A DARK PLACE (A TOMB OF ASHEN TEARS SERIES #5) by Kailee Reese Samuels

A Dark Place by Kailee Reese Samuels
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 



I finished A Dark Place hours ago, and since then I've been trying to process all the emotions Mrs Samuels evoked in this fifth opus of the Tomb of Ashen Tears series.
What to say, and how to say it when it comes to reviewing such a maddening masterpiece?

"We’re secrets in salvation, worshipping the only soldier— an invisible magic—balanced between a Dom and sub."


Only reading the title, you can already trust the author to immerse you into the pitch-black depths of her Art. 
The intensity of the atmosphere captivated me from the get go, and from then, it was a limitless emotional rollercoaster. Embarking on a trip around the word, Sal, Deacon and Iris found themselves challenged and pushed to their limits in that power war.

"Disciplined only to itself. Dangerous when disregarded. Uncontrolled when disrespected."


The key word of this opus is LIES. Big lies. White lies. Lies to harm, to protect. Power, greed, love...In Sal Raniero's underground world, everyone has their truths, adding their own knots to the already beautifully woven shibari scenario. Oh...The intricacy and delicatess of the design is pure genius.
Undoubtedly, with the lies, questions will arise, while doubts will grip you. Who are the allies, the true villains? If you are familiar with KRS' approach, you know the answers to these questions, though! (Shh!!)

"A woman must play dirty in her service. A woman must keep secrets to preserve the future."


In A dark place, the revelations will either slap you in the face or sneakily tighten around you. Either way, the twists had me both smiling and screaming. I could feel the chill when the betrayal hit, followed by the sizzling rage when it kicked in. The chilly loneliness was palpable when the tension reached scorching levels. And when it's time to serve a frosty revenge, the blood flows red and boiling. 

"The waters will flood. Uncontained. Violent. Destructive."


My favorite trio (SDI) proved to be more volatile and calculated than ever. They adapt, they evolve, and they take what is theirs to take. They provoke the opportunities, they stand with magnificence amongst the chaos, and shine, dancing in the darkness. Even at their lowest, they'll find the spark to hold on to. I absolutely loved their newfound maturity. That doesn't mean their trio doesn't encounter issues: their competitive natures, the lack of communication, mixed with their obligations as the leaders of their own outfits brings more violence and threats to their doorstep.  
Be prepared (if it were even possible), their frenzied tango definitely rhymes with danger! I savoured every passionate word, sipped every drop of the exquisite and raw (sometimes desperate) sensuality.

"I am harder than a fucking stone, sandwiched by an assassin with his dick ring glossing over my lips and Satan’s spawn of a Saint at the rear. Stop thinking. Start feeling."


I sometimes wonder if this crazy journey is going to end, yes, but, always with a huge devilish grin ... Please, Dear Author, make it last forever! TAT#6, Forbidden Sins...I am already waiting for you!!!

I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED AN ARC COPY OF THIS BOOK. THANK YOU!!!

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