I’m one of four Willow daughters. He’s the first-born son of the Scafoni family. And we have history.For generations, the Scafoni family have demanded a sacrifice of us. A virgin daughter to atone for sins so old, we don’t even remember what they are anymore.But when you have as much money as they do, you don’t play by the rules. You make them.And Sebastian Scafoni makes all the rules.The moment … makes all the rules.
The moment I saw him, I knew he would choose me. Even though the mark on my sheath declared me unclean. Even though my beautiful sisters stood beside me, offered to him, he still chose me.
He made me his.
And then he set out to break me.
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Intensely dark, twisted, and perversely hot! If you loved Pepper Winters’s Indebted, you will love this book.
This duet absolutely gave me everything I love! Darkness, passion, intensity, a battle of wills neither character refuses to lose but does everything in their power to win, while enjoying every single fiery second. I love me some Natasha Knight!
One of the best, dark and suspenseful duets I’ve read all year!
Sexy, dark, and hot, hot, hot!
Not only was I bogged down by other books I had to read, but there are only so many hours in a day and adding another story wasn’t the smartest thing I could do. However, I knew if I missed this one, I’d live to regret it. After reading it, I’m 100% sure of that fact. All I can think about now is getting my hands on book two, Torn.
Wanna know how you can tell if an author is truly badass? It’s when you can hate the heroine and still give the book five stars!!
At the age of 16, Helena Willow found out some hard truths about her family. Her life was not entirely her own and at the age of 21, she stood the possibility of being taken. The Willows and the Scafonis had a long-standing tradition – the eldest Scafoni son was allowed to pick out his very own virgin Willow girl to share with his brothers. She was to be theirs for one year each and then returned. Planning ahead, Helena decided to take herself out of the running. She was one of a quadruplet and thought her non-virgin status and the fact that she looked nothing like her blond haired sisters would make her undesirable.
Seriously girl, have you learned nothing in your young life? Everyone knows that the girl who sticks out is the chosen one. Might as well have had a spotlight on you and angels singing to announce your presence.
“You’re my only ally in this house?…Then what will I do when my enemies strike?”
Sebastian’s eyes caught a glimpse of Helena and there was no turning back. He knew, despite her lack of purity, that she was the one he needed. But what was once a relationship built on hate and duty soon became something neither of them could have ever predicted.
“Because no matter what, Sebastian, you are a Scafoni and I am a Willow. We aren’t friends. We’re enemies.”
I found myself often annoyed by Helena’s feeble attempts to assert some form of power over her situation and I laughed at inappropriate moments because of the rhetoric that was prevalent in her perspective. She was hard to empathize with and I happened to enjoy the many ways in which Sebastian tormented her. I’m the last person to use the phrase “she asked for it”, however, she kinda did. At least her continued idiocy was something that Sebastian found attractive. He loved her fire, her sass, and her refusal to admit defeat. I think I did too.
… with her, I can’t ever get enough. I can’t ever get close enough.
Taken was dark, mysterious, and absolutely captivating. You’ll find that while the author has gifted us with a lot of information to explain certain events, the further you delve into this story, the more questions you’ll have. I’m still uncertain of Sebastian’s motivations, the inner workings of his familial relationships, and the meaning of the sick games some of these characters are playing. With an ending that truly had me hanging on the proverbial cliff, Torn can’t be released soon enough.
My first ever book by Natasha Knight and it was great!! I love the story, it was pretty angsty I was hanging in there the whole first part of the book with so many twists and turns not knowing whom to trust.. the story of the willow girl and Sebastian.. she was different, she was strong, bold and inteligent.. she thought she wasn’t going to be chosen as she was so different from her sisters.. but life had another plan for her and she was chosen to take a very hard role that at the end she may or may not come alive.. Sebastian was ruthless and strong but he wasn’t evil as his family was, he had other plans and other needs.. he wasn’t happy about his family antiques and agenda.. he is about to change the course of family traditions. now it’s about time to see if he will finally succeed..
The chemistry between Sebastian and Helena is amazing love how strong it is, you can even feel it whenever she or he is thinking about each other. no matter if they’re not in the same room..
I can’t wait to see what happens next on Torn.
~WRITING – PLOT – PACE~
I am not really a big fan of duets or series anymore, so I debated a bit on whether I wanted to sign up for this one or not. Let me just say that I am SO glad I decided to go with it because this book was all kinds of awesome. The writing was fantastic. It was a relatively short book (around two hours of reading time), so the pace was quite quick. It was told in a dual POV format. The plot was engaging, twisted, and dark. Last, it all wraps up in an “OH FUCK” cliffhanger. Thankfully book two will be released just two weeks after book one.
~HERO~
SEBASTIAN…I liked Sebastian well enough. I have been struggling a bit lately with heroes that treat their heroines like garbage and Sebastian certainly does that in spades in this book. However, it was offset with some gentler moments that helped to soften his character somewhat. I am curious to see how he acts and reacts in the next book for sure.
~HEROINE~
HELENA…I LOVED Helena. She was feisty as hell. Yes, she did things that left me scratching my head and wondering if she had a death wish. But how boring of a heroine would she have been if she just rolled over and gave in? That said, I am a little worried about what is in store for her in the next book. Especially with the predicament she landed herself in at the end of this one.
~SECONDARY CHARACTERS~
This book is fairly light on secondary characters. We just have Sebastian’s two other brother’s, Gregory and Ethan, and of course the evil step mommy Lucinda. Out of all of them, Gregory intrigues me the most, and I can’t wait to see which side he falls on.
~HEAT LEVEL~
MEDIUM…There are a good number of smokin’ hot sex scenes in this one. A lot of dubious consent and punishments. A smidge of exhibitionism, and voyeurism.
~ANGST LEVEL – SEXUAL HISTORIES~
MEDIUM…I didn’t find this one overly angsty. Of course, the heroine is not with the Scafoni family because she wants to be. So, of course, that creates a lot of angst and discord. Neither were virgins. There was a BLIP of OW drama, plus a BLIP of OM drama with one of the other brothers touching the heroine with Sebastian’s consent. Although, I wouldn’t call that drama per se.
~IN THE END~
Did I enjoy it? Very much YES!
Was it perfect? Almost. I struggled a bit with the hero and the violence. Chalk that up to the weird mood I have been in lately (lol). But like I said, it was tampered down a bit with some softness, so it was almost perfect.
Would I recommend it? YES, definitely!
Who would enjoy this book? I think most readers would enjoy this story. Especially those who like a good dark and twisted romance.
Four daughters set upon a stump to be auctioned off like livestock. A debt must be paid but only one Willow girl is taken as payment. Three years to be used at the pleasure of the Scafoni sons.
The chosen belongs to three Scafoni sons now, one year with each son,
Owned…
Used…
Theirs to break…but will she survive ?
And if she does, what will be left of her body, mind and soul ?
Previous generations of Willow girls have come home, but they were never quite the same. There are dark secrets, there is family betrayal…who is good, who is wrong, will any of them survive the cycle of hate?
This is book one in the Dark Legacy Duet. It’s dark and leaves you hanging, but this is an emotional thrill ride you don’t want to pass up.
Wow!! If you love a twisty plot with undertones of the gothic, then look absolutely no further. This book is beautifully plotted and sinfully compelling. With antagonism oozing from each chapter, this book will catch you up and ensure you do not put it down. From the plains of the Mid-West to the ancient stones of Venice, you are transported into a world of revenge, malice and greed, whether the greed is for money, revenge, sex or the desire to inflict pain, it nevèr flinches. Sebastian and Helena make excellent lead characters in this relationship of the unequal. Bring on Torn, asap!
OMG! How can I write about this book not revealing too much?
This book is an epitome of tradition,hatred, loyalty and obsession. The subject of this book may be disturbing, heartbreaking, yet it’s soo well written that you can’t put the book down.
Poor Helena is just a means to an end in the cruel hands of Scafoni family, in the hands of Sebastian, but… is Sebastian happy with the whole things? Is it worth everything what he believes?
Helena is such a strong, defiant woman who will do anything for the TRUTH!
Sabastian… well, what can i say? I have hate/love relationship with this monster ot the man, this epitome of hatred and loyalty towards his family and legacy. He is such a complext character, that you will hate at first, but then… from page to page you just want to uncover his soul and his secrets…
Bravo to the author for presenting us this difficult book that we cannot not love.
Wow! Poor Willow Girl!!!
Talk about fulfilling your family obligations being torturous This is book one of the dark legacy duet and it is dark and so so good!
This is a deeply dark and twisted non-con read!
A mysterious tale which began long ago but continues in present time. Disturbingly warped characters and thrilling plot twist will keep you riveted.
warning! cliffhanger!
This dark tale captured me right from the beginning. Two families partake in a secret tradition that brings each generation to engage in an unfathomable negotiation where the chosen Willow girl becomes the possession of the Scafoni brothers, paying the price for their families’ past and present greed. Helena is the unexpected choice, but her will and strength are fierce. Sebastian is the perfect anti-hero… he knows he has to play this game, but he’s not immune to falling for Helena as he tries to save her from a terrible fate. As the story unfolds we learn of those who have come before, and as the pieces fall into place we discover the twistedness of the situation and the layers of betrayal and deceit that will shape what’s to come. The cliffhanger is a doozy… leaving you with no choice but to dive into the duet’s conclusion to find out what happens.
Listened to on audio: The narration was amazing! This was my introduction to both Michael Pauley and MacKenzie Cartwright and each gave such a stellar performance. I enjoyed their portrayal of the characters from both POVs, giving insight into the emotions of Helena and Sebastian, as well as depicting the sadistic and wicked side of the secondary characters.
I really enjoyed this book. It is the first book by Natasha Knight that I have read and I can’t wait to read more.
I love Sebastian…… I think! I feel as if he has two personas – one where he is doing what is expected of him and another that shows me he wants to be a different person, carrying out what he wants, and I really hope that we see more of this side of him…. the side of him I love.
Helena is in a situation that she had made plans to avoid and so never expected to find herself in. She’s feisty and courageous and isn’t frightened to stand up for herself, even when she should be. I love this about her. She appears to be the perfect Willow daughter to stop future sacrifices, but I wonder if she is strong enough…. time will tell.
Taken has ended on a cliffhanger and I am desperate to see what happens next. I’ve rated this book a solid 4.5 stars. It’s dark and gripping and I just couldn’t put it down.
Wow! I love the dark themed books and this one was so good! Mafia, gorgeous men, steamy, dark. What more can a girl ask for? This is my first book by this author and I am hooked! Can’t wait to discover more by this author. And the narration was amazing!
Dark Legacy Duet Book One.
Helena Willow knows that she must do everything in her power to ensure she is not the sister chosen for the Scafoni family sacrifice, so she allows someone to take her innocence. However, Sebastian Scafoni is intrigued by the ruined girl who has to be tied down to keep her in her place. He chooses her because of her flaws instead of turning her away. Now, Helena is a captive to Sebastian and his spiteful family. Sebastian keeps claiming he is her only ally, but when he turns her over to the others for punishments, Helena knows that his words are just that – words.
If you’re looking for a dark romance with family secrets and a harsh legacy, this is the book for you.
AudiobookObsession
I just couldn’t finish this book! This girl is driving me crazy. Yes, I know her parents basically sold her to be used as a sex toy to 3 brothers, to be tortured by their step-mother for her own sadistic amusement. But come on. So far the girl has talked back, questioned everything, disobeyed, refused, ran away, and lied . . . And she hasn’t been hurt (well the mother did cane her, but that b!tch is crazy)!! Helena keeps crying about how horrible Sebatian is, but in her mind she craves him. I know there are some that will say in her situation, Blah, blah, blah. But come on, her situation could be so much worst. She hasn’t been kept in a cage or forced to be naked and tired to a bed. The girl has a nice room and clothes, food; she went on trips and didn’t seem to have to do anything sexual that was forced on her that would damage her physically or mentally. When I think of a girl in “Taken” situation, I think of the girl in “Pennies” by Pepper Winters. That girl had it bad, physically and emotionally.
Phew… let me take a few deep breaths to compose myself before I get into this craziness… OH my goodness! Natasha has done it once again. This book skirts the edge of your comfort level but oh man- the pay off! It is perverse, kinky, shocking, steamy.. did I say crazy as all get out!?! I absolutely will recommend this series to everyone who will listen. If you are uncomfortable with punishment style BDSM, this may push your boundaries but It will be so worth it. The characters are all so flawed yet have unearthly chemistry. Book 1 will have you on the edge of your seat, book 2 is the savior to your sanity. Keep an open mind and enjoy the ride.
The narration is fantastic. MacKenzie is fabulous as always. I enjoyed Michael’s tone of voice but the read style was a bit choppy for me. Nothing that took away from the overall but something that stood out to me. They sounded great together!
If you haven’t figured it out by now, I loved this book! Couldn’t even stop to write this before jumping into Torn. If you are feeling squeamish after book 1- I still urge you to continue. “Torn” will sooth all your pains.
AudiobookObsession
Wow this book was dark and enjoyable. I could not put this book down after the first chapter and wanted to continue on. There are a lot of twist to this story and this author did a fantastic job keeping me on the edge of my seat to finish this book. Although I don’t like cliffhangers this was enough for me to seek out book 2 which I look forward to reading now.
Sebastian Scafoni is head of the household now that his father is gone.
Helena Willow is a quadruplet, she is nothing like her sisters.
The two families have a long history together. The Willow family offers up a virgin daughter to the head of the Scafoni house every generation.
As Helena stands on her pedestal, her sheath marked with pig’s blood marking her as used, unclean. She thinks she is safe from choosing. That is until Sebastian walks in and she knows without a doubt he is going to choose her, make her his, break her down, destroy her fire.
Helena has a fire in her that is absolutely admirable. She is fierce and determined . She won’t let the Scafoni family break her.
Helena and Sebastian had me torn, their chemistry was off the charts and you could tell from the beginning there was so much more to them and their story than just her being his chosen Willow girl. I wanted the HEA, wanted him and her to find a way to make things better for all the people involved in the family “business” so to speak. I hated every time things didn’t work in that favor and yet I understood Helena’s want to get away at any cost. It was so hard for me because I instantly had a soft spot for Sebastian and didn’t want to see him as a monster, even as he shows that side of him.
I hated Lucinda from the moment she came into the picture, I didn’t trust her nor did I believe a word she said. I hated how torn Helena was between believing Sebastian’s side of things and Lucinda’s. It was heart wrenching!
There are so many secrets and lies in this book it makes you anxious to get to the end so you can find out everything… I just HAVE to know all the dark secrets!