After five books of phenomenal world building, character development, and overall stellar storylines, coupled with the much welcomed increase in interpersonal and overall plot detail in the last book, I was beyond excited for this one. “Unhinge Me” is book six of Hayley Faiman’s Savage Beasts MC Series. A book featuring one of my favorite of the MC brothers, Mountain.
After getting to know Mountain in Della and Eagle’s story, seeing his care and genuine concern for not only her welfare but her overall happiness and security. I couldn’t wait to dive into his story and see him get the happy ending the previous installments had me dreaming up for him. However, surprisingly, I am not sure I can fully put into words how I feel about his book, his personal tale, him as a man, his overall being. And for the first time with the Savage Beasts universe, I found myself not being able to fully embrace the story presented. Found myself deeply contemplative and morose by the prose before me...
I have written on Sadt Cookie often how my own background and life experiences bring me to relate fiercely to the deeply flawed and damaged. How my own background leads me to identify with the stories of those often hidden away, that lead lives filled with struggles, needs, and desires outside the realm of “acceptable” life; lives often overlooked despite being more real, full of more emotion and authentic connection than the everyday folks within the public realm of humanity. It is because of this that I struggled with it, as this book hit so very, very close to home that it made me unexpectedly flinch. Because unlike the man we are led to believe he is, the giant, grizzled biker with a heart and soul of pure gold, here, we are presented with a full view of Mountain. A man who is deeply affected by his past traumas, a man who is callous, petty, and at times unnecessarily cruel. A man who flees from himself and others, who more often acts like a spoiled child rather than a grown man in his mid-forties, who lashes out in anger and rage, and hurts the ones he cares for the most. And at times, it is most difficult to read as it will prick things deep inside you, things you may not have even realized existed previously.
The chemistry and personal connection Faiman presents with Mountain and Leighton’s story is intense and definitely not for the faint of heart. As she peels back the layers of his background, reveals more detail of his childhood, you will wonder why she brings Leighton in as his love interest. Especially as it becomes clear that her background and past traumas are on a direct collision course with his, something that at first glance looks like a grisly train wreck in the making. And it is a train wreck you are forced to endure in stomach churning slow motion, as here, as with book five, Faiman continues her more methodical march through the plot. Here she continues to more carefully wind her way from start to finish, connecting more of the character details and plot points from earlier installments building and building and building, creating a sense of emotional overload that weighs heavy on your heart and mind.
Here Faiman continues the assault on your senses with things that have been building since book one, presenting a story that fearlessly displays the reality of trauma and how people individually and collectively deal with it. Illustrating in gory detail how physical, sexual, and verbal abuse damages both physically and emotionally, and can break an individual beyond recognition. Here with Mountain and Leighton’s story she continues to unapologetically present characters with real issues, interacting with real relationships, and creating scenarios that, while difficult to read and imagine, touch something deep within you and lead you to truly contemplate the very essence of each of the characters presented on the page.
She expertly plunges you into the midst of their emotional despair as you are forced to watch Mountain’s inability to stay, his inability to cherish, protect, and keep Leighton from harm, often inflicting the harshest of his demons upon her himself. And in his unconscionable actions we see the abandoned little boy abused by those who should have protected him the most; we see the man ill-equipped to deal with the emotional demands of adult life. All the while simultaneously subjecting you to Leighton’s almost sedate reaction and acceptance of Mountain’s abusive treatment; a reaction in which we see through to the woman beneath the strong façade, a woman raised to be a sexual commodity by her father rather than view herself as an actual human worthy of respect, love, and fair treatment. And together, in their equal willingness to run from the other, to run and hide, we see how they both are unable to trust in the good between them after a lifetime of everything being so very bad. It is a heart breaking, rage inducing, stomach churning story that will leave you both stunned and speechless. A story that for me, contained scenes so vivid, so internally triggering I had to walk away and recapture my breath and calm my pulse so that I was able to see the story for what it really is, one of growth, healing, and regained inner strength.
It is a powerful story of second chances and having the courage to try again despite the horrors of the past. And while it is dark and difficult to read, it is profoundly affecting, and a very fitting end to my 2020 review efforts. I have said this several times before in my reviews of this series and it remains true, the Savage Beasts MC will have you addicted by the end of first chapter of book one. Each book after will reinforce this addiction and turn you into an absolute fiend. Faiman’s writing will irrevocably affect you with its raw, torturously painful, yet relatable human landscape. It is a fiercely bold take far braver than other romances within the MC subgenre. And it is hands down the best book series I read in 2020. Here's hoping this author continues to release stories in this series throughout the year to come as I for one do not want this story to be over.
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About the author
Hard to like H
3.5 I love this author but Mountain was a hard character to root for. I liked Eloise and I hoped everything worked out for her sake. This one wasn't my favorite.
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Mountain of a Man
