These Monstrous Deeds

This book was AMAZING - but very TOUGH to read, heartbreaking, and it makes you feel a little sick and devastated to know this stuff actually happens out there in the world - but this novel captivated me and took me on an emotional, hard hitting, eye opening and riveting journey (and it was also surprisingly sexy and tender in a lot of moments!) I found myself unable to put it down. I loved the flaws and dark sides and realism of Nathan, who ultimately is a good man, but living the way he has done has affected him, and I wanted to protect dear Carter and stay with him until the end to make sure he was okay. I thought he was a well built character who I was emotionally invested in. The one and only niggle I had with this book was the third person narrative, and I think this book would have BEEN INCREDIBLE in first person. The 3rd person pulled me out of the characters a little especially in the beginning with the short chapters where I got sick of seeing Carter, Carter, Carter written every sentence. When there was a Casey too that got even more 'distracting' as the names looked too similar. But further in this did get easier and less distracting.

Little late to the party on this one, but no time like the present. 𝙄𝙣 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚, 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙣. 𝙃𝙚’𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧. Two men in impossible situations. One by choice and for the greater good, another against his will and without all pieces of pertinent information. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧’𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝙉𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙟𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩. This is quite a bit darker than my usual reads (although I have read darker before, but infrequently), so I tried to just read through and detach myself from some of the harder parts. Honestly, Nate’s back and forth kept things on an even keel for me as a reader when it would have been a harder pill to swallow would be have been acting his part. It’s interesting to me, given all the intricacies of this situation, whether Carter truly is in love with Nate, or has a case of Stockholm Syndrome. That will be interesting to see develop over the next few books. I’m also interested to find out how Carter digests the information that yes he was rescued but he also has to stay there for the duration of the operation. That would be a tough pill for anyone to swallow I would think. Be mindful of the TW. Don’t remember if this was mentioned as one…