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shelbylynnn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book was....not what I expected. I was excited about an intriguing mystery set in a dark fantasy world, and the concept of the Bargainer seemed interesting. Disappointingly, this book ended up being very thinly-veiled smut for the most part with very little of the book even dedicated to the mystery described in the synopsis. The writing was also very simplistic and read like YA but the content was pretty graphic which was very confusing. Not sure who the audience is for this, but it was not me!
Overall a quick read and kept me entertained for the most part but there were many eye-roll moments and the dialogue was so cringe-y, juvenile, and one-note, it felt like I was reading fanfic. The book definitely focused on the romance, which I found unfortunate because the mystery that was set up in the beginning was actually interesting and could've made for an exciting read but it was never even explored. The characters only think about sex, and even the very few moments where something else is going on, the plot feels like background to the characters' central focus of lust. The mc's best friend is portrayed as such an unfortunate racial stereotype and adds absolutely nothing to the story. I also found it uncomfortable that the protagonist was 16 when the relationship began...the Bargainer's age is never revealed but with him being an assumably immortal supernatural being, he is clearly significantly older than she is and makes reference several times to her being a minor.
The plot finally picked up in the very last quarter of the book but it was so poorly written and rushed through in favor of the characters once again being intimate with each other. The final battle scene was a huge letdown and left me feeling very unsatisfied with this book as a whole. This series has high ratings so I guess I'm in the minority here but this book somehow felt very juvenile despite being so dark and romance-heavy. If it had focused on the plot and fleshed out the characters a bit more I think this could've been a much more enjoyable read for me.
Overall a quick read and kept me entertained for the most part but there were many eye-roll moments and the dialogue was so cringe-y, juvenile, and one-note, it felt like I was reading fanfic. The book definitely focused on the romance, which I found unfortunate because the mystery that was set up in the beginning was actually interesting and could've made for an exciting read but it was never even explored. The characters only think about sex, and even the very few moments where something else is going on, the plot feels like background to the characters' central focus of lust. The mc's best friend is portrayed as such an unfortunate racial stereotype and adds absolutely nothing to the story. I also found it uncomfortable that the protagonist was 16 when the relationship began...the Bargainer's age is never revealed but with him being an assumably immortal supernatural being, he is clearly significantly older than she is and makes reference several times to her being a minor.
The plot finally picked up in the very last quarter of the book but it was so poorly written and rushed through in favor of the characters once again being intimate with each other. The final battle scene was a huge letdown and left me feeling very unsatisfied with this book as a whole. This series has high ratings so I guess I'm in the minority here but this book somehow felt very juvenile despite being so dark and romance-heavy. If it had focused on the plot and fleshed out the characters a bit more I think this could've been a much more enjoyable read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Violence
maddierandolph's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Blood, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
Minor: Gore, Vomit, and Addiction
septi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Gore, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Vomit
Minor: Slavery, Abandonment, Body horror, Addiction, and Alcoholism
samdreckman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, Slavery, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Rape, Cursing, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Violence, Death, Body horror, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
emillyholth's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
witcheep's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
medium-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
3.0
The book presents a mystery to solve, but it's quite superficial - almost like an afterthought - in the plot. The plot focuses more on the FMC Callypso' and the Bargainer Desmond's relationship both in the past and the present. The premise of this book is interesting, but the plot and character relationships fall a little short to give room for smut. Some additional editing to strengthen the plot would have make the story more impactful.
Callypso has been through some seriously hard times in the past. Desmond helped her through it then, but then left her for years. Callypso was left heartbroken and alone, to put her life back together again and to cope with hardships. One of her not-so-healthy coping mechanisms is to avoid any meaningful romantic relationships.She gets over that unhealthy habit in a heartbeat, though, when "the right person" comes around talking about soulmates.
Callypso has been through some seriously hard times in the past. Desmond helped her through it then, but then left her for years. Callypso was left heartbroken and alone, to put her life back together again and to cope with hardships. One of her not-so-healthy coping mechanisms is to avoid any meaningful romantic relationships.
Mate business? Mate business? Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.
The protagonist and her best friend both see red flags in the Bargainer's current actions,
All this giving on my end, all this taking on his. This isn't what healthy relationships are made of.
I would have hoped to se Callypso be more strong-willed than her lusty siren side, but maybe she'll get to spread her own wings more in the sequels. Maybe I'll even continue reading this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Death, Pregnancy, Incest, and Alcohol
angeldawn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual assault
katiecoconut21's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Rhapsodic, the first book in The Bargainer series, was a huge letdown.
Personally, it was hyped up so much that I expected something magnificent, and it was just okay. There wasn't particularly anything memorable except for the base premise itself.
I found the plot to be more interesting than the romance, which will be the reason why I continue the series.
Other than that though, I find reading a Wikipedia synopsis will be what I end up doing, if the second book is not better than the first.
Personally, it was hyped up so much that I expected something magnificent, and it was just okay. There wasn't particularly anything memorable except for the base premise itself.
I found the plot to be more interesting than the romance, which will be the reason why I continue the series.
Other than that though, I find reading a Wikipedia synopsis will be what I end up doing, if the second book is not better than the first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy and Gore
jeco2494's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
anastasia_jackson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I got his in a blind date book grab, so I had no expectations beyond it containing the tropes I was told: fantasy romance, sirens and fae, and paranormal romance. All in all, there wasn’t that much world building and the plot is more of reconnecting rather than her helping the bargainer.
Having said that, it absolutely delivers. I loved the romance between Callie and the bargainer, loved the characters, and the spicier scenes were all hot. Some of them more in the reading-over-experience way, but still enjoyable.
Having said that, it absolutely delivers. I loved the romance between Callie and the bargainer, loved the characters, and the spicier scenes were all hot. Some of them more in the reading-over-experience way, but still enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Rape, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping, Trafficking, Death of parent, Stalking, and Child abuse