Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Crossed

It was better than Wretched but not as good as the OG Hooked. Crossed is especially dark and twisted but if you enjoy those themes then this is right up your alley.

Content Warnings

zarakoconnor's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

ashliebysmashliereads's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-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

5.0

Content Warnings

r1vana's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

“I would kill a thousand men if it made sure you were mine.”

Tropes?

-stalker forbidden romance

-Priest X Exotic Dancer

-age gap: F24; M36

-MMC obsessed

Crossed is a Hunchback of Norte Dame

seem the some pits bite Nev anting

and it is darker than Emily's previous

books! Cade is the new priest in town but

has a sickness that makes him punish

those he thinks are sinners. He stumbled upon a town outcast Amaya and is intrigued especially when he and his inner “demons” crave her like no one ever. No women or men had ever made him feel this way. To the point he taught that she was an actual witch who cursed him. He craves her so much that he wants to destroy/kill her for pulling out ‘evil’ temptations within him:

“I am a holy man, by my monster is from hell.”

Cade and Amaya’s relationship goes on a wolf ride, with a somewhat slowburn that kept me on edge.

This book is probably one of the most darkest of the series. Beware of trigger warnings! This book is gore, dark, “gothic” and very plot driven. The characters are complex; all of them, due to their own traumatic past.

Both Cade and Amaya have a dark past that will hunt mentally and physically for many years and as they cross path, it will mingle and grow dark as their connection was forbidden to begin with.

The author did it again. I will definitely pick up any other books she releases in the future. The way she wrote the tension between the leads was stressful; hawt and lovely.

Not gonna lie, while Cade is very different from the other male leads, he is definitely a stand out book bf.

“She is a vision in her violence, a fallen angel seeking vengeance for being wronged.

She is a masterpiece and she is mine.”

“She may be your wife, but she is my soul,” I whisper against his ear. “And I will cut you up piece by piece and burn your empire until it’s soot, just so I can watch her be queen of ashes.”

I was really dedicated to read this book; I actually watched Hunchback of Notre-Dame before reading it, so I could see different or similar references. We’ll, let’s say that it has a more modern twist with a dark romance between a priest and an exotic dancer.

This book was dark. Maybe even darker then the previous ones because it has triggers that may not be for everyone.

Content Warnings

dazyreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

book review | Crossed by Emily McIntire

𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘

⭐️: 4.5

🌶️: 3

🏃🏼‍♀️: medium pace

📖: paperback

tropes/themes:

- priest x exotic dancer

- stalker

- forbidden

- dark romance

- touch her and die

- fractured fairytale

“Tell me, petite pécheresse, have you thought about your priest?”

this novel is so dark and twisted, i love it.

the slow burn and tension was so addictive. i admit there was a lull in the first 100 pages, but once the story picked up, I could not put this book down.

🌶️ writing:

Emily’s writing is thrilling, adding plenty of depth to the characters. even the steamy established so much pent up tension, that i was dying to read on with this slow burner. though the spicy scenes were less frequent, they did not disappoint. i kinda preferred is this way as the spice felt less forceful and more organic - fitting well to the forbidden nature of the story and Cade’s attempt to commit to his vow.

⛪️ plot:

to put it plainly - i loved it. i really adored the whole ‘murder mystery’ subplot which was not at all cliché. the stalking scenes were some of my favourites, why I enjoyed them I’m not sure?? i loveeee how Cade was dark and tough but had that soft spot for Amaya and her little brother. How can such a dark man be so adorable? 🫢 and i was not expecting the plot twists!!

🖤 characters:

I admire Amaya’s devotion to her younger brother, and her strength to power through the torment of her reputation and her mother’s unpaid debt. I love how she embraces her sexuality through the art of pole dancing, as an outlet for her emotions.

A tall, fluffy haired priest with a French accent who calls me ‘little sinner’? Yes please.

Cade is definitely unhinged, with a monster inside of him, that feeds from destroying demons within people. though his past was devastating, it was interesting to have a glimpse into his childhood and how they impact his character and motivations in the book.

🧎🏽‍♀️overall: this novel has climbed to my favourites list. i loved how Cade protectiveness which melted in a need to care for Amaya. I was so invested in how his lust for Amaya really tested his oath, because loving her hurt so much.

please be warned this is probably the darkest of Emily’s Never After Series and to always check the triggered warnings.

bookstagram: @dazyreads

Content Warnings

bekahzabel's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective 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? No

4.0

hot morally gray priest meets & falls head first for an exotic dancer. need i say more? dark, devilish, & deviant. emily mcintire never disappoints. this is for you if you like:

•dark romance stand-alone retellings,
•villain gets the girl,
•touch her and ☠️,
•forbidden and taboo romances

Your mans may have said, “I love you,” but Father Cade said,

“I still have my faith. Still believe in the unshakeable force that is God. It just pales in comparison to her. She is my Bible. My Scripture. My religion. She is everything, and I am nothing without her. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Content Warnings

_terah_hansen_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

5.0

Content Warnings

lanarose7737's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

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