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kat_reads26's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
With that said, Haunting Adeline started strong and then became a chore to read. The idea of a sexy-stalker-CNC romance with a spooky setting was very intriguing. I'd heard good things from Booktok about this one, including how heavily "spicy" it was. While there is graphic sex scenes depicted here, I have definitely read better. What's worse is that the book is so plot heavy that you have to read through several chapters of our FMC playing detective in her house and our MMC playing "good guy" mercenary with maybe 10 spicy scenes in a 500+ page book.
Speaking of our MMC, he's a complete hypocrite. The chapters from his POV are all about how he wants to save women and children from trafficking and take down pedophile rings/the skin trade and how disgusted he is by the sexual abuse that takes place. And yet he is a textbook definition stalker that has set his sights on the FMC for no discernable reason besides beauty and sexually assaults her again and again. The author does her best to convince us that its not as bad as it is because our FMC is aroused by fear and mystery. That while she "knows its wrong" her body "can't help it." The MMC is clearly told no to his advances over and over again throughout the span of the story (with a few CNC moments nearer to the end) but he persists, claiming it's a game and that he's turned on by her fear and by the chase. The author insists the stalker needs to be redeemable and likable so she has essentially made him the batman of sex trafficking rings.
The sex scenes we do get (albeit rape for most of the book) are padded with multiple chapters of our MMC being the hero of an action movie no one signed on for, as well as an ongoing (and insufferable) added plot of the FMC solving her Great Grandmother's murder. I mean, I guess Adeline needed SOMETHING to do when she's not getting assaulted by the MMC.
If you were hoping to get a dark/taboo sexy love story to get off to while you read... this isn't gonna be it.
I'm not kidding when I tell you that 95% of the sex scenes in this book are non consensual. The FMC is more or less Stockholm syndromed into falling for her stalker via his magic penis. I'm not saying this story wasn't worth reading...but I am saying I probably won't read the next one.
This story ends on a cliffhanger. I'm fine with not knowing what happens next.
Trigger Warnings with Spoilers:
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Trafficking, Child abuse, Stalking, Murder, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Cursing
Minor: Cannibalism and Drug use
itsangiexo'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
3.5
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Murder, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Rape, Cursing, Stalking, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Sexual violence, and Violence
raspberryjelly'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? No
2.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Trafficking, Car accident, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Torture, Death, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Cursing, and Sexual harassment
jess_h7's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Pedophilia, Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, and Stalking
Moderate: Alcoholism and Blood
Minor: Car accident
booksnart2023'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
The plot and character building gets 4 stars. There's so many different twists and turns in this book. Some things were predictable. I was caught off guard on others. Zade only gets 3.5 stars because his character feels like two different people and he says a lot of corny things.
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Cursing, Child abuse, Stalking, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Murder, Death, Gun violence, and Torture
neesa_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Sexual content, and Trafficking
Moderate: Torture and Violence
Minor: Gun violence, Cursing, and Stalking
feeow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Torture, Gore, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Death, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Slavery, Addiction, Blood, and Body horror
Minor: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Body horror, and Alcohol
gabrielleandcompany's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Pedophilia, and Gun violence
_haysway_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Sexual violence, Stalking, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
alis143's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Sexual content, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Death, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Physical abuse