Review: Enthralled by Giana Darling (Enslaved #1)
Note: An advanced reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Candi Kane PR.
Giana Darling is a new-to-me author, making Enthralled my first ever read by her. This is also the first in Darling's Enslaved duet, and as you can guess from the title, this is a romance with a heavy dose of BDSM to it. Think dark romance, and while it did have its moments, I fear that it didn't click with me as much as I had hoped it would. Readers meet Cosima Lombardi, a girl who is sold to the Earl of Thornton, Alexander Davenport, in exchange for her father's debts to be paid off. For five years, Cosima is to be Alexander's property--the submissive to his Dominant--and he intends to introduce her to every part of his dark and twisted world without apology. Cosima would do anything for the family she loves, so as much as she fears what awaits her under Alexander's ownership, this is one thing she needs to do to protect them. He may own her body, but she won't allow him to own her heart.
I've read my fair share of dark romances, and just like any other sub-genre under the huge umbrella that is romantic fiction, I connect with some better than others. In the case of Cosima and Alexander's story, there were things about it that were good--i.e. Giana Darling's writing and the promising story line--but there was a major disconnect between me and the main characters. I couldn't, for the life of me, be as emotionally invested as I prefer to be with the hero and slash or heroine in a book. The story was, without a doubt, promising, but I felt like a disinterested observer. The sad thing is, I really wanted to, at the very least, like Cosima and Alexander. Darling's writing was noteworthy and she did give the whole being sold in exchange for debts paid story line her own creative touch. I am still mildly curious as how everything will play out between them, so reading book two, Enamoured, could be on the table. For now, though, Enthralled snags 3.5 stars, thanks in large part to the writing. ♥
I've read my fair share of dark romances, and just like any other sub-genre under the huge umbrella that is romantic fiction, I connect with some better than others. In the case of Cosima and Alexander's story, there were things about it that were good--i.e. Giana Darling's writing and the promising story line--but there was a major disconnect between me and the main characters. I couldn't, for the life of me, be as emotionally invested as I prefer to be with the hero and slash or heroine in a book. The story was, without a doubt, promising, but I felt like a disinterested observer. The sad thing is, I really wanted to, at the very least, like Cosima and Alexander. Darling's writing was noteworthy and she did give the whole being sold in exchange for debts paid story line her own creative touch. I am still mildly curious as how everything will play out between them, so reading book two, Enamoured, could be on the table. For now, though, Enthralled snags 3.5 stars, thanks in large part to the writing. ♥
Date Read: 04 April 2019
Learn more about Giana Darling.
Purchase Enthralled on Amazon.
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