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Starlight on the Snow
When Ash Robards and Tayshia Cole head out to the hot springs behind their boarding school on graduation night, Ash is unaware that three things are inevitable.
His father's going to prison.
His mother is dead because Ash never told her secret.
And he really, really cannot stand Tayshia Cole.
The legend of the hot springs says that if you step into it with your soulmate under the stars, you'll be together forever. No one believes it, especially not Ash and Tayshia.
It's a myth. It's false. It can't possibly be true.
So why can't he stop dreaming about her?
His father's going to prison.
His mother is dead because Ash never told her secret.
And he really, really cannot stand Tayshia Cole.
The legend of the hot springs says that if you step into it with your soulmate under the stars, you'll be together forever. No one believes it, especially not Ash and Tayshia.
It's a myth. It's false. It can't possibly be true.
So why can't he stop dreaming about her?
282 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2021
55 people are currently reading
1288 people want to read
About the author
Mariah L. Stevens
18 books112 followersMariah L. Stevens is a half-Black author and artist who lives in the PNW. She is diagnosed with Autism, BiPolar 1, and CPTSD. Mariah has been writing since she was 13 years old, and she plans to use her passion and life experience to help other survivors through the power of prose. She is a sex trafficking and Bulimia survivor that advocates for recovery and a life worth living. She encourages mental health awareness, as well as ED awareness in Black individuals, and weaves all of these elements into her work with the sole purpose of helping others seek recovery.
Mariah is a very creative person. She loves to write, draw, design fabric, sew lolita-style dresses, design her own book covers, and do different types of crafting. She loves Japanese fashion, Kingdom Hearts, Disneyland, and her cat, Chiiyo.
Mariah listens to metalcore and post-hardcore, has way too many pictures of MGK and Zendaya in her phone, and has 3 Kingdom Hearts tattoos.
She also really loves Godzilla.
Mariah is a very creative person. She loves to write, draw, design fabric, sew lolita-style dresses, design her own book covers, and do different types of crafting. She loves Japanese fashion, Kingdom Hearts, Disneyland, and her cat, Chiiyo.
Mariah listens to metalcore and post-hardcore, has way too many pictures of MGK and Zendaya in her phone, and has 3 Kingdom Hearts tattoos.
She also really loves Godzilla.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 30, 2021
i had a whole rant review written out but then felt bad at the last possible minute..... i guess ill let these characters live 🙄
November 22, 2021
Okay I had to sit and think about this after I finished it. 4.5/5 and my only issue was I felt it slowed down a 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙮 bit in the middle, but this was a ride.
Starting off, we have probably the best trigger warnings I’ve ever seen. I appreciated the explanations of the content so much, I knew exactly what I was going into. The book was so well-written, the settings so detailed, I could picture everything so clearly in my mind. I now want my room to be an amethyst cave.
Huge props to the author for how trauma is discussed and dealt with throughout. Seeing someone’s recovery from a POV which isn’t theirs has been enlightening and heartbreaking all in one. Downloaded the second and third before I’d gotten 20% into this one, I just loved it.
Also can we talk about him calling her ‘good girl’? 🦋🦋🦋
Starting off, we have probably the best trigger warnings I’ve ever seen. I appreciated the explanations of the content so much, I knew exactly what I was going into. The book was so well-written, the settings so detailed, I could picture everything so clearly in my mind. I now want my room to be an amethyst cave.
Huge props to the author for how trauma is discussed and dealt with throughout. Seeing someone’s recovery from a POV which isn’t theirs has been enlightening and heartbreaking all in one. Downloaded the second and third before I’d gotten 20% into this one, I just loved it.
Also can we talk about him calling her ‘good girl’? 🦋🦋🦋
March 22, 2021
Oh my god, this book. This book made me feel everything. Sometimes I felt like my entire soul was put into someone else's hands and they were slowly crushing it. Sometimes I felt like my heart was going to explode from the beauty and the pain and the incredibly well written traumas of this book. This one is heavy but it is worth every second.
April 13, 2021
Absolutely phenomenal work
Starlight on the snow is nothing short of a masterpiece that deals with such important issues plaguing today. It deals with the complexity of trauma and how two individuals find solace in the other.
Both the main characters come from different backgrounds; both financially and racially. Reading an own voices novel that deals with the complexity of POC issues was incredibly enlightening.
I would define Starlight on the snow as low fantasy leaning towards contemporary.
I cannot wait for the release of the next book and will be impatiently waiting.
I would recommend Starlight on the Snow to anyone; but more specifically those who feel alone in their struggles with their trauma.
Starlight on the snow is nothing short of a masterpiece that deals with such important issues plaguing today. It deals with the complexity of trauma and how two individuals find solace in the other.
Both the main characters come from different backgrounds; both financially and racially. Reading an own voices novel that deals with the complexity of POC issues was incredibly enlightening.
I would define Starlight on the snow as low fantasy leaning towards contemporary.
I cannot wait for the release of the next book and will be impatiently waiting.
I would recommend Starlight on the Snow to anyone; but more specifically those who feel alone in their struggles with their trauma.
June 15, 2021
I don’t know who wrote this or why, but the writing was not very good and it was boring. Sounds exactly like something I’ve already I read. Author uses too much slang that makes the book sound amateur. Would not recommend :(
March 5, 2022
“Fear kept him suspended in the midst of a life that felt as cold as Winter without the fire of Tayshia Cole in it. And there was no fire without her. Ash feared how cold eternity would be if he had to spend it alone.”
August 2, 2024
*Spoilers are hidden. Everything else is spoiler-free. (Trigger warnings are not spoiler-free but very necessary to be aware of before reading!) *
Tropes: hurt/comfort, enemies to lovers, slow burn, shared bed (forced coexistence), trauma, smut, angst, protectiveness, jealousy
Trigger warnings: rape/SA, emotional/physical abuse, eating disorders (bulimia), grief/loss, substance abuse, religious themes, toxic relationships, racial themes
I finished this book in one day! Once I started getting into the nitty-gritty I couldn't put it down. Definitely worth picking up if you're into steamy, protective, pining, relatively toxic romances. I was also lucky enough to speak briefly with the author and she's the sweetest there is!
What I Loved
Steamy romances with black love interests are hard to come by and this one did not disappoint. I felt myself in Tayshia, too (toxic as she can be). It's really nice to see someone that looks like you and even feels like you represented the way Taysia was through Ash's point of view. Like, truly warmed my heart and made me feel seen and worthy of desire. As silly as it seems, reading romance after romance featuring white-centered protagonists and love interests gets to you sometimes, when you look like me. So, yeah. It was nice. :)
The passionate, tension-filled relationship between Ash and Tayshia is so intoxicating! I found myself physically reacting to certain scenes (hands on mouth, eyes widening, cheeks flushing, inaudible screeching... you know, the usual). The protectiveness that he feels for her, even before their relationship becomes anything more than bitter acquaintances, making him act in ways he's not used to. The wholesome sexual exchanges they have, where consent and checking in come first, and where the act is centered around her pleasure and comfort. The screaming matches that take place, losing control, saying and doing things they don't mean to say or do out of furious passion and suppressed sexual tension. These two are so addicting!
The explicit/difficult themes are all written tastefully and with grace, too. I personally don't find anything in this book particularly triggering because I haven't been through most of it myself, but this doesn't necessarily make it easy to bear. Some of it does hit home, and what doesn't is still troubling to read. While the subject matter is difficult, though, the way it's written is done with great consideration, avoids unnecessary graphic detail, and doesn't glorify or romanticize anything. Still, heed the trigger warnings if you struggle/have struggled with anything listed .
What I Didn't Love
I'll be very honest with you. When I say this is a slow burn... it is slow . The story actually kind of feels like it drags for a while before it gets anywhere near what you signed up for when starting it. In my opinion, the events between chapters 1-4 (which come to approximately 70 pages altogether) are pretty unnecessary, as they essentially function as backstory and could easily have been revealed over the course of the story starting at chapter 5 instead. This would have given more merit as to why our two main characters hate each other so much from the jump without it feeling baseless and forced. It's important content but probably would've done better through subtle implications and shocking revelations.
Beyond that, the two main characters and objects of affection, Ash and Tayshia, don't even act on their sexual tension until . Of course, the story is about so much more than smut so I'm not saying this is a flaw in the plot. In fact, the agonizing build-up makes the moment they do finally act on their feelings that much more satisfying. The issue wasn't that it took so long to get there, but rather that there weren't enough scenes between the two in the meantime to make the wait easier to endure. Scenes that force their relationship to blossom, that make their coming together, in the end, inevitable. That being said, the wait was definitely, definitely worth it.
Conclusion
All things considered, this was an addicting and thrilling read! I've been in a reading rut lately and Starlight is the first book I've finished in months, and in one day no less! I'm super excited to read the rest of the series; it feels good to be excited about reading again :)
Shameless self-promo time; I made a playlist for this book! I'll be adding to it as I continue through the series if you're interested <3
Tropes: hurt/comfort, enemies to lovers, slow burn, shared bed (forced coexistence), trauma, smut, angst, protectiveness, jealousy
Trigger warnings: rape/SA, emotional/physical abuse, eating disorders (bulimia), grief/loss, substance abuse, religious themes, toxic relationships, racial themes
I finished this book in one day! Once I started getting into the nitty-gritty I couldn't put it down. Definitely worth picking up if you're into steamy, protective, pining, relatively toxic romances. I was also lucky enough to speak briefly with the author and she's the sweetest there is!
She was sitting out in the middle of a snow-covered field, shivering because she thought no one was watching.
What I Loved
Steamy romances with black love interests are hard to come by and this one did not disappoint. I felt myself in Tayshia, too (toxic as she can be). It's really nice to see someone that looks like you and even feels like you represented the way Taysia was through Ash's point of view. Like, truly warmed my heart and made me feel seen and worthy of desire. As silly as it seems, reading romance after romance featuring white-centered protagonists and love interests gets to you sometimes, when you look like me. So, yeah. It was nice. :)
The passionate, tension-filled relationship between Ash and Tayshia is so intoxicating! I found myself physically reacting to certain scenes (hands on mouth, eyes widening, cheeks flushing, inaudible screeching... you know, the usual). The protectiveness that he feels for her, even before their relationship becomes anything more than bitter acquaintances, making him act in ways he's not used to. The wholesome sexual exchanges they have, where consent and checking in come first, and where the act is centered around her pleasure and comfort. The screaming matches that take place, losing control, saying and doing things they don't mean to say or do out of furious passion and suppressed sexual tension. These two are so addicting!
The explicit/difficult themes are all written tastefully and with grace, too. I personally don't find anything in this book particularly triggering because I haven't been through most of it myself, but this doesn't necessarily make it easy to bear. Some of it does hit home, and what doesn't is still troubling to read. While the subject matter is difficult, though, the way it's written is done with great consideration, avoids unnecessary graphic detail, and doesn't glorify or romanticize anything. Still, heed the trigger warnings if you struggle/have struggled with anything listed .
The past was certain. But the present was ever-changing. Tumultuous. Something he could influence.
What I Didn't Love
I'll be very honest with you. When I say this is a slow burn... it is slow . The story actually kind of feels like it drags for a while before it gets anywhere near what you signed up for when starting it. In my opinion, the events between chapters 1-4 (which come to approximately 70 pages altogether) are pretty unnecessary, as they essentially function as backstory and could easily have been revealed over the course of the story starting at chapter 5 instead. This would have given more merit as to why our two main characters hate each other so much from the jump without it feeling baseless and forced. It's important content but probably would've done better through subtle implications and shocking revelations.
Beyond that, the two main characters and objects of affection, Ash and Tayshia, don't even act on their sexual tension until . Of course, the story is about so much more than smut so I'm not saying this is a flaw in the plot. In fact, the agonizing build-up makes the moment they do finally act on their feelings that much more satisfying. The issue wasn't that it took so long to get there, but rather that there weren't enough scenes between the two in the meantime to make the wait easier to endure. Scenes that force their relationship to blossom, that make their coming together, in the end, inevitable. That being said, the wait was definitely, definitely worth it.
Conclusion
All things considered, this was an addicting and thrilling read! I've been in a reading rut lately and Starlight is the first book I've finished in months, and in one day no less! I'm super excited to read the rest of the series; it feels good to be excited about reading again :)
Shameless self-promo time; I made a playlist for this book! I'll be adding to it as I continue through the series if you're interested <3
February 23, 2021
I can't wait for this to be released!!!! <3
February 23, 2021
This author never fails to amaze me with her work. She is an amazingly talented writer who has truly made me fall back in love with reading again.
November 28, 2021
Guilt trip of the poetic soul
Ash is the character who narrated the story. We know about him that he is from a poor family, nevertheless, he is not on a scholarship in school, his family pays for his education.
He and his father are selling drugs. His father has a clear addiction and a growing debt that will need to be paid back soon. His mother has an eating disorder that everyone ignores or is unaware of. However, Ash knows and takes it upon himself to clean up after his mother. He is quite cold and keeps everyone at a distance.
"He possessed only a strange double-sided need to mess around with his friends and take care of his mother. He shoplifted, sold drugs for his father, and went to parties. He slept with girls, smoked weed, got drunk, and got tattoos from artists who were too unethical to check his age. He lived recklessly."
The hero and the heroine study at the same Christian school. On the day of graduation, he suddenly turns his attention to Tayshia, the girl with whom they are completely opposite. He's typical bad boy with tattoos, and she's a good girl, from rich family, who follows the rules. From what is known, there has always been mutual enmity between them. Ash also notes that Tayshia's long-term boyfriend Kieran is rough towards her and it's annoying him.
Graduates go to a traditional cave party with hot springs and amethysts in the rock. There, on the plate, Ash reads about the legend of soulmates. It says that if you go into a cave with your soulmate, then the old love can wither away and a new one can flare up. However, he does not believe in this legend.
All of a sudden, he and Tayshia start talking and the hero incites the heroine to climb into the hot spring. The heroine offers to pick ammetis out of the rock, they do it. They break the stone in half and each has his own part. Ash feels a strange connection with the heroine.
Then a series of events take place, which radically change the lives of the characters. Ash's father tries to commit a robbery and forces the hero to cooperate with him. In the process, the heroine's father is shot. And our hero goes to jail for almost a year. And that is only because he agrees to testify in the case against his father. He is put in prison for many years, and the hero's mother dies of cardiac arrest (probably the consequences of her eating disorder).
