Insatiable (The Edge of Darkness: Book 1) (The Edge of Darkness Trilogy)

Insatiable was an absolute emotional disaster in the best possible way. Leigh Rivers once again destroyed me psychologically, and honestly, I don’t know how she writes characters that are this broken, obsessive, tragic, and emotionally consuming. This was easily a 5-star read ⭐️ because this book hurt SO MUCH and I still couldn’t stop reading. The story follows Stacey and Kade, who meet when they’re younger because Stacey is one of Luciella’s best friends Luciella being Kade’s twin sister. From the beginning, Kade becomes completely obsessed with Stacey, even though everyone around them assumes they can’t stand each other. But underneath all the tension, they slowly fall in love and begin a secret relationship because Stacey doesn’t want Luciella finding out she’s dating her brother. And honestly, watching them fall in love was one of the most painfully beautiful parts of the book. They experience all their firsts together and love each other in such an intense, raw, youthful way. But this story is DARK. Stacey is trapped in a nightmare inside her own home. After her father remarries, one of her stepbrothers develops a deeply disturbing obsession with her. He genuinely believes Stacey belongs to him, and his obsession escalates into terrifying levels of control, manipulation, and abuse. And then the worst happens. That stepbrother orchestrates a brutal assault against Stacey while watching everything happen. Videos are recorded, and one eventually reaches Kade. But he doesn’t know the truth. He believes Stacey betrayed him, cheated on him, and lied about everything they shared. And that’s where everything falls apart. The book alternates between past and present, showing how Kade went from being a boy deeply in love to becoming almost unrecognizable. While heartbroken over Stacey, he falls under the control of a dangerous woman connected to organized crime, drugs, and psychological manipulation. She completely destroys him and drags him into a violent world until he becomes someone even his own family barely recognizes. Two years later, Kade is basically working as a killer for these people. And yet… he never stopped loving Stacey. Meanwhile, Stacey continues suffering physical and emotional abuse from her stepbrother while believing no one would ever believe her if she spoke up. And the one person she truly loved hates her for something that was never her fault. When they reconnect after years of pain, resentment, and trauma… the emotional tension was INSANE. Because even while Kade tries to hate her, those feelings never truly disappeared. And Stacey still loves him despite everything. One of my favorite parts was seeing Stacey turn to Tobias Mitchell yes, the same Tobias from Psychotic Obsession in an attempt to help save Kade. And honestly, Tobias in this role was heartbreaking and perfect at the same time. The ending absolutely destroyed me because just when Kade finally allows himself to feel something good again with Stacey… the dark world he’s trapped in comes back for him. And to protect her, he chooses to let her go all over again. This book is painful, traumatic, obsessive, and emotionally devastating, but Leigh Rivers has this incredible ability to make you feel every single emotion deep in your chest. I desperately need the continuation because I already know Kade and Stacey still have so much suffering ahead of them… but I also know they love each other far too much to stay apart forever.

I was surprised. The book was promoted as a Young Adult book, and reading the ad caption, I thought it would be interesting. It was interesting all right, and now I want to find out what happens next, but I was totally unprepared for the content. It is definitely not a YA book. When I went to Amazon to post a review, I looked to see what category it is in: Romantic Erotica. So, I am sure you now realize, it is completely explicit sex and some romance, but also suspense, and twists of a tale book. I can read pretty much anything, but I don’t like thinking a book is one thing and realizing it is something else entirely. I did enjoy the story, but I thought the sex scenes were much more than necessary. It felt like filler sometimes, to add more pages, but it didn’t enhance the plot. Well, maybe to some it does. But for me, it stole time from the story's progression, stalling the plot. I did enjoy the characters, though, which made it much more interesting and fun to read. Of course, now I have to read the second book because I am so curious as to where the author is going to take this. If you like to read steamy and explicit sex scenes with romance, you will enjoy this book. The story was well thought out and enticing you to read the next book as well.

