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Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'
"Slippery Creatures (The Will Darling Adventures, #1)" by KJ Charles
5 reviews
corruptednatz's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Good book. Kim is a difficult character to read and is unsure of what he should and shouldn’t do. But man did he drag Will through it all. 😂
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Kidnapping, Suicide, Murder, Blood, Death, and Physical abuse
bel017's review against another edition
fast-paced
Fun. Fast paced and entertaining. Kim is such a fantastically complex character. Slippery creatures indeed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Confinement, and Sexual content
Moderate: War and Physical abuse
criticalgayze's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
When talking to a friend on my overall thoughts on the book, I said, "I thought it was fun and pretty cute. I don't think I'm 'in love' with them yet, but I think that's a staple of my feelings on cozy BBC police squad TV shows, too. Takes me a while to feel my groove before I love them." I think this is an accurate expression on where I stand at the end of Slippery Creatures.
Although I think I like the story best at the beginning when it is about an angsty bookseller, this was a very enjoyable book. The men at the core of the story and their "tangential lady acquaintances" were incredibly likable, which is the key component to a book like this. There's back-and-forth and furtive scrambling and fag hag "whispering" to help the men understand each other better. You know. All the key components.
I also think the mystery here is well plotted. There were many moments when I thought, "Is this plot twist not a little too contrived?" or "Is it necessary to have ANOTHER character reversal?," yet Charles manages to make sure the answer is always, Yes.
Again, my only issue here was not yet buzzing on the romance at the book's center, but I have full hopes to being at a full 5-star on the series as a whole by the end of book three.
Quotes:
"Will Darling was outnumbered by books." (Page 1)
"'My dear chap, this is a bookshop. There's never anywhere better to be." (Page 26)
"He went through another box of his uncle's letters at his desk, working mechanically, serving customers out of bloody-mindedness rather than enthusiasm. None of them seemed surprised by his attitude. Maybe he was getting the hang of bookselling." (Page 59)
"Thank God they were British. He took a deep breath. 'Cup of tea?'" (Page 72)
"'Nor do I, you corkscrew-tongued bastard. Jesus wept. You could open wine bottles with that.'" (Page 244)
"'It sounds like the start of a joke,' Kim said, and then, a little less waspishly, 'Or at least, a story.'" (Page 246)
"It could be the start of a story or the end of one, Will thought, as they headed out together into the cold, dark street. It could be a farewell, or the foundation of a friendship. It could be an awkward drink in a crowded pub with an upper-class man wound tighter than a neurasthenic's pocket watch, or just possibly something else entirely." (Page 247)
Although I think I like the story best at the beginning when it is about an angsty bookseller, this was a very enjoyable book. The men at the core of the story and their "tangential lady acquaintances" were incredibly likable, which is the key component to a book like this. There's back-and-forth and furtive scrambling and fag hag "whispering" to help the men understand each other better. You know. All the key components.
I also think the mystery here is well plotted. There were many moments when I thought, "Is this plot twist not a little too contrived?" or "Is it necessary to have ANOTHER character reversal?," yet Charles manages to make sure the answer is always, Yes.
Again, my only issue here was not yet buzzing on the romance at the book's center, but I have full hopes to being at a full 5-star on the series as a whole by the end of book three.
Quotes:
"Will Darling was outnumbered by books." (Page 1)
"'My dear chap, this is a bookshop. There's never anywhere better to be." (Page 26)
"He went through another box of his uncle's letters at his desk, working mechanically, serving customers out of bloody-mindedness rather than enthusiasm. None of them seemed surprised by his attitude. Maybe he was getting the hang of bookselling." (Page 59)
"Thank God they were British. He took a deep breath. 'Cup of tea?'" (Page 72)
"'Nor do I, you corkscrew-tongued bastard. Jesus wept. You could open wine bottles with that.'" (Page 244)
"'It sounds like the start of a joke,' Kim said, and then, a little less waspishly, 'Or at least, a story.'" (Page 246)
"It could be the start of a story or the end of one, Will thought, as they headed out together into the cold, dark street. It could be a farewell, or the foundation of a friendship. It could be an awkward drink in a crowded pub with an upper-class man wound tighter than a neurasthenic's pocket watch, or just possibly something else entirely." (Page 247)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement
ateanalenn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
I have very rarely read books set in the twenties, so the whole world setting/worldbuilding was fascinating (and easy enough to follow).
The plot is fascinating and I barely could set the book down because I Needed To Know what was going to happen to Darling/what the mystery they were looking for was (and where it was).
Secretan is the kind of second protagonist/love interest that you quite want to give a good kick to, but knowing the author, this whole business will be resolved with the next books. They did warn that the full HEA would only be resolved with the third book, so I knew what to expect when I saw how the relationship was turning.
Darling made it really easy to relate to and I probably got too involved at some point lol. I started the second book right after finishing the first during my lunch break.
The plot is fascinating and I barely could set the book down because I Needed To Know what was going to happen to Darling/what the mystery they were looking for was (and where it was).
Secretan is the kind of second protagonist/love interest that you quite want to give a good kick to, but knowing the author, this whole business will be resolved with the next books. They did warn that the full HEA would only be resolved with the third book, so I knew what to expect when I saw how the relationship was turning.
Darling made it really easy to relate to and I probably got too involved at some point lol. I started the second book right after finishing the first during my lunch break.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent and Terminal illness
girlonbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-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
4.0
🍵🍵🍵🍵 (four stars as rated in cups of tea because, "thank God we're British.")
When he inherits his uncle's book shop, Will Darling gets much more than he'd bargained for. Now shady characters are demanding he hand over "their" property - the war office is hounding him about it as well, incidentally. And who exactly is the dashing and mysterious Kim Secretan that is ever so eager to help him figure it all out? 👀
Ummm... is it hot in here or is it this book!? HOLY COW, y'all! This book is steamy. Some of the best sex I've read in awhile. I mean, HOT DAMN! Look, I'm going to be real: the mystery is only okay. The best part of this book is the characters and their relationships. Will and Kim are both infuriating little gems and if we don't get more of Phoebe and Maisie in book two I'm going to throw a tantrum. I am a sucker for a cozy mystery and they so rarely have good rep of any sort. Well done, K.J. Charles. Well done.
✨ Rep in this book: Gay protagonist, queer characters
✨ Content warnings for this book: homophobia, harassment, assault, government conspiracy, kidnapping, violence, guns, discussions of war, graphic sex
When he inherits his uncle's book shop, Will Darling gets much more than he'd bargained for. Now shady characters are demanding he hand over "their" property - the war office is hounding him about it as well, incidentally. And who exactly is the dashing and mysterious Kim Secretan that is ever so eager to help him figure it all out? 👀
Ummm... is it hot in here or is it this book!? HOLY COW, y'all! This book is steamy. Some of the best sex I've read in awhile. I mean, HOT DAMN! Look, I'm going to be real: the mystery is only okay. The best part of this book is the characters and their relationships. Will and Kim are both infuriating little gems and if we don't get more of Phoebe and Maisie in book two I'm going to throw a tantrum. I am a sucker for a cozy mystery and they so rarely have good rep of any sort. Well done, K.J. Charles. Well done.
✨ Rep in this book: Gay protagonist, queer characters
✨ Content warnings for this book: homophobia, harassment, assault, government conspiracy, kidnapping, violence, guns, discussions of war, graphic sex
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Death, Confinement, and Blood
Moderate: Police brutality, Torture, and Homophobia
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