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Full blurb coming soon.

Crucible must be read first.

Published February 1, 2020

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About the author

Natalie Bennett

106 books2,548 followers
Lover of all things pǝʇsıʍʇ & unusual.

I write unconventional 'romance' with strong elements of horror.

Find all my links here!
linktr.ee/AuthornatB

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5 stars
97 (33%)
4 stars
88 (30%)
3 stars
74 (25%)
2 stars
24 (8%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
Profile Image for Bex (Beckie Bookworm).
2,149 reviews1,430 followers
March 22, 2020
thumbnail_MaladyT (1)

This is a continuation of the story that started in Crucible.
It was a trifle short in length and I would have prefered it a tad longer and thought it seemed slightly rushed but I did enjoy it.
I do think the two parts would be better served as one complete story rather than split like it is.
So this was different and unique also bloody brutal and unpolitical psychotic just how I like it.
Its told from all three POV's Jace, Kaiden, Rae and it's action-packed from start to finish.
Beginning where we left off previously its now time to play a game.
If you want to join this nut-job family and the boys want Rae as there own there are rules and traditions to follow, it's literally do or die.
An interesting conclusion and introduction to another unusual family.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Malady (Deviant Games Book 2).

thumbnail_Maladyt2 (1)

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
Profile Image for NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books}.
1,413 reviews85 followers
February 25, 2020
***3,25 "Run... Hide..." stars***



I'm literally at a loss of words after that ending...
What the hell???
Hmmm.... Well... whatever....
The thing is that i'm feeling a little bit cheated by this book... I needed something more .... Maybe more words and more explainations about some things, especially of how we ended up in this epilogue...

"It was a classic childhood game, one I remembered from my elementary school days. I doubted this version could be remotely the same, but I had no other option than to play."

Phew... I told you that the twins were batshit crazy, but Rae was a stongwilled woman and she could succeed in all these shits that they were pulling out...
God!!! This family and especially the twins were CRAZY and.... No, i can't say more to you!!!!
The things that they were pulling off, they were able to pop your eyes out of your face...
They were CRAZY!!!! Do you hear me???

"It was probably foolish to think I stood a chance. I mean, there were how many before me???...
I wasn't going to give in this easily, though."


So, i really don't understand how we got here after all!!!
I'm missing things and I'm still speechless of what i had read!!!!
Natalie, honestly, i don't know how you're thinking all these things!!!
My moral compass is spinning like crazy and still... these shits are addictive as hell and you can not stop reading and wanting more... Ugh???
Maybe I'm crazy too???

"She could fool anyone, but not me. I knew her better than she knew herself.
I knew she had fallen in love with the very men she wished would rot in hell..."


*An advanced copy was received in the exchange of an honest review*
Profile Image for celeste.
610 reviews48 followers
July 6, 2020
i'm conflicted with these books because i just find them hella short and not long enough to develop anything that happens. i wish we could have seen more of how rae dealt with being "married" to the twins before we got to the epilogue. again, the author would benefit a lot more from writing an actual novel instead of a novella that is less than 150 pages long. malady was dark and fucked up as per usual with natalie bennett, whom i can safely say has dethroned k. webster as the author with the most fucked up books i've ever read. read at your own risk but NB's books have really fucked up characters and explores really fucked up themes.
Profile Image for JoLee (Cozy.Sunday.Reads).
659 reviews74 followers
August 24, 2020
Rating: 4/5 Loved It

Malady picks up where Crucible #1 left off. Jace and Kaiden are seriously not right in the head. I am right there with Raelynn that they are psychopaths. In the Twins eyes they can love but they have a sick and twisted way of showing it. Unpredictable and was not sure how everything was going to play out.

Short read, plot is twisted and unique with triggers.
Profile Image for Emmy Klaver.
100 reviews4 followers
September 24, 2021
The ending, omg. I needed more. I want more of this training they speak of. I needed to know more!
February 25, 2020
Confessions 3 1_2 Stars
🎭☠️𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓯𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓞𝓯 𝓐 𝓑𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓲𝓸𝓹𝓱𝓲𝓵𝓮 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀☠️🎭
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 𝟑 𝟏/𝟐 𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: Malady by Natalie Bennett wraps up all our unanswered questions from Crucible , book one in the Deviant Games Series. After reading Crucible I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. It had been quite a while since I read Crucible so I did a quick re-read and remembered exactly why I couldn’t wait for Malady ! Malady picks up right where Crucible left off so you definitely need to read Crucible first. Malady is a fast-paced, page-turner that will keep your jaw dropped the entire read trying to figure out what game these psychopaths are going to play next. This is NOT your normal romance, so if that’s what you’re looking for you have come to the wrong place.
❝𝑾𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚. 𝑾𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒃𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒃𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒉. 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆. 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒔.❞


This one is a fast-paced, full-throttle read but the ending left a bit to be desired… There’s no cliffhanger and I THINK I get where it goes, but I wish it had been explained a bit more. I just felt like there was SOMETHING missing from that ending. Other than that, another good release from Natalie Bennett .
❝𝑹𝒂𝒆𝒍𝒚𝒏𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔. 𝑺𝒉𝒆’𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒆𝒏𝒅.❞
💙 (𝓗) 𝓗𝓮𝓻𝓸: We have two heroes in Malady . But honestly, neither of these characters are heroes, they aren’t even anti-heroes! They are dark, deviant, and totally warped! Jace and Kaiden Blackwood come from a long line of deviants and they are surely living up to their family name. These boys have no regard for anyone else’s life, no matter who they have to use to win their game and claim their prize… Rae.



❤️ (𝓱) 𝓗𝓮𝓻𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓮: Raelynn A.K.A Rae has found herself playing a dangerous game that seems to be getting even more dangerous as time goes on. Other’s lives are in her hands and to save them, she needs to win. The only problem, the game is rigged. She was never meant to win…
❝𝑴𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅, 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍.❞
🔥🔥 𝟐/𝟓 𝓢𝓽𝓮𝓪𝓶 𝓕𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓻: Since the majority of the book, Jace and Kaiden are playing their “games” with Ray, there wasn’t much time left for romance and the steam. But these twisted boys most definitely made time for some twisted fun…



🌪 𝓒𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓯𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰: No, no cliffhanger. Malady wraps up the Deviant Games Series but there IS a third book, Calamity , releasing that is a standalone and has an all-new set of much younger MC’s.

⚠️ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰: There are difficult subjects that could be considered triggers. E.g. murder, dubious consent, and a plethora of others! This is a Natalie Bennett book, if you have read any of her work, you already know what to expect. If you would like to know more, feel free to DM me!

Goodreads Reviewed ARC Blog|Facebook|Instagram|Goodreads|BookBub|Amazon
Profile Image for Darlene I read WAY to many books.
3,336 reviews1,802 followers
February 24, 2020
Been ages since the first prequel of this book. And it was okay for me.

Jace and Kaiden were already ready to play these twisted games with Rea. As for Rea she is nervous and wondering what twisted games these psycho loving twins would play. And when the blood started flowing, Rea is on limited time to try to save the peoples who are brought into these childish games..

I'll be honest.. I would probably love this story more if this was the first girl they taken.. but Jace and Kaiden have done this before so to me it wasnt truly special.. yes she the last one.. :(

Low angst, no cheating, sexy times, drama, no virgins (sorta manwhores)

Recommend- maybe
Cover-⭐⭐⭐⭐

Slow-burnish
M/F/M
Sharing
Dubish-con turned consent
Torture
Anal play/sex
No condom
DP
Hea
Epilogue
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for JoLee (Cozy.Sunday.Reads).
659 reviews74 followers
August 24, 2020
Rating: 4/5 Loved It

Malady picks up where Crucible #1 left off. Jace and Kaiden are seriously not right in the head. I am right there with Raelynn that they are psychopaths. In the Twins eyes they can love but they have a sick and twisted way of showing it. Unpredictable and was not sure how everything was going to play out.

Short read, plot is twisted and unique with triggers.
Profile Image for Kahea.
2,109 reviews117 followers
February 26, 2020
***3.5 Stars***

I thoroughly enjoyed Crucible. The build up, the crazy, the deviant had me wanting more and I couldn’t wait for Malady to come through. And though this book got my blood pumping and heart racing with all that Rae was put through by Jace and Kaiden, which had me turning the pages to see what would happen next, I needed more when it came to Rae, Jace and Kaiden being in their chaotic relationship. I’m not even saying I needed more chapters to their story, it just seemed...a little too sudden even for me.

My one solace is that this isn’t the end of the series, so I’m crossing my toes that we’ll get moments with these three and get more insight to all that is going on, especially with Rae.

~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
Profile Image for darkromance_girly.
589 reviews54 followers
February 22, 2020
I am absolutely in love with this book! I love the fact that this one starts off right where Crucible ended.

Jace and Kaiden are playing games with Rae and it’s up to her to win them. I love how twisted their games are. Rea has to keep running around and play their games even though she’s still not sure about what they truly want. These guys definitely had me like WTH just happened!

I absolutely loved this book and Natalie’s writing but I feel like there should have been something else after the last chapter before the epilogue and also I needed a bit more from the epilogue it just felt like there was a piece missing but overall i loved it.

I definitely recommend this!

July 25, 2020
A girl, A Sick and Twisted Game, A Family and Town Full of Evil.

The second book in the ‘Deviant Games’ series.

This book follows directly on from the first. Rae, is trapped in a game where she is tormented by the two Blackwood twins, Jace and Kaiden.and their various demented family members.

We follow her as she tries to out smart them and fails miserably.
Her failure only causes more death and pain.

Eventually, she succumbs to her fate, while hoping in the back of her mind that she will one day find a way to escape the Blackwood families clutches.

Oh boy...what a ending! Please tell me this is NOT where it ends for Rae?
If this is then, she will be condemning her life and the life of another to the influence of this awful family and the cycle will continue... I need MORE!....four stars

February 25, 2020
Wow. Thats one word I am always left saying after reading a Natalie Bennett book. I just want to lock myself in my own cemetery with enough snacks to last me a few days, and I want to sit back and devour ALL of Natalies books. She is amazing with her words. She is amazing with her darkness. She is amazing with her heros and heroines. I LOVED Jase and Kaiden. How an author can make 2 guys so irrevocably BAD but make my heart ache for them is CRAZY. Rae was perfection. Natalie is perfection. Gahhhh I LOVED THIS AND CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK. 500 STARS
Profile Image for Hopelessly Addicted To Books .
3,457 reviews140 followers
February 24, 2020
Down the Natalie Bennett rabbit hole I go never to return the same. Jace and Kaiden are psychos playing a game with Rae that she has to win, her sanity and life depend on it. From the start the pace is fast, like Rae your mind is racing a million miles an hour with possible outcomes. Make no mistake this is a dark world and Jace and Kaiden are the masters. I didn't like the ending it was too fast with not enough detail I wanted more.
Profile Image for Philomena Callan Cheekypee.
3,918 reviews405 followers
March 25, 2020
Make sure you read Crucible before you read this story. I find it hard to put into words how much I love this authors unique writing storyline. Malady is another fantastic read.

This is Jace, Kaiden and Raes story and what a story it is too. It’s a fast paced story that had my head in a tizzy wondering what was gonna happen.

As soon as I finished reading it I’m looking forward to my next read by this author.
Profile Image for Mimiorphee.
580 reviews39 followers
August 25, 2023
That book made me scream. I don’t know why I keep picking this author's books when the series are never ever finished.
Here we are with the second book in the series, a very short book that ends at 75% of the book as the last part is the first chapter of another series.
Anyhow... Malady was completely maddening and thrilling and I would have wanted to know more about Rae's training. Unfortunately, in this novella, the plot was left with huge plot holes, and the ending was more than rushed.
Sad. I hate it when it happens.
Profile Image for  ✰  Charlie  ✰ Chisholm.
1,985 reviews22 followers
February 22, 2020
Let's play a game...

After reading Crucible I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, it didn't disappoint.

It is twisted dark, it was fast paced from start to end it pulled me in and didn't let go till the very end.
Jace and Kaiden are psycho's but they are also hot! it was well written. It just fell short of 5 stars for me cos I am not real sure on the ending I felt like I needed a little more, I felt like something was missing for me anyway, but apart from that the book was a great read and again this is only my opinion.
Natalie sure knows how to tell a great story.
Profile Image for K..
208 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2020
This is the second book in the Deviant Games series, and the continuation of Rae's story. Rae has been pulled into the twins family games, and if she wants to win she better be ready to play. This was a dark, and twisted read, depraved, and intense.
Profile Image for Mary.
68 reviews33 followers
February 29, 2020
I tried really hard to get into this book. It had its moments. The sex scenes were great. I love how she makes her men evil dangerous and sexy but it didnt grab my attention like her other books have. Between the last chapter and the epilogue I felt like there was a HUGE chunk missing.
Profile Image for Tia Bishop.
99 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2020
....

I enjoyed this book and i was stoked for it to finally come out HOWEVER, i feel like more could have been said and done. I feel like something huge is missing with how it ended. The next book is about a different couple...so...i just feel like this book was left unfinished. 🤷‍♀️
Profile Image for France.
38 reviews2 followers
February 25, 2020
??

Is part of the book missing? Jumping from the last chapter to the epilogue was a bit confusing. The ending felt rushed.
Profile Image for Roschele.
153 reviews32 followers
November 1, 2021
I loved the first book in this series Crucible. The cat and mouse games played. The thrill of what would come next...



I was very much looking forward to where the games would lead Rae in this book but I was left a little underwhelmed at the end. The story was fast paced and left you little room to take a breath with all the fuckery going on but...there's that but folks. The last bit of the book and that epilogue. Seems like a lot of missing info. I don't know how it went from this to that. A bitch needs to know.



There is another book in the series coming Calamity, so I don't know if that will fill in the happenings of this book or what. Guess I'll just have to wait and see.

❤ ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review ❤
Profile Image for Heather  Chaotic Creatives.
1,124 reviews51 followers
August 15, 2021
Ok I have been waiting for this book, and when I say waiting I mean sitting on the edge of my seat chewing all my nails off waiting for it. So as soon as it showed up on my kindle I immediately stopped the other book I was reading, and devoured this book in 1 sitting. I got sucked in while reading Crucible, and loved the world of miscreants and degenerates that Natalie is known for creating. In Malady again I got sucked in, because I needed to know just how this game of cat and mouse, or hide and seek was going to play out. I needed to know just how Rae was going to fit into Jace and Kaiden's world of death and mayhem. Yes we get a twisted and demented story with these three. The story is fast paced and did not lag anywhere. I mean a real page turner from beginning to end. Then we get to the ending..... I will say that yes this book does end, there is no cliffy, but the ending is what caused me to only give this book 3 stars. I am not going to go into more detail than this about it, because as I have stated in other reviews before.... This is my opinion and I understand that not everyone will have the same opinion on this as I do.
Profile Image for Jennifer Pierson.
11.6k reviews161 followers
February 26, 2020
For the first time ever, I didn't give a Natalie Bennett story a perfect rating, and frankly, this really bothers me for whatever reason. When I read Crucible (which you HAVE to read FIRST), I was all kinds of ready for more, and super excited with these two newest psychopaths making up Jace & Kaidan. I LOVED Rae, and had her back 100% from the jump, so yeah, needed to know how she could outsmart them & their family. The content was dark & twisted which is always a highlight for me since that also provides f-bomb worthy twists, and Ms. Bennett knows how to keep me shocked. I guess the problem for me was the ending. While it wasn't a cliffy, I would have much preferred that it was so I knew there was more. It seemed like it just dropped off, which is something I'm not used to from this brilliant author so I can't seem to get past it. Of course, this is only my opinion, so don't take it as more than opinion, just hit that one click button because who knows how you will feel. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Profile Image for Brandalyn Curry.
90 reviews3 followers
March 24, 2020
When childhood games become deadly.........


This is the second book in the Deviant Games series, and reading Crucible is a must before beginning this one. I have never wanted the male characters to just lose at their own tortuous games, Natalie has definitely made these two men ones that I can’t get behind at all. I always love the male and female characters of her stories but these two I just wanna smack silly. These are the men you love to hate because they are just too arrogant for their own good and you wanna see them lose. Rae is a truly strong woman who refuses to let men change her, that is until the twins. Jase and Kaiden are both extremely charming and deadly. Women are truly just toys to play childhood games with. That is until Rae shows that she’s not some meek, weak woman who will crumble. As a matter of fact the question remains will she beat them at their own games or with a game of her own. There is definitely a lot left of their story to be told and I’m looking forward to it.
Profile Image for Misty.
100 reviews6 followers
April 5, 2020
If you're looking for a dark and deadly game of Cat and Mouse, look no further. This series is proving to be just that, a deadly game that you'll get sucked into and theres no escape. The twins have no shame in the game just as their family has always done. They own everything and everyone, you can live through their tourtorous games, but at a price.

Rae, as they call her fell into a deadly trap or rather a game as the brothers call it. She never knew what hell was until the day she spoke to Kaiden and Jace. This story picled ip just where blah blah left off. She thought she could have freedom if she obeyed and played their game. If she looses, there are consiquences.

This book has all the dark twisted things, action and suspense to suck you in. You learn a bit more about this dark family and just how big and deadly they really are. I can't wait to find out what choices are laid out next for Rae.
1,806 reviews11 followers
February 26, 2020
Bloody fantastic! This picks up where Crucible left off. Rae is in peril as the hunky twins and their devious friends and family start their dangerous games. But Rae isn’t going down without a fight. I was mesmerized by this quick read with the fast-paced action, mysterious undercurrent and murderous games played by the town’s prominent families. The twins are ready for the endgame with Rae as their prize. What a threesome they make as Rae can’t resist the sexual prowess of Jace and Kaiden. I was rooting for Rae but in the end it looked like the twins and their twisted family won. I was left with lots of questions and I don’t know if the answers will be forthcoming in the future stories. What was Ma’s part in this? What was the ceremony? How did all this start? Anyway, I can’t wait for the next installment in this wacky series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
Profile Image for MJ's Book Blog and Reviews.
2,629 reviews54 followers
February 22, 2020
Review by: Jennifer
(3.5 stars)

This starts off where Crucible leaves off, so you do need to read that before hand. The game that Rae has found herself the player of is taking a turn for the worse. Now she is realizing that the fate of others is in her hands, but she is still just a pawn of sorts. Is there any hope that she can win?

I have been needing this book since I finished Crucible last year. Once again giving us some awesomely twistedness, Natalie Bennett gives disturbing a new meaning. These are not for the faint of heart, or squeamish. What I did find a bummer is that this is a novella and the ending, I wanted more from it than just bam it's done. I feel like they had more story to give; maybe there is more in the future, one can hope. I give this 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Mandyloves2read.
1,508 reviews162 followers
February 26, 2020
This book starts where Crucible left off and is a very fast paced and thrilling page turner ! Jace and Kaiden are playing twisted games with Rae and it’s up to her to figure them out and win ! This was a heart stopping page turner definitely but the ending fell a little short for me but I still loved it ! Definitely recommend as I love this author’s writing style and her dark and twisted world building and characters are always very detailed, this was overall a great bloody wth is going on read and has you turning pages frantically trying to figure out just what is going on ! Can’t wait for more in this Deviant world !

*** I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book ***
Profile Image for Crystal.
1,971 reviews64 followers
February 27, 2020
3.5 stars
I kind of loved this crazy-assed duet. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat. I wish there was more to it, both because I was into it, and also because not enough was explained. BUT I also had some issues with it. The biggest thing being, this book was basically 100 pages but the story stopped at 80%. It could have easily been one book instead of split to a duet of novellas. And this second book had a bunch of errors, it really seemed like a lot because of how short it was. Missing words and the wrong your/you're. And lastly, the ending was a non-ending. I will read the next book, which is a standalone (I'm assuming) about another character, just to see what happens with the three main characters from this book.
Profile Image for Courtney.
1,165 reviews177 followers
February 25, 2020
Received ARC from Author for Honest Review.
I Give this Book a 3.5-4/5 Star Rating, Listing as 3.

HEA(?): Yes!
Dark: 3ish/5
Romance: 3.5/5
Heat: 3.5-4/5
Drama: 3.5-4/5
Suspense: 3-3.5/5
Relationship Type: MFM

I completely enjoyed this book but make sure you read Crucible before this or you will not entirely ‘get’ what’s going on.
To me this is a very fast paced book, while it is enjoyable, It was too rushed for me to fully cement the logic of the relationship. But ironically I also didn’t mind it cause, I ‘Got’ their relationship, and loved the darkness of it, I just wish it was longer cause it would’ve made much more enjoyable therefore a higher rating.


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