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livfowler's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
You know when people recommend you a “dark romance,” but then it turns out there’s just a little light choking or something? This is not that. Like actually, seriously, reader beware.
The main characters’ internal dialogue is sometimes a little stilted, especially at the beginning, but improves a lot as their interactions become more frequent and the stakes become higher.
Smutty bits were *chef’s kiss* delectable. Had me making feral clicking sounds that I didn’t think possible.
I think my favorite part of this book was that I predicted one plot twist from a mile away, but I was so focused on it that the next twist hit me like a train.
Speaking of, there’s a little train action (like actually on a locomotive train, get your head out of the gutter), and I sincerely hope for more in the next installment. Picture the alreadyincredibly erotic chase scenes from book 1 but across train platforms and through different cars as Silas pursues Alina across the United States .
All in all, dying of thirst for book 2.
The main characters’ internal dialogue is sometimes a little stilted, especially at the beginning, but improves a lot as their interactions become more frequent and the stakes become higher.
Smutty bits were *chef’s kiss* delectable. Had me making feral clicking sounds that I didn’t think possible.
I think my favorite part of this book was that I predicted one plot twist from a mile away, but I was so focused on it that the next twist hit me like a train.
Speaking of, there’s a little train action (like actually on a locomotive train, get your head out of the gutter), and I sincerely hope for more in the next installment. Picture the already
All in all, dying of thirst for book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
ohheyclaude's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Torture
flowersfortessa's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
1.0
What??? What even was this book? I have mixed feelings about this. I was quite excited to read it and it was a terrible let down.
Plot:
What plot? Where? Plot who? I mean like what even happened? The plot didn't pick until the 70% or 80% mark and everything before it was just smut, Silas chasing Alina and Alina experimenting on Silas' blood. It was so simple and plain, I already saw most of the plot twists coming which were just random.
Characters:
The characters lacked any depth, they were boring and annoying, although I did like it when Alina stood up to Silas and Silas was funny and dramatic sometimes but other than that, just boring. And I want to kill Silas so badly, like please get the fuck out, nobody wants you here. In the book, we were told that Alina is a poisoner and she poisons terrible men, girl where did all of that go?? Like I wanted to read more of Alina doing that, I don't want to read her be fucked by her stalker. And the romance, actually it was not even romance, it was nothing.
So much was happening, yet it feels like nothing happened, no progress was made. I don't really hate this book but I don't really love it either, it had a lot potential, like a lot. It feels as if the author just wanted an excuse to write smut. If you like just ignore all of the bad stuff, I kind of enjoyed reading it, I wasn't bored. And Silas better grovel a lot after the shit he pulled, the ending was not anything phenomenal like everyone else was saying, it was just fine. Anyways, if you like vampire smut, this book is for you, don't come into this book expecting amazing plot and breathtaking characters, I can assure you there's nothing like that at all.
Plot:
What plot? Where? Plot who? I mean like what even happened? The plot didn't pick until the 70% or 80% mark and everything before it was just smut, Silas chasing Alina and Alina experimenting on Silas' blood. It was so simple and plain, I already saw most of the plot twists coming which were just random.
Characters:
The characters lacked any depth, they were boring and annoying, although I did like it when Alina stood up to Silas and Silas was funny and dramatic sometimes but other than that, just boring. And I want to kill Silas so badly, like please get the fuck out, nobody wants you here. In the book, we were told that Alina is a poisoner and she poisons terrible men, girl where did all of that go?? Like I wanted to read more of Alina doing that, I don't want to read her be fucked by her stalker. And the romance, actually it was not even romance, it was nothing.
So much was happening, yet it feels like nothing happened, no progress was made. I don't really hate this book but I don't really love it either, it had a lot potential, like a lot. It feels as if the author just wanted an excuse to write smut. If you like just ignore all of the bad stuff, I kind of enjoyed reading it, I wasn't bored. And Silas better grovel a lot after the shit he pulled, the ending was not anything phenomenal like everyone else was saying, it was just fine. Anyways, if you like vampire smut, this book is for you, don't come into this book expecting amazing plot and breathtaking characters, I can assure you there's nothing like that at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Stalking, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use, Gore, and Alcohol
hanreads__'s review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲."
It’s hard to believe that someone so incredible at writing could only be publishing their first novel, especially when it’s written as well as it is.
I was honoured when I was asked to be an ARC reader because I was so excited to purchase this book and devour it, especially after seeing everything the author had posted, you would be crazy not to be!
When I say this story involves the enemies to lovers trope, I mean ENEMIES TO LOVERS. This is one of first books that I have seen LIVE UP to that trope and truly work with it the way they’re meant to. It’s a cat and mouse game between Silas and Alina until Silas falls in love with Alina and her soul.
Alina is a very unique character who enjoys testing poisons and antidotes out. She doesn’t really care what others think about her, nor what goes on around her unless it’s regarding her best friend Phoebe. Phoebe and Alina are super cute friendship wise. They’re complete opposites and yet since childhood, they’ve been one another’s person, and you can really see that related in the authors writing.
Silas is a playboy, one without a care in the world, especially when it comes to what, or should I say who, he eats. He’s rich, he’s powerful, he’s everything Alina loathes and other women love. I love the dynamic that starts out as a chase between Silas and Alina; I love that their dynamic turns complicated and unexplainable, something that only they understand.
The book is set within the Victorian Era which I personally found really interesting to read as the research and love the author has is present throughout the world building and simpler details such as the clothing. It made the book even more interesting to read, and fitted the genres perfectly.
Unfortunately, there were two scenes that I did dislike within the book, and while I don’t want to give any spoilers, I do want to talk about how the author DID NOT justify a single bad thing that took place. I like that when I was looking for explanations as to why Silas did what he did, I got a clear explanation that made sense but once again, didn’t justify anything. The anger I had and continue to have for Silas is crazy, but I’m really excited to read the sequel and see how things play out.
Finally, the thing I really enjoyed but went crazy at is the plot twist that happened during the story. I was kicking myself when it all became clear, but I love that it wasn’t so obvious that it actually made you made that you couldn’t just guess it there and then. It made the story more enjoyable, it made the story more fun.
I would recommend this story 100 times over if it meant that Ophelia got the love she deserved alongside her writing. Her writing was unique and different, it had little twists and turns that made you fall in love with Silas just to make you remember why you shouldn’t. It had the perfect backstory for Alina to make you love and appreciate her character, her personality, and everything that she does.
If you do read this story, I would make sure to check the TRIGGER WARNINGS as I would hate for anyone to be triggered, but all in all, I think this book will do amazing and be a best seller one day, I truly do. Once again, thank you Ophelia for allowing me the privilege to read this story before it came out, it was an honour.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Medical content, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty