“This book is mean and kinky, desperate and romantic…I was consumed.” – KC Caron, Goodreads ReviewerEdward Fasbender is a devil. He’s my father’s biggest rival. He takes what he wants, and he bows to no one. And now Edward Fasbender wants me.I didn’t expect to want him back. Having him is not in the cards, not when a union with him would destroy my father. But that doesn’t mean I can’t play … doesn’t mean I can’t play with him a bit.
Except, I’ve never played against such a ruthless opponent. Edward is cold and vicious, and my blood has never run hotter. They say you should choose the devil you know, but I’ve always preferred long odds.
Even if it’ll get me slain.
“Oh my. I was hooked. You won’t be able to put this down!” – Aleatha Romig, NYT Bestselling Author
Rivalry is book one in New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, Laurelin Paige, dark and edgy Slay series.
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I put off reading this book because if you’re familiar with the Fixed series, you know Celia is a horrible person who I couldn’t see redeeming all the horrible and twisted things she did. She showed no remorse AT ALL. You should definitely read that series prior to starting this to get the full effectof Celia. Moving the heart bubbles surrounding Hudson Pierce, turns out he wasn’t that great a guy, either, considering he and Celia were co-conspirators. So, curiosity as to how Celia would come around was kind kind of reignited when I read her brief appearance in Chandler (Hudson’s brother’s story).
The foundation seems to have been laid pretty well with Slay. Edward Fassbender, who’s name appeared in the Fixed series a little, but we knew he was an enemy of Celia’s father. When Edward proposes a sham marriage to Celia, she’s not interested…until she is. To say Edward is complicated is an understatement, and the common term of him being an onion with layers revealing more each time they’re removed, is appropriate. Celia has her complications, as well, so the power dynamic between them interesting. Edward is a self-professed Dom/Sadist, and Celia is used to having the upper hand, so their relationship definitely has it’s bumps. The story ends on an interesting cliffhanger, and I’ll admit I’m intrigued enough to continue.
Was disappointed that this was a cliffhanger.
Okay so four books. It’s better than Hudson’s book. The fact that Celia deserves to be treated like crap makes it palatable. But I’m always disturbed by the idea people have that you have to have something wrong with you to enjoy kink. I mean they may be right and people using kink as therapy may be a valid theory. But there’s nothing wrong about it. Consenting adults finding a safe healthy outlet to mentally unpack and let go. Seems much more right than numbness, self destructive habits, rage, and angst that pursuing socially acceptable outlets leave behind. I’m not saying everyone into BDSM is traumatized. I’m saying everyone is traumatized some of us just find healthier outlets. And fyi he’s not a good Dom. Communication is key and dude doesn’t talk.
Didn’t see the story taking a turn like this, can’t wait to read the next book to find out how things proceed. Hot but a little scary.
brutal
Very enjoyable
Too depressing. Forced myself to read to page 70, but couldn’t continue.
Enjoyed it and bought book 2.
I’m not often surprised when reading a book, this one got me. The characters are exceptional and the pacing is excellent. I have to find out what happens!
The evolution of Celia is not to be missed!
Wow! What a start to the series. I couldn’t read this book fast enough. Edward is the devil but Camilla certainly is no saint. Beware major cliffhanger but what a cliffhanger. I dare you to read and not continue the series.
I waffled between two and three stars on this one. Rivalry is book one in a four book series. Celia Werner is the daughter of a media mogul. She’s not really a nice person. Celia plays with people’s lives for fun. I couldn’t really warm up to her. There were hints about her being hurt in the past but it did not really excuse her terrible behavior.
Edward Fasbender is her father’s biggest rival. He wants to marry Celia to gain control of her father’s company. He’s kind of a misogynistic pig who believes that women should be stay-at-home wives who manage the household.
Despite my frustrations with the book, it was well written enough that I kept on reading.
Obscure, dark and intriguing are the first words that come to mind when I started reading Rivalry, it was a slow read, it took time to finally start to get juicy until we finally get to the heartwrenching momentum.
it was a roller coaster of emotions, everything between Edward and Celia was not set in stone, you will feel like she has finally gotten under his skin but every time you think that get ready to be proved wrong.. Edwards’s agenda has been very discrete and secret making Celia never knowing where is she stepping or heading in this particular setting they had to agree to be with.
Rivalry is hot, unpredictable and with a lot of tension between the main characters. it seems like is going to be a good series but still trying to figure out where it’s heading.
I didn’t know how I felt with that ending so Probably I’ll get back to my review when the whole series is out…
Can we talk about this ending? OMG this left me speechless and wanting more. I can’t wait for book 2, trust that I will drop whatever I am reading or doing when it is released.
In Slay, we meet Celia – from Hudson days – my introduction to Laurelin Paige’s work! I am actually going to look for those books again this weekend to read again this month.
Celia – an alpha female, meets Edward – an alpha male and her father’s greatest business rival, now we are in for some serious mind games. Who will win? Or have they each met their match.
This roller coaster of one-upmanship kept me turning the pages to see what happens next!
I received an ARC of this novel from the CandiKanePR.
Purest perfection!
Slay has slayed me in the best possible way.
This is book 1 in the Slay Quartet, and I was blown away by what I just finished reading.
