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theliteraryel'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
1.0
There are so many things wrong about this on so many different levels but I will not go into them one by one. Just this:
STOP ROMANTICIZING RAPE AS A SIGN OF LOVE.
STOP ROMANTICIZING RAPE. PERIOD.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Trafficking, Murder, Stalking, Child death, Rape, Sexual harassment, Blood, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Violence
xmurbef'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? It's complicated
3.25
I went into this with incredibly low expectations, and maybe that’s why I sort of enjoyed it? I didn’t expect there to be a substantial plot, and I actually found myself struggling to put it down so I could find out what happens next. Thank god I have access to the sequel because ending in a cliffhanger like this also deserves jail. J A I L.
Plot aside, it should also be noted that this isn’t *just* a smutty romance novel. The list of trigger warnings I’d attach to this book are nearly as long as the book itself. Definitely not for everyone (or most, tbh). I’ll list a few here:
TW: sexual assault, human trafficking, sex trafficking, r*pe, murder, general violence, and generally non-consensual /dub consensual encounters of a wide variety
*To the author’s credit, these trigger warnings are all outlined on the first page of the book. So the reader is properly warned.
The mental gymnastics it requires to even remotely attempt to understand the thoughts and actions of the male main character is beyond my capabilities. And frankly, some of the shit is just corny. To be expected where smut is involved, I suppose. *sigh* I’ve heard book two is a million times more graphic, so I’m really not even sure I want to read it. We’ll see how it goes.
Graphic: Kidnapping, Misogyny, Rape, Torture, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Violence, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Slavery, and Trafficking
chaosbringer566's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Physical abuse, Slavery, Stalking, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual content, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking
direguard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Stalking, Cannibalism, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, and Car accident
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
thebroestofbros'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
5.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, Death of parent, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Slavery
Moderate: Trafficking, Torture, Violence, and Alcoholism
tylahjayde's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Blood, Trafficking, Violence, Torture, Stalking, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Murder
xxbooksescapexx'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Child abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Slavery, Trafficking, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Torture, Bullying, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Drug use
puffins57's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book is also ridiculously hot (but please please PLEASE check TWs before you even start the book- it’s quite intense). I love the altering how rough yet also how gentle their intimacy and sex was, although some scenes were plain rape and did get a little hairy to read. The mirror maze scene and the initial sunroom scenes though had to be my favorites they were just ahhhhh,
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Torture, Car accident, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Sexual violence, Stalking, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, and Sexual assault
kittykatruin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Death, Gun violence, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping and Cannibalism
humnak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
- Why didnt you check the attic whyyyy??
- 50 pages in, i am struggling to see the part where exactly the booktok and bookstagram fell in love with this novel?
- Actively ignoring her stalkers threats and bringing home a guy. And then the whole oh he died because of me drama?
- And then regretting bringing that guy home for ENTIRELY different reasons.
- 105 pages in i realise this story is wholly about a man engulfing someone’s life just because he happened to see her at some random book store?? He is obviously a psychopath control freak (and not in an attractive way).
- Unrealistic depiction of injuries
- Writing seemed off.
- Fighting scenes werent well written.
- “Hands shaking, I set the box back down and just panic. There’s a drop of blood on my toe. I knew there was blood on my hands already, but now my toes? I can’t take this.” Instead of building up the tension these dumb jokes ruin the mood so bad.
- Wtf was that gun r*pe scene? Wow i thought nothing could disgust me but this motherfucking hypocrite psycho sure did.
- Halfway through i am unable to form any connection with the characters i am not invested or emotionally attached to them and zade isn’t impressing me in the slightest. I have read morally questionable guys several times. I live for such characters in dark romance books but this was unacceptable. He didnt have to force himself on addie and on top of it - HIM ACKNOWLEDGING IT?? NO NO NO. A big no.
- And even before that scene, i simply couldnt bring myself to sympathise with the characters. Addie doesnt give writer vibes. The actions scenes were plain boring. And the whole great grandmother being in love with her stalker plot felt unnecessary. I am at page 234 and 300 more pages to go. I am praying the plot takes a 180 degree turn and there’s something that could save this novel from going to my dnf list.
- The first scene I actually liked was the one where mark invited zade to the charity event.
- I sorta kinda liked addie and zade’s interactions after that point on. (Although i skipped through all the ‘intimate’ scenes. Not my cup of tea.)
- It was awfully easy to guess who killed gigy.
- It doesnt end there. Ofc it doesnt. Theres another book that is 516 pages long.
- Overall i did not enjoy it much. But i do want to know what happens and theres a silver of a chance the second book is better so off we go!
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Murder, Torture, Emotional abuse, Gore, Trafficking, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Cannibalism, Child death, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Physical abuse