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Jude Knight

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The Darkness Within (Lion's Zoo Book 4) Kindle Edition

by Jude Knight (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.8 24 ratings

Book 4 of 4: Lion's Zoo

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Folks, just letting you know that this one is dark. In some places, very dark. If you read nothing else in this blurb, read the trigger warning at the end.

To save her, he must lose her
Ever since he escaped his childhood abuser, Max has killed for a living—first as a sniper and assassin in the war against Napoleon, and later ridding the world of those whose power on those around them allowed them to commit evil without fear of punishment.

The dead burden what is left of his soul, and he wants to retire, and kill no more. When a search for a missing comrade takes him into a religious community, he feels as if he has found a home for the first time in his life.

But there are cracks in the innocent surface the village shows its visitors. Max discovers hints at what lies beneath even as he falls for Serenity, who has recently been appointed Goddess-Elect, the designated virgin to take her place as three-month wife of the community's leader, the Incarnate One.

The secrets of the community are worse than the secrets that burden Max’s soul. They put Serenity and others in dreadful danger. To save her, he must lose her, for if he draws on his hard-won skills, she will recoil from the darkness of his soul.

Warning:
This book is largely set within a cult, and is nothing like a typical Regency. It also mentions (but does not show or detail) sexual abuse, including child abuse, as well as violence. Most violence is mentioned in passing after the fact. Some violence is on the page but is not described. At one point, a group of minor characters commit suicide. Again, this is mentioned, not shown. The general population is controlled with the use of drugs.

If you have been affected by cults, violence, abuse, drug misuse or suicide, you might want to approach this book with caution. It might be triggering. It might be satisfying to see evil overreach itself and come to no good end while our hero and heroine—and most of the community—live happy lives. You decide.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CM4NCN4Y
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Titchfield Press (December 29, 2023)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 29, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2851 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 196 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1991199694

Best Sellers Rank: #219,667 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #179 in Tudor Historical Romance
- #209 in Tudor Historical Romance eBooks
- #3,119 in Victorian Historical Romance (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.8 24 ratings

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Jude Knight

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Have you ever wanted something so much you were afraid to even try? That was Jude ten years ago.

For as long as she can remember, she's wanted to be a novelist. She even started dozens of stories, over the years.

But life kept getting in the way. A seriously ill child who required years of therapy; a rising mortgage that led to a full-time job; six children, her own chronic illness… the writing took a back seat.

As the years passed, the fear grew. If she didn't put her stories out there in the market, she wouldn't risk making a fool of herself. She could keep the dream alive if she never put it to the test.

Then her mother died. That great lady had waited her whole life to read a novel of Jude's, and now it would never happen.

So Jude faced her fear and changed it--told everyone she knew she was writing a novel. Now she'd make a fool of herself for certain if she didn't finish.

Her first book came out to excellent reviews in December 2014, and the rest is history. Many books, lots of positive reviews, and a few awards later, she feels foolish for not starting earlier.

Jude write historical fiction with a large helping of romance, a splash of Regency, and a twist of suspense. She then tries to figure out how to slot the story into a genre category. She’s mad keen on history, enjoys what happens to people in the crucible of a passionate relationship, and loves to use a good mystery and some real danger as mechanisms to torture her characters.

Dip your toe into her world with one of her lunch-time reads collections or a novella, or dive into a novel. And let her know what you think.

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4.8 out of 5

24 global ratings

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PeggyC51

Heaven

Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2024

Verified Purchase

While searching for a missing member of Lion’s Zoo, Max discovers a religious sect living in an isolated village. The leader of the group and his brother, an earl seem to have hoodwinked the members into believing anything they tell them through the use of drugs. Very few question any of it, and the ones who do disappear. As Max searches for Rueben and investigates the village, he is plagued by his past and the similarities to this group. He meets Serenity who is one of the teachers in the village school. Their attraction is tentative, especially on Serenity’s part, but slowly their feelings grow. This very well-written story is dark and intense. Max and Serenity, as well as most of the members of the village, are vulnerable, but gain confidence and courage as the truth is revealed. The members of the Zoo are here to help. Max steps into a new role as the real hero, comes to grips with his past, and finds his happily ever after.
I received an ARC of this book via BookSprout and voluntarily reviewed it.

Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2023

Verified Purchase

This book deals with hard issues, namely being part of a cult. Yet, throughout the story, Max retains his caring dignity, even as he delves further into the cult's dark history. Along the way, he encounters Serenity, a sweet young woman destined to be the next wife of the cult leader. The more Max learns about Serentiy, the more determined he is to uncover the truth behind the cult so that she may make her own choices. Despite the subject matter, Jude Knight tells a compelling story about redemptive love with a very satisfying HEA. This book is part of Lion's Zoo and gives us the history behind Max, a character I've wondered about when reading other books in the series. While it is part of a series, it can easily be read by itself. However, once you've discovered Lion's Zoo, I feel confident you'll want to read the entire series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. My review reflects my deep appreciation for Ms. Knight's talent as a Storyteller.

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2024

When I initially read the large trigger warning for this story, I was a little hesitant to read it. I like dark romance, but some of the wording in the warning. made me think this book may be too much for me. After reading this story, I do not feel this romance is truly in the "dark genre." Hence, I think most readers will be fine with the content. In fact, I found it somewhat mild compared to other historical romances. Though, if you are sensitive to the aforementioned content you may want to read with caution.
Plot- The hero, Max, grew up an orphan on the streets, thieving to survive. He was removed from the streets by a man that abused him. He has lived his life never feeling as though he was deserving of love- due to his upbringing and actions he took. He joined the "zoo" (a group of men who helped the war effort- named so because each member has an alias of an animal) and is called to his mentor's estate because one of their members has gone missing. He tracks his friends last known whereabouts to a cult that is operating under an Earls protection. At first Max feels as though he finally found some place that he can find peace...
The story centers around his quest to find his friend and his meeting with the heroine, Serenity.
Serenity grew up in the cult and when Max first meets her, she is about to become Goddess elect. She is all goodness and light, whereas Max feels he is all darkness and thus not fit to love her.
The book was extremely well written, and the plot was unique and expertly crafted. I also never suspected the plot twist.
I actually wish the hero was slightly more "dark"/anti hero just because I felt it wasn't developed as much as the blurb indicated (ex assassin etc.). I felt Max's character could have been developed slightly more. Though this isn't a clean romance, it's not overly spicy. Most of the violence in this story are from "past events" and only briefly mentioned by the characters in this book.
Heat level- 2 out of 5
Violence- 3 out of 5.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Sydnee Welker

Dark but meaningful

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023

Max is a loner. He isn’t a man known to stay in one place long. He doesn’t like to be touch because of his horrible past. He works with the Zoo to help others in need.
Serenity is a member of a community that seems to perfect to be true. As this story unfolds it is down right awful. The community is built on the pleasures of a few nasty people. You read things that shouldn’t ever happen but did and does still happen now as well as in our history.
This book was dark and takes the mind down awful places but if you look past that and see the story of Max and Serenity you find they have a good love. They have many things to complete before they get their happiness but it is there.

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2023

I’ve only read Grasp the Thorn so far in this series, and am now excited to read the two books I missed. There were a few editing glitches in the copy I read, but in all fairness, it was an advanced reader copy, so those glitches might have been resolved.
I really liked the depth of the characters and how well thought out all the different aspects of the plot! Quite a good story, and well told!

Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2024

Have a tissue handy and set aside a full day for this dark adult Regency cult rescue set in May 1817 when letters to Lieutenant Reuben Stednam, code name Squirrel, are returned to sender marked "undeliverable." There ARE trigger warnings that should be heeded if they apply to you.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Kath Robertson

Aptly Titled

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 31, 2023

Verified Purchase

This book is much darker than Jude's other books, but gives ou an insightful look into the past .
Characters were believable, and some you wouldn't want to meet on a dark night ( if they were real ).
A very interesting story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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The Darkness Within (Lion's Zoo Book 4) Kindle Edition

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