Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

DARK ROMANCE by Penelope Douglas

125 reviews

ameliabiblio's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

2.5

This just isn’t my cup of tea, but I think it’s generally well-written. I hope it continues to find the right audience (which isn’t me😂).

When I say it isn’t my cup of tea, I mean Damon isn’t my cup of tea. I don’t really know how he’s going to be redeemed. I know he is because he has a book, but I don’t see any world where I believe that Rika would be okay with having him in her life again, let alone being close to him. Also, Michael says he loves her and all is well? I just feel like he and the other Horsemen got let off real easy for doing all that stuff to her when she didn’t even do anything. I like kinky, but I don’t like bullies.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Cursing, Kidnapping, Animal death, Death, Murder, Alcohol, Blood, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, and Car accident

Minor: Sexual assault and Rape

lizzyspooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Blood, Alcoholism, and Rape

Minor: Gun violence

cmqsf's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Violence, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

maaiike_91's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

2.5

Was this book good? No. Did I like the characters? Also no. Will I read the other books in the series? Probably yes, because the spicy scenes that weren’t questionable were pretty hot, and I’m a sucker for it. 

So hoping in next books the plot will pick up a bit, and there’s room for  more loveable characters😅

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Blood, Bullying, and Rape

Minor: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Gaslighting

laurakwiecinski's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Misogyny

mproper1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Violence, Sexual violence, and Sexual content

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Stalking, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexism, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Body shaming, and Infidelity

ninasmilliondreams's review against another edition

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

1.0

Rika girl get up!!!!! 



(I am genuinely baffled at how this book resolved (???) the conflict. Michael didn’t even apologise and yet they just went back to fucking as if nothing happened. He literally destroyed her life and he was the one who came up with the plan!! And suddenly they love each other?? What!?? I do love my book boyfriends a bit toxic but this was downright abuse. The male protagonists were so rapey, sexist and disgusting and I just don’t understand how Rika wanted anything to do with them after everything)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Animal death and Death of parent

justinewalker's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I think this just wasn’t my cup of tea, but if you like dark romance I recommend giving it a try at least! I personally didn’t like certain characters to an extent that they made the whole book worse to read, but other parts and characters I did enjoy. All the side characters are quite flat imo. The flipping between past and present really worked for me, though I can see it not working for others.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping

Minor: Murder, Animal death, Car accident, and Forced institutionalization

palebea's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This is probably my first "dark romance" where the MMC really is nasty. Check your TWs for this one and don't lean into the fact it's apparently a romance. There's not much romantic about it. The relationship is toxic, possessive, bit taboo with the weird obsession with her as a child? It's a bully romance. The MCs are not nice. Content warning info:

There's some risky SA/rape scenes that get a little hairy but no actually depicted rape. You do not have enough trust in the characters to feel safe that it won't happen though

 

I liked Rika, she was a pretty likeable FMC considering the circumstances. My heart broke for her a couple times and no I don't think Michael did nearly enough grovelling for me personally. This was gnarly to read but gripping and intriguing. 

The HEA also felt a bit forced

The twist I liked and although I didn't exactly guess it, I had an idea it was coming. 

Overall, a disturbing read that was addictive, dirty and had me questioning my morals. Difficult to rate as it's the first book I've read like this where the darkness in the dark romance presents itself as toxicity in the relationship. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Kidnapping, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Violence and Adult/minor relationship

samflowerv6's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

Unpopular opinion... I loved this book. Everyone seems to hate Michael but I really didn't. Michael and Rika were so high stakes and complicated. I really enjoyed the mystery, secrets, devils night antics and even the horsemen in all their mean bad boy glory. I found all the characters so interesting and Michael was fucked up but I couldn't help loving him. Also, maybe I just like hot guys who are a bit evil? Seems to be my type. I am a seasoned dark romance girly but this was super solid. I would definitely say it's taboo at times but what can I say, I ate it up. Even Damon, who is such an asshole..... i was having so much fun. I know it's problematic and all the men are straight up terrible. I think I have bad taste. Whatever bad things people say, are mostly right but..... I like messed up people and dark romance. I do wish Michael groveled though, Rika forgave him too easy. They should have all begged on their hands and knees. The catacombs, the mask scene and the sauna... I was sweating. RIKA SAID LETS GO TO PARIS.  Rika is so real though with being in love with an asshole for her whole life and being blinded by hotness. I did like the ending and they honestly fit. I did expect her to have more of a backbone and was disappointed with her not making the boys beg but at every turn.. she folded. But this was all kinds of fucked up. Check trigger warnings. I feel mildly shameful for how much I enjoyed this. I love these freaks. 

And it was October 30, the night before Halloween. Devil’s Night.

Damon Torrance, Kai Mori, Will Grayson III, and—I locked my gaze on the blood red mask covering the face of the one always in the lead a little more than the others—Michael Crist, Trevor’s older brother.

“It’s just you, Little Monster. Own it or it will own you.” 

“Run all you want, Little Monster,” he said, sounding like a threat. “We’re faster.”

They were here. The Four Horsemen. They were Thunder Bay’s favorite sons, and they’d gone to high school here, graduating when I was a freshman.

As individuals we had weaknesses, but as the Horsemen we were invincible. We each brought something different to the table, and where one lacked, the others stepped in.

Three years ago, curious little Erika Fane wanted to play with the boys, so we indulged her, and she betrayed us.

“Trevor’s not my boyfriend.”
“Too bad. I like playing with shit that’s not mine.”

That’s what I admired about the Four Horsemen. They were always in control and always visible.

“You robbed your own fucking store, Rika!” Will laughed and grabbed fistfuls of my sweatshirt, shouting into my face. “You’re the fucking king, baby!”

Will started singing, then slid out of his seat, and I shook with laughter as he straddled me, giving me a lap dance to the music.

“When we used to wear the masks,” Michael said, dropping his voice to a near whisper, “you liked it, didn’t you?

“So you like the mask. You’re pretty fucking sick, aren’t you?” he teased.

“Such a beautiful little monster,” he whispered

“Because you’ve corrupted her nice and good. She’s a force now, and it won’t be long before she’s brave enough to demand what she wants. If you don’t give it to her, she’ll find someone else who will.”


THE KAI AND MICHAEL SANDWICH  CHANGED LIVES!

Alexa play Monster by Skillet

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Kidnapping, Cursing, Misogyny, Violence, Physical abuse, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Blood, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Torture, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship