Counts of Eight by Brynn Ford - Review

Counts of eight by Brynn Ford is the first book in the new series, The Four Families. This is my first book from this author, and I was excited to read it. It's a dark captive romance, so just up my alley. 

Counts of eight is very well written and unique. I enjoyed reading it and read it in one sitting. I loved the chemistry between Anya and Ezra, and I liked how they grew closer throughout the book. I hope they get their happy ending. This book was definitely an emotional journey. 

The characters in this book face awful things, and I cried so many times. I mostly felt for Anya. She has been suffering for many years. I liked that the main characters were dancers. I'm a dancer myself, so it's always fun to see that. 

I got very sinister vibes from this book. There was much action, drama and violence. This book will end in a cliffhanger, and I can't wait for the second book. 

I received a free ARC copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own

Blurb:

All of my choices had been stripped from me except for one. Dance or die.

Three years ago, I was taken, stolen away, far from the world I knew, far from civilization. I became a slave, forced to serve one of the four families with my talent.

I'd been abused, battered, tortured in isolation. My master brought me men, partners for performance, but they failed to live up to the high standard of dance my master required.

Until one day, he brought me a new man. A blond-haired, green-eyed, dreamy new man who had no idea what was coming.

The men before him had disappeared. I presumed they were dead. I couldn't afford myself the luxury of hoping they'd made it out alive because that would give me hope that I might someday do the same.

Hope was a dangerous thing and this new man's spirit still thrummed with that electric spark of lightness. I would be the woman to strip that hope from him piece by tiny piece until he had none left. Only then could I control him, use him. Only then could I even consider the possibility of a predictable, complacent survival in this nightmare life.

And until that time came, I would make the only choice I was given the liberty of making.

Dance or die.

CONTENT WARNING: This book contains explicit sexual content, violence, and mature themes including scenes where consent is not sought or given. The author in no way condones such heinous acts, but rather seeks to immerse the reader in the true horror of the characters’ experiences. This is your trigger warning - reader discretion is advised.

SERIES NOTE: “Counts of Eight” is book one of three in the Four Families trilogy. It is not a standalone and the books must be read in order. The author plans to release books one and two in 2020 and book three by early 2021. The cliffhanger ending may provoke you to fling this book at the wall. Best of luck to you, daring readers.