After being released from jail, Ash receives money from his mother's life insurance and tries to return to normal life. Which is not easy being a convicted criminal.
By an absurd accident (the hero's full name is girlish Ashley), he and Tayshia are accommodated together in an apartment after he is returns to school.
By a strange twist of fate, the heroine's family is no longer rich while he is with the money now.
Ash becomes obsessed with heroine. He monitors her habits, behavior, life. He and the heroine fight incessantly and she even hits him. He does not know what he wants from her, but clearly he is attracted to her.
He finds out that the heroine's boyfriend Kieran is cheating on her with her best friend. On her birthday, the hero stops her boyfriend from assaulting Tayshia sexually. And he decides to invite himself and his friend to her birthday to see to her safety.
After that, there is a super weird walk to the restaurant during which Tayshia's boyfriend drags her around like a rag doll, their relationship clearly toxic.
The evening ends with the fact that she accidentally finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her. And Ash has a fight with his friend, who likes Tayshia.
Ash feels guilty for following his father to the robbery, for not seeking help, for the fact that when Tayshia's father was shot and she asked for help, he did nothing. So he is increasingly becoming a part of her life feeling somewhat responsible for her.
But his self-hatred eats him up from the inside, and when the heroine says that she shouldn't have blamed him for his father's sins, he doesn't want to receive her forgiveness. He doesn't want her to see him as someone good because he thinks he doesn't deserve it. Just like he doesn't deserve her.
"She was so far out of Kieran’s league that she was in the sun and he was far, far below the surface of the Earth. Hell, Ash was somewhere a few inches above Kieran. Everyone was. No one was good enough for her. How could she not see how bright she shone?"
However, he cannot resist when she offers herself to him and they hooks up. After that she overwhelmed and freaking out. They both feeling embarrassed but no so long and on next day they hooks up second time.
Then Ash see the strangest nightmare about Tayshia. Or more like memory. So, I was prepared for that because I read note from author and know what is coming.
There is some kind of foreshadowing going on throughout the book. We know that the heroine does not have sex with her boyfriend, his kisses were unpleasant for her and she reacted very violently to Ash when he grabbed her hands, and we also know that something happened in Paris in the summer.
In fact, we see one evening through her eyes, how she had a fight with her boyfriend, he left her in the middle of the street without a phone, she got lost in the city trying to find her hotel and she was raped in a back street.
Ash wakes up the next morning fully convinced that she knows that he was present in her mind in this wild dream and that he knows about her being raped. In a panic, he tries to find her and learns that she fainted at school in the toilet, but he is not allowed to see her. Because everyone condemns him because he is a felon.
He again has a fight with his friend, who clearly has some kind of feelings for Tayshia.
At night Ash tries to talk to Tayshia, but she doesn't want to talk about the dream because she clearly knows what he knows and hits him again. She apologizes afterwards, they kiss again, but Ash stops because he is oppressed by a sense of guilt. They wish each other good night and go to bed. This concludes the first book.
What can I say, I really liked the book.
The author very well conveyed the feelings and experiences of the characters through their body language. When you read, the feeling that you are watching a movie, you can imagine everything so clearly.
I can say that I mostly liked Ash, I cannot call him the main character, because in this book the main character is Tayshia. He's more of a storyteller.
I didn’t like everything that he said and did, but I liked the way he thought, by the way he reasoned, he is clearly not such a bad person as he tries to think about himself.
Even in the robbery scene, he was really scared that his own father could shoot him while high. It is not known how the circumstances would have turned if he had not been there, perhaps more people would have suffered. I do not condone him, but I also cannot condemn him.
I didn't like the casual conversations between the characters, they were pretty boring. But I was quite interested in being in Ash's head. Im not afraid to say that I was fascinated by it, and book keep me entertained till the end. His thoughts are very poetic and lyrical.
I cannot say that I liked Tayshia. We were not provided with her pov, so it is very difficult to understand what drives her and what is going on in her head. We know almost nothing about her, which is not surprising since Ash knows nothing about her. They strangers.
We know only that she loves to cook and eats a lot. We are clearly given to understand that she has some kind of eating disorder by the way she spends a lot of time in the restroom after a meal, probably getting rid of food.
She clearly has a lot of insecurities about her worth and her body. And she was in a toxic relationship for many years. She is experiencing a crisis of faith. Her parents did not support her enough and sided with her ex-boyfriend. She does not know what she wants in life and from the future. And her relationship with Ash looks like she's using him to shake off bad memories and traumatic past experiences.
She also constantly changes a variety of cool hairstyles.
She leaves dirty dishes all over the apartment and does not put them away. What for? Perhaps she is trying to shame herself with dirty dishes in this way, so as not to eat more. Maybe she was trying to do it to spite Ash knowing it's annoyed him. In any case, in this book, this mystery remained unsolved.
What struck me the most was the topic of friendship and how fragile it is. How cruel people with whom you were close yesterday can be, then what callous words can be used to you. It was absolutely brutal.
This book clearly lacks the best editorial and proof-reading work, because there are many typos (English is not my first language, but even I noticed it). Also, the years are sometimes mix up in the book, which was also confusing. Some of the dialogues were downright ridiculous. Some plot twists are left without further development.
And yet the lyricism and unexplained magic of the book bribed me. And, of course, there is a very strong sexual tension between the characters. Smutty scenes absolute perfection. Book isn't very crude. The author avoids using indecent words, in every possible way avoiding them. I was invested till the last page. And I'm going to read the second part.
Ash is the character who narrated the story. We know about him that he is from a poor family, nevertheless, he is not on a scholarship in school, his family pays for his education.
He and his father are selling drugs. His father has a clear addiction and a growing debt that will need to be paid back soon. His mother has an eating disorder that everyone ignores or is unaware of. However, Ash knows and takes it upon himself to clean up after his mother. He is quite cold and keeps everyone at a distance.
"He possessed only a strange double-sided need to mess around with his friends and take care of his mother. He shoplifted, sold drugs for his father, and went to parties. He slept with girls, smoked weed, got drunk, and got tattoos from artists who were too unethical to check his age. He lived recklessly."
The hero and the heroine study at the same Christian school. On the day of graduation, he suddenly turns his attention to Tayshia, the girl with whom they are completely opposite. He's typical bad boy with tattoos, and she's a good girl, from rich family, who follows the rules. From what is known, there has always been mutual enmity between them. Ash also notes that Tayshia's long-term boyfriend Kieran is rough towards her and it's annoying him.
Graduates go to a traditional cave party with hot springs and amethysts in the rock. There, on the plate, Ash reads about the legend of soulmates. It says that if you go into a cave with your soulmate, then the old love can wither away and a new one can flare up. However, he does not believe in this legend.
All of a sudden, he and Tayshia start talking and the hero incites the heroine to climb into the hot spring. The heroine offers to pick ammetis out of the rock, they do it. They break the stone in half and each has his own part. Ash feels a strange connection with the heroine.
Then a series of events take place, which radically change the lives of the characters. Ash's father tries to commit a robbery and forces the hero to cooperate with him. In the process, the heroine's father is shot. And our hero goes to jail for almost a year. And that is only because he agrees to testify in the case against his father. He is put in prison for many years, and the hero's mother dies of cardiac arrest (probably the consequences of her eating disorder).
After being released from jail, Ash receives money from his mother's life insurance and tries to return to normal life. Which is not easy being a convicted criminal.
By an absurd accident (the hero's full name is girlish Ashley), he and Tayshia are accommodated together in an apartment after he is returns to school.
By a strange twist of fate, the heroine's family is no longer rich while he is with the money now.
Ash becomes obsessed with heroine. He monitors her habits, behavior, life. He and the heroine fight incessantly and she even hits him. He does not know what he wants from her, but clearly he is attracted to her.
He finds out that the heroine's boyfriend Kieran is cheating on her with her best friend. On her birthday, the hero stops her boyfriend from assaulting Tayshia sexually. And he decides to invite himself and his friend to her birthday to see to her safety.
After that, there is a super weird walk to the restaurant during which Tayshia's boyfriend drags her around like a rag doll, their relationship clearly toxic.
The evening ends with the fact that she accidentally finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her. And Ash has a fight with his friend, who likes Tayshia.
Ash feels guilty for following his father to the robbery, for not seeking help, for the fact that when Tayshia's father was shot and she asked for help, he did nothing. So he is increasingly becoming a part of her life feeling somewhat responsible for her.
But his self-hatred eats him up from the inside, and when the heroine says that she shouldn't have blamed him for his father's sins, he doesn't want to receive her forgiveness. He doesn't want her to see him as someone good because he thinks he doesn't deserve it. Just like he doesn't deserve her.
"She was so far out of Kieran’s league that she was in the sun and he was far, far below the surface of the Earth. Hell, Ash was somewhere a few inches above Kieran. Everyone was. No one was good enough for her. How could she not see how bright she shone?"
However, he cannot resist when she offers herself to him and they hooks up. After that she overwhelmed and freaking out. They both feeling embarrassed but no so long and on next day they hooks up second time.
Then Ash see the strangest nightmare about Tayshia. Or more like memory. So, I was prepared for that because I read note from author and know what is coming.
There is some kind of foreshadowing going on throughout the book. We know that the heroine does not have sex with her boyfriend, his kisses were unpleasant for her and she reacted very violently to Ash when he grabbed her hands, and we also know that something happened in Paris in the summer.
In fact, we see one evening through her eyes, how she had a fight with her boyfriend, he left her in the middle of the street without a phone, she got lost in the city trying to find her hotel and she was raped in a back street.
Ash wakes up the next morning fully convinced that she knows that he was present in her mind in this wild dream and that he knows about her being raped. In a panic, he tries to find her and learns that she fainted at school in the toilet, but he is not allowed to see her. Because everyone condemns him because he is a felon.
He again has a fight with his friend, who clearly has some kind of feelings for Tayshia.
At night Ash tries to talk to Tayshia, but she doesn't want to talk about the dream because she clearly knows what he knows and hits him again. She apologizes afterwards, they kiss again, but Ash stops because he is oppressed by a sense of guilt. They wish each other good night and go to bed. This concludes the first book.
What can I say, I really liked the book.
The author very well conveyed the feelings and experiences of the characters through their body language. When you read, the feeling that you are watching a movie, you can imagine everything so clearly.
I can say that I mostly liked Ash, I cannot call him the main character, because in this book the main character is Tayshia. He's more of a storyteller.
I didn’t like everything that he said and did, but I liked the way he thought, by the way he reasoned, he is clearly not such a bad person as he tries to think about himself.
Even in the robbery scene, he was really scared that his own father could shoot him while high. It is not known how the circumstances would have turned if he had not been there, perhaps more people would have suffered. I do not condone him, but I also cannot condemn him.
I didn't like the casual conversations between the characters, they were pretty boring. But I was quite interested in being in Ash's head. Im not afraid to say that I was fascinated by it, and book keep me entertained till the end. His thoughts are very poetic and lyrical.
I cannot say that I liked Tayshia. We were not provided with her pov, so it is very difficult to understand what drives her and what is going on in her head. We know almost nothing about her, which is not surprising since Ash knows nothing about her. They strangers.
We know only that she loves to cook and eats a lot. We are clearly given to understand that she has some kind of eating disorder by the way she spends a lot of time in the restroom after a meal, probably getting rid of food.
She clearly has a lot of insecurities about her worth and her body. And she was in a toxic relationship for many years. She is experiencing a crisis of faith. Her parents did not support her enough and sided with her ex-boyfriend. She does not know what she wants in life and from the future. And her relationship with Ash looks like she's using him to shake off bad memories and traumatic past experiences.
She also constantly changes a variety of cool hairstyles.
She leaves dirty dishes all over the apartment and does not put them away. What for? Perhaps she is trying to shame herself with dirty dishes in this way, so as not to eat more. Maybe she was trying to do it to spite Ash knowing it's annoyed him. In any case, in this book, this mystery remained unsolved.
What struck me the most was the topic of friendship and how fragile it is. How cruel people with whom you were close yesterday can be, then what callous words can be used to you. It was absolutely brutal.
This book clearly lacks the best editorial and proof-reading work, because there are many typos (English is not my first language, but even I noticed it). Also, the years are sometimes mix up in the book, which was also confusing. Some of the dialogues were downright ridiculous. Some plot twists are left without further development.
And yet the lyricism and unexplained magic of the book bribed me. And, of course, there is a very strong sexual tension between the characters. Smutty scenes absolute perfection. Book isn't very crude. The author avoids using indecent words, in every possible way avoiding them. I was invested till the last page. And I'm going to read the second part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2021
This is such an amazing book and the person who has left a low review on it is a troll as it's not even been released yet, and I've only read it myself as I have an advanced copy as the artist 🌝 this book is phenomenal and you will not regret buying it HONESTLY IM DYING FOR THE SECOND BOOOOOK
March 8, 2021
I’m never usually one to re-read books but I will read this over and over again. It’s AMAZING!! I can’t wait for the next book to come out.
March 4, 2021
**I was sent this book for free for an honest review**
Over all I really enjoyed this book.
I'm giving it 4 stars because the only issue I had with it was the dialogue. It seemed a little young for me.
I think this book is really gonna hit home for a lot of people. I think the target age range should be 17-23 though. Because being a little older the language constantly used was pulling me from the story. But I do feel like that was more of a me problem then the book. Because I did love the book, plot and characters. 🖤
But things I loved: The topics dealt with in this book are topics a lot of people usually shy away from. It was nice to see an author really dive deep into heavy subjects.
**PLEASE READ TRIGGER WARNING PAGE IN BOOK**
I also loved getting to read from the male lead Ash, his perspective. I have read a lot of books with alternating chapters, but very very few books with just the male POV.
I liked Tayshia and Ash's forced co-existence, that is one of my favorite tropes. I also enjoyed the relationship development. It felt realistic and not rushed or like BAM I hate you and now I love you.
The beginning chapter was probably my favorite. I loved the entire cave scene.
So wrap up of thoughts: This book does not shy away from talking about really raw and hard things, so please be careful going into it. I think this book will also be very loved by the people who can really relate to it. And lastly I do think the target audience will be 17-23, but if you are someone my age or older and pick this up, just know the dialogue used is very reminiscent of the way Gen Z talks nowadays.
