Existential Angst Series by Willow Madison

Taken without a trace. Held by a sadist intent on loving her.He said I was the only perfect woman in the world. It's why he had to have me. “The game today, Larissa, is called pick your poison.” He took me while I was sitting alone in my backyard. I had my feet cooling in the pool, face heating in the sun when his shadow eclipsed all happiness four days ago. I don’t remember any sounds or words, only waking up here…and his games. “I expect you to either make a choice, or don’t... moreTaken without a trace. Held by a sadist intent on loving her.He said I was the only perfect woman in the world. It's why he had to have me. “The game today, Larissa, is called pick your poison.” He took me while I was sitting alone in my backyard. I had my feet cooling in the pool, face heating in the sun when his shadow eclipsed all happiness four days ago. I don’t remember any sounds or words, only waking up here…and his games. “I expect you to either make a choice, or don’t.” In this box of horrors, he wanted me to find my purpose. I thought I already had—to save my heart from pain and to hold out for freedom. Turns out, I wasn’t wrong. Only my perceptions were. And he’s giving me a chance to choose again. “I’m going to hurt you.”I’ve been a monster for him, a perfect version of myself, and I don’t think I can pretend that I haven’t liked it.Whoever said knowledge is power wasn’t chained up when they said it.What Lies is a prequel to What Love and should be read first. Trigger Warning: Contains explicit scenes, on-page violence, the dubiest of dub con, blood, a dark captor - captive romance, a jealous / possessive / obsessive antihero, and gripping psychological suspense. Also loads of angst (it’s in the title after all). No cheating. Author’s version of happy for now. less

It doesn’t help to face monsters. They catch up with you no matter what.Bars and doors aren’t what hold me captive now. It’s the hope of something more that cages me still. “Love is a choice, even under the worst circumstances.”It’s as if the clock has rewound, and I’m back to being the sheltered girl he’d seen in a park. The two years with him are like the books on my shelf—as faded as an unread tale. “I want your tears, Larissa... moreIt doesn’t help to face monsters. They catch up with you no matter what.Bars and doors aren’t what hold me captive now. It’s the hope of something more that cages me still. “Love is a choice, even under the worst circumstances.”It’s as if the clock has rewound, and I’m back to being the sheltered girl he’d seen in a park. The two years with him are like the books on my shelf—as faded as an unread tale. “I want your tears, Larissa.”Though the players have changed, it’s still a game we play, neither of us aware of any rules, or who’s winning. He treats me the way a man does when he knows exactly what he wants. And he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get it. “Your heart never belonged in a cage.”One word—free—eclipses everything. Nothing else matters. Turns out, though, just as many bad things happen in the light as in the dark.What was once lost doesn’t have to be all that’s found…if I can survive.What Lies is a prequel to What Love and should be read before starting this book.Trigger Warning: Contains explicit scenes, deep dive into trauma bonding / Stockholm syndrome aftermath, referenced self-harming, blood, a twisted dark romance, a jealous / possessive / obsessive antihero, and gripping psychological suspense. Also loads of angst (it’s in the title after all). No cheating. A well-paced, slow burn to author’s version of happy ever after. less