Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

How to Bite Your Neighbor & Win a Wager by D.N. Bryn

24 reviews

melonmachinery's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

At first the story is fun, very reminiscent of things you'd find on Quizilla and Wattpad (for the younger generation) in an endearing way, but once the middle school nostalgia wears off mid to 3/4 of the way through the story is rushed, flat, uncomfortable in its dealings with both real and fantasy racism, and the resolution is just sloppy.

The characters are all 1 dimensional. Wesley is Mexican American and you can tell because he says Sí-Yes when he's rushed. Vincent's line about not wanting to exist if it harms others fell flat in its delivery and how it changed Wes's opinions instantly. The real world internet references and usage is so incessant, the characters must have gotten their education at Tumblr University. The romance is rushed, which I did expect since most romance novels do, loving the "insta-love" plotline. The entire moment on top of the mausoleum roof was embarassing. You just wanted to shake the characters and ask why they suddenly are so relaxed about being chased by bad guys they can get each other hard in the cemetary. Wes's vampire kink tended to be embarrassing at best and uncomfortable at worst given the in world context of vampires and what he specifically wanted to do. Vincent is supposed to be sexy and predatory in these moments but most of them made me laugh.

The whole thing with the pharmaceutical company and dead mom was trying to take on something large but failing to deliver, which is also how the story ended for Wes and Vincent. I didn't particular care for Wes's struggles about the revelation of his mom's death since he seemed very blasé himself about selling all her items and changing things once it was confirmed. Their choice to leave the company be and take care of themselves because they wouldn't get support since the government doesn't see vampires as people with rights in particular was discomforting in ways hard to describe.

I could go on. It was an easy read, but not in a good way. Wouldn't recommend this to anyone but wouldn't actively stop people from reading it. Hopefully the author will grow in time. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Stalking, Classism, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Racism, Violence, Self harm, Blood, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, and Trafficking

adrienanthony's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Gore, Death, Stalking, Slavery, Abandonment, Blood, Violence, Death of parent, Torture, and Self harm

bebidocrimes's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.5

You can fit so many oppression metaphors inside a vampire, this time it was mostly about disabilities. Society doesn't consider that these people need accommodations like night shifts and late hours. Yeah, ok, suspension of disbelief and all that, but Wes should have died of blood loss or at least passed out and become anemic. You can't drain blood every few days, when you donate they make you wait like a month between sessions. It sucks how much went to waste too from them getting cockblocked, uh, I mean interrupted. I'm learning dumb romance characters are my shitty reality TV, I'm exasperated by they're logic and communication skills, but I just can't look away. Once it gets to the oh moment, I'm flipping the coffee table screaming TOUCHDOWN BABY!! I wanna know more about the mysterious model swordsmith.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cursing, Death, and Murder

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Death of parent, Stalking, Alcohol, Kidnapping, and Sexual content

anntharai's review against another edition

emotional funny sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Medical trauma, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual content

massivegreen's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, Ableism, Trafficking, Sexual content, Medical content, Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Blood

Minor: Self harm and Homophobia

sabinehunter's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Confinement, Cursing, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Blood, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Xenophobia

nat_kiverse's review against another edition

dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Sexual content, Drug use, Gaslighting, Death, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Cursing, Alcohol, Confinement, Bullying, and Gun violence

sammymilfort's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Gore, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Ableism, Grief, and Hate crime

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Emotional abuse and Self harm

rai_ishardtoplease's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

3.75

“‘Is the hallway floor the best place for this conversation?’

‘Anywhere we are is the best place, I think.’”

Well. That was mildly depressing.

Is this a Thing? I know emotional damage is a hallmark of queer fanfic, but did I somehow miss the memo that this was the dress code for all queer literature? 

(No, really. That’s a genuine question. I could make a career out of staying out of the loop atp)

Oh, and am I the only one questioning the title? I mean, it doesn’t not work. The wager part is a little misleading—unless it’s actually not and I’ve just read way too many shitty hs/college romances—but ig it’s noteworthy enough by the end to warrant referencing. 

But neighbors?

It would take all of 15 minutes to edit that detail out of the story entirely, but that’s what we’re latching onto here??

Idk how I feel about the Vitalis-Barron conflict being left unresolved… but then again, if I had to choose between my queers being happy-enough or somewhat-satisfied-6ft-under, this would be my preferred ending 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Blood, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Abandonment, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder

Minor: Medical content, Stalking, Violence, Kidnapping, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm

Chronic illness refers to vampirism. Racism also (mostly) refers to vampirism.

puttingwingsonwords's review

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Ableism, and Grief

Minor: Alcohol, Self harm, Homophobia, Murder, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence