A dark, dual-POV romance that will leave you questioning your life choices...and possibly require therapy. Perfect for fans of Lights Out, Haunting Adeline, and In Love With the Devil...HEA included.
Title: The Art of Obsession
Author: Emily Shore
Page Count: 526
MY RATINGS:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Contemporary, Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, BDSM, Stalking
If you love something, you never set it free. You fight for it. And I’ll fight for you.
THE MUSE
The nude sketch was left on my pillow. A sketch of…me. I knew I had a stalker—someone watching my every move from the shadows. I never expected him…
The world knows him as Acheron—a world-renowned, billionaire stage artist who always wears a mask. He’s claimed me as his muse. And he’s created a dark exhibit just for me. Trapped in his underground gallery, I’m not just a historian. I’m his possession. His work of art. And I may never break free.
THE MASTER
She is not simply my muse. She is my masterpiece. Everleigh is mine—my inspiration, my obsession. She is the culmination of every brushstroke, every line, every dream.
She may fight me, but she’ll learn the truth soon there is no life, no freedom, no escape without me. She is the creation I was born to make.
A dark, dual-POV romance that will leave you questioning your life choices…and possibly require therapy. Perfect for fans of Lights Out, Haunting Adeline, and In Love With the Devil…HEA included.
This story will make you realize that sometimes, the most dangerous characters are the most compelling. You’ll excuse the villain’s flaws as battle scars, and forget they are still wounds. You’ll believe that you can FIX him, even when he has no desire to be fixed.
TROPES:
-Stalking
-Possessive/obsessive masked man
-Touch her and die (or Look at her and die)
-His stalking made her feel violated, and she hated him for it.
-Cat and mouse
-FMC (historian) x MMC (wealthy masked stalker)
Safety:
-No sharing/cheating
-HEA. Yes.
As someone who was experiencing a reading slump and struggling to finish books over 300 pages, “The Art of Obsession: A Dark Stalker Artist Novel” by Emily Shore brought back my love of reading. I finished it in two straight days! It hooked me from the very beginning. To think this is her first contemporary romance, it’s truly exceptional!
I experienced a whirlwind of emotions while reading this novel. This book helped me escape reality, and now I can’t stop thinking about it. Incredibly entertaining and impossible to put down.
WHAT I LIKED:
1. I loved how Emily Shore portrayed the MMC (Acheron) as an artist with a deep appreciation for art. It was like I was reading dark, beautiful poems, especially the part when Acheron talked about Everleigh in relation to art. Every word he said was so interesting.
2. This countdown game seriously got my heart pounding! They have this whole thing where Acheron gives Everleigh 10 minutes to hide, then he goes hunting for her. Lol, it was SO tense! There’s another one. The scene where Acheron compelled Everleigh to write “I will not destroy Master’s Art” incredibly intense. I almost held my breath while reading it.
3. Everleigh (as a historian), was wonderfully portrayed. It was funny how she’d get distracted by the antique objects in Acheron’s possession, even in stressful moments. This amused Acheron. She could have thrown anything at Acheron to defend herself, but she’d stop the second she realized it was an antique. I weirdly loved that part.
4. It was surprisingly sweet that the stalker knew how to braid her hair.
5. It had a psychological thriller vibe because of the mind games. The story keeps you guessing about who the true villains are. Yes, bad villains do exist here!
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
1. Sedation without consent.
2. Cherry’s character. I’m sorry but her conversations with Everleigh weren’t helpful and kinda distracting. I almost skipped her parts.
3. Exhibitionism. Just nope!
FRIENDLY REMINDERS:
1. This is definitely not a typical dark romance. It has strong “Haunting Adeline” vibes and may not be suitable for all readers. Your mental health is important.
2. I know how cozy it is to read with coffee. But trust me, you might want to put it down. Every scene in this book will make your heart palpitate.
3. This story might make some people uncomfortable. The MMC is seriously obsessed with the FMC, which can feel a bit creepy. Some readers might DNF. However in my opinion, If you like messy/problematic relationships or complex characters, finish this book. It’s worth it.
NOTE: This is my personal opinion about the book. My goal is to share my experience, not to change anyone’s perspective.
