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mariakureads's review against another edition
challenging
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I wanted to like this one. I really did – I mean the premise sounded promising plus Kraken MC why not right? – but there was enough here that left a sour taste in my mouth.
Thane is cold and distant in a way that leaves him almost nonchalant and unfeeling towards others and slightly self absorbed in his own pain that he's blind to the rest around him which might not be a problem except he's just signed a deal to take a human bride for the next 7 years, which honestly he's not wanting.
Whereas our human MC, Catalina, signed the deal to get away from her world and all the bad with it, I'm thinking in hopes of something better. She has a lot of issues, one being that she's so used to being verbally, mentally and possibly physically abused that she can't tell when she is being hurt thus harmed and in violation of their contract because it's so "normal" to her.
I tried but honestly Thane doesn't recognize his maltreatment until more than 3/4ths of the way in and by then I really couldn't see or understand how aside from the contract keeping them together, why, and this is a short read, they would be together? She has so many different self issues aside from being a survivor of abuse to stay in a relationship with a man who neglected her time and time again and added on to the damage.
I loved The Dragon's Bride and am curious to see how the others play out, hoping that the other protagonists get better treatment than Catalina did.
Thane is cold and distant in a way that leaves him almost nonchalant and unfeeling towards others and slightly self absorbed in his own pain that he's blind to the rest around him which might not be a problem except he's just signed a deal to take a human bride for the next 7 years, which honestly he's not wanting.
Whereas our human MC, Catalina, signed the deal to get away from her world and all the bad with it, I'm thinking in hopes of something better. She has a lot of issues, one being that she's so used to being verbally, mentally and possibly physically abused that she can't tell when she is being hurt thus harmed and in violation of their contract because it's so "normal" to her.
I tried but honestly Thane doesn't recognize his maltreatment until more than 3/4ths of the way in and by then I really couldn't see or understand how aside from the contract keeping them together, why, and this is a short read, they would be together? She has so many different self issues aside from being a survivor of abuse to stay in a relationship with a man who neglected her time and time again and added on to the damage.
I loved The Dragon's Bride and am curious to see how the others play out, hoping that the other protagonists get better treatment than Catalina did.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Confinement, Death, and Body shaming
sup3r_xn0va_maya's review
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
Thane is a POS and I'm so annoyed with this book. Catalina deserves so much better than his dumb ass. I understand that he's going through loss and grief but that doesn't give him the right to be neglectful and borderline abusive towards Catalina. Thane takes too long to start treating Catalina right in my opinion, and it's frustrating as hell.
I don't think book was long enough to address the trauma that Catalina has gone through or the grief that Thane is dealing with. Because of the short length of the book, Thane is an asshole and selfish for 60% - 70% of the book, so basically for most of the book.
He's so carelessthat he ends up giving Catalina "The Bends" at the start of the book. He then locks her in a tower for weeks on end, leaving her in isolation.
For those few weeks she was only fed bread by the tower/kitchen workers because they thought she was purposefully being neglected by Thane and they wanted to follow in his footsteps.
Even though both characters discuss not wanting children, Catalina gets pregnant because he doesn't think about using any form of contraception. Up until the 70% mark, Thane has sexual encounters with Catalina and then he always leaves right afterwards. Leaving her feeling rejected, neglected, and used (like all the other people in her life have already made her feel.)
I would say that this book has an okay amount of spice. I really want more spice in my monster erotica! I would rate this 3 🌶️ chilies/ out of 5🌶️ chilies.
Overall this book was really frustrating but the smut was okay so I'm giving it 3 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I listened to this audiobook for free on Hoopladigital.com
I don't think book was long enough to address the trauma that Catalina has gone through or the grief that Thane is dealing with. Because of the short length of the book, Thane is an asshole and selfish for 60% - 70% of the book, so basically for most of the book.
He's so careless
For those few weeks she was only fed bread by the tower/kitchen workers because they thought she was purposefully being neglected by Thane and they wanted to follow in his footsteps.
Even though both characters discuss not wanting children, Catalina gets pregnant because he doesn't think about using any form of contraception. Up until the 70% mark, Thane has sexual encounters with Catalina and then he always leaves right afterwards. Leaving her feeling rejected, neglected, and used (like all the other people in her life have already made her feel.)
I would say that this book has an okay amount of spice. I really want more spice in my monster erotica! I would rate this 3 🌶️ chilies/ out of 5🌶️ chilies.
Overall this book was really frustrating but the smut was okay so I'm giving it 3 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I listened to this audiobook for free on Hoopladigital.com
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Abandonment, Abortion, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Medical content, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, and Grief
myinvinciblesummer's review against another edition
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Abortion
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
unusablebooklore's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Loads of grief
Loads of what appears to be CPTSD
Thane’s neglect and isolation of Catalina is abusive and Catalina just keeps accepting it because of her rock bottom self-worth.
At one point Thane gags her and pushes her limits…no discussion, no safe measure. Again, yes it’s fiction, so suspended reality I get that. But I feels so wrong.
I adored the first book in this series, and I enjoyed this one as well. My biggest complaint is that they're a bit too short. They don’t unpack the characters as well as I want them to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Body shaming
bopancakes's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Surprisingly enjoyed this book more the I expected since I have a fear of the Ocean and large bodies of water. It helped that Catalina was super relatable, sadly given our shared baggage, also that Thane was hot.
The story was full of comedic moments and enough heat to create its own hot spring. As a Non-Binary person I absolutely love Ramanu with their pronouns, then the introduction of Embry and the Ze/Zir pronouns was amazing! Katee Robert is very quickly becoming a new favourite of mine because her world is just full of LGBTQ+ Love!!
Another thing I’m truly enjoying bout this series is how the author creates these characters that have truely reached a point where a demon deal is potentially the only way out, they have baggage and the creatures have baggage, it definitely helps make the characters more relatable and real. Most importantly the characters meet their respective partners but it’s not treated like a “fix it all” situation, they still have baggage and are actively working through that.
Can’t wait to pick up the next book!!
The story was full of comedic moments and enough heat to create its own hot spring. As a Non-Binary person I absolutely love Ramanu with their pronouns, then the introduction of Embry and the Ze/Zir pronouns was amazing! Katee Robert is very quickly becoming a new favourite of mine because her world is just full of LGBTQ+ Love!!
Another thing I’m truly enjoying bout this series is how the author creates these characters that have truely reached a point where a demon deal is potentially the only way out, they have baggage and the creatures have baggage, it definitely helps make the characters more relatable and real. Most importantly the characters meet their respective partners but it’s not treated like a “fix it all” situation, they still have baggage and are actively working through that.
Can’t wait to pick up the next book!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abortion and Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy and Child abuse
cardaisy's review against another edition
I was having a lot of fun for the first like 25% and then I slowly realised I was not having fun anymore
I had high hopes for this book especially since I really enjoyed the first in the series, but this straight up sucked for me. The MMC was neglectful and abusive and the FMC put up with it because of past abuse and seeing his actions as normal and to be expected
Also maybe this is just me reading it wrong, but the CWs at the start of the book really made it seem like abuse/neglect was all in the past (like in the first book) and not literally a key plot point. I guess this is supposed to be a dark romance? Maybe?? I just feel like that was not what was on the tin, especially since at the beginning of this book (just like in the first book) there is SUCH a heavy emphasis on the fact that no harm will come to the FMC
I had high hopes for this book especially since I really enjoyed the first in the series, but this straight up sucked for me. The MMC was neglectful and abusive and the FMC put up with it because of past abuse and seeing his actions as normal and to be expected
Also maybe this is just me reading it wrong, but the CWs at the start of the book really made it seem like abuse/neglect was all in the past (like in the first book) and not literally a key plot point. I guess this is supposed to be a dark romance? Maybe?? I just feel like that was not what was on the tin, especially since at the beginning of this book (just like in the first book) there is SUCH a heavy emphasis on the fact that no harm will come to the FMC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
thaliareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.0
Overall a very fun and spicy read. However, it did feel like more of a novella. Since these are seven year contracts I sort of wish we could spend some time skipping farther in time to see more. However, the intended story does wrap up nicely in the length used. I think this had a little more plot/conversation as opposed to spicy scenes when compared with the first book, and honestly I thought the balance worked well. Again, I just wish we had more time to see these characters develop further. A good read, but not one I'll feel compelled to frequently come back to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Abortion, and Death
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Pregnancy and Murder
As with the first book in the series there is a high level of detailed spice. A reocurring theme is the discussion of the death of Thane's husband, which was viewed as a murder, and how that's affected him and his ability to accept/enter into a relationship with someone new. Catalina on the other hand has felt abandoned/neglected/unwanted by her family since she was young - which is what led her to enter the contract in the first place. There are some themes of her feeling confined early in the book. Later in the book there is a relatively detailed account of an abortion - however it does have a fantasy twist and while clearly defined is not explicit or graphic.harveyjoy53's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death and Toxic relationship
bangiebangs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As far as spicy monster romance goes, these are really enjoyable. It's more novella length, so can be read in a few hours. Felt a bit different from the first of the series, in that pacing seemed a little rushed towards the end, and I'd have liked just a little more story around the personal development part. Some developments feel a tad rushed.
All that said, though, this was really enjoyable and had me smiling and even chuckling on occasion, and I'll continue reading the series.
Ok the one thing that was a bit too much for me was the sentence "It is prehensile?".. like yes, you are currently getting hot and heavy with a half kraken person, but who says "prehensile" in the heat of the moment? Just a tiny thing obv, but that interrupted the scene for me.
All that said, though, this was really enjoyable and had me smiling and even chuckling on occasion, and I'll continue reading the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Abortion
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
mspilesofpaper's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I really enjoyed The Dragon’s Bride, so I thought that this one would be a good choice as well but I was utterly mistaken.
Aside from an extremely odd pacing and all the baggage that both characters have (loss of his love for Thane, childhood trauma and emotional/mental abuse for Catalina), which would have profited from being a longer story: wtf did the author really think? Thane is extremely cold, distant and stand offish (even for his own people) and leaves Catalina after sex. He basically triggers the harm clause from the contract several times and he’s just not loosing his territory because Catalina has no concept of self-preservation.
The book includes an abortion scene, which just happens because Thane forgot about protection. I wish it would have been handled better because it’s just put in after they fuck around for over a month (and do relationship stuff), the abortion happens and somehow it triggers their happy end. Of course, the harm clause (which could’ve been triggered apparently because Catalina got pregnant against her will) doesn’t happen because Catalina waves it off again.
Both deserve someone better because I can’t see that pairing work at all.
Aside from an extremely odd pacing and all the baggage that both characters have (loss of his love for Thane, childhood trauma and emotional/mental abuse for Catalina), which would have profited from being a longer story: wtf did the author really think? Thane is extremely cold, distant and stand offish (even for his own people) and leaves Catalina after sex. He basically triggers the harm clause from the contract several times and he’s just not loosing his territory because Catalina has no concept of self-preservation.
The book includes an abortion scene, which just happens because Thane forgot about protection. I wish it would have been handled better because it’s just put in after they fuck around for over a month (and do relationship stuff), the abortion happens and somehow it triggers their happy end. Of course, the harm clause (which could’ve been triggered apparently because Catalina got pregnant against her will) doesn’t happen because Catalina waves it off again.
Both deserve someone better because I can’t see that pairing work at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abortion, Grief, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment