I cannot explain the feeling of heavenly bliss I feel when my Dark Loving heart stumbles upon an author who isn't shy of staining her fingers Black with writing a story so dark, it should be cateogarised as "50 shades of Black". Having peeked into her dark, psycho brain, I seriously wanna camp inside it! This being her first book, I can already see her career graph on the up and up from now on!! Her extensive and meticulous research shows in her finely detailed scene settings. All the towns, cities and locations are vividly described. Very smart language with full use of idioms and ironies, she gives each character befitting vocabulary. Sarcasm is used as a coping mechanism with Stahls and sharp scathing language is given to Swarings. Very aptly decorated, it was such a joy to read the embellished words
On the other hand, the plot left me completely speechless. At loss for words to describe the helplessness and vindication that I felt for myself as a reader when running with Charlotte's life throughout the book.
The mood is full of dread and thumping danger. I could feel the claw after me, almost touching my clothes, it's fingers brushing my hair, waiting to tackle me.
“I see you, Little Spider.”
5 words......set my pulse racing full speed like a drumbeat at a sacrificial fire. It's eerie enough to give you goosebumps and your feet will itch to run.
“The Rules of Burken.
Don’t let me catch you. Because if I catch you, I will kill you.”
That's the game Ian Stahl traps his little sister- Charlotte Stahl in.
He's the predator, she's the prey.
He's the manipulator, she's the victim
Traci truly and utterly redefines the term
“Stockholm Syndrome
Alternating between abusive rage and loving gestures?
An addictive cycle?
A hopelessness in the victim?
What does that sound like to you?”
she's legit Einstein of Mind twistery. She changes the face of danger in every chapter. Charlotte runs from her brother, then her father, then her mother, then Jack, then herself & then the truth.
"the truth will set you free, but sometimes … you have to set yourself free from the truth.”
Very unusual, complex story of siblings who are tied up in debilitating co-dependency to an extent that it mutates their personalities.
I use the term siblings in plural cause there's two sets and they are dangerously similar and different from each other in power play
While Ian has - almighty Complex, Jack has Moses Complex.
That's the best analogy I can come up with
“I guess that’s what happens when brothers have to raise little sisters when they’re still children themselves? If you think about it, that’s a lot of stress for them."
This book NEEDS to be read acutely, you cannot rush through it at all. Every Chapter is steeped in sinister energy, there's no redemption anywhere.
Evil is jet black, all characters are stained grey, you'll have to hunt for pure goodness.
If somebody asked me how was the story, what is it about, I wouldn't even know how to explain it to them. It's a maze of convoluted relationships and it will require your unwavering attention to understand it. It's subtle in clues and glaring in consequences but you have to read each word carefully
"It’s amazing what the human body is capable of when it’s faced with death."
I guess Good and Evil are like two dogs Fighting for supremacy in your soul, It all depends on who you feed the most!!
I'm as stumped as I was at the beginning of the story. I couldn't afford to put this book down for more than a few minutes, the Whodunits and Howdunits and Whydunits kept pulling me towards this book like a magnet. It's heinous at most places, sickening at few and an absolute pulse pounder at all times. Completely absorbing and engaging..a virtual feast for Dark Lovers.
Tbh at one point the choppy flow had me deducting half a star but the end...Omg THE END JUST pushed my heart over the edge of the cliff..
5 Spider Stars
Your audiobook is waiting!
Enjoy a free trial on us
- One credit a month to pick any title from our entire premium selection to keep (you’ll use your first credit now).
- Unlimited listening on select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
- You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
- $14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel online anytime.
Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company
The Rules of Burken
Audible Audiobook
– Unabridged
Read & Listen
Switch between reading the Kindle book & listening to the Audible audiobook with Whispersync for Voice.
Get the Audible audiobook for the reduced price of $7.49 after you buy the Kindle book.
Get the Audible audiobook for the reduced price of $7.49 after you buy the Kindle book.
$0.99/month for the first 3 months
For a limited time, save 90% on Audible. Get this deal
People who bought this also bought
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
- Audible Audiobook
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2019
- Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2019
- Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2022
Top reviews from other countries
- LeilaReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2019
Captivating from the very first page
I know I've hit the jackpot when a book captivates me from the very first page. A twisted game of, Hide and Seek, if ever there was one.LeilaCaptivating from the very first page
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2019
Traci Finlay managed to pull me into the story so well it was almost as though I was watching it play out on the big screen.
Not only did I not want to put it down, but I also found myself grateful for train delays, if it meant I had more time to read this book.
To anyone about to read this, make sure you have some free time, believe me when I say you will want to devour it in one sitting.
I can't wait to see what Traci has in store for us next, sign me up.
Images in this review
- Angela HayesReviewed in Australia on August 4, 2019
Can't wait for more from Ms. Finlay!
