Another fabulous book - Love Nik & Ben

The Bruise-Black Sky is the fifth book in Wiltshire’s More Heat Than the Sun series. These books follow the same couple and each book builds off some events from previous ones. In some ways these stand on their own but as there are ongoing storylines, I’d definitely recommend reading them all and in order – starting with Love is a Stranger.

NOTE: This review contains spoilers to earlier books.

The pacing of this book is a bit slower and the emphasis is much heavier on the relationship between Ben & Nik and less on the thriller/suspense aspect. That’s not a complaint at all. I still thoroughly enjoyed this one, just in a different way.

Nik & Ben’s interplay has shifted a bit during this one. Ben has a new perspective on their power dynamic after recovering from amnesia and they’re both still dealing with Kate’s betrayal. More of Nik’s past is revealed. Layering in a stalker who threatens Ben’s life and they are thrust into world-wide travel in an attempt to stop the person responsible.

Wiltshire gives us new insight into Nikolas the father-figure as his bond with Emmy deepens and he teams up with one of her classmates in an unlikely adventure. At the same time, he is Nikolas/Aleksey and protectiveness for those he loves is expressed in dark and twisted ways.

Sprinkled in all this is humor. So many laughs, giggles, and smirks in reaction to the interplay between all the characters. Squeezy continues to be one of my favorite side characters and I was thrilled to see more of him in this story. While the “bro banter” between Ben & Squeezy is delightful – the antagonistic collaboration of Nik & Squeezy to keep Ben safe is truly hilarious.

Then – the ending. I was totally caught off guard. I loved it and hated it and loved hating it. An emotional roller coaster. While this does not end on a cliffhanger – a new mystery and whole new direction for is opened up. I’m thrilled that book 6, Death’s Ink-Black Shadow, released today so I can jump right in.

Narration:
Gary Furlong. It’s repetitive, but his narrations are glorious. Complicated emotions come across effortlessly with Nik at turns dark and vulnerable and Ben generally cheerful yet deviously provoking Nik. He has even more accents to work with here (hello New Zealand & America!) and they are wonderful. The hacker was obnoxiously comical.

While I borrowed the ebook through Kindle Unlimited, I received a free copy of this audiobook from Decent Fellows Press and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.