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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: Sexism, Violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Mental illness, Murder, Stalking, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
Run.florixer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
First, Micheal doesn't like to explain him self most of the time, which often ends in miscommunication. Also they often treated Rika like shit and when she said No to the actions they often still continued and said stuff like, but I know you want it so bad. And also she never really seemed bothered by it most of the time.
The story line though was really interesting, sometimes a little bit confusing, but it was written in a way you couldn't put the book down. I'm not really sure yet if I want to continue the series, but if you have a high tolerance rate it is okay to read. But if you can't read story's that are sometimes a little bit unmorally than this might not be the right book for you
Graphic: Cursing, Blood, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Deadnaming, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death and Child abuse
zc2'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
4.5
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
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: Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Sexual assault, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, Animal death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Alcoholism
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.assesgrass's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Stalking, Bullying, Death of parent, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
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: Grief, Gaslighting, Death, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Cursing, Blood, Emotional abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Infidelity
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: Sexual assault, Stalking, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Addiction, Blood, Body shaming, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Car accident, Alcoholism, Confinement, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
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, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Bullying, Child abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
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: Death, Blood, Murder, Animal death, and Sexual assault
madipeppell's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Kidnapping, Blood, and Bullying
Minor: Rape