“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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This will be a story. I apologize in advance.
When I was first introduced to Hudson Pierce it was in 2014. Hudson’s book had not been introduced yet. To say I was OBSESSED with this series was an understatement. The Fixed Trilogy completely consumed me, I believe I read the three books in a weekend and as soon as I read the end I restarted the first book right away. I believe in two weeks I read the trilogy 4 or 5 times. To say I hated Celia Werner is putting it lightly. I could not stand her, even after reading Hudson where you got glimpses of her, I would start to soften toward her but no it didn’t change my view of her. Fast forward to Ms. Paige announcing a series based on Celia. I was refusing to read it. No way I did not want to have anything to do with her. I could not enjoy anything with her, my friend who read it told me you are going to love this book. I told her there was no way. Well Laurelin Paige is AMAZING. She has completely sold me on Celia. I no longer hate her. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!! I know I love villains but Celia was the worst of all to me. And the ending of this book… I LOVE IT!!! I love when an author leaves you like OMG!!! Needless to say I am kicking myself for not picking this gem up THE MOMENT it released. This is why Laurelin Paige will forever be an automatic buy author. She writes and I will ALWAYS buy!! Excuse me while I run to read Ruin.
The game lives on, but each participant has different agenda the other one didn’t see coming. Hot British man is always a personal favorite of mine. Book 1 out of 4. If you’re a fan of the Fixed trilogy this is a great series to read.
He’s my father’s business rival, a powerful, vicious man who takes what he wants and bows to no one. I only took the meeting because I was curious. I thought he was going to offer me a job. But that’s not what he’s after at all. All I can say about this book is WOW what an amazing, interesting and addictive story line that you can not put down, The characters were brutal, unemotional, unforgiving and sexy as hell, Edward is one sexy, alpha a**hole loved it can’t wait to start book 2.
I went into this book completely blind, I didn’t read the blurb, I didn’t read any reviews. I’ve read Larelin Paige before so I knew I would get a great story and I wasn’t disappointed at all!! Edward is a complete D*CK!!! That guy takes a**hole to another level. Celia is no picnic either! Edward has a proposition for Celia. She loves playing games but didn’t realize what she was getting herself into when she wanted to play games with Edward. This book was really good! I loved every second. I was hooked from page one and couldn’t put it down. I binge read the whole thing and now I HAVE to dive into book 2. I’ll probably be up all night reading.
Slay: Rivalry
Slay Quartet, Book 1
By: Laurelin Paige
Narrated by: Elena Wolfe
Listen to the end to find out how dark their romance is
Overall 5 out of 5 stars
Performance 5 out of 5 stars
Story 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed: 04-02-20
Didn’t realize there would be a cliffhanger but what a story!
Rivalry is about the start of the relationship between two ruthless people who individually are planning to play and ruin the other. The question of if and who will come out on top isn’t answered, so we’ll have to hope to hear that in the next book.
The writing is fast-paced and direct, hard, and sexual explicit. If you don’t enjoy that, then rivalry isn’t for you. Either isn’t it when you’re looking for a sweet love affair. These characters hate each other and it is shown in many ways.
Elena Wolfe did a superb job on narrating!
Story:
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Elena Wolfe:
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Okay where to start. God I’m blown away by this book. Yet again another masterpiece by the amazing Laurelin Paige.
I swear I tried not to read this series, I tried for months!!! But I just couldn’t take it anymore. I hate cliffhangers and since the last book in this series is not out yet I knew that it would kill me but I couldn’t wait any longer. Oh God, it’s the first book and I’m already feeling this way.
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I fell in love with laurelin the moment I read the Fixed Series. And Celia was just amazing. She was a bitch, but a fascinating one. And thank god she had her own book!!!
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I’ve never hated Celia, even after all what she did to Hudson and Alayna. I’ve always felt like there was more to her, that she wasn’t just a manipulative bitch. And yes I was right. in Slay we get to have glimpses of the real Celia, of the Celia that wants to be seen. I’m more than ready to know her more.
And Edward, oh Jesus he is AMAZING!!!! But just like Celia he is an enigma. There’s something about him that’s unsettling and at the end of the book I found out why .
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I feel so excited and can’t wait to read Ruin. I wanna know if he’ll do it or not .
When I pick up a Laurelin Paige book it’s because of her writing and her intriguing characters who’s usually in their thirties and forties. In Rivalry Celia and Edward are just that and I was giddy when I found out. Mature characters are a catnip of mine. Rivalry is laying the foundation for the three books to come flawlessly. Both Celia and Edward has their share of secrets. Celia is emotionally flawed and broken which was very fascinating to watch how Edward slowly made her discover and feel more than the numbness she’d been carrying around for a decade. His weapon is all sexual and it’s rough sadistic sex. Celia wants to destroy and humiliate Edward for her own wicked pleasure but Edward has his own plans for Celia. What can I say except that I am utterly hooked. No one writes dominant and alpha males like Laurelin Paige. What a fantastic start to the Slay Quartet.
4 Little Bird Stars
My Rating: *****
Type: Series. Book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Narration: Single POV
Primary Characters: Celia & Edward
I have only read Dirty Filthy Rich Duet Story of Laurelin Paige till date. I had liked that series and writing style. When I saw the teaser of Rivalry, I was intrigued but didn’t pick it as I wanted to read the entire series in one shot. Now, I just couldn’t wait any longer and finished both book 1 & 2 in one shot. I want Book 3 and 4 now, I can’t wait till then . Since I haven’t read Fixed trilogy, I m curious enough to pick it up. Celia and Edward were totally new to me as I haven’t met either of them in previous books.
Celia Werner grew up as an only child and a trust fund baby. Over the years she’s been manipulative often exploiting the weaknesses of others and she called that “The Game”. Her past made her feel numb and emotionless and finds the pain and feeling outside of her world. She’s cold, calculating and spoiled rich girl. Edward Fasbender is powerful, ruthless, wickedly attractive for his age is a British businessman who owns a multimillion company. He was ambitious, calculating, arrogant, and irresistible. He would do anything to achieve what he wants.
Celia meets Edward and in their first meeting, Edward will be blunt and ask her to marry him. He will be upfront that he needs her fathers company shares. Her father is his business rival and competitor. Celia couldn’t resist that intriguing proposition and wants to play her Game and plans to destroy him. She’s strong and determined. She’s her own woman.
Now the tug between Edward and Celia starts. Both of them have their own agenda and doesn’t want to give up. Edward is complicated. She couldn’t read him like she always does with another man. He intrigues her. He makes her feel things. Something she doesn’t have all these years. But he only keeps pushing her. He puts Several rules in play and Celia comes up with her own rules and wants to play her Game and will do anything to win. Everything indicates that this influential and calculating man will be her downfall. In this push and pull will they discover more? Who would win the battle and war of wits?!
Plot moves in a faster pace and intrigues you all the way. There were no interesting secondary charters apart from Hudson. I was hooked and I read it so fast.
Edward is everything I wanted him to be and so much more! My mind was blown, and I loved every single minute of it! It definitely preceded my expectations and wasn’t in the slightest a story I thought it’d be. I cannot wait to see what this author has in store for us next.
Holy hotness! This book is full of manipulation, plotting and push and pull chemistry. It’s full of deception, denial and regrets. Celia is the character you love to hate and in her own story, she’s growing on me. Michael? The cliffhanger ending? Whoa!!!! I knew what he was going to say in the moments before he uttered the words. What?!?!?!
This was an audio read and Elena Wolfe killed it!
the last line in the book is such a shocker that I was left with my mouth open. I couldn’t wait for the next book which was a long time coming. You need to read these.
I’m so in love!! Previously in Slay, I hated Edward for doing what he did to Celia. But he redeemed himself in this one. I just wished there’s more POV on his part so that I know what’s he thinking and feeling.
But other than that, I loved this one even more than Slay. More secrets are revealed, feelings reciprocated and questions answered. But I can’t wait for the finale! When I got to the end of this book, I was hoping there’s another chapter to be read. But I’ll have to wait for the next one!
My brain is having trouble computing what I just read, but in a good way. I never, ever, EVER thought I’d want—let alone enjoy—a story about Celia Werner (my fellow Fixed series readers can probably relate), but Laurelin Paige proved me wrong. Brava for making me invested in the story of a character I found utterly detestable and making her human, interesting, and relatable.
Celia is an expert at playing games, but what happens when she enters into yet another game with someone who is her match? Good Lord. *Fans self* I freaking love Edward. Trust me when I say he’s giving Celia a serious run for her game-playing money. I love it lol. The chemistry, tension, and mind games between these two had me beyond eager to finish this story, and I wish I had a time machine so I could jump to the future when the entire quartet is done and just binge binge binge.
