Dark Ink

Dublin Ink #3

by Sienna Blake

I'm his muse. His addiction.

Rian Merrick is a wildly talented tattoo artist, the unhinged “rockstar” professor on campus.
Everyone's obsession.
Now I’m his.

He doesn’t care that I’m his student. He won’t stop til I belong to him and he’s ruined me.

I’m trying to resist him—Lord knows, I’ve trying—but my body screams for him. Why do I ache for him even though I know it’s wrong? How can something that feels like Heaven be a sin?

He thought I was his redemption.
Instead, he will be my damnation.

He’s a broken man with a dark price to pay—a price I can’t pay again. But that means when his demons come for him, can I let him go before he drowns us both?

Author's note: this is a dark, angsty romance dealing with addiction and toxic relationships. If you don't like your heroes over-the-top and obsessive, and you don't like your spice "degrading" and "impactful", walk away. Otherwise, strap yourself in and grab onto your "oh shit" handle, this is a roller-coaster that won't stop til the bitter end...

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Dark, Forbidden Romance, College Romance, Teachers, College

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2023

About the author

HUNTING PRETTY is LIVE!
Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited:
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Sienna Blake is a dirty girl, an Amazon Top 20 wordspinner of smexy love stories & a USA Today Bestselling Author.

She lives in Dublin, Ireland, where she enjoys reading, keeping fit and adding to her personal harem of Irish hotties ;)

Reviews

[j a y • d e p r a v e d - .dammnitjay. · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off - Please check your TWs.
Second off, wow. Just ... this book really flipped the script and shined a mirror back to myself.
This book shows a side of addiction a lot dont talk about, but in that same breath, this book shows blind devotion.
It has passion and heat, and violence and self destruction.

The dynamics of the characters were beautifully written and left you just stuck in your feels about it all honestly. This book struck a chord with me. This book was dark. This book was heart wrenching.
It was an amazing read and I am so lucky I got to ARC read this book.
Now, I need to go back and read the first two but this one did not disappoint.

Wish I could give it 10 stars cause just straight AMAZING.

[Mylie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, i hate doing this but i just hit the 58% mark and I have to DNF this book.
I have litteraly no attachment to any of the characters.
I was really hoping for a toxic but soul catching book.
This is just messy.
The 2 MC don’t even know a single thing about each other at this point. Their interactions are all about sex and assuming things.
Rian’s addiction, ughh, i just have a feeling is the beginning of a messy road.
Eithne is annoying at this point, I mean she seems to have emotional damage but I can’t quite have compassion for her situation. She just seems lost and desperate. I mean how can she be so reserved and in her own lane and all of a sudden get into the creepy eccentric professor with the weird stalker tendencies. And like oh i’m a virgin but you know take me on all fours in the middle of a classroom why don’t you.
I mean doesn’t make sense to me to be honest.
The author is also trying to give « found family » with dublin ink and okay I haven’t read the first 2 books i’ll give you that, but I don’t see no real friendships between the boys or the girlfriends. I just don’t like these characters. It’s just a little too dark but with no hope kind of vibe.

Sorry but it’s a no for me.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freaking love this book!!

Rian Merrick is a famous artist known for his out of control behavior. One day he sees a girl "his Raglan Road girl" and he's immediately obsessed.

Eithne is a good girl trying to make the best life for herself and her brother who's going through addiction. Things are very hard. But Professor Merrick is going to change everything.

Ohmygosh! This was amazing! I adored being in Rian's head and how artistically he looked at everything and everyone around him. He's a good guy but he has demons and also struggling from addiction.

I thought I've read it all when it came to crazy, over the top obsessive guys but Rian shocked me with this insane moment...
In the beginning he is desperately trying to find the girl he's seen. Knows nothing about her except her face. Now he's a well known tattoo artist and sets up a little table saying one free tattoo. There's a long line and everyone in that line gets a picture of Eithne and WANTED on their body. THAT is seriously the craziest thing I've read and I love it!

[Crystal Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well…there are some really hard truths in this book. Check your TW’s. Showed a side of addiction that not everyone sees. But with saying that, I couldn’t put it down. It was dark and made me question how I felt more than once. The way the characters developed was divine, and my heart bleeds for them. I read this as an ARC and am so grateful to have done so.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style of this book is the only reason I'm giving it 3 stars. I understand that most of it is chaotic and wild because Rian and Eithne are artists but I feel like a lot of the time I got a little lost in the descriptions. But I do understand and appreciate the idea.

Eithne and Rian were doomed from the start - two tortured artists coming together was bound to end in an explosion. Their relationship reminded me a lot of the There Are No Saints duology.

I am super curious about Ryleigh and Liam. I assume they are the couple in the next book. I would also like to see how Liam and Rian navigate their relationship since it would seem Liam is going to be around for awhile.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn….this book is obsession taking to the limit! You will devour Book 3 in the Dublin Ink Series. This book has so much heat, lust, desire, passion, desire, and blind devotion. This book follows Rian & Eithne. Rian has some dark habits and he spends a lot of time fighting those demons. This might be a trigger for some because it is quite intense and could deter you but don’t let it because understanding his habit and his need for these habits are what make it easier to fully comprehend the man behind the addiction. He is obsessed with an image of a woman who he can’t get out of his head and because of his obsessive personality he will do anything to find her and make her his! He can’t let her go and the endeavors he will go through to find her is quite remarkable and a bit romantic even though it borders a bit stalkerish!

Eithne had a hard childhood and her brother is still controlling and demanding endless attention yet he doesn’t give her anything in return except grief and heartache. However, he is family so she’ll never turn her back on him. However, when she meets Professor Rian and sees his obsessive nature over her she is blown away by him. He brings her dark desires and needs to the surface. She is all consumed by him but she recognizes similar traits and she knows she should stay away but her heart won’t allow it. She’s never been something significant before and when Rian is in her vicinity he is all she sees. Her need and desire for him is equal to his obsession for her. However, these explosive traits must come to combustion and there is no one to come out of it unscathed.

This is an intense read and there are many layers to these phenomenal characters. This is the most dark of the Dublin Ink Series but it’s a story that needs to be explored and told. You will love these characters and the professor/student angle is hot as sin!! These two characters will ignite your pages and have you needing more. Rian & Eithne are perfect for each other but can they survive each others demons in order to make a real go of it? This was worth the wait and I know you will devour every page and you will love our newest Dublin Ink power couples! Happy Reading!!!

[GinaCW_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She would be my beginning. She would be my end. She would be my life."

Rian saw her. Needed her. Had to have her. He was obsessed over his “Raglan Road” girl.
Eithne knew him. Knew it was wrong. Knew she couldn’t love. Knew she should stay away.

The story of Rian and Eithne was a beautifully heartbreaking journey. All the Dublin Ink characters have ghosts in their past, but none like Rian and Eithne. (If you haven’t read the other books in this series - you should.). Neither Rian or Eithne knew who they truly are without those ghosts. Neither knew love, how to love or how to be loved. This story was full of angst, sadness and heartache. It was two trains heading towards one another on the same track, at full speed, bound to crash and leave no survivors. I knew in my heart that parts of this were not going to end well and for a time - they didn’t.

Parts of this book were soul crushing both for the characters and myself. With this said, I couldn’t put it down. I cried and cried - like I haven’t in a very long time. I cried for Rian. I cried for Eithne. I cried for love, for loss, for family. I promise it will give you a HEA, but getting there is no joke. Be mindful of the trigger warnings - there is more than one character dealing with addiction.

I thought this was the end of my Dublin Ink journey. I was so happy to hear that there’s another couple coming (scheduled for mid 2023). I’ll leave you guessing as to who may be.

“There was happiness. There was joy. There was healing.”

I received this book as an ARC for free. I am voluntarily and happy leaving this review.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a book!!!! I had a hard time putting this down and couldn't wait to pick it back up.

Rian and Eithne are both so broken. They're looking for someone to love them, to tell them they are enough just as they are, someone who will protect them. Both suffered such horrible abuse in their childhoods that carried on into their adult lives. The one thing they want more than anything? They just want to be accepted.

The way Sienna wrote these characters,  I felt every bit of pain they felt, every scorching hot moment between them, and also the unbelievably soul crushing heartbreak. I felt the scare of possibly loosing a loved one to an overdose, the panic of not knowing if they will make it. If they make it, will this be their rock bottom? Will they seek the help they need and be able to make the hardest decisions day after day, to choose a clean life?

I felt the excitement of the forbidden love Rian and Eithne had. Eithne's sheer panic of getting caught and loosing EVERYTHING she had worked so hard for. I felt her pain when she had to let go of unhealthy relationships so she could keep her head above water and become the woman she was meant to be.

Yes, this book deals with some dark issues, but it just made me love these characters even more. I absolutely loved this book and all the different dynamics that were brought in through all the supporting characters. All I know is I can't wait to read Liam and Ryleigh's story to see where they take us!

[Katelynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Einthe immediately attracts the attention of art professor Rian. Eccentric and wild Rian is on a mission to find this mysterious beauty and become part of her world. Einthe has been alone all her life and takes care of her drug addict brother, so finally having someone take interest and care of her is too intoxicating despite the ramifications of an illicit relationship with her professor. What this summary can't encapsulate is the heavy emotional demons both characters wrestle throughout the book. Both have encountered some type of abuse that had shaped their present life and are intoxicated with each other, though Rian battles the lure of drugs as well. I enjoyed that these characters were very messy, which was different from many romances. Rian is defintely a bit crazy but also endearing. I was cheering for his journey towards peace the whole book and hoping Einthe could have a place in it. Einthe had her own personal growth that had me cheering and clapping for realizing her self worth. I have liked this series and this book was another great addition and every bit as chaotic as Rian is.

[Kyara Gevers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Sienna Blake. This book shows the dark side of addiction of past traumas and toxic relationships with other people and themselves. So do check your trigger warnings before reading.

Rian is an art professor who's had a very hard childhood with an abusive dad and older brother. He has a lot of demons to overcome. When one day he sees this girl and instantly becomes obsessed with her, turns out she's his student. Eithne has so many problems of her own, demons of her own, with an older brother who's also an addict. They become so obsessed with eachother, to the point of self destruction on both sides.

The most important thing when i read books is how i feel when reading them and this book had me feel so many things, it was crazy. I just couldn't stop reading, i was hurting alongside these charachters. It made my heart ache so much. it has so much charahter growth and a happy ending. Thank god for that :D It was really addicting to read. I can't wait to read other books by Sienna Blake.

[Maz]

As always I'm sitting here with ton of emotions after reading Sienna's book. She gives you love, then tears you apart and then slowly fixes you up with more love than you can cope with. What I love a Sienna's books is that her writing is like poetry in motion. You fall in love with those words.
I was anticipating Rian's story. Intrigued to know who the mystery girl was.
They both are so broken. Each with different reasons from their childhood.
But Eithne (pronounced Enya) seems to be the answer to Rian's obsession.
Their love is so amazing and so toxic. There was only so far this can go before it all explodes.
This was very sad, dramatic and Steamy story.
I loved how the drug abuse and suicidal situation was managed in the story.
Go and read the book and join the emotional and spicy journey these two go through. The epilogue was perfect and so needed.
Please read triggers for the book before reading.
Interested to see how Liam redeems himself in the next book.

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, take note of the trigger warnings. This book is dark and gritty and may be a bit much if addiction is a sore spot for you. Now, this series started out absolutely fantastic and has continued the same path throughout. No matter what trials this author has her characters endure you can count on being engrossed in their lives and left feeling like you've been on their journey with them. Dark Ink is the same way. This was a very emotional book for me. My heart utterly broke for Rian and Eithne both. These characters battle some huge demons and when you throw in obsession of course the problems are compounded. As heartbreaking as this story is, it's also a beautiful story about love, understanding, acceptance, forgiveness and ultimately healing. Well done Ms. Blake. What an incredible journey!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn't read the 1st 2 books in this series yet but I was intrigued. I'm not disappointed or surprised about how the characters are tied in and I don't feel like their stories were spoiled. I will definitely be going back to read the other 2.

The obsession, violence, and darkness described in this book is so titillating I had a hard time putting it down. I wanted to keep reading even though I need to sleep or do other things. I LOVED the artistic descriptions from each character's POV of the world around them. The story was written as art in itself. Very well done! And great tie in to the theme.

Check TWs for sure!

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

I surprisingly enjoyed the way this was written. I just didn’t like… basically everything else

[monibookishnerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again deliciously spicy. This book or serious is more in the smuttier side.

I struggled a bit to relate to the FMC in the beginning, when the romance between Eithne and Rian developed. Her "will I, won't I" ping-pong-attitude and contradictions between her one thought and her next action gave me whiplash. But with the progressing story her thoughts and actions became more consistent.

I have to admit that Rian was a bit too cliché for my taste. The unconvential artist with a rock star attitude with alcohol and drug issues who is too unresistable even for the university.

Usually I hate the third break up act but in this case I loved it. It was necessary for both characters. They showed so much development. And then the romance became very sweet.

" I looked up again at Eithne, there in charcoal and parchment. There as surely as she’d been in flesh and blood. Heart beating. Heart pounding.
“There’s your reason for really being here,” my therapist said, tapping me on the knee as he stood.
“Your reason is to become a version of yourself who is capable of truly loving her. You don’t love drugs, you need them. I’m going to help you not need this woman but love her. To really love her, Rian.” "

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not a sweet romance, and it comes with trigger warnings.

Its a dark, semi-stalkerish, toxic relationships kind of read.

Rian is an amazingly talented art professor. When he sees Eithne, an art student, he becomes a bit obsessed and calls her his muse.

Eithne literally takes life one day at a time. She has an addict brother and can barely make ends meet.

I happen to love books like these, and even though there are several dark moments, there are also loving moments between these two. There is explosive chemistry and a ton of steam. Sienna is so good at mixing the dark with the light and giving us a very entertaining story.

[V Woods · Rating 1 out of 5]

The cover looks like they stuck a hockey puck png on his ear and called it a gage. And yet the cover was still the best page of the book.

I genuinely read "shut yer gobs" and had to accept that she wrote that on purpose.

I stopped reading as soon as he isolated her from her brother because he was bad for her and then immediately did the same thing and chose drugs over her.

These characters didn’t know anything about each other and their relationship was nothing but toxic.

[Jess Bracewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best one yet!

I absolutely loved this book! The only reason for the 4 stars is because I almost felt like the characters were "beating a dead horse". Other than that it was so f.king good! The spicy scenes were 🥵🥵🥵! The plot is even better. I do wish the epilogue ended differently. It felt like it just ended abruptly! Overall a really good book and I'm so glad I read it!

[Suzanne McNeill Taviner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

This one is dark, there's obsession, control and despair here but, at the end, there is also love, forgiveness and unity. I'm glad Eithne, finally, managed to stand up for herself and see her own self worth and that Rian didn't let his past dictate to him any more.

[Paige Rodriguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.7

Really wants a fan. I love the teacher x student and the stalker aspect but it just wasn’t it.
(Audio Book)

Spice: 3.5/5
Trope: teacher x student and stalker
Warning: It deals with violence and drug addiction. And contains dubious consent, degradation, impact play and breath play.

[Delena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate the drug trope but when I read a well written book with the trope I just cry my heart out and fall in love with the characters and all the advice the book gives out to the world. The romance is forbidden and it was well done by the author.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm conflicted about this installment in the series. It might be because too much time has passed for me between books but I spent the first 2/3 of this trying to decide if I was rooting for unhinged Rian or wanting to see him punished for a gross abuse of power.

[rosina mastrangelo-keigher · Rating 1 out of 5]

i found myself wanting to put the book away more, i couldn’t get into it as much as i wanted to:/ dnf at 55%

[Lyritza]

Dnf for now
A little too morose and depressing at the moment...

[Mariam K]

Dnf- 37%
Instalust for no reason

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Damn, I have read some dark shit before but this… wow. Rian was hot to a point and then… I mean, I liked the ending at least.

[buckhain · Rating 2 out of 5]

no. idk. maybe i’m just not in the mood for it. will fs re read it n see cuz i see the potential, i’m just not in the mood for it now?

[Skyla Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[Ami Harrison-Orme · Rating 1 out of 5]

I dnf’d before the first chapter even finished. Could be me, could be that I’m too tired for this but it hurt my brain. I couldn’t follow it.

[Bay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t feel any connection with the characters and I think that’s what truly ruined it for me. :(