Kept ♦ Evelyn Flood | Review

Kept ♦ Evelyn Flood | Review

Evelyn Flood’s Kept, the first novel in the Forbidden Fairytales series, is a dark and interesting reimagining of the classic Rapunzel. The novel, however, is not about a princess in a tower waiting to be rescued by a noble prince; rather, it is a realistic portrayal of a young woman—Zella—who has spent her entire life in captivity, shielded by her enigmatic guardian Ethan. When a trio of morally ambiguous men break into her world, Zella makes the risky decision to sacrifice her loyalty for a taste of freedom.

Kept by Evelyn Flood
Series: Forbidden Fairytales #1
Published: 31. October 2023 by Independently Published
Format: Kindle Edition, 354 pages
Genre: Abuse, Contemporary, Dark Romance, Fairy Tales, Retelling, Reverse Harem
ASIN: B0CCSSFQM9
Language: English
Audience: Adult
Shelve: Read 2024
Link to Goodreads
Rating:

I can't live my life in a cage anymore.
Please... take me with you.

My whole life is squeezed inside these walls. I can't remember the last time I left this building.

My guardian, Ethan, tells me it's to keep me safe. During his visits, he tells me the world is dark and full of evil. Evil that killed my parents, stole my family from me and left me in Ethan's care.

He wants me to stay here. Forever.

But when a group of men break into my prison, I make a reckless decision.

Information, in exchange for freedom.
Danger, in exchange for safety.

They're everything Ethan ever warned me about.

Maverick, the puppet master with cool eyes and a colder smile.
Ryder, the thief with light fingers and a dark heart.
And Enzo... who'd rather carve himself into my skin than let me leave.

I have to make a decision.

The man who raised me... or the men who stole me?

This is a why choose, dark contemporary retelling of Rapunzel with three morally-gray men and a heroine who'll do anything for freedom. It contains mature themes and is not suitable for younger readers.

Buy the Book at: Amazon*

Opinion

One of the most surprising aspects of Kept was Evelyn Flood’s infusion of depth into her characters. Zella’s path from naïveté to self-discovery adds emotional depth to a genre that often lacks meaningful character development. The story does an excellent job of portraying her transformation from protected and innocent to a woman seeking agency and understanding in a world she hardly knows. Her evolution as she tackles her fears, desires, and conflicted loyalties demonstrates true growth and draws readers in closer to her personal conflicts.

Flood provides the male characters—Maverick, Ryder, and Enzo—individual personalities and motivations that are, at times, as intriguing as Zella’s own maturation. Each man adds a new layer of complexity to the plot, heightening the intrigue and danger. Maverick, the „puppet master,“ is cold and calculating, Ryder is a brilliant burglar with a wicked sense of humor, and Enzo, the most intense of them all, appears determined to imprint himself on Zella’s psyche, if not her very soul. Together, they produce a dynamic blend of protectiveness, possessiveness, and manipulation that kept me guessing and adds an unexpected twist to Zella’s journey.

However, while I appreciated the characters‘ edgy interplay, I found other things disturbing, particularly the consent. Kept comes with a typical Dark Romance warning, and there are heated situations in which Zella’s consent is questionable, if not ignored entirely. Given Zella’s lack of experience from her years of isolation, it was unnerving how the males utilized her purity and lack of knowledge to push limits. At times, the power dynamics felt more about control than romance, which may have made some readers uncomfortable.

Furthermore, while Flood provides plenty of insight into Zella’s thoughts and responses, I would have liked to see more sequences in which she actively controls her own romantic choices. The idea of Zella making a reckless decision for freedom was intriguing, but I was hoping for more instances when her individuality shined through, even as she managed her delicate connection with the trio.

Conclusion

Overall, Kept is a captivating retelling of Rapunzel, with a darker, grittier tone that will appeal to readers of morally ambiguous characters and dark romance themes. Flood’s compelling writing style and deep characterizations make it difficult to put down the book, despite the themes that may polarize some readers. Kept is recommended for anyone who appreciates grit and is willing to read gritty, often edgy romances. Just keep in mind that the power dynamics may raise problems about consent, so it may not be to everyone’s liking.

About Evelyn Flood

Evelyn Flood is addicted to books.
She writes in different subgenres including contemporary romance, reverse harem, mafia, fairytales and omegaverse - but you'll always find a main course of angst with a side dish of uncontrollable sobbing in every book she writes.
She used to be a tea drinker, but developed an addiction to coffee and can now be found at the nearest coffee shop when she should be writing.
On weekends, she likes to dance and drink espresso martinis.
Find her on Facebook in her readers group, The Evelyn Flood Collective.

Goodreads

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