Summary:
In the seemingly tranquil American town of Ewing, Iris finds herself cloistered in the library, immersed in her revisions. Miles away, a mercenary braves the icy cold of the night, as cold as the corpse he’s just buried. Despite their apparent disparity, these two individuals share a common goal: to accumulate enough money. Iris, to finance her university tuition, and the mercenary, to carry out his mission, for which she is the target.
From now on, Iris’s destiny is intimately linked to that of this man, a connection that arouses curiosity and desire in him. Torn from the life she’s always known, the young student finds herself at the mercy of the mercenary whose impulsive nature has forged his reputation, one who’s been shaped to kill. His name is Lakestone.
My opinion:
As a fan of Captive, I had high expectations of this novel, knowing that Kai Lakestone had been introduced to it.
Despite this, it’s important to point out that this book isn’t suitable for everyone. Indeed, Dark romance does mean that there is a climate of violence, drugs, abuse, etc. … This book should be in the hands of a well-informed audience old enough to read such things.
It’s rare for me to come across books where I’m so engrossed in the story that I spend the whole night reading. Such is the case with Lakestone.
Throughout the story, I was captivated. Sarah RIvens succeeded in drawing me into her world.
I found the beginning rather sad. The fact that we discover that Iris’s father isn’t there for her, that her mother doesn’t care about her and that she’s facing financial problems immediately sets us off. But Iris is a strong character who doesn’t give up, which is why she gets a job as a waitress in a bar.
Kai, on the other hand, is very dark and full of trauma. He’s the stereotypical mafia guy, violent and terrorizing wherever he goes. Despite this, I didn’t hate him from the start. I knew there was something behind this monster. Something deeper.
Although Iris is a fragile woman, what I really liked was the fact that even in front of a mobster like Lakestone, she says everything she thinks and puts Kai in his place when necessary. And I have to admit, sometimes it’s really funny!
The way Sarah Rivens uses didascalia to express Iris’s feelings as if she were talking to herself is also very funny! It’s as if she had an angel and a demon on each shoulder, trying to guide her.
For me, Sarah Rivens’ writing is a real marvel. We feel the sadness (to the point of tears), the anguish, it’s truly fabulous. You’re immersed in the story and can’t tear yourself away. And although the love story between Iris and Kai is unconventional, it’s still very touching and powerful.
On the other hand… I can’t wait for Volume 2, because I can’t let it end there! We can’t be left like this, it’s monstrous!
In summary:
Lakestone is a dar romance worthy of the name, with madness, violence, traffics, complex characters and an enemies-to-lovers love story as we love them! I absolutely adored this story and this book is clearly one of my favorites!
If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend it without hesitation.
NOTE: 10/10
“Kai wanted to be recognized, to be treated gently. I wanted someone who could satisfy my insatiable need for affection. We both shared fragments of our souls, hoping to get attention in return.”