Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

15 reviews

habkehanna's review

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

Wow. I feel eternally grateful to have read this book as an ARC, and for my first ever ARC, I feel like nothing will top it. I went into this book expecting something similar to Haunting Adeline. Lights Out goes beyond the dark romance norm and includes humour, satire, and an MMC with golden retriever energy. By far though my favourite parts were the aftercare. The attention that Josh gives to Aly is something that you don't see in a lot of dark romance books. The MCs practicing kinky, dark, twisted and fucked up sex but also in an emotionally and physically safe way, will always mean 5/5 stars for me. Taken together, I loved the characters and I thought their journey together was well thought out and executed. I particularly fell in love with Josh (the first time I've ever said that about a guy named Josh). His energy, his self-awareness about his past and how he acts are a breath of fresh air. Particularly when you're used to reading dark romances where the men are apathetic, at best, towards self-awareness. 

As for the plot, I liked how dynamic it was! The mafia being added halfway through I felt like was a lot at first, but I found that Aly having a dark past like Josh is what ultimately led them to deepen their bond. I loved the rollercoaster ride of the last half of the book after Aly meets a certain monster and how Josh and her resolve it. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone else looking to read it but in short, if you are looking for a dark romance that redefines the genre and shakes things up, look no further than Navessa Allen's Lights Out. I am so excited to get my hands on a hard copy and to immediately add any of her other works to my cart. 

Final note: Are we getting a book on Vern next I feel like it was hinted at! 

Final Final note: THAT EPILOGUE AHHHHH!!!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cannibalism, Stalking, Gore, Death of parent, Blood, Child abuse, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Medical content, Murder, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

d_andrade's review

dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.75

First of all, thank you so much to the author, Navessa Allen and BookFunnel for the ARC!

This book was amazing! I couldn't put it down the moment I started reading it. My expectations were blown away and I was pleasantly surprised with each chapter. A badass FMC was absolutely one of my favorite parts about this book. The MC was also amazing and utterly charming, even more so the more we learn about him. The characters were amazingly written and I love the witty banter that happened throughout. It was so refreshing to read and flowed nicely. Not to mention the complexity of both characters and how well researched and written a lot of things were. 

I can't wait to read more from the author. My dark romance expectations have definitely been set high.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Stalking

Moderate: Physical abuse, Blood, Mental illness, Murder, Vomit, and Violence

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Mass/school shootings

rmesquirrel's review

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Not for the faint of heart but, ooohhh boy are the "spicy" scenes hot. The author gives you two page of warnings before you read the book and it contains 27 items. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Violence, and Sexual content

Moderate: Torture, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Medical content, Mental illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Physical abuse

Minor: Gun violence, Cannibalism, Vomit, and Sexism

jdeeyore's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking

Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, Violence, Death of parent, Car accident, Medical content, Murder, and Rape

Minor: Cannibalism

minishcap's review

dark tense

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, and Stalking

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cannibalism