Enigmatic, cocky, and my new brother-in-law.Alaric Schuyler had cerulean blue eyes and a smile so beautifully devious it could entice the devil to do his bidding.We were neversupposed to happen.One night changed everything, tying him and me together in a sordid twist of fate, trapping me in his dark, chaotic world.The lucid dreams and sick fantasies followed.He became the star of my nightmares, … fantasies followed.
He became the star of my nightmares, always lurking in the shadows.
I became his muse, a part of everything he did.
He awakened my demons one esoteric melody at a time
Sooner than later he would be the death of me.
And I wanted nothing more.
Opaque Melodies contains graphic language, frequent graphic sex, violence, and very dark themes of horror. Reader discretion advised. This is not a standalone and ends on a cliffhanger. Melodic Madness concludes this story.
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Welcome to the dark and twisted writing of Natalie Bennett- and this duet showcases everything that makes her the queen of writing all things depraved and twisted.
This story centers on Catalina- a woman who once struggled with her mental health visiting her deceased sister’s home to go through her things. A visit that puts her in the unexpectedly gnarly web of her sister’s former husband- the mysterious and delicious Alaric. He’s also a psychopath, who along with his family, does gruesome and messed up things to unsuspecting victims. And now he has his eyes on Catalina- and he wants to keep her, which means he has to pull her into his dark world. And the more time they spend together, the more Catalina sinks back into his control, the more she sinks into her own delirium.
Natalie continues to play with her mind- and ours. Catalina’s sanity continues to devolve under the psychological grooming of Alaric, who has resolved to keep her for himself. Catalina continues to fall deeper into the trappings of her own mind under Alaric’s sick tutelage. And like Catalina, we are desperate for answers. Amidst all the gruesome intensity, we have some steamy connection between these two.
As with all Natalie books, expect the unexpected and for her to totally f your mind. This is not for the faint of heart- Alaric and his family do TERRIBLE things. And you’ll question your own sanity for being drawn to Alaric after all the messed up things they do. He manipulates, he controls, he crosses all the lines. He’s a true Natalie Bennett psychopath, perhaps even more dangerous because he thinks he does “good”- but my goodness is he sexy, full of that dark magnetism and unhinged charm that Natalie writes so well. Natalie always has me asking: what is wrong with me?!
This is only the first part of the duet, so expect to be left hanging desperate for answers- good thing you can already grab the conclusion, Melodic Madness.
Rating:
Absolutely Crazy and I loved It!
I have said it before and I will say it again, I just love books about crazies! Crazy people, especially the men are so fun and mysterious to read about. You just never know what is going on with them. This one here is a huge mystery because it is really hard to figure out exactly what is going on. All I know is that I can’t wait for the next book to get some of the answers.
The book begins with Catalina Haven, a girl that lives alone and is a self-described hermit. She had a best friend named Chloe who has seen her at her worst and she also has her mother who calls and texts her several times a day, needing to have control. She has mental health issues that sound a lot like Manic Depressive Disorder.
“My mind had two variations. Some days it burned bright and I was a ball of positivity. Other days the light was completely extinguished, leaving me with nothing but a heavy darkness and thoughts better left unspoken if I didn’t want to wind up in a strait jacket.”
Catalina gets a call from Alaric Schuyler in California. He is her sister’s husband, whom she has never met because her sister and her were estranged. Alaric called to let her know her sister had died a week ago and he wants to fly her out to go through her sisters belongings. While she doesn’t want to go, she feels guilty for not being there for her sister when she was ill and her mother also talks her into going because Alaric is now single and he is rich (which is all her mother cares about).
Catalina meets Alaric when she arrives and finds it a bit odd that he doesn’t seem to feel anything more about his wife’s demise than she does. Though she hardly knew her sister and he supposedly was married to her. Apparently they didn’t share a bedroom, so something was up with the marriage. Catalina takes a few days to start getting through some of the belongings and meanwhile the attraction between her and Alaric is heating up.
This is when odd things begin to happen in the story. Alaric is a master manipulator and he seems to love madness, he thinks there is beauty in madness which is why he is so attracted to Catalina. There are so many mysteries surrounding this guy. He is a surgeon and his family owns a chain of private clinics and what goes on at those clinics seems rather nefarious, but not as much as what Alaric might be doing in his basement that is locked and has a fingerprint scanner to open.
I can’t wait to find out more in the next book. Like what they do at that clinic, what is Alaric doing in his basement, what does he want with Catalina, is he dangerous? What exactly happened to her sister? What about Catalina’s mother and father, something is going on there and Alaric is involved. And more…
This is book one in this series and like all Natalie Bennett’s books this one is just as dark and crazy as always and also keeps you hungry to turn the next page.
This story is about Alaric who is Catalina’s brother-in-law and Catalina who is visiting him after the death of her sister to get closure. However, Cat who thinks she is a little crazy as it is, what until Alaric’s hidden agenda starts. This is where all the intrigue, steamyness and deceit starts.
The ending had me jumping right into the next book.
If you like sexy hot chemistry with your dark and crazy read, this book and series is it!
I would highly recommend this series in a heartbeat!!
4.5
“He was a hazard to my health, but it was too late to go back and undo what he’d done to me.”
Catalina was a bit of an introverted recluse. She would get regular check-ups from her mother and best friend. After the death of her estranged sister, all it took was one phone call to completely warp her life.
This one seriously had me on edge! Many twist and turns that I didn’t expect.
“What would happen if madness and insanity became one?”
“Us.”
“Exactly.”
The thing I love most, is that Natalie knows how to write the most psychotic and toxic couples and you still want to root for them. Alaric seriously gives off “Hannibal” (minus the cannibalism) vibes. He’s manipulative, a gaslighter, charming as hell and all of the things that give off red flags. I really loved Catalina’s character as well. Can’t wait to read more!
In typical Natalie fashion this book is dark, twisted and a complete mindfu**. Just when I think I know where this story is going something else happens and I’m left sitting here dumbfounded. This story is intriguing and captivating and has all the darkness to make my black heart happy
Woah, this book will mess your mind in the best of dark twisted ways. I hooked by the first chapter and as I read on, this story just got deeper and darker, until the end. I still dont know what to think other then, I need more!!
Catalina, well I don’t know if I feel bad for her or maybe there’s more to here then we know. I do for one know her family is by far twisted and greedy then she knows.
Alaric, oh my, he’s the dark, cocky, steamy beast, who’s also a physician. What this man is capable of will leave you gasping for more. I can’t wait to see what this next book brings to his character.
While I kept my review vague, I did so because you just have to jump into this book and enjoy your mind being blown. This book is not quite as dark as some of this authors typical books, but its one heck of a ride and you will not be disappointed.
I love opening up a book written by Natalie!! She never ceases to amaze me with her words!! Slow burn!! Left me extremely intrigued!!