The Villain by Victoria Vale
My Review:
For the last 5 years Lady Daphne Fairchild has witnessed her family’s descent into complete ruin.
In a desperate attempt to understand the reasons behind her family’s situation, she leaves London alone and travels to Scotland, were the man responsible for it resides.
Lord Adam Callahan, Earl of Hartmoor, has no scruples on how he gets what he wants.
When Lady Daphne enters his domain, he’s presented with the opportunity to make his revenge against her family complete.
His scandalous proposition doesn’t leave room for misunderstandings…
“I do not care for your maidenly sensibilities. I know you are a virgin like most unwed chits, and I do not care. I will take your maidenhead with relish, with no concern to what state you go to your future husband in. I will debase you and own you for every single one of the thirty days and nights I require. You will submit to my will and obey, or there will be consequences. If you are strong enough to endure, in the end, you shall have your reward—the truth you seek, plus the grand sum of thirty thousand pounds.”
…but she’s determined to see it through.
Revenge plot narrated from the heroine’s point of view except for the last chapter that ends in a cliffhanger.
The book opens up with Daphne ready to bravely face the villain that is responsible for her family’s misfortune and almost immediately does a 180° transformation into a submissive woman that surrenders completely to Adam’s will.
I wished her character had remained fierce and feisty!
She’s a submissive, craves the pain he inflicts and, after he reveals the truth about her family, she understands why he hates her family and why he wants to punish them through her.
Also, some plot points do not really make sense for example… a pampered Lady traveling ALONE and ON HORSEBACK FROM LONDON TO SCOTLAND?!?!
Well, this is not a story one reads mainly for the plot and, aside for the things I mentioned, I actually ended up enjoying it.
He’s straightforward from the very beginning about the bargain he’s ready to offer her and she accepts it.
Perhaps I am not making myself clear enough,” he whispered, his voice low and ominous as he pressed his mouth against her ear. “This is my domain. I am the master of everything and everyone inside it, and for the next thirty days and nights, that includes you.
He gives her the option to leave…
“You come here—in the middle of the night, no less—and demand answers of me. Answers to questions which you are not ready for, may never be fully prepared to hear. I warn you again to turn around and walk back through that door. Leave this place, now, and take the last shred of your dignity with you.
… but she’s determined to stay:
“I would have the answers to my questions, and damn your notions of what I can or cannot handle!”
She ends up enjoying being at his mercy and I’m very curious about part 2, I hope it will not disappoint me 😏
⭐ 3 Stars ⭐
* The Villain is book 1 in The Villain series by Victoria Vale. Ends in a CLIFFHANGER (It’s a Duology).
I also reviewed book 2 “The Dove”.
~ My Ratings ~
Plot: 2.5 /5
Hero: 3 /5
Heroine: 3 /5
Secondary Characters: 3 /5 I hated Niall (hero’s bff and butler) but I’m interested in his backstory that’ll be probably explored in his own book “The Butterfly”
MC’s chemistry: 3.5 /5
Steam: 5 /5
Triggers: Frequent and explicit sex scenes, always rough and often demeaning (at first because hero hates heroine and, through her, he wants vengeance against her family then just because they both enjoy it that way), erotic asphyxiation, spanking, restraints, crude language, a secondary character deals with trauma from sexual abuse.
Recommended to: Historical Romance Readers looking for Erotica with a revenge plot and Dom / Sub scenes.
The Villain: A Dark Regency Erotic Romance (The Villain Duology Book 1)
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