Reviews with content warning for Torture - The Player

Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Player by Nikki J. Summers

7 reviews

poupimali's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

The narration is in dual by Shane East and Evelyn Rose

This story is captivating, Bryony and Will are linked by fate and by the mind games of a psychopath, orchestrated by The Taskmaker. A ghost from the past.
This story has so many layers to unravel.

With “The Joker”, this one is a masterpiece of this series.

Tropes
Frenemies to forced proximity to lovers
Vigilante with a golden retriever personality
He is obsessed with her
SAW vibes

Content warnings
Torture
Kidnapping
Murder
Mind games
Mention of Child abuse, child neglect.

Content Warnings

storiesintales's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

The Player, where to start. At first I thought our MMC, Will, was just going to be another player and working his way through women like your typical player. But, I was wrong in every sense of the way and meaning of the book title.

It was pleasant surprised by how dark the book was. There’s thought and effort brought into this. Where it was definitely more plotdriven than smut driven. This book almost was a game for your mind with all the twists, turns and questions that form after reading each chapter.

Will

I was unsure if he could mend himself to a likable character as he has a funny way of showing his interest in Bryony. He’s a jokester, doesn’t seem to take life very seriously, but ended up being a little fluffy teddybear. One that wants to protect the ones he loves and will go to every extent to ensure that happens. This becomes evident when him and Bryony are locked in a cell together and he keeps on a brave face for Bryony, but underneath his tought exterior he does panic and wonder what might happen to them.

Bryony

I liked her, she had fire and bite to her character. Thinking she’d be able to make her own ends meet and not wanting to rely on anybody. It here where she struggles to let Will in, and it was a beautiful moment to witness when she opened up to him when they were captured together.

The taskmaster, his identity and his reasoning for taking them remains a mystery for a long time. But the moment he decides to let Bryony and Will go I can understand why they’re on edge, broken en bruised - it is a moment that does feel surreal and sounding too good to be true. Their home returnWill being so unwilling to involve his protector buddies in order to protect Bri. Whereas I also feel like she was in the wrong for asking him not to tell his friends.

The background story of Will’s past is something that I still think about after two weeks of finishing this book. Foster homes should be a home of safety and security. When in fact it was the total opposite for Zye. I like that he took to Will’s baby brother, Frankie. Almost like Will and his brother were the only ones he would tolerate. It broke my heart when Will ran back and promised Zye to come get him out. But in the end he never did. The horrors that have happened within those walls of Clivesdon House. Bryony’s father looking the other way, all the ones involved getting what they rightfully deserved. Just in a very unconventional way.

Literally I have no one to talk to about the one smut scene where Bryony talks to Will in wanting to take back her power. The way he was providing such a safe space, even when he was unsure, he agreed and allowed both their vulnerabilities to be there in that moment. Knowing Bryony needed that moment to work through her trauma.

The result - hot, steamy and brainbreaking moments that led to a lot of screaming and fist biting whilst reading.

Personal preferences

It felt a little odd to end the book with the POV from the wedding officiant. I know it’s to set up for a (potential) future story, but it didn’t feel like it was part of the story that had just finished.
I liked that it had short chapters, it really helps with wanting to find out more and sucking you into the world of badassery.

I’m conflicted if Zye deserves his own story. On one side he is terrifying with what he’s capable of, on the other, he sounds like a sweet, caring and kind human who got shaped into the grown human he turned out to be in this story. In a way he does deserve his redemption arc and that is my empathetic side talking. Though he’s held a grudge for what 20 years? That’s a looooong time, the despicable things he’s done in the meantime make it feel unforgivable to give him that redemption. It’ll have to be big and strong with no mistakes on his end to do good. Would be able to redeem himself?

Content Warnings

ddog8's review against another edition

2.0

challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Noooooo!

I loved and devoured the books in this series. All 4-5 star ratings. But this one completely missed the mark for me. Man, I'm so sad.
I'm sorry, I know this book got really great ratings...

I can't really pinpoint why. There were some weird inconsistencies that just annoyed me:

- Bryony (FMC) commented on his (MMC) amazing muscular body and tanned skin when they were getting it on the next day in the mask scene. They were locked in a cell for "weeks" (unspecified) and basically starved. HOW did he get a tan the next day and how did he keep muscle mass by eating a sandwich and a piece of toast a day?
- They both initially lie to their friends about where they were for the time they were missing, well... mainly Bryony which was just stupid. Their friends and family didn't notice how they MUST have been sallow, skinnier, haggard from poor sleep? Didn't question why these overly social and bombastic people went MIA in the first place with a text saying "brb, gone for sexy times"? Yeah, not buying it.
- There is no mention of her having her period which would have been a challenge but would be a reality if she was there for so long. Also, unprotected sex. Perhaps she had an IUD or something.
- Will also went through this experience. Yes, he deals with graphic violence etc. often, but I felt bad that the FMC was taking his reaction to the situation at face value. He's also human and survived a horrible situation while carrying the weight of her well-being. It must have been exhausting.
- Lastly, to be pedantic, hoooowwww did he sleep lying on his side with his ear mutilated? Ok, perhaps it was the other side but really...you just almost sever your own ear and it's pain free and just a non-issue?

It all just felt really shallow 😞
You never got to know the characters, there was no depth to them which was really sad. Honestly, I felt I knew the villain way more than the main characters.

All in all, unfortunately this one wasn't a winner. I still love Nikki's writing and will read the next one.

Content Warnings

lil4c4mour's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Okay, everyone say it with me…
LOSER BF
And I mean that with the most upmost respect. A man who fell fast and hard. We had a look into this relationship in The Joker(~~not a necessary read, but more like a cute Easter egg~~). We follow the story of Bryony and Will. The development of their relationship, along with the usual criminal subplot.

this time around, they are kidnapped and held hostage in order to do the dirty work of someone from Will’s past. Very interesting to see an antagonist who you’re(well me) kinda rooting for. Of course, I wanted Bryony and Will to be safe and heal from this traumatic experience. ~~But why was I kinda kicking my feet and giggling at the end when Isaiah was flirting…~~

Content Warnings

poupimali's review against another edition

5.0

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

erinmd156's review against another edition

2.75

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Content Warnings

questionablereads's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

Every time I read a book from this author I think, "this is my new favorite book." The Player is book four in The Soldiers of Anarchy series, and can be read as a stand alone (but read the previous books anyway because they are dark romance gold). The Player is a frenemies to lovers story that follows Will and Bryony as their love unfolds through a series of torture games. This book is next level dark (be sure to check triggers) and a rollercoaster of emotions, but beyond perfection. As with all Nikki J. Summers books, you get an amazing plot, character development, and wonderful spice.

Content Warnings

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