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readwithaashi's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
I’ll admit, this one took me a minute to adjust to given consensual non-con, degradation, and dual POV are not my preferred trio. However, I enjoyed this book far more than expected! Not only is the pacing decently balanced, the romance is enticing and the “thriller" elements caught me by surprise.
Looking over the premise, my interest was piqued and, frankly, entirely preoccupied by how monster-loving manifested via meeting your sleep paralysis demon. (I suffer from perpetual insomnia as a result of SP myself, there was intrigue.) I loved Virtues’ creativity with Acheron’s character build – dynamic and seductive, like the story. The care and concern in his relationship with Penny is effective, and factors such as consensual non-con and additional kinks are clearly communicated, softening the edge. Save for my personal tastes, the erotic moments are well executed. They very much fulfill the “protective Dom” fantasy while adopting a feminist lens. I could even forgive the heavy-handedness of the dirty talk.
Acheron’s backstory and world-building I was slow to warm up to, but I was content with the part it played in the climax. A fun, unique take on the afterlife with its own set of rules and beliefs. Had this novel been expanded in length, given more time to flesh out, I would have eaten it up, (but I hear there’s a sequel, so I might give that a try). I even found Jenna enjoyable as one of the side characters, most of whom had edge and layers. Shane, especially, was perfectly introduced. No spoilers, but his role took a delicious turn. All the kudos.
All in all, the wrap-up was quick but fairly cathartic. The ending wasn’t predictable per se. The story ended on a note one might hope for and I found that immensely satisfying. If you want to explore dark topics and supernatural romances through diverse, complex characters, give this book a chance! I look forward to reading more by Virtues in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Stalking, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Death of parent, and Murder
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