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Criminal Intentions #26
White Rabbit, Part II
The white rabbit crashes storytime with Sila, Malcolm, and Seong-Jae — a little too literally, leaving our intrepid detectives battered but not broken. Yet what they find with the white rabbit's arrival could destroy even the strongest man: a diabolical game with over two dozen lives at stake, turning their final showdown into a macabre stage play with the white rabbit as its star.
Injured, limping, Malcolm and Seong-Jae must not only survive, but protect others until help can arrive; until they can corner their targets, and finally end the horror of the white rabbit's reign. The odds are evened — but the white rabbit has a more sinister plan in mind.
One must die so the other can live.
And carry on to tell the tale of his legacy, as he brings his performance to a shattering end.
Injured, limping, Malcolm and Seong-Jae must not only survive, but protect others until help can arrive; until they can corner their targets, and finally end the horror of the white rabbit's reign. The odds are evened — but the white rabbit has a more sinister plan in mind.
One must die so the other can live.
And carry on to tell the tale of his legacy, as he brings his performance to a shattering end.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2021
12 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Cole McCade
92 books1,523 followersSlender. Angry. (Part) Asian.
Yeah, that about sums me up.
Hi. I’m Cole. Xen. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted author of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.
Sometimes I shout about things on the internet. Usually intersectional feminism and marginalized voices, and whomever’s punching down in those directions today. Sometimes human sociology, the psychology of sex and gender, and my own gender non-conforming arse (he/him, by the way). Sometimes I get really mad at Stephen Hawking and nerd out all over the place about hairy black holes, and believe it or not, that’s not a terrible pun or even worse innuendo.
That’s it. I’m a huge dork. My humor’s so dry it could empty oceans. I’m a native Southerner from the New Orleans area with zero Southern accent; I’m a mess of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual influences; I have two cats. I wake up at daft hours of the morning to go running. I crochet terrible, lumpy things that never really turn into anything. I’m older than you think I look. I’m much more shy than my fury makes me sound (signifying gods only know what, but probably nothing). Recently I decided, at 36, that I needed to restart my life and move cross-country, so I tossed 75% of my possessions in the trash and randomly trucked it to Seattle. I’m in love with books and music and technology, and they war with each other for dominance and sometimes come together in a beautiful confluence. Most of the physical books I own are strange, obscure, out of print, overseas imports, or any combination of the four. Most of the physical books I used to own were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and have been replaced with the infinite library on my Nook. My wallet has a dangerous attraction to anything with pages; it flirts and teases and gives its all, until there’s nothing left but emptiness and ruin.
There will always be things you don’t know, and I won’t tell.
But ask me late at night over live music in a seedy bar, and you might just get an honest answer.
...or you can poke me via:
* Email: [email protected]
* Twitter: @thisblackmagic
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
* Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com
* Tumblr: http://thisblackmagic.tumblr.com/
And there's my Xen Sanders SFF / Horror profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Yeah, that about sums me up.
Hi. I’m Cole. Xen. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted author of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.
Sometimes I shout about things on the internet. Usually intersectional feminism and marginalized voices, and whomever’s punching down in those directions today. Sometimes human sociology, the psychology of sex and gender, and my own gender non-conforming arse (he/him, by the way). Sometimes I get really mad at Stephen Hawking and nerd out all over the place about hairy black holes, and believe it or not, that’s not a terrible pun or even worse innuendo.
That’s it. I’m a huge dork. My humor’s so dry it could empty oceans. I’m a native Southerner from the New Orleans area with zero Southern accent; I’m a mess of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual influences; I have two cats. I wake up at daft hours of the morning to go running. I crochet terrible, lumpy things that never really turn into anything. I’m older than you think I look. I’m much more shy than my fury makes me sound (signifying gods only know what, but probably nothing). Recently I decided, at 36, that I needed to restart my life and move cross-country, so I tossed 75% of my possessions in the trash and randomly trucked it to Seattle. I’m in love with books and music and technology, and they war with each other for dominance and sometimes come together in a beautiful confluence. Most of the physical books I own are strange, obscure, out of print, overseas imports, or any combination of the four. Most of the physical books I used to own were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and have been replaced with the infinite library on my Nook. My wallet has a dangerous attraction to anything with pages; it flirts and teases and gives its all, until there’s nothing left but emptiness and ruin.
There will always be things you don’t know, and I won’t tell.
But ask me late at night over live music in a seedy bar, and you might just get an honest answer.
...or you can poke me via:
* Email: [email protected]
* Twitter: @thisblackmagic
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
* Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com
* Tumblr: http://thisblackmagic.tumblr.com/
And there's my Xen Sanders SFF / Horror profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
November 18, 2021
5+++++++ stars for this amazing series
Warning! This is just gushing. THAT Ending! Wooooooooo!!!!
Daddy Mal!!
Woow! What an amazing ride!
Everything works, I can't believe that I read 26 books of the same series and they are all winners. Cole has a talent, maybe in another life he is a TV script writer. This series is so complex and entertaining.
I loved my daddy Mal and Seong- Jae. Mal is one patient being. What a cool guy lovable. Seong-Jae on the other hand is like a cat. I love him. These two different personalities fit so well and make one of the best couples ever.
The banter in this series is the best. One minute I am crying the next I am laughing my little tush off.
The diversity in this series wins! And it is not just diversity for the sake of it. Cole! kudos. Me lovey hard.
The mystery and the investigation process kept me on toes. Ugh! I hated the unsub with a passion. What a freaking psycho. No sympathy for the devil here! he was just ugh!!
Silas!!
The romance.... GAAAHH!! Best part of the series. Mal and Seong- Jae light up the pages. They got me all giddy and gooey inside. The SEX!!! Was the hottest sex ever!!!
I had the best bingeing time ever. The hangover is real!! And I love every minute of it.
Warning! This is just gushing. THAT Ending! Wooooooooo!!!!
Daddy Mal!!
Woow! What an amazing ride!
Everything works, I can't believe that I read 26 books of the same series and they are all winners. Cole has a talent, maybe in another life he is a TV script writer. This series is so complex and entertaining.
I loved my daddy Mal and Seong- Jae. Mal is one patient being. What a cool guy lovable. Seong-Jae on the other hand is like a cat. I love him. These two different personalities fit so well and make one of the best couples ever.
The banter in this series is the best. One minute I am crying the next I am laughing my little tush off.
The diversity in this series wins! And it is not just diversity for the sake of it. Cole! kudos. Me lovey hard.
The mystery and the investigation process kept me on toes. Ugh! I hated the unsub with a passion. What a freaking psycho. No sympathy for the devil here! he was just ugh!!
Silas!!
The romance.... GAAAHH!! Best part of the series. Mal and Seong- Jae light up the pages. They got me all giddy and gooey inside. The SEX!!! Was the hottest sex ever!!!
I had the best bingeing time ever. The hangover is real!! And I love every minute of it.
May 26, 2022
Every Cole's books end with cliffhanger, this is annoying 🤭
So this starts with a huge "accident", literally run over by a truck, that was the previous cliffhanger.
This is a very intense and visual story.
The killer rabbit is dead but it would be the end of his horror legacy?
Will Sila stay in jail?
What happens with Gabi and Anjulie?
Sade runs with Huang, it will be the end of these characters?
Gage and Adelaide?
Cara and her viking?
And Matheson? No one is safe...
So many unanswered questions for the third season.
I'll miss Aanga though...
So, when everything is finally ok and Malcolm and Seong are doing what they do best when they are lonely in a room...
June 17, 2021
The are only 10 chapters in this episode, but I swear they were the most tense, stressful, charming, and fantastic I've ever read. Cole handles scenes that fill you with nerves, fear and those that leave you on the brink of collapse perfectly well. As well as the ones that make you blush, smile, laugh, and cry (happy tears). Coles's writing is fantastic. I loved it so much.
The character development is amazing, I felt that this whole season was a journey that I had with them, reading their moments where their insecurities returned and how the crime scenes left them unbalanced. But I also when their relationship progressed by talking, listening to each other. Seeing how step by step they begin to put the pieces together is phenomenal. Seeing how they got that much-needed peace made me very happy, but what made me cry was watching them return home.
"It's over, and we're going home."
😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️
Malcom and Seong-Jae's love is... spectacular. Warm. Lovely. Passionate. You can feel how with each kiss, caress, gesture and each time they make love, their feelings only grow and consume you in the best way.
"If anyone understands the things I do not say when I speak of love…” Seong-Jae whispered, “it is you.” He lifted their entwined hands, pressed them over his chest—and through his torn and dirtied shirt, Malcolm could feel the beat of Seong-Jae’s heart, labored and fast. “And I would like to think that I understand you, as well. That when you, when I say omr, omr-am…we know.” He swallowed, a thick and heavy sound, pressing Malcolm’s hand harder to his heart. “Here. I feel you here, where the word for it does not matter…and it feels as if no matter what words we use, they will always mean the same thing. My heart for yours. Your heart for mine. The breath that gives each other life.”
⚠️⚠️⚠️SPOILER ALERT, I REPEAT, SPOILER ALERT, DO NOT READ IT IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SPOILER YOURSELF⚠️⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
Now, about the cliffhanger, Maria partially guessed it (she thought it was with Gabi the situation). I knew that Cole was planning something for Mal, in his Q&A he said it (I recommend reading them along with the aftework) in previous episodes, and when the bomb was finally dropped... you won't believe it, but i loved it!!!!
*Goes to hide* 🏃♀️🏃♀️
At first I was in shock like this:
To then, be like this:
(THIS IS ONLY VALID IF IS TRUE)
Why? Because what happened with Gabi and their baby still continues to affect Mal, we have seen how difficult it is for him to work on cases involving children, he does not talk about it and even Seong-Jae had the thought of whether Malcom would ever be ready to have a family.
In these two seasons, the one we have seen most confront his fears and insecurities is SJ, this issue still haunts and lives inside Mal, so it seems to me (well, I think, if I'm not getting ideas, because it might not be that way) that what Cole has planned will help Malcolm confront this demon. It will be very difficult for him to do it, but this time he is not alone, SJ is there to support him. ❤️
BUT they are making me doubt if it could be true, so if it ends up being a lie, I already saw myself like this: 🤡🤡🤡
There is also this other theory that it is a lie and she just want to cheating him. She will make him believe that is his baby and then it is discovered that is not, which would probably destroy Mal especially if he started to love the baby.
Anyone who prefers the first theory?✋✋
.
.
.
.
⚠️⚠️⚠️END OF SPOILER⚠️⚠️⚠️
Favorite quotes:
"You are not allowed to kiss me right now.” Grumbling, Seong-Jae turned his head toward Malcolm—until the tips of their noses touched, and all that contrary sulking did was make Malcolm ache so powerfully to kiss that soft, sullen mouth even more just to remind them both that they had survived; that they had made it through to the other side of this nightmare. But Seong-Jae continued, breaths warm against Malcolm’s lips, “My ankle is the size of a softball, and I am quite ungainly and feel entirely unattractive and unkissable at the moment.”
🤣❤️
"You okay?” he asked, as he started the car and pulled it out of the drive.
“Malcolm,” Seong-Jae said, a smile on his lips as his head turned to watch his family through the window, “I have never been more okay in my life.”
😭😭❤️
I can't wait for the third season!! I highly recommend this series!!
The character development is amazing, I felt that this whole season was a journey that I had with them, reading their moments where their insecurities returned and how the crime scenes left them unbalanced. But I also when their relationship progressed by talking, listening to each other. Seeing how step by step they begin to put the pieces together is phenomenal. Seeing how they got that much-needed peace made me very happy, but what made me cry was watching them return home.
"It's over, and we're going home."
😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️
Malcom and Seong-Jae's love is... spectacular. Warm. Lovely. Passionate. You can feel how with each kiss, caress, gesture and each time they make love, their feelings only grow and consume you in the best way.
"If anyone understands the things I do not say when I speak of love…” Seong-Jae whispered, “it is you.” He lifted their entwined hands, pressed them over his chest—and through his torn and dirtied shirt, Malcolm could feel the beat of Seong-Jae’s heart, labored and fast. “And I would like to think that I understand you, as well. That when you, when I say omr, omr-am…we know.” He swallowed, a thick and heavy sound, pressing Malcolm’s hand harder to his heart. “Here. I feel you here, where the word for it does not matter…and it feels as if no matter what words we use, they will always mean the same thing. My heart for yours. Your heart for mine. The breath that gives each other life.”
⚠️⚠️⚠️SPOILER ALERT, I REPEAT, SPOILER ALERT, DO NOT READ IT IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SPOILER YOURSELF⚠️⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
Now, about the cliffhanger, Maria partially guessed it (she thought it was with Gabi the situation). I knew that Cole was planning something for Mal, in his Q&A he said it (I recommend reading them along with the aftework) in previous episodes, and when the bomb was finally dropped... you won't believe it, but i loved it!!!!
*Goes to hide* 🏃♀️🏃♀️
At first I was in shock like this:
To then, be like this:
(THIS IS ONLY VALID IF IS TRUE)
Why? Because what happened with Gabi and their baby still continues to affect Mal, we have seen how difficult it is for him to work on cases involving children, he does not talk about it and even Seong-Jae had the thought of whether Malcom would ever be ready to have a family.
In these two seasons, the one we have seen most confront his fears and insecurities is SJ, this issue still haunts and lives inside Mal, so it seems to me (well, I think, if I'm not getting ideas, because it might not be that way) that what Cole has planned will help Malcolm confront this demon. It will be very difficult for him to do it, but this time he is not alone, SJ is there to support him. ❤️
BUT they are making me doubt if it could be true, so if it ends up being a lie, I already saw myself like this: 🤡🤡🤡
There is also this other theory that it is a lie and she just want to cheating him. She will make him believe that is his baby and then it is discovered that is not, which would probably destroy Mal especially if he started to love the baby.
Anyone who prefers the first theory?✋✋
.
.
.
.
⚠️⚠️⚠️END OF SPOILER⚠️⚠️⚠️
Favorite quotes:
"You are not allowed to kiss me right now.” Grumbling, Seong-Jae turned his head toward Malcolm—until the tips of their noses touched, and all that contrary sulking did was make Malcolm ache so powerfully to kiss that soft, sullen mouth even more just to remind them both that they had survived; that they had made it through to the other side of this nightmare. But Seong-Jae continued, breaths warm against Malcolm’s lips, “My ankle is the size of a softball, and I am quite ungainly and feel entirely unattractive and unkissable at the moment.”
🤣❤️
"You okay?” he asked, as he started the car and pulled it out of the drive.
“Malcolm,” Seong-Jae said, a smile on his lips as his head turned to watch his family through the window, “I have never been more okay in my life.”
😭😭❤️
I can't wait for the third season!! I highly recommend this series!!
![Profile Image for moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645500038i%2F37448930._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 18, 2021
sidenote: currently debating if i should start s3 or not bc, although this ended in a cliffhanger, i really don't want to catch up and have to suffer, waiting for the rest of the books to be released 😭
random/overall thoughts:
↠ SJ AND MAL, FAV COUPLE EVER. for me, these two are the definition of soulmates. they fit perfectly together, simply make each other better/happier and they've faced so many obstacles at this point that i feel like, no matter what else comes their way, they'll come out just as strong, together. i can't express enough how much i love and adore them. one of the couples i'll fight for to protect. 🤍
↠ this season was much more intense than the previous one and i was holding my breath throughout the second half but i honestly can't decide if i preferred s1 or 2 more bc i loved both seasons for different reasons and they had their equal moments of greatness, imo.
↠ im so proud of SJ's growth!! he came such a long way from the beginning of the series and the things he had to endure omg, but the way he slowly opened up to Mal was the most beautiful thing. i loved how, even tho you could tell he's changed in some ways, he's still the same SJ we know and love who blushes and insults Mal whenever Mal tells him he loves him or just says sumn sweet or cheesy. 🥺
↠ serious, deadly Mal and SJ = couple goals
"That is what is called a warning shot," Seong-Jae bit off, slow and deadly. "I have five rounds left in this revolver, and a serious problem with wasting ammunition." The hammer cocked again, the sound cold, ominous. "Keep talking. The next one will hurt."
"Well?" Malcolm said. "Anyone else feeling chatty, or do you want to end this with paramedics pulling a bullet out of one or more body parts?"
↠ although everything had done were unforgivable imo and i can't ever see them being redeemed, i admit there came a point in this episode when i felt a bit of sympathy for . at the end of the day, as fucked up as his mindset of 'love' was, it all led back to how he was brought up and not even he deserved that kind of life. :(
↠ yes, im aware i was shitting on Joshi a few eps back and i stand by it bc, at the time, he deserved it but i admit he's grown on me the past 2-3 eps and i truly do wish the best for him (maybe we'll see glimpses of him and that nurse in s3? 👀). speaking of the next season, im gonna miss SJ's family so much now that we're back in Baltimore, but i hope we also see them from time to time!
↠ the ending!! ok i lowkey expected it bc, before going into this series, i was aware s1 and 2 would mainly focus on SJ and the past he was tryna overcome while s3 would be Mal's so the ending of this season entered my mind as a possibility at one point. im not a big fan of
↠ if anyone knows any (book) couple with a similar dynamic as Mal and SJ's, pls lmk!! it doesn't have to be mystery/crime like this one was, im just looking for more romances with their kind of dynamic, epic love bc im so in love with them. 🥺
fav scenes:
"Do you think our love is real, then?" he asked softly, and wondered if he wanted to know the answer. "Do you think, when I say I love you, that word means something different to me than it does to you?"
"If anyone understands the things I do not say when I speak of love..." Seong-Jae whispered, "it is you." He lifted their entwined hands, pressed them over his chest—and through his torn and dirtied shirt, Malcolm could feel the beat of Seong-Jae's heart, labored and fast. "And I would like to think I understand you, as well. That when you, when I say omr, omr-am...we know." He swallowed, a thick and heavy sound, pressing Malcolm's hand harder to his heart. "Here. I feel you here, where the word for it does not matter...and it feels as if no matter what words we use, they will always mean the same thing. My heart for yours. Your heart for mine. The breath than gives each other life."
"You," Malcolm whispered, curling one large, rough hand to Seong-Jae's cheek, "are the most beautiful person I've ever known. So much that it makes me want to keep you like this just to watch how gorgeously you suffer...but I'm not that strong, Seong-Jae." His breaths shuddered; his voice was as tattered as the last members of a soul on fire. "I'm not strong enough to hold back from wanting you."
"Then do not hold back," Seong-Jae breathed—and this, too, was part of it. Part of why he trusted Malcolm so much, when no matter what heat roared through Malcolm until he breathed an inferno on every exhalation...
Always, that moment.
That question.
Asked and answered in so many ways, but never breaking that threshold until Seong-Jae invited him in.
Again and again and again...Seong-Jae always invited him in.
"I can promise you," Malcolm said, "that if one day you cut me off and walk away, I won't try to hold on any longer than you want me to."
"I would," Seong-Jae said softly. "I would hold on. I do not think I could simply walk away from you without looking back."
random/overall thoughts:
↠ SJ AND MAL, FAV COUPLE EVER. for me, these two are the definition of soulmates. they fit perfectly together, simply make each other better/happier and they've faced so many obstacles at this point that i feel like, no matter what else comes their way, they'll come out just as strong, together. i can't express enough how much i love and adore them. one of the couples i'll fight for to protect. 🤍
↠ this season was much more intense than the previous one and i was holding my breath throughout the second half but i honestly can't decide if i preferred s1 or 2 more bc i loved both seasons for different reasons and they had their equal moments of greatness, imo.
↠ im so proud of SJ's growth!! he came such a long way from the beginning of the series and the things he had to endure omg, but the way he slowly opened up to Mal was the most beautiful thing. i loved how, even tho you could tell he's changed in some ways, he's still the same SJ we know and love who blushes and insults Mal whenever Mal tells him he loves him or just says sumn sweet or cheesy. 🥺
↠ serious, deadly Mal and SJ = couple goals
"That is what is called a warning shot," Seong-Jae bit off, slow and deadly. "I have five rounds left in this revolver, and a serious problem with wasting ammunition." The hammer cocked again, the sound cold, ominous. "Keep talking. The next one will hurt."
"Well?" Malcolm said. "Anyone else feeling chatty, or do you want to end this with paramedics pulling a bullet out of one or more body parts?"
↠ although everything had done were unforgivable imo and i can't ever see them being redeemed, i admit there came a point in this episode when i felt a bit of sympathy for . at the end of the day, as fucked up as his mindset of 'love' was, it all led back to how he was brought up and not even he deserved that kind of life. :(
↠ yes, im aware i was shitting on Joshi a few eps back and i stand by it bc, at the time, he deserved it but i admit he's grown on me the past 2-3 eps and i truly do wish the best for him (maybe we'll see glimpses of him and that nurse in s3? 👀). speaking of the next season, im gonna miss SJ's family so much now that we're back in Baltimore, but i hope we also see them from time to time!
↠ the ending!! ok i lowkey expected it bc, before going into this series, i was aware s1 and 2 would mainly focus on SJ and the past he was tryna overcome while s3 would be Mal's so the ending of this season entered my mind as a possibility at one point. im not a big fan of
↠ if anyone knows any (book) couple with a similar dynamic as Mal and SJ's, pls lmk!! it doesn't have to be mystery/crime like this one was, im just looking for more romances with their kind of dynamic, epic love bc im so in love with them. 🥺
fav scenes:
"Do you think our love is real, then?" he asked softly, and wondered if he wanted to know the answer. "Do you think, when I say I love you, that word means something different to me than it does to you?"
"If anyone understands the things I do not say when I speak of love..." Seong-Jae whispered, "it is you." He lifted their entwined hands, pressed them over his chest—and through his torn and dirtied shirt, Malcolm could feel the beat of Seong-Jae's heart, labored and fast. "And I would like to think I understand you, as well. That when you, when I say omr, omr-am...we know." He swallowed, a thick and heavy sound, pressing Malcolm's hand harder to his heart. "Here. I feel you here, where the word for it does not matter...and it feels as if no matter what words we use, they will always mean the same thing. My heart for yours. Your heart for mine. The breath than gives each other life."
"You," Malcolm whispered, curling one large, rough hand to Seong-Jae's cheek, "are the most beautiful person I've ever known. So much that it makes me want to keep you like this just to watch how gorgeously you suffer...but I'm not that strong, Seong-Jae." His breaths shuddered; his voice was as tattered as the last members of a soul on fire. "I'm not strong enough to hold back from wanting you."
"Then do not hold back," Seong-Jae breathed—and this, too, was part of it. Part of why he trusted Malcolm so much, when no matter what heat roared through Malcolm until he breathed an inferno on every exhalation...
Always, that moment.
That question.
Asked and answered in so many ways, but never breaking that threshold until Seong-Jae invited him in.
Again and again and again...Seong-Jae always invited him in.
"I can promise you," Malcolm said, "that if one day you cut me off and walk away, I won't try to hold on any longer than you want me to."
"I would," Seong-Jae said softly. "I would hold on. I do not think I could simply walk away from you without looking back."
July 3, 2021
“It’s over,” Malcom said, and the only words he’d ever said in his life that were more perfect were I love you. I love you, Seong-Jae. “It’s over, and we are going home.”
The White Rabbit is a roller coaster of emotions with a shock ending that leaves you wanting more. I can’t believe the second season is over! I’ll be short because I have already talked a lot about this series, but overall:
- It was way better than season one, which I didn’t expect after enjoying so much S1, and know I’m really curious about the third -and last😭- season.
- THE WRITING. Cole’s writing style is my new all time favourite. It’s so perfect that’s not fair how good it is. Now, every time I read a book by another author I’m missing his way of making feelings come to life, his beautiful descriptions and his unique way of expressing emotions. I still enjoy and love other books, but his writing style has spoiled all the others. I have no words to make him justice.
The air was too cold, when his clothing hit the floor. The air was too cold because Seong-Jae was too hot, his naked flesh burning up the air around him until he must surely evaporate all the oxygen in the room and combust into a flash fire -yet Malcolm’s unclad body seemed to absorb that heat and turn it into power, fueling the tightly honed flex and pull the titanic muscle as Malcolm moved against him (...)
- The side characters: we follow more and more characters with every book, so there are a lot of secondary plots going on at the same time. Besides Seong-Jae and Mal, I ended up caring for Cara, Anjulie, Seong-Ja, Adelaide, Sade, Malcolm’s parents… I’ve always thought that having great side characters is a clear signal of a good book, so this series truly deserves the award.
- Malcolm and Seong-Jae. No words. They are beautiful, completely stole my heart, and I’m going to shatter when I have to say goodbye.
To sum up, one of my favourite highlights, to cry while I think of all the hours I’m going to have to wait for the next one:
“What we call love, just one word… is so many different things to so many different people. () Every person who loves someone else, and is loved in return, is giving something one-sided, and receiving something different from what they give.”
() “Do you think our love is real, then?” Malcolm asked softly, and wondered if he wanted to know the answer. “Do you think, when I say I love you, that word means something different to me than it does to you?”
() “If anyone understands the things I do not say when I speak of love…” Seong-Jae whispered, “it’s you.” He lifted their entwined hands, pressed them over his chest and through his torn and dirtied shirt, Malcolm could feel the beat of Seong-Jae’s heart, labored and fast. “And I would like to think that I understand you, as well. That when you, when I say omr, omr-an… we know.” He swallowed, a thick and heavy sound, pressing Malcolm’s hand harder to his heart. “Here. I feel you here, where the word for it does not matter… and it feels as if no matter what words we use, they will always mean the same thing. My heart for yours. Your heart for mine. The breath that gives each other life.”
The White Rabbit is a roller coaster of emotions with a shock ending that leaves you wanting more. I can’t believe the second season is over! I’ll be short because I have already talked a lot about this series, but overall:
- It was way better than season one, which I didn’t expect after enjoying so much S1, and know I’m really curious about the third -and last😭- season.
- THE WRITING. Cole’s writing style is my new all time favourite. It’s so perfect that’s not fair how good it is. Now, every time I read a book by another author I’m missing his way of making feelings come to life, his beautiful descriptions and his unique way of expressing emotions. I still enjoy and love other books, but his writing style has spoiled all the others. I have no words to make him justice.
The air was too cold, when his clothing hit the floor. The air was too cold because Seong-Jae was too hot, his naked flesh burning up the air around him until he must surely evaporate all the oxygen in the room and combust into a flash fire -yet Malcolm’s unclad body seemed to absorb that heat and turn it into power, fueling the tightly honed flex and pull the titanic muscle as Malcolm moved against him (...)
- The side characters: we follow more and more characters with every book, so there are a lot of secondary plots going on at the same time. Besides Seong-Jae and Mal, I ended up caring for Cara, Anjulie, Seong-Ja, Adelaide, Sade, Malcolm’s parents… I’ve always thought that having great side characters is a clear signal of a good book, so this series truly deserves the award.
- Malcolm and Seong-Jae. No words. They are beautiful, completely stole my heart, and I’m going to shatter when I have to say goodbye.
To sum up, one of my favourite highlights, to cry while I think of all the hours I’m going to have to wait for the next one:
“What we call love, just one word… is so many different things to so many different people. () Every person who loves someone else, and is loved in return, is giving something one-sided, and receiving something different from what they give.”
() “Do you think our love is real, then?” Malcolm asked softly, and wondered if he wanted to know the answer. “Do you think, when I say I love you, that word means something different to me than it does to you?”
() “If anyone understands the things I do not say when I speak of love…” Seong-Jae whispered, “it’s you.” He lifted their entwined hands, pressed them over his chest and through his torn and dirtied shirt, Malcolm could feel the beat of Seong-Jae’s heart, labored and fast. “And I would like to think that I understand you, as well. That when you, when I say omr, omr-an… we know.” He swallowed, a thick and heavy sound, pressing Malcolm’s hand harder to his heart. “Here. I feel you here, where the word for it does not matter… and it feels as if no matter what words we use, they will always mean the same thing. My heart for yours. Your heart for mine. The breath that gives each other life.”
May 21, 2021
Brace yourself for some o-tone from Simone's living room...
*sound on*:
*sound off*
I'll leave you to it to figure this out by yourselves. ;-) S3E1 can't come soon enough to explain this mess!
*sound on*:
"No! Nonononononononooooooo! Just no!"
"Thank f*beep*!"
"You motherf*beep*ng son of a b*beep*!"
*gagging sound*
"OMG, I can't do this anymore."
"Serves you right, you depraved little sh*beep*!"
*squeals* "That was the sweetest declaration of love evahhhhhh!!!!"
"Phew, now that was... *ahem*... phew..." *wipes sweat from her brow*
"WTF? I mean... WTF???????"
"Cole, you sneaky little bast*beep*
*sound off*
I'll leave you to it to figure this out by yourselves. ;-) S3E1 can't come soon enough to explain this mess!
May 22, 2021
Sweet baby Jesus!!! That was AWESOMETACULAR!!! Still processing, because, holy shit, but July 15th can’t come soon enough ... Fantastic finale!!! Cole McCade is a literary genius 🙌🙌🙌
Once again, can’t post highlights but below are just a few of my favourite moments:
“I can promise you,” Malcolm said, “that if one day you cut me off and walk away, I won’t try to hold on any longer than you want me to.”
“I would,” Seong-Jae said softly. “I would hold on. I do not think I could simply walk away from you without looking back.”
“Here. I feel you here, where the word for it does not matter…and it feels as if no matter what words we use, they will always mean the same thing. My heart for yours. Your heart for mine. The breath that gives each other life.”
“I thought I was the one who taunted you about your age.” “I’m willing to mock myself a little to put a balm on your wounded pride.” “…my pride is less wounded than my ankle,” Seong-Jae muttered, then added with a hopeful lilt, “Kiss it better…?” “You jot,” Malcolm sighed, and pressed his lips to Seong-Jae’s temple again, lingering there, letting the cold pack drop so there was nothing between him and the sometimes surprising sweetness of his omr.
“It’s over, and we’re going home.”
“Malcolm,” she said. “I hope to see you again. Many times.” Malcolm parted his lips to answer—but then stopped, eyes widening, pulse flickering, then subsiding. She’d called him Malcolm. Not Mr. Khalaji.
Seong-Jae leveled a finger at him. “If you ever punch my boyfriend again,” he bit off, “I will drop you off the roof.”
“Welcome home, my boys,” Arash Khalaji whispered, pressing his lips into Malcolm’s hair, Seong-Jae’s, anywhere he could reach. “Welcome home.” Malcolm had no words. He could only cling to them all, and struggle not to break down crying again as joy filled him with a power so deep it was painful. Home. And home had never felt so good.
“I feel we would be remiss if we did not test its durability.”
“Just shut up and kiss me, Malcolm Khalaji.”
“He was my first…everything,” he murmured, dark eyes glimmering. “But you will be my last.”
Once again, can’t post highlights but below are just a few of my favourite moments:
“I can promise you,” Malcolm said, “that if one day you cut me off and walk away, I won’t try to hold on any longer than you want me to.”
“I would,” Seong-Jae said softly. “I would hold on. I do not think I could simply walk away from you without looking back.”
“Here. I feel you here, where the word for it does not matter…and it feels as if no matter what words we use, they will always mean the same thing. My heart for yours. Your heart for mine. The breath that gives each other life.”
“I thought I was the one who taunted you about your age.” “I’m willing to mock myself a little to put a balm on your wounded pride.” “…my pride is less wounded than my ankle,” Seong-Jae muttered, then added with a hopeful lilt, “Kiss it better…?” “You jot,” Malcolm sighed, and pressed his lips to Seong-Jae’s temple again, lingering there, letting the cold pack drop so there was nothing between him and the sometimes surprising sweetness of his omr.
“It’s over, and we’re going home.”
“Malcolm,” she said. “I hope to see you again. Many times.” Malcolm parted his lips to answer—but then stopped, eyes widening, pulse flickering, then subsiding. She’d called him Malcolm. Not Mr. Khalaji.
Seong-Jae leveled a finger at him. “If you ever punch my boyfriend again,” he bit off, “I will drop you off the roof.”
“Welcome home, my boys,” Arash Khalaji whispered, pressing his lips into Malcolm’s hair, Seong-Jae’s, anywhere he could reach. “Welcome home.” Malcolm had no words. He could only cling to them all, and struggle not to break down crying again as joy filled him with a power so deep it was painful. Home. And home had never felt so good.
“I feel we would be remiss if we did not test its durability.”
“Just shut up and kiss me, Malcolm Khalaji.”
“He was my first…everything,” he murmured, dark eyes glimmering. “But you will be my last.”
May 21, 2021
I felt so much in this last book that I'm currently drained. It went something like this:
Chapter 1: Jesus take the wheel, Malcolm I love you please be careful and then... Came the tears.
Chapter 2: More tears and desperation.🥲🥲
Chapter 3: I felt sick to my stomach and an anger that ugh!!! 😤😤
Chapter 4: At this point I knew this was the final countdown, I thought that maybe the bad guys were running away and the final stage would change but nope, so I started cheering with all my heart.
Chapter 5: Cold dread, anxiety and fear gripped me here. Fucking mind games and FUCKING SERIAL KILLERS!! 🙃🙃
Chapter 6: A momentary fear and then fucking justice!!
Chapter 7: ... And then fear again and then justice again and the ending that I wanted. *breakdance*
Chapter 8: WTF WTF WTF WTF. 😧😨😰
Chapter 9: Love, so much love and tears, but good tears and my heart melting. That hug from Arash? I felt that... And here comes the tears... Again! 🤧🤧
Chapter 10: A lot of shit happened here. First we had the exhibit that Malcolm dick is PERFECT! Fuck you very much Silas! Then we had all the laaave and then brilliance!! COLE IS A FUCKING GENIUS! I still don't know what to feel about that tiny thing, but I understand that is perfect for Mal's journey. Maybe when I process it I will have a real opinion about it, I think I just have to wait and see what Coles do with it. 🤭🤭🧡
The rest? Cole Q&A and the afterwords say it all about the case and everything. Me? I loved this so much, I love them so much. All of them!!!! And I'm really happy to have read that:
We’re going back to the S1 format, with a case per book and a larger interconnected background thread
Hell yeah!!! I'm ready!!! When does the next come out? 🤔🤔❤
Chapter 1: Jesus take the wheel, Malcolm I love you please be careful and then... Came the tears.
Chapter 2: More tears and desperation.🥲🥲
Chapter 3: I felt sick to my stomach and an anger that ugh!!! 😤😤
Chapter 4: At this point I knew this was the final countdown, I thought that maybe the bad guys were running away and the final stage would change but nope, so I started cheering with all my heart.
Chapter 5: Cold dread, anxiety and fear gripped me here. Fucking mind games and FUCKING SERIAL KILLERS!! 🙃🙃
Chapter 6: A momentary fear and then fucking justice!!
Chapter 7: ... And then fear again and then justice again and the ending that I wanted. *breakdance*
Chapter 8: WTF WTF WTF WTF. 😧😨😰
Chapter 9: Love, so much love and tears, but good tears and my heart melting. That hug from Arash? I felt that... And here comes the tears... Again! 🤧🤧
Chapter 10: A lot of shit happened here. First we had the exhibit that Malcolm dick is PERFECT! Fuck you very much Silas! Then we had all the laaave and then brilliance!! COLE IS A FUCKING GENIUS! I still don't know what to feel about that tiny thing, but I understand that is perfect for Mal's journey. Maybe when I process it I will have a real opinion about it, I think I just have to wait and see what Coles do with it. 🤭🤭🧡
The rest? Cole Q&A and the afterwords say it all about the case and everything. Me? I loved this so much, I love them so much. All of them!!!! And I'm really happy to have read that:
We’re going back to the S1 format, with a case per book and a larger interconnected background thread
Hell yeah!!! I'm ready!!! When does the next come out? 🤔🤔❤
July 2, 2021
i just checked and apparently i started this series three weeks ago. read the first 21 episodes in like two weeks, then tried to slow myself down to try and stretch out the rest of the season as much as possible…
as you can see i didn’t really manage to stretch it out THAT much though… 🤣
this series is truly fucking fantastic! so much pain, suffering, death, but also SO much love, kindness, compassion & tenderness.
malcolm and seong-jae have got to be one of the most beautiful, empathetic couples i’ve ever read about. the way they *click* with each other is just SO remarkable, i don’t think i can ever fully put it into words.
i loved this season, but GOD… i am highkey glad that the bullshit with sila & the rabbit is finally over. justice was SERVED and i loved every moment of it 💅🏻
“it’s over” malcolm said, and the only words he’d ever said in his life that were more perfect were i love you. “it’s over and we’re going home.” ♥️
i think i missed the baltimore apartment almost as much as malcolm and seong-jae did. honestly you could almost feel just how much lighter they felt now that they finally got to go home and this nightmare of a case is finally over.
BUT just as you think everything is fine and fucking dandy… the ominous knock at the door comes… and literally turns their world upside down once again. 💀 i’m not even surprised anymore. this is classic cole mccade at this point. you get a tiny glimpse of light and then shit goes down once again… *sigh*
july 15th can’t come soon enough. can’t wait to dive into season 3!!
as you can see i didn’t really manage to stretch it out THAT much though… 🤣
this series is truly fucking fantastic! so much pain, suffering, death, but also SO much love, kindness, compassion & tenderness.
malcolm and seong-jae have got to be one of the most beautiful, empathetic couples i’ve ever read about. the way they *click* with each other is just SO remarkable, i don’t think i can ever fully put it into words.
i loved this season, but GOD… i am highkey glad that the bullshit with sila & the rabbit is finally over. justice was SERVED and i loved every moment of it 💅🏻
“it’s over” malcolm said, and the only words he’d ever said in his life that were more perfect were i love you. “it’s over and we’re going home.” ♥️
i think i missed the baltimore apartment almost as much as malcolm and seong-jae did. honestly you could almost feel just how much lighter they felt now that they finally got to go home and this nightmare of a case is finally over.
BUT just as you think everything is fine and fucking dandy… the ominous knock at the door comes… and literally turns their world upside down once again. 💀 i’m not even surprised anymore. this is classic cole mccade at this point. you get a tiny glimpse of light and then shit goes down once again… *sigh*
july 15th can’t come soon enough. can’t wait to dive into season 3!!
November 4, 2021
“It’s over” malcolm said, and the only words he’d ever said in his life that were more perfect were I love you. “it’s over and we’re going home.”
My babies closed the case and are going home!! I think we all miss the Baltimore apartment as much as Mal and SJ do. I miss Mal baking for SJ. I miss them cuddling on their bed.
"If anyone understands the things I do not say when I speak of love…” Seong-Jae whispered, “it is you.” He lifted their entwined hands, pressed them over his chest—and through his torn and dirtied shirt, Malcolm could feel the beat of Seong-Jae’s heart, labored and fast. “And I would like to think that I understand you, as well. That when you, when I say omr, omr-am…we know.” He swallowed, a thick and heavy sound, pressing Malcolm’s hand harder to his heart. “Here. I feel you here, where the word for it does not matter��and it feels as if no matter what words we use, they will always mean the same thing. My heart for yours. Your heart for mine. The breath that gives each other life.”
Is there a more beautiful writing? A more beautiful relationship? A more beautiful love story? I think not. These guys are the ultimate.
You," Malcolm whispered, curling one large, rough hand to Seong-Jae's cheek, "are the most beautiful person I've ever known. So much that it makes me want to keep you like this just to watch how gorgeously you suffer...but I'm not that strong, Seong-Jae." His breaths shuddered; his voice was as tattered as the last members of a soul on fire. "I'm not strong enough to hold back from wanting you."
"Then do not hold back," Seong-Jae breathed—and this, too, was part of it. Part of why he trusted Malcolm so much, when no matter what heat roared through Malcolm until he breathed an inferno on every exhalation...
Always, that moment.
That question.
Asked and answered in so many ways, but never breaking that threshold until Seong-Jae invited him in.
Again and again and again...Seong-Jae always invited him in.
Can we just talk about the eroticism of their scenes. The intimacy, the emotion. They never just fÜck. They make love, every single time, not only with their bodies, but with their hearts and souls as well. It's beautiful every single time.
"I can promise you," Malcolm said, "that if one day you cut me off and walk away, I won't try to hold on any longer than you want me to."
"I would," Seong-Jae said softly. "I would hold on. I do not think I could simply walk away from you without looking back."
Ahhhhhhh!!! You belong to each other! Noone is leaving anyone. Do you hear me! The swoon I get from these guys when they talk, kiss or just hold hands is ridiculous. How can two characters be so real?
Also, if you think that Mal can't make you melt into goo any harder...You're wrong. The old wolf has a few more tricks up his sleeve. And it's glorious. SJ, being vulnerable and soft and laying his heart for Mal, is a sight to see.
“Welcome home, my boys,” Arash Khalaji whispered, pressing his lips into Malcolm’s hair, Seong-Jae’s, anywhere he could reach. “Welcome home.” Malcolm had no words. He could only cling to them all, and struggle not to break down crying again as joy filled him with a power so deep it was painful. Home. And home had never felt so good.
Yeah needless to say I cried here. Because Arash calling Mal and SJ my boys... total ugly crying.
“I thought I was the one who taunted you about your age.” “I’m willing to mock myself a little to put a balm on your wounded pride.” “…my pride is less wounded than my ankle,” Seong-Jae muttered, then added with a hopeful lilt, “Kiss it better…?” “You jot,” Malcolm sighed, and pressed his lips to Seong-Jae’s temple again, lingering there, letting the cold pack drop so there was nothing between him and the sometimes surprising sweetness of his omr.
KISS IT BETTER MALCOLM!! I can't even with SJ being flirty and cute. I CAN'T EVEN 😭
“He was my first…everything,” he murmured, dark eyes glimmering. “But you will be my last.
Officially, irrevocably DEAD.
As for Sila and the White Rabbit... it was apt how it ended. They deserved nothing less. I urge you to read the afterword, because Cole explains how he decided their fates. And yes, I still feel a little bad for Sila...but he deserves what he got.
Now.... that cliffy....
COLE YOU MONSTER WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT. Haven't they suffered enough?? And using THIS particular situation after Mal's history with it. THIS?!!! GAHHHHH
What will I do now??? Season 3 only has 2 epis out 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
My babies closed the case and are going home!! I think we all miss the Baltimore apartment as much as Mal and SJ do. I miss Mal baking for SJ. I miss them cuddling on their bed.
"If anyone understands the things I do not say when I speak of love…” Seong-Jae whispered, “it is you.” He lifted their entwined hands, pressed them over his chest—and through his torn and dirtied shirt, Malcolm could feel the beat of Seong-Jae’s heart, labored and fast. “And I would like to think that I understand you, as well. That when you, when I say omr, omr-am…we know.” He swallowed, a thick and heavy sound, pressing Malcolm’s hand harder to his heart. “Here. I feel you here, where the word for it does not matter��and it feels as if no matter what words we use, they will always mean the same thing. My heart for yours. Your heart for mine. The breath that gives each other life.”
Is there a more beautiful writing? A more beautiful relationship? A more beautiful love story? I think not. These guys are the ultimate.
You," Malcolm whispered, curling one large, rough hand to Seong-Jae's cheek, "are the most beautiful person I've ever known. So much that it makes me want to keep you like this just to watch how gorgeously you suffer...but I'm not that strong, Seong-Jae." His breaths shuddered; his voice was as tattered as the last members of a soul on fire. "I'm not strong enough to hold back from wanting you."
