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cbrew's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Alcoholism
lostwaterbottle's review against another edition
dark
The characters were flat and emotionally unintelligent. Kindve annoying too. Oh, and the author of course couldn’t forget to include the sassy black best friend who’s only personality trait is supportive friend.
The writing was dull and lacked description. Someone said it was like reading a first draft lol. Very predictable as well.
The plot was more based around sex scenes than actual world building events.
The main character is a victim of severe trauma and basically gets groomed by this adult fae man who abandons her and then comes back to collect her debt. He’s still as possessive and macho as the other men but it’s okay cause he’s hot and her mate I felt like so much more power could’ve been given to the main character and her growth
The writing was dull and lacked description. Someone said it was like reading a first draft lol. Very predictable as well.
The plot was more based around sex scenes than actual world building events.
The main character is a victim of severe trauma and basically gets groomed by this adult fae man who abandons her and then comes back to collect her debt. He’s still as possessive and macho as the other men but it’s okay cause he’s hot and her
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Fatphobia
crystallis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book is ok, but the saga doesn’t wake up my interest.
Rhapsodic was predictable, it truly was. Also it was kind of vague with its explanations.
But at the end of the day, it has good pacing and I devoured it in less than a day.
The past story between both of the protagonists was making me mad at times. Every time the girl asked for a bargain I wished I was there to tell her “girl, please stop”.
The present story was alright, basic, but alright. I felt like I had read it before.
The autor does a great job at using back and fourth between timelines and it makes the relationship between them interesting. I liked the way the sexual tension was build up.
The problematic was weak and it was resolved with an even weaker explanations.
I know I sound like a hater, but none of what I mentioned change my experience with the book. As I said before, I devoured it and enjoyed it.
I liked that our main girl was a siren, I thought she had cool powers and was a badass at her job.
Sadly I’m not motivated enough to follow the series.
The spice is good tho, those are extra points.
Read you all later.
Rhapsodic was predictable, it truly was. Also it was kind of vague with its explanations.
But at the end of the day, it has good pacing and I devoured it in less than a day.
The past story between both of the protagonists was making me mad at times. Every time the girl asked for a bargain I wished I was there to tell her “girl, please stop”.
The present story was alright, basic, but alright. I felt like I had read it before.
The autor does a great job at using back and fourth between timelines and it makes the relationship between them interesting. I liked the way the sexual tension was build up.
The problematic was weak and it was resolved with an even weaker explanations.
I know I sound like a hater, but none of what I mentioned change my experience with the book. As I said before, I devoured it and enjoyed it.
I liked that our main girl was a siren, I thought she had cool powers and was a badass at her job.
Sadly I’m not motivated enough to follow the series.
The spice is good tho, those are extra points.
Read you all later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, and Toxic relationship
almalou's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Pedophilia abounds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Pedophilia
kimmiesaurus's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Callie makes a deal with a powerful fae called the Bargainer to cover up an incident that can ruin her life. As she tries to move on, she finds herself consistently calling him back and making deals to spend time with him so she is not lonely. One day he just stops visiting and Callie must create a life without him. 7 years later he finally shows up to collect on the payment she owes him.
This book just was not for me. The characters were all problematic and I just could not force myself to care about any of them. Even if you can get past the glaring issue of grooming, as the Bargainer is a goodness-knows-how-old fae who becomes engrossed in a 15 year olds life, the book itself was just not interesting. The author even feels the need to lower the age of adulthood to 16 for the sake of the story despite it not really providing much to the story other than making it that much creepier.
The story primarily follows the developing relationship of Callie and the Bargainer and there is no much plot to the book. Then at the very end, it feels like the author realized they set up a story and tried to rush and resolve it in the last 30 pages. There was no real suspense and although it is a series, I feel like the book could have ended with this one and the resolution would have been fine.
The characters themselves were all very unlikable.
Temper is a terribly stereotyped 'cool friend' and none of her dialogue feels natural. Most of her conversation is just swearing for the sake of it. It is reminiscent of a 12 year old trying to look cool by swearing a lot even if it makes no sense.
Eli is meant to be this protective alpha but he is just a predator. He basically assaults Callie and then tries (successfully) to make her feel bad about it because she used her abilities to stop him. Then when he flies off the handle, he comes crawling back with - sorry I was just angry-. And through Callie's eyes it is like we're supposed to feel sorry for him and how hard it is for him because of his emotions.
Callie is supposed to be some strong woman who has learned to control her power and does not take flack from anyone. But whenever anything even remotely challenging comes up she folds like a lawn chair and becomes some weeping worthless woman and it drove me crazy. She constantly makes excuses for the men in her life as the manipulate and control her.
The Bargainer has almost no depth to him. They say he has all this power and everyone is afraid of him, but he also just feels like some guy trying to hard to be cool. His lines that are meant to be intimidating or threatening just feel like a guy who takes himself too seriously and comes off as clumsy and out of place. He is extremely controlling and sees it as love.
I ultimately found myself wishing Callie would stand up for herself and see it through at least once. Instead she just ends up going along with what everyone else wants for her and does not seem like a main character at all.
As a few others have mentioned, there are also a number of grammatical issues that pull you out of the story. I doubt I will continue with the series.
This book just was not for me. The characters were all problematic and I just could not force myself to care about any of them. Even if you can get past the glaring issue of grooming, as the Bargainer is a goodness-knows-how-old fae who becomes engrossed in a 15 year olds life, the book itself was just not interesting. The author even feels the need to lower the age of adulthood to 16 for the sake of the story despite it not really providing much to the story other than making it that much creepier.
The story primarily follows the developing relationship of Callie and the Bargainer and there is no much plot to the book. Then at the very end, it feels like the author realized they set up a story and tried to rush and resolve it in the last 30 pages. There was no real suspense and although it is a series, I feel like the book could have ended with this one and the resolution would have been fine.
The characters themselves were all very unlikable.
Temper is a terribly stereotyped 'cool friend' and none of her dialogue feels natural. Most of her conversation is just swearing for the sake of it. It is reminiscent of a 12 year old trying to look cool by swearing a lot even if it makes no sense.
Eli is meant to be this protective alpha but he is just a predator. He basically assaults Callie and then tries (successfully) to make her feel bad about it because she used her abilities to stop him. Then when he flies off the handle, he comes crawling back with - sorry I was just angry-. And through Callie's eyes it is like we're supposed to feel sorry for him and how hard it is for him because of his emotions.
Callie is supposed to be some strong woman who has learned to control her power and does not take flack from anyone. But whenever anything even remotely challenging comes up she folds like a lawn chair and becomes some weeping worthless woman and it drove me crazy. She constantly makes excuses for the men in her life as the manipulate and control her.
The Bargainer has almost no depth to him. They say he has all this power and everyone is afraid of him, but he also just feels like some guy trying to hard to be cool. His lines that are meant to be intimidating or threatening just feel like a guy who takes himself too seriously and comes off as clumsy and out of place. He is extremely controlling and sees it as love.
I ultimately found myself wishing Callie would stand up for herself and see it through at least once. Instead she just ends up going along with what everyone else wants for her and does not seem like a main character at all.
As a few others have mentioned, there are also a number of grammatical issues that pull you out of the story. I doubt I will continue with the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Rape
kifirth95's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Rape, Sexual content, and Pedophilia
teiscool12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
giuliaa_i's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wish it focused on the plot just a little more, otherwise i really enjoyed it and binged it in one day. watch out for TWs as this book touches on some unpleasant subjects.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Sexual assault
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