Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Hideaway by Penelope Douglas

20 reviews

midnightrose_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

Hideaway is the second book in the Devil’s Night series. Its Kai Mori and Banks story. The journey of me reading this book is a interesting one. I like Kai a lot but only thought Banks was an okay character. I know some people don’t like the heroine from the first book (Erika), but I actually like that character and think that Banks is actually a much more unlikeable character. Obviously, the way she grew up was really unfortunate, but there was chunks of the story where I couldn’t stand that characters personality. The way that Kai and Banks meet is intriguing, but they don’t have me in the absolute chokehold as Michael and Erika did in Corrupt over their entire book. I also didn’t buy that Banks fell in love with Kai given the fact that she was so resistant towards him for a good portion of the book. In lust with him, sure. They have physical chemistry and I think Kai comes to care for her as the story goes on, but them being in love is a stretch. Near the end of the book it felt like they were getting to know each other more which could lead to the love, but didn’t  feel convincing at the time when they said their ‘I love you’s’. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Rape, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Incest, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

jen1804's review

challenging dark mysterious sad 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

3.5

I enjoyed this book, though not as much as book 1 in the Devil’s Night series. The story for me this book felt just that little bit too chaotic. I don’t really know how to explain. But on the whole I really liked it. There were some scenes that I absolutely adored too (confessional scenes/father Kai scenes/chase scenes, all defo big yesses from me).
I like Kai and Banks together and their dynamic where they’re both so stubborn, and with the forced proximity trope and the power play. Though I find I’m left feeling that their love story was lacking somewhat. I can’t really pinpoint it, I kinda feel like it all happened too quickly even though it probably actually didn’t, but having finished the book that’s the feeling I’m left with. I also feel that their emotions were a bit too up and down with each other a bit too often, too much so that it started to seem a bit too unrealistic. Anyway I look forward to hearing a bit more about them in future books in the series and how their story continues to unfold and progress.
It was interesting to uncover more of the sad complexities about Damon in this book and I’m really looking forward to reading his story next even if it is probably going to hurt. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcohol, Incest, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Blood, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Body horror, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Confinement, Death, Abandonment, and Mental illness

kodafaith's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

4.5

This series is so messed up but oh so good. The content was both darker and less dark than the first one if that makes sense.
I feel like this one was just a major set up for the next one but I did enjoy Kai and Nik so much in this one!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Pedophilia, Violence, Stalking, Self harm, Incest, Death, Rape, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse

ladylovestead's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This is the second book in the devil's night series. You do need to read the first book in the series to understand what is happening in this one. It helps to read the first one as well because Rika and Michael are in this one and you get to enjoy seeing their relationship develop a bit more. This romance focuses on Kai and Banks. Banks is one of the most interesting characters I've read about in a long time. I absolutely loved her and she is one of my top favorite characters of all time. Her transformation in this story was so wonderful, and this would have been a great book if that's all it was, but it was more than that. Not only did we see this wonderful character transformation in Banks, but we get to know Kai and see how he struggles with this inner battle between the dark and light parts of himself. The book also has thriller elements with the storyline about Damon that continues from the first book. This was a great read if you like dark romance and I'm excited to read book 3! I don't like to share triggers because some find them to be spoilers, but if you need to know triggers, do look them up before reading.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Stalking, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Abandonment, Blood, and Murder

coligmueller's review against another edition

4.5

I am shocked at how much better this one is than the first. Kai still has issues with misogyny, but not nearly as bad as Michael or Damon.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Lesbophobia and Gun violence

bananapie123's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Violence

jlaz_13's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-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? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

anna_m16's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Drug use

iastlisvvt's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence

avianundertaker's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content

Moderate: Rape, Misogyny, Violence, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Incest, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, and Racism