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The Thalia Series The Complete Collection edition by Jennifer Bene Romance eBooks

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The Thalia Series The Complete Collection edition by Jennifer Bene Romance eBooks

The Thalia Series is a set of four separate novels (Security Binds Her; Striking A Balance; Salvaged By Love; and Tying The Knot) which tell the story of the titular main protagonist of the series – Thalia. Though the first story in this series begins with a very difficult to read scenario, the author has created a narrative in which the characters draw you into their world in such a way that you want to see what happens to them beyond that initial episode, and by the end you are so glad that you did. This is a series borne out of pain, and agony, turning to self-introspection, then ultimately to growth, happiness, finding oneself, and – yes – even love. It is a journey that is hard to begin, but once you’ve started, you cannot pull yourself away from it until by the end you wish it didn’t have to come to a close. The author uses a quote by Robert Frost at one point that sums this up perfectly: “The best way out is always through.” This is the Thalia Series to a ‘T’. Along the way – yes - there is plenty of sex, as one would expect. The real joy in this series comes, in my opinion, from watching how the characters in the novels evolve, and that is especially true for the protagonist Thalia. Accept the challenge the author puts before you and make it through everything before the Happily Ever After, especially the beginning, hard though it may be. Because the reward at the end is simply incredible.

SECURITY BINDS HER - This is the first novel in the series, and it is a tough one. The one that is the most difficult to get through, because this starts with events which are brutal, painful to read, and terrifying, and contains situations that are honestly gut churning. This is the beginning, and because this series of novels is built upon a certain premise, it requires us (the readers) to go through this darkness, and this novel is without doubt dark. At times, very, very dark. The initial set up is…. rough. Savage. It is a terrible, horrifying situation that our protagonist for the entire series - the titular character Thalia - finds herself put in. For some, it may be overwhelming. However, what takes place is completely necessary for several reasons which become clearer as the novel goes on. Thalia finds herself placed in a horrifying situation, one which no person should ever be put into. Yet, the author allows the character to overcome some of the dreadfulness of this situation to discover things about herself. Discover aspects of the strength of her own personality, her desires, and just who she is as a person in the midst of this barbaric situation which unfolds upon her. The further you go into this novel, the more you become drawn to Thalia. Here is a woman who embodies everything that a strong person can be, and yet who gives up nothing of her own personality to placate or adhere to constraints put on her by anyone. She does not succumb to the evil which she finds herself in, and at the same time embraces certain things that take place in which she discovers much about herself while being put through this trial, without falling victim to it. She takes agency over what she can, involving what is happening to her in a way that the antagonists of the novel – brothers Marcus and Anthony- could not envision or imagine. In fact, this becomes a major plot point that is important throughout the remainder of the series. This story builds up Thalia into a person whom you just cannot help but be drawn to. You want to know her. You revel in the discoveries she makes about herself in the midst of this terrible situation, even as she refuses to let those same circumstances completely overwhelm her, or to become entirely what others would have her be. The antagonists believe themselves to have ‘broken’ her, but the reality is that it is they themselves who are broken (at least in one case), as the ending of this novel spells out clearly. It is also here where we are introduced to a new character which comes into Thalia’s life - James. It is this character that provides Thalia with a clearer understanding that some of the things that she’s discovered about herself are not, and need not, be directly tied to what she has been forced to endure. That these feelings, desires, can happen in an environment outside of the terrible one she’s been forced to suffer through, and be both healthy, and fulfilling. This allows her to make a decision that gives her back control over her life, by making a choice that ultimately has life-altering consequences for a great number of the characters introduced in this novel. By the end, the things that Thalia has discovered about herself, then manner in which she makes the choice to be with whom she desires, and the ramifications (and foreshadowing) of what lies ahead overshadow, in this reader’s opinion at least, much of the earlier discomfort that this novel started with. You see Thalia blossom into something far greater than the sum of the parts of what she has gone through, and you want to follow her to see where the new path of her life’s journey takes her. Her new par amour James is an enigma; he offers her a chance to expand upon some of what she has already discovered, but the very setting of how and where this takes place leaves the reader with questions of what his own motivations may be. This, and the drama of how the novel closes, are the perfect enticement to tease the reader to continue onto the next novel. Thalia will have gotten underneath your skin by now, no less than she has two of the characters within the world of the story. And you want to be there with her to find out just how all of that is resolved.

STRIKING A BALANCE - The second novel in the series picks up the story of Thalia, and expands on her newly established relationship with James, a character briefly introduced at the end of Security Binds Her. This novel is so much brighter in tone than the first, and comes as somewhat a welcome relief from the darkness and intensity of the first novel. This novel is all about finding. Finding oneself, finding community, and finding peace. Thalia is taken from a world of horror, a world in which she was forced to confront certain aspects of herself in circumstances that were far less than ideal. She is then brought into a world where she is given opportunity and the chance to build a life for herself, with the chance to discover more about aspects of her personality brought out during the trial’s she’d been through in the first novel. The growth of the Thalia character in this novel is so well played out, and that is what drives this story forward. To watch as Thalia becomes acclimated to her new world, how she overcomes the PTSD-like aspects of recovery from what she suffered through in the first novel, and how her burgeoning feelings for James expand make this novel a joy to read. The tension here is far less about external forces; this is the novel in the series which really deep-dives into the character of Thalia. Her emotions, how she feels, why she feels the way she does, and the discovery of all of that and more. A journey filled with introspection, and all comes with that. Anxiety, fear, joy, self-doubt, anger, frustration, and the wonder of finding that even though she may not understand it, that there are people who see the beauty within her far more than she can see herself. The pacing of this novel is quite different from the first novel, as it needs to be for all of this to take place. Choices are presented to Thalia that will directly impact her future, and the author spends considerable time allowing us to see within Thalia , not only as to how she makes the choices she does, but the processes she goes through to get to them. Both good and bad. Anguish and joy. This novel fills in some of the blank spaces about Thalia that the first novel left open. Motivations, internal reasoning for certain reactions, and the conflict we all face within ourselves at times when we question why we are who we are, especially when faced with something that we feel we don’t deserve. The wonder of this novel is how Thalia comes to terms with all of this, dealing with her own ‘demons’, and yet not allowing herself to be bound by events of her past, while at the same time not pushing away nor denying herself the right to take agency over aspects of herself that those events brought forth. At the end, you have watched as Thalia has become a fully fleshed out character, flaws and strengths combined, and one who is so empowering that you cannot help but like her. Is she perfect? No. However, that ultimately becomes the point of this novel. No one person is ever perfect. We are all the sum of our experiences, and how we chose to build upon them, accept who we are, and not buy into any conceit that any of those things makes us ‘bad’ or ‘broken’. Thalia could quite easily become the quintessential ‘Mary Sue’, and yet the author doesn’t allow that to happen. Thalia becomes someone you want to know, and in doing so the author makes it so easy to want to continue reading her story.

SALVAGED BY LOVE - And then we go back to the dark.

The third novel in the series continues with Thalia and James relationship, but also draws back in the two major antagonists from the first novel in the series. In doing so, we head right back into some of the by now familiar dark places that we experienced in the first novel. While this could easily have been nothing more than a re-hashing of the first novel’s premise for the sake of titillation, it never goes into that territory. Where Striking A Balance was about finding, discovery, Salvaged By Love is about understanding, recognition. Understanding who you are. Recognizing the worth of not only yourself, but that you are worthy in the eyes of those who surround you. Equally, it’s about recognizing that your worth can only be subverted by another if you allow them to do so, if you give them that power by your own hand. Thalia discovers this in circumstances that are as dark and horrifying as any she has been through so far, but the strength of character she has obtained and built on during the time of the second novel allows her to weather the events of the third in ways that wouldn’t have happened in the first. Thalia is a stronger person by now. A fuller person. One who takes ownership of whom she is, and refuses to let another deny her that, even when her own personality traits trend toward submissiveness of her own desire and making. She defines what embodies the essence of that personality type; someone who allows a power exchange to take place on her terms and her terms alone. Never under duress, and never under coercion. When forced into a situation where that does take place, she refuses to give in, to giving the power for someone to define her worth to them, rather than retaining that agency herself. The moments where this is taking place within the novel are some of the most powerful and at the same time disturbing as any in the series. Thalia is the reed that bends, but does not break. However, the author does not take the easy way out, and the reader is never certain which direction the ultimate outcome may go. This is intensified by the actions of one of the main antagonists, which brings up probably one of the more interesting character developments in the series, and which came completely unexpectedly for this reader.

The author chose in this novel to explore in more depth the mindset and rational behind what motivates one of the major antagonists of this novel and series. While this person had been fleshed out in a broader sense in the first novel, in Salvaged By Love the author really dives more in depth into this character’s thoughts. It is a bold move, considering all of the circumstances and actions of this character in relation to Thalia and what she is forced to endure. The choice works, however. Having shown just how strong and wonderful a person Thalia has become in the second novel, the motivations and actions of this antagonist in the third are all too easy to recognize in this story. While you cannot truly sympathize with him, you can, at the very least, recognize why he is doing what he is doing, even if it is in a bizarre, twisted way. It is somewhat analogous to the Clarice / Hannibal Lecter relationship in Silence of the Lambs. There is always a tiny bit of the devil in each of us, and you can recognize what motivates him even as you abhor what and why as he is doing it. It not only strengthens the readers understanding of the tenacity and fortitude of Thalia, but also increases the recognition of the sway that she holds over others, even if she (Thalia) does not recognize it fully of herself. The antagonist’s actions are never forgiven, and yet knowing what we do about Thalia, and how drawn we are to her by this point, there cannot help but be the tiniest sliver of empathy for the antagonist. He’s a terrible man, as any character put in his position must be, but you can understand why he is so drawn to Thalia, and ultimately why his fate ends as it does.

Without spoiling the ending of this novel, suffice it to say that the resolution is both satisfying, and yet a tad bit frustrating at the same time. There is one arc which seems to be deliberately left unresolved, and that was frustrating, at least to this reader. I wanted the same closure that seemed to be given to most of the other arcs here, and yet it was tantalizingly left open and ambiguous. Yes, the HEA is here, but not without that single dark cloud on the horizon. Given the character that that cloud embodies, it was a small but frustrating burr that stuck with this reader at the close of this novel.

TYING THE KNOT- This, the final novel of the series, is pure light. Well, that is not entirely true, but when compared to the others, including the second novel, this is by far the lightest and most joyous of them all. Essentially this novel is an extended Happily Ever After, and given the darkness of both Security Binds Her and Salvaged By Love, it comes as the perfect ending to the series. This is a love letter to both Thalia, and to the people she has surrounded herself in her life. Her friends, her lover, and everyone who has recognized her strength, her character, and her innate goodness, even when she herself has questioned those things. This novel centers around one day in particular, when all that Thalia has ever dreamed for, a day she quite honestly had thought would never come, does. There is a great deal of humor in this novel, and outright joy, and while the author is well-known for the darker aspects of her novels, this clearly shows she has the ability to write beyond that. Lest it be thought that there is nothing but light in this novel, there are, in fact, dark moments, but they mostly happen ‘off screen’. One very important plot point throughout the novels is finally cleared up (one which was left unresolved as noted previously), and some other issues are also addressed and brought to conclusion. There are a couple of scenes which address characters which have been affected by events in similar ways as the protagonist Thalia, and how she finds community with them and helps them on their path to recovery. These scenes address very dark issues, but are tempered with the knowledge that what you are witnessing is people who are dealing with their trauma in their own ways. These are people who, as Thalia herself did, discovered that they are not alone, and that there are people whom they can lean on and look to for support, as they themselves can provide the same for others. It is an empowering message, and while the subject matter is certainly dark, it is not one that leaves the reader feeling bleak at any time.

Beyond those moments and the resolutions mentioned, this novel is truly the proverbial ‘icing on the cake’. It is sweet, delightful, “awwwww” inducing, and provides the HEA that you would want (assuming that you are one of those readers who, like me, needs that when reading dark romance). In the strictest sense, this novel could easily have been thrown in at the end of Salvaged By Love in an abbreviated form to close out that novel. I’m glad the author chose not to. Though I would not suggest this novel be read as a stand-alone without the context of the previous three (and I would think many readers would be confused if they did), that this was written as its own separate novel is the perfect bookend to the other three in the series. The reader gets the resolutions to circumstances and story arcs that the three previous novels introduced, and then an incredibly beautiful, sweet, and just all-around heart-warming close to Thalia and James’ story. By the final word, you just really couldn’t ask for more.

There is a certain conceit to this series that may potentially be a stumbling block for some readers, and it is this: in romance, even dark romance, non-consensual is a tricky tightrope for an author to walk with readers. This is especially true if the author wants the readers to take a character or characters to heart, and read their story from beginning to end. If that isn’t the intent of the author, but they simply want it to be ‘dark romance’ of the ‘don’t care about these people, just want to watch them have non-con / dub-con sex’ type (and there is certainly a place and niche for that type of novel), then character development and empathy typically take a backseat to the action. The Thalia Series is NOT that kind of series. The author quite clearly wants you to feel drawn to Thalia, and despite the dark nature of most of these books, she wants you to be invested in Thalia enough to follow along with her through her story, and empathize enough with the character to be willing to read not only the darkness, but also the light. In this regard the author succeeds admirably. These novels are by far much more than the sum of their ‘dark’ sex scenes. This series is more about the development of the protagonist, the experiences she lives and grows through, and the strong, independent person she becomes because of all of that. To be certain, there is plenty of hot, steam, dark and lite sex in these novels. However, in the end, it is the character (and characters) that you will remember most.

If there were any weaknesses to this series, I would say that they are minimal at worst. I will admit that the start of the first novel seems, upon first reading, to be abrupt, but in hindsight you come to appreciate that in the overall pacing and plotting of the novel, and into the series as a whole. However, it takes a leap of faith on the part of the reader to continue, and that is a risky choice by the author. There is simply not enough backstory provided to start to truly draw you immediately to Thalia; she’s somewhat of a cypher, and it’s hard at first to truly ‘feel’ for her. Admittedly that is a hard thing to say, considering the circumstances and actions which take place at the beginning of the first novel, but it was a potential sticking point, at least for this reader. I was unclear as to what tone this series was going to take from that beginning, and honestly thought at first it was going to be much more in line with the ‘don’t really care about these people, just want to watch them have sex’ style as mentioned above. I had refrained from reading reviews of these novels prior to purchasing the set, and based my choice solely on the basis of having read several of the author’s previous novels. I took it on faith that they would be tonally similar to her other works, but I wasn’t entirely sure at the start of this one. All I can say is that you need to be patient with Security Binds Her. It starts off quick, and it takes a bit of time to build into the main character and story. However, you’ll be so glad that you did.

I have no doubt that the second novel and the final novels may also be off-putting to some readers, especially those who are drawn more towards the darker aspects of the authors other works. These two novels of the series, while having a certain amount of ‘darkness’, are largely absent of the really dark aspects of both Security Binds Her and Salvaged By Love. Now, while I personally did not find that to be detrimental in the slightest, I have no doubt that others might. Some will come to this series, especially after reading the first novel, or certain of the authors other books, and have expectations that all four will have the same timbre. That may leave them disappointed by Striking a Balance and Tying the Knot. So while I cannot call this a criticism, it is definitely something that readers should take note of. I do not know how the novels would read sequentially if Striking a Balance and Tying the Knot were to be skipped, but I suppose they could each possibly be read as stand-alone if all dark, only dark were the reader’s taste. I would not suggest it, but for a reader to deny themselves the pleasure of reading anything of this series would be an even greater mistake, so if all a reader wants is dark, then read novels one and three, and skip two and four. However, I don’t advocate that, but only offer it as an option so as not to pass the series by completely.

As a final closing note: in the box set I read the author has also included a selection of additional short stories that round out some side scenes and back story for the characters in this series. Some are strictly based around side characters, and others revolve around Thalia and stories that are not necessarily contiguous with the main story arcs. These are fun little short stories that serve to flesh out in an entertaining way the main story arcs in the four novels. I wouldn’t consider any of these stories dark (unless you count BDSM focused situations to be dark), but they are a delightful addition to the series, and I was grateful to the author for having included them. Consider them the chocolate mint left on your pillow by the author before a good night’s sleep.


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The Thalia Series The Complete Collection edition by Jennifer Bene Romance eBooks Reviews

Good series. Bought the box set so was able to read uninterrupted
I loved this story from the first page to the last. It brought out many emotions. I was so happy when her and James got together. A perfect ending to her night mare .
I really appreciate the way the author addresses the difference between a true dominant and an abusive monster. She clearly defined the line between a BDSM relationship and being coerced into submission.
What put this series above and beyond for me was how much story line we got after the HEA. So many times once things come together and you see happiness to the characters, the story ends. I loved getting to know more about them after they fell in love.
Enjoyed reading seies of 3 books and bonus bits ,liked first book best,liked markus ,hope he could redeem himself in other 2 books that it was more his brother that was bad,glad thalia found love and happy after but would given more stars if markus got his to.
This was really a first for me. This book series is a truly very dark romance experience of a different caliber of love, desire and very dark obsessions. This author has captured my imagination that a world exists. I felt I was riding a roller coaster of many highs, lows and love. Great writing! I couldn't put the series down.
. I began this series by reading Security Binds Her as a stand-alone. WOW! It is an intense, graphic, disturbing, riveting, and incredulously erotic roller coaster ride full of pleasure, pain and confusion. It was the first book I had read by and reviewed for Jennifer Bene, and it has hooked me bad. Therefore, when the ability to have all of the Thalia books in one place, plus two bonus stories, became available, it was so enticing that I one-clicked this series the minute it was released. And I have not been disappointed.

The continuing story of James and Thalia is an intense, difficult, loving, erotic journey that allows them to eventually overcome numerous pitfalls and obstacles to attain their “Happily Ever After.”

I truly LOVED this series, and I recommend it to everyone who has an interest in a beautifully written, insightful view of a Dominant/submissive lifestyle.
This new release of the series is excellent. The complete set of stories with four bonus short stories. Jennifer Bene never disappoints. Had read most of it on Unlimited. When this box set was released, I bought it for my own. Starts with a kidnapping, ends with a Happily ever after.
The Thalia Series is a set of four separate novels (Security Binds Her; Striking A Balance; Salvaged By Love; and Tying The Knot) which tell the story of the titular main protagonist of the series – Thalia. Though the first story in this series begins with a very difficult to read scenario, the author has created a narrative in which the characters draw you into their world in such a way that you want to see what happens to them beyond that initial episode, and by the end you are so glad that you did. This is a series borne out of pain, and agony, turning to self-introspection, then ultimately to growth, happiness, finding oneself, and – yes – even love. It is a journey that is hard to begin, but once you’ve started, you cannot pull yourself away from it until by the end you wish it didn’t have to come to a close. The author uses a quote by Robert Frost at one point that sums this up perfectly “The best way out is always through.” This is the Thalia Series to a ‘T’. Along the way – yes - there is plenty of sex, as one would expect. The real joy in this series comes, in my opinion, from watching how the characters in the novels evolve, and that is especially true for the protagonist Thalia. Accept the challenge the author puts before you and make it through everything before the Happily Ever After, especially the beginning, hard though it may be. Because the reward at the end is simply incredible.

SECURITY BINDS HER - This is the first novel in the series, and it is a tough one. The one that is the most difficult to get through, because this starts with events which are brutal, painful to read, and terrifying, and contains situations that are honestly gut churning. This is the beginning, and because this series of novels is built upon a certain premise, it requires us (the readers) to go through this darkness, and this novel is without doubt dark. At times, very, very dark. The initial set up is…. rough. Savage. It is a terrible, horrifying situation that our protagonist for the entire series - the titular character Thalia - finds herself put in. For some, it may be overwhelming. However, what takes place is completely necessary for several reasons which become clearer as the novel goes on. Thalia finds herself placed in a horrifying situation, one which no person should ever be put into. Yet, the author allows the character to overcome some of the dreadfulness of this situation to discover things about herself. Discover aspects of the strength of her own personality, her desires, and just who she is as a person in the midst of this barbaric situation which unfolds upon her. The further you go into this novel, the more you become drawn to Thalia. Here is a woman who embodies everything that a strong person can be, and yet who gives up nothing of her own personality to placate or adhere to constraints put on her by anyone. She does not succumb to the evil which she finds herself in, and at the same time embraces certain things that take place in which she discovers much about herself while being put through this trial, without falling victim to it. She takes agency over what she can, involving what is happening to her in a way that the antagonists of the novel – brothers Marcus and Anthony- could not envision or imagine. In fact, this becomes a major plot point that is important throughout the remainder of the series. This story builds up Thalia into a person whom you just cannot help but be drawn to. You want to know her. You revel in the discoveries she makes about herself in the midst of this terrible situation, even as she refuses to let those same circumstances completely overwhelm her, or to become entirely what others would have her be. The antagonists believe themselves to have ‘broken’ her, but the reality is that it is they themselves who are broken (at least in one case), as the ending of this novel spells out clearly. It is also here where we are introduced to a new character which comes into Thalia’s life - James. It is this character that provides Thalia with a clearer understanding that some of the things that she’s discovered about herself are not, and need not, be directly tied to what she has been forced to endure. That these feelings, desires, can happen in an environment outside of the terrible one she’s been forced to suffer through, and be both healthy, and fulfilling. This allows her to make a decision that gives her back control over her life, by making a choice that ultimately has life-altering consequences for a great number of the characters introduced in this novel. By the end, the things that Thalia has discovered about herself, then manner in which she makes the choice to be with whom she desires, and the ramifications (and foreshadowing) of what lies ahead overshadow, in this reader’s opinion at least, much of the earlier discomfort that this novel started with. You see Thalia blossom into something far greater than the sum of the parts of what she has gone through, and you want to follow her to see where the new path of her life’s journey takes her. Her new par amour James is an enigma; he offers her a chance to expand upon some of what she has already discovered, but the very setting of how and where this takes place leaves the reader with questions of what his own motivations may be. This, and the drama of how the novel closes, are the perfect enticement to tease the reader to continue onto the next novel. Thalia will have gotten underneath your skin by now, no less than she has two of the characters within the world of the story. And you want to be there with her to find out just how all of that is resolved.

STRIKING A BALANCE - The second novel in the series picks up the story of Thalia, and expands on her newly established relationship with James, a character briefly introduced at the end of Security Binds Her. This novel is so much brighter in tone than the first, and comes as somewhat a welcome relief from the darkness and intensity of the first novel. This novel is all about finding. Finding oneself, finding community, and finding peace. Thalia is taken from a world of horror, a world in which she was forced to confront certain aspects of herself in circumstances that were far less than ideal. She is then brought into a world where she is given opportunity and the chance to build a life for herself, with the chance to discover more about aspects of her personality brought out during the trial’s she’d been through in the first novel. The growth of the Thalia character in this novel is so well played out, and that is what drives this story forward. To watch as Thalia becomes acclimated to her new world, how she overcomes the PTSD-like aspects of recovery from what she suffered through in the first novel, and how her burgeoning feelings for James expand make this novel a joy to read. The tension here is far less about external forces; this is the novel in the series which really deep-dives into the character of Thalia. Her emotions, how she feels, why she feels the way she does, and the discovery of all of that and more. A journey filled with introspection, and all comes with that. Anxiety, fear, joy, self-doubt, anger, frustration, and the wonder of finding that even though she may not understand it, that there are people who see the beauty within her far more than she can see herself. The pacing of this novel is quite different from the first novel, as it needs to be for all of this to take place. Choices are presented to Thalia that will directly impact her future, and the author spends considerable time allowing us to see within Thalia , not only as to how she makes the choices she does, but the processes she goes through to get to them. Both good and bad. Anguish and joy. This novel fills in some of the blank spaces about Thalia that the first novel left open. Motivations, internal reasoning for certain reactions, and the conflict we all face within ourselves at times when we question why we are who we are, especially when faced with something that we feel we don’t deserve. The wonder of this novel is how Thalia comes to terms with all of this, dealing with her own ‘demons’, and yet not allowing herself to be bound by events of her past, while at the same time not pushing away nor denying herself the right to take agency over aspects of herself that those events brought forth. At the end, you have watched as Thalia has become a fully fleshed out character, flaws and strengths combined, and one who is so empowering that you cannot help but like her. Is she perfect? No. However, that ultimately becomes the point of this novel. No one person is ever perfect. We are all the sum of our experiences, and how we chose to build upon them, accept who we are, and not buy into any conceit that any of those things makes us ‘bad’ or ‘broken’. Thalia could quite easily become the quintessential ‘Mary Sue’, and yet the author doesn’t allow that to happen. Thalia becomes someone you want to know, and in doing so the author makes it so easy to want to continue reading her story.

SALVAGED BY LOVE - And then we go back to the dark.

The third novel in the series continues with Thalia and James relationship, but also draws back in the two major antagonists from the first novel in the series. In doing so, we head right back into some of the by now familiar dark places that we experienced in the first novel. While this could easily have been nothing more than a re-hashing of the first novel’s premise for the sake of titillation, it never goes into that territory. Where Striking A Balance was about finding, discovery, Salvaged By Love is about understanding, recognition. Understanding who you are. Recognizing the worth of not only yourself, but that you are worthy in the eyes of those who surround you. Equally, it’s about recognizing that your worth can only be subverted by another if you allow them to do so, if you give them that power by your own hand. Thalia discovers this in circumstances that are as dark and horrifying as any she has been through so far, but the strength of character she has obtained and built on during the time of the second novel allows her to weather the events of the third in ways that wouldn’t have happened in the first. Thalia is a stronger person by now. A fuller person. One who takes ownership of whom she is, and refuses to let another deny her that, even when her own personality traits trend toward submissiveness of her own desire and making. She defines what embodies the essence of that personality type; someone who allows a power exchange to take place on her terms and her terms alone. Never under duress, and never under coercion. When forced into a situation where that does take place, she refuses to give in, to giving the power for someone to define her worth to them, rather than retaining that agency herself. The moments where this is taking place within the novel are some of the most powerful and at the same time disturbing as any in the series. Thalia is the reed that bends, but does not break. However, the author does not take the easy way out, and the reader is never certain which direction the ultimate outcome may go. This is intensified by the actions of one of the main antagonists, which brings up probably one of the more interesting character developments in the series, and which came completely unexpectedly for this reader.

