Love isn’t always bright and shiny.
Sometimes, it’s dirty and wrong, buried six feet deep in a secret place where only wild things dare to go. Hidden behind a big black curtain that covers things no one should ever see.
Sometimes it happens between two people who should never be allowed to come together. One who is a match, and the other who just happens to be gasoline.
One strike is all it … gasoline.
One strike is all it takes to burn the whole world down, and that’s exactly what they plan on doing.
Even if it kills them.
warning: this book contains graphic sex, extremely brutal violence, foul language, and people repeatedly and knowingly breaking the law. 80,000 word full length novel.
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Whoa!!! What the f@ck did I just read?! Whatever it was I freaking loved it! The Bad Ones was brutal, demented, depraved, gorgeous, poetic, and utterly addicting!
This is a story of what happens when two dark hearts connect and finally discover an acceptance and freedom they never knew apart. Is this a love story? I’m still not quite sure. Romance? Maybe. The only thing I know for sure is that together Constantine and Dulcie are certifiably insane and their story is forever ingrained into my psyche.
Stylo has an unique ability to make the depraved acts of two sociopaths seem acceptable and in a twisted way, almost poetic. I was amazed at what she was able to accomplish with these characters. Stylo sucked me into their demented world and had me cheering them on the whole way. Wrong never felt so right! Make no mistake, this story is wrong, brutally violent and twisted but not once did I feel disgusted or depressed. Quite the opposite, really. I was exhilarated, excited and eagerly turning the pages. Yeah, I am still questioning my own sanity. LOL.
Ultimately, I found this to be a story of self discovery, acceptance, and love and I mean that in the most f@cked up way possible. After all, even sociopaths just want what we all do, to be accepted and loved.
“Both of us. We’re the bad ones. Together.”
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book but I was hooked right away. This is the first book I read by Stylo and it definitely won’t be my last. It was dark and twisted and it had all the elements to make it one awesome read.
“When his mouth fell on hers, it felt natural. He needed to devour something, it was clear, and she was fresh meat. She wanted to split open for him and lay at his feet.”
I didn’t know what to think of both Con and Dulcie, because from the outside they are the exact opposite from each other. Con is the rich, good-looking jock and Dulcie is from the wrong side of town and is a loner and a bit strange. However both are more alike than they could ever imagine. They complete each other in the most darkest way, is it really a good thing?
“She wanted his darkness to swallow her whole. She wanted to be a part of it. She wanted to give her own darkness back to him.”
When these two come together they become someone else, their real selves come out to play. And boy do they play!! The sex scenes were scorching hot, they was rough, painful and bloody. They were so in sync with each other. I just couldn’t get enough and stayed up until 5AM because I couldn’t put the book down.
“Don’t ever be scared. It kills me. From now on, tell me whenever you’re scared, and I’ll take away your fears. Tell me when you’re hurting, and I’ll bleed for you.”
They really had a messed up relationship but it worked for them. We are all different and have other needs and wants. This book is definitely one of the darker ones I read. I enjoyed every page and I don’t think I’ll easily forget about them. The author did a very great job and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
“I love you so goddamn much, I would tear apart this whole world for you.”
REVIEW OF STORY:
I honestly can’t even describe this book, it is THAT unique! And so are main characters Dulcie and Constantine. Basically, this is kind of a Bonnie and Clyde story, yet Dulcie and Con are waaaay more complex and less obvious about their inner psychopaths. Honestly, my words don’t even give justice to how innovative this story is! With bullying, abuse, drugs, murder, adultery, angst, rich/poor, revenge, steamy hot sex, for the true DARK erotica lovers, this book has it ALL and more!
Everything about this story was perfect, but unfortunately, it was obvious that it was not professionally edited or proofread. For details on those issues, continue reading below. Otherwise, this is where my review ends!
REVIEW OF EDITING/PROOFREADING:
There were obvious typo such as TICK instead of TIC, SHRUNK when it should’ve been SHRANK, FURTHER instead of FARTHER, always using MIGHT even though it should’ve been MAY, using INTO when it should have been IN TO, and using TOO instead of TO (for example, “she couldn’t allow that too happen”). Also, words like GOD and JESUS weren’t capitalized,
Ellipses we’re not spaced as dictated by the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), semicolons did not always separate two COMPLETE sentences, and dashes were used instead of em or en dashes.
According to CMOS, apostrophes at the ends of words ending with the letter S were not used correctly (for example, Banks’ should’ve been Banks’s). There were also inconsistencies with apostrophes. For example, on at least occasion Fantome typed, “The Masters home” instead of, “The Masters’ home”.
There were a ton of sentences with the wrong word (for example, “He’d trapping her between a corner of the gym and the bleachers”) and sentences with missing words (such as, “It was detailed sketch of a schooner,”).
Commas we’re not consistently inserted before pronouns (for example, “But Ms. Travers!” should have been, “But, Ms. Travers!”), and rules for the word OH and commas were not followed (for example, “Oh yes” should have been, “Oh, yes”). When OF COURSE replaced HOWEVER in the middle of a sentence, it did not always have commas surrounding it, the
FANBOYS comma rule was completely overlooked, and commas were not inserted between multiple adjectives (for example, “crazy possessive psycho boyfriend”).
***Fortunately, all of these are things most readers won’t even notice, are super easy to fix (I’d love to work with you, Stylo), and didn’t in any way diminish how much I enjoyed this amazing story!!!
Where to start, this is a heavy book full of tension on the part of the characters and above all different from what I expected. It’s about the relationship of Dulcie, a poor girl with great artistic talent from a family of drug addicts, and Constantine, the handsome, popular, charming and rich boy from high school, or that’s what both appear to be.
Throughout the book we see how these two very “different” people in the eyes of others end up in a strange and violent relationship which could not be more perfect, I mean, both have a darkness that encourages them to want to break the law and harm other people however due to the moral rules of society they cannot, so the book is about the path they take over the years to accept who they are and plan their future together.
The ending surprises you and I definitely loved it, for the moment there is no continuation but let’s hope that in some future the author decides to continue her twisted love story. If you like the dark genre, I highly recommend it, although for my taste there was not as much blood as I expected but it is still a good read that will keep you entertained.
: The Bad Ones by @stylofantome.
: Ten Stars, if only I can.
“ ,” . . “ . ‘ , . . , . … . . .”
: Sick. Gross. Twisted. Delicious. Dangerous. Wicked. Bloody. Tortuous. Enigmatic. Whirlwinding mix of emotional mess. These are few adjectives I thought to describe this book with. Still not enough. I have never been so engrossed in a bad book like this. Oh my gawd! Dulcie and Constantine. Two maniacally abnormal people living in a town, trying to embrace their own wicked ways of living the life on their terms.
Their chemistry and intimacy was staight out palpable and excruciatingly delicious. Like an inferno, they burned each other. With rage so potent, they devoured each other. They were simply perfect for each other, punishing those that they hate in their own poisonous ways and eerily haunting manner. If it makes me sick and obnoxious just because I loved this book, then hell, I am one! How can you not? It’s a masterpiece.
Written from Third Point of view, it took me some time to adjust to such form of reading but I soon found myself delving deeper. I eventually finished it in one go!! Never been prouder before. I’d love to thank @bluvsbooks for introducing me to this dark romance. I recommend it to every dark lovers.
Story: 4.5
Characters: 5
Twists: 4.5
Overall Rating: 5 Deliciously Dark Stars.
“Both of us. We’re the bad ones. Together.”
Two dark souls connected with an invisible, twisted string, it’s inevitable, it’s toxic, it’s all the wrong we crave. Dark Romance readers will definitely love this one.
The story is told from 3rd person POV. I’m not big on 3rd, but if the story is engaging and the characters are twisted, I look past it. Stylo did a fantastic job at painting the picture of two deeply disturbed individuals. I couldn’t see past the amazing of this story. I think the story being told from 3rd added more mystery, I was part of Dulce and Con’s game, but I didn’t know the rules. It was like waiting for the Jack to pop out of the box. So, just read it even of you don’t care for 3rd, I promise it’s going to blow your mind regardless. We take a ride with these two, as they find themselves and all the darkness they desire. Lust and blood.
“So what’ll it be? Exist on a higher plane from mere mortals and be crazy? Or retain some sanity and live amongst the flat people of the word?”
The characters were everything I want in my dark books. Deeply flawed, yet loveable. My kinda of loveable. There was never a question of wrong or right, it was if they could survive each other. And I loved their dynamic. Sexy dark with splashes of uncertainty. Would these two end up together or kill each other? Dulce and Con are going on my favorite characters list. I loved, loved, loved them.
“We’re going to kill each other, aren’t we?” she whispered. “Baby …” he sighed, his eyes fluttering shut as he moved to rest his forehead against her. “What a beautiful thing to say.”
The twists were like a lion stalking it’s prey. What are these two going to do? What is the evil plan, I was biting my nails trying to figure out their motives. Since you’re not in their head, you don’t get the answers until it happens, I loved not knowing who was playing who. Were they on the same side or what. Do they have a chance in HELL of living in their darkness and loving each other in a twisted way? I was cheerleading, doing the running man and all that. Come on, I love these two, let them live twisted ever after.
“Some day, you’ll really love me, and if it’s even half as much as I love you, we’ll set the world on fire.”
A fantastically written, dark romance. I highly recommend!
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Rumors in a Small Town: The Bad Ones
Why did I wait so long to read this twisted story? It has everything. I mean EVERYTHING. The characters, Dulcie and Con, were dark and utterly twisted. They didn’t give two f*cks on what people thought. It was just them against the world. Man… I miss them already. I want more. They had the type of love that you have to bleed for. Maybe even die for.
My friend urged me to read The Bad Ones for a year! I wish I had read it sooner! I don’t often root for the bad guys, but I couldn’t help it!
Oh , it’s a Fairytale alright.
Dark, blood curdling , psychotic , conniving fairytale of a Black hearted Prince who gets Rescued by a Black Widow spider. They’re PERFECT for each other.. Her thirst for blood encouraged by him and his craziness understood by her.
“They were connected. For better or for worse, now. By more than some unmarked grave in a ditch. By destiny, or fate. By some evil power. There would be no getting away from each other.”
If there were any Angels of Death in existence, they guided Dulcie Travers and Constantine Masters.
Thank God they found each other or imagine them destroying other lives .
“They were simply too dangerous together. They had no self-control when they were together, they indulged each other. ”
This story is most unique in its conception and progression. There is NO conflict of personalities, Dulcie’s black heart fits perfectly in Con’s empty cavity.
I really don’t know what else to say, except it’s pucked up , but an orgasmic Puck of a story !
The fun times really start rolling when sociopaths collide
The Bad Ones was my first foray into the mind of Stylo Fantome and I f(u)cking loved every second of it. I adored Dulcie and Constantine! (Not too sure what that says about me, but it is what it is). I loved how in the beginning they were able to recognize that they both had practically the same darkness simmering below the surface but neither were fully ready to let the beasts out to play but when they finally do, as Dulcie would say, ‘ripped away the curtain’ it was truly a no holds barred experience. The pull between them was undeniable especially since the special brand of crazy they had inside them could only be understood and appreciated by the other. Their journey to being together was definitely a roller coaster of a ride as they worked on their ‘trust’ issues and even struggled with who had, or didn’t have, control of their situation. One of the things I enjoyed the most was that even when I thought I knew what was coming, I was rarely ever able to guess at just how things would play out and had quite a few WTF moments throughout the book which only made it that much more fun to read!
Wow. I’m speechless. This story is dark, bloody, and filled with psychotic good times. Seriously. If you do not like reading about psychotic people doing super bad things, please don’t read this. Stylo weaves a dark tale about the shy Dulcie and the beautiful all American jock Constantine, however, neither are what they seem. The author has an intriguing writing style that never fails to draw me in allowing me to get lost in the story. The Bad Ones does just that and more. I read this in one day, I could NOT put it down. Fantastic, bloody good read. I hope to see more of Constantine and Dulcie.