What a fun steamy ride! For lovers of Zodiac Academy, Ali Hazelwood's BRIDE, and omegaverse paranormal romances, this one is for you!

The book is heavy go in knowing that. With that being said the spice is good and knows what it is doing. This is the first book I read and I will definitely read more. With that being said I am excited to read more. I love the dark romance and headmaster and student relationship. Over all great book! If you LOVE spice and Dark romance...... READ THE BOOK

I am very grateful to have received an eARC for this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My overall summary is that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is an entertaining and spicy exploration of a relationship between a vampire Headmaster and a wolf-shifter student who is trying to advocate for equality between vampire and wolf-shifter students. Now, it is VERY important that readers take caution when considering this book and check any trigger warnings. This book is a dark romance including violence and detailed description of complex topics that not all readers may be comfortable with.

4/5 ⭐️ Great introduction Susie and Arkens story, the very ending cliff hanger caught me off guard a little, but I will definitely be reading the next book to find out how it is handled.

4.5/5 🌶️ Very spicy, multiple dark scenes, make sure to check trigger warnings as author has noted noncon is a major theme explored through the book.

The overall plot focusses on Susie who is a wolf-shifter student at Volmasque Academy looking to make a difference to make life better for all, but especially the weaker wolf-shifters who are consistently abused. After a series of incidents, she grabs the attention of the Headmaster Arken, who not only is intrigued by her attempts to propose reform for the school, but also the truths that she drops on him. Her boldness forces him to look inward on himself and his actions, as he considers how to move forward with his mistakes.

Plug and Drain was an interesting first book in the duology focused on Susie and Arken, which is considered a prequel to the Plug and Claim duology. I read Plug and Claim first, which is the first of the duology focused on Nathaniel and Kira. I think I would read them in the order I did, as I think Plug and Claim gave a slower introduction and more context for some of the behaviors of the academy students and teachers, and other academy quirks. Whereas in contrast the beginning of Plug and Drain is more intense and immediately immersed in the complex environment of the Academy.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, it expanded on Susie’s character who I loved since reading about how she cared for Kira in Plug and Claim. But gave surprising depth with Arken’s character, who took the time to review his actions and navigate the difficult position he is in. This is a very spicy book, that focusses on the exploration of Susie’s goal of bringing more equality and choice to the lives of wolf-shifters and Arken’s exploration about himself and his inaction. If you liked Plug and Claim I think you will like this duology as well. My personal opinion is to read this after Plug and Claim, however the Plug and Drain duology is considered a prequel, so the choice is yours. Finally, a last reminder that it is VERY important that readers take caution when considering this book and check any trigger warnings.

So even though I have read dark romance before, this story was something that took be aback a little bit. It’s heavily doused with spicy scenes, right from the very beginning, and they were done well because they didn’t really feel rushed. I would have been okay with the one SA scene; since there is plenty of warning about it and a summary for those wanting to skip said chapter, however that was not the only time this was referenced. I felt like a plot was attempted to be introduced but failed to carry any weight in the story, it always just came back to a very similar non-consensual sex scenes and the characters were back to square one. The story revolves around Susie, were-wolf student, and Arken, the vampire headmaster of the academy. Vampires need to feed on werewolves and they aren’t supposed to refuse them. I think the noncon/dubcon aspect could have been done better than the pet element that was introduced, it just felt very contradictory to both main characters’ goals. The whole conflict with the King & the professor could have been developed better because it just felt it was kind of sprung on the reader. The world-building was barely there and I felt like that added to how uneven the story pace felt. All in all this is a good read if you like dark-romance and stronger spicy reads, but the plot was a miss for me, so you will be probably will be reading this for its themes. Thank you for NetGalley for my Advance Reader Copy in exchange for this review!

Tropes:
- Age gap
- Forbidden romance
- Spicy
- Morally Grey MMC
- Strong FMC
- Slow burn
- Paranormal
- Dark Romance
- New Adult
- Teacher/Student

Let me start of by saying that I would consider this a “dark romance” because of a lot of the content (PLEASE check trigger warnings!!!) and the book starts off immediately with the non-con and dub-con. It was jarring to say the least.

That being said…this book was basically just sex repeatedly throughout the book with VERY little plot. There was an attempt at a plot but truthfully it just did not pan out how I’d expect something like this to end.

If you are into non-con/dub-con, student/teacher, bdsm type romance books then you will most likely enjoy this! I really didn’t think it would be this heavy on those topics or I honestly don’t think I would’ve read it. It just was not for me.

Thank you NegGalley for the early copy!!

Okay I went into this thinking it wasn’t going to be good and I was pleasantly surprised! I’ve been in quite the reading slump and I saw this arc and was like sure why not. Read it and was INSTANTLY hooked! It held my attention and I couldn’t put this book down. Short chapters. Spice very early on. Delicious spicy scenes 🤭

My one critique would be the constant talk of the SA. That just isn’t my vibe.

Tropes:
paranormal romance
age gap
Student x headmaster
Good girl
Praise

Please check trigger warnings! It is a dark romance

Overal rating: 3.75 maybe 4
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review the Arc Copy. All opinions are my own.

This romance novel follows Susie and her desires to change the school and Arken and his desires to feel like he's a live again. Readers should definitely read the content warnings carefully. The scene that is explicitly told may be triggering to some people is very well warned which is helpful for those that wish to skip it and the recap is succinct enough to not feel like you've missed out on much.

The book was fast paced until it wasn't. There were moments where I had to pry myself from the book as a lot was happening. Just about past the point where the big content warning scene, I felt like the pace of it slowed down quite a bit which makes sense for what happened, however it took a lot for me to want to pick it back up afterwards.

Definitely not what I usually read but I was intrigued enough by the character & their relationships to keep reading.

Although there was plenty of spice the book creates relatable characters & left me curious about what happens next

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This review is my own opinion and freely given.

This is not my normal read, but I was feeling adventurous so I thought I would give it a shot. It is an escapist read, and not for everyone. Make sure you read the authors note, and make an informed decision.

That being said, I enjoyed the main character. She was well written, and you cared about her. The headmaster was likeable, but as advertised, he was morally gray. There was plenty of spice but there was also story, which I appreciated.

All in all, it was a good way to spend the afternoon.

This was personally a difficult book to get through. I thought having a shifter erotica would be a new world to step into; however, I was unable to get around the rape scene(s). It made me unable to focus on the plot, because of this, I don’t know if there are plot holes or if I missed things. I also feel like Arken was forgiven too soon. There wasn’t a whole lot of resolution to how he handled her (second) rape.

I have read books where rape fantasies have been consensual, but this felt not great. I really wanted to find a point where I enjoyed it, but clearly I’m not the target audience.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book and I’m sorry that it wasn’t my cup of tea!

This book checks off the boxes that one would want in a dark romance. I recommend it if you are a fan of dark romances but check the trigger warnings. The romance was steamy and the pace was fast

I graciously received an ARC courtesy of Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. I am thankful for the opportunity and provide this review in the hope that it will aid future readers in making informed decisions about their reading choices.

As an avid reader of dark romances and fantasies, I approached "Plug and Drain" with great anticipation. However, despite my familiarity with the themes and triggers typically associated with the genre, I found myself struggling to maintain interest in the narrative.

This was my first Darcy Fayton read and unfortunately, it did not leave a favorable impression. While I appreciated the attempt to weave together elements of paranormal fantasy and forbidden romance, the execution fell short of my expectations. The story lacked the gripping engagement that I crave in dark romances, failing to captivate me from start to finish.

One of the primary issues I encountered was with the character development and the writing style employed by the author. Despite the noble intentions of the main female character, Susie, to combat injustice and inequality, her portrayal felt flat and uninspiring. Whether this was a result of the author's writing style or a failure in execution remains unclear, but it significantly detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story.

Moreover, the formatting quirks presented additional hurdles to immersion. Reading the book on the Kindle app proved to be a challenge due to the italicized font, bright gray background, and right-aligned formatting, which disrupted the flow of the narrative and made it difficult to engage with the text. Also, I still do not understand what the title and the book cover have to do with the story as the plug was not a major theme in the story, it was mentioned twice so I was not sure why that choice was made.

Plug and Drain ended in a cliffhanger but I am unsure if I would be compelled to continue with the series. I hate to leave stories unfinished but if the next one is the same as this one then I am not inclined to force myself to read it.

I received an E-Arc of this book from NetGalley. "The Plug and Drain," the first installment of the Plug and Drain Duology, sets the stage for a thrilling journey into the realm of dark romance, complete with heart-pounding twists and a cliffhanger ending.
I start reading this story without much prior knowledge, and boy, was I in for a wild ride! Let me tell you, this is not your typical love story. It's dark, it's steamy, and it's definitely not for the faint-hearted. Seriously, make sure you check out the warnings before diving in. We're talking spicy scenes, an age gap, and a student/teacher dynamic here. It's definitely geared towards new adults (18+).
The story revolves around Susie, a wolf shifter, and Arken, a vampire, navigating their complicated relationship at Volmasque Academy. It's a world where wolf shifters like Susie are at the mercy of vampires, and let me tell you, the power dynamics are intense!
While there's some world-building sprinkled throughout, the main focus is on the romance and, let's just say, things get pretty heated. If you're into fast-paced dark romances, then this book is for you. I'm already itching to dive into the sequel!
Big thanks to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Darcy Fayton for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read the triggers - very important. They are very well described in the Preface. There is a lot of dark elements - unwilling sex, pet concepts, rape and the sex is too detailed.

Teacher-Student relation with an age difference. Dark romance 3/5. Spice 5/5. Forbidden love.

So…. In short - you don’t read that book for the plot.

The spice level is 5/5. It is well and thoroughly described. It takes the first half of the book to tell too little and this is in fact the part with the really descriptive detailed sex.

The story is held in the Volmasque Academy where wolf shifters live in a fear because of the terror and the uncertainty they need to face every evening from the vampires who are coming into their rooms uninvited to feed and to have sex with them. Apparently, this realm is ruled by the vampires and everyone else is a subject to being their pets.

Susie, (the FMC) half shifted werewolf, is meant to be strong as she tries to look out for the weaker wolfs with no pack. However, see looks really naive when it comes to falling into Arken (the MMC) and be ready to trust him too early.

Arken is the headmaster of the Academy who stumbles into Susie when one night he decides to finally feed on a student. And all the story goes from there - he wants her to be his; she wants to trust him.

Arken seems to be the only character that gets some development. Still for a vampire he is too collected and even by the end of the book submissive.

I couldn’t really find a world building or a strong storyline. Mainly it is based around the sex. In the second half of the book there is a sort of story but too vague and the world building was a bit rushed.

In general the writing is easy to read but there is almost no dialog which might be hard for some people.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Plug & Drain is a dark, erotica paranormal romance, about a school with wolves and vampires. It's interesting to see the dynamic between the two, with wolves as lower down the hierarchy, being abused/used for blood etc.
I liked the protective nature of Susie, she's a strong main character - a wolf who tries to protect others by putting herself in the firing line. I also enjoyed getting to know Arken and seeing him start to care and realise the nature of things really happening in the school.
I really appreciated the authors content warnings at the beginning, and think everyone should check before reading. There is a SA scene but I like that the author has made it clear when that will be and summarises the scene for anyone who may find it triggering/not want to graphically read it.
P&D was left on a cliffhanger and I look forward to seeing the conclusion for Arken and Susie!

This is definitely one of those books I don't want my parents to know I read 😂

I don't even know why I picked it up from Netgalley. This isn't usually something I go for. I think the Dark Romance bit threw me off. I like Dark Romance, haven't read a lot, but I do like it. This one wasn't just dark, it was pitch black. If you're someone with specific triggers please please please look them up for this book, do not skip, read them carefully.

There's basically no plot. Lots of smut. But not really the tasteful kind. I'm very neutral on dub-con and non-con smut scenes, but this one was filled to the brim with it and I just...genuinely don't know what I just read. Somehow I got invested and read the whole book, but I've definitely made a few disgusted faces while reading this.

This was not really the book for me so I'm giving it two stars.

This book was hot,hot,hot. From the beginning to the end I was drawn into the storyline and invested into the main character. I loved that the author didn't make us wait for the story to build to get to the hot scenes, they started right away. She did an amazing job of warning the reader right from the start that their would be triggers, and then went even farther to warn the reader at the start of a chapter that would have a difficult scene that some might want to skip. I really liked the book and will definitely be reading the next book she writes in the series.

Plug and Drain by Darcy Fayton is a perfect book for a dirty spicy steamy reader. This is my 2nd book from Darcy Fayton and this book is just my cup of tea.

The storyline gives me emotional rollercoaster which include trauma, grief, suspense and angst. The cliffhanger gives me a heart attack. The spicy scenes are very intense and explicit which is my favorites part of the book which include BDSM and age gap.

I have to know what happens next to Susie and I can't wait to read the next book by Darcy Fayton.

Thanks to NetGalley and Darcy Fayton for providing me with a free ARC of Plug and Drain in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I don't have a problem with dark, spicy, BDSM related fantasy stories. Throw in some monsters, and I'm there. But I had problems with this one. The MMC was really... wooden and lacked a personality. And the FMC was promised to be strong... but really all she did was wait around for the MMC to join her side of the fight, rather than fight herself. She was constantly putting herself into horrible situations because "there was no other way." Like... make another way? I get that there was supposed to be a feeling of being trapped from this perspective... but don't tell me the girl's strong when she constantly makes all the wrong choices. Give me out-right rebellion, not simpering in a corner while being railed waiting for someone to "see it her way" and save her.

Also... there are other horrible things to do to a character that's dark. We don't always have to use various forms of r*pe. It kind of desensitized me to the situation... which is something no one should ever be. And the writing wasn't... horrible, but it could use a hard edit. I don't need an entire chapter in one POV, then switch to another POV... and instead of moving on in the new POV, we travel back in time twenty minutes to get that new POVs take on the situation. Pick up from the moment you left off on, please. The dual take on the same situation while actually taking place at the same time--instead of some kind of reflection on it later--is super unnecessary. And kind of makes it a slog to read through.

And the title is super off-putting. Makes me think of a sink, I'm sorry.

*this review has also been posted to Goodreads, as the NetGalley button for this wouldn't link to it.