This was a story I didn’t know I needed, and now that I’ve read it, I’m in awe and still processing my feelings because it’s just that good. I need to know what happens next and am patiently awaiting the release of Slay: Ruin. Do yourself a favor and read this sexy, edgy, gripping story if you haven’t already.
I am in love with Celia and Edward’s story. Just when I think I have everything figured out I am so wrong. These two people’s relationship is no way describable. They are both damaged, lonely, mean, arrogant and so made for each other. Just when I think maybe, just maybe they can be happy with each other and move on, one or both does something stupid and makes things worse. I cannot wait to read the last book and see how things play out.
Celia, Celia, Celia…have you met your match? You appeared to be controlling things while you and Hudson “orignated” the “game”. Hudson moved on and is happily married. Enter our Hero, Edward Fasbender, a shrewd businessman and future father-in-law to Hudson’s brother, Chandler (from the Fixed Series).
I’m still not sure how author, Laurelin Paige, managed to turn a villainess from the Fixed series into a heroine that I’m reluctantly starting to like. Can’t wait to see the rest of Edward and Celia’s story unfold!
I am stunned, actually stunned. Laurelin Paige must be some sort of sorceress. That’s the only reason that I can figure out for the fact that I am feeling a whole new kind of way about Celia Werner. Yep, you read that right, the reigning witch of the Fixed world has met her match, and he is named Edward Fassbender.
Y’all, I can’t even with this book. It is so angsty, so delicious, so good! Edward Fassbender is all alpha, dark, and mysterious, and Celia doesn’t even know what she’s in for. She’s always been the one in control, and that is about to change for her in a big, big way.
I could not put this book down, and when I recovered (did I, though?!) from the ending, the wait for the next book was on. There is one heck of some stuff going on, and I cannot wait to see how Celia gets herself out of the mess she’s in. SLAY: RUIN can’t get here soon enough, but in the meantime, you’re going to want to get started with this series, because it is off the chain. Grab it and dive in, you will not be sorry!
Celia and Edward story is epic with twists and turns in every page. A herione of unexpected and a dominant hot and sexy alpha male. The title is true to every word written.
I’ll be honest. I’m not quite sure what to think now….I hated Celia. I still do…I think! Ugh! Damn her for making me somewhat FEEL SORRY for the dang psycho woman!
Being inside of Celia’s head was a freaking mindtrip! I’d like to think it helped me understand her a bit better but at the same time with every one of her thoughts revealed I was sucked deeper into a vortex that I couldn’t escape.
Then again at the same time I don’t know if I’m also slightly obsessed with the idea of her and Edward.
I won’t get started on him though. I spent pretty much the entire book hating one of them if not both.
I kept thinking are you freaking insane woman….RUN THE OTHER WAY! Then she would write him in a way that made me want him myself!
I want the next book now though!
I don’t just want it! I need it!
See what I mean…OBSESSED!
Yea…I’m addicted now
I’ll be here until the last word of the last book.
OMG! What have I just read? The intense drama and angst had me on high alert, the hot excitement it generated made Slay a thrilling read from the start to this quartet.
Celia Werner is an interior designer, she’s also a young woman who enjoys messing with people’s lives, her games can break a person but that’s her plan.
Edward Fasbender has plans Celia, he’s an egotistical, arrogant, beast of a man, no friendly remarks about him at all, very domineering and that doesn’t go down well with Celia one bit. But has Celia finally found her match and what it is exactly that Edward requires from Celia?
A terrific story. It’s pretty hard to love either character in this heart pounding read. Celia is a real cat and Edward is the devil incarnate….they make a great couple, lol.
The storyline was brilliant and very entertaining. I’m looking forward to part 2
I was hooked on this book from page one! I couldn’t put it down! I loved the mystery surrounding all the characters. The attraction between Celia and Richard is obvious but they both try to deny it. I can’t believe how it ends! Jaw on floor!! This is the first book by Laurelin Paige that I have read and I will definitely be back for more
Two people who are used to getting exactly what they want, Edward and Celia prepare for an epic battle of wills. The tension, sexual and otherwise is off the charts but what I enjoyed more was watching Celia’s battle within herself from the beginning to the end of this part of the story. The truths she doesn’t want to admit and other things she discovers about herself and the little peeks into the smallest hints from and about Edward makes this a truly fascinating story. I cannot wait for book 2.