I don’t understand why this book is getting such high ratings despite the coercive abuse central to this ‘romance’. The main female character is annoying and makes terrible decisions that end with her being “owned” but somehow the author wants us to believe not having free will and being forced into situations where a hot guy threatens to rape you if he felt like it, but chooses not to physically follow through, (however psychological rape and humiliation is fine) is extremely hot and romantic.
Also, it’s apparently completely okay for the hero to humiliate and force a strong woman to debase herself without consent to prove your the man, while tricking her into having sex with you in order to prevent being raped be the next dude that comes by. This apparently is not rape because she “chooses” him rather than choosing to fight off countless others who would come after her.
The line between rape and consent are incredibly blurred and the book centres on the ‘hero’ constantly seeking to control her, demanding answers he really doesn’t deserve, and total lack of empathy. This is not alpha behaviour- this is the behaviour of an insecure egomaniac who demeans women and chooses to cause harm.
This is not romantic, it’s abuse.