Calista“I am the monster they created. I’m the whore they’re ashamed of.”When life tried to break me I grabbed that b*tch by the throat and squeezed.I thought I could overcome anything. I swore I could handle him, but after being forced to play at the Devil’s playground I ended up craving his touch.One taste of his poison made my loyalties begin to waiver.Romero “I’m a living nightmare, I’m … waiver.
Romero
“I’m a living nightmare, I’m everything they fear.”
I’ve been called the Devil, deranged, and a savage. I lived by a code created by rebel souls. We were sinners and thieves that made no apologies for taking whatever the f*ck we wanted. Saving a girl in the woods was never part of my plans, but when I saw the crazy in her eyes I knew it was a match made in hell.
Now secrets are piling up, the bodies are rotting, and time is running out to finish what I started.
Forewarning, our story is more than a little f*cked up.
more
It’s Saturday which has been a good job really because I got this book and boy did I pick well because I haven’t done a thing just read this outstanding 5 star read, I am so grateful that the rest of the books are available. We have a type of Dystopian kind of book, it’s labelled as dark and I suppose to some it is, there are some extremely gruesome scenes in it, we have Cannibals, Cults, The Devil, severe child abuse, Calista is one crazy Sick b*tch. A Maniac. Out of her f*cking mind. she isn’t broken she is shattered with pieces still missing and probably will stay missing her life was a horror story. Then we have Romero and his band of sicko’s
Romero Deranged. Psychopath. he does unspeakable things but my word does this book drag you in and doesn’t give up, even at the end as it ended on a cliff hanger had me shouting out, what an epic story every thing I love about a dark read, this author is new to me but if this is what she comes up with she has a new fan
I fell head over heels in love with this book and the rest of the badlands series! IF you love dark twisted romance and revenge this book is the one for you.
Savages is an in your face, sick, twisted, demented read. And I loved every minute of it. I’m left with my mouth wide open and my brain screaming for more. I’m not even sure how to review this book. I want you to have the same feelings I had while reading it. Calista grew up in a sick and depraved community. When she finally leaves she realizes she has a very twisted and unhinged mind and she isn’t sure how she feels about it. Romero fully embraces every sick twisted thing he does. He loves every minute of it. Put them both together and they are basically king and queen of every demented and disturbed thought you could think of.
I loved the world we are thrown into and I honestly didn’t want to leave. Natalie Bennett has a way with words that makes you cringe yet love every thing she writes. The characters were disturbed in all the right ways. This will be one book I urge everyone to read. I’m not a lover of dark reads, I am a lover of Savages and the Badlands. Take the journey and find out who Calista and Romero are. You may be just as shocked as I am about how good it is, and how utterly unbalanced it leaves you. But in a good way.
Sweet Twisted Sordid Sadistic – Perfect
Nooooo – you cannot leave me hanging like this
No Spoilers! I promise if this is your genre you will not be disappointed!!
Bennett delivers another sickly sweet twisted love story – though honestly, this might be one of her top five – there is so much going on behind the scenes in this story -I don’t know who is Cali’s enemy – or what evil has long awaited her arrival or possibly even groomed her for what is to come but I know or I should say I fear what is to come of her
I do not even have words that properly describe the carnage that she and Rome leave in their wake – in a twisted sort of way it is quite poetic
I have so many questions and the more I read the more I have
I need book 2 like NOW and by the way, this is available in Kindle Unlimited so grab your copy now and keep the lights on – this is one journey that will keep your pulse elevated and your chest constricted
A small summary in the words of Cali :
“Me and Rome. Rome and I. We were unhealthy, dysfunctional, toxic. I could flip through both an encyclopedia and a dictionary and still wouldn’t find words to describe us. Beyond the excitement, beyond the lust, he gave my aching heart a place of comfort that I’d never known. This thing between us was certain death, all smoke and darkened skies with no sign of a sunrise,”
Savages (Badlands #1) – Natalie Bennett
::: SPOILER-FREE REVIEW :::
Rating: 5 FUCKED -UP STARS
“Romero was an inferno of tantalizing sin, and I wanted him branded on every inch of my skin.”
SOOOOOOOOOOOO………I will warn you, this book is DARK.
Really. Bloody. DARK!
