Kotik by Alina Dobrova
I read {Kotik by Alina Dobrova}. And I loved it, even though I wish it was longer.
This was set somewhere in the post soviet Russia, and I never read a book that felt like home to me such as this, despite it being a dark romance. I’m eastern european and despite lots of MMCs having russian or slavic background, few people show how things actually work in such places. I think the author being russian really nailed it, from the food, the jobs… it felt like I was reading a snippet of my life lol.
Now about the romance, this is a SLOW BURN. A well written book where it takes a very long time for the characters to be intimate despite them being together for what I would say almost the beginning. The reasons why, will be explained throughout the book.
The darker aspect is the MMC, Vitali, who I would say it’s more lukewarm/grayish dark, rather than pitch black or other sorts.
Overall, chemistry? On point. Writing? On point. Smut well done and not on every page? On point. Keeps you on your toes? Also check. I finished it in two days lol.
What I didn’t like? I feel like author rushed the ending, made the FMC a little bit too accepting towards things you’d initially think she’d take a stand on, and his character was so complex I feel like his background could’ve been more expanded on. But it’s definitely unique in terms of dark romance. I felt a similar vibe reading {Midnight Hunter by Brianna Hale} which I think is the german version of this.
10/10 recommend.