Title: Heart Thief
Monsters come in many forms.
A graze scorching with pain to my knee makes me wince, the torn material of my dress rubbing against the broken skin. “Hello?” I call out, inching closer and closer to the roaring orange glow of the fire. Shadows dance down the walls as footfalls sound just outside the room I was deposited inside by the man who said he was security.
“Look what the tide washed in,” a deep rumble booms across the room.
My hand wraps around my waist to ease the nerves.
“This is private property. Do you want to tell me what it is you’re doing docking here?” The voice steps into the light, stealing my breath.
He looks like a man from the stories Clara used to tell me at night when I couldn’t sleep. Dark probing eyes seek me out, making a quiver of excitement and fear ripple through my body. Powerful arms fold across a broad chest covered in clothes I’m not used to: formal wear, a suit.
He has a confidence about him that commands the space he’s dominating with his size. He’s taller than me by a comfortable foot and a half. As he edges closer, the urge to run away sends a rush of energy to my legs. “Do you speak?” He narrows his dark orbs on me, bringing a hand up to loosen a tie around his neck.
Moving toward a table set out with bottles full of liquids, he asks, “Drink?”
The dryness of my throat aches. A longing to quench a thirst I hadn’t realized I had has me nodding and pushing a meek, “Yes, please,” past my lips.
The quirk of his lips doesn’t go unnoticed as he pours amber liquid into two glasses and hands me one. His fingers brush mine as I accept the offering, sending a spark over my skin. My eyes fixate on the contents of the glass. There are two mouthfuls at most. Maybe he can’t spare more. I smile a thank you and lift the glass, taking a sip.
A harsh burn explodes over my tongue, making me gag. “Oh God, what is that?” I choke out, holding the glass out to give it back to him. A harsh laugh barks from his lips, making my stomach dip.
“You’re one of them, aren’t you?” He steps toward me, closing in around me like a predator would prey. I shuffle back, bumping my hip against a couch.
“One of who?” I frown.
“Cult Island.” He scoffs, snatching the glass from me and throwing the contents into the fire. It hisses and snaps, flames jumping out in retaliation. “I should have guessed by what you’re wearing.” He smirks, his eyes lazily roaming down my body, making a blush bloom on my cheeks.
My review of Heart Thief
Heart Thief by Ker Dukey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars.
Awesomely dark retelling of Moana!
I never read Moana or saw the movie, but I did check out some YouTube videos on the differences between the Disney version of Moana and the real Polynesian story. A lot of that centered around the demigod Maui. In this story there are twins Cash and Colt. Colt is known around town by the nickname demigod since he was in high school.
The story begins with a twelve year old Mona who lives on an island which is run by her father who is pretty much a cult leader to the people on the island. He is strict with the laws he creates and a lot of the laws are intended to keep the islanders afraid of the outside world. They are on an island but can’t go in the ocean, so can’t learn to swim.
Though they get supplies from the mainland, only a few of the islanders are allowed to leave and only to get the supplies. Anyone else caught trying to leave gets punishment of one year in Mona’s fathers dungeon and after that has to be cleansed since they are not pure (you don’t want to know what is involved in that, believe me). It has always been women that try to leave because the men pretty much have it made. They can have more than one wife and treat their women how they want. Mona’s father is shown to be abusive to his wife and daughters.
Mona’s sister Clara left the island after talking to Mona and giving her a heart necklace with a C on it to have her close to Mona’s heart. Clara wore a similar one with an M. However, Clara is found dead with her heart missing a month later on Mona’s birthday and Mona finds out on that day when mainland police come to inform the family. When Mona turns eighteen, she can no longer stand the rules and laws and escapes to the mainland.
Mona meets Colt and Cash who have ties to her sister and hate the people on the island. She wants them to help her find out what really happened to her sister and where Clara’s heart is. While staying with Colt and Cash she develops feelings for Colt and he for her. As Mona gets more confidence from being away from her father’s island she also decides that she wants to free the people there. I won’t go into more of the story because it is very good and you should experience it for yourself. This is a steamy dark romance and like the blurb says there is blood, so it is not for the faint of heart. Though I really liked it!
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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