CHECK TW'S!!!
"What Tempest and I have is undefinable and addictive. A frightening mix."
Tempest is the dark, mysterious, villain older brother of Clover, so seeing him in all his chaotic states was crazy!
Ardyn is the sweet, innocent girl who always had a little crush on her best friends brother but one night changes both their fates. A night full of chaos, tragedy & secrets change everything for everyone's life. After many years later we meet back up with Ardyn and Tempest when they both attend college together. Tempest is the king of seduction he knows when to push Ardyn where he wants her. Tempest and Ardyn together were a chaotic couple they tested each others limits. Ardyn however is not one to shy away.
Tempest and Ardyn's relationship is an explosive chaotic mess, but truly a very interesting one.

As much as I love villains, even the ones that stay villains, and dark romance, I didn’t like this book at all. The villain of this story Temptest (which, not meaning to be rude, is a silly name), isn't some hot sexy villain, just an asshole and a murderer. I did not understand his actions or anything that he decided to do. All of the other characters' actions didn’t match their feelings, it seems like the author said: “I want this to happen, so I made it happen without any regard for any logic or reason,” and it ended up falling flat and not intentional at all. Also, the conversations between characters (as well as their internal monologues) are cringy at best and insufferable at worst.

When it comes to the steamy scenes, I have to say they were uncomfortable and gross. Despite understanding what "dubious consent" is and the need to make the story dark (since the book is supposed to be a dark romance), I did not find the sex appealing or necessary. Coming from someone that does enjoy dark romance and dark steamy scenes, this book lacks good ones. All of this, on top of sexualizing children, I quote: "You want to talk perverted? How about asking the guy who abducted you as a kid to fuck you?" How is that sexy talk?

I really wanted to like this book, but the characters fell flat and the romance was nowhere to be seen on top of the cringy and gross sex scenes. It wasn’t for me at all, and I think I might blacklist this author from my future TBR.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5675577718

https://www.bookbub.com/books/cruel-promise-a-dark-romance-titan-falls-book-1-by-ketley-allison

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6471df1d-5717-4757-ada7-cb1a55ed7983

Tis audiobook is highly engaging. The characters are realistically-written and the narrators are well-chosen. I plan to seek out a hard copy of this entertaining novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Couldn't stop listening to this after pressing play. It definitely gave me HD Carlton vibes in the best way possible.
I cant wait to own the paperback to add it to my shelves.

Tempest is a bad guy, but Ardyn has crushed over him since she was a little girl. She has every reason to stay away from him, including the fact that he's her best friends brother. But.....she can't seem to get enough of him.
This book has a f*cked up smut scene in it. At times, I was worried that others could hear the uncomfortable-ness that was coming through my ear buds while I listened. That scene wasn't anywhere near as awful as some reviews I read made it sound though. There are trigger warnings for this book for a reason. I've definitely read more f'd up stuff than that. The storyline was actually really good (unlike some dark romances that just read like porn). The characters were likeable and there was enough back story on each of them, that I cared what happened to them. The audiobook had a narrator for Tempest (Liam DiCosimo) and another for Ardyn (Veronica Landon), both of which were very good.

I was gifted this audiobook through NetGalley as an arc in return for my honest review. Cruel Promise is written by Ketley Allison, Published by Dreamscape Media.

I liked this one. The narrators were fantastic however I felt like they really made the book though.

Overall it was enjoyable but the ending was quite abrupt and the storyline was not finished. It also felt like this wasn't a standalone. I probably would of enjoyed it more if I had read the other books that were in the same world if any because it certainly felt like that.
Is this it? or is there a book 2?
who knows.

I was not expecting the content though, so I would suggest adding a content warning at the start of the audiobook.

Readers of this book should definitely pay attention to the trigger warnings. It's not a warm and fuzzy romance in any shape form or fashion. It's a book where the villain is undeniably a villain and he isn't promising to change at any time soon. Basically, he is what he is and the heroine can either take it or leave it - - actually once he decides he wants her, her choice is gone.

I listened to the audio version. The narration was done well and kept the book enjoyable and easy to follow. In some ways, it felt like there were places that would have been more enjoyable if I was physically reading them but it wasn't due to the narration itself, it was just due to the subject matter. At times, when something gets intense, I like to look up and give myself a breather on it. That's much harder to do when listening to something.

There is a great deal of brutality and deceit in this book. Many of the characters have few redeeming qualities but it didn't stop me from being sucked into the story and glued to it until I finished.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy of the audiobook. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Cruel Promise by Ketley Allison is phenomenal! It’s dark, romance so be respectful of your triggers. There is murder and spice and witchcraft too. The spicy scenes are absolutely perfect and the story is amazing. I will definitely be pickup more Ketley Allison to read.

Okay I LOVED this. Best friend's brother but make it dark. Little bit of a mob romance, little bit of a bully romance, throw some witchy woo woo scenes here and there and you've got me hooked for sure. I loved Ardyn and Tempest. The ending felt a touch too abrupt for my tastes, but it was better than an ending that takes forever to wrap up. I would absolutely read more from Ketley. This is definitely not for the faint of heart and you should proceed with caution. However, if you're the type that loves a trigger warning list a mile long, this one is for you 👍🏼

Thanks to NetGalley for an audiobook ARC of this one!

Im so glad that there are trigger warnings to start this book. The story is ok, but it feels like it’s trying to hot too many tropes or two many storylines in one. It couple be simpler and in turn more impactful if it was trimmed down some. That said, the story is ok. The two readers for this audiobook nearly make me laugh. They don’t sound at all like what I would think the characters would sound like and when they try to mimic other voices it’s too much, I laugh.

I can say this book is really not for me, but it was fine. I would have probably read it myself and actually liked it a bit more but since it’s an audio version, that’s what I have to base it on.

I, Unfortunately, was not able to finish this book. I was excited to read this as it is said to be a dark college romance. I received the audiobook and I’m not sure if that’s where the problem was. The narrators did not have the voices of what you normally hear for dark romance books. It felt like I was listening to a Fantasy or contemporary romance book. It did not make the story captivating and it made the book felt like it dragged on. I will not be leaving a star rating on other platforms as I think the narrators just went for me for THIS book. It’s not that they were and, just don’t feel it fit the vibe.

Dark and twisty in all the right ways to make this college bully romance a fun listen! The dual narration also really helps to bring the characters, their emotions and the darkness of the story line together in a manner that will have you staying up way too late to finish listening to this steamy romance. Pleasure and pain combine to make an explosive listening experience! There is a serious push vs pull in this good vs evil leading to love in the gray areas! This is my first book by this author, but you can bet I'll be looking for more audiobooks from her very soon!

This is a very dark book that has a lot of suspense drama
action twist that it kept me on the edge of my seat for most
of it.
The two main characters have a very interesting relationship
It’s not love or hate.
The narrator did a great job of bring the book alive.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this audio book for an honest opinion.

This book is for mildly f**ked up individuals only…and the author warns it in the beginning. I can’t tell if I actually like or despise the MMC. He truly is ruthless and the FMC is just as bad, a true sad, lost, boring girl who continually entangles herself with a man who is her opposite. Both characters are messed up in the head but somehow have this intense attraction that is actually REALLY sexy.

All in all I liked this book and how the plot developed. There were plenty of flashbacks for context and so many twists that the reader is almost as confused in the head as the FMC.

Only item I had an issue with is the male narrator when he spoke for the FMC and it was just always so whiny it had to skip it. I listened to this audiobook as an ARC, thank you to the author, netgalley and the narrators!

I was excited to see the Audiobook for Cruel Promise was coming out! I read the book when it first came out and love to listen to books to reread while doing things around the house. Both narrators did a great job telling the story with the right emotions and depth. As Cruel Promise switches from different POVs, the narrators change. I was glad they chose to switch only with the POVs and not with the dialogue too since it pulls me out of the story.

This is a dark romance and I’d recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading/listening!

This was a decent read/listen for me. I am a big fan of dark romance and I did like those aspects of the book. I love me a good villan and Tempest definitely deserves the title. I enjoyed most of the story but thought it got a bit messy with mafia and occult stuff. Nothing is really fully explained or dealt with and that made the whole story seem incomplete. The ending seemed very rushed and I would've like to see a more organic relationship develop. I loved both narrators! This review is my honest opinion based on the free download of audio from Dreamscape Media and Netgalley.

Her scaring past makes her look weak and fragile to him, and he protects her at any cost. He lights a fire of passion in her that she didn’t know she had and she shows him he can love and be loved. Spicy, to the point you don’t want to put it down to see what happens and to see how everything unfolds. I didn’t expect the ending and I thought it would go another way, but I am hooked and want to know more about how they get out of the danger they are in.

A dark college, bully romance with gothic vibes (3,5)

This dual POV romance introduces us first to Ardyn and her two best friends. On a night out, Ardyn witnesses a conversation she shouldn't have, and in her escape, one of her best friends dies tragically. Ardyn is sent to a mental hospital, and we're re-introduced to her during the first year of college.

Ardyn's remaining best friend, Clover, has a brother, Tempest (love the name), who is our MMC. Tempest is part of this dark world, and is inexplicably drawn towards Ardyn. He tries to keep her safe by pushing her away, and when she doesn't bend to his bullying/gaslighting ways, he instead invites her in. The two of them have broken pasts and are able to bond and heal each other, although in very unconventional ways. Definitely read the trigger warnings before reading if you are a sensitive reader.

I wish this book had more showing, instead of telling. For example, early in the book we learn that Tempest is responsible for killing Ardyn's best friend on that fateful first night, but it's just a memory from his POV. I wish it was it's own section, I want to know what he was thinking, how he was trying to protect Ardyn and his sister, if he was conflicted or if he felt he was doing the right thing.

The narrator, Liam Dicosimo, perfectly captured the dark vibes of Tempest. You may recognize his voice if you listened to Brutal Prince by Sophie Lark. Veronica Landon spoke very slowly, I had to speed up my audio to 1.5 just to make her sound normal, then drop it back down for Liam's parts, not sure why she decided to approach the character like that.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC.

This book is best read on a university campus, late at night.

Dark Romance ✓
Villain that stays a villain ✓

If you are looking for a dark steamy romance and a female main character that puts the blinders on for a villain love interest- this is the one for you. Check triggers before reading this. Thankfully there is a warning at the beginning of the audiobook.

It also says that this is not a witchcraft book, but there are a lot of scenes with rituals and talk of witchcraft so be mindful if that it not your style.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced listener copy. .