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RATING: 4.5 “Own Who You Are�� Hearts



Corrupt is the sort of read that is unapologetic in its intensity and comfortable in its darkness, every word surrounded by an enigma that keeps us at the edge of our seats while the tempestuous romance tantalizes us with its sizzling mix of unrestrained passion and sinful sensuality.

“The closer you got to anything beautiful, the less beautiful it became. Allure was in the mystery, not the appearance.��

Erika is a young woman with an unrelenting strength of will despite becoming an involuntary participant in Michael and his friends�� dark and twisted game. Although confusion and fear are her driving emotions, she refuses to be cowed and instead she fights at every turn, but we’re also granted moments of vulnerability with her where the tears flow and her strength finally wanes, making her a nuanced, sympathetic character. Michael is, at first, hard to like given his less than desirable actions and hurtful words aimed at Erika, yet the air of mystery and danger surrounding him coupled with his alpha male characteristics make him utterly magnetic and irresistible.

“And from Michael—as well as Damon, Will, and Kai—I learned to breathe fire. I learned to walk as if the path were carved for me and me alone, and to treat the world as if it should know I was coming.��

The two of them together are a beautifully dichotomous couple, exploiting each other’s weaknesses, yet also playing off of each other’s strengths so that every interaction and act, both verbal and sexual, between the two is wickedly seductive, evocatively uninhibited, and volatile in its iniquity.

“Our scrapes and bruises, tattoos, scars, smiles, and wrinkles told our stories.��

What makes Corrupt a mesmerizing thrill-ride is the meticulous way in which its plot unravels, weaving together past flashbacks and present scenes to form a tale that is unpredictable and masterfully straddles the line between good and bad, love and hate in a wickedly indulgent manner. This read is a paragon of Ms. Douglas�� remarkable ability to create stories that are mind-boggling and spine-chilling, but always nothing short of exhilarating.

Despite an ending that felt rushed, Corrupt is dark, labyrinthine, sexy, utterly original, and completely captivating—a read that delights at every level and one not to be missed.



Posted: October 4, 2017