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godxless'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, Child abuse, Cursing, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Child death, Emotional abuse, Death, and Stalking
gothicrene's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Gun violence, Death, Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Torture, and Kidnapping
ashleem76'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Stalking, Gore, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Slavery, Sexual content, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Torture
Minor: Car accident
amberlynnnnn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Blood, Rape, Sexual content, Stalking, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Torture, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Violence
bimsa'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
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Stalking, Blood, Car accident, Mental illness, Murder, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Cannibalism, Misogyny, Rape, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Death, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Slavery, and Torture
wzr013's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Slavery, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Murder, Death, Violence, Child death, Car accident, War, Trafficking, Torture, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Rape
azileotulp'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really liked how long it took for the real smut to actually start. I'm honestly not a big fan of smut in general, so I liked that it didn't start until about one-third of the way in. It really ramped up after that point, but I didn't mind. Like I said, I'm not a fan of it in general, but I don't let that reflect my ratings because it's something I've come to expect.
I also loved the mystery throughout the novel with Adeline trying to find Gigi's killer. I did guess it, but it took quite a long time for me to realize. The use of Gigi's diary pages between chapters was also a really nice touch.
And how can I talk about why I love this book without talking about "the shadow?" (I'll call him Z for the rest of the review just in case anyone considers revealing his actual name a spoiler.) This man is a whole comedian. I lived for his POV. I loved seeing him come face-to-face with pedophiles and absolutely obliterating them in his mind. Just a very sassy, funny little guy. I feel like under most circumstances I would dislike how much of a hypocrite he was (a rapist who hates rapists?), but the fact that he acknowledged his own hypocrisy and just didn't care was such a power move and kind of hilarious to me.
Of course, I loved Adeline too. Her conflicting feelings of desire and hatred of Z were really interesting to me, and I liked the parallel between her own feelings for Z and Gigi's feelings for her stalker. Even without Z, I appreciate her as a character in her own right. She's funny, sassy, and strong. Even if I preferred the shadow chapters a bit, I definitely enjoyed her chapters too.
I honestly would love to give this book a slightly higher rating because I absolutely adored it. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 was that it could honestly be a bit cringeworthy at times, specifically when it came to some of Z's dialogue. I wish I could give examples, but I don't have the book with me (borrowed it from a friend). I just know that as I read some of his dialogue, I had to put the book down and take a breath. It didn't happen often enough that it destroyed his character for me, but it was often enough that it brought down the book overall just a bit. Other than that, I have literally no other complaints. I feel like a lot of the hate comes from people thinking that it "glamorizes" things like sexual assault and stalking, but I never really got that feeling? I don't believe you're expected to read the story and conclude that Z would be a good person in real life. The warning at the beginning of the book literally describes his actions towards Adeline as non-con/dub-con. The things that happen in this book are pretty common fantasies for women (fantasy as in things that we don't actually want to happen in real life) and we shouldn't be ashamed of that.
I can't recommend this book enough. I've started the second one and I am loving it so far, and I'm definitely hoping I'll be able to give it 5 stars.
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Car accident, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Cannibalism, Child death, Cursing, Pedophilia, Sexism, Death, Misogyny, Rape, and Slavery
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, and Infidelity
Minor: Grief, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death of parent
sophieb91'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: Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Violence, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Slavery
sabrinadawn08's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Infidelity, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking
navikris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Body horror, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Rape, Drug use, Vomit, Torture, Trafficking, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Violence, Addiction, Blood, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Self harm, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Cursing, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Gun violence, Gore, Slavery, and Car accident