"Then do not hold back," Seong-Jae breathed—and this, too, was part of it. Part of why he trusted Malcolm so much, when no matter what heat roared through Malcolm until he breathed an inferno on every exhalation...
Always, that moment.
That question.
Asked and answered in so many ways, but never breaking that threshold until Seong-Jae invited him in.
Again and again and again...Seong-Jae always invited him in.
Can we just talk about the eroticism of their scenes. The intimacy, the emotion. They never just fÜck. They make love, every single time, not only with their bodies, but with their hearts and souls as well. It's beautiful every single time.
"I can promise you," Malcolm said, "that if one day you cut me off and walk away, I won't try to hold on any longer than you want me to."
"I would," Seong-Jae said softly. "I would hold on. I do not think I could simply walk away from you without looking back."
Ahhhhhhh!!! You belong to each other! Noone is leaving anyone. Do you hear me! The swoon I get from these guys when they talk, kiss or just hold hands is ridiculous. How can two characters be so real?
Also, if you think that Mal can't make you melt into goo any harder...You're wrong. The old wolf has a few more tricks up his sleeve. And it's glorious. SJ, being vulnerable and soft and laying his heart for Mal, is a sight to see.
“Welcome home, my boys,” Arash Khalaji whispered, pressing his lips into Malcolm’s hair, Seong-Jae’s, anywhere he could reach. “Welcome home.” Malcolm had no words. He could only cling to them all, and struggle not to break down crying again as joy filled him with a power so deep it was painful. Home. And home had never felt so good.
Yeah needless to say I cried here. Because Arash calling Mal and SJ my boys... total ugly crying.
“I thought I was the one who taunted you about your age.” “I’m willing to mock myself a little to put a balm on your wounded pride.” “…my pride is less wounded than my ankle,” Seong-Jae muttered, then added with a hopeful lilt, “Kiss it better…?” “You jot,” Malcolm sighed, and pressed his lips to Seong-Jae’s temple again, lingering there, letting the cold pack drop so there was nothing between him and the sometimes surprising sweetness of his omr.
KISS IT BETTER MALCOLM!! I can't even with SJ being flirty and cute. I CAN'T EVEN 😭
“He was my first…everything,” he murmured, dark eyes glimmering. “But you will be my last.
Officially, irrevocably DEAD.
As for Sila and the White Rabbit... it was apt how it ended. They deserved nothing less. I urge you to read the afterword, because Cole explains how he decided their fates. And yes, I still feel a little bad for Sila...but he deserves what he got.
Now.... that cliffy....
COLE YOU MONSTER WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT. Haven't they suffered enough?? And using THIS particular situation after Mal's history with it. THIS?!!! GAHHHHH
What will I do now??? Season 3 only has 2 epis out 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
June 15, 2021
I loved this one.
"I can promise you,” Malcolm said, “that if one day you cut me off and walk away, I won’t try to hold on any longer than you want me to.”
“I would,” Seong-Jae said softly. “I would hold on. I do not think I could simply walk away from you without looking back.”
In typical McCade fashion, there was pain; fear, violence, gruesomeness but there was also tenderness and love. Mal and Seong-Jae are able to come out the other end and justice is SERVED 💅✔️ This was just the right balance of everything and it wouldn't be a Criminal intentions book without a killer cliffhanger!
As always for those who haven't read this series, I couldn't recommend it enough. Counting down to season 3 ❤️
"I can promise you,” Malcolm said, “that if one day you cut me off and walk away, I won’t try to hold on any longer than you want me to.”
“I would,” Seong-Jae said softly. “I would hold on. I do not think I could simply walk away from you without looking back.”
In typical McCade fashion, there was pain; fear, violence, gruesomeness but there was also tenderness and love. Mal and Seong-Jae are able to come out the other end and justice is SERVED 💅✔️ This was just the right balance of everything and it wouldn't be a Criminal intentions book without a killer cliffhanger!
As always for those who haven't read this series, I couldn't recommend it enough. Counting down to season 3 ❤️
May 23, 2021
“We should not have come here alone”.
(Truest word ever said, Seong-Jae! )… “But if we had not…”
Yeap, and that’s where the dilemma lies, right?
Together with so many others Malcolm and Seong-Jae have to face in this emotionally intense finale.
And what a satisfying finale it was!
And here is why:
(Putting the rest of my review under spoiler tags because some things I said might give away too much for season 2)
Ready for season 3 now.
(Truest word ever said, Seong-Jae! )… “But if we had not…”
Yeap, and that’s where the dilemma lies, right?
Together with so many others Malcolm and Seong-Jae have to face in this emotionally intense finale.
And what a satisfying finale it was!
And here is why:
(Putting the rest of my review under spoiler tags because some things I said might give away too much for season 2)
Ready for season 3 now.
June 12, 2024
Edit at the end. Need answers. Might be spoiler?
Side effects of reading this episode include : high blood pressure, nerves wreckage, sleep deprivation, twitching and jittering and feeling on edge. Basically, it gives you anxiety.
THE WHITE RABBIT PUTTING HIMSELF ‘ON STAGE’ AND WATCHING, WAS A HORROR SHOW!
Mal is one of my favorites of all time, he is perfection and I want one. And my deepest condolences to CM on the loss of the friend who made him change how he wrote Mal, because if he’s even 10% based on him, it is a great loss! As for SJ, I am appreciating him more and more, he’s always been good but he grew so much. I’ve said before that I wanted to watch one of the episodes play on tv for real because he was so damn cool BUT READING THE SCENE WHERE HE HAD HIS HAND OVER MAL’S SHOULDER AND SHOOTING AT THE WHITE RABBIT??? Oh man that was something else!!!!!!
……sir, you are killing me with the cliffhangers!!! WTF!!!!!
because of the darker themes and some relatable difficult situations depicted, I wanted to take a break for my mental health after finishing this season, especially since there are only three books out of the new one and I don’t want to suffer, but…….WHAT SHOULD I DO ?!
Edited and would love to discuss theories!
I forgot to ask this before because of everything that’s been happening BUT do you think Lombardi, the trans cutie, is Min Zhe’s brother? I don’t remember his ethnicity though 🤔.
Side effects of reading this episode include : high blood pressure, nerves wreckage, sleep deprivation, twitching and jittering and feeling on edge. Basically, it gives you anxiety.
THE WHITE RABBIT PUTTING HIMSELF ‘ON STAGE’ AND WATCHING, WAS A HORROR SHOW!
Mal is one of my favorites of all time, he is perfection and I want one. And my deepest condolences to CM on the loss of the friend who made him change how he wrote Mal, because if he’s even 10% based on him, it is a great loss! As for SJ, I am appreciating him more and more, he’s always been good but he grew so much. I’ve said before that I wanted to watch one of the episodes play on tv for real because he was so damn cool BUT READING THE SCENE WHERE HE HAD HIS HAND OVER MAL’S SHOULDER AND SHOOTING AT THE WHITE RABBIT??? Oh man that was something else!!!!!!
……sir, you are killing me with the cliffhangers!!! WTF!!!!!
because of the darker themes and some relatable difficult situations depicted, I wanted to take a break for my mental health after finishing this season, especially since there are only three books out of the new one and I don’t want to suffer, but…….WHAT SHOULD I DO ?!
Edited and would love to discuss theories!
I forgot to ask this before because of everything that’s been happening BUT do you think Lombardi, the trans cutie, is Min Zhe’s brother? I don’t remember his ethnicity though 🤔.
July 25, 2021
ALL THE STARS because 5 just ain't enough. This series! This author! These characters! Just phenomenal. This has been one hell of a ride and I have adored every minute. The growth that McCade's characters have is something you don't get to read very often. And don't even get me started on how Mal and SJ love each other, just sublime. All these stars, even with that bloody ending!!
This is just one spectacular series penned by a genius. That is all.
This is just one spectacular series penned by a genius. That is all.
May 23, 2021
I finished the first one so late, I had to wait to start this one. *pure torture* If it had been a physical book rather than on my kindle I would have ripped the cover trying to get it open.
Annndd, I can say nothing about anything. Every word, every blood-freezing moment, every gruesome, wrenching, heart-stopping thing that happens? You need to read that on your own. All of it. And I'd love to quote this whole book *actually, I did, LOL. The whole end anyway.* but really, you don't want to miss a single moment! ❤️🔥
Cole McCade hits you with everything he's got for this one, and if you read this series, you know exactly what that's saying. 👀 Then when all the action is over, he hits you with every bit of sweetness and light that they've deserved for so long. Seeing them in the afterward was my reward for everything I went through as a reader who love these two beyond reason.
This author being who & how he is, LOL, was not going to let us go out without a setting off a bomb, and he did do that. So now I'm right back where I started, always, waiting for the next one. 🥰
Annndd, I can say nothing about anything. Every word, every blood-freezing moment, every gruesome, wrenching, heart-stopping thing that happens? You need to read that on your own. All of it. And I'd love to quote this whole book *actually, I did, LOL. The whole end anyway.* but really, you don't want to miss a single moment! ❤️🔥
Cole McCade hits you with everything he's got for this one, and if you read this series, you know exactly what that's saying. 👀 Then when all the action is over, he hits you with every bit of sweetness and light that they've deserved for so long. Seeing them in the afterward was my reward for everything I went through as a reader who love these two beyond reason.
This author being who & how he is, LOL, was not going to let us go out without a setting off a bomb, and he did do that. So now I'm right back where I started, always, waiting for the next one. 🥰
June 14, 2021
4.5 stars ⭐️ MAL’S WHAT?! DON'T LET ANYTHING HAPPEN TO SEONG-JAE & MALCOLM AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP. Holy Moly! What a ride! The ending was brutal. It really scared me, and I hate the huge bombshell that dropped in front of Mal. It was so unfair. We have an obvious conclusion about what would happen in season 3 now.
Everything was over with the white rabbit and Sila. But it wasn't an easy game. SJ and Mal were back to solve cases for Baltimore PD.
There were so many beautiful emotions going through between SJ and Mal. I loved every moment of them, and they deserve to be happy. I love how their relationship has been progressed with every episode.
The moments I loved the most:
“I can promise you,” Malcolm said, “that if one day you cut me off and walk away, I won’t try to hold on any longer than you want me to.”
“I would,” Seong-Jae said softly. “I would hold on. I do not think I could simply walk away from you without looking back.”
“Do you think our love is real, then?” he asked softly, and wondered if he wanted to know the answer. “Do you think, when I say I love you, that word means something different to me than it does to you?”
“If anyone understands the things I do not say when I speak of love…” Seong-Jae whispered, “it is you.”
“Seong-Jae opened his eyes, then, tilting his head back to look at Malcolm. “He was my first…everything,” he murmured, dark eyes glimmering. “But you will be my last.”
Waiting for season 3! ❤️
Everything was over with the white rabbit and Sila. But it wasn't an easy game. SJ and Mal were back to solve cases for Baltimore PD.
