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elliemaeeee'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Stalking, Torture, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Trafficking, and Violence
nidhzinwonderland'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? It's complicated
2.75
I dnf'd this book twice so this is my third attempt reading it and was it worth it? Yes and No
Why did I dnf it?
I dnf'd this book because despite all the trigger warning I still did not find it in me to be okay with the inconsensual shit and the stalking. I think overall I just felt kinda disgusted and like not okay with it one bit. And I still feel the same about the stalking. It is and will always be unacceptable regardless of the fact that Zade Meadows is this dark super cool superhero that's saving children from traficking. So, because of the fact that I was soo not okay with what was going on I dnf'd it; TWICE!!
What made me pick it up again?
I ain't one bit proud of this but Tik tok made me do it. It is all over frickin book tok and everyone else just seems to love it. So that was the major reason I picked it up again but the other one is that I'm practiclly incapable of leaving a book unfinished. It continuously bugs me and even f I don't like it one bit I'm stll spending all my mental energy wondering what exactly the plot might've been.
So curiousity + booktok = Terrible life choices
My final thoughts about the book:
Well am I suddenly okay with all the shit Zade did? NO. But was the book all bad, NO. One of the things that made this book enjoyable was the parallel plotline of Gigi's murder. I absolutely loved the phsycological impact it had on Addie cuz it helped establish an inner conflict about this stalker [whom she firmly believed to be her great grand mother] and what it could mean for her to live in the same house and watch history repeat itself.
Another hing I liked or rather I thoght brought a meaning to the plotline was the whole human traficking and child abuse aspect. Personally speaking I don't read romance because I find it lacking and find myself getting bored with just two charecters trying to figure out their lives. But, this book had so much mystery to it and kept us on our toes while unraveling the dirty secrets of the underground and the governments involvement. Overall, I think it just brought to light a very underdiscussed and taboo topic which is such a huge scary part pf this world.
Coming to the charecters, Addie was an okay charecter. She reacted like any normal prerson and though most people would probably find her excitement for fear to be kinda phsycotic, I relate to, maybe not to that great of an extent but haunted houses and horror films have always been a favourite. Zade was a charecter I have veryyyy conflicting feelings about and I think thats what he was from the very start. Yes he was messed up on so many levels but unlike Colleen Hoover's books it was acknowledged, and accepted as wrong. He is man of morals and though when it comes to Addie he pisses me off he comes close to swoon- worthy a couple of times.
Overall, though plot and mystery was a plus to this book it would've made for a much more pleasent experience if the romance was handled differently. But it is what it is and thats a reason I'll never be able to like Zade Meadows completely.
Nidhi <3
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Trafficking, Torture, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Stalking, Child death, Sexual harassment, Death, Sexual assault, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Cannibalism
Man this is the most trigger warnings I've ever used or seen used for a book so careful.ginalee52'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
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Stalking, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Body horror, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Trafficking
Moderate: Cannibalism, Cursing, Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Mental illness
haileighv96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Trafficking, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Infidelity, Torture, Violence, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Stalking, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Confinement, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
sydneeshae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual violence, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Torture, Rape, Child death, Cursing, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Violence
meggytheetherealgoddess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Cursing, Death, Sexual violence, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Drug use, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Drug abuse, Stalking, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Trafficking
viktoriya_sk's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Stalking, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Rape, and Sexism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Cannibalism, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Drug use
athena_granger'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
3.25
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual violence, Stalking, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
crgrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Plot: Intriguing and unique. No middle slump! The different development rates of the subplots kept me coming back to it daily and the cliffhanger has me aching to read the next one. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not for everyone. This book is DARK and as far as grey areas go this book goes into the charcoal/ black.
Spice: Carolina Reaper level! Definitely check the trigger warnings (again… DARK). Also a couple ick moment as far as some vocab choices but that’s a personal thing.
Writing: Great moments but also some elements that could be tidied up (many instances of using the same word 2x in one phrase etc.). I listened to the audiobook and the performance was perfection- highly suggest.
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Stalking, Murder, Gun violence, Pedophilia, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Child death, Death of parent, and Trafficking
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Infidelity
sunray_sunburn'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I will not recommend this book openly to anyone. Please please please know what you are getting into. Read the trigger warnings and then read them again. I have not read anything so graphic in the gore and rape as is in this book. It was not the best writing in the world, but it did scratch an itch - that I am very ashamed to have - and I couldn't put it down (unless I couldn't stomach it anymore for the day). The last 10% is very triggering and you should be of sound mind to get through it.
The romance/smut aspect of this book: the smut is very good (oh god I really am going to hell). My dear dear cousin summed it up beautifully, "if you have ever had a rape fantasy, then you will like this book." I feel like that is a great warning for the spice in this book. THE GUN SCENE!!! Don't read or listen to this in public because damn, I thought I had a good smut in public poker face but I was proved so wrong.
Now I have to decide if I will read the next book, not because the story isn't compelling, but because I have to decide if I want to be the person I will be when I am done with it.
Side note: I will not be discussing any of my feeling about this with anyone who has not read the book since they are my only safe space in this category lol
Graphic: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Cannibalism, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, Cursing, Alcohol, Drug use, Abandonment, Infidelity, Sexual content, Stalking, Alcoholism, Body horror, Grief, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Slavery, Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Drug abuse, Gore, Car accident, Child death, Classism, Rape, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Medical content