Descent

4.25 stars--DESCENT by Natasha Knight is the second instalment in the author’s adult, contemporary, dark, erotic romance series set in the Benedetti Brothers Mafia World. This is businessman Hayden Montgomery, and Persephone Abbot’s story line. DESCENT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. You do not have to have read the previous series to follow the story or timeline.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line content, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Hayden and Persephone) DESCENT follows in the aftermath of an accident that left Persephone’s father clinging to life. With the family business and empire crumbling and nearing foreclosure Persephone’s only option to sign over control to the enemy, a man who is hoping to destroy what’s left of the Abbot empire. Enter businessman Hayden Montgomery, and the man with whom Persephone will fall in love. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Persephone and Hayden, and the potential fall-out as sins of the past threaten to destroy them all.

Persephone Abbot never knew to what extent her father had failed but a vendetta against her family finds our heroine facing a life of indentured servitude to a man who is seeking revenge- a debt owed with her life and her self-esteem; a humiliation that would continue for as long as Hayden wanted. Childhood friends with the Montgomery siblings, Persephone would be destroyed when death would take one of their own.

Hayden Montgomery not only wants vengeance but he will take everything including our story line heroine in an effort to get what he wants, and done. Believing Persephone’s father betrayed the family, Hayden seeks revenge by destroying the one person that mattered –Persephone herself.

The relationship between Hayden and Persephone is a contemptuous at best; a forced enemies to lovers relationship in an effort to take control of what was, and what will never be. Every aspect of Persephone’s life will be controlled by a man determined to get revenge, control that pushes the boundaries of questionable consent, and forcible $ex. The $ex scenes are aggressive and rough but I struggled with the use of a certain four-letter word in my ‘romance’ story lines.

We are introduced to Persephone’s younger sister Lizzie and their father Quincy Abbot and their step-mother Irina; Hayden’s twin brother Ares, and their brother Jonas, as well as their father Jeremiah Montgomery. There is a cameo appearance by Dominic Benedetti, his wife Gia, and mobster Angus Scave.

DESCENT is a story of fracture family dynamics; of secrets and lies; unforgiveable sins and retribution. The premise is dark and gritty; the characters are edgy, tragic and broken; the romance is questionable but passionate.

Wow! Another amazing dark romance by Natasha Knight! This is a full length novel, so no cliffhanger, which I really appreciate it. I loved this retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth set in modern times. Hayden (Hades) and Persephone's story is amazingly dark second chance to love, complex, captivating, heartbreaking and heartwarming afterward, filled with drama, danger, secrets, and unpredictable twists and turns. Hayden is an amazing dark character, ruthless, powerful, alpha, and dominant. He is seeking for vengeance. Persephone is a beautiful woman, young, innocent, naive, and strong. While seeking for the truth, she gets caught in the middle of a war. The share a sizzling chemistry. The storyline is intense, and suspenseful. The secondary characters are intriguing, and they have an important part in this story. The ending is fast-paced, action packed and completely unpredictable. The Epilogues are heartwarming. I enjoyed it! I would love to have Ares's story. Author Natasha Knight, I love your words, very much.