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kcbuckman's review
4.0
TRIGGER WARNINGS should be looked at for those who have them. I never read the original on Wattpad, but I can’t imagine it being better than this version. One of my favorite dark romance reads from 2020 & can’t wait to see what comes next! It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you don’t have triggers and love a good forbidden taboo dark romance, this is your book.
kfriend's review
2.0
2.5: For a newer author, there is a lot of promise here in terms creativity- some compelling and interesting world building, a sprawling cast of characters, and a twisted ideology that has the kind of allegorical underpinnings of a Hand's Made Tale type story in terms of its use of gender dynamics. The bones here are really solid. But, unfortunately, the story itself didn't deliver on the promise.
I didn't have any issue with the taboo in concept0 though this kind of book is not for everyone. There's incest, cheating, government sanctioned prostitution and sexual violence and rape. I have read stories that dark, so unlike some others, it wasn't the dark or taboo that didn't work for me.
To me, it really came down to the characters and how the taboo was used. We had so many characters that for a while I wasn't really sure who our "couple" was- which is in interesting concept but kept me from really connecting with anyone. We have many POVs and flip back and forth between different sub stories quite a bit. The only character I connected with ended up being somewhat secondary, though it seems the second book is focused on her experience. And, the taboo isn't used to really titillate or challenge our perceptions in any way- its more for shock and horror. Again, I've read stories like that before. But at the end of it all, the romance itself just fell flat- I didn't really feel any chemistry, and the sex scenes that aren't meant to horrify weren't particularly sexy or interesting. I lost interest in the characters at the this books center and found myself a bit indifferent to them overall. And, with the writing feeling a bit disjointed in some places, this just wasn't the read for me.
Fans of the very dark and twisted will definitely find this interesting- and it may be a great read for other taboo, dark romance lovers- just wasn't for me.
I didn't have any issue with the taboo in concept0 though this kind of book is not for everyone. There's incest, cheating, government sanctioned prostitution and sexual violence and rape. I have read stories that dark, so unlike some others, it wasn't the dark or taboo that didn't work for me.
To me, it really came down to the characters and how the taboo was used. We had so many characters that for a while I wasn't really sure who our "couple" was- which is in interesting concept but kept me from really connecting with anyone. We have many POVs and flip back and forth between different sub stories quite a bit. The only character I connected with ended up being somewhat secondary, though it seems the second book is focused on her experience. And, the taboo isn't used to really titillate or challenge our perceptions in any way- its more for shock and horror. Again, I've read stories like that before. But at the end of it all, the romance itself just fell flat- I didn't really feel any chemistry, and the sex scenes that aren't meant to horrify weren't particularly sexy or interesting. I lost interest in the characters at the this books center and found myself a bit indifferent to them overall. And, with the writing feeling a bit disjointed in some places, this just wasn't the read for me.
Fans of the very dark and twisted will definitely find this interesting- and it may be a great read for other taboo, dark romance lovers- just wasn't for me.
readaholic7's review
3.0
Worth a read
Overall it was a good book, I did find it took a bit to really get into it, but by the end couldn't wait to read the next one in the series
Overall it was a good book, I did find it took a bit to really get into it, but by the end couldn't wait to read the next one in the series
sarareadsromance's review
5.0
Holy moly!
Friends and dark romance lovers. This book was SO good!!
Arabella is a damn Genius. Honestly, this book rocked my world. Hands-down on my list of best rated of the year. The writing, the story, the characters, I don’t have anything bad to say about this book. Honestly. I loved everything about it. It was well thought out, easy to follow along, very easy to read and has genius world building. As Katantia being a fictional place and most of you know when I read books I love to visualize what’s going on in my head, I definitely did that with this book. It was easy for me to paint vivid pictures of everything that was happening whether it be good or bad. This book is by no means for the faint of heart and at some points had my stomach churning and not in the best way. It’s dark and forbidden and everything I love reading in dark romance. Do not give me a generic boring story, give me unrealistic, crazy, mind boggling situations and stories that love to push the limits. That’s exactly what the story is and it was an absolute treat to read this. If you are looking for something that will push your limits, is hella steamy, and will fuel the soul of all dark romance lovers
Friends and dark romance lovers. This book was SO good!!
Arabella is a damn Genius. Honestly, this book rocked my world. Hands-down on my list of best rated of the year. The writing, the story, the characters, I don’t have anything bad to say about this book. Honestly. I loved everything about it. It was well thought out, easy to follow along, very easy to read and has genius world building. As Katantia being a fictional place and most of you know when I read books I love to visualize what’s going on in my head, I definitely did that with this book. It was easy for me to paint vivid pictures of everything that was happening whether it be good or bad. This book is by no means for the faint of heart and at some points had my stomach churning and not in the best way. It’s dark and forbidden and everything I love reading in dark romance. Do not give me a generic boring story, give me unrealistic, crazy, mind boggling situations and stories that love to push the limits. That’s exactly what the story is and it was an absolute treat to read this. If you are looking for something that will push your limits, is hella steamy, and will fuel the soul of all dark romance lovers
glowstars's review
3.0
I'm still not sure how I feel about this book
I must admit that this book confused me a bit. I couldn't quite get my head around how Katantia worked as a country or figure out the dynamics between the families and individuals featuring in this story. I think this lack of understanding on my part probably hampered my enjoyment of the book and meant that I couldn't follow all of the secrets and revelations within.
That said, I'll definitely be reading the next one in the series because I want to understand what I missed and need to find out what happens with Kamila Ruby, because while Mandy and Weston's story may have been drawn together, there's still so much more to come.
I must admit that this book confused me a bit. I couldn't quite get my head around how Katantia worked as a country or figure out the dynamics between the families and individuals featuring in this story. I think this lack of understanding on my part probably hampered my enjoyment of the book and meant that I couldn't follow all of the secrets and revelations within.
That said, I'll definitely be reading the next one in the series because I want to understand what I missed and need to find out what happens with Kamila Ruby, because while Mandy and Weston's story may have been drawn together, there's still so much more to come.
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