darkness she accepts him rough edges and all though I do think her upbringing in the criminal world did assist with this slightly. And can I just say Kallum is definitely the king of dirty talk that man’s mouth should come with a lethal warning it was all so absolutely delicious and this one definitely brings the smut.
I actually really felt for Kal despite all of his darkness what Elena’s mother had done was basically grooming and then to then judge him for what she has directly contributed to well it just shows her whole character in the negative her and Elena’s dad had really done a number on a vulnerable boy taking advantage of his whole situation and craving to belong and using it to there advantage they are total scum and I’m glad Elena realised this eventually. With what they’ve done to him and also her they do not deserve any loyalty. There are definitely a lot of tangled threads with this one a lot of past endeavours that are directly affecting the present
This had breadcrumbs and story directions dropped for further books and there’s also a delicious extended epilogue available and it brought all the feels. I’m definitely going to be reading more from this author not only was this well written I’m now also incredibly intrigued to read the next story in the series.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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www.beckiebookworm.com
May 9, 2025
★★★★★ - 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Just here for the good times this book brought me… was this a ground breaking, life-changing book? No. Was it hella fun, spicy, and pulled me out of the slump I was in? YES!!
Also, don’t go into this book with the expectation of this hades and persephone retelling, because it’s not and you will be disappointed. It has little sprinkles of the the mythology but that is all.
Just here for the good times this book brought me… was this a ground breaking, life-changing book? No. Was it hella fun, spicy, and pulled me out of the slump I was in? YES!!
Also, don’t go into this book with the expectation of this hades and persephone retelling, because it’s not and you will be disappointed. It has little sprinkles of the the mythology but that is all.
October 9, 2021
A very, very loose Hades/Persephone retelling with a lot of violence, explicit sex, and knife play. Somewhere between a two and a three star read for me.
November 21, 2021
I mean, overall it was a pretty fun book to read, although I will admit that the execution was just not it for me (the spice was great tho 😔💅).
I guess my main problem with the book was just how random it all felt. And I mean this in the sense that the book started off at a point, at which felt like it jumped straight into the middle of the story. There was just very little prior information/ backstory given about the characters, which made it all feel really confusing, especially as there were no flashbacks- so you sort of just had to guess as you went along.
Because of this, it made the whole experience kind of dodgy, and made it quite hard to understand the reasoning as to why the characters liked each other so much- as we never saw them meet for the first time, but instead, saw them at an already developed part of their relationship. Because of the lack of prior scenes between the characters, their whole relationship just felt really underdeveloped, in addition to the characters themselves.
I'm also not going to lie, I kind of thought that there was some sort of paranormal vampire thing going on, and was so confused because of the whole blood thing that the hero was into 😶✋. But it turns out it wasn't, so I mean, I'm kind of really concerned, but good for him I guess?
The whole storyline in general also felt pretty underdeveloped- there was a lot of unexplained things, and just a general lack of context.
All that aside, as a whole, I thought it was a pretty interesting story, as there was a lot of potential with the plot. But the main reason that I'm giving this book a 3 stars is because of the spice. It was just 😩🤌🤌🤌. Although the smut had kind of dodgy timing, the frequency of it all slightly made up for, and distracted me from whatever the heck was meant to be going on✌️
But yeah overall it was an alright read. I did have really high hopes for this, and thought it had a lot of potential, but it wasn't what I was hoping for. It was still pretty fun though.
I guess my main problem with the book was just how random it all felt. And I mean this in the sense that the book started off at a point, at which felt like it jumped straight into the middle of the story. There was just very little prior information/ backstory given about the characters, which made it all feel really confusing, especially as there were no flashbacks- so you sort of just had to guess as you went along.
Because of this, it made the whole experience kind of dodgy, and made it quite hard to understand the reasoning as to why the characters liked each other so much- as we never saw them meet for the first time, but instead, saw them at an already developed part of their relationship. Because of the lack of prior scenes between the characters, their whole relationship just felt really underdeveloped, in addition to the characters themselves.
I'm also not going to lie, I kind of thought that there was some sort of paranormal vampire thing going on, and was so confused because of the whole blood thing that the hero was into 😶✋. But it turns out it wasn't, so I mean, I'm kind of really concerned, but good for him I guess?
The whole storyline in general also felt pretty underdeveloped- there was a lot of unexplained things, and just a general lack of context.
All that aside, as a whole, I thought it was a pretty interesting story, as there was a lot of potential with the plot. But the main reason that I'm giving this book a 3 stars is because of the spice. It was just 😩🤌🤌🤌. Although the smut had kind of dodgy timing, the frequency of it all slightly made up for, and distracted me from whatever the heck was meant to be going on✌️
But yeah overall it was an alright read. I did have really high hopes for this, and thought it had a lot of potential, but it wasn't what I was hoping for. It was still pretty fun though.
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