Speechless… that’s how I felt after reading this story…
Like I know some people like dark stuff but like damn this book had me shook and not in a happy way… BUT WHY!!!!
It’s dark, twisted and disturbing on so many levels, but still I could NOT stop reading it!!! This book made me question my sanity because I loved it so much.
Do NOT read this book if you have issues with violence (really inventive acts of violence), taboo topics (this book goes down some interesting routes), and an unhealthy dose of fucked-up-ness (don’t even know if that’s an actual word but you get my point!).
The main couple are crazy. The story will leave you shouting, “WHAT THE FUCK????”. Natalie Bennett really pushed the limits on this one, to the point where I would probably count this book as horror more than erotica. Because even the sex scenes, (from a psychological perspective) were more than just ‘kinky and dark’.
The romance in this book reminded me of that which is The Joker’s and Harley Quinns. These horrible and awful, and completely ruined people have a reason behind their madness. It was necessary to portray the cruel reality of our world. Because shit happens. We are ignorant to topics such as child rape, sex trafficking, mass murder and a bunch of other taboo topics. We just pretend it’s not there because it doesn’t affect us.
So if anything, I would say this book is a slap in the face.
And with that, I am going to leave my review pretty vague. This is a book that needs to be experienced without too many spoilers. I’d recommend you heed the warning given because this isn’t one for the faint of heart.
So if you’re bored with happy-rainbow-puppies-la vie en rose romance, I definitely would recommend this one.
I love Bennett’s books and was really excited to start the Badlands series.
I loved the special edition cover and even though I had the original, I had to purchase the new one too.
I was very intrigued by the premise of this story. What was not to love?
Calista and Romero were amazing to read. There was so much delicious darkness between them and as the story moved along and the layers kept being peeled back, it was so hard to put this one down.
I am already dying to start the next book and see where things go from here.
Can you honestly say that you are a fan of the dark genre if you haven’t read a book by Natalie, because I doubt it very much, all her books are so twisted and intense that I love them, and of course the first book I will recommend from her is from the Badlands series. To begin, this is a world where the rich and normal people live apart from the crazy and sick people who live in Badlands where EVERYTHING is possible and anarchy reigns.
This book is about the story of Calista and Romero, who try to find a man who ruined their lives and has a cult where they basically abuse women, children and everything.
Calista is as crazy as Romero and is tired of being used and abused by men, so now she only seeks revenge from the man who ruined her life, that is why she goes to Romero to hunt him down and finally live how she wants, without being judged for wanting to commit questionable acts. While Romero has his reasons for hating the cult and wanting to end it. Their relationship is simply explosive and intense, from the moment they meet while Callista escapes from some canni*bals, yes that’s how they meet, both complement each other so well and are what they need, it was incredible, I loved them.
It was definitely a good start for this series, obviously due to extreme abuse, satanism and gore I do not recommend it to everybody, however, if you love the horror and dark genre as me, you would surely like this book, this is just the beginning of their story which continues in the 2nd book if you want to read it.
Holy cow…or do I mean ram…!?! Natalie Bennett to me is the queen of the dark genre. She takes no prisoners! With that being said….Romero’s and Calista’s love story isn’t for the faint of heart. It isn’t a fairy tale with him being her white knight. He’s everything but and oh my is it beautiful to watch…or read I guess lol. Seriously this was my first ever book by her and I plunged into the madness and never looked back.
This series is set in a dystopian world where Romero is the self proclaimed devil and let me tell you…I will follow him anywhere and his beautiful Dark Maniacal Queen Calista. Their story is full of hot, brutal, insane uhhh love making and of course it wouldn’t be a NB book if it didn’t have torture, messed up Sugar Honey Ice Tea in it and just plain chaotic mayhem.
If you’re into the dark genre and have never read one of her books I can guarantee you won’t look back. It’s a rabbit hole you’ll never want to leave
I know I know I’m late to the game on this series. Savages describe the book perfectly well, it’s savage. It’s not a fairy tale romance. It’s messed up, bloody, in a dystopia world. It’s brutal, it’s a no hold bars type of read. Being the type of reader I am, I loved every dirty, grimy word of it.
The characters are all flawed in the most yummy of ways. The plot is creative and original as it comes. Bennett keeps her audience craving for more. And since I’m late to the game I don’t have to wait so yay me! Once you read the first installment of the Badlands be prepared to hold off responsibilities because you will not want to stop reading this story for one second.
Savages is the first book I have read by this author and I loved it. It was dark and twisted. I loved Romero and Cali. They were psychotic and perfect for each other. They were scorching together! Loved them.
Savages is the first book in the Badlands series and was my first read from Natalie Bennett…but it most certainly wasn’t my last. This book is dark and full of triggers(readers beware)… but my dark reader loving heart LOVED every minute of it! If you like dark reads then definitely read this book & this series ..you won’t be disappointed
“He was born sick. I was fucked in the head. Together, we were Savages.”
I have no idea wtf is going on here or what I just read because this shit is majorly fuuuucked up, but I LIKED IT. That should probably scare me, but it doesn’t. Don’t ask me why. I just don’t like the cookie-cutter romances, and this is definitely far beyond the black area of your average romance. Savages is probably the darkest I’ve read to date…and I’ve read a lot of dark. Take my word for it and heed the warnings!
Oh my god, this book was so f*cked up in so many levels.
I’ve read some really and I mean really dark books, but this one has really been the darkest I’ve ever read to date. I have to say that I was sitting by the edge of my seat the whole time because I didn’t know what to expect in the following pages. But every single page was so worth the anticipation and the excitement. This may sound like I’m as deranged as the characters in the book, but that’s how much you get sucked into the story with these characters.
Calista has gone through some hell with the devil of a father that she has and his cult. I get why she does what she does and how her and Romero just clicked from the first time they even uttered a word to each other. These two souls with so much pain are rightfully perfect for each other. Romero has some demons himself that has him the way he is.
I’ll tell you now, this book was fantastic in all the perfect and wrong ways you could possibly imagine.
The author did such an outstanding job with this book that I am so excited to start the next one, the conclusion to Romero and Calista’s f*cked up love story.
I’m just very curious to find out what messed up secrets Romero has hiding up his sleeve and how things will all pan out for all of them in this scary as heck lifestyle they lead.
excellent read!!!
5 Cranky Stars
Now that we’ve gotten THAT out of the way, let me give you a bit of a warning, for readers just picking up this series.
No, seriously.
WARNING
This ENTIRE series is DARK. VIOLENT. CHAOTIC. EROTIC. VIOLENT. ANARCHISTIC. VIOLENT. DEPRAVED. IMMORAL. VIOLENT. Did I mention VIOLENT???
And I loved EVERY SINGLE PAGE OF IT!!!!!
If you are looking for a sexy good time, this ain’t it, bruh. Just move on. You’ve been warned. Let’s get into it.
This novel is set in a dystopian America. But any similarity to the Hunger Games or Divergent ends there. Trix are for kids….these baddies eat kids for lunch. Literally.
You are immediately immersed into a world of crazy religiosity, devil worship and acts so immoral and depraved that if I was married to the author I just might sleep with one eye open. Yet, there IS honor among thieves and you quickly learn that what you may believe to be a “good guy” and a “bad guy” is NOT quite what you think. Calista, our “heroine” is deeply, deeply damaged. So much so that she finds her soulmate in the devil incarnate. This relationship is the entire basis and catalyst for EVERYTHING that happens in this book……or so one would think.
What I LOVE about this entire series is the unexpected twists and turns in the plot. Just when I thought I knew what was going on a gigantic curveball is tossed at me and I’m broken into little pieces
Oh, looking for the sexy scenes, are you? There are plenty but you may find you need to re-define exactly what you consider erotic and sexual. What turns our, by now, favorite characters on is beyond the pale….but…..I get it. I really do.
In a nutshell, this book is about self-discovery, revenge and satisfaction. But it is so much more than that. And neatly and succinctly leads you right to the next book: Deviants.
Just let that title sit with you for a minute…….
~Our dark paradise could only be reached by paving the way with blood and corpses.~
I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up this book. I knew it would be dark, and probably a bit twisted but weeeeeooooo…..hold onto your britches bitches, this is one fucked up ride!!
Cults, cannibals, inverted crosses and pentagrams, satanic rituals and dirty murder sex, it was all kind of wrong, but I LOVED it!! It’s wild and barbaric and has wrapped my heart in its barbed wire clutches.
And just as you’re rolling along to see where this whacked romance story is going, she wallops you with an ending that leaves you dazed and confused.
**crickets chirping**looks around** What did I just read???
Ok…
I’m trying to wrap my head around everything I just read and can only come to one conclusion. This book is SERIOUSLY MESSED UP!
Holy cow! I LOVED IT!
This book is definitely NOT for the faint of heart. Heed the warning, my friends. It’s not for the weak.
Now, if you’re one of the strong, **chest pump for you** you will appreciate this complete mind **** of a book.
Aside from a few formatting issues, this book was amazing.
The main characters were beyond psychotic and deranged.
It was cringe worthy is the best way possible.
If there’s a word more potent than gory, that the label this book deserves.
I can’t wait to see where else this series is going to take us.
What a cliffhanger this book ended on!
**Mega Bomb Dropped**
So, Savages (Badlands, #1), This book is all sorts of Craaaazy!!!
and also plenty dark it makes no apologies for itself.
sickness and depravity reign here.
And as all are aware I absolutely love me a dark tale, the blacker the better.
I’m also a major sucker for a messed up dystopian landscape.
This book was made for me melding my love of dark romances against the backdrop of the Badlands.
A match made in heaven and hell.
A bit like the main characters Calista and Romero.
The devil and his darkly decedent handmaiden.
So Savages is set in a sort of dystopian post-apocalyptic nightmare of cults, Outliers, skinners and cannibals.
And against this backdrop, The king meets his queen there crazy just matches like the cracked pieces of each other’s souls.
This is bloody, evil and totally sick but is also so bloody addictive I couldn’t put it down.
In a way reminding me slightly of that film doomsday when they wall Scotland in and out of the ashes rises a new civilization, one where morality is a forgotten concept and only the strong survives.
But amid that corruption, there is also a sense of brotherhood and a admiration for strength and resilience.
This also had some great side characters and I really never had a clue where this was heading.
It was an unpredictable whirlwind and I landed wherever it chose to take me.
So this was fabulously well written and was so different with its complete lack of moral compass.
I Cant recommend this highly enough.
Really looking forward to the next in this series as this ended on such a cliffhanger.
But before I go a warning this book contains a lot of triggers and isn’t for the faint of heart.
Please avoid if this bothers you at all as Savages is definitely one hard-core read and doesn’t pull its punches.
I was provided with a review copy of “Savages (Badlands, #1)” By the author of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
4.5 twisted stars of awesomeness!
The world is no longer a happy, shiny place. It is dark and dangerous, pious and immoral. Religion is touted by some, but that religion hides betrayal and secrets.
Sick and twisted do not define just how this book is. It will definitely push boundaries and push readers to experience both the pleasure of pain of insanity.
Calista has lived a life that is beyond measure when it comes to boundaries being pushed and abuse. But all of her experiences have created a beautiful veneer that hides a monster within. But Romero brings that monster to the surface.
The Devil of the Badlands has found someone just as sick and twisted as his own soul. He will degrade her, bring her pain that she has never felt while forcing her pleasure in a way she never imagined. He will bring her to the heights of madness and watch her soar.
SAVAGES was a freaking f’ed up ride on a runaway train of damaged and dangerous passengers … AND I COULD NOT GET ENOUGH!!!!! Holy hades was I run through the ringer, but it was beautiful if its madness. Natalie Bennett has written a truly twisted tales that I fully devoured and enjoyed. I normally don’t read dark tales, but I couldn’t stop. I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say that I was immersed quickly and couldn’t put the book down. It was that awesome.
What did I just read!!!!!
It is very dark very twisted… please read the short trigger warning THIS book will not be for EVERYONE it isn’t hearts and flowers it isn’t romance, it is Raw, Dark, Gritty….
This is my first book by this author and it sure will not be my last. I was sucked in from the start…
I have to question myself because I am sure I wasn’t meant to love this book but I have to say I loved it a bit too much… it is seriously twisted and intense, I started it last night and read through the night I didn’t want to put it down..
The characters are all great, twisted and crazy!!! but great!!
I love Calista at first I felt a bit sorry for her to start with, but hell I do not by the end she can take care of herself that is for sure, what a character she is, I really like her.
Romero well what can I say about him… he is very dark. Romero & Calista are totally f*ucked up together.. but are also hot as hell at the same time..
This story has some good twists and turns bring on book Two because I cannot wait…