Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Twisted by Emily McIntire

6 reviews

summer_wihone1's review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.5

Loved this book. The chemistry between Julian and Yasmin was incredible and I loved the character development of them both. I will definitely read more fairy tale reimagining books! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Child abuse

emiliamaria76's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Grief, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

viselik's review

I just didn't care as I read this. I spent more time trying to figure out what this one was based on instead of actually enjoying it. The book is really well written though, it's just not for me.

Found out it was based on Aladdin and it kinda made sense to me why I didn't enjoy this book, I wasn't ever a fan of Aladdin.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Classism, Sexism, and Misogyny

dgprus's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Gun violence, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Blood, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, and Violence

ecravens's review

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Body horror, Sexual harassment, Violence, Car accident, Physical abuse, Blood, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Grief, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship

r1vana's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny medium-paced

• 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

4.5

“I want to reach into your chest and hold your heart in my hands, making sure it only beats for me. 
But I don't want your firsts, Yasmin. I want your forever.” 

This is one of the most anticipated books of 2023. With the last book being a hit for me, I had high hopes and Emily Mcintire did not let me down this time!

This was so good. I read it in one shot. Left no crumbs.

There are some ups and downs…

This is a retelling of Aladdin but the villain gets the girl as always in this Never After series. 

I have always loved Aladdin. So when I heard that the author is gonna make a retelling, I was kinda scared and hesitant to read it.

In this book, we are introduced to Yasmin and Julian.

Julian Faraci wants everything. When I mean everything it’s Yasminems father’s diamond business that he helped for years. But in order to do so, he needs to marry Yasmin in order to own Sultan's.

On the other hand, Yasmin wants nothing more than to be able to love Aidan, the man she loved as a child. She just want to truly love him openly. However, due to her father's dying wish, marrying someone of his wish so the soon to be husband will become to heir of his company. 

•Tropes? 

Slow burn with banter

Age gap (13yrs) with arranged marriage by forced. 

Forced proximity and sexual tension.

Enemies to lovers

“If you touch her, you die.”

“My wife!”

The slow burn was slow. Which sometimes made it seems that the plot was getting dragged, but when they got together, the plot got real fast.

Also, I wished that Yasmine had a backbone. Because sometimes it was frustrating to read whenever she let people walk all over her. This book has some misogyny. Julian is hot and cold. But the more we get to see his childhood, the more I have come to care for him:
Your first mistake was not recognizing who I am... Your second mistake was disrespecting my wife. 

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The author easily portrayed Julian as a villain who is truly avaricious and toxic, but deep down, he is a man who has always known what he wants. 

Until Yasmin tries very hard to exploit his weaknesses against him. All the secret scheming and the tension was stressful were almost unsettling. 

I like that his character didn't immediately progressed to a happy lolly changed-man persona that usually comes with dark romances.

By the time I finished the book, his villainous side was still strong as ever but his wife has become his first priority. He is a man who would not hesitate to commit crimes for the people he loves without ever feeling guilty.

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This book also has a love triangle. Something I don’t really like. But in this case since it is a forced marriage with a “villain(antihero) gets the girl”, I let it pass.

And why the heck did he named his snake Isabella. Julian definitely did not look villainy… on that part.

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At the end of the day, Yasmine is sweet and Julian is spicy. They have come to balance each other:
 "My love for you is dangerous.”

PSA: Julian has a very filthy mouth. He is for the street. He’s an Italian villain:
"You're an angel, gattina. And I'll break your wings just to keep you by my side.” 

The spice level depends on the reader…

degradation; spanking; daddy kink; choking; voyeurism

"Sei bellissima quando implori."

“You look beautiful when you beg.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Murder, Kidnapping, and Violence

Child abuse