The author chose in this novel to explore in more depth the mindset and rational behind what motivates one of the major antagonists of this novel and series. While this person had been fleshed out in a broader sense in the first novel, in Salvaged By Love the author really dives more in depth into this character’s thoughts. It is a bold move, considering all of the circumstances and actions of this character in relation to Thalia and what she is forced to endure. The choice works, however. Having shown just how strong and wonderful a person Thalia has become in the second novel, the motivations and actions of this antagonist in the third are all too easy to recognize in this story. While you cannot truly sympathize with him, you can, at the very least, recognize why he is doing what he is doing, even if it is in a bizarre, twisted way. It is somewhat analogous to the Clarice / Hannibal Lecter relationship in Silence of the Lambs. There is always a tiny bit of the devil in each of us, and you can recognize what motivates him even as you abhor what and why as he is doing it. It not only strengthens the readers understanding of the tenacity and fortitude of Thalia, but also increases the recognition of the sway that she holds over others, even if she (Thalia) does not recognize it fully of herself. The antagonist’s actions are never forgiven, and yet knowing what we do about Thalia, and how drawn we are to her by this point, there cannot help but be the tiniest sliver of empathy for the antagonist. He’s a terrible man, as any character put in his position must be, but you can understand why he is so drawn to Thalia, and ultimately why his fate ends as it does.

Without spoiling the ending of this novel, suffice it to say that the resolution is both satisfying, and yet a tad bit frustrating at the same time. There is one arc which seems to be deliberately left unresolved, and that was frustrating, at least to this reader. I wanted the same closure that seemed to be given to most of the other arcs here, and yet it was tantalizingly left open and ambiguous. Yes, the HEA is here, but not without that single dark cloud on the horizon. Given the character that that cloud embodies, it was a small but frustrating burr that stuck with this reader at the close of this novel.

TYING THE KNOT- This, the final novel of the series, is pure light. Well, that is not entirely true, but when compared to the others, including the second novel, this is by far the lightest and most joyous of them all. Essentially this novel is an extended Happily Ever After, and given the darkness of both Security Binds Her and Salvaged By Love, it comes as the perfect ending to the series. This is a love letter to both Thalia, and to the people she has surrounded herself in her life. Her friends, her lover, and everyone who has recognized her strength, her character, and her innate goodness, even when she herself has questioned those things. This novel centers around one day in particular, when all that Thalia has ever dreamed for, a day she quite honestly had thought would never come, does. There is a great deal of humor in this novel, and outright joy, and while the author is well-known for the darker aspects of her novels, this clearly shows she has the ability to write beyond that. Lest it be thought that there is nothing but light in this novel, there are, in fact, dark moments, but they mostly happen ‘off screen’. One very important plot point throughout the novels is finally cleared up (one which was left unresolved as noted previously), and some other issues are also addressed and brought to conclusion. There are a couple of scenes which address characters which have been affected by events in similar ways as the protagonist Thalia, and how she finds community with them and helps them on their path to recovery. These scenes address very dark issues, but are tempered with the knowledge that what you are witnessing is people who are dealing with their trauma in their own ways. These are people who, as Thalia herself did, discovered that they are not alone, and that there are people whom they can lean on and look to for support, as they themselves can provide the same for others. It is an empowering message, and while the subject matter is certainly dark, it is not one that leaves the reader feeling bleak at any time.

Beyond those moments and the resolutions mentioned, this novel is truly the proverbial ‘icing on the cake’. It is sweet, delightful, “awwwww” inducing, and provides the HEA that you would want (assuming that you are one of those readers who, like me, needs that when reading dark romance). In the strictest sense, this novel could easily have been thrown in at the end of Salvaged By Love in an abbreviated form to close out that novel. I’m glad the author chose not to. Though I would not suggest this novel be read as a stand-alone without the context of the previous three (and I would think many readers would be confused if they did), that this was written as its own separate novel is the perfect bookend to the other three in the series. The reader gets the resolutions to circumstances and story arcs that the three previous novels introduced, and then an incredibly beautiful, sweet, and just all-around heart-warming close to Thalia and James’ story. By the final word, you just really couldn’t ask for more.

There is a certain conceit to this series that may potentially be a stumbling block for some readers, and it is this in romance, even dark romance, non-consensual is a tricky tightrope for an author to walk with readers. This is especially true if the author wants the readers to take a character or characters to heart, and read their story from beginning to end. If that isn’t the intent of the author, but they simply want it to be ‘dark romance’ of the ‘don’t care about these people, just want to watch them have non-con / dub-con sex’ type (and there is certainly a place and niche for that type of novel), then character development and empathy typically take a backseat to the action. The Thalia Series is NOT that kind of series. The author quite clearly wants you to feel drawn to Thalia, and despite the dark nature of most of these books, she wants you to be invested in Thalia enough to follow along with her through her story, and empathize enough with the character to be willing to read not only the darkness, but also the light. In this regard the author succeeds admirably. These novels are by far much more than the sum of their ‘dark’ sex scenes. This series is more about the development of the protagonist, the experiences she lives and grows through, and the strong, independent person she becomes because of all of that. To be certain, there is plenty of hot, steam, dark and lite sex in these novels. However, in the end, it is the character (and characters) that you will remember most.

If there were any weaknesses to this series, I would say that they are minimal at worst. I will admit that the start of the first novel seems, upon first reading, to be abrupt, but in hindsight you come to appreciate that in the overall pacing and plotting of the novel, and into the series as a whole. However, it takes a leap of faith on the part of the reader to continue, and that is a risky choice by the author. There is simply not enough backstory provided to start to truly draw you immediately to Thalia; she’s somewhat of a cypher, and it’s hard at first to truly ‘feel’ for her. Admittedly that is a hard thing to say, considering the circumstances and actions which take place at the beginning of the first novel, but it was a potential sticking point, at least for this reader. I was unclear as to what tone this series was going to take from that beginning, and honestly thought at first it was going to be much more in line with the ‘don’t really care about these people, just want to watch them have sex’ style as mentioned above. I had refrained from reading reviews of these novels prior to purchasing the set, and based my choice solely on the basis of having read several of the author’s previous novels. I took it on faith that they would be tonally similar to her other works, but I wasn’t entirely sure at the start of this one. All I can say is that you need to be patient with Security Binds Her. It starts off quick, and it takes a bit of time to build into the main character and story. However, you’ll be so glad that you did.

I have no doubt that the second novel and the final novels may also be off-putting to some readers, especially those who are drawn more towards the darker aspects of the authors other works. These two novels of the series, while having a certain amount of ‘darkness’, are largely absent of the really dark aspects of both Security Binds Her and Salvaged By Love. Now, while I personally did not find that to be detrimental in the slightest, I have no doubt that others might. Some will come to this series, especially after reading the first novel, or certain of the authors other books, and have expectations that all four will have the same timbre. That may leave them disappointed by Striking a Balance and Tying the Knot. So while I cannot call this a criticism, it is definitely something that readers should take note of. I do not know how the novels would read sequentially if Striking a Balance and Tying the Knot were to be skipped, but I suppose they could each possibly be read as stand-alone if all dark, only dark were the reader’s taste. I would not suggest it, but for a reader to deny themselves the pleasure of reading anything of this series would be an even greater mistake, so if all a reader wants is dark, then read novels one and three, and skip two and four. However, I don’t advocate that, but only offer it as an option so as not to pass the series by completely.

As a final closing note in the box set I read the author has also included a selection of additional short stories that round out some side scenes and back story for the characters in this series. Some are strictly based around side characters, and others revolve around Thalia and stories that are not necessarily contiguous with the main story arcs. These are fun little short stories that serve to flesh out in an entertaining way the main story arcs in the four novels. I wouldn’t consider any of these stories dark (unless you count BDSM focused situations to be dark), but they are a delightful addition to the series, and I was grateful to the author for having included them. Consider them the chocolate mint left on your pillow by the author before a good night’s sleep.