Warning, this book contains dark themes and explicit sex, read with caution.
Desolate is the SECOND book to the International Bestselling title, Empathy. Please read book 1 to truly enjoy this title.
“Dark… raw… desolate. Ker Dukey at her finest.” – International Bestselling Author, S.K. Hartley.
Dark, twisted and captivating. I couldn’t devour this book fast enough. Dukey does it again. … enough. Dukey does it again. .. International Bestselling Author, Kirsty Moseley
Ryan:
I am a son,
A friend,
A brother,
A psychopath.
After eighteen years of being in a psych ward, I’ve been released into the world. Things have changed. Blake is married to Melody and now a father to my new fixation, Cereus; my beautiful niece who knows nothing of my existence.
When consequences of my past sins begin playing tricks on me, old cravings demand to be satisfied.There is no cure for my kind of sickness.
I am void of everything but obsession.
I can’t love,
I can’t feel,
I am Desolate.
more
Ryan was what you would call a troubled soul… you know, if he had a soul to be troubled. He spent 18 years in a prison psych ward with doctors trying to ‘fix’ him. One day, he convinced them he was cured and they let him out. Nevermind the fact that he killed a random stranger, sliced and diced two women and a college kid, and almost ended the lives of his brother, Blake, and Melody. Nope, nevermind all that. Or the reality that he probably would have kept on tormenting, torturing, and killing people because he fantasizes about it nonstop. Nope, disregard all that because… cured! Let’s not even mention that he was surrounded by trained professionals who should be able to pick up on the idea that he’s not indeed cured because he is in fact acting like he’s cured. Because in order for this story to really get somewhere, Ryan needed to be out. And that’s when the real fun begins!
I’m not sick and I’m not broken. I’m desolate, born empty lacking a soul. You can’t fix what was never broken.
So Ryan’s out. Strange things are happening. By strange, I mean people are dying. People that are linked to the key characters of this story. And all of this is going on while Blake is keeping Ryan’s release a secret from Melody, which is tearing them apart. Then there’s Ryan getting closer to their daughter. That’s a mess of massive proportions just waiting to happen. And then there’s just Ryan. His constant manipulation and downright realness make him utterly ridiculous, delicious and entertaining. I don’t know how I can love this man after everything he’s done and plans to do, but I do. I adore him so much. I know the next books in the series are even more about him so I’ll definitely be reading them. I can’t get enough of this man!!
5 DELICIOUS DARK STARS!! Wow, they story continues and I am so addicted to these characters. I was on the edge of my seat with so many OMG moments again. This series is one of the best I have ever read. I need more and there is more to come.
I honestly have no idea how it happened, but I’m owning it loud and proud…..I’m literally addicted to Ryan!
For anyone reading my review, to understand my above statement you need to read the first in the series, Empathy. And believe me once you do, you will totally understand not only my addiction, but how twisted an addiction it is.
I needed to read Desolate like I needed air. The need to find out what happened to Blake, Melody and of course Ryan was addicting so I one clicked as soon as I out Empathy down.
Now I said in my review of Empathy that it was twisted and dark, but Desolate….My god….WTAF?
I cannot believe what I just read.
Dark and twisted, I don’t even think those two words even touch the surface with this novel.
Sick, depraved and a mind field of manipulation. Utterly dark, sadistic and pure evil.
Engineered perfectly to seduce the mind to think one way, but only being a delusion.
Now that’s how I would describe Desolate.
I absolutely loved this novel, and I can’t rate it highly enough.
Ryan…..Definitely my new unhealthy addiction!
5 stars.
Ryan. Ryan. Ryan.
“I’m not sick and I’m not broken. I’m desolate, born empty lacking a soul. You can’t fix what was never broken.”
Read the warnings. Desolate is the second book, read Empathy first, I forbid you to read my review until you’ve read Empathy.
Not for lovey dovey romance readers. Don’t enter the dungeon if you don’t like the beatings.
I was afraid. I was afraid that Desolate wouldn’t live up to Empathy. Empathy is one of my top FAVORITE darks reads, I thought, “what if I don’t like it, what if all my hopes and dreams of Ryan are demolished?” “What if he turns into one of them?” I prayed to the dark book Gods. “Please let Ryan be sick and twisted, don’t let him turn soft.”
I was Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Ker Dukey cooked up a five course meal with all my favorite twisted sides and delivered a tasty dessert of darkness!!! Desolate not only lived up, it may of surpassed my expectations. I loved every fucking word. I highlighted, giggled, and fell in depraved love for Ryan. There’s your average psychopaths and there’s Ryan. You get the picture?
“They don’t know what a world-class manipulator he is. He molds and conforms to the person he’s with. He can be your best friend, your boyfriend or your brother, and you would never know the demon is sitting there staring at you and designing your demise, until it’s too late.”
I’m writing this review wondering how to convey my likeness for Ryan, without someone admitting me into the psych ward.
Eighteen years and Ryan’s finally free. He’s convinced the system that’s he fixed, safe to interact with the general public. Nothing is more far from the truth than this, he’s smart, manipulative, and completely addictive. I truly shocked myself… I’m laughing at his antics, being inside his head was exhilarating, wrong. I couldn’t stop reading if I tried.
“Unlike with you, my compulsions are more demanding. They need to be fed. It’s like something inside claws at my skin.” I shiver. “I only ever feel a release from the empty darkness consuming me when I feed it by inflicting some form of hurt or humiliation on another.”
Blake & Melody have no idea what is in store for them. This story took a direction I never saw coming. Is Ryan the hunter or the prey? He has this connection with Cereus, it’s not love, because he doesn’t feel that emotion. But it’s a feeling, and that in it self was remarkable. I found myself wanting the LOVE. Like seriously, I never want the love. I wanted Ryan to find some sort of peace in a twisted way. I felt a bit sad for him. I’m not going to go in much more detail. No spoilers from me.
The End was left open. There could be more to come. I would love 10 more books about Ryan, his journey, his depraved thoughts, maybe even the dreaded HEA. Ker Dukey created a perfect sociopath/psychopath, she never strayed from his true nature, and gave us a need that can only be scratched by her. I’m addicted.
This is the second book in the Empathy series and it was just as good as the first!!! I’m enjoying all the twisted things that Ker Dukey comes up with!!!
Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, you are one twisted dude, but I find myself rooting for you when I know I shouldn’t. I was a little worried when you found out you had a niece, but I was amazed at how well you treated her.
This book is a whole lotta twisted!!!! I thought I had it figured out than BAM Ker mixed things up and I love when she does that and truly should never had expected less.
If you can handle dark, twisted, murder, blood, rape, and all the bad things than this is the book for you. Do yourself a favor and read Empathy first, so that your familiar with the characters and its truly a good book if your into dark reads.