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clareasday's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol
Moderate: Violence, Animal death, and Stalking
carleymorgen26's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Cursing, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Grief
elderlyemo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is my third Penelope Douglas book so far and it's the lowest rated, despite it generally being the highest rated (and at the very least, most viral) book in general. I knew a fair amount about this book going into it but I had a hard time really attaching myself to any of the characters because all of them were pretty poorly developed and when I did feel like I was gaining insight into one or any of them, they had a complete personality bypass and changed, only to revert back to their original selves when the plot needed them too.
I also understand that this story is full of taboo and that's how we like it, but there were somethings in this story that just didn't need to be there. I also think the person she ends up with at the end makes absolutely no sense and the justification of ones personal trauma being used as a weapon to hurt another person just really disappointed me.
There were the bones (no pun intended) of a great, sick love story here but it focused too much on trying to be a million things at once that in the end it didn't really succeed in being anything at all. I love PD's writing style, and Jake and Noah's characters were almost good at some points, my heart cracked for Tiernan a time or to too, but it was like I was being lured in under the false pretence that any of these people cared about each other only to have the rug pulled out from under us when I realised that none of them did and they all probably needed some time ALONE on that mountain to figure out their own stuff before attempting to love or seduce anyone.
None of the more obvious things about this story disturbed me but when Tiernan said "I feel like this is the only time you like me" to one of the dudes in this book referring to snoo snoo - I wanted to throw the book across the room. AND THAT'S THE ONE SHE ENDS UP WITH?
No thank you Penelope.
No thank you.
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
shellbycox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Animal cruelty, Blood, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Death of parent
antidietleah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Suicide, Death of parent, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Pregnancy, Grief, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
superiorwizard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, and Death
bookameme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Anti-Romance
Quote:📖
“In a few months, the snow will melt, and the world will invade us again, but right now . . . they’re mine. For this one winter, they’re mine.”
Thoughts: 💡
Sometimes I wish P Douglas wasn’t such an entertaining writer. This book sucks you in and keeps you rapidly turning the pages completely engrossed in the story. The problem is that she doesn’t seem to use sensitivity readers. She writes about a few topics that she’s clearly unknowledgeable about and creates very problematic scenarios. I’m certain that this book would rate much higher and be enjoyed by a wider audience if she makes a few revisions.
The characters are all struggling and have intense issues that they really should seek therapy for, instead they just hole up on a mountain and yell at each other. They do end up finding solas and a way to live, and create a very entertaining story. I wish we would have seen more character development, instead what we got were dark themes and crazy hot smut. The bonus chapter found at the end of the paperback gives you a look into Khalib’s struggles and thoughts. I loved that it finally gave insight into a marginalized character and their struggles. If you’re a dark romance reader I’m certain you will enjoy this one, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone that doesn’t like darker themes.
As for the audio, I liked that there were four different narrators. The audio quality was a solid 4, as well as the three male narrators. However, I think the female narrator was spectacular and would love to head more from her.
Fun Bits:
⚜️ Super Smutty
⚜️ Lots of Angst
⚜️ An Interesting Plot
⚜️ Some Suspense
Important Note:✨
This book was rereleased by Berkley and the paperback has bonus content that the eBook doesn’t have.
Full Content Warning:⚠️
misogynistic behavior, power imbalance, group sex, sexual violence, dubious consent, suicide, child neglect, domestic abuse, sexual harassment, and bondage
Stats:📊
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
💙💙💙💙
Audio: 🎧🎧🎧🎧
Narrators: 🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️
Dark Erotica: Taboo, Love Triangle, Coming of Age, Age Gap, Grief & Loss, Hurt/Comfort, Found Family
First Person, Present Tense, Multi POV
⚠️: misogynistic, power imbalance, group 🍆💦, 🍆💦 violence & harassment, dub con, self unaliving, neglect, & domestic 🤕
Graphic: Misogyny, Blood, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Bullying, Confinement, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, Cursing, Mental illness, and Sexual content
ashleereadsbooks692's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Sexual content, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Violence, Confinement, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Rape, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
pippamillerxoxo_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Death of parent, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Blood, and Grief
monallegre's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Cursing, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Fire/Fire injury