ARC Review: Daddy's Adorable Assassin by Gianni Holmes
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Kink: Ageplay, ABDL, daddy kink, knifeplay, blood play, dollification, purposeful sex without lube, rough sex
If you've read Daddy's Stepstalker by Gianni Holmes, you know that this author is willing to cross lines and make dark romances dark, not softening the edges or morals of the characters involved to make the bows nice and complete. Considering how enraptured I was by Stepstalker, it surprised me how it almost became tame compared to this one. Don't get me wrong, it starts with a slowburn - something I didn't expect - but once things are in motion, it's pedal to the metal.
I really don't want to spoil anything, but if that laundry list of triggers is good with you, and you're willing to take the leap into this roller coaster of twists and turns and oh-so-toxic love, do it. It's worth it! Seriously, even until the end, these characters and their relationship are gripping. With Ari and Shaw we saw the corruption happening and the manipulation, but Cosmo and Hunter far surpass those two. The things they do to each other - how their love is violent, obsessive, abusive, and yet they relish in it despite all secrets eventually being exposed... well. There's something raw and primal to being apart of that experience.
MILD SPOILERS AHEAD
I will say, as I think this is important for readers to know, that Cosmo is an unreliable narrator in his point of view. Not only does he manipulate Hunter, but you are being manipulated by him as well as lies are told and truth is obfuscated. However, I didn't mind it so much, because we do get our plot resolutions. I like too that this epilogue touched on everything - and how Holmes is not afraid to write a character who's darkness, who's lack of morals, and who's actions are reprehensible even with the extenuating circumstances, does not suddenly disappear with love. In fact, Cosmo pulls Hunter into a well of darkness that he does not escape.
Kink wise, I will say the age play is not really a kink or focus in the way it was in Stepstalker - the author explains moreso how Cosmo's upbringing leads to his mindset being rather infantilized so his needs can be similar to that as a child sometimes, as well as age regression that he is not in full control of. The dollification kink is much more the focus of this book.
END OF SPOILERS
I highly recommend this read to lovers of dark romance (and of course, if the kinks interest you), and to those who want the idea of an all-consuming love.
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