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vickyz_reads's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
angelofthetardis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Honestly, if I hadn't been given the heads up I would never have put two and two together. It's only when I'm thinking about it after the fact I can start to see the resemblance, and recognise that this version isn't being told from 'Hamlet's' point of view, which I think is what threw me off. Instead, our lead character, Tristan, takes the part of Claudius; the dark, embittered younger brother with designs on the Crown and all that comes with it. His character is mesmerising, and something straight out of bad boy central casting. He's not my usual visualisation for an MMC, but in this case from the first description of him I could only picture Tom Hiddleston playing him. Which meant that his older brother, King Michael, was of course 'played' by Chris Hemsworth...
The contrast between the FMC, Sara, in this and Wendy in 'Hooked' is quite stark. As mentioned in my review of that book, I found Wendy to be lacking in depth, but that's definitely not the case with Sara. Although ultimately under the influence of various men, she is strong enough to stand as equals amongst them, has her own agency and brings her own ruthlessness to the story. There's no wondering how she can stand by someone with such a dark streak; she matches him perfectly.
With the Never After series comes smut, and these scenes match the tone of the rest of the book. The 'action' is not for the faint-hearted, but sadly I don't think the writing is quite hard-hitting enough to properly convey the dynamics of this part of the relationship. It's not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it's missing something that I can't quite identify that would take it from 'it's a bit warm in here...' to supernova.
However, outside of that the writing and story is as engaging and clever as 'Hooked', if a little more restricted by the setting. Princesses and balls don't quite allow the same scope for exploration of space and character that the seedy underworld of a big city does. But there are some beautiful moments where the author really does weave a spell with her words; particularly in those quiet moments between two characters, whether it be our protagonists, father and son, Prince and pauper. That's where her real skill lies; she allows the chinks of light in a dark character burn bright, and by doing so gives them the humanity they need for the reader to root for them.
And once again there's an extra epilogue for those who subscribe to the author's mailing list! Again, it doesn't really add a whole lot, it's just an excuse for a bit more of the same and the author's way of showing that's she's kept her promise to give the villain his happily ever after, but there's nothing wrong with an extra freebie!
On to the next one!
Graphic: Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Blood, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Murder, and Sexual violence
Minor: Abortion
chainsiren's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Torture, Violence, Mental illness, Racism, Confinement, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Classism, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Blood, Murder, Sexual content, Body horror, and Bullying
Moderate: Abandonment, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape
chelle22's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Drug use, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, and Abortion
marblepancake's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Murder, Violence, and Drug use
swolds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The book takes place in a fictional land, back into the 1900’s, so it is a dark romance that takes place in «way back in the days» to say the least. The mindset of women should stand at the man’s side and look pretty and give heirs contra the way our society is today.
Overall, after the first 200-250 pages where the book finally picked up, I didn’t want to put it down. It is a book for an aquired taste, but worth reading. There sure are good things to come as you read on.
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Violence, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent
meganbytes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Torture, Death of parent, Death, Blood, Cursing, Murder, Body horror, Drug use, Confinement, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
lila_heart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Torture, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion, Gore, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Racism
ednam0dewannabe's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Torture, Child abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Bullying
Moderate: Drug use, Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Medical content
Minor: Sexism, Suicide attempt, Racism, Misogyny, Abortion, and Infidelity
mitrosec's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
Moderate: Abortion, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Classism, Cursing, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Vomit and Sexism