Intense, exciting and thrilling I was totally enthralled by the push and pull, the twists and the mind frackery games.
From beginning to end I was just blown away with the exciting revelations and discoveries.
A certain evil Queen of mind frakery we’ve encountered in another series, has allowed us into her head and tells us her story. The characters are well developed and as the story unfolds we see a different side of them that made me wonder who is she and what made her the way she is.
Or is this a ruse?
The story flowed easily with plenty of twists that got me to ponder…do I love to hate her…hate her hate her…but now I’m slightly obsessed learning more about her.
What is happening here?As she may have met her match, I may have cheered but even the felt a little bad for her.
The author has flawlessly given us another smart edgy and sexy ride that kept me glued to the pages…and as that wasn’t enough the author then left me with a holy mother of dragons ending!
Book 2 cannot arrive fast enough!
I have a new best friend and her name is Celia Werner….who’d have thought it?
We first meet Celia Werner in The Fixed Trilogy. Her ability to manipulate people and destroy lives is pretty much second nature to this ‘daughter of the devil’. Yes, she’s the one we all love to hate but now we are meeting up with her a few years later and maybe just maybe she’s changed her ways or not as the case may be. Celia is still struggling with the loss of Hudson and still trying to please her father and win his affections. Enter Edward Fasbender. To say he is everything an alpha male should be is an understatement. He has a proposition for Celia one which at first she declines but then decides it could be the way to win her fathers approval. Make him take her seriously. Edward wants in on Werner Media and Celia is his way in plus he knows her father will disapprove. It’s a win-win for Edward. There’s not much love between these two. And so it begins. The game player in Celia can’t help but take the opportunity to bring Edward down. Well, that’s the plan until she finds herself playing a player and oh how Edward can play. When it’s on it’s on in a very steamy ‘is it hot in here’ way. Celia finds herself captivated by Edward and although he appears to be unaffected by her you know he isn’t. I found myself liking Celia more and more as I read her story. How could that be? Well, I guess that’s what a writer as good as Laurelin Paige does. She turns your opinion around, has you feeling sorry for Celia and leaves you wanting more of her story. The ending of Slay is a real ‘what the’ moment so if you don’t like cliffhangers then maybe wait until all the books are out. Round two continues in Ruin Book 2. I can only imagine what Edward has planned for Celia and hope my newest best friend doesn’t get her heart ripped out. I have a feeling she might give as good as she gets. A fabulous read. If you loved the Fixed trilogy this series is perfect for you.
So I have had a weird obsession with Celia ever since we met her in the Fixed series. She has always come across a spoiled villainess and I always wondered if there is more than meets the eye with this complex character. My answer so far is yes and no, Celia is definitely still spoiled but a villain I am not so sure. Throw in the sexy brit Edward Fasbender and you get Slay – a love story with very complicated main characters that are trying to outdo one another with every twist and turn.
Told completely from Celia’s POV we get to see her frustration with every aspect of her life. When her fathers rival wants to marry her for very specific reasons she makes it her mission to outmaneuver him. Until the cliffhanger, you dont realize who is really being played. I loved that Ms Paige chose to tell the story from Celia’s POV so as the reader you dont have any clue what’s going on – it heightens the suspense as the story unfolds. To say that I am excited about the next book would be an understatement – Laurelin Paige cant release it soon enough.
Rivalry has an intriguing and unpredictable storyline, a non-typical heroine and hot dominant sex. The frustration and angst continues to the very last pages. Laurelin Paige is like a magican, getting me so focused on Edward and Celia’s mind games and bedroom antics, that I missed the twist at the end.
Celia is not the usual type of heroine. She is manipulative and a bit mean. I didn’t want to like her, but I was intrigued by her story. While Edward is an enigma to both Celia and to me. His good looks, intellect and aloofness make him attractive. Being dangerous makes him even hotter. Celia is drawn to him but doesn’t know why. He makes her feel something, after having been closed off from her emotions for so long. I was eager to find out more about these two characters, I was hopeful that there was more to them than what they projected on the surface.
The story is told from Celia’s POV, this made it easier to see the growth and change in her character during the course of the book. Edward is more difficult to read. I saw glimpses of a softer side, however, his strong, dominant nature always shines through.
The Slay series, Rivalry being the first instalment, is a spin off of another series by this author. I had not read the parent books before reading Rivalry, and I don’t feel this affected my reading experience.
The ending of Rivalry is a surprise I didn’t see coming! I am eager to read Slay Two -Ruin when it is released, though I must say the title has me a tad worried for both Edward and Celia.
Took me a bit to get my bearings after reading Slay, Book 1 in Laurelin Paige’s new series about Celia Werner and Edward Fasbender. What had I just read? WOW! WOW!! WOW!!! I LOVE this new offering from a brilliant author who can capture you in a single sentence with her powerful words and captivating characters. Ms. Paige has picked the right title here in more ways than one…she will SLAY you with this story and all its twists, turns, intrigue, and juiciness. You won’t know what in the world is going to happen next! I was left breathless and wanting more, more, more at the end…somewhat similar at times to our leading lady! HA! Slay is a phenomenal start to another promising series from this incredibly talented author. Do NOT miss it!