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A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas
4.6
The Emperor of Evening Stars: The Bargainer Series, Book 2.5
by Laura Thalassa
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About this book
Before he was the formidable Bargainer or the enigmatic Emperor of Evening Stars, Desmond Flynn was a boy born to the margins of faerie society. As the illegitimate son of a scribe, he navigates a world that views him as powerless and expendable. Haunted by a cursed lineage and the looming threat of servitude, Desmond is forced to sharpen his wits and forge his own destiny in a realm where magic is a currency he cannot afford.
Spanning the desolate caves of Arestys to the opulent, treacherous courts of Somnia, this narrative charts the harrowing evolution of a man defined by his ambition and his secrets. Through Desmond’s eyes, the power dynamics of the fae world are stripped bare, revealing the calculated risks and brutal sacrifices required to command respect. While his journey is one of survival and cold pragmatism, the foundations of his future are laid in the shadows of his past.
This perspective provides an intimate look into the motivations of a complex anti-hero, exploring the origins of his iron-willed resolve and the singular, consuming devotion that eventually defines his existence. For those captivated by the Bargainer’s allure, this account unmasks the man behind the myth.
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What readers are saying
G. BrownSWEET BABY ANGELS I LOVE THIS SERIES!
"Yes I have read all four books in this series multiple times which is really unusual for me but I love the chemistry between the two leads so much. Sexy, steamy, funny, touching, snarky, fated love...it’s all here. Of course there are holes in the plot and I was a little disappointed by the ending as it was sort of anticlimactic but just ignore them and focus on the love story and fun writing. And the sex! Some of it will make you blush — or at least it did me — but it is all consensual and done with strong emotional attachment. There are some heavy themes here and disturbing imagery as Callie and Des struggle with issues of rape, demonic children, bloody trees, and other frightening things but readers are not forced to live through those events first hand. The one thing I don’t understand in all of this is if Callie is a sexual abuse survivor, why is that never really addressed? We learn that she is lonely and somewhat self destructive but she doesn’t seem to have any repercussions with that horrible aspect of her life...it would have been nice to see how the two of them worked to heal her spirit in this way as sex dies play a large part in their relationship. All in all, this is a very sexy, sweet, and original love story that want to return to time and again. NOTE: I have read only one other series by this author — the Queen of Everything — which I detested completely. The Bargainer series seems like it was written by a completely different author. Give it a try! I hope you love it as much as I do. ["
December 6, 2018 Verified Purchase
Tessa LuttersA surprising change
"SPOILERS!!! This book is written in Desmond’s POV in its entirety and tells the important parts of his life story leading up to where we left off in A Strange Hymn. It’s alluring, intoxicating, and entrancing. It is incredible to see the first night they met from his perspective and see why he changed his mind initially. ["
February 14, 2025 Verified Purchase
clillies92Basically Perfection
"Holy toaster strudel, y'all. I thought I loved Des before.... Oh my gosh, he's everything I would want his character to be and more. You get to learn so much about him in this book. You actually get a slight insight into his childhood in the caves with his mother, then how he joined the brotherhood (that story was unexpected, and fantastic). You get to see his battle with his father. And then watch him grow into the king he has become. Aaaaand you get to watch him become obsessed with Callie. It's delicious. And it's obvious Laura gets what it feels like to fiercely love someone. The descriptions she gives of how Des feels about Callie and their interactions is perfection. If you're expecting steam or heat, go back to the first two books, because you don't really get any hot scenes from Des's POV, but it's worth it for all the emotional insight you get. I only wish there was a little more discussion of HOW his bargaining power works, as it stands it seems Des doesn't even fully understand it. Which is fine, I guess. But it's a mystery I would like solved at some point. And how he came about having this power, is it something from his mother? His father? Situational/environmental from his childhood? How much control does he have? He can obviously influence the way his bargains manifest prior to being fulfilled (Callie's braclet of beads v. other people's tattoos). But how much influence does he really have? Has he ever had a bargain take control of itself before like the one with Callie? ["
October 16, 2017 Verified Purchase
J_______Not present day - brings you current
"Whole series is a 5. This book was a 3 for me. Not present day but brings you current from his point of view. Overall, the series is a 5. BUT I NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE END OF BOOK 2!! Series review: Fairies, dark romance, spicy, a good plot and good writing!! This is a story I wanted to read every word. This is actually a beautiful love story. Moves quickly, between present day and 7 years ago. I don't want to spoil anything but there's plenty of spice, a bit of slow burn, a good fantasy romance. I had to finish the series!!! My only complaint was the 3rd book was kind of unnecessary but I liked his perspective of the last 8 years leading up to present day. I don't buy many books but I will read this one more than once. I went into this not expecting much bc it's on Kindle unlimited but the whole series is worth purchasing. Don't expect any kinky spice, but there's plenty. Th3 fact that there's such an emotional connection between the characters that spans years is just beautiful. Just give it a try!!!!! ["
July 4, 2023 Verified Purchase
