Guestreview by Becca
TITLE: Impasse
SERIES: Ouroboros #1
AUTHOR: Chelsea Frandsen
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 482 Pages
RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2025
BLURB:
In the bustling city of Bangkok, Kai Saetangmasawat is struggling to keep his life together. Between flunking exams and dealing with a manipulative CEO at his internship, Kai’s world is a whirlwind of stress and unanswered questions. But when his estranged brother Jet returns after a decade, Kai is both angry and confused. Where has Jet been all these years? Why did he leave without a word? And, most importantly, why is he back now? Kai’s questions are met with cryptic answers, and Jet seems reluctant to share the full truth. There are things he’s hiding, things that tie into a dangerous web of corporate corruption, family secrets, and their parents’ mysterious deaths.
As Kai and Jet navigate the treacherous waters of family loyalty and corporate corruption, they must confront not only the demons of their past but also the moral complexities of the present. Can they trust each other, or has too much time and too many secrets passed for reconciliation? And what will it cost them to uncover the truth about their parents’ deaths?
Through tense confrontations, high-stakes negotiations, and personal revelations, the brothers are forced to rethink everything they thought they knew about each other, their family, and the world they inhabit. The stakes are higher than ever, and the more they uncover, the more they realize that their lives, and the future of their family, depend on the choices they make.
REVIEW:
I just finished this book a few weeks ago, and I am honestly at a loss as much as I was when I first finished this book.
First and foremost, a few things of business…..There are triggers. It is a very…violent, bloody, gory book. It’s not the whole book, don’t get me wrong but when it’s time, there’s a lot. I would also have to add there is child abuse BUT the character is older in the book and it’s not greatly detailed. But enough you get the picture. I don’t want to go into too much detail so I don’t give anything away. Just be warned.
Second, MOST of the characters are lgbtqia of some sort. But the main character and his best friend are MF. HOWEVER, there is no on page sex. There are moments where the kissing gets hot & heavy, but then it goes off page or the description is a generalization of what’s going on. It’s not graphic.
NOW, I know some will be thinking with those two things alone, what makes this worth my time. I honestly wish I could give this perfect detail of why. But for me, it left me….breathless. I’m absolute….awe. The story is of a trio of siblings, two boys & a girl, in which their parents are murdered and the boys, in their own ways, are seeking revenge. It is here that I need to point out, the characters are Thai. Mainly. That’s not to detract from the book but to tell you to keep in mind that this is a whole different culture and a way of doing things.
As the boys, seek out revenge, relationships are tried and tested in more ways than you can count. Old flames rise to the surface, and leave you questioning why they broke up. It gets dicey. There’s just a lot. The main character, Kai, is someone that you can’t help but love. He’s a great character. Sometimes a bit ….childish, but he’s still young, so you give him a pass. Especially when you find out the WHOLE truth about him and his family. Everyone has a secret. You honestly don’t know who you can trust…for the most part. There is a core of family there that goes through it, but they have their secrets as well.
But there is one character…I’m not going to name the person because I want people to see for themselves who they are, and why they are the way they are. You will probably hate them at first….maybe even all the way to the end, but if this character doesn’t move you, in some way, you might need something checked 🤣. I kid. I hated them at first myself. Until I started seeing the small things. And in the end…..I have no words. There’s also another character who will….break you….for lack of a better word. So I will warn, tissues are needed
I will also warn you, this book has a sort of cliffhanger. There are supposed to be two more books to this. I will also tell you this is absolutely NOT an HEA. I have read a LOT of books in my life. I mean A LOT. And each book always leaves a little something with me. But this book, I have to say is probably….top 5….of the best books I ever read. The author has a way of weaving words and pulling you into the story, that real life just disappears. I was immediately just wrapped in this and I could not put it down til the end.
I hope my review helps. I know I rambled a bit, but I just cannot say enough good about this book. If you don’t have the same opinion, it won’t hurt my feelings. I like different things than most people, but I do encourage giving it a try, if you like darker books. I think this author deserves a lot more credit for their work.
RATING: 
( (but would give a whole lot more if I could))
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