Deviants by Natalie Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dark romance · Morally grey (and then some) · Extreme content
This is not a romance for the faint of heart. This is a romance for people who looked at morally grey and asked, “But what if we made them fucking black?”
Welcome to the apocalypse. Every man for himself. Trust absolutely no one. And maybe, just maybe, check your moral compass at the door because these two are NOT here to be redeemed.
Reading Deviants felt a little like watching Harley Quinn fall in love with the Joker, except somehow everyone involved is even more unhinged. Calista isn’t some innocent little flower who needs saving. She’s fucked up, she knows it, and she’s starting to realize that maybe being a little evil is actually her calling.
And Romero?
OH, THAT MAN.
We’re talking off-the-charts insane. Psychopathic, cannibalistic, satanist levels of what-the-actual-fuck. An evil king with very few redeeming qualities outside of the absolutely terrifying devotion he has for his Queen.
And somehow, he only makes her worse.
SHE WANTS TO BE WORSE.
“I would bring the devil to his knees and put that silver tongue of his to work between my thighs. If I was meant to be a queen, then it was time to wear the fucking crown.”
I mean. GIRL. GET YOUR CROWN.
Since Calista and Romero’s relationship was already established, this installment gets to focus more heavily on revenge, consequences, and watching Calista step into her power. She’s not looking to be rescued. She’s looking to collect debts, bury her enemies, and make damn sure everyone remembers who they fucked with.
We also get introduced to several new characters, and shout-out to Luther because SERIOUSLY. Some interesting new additions to this already spectacularly dysfunctional little nightmare.
ꣁA Very Important Public Service Announcementꣂ
Check. The. Trigger. Warnings.
I am not being dramatic. This book goes DARK. Gang bangs, horror, extreme sexual violence, disturbing scenes, and content that genuinely made me feel like I was going to lose my dinner.
There were moments when I was less ooh, morally grey and more WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK DID I JUST READ?
This is not dark romance with a little edge. This is a book that wants to see just how far into the darkness you’re willing to go.
ꣁThe Verdictꣂ
Four stars for the sheer commitment to being absolutely, unapologetically fucked up.
If you’re looking for healthy relationships, redeemable heroes, or characters who make good life choices, RUN.
But if your fictional taste runs toward evil kings, wicked queens, revenge, depravity, and couples who bring out the absolute worst in each other?
Well, bestie. Welcome to the Badlands.
Sometimes the villain gets the girl. Sometimes the girl becomes the villain. And sometimes they’re both just fucking awful together.
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