Scan barcode
ctrlaltcara's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
courtney_saba's review
3.0
This author sure knows taboo.
I wasn't fully convinced in the relationship between the main characters, though. I feel like if it started a different way, like for example, they met somewhat naturally and slowly developed a relationship, with sexual tension and maybe a slow build-up/slow burn kind of progression, it would have worked better. I would have believed the second half of the story more, the feelings from both of them more. I didn't believe that they fell for each other. He used her. And then tried to justify him essentially raping her as his only choice because of his disfigurement? Wow. That's some excuse right there. But then the heroine was okay with it in the end. She basically forgave him for taking from her, without her full consent. The first sex scene was only for his pleasure only, and then he blackmailed her to keep her from running. And this was because he wanted a companion, a wife, someone to love him? I'm pretty sure if she accepted him later on in the book, if the story started the way I imagined it, like with the slow burn and sexual tension, she could have easily fallen for him despite his disfigurement. There was no need for the force.
Beyond that, if I took it the way that the author wanted me to take it, then it was a taboo, dark romance with dubious consent, a dominant male character, and a badass female character. I enjoyed it overall, but I didn't agree with how the author chose to write it. Personal choice, but it could have gone a different route and been so much more convincing, exciting, and decadent. Just feels like a wasted opportunity, just something for the author to write so that it has the connotation of taboo and that's it.
Was I entertained? For sure. I may try to pick up one of her other books soon.
Would I recommend this book? I don't think I can. Only because of the way I felt about it and how it felt definitely icky at the beginning of the story. To the point where I didn't believe in their relationship at all at the halfway point.
Would I reread this book? Probably not.
Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.
I wasn't fully convinced in the relationship between the main characters, though. I feel like if it started a different way, like for example, they met somewhat naturally and slowly developed a relationship, with sexual tension and maybe a slow build-up/slow burn kind of progression, it would have worked better. I would have believed the second half of the story more, the feelings from both of them more. I didn't believe that they fell for each other. He used her. And then tried to justify him essentially raping her as his only choice because of his disfigurement? Wow. That's some excuse right there. But then the heroine was okay with it in the end. She basically forgave him for taking from her, without her full consent. The first sex scene was only for his pleasure only, and then he blackmailed her to keep her from running. And this was because he wanted a companion, a wife, someone to love him? I'm pretty sure if she accepted him later on in the book, if the story started the way I imagined it, like with the slow burn and sexual tension, she could have easily fallen for him despite his disfigurement. There was no need for the force.
Beyond that, if I took it the way that the author wanted me to take it, then it was a taboo, dark romance with dubious consent, a dominant male character, and a badass female character. I enjoyed it overall, but I didn't agree with how the author chose to write it. Personal choice, but it could have gone a different route and been so much more convincing, exciting, and decadent. Just feels like a wasted opportunity, just something for the author to write so that it has the connotation of taboo and that's it.
Was I entertained? For sure. I may try to pick up one of her other books soon.
Would I recommend this book? I don't think I can. Only because of the way I felt about it and how it felt definitely icky at the beginning of the story. To the point where I didn't believe in their relationship at all at the halfway point.
Would I reread this book? Probably not.
Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.
kzimm2024's review
4.0
Set in the 1700's, our hero is a gallows man who is rejected by people due to his profession. The story blurb pretty much tells it all but I like the twist to the story- our heroine is a highwayman. She pretends to be helpless and then robs people. Some plot points were a bit thin.
The "holding them at dagger point" was a little thin, its not like she was a great fighter and none of these men could have easily over powered her (at least that was the thought running thru my head as I read this). Unless her marks were soft, fluffy men and women, then I would believe it. But you never knew who was driving by in the coach, they could have been trained enough to over power her easily.
And she didn't seem as ruthless and tricky as I would picture someone in her profession being.
But overall I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed Vane and his tragic story (my heart broke for him when she wasn't there), I enjoyed her surprising maturity with him. I didn't like that she hurt him (why was that?) but it had a HEA even if cut a bit short. She came back and it was happy ever after. I would have liked to see her work for it a bit more :)
The "holding them at dagger point" was a little thin, its not like she was a great fighter and none of these men could have easily over powered her (at least that was the thought running thru my head as I read this). Unless her marks were soft, fluffy men and women, then I would believe it. But you never knew who was driving by in the coach, they could have been trained enough to over power her easily.
And she didn't seem as ruthless and tricky as I would picture someone in her profession being.
But overall I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed Vane and his tragic story (my heart broke for him when she wasn't there), I enjoyed her surprising maturity with him. I didn't like that she hurt him (why was that?) but it had a HEA even if cut a bit short. She came back and it was happy ever after. I would have liked to see her work for it a bit more :)
mdev's review
adventurous
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
3.0
bookish_kristina's review
3.0
This was a weird one for me to rate. I liked it, it was very dirty and gritty and gave total Beauty and the Beast vibes. But it was also mostly sex with very little story or relationship building. On the other hand, it was mostly sex with little story or relationship building.
halffast's review
4.0
Woman makes a deal with a hangman to save her brother's life. Fast paced little short story. It was interesting to get a glimpse of a side of history that you don’t think about often. Emmat was a strong and smart heroine. She had every reason to dig her heels in and hate Vane, but she instead recognized all the similarities between them and chose to build something from that. The chaplain is the real MVP though!
icebearlux's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0