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hilary89's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Another absolutely gutting edition from the Hades Hangmen series. I wasn’t sure how compelling of a character Flame would be, but his personality bloomed with the help of sweet, innocent Maddie. Both of them had been through incredibly horrendous trauma (that is written in graphic detail, fyi) but through their relationship they emerged from their experiences so much stronger.
I’ll say this one was as dark (if not darker) than the previous two, but the romance just hit a bit harder. In a way, Flame and Maddie seemed to be written as fated mates, bound for one another.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Pedophilia, Incest, Sexual content, Confinement, Child abuse, Child death, Blood, Gore, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Domestic abuse, Violence, Rape, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, Suicide, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Physical abuse
beckyrendon's review
5.0
They aren't doomed to a life in Hell...
They lived life in Hell. The Hangman may look like devils but it seems that most have been created in the images of their torturers.
Flame was an oddity to me. In books 1 &2, I was cautiously wary and drawn to the obviously damaged man. I was ecstatic that Maddy would be his salvation. I had zero ideas of the kind of horrors this man had faced and I almost wish to ho back to that naivete. Flame is fractured beyond repair- or so everyone thought.
He just needed her light to shine.
Maddy was scared of her own shadow and eveything else in this world, except for Flame.
These two sould could not have been saved in any other way. It is tragically beautiful and mind warpingly sad- the path they were on.
No two people were more destined for each other!
The Hangmen have a war coming. A prophet has run amok. The end is coming. I intend to be on the Hangmens side!
They lived life in Hell. The Hangman may look like devils but it seems that most have been created in the images of their torturers.
Flame was an oddity to me. In books 1 &2, I was cautiously wary and drawn to the obviously damaged man. I was ecstatic that Maddy would be his salvation. I had zero ideas of the kind of horrors this man had faced and I almost wish to ho back to that naivete. Flame is fractured beyond repair- or so everyone thought.
He just needed her light to shine.
Maddy was scared of her own shadow and eveything else in this world, except for Flame.
These two sould could not have been saved in any other way. It is tragically beautiful and mind warpingly sad- the path they were on.
No two people were more destined for each other!
The Hangmen have a war coming. A prophet has run amok. The end is coming. I intend to be on the Hangmens side!
nicholeb84's review
4.0
Tillie Cole really said: Let me put the small, quiet, scared girl together with the large, quiet, neurodivergent man. Let's put the girl who suffered the most violent abuse from the cult with the guy who believes his mere touch turns people. Let's have the girl believe she "belongs" to him, because he saved her from her abusers and he "belongs" to her, because he's spent months sitting outside her door and standing below her window - watching and protecting her. It'll be perfect!
It probably shouldn't work. And, in real life, I would highly suggest these two get therapy. But, within this novel - it works. This is the most character driven of the novels, but it is also the one that dives into the aftermath of abuse the most. Flame and Maddie actually have conversations discussing what they can and cannot do together.
Somethings were rushed.. And somethingss were stupid.
Still, the story was still enjoyable and really set up the next few novels. I did take off a star because half of Flame and Maddie's conversations went like this:
"Flame..."
"Maddie..."
"Flame..."
"My Maddie. My Maddie."
"Flame. My Flame."
I shouldn't have (because they were emotional scenes) but I rolled my eyes and laughed everytime those lines came up.
Spoiler
was physically, emotionally, mentally, and sexually abusedby his father and nowIt probably shouldn't work. And, in real life, I would highly suggest these two get
Somethings were rushed.
Spoiler
Flame killing his abusive father, the elders of his abusive church, and finding his half-brother/Spoiler
Another girl from the cult shows up and they take her in? The cult tries and kidnap the girls again? Cain is still totally blind to the cult's abuses?Still, the story was still enjoyable and really set up the next few novels.
Spoiler
Cain has been replaced with his evil twin! What will happen? How will this guy be redeemed?"Flame..."
"Maddie..."
"Flame..."
"My Maddie. My Maddie."
"Flame. My Flame."
I shouldn't have (because they were emotional scenes) but I rolled my eyes and laughed everytime those lines came up.
benchahoney's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
roxswi's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.5
jazzigtee's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
earthboundcutie's review
5.0
Re-read August 26, 2017
Again, this one is so good. After my initial read through of it, every time I've reread this book I've skipped all of Cain's POV chapters.
I love it, I love how dark it is, how messed up both Flame and Maddie are but also how great they are when they come together.
Originally read January 11, 2017
So. Holy shit. Idk what I just read but my heart is in literal pieces. This book was amazingly dark and haunting and heartwarming and tragic and so full of love.
I'm giving this book a rating of 5 stars with a few conditions. I skipped most/all of Cain's POV chapters. These would have definitely brought the 5 stars down to a 4 or maybe even 3 so I'm just ignoring them (and they weren't needed for this story really. But if you are going to read the next book then don't skip them). This was also not a sexy book. Don't read it if you're looking for sexy.
BUT this was such a perfect story. I loved that the conflict never revolved around fights/betrayals of the H and h. I loved that there was SO MUCH fucking consent. I loved that mental illness was never shown as something shameful. And I FUCKING LOVED Viking and AK. 2 more wonderful friends have never existed.
Damn. There was some pretty fucked up shit in this book. But. This book was awesome. Please read it.
Again, this one is so good. After my initial read through of it, every time I've reread this book I've skipped all of Cain's POV chapters.
I love it, I love how dark it is, how messed up both Flame and Maddie are but also how great they are when they come together.
Originally read January 11, 2017
So. Holy shit. Idk what I just read but my heart is in literal pieces. This book was amazingly dark and haunting and heartwarming and tragic and so full of love.
I'm giving this book a rating of 5 stars with a few conditions. I skipped most/all of Cain's POV chapters. These would have definitely brought the 5 stars down to a 4 or maybe even 3 so I'm just ignoring them (and they weren't needed for this story really. But if you are going to read the next book then don't skip them). This was also not a sexy book. Don't read it if you're looking for sexy.
BUT this was such a perfect story. I loved that the conflict never revolved around fights/betrayals of the H and h. I loved that there was SO MUCH fucking consent. I loved that mental illness was never shown as something shameful. And I FUCKING LOVED Viking and AK. 2 more wonderful friends have never existed.
Damn. There was some pretty fucked up shit in this book. But. This book was awesome. Please read it.