'Unhinged' in the series 'Necessary Evils' by author Onley James follows the dark and intense relationship between Adam, a psychopath trained as a vigilante killer, and Noah, the son of one of Adam's victims seeking revenge. Despite their traumatic pasts, Adam and Noah form a deep bond that transcends their individual darkness. The story delves into themes of child abuse, murder, and complex relationships, all while maintaining a balance of humor and raw emotion that keeps the reader engaged. The writing style of the book is described as witty, dark, and twisted, with a focus on the intense and unconventional love between the main characters.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
High triggers/content warnings include child abuse, psychological trauma, and discussions of pedophilia, which are integral to the characters' backstories.
Has Romance?
The romance between Adam and Noah is central to the narrative and is portrayed with depth, emphasizing a passionate and tumultuous relationship.
From The Publisher:
Adam Mulvaney lives a double life. By day, he's the spoiled youngest son of an eccentric billionaire. By night, he's an unrepentant killer, one of seven psychopaths raised to right the wrongs of a justice system that keeps failing.
Noah Holt has spent years dreaming of vengeance for the death of his father, but when faced with his killer, he learns a daunting truth he can't escape. His father was a monster.
Unable to ignore his own surfacing memories, Noah embarks on a quest to find the truth about his childhood with the help of an unlikely ally: the very person who murdered his father. Since their confrontation, Adam is obsessed with Noah, and he wants to help him uncover the answers he seeks, however dark they may be.
The two share a mutual attraction, but, deep down, Noah knows Adam's not like other boys. Adam can't love. He wasn't born that way. But he refuses to let Noah go, and Noah's not sure he wants him to.
Can Adam prove to Noah that passion, power, and protection are just as good as love?
Unhinged is a fast-paced, roller coaster ride of a romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a dirty-talking, possessive psychopath and a sweet cinnamon roll of a boy with Daddy issues and a core of steel. There's gratuitous violence, very dark humor, enough steam to fog up a hundred car windows, and something a lot like love. This is book one in the Necessary Evils series. Each book follows a different couple.
Ratings (12)
Incredible (5) | |
Loved It (5) | |
Liked It (2) |
Reader Stats (46):
Read It (12) | |
Want To Read (25) | |
Not Interested (9) |
2 comment(s)
Unhinged is the first book of the Necessary Evils and introduces the Mulvaney family; seven men who were diagnosed as psychopaths as children and adopted by billionaire Thomas Mulvaney. By day, the men lead normal lives, by night, they channel their psychopathic tendencies to kill those who the justice system fail to prosecute. The first book follows the youngest, Adam Mulvaney and the man he becomes obsessed with, Noah Holt.
This book was incredible. I wasn't expecting it to be anything particularly special and it blew it out of the park. It was dark and gritty but not incredibly so. The chemistry between Noah and Adam was hot af and the fluff was sugary sweet. Apart from that there was an actual plot, that was interesting if not particularly innovative and a supporting cast that was fascinating and some of the funniest lines I've heard. I've read dark books before which have just made me sick but this found the perfect balance of possessive and fluffy and violent without being too over the top. 5 stars.
I don't know exactly what I expected, but probably not quite that.
I don't read too many books in the dark sub-genre, because sometimes I felt that they were romanticizing violence, especially in relationships, and romanticizing serious mental problems that should be subjected to medical observation. Sorry, love doesn't cure mental disorders. And although this book can also be said to use some of these simplifications, I did not felt like something was completely wrong. It was also not very gore, I guess I expected more blood, torture and cruelty. But I don't regret not finding them.
I found the whole idea interesting, but since I don't read too many books in this sub-genre, I don't know if it's very original. It definitely interested me.
I really liked the dynamics of Noah and Adam's relationship. I'm not a huge fan of BDSM in my books as it often leads to an imbalance in the relationship. But here is a great example of how these two spheres – bedroom and life - can be distinguished. Noah, while there is a certain softness to him, is certainly not a weak guy. And Adam appreciates this strength in him and supports him in his decisions, allows him to be fully himself and discover his full potential.
I'm not a big fan of love at first sight in my books. And this is actually such a story. But it didn't bother me very much, although from time to time it seemed to me that everything was happening a little too fast.
I liked these characters. And I'm talking about both the main characters - Noah and Adam, as well as Adam's brothers. I am very curious about their story. But other readers advised against reading these books one by one, so I think I'll pause for the moment and come back to this series in a while.
What can you read after
Unhinged?
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