Vicious Secret cover art

Vicious Secret

The Obsidian Order, Book 1

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About this listen

Mors solum initium.

Death is only the beginning.

The Recruit

The Obsidian Order only cares about three things: secrecy, loyalty, and power.

Every man born to the founding families is bred for this purpose, to serve the society and its objectives.

As a result, we are the elite.

Untouchable.

Unbreakable.

If we make it through the Trials.

I will, as long as my obsession doesn't get the best of me.

This girl…

If the Order doesn't kill me, she'll be the death of me.

Because I won't give her up.

She's mine.

The Bride

All I want is my freedom and some coffee.

And to find my foster brother.

Every clue that leads me closer to Ben only frightens me more.

Something dark and dangerous rules this campus.

Similar to the stranger I keep running into.

The one I can't stop thinking about.

Xavier tells me to stay away from him,

But then I'm snared in a game of shadows and savagery.

Now the only way to survive lies in the arms of a man I once tried to kill.

The same one who's made me his property.

His bride.

Vicious Secret is book one in The Obsidian Order Duet which ends on a cliffhanger. It contains a stabby FMC and a morally gray hero that's OTT/JP, a stalker who falls first, has Touch Her & Die energy, and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her.

Contains mature content. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website. Narrated in duet style.

©2024 Building Bridges Publishing (P)2024 Podium Audio
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
All stars
Most relevant
I enjoyed all the twist and turns and love the narrators. the combo of back story and present.

gripping book

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This book started off really strong for me. The prose was smooth and easy to read; engaging without being overly flowery, and the initial premise hooked me right away. The mystery surrounding the campus, the secret society, and the search for Ben all worked well, and for a while I was genuinely invested in where the story was headed.

That said, once the darker romance elements took center stage, the book moved in a direction that just wasn't for me. I struggled to connect with X and most of the male characters, and even Ben felt underwhelming. Delilah initially stood out as a strong, independent FMC who knew her own mind, which I really appreciated, but as the story progressed, she seemed to lose that strength. Her dynamic with the MMC didn’t work for me, particularly the dominance elements and moments that felt uncomfortable or insufficiently consensual. The neck-holding scenes, in particular, didn't appeal to me at all.

Still, I want to be fair; the writing quality remained solid throughout, the pacing was good, and the story delivered exactly what it promised for readers who enjoy dark romance. I know there are many readers who love broody, morally gray, possessive heroes with “touch her and die” energy, and if that's your thing, this book will likely be right up your alley.

While I won't be continuing the series, I can't knock the book simply because it didn't align with my personal tastes. The foundation, atmosphere, and execution were well done overall, which is why it earns four stars from me.

If you enjoy dark romance with high stakes, dominant heroes, and morally gray themes, this could be a great read for you.

Great for lovers of morally grey men

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