Adagio

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating, Suspenseful and Angst Driven!

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2019

Verified Purchase

Sweating Lies is a phenomenal masterpiece by Emma Jaye. It’s well researched and with an astounding plot that showcases why Emma Jaye retains the Queen of Angst title. It was emotionally captivating and kept me on the edge of my seat!

The character development is flawless. The author really understands the complexity of people and it shines in her writing. The development is so strong it was impossible not to feel for these characters, whether love, hate or any mix of emotions. The world building was very intricate and added a vividness that kept the story moving along.

I didn’t want this book to end but at the same time I needed to know what would happen. My heart was racing through a good majority of this book and the pacing was on point. I think this may be my new favorite of Emma Jaye’s and I desperately need more!

5 stars for a captivating, suspenseful and angst driven read!

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Nero Seal

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 mindfucking stars!

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2019

Verified Purchase

From the very first pages the book warns, this is gonna be a dark read. But with every page it only gets darker.
The world of the undercover cop, Jiao, flips upside down when he is betrayed and submerged into something he never dreamed was real. Orta - the society where people are branded, trained, and sold like animals. Sex slaves, gladiators, murderers; brainwashed people who would do anything on a command. Watching them, Jiao realizes, this would be his future, unless he escapes.
Kaspar—a diamond in the dark—broken, yet utterly attractive. His deep personality and unpredictable behavior fascinates Jiao and gives him a hope. Not only for escape, but for something bigger, but the more he watches, the more he realizes, things aren’t always what they look like.
This book isn’t for people with weak hearts or people who get easily offended or shocked. Deep psychology issues, insecurities, moral questions, and the blurred line in between of wrong and right is what made it a 5 star read for me.
I can’t wait to read the second book.

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love2readromance

5.0 out of 5 stars A Dark Intrigue!! A Must Read!!

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2019

If you like dark intrigue stories and you're not afraid of blood and violence, you will love this book! This book is one of the Criminal Delights books with the theme: Taken. The person Taken is Jiao Sweatt, an undercover cop who ends up kidnapped by a nasty bunch of criminals with a secret society. The leader is super nasty and ruthless in violence and abuse. Those captured are forced to either be trained to be a Pleasure Slave or a fighter. Jiao was undercover as a MMA fighter, so he escapes the fate of a Pleasure Slave. While being held captive on the ship, Jiao meets Kaspar who is the personal servant to the big bad guy. This book kept me interested the entire time. There was a little confusion at first, but that added to the effect of a big surprise later in the book!! Some really great secrets are revealed throughout the course of the book. The author did a great job of keeping me on the edge of my seat, so to speak. The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!! A great read!!

 

Mons

5.0 out of 5 stars Intense

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2019

A very dark book! Dark themes and acts. Unfortunately somewhere out in the big wide world, someone is doing exactly what is in this book.

Jiao is an undercover cop in the Russian mob.
He is sold out and wakes to discover he is either a fighter or sex slave. His choice. It's all about programming and training, for complete obedience.

Kasper is the Master's pet. He seems to be a happy go lucky sexual pet. Underneath all of this is manipulation, death, greed, jealousy and the need to succeed for the greater good of a cult for lack of a better word.
Nothing is as it seems, nothing is simple. At the centre of it is Kasper, who has severe mental health issues. Years of abuse and violence have splintered him into more than one. The one that keeps him happiest is Kasper, his acts keep his mind the quietest.
Jiao is the puppet used to keep Kasper in hand when the master *Vladimer* is too busy. Too busy scheming, too busy inviting violence and discord.
Kasper has become disposable to Vladimir and Jiao is the puppet he is using to make it possible
Will he succeed? Will Kasper go along with it or has he finally had enough? Can Jiao keep him safe and alive?
These questions I'm sure will be answered in the next book.

 

Ana

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2019

It was brilliant. I t’s even hard to find words to say how much I liked this book. The fact that is a new to me author is even more enthralling. I start the book not being sure what to expect and I end up falling in love with such an amazing story and even more so characters.

The plot is really interesting. I loved how we start knowing bit by bit about the whole situation Jiao has fallen into. To understand how everything work and who everyone is, was a fascinating experience. It is a dark read. I recommend to take seriously the warning, this is not a typical romance and is definitely not for the fainthearted. It might not be darkest book I’ve read, but it does contain some subject that might not be suitable for some readers, among them, but not limited to, non-con, self-harm and torture.

What I liked the most about the book was a mesmerizing character, Kaspar. He was a joy to read. I fell in love with his internal struggle. He was unlike anything I’ve ever read and it was captivating. I couldn’t get enough of him, either for his point of view or how the other characters see him. It was beautiful. There were other characters that I liked, but it was him who made the book work for me. Jiao was nice, but maybe he was too nice for me. It was a little troublesome and it didn’t allow me to like him that much. It might be only my issue, because I think most readers are going to like him.

Overall it was a fantastic book. I loved it and I just can’t wait for the next in the series to be out. Definitely recommend it if the reader is ok with the warnings.

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dreamerinexile

5.0 out of 5 stars Conditioned to love 10 billion stars

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2019

Emma Jaye is the ultimate Queen of Angst! Oh, how she loves to mess with the emotions of her readers! Sweating Lies left me cursing the author hard!!!! I had to refrain myself from throwing my kindle after the fight scene with Bennett and Marcus!

Sweating Lies is not just a regular dark read, I am warning you all, it is D. A. R. K. AF! We find our protagonist, Jiao Sweatt in the belly of the beast, trying to survive the evils that resides in our world. However, things aren’t what it seem. While infiltrating the dark side, he finds himself in a hard place. Alas, a hero will always attempt to be a hero, therein lies the problem. You see this world does not require a hero, it needs a villain and Jiao is betrayed.

Dropped in the middle of a ‘new world’ where men were trained to think in a certain way. Where death is a norm, wearing a brand and being castrated may be the way to serve a purpose. The Orta is where Jiao finds himself. While plotting his escape, he encounters a soul that will forever leave him changed.

Kaspar! Oh Kaspar! How I love thee! His emotions and lack thereof, left me reeling. His inner monologues, had me sitting up straight. My heart broke for the young boy who had to watch and survive the heinous and brutal torture of his family. And he survived all these, the only way he could. Jiao is captured by Kaspar’s fragmented soul. He wants to save him.

Evil exists in this world because we do not have more heroes like Jiao Sweatt. Will he be able to break the chains that keeps him a captive? Be it the chains around his heart or the literal ones around him!

This book is not for everyone, you will not like what transpires in the Orta, how they think, how they operate, what they do to prepare their victims to be toys or gladiators!

If ever there was a book where the lines are distorted and blurry, this one is it. The right and wrong of it may be conditioned out of your conscience. Emma Jaye beautifully portrays the struggles of our hero and the battle that waged inside the victim.