Awesome book; fantastic writing. 
 I chose to read this because I was feeling in a fairly uninspired place and wanted something to shake me up a little - it worked. I didn't find it as hard to read as I thought I would, but the connection I felt with the characters did take me by surprise. 
 The author's attention to the emotional and psychological detail of both Caleb and Livvie's characters, as they go through what they go through, is what really makes this a 5 star read for me. 
 You are not, at any moment, alienated from them - you are right there with them. If you can handle the dark subject matter, then definitely give this a go; I can almost guarantee you will not be disappointed. 
 It's labelled as dark erotica (and I suppose it is), but really, I felt there was so much more to it. For me it was a journey into two people's psychological make-up as they discover who they are because of, and independently from, their past. 
 I want to read book two, but am giving myself a couple of weeks out before doing so, as it takes time to let the story sink in. 
 Intense, wonderfully dark, poetically described in places, and also heartfelt. 
 It worked. I feel inspired.