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nineinchnails's review
- 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
4.0
i think being able to personally relate to a lot of emmy's experience made the book hit a lot harder for me than the others in this series, because PD managed to portray how it feels to walk on eggshells like that surprisingly accurately. the prose isn't amazing and there were a few spelling/grammar issues (nowhere near as bad as a lot of other DR tho imo) but i found the flashbacks so moving. in most of the other books i found the flashback chapters a bit of a chore to read but i was tearing through these!
i liked damon even more in this book. it might be because his "friendship" with emory felt realistic and pretty natural (especially compared to rika in kill switch lol) so it less like a character assassination than in his book. speaking of rika, i liked her a lot more in nightfall - she also felt more authentic than she did in kill switch! for some reason a lot of alex's scenes and interactions felt somewhat forced or out of character and i can't put a finger on why exactly. there seemed to be a big emphasis on her relationship with will and their past hookups to the point it felt like overkill but
i really liked the characterisation in this book and ended up liking the new characters way more than i expected. i was scared i'd end this book not caring about emmy and will's relationship since he's been obsessed with her since like the first book but it was developed well + i could understand why they fell in love. however, the last bit of the book (and the epilogue) fell a little flat for me and i'm not sure why, other than the pacing. i think it might be because there was so many characters together it was just a lot to keep track of, or something like that? anyways in regards to the
Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy, Death, Suicide, Addiction, Drug use, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
booklloveer101's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Stalking, Child abuse, Cursing, and Physical abuse
kenna__suan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Addiction, Bullying, Grief, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Drug use, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
abzauthor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Confinement, Classism, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, and Drug use
sevendoteight's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Police brutality, Violence, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Minor: Murder
dkgreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Murder, Blood, Death, and Drug use
francess_m's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Bullying, Police brutality, and Stalking
smlima1992's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
jen1804's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I also personally felt that the descriptions at times were lacking to the point where I found I was getting confused about where they were and what was happening and the logistics of it all.
The scenes of Martin abusing Emory were so graphic and so excruciating to read. I felt so sad for Em. I think Penelope Douglas did a good job of making us despise Martin and portraying the mind of a domestic abuse victim. Harrowing.
The friendship that blossomed between Em and Damon was so endearing, understanding each other’s pain and keeping each other’s secrets, though I feel robbed of not getting to witness Will’s reaction to Em telling him about Natalya and why they were in the school showers together that night. I love that Damon gave Em the carfax room from one abused child to another, and I love that Damon and Emory now have a design and building business together, plus him rebuilding the gazebo using her blueprints was just beautiful.
So glad Martin fucking died. But I so badly wanted Damon to dive off the cliff after Will and be the one to pull him out of the water as a kinda full circle moment.
I loved the romantic scenes between Will and Emory so much, they were so cute, I bookmarked so many of their lines, especially their flashbacks from when they were in school. I liked seeing the female play a more dominant part too. There was not enough romance content though! And the ‘present’ scenes seemed too rushed. Like woah that marriage proposal did not have enough of a present day romantic foundation behind it after all the spiteful Blackchurch behaviour for it to make sense.
As much as I thought the marriage was quick though I can forgive it, because the four way wedding was everything and I adored that so much!
If I’m being honest Will’s Blackchurch agenda kinda doesn’t really make a great deal of sense to me, like whatever, and the whole Aydin/Alex sub plot is just a big nope. But I’m glad Will’s grandpa was a double crossing legend and seeing their relationship with each other was lush.
I did however really like that Will discovered Coldfield and the tunnels and I loved the idea of their own private access to all these places around Thunder Bay and Meridian City including tunnels to each other’s houses.
I wasn’t very happy about how angry Will was about the whole Em being ‘the reason they went to prison’ thing, because let’s be clear it was NOT her fault and she did not in fact owe any one of them an apology. This series is basically full of the guys holding grudges over miscommunication, lol.
The train carriage scene was weird but I guess also not unexpected from this bunch of characters! Pahahhh.
Overall I enjoyed it, and really loved the insight into their kids ten years later that we got in the epilogue. I love that these four guys who were basically entitled assholes in high school let’s be real, have all found a strong woman who’s their match and equal. I really enjoyed the context of found family throughout this series and the love that is woven through all of them.
Satisfactory ending? Yes.
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Domestic abuse, Blood, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Blood, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
Minor: Toxic relationship, Suicide, Police brutality, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
_youfloweryoufeast_'s review
- 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
3.5
Genre: Dark Romance
Age group : Adult
POV : First person / multiple POV
Characters: 4/5 ⭐️
Plot: 4/5 ⭐️
Setting/Themes: 4/5 ⭐️
Writing: 2/5 ⭐️
Spice : 4.5 ⭐️
• Please check TWs & CWs
• mature language, sexual scenes, sexual assault,
mentions of pedophilia, mentions of sexual abuse of a child, drowning, violence, death, gore, domestic abuse,
abuse of a minor, substance abuse, addiction, self harm & etc
• Dark romance
• Tropes : Miscommunication, revenge
• HEA
"Be Lilith," the girls said.
Athos pulled the Red Death over her eyes, all of us setting off as she whispered. “Never Eve."
Oh wow holie. This was a great end to the series. I can now say for sure that Will & Kai are my faves out of the entire lot. So much to unpack but nightfall was probably the most interesting and least misogynistic one out of all 4.
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Confinement, Murder, Sexual assault, and Mental illness