Review: Daddy's Stepstalker by Gianni Holmes
Content Warnings for book: Physical abuse, rape, dubious consent, forced prostitution, murder, torture, arson, suicide of a close friend, the death of a family pet, bullying, stalking, attempted rape, non-consensual drugging, manslaughter via self-defense, wounding with intention, gun violence, false accusation of sexual assault, suicidal ideation, mental health issues, femme-shaming
Kink: Daddy kink, ABDL, age play, omorashi, watersports, impact play, cockwarming, suckling, exhibitionism, sex toys, lace and lingerie
Daddy’s Stepstalker by Gianni Holmes is a wild ride on the codependent, toxic bond between Ari and his obsession, Shaw, who was also his stepfather from the age he was sixteen. Throw in a bunch of kink and murder, and you’ve got a dark and twisty read.
Aristotle and Shaw are so interesting as a couple to me, because you really have them bringing out both the good and bad — Shaw brings out the best in Ari, while Ari brings out the darkness in Shaw. Shaw starts to unravel his own conceptions of himself as he realizes what he wants to do to Ari and those who hurt him, for better or for worse. Comparatively, Ari has obsessed and dedicated so much to Shaw but he is the only man he’ll pause and reconsider the next course of action for.
For those of you familiar with the “yandere” archetype in Japanese media, Ari is very much this. He murders, he steals, he does just about anything to protect the love of his life, his Daddy. The way the plot unravels to show how deep and far-reaching this obsession goes is fascinating, and definitely toes an interesting line. I loved how Ari’s murderous tendencies and other behavior throughout the book are marked by both his personal ‘logic’, and yet acknowledging the enjoyment he had. Very much like most yandere media, he is willing to do anything for his love for Shaw. There is a scene which is dub-con between the two of them, and it was erotic as much as it was mind-fuckery. If you like this type of character archetype, someone who will do anything (and I mean anything) for the person they love, I would read this book.
Holmes couches this violent obsession in a framework that the victims to it are not good people. I think this is done cleverly for us as readers, because if it were truly all innocent, then it would probably be difficult for some to read. However, I do think that means this book suffers through the trope of a character everyone wants to fuck Ari and victimizes him because of it. I could have done without that, though I understand it’s purpose in the narrative. Those that Ari killed deserved it, and I liked that Shaw was pulled into the darkness right along with him. These two are bound to each other from the beginning.
It’s interesting being in the head of someone who so easily manipulates. I could write on and on like I have about this, but seriously. This book is dark, tantalizing, and yet so emotional in some parts. The kink is well-written, and I really enjoy the aspect of how happy their lives came to be. As we see these two settle into their happy-ever-after, I think that there is also this sense of turning over a new leaf. They don’t have to stay in the past of it all, and I was happy to go on this journey with them.
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