His Doll - Anna Svoboda

This is an extremely dark romance wi*th heavy themes and is not for all readers. Grace wakes up in a deeply dark situation with only two choices: panic or submit. Because of her past, Grace understands that sometimes acceptance is the safest option, and that realization was absolutely heartbreaking. She lived a life so cruel that submitting to what was happening felt normal to her.

Mikhail is accustomed to watching these “dolls” go through the process, but Grace’s immediate submission fascinates him. His thought process and actions are deeply disturbing. While I understand that some people are drawn to pain, the way he repeatedly inflicts it until someone breaks felt truly masochistic and unsettling.

Although I have read darker books, what Grace goes through here is not for the lighthearted. Several scenarios are intense and genuinely made me squirm. Mikhail puts her through unimaginable trials, yet that very resilience is what ultimately draws him to her. Grace never backs down and constantly strives to please him, even under horrific circumstances.

I did not expect the story to go where it ultimately went, but I loved that it did. For many reasons, the ending felt right for Mikhail. There were moments where I felt deeply for Grace, especially when she felt lost and alone, but everything came full circle in the end. This is an extremely dark read, emotionally heavy and disturbing, but also surprisingly impactful. I received this book as an ARC and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

I want to consume you whole so that we could never be separated again.