MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery
The Stacks
DiscoverMy ShelvesReading Stats
Sign upLog in
MoodReads - Romantasy Book Discovery

because goodreads doesn't
have a spice filter

Discover

  • Discover Page
  • Reading Stacks
  • Tropes
  • Moods
  • Creatures
  • Spicy Books

Get MoodReads

  • so what is it.
  • iOS App
  • Browser Extension
  • MoodReads Premium
  • Gift a Subscription
  • For Creators
  • Share MoodReads

Go Deeper

  • FAQ
  • Roadmap
  • Request a Feature
  • vs Goodreads
  • vs StoryGraph
  • Who Built This?

The Serious Stuff

  • Values
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Support

get emails when something big happens. no spam, just news.

© 2026 MoodReads. Built by a romantasy reader for romantasy readers.

rattle the stars, bitches.

Cover of The Master

The Master

by Kresley Cole

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️explicit·The Game Maker #2
4.3 on Goodreads (22,791)

Rate this book

sign in to add to shelves, track reading status, and see your stats

find similar →
ReportSpoiler settings

Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

Kresley Cole writes heroes who are genuinely dangerous and heroines smart enough to match them. The heat is off the charts but the emotional arc underneath it all is what keeps you turning pages at 2am.

Synopsis

A need colder than Siberian winter meets an attitude hotter than the Florida sun in #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole’s sultry new Game Maker novel. Everyone fears the Master... Rich, irresistible politician/Mafya boss Maksimilian Sevastyan prefers tall, obedient blondes to fulfill his... complicated desires. That is, until the icy Russian encounters a dis obedient brunette whose exquisite little body threatens his legendary restraint. Except her. Catarina Marín was a well-off young wife until her world fell apart. Now she’s hiding out, forced to start working as an escort in Miami. Her very first client is beyond gorgeous, but when he tells her what he plans to do to her, Cat almost walks out of the door. If pleasure is a game, play to win. After their mind-blowing encounter burns out of control, the lovers crave more. If they escape the deadly threats surrounding them, can Maksim overcome his past—to offer Cat his future? Only then will she tempt him with what he really wants: her, all tied up with a bow.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Maksimilian Sevastyan is a Russian billionaire with a taste for control and a past that would break most people. When he meets Cat—a woman running from her own nightmares—the obsession is instant and all-consuming. Cole delivers scorching BDSM scenes wrapped in a genuine love story where two broken people figure out how to trust each other. If you want dark, possessive, and filthy with real emotional stakes, this is your book.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.27 ★ (22.8k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

448 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2015

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Dark Romance

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

First Person

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Instant Attraction

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (unspecified)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Kimberly Alexis

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
dark romancebillionaire romancemafia romancecaptive romanceforbidden lovevirgin x experiencedforced proximityrescue romancewho hurt you
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

darkintenseseductivesteamydramaticangstysuspensefuldangeroussensualspicy

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

sharpedgysuspensefulseductivebanter-heavydramatic

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

Russian billionaire obsessed with the one woman he can't controlBDSM with actual plot and emotional depthdark and filthy but somehow still swoony

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

survivorrunaway / on the runinnocent / shelteredfemme fatale

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

possessive alphadark/tortured soulbillionaire / CEOmorally gray MMCsecretly soft

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

possessive love interestpower imbalanceclass differenceexperienced x innocenthe falls firstpredator x preyhurt/comfortpush and pull

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 5

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

passionate / intensedirty talk heavyrough / primaldominant vibeskinky / adventurouspossessive / claimingpower dynamicdesperate / urgent

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

hair pulling softpinning hands above headmarking hickeysrough but consensualpossessive/protectivemine declarationseye contact intensity

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

BDSM elementspower exchangebondage/restraintimpact play (spanking/hitting)rough/aggressive intimacypossessivedominanceanal elementsedging/denialdubious consent elements
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (12)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
sexual assault (referenced)child abuse (referenced)sexual traumaabusekidnappingviolencePTSDtraumachildhood traumadubious consentstalkingcaptivity
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

contemporary

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

big city / metropolismanor house / estateluxury hotel

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

humans only

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

Latinx MCinterracial romance

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

tension finally satisfiedbook boyfriend/girlfriend acquiredferal brain activatedromantic fulfillmentthe angst delivered

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

bedtimecan't sleeplazy Sundayvacation

The Game Maker

The Professional

#1 The Professional

The Master

#2 The Master

The Player

#3 The Player

this page is just the start

  • import your Goodreads or StoryGraph TBR. we tag every book with spice, tropes, CWs, mood, all of it
  • tell us a vibe (“enemies to lovers fae, high spice”) and BookMatch finds the book
  • 4,000+ romantasy books searchable by 45 fields
  • book clubs, reading challenges, and a community of readers who get it
free account

Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️explicit
PagesHow long the commitment is.448
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2015
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.27 ★ (22.8k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

The Game Maker #2
Similar picks →

My Notes

Loading...

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

live reactions, hot takes, screaming into the void about The Master

Similar Books

Cover of The Taste of Deceit

The Taste of Deceit

Kathleen Haley

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
dark romancebillionaire romanceforbidden love
Cover of The Darkest TemptationKU

The Darkest Temptation

Made, #3

Danielle Lori

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV
dark romancecaptive romanceforbidden love
Cover of Hooked

Hooked

Emily McIntire

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV
dark romancerevenge romanceforbidden love
Cover of Your Dad Will Do

Your Dad Will Do

Katee Robert

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·first person
forbidden loverevenge romanceage gap romance
Cover of Ruthlessly His

Ruthlessly His

Gilded Decadence, #1

Zoe Blake, Blake Hensley, Alta Hensley

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
dark romancecaptive romanceforced to marry
Cover of Little Liar (The Web of Silence Duet, #2)

Little Liar (The Web of Silence Duet, #2)

The Web of Silence Duet, #2

Leigh Rivers

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
dark romanceforbidden lovecaptive romance
Cover of Quid Pro QuoKU

Quid Pro Quo

Nick & Jay, #1

Nenia Campbell

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
dark romancecaptive romancestalker romance
Cover of Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark, #2)KU

Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark, #2)

Monsters in the Dark, #2

Pepper Winters

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV
dark romancecaptive romancerescue romance