Used (Dark Hearts)

This story takes places in the world of the Wicked series and Wolfe. We meet a new mesmer and his victim Red. Be warned it is dark and like the other stories, there is no happy end in side.Idan feels he has things under control, until Red comes back. His routine and control are gone. He has reds mind firmly in his grasp while he does terrible things to her body at the same time. Red is never quite sure about what is being done to her. What is real and what is not.It is a great psychological dark book.

Oh, I do love the world of mesmers. Isak is trying to fight his mesmer side, but Red brings out the worst in him. Used, originally written as dark horror left me wanting more. Red is definitely a talisman for Isak as he plans to travel with his Red suitcase. But what will become of Red, I need to know. I loved the depravity of Isak's actions and how Red wasn't totally broken.Cari has graced us with Isak and Red's story after the events of Used and I am so excited to finally get their story!

Ok I don't know where to start with this review. But Mrs Silverwood took me for a ride with this one that I don't know what to think. It sure was something I don't know if I what to love Isak or what? But the only thing I can say is that I for sure don't what to cross him.

I originally wrote my review of ‘Used’ when it was a part of the Win the Dark Wins anthology. Now that it is a stand-alone novel, I offer this updated review of the book.What can an operative of the CIA do when she is paired by her superior against a Mesmer; a man / creature able to see into her mind, manipulate her, and take what he desires?Suffer.And suffer she does.That is what Red goes through in the novel Used. Her suffering, created through mental, emotional, and sexual means as she is used by the mesmer Isak - who desires her for his own twisted reasons - is the heart of this dark, twisted game of a book. What I particularly enjoyed about this novel was that it combined both aspects of a spy novel with the dark romance / erotic romance portions of the rest of the story. The tone of this novel is quite dark, and yet the main antagonist still has a certain flair that kept him engaging as a character, and not simply falling into tropism and caricature of the ‘evil villain’. He has a seductive quality about him that plays off quite nicely against the heroine , and – oddly for a book of this genre – he has enough redeeming qualities that I did not hate him with such loathing as I have other antagonists in the other stories of this type. The ‘tortured soul’ vibe for both the protagonist (Red) and antagonist (Isak, the Mesmer) playing off each other was very compelling, and drew me into the story to see just how it was going to play out at the end. Red is a very strong woman, an accomplished CIA agent, although she does have a chink in her armor that is exploited by Isak. It is that painful past that Isak uses as a tool in his manipulation of Red, but it is also a double-edged sword, as there are aspects to it that are painful to himself. One thing I did really enjoy about this story – and something that has bothered me with other stories of this type where this writer’s tool has been used- is the conceit of the antagonist having a ‘special ability’ that allows him to do something extraordinary, giving him a leg up on the protagonist, and others around him. In this story, however, the author does not use that ability to advance the story in an unnatural way (for lack of a better phrase). Yes, it’s a ‘superpower’ that the antagonist has, but it isn’t used as a deus ex machina in an overpowering way, or one which stretches the readers credibility. It just works. All that being said, it’s not as if you can / will want to ‘root’ for Isak, but there is a certain draw that the author provides here that gives you enough impetus to want to see it through to the end. If for nothing else, just to find out if there might perhaps be a sliver of an HEA . Whether there is? You’ll have to read it yourself to find out.

Used by Cari Silverwood was a twisted and very dark erotic 5 star read.I have missed Cari’s dark world and I was so excited to once again get pulled into the Mesmer crazy AF darkness. Mesmer’s take control of women through their mind, even though you know you don’t want to do it you have no choice. And the sex all I can say is wow.Red is on her way to kill Isak. Ever since Cuba he has had a control over her that she can’t explain. She needs to get it done before he knows she is there. BUT, what she doesn't know is, she’s too late.Isak, where to start with this dark, hot, crazy AF man. There is something about Red that he can’t get out of his mind. Now that she is here he will show her who is in control. Will Red survive?Did he not know what his monster did when he allowed it out? Was it him and was he it? Or were they two halves that barely met?Overall if you are looking for a vanilla type read this is NOT the book for you. If you like to be pushed to your limits of what you can handle in a very dark world then this is exactly what you're looking for. There are scenes that will make you cringe and question your own sanity and I LOVED it. Thank you Cari for not being afraid to bring us these great reads, I look forward to reading more from Iask and Red.

If you are looking for bright and cheery than move along and pass go without collecting $200 because you will not find it here. There are no happy endings. Hell, this is beyond pitch black. This is darker than 13 shades of midnight. Plan on needing therapy because there is a high possibility of finding yourself in the fetal position rocking back and forth in a catatonic trance.This series... Mmmmm Hmmm. There is something about mind control and fantasy and not being in control that is just delicious. This author can weave a tale better than just about anyone I have read that writes dark and twisty. If I close my eyes I can picture the scene that she is writing. I am not sure what that says about me that I am drawn to her work --or that I LOVE it so much because like I said this author pushed the envelope of what is right and moral.If you don't like dark, taboo, or 'Heroes" that tend to be more questionable than swoony then look no further. I will gladly keep following this author down the rabbit hole (and have extra therapy sessions available if needed when the time comes).

This story is not for the faint of hear or those with sexual trauma issues. There is no sympathy, no escape only dark desires and not control over them.