Redemption

Favorite Malady Trilogy, Book 2

De: Julia Sykes

Narrado por: M.K. Blackwood, Benjamin Crow

The man I love has trapped me in a gilded cage.

I trusted him to keep me safe. He was my white knight and my dark god, all in one gorgeous package.

Until an awful revelation changed everything.

Now, I'm desperate to escape his twisted obsession, but he refuses to let me go. He insists that I still love him, but he can't command my affections. No matter how much pleasure he gives me or how many times he says I belong to him.

For a man like Dane, I don't think redemption is possible, even if some secret part of my heart yearns for it to be true.

Contains mature content. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website.

©2025 Julia Sykes (P)2025 Podium Audio

alright...

this was pretty good, the only thing was some parts of the book were a little 'cringy'... and a little spoiler, but the character abigail was kind of getting on my nerves in the book. she kept complaining , when surprise, she eventually gave in. overall,
okay

Dane & Abigail

Starts & ends on a cliffhanger, but very well done. I loathed Dane through most of this book, but fwiw, I loathed what seemed like Abigail’s weakness as well. This story is so good, I avoided this series for quite a while, but it is very well written & evokes emotions while reading, mostly anger & frustration for me, but just the same, that is a mark of a good book. I purchased the audio book and wow, the narration is fantastic.

the title

I was soooooo not expecting that ending. or that plot. Holy talito this is awesommmme

So good!

Wonderful series. Super hot. I love the MMC in this series. Give it a chance!

I kinda hate the fmc

I gave up on the first book because it went from dark stalker to all contracts consent vanilla. When this book came out I thought I was wrong. So I finished book one and dove into what seemed to be a reaffirmed bad guy morally grey stalker story. I will say that the MMC does confirm his lack of morality stalker status, for the most part. Unfortunately the fmc is so stubborn “he’s crazy this is not ok!” It gets pretty annoying. She just bitches and bitches and then , huge surprise, gives in! Either stick with your convictions because you really believe them… or you’re just wining and being dramatic , all “woe is me.” I think I just really don’t like her personality. To the point that it seriously affected my enjoyment of the plot.
The narration (male and female POV) was decent. Sex scenes are well written and varied. Nothing very kinky or unique, and all the fmc drama definitely put a damper on build up and tension. Her repeated “you violated me” and “if he forces this I will break” ,(despite that being their fantasy that she gets off on more than anything) really killed the sexy.

Book ends on a cliffhanger. A predictable stupid one in my opinion. It’s like right at the end this cliche situation just got jammed in for the sake of conflict/drama. The second the scene starts you know what’s going to happen. The entire scenario is clunky and just slapped on to the end of the book for the sake of the dramatic cliffhanger.
The whole dynamic of these books are not what I look for or really even consider dark romance. I want my dark romance to be DARK. These come across as a bit wishy washy to me. The force and non con concept are continuously flirted with only to pull back. Yes consent is incredibly important… something that should be talked about at length in any relationship. In real life. Not really something I’m looking to read about in a dark STALKER romance. I’m here for the extreme morally irredeemable violent hottie and all the line crossing smut. But that’s just me and my admittedly darker than average tastes.
I can definitely see this plot appealing to some people. However if you’re looking for something on the darker, rougher, more villainous smutty side… save your credit for a better option.