Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa

48 reviews

enbyfinley's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

The plot was good in the way an easy read is. Because I listened to the audiobook, and he reader made this book waaaayyy better than it really was. 

 I did feel the flashbacks were irritating for me, jumping back and forth for very little information. I liked that Des and Callie were close until I reflected on the grooming vibe of a underage victim or abuse. Nope… for me.

I also found the FMC a bit whiny at times but I still enjoyed here the other 50% of the time when she was acting like an adult. The side characters felt so one dimensional and the reasoning for things didn’t feel like ACTUAL REASONS!

The spice was a good 3🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 but as the story continued, 

this book was not a story I will revisit or finish the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Rape

Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Blood, and Alcoholism

Minor: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Vomit, and Torture

hclin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will plan to finish the series. I would be hard pressed to recommend this series because of the sheer number of trigger warnings it requires. I liked the spice and even the relationship between the two main characters as adults, but it was difficult to get over that

the romantic part of their relationship began when she was 16. This detracted from my experience as a reader.

I felt the world building could have been a bit stronger but I'm hoping it will get better in the next books (this could be because I'm less of a fan of urban/low fantasy though). My favourite aspect of this series is the concept of Callie being a Siren and the power and difficulties of this identity. I found it to be a unique take on magic/powers with interesting reflections about sexuality and feminism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Torture, Confinement, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Rape

Minor: Slavery and Toxic relationship

icapturethecastle's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Rape, Alcoholism, Blood, Vomit, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, and Torture

charlottx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I really don’t know how to feel about this book as a whole. At the beginning I enjoyed it and I felt that the plot was interesting. However, I felt the end was rushed? <The last 10% of the book is where we meet the villain and honestly is underwhelming. I know this is a set up for another book but I was really ready for Des to meet his match. Not just blow up the guy as if he wasn’t dangerous at all??? > 
Anyway, overall I enjoyed the writing and the initial plot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

tangomango240's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Rape, and Pedophilia

dani_reis's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, and Pedophilia

an_apollinaria's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Incest, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, and Alcohol

bririley's review against another edition

⚠️ Trigger warning SA ⚠️

I had such high hopes for this series due to all the recommendations. All started off well, until I got to the sexual tension, flirtation and relationship between a god knows how old man and a SIXTEEN year old girl. Yes, the book focuses on years in the future, but also shows what happened when their relationship began. 

The relationship begins after Callie has murdered her step father who had been SA'ing her for years. When she called upon the bargainer to help clean up her mess, she continued to call in bargains to spend time with him. Fully knowing her trauma and what she had been through he continues to form emotional connections and flirt with her, after she had just been abused by AN OLDER MAN! At SIXTEEN! He took advantage of her (soulmates or not), when she was a kid recovering from cPTSD. He continues to stay in her room, in her bed, and even avoiding sexual conduct, he still made sexual insinuations. She was a child, and he preyed on her.

Right from the beginning of the book I felt uncomfortable and really was questioning the grounds behind this relationship. It got worse, when the author is very clearly aware of this power and age imbalance after attempting to justify multiple times that the legal age for fairies is 16. 

Clearly, this author is very much aware of her content and the difference and history is intentional. Which disturbs me even more. I tried so hard to push through, but I could not bring myself to finish as I was so creeped out by Des the entire time, and felt so much hurt for Callie who needs to heal yet has been taken advantage of yet again. 

I am surprised more people aren't talking about this, as it is glaringly obvious that this is an issue validified by the author. 

This story had SO much potential. Unfortunately, the story was lost in poor writing and lack of a strong plot. The book is very slow moving, with very poor sexual tension and even worse smut. But bffr I felt disgusted the entire time when it was supposed to feel sexy. It just felt gross.

I feel as someone who has been SA'd and experienced emotional abuse by partners following my experience, this would have been SUCH a damaging book for me to read then. This would have enabled my feelings about those older men coming to my rescue and encouraged predatory relationships & grooming. I think that's also important to acknowledge.

I also wanted to add that the stereotype of the person of colour in the writing and language they were using struck me immediately. I am a yt person, so it is not for me to confirm, but from an outsider perspective it felt off. Having one character use the word "bitch" a million times was just so fucking weird and TERRIBLE writing. 

I really don't know how people enjoyed this book AT ALL. It was beyond terrible and I am beyond disappointed. 

Call me a cranky bitch but this was just the creepiest book I've had the misfortune of reading 😂 Hopefully some others can find something in what I've said, I really wanted to like this book!! But could not continue feeling like an accomplice to a crime.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Rape, and Sexual assault

hq_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I read this so quickly - it was a great, fast-paced fantasy romance. I found the “grooming” element to the story a bit creepy but ultimately I enjoyed the romance - I guess she was technically an adult at 16 but it was a bit creepy. But I know loads of fantasy draws on tropes like that (e.g. Labrynth). 

I enjoyed the plot as well, I though the scene in the nursery was really creepy and the author did a great job of creating a tense atmosphere during the moment with the Thief. It was a perfect balance of disturbing and mysterious and I’m excited to see where the story goes.

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 for spice - it was quite good. The slow burn was great and I absolutely swooned when he said “you didn’t think the king of night would just be gentle did you?” 😮‍💨🥵

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Confinement, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Rape

Moderate: Mental illness and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Pregnancy

pookiee's review against another edition

emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Slavery, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Death, and Homophobia