Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair

76 reviews

solaris_zip's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

2.0

Now, im a big fun of Greek mythology. This book doesn’t follow the “canon” events. More or so takes some of these events, and uses stereotypes about the gods personalities, to create a fictional story. The book flows fast because it’s written like it’s a fan fiction. Which is something I didn’t particularly mind, but it portrays Persephone as the “good/pure girl next door” and Hades’s “bad boy/mysterious” persona. It a cliché and it’s not even done right. Persephone is being portrayed as this almost fragile, small thing that has no experience of the real world, and needs someone mature and strong to save her. And I must say, she comes across as insufferable at times. Stubborn, doesn’t listen and always wants to have it her own way and then complains when things go wrong even tho people advice her against it. 
 Throughout the book there was so much miscommunication on both sides, most arguments could have been avoided with talking rather than having sex. It feels flat, like a Harry styles fanfic on wattpad. Their relationship was rushed, we went to them arguing and then you blink and suddenly they are making out. It feels the smut was there to distract the reader from the poor plot.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

mattiedancer's review

medium-paced

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

3.75

Writing: 4⭐️/5 

The writing is fine throughout the book. I did really enjoy certain sections, but others definitely lacked a bit of finesse I was hoping for. Some of the spicy scenes definitely felt a bit forced and sudden, which was jarring. 

Characters: 3.5⭐️/5

Persephone is a decently developed character, and I found Demeter kind of interesting from afar, but most other characters fell a bit flat for me. Hades was interesting in most parts, but I did find him lack a bit of substance outside of Persephone. Definitely enough character to keep the story moving. 

Plot: 4⭐️/5 

It’s a fairly basic plot for a Persephone and Hades retelling, but I loved the incorporation to modern day. The final result definitely was interesting, and I like how the romance progressed well enough. 

Post-Reading Rating:  3.5⭐️/5

It was good. Definitely didn’t think I was going to pick up the next one though.

Who Should Read This? 

• Those looking for a smutty Persephone-Hades retelling

CW: Sexual content

Final Rating: 3.75⭐️/5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

74laura74's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, Death, and Gaslighting

Minor: Toxic relationship and Torture

kloughlin's review against another edition

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Confinement and Sexual violence

shannasbooksnhooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

"But it was harder than that. Obeying meant she could stay in the mortal world, and that was what Persephone wanted, even if it wasn't fun."
This was a fun, original retelling of the Hades x Persephone myth and many Greek myths in general. It was nice seeing a variety of gods - Thanatos (yay, he's getting attention!), Aphrodite, Hermes, and so on. It was also fun seeing a couple of the mortals featured in the myths, particularly Adonis and Tantalus. Lexa supported Persephone throughout this book, which I 100% loved. Demeter's character was well fleshed out, although I am pretty much worn by how many retellings (novels, fanfiction, etc.) portray her as the controlling mother. (Yes, this is how she appears to be in the original myths, but I feel like authors can take a bit of creative license on the Demeter & Persephone relationship at this point in the game.) I did really enjoy this book. There were parts of it that had me asking "really?" - such as all the ups and downs Hades and Persephone had at the end of the book (maybe the last 50-75 pages) and all the almost/sort of neutral chaos that was attached to those ups and downs. I understand why it happened, and it fit well within the book. I just wish it maybe had another 100 pages so the ending didn't feel rushed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Sexual assault

Adonis and Tantalus are both ASSHOLES and deserve Tartarus.

Demeter's reasoning for keeping Persephone hidden from the gods is understandable and well fleshed out. Having the Fates tell her her daughter (who is going to be the first goddess born in some time) is going to be related to death in some way (Sephy's case, the Goddess of Death) would be concerning and rattle any mother.

The God of the Underworld wagered with the God of Love that he'd fall in love within 6 months after losing a card game to her. Then he makes a contract with the Goddess of Spring for her to create life within 6 months maybe within 1-2 hours of the aforementioned card game with Goddess of Love. I 100% back and validate Persephone's anger. But I sort of wish she handled it a bit better. And Hades didn't help the situation with the things he said out of frustration (borderline anger), even if his words were right - it's usually how you say it, not what you say.

sleepymich's review against another edition

dark relaxing medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

lucyrudd's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Confinement

abbiexhope's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

thecatconstellation's review

adventurous emotional relaxing fast-paced

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

3.25

This book was fun for a quick read. I’ll probably read the follow up books. It’s not amazing, but engaging enough. The sex scenes do get a bit repetitive and the pacing goes a bit too quick at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Death, and Sexual assault

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Violence, Pregnancy, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Child abuse, Gaslighting, War, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

Gambling

prettyinpunk's review against another edition

dark medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment