Enthralling, dark and incredibly refreshing!

After reading Jack L Pyke’s Don’t… series I knew that anything by this incredible author will be outstanding and I wasn’t wrong with the Broken Ink.

Jack has this out-of-this world AMAZING writing style that grips you in all ways possible. She is incredible with words. So I wasn’t surprised that this story hooked me in right from the beginning.

What always adds the wow to Jack’s work are the layers she so brilliantly does. Broken Ink had all of that and more. There’s the mystery and thriller we learn to expect from her books for anyone who read more than one of her works. But then there is also the very dark themes that are also not a surprise. All of that is twisted around incredible characters and their growth, made even better by delicious steamy scenes that have a pinch of taboo.

What was refreshing in this piece was the paranormal / fantasy / magical element. Without spoiling it’s key to the plot. But what made me love it is how believable that element is, I was so bought in I could believe stuff like that exists in the real world.

When all of the above is topped with Dan Calley’s chocolate tones and fantastic performance we have a standing ovation. Every. Single. Time.

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Is it possible

I just recently found this story. I have listened to the Don’t series and love it so when I found there was another series out there, I had to listen to it.
This is an extremely emotional story. It starts with events happening to kids and Kiyen is one of the special kids. He broke my heart right from the start and following what happens to him and his reaction to a life he is forced into made me keep listening every chance I got. I think part of what held my attention is that maybe this could touch on reality. Tattoo ink being used for mind control. I’m amazed the author can come up with the stories so well thought out and how the characters are all so much a perfect part of the story. Since this audio is over 12 hours, I was surprised how smoothly the plot flowed and the characters involvement in the story. This is one of those stories I will have to listen to again just to remember all the happenings. The narration by Dan Calley added to my enjoyment of the book by bringing the characters to life.

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Gorgeous! Marvelous Performance by Dan Calley!

OHMYGOSH, mother freaking excellent, and soooo wonderfully dark

I've been saving Broken Ink for ages, knowing I had to be in the right headspace for it, and thank goodness I did. Nobody does chilling, dark erotica better than Jack L. Pyke, and gah, this one is spectacular! Right from the opening scene, just wow.

I can't go another moment without saying what an absolutely spectacular performance Dan Calley delivers in the audio version of Broken Ink! Calley really sets the mood, building the tension continually throughout the story.

Creative and beautifully written, just wow!

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Dark, edgy and absorbing

How to describe this audio… Dark, edgy and absorbing, rather like the ink itself. Broken Ink is the latest audio book from the fantastic duo of Pyke & Calley. Jack’s writing as always is on point, then you add in the deep, gravelly tones of Dan and you’ve got a winning formula.

First of all I have to say kudos to Dan for getting through some very “difficult” scenes to say the very least, but for me this added to and enhanced the overall tone of the audio elevating it to a whole new level. Having read the book I knew what I was in for with this, but it didn’t stop, or numb any of the emotional impact of the story. My heart ached for Kiyen and the other ‘first’s’ who were only children when abducted and subjected to horrific tattooing with an in which seems to live, breathe and evolves. Leaving them with physical and emotional scars on not only their lives, but the lives of those they encounter, forever.

The way Jack’s writing skill makes the story twist and turn is perfectly complimented by Dan’s narrating ability as, primarily as throughout the book the intensity of the storyline and characters shifts, changing and evolving the whole time, rather like the ink, but he manages to guide the listener, enabling them to keep track of the large ensemble cast. All while vocalising a wide range of accents (some of which are more difficult than others), but all come across as being someone who actually lives in the area, and that’s not an easy task.

Ultimate kudos to them both for bringing difficult and challenging subject matter to life while handling it in a sensitive way. Nothing, no matter how dark or distressing feels gratuitous, every word, emotion, action and reaction is brought to life with sensitivity, solely to enhance the story.

Where the book leaves us gives hope for more from this dark world, and I for one am ready for the ride.

Broken Ink is a totally outstanding and captivating listen.

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2 people found this helpful

Dark, erotic, romantic and thrilling!

Amazing storytelling and narration! Anything by these two and I'm hooked to the point of skipping work.

The story is dark and deep, but filled with such heart and sweetness too. Loved it!

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Wow! Wow! Wow!

📚 Uniquely imagined, viscerally executed and powerfully thematic, l thought this a most inventive entry in the MM genre!! Once l realised Broken Ink was for the grown adults in the room, l buckled up and rode the incredible you-cannot-be-fucking-serious narrative!! There was no gentleness or tenderness here but there was palpable need. There was no romance or courtship but there was lots of heart and desire. Expect betrayals but also knights in battered armour. This. Was. Bold. Thank you, ma'am!

🎧 Dan Calley turned up the gravel and growl in his bass to deliver the down, the dirty, the grit and the raw! He smoothened vocals to portray the seductive evil and petulance to Kai's vocals to portray a YA going through hell. However, DC's enunciation and choppy phrasing was incoherent at times for me - I had to continually rewind dialogue to be sure l got it. Though the narrator was not as articulate as l liked, he was perfectly cast.

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