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nightowlreader46's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Drug abuse, Grief, Addiction, Blood, Abandonment, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Cursing, Gore, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
dezzella's review against another edition
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was pretty good. It's a contemporary romance set surrounding a crime family and an undercover agent (so darkish romance, some murder and mentions of drugs). Like the previous book there are elements of a 'retelling' but it's not really, it's its own story with some nods to Wizard of Oz/Wicked. Some of the story was predictable but it didn't take away my enjoyment of the book, still had a good time and it was fun. There's early spice as well so if you want a fast burn (in the sense of how long it takes for them to get together) then this is a good book for you.
Also, I really liked how she was the morally grey one in this one. For me, I think I liked Scarred slightly more, but this was still a good one in the series. There was some action and some funny lines between the two main characters.
Also, I really liked how she was the morally grey one in this one. For me, I think I liked Scarred slightly more, but this was still a good one in the series. There was some action and some funny lines between the two main characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Drug abuse
emlikescaffeine's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Some parts were repetitive. However the storyline was interesting and kept my attention. The small plot twist was enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Drug use
courtneyhunsicker's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked this book because it was fast, the plot was interesting enough, and it got me out of a reading slump. I also liked how the badass villain of the story was a women, that was a fun twist from the normal “innocent girl meets bad boy” trope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Drug use, Stalking, Gore, Abandonment, Gun violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, and Addiction
angelofthetardis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.0
It's the turn of 'The Wizard of Oz' to receive the Never After treatment. Now set in a city not far from Chicago, Evalina Westerly's family are Irish mob and their game is pushing a new drug variant, Flying Monkey. Exploited by her father, abandones by her mother and a with a suspicion thay one sister may have murdered another, when a new face appears that drives her barmy and yet draws her ever closer, she starts to question if there is really 'no place like home'?
This really feels like an amalgamation of the first two books in the series, with the parts of each book thst worked well being cherry picked and rewritten to fit the Wizard of Oz narrative. The trouble is, by now the pattern is becoming familiar and, in this case, the writing and characters aren't quite strong enough to carry it through. The storyline as a whole doesn't feel particularly original and the style feels quite amateur. Overall, the quality feels more like this is the writer's first attempt at the genre, rather than the third book in the series. I admit that this feeling may be partially down to the fact that I'm binge-reading the series though.
I liked the idea of Nicholas, our MMC, but ultimately he comes across to me as a bundle of contradictions. He starts as a stereotypical playboy, but it's not carried through in any meaningful way. He's got a strong moral compass based on events from his past, and while his conflicting emotions are considered, it feels just a little outside the realms of believability that he can ignore or accept something that previously was a total anathema to him. And in the extended epilogue, there's a mention things may not have changed all that much, and yet he's perfectly contented. I just can't see it myself.
Even the smut seems a bit contrived. It definitely feels like it's going through the motions just to meet the readers' expectations rather than being anything anything particularly designed for the story. The placement of the first 'encounter' appears to me to be an attempt to mix things up a bit, and it works, but is then let down by the follow ups being, for the most part, more of the same rather that developing the relationship.
All that being said, it is just as good as the others for being a bit of escapism, a quick and enjoyable read and a very different take on a classic story.
This really feels like an amalgamation of the first two books in the series, with the parts of each book thst worked well being cherry picked and rewritten to fit the Wizard of Oz narrative. The trouble is, by now the pattern is becoming familiar and, in this case, the writing and characters aren't quite strong enough to carry it through. The storyline as a whole doesn't feel particularly original and the style feels quite amateur. Overall, the quality feels more like this is the writer's first attempt at the genre, rather than the third book in the series. I admit that this feeling may be partially down to the fact that I'm binge-reading the series though.
I liked the idea of Nicholas, our MMC, but ultimately he comes across to me as a bundle of contradictions. He starts as a stereotypical playboy, but it's not carried through in any meaningful way. He's got a strong moral compass based on events from his past, and while his conflicting emotions are considered, it feels just a little outside the realms of believability that he can ignore or accept something that previously was a total anathema to him. And in the extended epilogue, there's a mention things may not have changed all that much, and yet he's perfectly contented. I just can't see it myself.
Even the smut seems a bit contrived. It definitely feels like it's going through the motions just to meet the readers' expectations rather than being anything anything particularly designed for the story. The placement of the first 'encounter' appears to me to be an attempt to mix things up a bit, and it works, but is then let down by the follow ups being, for the most part, more of the same rather that developing the relationship.
All that being said, it is just as good as the others for being a bit of escapism, a quick and enjoyable read and a very different take on a classic story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Violence, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Cursing
kiwij96's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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
Did I finish this book or did this book finish me? It's hard to say. I knew what I was signing up for having read Twisted a couple weeks back, but this was a whole other level of fucked up that I loved.
I'm not the biggest fan of The Wizard of Oz, so a couple of the references were maybe lost on me. The women in this were LETHAL and I am here for it. The sexual chemistry between Evie and Nick was honestly scorching, and those chapters were just 🥵🥵 I knew coming into this that this was going to have some spice, and I knew from the instance of there being drug cartels and gangs involved that there would be gun violence. Was I however expecting THAT gun play chapter though? Absolutely not.
Spice aside, the trauma was well written, the criminal side of things was detailed and dark, the torture scenes were heavy and gruesome for sure, and the twists and turns were just brilliant. I did not see most of them coming.
I'm not the biggest fan of The Wizard of Oz, so a couple of the references were maybe lost on me. The women in this were LETHAL and I am here for it. The sexual chemistry between Evie and Nick was honestly scorching, and those chapters were just 🥵🥵 I knew coming into this that this was going to have some spice, and I knew from the instance of there being drug cartels and gangs involved that there would be gun violence. Was I however expecting THAT gun play chapter though? Absolutely not.
Spice aside, the trauma was well written, the criminal side of things was detailed and dark, the torture scenes were heavy and gruesome for sure, and the twists and turns were just brilliant. I did not see most of them coming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Gore, Violence, Torture, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Abandonment, Blood, Drug use, Murder, and Death
the10thingsiloveaboutbooks's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I feel like each time I read a new book by Emily my love for them is diminishing. Hooked was excellent, but I just couldn’t vibe with the characters in this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
sawdustie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
xxkatastrophe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Drug use, Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Blood, Addiction, and Abandonment
rdmoreland0801's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
While the storyline in this book didn’t really grab my attention, the spice definitely did.
There was one scene, however, that made me question whether I should seek help. It definitely shouldn’t have been hot, but I think I liked it…?
Definitely not my favorite in the series, but a decent read.
There was one scene, however, that made me question whether I should seek help. It definitely shouldn’t have been hot, but I think I liked it…?
Definitely not my favorite in the series, but a decent read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, and Gun violence