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rahma8'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Run.simplychey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, and Death of parent
courtney_b'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship
fiona_dutcher's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
anastashamarie'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
3.0
If you take the 2006 film The Covenant, remove the magic, flesh out the plot a little more, and add smut...that's what this book is. An untouchable group of mischief-causing, incredibly attractive bad boys who enthrall everyone with their mystique. Old money posturing and politicking that leads to a revenge plot that uses the sweet blonde FMC as a pawn. Dramatic confrontation scenes that could have been resolved with a much-less-attractive, logical conversation. Some unexpectedly homoerotic tension that I don't think was intentional. The vibes are identical between the two.
And those vibes are immaculate for the first 2/3 of the book. But around 67.5%, this takes a weird atmospheric turn that I didn't vibe with as strongly. Idk how to explain it, but the storyline just didn't carry the same oomph after the 67% mark (the spicy scenes still did for sure, but I'm talking specifically about the actual storyline). It went from this hot push and pull between Rika and the whole Horseman group, to a different dynamic that I didn't enjoy nearly as much.
Also as much as I enjoyed the Rika and Michael circling each other, I really just felt bad for her the whole book because everyone around her objectively sucks. This girl deserves better than the thousand red flags surrounding her entire social circle. I hope she finds a genuine friend eventually or that at least the ones she does have treat her better.
But this was greatly enjoyable as a guilty pleasure read. I see why people like Penelope Douglas if this one was any indication, and I am going to read the next one for sure.
⚠️ TWs: lots of sexually explicit scenes, sexual assault/harassment, violence, murder, arson, gaslighting, manipulation, bullying, alcohol use, death of a parent, death of a dog (side note: wtf did this need to be in here for?)
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident
A dog dies in the last chapter; I feel like you can just totally skip that chapter and feel like things are neatly concluded.ac_blanco's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
becflourish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
ecravens'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
risseandshine'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? Yes
4.0
This first book of the Devil’s Night series stars Rika Fane and Michael Crist, one fourth of the Horsemen who are infamously known for wreaking havoc during Devil’s Night. Rika dated Michael’s brother but her eyes have always been on Michael with all his mysteriousness and terrifying vibe. One night when they were in high school, something unfortunate happened that caused Michael’s friends to get imprisoned and all signs pointed to Rika as the culprit. Told in alternating timelines, the past conveniently catches up with the present as attraction gets set aside and revenge takes its place...or so they thought.
This was one hell of a story that tied my brain cells in knots. Until now, I haven’t untied them yet. I also don’t know if I want to.
For one, this book has ZERO morally upright characters. Rika is a wealthy heiress to a jewelry company and is the typical quiet and timid girl. She seems naive on the surface but looking deeper, she is really a girl clamoring to show that she is more mature than she looks. She may be seen as “good” but I don’t suppose a girl who is drawn to mischief can be considered an angel. Michael is rich, powerful, and an overall unlikeable character. It doesn’t seem like it but he is, in fact, very similar to Rika in that he seeks to be understood for his unconventional wants and desires. He is driven by resentment and revenge and he doesn’t care about consequences. The rest of the Horsemen, even though they piqued my interest, aren’t the most honorable characters out there, either.
But you know what? My brain didn’t seem to care. It got caught up in the darkness and decided to bask in it.
What I loved most about this book is the fact that it made me think. My moral compass was telling me to hate it but the way it was written made me pause and reassess character decisions and motives until I understood all sides. For instance, I can’t even tell you how many times I wanted to push Michael off a cliff one minute, then the next I wanted to protect him at all costs because I got to be in his head during a particular scene and that somehow justified his motives. My thoughts were being pulled towards different directions and I loved the challenge that gave me.
As for the romance, I’d say I rooted for Rika and Michael’s relationship for the most part. I admit that I found it quite unbelievable and lust-driven at first, but the writing helped it evolve into one that is anchored in a deep “like attracts like” type of connection.
With all that said, I’d like to give huge props to the incredible writing in this book because it definitely made the entire story. It had the unique ability to take a completely bonkers scene into something so beautiful (see chapter 25). And shoutout to that epilogue! It turned my view of this book completely on its head and I was absolutely mind blown!
I only have one reason for deducting a star from my rating and that is the length. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good chunky romance book. I just don’t want to feel it, and there were significant parts in this story where I surely did.
Still, I get the hype now. It’s not my favorite, but I think it’s well-deserved.
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tw: death, murder, blood, sexual assault, animal cruelty/death
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexual assault, Blood, and Murder
dracoarys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i don't know if i hate or tolerate this book. i guess it was good on various aspects but some things just disgusted me (mostly damon, that man is mad). the romance was good tho and i kinda liked rika. michael is a complex character but i couldn't bring myself to like him, except for a few scenes.
Graphic: Death, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident