Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton

871 reviews

fairyfluffcake's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

Undeniably erotic but also undeniably disturbing. I like morally grey characters but I don't like female characters being bullied or forced into submission and then made to look like they're grateful for it. It was missing something earlier in the book to make it clear how and why Adeline was a manipulator and how and why Zade was in fact playing with Adeline's kinky enjoyment for being scared. Without that, it was just porn and worse, reinforced the idea that a woman doesn't really mean it when she says 'no'. Their relationship was obviously the main focus of the book, the rest of the plot was very predictable crime thriller and unconvincing government conspiracy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Torture, and Kidnapping

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, and Trafficking

ahappyhallowqueen's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

jane731's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

skilb's review against another edition

0.5

Genuinely, the worst book I’ve ever read. There are unpublished fanfics on AO3 and Wattpad with more care for their plot, characters, and writing than this piping hot garbage. I think the only reason the book continues to circulate is because of the “shock value” it offers to readers who don’t typically read smut or horror books. If the characters were at all likable, I probably could have rallied through the last half, but they’re all insufferable. Zade needs to be institutionalized or euthanized - I’m still on the outs for which one should happen. Addie is not relatable, but somehow predictable and boring? Daya is the only somewhat likable character in this book and I hope she lives a long, happy life away from her trash best friend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Stalking, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse and Gaslighting

ssmead88's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual harassment

cocosalamander's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, and Trafficking

messy130's review against another edition

dark medium-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

Okay, i gave in to booktok cause i was curious and everyone was hyping it up… My brother in christ, i did not think it would be this bad. I haven’t finished it completely and i don’t think i ever will. To put this into perspective it’s worse than any colleen hoover book like way way way worse.

Other than the literal rape that goes on all throughout the book the character story is so bad. It dosent make sense! why would zade vow to protect women but rapes one? like hello?! The language used to describe is so boring and the events aren’t entertaining. The rape scenes, literally could have been good if it was approached in the proper way with the proper care and aftercare with consent. The main character developed mixed feelings because she liked it since it felt good (as sex does)that what happened was alright. Which is so wrong! I’ve also heard people defending this book saying “that’s kink shaming” CNC is a kink which stands for consensual non-consent, which requires consent hence the name. In my opinion, there is no justifying it and this is not dark romance. It’s just full of rape. 

People may read and think this kind of stuff is “hot” and acceptable which is really dangerous. I’ve heard so many underage readers reading this book because it is “spicy” and because of the hype on social media. 

I literally cannot explain with words how bad this book is. Please save your money!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Cursing and Alcohol

r_hall210's review against another edition

challenging dark tense 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Sexual harassment

coral_moon's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

The content doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I could handle darker. It does bother me that it's unnecessarily long and poorly written. Why does smut equal plot holes and over-explanations? I guess not all dark romances can be written by Anne Rice. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Stalking, Murder, and Sexual harassment

saramykayla's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail