Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Dark Protégés #4

Micaden's Madness

Rate this book
If madness has a name...it's hers.

She is an artist seeking solace.
He is a serial killer seeking vengeance.

She doesn't remember.
He remembers it all.

She is broken.
He is obsessed.

She wants truth.
He wants revenge.

One of them is guilty.
One of them is innocent.

Both of them want to win.
And for that one of them has to die.


Warning: Dark Romance

275 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 2019

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

V.F. Mason

33 books2,055 followers
Visit me on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2e1wFpE
Reader group: http://bit.ly/2iXZd0l
Website: vfmason.com
Instagram: authorvfmason
Twitter: @Author_VFMason

V.F.Mason always loved reading books and had quite a few fights with her mama over the genre she liked (romance, duh!) She studied filmmaking and thought that would feed her desire for stories, but that didn't happen.
Finally, when she was tired of all those voices in her head, she sat down and wrote a book. It was a huge decision to make and she thanks her friends and family for supporting her in it.
When she is not writing, she can be found with her friends doing all sorts of crazy things or reading recent romance books that were written by her favorite authors.



Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
317 (48%)
4 stars
211 (32%)
3 stars
93 (14%)
2 stars
23 (3%)
1 star
9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
Profile Image for Bex (Beckie Bookworm).
2,154 reviews1,434 followers
January 17, 2019
Micaden_Teaser1-1024x536
4.5 Stars

I adore this series so much and couldn't wait to get started on this one.
As usual, this cleverly amps up the tension from page one leaving me with an atmosphere of mystique and an almost latent sense of menace.
This plays out almost like a puzzle unfolding where we are taken on a journey through flashbacks and also real time.
I was agog with fascination and couldn't put this down: aboard that train till the bitter end: despite the ominous feeling of dread I had deep down in my stomach I couldn't disembark from this I was just so invested and immersed within the powerful narrative.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave and this particular author does this so well.
When we eventually arrive at the inevitable conclusion I was so heartbroken and destroyed at the unnecessary pain and tormented these two individuals had been subjected to along the way: so tragic.
We are also reintroduced to past characters so that was nice but this totally can be read as a standalone no issues at all.
This would have been a full sweep but I was slightly confused about the Olivia/Eve/Don/Tom and why the names had been changed: it bugged me slightly as there was no explanation to clarify why this was.
Despite that one bug-bear, I adored the rest of this so much.
I really can't recommend this series enough: Each book is a fantastic rollercoaster of a journey that I devour in one entire sitting: says it all really.
I voluntary reviewed an Arc of Micaden's Madness.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

download (1).jpg

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
Profile Image for The Sassy Bookworm.
3,596 reviews2,765 followers
January 3, 2019
description

description 

description 
description What an excellent way to start off the 2019 reading year. I loved everything about this book (not a huge surprise as I really enjoyed the other two books I have read by this author as well). The writing was fantastic. It was told in a dual POV format with a lot of back-and-forth time jumps (something I usually hate but worked very well in this instance). The plot was completely enthralling and held my interest throughout. I didn't feel like this story was as dark as the previous two I have read in this "series", but I will give a heads up about a trigger that I wish I had known about before starting... Last it was all wrapped up in a very satisfying ending.


description 

Both the main characters were very likable, and when all the truths come to light my heart broke for all the pain and wasted years. The hero wasn't a manwhore. The heroine was a virgin (and 17 when these two first meet). There is no OW drama. There is OM drama in the form of a "baddie." The sex scenes were suitably hot. It also had a great cast of secondary characters. A mixture of old (from previous books) and new faces. I SOOOO want Arson's book ASAP (I will beg)! (lol) I had one TEENSY issue and I am not sure if it is because I have an ARC copy (hence it still needed to be edited) or what, but the Olivia/Donavon/Tom/Eve situation confused me. I thought

All in all, this was a fantastic read, and I can't wait to get my hands on Jaxon's book (even if I wish it were Arson's first (lol). description


description
description  

descriptiondescriptiondescriptiondescriptiondescriptiondescription

January 8, 2019
I went into the book complete blind as the blurb doesn’t give much. I just knew that this is a dark read, that’s all.

Emerald doesn’t remember her past since the accident. She keeps getting flashbacks. She writes them down. She decides to go to an island to write a story about her flashbacks. She meets a stranger when she arrives there. He saves her from accidentally drowning. His name is Micaden. She keeps bumping into him. He is nothing but rude to her.

I was very intrigued with the mystery element of the book. I wanted to know why Micaden was being rude to her. After coming to the island why did some residents chose to show her nonchalance even after recognising her ?

And Micaden was a mystery and also a jerk. In small glimpses of chapters in his POV, we see that he hates her for what she did to him. But what? She destroyed his life. But how?

“I want to own her, want her to fixate on me so she can’t breathe without me. So in love it consumes her.
And then I’ll crush her in the vilest of ways, so she’ll experience pain that will shatter her soul.”


I didn’t like the way Micaden behaved with Emerald. She was too much of a doormat. Other than giving her orgasm, his behavior was not sweet with her (obviously he hates her). But she has no problems with that. Betraying Body alert ?





Though I understand Micaden’s fury, I hated him. These plots are very repetitive these days where the H wants revenge on the h and then he hurts her. And the poor (or pathetic ) h has to face so much just because H thinks she did something wrong when in actual she hasn’t and that somebody created misunderstandings between them.

This was a very dark read, with some very bad villains. Very bad things happens with the main leads.
Profile Image for BleuBelle.
634 reviews185 followers
January 10, 2019
The story itself was good. I read it in one go, wanting and needing to know what happened.

Sadly I couldn't see the love between the Hero and the Heroine. I felt the Hate he had for her, his need for revenge. But other than that, nothing. The flashbacks didn't help. They fell in love in the past and the reader only experiences through a "story" told by the Heroine. It lacked feeling.

The ending was a bit unsatisfying. They don't talk about what happened to them, about their feelings and what comes next. Theres an action scene and then cut to the epilogue.


Profile Image for Saira Moodley (BookedMercy).
28 reviews41 followers
January 7, 2019
Arc provided in exchange for an honest review

4.5 stars!!!!

"Everyone has to pay for what they've done to me. Especially her."

Ahh I could not put this book down! I just had to know their story. And it was beautifully tragic...

Emerald and Micaden met when she went to stay with her grandma during her summer vacation. She came from a rich well connected family and he was an orphan. They developed an instant connection which went wrong fast and thus their tragic love affair began... That is all I can say as Micaden's Madness is best experienced without spoilers. Go into the book blind and trust that the author's beautifully written words will get you obsessed. Like I was.

This book does have flashbacks, which I really don't like but I didn't mind it in this book. The flashbacks fills you with suspense, makes you want to never stop reading. (There was a bit confusion with the Olivia/Eve and Donovan/Tom name situation. I think they are suppose to be the same two people.)
Their story made me mad at the people in their lives, especially her parents. So many people failed them in this world. Made their lives so much harder. Micaden's Madness reminded me a bit of The Notebook (I don't know if it's just me). Be warned .

"I always thought life was unfair.
But I was wrong.
Life is not unfair.
Life is cruel."


Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 4.5 stars
Writing/plot/creativity: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes: 4.5 stars
Ending: 4.5 stars
---------------------------
Overall: 4.5 stars
Profile Image for Nerdy Dirty & Flirty.
3,985 reviews349 followers
January 9, 2019
The way this story unfolded was really clever. It was like a intricately designed web that unravels in bits and pieces. One character hell-bent on vengeance and one so lost that nothing makes sense.

