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abbey567's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Trafficking, and Violence
autumn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
0.25
But, I’m trying to push myself out of my comfort zone with my reading this year, in case I might find that I enjoy something I never bothered to try. It worked with another title (following two serial killers’ romantic tryst), so why not this?
Well. I’ll tell you why.
The male main character. Ugh. He’s a super-hacker who is also a super-spy and super-stealthy super-soldier who rescues “trafficking victims” by killing bad guys. He devotes his life to saving “girls and children” (as written in the book), but upon seeing a poster of the FMC outside a book shop decides he is going to stalk her and force her to love him. Huh??? Where’s that savior complex now, dude?
Of course, the first trafficker we encounter is described as a “Mexican” man. The next predator we are introduced to is part of a group of politicians who participate in Satanic rituals of drinking kid’s blood, and - wouldn’t ya know it - he’s got a stereotypically Jewish last name! Bigoted stereotypes, ahoy!
All the “trafficking victims” are portrayed as loved and cared for little English-speaking girls who were snatched up by evil immigrants and will be returned to loving families, furthering this ridiculous notion that these trafficking rings are snatching up middle-class white women and their tow-headed children Braydynn and Braxxlyeigh from the children’s section of Target, rather than portraying the reality that most trafficking victims are groomed by family or close friends, or are a part of marginalized communities that are easily exploited or taken advantage of.
The “hero” MMC murders a man and leaves his hands on the FMC’s doorstep, sexually assaults her multiple times (once with a handgun), and then she falls in love with him because he bangs her so good. He’s a disgusting hypocrite, and she is a dimwit.
We’ve also got a potential ghost (?), a drug dealing crime family, a 1940s mafia, a crazy “broken doll” who works in a haunted fair and murders people…the list goes on.
The FMC was maybe (?) haunted in this book, but the fact that people can find anything redeeming in either of the main characters of this book is what will haunt me.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Murder, Slavery, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Blood, Cannibalism, Pedophilia, Torture, Vomit, Antisemitism, Child death, Drug abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
darcynewton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
If you're reading this review i'm going to assume you have a basic understanding of the book because let's be honest here... what dark romance readers haven't heard of Haunting Adeline? Exactly
When I went into this book i'd tried not to research it on booktok as I wanted the book experience without a swayed opinion. This is something I highly recommend doing as it allowed me to enjoy the true content of the book without knowing any spoilers and I think it just made it that little bit better. Admittedly any spoilers put onto TikTok would probably be removed due to inappropriate content so there isn't really much you can research on this book, but anyway, don't.
Yes Zade may be a little effed up, however I still can't help falling in love with him... and I sort of wouldn't mind having my own sexy stalker to throw my life into the air... is that bad? Probably, but hey if you're reading this then you probably got something a little loose up there too so you can't really judge me.
The only true warning I can give is, even if you're into dark erotic scenes, some parts of this book do get deathly dark *literally*. Me and my sister very much read the same books however we have an ever so slightly different reaction to gruesome details and this is one I know she would not enjoy. So please understand the sheer depth of what you are about to read. It is graphic and it is very easy to visualise.
One piece of information I do need to give on Hunting Adeline is that it is substantially darker and sad reading the... situation?... thats going on. If you do plan on reading Hunting Adeline I strongly suggest you read the duet back to back with as little break in-between as possible, it makes the second book slightly less dark, not much, but slightly.
Overall this book was fabulous and I really did enjoy reading it, especially chapter 30 ;).
I've recommended it to numerous friends even though I think that's a slightly cruel thing to do but I really hope more people can love this book how I did.
If you've made it to the end of this review, do send me a friend request as I love connecting with people who are just as mentally messed as me.
Graphic: Stalking, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Gore, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Incest, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, and Violence
melodyramirez's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Antisemitism, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Car accident, Child abuse, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Cannibalism
er_inreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Confinement, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Blood, Misogyny, and Mental illness
jsmulan96's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It felt at times like we were skipping over action out of boredom or convenience just to get to the next exciting bit. The timeline of events got confusing and location descriptions could have been more planned out.
The sex scenes were sexy and the disturbing scenes were disturbing. It was a fun and quick read. Finished it in 2ish days
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Torture, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Sexual content, Blood, Gaslighting, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Murder
nineinchnails's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Stalking, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Trafficking, Rape, Child abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Car accident, Infidelity, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gore
jodi_xo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Slavery, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Child death, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Alcoholism, Stalking, Gun violence, Death of parent, Confinement, Child abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Pedophilia, and Death
louiepotterbook's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Graphic: Gore, Infidelity, Violence, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Confinement, Car accident, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Stalking, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Rape, Murder, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
faerybookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Gun violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Death, Murder, Torture, Trafficking, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Stalking
Minor: Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Confinement