My Favorite Deviant: Rivals to Lovers Gothic Romance Duet (The Brutes Book 5)
K.V.K.
5.0 (1 rating)
My Favorite Deviant: Rivals to Lovers Gothic Romance Duet (The Brutes Book 5)
Pages: 279
Reader Reviews
5.0
1 rating
Kay S.
Feb 18, 2026
Firstly, this is a dark romance so read the trigger/content warnings first.
So, I fucking love The Brutes series and everything about the characters we have already met. I truly adore how K.V.K's books interconnect and how there is always so many small stories going on in the background of the main plotline.
Very fortunate to have be given an ARC of this one by K.V.K and I cannot wait to read everything this woman puts on pages.
I love how Tamx and Jessie start off their 'relationship', 4 years of arguing and 'hating' each other. She thinks it's because he thinks she isn't worth it but damn is she wrong. Tamx has never really stopped wanting Jessie, despite Marlo's warning of death if he touches her. Their whole dynamic is brilliant in creating the suspense of will they, wont they? and building their story together. I love the Kiss or Kill trope, never really knowing if they are going to just give in to pleasure or actually murder each other.
But by god, when they finally say Fuck It!, they devour each other, mind, body and soul and you see the truly beautiful connection they have despite the odds, despite the warnings and the doubt of others.
The way trauma bonding forms the most wonderful friendships and relationships in these stories actually gives out so much positivity to those of us who read to heal from our own demons, that things will change and can be better, we just have to be able to be open to it and maybe look at it in less conventional ways.
The spice is spicy but doesn't detract from the plot and I love that (don't get me wrong, I still read books that all spice and minimal plot, but I do appreciate good balance where necessary). I enjoy the brutal tenderness needed between Tamx and Jessie to knock down some walls and rebuild trust enough to realise that maybe there is more to this than you think.
Loved every minute of it, couldn't put it down, would give it more than 5 stars if I could to be honest.
Bring on more from The Brutes!
So, I fucking love The Brutes series and everything about the characters we have already met. I truly adore how K.V.K's books interconnect and how there is always so many small stories going on in the background of the main plotline.
Very fortunate to have be given an ARC of this one by K.V.K and I cannot wait to read everything this woman puts on pages.
I love how Tamx and Jessie start off their 'relationship', 4 years of arguing and 'hating' each other. She thinks it's because he thinks she isn't worth it but damn is she wrong. Tamx has never really stopped wanting Jessie, despite Marlo's warning of death if he touches her. Their whole dynamic is brilliant in creating the suspense of will they, wont they? and building their story together. I love the Kiss or Kill trope, never really knowing if they are going to just give in to pleasure or actually murder each other.
But by god, when they finally say Fuck It!, they devour each other, mind, body and soul and you see the truly beautiful connection they have despite the odds, despite the warnings and the doubt of others.
The way trauma bonding forms the most wonderful friendships and relationships in these stories actually gives out so much positivity to those of us who read to heal from our own demons, that things will change and can be better, we just have to be able to be open to it and maybe look at it in less conventional ways.
The spice is spicy but doesn't detract from the plot and I love that (don't get me wrong, I still read books that all spice and minimal plot, but I do appreciate good balance where necessary). I enjoy the brutal tenderness needed between Tamx and Jessie to knock down some walls and rebuild trust enough to realise that maybe there is more to this than you think.
Loved every minute of it, couldn't put it down, would give it more than 5 stars if I could to be honest.
Bring on more from The Brutes!