Micaden is part of a brotherhood that I have been introduced to before. Because there is nothing like a group of broken and messed up killers to keep me all over the series. Saying that you do not need to have read any of the other character's books because the author does a good job of getting you to understand who they are through each character's eyes. Micaden is fueled by what happened to him in the past and now that his mission is coming to an end there is only one way things can go.

Emerald doesn't really know who she is. She is stuck in her head so she goes to the place she hopes to find answers. She is cautious of new people, but finds herself completely at home on this island paradise. She is has this light and carefree presence but you know there is something dark under it all.

This was a "do not disturb" kind of book. With slight clues as to where the story was going and twists and turns that took even me by surprise brought this whole thing full circle. I can't say enough about how much I enjoy this author's way of story telling. Each time it is different but so enthralling, that at the end I am already ready for more. I could literally read her books everyday. I am eagerly awaiting the blue haired one's book and perhaps one day it will come? Until then I can't wait to read what comes next.
Profile Image for Mg ♥ The Bookishmedialite.
1,197 reviews318 followers
March 9, 2019
And I think this is my new fav from V.F. Mason!

Review to follow, but first Psychopath’s Prey... I don’t know why I didn’t read that one, so here I go.
Profile Image for Bookgasms Book Blog.
2,837 reviews1,427 followers
January 1, 2019
Micaden's Madness was a very complex and consuming story that I could not stop reading. I was consumed right from the get go and was so hooked on Micaden and Emerald's story. It was shocking, heartbreaking, intense, suspenseful and crazy addicting. I could not stop reading! 

Without giving away any spoilers, this story was very intricate. Tiny details were revealed slowly and it was up to the reader to put it together. It was basically a story within a story told in riveting flashbacks. It was beyond sexy, mysterious and shocking. I really enjoyed this and can't wait for more from this author in the future!  Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula 
Profile Image for Book Buddies.
693 reviews14 followers
January 1, 2019
4.5 stars
In the company of killers and completely unaware. Outstanding!

In a nutshell, Micaden's Madness is tragically beautiful, much like Shakespeare, which the author quotes at the beginning of each chapter, Brochan and Emerald's story will break even the hardest heart. I loved the intricacies of the dual storylines and how Mason manages to bring it all together epically. Moral of this story, never assume you know the whole story until you hear it from the source.

Be warned, this tale is told with flashbacks in order to supply all the background details, but I was captivated from the beginning. I loved visiting with some old friends and I will not miss another release from this author.
Profile Image for Paula D.
1,580 reviews53 followers
January 1, 2019
I love dark romance and this one hit the spot from beginning to end. Micaden is out for revenge and nothing and nobody will stop him. Emerald is missing parts of her life not knowing what’s real or fake is such a mystery to her. Will Micaden be the one to help Emerald or is she part of his revenge? This book is dark, intense and even twisted in parts. 5/5 stars
Profile Image for Amanda  B Gillespie.
512 reviews14 followers
May 14, 2019
V.F. Mason is the author that when I see her book on my kindle, it no longer matters if there are books ahead of hers in the queue or if I'm behind on others reviews or even if I'm behind on life, everything is put to a halt until I finish the new installment of whatever series she's offering. Problem is, half way through, I begin to get anxious and dread hits my stomach like a lead ball, because I know it's all about to come to an end and I'll have to wait on her to crank out her next work of art, so I try to slow down and savor all of her psycho craziness. I fail at that spectacularly and continue reading at breakneck speeds. Micaden, what can I say? To have loved and lost is better than never loving at all? Yeah, that's a load of hooey! This is yet another screwed up mess that I know I should be disgusted with but end up empathetic and half in love with the crazy killer. Tragic misunderstandings and horrible, disastrous life events make for a psychological thriller that delves into the mind of one that has loved and lost and remembers every horrific event and into the other character that has no cognizant memory of the love she lost or what actually happened to cause her suffering. That is, until they meet again and her memories begin to return. On a side note, Lachlan... sigh.
Profile Image for Hanan (Bookstagramer).
1,649 reviews16 followers
December 31, 2018
Micaden’s Madness is the third book I’ve read by this truly gifted talented author.
Dark Romance is one of my favorite genres. So I’ve read a lot of them.
Ms. Mason writes dark romance to perfection.
She blends the perfect amount of everything,suspense,mystery,depravation,darkness and sexiness.
Her writing is so descriptive it feels like I’m watching everything happening in front of me instead of me reading it.
Her characters are strong,they are resilient and they are unforgettable!
Her storylines and plots are always jaw dropping,unpredictable and utterly thrilling and intoxicating!
This book has all her hallmark traits. Plus more!
Micaden’s mind is in turmoil. Outwardly he appears fine. But inside swirls a mass of uncontainable rage.
Revenge is not only at the forefront of his mind,it’s what drives his life.
Emerald is lost in her own mind. Not knowing what are memories,what are illusions.
She doesn’t know what happened in the past and why is it clashing in the present
I’m not write anything more about the plot as to not give anything away.
All you need is the blurb then dive into the book.
I loved every single minute of reading this story.
It had my heart racing,my blood running and had me at moments fanning myself.
It’s everything that makes a dark romance not only good but truly outstanding.
Superb book!
Outstanding characters!
A storyline that’s riveting!
I highly highly recommend this book to lovers of dark romances and of course it’s a must read for fans of Ms. Masons.

January 8, 2019
If you love dark romance than look no further. V.F. Mason gives any dark romance author a run for their money. This book had it all.. love, revenge, betrayal and it will keep you hooked page after page. For me personally it took me a little bit to get into the book. The beginning moved a little slow but soon it picked up pace and I was not able to put it down until I finished it.

V.F. Mason does an amazing job of giving you the present story as well as the flashbacks of the past. Emerald is missing memories after an accident. Slowly pieces of her past are coming back to her. But in her mind she cannot decipher if its a memory or a story shes made up. Micaden was this sweet boy who is now hardened and a killer looking for vengeance.
Profile Image for Kelly_Reads_Books.
1,958 reviews147 followers
June 30, 2020
I loved Micaden/Brochan's story. And I was thoroughly surprised by the appearance of Lachlan and Arson and a few others!
My heart broke for Emerald... what she endured, what was done to her, oh my, I can't believe she survived so much pain and heartache!
V.F. Mason writes characters that you either love to love or love to hate, and sometimes a combination of both.
Profile Image for April Symes.
5,012 reviews438 followers
January 9, 2019
Micaden's Madness by V.F. Mason is the love story of Micaden and Emerald. 
Both Micaden and Emerald have sad and rough tragic pasts that so very hard to take in. Emerald is having a hard time knowing which memories are real or made up(lies) in her head due to an accident when she was younger. Whereas Emerald cant remember, Micaden remembers everything and is seeking vengeance with a capital "V". Their story isn't pretty but pretty dark romance so just know, if you aren't a fan of this type of genre, then this might not be your cup of tea. There are some trigger scenes so take that into mind when reading if you have those feelings. I was enthralled by their love story- 2nd chance at romance and I just couldn't put it down. Emerald and Micaden's chemistry is undeniable. The heat and love is something that you can feel coming off the pages even with all the angst. If you do like Dark Romances with unique twists then this is the one for you. I can't wait to read more from this author.