I haven’t been this invested in a couple since Driven released in 2013, and I became completely obsessed with Colton and Rylee. Kade and Stacey are toxic, intense, obsessive, heartbreaking… and somehow impossible not to root for. Their chemistry is absolutely feral. Horrible things happen to both of them throughout this series, and yes, there’s frustrating miscommunication and moments where you want to shake them both, but honestly? Part of that comes from their age, trauma, and the emotional chaos surrounding them. What really got me was how deeply this series pulls you in. The side characters and friendships add so much to the story, and the group dynamic makes the world feel real and addictive. I started the first book and suddenly a day and a half disappeared from my life because I could not stop until the very last page of the 3rd book. Multiple moments genuinely hurt to read because I could relate to pieces of both Kade and Stacey. Their pain felt real, messy, and raw. That said, check trigger warnings before diving in. This series goes to some very dark places and doesn’t hold back. If certain subjects are difficult for you, this may not be the right read. But if you like obsessive love stories, emotionally damaged characters, tension that practically vibrates off the page, and a romance that consumes everything around it… this series will grab you by the throat and not let go.

♾️⭐️ The way this trilogy has forever changed me I will never be the same. I devoured all 3 books in 1 weekend, sacrificing sleep just to read it. Kade & Stacey, oh man did they go through some hard stuff and I cried happy tears when they finally got their HEA. Kade's change from book 1 to 3 is so heartbreaking, so much trauma he's just so broken. 🥹🥹I loved Base's character in this book and can't wait for him and Lu's story even though I know it's going to hurt so bad. The relationship between Tobias & Stacey was the sweetest. I loved the dual timeline and getting to see how happy Stacey and Kade were before everything changed. This was such an emotional story about first time love thinking they would be forever until the people in their life manipulated their circumstances. Its so damn good but damn it hurts so bad. 🎧 The audio book was fantastic, I loves the full cast narration and think every narrator absolutely crushed it! The way they portrayed the emotions so perfectly. I highly recommend doing this on audio.

Unfortunately, I couldn't give this a 4 or 5. The writing was excellent, story line drew you in, kept you engaged in the book with heat. Clarifying, I intensely dislike cliffhangers and admit this was my own fault for not reviewing before purchase. I rarely read cliffhangers as my humble opinion is the writer isn't secure enough in writing to produce a stand alone book so this is a way to milk the readers for more money. Have to admit have purchased the other two books to complete the series but will not be reading this author again if they continue to be cliffhangers. I could abide by one additional book making it a two book series; but three tells me the author has the inability to wrap it up in two books - yes more money. Sad.

I totally immersed myself in Insatiable — both in audio and on Kindle — and let me tell you, I was not fully prepared for the full cast audiobook experience… but I was absolutely here for it. The multi-voice production added a whole new layer to the characters and really brought the story to life in a way that made me feel like I was right there with them. At its core, Insatiable is a dark, emotional romance about two people trying to find their way through life while grappling with tragic pasts and unhealed wounds. It’s gritty, angst-heavy, and definitely not your typical fluff. The author leans into some dark themes and emotional tension that gives the story weight and complexity beyond the steamy scenes.  What I loved most were the characters. I especially loved Teddy Hamilton — he’s a standout presence whose natural bad-boy energy bumped up the edge of our hero, Kade. Kade himself has that rugged, damaged vibe that’s hard not to get sucked into. And Stacey’s journey? It’s raw and real; she’s been through more than your average 21-year-old and it shows in every interaction she has.  Stacey is fighting her own inner battles, especially with the trauma left by her stepbrother Chris — a man I literally wanted to arm myself with a pitchfork to take down. Her pull toward Kade — even when she swears she shouldn’t love him — felt messy and human. She’s tough, fragile, and determined not to fall for what’s right in front of her… even though her heart keeps pulling her back.  Kade and Stacey’s connection is deeply rooted in their past — childhood love, betrayal, unresolved longing — and their dynamic throughout the book is that classic “will they/won’t they” mixed with second-chance intensity. The chemistry is undeniable, but so are the miscommunications and emotional detours that will frustrate you at times. It gets repetitive in places because the characters circle around their feelings instead of just saying the thing that would end the tension… but honestly, that’s part of what made it feel real to me.  There’s a lot going on beyond just the romance — trauma, obsession, psychological depth — and a thread of spiritual and emotional struggle that ties both characters together as they try to make sense of who they are and what they want. The story doesn’t offer neat answers by the end, but it does set up the next book beautifully, leaving you eager for more.  Overall, I liked this book. I really liked it. It has drama, heat, emotional punches, and characters you won’t easily forget. If you enjoy dark, character-driven romance with depth and edge, this one is worth the ride. My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Would I recommend it? Yes — especially in audio if you enjoy full-cast performances.

