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A review by meirinasoe
Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wow… That was quite something 😳😳😳
Apollo had been messing with my mind.
As a fan of consensual romance, this book is my triumphant welcome to the MM Dark Romance genre (I have read the cishet ones, and hated them all).
I buddy-read this with my found-brother and overall it has been a great experience. We enjoyed the kinks (especially him) and grew very fond of our mc, Shade/Shadow (affectionately called “Shady” while reading).
Shade is such a darling. His insecurities hit close to home. Feeling odd, rejected, and thinking something's wrong with him, he shuts himself off from others.
I like that he’s 27 and single. Let’s normalize not finding someone in your teens or early twenties. Give us more older, single protagonists!
Apollo. I picture him as Cillian Murphy during the entirety of the book. The vast blue ocean eyes, it fits. 💙
The worldbuilding in this book is top-notch. I adore the alien metaphors that cleverly mirror our everyday issues. I wonder if all those issues with overstimulation and repletions are a metaphor for neurodivergence, something Shade struggles with while Apollo masks it better. Are all Chittas ND-coded?
Another thing I appreciate is Shade's loyalty to his best friend, even with his decision to stay with Apollo. You don’t ditch your best friend after finding romance, that’s basic decency!
This book has become one of my darlings and I will treasure it as one of my comfort reads.
...and probably will commission art of Shady and Apollo (as Cillian Murphy, of course).
What can I say, now I need a serial killer of my own 😅
4.5⭐/5
Apollo had been messing with my mind.
As a fan of consensual romance, this book is my triumphant welcome to the MM Dark Romance genre (I have read the cishet ones, and hated them all).
I buddy-read this with my found-brother and overall it has been a great experience. We enjoyed the kinks (especially him) and grew very fond of our mc, Shade/Shadow (affectionately called “Shady” while reading).
Shade is such a darling. His insecurities hit close to home. Feeling odd, rejected, and thinking something's wrong with him, he shuts himself off from others.
I like that he’s 27 and single. Let’s normalize not finding someone in your teens or early twenties. Give us more older, single protagonists!
Apollo. I picture him as Cillian Murphy during the entirety of the book. The vast blue ocean eyes, it fits. 💙
The worldbuilding in this book is top-notch. I adore the alien metaphors that cleverly mirror our everyday issues. I wonder if all those issues with overstimulation and repletions are a metaphor for neurodivergence, something Shade struggles with while Apollo masks it better. Are all Chittas ND-coded?
Another thing I appreciate is Shade's loyalty to his best friend, even with his decision to stay with Apollo. You don’t ditch your best friend after finding romance, that’s basic decency!
This book has become one of my darlings and I will treasure it as one of my comfort reads.
...and probably will commission art of Shady and Apollo (as Cillian Murphy, of course).
What can I say, now I need a serial killer of my own 😅
4.5⭐/5