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laurenjackman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Gore and Bullying
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
4.5
OMG THAT ENDING! I only started book 1 last night, now I've devoured book 2 and IMMEDIATELY need to jump into book 3!
Graphic: Sexual content, Bullying, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Confinement
Minor: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
liliana_b's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Confinement, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Death, Sexual violence, Stalking, Rape, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Murder, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, and Emotional abuse
bangiebangs's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
What I didn't enjoy:
- the dubious or nonexistent consent (again); they all seem ruled by their bonds occasionally, and one bonding occurs here where neither of the people involved have any agency over their actions, but the bond still completes.
- Oleander is still pretty whiny and naive. Some specks of self-esteem are showing up but if she and everyone else just communicated... this would be much less annoying.
- What I LOATHE in this series is the body shaming... like, Oleander seems to be conventionally pretty/ have a normal, slim body; throughout the book(s) she starts tactical training (sounds like basically CrossFit plus martial arts), so she gets pretty physically fit. AND STILL there are so many scenes where she just thinks about her body, like why the guys would like her "lean, toned" legs (because how is that appealing, a mystery!), or her belly (that was slim to begin with, and is now even flatter). This is also a book with the "she eats more than the guys and still doesn't put on any weight!" trope (both the FMC and her sidekick best friend).
Like, in the scene after the bonding, we're talking sex haze afterglow... just nope:
"I'm definitely not perfect but he says it with so much conviction that I desperately want to believe him. His hand begins to move to stroke over the soft skin of my belly and I'm happy that all my training has shrunk the little belly I have there. I still have one, probably because it's housing my uterus because, hi there, I'm a girl, but it's not something I'm self-conscious of anymore."
What I enjoyed:
- some more hints at the mechanics of bonding... and possibility of manipulating it? I'm really curious to learn what is going on there.
- more of the Resistance, though I still have no idea what their goal might be other than terrorizing the Gifted community? But am looking forward to see what all the foreshadowing was about. So far, a confusing but good villain.
- the bonding itself. With my favorite. Here for it! (Spice overall would say 2/5)
So yeah, some issues with this, lots of CNs to watch out for, but still enjoyable.
Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Classism, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Murder, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and War
Moderate: Blood and Misogyny
Minor: Car accident and Pregnancy
jacobina'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? No
3.75
Moderate: Torture and Confinement