My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
Profile Image for Meghana Sarathy.
Author 10 books199 followers
January 3, 2019
I always love V.F Mason's books and this was no exception!! This is my third book of the author after - Psychopath's Prey and Lachlan's Protege. Both of them were excellent read and Micaden's Madness comes on the same shelf and also makes for a very engaging and interesting read. The trademark elements of the author are present in abundance in this book as well - the darkness, misunderstandings, torture, agony of separation, angst, a need to kill, necessity of survive, anger, wrath, bloodshed and amidst all that - Love and loads of HOT sex!!!
I don't want to touch upon the story as it unravels in many layers and makes for a beautiful story with quite a few twists and turns and loads of drama. The main leads in this book are - Micaden and Emerald. What started out as a sweet love story) summer fling for them soon takes a dark turn, transforming into a gut wrenching, heart breaking take of love, loss and revenge.
What I loved - The storyline though kind of predictable, had a lot of potential and more than the story itself, the execution of it was even better. The emotions of the characters and their dilemma was brought out very well with Shakespearean dialogues at the beginning of every chapter. They create a tragic yet suspenseful atmosphere.
I liked both Micaden and emerald as individuals and though Micaden did get on my nerves on couple of occasions, but after reading his side of the story, I could completely empathetize with and my heart actually bled out for him. It was very sad and frustrating at the same time and the hatred he housed was very understandable and though I wasn't rooting for him, I wanted his justice to be served and I wanted him to serve it with him own bare hands ! That was the extent to which I was connected with the characters and their plights.
Emerald - I did like her, but some of her actions confused me. I couldn't quite get her attraction for him the second time around. It was one of those parts where I felt the story was rushed and contrived. I got their intense sexual chemistry but at the second time around, their love didn't seem all that pure and real to me like it was the first time.
My another complaint is in regards to the whole amnesia and writing a book. Somewhere they didn't gel well with the backstory and the dark tone of the book. It felt out of place forced into the plot just to make the settings more authentic and give the story a proper flow. But I didn't really buy into it and felt it could have been showcased in a better way and could have just been written as chapters of the past without throwing in the whole 'writing a book', plot and for the most part even Micaden didn't buy into it and never paid any attention to her book so it kind of felt pointless to me. The climax was also predictable and felt a little too easy - the revelation could have happened more dramatically perhaps? I knew throwing the villain into the mix was essentially to show the heights they could go to for one another but still...it didn't feel all that real. Him popping out of nowhere to claim his women- it felt trite and had the same ring as that of Lachlan's Protege. Though the latter was more justified and necessary, for this book, something else might have worked that could serve the same purpose without another baddie being added to the mix.
What I absolutely loved - The brotherhood (if I can even call it that) between them all - Lachlan, Micaden, Arsen, Jaxon, sociopath and Shan!! It's best element of the series and author has brought it out exceptionally well! It's not friendship and love that ties them together but it's loyalty and pain and it makes them always have each other's back!! I loved this relation of theirs, especially when they all come together!
And so far, Arson is my favorite though I know very little about him. I can't wait to read his book!!! I know it's going to be splendid considering how amazing and appeasing he is to me;)

I would go with 4 stars for this book:)
Overall, it was a very enjoyable read and I will definitely reading more of the author's book and won't be missing any in this series.
Profile Image for KFForever.
1,053 reviews33 followers
January 7, 2019
kfforever

4.5 Stars ~ Reviewed by Anna Green on behalf of KindleFriendsForever

This is a dark romance that contains some triggers so a bit of warning to the sensitive readers. I must say though that this author is one of the best in this genre and this book got me hooked and emotionally invested in Brochan and Emerald’s tragic story.

When Emerald was seventeen, she spent the summer with her Nona. A privileged girl from a rich family she meets twenty-one-year-old Brochan and fell in love with him. But little did she know that their young love will turn their lives upside down and tear them apart and those around them. Is there hope for these two lovers?

Brochan/Micaden was quite taken with young Emerald and although his status isn’t quite up to Emerald’s family’s standards, he didn’t really care. Young love is all that matters, isn’t it? Brochan’s love turns into hate when he was taken away from Emerald and revenge is his ultimate goal.

“What happens when a victim and persecutor meet in a fight where there’s no hope in sight?
So many possibilities. Roles might shift or they won’t. Strengths might be tested or they aren’t. Emotions can cloud judgments or they can’t. One truth stays the same though. They live in the roles until one of them dies.
Let the game begin, and may the stronger one win.”


The passionate connection between Emerald and Brochan will build up your hope and will shatter your heart to pieces. Some events after their separation are quite harrowing, but are integral to the story and will make you understand how Micaden’s character developed into a vengeful monster. This narrative told in the past and present in alternating points of view is a well-written tale of a modern-day Romeo and Juliet but with a much darker side. The appearance of Lachlan and other characters in previous books by the same author is a welcome bonus, too. There are so many angles and layers to this dark story that will leave you emotional and at times, disturbed. This is the third book I've read by Mason and it won’t be the last. If you need a book that will fire up your guts and heart and if you are one of those who craves for stories that have more bite than a unicorn’s, then this one is for you.
Profile Image for Renee.
4,186 reviews55 followers
January 7, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

If madness has a name...it's hers. She is an artist seeking solace. He is a serial killer seeing vengeance. She doesn't remember. He remembers it all. She is broken. He is obsessed. She wants truth. He wants revenge. One of them is guilty. One of them is innocent. Both of them want to win. And for that one of them has to die.

This is a dark romance and if you have never had to opportunity to read a dark romance from V.F. Mason then I have to tell you, you are missing some of the best dark romances I have read. She excels at them and they never fail to suck me in from the first page to the last. This one to had quotes from Shakespeare at the beginning of each chapter and I loved that so much. It fit perfectly with the book and added a special little something. This is the story of Brochan and Emerald and it will break your heart. There is just no way around it but it is so worth it. It is also so addicting that you will not be able to put it down. I love when stories are told in flashback and you have to try to put the pieces together. Emerald is missing parts of her life and she just really isn't sure, like you as a reader will be, what is real and what is fake. You know your reading an amazing book when you are kind of sort of in love with a serial killer. That to me just speaks volumes as to how well V.F. Mason writes her character's. These two are meant to be no matter what and Brochan was a very important part of Emerald's life at one point. She just doesn't remember. However when they meet again things begin to all unravel and that is when you will end up on the edge of your seat. I loved this book and it is a must read for any dark romance reader. Thank you V.F. Mason for writing such an amazing story once again that sucked me in and had me holding on till the very end.
Profile Image for Charlotte .
135 reviews6 followers
January 2, 2019
I’m wondering why I have never picked up one of this authors books before? She is brilliant at creating suspense. These pages have captivated me from the very beginning and I don’t want to stop reading.

The only thing that seemed wrong with this book (that I found) was the sex scenes. They didn’t fit 🤷‍♀️ Micaden is so rude and nasty to Emerald yet she still has sex with him. I find it hard to believe she would. I don’t think the sex was needed so early on and so unexpectedly if at all.

I feel something very unsettling about Emerald once I got through the first half of the book. I can’t quite put my finger on it but I’m not sure if I liked her 😂 it’s almost as if she refused to admit to her part in the ‘incident’ because she preferred to play victim instead. She chose to play victim.

The last 50% with Micaden was hard to read 😬 I didn’t expect myself to feel as strongly as I did toward him based on the first 50% 😂 But I did. I don’t wanna give too much away because it will ruin the story but Micaden is definitely someone to watch out for.

There was so many twists and turns that kept me reading but there was also a lot of characters so it took me a minute to recognise them all when the popped back up! I notice that Lachlan made an appearance in this one and since this is my first book by this author, I am now intrigued to go back and read Lachlan’s Protégée. (Although both books are standalones)

There’s a couple of scenes at the end that felt like in the movies, you know where one scene ends on a relatively good note and then it cuts to a darker, more sinister scene? I really felt that. It left me with a few questions but they’re more to do with Lachlan’s book than this one.

I really enjoyed this book, (I’ll admit) much more than I thought I would. It’s my first book of the new year and I’ll say it was a very good one to start with 😁
Profile Image for Elie Kelly.
68 reviews3 followers
January 3, 2019
It is very hard to gather my thoughts because this book totally blew my mind away. After Lachlan's Protégé I was thinking, this cannot get any better. But V.F. Mason proved me wrong again, of course. She topped one of her best books with the bestest. Yeah, it is a word, look it up. Next to it is a picture of V.F. Mason. Although, I should not have been so surprised since all of her books are masterpieces.

Once more we are thrust into the dark world of revenge, twisted hate-love and a need to avenge some very bad deeds through killing. Micaden had to suffer greatly for a summer of joy and happiness. He got betrayed by everybody and lost everything, even himself. Under a new identity and with some professional guidance from the best in the field, he sets his eyes on the prize. Her.

Emerald also had to lose in life, almost everything. Her only pillar is her brother, who treasures and protects her - maybe a little too much. And I loved how a certain person got wind up in the story, his involvement in the overall picture. I was taken aback and truly shocked when the truth finally came out.

Sorrow, hatred, grief, love. All of these words can perfectly describe this roller coaster ride of emotions. The story had a wonderful arc, the characters got the perfect chance of redemption and another chance at trust, forgiveness, and love. Everybody has a story, sometimes nothing is black and white.

I absolutely fell in love with the book, the perfect story for the first read of the new year. Guaranteed thrill and goosebumps. Micaden is your absolute alpha male, and really, I cannot praise it enough. If madness has a name, mine is V.F. Mason. Cannot wait for the next serial killer to get his story.
Profile Image for Caitlin Audet.
448 reviews58 followers
January 14, 2019
My rating: 3.5

I'm not sure if I was expecting something different or if I was supposed to read another book before this, but Micaden's Madness just didn't stick with me. Usually I'm all for twisted and dark with a major bad boy with issues but for the most part I felt like a missing something which kept me from fully enjoying this. The story of Micaden and Emerald was interesting and although seriously tragic was told quite tastefully. There was however so much focus on Emerald and her problems that there wasn't much left to learn about Micaden, despite the title referring to this being his book. I did like how much backstory V.F. Mason has written and the past tense I thought was a good love story. I could tell how much both characters felt for one another and I love there wasn't any pressure or expectations for more. The other half of the storyline, the present tense, seemed a bit off to me. Everyone was acting strange with Emerald when she came back to town and if I didn't already know their past, I would have felt the hate turned lust from Micaden was really rushed. Micaden's Madness does have the makings for something great, maybe I'll start from the beginning and work my way back again since I know I could love this story.
Profile Image for Anna Theurer (Anna's Bookshelf).
728 reviews54 followers
January 8, 2019
4.5 stars. I was deeply intrigued by the synopsis, but I really wasn’t sure what to except as this was my first book by this author. If you are looking for a dark, well-written romance, then you will like this book. It is a story of intense love, betrayal and revenge. Micaden evolved from a sweet young man, to a honed killer with a thirst for vengeance given a betrayal and the aftermath that he experienced. Emerald has missing memories after an accident, but pieces of her past are slowly coming to light - however, she can’t determine if they are memories or a story that she has written in her head. Micaden is one of those dark anti-heroes that you hate to love. Emerald is a pretty strong likable character as well. My heart broke for both of them given all that they endured, but they were resilient and survivors. I was completely sucked in and I really wasn’t sure how this book was going to end.

The book starts off mostly from Emerald’s POV with some very short chapters from Micaden’s. Uniquely, Emerald's past is done as chapters in a story that she’s writing which turn out to be buried memories from before “the accident”. Later on in the book, you get more a of dual POV in alternating chapters as well as memories from Micaden’s past. I thought some of the beginning of the book moved slowly, but then it quickly picked up the pace. This book had action, some violence, steamy sex scenes, and great characters, which kept me entertained until the very end. I really enjoyed this book - so much so that I immediately downloaded another one of this author’s books. I received this book from Give Me Books.

*Trigger: There is some abuse and an attempted rape scene (not by the anti-hero); graphic violence
Profile Image for Cheryl Whitty.
904 reviews14 followers
January 5, 2019
Reviewed on http://bookaddict.live,
Well I loved Lachlan’s Protégé, but this was unputdownable. We are still with the dark subject matter, so you have been warned.
When I starting to read the book, I thought I start to read a little bit before bed. Then I started this compelling and gripping read, and the next thing I notice is that its light outside and I had read all night.

What starts out as teenagers falling in love for the first time intense and passionate. The perfect summer on the Island and then Emerald parents suddenly visit the Island and they put into motion a nightmare that lasts 10 years.

I not saying any more except this is a dark read with distressing storyline that compels the reader hoping for their luck will change. This had it all, a story that won’t let you go, but written with alternate points of view and some of story is told with flashbacks. This is a dark read intense read, if  that's what you enjoy this is your cup a tea. I can't wait for the next book, I'll just have read this again while I wait.
Profile Image for Heather  Chaotic Creatives.
1,124 reviews51 followers
December 31, 2018
I am trying to figure out just what to say in this review.... This is my first book by the author and though I am giving just 3.5 stars for this book, it will not be my last. The story itself is really good I just am not a fan of reading from past to present to past you get the picture. I'm the kinda girl that likes to read things in order as they happen. Now with this being said I really liked the premise of the storyline. There is mystery, darkness, and it is has parts of psychological thriller in it.

I do not want to give any spoilers in this review. Our heroine Emerald has been put through quite a bit. We do not find out the extent until the second half of the book. Our hero Micaden is a man from her past that she does not quite remember. He is set on getting revenge on all those who have betrayed him. The question is did Emerald?? Once things fall into place and everything plays out just what you think is going to happen doesn't necessarily take place.

Please do not let my review dissuade you on reading this book. Like I said in the beginning it truly is a good book, I just like to read my books chronologically. The main characters are well written and the secondary characters are as well. They play a huge part in the story and help the story flow really well.
Profile Image for Sassy Southern Book Blog.
4,524 reviews243 followers
January 20, 2019
I just finished this book and it makes me want to pick it up all over again, start from the beginning to go through everything that happened again. I loved the rollercoaster ride of Emerald and Mccaden. Two people so different but alike at the same time. It’s as if they were two pieces of the same puzzle. Just waiting to be put together. There was very little I did not like. Things such as the ‘bad guy’ in this story. You get confused as to who that might be until the end. But there is little to no back story to him. When did they meet? Why was he so obsessed? All in all this was a fantastic read. One I will be coming back to over and over again. - By Vanessa
Profile Image for Leanne.
535 reviews46 followers
January 2, 2019
After having read Lachlan's Protege, my first of this author's books, i just knew i had to read more.
Micaden's Madness is a stand alone but the characters are seen in other books by the author.
If im truly honest, my review for this review book could just be a copy and paste of my review for Lachlan's Protege.
It has got all the classic content of a dark romance. There's a whole wealth of angst, passion and drama.
As with LP, the flitting from past to present, reality to "imagination" all got a bit confusing and for a while at the beginning i did get a bit list with the who's who, it's like all the characters showed up at the same time.
I found myself questioning some aspects of Micaden's life, which i can't really explain here due to spoilers.

All in all though, a good way to start my 2019 literary journey and I'm excited for Jaxon's story.
Profile Image for Lu  Vargas.
553 reviews85 followers
October 7, 2022
Una montaña rusa de emociones es está historia

Cuando me di cuenta que me faltaba un libro para terminar la serie de Dark Protégés no pude no leerlo. Y simplemente no me arrepiento.

Cómo siempre los personajes que crea la autora son impecables en cuanto a complejidad por todo el pasado que los ha forjado cómo son. Y con Micaden y Emerald la de sorpresas que te dan; además amé como te van presentando la historia. Y ni que decir de las frases, hay unas que me hacían querer sacar a los personajes del libro y abrazarlos muy fuerte.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.