Praise
TraumaBond isn’t your typical romance—it’s a dark, deeply emotional coming-of-age story rooted in Sedalia, Missouri. This is not a light or escapist read. It contains adult themes like emotional and physical abuse, manipulation, addiction, and trauma, along with a heavy dose of spice. If you’re looking for a dark romance that doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths and moral gray areas, this book delivers.
The story explores love and power dynamics in a way that’s both intimate and unsettling. The male love interest is not written as a feminist hero...far from it. His actions often undermine the protagonist’s autonomy, from isolating her socially to using manipulation under the guise of protection. Even when she’s given symbolic “power,” it’s clear she’s not treated as an equal, and her lack of education and resources keeps her dependent on him.
One of the book’s most difficult but important threads is its portrayal of mental illness and addiction. The protagonist’s trauma is lifelong: groomed from childhood, shamed and neglected by her family, and pushed into substance abuse and reckless behaviors, she’s met with cruelty instead of care. Her eventual relationship with someone meant to help her is deeply complicated and exploitative, yet framed as romantic. This storyline is raw and at times deeply uncomfortable, and while it reflects harsh realities, readers should be aware it doesn’t always show a realistic path to healing.
What makes TraumaBond stand out is its willingness to lean into darkness without romanticizing it. It forces readers to question who’s truly the hero or villain and whether “love” can exist within cycles of control and trauma. The Sedalia setting grounds the story, making it feel hauntingly real.
Overall:
I enjoyed this book not because it’s easy to read, but because it’s bold, messy, and unflinching. The writing is immersive, the characters are morally complex, and the themes cut deep. If you’re looking for a dark romance with real-world grit, trauma exploration, and complex character dynamics. not a traditional “feel-good” love story; this is a must-read.
Gaslit is a haunting, emotional installment in the Traumacore series, diving deep into the psychological toll of manipulation, abuse, and survival. Unlike fantasy romantasy titles, this book is firmly grounded in reality, set in Sedalia, Missouri, and it doesn’t shy away from the raw, messy truths of trauma. This is dark romance at its core, and while it features relationships and intimacy, its strength lies in its unflinching exploration of power dynamics and emotional resilience.
The protagonist’s journey is brutal yet deeply human. This book explores how gaslighting erodes identity, trust, and self-worth, pulling readers into the protagonist’s headspace so vividly that it can feel suffocating. Every scene is charged with tension, and even moments of passion are laced with danger, heartbreak, and vulnerability. It’s not an easy read—but that’s what makes it so powerful.
The characters are deeply flawed, and that’s intentional. The romantic dynamic is complicated, manipulative, and uncomfortable at times, but it mirrors the reality of toxic relationships and cycles of abuse. This is not a story meant to glorify pain; rather, it exposes it. The writing style is immersive and unapologetic, drawing readers into the chaos of survival while also showing flickers of strength, hope, and growth.
While Gaslit is heavy, it’s also captivating. It doesn’t rely on tropes or neat resolutions—this is a raw, emotional story that will leave you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page. If you’re looking for a dark romance that prioritizes emotional depth, psychological realism, and authenticity over fantasy or escapism, Gaslit delivers.
Gaslit is a storm of a book—quiet at first, creeping in like fog, before it tears through your chest with raw emotion and an unrelenting truth that only trauma and survival can deliver. From the opening pages, Dawn Howe doesn’t just tell a story; she drags you into the suffocating, intimate world of manipulation, heartbreak, and resilience. This isn’t escapism-it’s confrontation.
We follow Aslyn, a protagonist as fragile as glass and as unbreakable as steel, whose life becomes a masterclass in psychological warfare. She isn’t a neat, polished “strong heroine.” She is layered, scarred, and achingly real. Every chapter is heavy with the weight of emotional abuse and gaslighting, yet threaded with a quiet defiance that makes her impossible to forget.
The relationships in Gaslit are as magnetic as they are toxic, drawing readers in with a mix of danger, desire, and despair. The romantic tension is palpable, but it’s a knife’s edge—forcing us to question what love means when power and control blur its boundaries. It’s dark romance at its most honest, refusing to glamorize trauma while still acknowledging the complex emotions that bind abuser and survivor.
Howe’s writing is sharp and immersive, capturing both the suffocating closeness of abuse and the staggering courage it takes to reclaim yourself. Every scene feels intentional: every look, every word, every silence builds a sense of unease that lingers long after the book is closed. Yet, in that darkness, she threads glimmers of hope; proof that survival is both messy and magnificent.
By the final page, Gaslit doesn’t just leave a mark; it leaves a scar. It’s a mirror for those who have lived it, a lesson for those who haven’t, and a story that refuses to let you look away.
Gaslit is not just a book you read. It’s a reckoning. And like all great reckonings, it will stay with you, heavy and holy, long after you turn the last page.
I bought this on Google Play Books for my wife and this is her review. She wanted me to send it directly to you....
Excuse me while I collect my jaw from the floor...
Wow. Absolutely enthralling. The fact that this is Dawn's second novel is astounding to me. I don't even know precisely where to start. The world-building was superb and seamless with little-to-no data dumping. The pacing was absolutely perfect, not a sluggish section to be found. Add to that, Dawn's beautiful, atmospheric writing and you get a really satisfying gothic romance sprinkled with thriller and drama.
The Characters:
Aslyn is a realistic FMC. She comes across as a normal girl who isn't trying to become something she just isn't for the sake of the story. She isn't interested in learning to fight by physical means to save herself. Instead, despite the strangeness of her circumstances, she relies on her wit and her adherence to doing the right thing compels her efforts to make right the unfairness of her world. She doubts herself like any sane person would. There were several instances while reading where I could feel her fear and the urgency of her actions as if they were my own. I loved that I felt like I really got to know her without ever feeling like I was being "told".
Obviously, Jake is freaking fantastic. He ticks all my MMC boxes. He's tall, dark haired, and handsome and willing to crush the bones of anyone who harms his girl. His characterization is a no brainer and is spot on for those who gravitate towards this type of male lead in a F/M story. I do feel that there's a lot more to him than we got to see in Gaslit and Trauma Bond and I'm curious to see if Discarded gives more with regards to the inner workings of his mind.
Not one of the side characters in this book fell short for me. They were all intriguing and I found myself wanting to get to know each of them because their inclusion in the story felt truly compelling and not at all like any of them were there as mere plot devices. However, I loathed Colton almost immediately. I am rooting with every fiber of my existence for him to meet a very grisly end in any of the books. Hopefully his story is not over .
The Romance:
The progression of things between Aslyn and Jake felt so natural and not at all sluggish or forced. I adored the fact that there is very little conflict between Aslyn and Jake. Too often, I find that although they can be great fun, some stories are bogged down by poorly executed adherence to certain tropes. That did not happen in One Trauma Bond. Here, it was clear pretty early on that Aslyn and Jake are drawn to one another and neither of them put up contrived barriers that prevent them from being honest about how they feel. It was so satisfying to read a story with so much depth that played out the romance in this manner. There was also a dash of smut, but it was so well written.