Wow wow wow!

Melina McKay hits a home run with this one. Absolutely loved it & having the story from the ‘ice queen’ point of view was awesome. I couldn’t stop listening. There is A LOT of angst and waiting for all the different pieces to come together but when they do it’s so worth it. Highly recommend!

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As other reviews bitty in parts but good

As other reviews bitty in parts, but good overall and well worth the effort spent on getting through it. 4/5🌟stars

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A masterclass in storytelling!

*Edit*
It’s been 4 months since I listened to this story for the first time. This was one of the first sapphic fiction books I’d listened to and only the second book from Milena McKay I had encountered at the time. I really enjoyed this audiobook the first time I experienced it, but didn’t fully appreciate how astoundingly beautiful the story truly is.

After listening to this book for the second time, I can honestly say it has transformed the overall story and more specifically Neve Blackthorne completely in my mind. This book is one of the most unique, emotional and heart wrenchingly powerful stories I’ve encountered. It is told solely from the Neve/the ice queen’s point of view, which is extraordinary and unnerving in and of itself, but because of that, it means that without understanding who Neve Blackthorne is at her core, there is no book.

Looking back to the first time I experienced this master class in storytelling, I feel like I didn’t fully connect to Neve. That isn’t anything against the story itself, McKay’s writing and Abby’s narration conveyed the emotions perfectly and I understood and felt Neve’s trauma. Although, at the time, I could see Neve was extremely damaged, but overall, still just a raving bitch. Now, I can see that she is so much more than that “raving ice bitch”, I loved to hate. Neve is one of the most complex characters I’ve ever read. There is no doubt she has earned her title of “The Wicked Queen of Tinseltown”. On the surface Neve is everything you would expect from an ice queen; she is wealthy, breathtakingly beautiful, and cruel. Dig a little deeper though and you will see that she is so much more. She is incredibly intelligent, ruthless, intoxicating, damaged beyond belief, funny, secretly kind, and above all else a survivor. She is basically a walking enigma in 4-inch designer high heels.

This is a romance book and is full of everything you could want from a romance story. It has extremely hot, passionate sex scenes, chemistry between the leading ladies that could melt steel, and ultimately a happily ever after for the protagonists. However, this book is so much more than that. The story follows Neve’s journey of healing to overcome the demons and scars of her past. The author has portrayed the shocking and heart-breaking reality of someone living with severe trauma, mental illness, and PTSD. Throughout the book, we see how draining and dangerous it is for someone to deal with that war raging inside them every day. Once you truly allow yourself to feel those emotions and see what Neve has gone through, and how much strength she needs to, not only want to change, but start to make healthy choices that seem so foreign to her. It will take your breath away and make you look at her and the overall story in a completely different light. It’s because of the author’s incredible ability to portray those raw, powerful, and intense emotions that I would recommend a trigger warning for anyone affected by themes of child abuse (character’s backstory) and alcohol abuse.

It wasn’t just Neve that makes this story unforgettable. The descriptive imagery is mind-blowing, and the supporting characters are well-developed and realistic. McKay has created a world and through her words submerges the readers inside for the duration of Neve’s story. I truly felt like I was experiencing everything the characters experienced, which at times can leave one feeling quite hot under the collar. The supporting characters enhance Neve’s journey, especially, Audrey, Dr. Moore, and Gustavo. I adored Audrey, I felt like she was a good match for Neve. Granted, Neve was utterly vile to her on multiple occasions, which still doesn’t sit well with me, but Audrey was certainly no innocent and gave as good as she got. Overall, I’m happy with their relationship, but I wished there was another chapter or an epilogue to show the characters growth together, as a couple. Their relationship was incredibly toxic from the beginning, and I felt like their “HEA” was rushed and slightly forced. In the space of 3 chapters, the leading ladies went from being estranged to reunited, finally admitting their feelings, dating, and then married. For me, I wanted to see them actually build the healthy relationship and marriage, Milena had described briefly, maybe see them go to couples counselling or something. On the topic of therapy, I also loved Dr. Helena Moore, she was awesome, and I wish I had a therapist like her. Hell, if she can help Neve Blackthorne, she can help anyone.

With the exception of the atrocious Scottish accent, Abby's narration, like everything she performs, was sublime. I felt every emotion, distinct characters, and scenes as if I were standing there among all the action.

I highly recommend this book; you won’t regret it. My advice if you’re like me and you didn’t fully grasp the everything the first time, is to listen to this book again. Every time I listen, I know I will get a better appreciation for the work of art the author has created. Milena had me laughing, crying and my heart pounding and breath catching for a variety of different reasons. Neve Blackthorne may remain a very controversial character in my mind, but one this is for certain, I know I will be visiting her in LA many more times in the future.



ORIGINAL REVIEW (October 2022)

This is the second book from Milena Mckay I've listened to, and like with everything, when your first experience is mindblowing, you're always apprehensive when you listen to or read the author's next book. Especially, when your first experience is the incomparable work of art that is "The Headmistress". However, all my fears were washed away with the complex, emotional, moving and beautiful story that is "A Whisper Of Solace".

Although, both of Mckay's books feature an age gap relationship, between a powerful, wealthy "ice queen" and a young, stunning, yet average woman that challenges said "ice queen", that is where the similarities of Milena's 2 books end. In fact, I was taken aback by the rawness and grit of this wonderful book. Not only does this story have a emotional, albeit toxic (at times) romance, but it also sheds light on the tragic war mental illness and trauma can be raging inside a person. Neve's journey was beautiful, raw, moving and realistic. Milena had me laughing, crying and my heart pounding for a variety of different reasons. The only downside, I wish there had been another chapter, as I felt everything was tied up quite abruptly. That and I just didn't want to let go of Neve and Audrey.

With the exception of the terrible Scottish accent, Abby's narration, like everything she performs, was sublime. I felt every emotion, distinct characters and scenes as if I were standing there among all the action.

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Angst a’plenty

Wonderful book, but the angst is so high it almost broke me. If you like this sort of thing then you’ll have a wonderful time listening to this. Abby Craden is fantastic as usual.

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What an emotive writer. Just Wow!

This book has ALL the feels. Artfully written. I may write something longer, but in the meantime: get this book!

Narration… It’s Abby Craden. Enough said.

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Wow! Blown away!

From the moment I started listening, I knew Milena McKay was an author like no other! Extremely intelligent storytelling.

I was enthralled by the main protagonist from the start! I want to be in her orbit!
Love her relationship with her therapist!

My only criticism is that there was quite a lot of “business” talk in the middle.. I felt it wasn’t needed, and the time could have been spent to beef out the end of the book a bit more.
Oh, and that the Scottish accent wasn’t great (sorry Abby Cranden, your voice for the rest of the book was totally sizzling!)

All in all, I can’t wait to go and listen to the other books by MM!

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Another great story from this author

Loved the depth of voice in the characters. The author is superb at melting the ice queen stories but with a depth of narrative and complexity surrounding the characters too.

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Could not stop listening

Perfection as far as I am concerned. I loved every moment. It flows at a perfect pace, and has the perfect amount of pain.

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Phew!!

The paperback was amazing and Abby Craden has made the audible book even more so. It blew me away.

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Only 2 Other Books Compare

Another astonishing audible by Milena McKay, narrated by the absolute best in this business Abby Craden. Like The Headmistress and The Delicate Things We Make Milena and Abby simply confirm their genius!

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