When I started reading this book, I could have sworn I had read it before, although I knew I had not. The first several pages, however, reflected an exact scene I had read in apparently another story....strange. I also wondered what possessed me (pun intended) to agree to read this book because I could tell it was going to be so dark as to be black in its theme. Not normally my thing.
But with all that in mind, the story was well constructed, had a good plot and an ultimate HEA. The road to get there, however, was filled with deeply damaged and flawed characters, especially the main male protagonist, Kendrick. After suffering the ultimate physical and emotional trauma at the hands of his overseer, he is given the opportunity to take his revenge by a demon who witnessed the traumatic act, making him into a human incubus and virtually indestructible. With the assistance of a supporting cast of Lil demons, he spends the next 10 years "harvesting energy" from both innocent and criminal humans in the most vile and disgusting sexual ways in order to "feed" his little group.
Ultimately, a bond develops between Kendrick and his rapist, and to protect him from having to endure even more pain at the hands of the master demon to whom Kendrick had agreed to give him as a present at the conclusion of his 10-year contract, Kendrick gave him the gift of suicide as a preferable out. You could say that gift was given in love, as incongruous as it might seem.
This story has so many triggers that if you don't have a strong stomach and an even stronger determination to keep an open mind, you should pass this book by. For me, it was too much, and it will be the first and last book I read by this author.
Although the story was well written, I do have to take issue with the author's frequent misuse of language and slang. It did not always express itself in the time period in which the story was set.
When I first saw all the 5-star ratings for the book, I thought "Are these people nuts? Or a bunch of perverts?" but upon reading their thoughts about the story, the series and the author, I could understand and respect their views. We all don't march to the same drummer.
(reviewed 46 days after purchase)