Heather C's Reviews > The Island

Dark, Brutal, and Gripping! Loved it!!

I'm thinking I might have been a little over-prepared for this one. I didn't read the blurb or any reviews, but was told that there was quite a bit of rape and torture throughout the story. Well, it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected! All the bad stuff was either alluded to or mentioned after the fact or kinda glossed over.  Lee went through a lot of horrible things, but I didn't have to suffer along with him.  So, if I had to state an issue with the story, that would be mine: that I was protected from the graphic, violent violations of Lee's humanity.  I mean, I knew what was being done to him, but I didn't live it and feel it like he did.  I know that's a lot fucked up of me, but I feel like the story would have been more intense and more emotional if I wouldn't have been so protected. On the other hand, I still loved the story.
 
I really liked Shaw's character.  There was a lot going on with him and I liked how he constantly struggled with his primary goal versus his morality. He never hurt or raped Lee and I truly believe he tried to keep him as safe as he could in the only way he knew how.

In the end, I really felt the connection between Shaw and Lee, not just the sex but the emotional connection, and that there could be true love between them beyond hero-worship or Stockholm Syndrome. I wouldn't exactly call this a HEA, but it's definitely a HFN. And I am 100% ok with that.

This story is very heavy and dark and I recommend it to anyone who thinks they can handle it.