The author was great and I loved getting to chat with her. I'm very excited to see where this book series goes and where her career takes her!
Over all I really enjoyed this book.
I'm giving it 4 stars because the only issue I had with it was the dialogue. It seemed a little young for me.
I think this book is really gonna hit home for a lot of people. I think the target age range should be 17-23 though. Because being a little older the language constantly used was pulling me from the story. But I do feel like that was more of a me problem then the book. Because I did love the book, plot and characters. 🖤
But things I loved: The topics dealt with in this book are topics a lot of people usually shy away from. It was nice to see an author really dive deep into heavy subjects.
**PLEASE READ TRIGGER WARNING PAGE IN BOOK**
I also loved getting to read from the male lead Ash, his perspective. I have read a lot of books with alternating chapters, but very very few books with just the male POV.
I liked Tayshia and Ash's forced co-existence, that is one of my favorite tropes. I also enjoyed the relationship development. It felt realistic and not rushed or like BAM I hate you and now I love you.
The beginning chapter was probably my favorite. I loved the entire cave scene.
So wrap up of thoughts: This book does not shy away from talking about really raw and hard things, so please be careful going into it. I think this book will also be very loved by the people who can really relate to it. And lastly I do think the target audience will be 17-23, but if you are someone my age or older and pick this up, just know the dialogue used is very reminiscent of the way Gen Z talks nowadays.
The author was great and I loved getting to chat with her. I'm very excited to see where this book series goes and where her career takes her!
April 28, 2023
The book in question is a classic in its genre. Innovative plotlines and engaging characters make this novel a must-read. Thanks to the author's originality and intricate storytelling, I appreciate her work greatly. My favorite part of the story was how thought-provoking and enjoyable it was. This is a book that I will cherish for many years to come.
In this story, the author weaves a tale about a boy (Ash) rife with baggage. He takes his readers on a fascinating journey through life and his experiences are easily relatable to many. Through this story, the author explores the struggles of growing up and the power of resilience.
He shows us that no matter how difficult life is, it is possible to overcome and succeed. In order to move forward and ultimately find happiness, he must confront and come to terms with his past. That's why it's a beautiful story that's sure to touch many hearts.
I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages and backgrounds. It will provide hours of entertainment and thought-provoking insights.
I believe it will also stand the test of time, remaining an important work in its genre for many years to come.
Such a richly layered book will not only help you understand the world around you, but also give you a better appreciation of the human experience. It will make you reflect on your own life and inspire you to make meaningful changes.
In this story, the author weaves a tale about a boy (Ash) rife with baggage. He takes his readers on a fascinating journey through life and his experiences are easily relatable to many. Through this story, the author explores the struggles of growing up and the power of resilience.
He shows us that no matter how difficult life is, it is possible to overcome and succeed. In order to move forward and ultimately find happiness, he must confront and come to terms with his past. That's why it's a beautiful story that's sure to touch many hearts.
I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages and backgrounds. It will provide hours of entertainment and thought-provoking insights.
I believe it will also stand the test of time, remaining an important work in its genre for many years to come.
Such a richly layered book will not only help you understand the world around you, but also give you a better appreciation of the human experience. It will make you reflect on your own life and inspire you to make meaningful changes.
May 28, 2025
Reading this was truly an experience, which I can’t say I’ve felt reading most romance books as of late. This one has me hooked. The imagery is so good, I felt like I could perfectly picture some scenes and places. And I was enthralled. A rich world, slow burn romance, phenomenal writing, well weaved mystical elements, plus my favorite, a title that makes sense as the plot unravels. Only way this book could’ve been better was if there was a lil more spice, but that’s just my personal preference for romance books. Overall, I loved the book, and I think this author has the talent to rival Sam Mariano and Rina Kent level romances, but with much better writing! Oh, and the eating disorder stuff -if you relate at all like I did - you will be emotionally tested.
December 28, 2021
Prior to this book, I haven’t been able to finish other books on my tbr list. So I’m happy to say that this book has officially taken me out of my reading slump (thank you) !!! I literally finished this book in a day; it left me wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development in this book and I can’t wait to see how things develop for both Ash and Tayshia.
One thing I liked about the book was how it didn’t gloss over the serious topics that were mentioned in the trigger warning. I felt like I was able to fully immerse myself in the story - it made the characters feel very human which was a nice touch.
I can’t wait to read the next book!!
One thing I liked about the book was how it didn’t gloss over the serious topics that were mentioned in the trigger warning. I felt like I was able to fully immerse myself in the story - it made the characters feel very human which was a nice touch.
I can’t wait to read the next book!!
February 25, 2021
Rated this three stars just because I felt quite ambivalent about it. I didn't like the writing style but that is just personal preference.
I felt that there was almost too much going on all the time that you have no time to get attached to any characters so didn't really care for them.
Its a good read, just not a new favourite.
I felt that there was almost too much going on all the time that you have no time to get attached to any characters so didn't really care for them.
Its a good read, just not a new favourite.
November 23, 2021
This book was beautiful in all the best and dark ways. I feel like this was the truest book I've read in a long time. The author captured feelings and explained them exactly how I've felt them and knowing they come from her own experiences make me feel like we've shared something special. I'm excited to see how the characters journey continues towards healing and self acceptance ❤
November 12, 2021
WOWOWOWOW
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD I FELT LIKE I COULD TRULY FEEL THE PAIN THE HURT THE LUST THE LOVE THE SORROW OH MY GOD I HAVENT READ A BOOK THIS GOOD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD I FELT LIKE I COULD TRULY FEEL THE PAIN THE HURT THE LUST THE LOVE THE SORROW OH MY GOD I HAVENT READ A BOOK THIS GOOD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT
April 13, 2022
Love it
Such an amazing story. I can't wait to read the next ones. I've been following this books journey from the beginning and I love how far it's come. This book and the amazing author who wrote it are something special.
Such an amazing story. I can't wait to read the next ones. I've been following this books journey from the beginning and I love how far it's come. This book and the amazing author who wrote it are something special.
February 9, 2023
I love a good bad boy, good girl trope, but I love how raw it goes into trauma and how it can affect your relationships with people. The crystal concept is really interesting, and I would love to see where this flows in with their dynamics more.
March 18, 2021
I love this book, lets start off with how utterly amazing the chapters were written. The true and dark emotion behind all the words is truly captivating, this book really put me in all kinds of emotions, from hate to madness and even to awe. The topics in this book are heavy, they are dark and they are written so well, these topics are so heart wrenching to think about and read about. The way that these things were portrayed in this book was better than I could imagine, the emotion behind the words and true heart shed behind every chapter is what makes this book so great. Mariah I am so proud of you and you have put so much work into this book and into this series. I couldn't ask for anything better. You truly have made me think about things in such a different perspective. I am so excited for the next book and I can't wait to continue supporting your work and supporting everything you do. As a person who did happen to get their preorder I am so genuinely happy that this book surpassed my expectations. Mariah again, you are an amazing writer and I'm so happy to be able to read something so beautiful. - Alessia <3
July 3, 2021
Mariah does an amazing job with her details about the trauma behind each of her characters. With Ash and his childhood; and Tayshia with her religious battles within herself.
I loved how this book didn’t romanticize things that I often see being romanticized in other books. I felt that Tayshia and Ash’s relationship was realistic in a way that it didn’t immediately jump from “I hate you” to “I can’t live without you” but instead showed the battles that both of the characters went through and the way that they now need eachother, but not in a unrealistic false way.
Very enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading the next two.
I loved how this book didn’t romanticize things that I often see being romanticized in other books. I felt that Tayshia and Ash’s relationship was realistic in a way that it didn’t immediately jump from “I hate you” to “I can’t live without you” but instead showed the battles that both of the characters went through and the way that they now need eachother, but not in a unrealistic false way.
Very enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading the next two.
November 19, 2021
I literally just finished this book after staying up all night reading it. I don’t even know how to begin. This book was one of the best reads ever. The character development throughout coupled with the writing itself made this experience the best possible. I haven’t felt this way about a book in YEARS and I am so happy that this one TikTok on my FYP from the author compelled me to buy the whole series.
November 11, 2021
I rated this 2 stars bc I felt like nothing really stood out to me. I wasn’t a big fan on the dialogue but that’s just my personal preference, and I feel like the ending just cut off when it feels like there should be more. it was an ok read but I finished the book just so I could see how it ended — I’ll probably read the next ones too just to see what happens
January 10, 2024
i discovered this series on tiktok and i cannot express how thankful i am that i did! the way mariah wrote this book was so incredibly amazing. the trigger warnings were super thorough and the way trauma and heavier topics were handled were SO AMAZINGLY. i absolutely love the character development so far and i can't wait to start the next book!!
October 13, 2023
Wow that book has fucked me up. The ending was such a twist. I cried. I loved it❤️🩹.
The writing was a little weird, like the way the story explained emotionally I understand and loved but like the parts where there was gen z slang and the attitude tayshia threw was off fairs but it like made sense at the same time.
The writing was a little weird, like the way the story explained emotionally I understand and loved but like the parts where there was gen z slang and the attitude tayshia threw was off fairs but it like made sense at the same time.
February 23, 2021
This is honestly the best book I have ever read, I AM DYING FOR THE SECOND ONE AJSXBHXHXHHSHSHHSHSSHS 😭😭😭😭
March 29, 2021
I really love this book and cannot wait for the second one. I love all of Mariahs work.
June 10, 2022
Definitely enjoyed this book and its greatest feat was how real the characters felt. I could honestly imagine the characters as real people and often the dialogue made them feel real
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