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elspethm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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? Yes
5.0
This book really has everything in it, and it all works.
The background is that Darby comes to visit her grandfather in Ireland every summer and she meets Kellen, a quiet boy she sees in the woods when searching for fairies. Every year she meets up with him. One year they are jumping in the lake when they have a "supernatural" experience which connects them in a fairy tale way.
Meanwhile, Kellen has been abused by his guardian, Father Henry. Darby's mother is sick and she can't always come every summer. Then one year she reads online that Father Henry died in a fire, and his ward has likely died with him, but there is no real indication.
A few years later, Darby comes back for her grandfather's funeral with her abusive fiance. We find out she has been abused by people her father hangs around with, and was "saved" by the fiancé. As he is attacking her, Kellen comes back and saves her. (This is all the first 1/3 of the book!)
Also meanwhile, since Kellen is on the run, he has no birth certificate, and has been taken in by the Irish mafia. That leads into a long mafia story which Darby is dragged into.
Along with dealing with both of their previous abuses, they need to save themselves from the mafia. It sounds crazy, but it all works well together.
Both Kellen and Darby learn to be strong for each other and fight for themselves against their demons. There is a HEA and Kellen's back story is ultimately described, which is also sad, but compelling (dealing with the church, abuse, and church based maternity/"adoption" which wasn't really fought against until *1998*!)
There are a lot of trigger warnings, mostly because of their backstories and Kellen's mafia ties, but the romance is wonderful, and the supernatural / fairy tale portion of the story makes it even more special. I don't generally like mafia books and I definitely prefer not to read books about church/abuse, but I enjoyed this one.
The background is that Darby comes to visit her grandfather in Ireland every summer and she meets Kellen, a quiet boy she sees in the woods when searching for fairies. Every year she meets up with him. One year they are jumping in the lake when they have a "supernatural" experience which connects them in a fairy tale way.
Meanwhile, Kellen has been abused by his guardian, Father Henry. Darby's mother is sick and she can't always come every summer. Then one year she reads online that Father Henry died in a fire, and his ward has likely died with him, but there is no real indication.
A few years later, Darby comes back for her grandfather's funeral with her abusive fiance. We find out she has been abused by people her father hangs around with, and was "saved" by the fiancé. As he is attacking her, Kellen comes back and saves her. (This is all the first 1/3 of the book!)
Also meanwhile, since Kellen is on the run, he has no birth certificate, and has been taken in by the Irish mafia. That leads into a long mafia story which Darby is dragged into.
Along with dealing with both of their previous abuses, they need to save themselves from the mafia. It sounds crazy, but it all works well together.
Both Kellen and Darby learn to be strong for each other and fight for themselves against their demons. There is a HEA and Kellen's back story is ultimately described, which is also sad, but compelling (dealing with the church, abuse, and church based maternity/"adoption" which wasn't really fought against until *1998*!)
There are a lot of trigger warnings, mostly because of their backstories and Kellen's mafia ties, but the romance is wonderful, and the supernatural / fairy tale portion of the story makes it even more special. I don't generally like mafia books and I definitely prefer not to read books about church/abuse, but I enjoyed this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cancer, Death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Gun violence, Car accident, Bullying, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Police brutality, Sexual content, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
aklovekorn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Car accident, Violence, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Rape, Police brutality, and Trafficking
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