QUINTESSENTIALLY Q
Monsters in the Dark Series #2
by Pepper Winters
Publisher: Self-Published (Dec 2013)
Genre: Erotica, BDSM, Romance, Dark
Format: eARC (376 pages)
Source: Free book from author for honest review
Find It: Goodreads | Amazon Print | Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)
“All my life, I battled with the knowledge I was twisted… fucked up to want something so deliciously dark—wrong on so many levels. But then slave fifty-eight entered my world. Hissing, fighting, with a core of iron, she showed me an existence where two wrongs make a right.”
Tess is Q’s completely. Q is Tess’s irrevocably. But now, they must learn the boundaries of their unconventional relationship, while Tess seeks vengeance on the men who sold her. Q made a blood-oath to deliver their corpses at Tess’s feet, and that’s just what he’ll do.
He may be a monster, but he’s Tess’s monster.
At A Glance
Now that I am use to the violence and domination, I loved this book more than the first. So dark, so awesome.
The Good
Quintessentially Q blew my away. It was a freaking rollercoaster ride of emotions that made me want to throw up and beg for more at the same time. This book and series is in no way for the faint of heart. Winters is all about getting down and dirty with her stories and characters and she holds nothing back.
There are some plot spoilers below:
The hardest part of reading about Tess being captured again was the fact that everything she went through most likely happened to someone in real life who has been enslaved in the human sex trafficking world. It’s just disgusting and hard to read, but that’s why I love it. It takes me out of my comfort zone and makes me think about the horrors on the real world. Tess is an amazing girl. She endures so much and stays strong through most of it. She does what she has to to survive while waiting for Q to rescue her. She comes back to Q different though. Some things she cannot forgive herself for. It was heartbreaking to see Tess finally break and Q standing on the sidelines lost without her. I loved and hated the anguish these two shared as they traveled the road to recovery.
Q starts out the same man from Tears of Tess. He still wants to hurt Tess, to dominate her. But when Tess is taken, Q becomes a different man. He goes mad with worry and grief. He does ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to get her back. God, I loved him so much when he was getting his hands bloody for the one he loved. I know, I am sick, but I can’t help it. Only a man in hardcore love would do the things Q did to get Tess back. But when Tess is home once again, Q realizes she is not the same Tess. She was not as strong as he once thought. But Q never gives up. He gives all of himself to fix Tess, to bring her back from the cold, dark cell her mind is trapped in. I was completely in shock with what Q did for Tess. I think he was even in shock. But because of his actions, he became a new man. He became what Tess needed all along as well as the man he has wanted to be from the beginning.
The writing was, as always, amazing. You feel every word, every sentence go straight to your heart. The imagery was amazing, but almost unbearable as Winters describes what Tess goes through. The plot was not what I expected, but I did like it in the end. Especially when I found out there will be a book #3, which I hope focuses more on their relationship.
The Bad
The biggest problem is that the blurb does not prepare you for what happens in this book. It was even darker than the first. I wanted more time spent on Q and Tess’s relationship, but the majority of the book is Tess being taken again and going through worse torture than in the first book. It was very hard for me to read, and I am not usually the squeamish type.
The Snuggly
Though I wish more time was spent on Q and Tess’s relationship, I still loved them together. I was nervous for them in the beginning because it never seemed like they were going to work out. Q was too violent and Tess was still a little unsure. Then near the end Tess became a whole different person because of her experience and I just saw Q and Tess working out even less. Then something happens and it frees them both. Finally they are on the same wave-length.
Some rough, hot sex, but a lot more rape and torture than anything, so be careful. This is not for everyone.
Final Thoughts
Anyone who likes their erotica with bite (and blood, and tearing flesh) will love this series and book. It’s hard to handle sometimes, but it is so worth the read. You may cry, you may cringe, but you will no doubt smile by the end of this book. Very recommended.
“You’re my obsession, I’m your possession. You own the deepest part of me. You crawled into the darkness, set my monster free. So scream, bleed, call out to me. But never say stop, never flee”
Q wasn’t just my master in the bedroom. He was the master of my heart.
Finally, he whispered in his deep, accented voice, “You stole my loneliness. I may have given you wings, but you’ve become my gravity. I’ll never be free of your force.”
“Now is not the time to talk about hearts and falling, esclave. Now is the time for pain and f*cking.”
Amy Logg
Wow, this book sounds really intense. I’ve seen Pepper’s books around, but I have to admit I’ve been a little timid to try them. But I’ve seen so many great reviews for it that I really want to give it a go. I love when authors take risks and challenge the reader, and by the sounds of it this book does that! I like that Pepper makes you feel the emotions with the characters, that always makes a story so much more memorable 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
Her books are very intimidating but so worth the read. Just have to prepare your self.
Amy Logg
Wow, this book sounds really intense. I’ve seen Pepper’s books around, but I have to admit I’ve been a little timid to try them. But I’ve seen so many great reviews for it that I really want to give it a go. I love when authors take risks and challenge the reader, and by the sounds of it this book does that! I like that Pepper makes you feel the emotions with the characters, that always makes a story so much more memorable 🙂
Melanie
This one is definitely not for me however I’m glad that you enjoyed this! I actually don’t mind books that don’t focus a lot on the romance however if one of the main genres of the novel is romance, then I would’ve been disappointed about that aspect as well.
Great review, Jennifer! <33
Jennifer Bielman
It’s not that I need romance in my book, it’s just that from how the last book ended, I expected more romance in this one.
kimbacaffeinate
Wonderful review Jennifer. I love books that take you out of your element and it sounds like this book/series tackle some dark topics. I will add book one to my list.
Jennifer Bielman
EEE, I am nervous for you to read this series but I would die to see what you think.
Elisa
Hmm, not sure it is for me right now, though it might be for future me. Will have to keep this name in the back of my head. 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
Hmm, yeah, not sure if you would like this one.
Bookworm Brandee
I didn’t read your entire review as I haven’t read Tears of Tess yet but I soooo want to get started! I don’t know what it is about this storyline but I’m definitely intrigued. I’m glad you liked it – and liked Quintessentially Q even more than Tears of Tess. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jennifer!
Jennifer Bielman
So happy you plan to read this series. Just brace yourself and you should be fine.
Brandi Kosiner
Dark but awesome sounds great to me.
Jennifer Bielman
🙂
Joy @ Thoughts By J
This sounds awesomely dark, and probably not for me but it’s very intriguing. I’m not a fan of torture and can totally understand how you felt like throwing up but loving the story as a whole at the same time. I’ve never heard of this series before, so I’m not really sure how I’d make of Q with his possessiveness. Glad you enjoyed it though!
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, I have a problem with Q in the first book, he only grew on me this book so I totally understand.
Braine TS
This series came highly recommended and I bought book 1, I love my erotica with a lot of bite, blood and all those stuff you mentioned! Wee!
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, then this is the erotica for you. I have a feeling you are going to fall in love with this series.
Jaclyn Canada
It’s definitely not one that I could read, but I see how the this story could be so compelling and strong. I’m very glad to hear that she comes out of everything ok and hearing you talk about Q and what he did for her makes me like him already. Fantastic review! Jaclyn @ JC’s Book Haven.
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, I totally fell for him in this book and I hated him the first book. crazy.
StacyHgg BooksUnhinged
Great Review!
I love how you put it – he was finally the man he wanted to be from the beginning. Exactly. He was so tortured, but this terrible ordeal somehow set him free. I loved that!
Fabulous book. Great but VERY sad storyline. Loved it!
Jennifer Bielman
So happy you agree. I love this new Q
Mia
Hey Jennifer! I don’t know whether I want to hug you or scream! It’s been quite awhile since I stopped by your blog, so I took some time to check out some of your older posts since you always have great book recommendations. I came across this review and…OMG! I heard about Tears of Tess awhile back and totally forgot about it. Reading your review for Quintessentiallly Q reminded me of book 1 and…I want to hug you for the reminder because I can see myself getting lost in this series. BUT, I want to scream because I JUST sort of made a vow to myself to focus more on YA, because I’ve been neglecting that genre for awhile. WHAT IS A GIRL TO DO?!?! lol!
Not sure if you’ve had the chance to check out the book RAW by Belle Aurora. Somewhat of a mess, but dark– kind of had my head spinning for days. Totally different plots, but RAW sort of reminds me of Monsters in the Dark series because of the dark themes and no apologies on how said themes are delivered. Gotta respect authors that have guts to write something outside the box.
Anyway, again, awesome review and thanks for the reminder 🙂
Mia @ The Muses Circle
Jennifer Bielman
OMG, I obviously need to read Raw. Thanks so much for mentioning it. I really hope you read this book even though you are on a YA diet right now. It’s so worth it.