Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Does It Hurt? by H.D. Carlton

49 reviews

squidney36's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Creepy in a good way
Stalker
Abuse
Misguided but lovable

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soundslikeeelaynah's review against another edition

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challenging tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I mean, if you care about consent then this book is problematic. It's not kink when there isn't consent.

I hate to pick apart books but that's a big distinction. 

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jul1a_pl's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This was weird - a lot of very spicy scenes, but the main characters relationship was so toxic I felt disgusted at times.

Additionally, the very uncomfortable tension between all characters caused by the lack of communication and very tiring personalities - I was actually tired and bored of their behaviour, which was always the same, very monotonous and there was no reflection at all when it comes to their relationship.

Very very spicy and detailed sex scenes description but the plot and character development were very poor.

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rchulin1's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny lighthearted tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Not sure how the author was able to fit so much into a relatively short book but she did it. Such an interesting concept this book I very much enjoyed it

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devynvma0508's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

H. D. Carlton is my favorite dark romance writer and I’ve gone through quite a few books in this genre. The balance between tense situations and romance is *chef’s kiss*. I would say this is the book you should start with if you are looking it to dark romance. 

Spice 5 stars! 

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taylorjade's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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theartistreader's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5


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doahdancer's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0


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hereiskyra's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Man, I was expecting to LOVE this… but I just didn’t. It wasn’t all bad but I never felt the strong attachment I usually do for the characters and their relationship. The “enemies” part  in this one was really strong… like a TRUE enemies-to-lovers, so I’ll give it that. But I just wasn’t jiving with it for some reason… 

The imagery and vibes, though… as usual, were immaculate. 👌🏼
She knows how to paint a picture and make you feel like you’re jumping into the book and that was my favorite part, getting to go back to this island and lighthouse every time I came back to read. 

Enzo was… while rightfully mad about what had been done to him, he felt pretty irredeemable in my eyes at the same time. Like bro, can we not just be adults and ask questions have a proper sit down when someone wrongs us? Nope we have to assault them and try to drown them while getting our jollies off (that scene will now live in my brain forever as it has for everyone before me and all that come after me - no pun intended). His character just… wasnt likable to me at the end of the day. 

Sawyer was a hot freaking mess of a person who came from shitty circumstances and an understandable distrust for other humans. Sawyer was also a terrible person who took from others and manipulated her way through life because she could not someone conceive another way to survive. 

I was pretty interested in the other story and could not read fast enough when it came to the end and FINALLY finding out what happened to his family. His poor daughter but… let’s be honest, she was never going to be able to live a normal life or survive independently as a part of society.  

I liked a LOT of parts of this story but there IS absolutely a reason it took over a month for me to read it.

But listen, if H.D. Carlton wanted to write a book about shoveling horse shit… I’d probably read it. 🤠

Tropes:
Enemies-to-Lovers
Forced Proximity 

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vreyna20_2004's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Before I get into it I’m just gonna talk about H.D Carlton’s writing progress. This was way better than the Cat & Mouse duet. I said it. As much as I enjoyed Adeline’s progression that story was just not that great compared to this one. Enzo is a superior man yeah he dumped Sawyer’s head in shark infested water BUT he had a reason to do things unlike Zade who just did it for the hell of it. Every time Enzo would talk I would start giggling and kicking my feet he was determined to die for Sawyer when trying to escape the island he even gave her a reason to keep living. 

Anyway onto the review. This book has an intriguing plot if there was no romance/spice I still would’ve rated it high just because of the story of Sylvester and his only living child. I teared up when Kacey appeared to Sawyer and Enzo with a rotten mouth due to Sylvester sowing her mouth shut and the fact that he made her eat through a tube made my heart break. She used herself to save Enzo even if it meant she would die. And Sawyer’s story of her escaping her brother after killing him when he tried to rape her yet again I would never be able to think of Maruchan socks normally because of that one scene. I also loved reading Enzo’s story and the reason why he loves sharks and the ocean he just felt like a realistic human being. I also enjoyed Sawyer’s character and her comments for a situation so severe she made things so lighthearted and funny I enjoyed it more because of her.


The spice did not disappoint but knowing it’s H.D Carlton I’m not surprised. I, however, enjoyed the spice in this one since in the Cat and Mouse duet I found myself asking if this morally okay unlike this one plus I enjoyed it more than Zade and his constant god complex. I can’t pick which spice scene I enjoyed the most since everything is forever in my mind. 

If I’m being honest the romance (not sex) wasn’t that obvious to me. They were mostly banging which usually I’ll be like “okay we get it can yall stop fucking and get romantic” but for this type of story I didn’t mind it nor did I care since they were trying to escape alive it does feel like they have a trauma bond relationship but it was still cute in its own weird way.

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