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readyforit's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
This book is a hunchback of notre dame retelling, set in a modern-day small Parisian-esque town in Vermont. Amaya grew up with a narcissistic mother, who moved them around a lot and exposed her to her abusive boyfriends. When Amaya was older her mother became jealous of her looks, accusing her of trying to steal her boyfriend, Parker, who calls himself the king of Festivalé. They fight, and her mother abandons a then 19yo Amaya with her baby brother, Quentin. The story takes place 5 years later, with festivalé in ruin and father Cade is hired to come clean up the town and instill the sense of god back into it. He has unusual methods though, and tries to find the worst sinners and kill them, rationalizing that god will forgive him. To the public he’s just the hot, charming, mysterious new priest. He meets Amaya at the strip club where she dances as Esmeralda and is convinced she really is the witch the townspeople say she is. He formulates a plan to off her for her temptation, but he still finds himself drawn to her. Meanwhile Parker has been blackmailing her, saying her mother left behind debts that is now Amaya’s problem.
This book has decent disability/neurodivergent representation in quinten, who is autistic. However, he kind of plays the “hunchback” character and if you know the story and will be triggered by bullying, maybe skip this one. Otherwise, I think Amaya is a great caretaker, most of the time. I would also suggest skipping if you have religious trauma, as cade had a rough childhood, growing up in an orphanage with abusive nuns.
This book touches on forbidden romance, religious taboo, temptation, obsession, possession, and vacillating moral compasses. Cade starts out morally black (although he wouldn’t call it that), using religion to purge evil as he saw fit. Then his obsession with Amaya was the only thing that drove him. Amaya has no shame or guilt about being an exotic dancer. She knows she’s not the witch everyone calls her. But as she spends more time with Cade, she slips into the darkness that surrounds him too. I would say this book is probably the darkest in the series. There are plenty of light moments with Quentin, but there is so much darkness and guilt when you read Cade’s pov. I really love Amaya’s character but Cade was not my favorite love interest we’ve had in this series for that reason. I wish he could’ve had some more fun or flirtation, but if you enjoy true obsession, you’ll like him. He is the type of MMC who will kill anyone who wrongs Amaya, and clean up her messes too. In the end, his only goal is to take care of her and quin. It’s more of a bittersweet ending than a true HEA. The extended epilogue that is available through the author’s website was also bittersweet and a nice wrap up for how Amaya, Cade, and quin moved forward.
This book is also less spicy than the others since it’s about a forbidden romance. It’s pretty descriptive but there aren’t a lot of scenes, and the scenes aren’t long. If you prefer tension to spice you’ll be happy.
I listened along to the audiobook while reading and I think that is the superior way to read this series because all of these men have accents that you don’t get otherwise. Cade’s narrator does a great job with his French accent! I also loved that Amaya had a deeper voice, as it fit her character. The audiobook didn’t have any discrepancies to the ebook like with the first 3 books in the series. I liked the book overall and it had some crazy plot twists I had no idea were coming! I may reread in the future, a few years from now if I forget the plot.
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Rape, Violence, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Stalking, Torture, Sexual content, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Alcohol, Gun violence, Infidelity, Addiction, Cursing, and Vomit
toxxicwasste'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
4.5
SPOILERS
the trauma of religion is so real. The sex work is so real. The abusive relationships are so real. The ableism is so real. The ending made me choke up a little.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Rape, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Bullying, Death, Self harm, and Trafficking
Moderate: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Death of parent, Addiction, and Blood
whitedaylilies's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Murder, Torture, Sexual content, Rape, Gaslighting, Violence, Stalking, and Misogyny
rickireadss's review against another edition
4.25
⚠️: murder, rape, ableism, bullying, death, violence, religious bigotry, child abuse, torture, domestic abuse, gore, body horror, gaslighting, body shaming, animal death, grief, kidnapping, hate crime, gun violence, confinement, trafficking, pedophilia, stalking, adult/minor relationship
Graphic: Torture, Bullying, Death, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Gore, Ableism, Rape, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Stalking, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Hate crime, Trafficking, and Confinement
nikkirene161's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gaslighting, Rape, Blood, Stalking, Bullying, and Violence
melissaslibraryy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Death, Grief, and Physical abuse
emiliamaria76's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Stalking, Confinement, Cursing, Gaslighting, Death, Hate crime, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Body shaming, Bullying, Abandonment, Addiction, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
ka_ke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, Stalking, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Pedophilia
Minor: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual harassment
r1vana'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
4.5
“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.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Sexual content
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Cursing, Death, Bullying, Blood, and Violence
Minor: Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Rape
Abusive parentrtrotzko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Torture, Sexual assault, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Self harm, Murder, Violence, Rape, and Stalking