Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Credence by Penelope Douglas

201 reviews

readaholic88's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

This book was a lot. Some real growth for the characters, but overall very unbelievable

bookishrn93's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.75

A little heavy on the trauma sex, and I wish the ending was different. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

jasminealizae's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

It was really disturbing to me that during the sex scenes, in their inner monologue, the characters would compare/describe the other as a child.

This excerpt comes from Kaleb's POV as he's raping the fmc Tiernan:
'...he squats down to slide her panties down her legs. And if he weren't looking at a woman's body, he might think a child was speaking to him with how innocent and sweet she sounded.'

Another scene between Tiernan and Kaleb, Tiernan thinks to herself:
'And last night, I didn't hold back in his bed, but today, I know I can't go there again, and he doesn't get it, because he's like a fucking child.' then proceeds to have sex with him?

Between the incest, rape, misogyny, illegal minor/adult relationship, physical and mental abuse it was hard to pretend to care about the subplots Penelope Douglas strung along when there wasn't erotica. 

Having spite-finished this book I can confidently say Penelope definitely just wanted to write smutty book about incest. Adding a back story for Tiernan and Kaleb regarding their absent parents, and Jakes shortcomings with love, was fluff as Jake and his kids waited for Tiernan to turn 18 so that they could legally engage in sexual activities with her. The addition of Cici Diggins, Terrance Holcomb and Mirai were extremely irrelevant and fell tremendously short in their attempt to keep us distracted from the hot mess that was this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

reproductive coercion

blondebookishbabe's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Extremely spicy! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

raven1358's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Pregnancy

allymurphy's review

dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.5

Had to come back to this review because I am still thinking about this book two years later and that deserves an extra star. it’s not a good book at all but I don’t really care

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy

britrcup's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

This book is dark. It's  taboo. It's spicy. It was like watching a car crash, I wanted so badly to look away but I couldn't. I enjoyed the endgame but I do think a lot of the dark/taboo parts of the book could have been cut out. The complex trauma is written really well and overall the plot is okay. If you are a fan of dark (and I mean really dark) romances and can look past the content warnings the romance might be worth it for you. This is not a book for you if you are looking for fluff.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Cancer

cassadyalexa's review

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

When I first saw reviews for this book I thought it was going to be a spooky thriller novel. It definitely wasn't that. It did, however, keep you on your toes and made you want characters to succeed even if you weren't entirely sure why. Parts of this story felt like home and parts of it felt uncomfortable, just like the main character was feeling throughout the novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual violence

Moderate: Drug abuse and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide

bbygirl21's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

I loved this book. I only wish she could've stayed with all the of them instead of choosing just I've of them, even though I understand the reasons why she didn't.

I loved all the characters. The guys Jake, Noah, and Kaleb are all enjoyable in their own way and they each give Tiernan something she needs. Tiernan could get frustrating at times but overall she's also a great character. And I loved the woman (Mirai) in Tiernan's life as well that acted as a sort of mother to her as well as a friend growing up.i love how caring and affectionate Mirai is with Tiernan throughout the book even while Tiernan is with Jake Noah and Kaleb most of the book.

I loved the storyline as well and seeing why the guys are the way they are until Tiernan shows up. She really brings the three of them together the guys getting along much better with Tiernan around.

Overall a really great book. 4 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Incest, Sexual violence, and Fire/Fire injury

(incest: step cousins/step uncle not blood related)

roreads28's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I did not like this book and was very close to DNF multiple times, I don’t even know why I pushed through to the end. It’s very uncomfortable in many of the chapters and some of the themes are concerning but I guess that’s what the author seems to be known for. This is the first book of hers I’ve read. 

At many points I wanted to take the barely-adult MC away from her new situation which I think was just as concerning as the old one she left. Almost like a change of ownership into a Stockholm syndrome situation. Read this if you like feeling gross about what you’ve just read and ruminating about your poor book decisions. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Incest

Minor: Suicide and Death of parent