#beyond addiction

* “It was intoxicating, the thought that he could want her that hard, that much.”

* I suppose I should like this one more than I do. Super smart tech genius nurses long-suppressed feelings for his dead best friend’s little sister, who had crushed on him hard and now is suddenly all grown up, making her own choices and embracing her sexuality. Probably something about Emma just not being my type? I guess part of it is I still don’t know what she does, or what she brings to the gang that she got tatted in.

* "I'm not leaving you, Noah. If there's gonna be a fight, I'll be here. Watching your back." No one had, not since Cib had gone off the rails. So many years of being alone, exhausted, and if having her was too good to be true, having her like this was some kind of cracked fantasy. A woman, a lover, a partner--“

* The bondage doesn’t do it for me. Probably doesn’t help that even the sex isn’t that interesting.

* Wanting to smile made him crazy, but he couldn't help it. She was deadly and she could take care of herself, and if shit went sideways and he couldn't be a part of the life she was going to build... She'd be okay. Emmaline Cibulski didn't need rescuing.” But I like the other parts of this, that he finds not the kid he left behind but someone who can be his equal. I mean, it shouldn’t work, like Finn/Trix shouldn’t work because the years of memories are about loving the person they were. They just get lucky they happen to like the person each has become.

* I mean, aside from exposing how big a piece of shit her brother was, is the fact that Noah was the one who bought her a big deal? Clearly he never came seeking payment. Unless she thinks now that the reason he finally gets to have her is because he owns her? But it doesn’t jive with his actions to date.

* “Yeah, Emmaline Cibulski could fucking well take care of herself.”

* Ok, so Ford screws up by trying to buy Mia’s freedom, Zan pays attention and doesn’t try to buy out Tatiana, Finn has to apologize for being a scapegoat, and Noah’s only crime is not telling Emma her brother was a piece of shit. Pardon my metaphor repetition, I’m annoyed.

* I mean, at least she gets over it, super quickly? I dunno, just not feeling this one.

* "All those years wasted, when I could have been loving you." The answer was easy, obvious. "You were." Well, glad we got that sorted and are completely over the thing that devastated you and broke your heart. Now it’s a sign that he loved you? I mean, yes, but, jeez. Enough with the drama.

Bottom line: the story has potential, but Emma just doesn’t have enough interesting about her to hold my attention. Their breaking point is over dramatized, and the sex is just meh.

* Sooooo…mind altering drugs but they aren’t addictive without an additive? I’m sorry, anything that makes you feel good has addiction potential. Do they mean the physical dependence? Or maybe the most they have in the sectors is weed (which is totally possible to get addicted to, but many can use it recreationally without issues), and they just spike it with heroin or something?

* I love that Finn just straight up shoots Mac in the head while he’s being taunted to “just go ahead and do it.” The people in these books don’t need to wait around for a cliche monologue!

* “I’m breathing because you’re breathing. You hear me? I was on a slow trip out of this world before you showed up. You dying would only speed that shit up.” I mean, this is basically Lan to Nynaeve (and one of the authors is a big Nynaeve fan, so I just assume anything remotely coded to them is deliberate—leave me my fantasies!).

* I love Shipp and Alya. Exactly the kind of romance I love, with enough of the details not addressed that makes it prime fanfic fodder.

* Yeah, love spanning years even when they think one of them might be dead? That is the kind of angsty romance I just melt for.

* “Fine,” he grumbled, hiding the smile that tugged at his lips. She’d complicate shit, but it was hard not to love the new spark of life in her. “Let’s go.” And it survives even through both of them evolving into new, stronger people? The best.

* “Hawk drove like a crazy man.” That’s the Hawke we know and love!

* Yeah, I really read that scene between Mad and Dylan and came away with, “Dylan is clearly in love with Jade. Why did the last book suggest he had a thing for Mad.” I can admit this to the anonymity of the internet and hopefully acheive catharthsis.

* “Quit firting with me,” Ace chided. “You’ll make Cruz jealous.” Cruz met Ace’s wicked looked with an easy smile—and a peace he’d never imagined. “I know what’s mine.” “Fabulous,” Jared said dryly. “And Vaguely disgusting. It must be love.”

* * “If only the others could see him like this. The way she did.” I really like Finn. I mean, things were and are a mess, but he’s never been less than honest about who he is and his intensions are only about doing right by Trix.

* “She had to edge past Mad, and she couldn’t resist stomping one boot down on the bridge of his bare foot.” I adore Mad, but he deserved it and she was right to do it.

* “Or maybe he’ll prove himself. He can’t do it from your bedroom.” She didn’t want to cry anymore. She wanted to hit him, slap him right across the bruise on his cheek. “Six did it just fine from Bren’s.” He recoiled as if she had hit him. “That’s not the same thing.” No, no, Mad. It’s exactly the same thing, except he’s coming in with more history. And you all are being sexist because you don’t trust Trix to make a wise decision—you think she’s acting on emotion and feelings and denying her agency in her choices.

* I refuse to believe Logan never touched Lily. He would absolutely “mark his territory” and make sure she’d be “worthless” to any other man after him. He’d rape her on an assigned schedule, maybe once a year on their anniversary or something, not because he enjoys it but because he wants to make sure she knows he can, and at any time. Because it will keep her feeling unimportant and powerless.

* “Trix had them in the palm of her newly bared hand, and they couldn’t even see it. Because she’d made an art form out of the slow tease, out of letting a man’s lecherous imagination fill in all the details she hinted at.” It is pretty hot

* “Yeah, when this show came to an end, he was going to get that shit all over himself. “A real man can handle a little glitter.” Yeah, I love Finn.

* “I love you, Finn.” He closed his eyes. “I’m gonna work every fucking day until I deserve you.” Aww, Trix loves him too.

* There is a lot of underwear tearing in this series. Is stuff not hemmed/stitched in the sectors? Like, ripping a hole I get, but tearing it off someone sounds painful.

* “My loyalties are pretty damn simple.” “Trix?” “From start to finish.” I mean, you cannot ask for anything else.

* “Finn glanced at Bren, who was still caressing the safe like he planned to seduce his way into it.” 😆

* The orgies are just tough for me to wrap my head around. That’s the boss and his wife, and he’s just spreading his girl out for them to do whatever they want to her. I mean, it’s all consenting and everyone’s intentions are for everyone else to have a good time. Still, it’s an odd way to welcome someone into the family—everyone here is gonna fuck your girl, with their eyes if not their hands, congratulations! We’re just gonna assume you’re good with sharing and get off on doing it in public like we all do. We’re so glad you’re here!

* “Well, you did walk out on her.” Nope. Not at all what happened. I get that everyone can react differently, and that is how Trix feels, but if a guy could do anything to prove his loyalty to the gang and his girl, it’s be willing to be a sacrifice like this. He didn’t choose to leave her, he didn’t ditch on the reltionship because he was scared or felt unworthy. What, is she worried he’s going to try to take a suicide risk every time? He already proved he would come back to her. It’s not like everyone else doesn’t have to hold their breath every time the men go out. After several reads, nope, still not buying that Finn did a boo-boo here. He doesn’t need to be the one apologizing.

* “I try not to make the same mistake more than three or four times.” Great line. But he didn’t make a mistake! I stand by my interpretation of events.

* “You deserve the moon and stars, baby doll.” He pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist. “If you’re willing to settle for me, I’m too damn selfish to give you up. So wear my ink, and you’ll always know I’m coming home to you.”

Bottom line: I love Finn so much, and I love this romance. It’s so Lan/Nynaeve, if Nynaeve was a stripper instead of a Wisdom. He’s all about Trix, in every waking moment, and along the way proves to himself and everyone else that he’s worth it.

Rocha, Kit. Beyond Series Bundle (Books 4-6) (Kindle Locations 5854-5856). Kit Rocha. Kindle Edition.