Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton

2018 reviews

dark mysterious fast-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: No

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

1st read: 2022
Reread: 12.2024

This is a "re-read" review.
So, I read Haunting Adeline two years ago (it was during Covid and before Booktok time). Maybe because I have specific experience reading dark romances, I was not so "blown away". It was an interesting read, but to be honest, I was just mildly amused (maybe cos I watched so much Dexter). 
Basically, I read and forgot about it.
But then I got stuck on the Booktok, and, of course, I told myself to give it another chance, so I reread it (actually, I listened to the Audiobook, thinking maybe I would have a better experience). Yip, I think the Audiobook managed to introduce me to the main characters more appropriately, so I enjoyed the book more. 

Haunting Adeline is a bit strong introduction into a dark romance subgenre, but if you are like me and you grew up loving the original Dexter, Hannibal, and Criminal Minds, you will find it interesting but not so dramatic. Nevertheless, if you are a newbie, thread carefully. Mind the trigger warnings. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book is A LOT. So many people have been talking about it, so I read it, but this book is overwhelming and wild (and that’s a tame way to describe it).

It’s extremely difficult for me to not feel serious irony with the MMC being all “white knight” to stop sex trafficking and protecting women, to being a sexual assaulter himself. Even if the FMC eventually consented to sex, she very much did not consent in their first few interactions, or for him to be all macho idiot man when it came to essentially mansplaining that one day she’ll beg for him and need him and all that bullshit. You need that enthusiastic “YES”. AHHHHHH

Throughout half the book all I was seeing was the Whoopi gif: “You in danger, girl”. Damn, Adeline really isn’t that smart, huh? (At least she does admit it herself at one point.) Dude, get out of the house. 

And so many lines and situations in this book made me gag and make a combination of these faces: 😬😑☹️😞😔😟😕😫😖😣😩😤😠😳😱😧🥴🤢

Yes, I will read the sequel. I do not understand how this book has such a high rating. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Girl what did I just read
The consent is not just dubious,  it's practically non existant
For someone who claims to hunt down rapists, Zade needs to find a mirror and take a long hard look into it. And Adeline, sweetheart, I'm glad you know what you like and sure, being chased is really hot, but looking attractive does not forgive r*pe. It doesn't matter if you wanted it, you were actively fighting it, you never had a conversation about it before hand with him, so no thank yew ✨️

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings