Desolation Road is the fourth book to Christine Feehan's Torpedo Ink series. This series happened to be the first book I read from Christine Feehan. Now I've dived into other series she has written, and I've found she likes to write alpha males and sometimes damsel in distresses in her books. Although she changed it up in this book a bit, she wrote a kick-butt heroine who didn't need saving. I love kick-butt heroines in stories, so I was looking forward to reading this book.
Female Protagonist: Scarlet Foley is the main heroine in the story, and she doesn't need anyone looking out for her, especially after what happened to her in the past. She's had her revenge for the people that have made her life horrible since she was younger. She lost her family because of those awful people. Now there's a bounty out on her due to what she has done to those people that thought they could getaway. She's not a timid character, so be prepared for a heroine fighting back, and she does it very well. She was trained by the best after what she went through. She deserved revenge. She never expected to find someone like Absinthe, but she does when he walks into her library. I enjoyed her character.
Male Protagonist: I've been fascinated with Aleksei "Absinthe" Solokov since he was first introduced in the series. You shouldn't let him touch you, and you definitely shouldn't listen to his voice because he can influence you. He's dangerous, but he was made that way. He has a horrible past that readers will find out more about in this book. I felt for his character after finding out more about him. Although he has some strange way of showing affection and love in this book, each person is different.
Storyline: I'll try to keep this short and sweet since I don't want to give anything away. The fourth book involves Absinthe finding the one person that he can love, and she happens to work at a library. Scarlet, though is not a sweet young, innocent woman. She has skeletons in her closet, but that's due to her past. She has every right to be wary of people. She never expected to find someone like Absinthe, and now he has let Torpedo Ink members know about her, and they will protect her at any cost. There will be some severe dark and twisted issues in this book in regards to Absinthe's past and even Savage's history. There's also some bizarre kink play in this book that involves 'kitty play.' It's different from the other couples that have received their books already, but readers will find out why Absinthe has that kind of play over others. Christine tended to write chapters of kink play that I skimmed over a lot. I wanted to find out if Scarlett would ever get her full revenge in the story. (Not telling what happens, so you'll have to read the book.)
Steaminess: There is some very steamy and very strange kinkiness.
Standalone or Series: Series. I would recommend reading in order.
HEA: Yes.
Would I recommend this book? Overall, this book receives 3.5-stars from me. I've yet to have a favorite from this series, but I won't give up. I'm determined to find out who wins over Savage and all the other Torpedo Ink members. They all deserve a HEA after everything they went through.
There was a slight issue of the author being repetitive in the story, which drove me crazy. She went over things that she had already gone over with the characters. It was a constant reminder, which is not needed. I wanted to get to the right parts. I also felt that the ending of the book was rushed a bit. I needed some more action. I felt there were a lot of moments between Absinthe and Scarlet in the book, but they didn't connect well as a couple. I needed more and not just the kinky play. This book may not have gotten a high rating for me, but doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend it to readers that enjoy PNR and suspense. If you also are a fan of MC books, then this series is for you.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars of painful but wonderful reading!

This is the fourth book in the series – I would definitely recommend that you read them in order, as they do follow on in time, and as each member of Torpedo Ink gets their happily ever after, it impacts on the group as a whole.

Not an easy book to read for many reasons, but incredibly beauty and love shines through all the darkness. Absinthe had a terrible life from when he was a toddler, trained as an assassin and a plaything for evil perverts, but he now lives free with his brothers and sisters who survived. They are bonded to each other and live to keep each other safe and to free those who have been enslaved or harmed to lessen evil where they can. They also all developed talents which go beyond the usual and for Absinthe, that means taking on the pain of others. It may free them of some of the worst of their nightmares, but it costs him a lot. So when he finds peace in the presence of Scarlet, a librarian in a nearby town, he knows he has hit gold.

Whilst Scarlet's traumas are somewhat different to Absinthe's, they have changed everything about the life she should have led. As we learn why and what happened to her, it is clear that she has the strength to support Absinthe and the need to have a family again. That they both have such strong talents of insight and empathy brings them closer, but the sexual chemistry is explosive too.

High drama, horrible violence, and corruption give this story some real edge, but at its heart is the redemption of a much abused man and an abused woman, who discover in each other their peace.

Beautiful, heart wrenching, and one of those books that I could not stop reading – so it was fortune I had no other urgent plans!


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
This book is about two people with vastly different childhoods, who both endured horrendous tragedies with the sole purpose of just surviving another day.