Incredible. I really enjoyed this book. Great spice and amazing plot. I highly recommend this book to any dark romance reader.

I finished this book in one day. It was so addicting I couldn’t put it down! The audiobook is amazing as well! I am obsessed with this storyline and the characters in it. Kade just quickly became one of my favorite MMC.

This book was amazing and so dark. I absolutely loved every second of it 💕

To say that I’m obsessed with Leigh and her writing style is the understatement of the century. After reading The Web of Silence duet and falling head over heels for Malachi and Olivia’s story, I knew I had to read more of this universe. Not only was I immediately sucked into a gripping and intense story but I knew that The Edge of Darkness trilogy was going to take over my top spot for dark romance series. The story Stacey Rhodes and Kade Mitchell are forced back into proximity with each other, two years after the brutal events that break them up. Kade is determined to continue hating Stacey for what she did, and Stacey is driven to move on from the past. The two are drawn together with sizzling chemistry and must navigate the depths of the underworld, abusive relationships, and the small moments of freedom that they are granted with each other. The characters I want to start with Stacey because I was so drawn into her story. I felt so pulled into her experiences. From our first interaction with Stacey, I found myself interested in her unique perspective. She met a boy at 15 and fell deeply with him. They learned the ins and outs of love together. It was an adorable story filled with love and happiness and now as we see her grown into age 21 and dealing with the extremities of her home life plus the repercussions of her relationship with Kade, we can truly see the stark difference of her childhood years to her adult years. As someone who’s currently 21 and is finding bits of myself within these characters, I couldn’t help but mourn childhood Stacey with hope and innocence. She was dealing with everything even back then but the softness of her has disappeared as she’s grown up into this strong and beautiful woman. I found myself loving Stacey as a main character and every inch of her was something that I felt I related to. I loved reading her perspective and really feeling the femininity and adulthood seeping into her words. I honestly don’t know where to begin with Kade because I’ve never fallen so quickly for a character before. Undeniably misunderstood, Kade Mitchell is the softest man I’ve met in my career as a reader. Watching him grow up from age 15-18 and seeing his innocence and softness when it came to Stacey had me in tears. He’s probably one of the best male characters I’ve ever had the chance of reading. Not only that but seeing the progression of his feelings into his adulthood years we can see how he’s been handling the difficulties he’s had to face, including the loss of Stacey, the person he trusted more than anybody. This twisted version of his reality is definitely something that I wish he didn’t have to deal with but we can see that he still holds strong to his morals and the fact that he may be becoming similar to his dad but doesn’t want to lose himself into those urges. I found myself proud of him and my heart swelled with every page that Kade was in. I love that he’s still human beneath all of the inhuman acts that he’s had to face and despite it all, Stacey is still his rock. The writing Leigh Rivers has a talent for sucking you into a story and never letting you go. I started this book fairly early on in the day and ended up reading into the late hours of the night just obsessing over Kade and Stacey’s chemistry. I love how gripping the story is and how easy it is to understand. From page one you’re pulled into a world of twisted darkness and beautiful wording full of love stories that make you want to scream from their intensity. Final thoughts At this point there is no contest. Leigh River’s has beat every single dark romance from the top spot on my list and Insatiable has taken over. Kade Mitchell and Stacey Rhodes may be the best and most beautiful couple I’ve ever read about and I can’t wait to dive into book two even though I know Leigh is about to put me through the ringer. Rating: 5/5⭐️

Hel och fin.

Insatiable was absolutely consuming from start to finish. This isn’t just dark romance—it’s intense, chaotic, and completely addictive in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve read it. The tension is constant, the emotions are raw, and the relationship is messy, toxic, and impossible to look away from. I was hooked the entire time, needing to know what would happen next. I couldn’t put the book down. It pushes boundaries, makes you uncomfortable in the best way, and still somehow keeps you completely invested. Easily one of the most gripping dark romances I’ve read. Hands down a 10 out of 10! 🔥❤️

Beautiful book and cover