There were so many beautiful emotions going through between SJ and Mal. I loved every moment of them, and they deserve to be happy. I love how their relationship has been progressed with every episode.
The moments I loved the most:
“I can promise you,” Malcolm said, “that if one day you cut me off and walk away, I won’t try to hold on any longer than you want me to.”
“I would,” Seong-Jae said softly. “I would hold on. I do not think I could simply walk away from you without looking back.”
“Do you think our love is real, then?” he asked softly, and wondered if he wanted to know the answer. “Do you think, when I say I love you, that word means something different to me than it does to you?”
“If anyone understands the things I do not say when I speak of love…” Seong-Jae whispered, “it is you.”
“Seong-Jae opened his eyes, then, tilting his head back to look at Malcolm. “He was my first…everything,” he murmured, dark eyes glimmering. “But you will be my last.”
Waiting for season 3! ❤️
May 28, 2021
Cole McCade has taken us on a hell of a ride hasn't he? If you have gotten this far in the series/seasons then you know what I mean.
The first half of part II was INSANE. There really isn't any other way to explain it. IMO
I loved the insanity though. There were many HOLY SHIT moments and many OH DEAR GOD moments but in the end I was still standing. LOL
Malcolm and Seong Jae are AMAZING and CM has brought them to a perfect place in their relationship. ❤
But that ending!!!!!!!!!! WTH I was not expecting that. And if I am being honest I'm not sure how I feel about it. Which of course has me anxious to get to Season 3!
May 23, 2021
Oh, how I loved this. Let me count the ways!
I would say this is my favorite book of season 2 since episode 6, and it definitely lives to being a finale. If it was on TV, it would be a superb season finale.
To be honest, this season might have dragged at times just a tad, mostly episodes 10 and 11, and I was really wanting that excitement and awe back. Every book is still a strong installment and always well written, but near the end it just felt like the author was, in some ways, looking for ways to drag the story out until episode 13, like filler eps - which, ya know, tv shows with long seasons are prone to doing - and they dragged.
But this was bringing everything together and everything just worked in this one. Everything was on point:
✔️ The action, the suspense
✔️ The characters and the plot
✔️ The relationships
It was all so amazing and I could not put this down from page one.
We finally, finally get the showdown between our two heroes, Mal and Seong-Jae, and our bad guys, Normand and Sila.
It's a battle of wills as Mal and Seong-Jae take on our two big villains to take them down, one way or another, for good.
It starts off rocky for them, as, well...Normand drives a fucking semi truck into the house Mal, Seong-Jae and Sila were talking in, and Mal and Seong-Jae get knocked out for around 2 hours, and once they wake and leave the house, they walk out into a horror show of epic proportions.
The White Rabbit is putting on his "show" and is using live, real human people to do it. Most of them are still alive, too.
So it's a race against time as Mal and Seong-Jae have to try to save every life they can while being kept on their toes by Normand, who is literally dressed as the White Rabbit and is toying with them all the while, and Mal and Seong-Jae try to get word to the outside with spotty reception, and Seong-Jae having a bad, twisted ankle.
It's suspenseful, it's nail-biting, it's scary, it's heartbreaking, it's a wonderful story that all leads to a showdown of sorts between our two guys and two serial killers.
And that main story is even wrapped up by around 50%, and we actually get to have a proper resolution to the season 2 storyline, and see how our two guys deal with the fallout of one of the hardest cases they've ever had to work on.
And just...the love these two have for each other. Even when they were in the suspenseful showdown with Normand and Sila, they found moments to be there for each other, to show just how much they love each other in how they helped each other and others, how they got each other through it.
Mal and Seong-Jae's love is just...
I can't get enough of it, will never get enough of it. Even after season 3, which will be the last season of CI, I will still want more, somehow, someway. Even if it's just drabbles Cole gives us, anything. Their love is just so *happy sigh* that they're just one of those couples I know I'll always want more of, that I can't get enough of.
They're perfect together.
And I also love how the book set up season 3 so well. Back in Baltimore - which, having Mal and Seong-Jae back there does feel like home, even to me, the reader. They feel like they're home, I feel like their home, and it's so much more comfortable - things are going down, and Gabi, unfortunately, gets caught in the middle of some of it.
Also things with Huang and Sade move forward, things are *happening* and I have no idea where their story is going, but I feel like it's kinda been on hold almost all season, and I'm interested to see if they can get some sort of ending together...not gonna lie, I lowkey ship Huang and Sade, so....kinda rooting for them ;).
And OMG, that ending. Yes, there is a shock that comes at the very end, thus the cliffhanger tag. I won't say what it is, only that about...halfway or so through this I had like a lightbulb moment of what it could be (I follow Cole on twitter and he teased that something would happen at the end that would surprise us, so I was trying to figure out what it could be) and I was like "am I right? I'm totally right, aren't I?" and I WAS. I was SO right about it!
Will be interesting to see where Mal and Seong-Jae go from here. BUT I have no doubt that they will work through it and come out stronger, once again, together.
The journey these two went on this season was <3. How they still had lingering issues they needed to work on, how they figured things out and came out stronger for it, how settled they were after the storm had happened with Normand and Sila, how happy they were. And I have no doubt in my mind that they will get through that little surprise at the end, too ;).
Just...wonderful, perfect finale installment. I absolutely love, love, LOVED IT.
And I think, with the series getting back to a new case each episode, kind of thing, will feel like coming home too, and just getting back into our Baltimore setting and everything, will just be great. I'm excited for the next season, where it will take our two guys, but also our other characters like Anjulie and Gabi.
Can it be July already? I'm excited for the first book of season 3! Bring it on 💗
I would say this is my favorite book of season 2 since episode 6, and it definitely lives to being a finale. If it was on TV, it would be a superb season finale.
To be honest, this season might have dragged at times just a tad, mostly episodes 10 and 11, and I was really wanting that excitement and awe back. Every book is still a strong installment and always well written, but near the end it just felt like the author was, in some ways, looking for ways to drag the story out until episode 13, like filler eps - which, ya know, tv shows with long seasons are prone to doing - and they dragged.
But this was bringing everything together and everything just worked in this one. Everything was on point:
✔️ The action, the suspense
✔️ The characters and the plot
✔️ The relationships
It was all so amazing and I could not put this down from page one.
We finally, finally get the showdown between our two heroes, Mal and Seong-Jae, and our bad guys, Normand and Sila.
It's a battle of wills as Mal and Seong-Jae take on our two big villains to take them down, one way or another, for good.
It starts off rocky for them, as, well...Normand drives a fucking semi truck into the house Mal, Seong-Jae and Sila were talking in, and Mal and Seong-Jae get knocked out for around 2 hours, and once they wake and leave the house, they walk out into a horror show of epic proportions.
The White Rabbit is putting on his "show" and is using live, real human people to do it. Most of them are still alive, too.
So it's a race against time as Mal and Seong-Jae have to try to save every life they can while being kept on their toes by Normand, who is literally dressed as the White Rabbit and is toying with them all the while, and Mal and Seong-Jae try to get word to the outside with spotty reception, and Seong-Jae having a bad, twisted ankle.
It's suspenseful, it's nail-biting, it's scary, it's heartbreaking, it's a wonderful story that all leads to a showdown of sorts between our two guys and two serial killers.
And that main story is even wrapped up by around 50%, and we actually get to have a proper resolution to the season 2 storyline, and see how our two guys deal with the fallout of one of the hardest cases they've ever had to work on.
And just...the love these two have for each other. Even when they were in the suspenseful showdown with Normand and Sila, they found moments to be there for each other, to show just how much they love each other in how they helped each other and others, how they got each other through it.
Mal and Seong-Jae's love is just...
I can't get enough of it, will never get enough of it. Even after season 3, which will be the last season of CI, I will still want more, somehow, someway. Even if it's just drabbles Cole gives us, anything. Their love is just so *happy sigh* that they're just one of those couples I know I'll always want more of, that I can't get enough of.
They're perfect together.
And I also love how the book set up season 3 so well. Back in Baltimore - which, having Mal and Seong-Jae back there does feel like home, even to me, the reader. They feel like they're home, I feel like their home, and it's so much more comfortable - things are going down, and Gabi, unfortunately, gets caught in the middle of some of it.
Also things with Huang and Sade move forward, things are *happening* and I have no idea where their story is going, but I feel like it's kinda been on hold almost all season, and I'm interested to see if they can get some sort of ending together...not gonna lie, I lowkey ship Huang and Sade, so....kinda rooting for them ;).
And OMG, that ending. Yes, there is a shock that comes at the very end, thus the cliffhanger tag. I won't say what it is, only that about...halfway or so through this I had like a lightbulb moment of what it could be (I follow Cole on twitter and he teased that something would happen at the end that would surprise us, so I was trying to figure out what it could be) and I was like "am I right? I'm totally right, aren't I?" and I WAS. I was SO right about it!
Will be interesting to see where Mal and Seong-Jae go from here. BUT I have no doubt that they will work through it and come out stronger, once again, together.
The journey these two went on this season was <3. How they still had lingering issues they needed to work on, how they figured things out and came out stronger for it, how settled they were after the storm had happened with Normand and Sila, how happy they were. And I have no doubt in my mind that they will get through that little surprise at the end, too ;).
Just...wonderful, perfect finale installment. I absolutely love, love, LOVED IT.
And I think, with the series getting back to a new case each episode, kind of thing, will feel like coming home too, and just getting back into our Baltimore setting and everything, will just be great. I'm excited for the next season, where it will take our two guys, but also our other characters like Anjulie and Gabi.
Can it be July already? I'm excited for the first book of season 3! Bring it on 💗
July 7, 2025
É com muita dor no meu coração que não darei 5 para o último livro da segunda temporada. Meu único motivo foi porque eu queria o filho da puta do Silas morto 😅 O cara é um psicopata que já provou que consegue escapar e fugir de qualquer situação. Acha mesmo que ficar preso é a solução para ele? Ele morrer de vez seria a melhor solução. Matar esse desgraçado seria a melhor solução, foi uma pisada de bola do Cole. Sei que ele quis entrar com o discurso de que a morte é pouco para Silas e ele deve pagar por tudo que fez estando vivo. O cara é um psicopata, ele está pouco se fodendo para isso. Na primeira oportunidade vai fugir da prisão. Poderia ter matado essa desgraça, então tirei uma estrela por isso. O resto do final foi perfeito, tirando isso. Falando em final.... Caralho, eu sempre pensei que Mal daria um bom papai pq ele parece ter esse desejo não realizado, acho que um baby seria interresante, mas como isso iria acontecer se a vida dele e Seong-Jae são sempre muito ocupada? Eles estão no início de uma relação morando juntos. Não iria ter como meter um bebê nessa história, parece que subestimei o Cole 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
April 21, 2024
I finally made it! Finished two seasons in 10 days! Was prepared to take a break before starting season three, but I was foiled by that little WTF - WHAT moment on the last page.
Sigh, season three, here I come...
Sigh, season three, here I come...
May 24, 2021
Words cannot possibly begin to explain how much I loved this book. It was phenomenal. The perfect conclusion to the season. Honestly, after reading it, I swear I let out a sigh of relief like “Jesus it’s over”. It was so heartbreaking! I felt pain for literally every person in this finale. The MC’s, the villains, the victims, Aanga, Gabi, anji. They were all just amazing in this.
Malcom and Seong-jae were….. well they were Malcom and Seong-jae.
“Don’t fucking scare me like that,” Malcolm whispered hoarsely. “Don’t you fucking scare me like that, I thought you were dead, you can’t…you can’t…”
“I do apologize for being careless enough to stand in the way of a collapsing ceiling. I shall make an effort to be more cautious in the future.”
This was such an unpredictable episode. I didn’t know what was going to happen-who was going to survive-and it was killing me. It was an enormous game of Tom and Jerry and catch me if you can.
“…why is he doing that?” Seong-Jae whispered.
“Trying to unnerve us,” Malcolm said. “Mocking us. He’s right there and completely out of our reach…
Overall: this will forever be my all-time favorite series and I cannot wait for Cole Mccade to start the next season.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random moments in the book that got to me
* Sila to Normand : “It’s all I ever wanted from you. My whole life…my whole life I just wanted you to love me the way you loved Mama! I just…I just wanted you to let me go be with her.” He trailed off into a miserable sniffle. “I didn’t want to be your pure son. I didn’t want to be pure at all. I just wanted to be loved.”
*Normand’s mouth forming the shapes Goodbye, my son and a strange instant of acceptance clearing the clouds from his eyes, bringing a peaceful smile to his lips, the icy sliver of the blade slashing quick and then, and then—
Normand’s throat opened up.
*Malcom to seong-jae: “It’s over, and we’re going home.”
And a relief so stark it was like a sob captured in a singular moment, translated into the face of a man whose expression reflected everything throbbing in Malcolm’s heart.
*Malcom and Seong-jae: “Sila only wanted to die. Now he has to live with himself for as long as the judiciary system decides. And Normand…”
“He died without the son he claimed to love so much,” Seong-Jae whispered. “And the world will never see his grandest show of all.”
*Seong-jae to Malcom: “I have missed waking up to realize you have been awake since dawn and are already in the kitchen with flour up to your elbows. I miss stumbling into each other trying to get to the shower, half asleep, when the Captain wakes us with a case in the middle of the night. I miss the way the light falls in through the windows at the end of a long day. I miss draping my legs over the arm of the sofa and shouting at the television with my head in your lap while you pretend to be paying attention over your book.
Malcom and Seong-jae were….. well they were Malcom and Seong-jae.
“Don’t fucking scare me like that,” Malcolm whispered hoarsely. “Don’t you fucking scare me like that, I thought you were dead, you can’t…you can’t…”
“I do apologize for being careless enough to stand in the way of a collapsing ceiling. I shall make an effort to be more cautious in the future.”
This was such an unpredictable episode. I didn’t know what was going to happen-who was going to survive-and it was killing me. It was an enormous game of Tom and Jerry and catch me if you can.
“…why is he doing that?” Seong-Jae whispered.
“Trying to unnerve us,” Malcolm said. “Mocking us. He’s right there and completely out of our reach…
Overall: this will forever be my all-time favorite series and I cannot wait for Cole Mccade to start the next season.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random moments in the book that got to me
* Sila to Normand : “It’s all I ever wanted from you. My whole life…my whole life I just wanted you to love me the way you loved Mama! I just…I just wanted you to let me go be with her.” He trailed off into a miserable sniffle. “I didn’t want to be your pure son. I didn’t want to be pure at all. I just wanted to be loved.”
*Normand’s mouth forming the shapes Goodbye, my son and a strange instant of acceptance clearing the clouds from his eyes, bringing a peaceful smile to his lips, the icy sliver of the blade slashing quick and then, and then—
Normand’s throat opened up.
*Malcom to seong-jae: “It’s over, and we’re going home.”
And a relief so stark it was like a sob captured in a singular moment, translated into the face of a man whose expression reflected everything throbbing in Malcolm’s heart.
*Malcom and Seong-jae: “Sila only wanted to die. Now he has to live with himself for as long as the judiciary system decides. And Normand…”
“He died without the son he claimed to love so much,” Seong-Jae whispered. “And the world will never see his grandest show of all.”
*Seong-jae to Malcom: “I have missed waking up to realize you have been awake since dawn and are already in the kitchen with flour up to your elbows. I miss stumbling into each other trying to get to the shower, half asleep, when the Captain wakes us with a case in the middle of the night. I miss the way the light falls in through the windows at the end of a long day. I miss draping my legs over the arm of the sofa and shouting at the television with my head in your lap while you pretend to be paying attention over your book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2023
5 Stars
THAT WAS NUTS 😫
What an outstanding season finale! I find it mind-boggling how well the author developed this storyline (and just the series in general). It was incredibly intricate, complex with many interwoven storylines, unique characters, and complex villains that you actually sort of felt bad for. McCade is a literal genius and his writing style has ruined me for all other books.
What's even more mind-blowing is that logically, it makes sense why GRK and did what they did. Their traumatic childhoods and lack of support are really to blame, even if they committed the horrific crimes. Imagine what could have been if they received the help and love they needed/deserved.
I thought it was kind of strangely poetic how it all ended and Seong-Jae was freed from his past trauma...life really does come full circle sometimes.
This definitely ranks as one of my favorite series EVER, if not right at the very top. The author's writing, from plot development to how well written every. single. character. is, is unbeatable. I honestly wish this series could never end 😩
ALSO! I CANNOT CATCH A BREATH WITH ALL THESE CLIFFHANGERS 😩 Between what happened to Gabi, and that DAMN KNOCK that quite literally knocked Malcolm over, I have anxiety just ✨thinking✨ about the pain that's to come in season 3. Is it so much to ask for them to be able to live HEA in their cute little apartment and bantering about dumb shit while Seong-Jae pretends to be disgruntled when Malcolm says he loves him? Is it?? 😅
I know McCade said season 3 is going to put Malcolm through the wringer and I'm nervous to find out exactly how. I think we're going to be working on Malcolm's demons and trauma now, as evidenced by that cliffhanger. I will say, .
All in all, an amazing finale and I cannot wait to start season 3!
"Words became meaningless when Seong-Jae’s heart beat for Malcolm alone, and everything he needed to say was in that steady crimson pulse. That Seong-Jae would never turn away from this; never stray…That he would never love another man as he did Malcolm Khalaji. And would never want any other to love him."
THAT WAS NUTS 😫
What an outstanding season finale! I find it mind-boggling how well the author developed this storyline (and just the series in general). It was incredibly intricate, complex with many interwoven storylines, unique characters, and complex villains that you actually sort of felt bad for. McCade is a literal genius and his writing style has ruined me for all other books.
What's even more mind-blowing is that logically, it makes sense why GRK and did what they did. Their traumatic childhoods and lack of support are really to blame, even if they committed the horrific crimes. Imagine what could have been if they received the help and love they needed/deserved.
"When you grow up in a dysfunctional family environment, your very need for some kind of functional, safe support system can leave you vulnerable to people who would prey on that need. It’s easy to get drawn into repeated cycles of abuse; into damaging, toxic relationships that claim to be supportive but can actually consume you whole to the point of changing your identity."
- Cole McCade
I thought it was kind of strangely poetic how it all ended and Seong-Jae was freed from his past trauma...life really does come full circle sometimes.
This definitely ranks as one of my favorite series EVER, if not right at the very top. The author's writing, from plot development to how well written every. single. character. is, is unbeatable. I honestly wish this series could never end 😩
ALSO! I CANNOT CATCH A BREATH WITH ALL THESE CLIFFHANGERS 😩 Between what happened to Gabi, and that DAMN KNOCK that quite literally knocked Malcolm over, I have anxiety just ✨thinking✨ about the pain that's to come in season 3. Is it so much to ask for them to be able to live HEA in their cute little apartment and bantering about dumb shit while Seong-Jae pretends to be disgruntled when Malcolm says he loves him? Is it?? 😅
I know McCade said season 3 is going to put Malcolm through the wringer and I'm nervous to find out exactly how. I think we're going to be working on Malcolm's demons and trauma now, as evidenced by that cliffhanger. I will say, .
All in all, an amazing finale and I cannot wait to start season 3!
May 13, 2022
[𝟺 / 𝟻 ✩]
𝙼𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚌
♫ 𝙼𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎
♫ 𝙽𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝙺𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙻𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝙱𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎
What a wild, freaking, ride.
White Rabbit, Part II concludes this season on an …
uncertain note for Malcolm Khalaji and Seong-Jae Yoon.
Case wise things seem to be solved … for now.
On the villain front, well … the White Rabbit got what he deserved, imo.
As for Sila- *takes calming breath*
Now, my thoughts on this season as a whole …
kinda a mixed bag.
On the romance side of things, I ADORED the way Seong-Jae and Malcolm truly began to trust each other.
Our boys are serious about each other.
They be ride or die.
The love Seong-Jae and Malcolm have is built on, trust.
Respect.
And a soul-deep kind of intimacy.
Suffice it to say, I loved the direction Cole McCade took their relationship.
However, where this season really lost me was …
THE CASE.
Now, to be perfectly transparent, I'm the type of person who prefers the "case of the week" format.
Having the Golden Ratio Killer mystery drawn out was …
Kinda painful at times, ngl.
There were a few books where I got bored.
I wasn't feeling the suspense or tension.
But, I do feel like that it's definitely a me thing.
Tbh, I read Criminal Intentions for the romance.
Anything else is a bonus.
Another aspect of season two that got me was …
The POV switching.
Which, look.
I love CI's side-characters.
I do.
BUT, I didn't like how jumping to their POV took us all the way to Baltimore.
What can I say, I like to be where my boys are.
I'd say the most surprising aspect of this season was …
Just how much I ended up liking Aanaga Joshi.
My emotions in regards to Joshi were, tempestuous.
There were moments when I wanted to kick him.
There were times when I wanted to hug him.
And there were even instances where I wish we had gotten more of his POV.
All in all, Season Two was sorta a mixed bag.
I was all the way invested in the romance.
It was brilliant, and Divine Proportion was truly the highpoint of this season.
What let me down, I think, was the case.
It was hard being away from Baltimore.
And once again, the grand finale felt a bit lacking.
I don't feel this sense of closure when it comes to the White Rabbit.
That said, I think the strengths of this series are truly McCade's brilliant character work.
Each and every character he creates (both good and evil) are imaginative and complex.
Thus, I am BEYOND excited for season three.
Cause I mean … ahh.
That bomb Cole dropped at the end.
LOL, I guess no one ever told Mal that 🤪
All in all, I highly, and I mean HIGHLY, recommend the Criminal Intentions series.
It has one of the greatest love stories/romances ever written.
The cases are solid.
The prose is exquisite.
And honestly, the way Cole writes his characters, you could swear they're real.
┍━━━━✩━━━━┑
𝙲𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜: 𝚂𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙸𝙸
𝟷𝟺. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙶𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘 ~ 𝟺.
𝟷𝟻. 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 ~ 𝟺.
𝟷𝟼. 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻
𝟷𝟽. 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝙰𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 ~ 𝟺.𝟻
𝟷𝟾. 𝙳𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚕 ~ 𝟺.𝟼
𝟷𝟿. 𝙳𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟻.
𝟸𝟶. 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟹.𝟻
𝟸𝟷. 𝚃𝚛𝚊𝚓𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 ~ 𝟺.𝟻
𝟸𝟸. 𝙾𝚌𝚌𝚊𝚖'𝚜 𝚁𝚊𝚣𝚘𝚛 ~ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻
𝟸𝟹. 𝙵𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻
𝟸𝟺. 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 ~ 𝟹.𝟻
𝟸𝟻. 𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚒𝚝: 𝙸 ~ 𝟹.𝟻
𝟸𝟼. 𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚒𝚝: 𝙸𝙸 ~ 𝟺.
┕━━━━✩━━━━┙
❝He was my first…everything,❞ he murmured, dark eyes glimmering. ❝But you will be my last.❞
𝙼𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚌
♫ 𝙼𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎
♫ 𝙽𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝙺𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙻𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝙱𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎
What a wild, freaking, ride.
White Rabbit, Part II concludes this season on an …
uncertain note for Malcolm Khalaji and Seong-Jae Yoon.
Case wise things seem to be solved … for now.
On the villain front, well … the White Rabbit got what he deserved, imo.
As for Sila- *takes calming breath*
Now, my thoughts on this season as a whole …
kinda a mixed bag.
On the romance side of things, I ADORED the way Seong-Jae and Malcolm truly began to trust each other.
Our boys are serious about each other.
They be ride or die.
❝We’ll go home together, my love,❞ he whispered. ❝And that is where we’ll stay.❞
The love Seong-Jae and Malcolm have is built on, trust.
Respect.
And a soul-deep kind of intimacy.
Suffice it to say, I loved the direction Cole McCade took their relationship.
However, where this season really lost me was …
THE CASE.
Now, to be perfectly transparent, I'm the type of person who prefers the "case of the week" format.
Having the Golden Ratio Killer mystery drawn out was …
Kinda painful at times, ngl.
There were a few books where I got bored.
I wasn't feeling the suspense or tension.
But, I do feel like that it's definitely a me thing.
Tbh, I read Criminal Intentions for the romance.
Anything else is a bonus.
Another aspect of season two that got me was …
The POV switching.
Which, look.
I love CI's side-characters.
I do.
BUT, I didn't like how jumping to their POV took us all the way to Baltimore.
What can I say, I like to be where my boys are.
I'd say the most surprising aspect of this season was …
Just how much I ended up liking Aanaga Joshi.
❝You are the better man,❞ Joshi said. “But maybe one day I’ll reach for such lofty aspirations.❞
❝I look forward to seeing that day,❞ Malcolm said.
My emotions in regards to Joshi were, tempestuous.
There were moments when I wanted to kick him.
There were times when I wanted to hug him.
And there were even instances where I wish we had gotten more of his POV.
All in all, Season Two was sorta a mixed bag.
I was all the way invested in the romance.
It was brilliant, and Divine Proportion was truly the highpoint of this season.
What let me down, I think, was the case.
It was hard being away from Baltimore.
And once again, the grand finale felt a bit lacking.
I don't feel this sense of closure when it comes to the White Rabbit.
That said, I think the strengths of this series are truly McCade's brilliant character work.
Each and every character he creates (both good and evil) are imaginative and complex.
Thus, I am BEYOND excited for season three.
Cause I mean … ahh.
That bomb Cole dropped at the end.
LOL, I guess no one ever told Mal that 🤪
All in all, I highly, and I mean HIGHLY, recommend the Criminal Intentions series.
It has one of the greatest love stories/romances ever written.
The cases are solid.
The prose is exquisite.
And honestly, the way Cole writes his characters, you could swear they're real.
┍━━━━✩━━━━┑
𝙲𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜: 𝚂𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙸𝙸
𝟷𝟺. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙶𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘 ~ 𝟺.
𝟷𝟻. 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 ~ 𝟺.
𝟷𝟼. 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻
𝟷𝟽. 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝙰𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 ~ 𝟺.𝟻
𝟷𝟾. 𝙳𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚕 ~ 𝟺.𝟼
𝟷𝟿. 𝙳𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟻.
𝟸𝟶. 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟹.𝟻
𝟸𝟷. 𝚃𝚛𝚊𝚓𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 ~ 𝟺.𝟻
𝟸𝟸. 𝙾𝚌𝚌𝚊𝚖'𝚜 𝚁𝚊𝚣𝚘𝚛 ~ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻
𝟸𝟹. 𝙵𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻
𝟸𝟺. 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 ~ 𝟹.𝟻
𝟸𝟻. 𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚒𝚝: 𝙸 ~ 𝟹.𝟻
𝟸𝟼. 𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚒𝚝: 𝙸𝙸 ~ 𝟺.
┕━━━━✩━━━━┙
August 5, 2021
This series has been fantastic and I absolutely love these guys.
So we have Malcolm, Seong-Jae, Sila and now the white rabbit all together. This one is was brilliant but I’m struggling to accept its over. Probably because I was so invested, well and truly down the rabbit hole you might say.
That ending however upset me. No that’s not right it didn’t upset me as much as it annoyed the ever loving shit out of me.
Why?
Why?
Why?
Now I’m really not looking forward to season 3. In fact I’m going to wait and check out reviews before I start. If I start. Who am I kidding I’m always going to start.
But why would you do this to us Mr McCade?
I’m off to sulk some more….
So we have Malcolm, Seong-Jae, Sila and now the white rabbit all together. This one is was brilliant but I’m struggling to accept its over. Probably because I was so invested, well and truly down the rabbit hole you might say.
That ending however upset me. No that’s not right it didn’t upset me as much as it annoyed the ever loving shit out of me.
Why?
Why?
Why?
Now I’m really not looking forward to season 3. In fact I’m going to wait and check out reviews before I start. If I start. Who am I kidding I’m always going to start.
But why would you do this to us Mr McCade?
I’m off to sulk some more….
June 12, 2024
RTC because wtf Cole was that ending????
Breathe in breath out and for now:
“To be loved like this, so reverently that one’s name became a prayer.
To love like this, so deeply that touch became communion, giving and taking without words, when words could only be misunderstood, reshaped, redefined, given back as something else. Words became meaningless when Seong-Jae’s heart beat for Malcolm alone, and everything he needed to say was in that steady crimson pulse.”
Breathe in breath out and for now:
“To be loved like this, so reverently that one’s name became a prayer.
To love like this, so deeply that touch became communion, giving and taking without words, when words could only be misunderstood, reshaped, redefined, given back as something else. Words became meaningless when Seong-Jae’s heart beat for Malcolm alone, and everything he needed to say was in that steady crimson pulse.”
September 20, 2023
Wow! What an ending to a brilliant season. I have no words to do it justice. All I can say is I’m glad this intense, long-running mystery is done and dusted because my poor heart couldn’t take any more stress. Malcolm and Seong-Jae experienced every extreme emotion possible—terror, grief, despair, hope and elation. But the way their relationship grew and emotional intimacy developed throughout it all was utter perfection. I lived for their banter and tender moments. As far as I’m concerned, the White Rabbit and Sila can both rot in hell. Malcolm and Seong-Jae sure deserve a reprieve after that mother of a case, but that cliffhanger leading up to season 3 makes it clear it ain’t gonna happen.
May 23, 2021
Intensity at its finest ! What an ending to a unique and bizarre series - and what a launch into the new one. This is going to be interesting LOL
August 22, 2021
Don't get me wrong, a lot of this season was intense and twisty and clever, but hoo boy, like Malcolm, I'm hoping to go back to the little cases. Mostly because, as per many complainy reviews, this was just so big. And I know there's still big stuff to come but the scale is.. smaller. Big on a small. Instead of big on a big. Does that make sense?
As for how this resolved, there was really no other way, even if it would've been cleaner for both villains to go out. We can only hope there'll be no escape for the surviving element.
While my initial reaction of the actual season two cliffhanger was a spluttering of feelings, mostly dread because it felt so soap opera, I actually wonder if this is going to be part of their HEA. They are on track for another step in their relationship so why not this? I can see them making it work. Assuming.. well, there's no additional complications beyond the obvious.
But more importantly lets talk about Gabi because grrrrrrl that's some bad luck, yo. Part of me is kind of surprised youknowwho was so brazen about what he did but if he's that drunk on power, and feeling that invincible.. but knowing the connections to Santiago? That seems fucking stupid. Anywhozzle, I'm only two from being caught up on this world and I kind of can't believe it.
As for how this resolved, there was really no other way, even if it would've been cleaner for both villains to go out. We can only hope there'll be no escape for the surviving element.
While my initial reaction of the actual season two cliffhanger was a spluttering of feelings, mostly dread because it felt so soap opera, I actually wonder if this is going to be part of their HEA. They are on track for another step in their relationship so why not this? I can see them making it work. Assuming.. well, there's no additional complications beyond the obvious.
But more importantly lets talk about Gabi because grrrrrrl that's some bad luck, yo. Part of me is kind of surprised youknowwho was so brazen about what he did but if he's that drunk on power, and feeling that invincible.. but knowing the connections to Santiago? That seems fucking stupid. Anywhozzle, I'm only two from being caught up on this world and I kind of can't believe it.
May 28, 2021
This was absolutely brilliant episode! It was everything I wanted - shocking, intense, suspenseful and of course filled with love and happiness. Yes, the beginning was a bit scary and actually rattled me. The author managed to bring even more horror to this macabre tale of serial killer and his acolyte. But by doing so Mr McCade also showed Mal and Seong-Jae at their best despite the horrific situation they found themselves in - working together in sync, holding each other up and having unwavering trust. I loved it. The entire end to the nightmare was so engrossing, so emotional and so unexpected.
We did get to see Mal and Seong-Jae closing the door to this case, tying all loose ends and finally getting back home. Those moments were so light, filled with laughter and tenderness. Well, with Seong-Jae tenderly tching and Mal being so at ease. Ah, the twist in the end was the worst and the best for Mal. He will have a tough journey next season. But with Seong-Jae always there for him he will be just fine in the end. It was soooo good! I can't wait to start the next season!!!!
We did get to see Mal and Seong-Jae closing the door to this case, tying all loose ends and finally getting back home. Those moments were so light, filled with laughter and tenderness. Well, with Seong-Jae tenderly tching and Mal being so at ease. Ah, the twist in the end was the worst and the best for Mal. He will have a tough journey next season. But with Seong-Jae always there for him he will be just fine in the end. It was soooo good! I can't wait to start the next season!!!!
June 28, 2021
I dunno, ending was kinda anti-climatic. I wanted S dead.
The baby tho... I don't like to be reminded of Mal's manwhorish ways. Tch.
The baby tho... I don't like to be reminded of Mal's manwhorish ways. Tch.
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