The Bad Ones by Stylo Fantome is a brilliantly written, deviously dark romance that will have you questioning your sanity and turning pages until the end!

The Bad Ones

Review of The Bad Ones

Calling The Bad Ones a ‘dark romance’ is an understatement and doesn’t even scratch the surface of this twisted tale.  That doesn’t mean I didn’t love it, though. What does that say about me?  

I read this in one sitting—until 4 am mind you—because I was so engrossed in the story and had to find out what happens.  My eyes were flying across my Kindle, my heart was racing, and I couldn’t sleep after I finished.  

Whew, that was a wild ride and a very late night!

Dark Romance with Psychopaths

The Bad Ones is the brilliantly written, delightfully devious, and frighteningly psychotic story of Constantine and Dulcie—kind of “American Psycho” meets “Kalifornia” if you will.  

What I do know is that it may make you question both your sanity and the author’s as you read it. 

However, the writing is so good, that you can’t help but be drawn into their evil web.

The Bad Ones Summary

Dulcie and Constantine are from completely different backgrounds, but the monster that lives inside of them recognizes it in each other. 

While Constantine knows exactly what he is, Dulcie is just realizing what makes her different from ‘normal’ people.  

After a horrific event in the woods, they discover just how similar they are and their fate is sealed. 

No one is safe with these two working in tandem.  It was frightening to me to see that I wanted them to ride off into the sunset together, leaving their town burning at their feet (again, I am questioning my sanity).

This is my first book by Stylo Fantome.  Her writing in The Bad Ones is truly genius and the layers of the story are finely crafted.

I can say with certainty that I will be reading anything she writes from here on out.

Excerpt from The Bad Ones

Con finally unlocked the doors and she hefted herself into the massive vehicle. They sat in silence for a while, their breath fogging up the glass. Then he opened his mouth.

“Did he touch you?”

Dulcie knew he wasn’t asking about the homeless man.

“Not in any way that counts,” she replied, turning to look at him. His hands had moved to grip the steering wheel.

“So he has touched you.”

“Jared was just an experiment, I wanted to see if -”

“You let him fucking touch you.”

You fucking left me!” she was suddenly screaming. He didn’t even flinch, just gripped the steering wheel harder. “You fucking left me in this fucking town, without a goddamn goodbye! Without a goddamn word! God, you have no idea what it’s been like. That fucking camera, all those drawings. And there’s all these people, and talking, and feeling this way, and all the blackness, and I don’t even know what’s wrong with me, and nothing. You come back, and it’s like nothing to you. Oh hey, Dulcie. Where’s your sketchbook, Dulcie. Come to a party, Dulcie. Let me just fuck this chick in the woods, Dulcie. So you know what? Yeah, he fucking touched me. I let him fucking touch me. And I hated every minute of it, and I would pretend it was you, and I would hate you, and I would hate myself, and I just let it happen.

Con lunged across the seat, and absurdly, her first thought was “wow, he’s really fast” before his fingers wrapped around her throat. She wasn’t fazed, though, and she pushed right back, slapping him across the face. This only caused him to clench both hands around her neck and he yanked her forward, dragging her to him so their faces were only inches apart.

“Stupid little Dulcie,” he whispered, his breath hot against her lips. She held onto his wrists and glared at him, but didn’t try to pull away. His fingers got tighter. “So scared of the big bad wolf.”

“I’m not … scared of you,” she managed to gasp out, but then his grip grew so tight he completely cut off her oxygen.

“Of course you aren’t scared of me. I’m not the wolf. You are.”

So that’s what was hiding behind the curtain. I wish you’d told me sooner, Con. We could’ve reveled in our darkness together.

It felt like a weight was lifted off her back. She’d been pretending for so long, and she hadn’t even realized it. Had conditioned herself to do it. It was easier to believe Con was the darkness, and she was simply drawn to it. Basking in his wake. But it was all a lie – she was every bit as dark as him. They were the same animal. She’d just been better at deceiving herself. And now they’d evolved into something else, into a new, higher being.

Her lungs were throbbing, screaming for oxygen. She could feel her pulse pounding behind her face. Her mouth was open, but she couldn’t make a sound. Black spots danced in front of her eyes, yet still they stared at each other. Recognizing each other, maybe for the first time ever.

Maybe for the last time.

What a way to die, looking into the face of this beautiful boy. What a gift.

Thank you for the advanced copy of THE BAD ONES by Stylo Fantome.  All opinions are my own.

Want more? Check out these posts!

About Stylo Fantôme

Crazy woman living in an undisclosed location in Alaska (where the need for a creative mind is a necessity!), I have been writing since ... forever? Yeah, that sounds about right. I have been told that I remind people of Lucille Ball - I also see shades of Jennifer Saunders, and Denis Leary. So basically, I laugh a lot, I'm clumsy a lot, and I say the F-word A LOT.

I like dogs more than I like most people, and I don't trust anyone who doesn't drink. No, I do not live in an igloo, and no, the sun does not set for six months out of the year, there's your Alaska lesson for the day. I have mermaid hair - both a curse and a blessing - and most of the time I talk so fast, even I can't understand me.

Yeah. I think that about sums me up.

About the Book

MY RATING:
5/5

date published : April 10, 2016

publisher : Self-Published

pages : 229

The Bad Ones by Stylo Fantome

Love isn’t always bright and shiny.

Sometimes, it’s dirty and wrong, buried six feet deep in a secret place where only wild things dare to go. Hidden behind a big black curtain that covers things no one should ever see.

Sometimes it happens between two people who should never be allowed to come together. One who is a match, and the other who just happens to be gasoline.

One strike is all it takes to burn the whole world down, and that’s exactly what they plan on doing.

Even if it kills them.

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2 Comments

    1. Thanks, Tanya! I thought it was completely dark and crazy, but the writing was so good, it just drew me in. I hope you’ll give it a go and let me know what you think!!

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