Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - These Violent Delights

This one reminded me of a mix between The Secret History, the movies The Talented Mr. Ripley and Saltburn, and the show Dexter. We’re immersed into the heads of two killers in a voyeuristic way that somehow toes the line between revulsive claustrophobia and that feeling where you can’t hold back from looking at the scene of an accident when you drive by. Add in an toxic all-consuming budding first gay relationship between said killers and this had that similar feel to the relationship in Call Me By Your Name but with a more sinister twist. I’m both questioning why I put myself through the trauma of being inside Paul’s head while simultaneously having to acquiesce and acknowledge what great writing this was, especially for a debut novel.

It took me until about 30% in to get immersed in the story, but when I sank in I couldn’t look away. It’s often tough for me to stomach irredeemable main characters, but I think this one worked for me because you know from the start what they’re building up to do and the ending felt appropriate and reflective enough to give us a moral lesson.

What really made this stand out to me and appreciate it in it’s entirety was the Author’s Note. There I learned that the author aimed to touch on queer alienation, the post-Columbine societal reflection of the possible violence within all young men, and how all-consuming and toxic some early romantic friendships can be for queer people. This captures those elements so well it’s both beautiful and eerily macabre. The author, Micah Nemerever, is definitely going on my list of authors I instantly read when new works are published.

Content Warnings

scarroll178's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

Viscerally upsetting. Beautifully crafted. Could’ve been at least 100 pages shorter.

Content Warnings

lisaalessandra's review against another edition

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slow-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

2.0

This book is deeply disturbing. The content actually made me sick. I started reading this book because it was being compared to “The Secret History”. But if that is why you are considering reading it, please don’t. I decided to give 2 stars instead of 1 because it was well written.

Content Warnings