Did I question my morals while reading this book? Absolutely. Did I find comfort in knowing that this is the kind of dynamic I only tolerate in books and not in reality? Also yes.
I’ve been on the fence about picking up a Rina Kent book for a while. I wasn’t sure if her style would be for me or if I’d even finish one of her books. With that being said, I’m upset with myself for waiting so long. This book was deeply intriguing and made me question myself, especially as someone new to this genre.
Let’s start with Glyn. Her character is simple and naive, but there’s a quiet, dark undertone to her. At the beginning, she’s at one of the lowest points in her life. As the story progresses, we get glimpses into how she views herself as a person, a daughter, a sister, and a friend, while also uncovering what led her to the book’s opening events. Glyn starts off as the kind of person who avoids making waves, suffers in silence, and doesn’t want to be a bother. But as the book unfolds, she grows more outspoken and confident. Overall, I liked her character, but I loved the person Killian helped her become by the end.
Now, about her “friend.” For much of the book, we’re led to believe that this friend, who "voluntarily" left the earth, had been in her life for a bit. But toward the end, we find out she only knew him for two months and assumed she knew him better than anyone else. Spoiler: she didn’t. I interpreted this two ways: either she was so desperate for connection that she clung to his words, or she was gullible and naive enough to believe he saw her for who she truly was. When the truth came out about what he said and did, I was baffled as to why she grieved him so deeply.
Now, the main event: Killian. He’s every red flag in a man personified, yet Rina made me fall for him. He was different. He was angry, possessive, tyrannical, and an unstoppable force of nature. But then, he became a man with feelings—feelings he didn’t know how to handle. I loved watching him struggle with his emotions for Glyn. He wanted to understand her so he could be done with her, but instead, she became his muse and his safe space.
Glyn, in turn, understood him in a way no one else could. She saw through his anger at his brother, even when he denied caring, and she gave him the grace he didn’t know he needed. Killian remained true to himself from start to finish—raw, intense, and unapologetically himself. The only real change was Glyn. She calmed his inner beast, made him tolerable to those around him, and became his balance. He is her monster, and she is his calm.
That balance between them was one of the highlights of the book for me. I appreciated how they complemented each other so naturally.
I did have some minor issues, though. There were small gaps in the narrative, and the ending felt rushed. The story picked up toward the end, and then suddenly, it was over. I really hope there’s a novella about Killian and Glyn in the future—I’d love to see what Killian would be like as a father!
BeaWilson
Allie
RandiB