Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Corrupt by Penelope Douglas

118 reviews

bigbookslay's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

3.0

quick read and kept me hooked. only liked Alex and Kai towards the end. Damon can go to hell idc. didn't appreciate the sexism and sexual assault at all. if the men in this book were a little less fucked up it would be perfect.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Violence, Death, Kidnapping, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, and Pedophilia

Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, and Gun violence

aris_butwhynotho's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Torture, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Violence, and Death

aakriti_sharma's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.25

Okay so yeah this is my 4th penelope douglas book IN A ROW! It was amazing a d challenging...I really loved the character of all the boys except Damon, but its okay he has his own problems...Michael is such a sweetheart♡♡...i really wish there was a boy like him in realty exept the wrong things he did...I really want to live a life like Rika, but yeah some things were too intense to be experienced in real life. Penelope's writing is toxicating, it keeps you hooked till the end, regardless of how boring/cringe/dark you find the book...I really loved the epilouge, wrapping up the whole stor and giving it a meaning. I think what I learnt feom this book is that you should do what you dream for, not expecting anything from anyone.
Overall it was really nicely written!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, Car accident, Bullying, and Death of parent

simplychey's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death, and Rape

Moderate: Animal death, Alcoholism, and Death of parent

queen_'s review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual violence

Moderate: Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Torture, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Violence, Mental illness, and Gun violence

questionablereads's review

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• 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

2.25

I was on the struggle bus throughout this read. This was seriously one of the most convoluted stories I’ve ever read. 

It’s a dual perspective read that follows Erika AKA Rika, and Michael. They’re both within the same world of the elite, as Michael is the son of a wealthy man and Erika’s father has business ties with Michael’s father. This is every bit a story of the rich and ridiculous and the pair grow up side by side, even living under the same roof where parents just don’t see anything wrong with the wild and crazy party lifestyle of their children. Can’t relate. 

The book also goes back and forth from past to present, which I didn’t mind too much, but a lot of this book rides on discovery, and you don’t quite understand the connection that Rika has with anyone. Things become clear about seventy percent into the book, and even then, I just found all of the characters to be annoying. Rika just goes along blindly with what Michael and his band of misfits do, and because you don’t quite fully grasp this vital piece of their past, it all just plays out so silly. 

Then there were moments that just came out of left field. There were spicy moments, and definitely sexy for sure (and yes, I loved that) but it didn’t add to the story or the relationship between Michael and Rika at all. I think it was supposed to strengthen their bond, but it just left me feeling cringe. 

Overall, I did not enjoy reading this until Chapter 23, which is page 363 out of 500, and the more that I take a step back to sit on this book, the more annoyed I am at how everything turned out. Basically, weirdness all around. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

zc2's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

I didn’t like how

micheal never apologizes to her like it was a really traumatizing event and he straight up was like huh that sucks wanna make out? end

the whole tense plot of why are they in jail and why is it Rikas fault really had me on edge wondering what’s gonna happen next. Recommend if you like romantic thrillers!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Violence, Genocide, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

mkc_0423's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• 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? It's complicated

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: Rape

curicastic's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• 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? No

1.5

This is a hard one to review. (This might have slight spoilers)

I never know how to rate dark romance books because they're an entirely different breed for me, as far as books go. 
I heard the hype, I guess it kind of lives up to it. I was a bit slow, the back and forth between the present and the "three years ago" POV was a little tiring at times. I think this book could be 100 pages less and it would change nothing, there where scenes where the character repeted themselves and it was eye rolling.

I might continue the saga because these type of books are like crack, there's just something about em. There were a few moments where I laughed and I was SURPRISSSSSSSSSSED, LEMME TELL YOU. 
Penelope Douglas makes assholes look good, that's an art.

PS: Ah, yes, I nearly forgot. While we can all appreciate the kind of asshole Douglas writes... I quite often like it when it comes with a soft center. This might not be the saga for me, maybe... but I am willing to read one more book to find out. All that pulling  not giving in Michael did was frustrating at times, which... I get it, if that was the point. I'm just saying that if that doesn't change... I might have to reconsider reading these books lol. 

PS2: Oh my god. The whole "Rika got us arrested" was so stretched out thin I nearly fell asleep during that. I even thought it might've been more fun is someone stole the masks and did something with them that oh so special night. But I repeat myself, this book needed to be edited DOWN at least 100 pages.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence

fiona_dutcher's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death, and Death of parent