Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers

Little Stranger by Leigh RiversLittle Stranger by Leigh Rivers
Narrator: Joe Arden, Heather Firth
Series: The Web of Silence Duet #1
on October 29, 2023
Genres: Romance
Length: 6h49m
Pages: 207
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Purchase on: Amazon// Barnes & Noble// BookBub
Add to: Goodreads // StoryGraph


OWNING HER IS ALL HE EVER WANTED
She betrayed him, and now he wants revenge against the foster sister who became his forbidden obsession the second he laid eyes on her. After she sends him to prison for years, he’s free and ready to haunt her.
Everything about Olivia belongs to Malachi Vize.Her mindHer bodyHer soulHer fearHer pain
On Halloween night, he can no longer lurk in the shadows. All he has left to own is her heart, even if he needs to take it.
This story comes with extremely triggering content. Please read the "Content Warning" page.

four-half-stars

review

Okay listen. I didn’t think I’d be reading Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers either but here we are. Yes, I love dark romances but I never really delved into taboo because I had hoped to maintain at least a shred of normalcy? But, well, booktok audio got me and I had to pick up the audiobook. It was SO GOOD! SO DARK! I think this might be the darkest romance I’ve picked up so far so I will mention some of the content warnings before getting into the review.

First off, if you’re going to read this, you NEED to do it via audiobook. The voice acting was amazing and I know for a fact if I simply read this with my eyes instead, it would not have been as impactful. Joe Arden (😬 yes I know) was so unhinged as Malachi Vize – it’s actually what convinced me to give this book a try! I was skeptical at first, wondering how this was going to work considering Malachi has selective mutism, but boy did it ever work and was, at times, heartbreaking.

At the start, it felt a little weird. I get that they’re trying to build up the taboo-ness of the relationship, but it still felt too hesitant. They’d do something, then pull back. Olivia would constantly just say nothing meant anything and it was just typical brother/sister stuff. She was constant in her push and pull. It quickly annoyed me. If you’re going to be “bad,” then commit. Be bad. Don’t say you want to bone your (adopted) brother, start making moves, then say you’d never do that. Again, yes, I get that she was likely conflicted given the taboo nature of their relationship but damn, once she started giving in, it should’ve been easier to deal with.

Then, the premise Olivia and Malachi are wrapped up in is weird. Her parents wanting her to make an advantageous match, I understand. I get wanting to practically sell your daughter off in marriage to form alliances and wealth. It’s fucked up, but it happens. What I don’t get is the specific lengths Olivia’s mom goes to to make that happen. It makes literally zero sense. Also another weird thing, how did Malachi have friends despite being the town weirdo and mute. Like, okay, his friends were also weirdos, but how did they communicate? Did this group of misfits learn sign language just for him? I’m not saying that’s impossible, but I am saying a group of castoff misfits deciding to make this random guy their leader didn’t feel believable. BUT, given the nature of this book, these are small qualms that can be overlooked.

This was such an absolutely wild and unhinged read. Truly a dark romance. Malachi’s obsession with Olivia never wanes, even after she’s the reason he goes to prison. There is slight stalking that does get cut short since this isn’t a stalker romance. Once Malachi gets his hands on Olivia again, everything falls off the rails. It is crazy spicy with Malachi finally getting a chance to do everything he’s ever dreamt of doing to Olivia as he has her kidnapped and chained up (hello dubcon.) And then, because he is still furious with her, and wants to punish her, we get a spider scene which I absolutely hated to read about. I would’ve died.

Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers is an incredibly dark taboo romance. If you’re going to pick this up, it has to be experienced as an audiobook. The voice acting really makes the characters pop, especially Malachi with his speech issues. If Haunting Adeline was too dark for you (lol), this isn’t for you. If you wanted darker, wanted more, and were disappointed by HA, I think you’ll enjoy this!

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