Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

Hideaway by Penelope Douglas

50 reviews

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

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

sydneys_bookshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

i enjoyed this book much more than the first one. kai is streets ahead of michael and banks gave all of the boys a run for their money. i think their relationship was much more flushed out than erika and michael’s in the first book. plus, there is some redemption (SOMEHOW) for damon in this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual content

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

anncatherine's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

i cant believe i liked this shit.
last year i read "corrupt" (the first book in the series) and i did not like it. so, i dropped the whole series. idk why but i thought of giving this series a second chance as i ve heard people saying this series get better and i think its true coz this book was really addictive and i liked it. i was not able to put this book down.
all of these characters need major counseling and therapy. these characters scare the shit outta me. id think i will ever survive in their universe.

“There are just some things that are more exciting when they’re a secret.”
“It’s always best to say as little as possible. The more of a mystery you are, the less leverage they have.”
“People will think what they want to think, not because they believe they are right, but because it’s in their nature to maintain that they are. By defending yourself, you feed the appetite for drama. By not, you’ve ended the conversation.”
“It could be so strange how things happen. How the people you never suspect become you’re only lifeline, and you hold onto them as hard as you can, because you have no choice. There was nothing else to keep you from falling. Falling into loneliness or despair or fear. He reached for me, and I reached back.” 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Self harm, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Animal cruelty

lenavejar's review against another edition

dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Child abuse

Minor: Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Rape, and Sexual assault

queenie_ofthe_void's review against another edition

dark 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

4.0

Loved this book just as much as Corrupt! I love the fast-paced writing style and Douglas's exploration of Predator/Prey dynamics while still making consent and safety the number one priority. The gang's still dealing with previous events, with more and more drama piling on top. It's all exactly what I was looking for in the second installment. Can't wait to read Killswitch!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Sexual content

Moderate: Self harm, Stalking, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Animal cruelty

minnaohrner's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

this was very good, makes me actually excited for Damon's book not just Will's

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cursing, and Violence

Minor: Gun violence

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

emma_vk's review against another edition

dark funny 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship