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auntblh's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book even though it was also disturbing at times. I can't imagine the pain that Darling had to endure while still maintaing his sense of justice. I can't understand how families can be so cruel to each other. I realize this happens, to some extent, in reality but I still don't understand it.
avid_reader_sf_and_f's review against another edition
Couldn't finish it. This is just too much like "torture porn."
Kenyon has been doing this to her characters since Asheron's book and I stopped reading her for a while after that one, although I loved the book, it was a hard, hard read. But I think this one may truly be my last.
Kenyon has been doing this to her characters since Asheron's book and I stopped reading her for a while after that one, although I loved the book, it was a hard, hard read. But I think this one may truly be my last.
ire7's review against another edition
5.0
A hot mess!
Oh my word,but I was a hot mess reading this book! I think I went through every emotion possible in the day and a half it took me to finish this book! Was even caught twice in tears from a co-worker and a stranger at one point. Both because I was heart broken and because my heart just couldn't take the happiness! This book was an amazing roller coaster of emotions. A book that makes you feel is a book worth reading (and definitely more than once).
Oh my word,but I was a hot mess reading this book! I think I went through every emotion possible in the day and a half it took me to finish this book! Was even caught twice in tears from a co-worker and a stranger at one point. Both because I was heart broken and because my heart just couldn't take the happiness! This book was an amazing roller coaster of emotions. A book that makes you feel is a book worth reading (and definitely more than once).
whiskeyinthejar's review against another edition
2.0
“You are my heaven… And you will always be my eternal hell."
This was almost 700 pgs and I'm guessing 680pgs have the hero either experiencing physical or emotional abuse or recalling it. It is truly awful stuff, examples:
Those are just some examples. It was all too much for me, the torture and constant homophobic slurs started to feel sensationalized, the point that the hero was constantly kicked and belittled by people, past and currently but still remained kind to those less fortunate was made without the feeling of, not reveling in it, but torture porn.
The heroine had some offbeat moments with almost thinking things weren't fair for her after all the hero had endured from her carelessness, not much of heroine material. The whole thing was just off with the excessive torture the hero went through and constant homophobic slurs. This wasn't fun or entertaining to read. I did enjoy past characters from the series and the world the author has set this in but I don't ever want to revisit or read Darling's story again.
This was almost 700 pgs and I'm guessing 680pgs have the hero either experiencing physical or emotional abuse or recalling it. It is truly awful stuff, examples:
Spoiler
the hero experiences rape, as a child from other males and as an adult from foreign objects while captured, along with inhumane torture consisting of a spiked metal gag, carving into face, electrocuted, fed his own waste and finger, and homophobic slurs constantly spouted at him.Those are just some examples. It was all too much for me, the torture and constant homophobic slurs started to feel sensationalized, the point that the hero was constantly kicked and belittled by people, past and currently but still remained kind to those less fortunate was made without the feeling of, not reveling in it, but torture porn.
The heroine had some offbeat moments with almost thinking things weren't fair for her after all the hero had endured from her carelessness, not much of heroine material. The whole thing was just off with the excessive torture the hero went through and constant homophobic slurs. This wasn't fun or entertaining to read. I did enjoy past characters from the series and the world the author has set this in but I don't ever want to revisit or read Darling's story again.
wthhannah's review against another edition
5.0
Omg yes!
I loved this novel with its structure and characters. I love the main cast and can’t wait to read the next novel
I loved this novel with its structure and characters. I love the main cast and can’t wait to read the next novel
amyiw's review against another edition
5.0
4 1/2 stars, I bumped up for keeping my interest through 600 pages.
She does sometime drone on about worries about how the other person feels but it wasn't as bad in this one and the storyline pulls you one way and then the other. Your emotions are definitely tapped to high then low and back again. You feel for both of the characters though sometimes I felt Zarya didn't see the big picture. Darling is too quick to forgive but that is what makes him who he is. He takes up for everyone, taking care of everyone, and they all kick him when he is down. I think I loved his family more than any other of the series so far. Actually this was the best book of the series as this series is only so good, not an A series, but this on was.
Damn she likes to torture her characters, it was a little too much in this one but... at least she didn't "fix" him right as rain. Maris's total devotion to Dar was so touching but sad in so many ways. I'm glad she gave him a happy ending and has a book coming to tell the story.
Very good read that I put off because the series wasn't compelling me. Now I can't wait for the next.
She does sometime drone on about worries about how the other person feels but it wasn't as bad in this one and the storyline pulls you one way and then the other. Your emotions are definitely tapped to high then low and back again. You feel for both of the characters though sometimes I felt Zarya didn't see the big picture. Darling is too quick to forgive but that is what makes him who he is. He takes up for everyone, taking care of everyone, and they all kick him when he is down. I think I loved his family more than any other of the series so far. Actually this was the best book of the series as this series is only so good, not an A series, but this on was.
Damn she likes to torture her characters, it was a little too much in this one but... at least she didn't "fix" him right as rain. Maris's total devotion to Dar was so touching but sad in so many ways. I'm glad she gave him a happy ending and has a book coming to tell the story.
Very good read that I put off because the series wasn't compelling me. Now I can't wait for the next.
strager's review against another edition
2.0
This book did not sit well with me. I love Kenyon's series: Dark Hunter, Chronicles of Nick, and so far The League. No real huge complaints with the books until now. The internal monologues always get a bit repetitive, but that is pretty much a constant in all the books. What bothered me so much about this book was the character of Zarya. The fact I disliked her so much is probably a compliment to Kenyon's writing. Her selfishness and ability to conveniently forget all the horrors brought on Darling by her hand, directly and indirectly, caused me to slam the book down several times. Add to that, Darling went through 19 weeks of torture (which was way over the top and I skipped over some of the torture stuff simply because it was so over the top and didn't make complete sense to me. ), yet Zarya spends one day in the kitchen of Darling's estate and throws a tizzy because she was humiliated and the cook was abusive? This one moment for some reason completely sealed my opinion of Zarya. If not for my overwhelming need to finish things I start, I would have given up this book after the first couple of chapters.
My issues with Zarya was paled only by Kenyon overlooking the possibility and opportunity to create a book based on Maris and Darling's history which could have culminated in a great love story. I completely understand the possible reasons why she decided Darling was pretending to be gay (readership and target audience maybe?)
Finally, I've sworn off the epilogues in these books. Everyone is very cookie cutter and the same. Really, does everyone have to have a baby and get pregnant? I'm sure this appeals to some readers, but for me, it was just a big throwaway that honestly didn't add anything to the story or the characters.
This book hasn't ruined the series for me, but I'm so glad that Kenyon's series jumps around to various characters as the main focus. If the rest of the series was about Darling and Zarya, I am certain this would be the last book I would read in The League.
I would give this book one star; however, despite his faults, I have enjoyed the character of Darling so far in the series and in this book for the most part. I also love Maris and wish he could have a book of his own. In addition, this book has a lot of the same elements as the books before which I also enjoyed.
My issues with Zarya was paled only by Kenyon overlooking the possibility and opportunity to create a book based on Maris and Darling's history which could have culminated in a great love story. I completely understand the possible reasons why she decided Darling was pretending to be gay (readership and target audience maybe?)
Finally, I've sworn off the epilogues in these books. Everyone is very cookie cutter and the same. Really, does everyone have to have a baby and get pregnant? I'm sure this appeals to some readers, but for me, it was just a big throwaway that honestly didn't add anything to the story or the characters.
This book hasn't ruined the series for me, but I'm so glad that Kenyon's series jumps around to various characters as the main focus. If the rest of the series was about Darling and Zarya, I am certain this would be the last book I would read in The League.
I would give this book one star; however, despite his faults, I have enjoyed the character of Darling so far in the series and in this book for the most part. I also love Maris and wish he could have a book of his own. In addition, this book has a lot of the same elements as the books before which I also enjoyed.