False Start (Big Bend Bears #3)
8.0
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Vaughn Montgomery High school is almost over, and I’m more than ready. Not because I don’t...
Contemporary MM Romance Small Town
The Prince's Runaway Lover (Men of the Zodiac #7)
7.5
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Crown Prince Nicholas Lytton was never supposed to be ruler of Callanos. He was the “spare to the...
Contemporary MM Romance
A Suitable Replacement (Deceived #4)
8.0
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After three years abroad on an arduous expedition, Maximilian is happy to be home, where he can...
Historical Fantasy Romance MM
Colorado Fire (Colorado Protectors #2)
8.0
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Where there's smoke, there's fire. Marshal has it bad, but can he figure it out before he ruins...
Contemporary MM Military Romance
Wait Until Dawn (Southern Spirits #4)
8.0
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Beware of what follows you back from the dead… Detective Rich Montoya was attacked by Sheriff...
MM Paranormal Romance
Little Mate (Gay Monsters in Space #1)
8.0
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Earth hasn't been the same since the aliens arrived. The big, scary monsters have tails and fangs,...
Erotica MM Science Fiction Romance
Love, Isidor
6.5
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Dear Henri, there was a man at the restaurant this evening who looked so much like you that I winked...
Contemporary MM Romance
His Lordship's Return (His Lordship’s Mysteries #3)
8.0
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For Dominick and Alfie, it feels like they've only just settled into life at Balcarres House when an...
MM Historical Mystery Romance
Flight (Gay Fairy Tales #3)
6.0
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Previously released as Love's Nest in 2013. There’s no greater mystery in the kingdom than...
MM Fantasy Romance Fairy tale Retelling
Merissa (14022 KP) rated Discordant Cultivation in Books
Jan 2, 2026
Vale is the producer, and Kieran is the musician. You read the story from both perspectives, seeing Kieran succumb to Stockholm Syndrome in real time, along with everything else. There isn't a massive supporting cast, but each one plays a part in Vale and Kieran's story.
Now, it says it is "A Dark MM Captive Musician Romance", but I don't know if I would put the word romance anywhere near this. I mean, yes, they fall into something, a dark and twisted version of love, maybe, but romance? Maybe psychological horror fits better? Don't get me wrong, I love a dark romance, but I struggled with this book. It took me over three days to read it, when I can normally finish a book (or more) in a day.
I will say, read the trigger warnings! You will need to, to protect your own mental health. This book pushed boundaries I didn't even know I had. It was an extremely uncomfortable book to read, BUT it was so incredibly well-written!!! Gale Ian Tate has a knack for dark stories, but I think this one might be both the best and the worst! And while I both loved and loathed it, it definitely won't be one I read again!
An amazing, horrible, uncomfortable story that pushed everything I thought I knew. If that sounds like the book for you, then I can definitely recommend it. Just be careful with your own mental health, though!
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 2, 2026