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alyciajstewart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
All of that being said, I think the author did an exceptional job of creating a morally gray character. Zade is not someone you want to like, but in the end you do start rooting for him because his cause is so just. Addie is the perfect heroin for this type of romance novel. She enjoys being scared and I think is a little bit twisted. Honestly, the novel wouldn't work if she wasn't just a little bit insane. The banter between the two leads is top tier and the spice is definitely high.
I think that this book is a great way for people to explore a darker side of romance without actually putting themselves in danger. I think it's okay to enjoy reading about things that we wouldn't be okay with in real life. I am eagerly anticipating the second book in the duology.
Graphic: Death, Child death, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Gore, Sexism, Body horror, Cannibalism, Confinement, Grief, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Drug use, Blood, Car accident, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Trafficking, Violence, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, and Rape
shay3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Rape, Death, Gore, Murder, Stalking, Sexual assault, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Blood, Cannibalism, and Gun violence
denisetnazir's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Cannibalism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, Drug use, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Horrible how can people praise Zade?robinmarie's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
metalynn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Stalking, Trafficking, Violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Car accident, Pedophilia, Rape, Drug use, Hate crime, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Gaslighting, and Misogyny
annettegalbraith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Cannibalism, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Death, Pedophilia, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Trafficking
heather34's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Trafficking, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Cannibalism and Car accident
elisem04's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Torture, Trafficking, Pedophilia, Violence, Gun violence, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Rape, Murder, Gore, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Murder, Cannibalism, and Kidnapping
Minor: Domestic abuse and Infidelity
bimsa's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Stalking, Blood, Car accident, Mental illness, Murder, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Cannibalism, Misogyny, Rape, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Death, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Slavery, and Torture
azileotulp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really liked how long it took for the real smut to actually start. I'm honestly not a big fan of smut in general, so I liked that it didn't start until about one-third of the way in. It really ramped up after that point, but I didn't mind. Like I said, I'm not a fan of it in general, but I don't let that reflect my ratings because it's something I've come to expect.
I also loved the mystery throughout the novel with Adeline trying to find Gigi's killer. I did guess it, but it took quite a long time for me to realize. The use of Gigi's diary pages between chapters was also a really nice touch.
And how can I talk about why I love this book without talking about "the shadow?" (I'll call him Z for the rest of the review just in case anyone considers revealing his actual name a spoiler.) This man is a whole comedian. I lived for his POV. I loved seeing him come face-to-face with pedophiles and absolutely obliterating them in his mind. Just a very sassy, funny little guy. I feel like under most circumstances I would dislike how much of a hypocrite he was (a rapist who hates rapists?), but the fact that he acknowledged his own hypocrisy and just didn't care was such a power move and kind of hilarious to me.
Of course, I loved Adeline too. Her conflicting feelings of desire and hatred of Z were really interesting to me, and I liked the parallel between her own feelings for Z and Gigi's feelings for her stalker. Even without Z, I appreciate her as a character in her own right. She's funny, sassy, and strong. Even if I preferred the shadow chapters a bit, I definitely enjoyed her chapters too.
I honestly would love to give this book a slightly higher rating because I absolutely adored it. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 was that it could honestly be a bit cringeworthy at times, specifically when it came to some of Z's dialogue. I wish I could give examples, but I don't have the book with me (borrowed it from a friend). I just know that as I read some of his dialogue, I had to put the book down and take a breath. It didn't happen often enough that it destroyed his character for me, but it was often enough that it brought down the book overall just a bit. Other than that, I have literally no other complaints. I feel like a lot of the hate comes from people thinking that it "glamorizes" things like sexual assault and stalking, but I never really got that feeling? I don't believe you're expected to read the story and conclude that Z would be a good person in real life. The warning at the beginning of the book literally describes his actions towards Adeline as non-con/dub-con. The things that happen in this book are pretty common fantasies for women (fantasy as in things that we don't actually want to happen in real life) and we shouldn't be ashamed of that.
I can't recommend this book enough. I've started the second one and I am loving it so far, and I'm definitely hoping I'll be able to give it 5 stars.
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Car accident, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Cannibalism, Child death, Cursing, Pedophilia, Sexism, Death, Misogyny, Rape, and Slavery
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, and Infidelity
Minor: Grief, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death of parent