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xxbooksilovexx's review
5.0
This was my first audiobook by Liza James. She did not disappoint. Loved the chemistry between Aura & Ruby. So hot
literaryfriction's review
DNF @ 49%
This is a book about men hurting women with some F/F scraps sprinkled in like confetti. The romance is forced and surface-level — no show, all tell. The characters are repeatedly traumatized and abused with nothing breaking up the scenes but more misery and toxicity.
I wanted to like this book. The cover intrigued me and the promise of a dark and twisty WLW relationship hooked me. This book wasn’t dark and twisty — it was trauma porn.
The author’s note at the beginning of the book states, “This book was deemed unfit for public consumption. Tread carefully.” She wasn’t kidding.
Trigger warnings: graphic depictions of sexual assault, child abuse, child sexual abuse, religious trauma, emotional abuse and gaslighting, and forced drug use.
This is a book about men hurting women with some F/F scraps sprinkled in like confetti. The romance is forced and surface-level — no show, all tell. The characters are repeatedly traumatized and abused with nothing breaking up the scenes but more misery and toxicity.
I wanted to like this book. The cover intrigued me and the promise of a dark and twisty WLW relationship hooked me. This book wasn’t dark and twisty — it was trauma porn.
The author’s note at the beginning of the book states, “This book was deemed unfit for public consumption. Tread carefully.” She wasn’t kidding.
Trigger warnings: graphic depictions of sexual assault, child abuse, child sexual abuse, religious trauma, emotional abuse and gaslighting, and forced drug use.
paigexadaway's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
chana_aurora's review
1.0
The worst book I’ve read all year. I didn’t like any of the characters. The plot itself was interesting in terms of the mystery but there was so much trauma that I think she didn’t handle very well. I found myself not understanding the choices these characters made to stay in certain situations. Also I figured out what was going on half way through and that is never good for me. Makes the read boring.
caitbeers's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
ryleighmcg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape, and Murder
slvt4darkromaces's review
5.0
sigh, I have been rendered speechless with this book.
I have no words whatsoever to describes what I'm feeling rn after finishing this literary masterpiece.
I loved to see Aura's development and her growth into something so beautiful and so perfect, and how Ruby was by her the whole time, seeing Aura turn into this badass woman who stands her ground.
It's definitely safe to say that I completely devoured this book and came to love it so endlessly. If you haven't read this, I don't know what you're doing with your life, because this book deserves all the damn love there is in the world.
My new obsession has been found, and this book will be my entire personality for a long time.
I have no words whatsoever to describes what I'm feeling rn after finishing this literary masterpiece.
I loved to see Aura's development and her growth into something so beautiful and so perfect, and how Ruby was by her the whole time, seeing Aura turn into this badass woman who stands her ground.
It's definitely safe to say that I completely devoured this book and came to love it so endlessly. If you haven't read this, I don't know what you're doing with your life, because this book deserves all the damn love there is in the world.
My new obsession has been found, and this book will be my entire personality for a long time.
katya727's review against another edition
DNF @ ~65%
I really went into this book interested to see how a woman with religious trauma overcomes her fears and whatnot by falling in love with another woman, expected some awesome writing, and tbh was excited for the smut scenes. In the beginning it was okay, but the further I read, the more I noticed the mostly mediocre writing, the overuse of swears to the point of cringiness (glad I’m not the only one who noticed) typos, etc.
I mostly skimmed so I could’ve missed some details, but it seemed weird to me that one moment Ruby is telling Aura to go away and to never come back, and the next she’s admitting to herself that she wants to be with Aura and and have sex with her… it just seemed kinda bipolar to me, though yeah, she was trying to protect herself and Aura from Dom. But perhaps it could’ve been executed better.
I also expected more… plot? Though yes, I did pick this up partly for the spice, I didn’t think it was going to be 20% plot, 80% stripper dancing and sex (a large part of it abusive at that).
I really went into this book interested to see how a woman with religious trauma overcomes her fears and whatnot by falling in love with another woman, expected some awesome writing, and tbh was excited for the smut scenes. In the beginning it was okay, but the further I read, the more I noticed the mostly mediocre writing, the overuse of swears to the point of cringiness (glad I’m not the only one who noticed) typos, etc.
I mostly skimmed so I could’ve missed some details, but it seemed weird to me that one moment Ruby is telling Aura to go away and to never come back, and the next she’s admitting to herself that she wants to be with Aura and and have sex with her… it just seemed kinda bipolar to me, though yeah, she was trying to protect herself and Aura from Dom. But perhaps it could’ve been executed better.
I also expected more… plot? Though yes, I did pick this up partly for the spice, I didn’t think it was going to be 20% plot, 80% stripper dancing and sex (a large part of it abusive at that).