Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

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

26 reviews

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

Moderate: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Abandonment

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

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

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

thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition

4.0

I read this in an evening and it was exactly the fluff I needed. These two are idiots and I love them for it. I'm so excited there will be another book in this world!

CW: non-consensual biting, blood, violence, medical experimentation, medical content, bigotry, homophobia, death, stalking, kidnapping, alcohol

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Outing

Minor: Alcohol

stardustandrockets's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad tense 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 and Blood

Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship

tinyelfarcanist's review against another edition

adventurous 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

3.5

The language, pace, and plot have the feel of a YA novel, but the characters are in their 20s and the story turns darker near the end. 

I didn't feel particularly connected to the characters. The romance felt a little bit too insta-love for me after they had just spent an evening together. There's talk about the need for therapy, but I believe it comes a little too late when things have already escalated.

I like Bryn's recurring theme of tearing down big corporations. That and fishnet gloves have made an appearance in both books I've read by the author. (If I had a nickel for every time I've found fishnet gloves in their books, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.)

In this book's world, there's blatant discrimination against vampires and they are treated as sub-human. There are clear parallels between those and real-life marginalized groups like immigrants, queer and disabled people.

There's an extra scene teasing what's to come for book 2, which sounds promising.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Outing

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Stalking

thenerdybookwitch's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny tense slow-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? N/A

3.75

Read the ARC of this and I enjoyed myself! These characters are so adorable and I liked seeing their relationship bloom in the weirdest way. It was a bit repetitive at times but other than that it’s great! Definitely want to see where this series goes.

CWs not included in the options: Non-consensual biting, and breaking and entering

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Stalking, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Self harm, Vomit, and Abandonment