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The Memento Trilogy #1

Devious Delusions

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Who can you trust when your own mind goes against you?
Delilah wakes up to a new life ⎯ one that she doesn’t recognize despite it containing everything she could possibly wish for.

The last thing she remembers is running for her life, yet her childhood love is calling her wife. A ring on her finger, and the life they dreamed together isn’t enough to escape the devious entity who comes out in the dark.

Is everything as simple as believing what’s in front of her? Or does the cover of darkness allow the truth to be heard?

***
He was once her hidden escape, before Delilah ruined his life and made him a ghost.

Now, he’s the monster hiding within the dark recess of her mind.

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2025

83 people are currently reading
395 people want to read

About the author

A.X. Cole

16 books77 followers

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5 stars
87 (46%)
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64 (34%)
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19 (10%)
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14 (7%)
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4 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
Profile Image for Milica's Bookshelf.
1,062 reviews318 followers
March 3, 2025
What in the actual hell did I just read?
This book is an intricate maze of mind games, unreliable memories, and twisted realities that left my head spinning from start to finish.

From the first page, the tension is palpable. Delilah wakes up in a life that feels foreign despite appearing perfect on the surface. Her childhood love calls her his wife, a wedding ring glistens on her finger, and yet, deep inside, something feels terribly wrong. The last thing she remembers is running for her life—so why does everything seem so idyllic now? And more importantly, who is the sinister presence lurking in the shadows, watching her every move?

AX Cole’s world-building and character development are nothing short of masterful. Every twist and turn is carefully orchestrated, ensuring that readers never quite feel grounded in reality. Just when you think you have it figured out, another revelation flips the entire narrative on its head. The masked man’s identity was a constant enigma, and even when I thought I had guessed correctly, doubt lingered, making me wonder if the author was toying with my perceptions.

This story is an exhilarating rollercoaster ride of suspense, mystery, and psychological torment. The characters are deeply flawed and shrouded in secrets, making it impossible to trust anyone. Delilah is a beautifully complex protagonist, struggling to discern truth from deception. Asher, her supposed husband, exudes suspicion, while Ghost—oh, Ghost—is an enigma wrapped in darkness. His presence is both alluring and terrifying, and his cryptic words sent chills down my spine:

“You’re not real.”
“If I’m not real, why are you scared?”


The chilling ‘knock, knock’ motive echoes throughout the story, amplifying the sense of paranoia and foreboding. This book is not just about piecing together the puzzle; it’s about experiencing the slow unraveling of reality alongside the protagonist. The psychological elements are hauntingly immersive, forcing readers to question everything they read.
The book also delves into dark, seductive themes, making it an intense and gripping read. It’s unhinged, morally ambiguous, and downright dirty in the best way possible.

This book is far from a happily-ever-after. It’s a descent into madness, a story that leaves you unsettled yet desperate for more. I suspect that multiple readings would unveil even more hidden clues, and with two more books to come, I’m certain that the mystery is far from over.
Profile Image for Valentina.
1,168 reviews399 followers
August 6, 2025
Very spicy, psychological thriller. If you go in blind, you don’t know what to expect, and it’s quite intriguing. However, the story lost its pizzazz as it was very repetitive in the interaction with the stalker and husband, to the point that the pace became slow and the plot lost my interest. Maybe I will pick it up again and continue, but for now, it’s a DNF of a good story that lost its charm.
Profile Image for haunted.kelly.
159 reviews32 followers
February 13, 2025
Holy fucking shit!
I did not expect this ending at all. This book was INSANE. So so so good, the spice was delicious and the plot was wild! I loved Asher, then hated him, then loved him lmao, now I’m not sure how I feel about him. Poor fkn Delilah she was going through it!!! I’m worried about how often she was knocked out lmao, poor girl 😭 I can’t wait to read the next book and get more back story into wtf is going on with Delilah! Is she a good person, who TF knows at this moment. One thing I do know is that I loooooove ghost hehehehe. His mouth, damn 🤸
This book was fast paced, had the plot & spice and also brought the mystery, 10/10 recommend 😈
Profile Image for Rachel Farmer.
59 reviews10 followers
April 3, 2025
Devious Delusions by AX Cole

4.25 ⭐️

🤯 what did I just read?? (In a good way, but what did I just read?!)

I don’t know if I can say I liked these characters but they were definitely intriguing, I felt for Delilah (love that name btw) and wanted her to get help and to be safe and get answers.
I loved Ghost, just something about a stalker in a mask 😉
Asher I was not a fan off, I was suspicious of him from the start.

And that ending, wtf, I’m still slightly confused over certain aspects of what happened.. I had guessed who Ghost was but then even that contained a twist I couldn’t see coming.
I love a good thriller and this was one of those, combined with dark romance and I devoured this!

1 ⭐️ off just because of the confusion at the end and also the lack of likeable characters, the whole family was f’d up.. they didn’t grow or change and they weren’t relatable to me.. and I also felt like we could’ve been provided with more answers, I guess we have to wait for book 2 for that though!

If you love a dark, psychological thriller romance with a TW list as long as your arm then get this now! 🖤 One certain scene reminded me of Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers x100.

Thank you to AX Cole for the ARC, I loved being able to read this ahead of time, I will be reading book 2 to get answers and checking out more of her work.
Profile Image for Sammyll.
306 reviews16 followers
February 23, 2025
What can I say, A.X. Cole has done it again. I am in awe of her writing, Devious Delusions is going to be in my top five reads of 2025, I couldn't get enough.
Like nothing i've read before, this book held me by my throat and didn't let me breath until the end. Delusions, mind games, suspense, angst, torture. I felt all of Delilah's emotions, not knowing what is real and what is her imagination. I need to re read this again now to see if my perspective of what is going on changes. Did I miss something, signs to tell me what is really happening ? I just think the writing is impeccable, leaving me with more questions than answers.
Asher, the bad guy, or Ghost, what is really going on? Twisted dreams, or real life? Poor Delilah, no wonder she feels like she's going crazy and needs the pills. I was shouting into my e-reader, don't take the pills. Try to remember!
Ghost playing cat & mouse with her, always watching, giving her clues to who he is, yet not letting her see him. He wants her to get her memories back, to justify what he is doing. All just a game for Ghost. Delilah has recollections but can't quite grasp the true menories, the thoughts in her head filter together making her think she is wrong and losing her mind.
And that ending, gives you a bit more. I thought I was right about who Ghost is, but then the games begin again inside my mind, am I wrong? I am so glad to learn this is going to be a trilogy as I could read this storyline forever, it's unique pristine and so good. Devious Delusions deserves 10 stars. Brilliant in every sense. Thanks again A.X. Cole for the ARC opportunity, it's an honour to be able to review this gem. I'm now going to re read 👌
Profile Image for b00kishbritt.
39 reviews1 follower
May 21, 2025
"KnockKnock"
"who's there?"
"ME BEGGING FOR BOOK 2 IMMEDIATELY"

WHAT (and i mean this in the best way) THE FUCK !!! 😳🥵
I found this gem during SYKD and was intrigued enough i had to start it right away.
IMMEDIATELY HOOKED.
The WTF is going on vibes. Intriguing plot. OMG the spice 🤌 its been awhile since a book made me blush. Idk who i liked more, the husband or ghost 🥵 ohh they have dirty mouths😈
Not gonna lie, I was about halfway through when I found the artwork (iykyk😳) and was slightly worried for my sanity but,  NO REGRETS. This sh*t was so twisted and hot!!
I need book 2 like, now! Because at this point my mind is as warped and confused as poor Delilahs is. 😂
I think my jaw was on the floor for the last couple chapters. That ending was wild!
Definitely recommending this for the DARK romance readers who love suspense and a little gore.
CHECK TRIGGER  WARNINGS ⚠️
Seriously.

•3 POVs
•Past tense/Present
•Masked man
•Married fmc
•Memory loss
•Knife play
•Blood/Gore
•🐁
Profile Image for Cassandra Doon.
Author 46 books79 followers
March 19, 2025
"What in the actual hell did I just read?" aptly sums up my experience with "Devious Delusions" by A.X. Cole. This book is a labyrinth of mind games, unreliable memories, and twisted realities that kept my head spinning from the first page to the last. Cole has crafted a narrative so intricate and compelling that it grabs hold of you and doesn't let go. Each twist and turn is perfectly timed, making you question what's real and what's merely a figment of the characters' imaginations. "Devious Delusions" is a masterclass in psychological suspense—brilliantly executed and thoroughly unsettling. A must-read for anyone who loves their thrillers with a heavy dose of mind-bending intrigue!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sisa Mancera.
40 reviews
July 16, 2025
I started off confused and ended up still confused. I couldn't put the book down because I needed more of this story, it was sooo good! I really felt for Delilah; she was constantly trying to figure out what was real and what wasn’t, and that struggle pulled me in. Asher and Ghost were... 🤭. Ngl, I was right there with Delilah, questioning everything. I still don’t know what was real and what wasn’t!
Profile Image for Cocolici.
119 reviews10 followers
May 16, 2025
“Knock knock…”
Who's there?
Me, spiraling.
Because what the actual hell did I just read?

I picked up Devious Delusions on #SYK day thinking I was prepared. Spoiler: I wasn’t. This book yanked me into a psychological vortex of deception, obsession, and pure WTFery. I’m not even sure if I read a book or lived through a fever-dream hallucination narrated by a morally grey puppet master with a God complex.

Nothing made sense… and that’s the point.
Or is it?
See? I’m doing it again—questioning reality like a true A.X. Cole victim.

Twists? Twisted.
Clues? Untrustworthy.
Characters? Possibly figments of my own deranged imagination.
Me? On the floor, clutching my Kindle and whispering, “Explain yourself, A.X.”

Final thoughts:
I don't know if I loved it, feared it, or just experienced the literary version of being gaslit by a haunted Rubik’s cube. But damn... I need a support group.


★★★★☆ (for audacity and mind-f*ckery)
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Check them. Seriously.
✔️Recommended for: Readers who love chaos, unreliable narrators, and screaming “WHAT?!” into the void.
Profile Image for Hayley  - Whos the Daddy Podcast .
90 reviews
February 18, 2025
This book is so deliciously dark, that will have you reeling! When they say you will need to keep your sanity safe, they mean it!

I rate this book... 4.5 ✨️Stars, 2 🚪 knocks, 1 🐀 rat and a pair of frilly socks 🧦!

You will be gripped by this book from the start and will have so many theories that you will change throughout.... and then it will end and you will want to read it ALL OVER AGAIN as you won't quite believe the brilliant ending!

You will be left questioning your sanity in the BEST way! But it is definitely DARK and DEVIOUS! You will need to ensure if you are not into thrillers...this won't be for you... if you are not into super smut of a very dark theme... this won't be for you!!!

BUT if you CAN handle the deep dark thoughts AX Cole can deliver, then PLEASE read this book and we will see you on the otherside!

Beyond excited for the next book!!!!! ☠️☠️☠️
Profile Image for Lauren Head.
422 reviews11 followers
March 20, 2025
This is an amazing book! Definitely one that will make you question your sanity but well worth it! A.X Cole, hold my sanity because I want more!
Profile Image for Dark.AltReader.
162 reviews5 followers
March 8, 2025
Like always if Ax writes it, I will read it and she did a phenomenal job bringing this masterpiece to life and left us needing more with no sanity intact. Although she keeps your sanity tucked away until the end, you’re not walking away from this book without questioning your morals.
The way she brings her characters to life it makes you feel like you’re the main character in her writing. I love everything about her writing style and how she draws you in and keeps you captivated, and this story is no different.

When Delilah wakes up in a hospital room and finds her first childhood love standing in her room with a wedding band on her finger things are not what she remembers. From running for her life to being in a happy healthy relationship where she has no memories of the last 10years Delilah turns to the masked stranger who visits her for answers.

Asher is a true gentleman in the best way possible and has the outmost patience for Delilah when she’s going through one of her “episodes”. Not the same man Delilah remembers from her childhood who used to be hands on and aggressive with her when she spoke out, but from the outside looked like the perfect match for each other. With age comes maturity and Delilah believes her husband is the only one she can trust when her mind plays tricks on her.

Ghost, someone from Delilah’s past who’s obsessed over her, whose always taken second place to Asher even when he’s the one who loved her most. Is he real or just a made-up figure when her mind plays tricks on her.

A game of cat and mouse can easily turn deadly when you have nothing but tiny shards of memories. What you think you know versus what’s happening are too different things and just when you think you have it figured out Ax throws you in a whirlwind and sends you the opposite way.
This book is a complete mindfuck, in the best way possible and I will read this multiple times without ever getting sick of it. If you love books that keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat, this is the book for you.

“𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐦𝐞, 𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐤𝐥𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐮. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝.”
Profile Image for Ashley Bolan.
271 reviews1 follower
February 20, 2025
Holy freaking smokes batman!!!!!! What in the actual hell did I just read? I mean I have always known AX Cole was an amazing writer but she just threw down the gauntlet with this one. She is absolutely incredible and she delivered an amazing story. Her world building and her character development where top tier. My mind is still spinning from all the twist and turns this book took. I was pretty sure I knew who the masked man was, but now that I know I was right, I am wondering if its a trick and she is just playing with my mind even more. Seriously this book is a rollercoaster of psychological thrills and questions. AX literally keeps you guessing from start to finish. You think you know who the bad guy is, but then she gives you little nuggets of information to make you think, dang are they really the bad guy or are they really the victim in this game of cat and mouse. She keeps you on your toes through out the whole book. When all is said and done I guarantee we will never see what is coming until it happens. My mind is still reeling from all the information. I feel like I need to read this book again to ensure that I did not miss important information. I bet you could read this book multiple times and still be left with more questions than answers. I seriously enjoyed the masked character most. He knew what he was doing. He is definitely holding the keys to all the answers. The other characters are holding secrets but how much of their secrets also affect him is anyone's guess. He is keeping a lot of secrets and we will definitely have to read the next two books to get to the bottom of the whole twisted tale.
Profile Image for Angie .
317 reviews
March 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This is a mindf*ck from the very beginning. It kept me guessing and questioning my own sanity. Check the triggers. Infidelity is in this book and is a major theme, so keep that in mind. This is D.A.R.K. But oh so worth it!

Delilah has been in and out of hospitals for her “memory issues”. She is certain she is being targeted by a masked figure who haunts her waking moments and dreams. He wants to punish her, ravage her and k!ll her. Maybe separately, maybe all at once.

The struggles she goes through is horrendous, mind you, some of it was all her causing it. She is resilient, strong and determined to move forward with her life.

Asher, her husband of 10 years is her high school sweetheart. They grew up together, the perfect match. On the outside anyway. Underneath the facade they both show their family and “friends” this is nothing more than what’s expected of both of them. Resentment, hatred, obsession, loyalty and duty all fester under the weight of their relationship.

Ghost, a figure from her and Asher’s past. Or so her mind tells her. Is he even real? She never has proof and no one believes her. She’s going to prove he’s real. She’s NOT crazy.

Both of these men think they provide Delilah what she needs. But both just hurt her more and more.

If you love plots that twists that keep you constantly guessing, this is for you.
I loved everything about this and I cannot wait for book 2. I had two working theories as to how this book was going to end knowing there was a cliffy.


🗝️Quotes:

I need Asher to give me stability.
I need Ghost for answers.
Profile Image for Carr.
60 reviews4 followers
March 9, 2025
Stalker
Memory Loss
Trauma
SA
Torture
Blood Play
Buried Alive
Mutilation
Graphic description of blood/gore
Mental Health

I really don’t know what to say about this book. It was very confusing, the twist was predictable. The non con/dub con was not for me. I was left with a lot of questions and felt unbelievable that the Ghost was doing all this sexual torture basically to Delilah and yet she gets off. I don’t see how but that’s just me.

This book follows Delilah on her path to remembering her life. She doesn’t know what’s real and what’s fake. This story has an unreliable narrator and it leaves you with whiplash. What’s a dream and what’s a memory, is it distorted or true?

Ghost is a figure from Delilah’s past who knows intimate details and seems to be the only one giving her truths to unlock her memories. But what is honest and what is manipulation? Ghost wants the object of his obsession to crack. He torments her psychologically and sexually.

Asher, her husband, is constantly gone leaving Delilah to the mercy of her Ghost in a house made of glass in the middle of the woods. But even he is very sexually dominating and degrading towards her. He is not what she remembers and that was an immediate red flag. Once I learned this book was about identical twins I knew the ending. But with that said I still had questions, not sure if I was being too critical or if it was intentional set up for book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
344 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2025
The first 50% I found this book absolutely enthralling. I didn’t want to put it down. A dark male lead, who clearly is more sinister despite the kind husband vibe he’s giving off and a confused female lead completely under his control.

I had so many questions. Is the male lead lying? Then, what is he lying about? I could easily work out the female lead’s memories are real but why does she not remember anything? How did she end up married to the male lead? Were all the photos on the wall real or photoshopped? Does the female lead even have psychosis? Is the male lead’s change in personality real or an act? Were people at the diner paid by the male lead to lie or did she genuinely never work there? I was so sure it’d be a 4 star read

Once “ghost” started making more appearances, things really started to drag. It was so obvious from the start he was Kane and it was frustrating it never clicked for the female lead given he was only other person she loved. I found myself skimming to the reveal though tempted to DNF, which only happened at the end.

While I didn’t see the plot twist that “Asher” was Kane, instead of being blown away, I was just left confused. How was “Asher” on the phone while “ghost” was with the female lead? How can Kane even pretend to be Asher when there was a funeral? Is Kane married to the female lead as Asher or Kane? Are they even married? Why did the female lead frame Kane for the murder given she loved him?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Hayley Canigiani.
19 reviews
March 29, 2025
**Please check trigger warnings before reading**

My mind is still reeling after diving into Devious Delusions. The last thing Delilah recalls is sprinting for her life through the woods, and suddenly, she's waking up in a hospital bed, the love of her life by her side, a wedding ring glinting on her finger, and her entire existence transformed beyond recognition. A decade of precious memories have vanished without a trace, and just when she dares to believe she's healing, a ghost from her past emerges to play. Can she genuinely trust the words of her husband, or is something darker lurking beneath the surface?

A.X. Cole's world-building and character development are absolutely extraordinary. I felt every surge of emotion that Delilah and the other characters experienced throughout the novel. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't put this book down. Just when I believed I had unraveled a mystery, another twist came crashing in, shifting my entire perspective. The spice was beautifully chaotic, and I wholeheartedly recommend taking A.X. Cole's advice: stash your sanity in a tidy little box before you embark on this wild ride. I am counting the days until book two; I am desperate to figure out how the rest of this mesmerizing story unfolds.
14 reviews
May 12, 2025
You’ll need a moment of silence after reading this one. Words fail me…What the heck did I just read?!? This is seriously unlike any book I’ve read before and it kept me anxious and on my toes the entire time while trying to figure out what was going on.

The story follows a girl that seems to be in a love triangle with twins, thru the story her relationship with the one she married plays out in flashbacks that just makes you question reality even more as the story progresses. Something traumatic happened when they were younger and the main female mentally breaks through the entire story, leaving me not being able to tell up from down.

I highly suggest you read the trigger warnings for this book, because this is an extremely HEAVY read that will play with your emotions from the very first chapter. The ending leaves you a little shell shock so just a heads up, if you aren’t a fan of cliffhangers- I highly suggest you wait til book two is out because this one is a doozy.

I found myself really enjoying the storyline even though I definitely don’t read books like this normally and I will not be waiting (very impatiently) for book two to come out and provide more clarity on what the heck just happened.
Profile Image for Kelsey Nicole.
78 reviews3 followers
February 13, 2025
ARC REVIEW 👻🐀🖤

“𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐦𝐞, 𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐤𝐥𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐮. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝.”

I’m so grateful to have been given an opportunity to arc read for this, because I can easily say this book was absolutely incredible!!!

It’s full of mystery and suspense, keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen next while also making you feel hot under the collar because THE SPICE??? THE FKN SPICE????? 😈 it was on another level. Some spice scenes were so unhinged your jaw was literally on the floor, they were so well written!!! 🤌🏼 and the mouth on the men???? 🥵 MADE. ME. FOLD.

It was also super fun looking out for the clues. I had so many theories throughout and there were so many what ifs, and I still don’t think my theories were answered YET because my god, that ending????? Leaves you GAGGING for book two. Get ready!! 🤯

Overall, this was a solid five star read for me! The writing style was addictive and delicious I could not get enough. The characters, you didn’t want to trust any of them to be honest! They all seem to harbour such dark secrets! I cannot wait for the next book👏🏼🖤
Profile Image for Laura.
369 reviews24 followers
February 15, 2025
“You’re not real.”

“If I’m not real, why are you scared?”


From the first page your mind is spinning.
You suddenly don’t trust anyone…even the person next to you.
And, all the while the chilling simple words ‘knock, knock’ echo in your head as you try to work out what is happening.

This was a very thrilling, open minded and next level sexy scene read. A.X Cole really unleashed her darkest creation to date on us.

Delilah is a complex character, you see some of her past right from the start, to the flashbacks and now her current mind is still being played with. Her inner strength is trying to find its way back to her and you are drawn into Delilah's story but everything is not as it seems.

