The Taskmaster by Nikki J Summers
The Taskmaster is a dark romance book that follows The Taskmaster, the player of games and Abigail Walters. Abigail is next on the Taskmaster’s list, his list for revenge, but she becomes so much more than that to him. He isn’t the only predator watching from the shadows, either. His prey has another stalker, and that just won’t do! What neither of them knows is that all their paths are more intertwined than they realise.
I kept my thoughts and words inside. They were mine. Only mine. They were the one thing no one else could get at. Like a treasure, I kept them locked away.
⚫️Stalker ⚫️Serial Killer ⚫️Praise ⚫️Possessive unhinged tattooed biker mmc ⚫️Heroine with dark secrets ⚫️Twisted Games think “saw” ⚫️Pierced MMC ⚫️It’s not IICYIFU its when
🔴Murder 🔴Violence 🔴Gore 🔴Suicide 🔴Death of a parent 🔴Child Neglect 🔴Child Cruelty 🔴Child SA (Historical for both MCs) 🔴Self-harm 🔴Explicit torture scenes 🔴Torture mind games leading to a gory death 🔴Kidnapping 🔴Drugging 🔴Stalking 🔴Drowning 🔴Death by hypothermia 🔴Forced imprisonment 🔴Human trafficking 🔴Attempted SA of FMC not by MMC 🔴Stillborn at birth (historical reference) 🔴Cancer (parent) 🔴Explicit sexual scenes between MCs all consensual
The Bogeyman of Brinton Manor? The fucking Bogeyman? Of all the names they could’ve given me, they went with that pile of crap?
Okay, holy moly. This may very well be a word vomit review because I’ve just finished reading this at 10:30pm and I haven’t gathered my thoughts into a neat, organised package…Wait, I never do all my reviews are word vomit 😂 okay this one may be more so than usual lol.
This book was a ride, and I had seen quotes and the blurb; I didn’t check the trigger warnings, but I did review the tropes and figured I knew what this book was going to be like. Well, I assumed…and you know what happens when you assume? It makes an ass out of u & me. Well, not really in this case because it was a good shock for me. By the end of Chapter One, my heart was cracked; in Chapter Two, it broke. I was not expecting it. It was heartbreaking, but also a good surprise.
It was a fair trade. Their life for the one I lost
MILD SPOILERS MAY BE BELOW
Isaiah is our MMC, also known as the Taskmaster. We meet Isaiah at the very end of chapter one, in a heartbreaking scene. Isaiah is about two or three at this time. It is from here on that what Isaiah endures spurs him into being the Taskmaster and playing the “games” he plays. He isn’t a mindless killer; he is seeking revenge for all the children who were hurt by these people, including himself.
I wasn’t really the sit-down-with-others-and-shoot-the-breeze-over-drinks kind of guy. I was more a shoot-them-dead guy
Abigail, our FMC, is on his list as a way to show her father what it’s like to hurt. Isaiah didn’t think he would become so obsessed with her the way he did. Abigail is also hiding some major secrets that we don’t know about until about 80% in. It was crazy to see how their paths had kind of crossed, and how they had both lived through serious trauma and were claiming their vengeance.
I didn’t care about people. But maybe I cared a little about her.
The characters, Abigail and Isaiah. I really liked these two. They had both been through so much, but they were resilient and strong. I like their humour and the way they gravitated toward each other. I like that Abigail didn’t open up to Isaiah straight away, that even though she knew he was dark and twisted and would probably help her, she wanted to claim back what was stolen from her for herself, and also not trust him implicitly. Obviously, that changes, and she does, but I mean, with what he does for her? I would too.
Most people would call it Simon Says, but I don’t want to hear another man’s name in this bedroom, so we’re gonna call it I Say
I’m so glad that Abigail & Isaiah got the ending they both deserved. That bonus chapter had me sitting with a lump in my throat!
The spice was also very good, not too much, not too mild…nice and medium 😂 I also learnt a new piercing 😂
I enjoyed the setting of the book; being British, it was a realistic setting for me, and that helps me visualise everything. The writing was fantastic, like I said, by the end of Chapter One I was feeling feels, and I think that may be the quickest a book has ever made me feel something! Nikki writes in a way that immerses you, and you go through these emotions with the characters. There are a few times I wanted to cry for them, punch someone for them and laugh with them. I have a tendency to read for a little bit, scroll on my phone, then read, then draw, then read. I can’t stay still, but I can’t even lie, I started this at 9am, and had to leave to get my nails done. Came home, read 15% had a nap because chronic illness sucks arse, then I woke up at 5pm, had my tea and then sat and read until I finished. I could not put it down! The Kindle came with me to the toilet, it came with me while I made a drink, it may well have been glued to my hand. I don’t know why I had to give you a full day breakdown to say that I was hooked! But now you know what I did today, so you’re welcome.
One, two, The Master’s coming for you. Three, four, I’m gonna fuck you on the floor
I highly recommend this book. The eBook is being released on 17th October, and the paperback is available now.
Thank you, Nikki and Candi Kane PR, for the ARC
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️.5/5
