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Black Iris

Leah Raeder

(* click the cover image to pre-order)

“Love is not a thing that we create. It’s an undoing.”

 

It only took one moment of weakness for Laney Keating’s world to fall apart. One stupid gesture for a hopeless crush. Then the rumors began. Slut, they called her. Queer. Psycho. Mentally ill, messed up, so messed up even her own mother decided she wasn’t worth sticking around for.

 

If Laney could erase that whole year, she would. College is her chance to start with a clean slate.

 

She’s not looking for new friends, but they find her: charming, handsome Armin, the only guy patient enough to work through her thorny defenses—and fiery, filterless Blythe, the bad girl and partner in crime who has thorns of her own.

 

But Laney knows nothing good ever lasts. When a ghost from her past resurfaces—the bully who broke her down completely—she decides it’s time to live up to her own legend. And Armin and Blythe are going to help.

 

Which was the plan all along.

 

Because the rumors are true. Every single one. And Laney is going to show them just how true.

 

She’s going to show them all.

 

 

For those of you who follow our Facebook posts, you’ll know that I read this book last week whilst in bed ill. It was a crazy few days—sleep deprived, dosed up, shakes and shivers—and knowing my ability to concentrate would likely be more than a little compromised, I tried to stay away from this book; I really did.

Until I couldn’t . . . and I’m soooo glad I picked it up.

 

From the outset, this book keeps you guessing, teasing you with snippets of information, just enough for you to form an idea in your head until bam! something else comes along to blow your theory out of the water. About a third of the way in I stopped guessing and just immersed myself in the story; a task that was not hard given Raeder’s penchant for clever scene description and character development.

 

Laney is a different kind of protagonist. A self-confessed unreliable narrator, her reasons for being that way are gradually unfolded throughout the story, creating redeeming features of a character who is more than a little self-deprecating.

 

Simply put, and without spoiling the journey for those of you brave enough to take the blue pill and venture down the rabbit hole, this a dark story with an outcome that will likely leave you with enough information to answer your questions, but still keep enough back for you to make up your own minds about aspects of the story; which is my favourite kind of book. Plot lines that are considered by the reader to be sub-plots become part of a wider narrative structure that will test your limits as a reader, without losing you, a talent that not many authors possess.

 

The book deals with issues surrounding sexuality, drugs, depression, and suicide (so not your typical light reading) but the message is one of hope; hope that even though life may throw you curveballs, there is light at the end of the tunnel. This book is by far and away one of the most honest I have ever read; with Laney’s desire for revenge and the lengths and depths she will go to to achieve this laid bare for everyone to see.

As an aside, Raeder has been more than vocal about the personal nature of this book, and what the m/f/f aspect of this book means to her. You can read her post about her own struggles with sexuality and finding yourself here. For those of you who prefer to stick to vanilla, m/f relationships in your reading, I would encourage you to give this book a shot purely for the fact that whilst explicit in content, it is a more gentle introduction to this sub-genre. And while we’re on the subject, the sex scenes in this book are perfectly placed. There is no gratuitous kinky fuckery, inserted only to reach word counts or distract the reader from a weak storyline. No siree! Raeder’s language is explicit (but you’re reading an NA title, so if this shocks you then you’re reading the wrong genre) but none of it is superfluous. Everything fits. It works. It’s pretty damn awesome.

 

In closing, I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who, like me, has recently become bored with the NA arena, and who loves a dark, gritty read that will keep them attached to their Kindles late into the night. This storyline is fresh, engaging, and consuming, and will have you wanting to read the whole thing over again.

Well done, Leah. Bloody good job!

Oh, and for those of you who have yet to read Raeder's previous works, I highly recommend you start with "Unteachable."

 

Another forbidden romance, this one deals with the student/teacher relationship that I ADORE. I'll get a review up for this one soon, but until then, if you're interested, click on the cover to order.

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