Epilogue by CJ RobertsSeries: The Dark Duet #3
Published by: Self Published on June 11, 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Erotica
Pages: 217
Source: Purchased
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Rating: ★★★★½
I'm writing this because you begged. You know how I love the begging. In fact, you probably know too many things and know them far too well.
Who am I?
Well, that’s what I'm trying to figure out. I was a whore in my youth, a killer since my adolescence, and a monster as a man. I am the man who kidnapped Livvie. I am the man who held her in a dark room for weeks. But, most importantly, I am the man she loves.
She loves me. It's quite sick, isn't it?
Of course, there's more to our story than can be surmised in a few short sentences, but I'm at a loss for justifying my behavior back then. I assume if you’re reading this, I don’t need to make those justifications. You've already made your own.
You're reading this because you want to know about the rest of the story. You want to know what happened that warm summer night in September of 2010, the night I met Livvie at The Paseo. It was the night my life changed all over again.
It didn't happen exactly as Livvie said. She’s been very kind to me in the retelling of our story. The truth is far more...complicated.
I wanted Epilogue to be amazing. It was the book I turned to in my hour of darkness, when my “bad book” tally was up to 3 books in a row. I needed something great—a “guaranteed to be amazing” book. I chose Epilogue (no pressure). On the one hand, I was psyched. I loved Captive in the Dark and Seduced in the Dark so it seemed like Epilogue would be a slam dunk. But at the same time, I was afraid I was going to overhype it. Maybe I’d build it up to be so great, that when I read it, it would only be “okay”…
I’m very pleased to say that was not the case!
Epilogue rocked… hard. We get a whole book dedicated to Caleb and his fucked-up-ness, and his sexiness. This book certainly don’t glorify Caleb. It shows us some of his darkest moments and confirms that he is a bit of a monster; but there’s also something more there. He’s not only a monster. He has feelings, emotions, and love. Caleb is the embodiment of “complex”. This Dark Duet series has the best saying ever: some stories aren’t black and white. This could not be more true for Epilogue and the rest of the Dark Duet books. It rings so true on every page.
“I’m in the process of becoming something else, Livvie. I hope it’s something good, something far removed from the monster you knew.”
In Epilogue, Caleb shows us how he struggles to accept himself as someone capable of love, and he struggles to accept that Livvie actually wants to be with him—a monster. Caleb also shows us how Livvie tries to come to terms with the fact that she loves Caleb. She can’t help but wonder: is there something wrong with her for loving him? He kidnapped her, he raped her, he abused her… but she loves him. That is wrong and fucked up on every level, and Livvie has to deal with that.
“You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Caleb. You’re also the worst. I’m trying to reconcile those two things. Help me?”
Livvie
Epilogue is bursting with raw energy, complexity, and dripping hot sex. I’m honestly not into BDSM myself, but The Dark Duet continues to have some of the hottest sex scenes I’ve ever read. It actually felt even more amplified in Epilogue, but maybe that’s because we were constantly in Caleb’s head and, let’s face it, he has a dirty mind. 😉
“We’re pretty far from perfect, Kitten. I’m the most fucked up person you know.”
I didn’t just love Epilogue because of the sex though (I swear!). This book—this whole series—has so much depth to it. It’s seriously one huge mind fuck, but that’s why it’s so amazing! You can’t help but think about it over and over. It gets under your skin, it makes you cringe, but it also makes you kind of hot..
I really like how Livvie completely held her own in Epilogue. In huge contrast to Captive in the Dark, Livvie had several moments where she was in control. She was sexually confident, but also just confident in herself. She had friends, hobbies, interests, and overall she had a very strong life. I was.. kind of proud of her! It’s like seeing someone grow into their skin. And even though she is pretty fucked up, I was just so proud of the woman she had become and how she really took charge in her relationship with Caleb.
“I want you. I want you bad enough to try and be someone better.”
