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urbookishamiga's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
First, I loved that this book isn’t just like all the other vampire books where the blood sucker can’t walk in the sun. This was great because we get to experience the “creature” stalking Alina during the day and night time. It was just *chefs kiss
Second, I loved that Alina isn’t some pink-wearing-damsel in distress (not saying this is a bad thing), it’s just so nice to see a different kind of FMC who’s not afraid of wearing mourning black and accepts that she is different, that she is intelligent/a woman of academia, and she’s a bada** poisoner. She’s seriously one of my new favorite FMC’s. Like seriously she’s so cool.
My heart was racing for the most part of the book until about 60%. There was a tiny bit a lull, HOWEVER, it was necessary as her “quiet time in a lab” is important for the books plot. I had a baby inclination of what would happen in the end, but I did NOT anticipate what truly happened. The baby cliffhanger left me wanting more and I cannot wait to read book 2.
Please make sure to read the triggers if you are sensitive to dark subjects. I personally went in blind but can see how this read may affect sensitive readers. Please make sure you are comfortable with the TW’s before continuing. Your mental health matters.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death and Mental illness
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Kidnapping
Please read the TW’s before starting your read.one_more_chapter96's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Toxic relationship
crinkledmochi's review against another edition
- 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: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
csmoke85'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, and Murder
novellearts'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
4.0
That being said, I liked Alina a lot as a character, I liked Silas a lot less. There were some really hot scenes and there were some that I didn't care for. I will say that I personally hate when books include any version of knotting. I find the concept repulsive and invasive especially as the books that include knotting usually love to use it as a "surprise."
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, kissing the skin on my shoulder and up to my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair and keeping me in place, pushing his hips firmly into mine. “You said you wouldn’t,” I breathed. “I lied,” he said lowly. “Why?” “Because you are mine.” - Quote of Silas and Alina's conversation after he knotted her, saying that he wouldn't and that he "doesn't do that to humans."
I did mostly enjoy the banter in this book, but I wish that it centered more around Alina's job and her actually poisoning men.
The Poisoner story felt incredibly reminiscent of Haunting Adeline to me. It just felt like a vampire version. Though I will say, I liked this story more than Haunting Adeline and I liked the characters much more. I also kept finding myself wishing that Alina would just end up with Phoebe, because let's be honest, that would've been much better than Silas or Viktor.
The ending of this was unsatisfying to me as well. It was so rushed and incredibly open-ended. We didn't learn as readers how
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cannibalism
thombe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Confinement, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death and Cannibalism
2j4d3's review against another edition
Graphic: Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Murder, and Sexual harassment
kaylamac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
dezzella's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
I think this book had a cool concept - a woman killing vampires via poison. However this did not hit very high for me. There are lots of dark things in this book (stalking, death, poisoning, SA, etc.) so I would suggest looking up the warnings before continuing to read this book.
My biggest gripe about this book is that it feels to vague the entire book. It doesn't feel like characters, emotions, setting, or plot are described fully, instead things are left vague and the reader has to infer. Because of this, I ended up not caring for any of the characters or situations. Also, while many people consider this a dark romance I would say that there is very little actual romance. There is spice, yes, but majority of the book is focusing on the characters stalking/being stalked and doing some academic studies. I feel like some of the plot points came out of nowhere, and I wasn't sure whether I had read it wrong or if it just wasn't hinted at earlier. While I do enjoy dark romance, there were also a couple scenes after the halfway point that gave me an ick/did not sit well with me (I'll avoid mentioning for spoilers).
I liked the first couple of chapters but after the halfway point I kept reading only to see if things eventually tied together or started to make sense. To me it did not, and left me disappointed by the end.
Overall, concept was cool but I think the execution was too vague and the characters were not built up enough.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
kylie2052's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Stalking
Moderate: Drug abuse, Gore, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit