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_mj_'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, War, Genocide, Rape, and Child death
bekahzabel'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Murder, Child death, and Torture
bangiebangs'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
Are there redeeming qualities? Not if you don't want to read about SA. Skip this book, truly. For me, it was the first one that really went there, but I still liked the story overall. It doesnt break any ground (monstrous MMC, an FMC who is dropped into his clutches, and slow enemies to lovers, the tortured man rescued by a kind woman, etc).
The reason I can still enjoy the book is probably that the rape scenes aren't truly fleshed out - we get the mechanics, we don't get a lot of description of how it feels (beyond "my ass still hurts") or the fallout (ie. how does Ada feel afterwards, what physical and mental effects are there). This doesn't diminish what happens, of course, but it does make it much easier to focus on the slow process of her seeing more of him and gaining some understanding. (Fwiw, the worst part for me was her reaction to him "twisting" her legs - so much more palpable, and gave me more of a visceral reaction).
In order for this all to work I think you have to understand that people (especially women) do have rape fantasies, and that that is ok. To be clear, it is *not* ok to actually rape someone, but fantasizing about that is just something that many people do. (I'm explicitly excluding cis men or people who actually want to sexually assault somebody and talking about a sexual fantasy here). I think it's legitimate to suspend disbelief and enjoy the book for what it is: an enemies to lovers rape fantasy, even if it is not something I'd want to read uncritically (meaning without acknowledging the rape, and accepting that this can still be a turn on... as a fantasy.) And because it is a fantasy, a dark one at that, it's acceptable that this is not CNC but actual non con.
With that out of the way: the pacing is pretty good, though feels a tad hurried at times (it's not a long book). The dialogue... eh. His blunt way of talking about fucking her sometimes took me out of the story a little, mainly because he otherwise talks like a being that has lost touch with humanity and isn't particularly modern. But ok.
The world-building was great, super interesting take! Also enough mystery left for book 2.
Recommended if you liked Pestilence, dark romance, rape fantasy and dont mind gore and violence. Explicitly not for you if you mind any of that and/or graphic descriptions of death and decay (incl children)
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Torture, Vomit, Alcohol, Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Terminal illness, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Religious bigotry
mixxroxy's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Infertility, Slavery, and Body horror
Minor: Child death
christyjoreads's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Slavery, and Sexual assault
bloodybella'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
4.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Violence
ezrin's review against another edition
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Gaslighting, and Rape
mollyjeansutter's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Death, Gore, and Body horror
shinyfox's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.75
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, War, and Suicide
Minor: Animal death
Dubcon/noncon, child birthgillian0231's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
- RAPE!!! The MMC literally rapes the FMC the entire story. I understand dub-con, have read it in a few dark romances, and do enjoy it if done right, but that was not was what this was. He has to use his mind control powers to get her to fuck him and to get wet.
- The main characters literally have zero chemistry. She doesn't really end up liking him until the last ~20% of the book. No character development and it really feels like she develops Stockholm Syndrome that's how little chemistry there is
- Bad writing. Everything felt disjointed, there was no character development, time would suddenly pass or we would suddenly be in a new location. It was just chaotic
- Personal preference, but it was all kinda just too gross for me. Like enough about the rotting corpses. I know he's the king of the dead but it was a bit excessive
- Smut scenes didn't do it for me. I think it was a bit of a combination of personal taste (so much anal, which he used as a scare tactic/threat) and just plain bad writing. Also I think it started way too quickly in the book, but again that goes back to Enosh just straight up raping Ada
- SHE CALLED HER CLIT HER "NYMPH"!!!!!!!!! WHY?????????
- Why did Enosh have some morals ("I despise pain, Ada. But not as much as I despise those who inflict it without mercy") but was fine with raping her? Does the author not know what consent is?
- So much doesn't get explained, like why doesn't Enosh allow the dead to rest? Why did he abandon his duty? And this was a really big plot point, it definitely should have been explained
- It gets too close to the victim blaming territory with Njala (just like in A Soul to Keep)
- Honestly Ada's only personality trait is wanting to be a mother but not being able to and being a good wife to her abusive husbands. What a role model
Honestly this probably deserves less than a 2 star rating but the author did put time and effort into this and I hate giving someone's hard work such a bad score. 2 is usually the lowest I'll go. I always did think the world-building had potential and was interesting, it just wasn't executed great and was put on the back-burner to the rape
I don't usually put trigger warnings in my reviews because I believe there are better resources out there, but I will for this one, especially because the beginning of the book does a horrendous job of doing so
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Torture, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence