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Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Death of parent
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Abortion, Alcohol
fair warning: quite possibly one of the darkest books i have ever read.
the plot had a LOT of potential, especially with the whole religious corruption aspect and the kind of character Aero was and how Briony offset him so starkly. the whole premise of the book offered SO MUCH yet, it fell short.
Aero didn't do it for me as the MMC, whilst i get that the book was dark and i have read my fair share of morally grey men in dark romances, i didn't feel the connect with Aero. he was too brutal in his attempt to show Briony "the light" (as he so eloquently puts it). i unabashedly agree that he was the catalyst to and cause for Briony's growth. his methods worked, yes, but he was crude, unnecessarily harsh and relentless at times (read: SEVERAL).
as the main (sik) love interest, i needed his vulnerability, his softness and his affection shown more. while i do understand the darkness of his downright traumatising past (which SHOOK me to the core, he, without a doubt, was a victim and deserved none of it, it was so heartbreaking to see how the trauma from his past had made him so averse to love and soft physical touch as a form of affection
that said, Briony's character was beautiful. her growth and empowerment were written really well. i loved how she embraced herself and let go of all her inhibitions when she realised that she didn't need to conform to the church elders. also, i LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that she recognised that power abuse is real, even in apparently religious and 'holy' places, and decided to cut herself off from aspects of christianity that she did not believe in and yet, held onto her faith in a supreme power, despite Aero's non-believing.
tldr; didn't enjoy it as much as i hoped i would but Briony (fmc) for the win.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Sexual harassment
I gave the book 4 stars instead of 3 because I think a lot of things I wish the book had done differently were personal preferences rather than actual criticisms. This book is dark and can be pretty triggering in so many different ways, but overall it was well written and a good read.
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Stalking
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Alcohol
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Alcohol, Classism
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Murder
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting