Ruin

Slay Quartet, Book 2

By: Laurelin Paige

Narrated by: Elena Wolfe, Shane East

Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

"I was utterly consumed." (Rachel Grey, USA Today best-selling author)

With her heart literally in his hands, Celia will have to try and bargain with a devil.

Edward Fasbender is my captor.

Trapped on this island on which he owns everything - including, it seems, me.

He told me he would break me, but I thought he meant in the bedroom. It turns out Edward is playing a completely different game.

And he won't stop until he's ruined me.

Slay Two: Ruin is the second book in the Slay Quartet. Slay One: Rivalry should be heard first.

©2019 Laurelin Paige (P)2019 Laurelin Paige

Twisted but compelling

I discovered something about myself while reading this story. I have no desire to give up my independence to a man, not even if he gives me hot sex and a life of leisure on a beautiful island. I chafed at that the entire time I was listening to this story. Edward is still a fascinating character, but I felt resentment toward him. I couldn't stop listening though as the story unwound and revealed more about these compelling characters. The narration was great as always, and Shane East did a fantastic job voicing Edward, especially in the big reveal chapter about what happened to Celia when she was a child. He was superb in conveying all the emotions and with voicing Celia in that highly emotional scene. The author also wrote that perfectly.

It was a breakthrough and hugely impactful. Then the author put in a scene that wound me right back up with so much dread and disgust that I couldn't warm up to Edward at all after that. Traumatizing someone doesn't help them get over past trauma, regardless if there is a better outcome than before. It would set that person back in their recovery. That is why you have to go to school to become a psychiatrist. Amateurs don't know what they are doing. I just really hated this scene, but it didn't put me off reading the next book. I need to know how the story ends, and I also like a good revenge plot.

oh damn

Celia gets under his skin, reveals her secrets and now we have to wait for the revenge

Surprising

This book finally starts to turn things around between Edward and Celia. I often have a difficult time reading and understanding books that are BDSM centered, especially those detailing S & M practices. It make no sense to me that someone would welcome physical and emotional cruelty, and that they could love and want to please the person who does this to them. It is to me a battered wife Syndrome. The abuse and control Edward enforces is more of the psychological and nature. The author does a great job showing how their “game” starts unfolding, and the walls between them drop. I am looking forward to seeing what’s next! Elena Wolfe and Shane East are outstanding as always!

Mixed emotions

I devoured the first audio book getting to know Edward and Celia. And after a small break wanted to dive right into getting to the deeper depths of their relationship.

I will say I pulled an all nighter just listening to Shane East read for Edward. But I didn't care too much for his actions in this book. I think Celia suffers from Stockholm Syndrome and Edward's choices religiously this book gave me pause.

I knew from the first book that Celia would have some traumatic events in her past but to get talk about them in detail was heartbreaking. Oh understood Edward's desire to hearit, try to carry the burden and I know he'll seem revenge in the future. But his method to help get her past it, I'm not so sure about.

I trust in Laurelin to give me a compelling story, so I'm holding my breath on how it will turn. But for now I need a nap!

Ruined

These specific narrators never fail to bring such life to the characters.

Ruined is book 2 and should be read in order of the series. There is some closure and finally a lot of progress and secret revealing book 1 left off on.

Cecilia and Edward are equally matched, broken souls. This second part of the series is very heart wrenching as the past comes out, hearts and emotions laid bare, and finally the growth of not only Cecilia as a person but as a woman and her relationship with Edward. He has also grown and developed.

I’m ready to dive into book 3, even though this one doesn’t necessarily end on a cliffhanger it does give way that there is more of their story to come.

Well written, just not my speed!

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻V from Kansas🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

I have listened to several dark romance series and have recognized how disturbed the anti-hero was. Most of the time these characters are slowly by progressively changing their ways. Edward, in many ways is more cruel with the way he neglects his wife. Especially, when he knows the emotional and sexual(he is pretty sure about this) abuse she has suffered. He claims he wants to help her, but he knows she lacks feelings of self-worth, and he constantly does things to make her issues worse. He wants revenge because his sister suffered abuse, in her childhood, but he is abusive and commits horrible acts himself. At the very end, he starts to acknowledge his mistreatment however, the author drew it out too long; in my opinion. I don’t mind a bit of angst but, 90% of this book is angst and that
Takes away from my enjoyment of a book. The Heroine slowly but steadily grows as a character because she wants to be better. If I decide to listen to the next book and it’s more of the same, I am not going to finish it.

"Sick and Exciting"

This is one of the most sickest and exciting books that I've ever read. This book consumed my existence. I couldn't put it down during work or at home. I slept with this book playing in my ears. This writer is magnificent and I cannot wait until the next book.

This was the first book I read by Larelin however definitely not the last.

Raw

This was raw, honest, explosive and sexually charged. Despite his best efforts, Edward started to care for Celia. Celia broke down piece by piece and bared all to Edward and what an explosive revelation. Additionally, Celia enjoyed sec and intimacy in a way she never expected. This deeply emotional story was narrated with all the angst pain and pleasures the characters felt. This was just outstanding. What will the next chapter hold for Celia and Edward? This was just raw and honest to the core.

TRIGGER WARNING

The story is well worth the read. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read book 2 after reading the 1st in the series only because it was very slow and frustrating. There are some things in the book that could trigger you if you are sensitive to acts of sexual deviance such as underage non-consensual sexual acts.

Prepared to be Ruined in the best way!

Wow! What a series! This series had me going from hating Celia to rooting for her and despising Edward. This story picks up at Edwards bold confession. Celia is stranded on Edward's private island and she quickly learns that Edward is in control of this game they have going. I loved insight into Edward and pieces of why he is the way he is how he is. We also got a story into Celia past and what started the games. There is so many layers to this couple and you are taken on such a journey. The story draws you in and keeps you reading. I am sad that I have to wait for book three! Such a great series!