Believing that she was happily married to the man lying next to her, Delilah can hardly move when a ghost is standing before her in the middle of the night and allowing his wicked ways to bring her back to life.

It’s unhinged, dirty and smut heaven that will leave you questioning your morals…this is not happily ever after…

“You’ve always known me, koukla mou. I’m the voice in the back of your head.”
Profile Image for Anshul (stories.buddy).
955 reviews18 followers
March 24, 2025
What is right? What is wrong? I am freakingfu***ng confused right now. What did I read just now? I literally have no answers and the need to get to the second book is the highest. I have literally never craved a sequel this much. I need my answers. Even if I say that the ending gave me some answers, I’m just not sure if I’m thinking correctly.

That’s the fun part seriously. The writing is amazing and AX Cole did wonderful with her plot, she achieved everything she set out to do. She confused me, made me like the characters a lot and then boommm. Everything was in the air. I am excited to see where this story goes, and I have no clue or predictions about what can be expected in the next ones since it’s a trilogy.

The multiple PoV book have given me insights but I’m not sure how reliable they all are. Delilah wakes up and has difficulty deciding or recognising what’s real and what is a dream or fake. The past and present mix up giving us glimpses of both and my curiosity skyrockets. The story is spicy but how much is actually happening? Excited to see where it goes. MUST READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS.
Profile Image for Nikki B..
592 reviews12 followers
March 25, 2025
This book was... whew.. I mean... there are no words. It was like running through a maze. It's pretty fast paced. The fmc Delilah seems to be on medication for psychotic breaks she seems to be having. Her memories are all over the place and she can't really tell what's real and what's not. Let's just say, she's very unreliable. Then we have Asher. I absolutely loved him in the beginning. He seems like the perfect guy... but I guess not all that glitters is gold. And then there's Ghost. He is unhinged and deranged. After reading this... I still feel slightly confused and may go back a few chapters and reread the end again because.... what did I just read?!?!? This was intense, dark, and spicy. I loved that we get to see things the way the fmc does. We get to basically go on this whole experience and come to the realization of things with her. There was no predicting the end because there are so many twists and turns and doubt about what's real and what isn't. I enjoyed this soo much. This is a true psychological thriller. My head was really messed with in this one. you have to read this, but check the trigger warnings first.
Profile Image for Margaret Anne.
235 reviews4 followers
March 2, 2025
Going into this one you need to leave your sanity at the door or at least in the little box that AX Cole provided in the first few pages. This one is absolutely a mind fuck.

I think this was my first every Thriller romance. 350 pages I would normally read in around 2 days but I kept having to walk away which does just give credit to A.X. Cole writing because I wanted to keep going but I had to get it sorted in my head first before I could continue.

The thing is I liked Delilah and I did actually like ghost. I didn't like Asher I was convinced he was playing her because of Kane and the fact that he was arrogant and horrible to her as a teenager. Then I thought that maybe losing Kane had changed him.

I'm not sure if it was Delilah or me that was being gaslighted because I have finished this book and i'm not going to lie i'm a little confused and normally I hate a cliff-hanger but i'm actually glad that I have a few months to get my head right before delving back into Delilah world.

Profile Image for Erin Saulpaugh.
508 reviews12 followers
March 7, 2025
This has everything you could want and more in a book. This was book messed with my head, but I loved every second of it! This book keeps you locked in from start to finish. This has me begging for more. I can't wait to see what happens next. The character development is spot on. I loved the characters. The world building was amazing. It was easy to follow. The twist and turns were out of this world. Not at all what I expected.

I was so excited to read this one. A.X. Cole did amazing. I'm normally able to predict what's going to happen. Not this book, though. Each time I thought I had it figured out, I was hit with another curve ball. This is a must-read! This will keep you guessing up to the very end. The spice was so good. I felt like i was in the book with the characters... this is a true psychological thriller! Kept me interested and kept me guessing. Those smexy scenes had me sobhot. I couldn't keep my eyes off the pages. This had my full attention. I wasn't able to put it down. I devoured this book in a day. I couldn't bring myself to put it down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Amy .
185 reviews13 followers
March 23, 2025
*FIRST* CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS..I'M SERIOUS!!!!!

WOW....REALLY WOW.....LIKE REALLY REALLY WOW!!!!

THIS IS MY FIRST AX COLE BOOK AND I AM SPEECHLESS!!!! TIME TO READ MORE!!!!!

WHAT A CRAZY BOOK!!! TOTAL MI*DFUCK FROM CHAPTER 1!!!

KNOCK...KNOCK......KOUKLA MOU......

Poor Delilah!! I haven't decided if she is crazy or not yet.....!! Just when you think you know what is happening.... it's ripped away from you and you need a mind reset!!!!! Asher....I hate him....but then again I think I love him. Ghost...is it bad I absolutely adore him?!?!? SPICE WAS AMAZING!!! This book ends on a cliffhanger that you won't see coming!! I need the next book....like ....STAT please!!!! I had a case of the ickies with the bugs and rat!! I had to set the book down and shake off literally!!! Even my son had to shake off with me and he is only 7 and had no clue about what the book said (great support child)!!!! This book had me consumed for quite a few nights, and I am kinda sad it's over!!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! IN MY TOP 5 FOR THE YEAR SO FAR!!!
Profile Image for Winnie Quick.
155 reviews2 followers
July 27, 2025
Lately, I’ve been diving into books without reading the blurb or trigger warnings because I can handle just about anything. But um…I do NOT advise taking that approach with this book. That was a choice on my part. It’s 2:30 AM and I am in shock after finishing it. I had trouble putting it down, especially the last half of it.

Does anyone else know what’s real and what’s fake? Because I sure don’t! This book has me feeling like I’m the deluded one. It is a LOT. But I can’t knock it because I was fascinated the entire time. At no point did I ever consider DNF even though I must have mumbled “wtf am I reading?” at least 20 times lol.

I received a copy of this book directly from the author (free during a promotion) in preparation for the Deviant Illusions ARC and this is my honest review. 4.75 super unhinged stars. Hooooo baby, this one was dark and spicy. It turned me every which way but loose! At least I don’t have to wait to get some more answers (RIP to my patience as we wait for the final book in the trilogy though 🙃).
Profile Image for Jenn.
80 reviews4 followers
February 11, 2025
Very few books have left me pondering my life….this was one of them. I’m now staring out the window trying to wrap my head around Devious Delusions.
We meet Delilah who has been in a psychiatric hospital after a tragedy occurred in her teenager years. 10 years later she’s now being taken home by her husband but her memory is gone and lines between reality and hallucinations are blurred.
As Delilah settles into her new life she seems him in the shadows watching. She knows it’s not real, but the pull to her Ghost tugs at her memory. How far will she be willing to go. How far will he be willing to go for her.
This book is definitely a psychological thriller. It played tricks on my mind and I felt like I was going crazy with Delilah at times. What I thought I knew I didn’t and had to pause numerous times to try and piece the puzzle together. And while I suspected who Ghost was, I did not see that ending coming. Also just thinking of insects now gives me creeps.
Profile Image for Tanya.
517 reviews35 followers
February 17, 2025
Devious Delusions was my introduction to author AX Cole. This psychologically dark romance that will work your mind over and over and over again! The book had me questioning if what I was reading was real.

The book focuses on Delilah, who has a ton of memories that she is convinced are not real by her husband, Asher, who she can’t remember even marrying. I didn’t trust this guy from the start! Something just wasn’t sitting right. While her husband was away, a “ghost” decided he wanted to play with our dear Delilah. But who is this masked man? I was throwing out guesses left and right!

This fast-paced book is full of suspense. You must find the truth in untrusted memories and stories. The spice is spicing. It is deliciously addictive. I dare you to try to unravel this twisted story!

Thanks to AX Cole for gifting me an eARC of Devious Delusions. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for QueenOfComplaining .
150 reviews1 follower
May 16, 2025
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FOR REAL 😳

Wow… this book has left me in a mind cluster fck! The way I continue to gasp and my jaw stayed dropped throughout this! I’m still trying to gather my thoughts to figure out what the heck I just read and just know that I need more to figure out what is going on! Psychological thriller is definitely what this is.

I can’t even go into detail about what this book is about because there’s so many twists and turns and unanswered questions that I NEED the next book expeditiously!

I need to know if what Delilah was seeing was real?? I especially the scene where she thinks her FATHER was having smex with her while in the Psychiatric ward hands and feet restrained! Like did that really happen!? She comes off crazy until the end where I GASPED the loudest GASP ever!!

This is my first read by this author and I definitely need more! The way this authors mind works definitely has me intrigued! 🙌🏽
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