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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I can always rely on miss McIntire for a fast paced, spicy, and dark romance.
The focus of Abrahamic religions in a dark romance will always entice me. My only gripe with this book was it didn’t last longer. I left myself wanting more from Amaya and Cade: more deep conversations that would make them feel more realistic. Yes I know expecting realistic things from a dark romance seems redundant. But McIntire is a great author and I know she could do it. It’s exactly why I will continue to read the entire series lol
As of now I have not read Wretched or Hexed.
The focus of Abrahamic religions in a dark romance will always entice me. My only gripe with this book was it didn’t last longer. I left myself wanting more from Amaya and Cade: more deep conversations that would make them feel more realistic. Yes I know expecting realistic things from a dark romance seems redundant. But McIntire is a great author and I know she could do it. It’s exactly why I will continue to read the entire series lol
As of now I have not read Wretched or Hexed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was the first Emily McIntire book that just didn't hit for me. The book was well written. The plot was just as dark and twisted as her others. I didn't even find anything particularly wrong with the characters.
dark
emotional
slow-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:
Complicated
4/5 stars! Minor Spoilers!
This was my most anticipated read of the series and actually was the driving force behind me trying this book series again! I read ‘Hooked’ when it came out well actually DNFd ‘Hooked’ as I really didn’t like the romance between Hook and Wendy. I feel like I’m fated with Hook themed romances as I also like Kates Robert’s ‘Wicked Villains’ series which is similar but I find is mostly just spice and not a lot of actual plot or sometimes not a lot of romance going on. I was anticipating her own version like Hooked called ‘A Worthy Opponent’ and that was also my least favourite. I didn’t realise until I went into the book store and realised last year that Emily McIntire also did the same by exploring different adult Disney villian romance twists and Esmerelda and Claude??? How was she going to make this work I was absolutely intrigued.
I think ‘Crossed’ is probably her most darkest yet in this series. I do like a bit of dark romance and I have read some books that were actually probably a little more dark but found it difficult to connect with the characters in this book. Yes the spice was great but what I’ve loved in this series is actually has some pretty passionate romance plot lines and felt connected to the characters on quite a deep level in ‘Wretched’. It reminds me a lot more of Scarred but I find Cade (aka Claude if he was about 30 years younger and was a beef cake) hard to really care about. He was actually completely deprived. Was he hot? yes but how can you go on going forward after he was murdering women. I understand in dark romances a lot of the mmcs have killed but it’s mostly bad people not innocent women on the streets. I found that very hard to connect with and I honestly tried forgetting at the beginning him killing that prostitue because …hmm not for me personally.
On the other hand the spice and the sexual tension between the two characters was just fantastic. The yearning I felt for them but not really for them to be together…but the ending really reminded me of ‘Scarred’ both characters becoming more and more morally gray and just going a bit insane. I thought the ending in Scarred worked they were both devious from the beginning so it worked but I felt with Amayas character through 90% of the book was a kind loving person and the end she just goes mad? So it felt a bit too much for me at the end and got a bit silly personally.
But the tension and the fact he’s a man of the cloth and she isn’t…I love that trope so much even though you shouldn’t! Fleabag honestly does it best like I need those vibes in a book. The fact they couldn’t be together the forbidden bit was just amazing not just because of his religion but her profession, situation etc. The fact it was quite slow burn as well I really enjoyed it!
Can’t wait for ‘Hexed’ in November!
This was my most anticipated read of the series and actually was the driving force behind me trying this book series again! I read ‘Hooked’ when it came out well actually DNFd ‘Hooked’ as I really didn’t like the romance between Hook and Wendy. I feel like I’m fated with Hook themed romances as I also like Kates Robert’s ‘Wicked Villains’ series which is similar but I find is mostly just spice and not a lot of actual plot or sometimes not a lot of romance going on. I was anticipating her own version like Hooked called ‘A Worthy Opponent’ and that was also my least favourite. I didn’t realise until I went into the book store and realised last year that Emily McIntire also did the same by exploring different adult Disney villian romance twists and Esmerelda and Claude??? How was she going to make this work I was absolutely intrigued.
I think ‘Crossed’ is probably her most darkest yet in this series. I do like a bit of dark romance and I have read some books that were actually probably a little more dark but found it difficult to connect with the characters in this book. Yes the spice was great but what I’ve loved in this series is actually has some pretty passionate romance plot lines and felt connected to the characters on quite a deep level in ‘Wretched’. It reminds me a lot more of Scarred but I find Cade (aka Claude if he was about 30 years younger and was a beef cake) hard to really care about. He was actually completely deprived. Was he hot? yes but how can you go on going forward after he was murdering women. I understand in dark romances a lot of the mmcs have killed but it’s mostly bad people not innocent women on the streets. I found that very hard to connect with and I honestly tried forgetting at the beginning him killing that prostitue because …hmm not for me personally.
On the other hand the spice and the sexual tension between the two characters was just fantastic. The yearning I felt for them but not really for them to be together…but the ending really reminded me of ‘Scarred’ both characters becoming more and more morally gray and just going a bit insane. I thought the ending in Scarred worked they were both devious from the beginning so it worked but I felt with Amayas character through 90% of the book was a kind loving person and the end she just goes mad? So it felt a bit too much for me at the end and got a bit silly personally.
But the tension and the fact he’s a man of the cloth and she isn’t…I love that trope so much even though you shouldn’t! Fleabag honestly does it best like I need those vibes in a book. The fact they couldn’t be together the forbidden bit was just amazing not just because of his religion but her profession, situation etc. The fact it was quite slow burn as well I really enjoyed it!
Can’t wait for ‘Hexed’ in November!
Such a toxic relationship and couldn’t keep reading to find out how the FMC rationalized being with toxic MMC.
dark
emotional
tense
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
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes