This one’s a little out of my usual ballpark. I know MC Romances are popular and considered “dark”, but I don’t know if they usually get this brutal.

Dorian is a tattoo artist who does work for The Old Gods, a local Motorcycle Club. When he learns of his girlfriend’s infidelity with members of a rival club, he is afraid of reprisals from The Old Gods, and he decides to pre-empt this by giving her to them.

This story is tagged as Dubious Consent on Smashwords, but nothing is dubious about it. What happens to Scarlett is non-consensual, and the word “Rape” appears on the book’s cover, so readers should know what they’re in for.

So, I’m not classifying this as erotica. We often read about violence in gruesome detail, and I see no reason this story should be treated differently. Rape is an act of violence and, in this case, retribution.

As a description of a violent act, what occurs and the effect on the victim, I think Sterling Wilder tells his story well. I was happy with how the incident wrapped up and with the retribution visited upon those responsible.

I was only aware once I finished reading that this story introduces characters who will appear in an ongoing series. With that in mind, this feels like an “origin story” for Scarlett, and as we all know from superhero stories, a traumatic incident can inspire the victim to become a hero or a villain. I’ll be interested to see how she develops in forthcoming stories.

Know what you’re in for heading into this one. If you’re still interested, then I think it is well done. ( )