Absinthe grew up in a hellish "boys school" in Russia after a mobster killed his parents for not voluntarily giving up their children. His brother died in that terrible place before the members of Torpedo Ink were able to escape their tormentors. Ab has blamed himself for years for failing to protect his brother and for his part in "soothing" the rest of his family (the other children who are now members of the club) into enduring the torture placed upon them. The guilt that Ab has is slowly eroding his soul and he cannot see a way out of the darkness. Until he stumbles up a small town library and the librarian therein.

Scarlet Foley has her own scars, emotional as well as physical. Having been the victim of a sexual assault, the father of one of the boys – an influential man – managed to have the tables turned and while Scarlet was serving time in prison, her younger sister was also assaulted, which led to the deaths of Scarlet's entire family. Upon release from prison, Scarlet has trained herself to be steady and stealthy and very dangerous.

When Ab steps foot into her little library, she knows that nothing in her world will ever be the same. Knowing she can't put Ab in danger, she tries to distance herself from him, but he won't let her. Scarlet is the one person that soothes his soul and gives him peace.

The book is not for the faint of heart, but if you want to read about two people who have overcome the traumas in their lives to find a peace within themselves, this book is for you.

Triggers: Sexual assault of children, Murder, Violence

Absinthe has always preferred books to people. Libraries granted him rare moments of solace when memories of his childhood came rushing back. Recently, he’s discovered something far more precious there.

The beautiful woman behind the desk calls to him like no other ever has. She’s talented in the same special ways as his family and the raw chemistry between them is indisputable. It’s a combination that they are going to explore regardless of the danger.

“It was the librarian. The little redhead. She moved like poetry. Flowing like words across the pages of a book. One moment she could be a lady in a historical, taking the hand of a gentleman and gracefully emerging from a carriage; the next, a modern-day woman striding down the busy street in a business suit with her briefcase. Or a sexy librarian dressed in a pencil-straight skirt that hugged her curves and gave him all kinds of very dirty and graphic thoughts, like bending her over that desk of hers when the rest of the world went away.
Still, that feeling of staying anonymous, of keeping his identity secret, so that no one had a clue what or who he was, persisted while he unraveled the mystery of the woman who ran the library so efficiently.”

Scarlett Foley has been on the run for so long. She’s been so careful to never reveal her truth to anyone. But there’s something about the intensely gorgeous man that walks through her doors almost every day.

His voice alone can make her body burn and she longs to let down her defenses and drown in his kisses – if only for a moment. But her past is catching up with her far too quickly.

Apart, they are broken beyond repair. Together, they are a force of fury and of love. And they are going live life on their own terms – the way that only Torpedo Ink can.

“Babe, I’ve got to confess, I’m as fucked up as they come. Never dated. Never been in a relationship. Had a lot of women for a few hours only, but none I wanted to keep. Thinking there’s a hell of a difference with you. I don’t know why, only that there is, and I want to pursue it. You make me want to smile when I haven’t had a reason to in years. You talk and I don’t want to blow my head off because you’re really intelligent and you know what you’re talking about. Just listening to the sound of your voice is something special.”
Scarlet pressed her lips together and then shook her head. “You know this could end up bad, right? We’re weird together. We have this . . .” She trailed off and her hand fluttered between them.
“Connection? Chemistry? Explosive chemistry? The ability to read each other?” “Whatever it is, Aleksei, it could be dangerous to both of us,” she warned, still trying to dissuade him, or maybe it was herself she was trying to warn off.”

In Desolation Road, Christine Feehan delivers the most visceral installment of her Torpedo Ink saga yet! She delves even deeper into the tragic past of the MC to help readers understand Absinthe on a more intimate level. It’s bleak and yet somehow still profoundly hopeful.

Everyone is a warrior in this story - including Scarlet. She’s suffered through her own private hell and has come through to the other side stronger than before. In Absinthe, she finds her true partner - a man who can bask in her toughness and cherish her vulnerability.

When all of this raw emotion is combined with Christine’s legendary heat, the result is a turbulent and satisfying ride. The kind that you’ll want to experience over and over again…

Deliciously Twisted

This was one dark, twisted and sexy read and if you can’t handle some crazy s*x play don’t even start because this book is so much more than that. Absinthe was a member of Torpedo Ink who took upon himself to allow his brothers and sisters a little peace of mind at times. He also needed a getaway in order to soothe his own demons and he found that at a library. Only this one time it was the librarian who was able to distract him and bring about feelings and emotions he could only dream of after everything that he had been through as a child.

Scarlet was on her own mission but when she seen the devilishly hot tattooed man actually reading the books her plan was sidetracked if only while he was involved. She also had her demons she was fighting after going through a horrific event in her past that left her making plans for years as revenge.

