Reviewed by True
TITLE: Taken by the Lord of the Nocturne Court: M/M Dark romantasy
SERIES: Dark Companions #2
AUTHORS: K.A. Merikan
PUBLISHER: Acerbi & Villani Ltd
LENGTH: 401 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 26, 2024
BLURB:
“I am yours, and I can be your prince as well as your beast.”
Luke
I’m your typical small-town loser stuck in a dead-end job. Single, because dating is for well-adjusted human beings, not traumatized gay boys with trust issues. All I want is to leave my past behind and finally start living.
My wish comes true in the most bizarre way imaginable. One evening, a beautiful man with pointy ears and flowing dark locks appears out of nowhere. He proclaims I am to be his ‘Dark Companion’ based on some stupid deal I made in a dream. Oh, and apparently he’s an elven prince, the Lord of Shadows, Protector of the Nightmare Realm and Knight of Grief Ocean.
Which is a weird way to ask me out, but okay.
It’s a hard no from me, but this absolute psycho abducts me to his palace in a moonlit realm populated by vicious beasts and backstabbing courtiers.
If I am to ever get back home, I need to adapt, because our full moon wedding is approaching fast. I can’t allow myself to buy into his seductive kisses, poet shirts made of spider silk and bouquets of sapphire roses. They hide poison and deception. A gilded cage is still a prison.
But…
What if I just never realized that what I need is a man with a cruel smile and a sword dipped in midnight? A man with secrets, and scars, and smoky eyes, and a past filled with darkness, and… have I mentioned he has a big d—
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“Taken by the Lord of the Nocturne Court” is a standalone, scorching hot, dark gothic M/M romantasy filled with snark and dark humor, but also violence, peril, jealousy, and angst.
The book is a darkly romantic escape into the shadows where love and destiny collide. Dive into the pages to discover if a gilded cage can become a home when shared with a seductive elven prince devoted to his Dark Companion’s every wish.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: abduction, enemies to lovers, size difference, fake relationship, dark humor, snark, jealousy, hurt/comfort, afraid to commit, obsessive hero, forced marriage, isekai, fantasy elven prince, gothic castle, childhood trauma, shadow magic, monsters and fantastical creatures, fish-out-of-water, secrets, portal fantasy
WARNING: This story contains scenes of violence, abduction, offensive language and morally gray characters unafraid to burn the world down for their beloved.
REVIEW:
Sometimes a story has so many details it’s quite a challenge to write a decent review.
This amazingly written arousing romantasy is thrilling and full of darkness, betrayal, hurt, and secrets.
When Luke was fourteen and stuck in a nightmare he was rescued in exchange for his hand.
At twenty Kyranis comes to collect the promise Luke made.
Luke was abducted by Kyra to be his Dark Companion.
While Kyra is a beautiful elven creature, Luke doesn’t want to be held against his will.
“ No one’s ever promised to protect me. Let alone someone capable of murder.”
Kyra has a secret, a dark life-threatening secret.
Luke is more and more charmed by Kyra, he has hot hot sex with Kyra.
At some point, Luke will return to the human world. Luke can’t wait, even though he has a shitty life there, and no one appreciates him as Kyra does.
Ha! Kyra has plans, he wants to keep Luke because he’s head over heels in love with this reluctant but oh-so-sexy human being, who wants nothing more than to leave. Hmmm, we’ll see!
So many history and bloodline stories, explanations about many cases, there are many events, it’s all widely described, and the expansion is huge.
The largest plot line here is their relationship, and the big threat coming their way, but there are many side plots. It’s a dark story with a lot of sexiness, and on top of that, some sweet moments.
The fantasy world the authors created was so good, everything was explicitly designed. It was all masterly written so we as readers can enjoy many dimensions.
RATING: 
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