Caleb and Livvie have to work together to heal through the past, and they do so beautifully. There are no rainbows and fairy tales in this book; there is pain, humiliation, and hurt. But Caleb and Livvie have to work through that to get to some slightly-off shade of normal. It’s not an easy journey and they have to confront their fears and their pasts. Caleb was hoping they could just push the past away and start new, but they can’t. They can’t ignore the past, they have to face it head on and deal with it, then move forward.
“No, Kitten. I’m not okay,” I whispered. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take for me to be okay. I just know that as long as you’re with me, there’s a chance that one day… I might be.”
CJ Roberts rocked it fucking hard with this book, as I knew she would. Part of me is devastated that the series is over. The Dark Duet has been one of my absolute favourites for so long, and I know I’m going to miss Caleb and Livvie and their fucked up world. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what Roberts has in store for us next (no pressure!).
I probably should have put a warning on today’s (err…yesterday’s) review post. Whoopsies. I may have to read this one now.
It’s an amazing series!
I still can’t believe I didn’t know about this book until a couple days ago. I loved book two (still haven’t posted my review yet) so I have to read this one. So happy it was great. I am a tiny bit confused though. Just to be clear, this book takes place after the ending of book two? I am pretty sure that’s it but wanted to double check.
I can’t wait to read your review of book 2! That’s my favourite one in the series.. amaaaazing!
And yes, this book takes place after the ending of book 2. It’s kind of like a long epilogue from Caleb’s perspective. At the end of book 2, Livvie kind of gives us a really quick and short sentence about what happens after, and this book is sort of about Livvie being “too kind” in her description of what happened after, so Caleb goes into more detail.
Yeah, I just finished this one too. At first it was very weird being in Caleb’s head. Very weird. But I enjoyed him and I’m not sure why, but my favorite part was when he told Livvie off. He tried very hard to be good.
I loved being in Caleb’s head! It was definitely different, but I think it was an interesting different. 🙂
Wonderful review Ashley. I just finished Captive yesterday and will be starting Seduce sometime today, so hopefully I’ll get to this one this weekend, But I’m already mourning their lost. I did find out that there will be a spinoff, though, so that’s very good news.
BTW, like you, I always get scared of hyping up a book in my head because of the previous books in the series. 1 of 2 very bad things could happen, it could suck majorly, or it could suck but I don’t realize it because I love the series so much.
I can’t wait to read your reviews!! I love these books sooo much and it makes me happy to see other people loving them. 😀
And it’s nice to know that I’m not alone! 😛 I was freaking out a little because I didn’t want Epilogue to disappoint me.
Alrighty, I want to read this series even more now. Your reviews make it sound so awesome and different from the other books out there.
It is SO different! I haven’t read any other book that even comes close to the Dark Duet series. It’s really dark but in such a captivating way!
Okay, so this is my favorite review of yours (so far). As you know, I completely loved books 1 & 2 too and I have this one. I am kind of scared to read it though (hype) but I will get to it. Love the quotes, LOVE the banner, love it all! I really wish everyone would give this series a try. I tell as many people as I can about it 🙂
Aww thanks!! I wish more people would read this series too. It’s INCREDIBLE! I know a lot of people are probably put off by the SUPER heavy subject matter, but my god it’s good!
Whee I remember you got this in an STS a few weeks ago, and I’m glad that it lived up to your expectations and was that book that was so much better compared to the last few ones you read! And and and and and and anddddd I haven’t read anything in this series because my mom’s reaction to a cover like this would be, “WHAT IS MY DAUGHTER READING AND WHERE DID SHE GET THIS IDEA?” But I’m really happy the books have so much depth, and I don’t really know what exactly to think of Caleb’s dirty mind but it sounds like a fun place to be ;D
Fantastic review, Ashley!
You know I also loved these books so much, but I still haven’t read Epilogue! Now… I know I must do this and I think I will do the same because I feel like a bad reading slump is coming pretty fast!
I love Caleb and Livie and yes, they are both pretty fucked up – but together? They can be something else! Ah… how I loved them!
Great Review!!!! I have read the Dark Duet (and loved it) but have yet to read Epilogue… I can’t wait!!!
Awesome review. This sounds really good.