Books like 'Play By The Rules'
Readers who enjoyed Play By The Rules by Violet Paine also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary young adult dark romance new adult cruel hero virgin heroine alpha male fighters from hate to love high-school
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Ember by Rachel Van Dyken
Everybody Loves A Bit of Darkness..Until It Consumes Them... I am a Killer. A Rapist. A Monster. I know only pain and survival. That is until the Cappo's sister walked into my life. And changed everything...Categorized as:
friends to lovers alpha male mafia virgin heroine new adult high-school young adult suspense -
![Sinful Knight by Tracy Lorraine]()
Sinful Knight by Tracy Lorraine
USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Tracy Lorraine brings you a new dark mafia, high school bully romance story set in the Knight's Ridge Empire world. The night we met, she left behind a lot more than just her shoes on my bedroom floor. She left an impression. A lasting memory burned into my brain. It teases me… tortures me. Months have passed since that night...Categorized as:
new adult mafia high-school college from hate to love alpha male virgin heroine cruel hero -
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![Real Girl by Sheridan Anne]()
Real Girl by Sheridan Anne
Lucien Valentine must die.It’s the thought that’s kept me going for four long years. I’ve imagined it, dreamed about it, relished in it. I want it so bad, but the question is, do I have what it takes to make it happen?Taking a life isn’t for the faint-hearted. Just ask Lucien, he knows.He’s taken me back to where it all started and I know exactly how it’s going to go... -
![Always Crew by Tijan]()
Always Crew by Tijan
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsFor the longest time, I was Bren Monroe.I lived in Roussou, California.I had no parents, no brother, but I had a crew.Then things started to change.I never planned for any of it.I didn’t think I’d fall in love.I didn’t think I’d have a relationship with my brother again.I didn’t think that he’d come back.Now I’m in Cain.My crew is in college.They’re growing, going through their own things... -
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![Legend by Tracy Lorraine]()
Legend by Tracy Lorraine
I made one mistake…And she made one phone call that nearly destroyed my life.I’ve spent the past year plotting my revenge and imagining all the wicked things I’d do to her when our paths finally crossed again.I just had no idea it would be so soon.The last thing I expected when I re-entered the world was to find myself right in the middle of hers...Categorized as:
cruel hero high-school from hate to love new adult virgin heroine dark contemporary sports -
![Lost Girl by Sheridan Anne]()
Lost Girl by Sheridan Anne
Who the f&*k gave Slade Cruz this kind of power over me?I don’t know how it happened. One minute he was the guy I loathed and the next thing I knew, I was waking up beside him desperate to get out of there.When secrets are revealed, Slade and I realize that we are more connected than we could have ever known... -
![Taint Her by Caitlyn Dare]()
Taint Her by Caitlyn Dare
He wants to ruin her. She wants to save him.Hadley Rexford was a distraction I didn’t need. But when she discovers me with blood on my hands, I know I can’t walk away without demanding her silence.I’ll taint her.Torment her.In the end, I’ll ruin her.Cole Jagger was a puzzle I wanted to solve. But he refuses to let me in, and now I’m ensnared in his trap.He’s cold.Immoral...Categorized as:
new adult cruel hero from hate to love high-school contemporary young adult sports suspense -
![The Sainthood by Siobhan Davis]()
The Sainthood by Siobhan Davis
A complete dark romance trilogy from USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis. Includes Revere, a bonus novella set twelve years after the end of Reign.Everything changed the night my dad died.The night I met Saint, Galen, Caz, and Theo.Those manipulative a-holes set out to ruin me after our hot night together, but they didn’t realize you can’t destroy something that’s already broken...Categorized as:
high-school new adult from hate to love cruel hero mafia alpha male reverse harem dark -
![Break Me by Meagan Brandy]()
Break Me by Meagan Brandy
I had a plan, and it was solid. Track down what was hidden away and take pleasure in toying with it. Toying with her. It worked like a charm.Until it didn’t. Turned out, the feisty little thing I found was far from what I hoped for. She was different from all I knew and more than I expected. She was light, and I’m the bastard who led her into darkness.But this girl..Categorized as:
new adult from hate to love alpha male cruel hero virgin heroine college mafia friends to lovers -
![The Moth and the Flame by B.B. Reid]()
The Moth and the Flame by B.B. Reid
They're the best of friends or the worst of friends. Neither one is letting go.THE FLAMEHere lies Louchana Valentine. She was a homeless, orphaned virgin.I never cared what my gravestone would say until I landed in deep with a powerful gangster. Lucky for me, my best friend happens to be ruthless too. I should feel guilty that he's forced to turn on the man who's been a father to him...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers mafia alpha male virgin heroine cruel hero sports contemporary -
![The Retaliation You Deliver by Tracy Lorraine]()
The Retaliation You Deliver by Tracy Lorraine
When something seems too good to be true. It’s usually because it is.A lesson I learned the hard way.Every single fear I had about falling for Leon, has just come true in the most brutal way.The sweet guy act he’s been putting on the past few weeks is over.The cold, hard truth is... he never wanted me. He only wanted retaliation.And like a fool, I played right into his wicked scheme...Categorized as:
from hate to love cruel hero college new adult second chances contemporary sports young adult -
![Out of the Dark by Danah Logan]()
Out of the Dark by Danah Logan
LillyMy name is the only truth they didn’t take from me.Betrayed by my family, my desperate need for answers put me back on his radar.The one person who was never supposed to find me.Again.I was unprepared for the world I got thrust into—the connection we shared.The deeper I dug, the more unstable my future became.With Rhys as my anchor, I will fight to bring my past out of the dark... -
![Enforce by Rachel Van Dyken]()
Enforce by Rachel Van Dyken
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 34 ratingsThere’s two sides to every story… And ours? Isn’t pretty… Then again, what’s pretty about the mafia? Trace Rooks, that’s what. But she only wants one of us, and I’ll kill him before I let him have her. The only problem ? We’re cousins . And she may just be our long lost enemy. Whoever said college was hard, clearly didn’t attend Eagle Elite University... -
![Reckless Dynasty by Tracy Lorraine]()
Reckless Dynasty by Tracy Lorraine
USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Tracy Lorraine brings you the next installment of her dark mafia, high school bully romance story set in the Knight's Ridge Empire world.My life has been full of half-truths tangled in lies—I’d been to hell and back more times than I could count...Categorized as:
mafia new adult high-school from hate to love alpha male cruel hero college suspense -
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![Ghostgirl by J.B. Salsbury]()
Ghostgirl by J.B. Salsbury
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsShe was brainwashed into believing she could save mankind.Now, she’s the one who needs saving. Abandoned with his two younger brothers, Milo Vega was placed in foster care. Now a twenty-year-old high-school senior covered in gang tattoos and working as the school’s janitor, he is living a life vastly different from the one he was destined for...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers virgin heroine mafia young adult contemporary dark bad boys -
![Boys of Oak Park Prep by Callie Rose]()
Boys of Oak Park Prep by Callie Rose
A long time ago, I was one of them. Now I’m back, and they hate me for it.Plucked out of the harsh life I was living and thrust into a world of unimaginable wealth, power, and privilege, all I want to do is keep my head down and survive until graduation.But they have other plans—Mason, Finn, Elijah, and Cole.Everyone at my new school calls them the Princes, and that’s exactly what they act like...Categorized as:
high-school cruel hero from hate to love new adult reverse harem contemporary dark young adult -
![The Next Flame by Penelope Douglas]()
The Next Flame by Penelope Douglas
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsNew York Times bestseller Penelope Douglas introduces the next generation in her Fall Away series in Next to Never, together for the first time with her bestselling novella, Aflame...Categorized as:
new adult from hate to love cruel hero high-school friends to lovers contemporary young adult dark -
![Forever Golden by Rachel Jonas, Lessa Lamb]()
Forever Golden by Rachel Jonas, Lessa Lamb
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsWest Golden—Fierce protector. The one.The cocky jock I once wanted to kill with my bare hands is now the only one I trust with my heart.In a city full of corruption and dark secrets, knowing who’s on your side gets harder to determine every day. Especially now that Vin’s on the warpath, passing out threats he fully intends to see through to the end...Categorized as:
high-school new adult from hate to love cruel hero alpha male contemporary sports dark -
![The Saint by Kelsey Clayton]()
The Saint by Kelsey Clayton
DELANEYCruel.Heartless.A mistake waiting to happen.Knox Vaughn is the epitome of a bad boy.He's trouble in a sexy-as-sin package. I know it.They know it.Even he knows it. But, it's like a moth to the flame.I can't stay away—even though I'm going to get burned.You know what they say,The sinners are much more fun. And this saint is changing the game.KNOXSweet.Innocent.Valedictorian...Categorized as:
new adult virgin heroine fighters alpha male from hate to love friends to lovers high-school mafia -
![Tame by Coralee June, Raven Kennedy]()
Tame by Coralee June, Raven Kennedy
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsI’ve got a secret I’ve got bruises no one can see and the devil’s blood running through my veins. If I want to end my father’s reign, I’ve got to help Rocco Nomar with his daughter. She’s broken, jaded. A sad, pretty little thing with a big heart and eyes that make me feel like I’m drowning. She’s not swayed by the social politics of Savannah, but she has my heart doing double takes... -
![Turmoil by J.L. Weil]()
Turmoil by J.L. Weil
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsIt is a Bestselling Title, recommended by many readers around the Globe. We are bringing this book for our Elite readers in our Unique Premium Leather Bound. We will rebind this book after purchasing from the original Publisher/Distributor...Categorized as:
high-school from hate to love cruel hero new adult alpha male reverse harem dark contemporary -
![Requiem by Callie Hart]()
Requiem by Callie Hart
SORRELLHe’s going to pay for what he’s done…Theo Merchant was born into a kind of privilege I’ve never known.He has everything I don’t: Money. A private school education. Popularity. A bright and shiny future, full of success to look forward to. He took the only thing I had going for me—my best friend, Rachel. Now that she’s gone, I have nothing left to lose.I will infiltrate his world...Categorized as:
new adult alpha male from hate to love cruel hero friends to lovers high-school second chances dark -
![The Arrangement 15: The Ferro Family by H.M. Ward]()
The Arrangement 15: The Ferro Family by H.M. Ward
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsIt's hard to trust anyone anymore. Everyone is suspect. And I have no reprieve, no rest. I can't sleep after all I've been through. Sean is slipping away, receding back into the monster he was. Alone, I'm being smothered by death's cold shroud. Too many people have died -- this ends tonight. If it kills me, so be it. Genre: New Adult RomanceThis story unfolds over multiple volumes approx... -
![Unraveling You by Jessica Sorensen]()
Unraveling You by Jessica Sorensen
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsLyric Scott has always had a good life. Outgoing, spunky, and musically talented, she’s constantly surrounded by family and friends, yet she still feels there’s something missing. Then she meets her new next-door neighbor Ayden Gregory. Mysterious, sweet, and sad, Ayden is the exact opposite of Lyric and exactly what she needs to fill the void in her life...Categorized as:
virgin heroine friends to lovers new adult high-school contemporary young adult musicians mystery -
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![Touched By The Devil by Angel Lawson, Samantha Rue]()
Touched By The Devil by Angel Lawson, Samantha Rue
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsFights, sex, and fast cars. Those are what Sebastian Wilcox is all about.On the outside he’s easy smiles and a quick temper, but on the inside, a war rages on. He told the Devils his biggest secret; during a vicious fight, he accidentally hurt someone who didn't deserve it. For months now, he's been cursed by the memory of her screams. But that’s not his only hidden truth...Categorized as:
high-school new adult from hate to love cruel hero contemporary dark abuse young adult -
![A Deal with the Devil by Angel Lawson, Samantha Rue]()
A Deal with the Devil by Angel Lawson, Samantha Rue
Sometimes The Devil Hides in Plain Sight...One fateful night. Two lives forever changed.Sometimes the bonds of tragedy are stronger than blood.When Vandy Hall got into a stolen car with Reynolds McAllister-her brother's best friend, her childhood crush-she had no idea the lifetime of pain it would cause her...Categorized as:
high-school new adult friends to lovers from hate to love virgin heroine cruel hero dark sports -
![The Devastation You Reap by Tracy Lorraine]()
The Devastation You Reap by Tracy Lorraine
He never wanted me. He only wanted retaliation. But I’m not the monster he thinks I am...Categorized as:
new adult college cruel hero from hate to love second chances sports contemporary young adult -
![Just Like Heaven by Trilina Pucci]()
Just Like Heaven by Trilina Pucci
He’s a criminal—an abomination. We’re wrong in every way. If only I could’ve convinced my heart. His lips whispered promises of all the stars in the sky.I dreamt of a love that would last forever.We were gorgeously young and desperate for one another.But we're star-crossed.Fate had decided our course.Leaving us to cling to each other as we crumbled to ash.His need became possession...Categorized as:
new adult high-school mafia from hate to love alpha male virgin heroine dark contemporary -
![Perfectly Flawed by Nessa Morgan]()
Perfectly Flawed by Nessa Morgan
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI thought I was okay.I mean, I went through my days just fine, pushing toward a goal I could easily achieve. I had friends that loved me, an aunt who adored me, and everything was just okay.But what I thought was okay and fine, all of that changed... -
![The Deceit of a Devil by Holly Renee]()
The Deceit of a Devil by Holly Renee
Sinless. Stunning. Damaged. Tempting. Allie Taylor had been the girl I hated for as long as I could remember. And now she loathed me just as much. It didn’t matter that I betrayed her to save her. Completely devastated and infuriated by my dishonesty, she had no intentions of ever trusting me again. Her trust was shattered, her hate raging on with each second... -
![Without you by Ashlyn Montgomery]()
Without you by Ashlyn Montgomery
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsAubrey Wilson has the heart of an angel. As the type of person to always trust in others, she's admirable to peers.A total darling, but with a sadness that encases her heart.Anyone could shrink down in fright at the receiving end of Luke Taylor's infamous glare. Tall, muscular, dark-haired, and handsome, he's no stranger on or off the field. Not a kind stranger either...Categorized as:
high-school new adult from hate to love sports young adult contemporary grumpy sunshine dark -
![Salvation and Secrets by L A Cotton]()
Salvation and Secrets by L A Cotton
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsChastity Falls was supposed to be Ana Parry’s fresh start. But what started as her salvation soon became her undoing. Four months after losing the very thing that gave her reason again, Ana is back at Chastity Falls. Holding on by a thread and trying hard to forget about Jackson isn’t easy when she’s determined to uncover the Donohue’s biggest secrets... -
![Black Tangled Heart by Samantha Young]()
Black Tangled Heart by Samantha Young
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsThe New York Times Bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series and As Dust Dances brings readers an addictive and passionate new standalone romance about love, revenge, and surviving both.To the McKenna sisters, Jane was a friend. A pseudo-sister, the girl they grew up with. To Jamie McKenna, she was everything. Their youthful passion consumed them... -
![Law of Attraction by Raeesah Ambarker]()
Law of Attraction by Raeesah Ambarker
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsNyx just can't seem to escape her eternal night, the very darkness she was named after. Angry at the world, her hatred is ravenous for none other than Beckham Hunt, captain of the ice hockey team. Beckham loathes Nyx Taylor, that much he is certain of...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers from hate to love college contemporary sports young adult dark -
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![Temper Him by Caitlyn Dare]()
Temper Him by Caitlyn Dare
She wants to protect him. He can't stay away.Kennedy Lowe wasn’t supposed to walk away, taking my heart with her. Now she’s gone, but I’m determined to get her back.I want to save her.Punish her.In the end, I’ll make sure she knows exactly who she belongs to.Conner Jagger wasn’t to supposed to save me, but he did. Now I’ll do anything to protect him and the people he calls family.He’s good...Categorized as:
new adult from hate to love cruel hero high-school alpha male contemporary young adult m-f -
![Ruthless Saints by Ashlee M. Edmonds]()
Ruthless Saints by Ashlee M. Edmonds
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsSenior year, my fresh start, or so I thought.I was going to put the past behind me and forget about everything that’s haunted me over the last year.But the moment I stepped through the doors at Oceanside High, I knew that was just wishful thinking... -
![Glass Heart Hero by Lindsey Iler]()
Glass Heart Hero by Lindsey Iler
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLoyalty. Corruption. Family.A gauntlet rooted in love and jealousy may be the destruction of the students at Glass Heart Academy.DelaneyParts of me were stolen in the confines of a dark room. No matter how hard I fought, I got nowhere. The damage has already been done.Now I find myself in the arms of an unexpected boy...Categorized as:
high-school new adult cruel hero dark contemporary tortured heroine tortured hero love triangle -
![Tarnished Crown by Caitlyn Dare]()
Tarnished Crown by Caitlyn Dare
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWaking up the morning after the night before, Bexley soon realizes his life will never be the same.He’s Electi now.One of them.Everything that Mia despises.She says she’s done, that his betrayal is too much of a burden to bear, but Bexley refuses to let her go.When Mia wakes up the morning after the night before, she realizes she has two choices: accept her fate or fight.She’s stronger now... -
![The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller by L.B. Simmons]()
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller by L.B. Simmons
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 33 ratings*****#1 Best Seller in Amazon Inspirational Romance***** Death. For some, it's simply one of life's certainties, nothing more. For others, it's merely a fleeting thought, one often overshadowed by the reckless delusion that they have been blessed with the gift of immortality. For Aubrey Miller, death is the definition of her very existence...Categorized as:
virgin heroine college friends to lovers contemporary insta-love dark tortured heroine christian -
![The Vengeance You Crave by Tracy Lorraine]()
The Vengeance You Crave by Tracy Lorraine
It’s been almost six years since she ruined what we had. Her lies shattered years of friendship and ripped apart the future we planned. After I called her a liar and revoked my trust, she left town and never looked back. In a cruel twist of fate, she’s returned. But I’m not the wounded boy she left behind. I’m a man now. A man full of anger, resentment and loss... -
![Five Things by Violet Paine]()
Five Things by Violet Paine
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsAfter two years of living in the shadows, I force myself to leave my protective bubble and move to college. When I get there though, and come face to face with the casualty of the greatest mistake of my life, I have to wonder whether I’ve made the right decision. But then, as time moves on, I learn how to breathe again and that’s not something I’m willing to give up on...Categorized as:
new adult college friends to lovers from hate to love contemporary sports young adult dual-pov -
![Never His Girl by Rachel Jonas, Nikki Thorne]()
Never His Girl by Rachel Jonas, Nikki Thorne
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsWest Golden--Football star. Playboy. Dead to me.Nothing puts the final bullet in a girl’s rep like a leaked sex tape. Especially one starring her and the cocky quarterback who’s had it out for her since day one. Yep, you guessed it. That girl is me.At Cypress Prep, West is king, but all I see when I look at him is the wicked prick who gets off on trying to break me.His plaything.Go ahead...Categorized as:
high-school new adult from hate to love cruel hero alpha male contemporary sports dark -
![Pained by Vera Micic, Vera Hollins]()
Pained by Vera Micic, Vera Hollins
Two months have passed since the day I pushed Hayden away. Two months since I found out he loved me and wanted to be with me. I’ve been trying to move on and forget about him, but my heart refuses to listen. Hayden had almost died saving me. Half of me wants to forgive him for everything and give him another chance...Categorized as:
new adult from hate to love cruel hero young adult dark contemporary cold hero length-medium -
![In Silence by K.G. Reuss]()
In Silence by K.G. Reuss
We’re all playing a dangerous game. One where there are no winners. Only survivors. I’m in love with my enemies, but obviously they don’t feel the same way. When their lies and betrayal surface, I have no choice but to leave.They’ve broken my heart, but not my spirit. They think they’ve won. They think they’ve ruined me.The only thing they’ve done is made me stronger...Categorized as:
new adult cruel hero from hate to love mafia high-school sports young adult reverse harem -
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![These Dark Hearts by L.A. Cotton]()
These Dark Hearts by L.A. Cotton
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsHarleigh Wren Maguire has loved Phoenix Wilder for as long as she can remember.He's everything she isn't.Brave.Reckless.One-hundred percent unapologetic.But it's Halloween... the perfect excuse to dress up and be someone you're not. To step out of your comfort zone and do things you wouldn't usually do.And Harleigh is determined to make her best friend notice her for once.There's only one problem...Categorized as:
friends to lovers high-school new adult sports contemporary dark young adult mystery -
![Arm Candy Warrior by E.M. Moore]()
Arm Candy Warrior by E.M. Moore
I don’t belong in the Heights.Truth be told, no one does. It’s dirty, grimy. Riddled with crime, the destitute, and the desperate. Where the family unit doesn’t always mean a mom, a dad, and two-point-five kids. It’s whoever gives you the time of day.That’s how the Heights Crew came about. The only relationship that counts in the Heights is if you’re a part of the Crew... -
![Wicked Promises by S. Massery]()
Wicked Promises by S. Massery
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsI made a promise to Caleb, and I intended to keep it.I just didn’t anticipate the aftermath.One betrayal.One lie.One devastating cover up.It’s all out in the open now, and this time, I’m not running away.The secrets I hold are enough to destroy us.The truth is supposed to set us free—but we aren’t destined for freedom.This is a dark high school bully romance with mature content and themes...Categorized as:
high-school cruel hero from hate to love new adult alpha male friends to lovers dark contemporary -
![Yakuza Fiance: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii Vol. 3 by Asuka Konishi]()
Yakuza Fiance: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii Vol. 3 by Asuka Konishi
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsYoshino's life with Kirishima grows increasingly heated after he meets her adopted brother Shouma. Kirishima doesn't recognize his own jealousy until Yoshino points it out to him...and soon, he's not the only one burning up. It seems Osaka's temperatures have followed Yoshino up north when she catches her traditional summer cold... -
![Wicked Promises by S. Massery]()
Wicked Promises by S. Massery
I made a promise to Caleb, and I intended to keep it.I just didn’t anticipate the aftermath.One betrayal.One lie.One devastating cover up.It’s all out in the open now, and this time, I’m not running away.The secrets I hold are enough to destroy us.The truth is supposed to set us free—but we aren’t destined for freedom.This is a dark high school bully romance with mature content and themes...Categorized as:
high-school new adult cruel hero from hate to love alpha male dark contemporary suspense -
![I Promise You by Shantel Tessier]()
I Promise You by Shantel Tessier
It was supposed to be a game. I Dare You. We bought her in 'cause I wanted to play with her. Destroy her. But plans change and she got caught in the cross fire. Then I did something far worse. I fell in love with her, but she doesn't know I still have secrets. Ones that could rip us all apart. We're sharks. Raised to hunt and kill. We take what we want without asking...Categorized as:
new adult alpha male from hate to love high-school cruel hero young adult angst bad boys
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