Absinthe and Scarlet had an extremely special connection not only in their hearts but in their minds as well. It was also another addition for the men and women of Torpedo Ink that brought about immense feelings that had me turning page after page to see if anyone could ever get, not over their pasts but through life as they now have. I have loved every book from this series and always looked forward as to what this author has in store for us next. I highly recommend this series and this book!!

Aleksei Solokov aka Absinthe loved books. He’d found a library and been going for weeks without telling anyone. Not even wearing his colors. The library gave him peace and quiet, a much needed respite from the continual bombardment of other people’s thoughts and emotions. But that isn’t the only attraction.
Scarlet Foley, has noticed the tall, gorgeous man covered in tattoos and wondered about him. She is hesitant but accepts when he invites her to dinner one night. That dinner sets the tone for what is to come for Scarlet and Absinthe.
In the meantime, Torpedo Ink has been asked by the Diamondbacks to help with a “small problem”. Another club has been encroaching on their territory and they want Torpedo Ink to take care of the problem. Consensus is that the Diamondbacks are trying to set them up so they will need to come up with a way to handle things without revealing how they do it.
So back to the meat of the story, Scarlet and Absinthe. As with previous books we learn more about what happened to each member. I’m not going into detail about what Absinthe reveals to Scarlet except to say that it is very heartbreaking and a bit unusual and may not be to everyone’s taste. Scarlet’s revelation of her past is heartbreaking in its own way. After a rocky start, they do eventually come to agreement on how to handle their relationship so both are happy.
The Club successfully completes their job for the Diamondbacks but it does lead to possible future problems. I think watching how the Torpedo Ink members learn to incorporate themselves into the community around them is one of the more enjoyable aspects of these stories. How each member finds their other half and works things out between them is also one of main draws for me. Icing on the cake is the interaction with other Clubs.
I do highly recommend Desolation Road by Christine Feehan for those who are enjoying the series. However, there are sexual aspects that not everyone will be able to accept. I still say it is a very good book and adds greatly to the overall story of the Torpedo Ink Motorcycle Club.

Being an avid reader of Feehan's series, I have been desperately awaiting Absinthe's story. The early release of the first chapter had me dying to know more about little Ms. Scarlet. All of the Torpedo Ink books are extremely dark; they generally always venture way out of 'vanilla' territory, and this edition pushes it even further. Be prepared for deviant, and you'll get it. I really loved seeing Absinthe and Scarlet discover their path forward - and learning about Scarlet's connection to the Russian team in general. And I left this book needing to immediately know more about what is in store for both Savage (he's going to have a rough time of it) and Destroyer (newly being introduced into the fold).

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro

Scarlet Foley is more than a librarian. She helps students find the right books they need and even goes out of her way to tutor and help them with school and life related issues. She loves books and is very intelligent. But her biggest advantage is her ability to read people by touch. Scarlet lost her family when she was a teenager due to an unjust prison sentence by men who had money and power over the justice system.

After prison, Scarlet learned to be lethal and strong in order to help those in her same situation and take revenge on the people that had hurt her. She is very careful of her surroundings and takes precautions of everything she does. Survival is her number one priority until she meets Torpedo Ink’s Absinthe.

Absinthe has spent the last six weeks at the library Scarlet works at. First, he was there out of pure pleasure. Libraries had always helped him calm his inner demons and brought peace to him. Eventually, he noticed Scarlet and felt the connection spark among them. Absinthe is always careful to not touch people if he doesn’t have to. Apart from being the club’s lawyer, he also serves as the lie detector.

Absinthe realizes his attraction for Scarlet and doesn’t waste time asking her out, but he immediately notices how she is always alert and aware of her surroundings. He senses her subtle lies and knows that there is more to her librarian persona than she lets people see. What catches Absinthe’s attention is that her skills resemble his childhood training.

Throughout the Torpedo Ink series all the female leads have been interesting one after another, but this time Scarlet went up a notch. She eventually reveals why her training resembles Absinthe’s, which makes her the first character apart from the club’s members to be equally lethal. She suffered her own family tragedies, survived prison and years of training to get back at the men who had taken everything from her. She’s a strong character and could be a great asset for the club, especially having Absinthe and Scarlet’s similar psychic abilities for future enemy encounters.

“You know this could end up bad, right? We’re weird together. We have this…” She trailed off and her hand fluttered between them.

“Connection? Chemistry? Explosive chemistry? The ability to read each other?”

This series, like Feehan’s other books, have several characters and each one of them have their own stories. So far we’ve had books for five of the club’s members, but it still feels like the plot is taking shape. It’ll be interesting to read the two girl club member’s stories, one is already building up and I can’t wait. If you’re a fan of Christine Feehan and her charming strong boys, then I recommend Desolation Road.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

I’ve always loved a story about people who rise above their pasts. Who become strong and face their demons and end up kicking ass and taking names, which is why I’ve continued on with this series, despite the violent flashback scenes where almost every trigger I can imagine is described.

All that to say, this book has triggers and if you have issues with those, steer clear. There are flashback scenes where violent things done to children are described in detail, not something I could ever say makes an enjoyable read. A riveting, heartbreaking, soul crushing one at times, yes. Enjoyable, no.

But, again, this series is about a group of men and women who have an unshakable connection with each other as they learn to navigate this world and do their best to make it better despite their terrible childhoods. And that’s what has kept me reading on.
She had been dead. She’d chosen to be dead. She’d shoved the woman in her aside out of necessity and become what she had to be. Now she was simply surviving. Until he walked in.

Desolation Road is Absinthe’s story and the woman who happens to soothe his soul has a violent past of her own with lots of secrets. Some that even crisscross his own. One of the things I loved about Desolation Road is the connection between Absinthe and Scarlet. It’s an almost tangible thing you can feel and believe in.

Needless to say, their chemistry was off the charts. And that first sex scene was hot, sexy, exceedingly well done and it catapulted the story forward. Just how I like them. But then we get introduced to Absinthe’s brand of kink which did absolutely nothing for me. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, just not my thing. Unfortunately, a huge chunk of the story was focused on it which proved a major distraction for me.

It’s good that the action in the story was able to get me mostly past his proclivities. When threatened, the Torpedo Ink crew are like a well oiled machine and they are so skilled the outcome is never in question. I freaking adore how this group always has each other’s backs and how they watch out for each other.

Here though, there were a few things that had me tilting my head and thinking this could all have been solved with a well placed bullet long before it got to the point it did. But then again, if she had done that the Torpedo Ink crew wouldn’t have had anything to do to save her. Shrug.

So here’s my dilemma. Desolation Road was action packed but not necessarily suspenseful. It kept me turning the pages but it’s not a book you can really claim to like or enjoy because of the constant play by play of some seriously effed up situations. It’s a decent book in a good series. But I may have hit my limit with the horrid, detailed flashbacks. Sigh. What a conundrum.

3.5 It was good but… Stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

In our fourth journey in the world of Torpedo Ink, we ride along with Aleksei “Absinthe” Solokov and the mystery woman Scarlett Foley. When Absinthe first sees Scarlett, he is fascinated with the beautiful prim and proper librarian and spends hours watching her for six weeks. Scarlett is a mystery, a puzzle, but one that makes all of Absinthe fantasies come alive, while at the same time warning bells are going off as he knows there is more to Scarlett than the persona that she allows people to see. For six weeks Scarlett has watched and fantasized about the handsome tattooed man who comes into the library, she knows he is a dangerous man, only she doesn’t know just how dangerous he will be to her heart. She truly wants to believe that this man will be the one to bring her back to life and out of the darkness that she lived in for years.
Desolation - a state of complete emptiness or destruction, anguished misery or loneliness. The state of a place that is empty or where everything has been destroyed
Both Absinthe and Scarlett are survivors of their pasts. Victims of the rich and powerful, they not only survived but learned to fight back against those that victimized them. When truths come out and faces thought long dead are resurrected will they be able to overcome their demons and move forward together or will the truths tear them apart.
Absinthe knows that this woman is dangerous to not only his heart but his mind as well, she is the one who could truly break him. Scarlett wants so much to be able to love again but is she strong enough not only to overcome the demons in Absinthe but to become the very thing that he needs the most to be whole.
Their book will keep you on the edge from beginning to end, take to places that you might find uncomfortable, but in the end, love will prevail and you will find your self enthralled right up to the end. I definitely recommend this book.
Excerpt: Absinthe opened the door to the restaurant for her, scanning the room quickly for potential trouble before allowing her to do the same thing while he turned back toward the street and gave that another quick once-over. Certain no one was paying attention to either of them, he closed the door and followed his librarian’s amazing ass. She was in a black skirt with small white polka dots scattered over it. The material clung to her curves. He appreciated that particular skirt very much.
Absinthe held the back of her chair for her, ignoring the waiter who looked as if he might conk him on the head and abscond with the girl. She looked regal as she took the seat, smiling up at Absinthe, nearly taking his breath away. Whatever it was that she had affected him like some kind of aphrodisiac. Her small teeth. That mouth with her full, pouty lips that were made for a man’s dirtiest fantasies. He hadn’t had them until she came along. Not like this. Mostly he’d had nightmares. The erotic, very graphic dreams were a welcome change.
“Are you a wine drinker?” Absinthe didn’t know the first thing about wine. He could make her any kind of drink she wanted, or talk beer, but wine eluded him. If she loved wine, he was going to be taking a crash course. It wouldn’t take him long to catch up.
She shook her head. “I actually don’t drink very much. Once in a while, if it’s really hot out, I’ll have an ice-cold beer. But other than that, it’s a very occasional drink and usually I go for something girly like a cosmopolitan.”
“I don’t drink wine,” Absinthe admitted. “Like you I’m not a big drinker, but mostly that stems from wanting to be alert all the time.”
“You don’t put your feet up, relax and have tons to drink?” There was the merest hint of amusement in her voice. Mostly she was serious.
He loved the look on her face when she gave him her full attention. He focused completely on her once he was certain the few couples already eating or waiting to be served weren’t interested in them in the least.
“No, that wouldn’t work for me. I do like to put my feet up though,” he admitted. “I’m going to be very up-front with you.” It was confession time. If he didn’t say it straight up, she’d find out anyway. “I’m not good at this. I never know what to say and I come off stilted and awkward, but I don’t want to be that way with you.”
Her green eyes were hard to stay still under. She seemed to see right through his skull into his mind where chaos reigned—thanks to her.
“I’m not so great at this either,” she declared. “I guess we’re going to have to learn. I’m very competitive and I have a fast learning curve. Very fast. Wait.” She frowned at him. “You weren’t reading a help book on dating, were you?”
“Do they have those in the library?”
Her lashes swept down and then back up. A small smile teased the curve of her mouth, causing his heart to accelerate. He found himself staring. Shit. He was going to lose before he got started because he couldn’t stop staring at her.
She laughed. “I’m not telling you. I’ll read them and turn into a scintillating conversationalist in minutes, leaving you in the dust.”
He instantly learned three things. There were multiple self-help books on dating, she read extremely fast, and she really was competitive. He flashed a small grin, looking at her with hawk-like eyes, giving her the predator look just for a moment. Just to see the shiver that crept down her spine.
“I’ll have to be there first thing in the morning before your shift.”
“You know my shifts?” The smile faded, and she sounded uneasy.
He shrugged. “How was I going to ask you out? I went multiple times without seeing you, so clearly you had a shift and only came into the library during those times. I kept having to trade work with friends, and drive here from the coast, so, I found out when you worked. I came as often as I could, and just waited until we’d established a very tentative woman can charm the socks right off a shy man any day of the week.”
“Is that what we established?”
Her laughter got him every time. He found himself actually relaxing. The waiter hovered, and both guiltily studied the menu. She ordered a pasta dish and he ordered a steak. Fresh-baked bread was put on the table, and he suddenly realized he was very hungry.”

Desolation Road is the 4th book in the Torpedo Ink Series by Christine Feehan. The series follows the lives of 18 survivors of an assassin training school in Russia which was run by political enemies of their families and pedophiles. Tortured and abused most of their lives they banded together. They developed the skills of their training and special psychic gifts. They sought revenge on those who made their lives hell. Out in the world they know the best way to survive is to stay the solid family they became living the code they created, as a motorcycle club. Keeping their skills sharp they aid other clubs resolve threats and hunting and delivering their type of justice to anyone that abuses children and women as they had been.
Like each book in the series, this book blew me away. We follow the journey of Absinthe, who acts as the club’s lawyer. His skills allow him to see others’ memories, know if they speak the truth and can influence their minds to follow his direction. They are relied on heavily by the club and by him. One of the codes they follow is not to use their psychic skills to influence family. But rules can be broken and it broke my heart to see Absinthe trying to cope with what might be the fall out from his abilities used by his desire to spare his brothers and sisters, to help them survive. He does his best to bury and not face the guilt he carries and the loss he suffered. His skills have not only his demons but the demons of his family screaming at him. His past made him someone he felt would never find a future, his life was meant to be desolate. His respite was found in books. In the quiet isolation of libraries.
It is in one such library he finds Scarlet, the one who wakens his body and his mind. She is as intelligent and as gifted as him. Maybe just as lethal. The trauma of her past has her seeking justice of her own, thinking these acts are all her life is about, there is no future, only desolation, as long as it hangs over her. But he makes her want one. She has her secrets giving him a puzzle to solve. Their relationship grows over conversation and exchange of ideas. Time spent together is romantically and erotically balanced. Her honesty, A strong woman who knows what she wants and what she needs from him. What’s even more thrilling and confounding for him, because of her own gifts, all they share is of her own free will. His intelligent mind and the way he was used by the pedophiles has him craving a very creative sexual outlet. Scarlet’s needs for sexual satisfaction fits perfectly with him, allows her to chose to follow his desire to meet her own.
Both of them offer each other Redemption, Acceptance and Belonging when they thought it would never be part of their lives. All they have to do is face their demons, share their hell with each other. And when Absinthe disappears into his mind, she realizes he hasn’t been open. She goes through an extremely scary and triggering experience of her own just to help him. But she’s done going further until he shares with her. She’s not afraid to lay it out and insist that if they are going to be partners in the bedroom they had to have trust and a partnership in all parts of life. She willingly shared it all with him it’s only fair he open up and face his own demons, his guilt, no longer keeping it buried but reveal it to her and what the triggers in his life are. Waiting on the other side of that is her love and acceptance, her understanding and possible resolutions.
Absinthe’s revelations, what he carries from his childhood, are horrifying and heart breaking, and it’s a relief to see him find some closure and possibilities thanks to Scarlet and he returns that trust and support helping her defeat her own. Of course helping them reach the point of believing they deserve a future together are the fellow members of Torpedo Ink. With heart breaking revelations, Action and justice delivered as only their talents can, teasing humor the plot moves forward and explosive information whispering threats coming for them. Christine Feehan masterfully shares this story, brings all emotions into play, has you on the edge of your seat wondering what’s next for the members of Torpedo Ink

Desolation Road is part of the 4th book in the Torpedo Ink series. We meet Scarlet the red headed librarian who is a secret feminist hero and Alex "Absinthe" a psycho who is part of a motorcycle brotherhood. These two meet and instant attraction happens. As they start a new romance their secret lives collide. They must work together to overcome their pasts.

Honestly this was not a bad book. This was memorable book either. I personally really disliked that the main character was named Scarlet and she had red hair. Its small thing but it really bothered me. Now back to the actual book. This was not Feehan's strongest book or world but I will say I did read it all. In the past I have put down Feehan books for being too much kink and abusive. The thing is I really liked the actual characters on their own but their romance was lacking. I would have been just as happy if they went their own ways after defeating the bad guy, actually I would preferred it. There was too much instant love with no burn or build. I think this was a solid three stars for me. I didn't hate, I did not struggle to finish it, I just have no desire to read it again or recommend it strongly to anybody.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. This is an honest review.

*3.5 stars*

Revenge like no other…

Another wild ride with Torpedo Ink! I liked Absinthe and Scarlet’s characters. Individually, they were strong and capable, with Scarlet even more so, being incredibly smart. Both could be single-minded in their focus, but didn’t hesitate to go off track if someone or something needed them. While the horrors that they suffered were completely opposite, the impact on them both was profound and drove their actions every day…

If this story didn’t hit all the marks for me, it’s more a reflection of my tastes than anything else. The story’s premise was intriguing and of course all the members of the entire Torpedo Ink family were back – which is always a treat. It was a fast pace, with huge questions answered along the way. Good triumphing over evil, in such inventive ways, always strikes the chord and that certainly did here…

This series just keeps getting better with every book.
Absinthe has a power that is horrific I'd say. He feels.
When at one of his places of solace he meets her...

Scarlet is on the run, so when she meets this huge, dark, powerful biker of a man she finds it hard to let down her guard. However, Aleksei "Absinthe" is one man you don't keep a guard against she will soon find out.

Can these two find solace with each other? Each is the light to the dark?
Explosive, gripping, absolutely amazing story and I can not wait to find out who gets their story next.

3.75 stars--DESOLATION ROAD is the fourth instalment in Christine Feehan’s contemporary, adult TORPEDO INK erotic, paranormal romance series focusing on the men and women of the Torpedo Ink MC. This is Aleksei ‘Absinthe’ Solokov, and librarian Scarlet Foley’s story line. DESOLATION ROAD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. The TORPEDO INK series is a spin off from the author’s SEA HAVEN SERIES but you do not have to have read the original series to follow Torpedo Ink.

NOTE: Most of the characters including Torpedo Ink club president Victor ‘Czar’ Prakenski, and his wife Blythe Daniels were introduced in the final instalment of the author’s Sea Haven Series BOUND TOGETHER.

WARNING: DESOLATION ROAD contains scenes, and makes reference to voyeurism, graphic violence, rape, murder, torture, child prostitution, and abuse against children, women and men. There are also scenes of animal role play, food play, anal play and the use of other items during sexual activities and therefore, Desolation Road may not be suitable for more sensitive readers. The eighteen original Torpedo Ink members are the sole survivors of a Russian pedophile ring, and as such work towards rescuing children and women in similar situations.


Told from several third person perspectives including Absinthe and Scarlet DESOLATION ROAD follows Torpedo Ink’s Aleksei ‘Absinthe’ Solokov as his need for librarian Scarlet Foley helps calm the demons that continually run through his head. For six weeks Absinthe has ‘stalked’ our storyline heroine in an effort to get to ‘know’ the woman that calms the beast but Scarlet Foley is so much more than a sexy librarian, Scarlet is not without some supernatural abilities of her own. Years earlier, a horrific attack against Scarlet, and ultimately her sister Priscilla, led to the loss of Scarlet’s entire family, and in the ensuing years, Scarlet swore vengeance against everyone involved but meeting Aleksei Solokov meant Scarlet was about to place the Torpedo Ink family in danger, a danger the family was certain did not apply. What ensues is the quick building romance and relationship between Absinthe and Scarlet, and the potential fall-out as Scarlet’s past is determined to finish the job.

At seventeen years of age, Scarlet Foley lost everything including her innocence, her family and the life she once knew. Years would pass wherein our heroine made preparations to enact revenge against the men who destroyed our heroine’s life, preparations that will now involve the men and women of Torpedo Ink.

Aleksei ‘Absinthe’ Solokov struggles with demons, the memories, and the PTSD of a time long ago. With the ability to ‘see’ into the mind of the people he loves, Absinthe is empathic about the pain, the suffering, and the horrendous acts that no child should have ever been exposed but it is the guilt of so many losses that continue to pull Absinthe into the abyss.

The relationship between Absinthe and Scarlet is one of immediate attraction; a highly sexual, demanding, intense role playing relationship in which the independent, strong willed and determined Scarlet Avery quickly bends to the will of the man that she loves. As per my warning, Desolation Road contains scenes of animal role play, food play, anal play, and the use of items not necessarily designed for sexual activity.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, broken and determined secondary and supporting characters including most of the Torpedo Ink family of survivors, who endured but barely survived years of torture, abuse and rape of the body, mind and soul.

As per my previous reviews, I have remarked on the author’s increasing violent story lines and abuse against men, women and children but in the case of the Torpedo Ink series, the violence is part of their history and lives-ingrained and imbedded –into their very existence, but their need for vengeance is as equally violent and abusive towards their intended victim-eye for an eye and so on. Like the previous instalments, DESOLATION ROAD focuses on the graphically detailed violence, abuse and rape, the sexual torture of children, and in this, I believe the author is going for shock value as opposed to dramatic affect. There is plenty of redundancy and repetition, leading to more fluff (albeit graphic) than substance. At times, the writing style flips as though there is more than one ‘person’ writing the book.


DESOLATION ROAD is a story of family, friendships, betrayal and revenge; of survival and loss; of heart break and love. The premise is dark, haunting and gritty; the romance is tragic and intense.



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Desolation Road continues the story of the men and women of Torpedo Ink. These bikers survived a hellish childhood filled with every kind of abuse and have carved out their own space in California.

In this story, Absinthe meets his one true love, Scarlet. Both of them have dark and tragic pasts, so be prepared. Desolation Road's plot combines the struggle Absinthe has with his past, Scarlet's being on the run, and problems with a rival club. This leads to a LOT going on, which I thought worked well. But, Absinthe has a very specific kink and that takes up quite a bit of the story. I have nothing against lots of sex, but this story was already busy and the story seemed to stop at times to focus on the kink.

That aside, I enjoyed getting the background of Absinthe and his unique skills in Desolation Road. Scarlet is a perfect heroine as well-strong, determined, and blessed with some gifts of her own. If you like darker stories with lots of sexy times, Desolation road will appeal!

I had a really hard time with this book. I also had a hard time with the previous book in this series, but this took it to a new level. There was no real connection between the two lead characters. I never really got how they would even get together. Scarlet had more chemistry with Savage than she did with Absinthe.

Also, Scarlet was supposed to be this kick-ass woman, and then she lets herself be totally subjugated. I don't get it. I understand that this is a MC. But the kitten play was too much. I really wanted to read a romance, not a porn. I really would give this a 2.5 star. After this book I am done with this series, it keeps getting further away from romance, and I am out.

Received as an ARC from Netgalley.

Aleksei “Absinthe” Solokov lives and breathes Torpedo Ink. He, along with his brothers and sisters, survived hell on earth to get where they are today. Absinthe thinks he only needs his family, but that changes when he decides to head to the library for some quiet time. It’s at the library that he lays eyes on her. The Librarian. For six weeks he travels between Caspar and the library, all to spend time in the same building as the woman that suddenly and irrevocably caught his eye. Absinthe knows he’s not a good man. Not even that is going to keep him away from the woman that brings his body to life, for the first time in his entire life.

Scarlet Foley has noticed Absinthe in her library. How can she not notice the gorgeous, tattooed stranger that has been coming in for six weeks. Scarlet never thought she would find a man that would intrigue her like Absinthe has. Her feelings about him are irrelevant because Scarlet has someone after her. She promised herself years ago that she would never be put in a position again where someone she loved would get hurt. Scarlet has a past that she’s hiding and she won’t let anyone get close enough to find out her secrets. Until Absinthe.

Their attraction is mutual and fiery. Scarlet never thought that she would find a man that would be her equal in all aspects of life, but that’s exactly what she’s found with Absinthe. What she doesn’t expect is the demons that he has in his past and still carries with him in the present. Absinthe doesn’t want to burden Scarlet with his past and so it seems that the relationship will not work after all. Scarlet wants an equal partner and Absinthe is apparently not going to be that person. Then he tells her everything. Well, almost everything.

As they’re getting to know each other, Absinthe knows that Scarlet isn’t as she seems. She’s not just the sexy librarian that he was first attracted to. She never lets her back face the door, she carries weapons, and she’s more than cautious about her surroundings. Of course, Torpedo Ink being who and what they are, they find out her secrets. Absinthe is appalled when he learns about her past. He would have preferred to learn it from Scarlet herself, but they can’t afford to wait to find out in their line of business. Armed with all the information he has on her, Absinthe can now protect her. And protect her he will.

This was my least favorite book of the series. To say that I hated it would be harsh, but it was so freaking close to hate. Each member of Torpedo Ink have their own horror stories about what they had to go through growing up in Russia. Absinthe had a fetish that carried over from those days. He literally needs Scarlet to pretend that she’s a cat and walk around on all fours while naked. With a butt plug that is attached to a tail. « Hide Spoiler Like WTAF. This book made me realize that Feehan’s writing has been subtly changing over the last few books. There are some things she won’t touch and sometimes she goes way overboard. Will the real Christine Feehan please stand up?

I always enjoy going back to the Torpedo Ink world, I just didn’t enjoy this book as much as I was expecting to. I really liked Absinthe in the previous books. He was incredibly intriguing and I couldn’t wait to read his book. Now I wish I hadn’t.

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Absinthe, Torpedo Ink rider, spots his ideal mate, a librarian. in Desolation Road, but he has relationship issues from his tortured Russian raising, and she has a violent past that will not leave her alone. Watch how the work it all out. Note a lot of explicit sex.

My Review of DESOLATION ROAD:

Torpedo Ink's being attacked from all sides.

Aleksei "Absinthe" Solkov finds all he needs emotionally, and physically, from Scarlet Foley. They're kindred spirits. But, there's more to Scarlet than the facade of the mild manner, easy going Librarian. She's actually been trained as an assassin, and has psych abilities. Scarlet's out to avenge the deaths of her family. She's being hunted, and a bounty's been placed on her head. Eventually Torpedo Ink finds out that they have mutual enemies. The GHOST club remains in the background inciting, and financing the Venomous MCC to move into the Diamondback territory. The Diamondback Prez, Plank fears the Torpedo Ink MCC, and decides to set them up to take a fall, by having them destroy a Strip Club own by the Venomous Club. As more, and more information is revealed the Torpedo Ink club realize "The Russian" may be financing everything to continue the human, and sex trafficking business. Could "The Russian" be an instructor from Sorbacov's school or possibly a older student that escaped? We're also introduced to another club member that escaped the school. He's Rurik "Destroyer" Volkov. I'm really looking forward to seeing his continued character development in future books. Alena has issued, and is very anger with him. We get an update on Savage, and info's revealed about why he has sadist tendencies. I have high hopes for him, and that eventually he'll find peace, and a HEA.

We get an update on Viktor, and Blythe's growing family, and visits from some of the SOTH women. As usual our Torpedo Ink boys always mess up getting to know their women, and Absinthe's no exception. Scarlet's on board with Absinthe's "kink", but he falls short in other areas. I have to say there are several very funny moments with the brothers, and their nonchalant, and intrusive ways. Don't bother with a "Do Not Disturb" sign, because it means nothing to them. The Torpedo Ink saga continues in RECKLESS ROAD (Player). The release date is February 9, 2021.

DESOLATION ROAD is filled with love, romance, family (though maybe not stereotypical, but family nonetheless), action, danger, twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages with eagerness and sometimes with your heart in your throat. Another amazing read Ms. Feehan!

Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction

Complete review may be found at: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=71023