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williebenz's review against another edition
5.0
If you enjoy dark romance with real-life horror - a toxic mother and selfish boyfriend with a side of monster/shifter romance, then this is book for you. Sal is tall, dark, handsome and is obsessed with Angie remember the truth of her childhood.
Angie is controlled by her mother in all aspects and is forced to marry in 2 week but when her job gives her the opportunity to go to El Salvador to aid in a mining agreement with the locals, she doesn’t hesitate and welcomes the new freedom. That’s where she meet an unexpected guest who will change her live.
TW/Tropes
General Content Warnings: graphic depictions of cannibalism, mild discussion of self-harm, ritualized self-harm, murder, graphic language, panic attacks, child abuse, mentions of needle-based drug use, parental abuse, guns, murder, depictions of indigenous rites in a fictionalized universe, discussion of sexual assault (including coercion based rape), death of an adolescent, partial loss of mental autonomy, and discussion of suicide.
Social: colorism, ableism, fatphobia, racism, prejudice, discussion of historical genocide, body shaming, discussion of deportation, trivializing mental illness, self-destructive coping mechanisms, emotional self-harm, self-sabotage, and confrontation of an abuser.
Romance: dubious consent, breeding, masochism, graphic sex acts, choking, large objects, sexualized violence, intense language, graphic sex, masturbation, stalking, kidnapping, forced captivity, brat taming, somnophelia, praise kink, orgasm denial, domination/submission, anal, spanking, knotting, cum worship, primal play, breath play, and D/S dynamics.
Angie is controlled by her mother in all aspects and is forced to marry in 2 week but when her job gives her the opportunity to go to El Salvador to aid in a mining agreement with the locals, she doesn’t hesitate and welcomes the new freedom. That’s where she meet an unexpected guest who will change her live.
TW/Tropes
General Content Warnings: graphic depictions of cannibalism, mild discussion of self-harm, ritualized self-harm, murder, graphic language, panic attacks, child abuse, mentions of needle-based drug use, parental abuse, guns, murder, depictions of indigenous rites in a fictionalized universe, discussion of sexual assault (including coercion based rape), death of an adolescent, partial loss of mental autonomy, and discussion of suicide.
Social: colorism, ableism, fatphobia, racism, prejudice, discussion of historical genocide, body shaming, discussion of deportation, trivializing mental illness, self-destructive coping mechanisms, emotional self-harm, self-sabotage, and confrontation of an abuser.
Romance: dubious consent, breeding, masochism, graphic sex acts, choking, large objects, sexualized violence, intense language, graphic sex, masturbation, stalking, kidnapping, forced captivity, brat taming, somnophelia, praise kink, orgasm denial, domination/submission, anal, spanking, knotting, cum worship, primal play, breath play, and D/S dynamics.
cometchaser713's review against another edition
5.0
Came for the spice, stayed for the absolutely incredible story. I am only about a third of the way through this book and I can absolutely say this is one of the best books I've read in ages. The characters are so well rounded and have great complexities that really make them feel real. Can not wait to finish and this might become one of my new favorites. Also, f*ck seagulls.
Edit: I laughed, I cried, I tossed my kindle in anger. Seriously considered staying up all night and calling out of work to finish it. 100/10 Definitely my top book of the year.
Edit: I laughed, I cried, I tossed my kindle in anger. Seriously considered staying up all night and calling out of work to finish it. 100/10 Definitely my top book of the year.
kittykels's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I LOVE the cultural elements of this book. I love the general story. However, I found it very hard to keep interest. The important world-building information leaned more towards being told rather than being shown. A lot was told to us through the narration and dialogue in a very direct and info-dumping kind of way. It really should have been better woven into the story, the people, etc.
The FMC was a bit annoying, but by the end I was wondering if her naivety (to put it nicely) was intentional, before embracing her full self (phrased this way to avoid spoilers). She doesn't seem as dumb and naive by the end at least, but she very much was for most of the book.
A lot of people have complained about Sal and how he's forcing himself on her the whole time, so that's what I was prepared for going into this book. I was even prepared to DNF if it was too much. However, I didn't find this to be the case at all. Sal is dominant and brutal, but Xochi loves that about him from the beginning, despite it bristling her at first due to her whole shitty life she's lived until now.
So while I was expecting the sex to be the uncomfortable part, it wasn't at all and it was actually the gore for me, especially towards the end. If you're looking to avoid triggers, I'd be more worried about the gore and violence.
I think this is a series, but I honestly don't know if I'll continue reading it, especially if they're all long like this. I like long books but this one definitely could have been shortened. Some basic interactions took several pages to complete.
The FMC was a bit annoying, but by the end I was wondering if her naivety (to put it nicely) was intentional, before embracing her full self (phrased this way to avoid spoilers). She doesn't seem as dumb and naive by the end at least, but she very much was for most of the book.
A lot of people have complained about Sal and how he's forcing himself on her the whole time, so that's what I was prepared for going into this book. I was even prepared to DNF if it was too much. However, I didn't find this to be the case at all. Sal is dominant and brutal, but Xochi loves that about him from the beginning, despite it bristling her at first due to her whole shitty life she's lived until now.
So while I was expecting the sex to be the uncomfortable part, it wasn't at all and it was actually the gore for me, especially towards the end. If you're looking to avoid triggers, I'd be more worried about the gore and violence.
I think this is a series, but I honestly don't know if I'll continue reading it, especially if they're all long like this. I like long books but this one definitely could have been shortened. Some basic interactions took several pages to complete.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Murder, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Body shaming
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Fatphobia
wolfe212's review against another edition
Another book I DNFd... Here's the thing... it isnt the book's fault. AT ALL. Please enjoy this to your heart's content, just ensure to read the trigger warnings in the beginning of the book.
One of the trigger warnings that I saw and that I was okay with (spoilers: I was not), was the trivializing of mental health. It hurt me cause I have OCD and its something I have fought to have seen throughout my life; the fact that I was struggling. It didn't feel right when it came from the love interest and the level that it was disregarded. That's why I DNFd.
AGAIN. This was a trigger warning and something I was made aware of. I went into the book knowing and therefore, this is on my end. I will be vehemently avoiding mental health triggers from now on.
<3
(I also got quite far into the book. So I'm marking as 'read')
One of the trigger warnings that I saw and that I was okay with (spoilers: I was not), was the trivializing of mental health. It hurt me cause I have OCD and its something I have fought to have seen throughout my life; the fact that I was struggling. It didn't feel right when it came from the love interest and the level that it was disregarded. That's why I DNFd.
AGAIN. This was a trigger warning and something I was made aware of. I went into the book knowing and therefore, this is on my end. I will be vehemently avoiding mental health triggers from now on.
<3
(I also got quite far into the book. So I'm marking as 'read')
featherinthewind's review against another edition
The amount of abuse and rape in this book is not it. I tried to power through but I could NOT. MMC is awful. Absolutely. Awful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
zana_reads_arcs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
unread_shelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
melsmagicalreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.5
belotepreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
2.5