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dark
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS COVERED.
I read the book a long time ago, but I've just read one review and thought I should update this.
đź‘ŤThings I likedđź‘Ť
--> LEVI! I loved this man. I'm totally in love. (Don't recommend me his and his wife's book. It will ruin my mental image of him, I'm sure.)
--> The domestic scenes were so precious (e.g., seeing Agatha Christie together)
--> There were very comic sentences/scenes
--> I actually loved how they killed Grace
--> I liked how it was a woman SA a man and how it happened.
👎Things I didn’t like👎
--> DUB CONSENT.We just understand it is consented because of Bran's pov (still, there is a scene where they have sx against a tree that... naah). Regardless, we can see Nik not caring abt Bran's consent - he actually says it.
--> Niko is way too irrealistically described like this awesome sx god. At 19. Again.. A character that has a mental condition who associates sx and violence (said by him) is a sx god. Great at it! Pleasuring everyone andgrasping Bran's assexuality like Flash. No.
--> Nik getting jealous of a child. That is just ridiculous.
--> Grace is a stupid villain. Like literally. Besides the exaggerated flare she has, she sends the incriminating footage of what she did to another person. What? I mean, she made till now... She doesn't seem that dumb...
Finally... This is not a thing I dislike but just something I want to mention. They have a codependent relationship, which is normal because none of them is in an even slightly healthy place. But one of the famous sentences is "I'll love you for both of us" (said by Nik). This may seem great and romantic, but it is not. The last season of Heartstopper, where Nick talks to his aunt at the beach (if I'm not mistaken), just popped into my mind by being the exact opposite of this sentence.
I read the book a long time ago, but I've just read one review and thought I should update this.
đź‘ŤThings I likedđź‘Ť
--> LEVI! I loved this man. I'm totally in love. (Don't recommend me his and his wife's book. It will ruin my mental image of him, I'm sure.)
--> The domestic scenes were so precious (e.g., seeing Agatha Christie together)
--> There were very comic sentences/scenes
--> I liked how it was a woman SA a man and how it happened.
👎Things I didn’t like👎
--> DUB CONSENT.
--> Niko is way too irrealistically described like this awesome sx god. At 19. Again.. A character that has a mental condition who associates sx and violence (said by him) is a sx god. Great at it! Pleasuring everyone and
--> Nik getting jealous of a child. That is just ridiculous.
Finally... This is not a thing I dislike but just something I want to mention. They have a codependent relationship, which is normal because none of them is in an even slightly healthy place. But one of the famous sentences is "I'll love you for both of us" (said by Nik). This may seem great and romantic, but it is not. The last season of Heartstopper, where Nick talks to his aunt at the beach (if I'm not mistaken), just popped into my mind by being the exact opposite of this sentence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual harassment
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
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
I've found that this book is the number one book discussed in this whole series. After reading and listening to it, I know why. This is a thought provoking, eye opening, soul crushing book and I am here for it.
This is book five in the series and probably my favorite, like so many other people have said. If I could rate it at a higher number, I would. This is my first MM novel and found it to be very well executed. Rina wrote these two characters in a way that I just adored both of them. The other books you find yourself not fond of one character or another until the book is almost over. Not this one. I was in love with Bran from the first book in this series and knew Nikolai had something about him I'd love. The second I started reading this book, I knew he was the best teddy bear ever.
Bran's story broke me. His story is so real and raw. I highly recommend reading the CW for this book. While Rina wrote this with tact and grace, the topics could be hard for some. If you're OK with the CWs, don't leave this on your TBR or leave it on any shelf to read later. You won't regret reading it as soon as you can.
On top of the greatness of this book, the narrators were on point! I started reading this book, then after a few chapters I knew I needed to listen to it instead. Teddy Hamilton as the voice of Niko was out of this world amazing. Shane East made me feel emotions for Bran I don't think I've ever felt while listening to a book. I honestly felt like I was standing on the side of the stage while this entire book played out in front of me. I'm so glad I bought the audiobook and highly recommend it as well .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Outing
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I found this one really hard to rate. I did have some issues with it, but then I will not rate it down cause those issues I had are a common theme in dark romance and I knew it was dark romance.
And I really did had fun reading this, but I'm not entirely sure why. The story sucked me in and I love a totally unhinged characters. Yes, Nikolai was stalking and consent was a foreign concept to him, so I did have to dissociate my brain a bit since I haven't read dark romance in a while.
But I liked the weird dynamic and Brandon's MH issues were actually really well portrayed in my opinion.
The spice was also good and didn't get boring despite there being a LOT.
Obviously a totally unrealistic story concept. Two groups of young hot mafia spawn who keep beating each other up including several hospital visits and burning down buildings in... the south of England? Yeah no, I had to really close both eyes to that to not let it distract me for being just very out there.
But aside from that, I had a great time with this book.
And I really did had fun reading this, but I'm not entirely sure why. The story sucked me in and I love a totally unhinged characters. Yes, Nikolai was stalking and consent was a foreign concept to him, so I did have to dissociate my brain a bit since I haven't read dark romance in a while.
But I liked the weird dynamic and Brandon's MH issues were actually really well portrayed in my opinion.
The spice was also good and didn't get boring despite there being a LOT.
Obviously a totally unrealistic story concept. Two groups of young hot mafia spawn who keep beating each other up including several hospital visits and burning down buildings in... the south of England? Yeah no, I had to really close both eyes to that to not let it distract me for being just very out there.
But aside from that, I had a great time with this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Kidnapping
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
dark
tense
fast-paced
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
Niko is violent, abusive, and stalks/sexually harasses/sexually takes advantage of Brandon until he falls in love... I understand Niko has trauma, but that’s no excuse for how he acts.
Overall this book is a romanticized toxic relationship. It’s smut; not even well written smut.
Overall this book is a romanticized toxic relationship. It’s smut; not even well written smut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Gaslighting
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When entering the realm of dark romance, you're expected to leave your morals at the door and be okay with a lot of questionable things very quickly in order to enjoy the experience.
Is this another trashy mafia book with 99% erotica and 1% plot? Yes.
Is it filled with clichés and painfully cheesy and awkward dialogue? Also yes.
Is this hella problematic on multiple levels? Yeah.
But does the narrative also possess a profoundly accurate depiction of trauma and depression? Astonishingly, the answer is also yes.
So yeah... You'll get several whiplashes from the tonal shifts, the numbers of which are increasing in the second half of the book faster than the price of a weekly grocery purchase. But don't worry, while The God of Fury is trying to have many layers, at the end of the day, it's mostly just smut.
Edit: I did reread it because I realized, strangely, it made me hopeful. So there's that.
Edit: I did reread it because I realized, strangely, it made me hopeful. So there's that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Violence, Murder