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hapalyn's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed a lot more of the backstory than I did the actual current plot. And the plot itself felt a little bit undersold. I think that there was so much more that could've been explored, and I found the swap of the two serial killers' control was really interesting and a good tie-back to the beginning of the first book. I would've loved to see a bit more unraveling of the MMC. The FMC got over a lot of things faster than I expected her to, and she was surprisingly chill with a lot of the unhinged, illegal things going on.
I would've enjoyed more of an exploration of her dark side, seeing her become more twisted as we see the "twisted" MMC become more humanized. Overall, I think this duet is moreso for the people who want a sexual story than one with equal amounts of plot. It wasn't really for me, but it helped me shape my taste and know what I want in darker fiction.
I would've enjoyed more of an exploration of her dark side, seeing her become more twisted as we see the "twisted" MMC become more humanized. Overall, I think this duet is moreso for the people who want a sexual story than one with equal amounts of plot. It wasn't really for me, but it helped me shape my taste and know what I want in darker fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent
lillyrb's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I need to give this the same disclaimer as I did the first one - this book was not written for me. I’m not the target audience, I read the first one without preparation and finished it because I was curious. I ended up enjoying this one more than the first (probably because the start of book 1 made me so unbelievably uncomfortable). The relationship between Cole and Mara is undeniably fascinating in its codependency and brutality. The plot was quite good too. It is a very twisted boom with heaps of trigger warnings but it is well written and in this case the acts of violence that are described in detail are kind of less awful because while reading the book, Cole manages to also manipulate the reader to some extent believe the acts are justified (even though they are obviously not). The book does a very good job at manipulating the reader even though you know you are being manipulated. You have to like this kind of stuff but if you do, it’s definitely worth the read and the second book is in my opinion less horrifying to read (specifically as a woman who really does not enjoy reading about any kind of violence by men against women).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, and Child abuse
brittneydye19's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
acourtofstarsandmoons's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Again, I enjoyed this book for exactly what, I think, it was: perfect filler.
It’s the kind of book you read to get out of a slump - it’s got an interesting, if predictable, plot that doesn’t lag, it has romance, it has tension, it has the steamy scenes, the big conflict. It was the perfect sequel to the first.
For me there was never any questions, any confusion, the plot was clear cut from the beginning *spoilers ahead, beware* - Shaw will be an issue, Shaw will die, Cole will get away with it all and Mara and Cole will live happily ever after. And that’s exactly what we get.
It’s a great book if you want to read something that doesn’t take a ton of brainpower as well. The writing is plain enough for those who don’t like the embellishments of other books but it’s got a flair that makes it attractive to the veteran readers. The world building, being a modern setting, wasn’t confusing, the characters were also pretty clear cut but Lark was impressive in being able to really delve into the thoughts and feelings of a psychopath as per Cole’s POVs.
Overall, I recommend it.
It’s the kind of book you read to get out of a slump - it’s got an interesting, if predictable, plot that doesn’t lag, it has romance, it has tension, it has the steamy scenes, the big conflict. It was the perfect sequel to the first.
For me there was never any questions, any confusion, the plot was clear cut from the beginning *spoilers ahead, beware* - Shaw will be an issue, Shaw will die, Cole will get away with it all and Mara and Cole will live happily ever after. And that’s exactly what we get.
It’s a great book if you want to read something that doesn’t take a ton of brainpower as well. The writing is plain enough for those who don’t like the embellishments of other books but it’s got a flair that makes it attractive to the veteran readers. The world building, being a modern setting, wasn’t confusing, the characters were also pretty clear cut but Lark was impressive in being able to really delve into the thoughts and feelings of a psychopath as per Cole’s POVs.
Overall, I recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
3dl's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence
risquish's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Classism, and Child abuse
ymread's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Death
Minor: Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
lilithreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Drug use, Mental illness, Murder, Emotional abuse, Violence, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
giuliaathenalombardo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
I really enjoy dark romance books, specifically ones that ends like this one did.
I loved Mara's corruption arc and the way her and Cole come together and become a murderous power couple at the end.
There were some eerie and slightly scary moments but it was also oddly fun to read. Cole and Mara's contrasting character developments that eventually leads them to meet halfway between their moral values and ideologies were very endearing and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow and change each other.
There were some eerie and slightly scary moments but it was also oddly fun to read. Cole and Mara's contrasting character developments that eventually leads them to meet halfway between their moral values and ideologies were very endearing and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow and change each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault
naaytaashreads'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"I'll make sure you see prison time along with him. You'll be splashed across every fucking paper: the Karla Homolka to his Paul Bernardo."
How do I review a book that I love so much?
If someone were to ask me what I love about this book, I will just say everything.
It seems vague but it's true, everything about this book was perfection.
Sophie Lark's writing really checks off everything.
The world-building of course got more intense with the issue with Shaw.
We were definitely preparing for something to explode.
The character development was done in a way we could see progress, change and questions answered.
We get more storylines of Mara's and Cole's life.
Their childhood, what happened to them, what makes them who they are and together how they evolved as a couple with their chemistry.
Especially with Mara, we really got to understand her art, what it speaks and the story it relates to her childhood.
The pacing of the plotline was fast but balanced in a way we get enough reading time from both Cole and Mara's perspectives.
It was an easy read although things can get quite intense, dark and spicy spicy.
Overall, it was such a satisfying sequel and the wrap up to the series was a stand up ovation.
"Whatever else I may be, I was never a man who had to tear a woman down to shine bright beside her. If you're not as good as me, then you're no good at all. And when I saw you, Mara ... I thought, this girl is really fucking good. I don't want to hold you down, chop you down, diminish you in any way. I already know I found something special. Now it's time for everyone else to see it."
How do I review a book that I love so much?
If someone were to ask me what I love about this book, I will just say everything.
It seems vague but it's true, everything about this book was perfection.
Sophie Lark's writing really checks off everything.
The world-building of course got more intense with the issue with Shaw.
We were definitely preparing for something to explode.
The character development was done in a way we could see progress, change and questions answered.
We get more storylines of Mara's and Cole's life.
Their childhood, what happened to them, what makes them who they are and together how they evolved as a couple with their chemistry.
Especially with Mara, we really got to understand her art, what it speaks and the story it relates to her childhood.
The pacing of the plotline was fast but balanced in a way we get enough reading time from both Cole and Mara's perspectives.
It was an easy read although things can get quite intense, dark and spicy spicy.
Overall, it was such a satisfying sequel and the wrap up to the series was a stand up ovation.
"Whatever else I may be, I was never a man who had to tear a woman down to shine bright beside her. If you're not as good as me, then you're no good at all. And when I saw you, Mara ... I thought, this girl is really fucking good. I don't want to hold you down, chop you down, diminish you in any way. I already know I found something special. Now it's time for everyone else to see it."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence