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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
"𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥. 𝘐𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯."
Genre: Dark Romance
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Revenge
Trigger Warnings: Flashbacks depict child sexual abuse. The present depicts psychological and emotional abuse and manipulation. Sexual content(questionable consent at times in my opinion) References to self harm, suicidal thoughts, and mental health issues- specifically panic attacks. Mentions of addiction(not the main characters of this book) Violence and death and MORE. Please please PLEASE check your triggers on the author's site and other reviewers.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Rae’s Rating: 💀💀💀💀.5
⚠️⚠️⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️⚠️⚠️
💀 Rae’s Rambles
This book? This book consumed me. I liked the first two a lot but this one sucked me in from the first chapter and didn't let me go until I was sobbing at 3AM begging Damon to let go of his revenge and just admit he loved Winter already. Kill Switch isn’t just a dark romance... it’s the kind of story that grabs you by the throat and makes you forget sleep exists, where you finally look up at 4AM all bleary-eyed like, “oh... huh... guess I live here now.”
If you’ve read the rest of the Devil’s Night series, you already know Douglas doesn’t shy away from pushing boundaries, but Kill Switch turns that dial up to eleven. SO HERES YOUR SECOND WARNING TO CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS ⚠️⚠️⚠️
The pacing is relentless. There’s no “warming up” period. You’re thrown into intensity right away, and it doesn’t let up. Before, we only heard the horrors of Damon's past through other characters' perspectives but to actually be in Damon's head while it was happening? I'll be honest, I had to put my kindle down a few times because I actually felt sick to my stomach.
The characters are incredible. I loved Winter but I truly believe that Damon Torrance is the most well-crafted character I've ever read. He's got the horrible traumatic past, the actual effect that had on his psyche, explanations but not justifications for his actions. He doesn't go from a red flag to an immediate perfect boyfriend/husband either. He has his anxieties, trust issues, questionable reactions and behaviors. He's flawed and toxic and I can't help but love him.
✨ Characters
MMC: Damon Torrance. Yes, that Damon. The one we were all mentally diagnosing in the earlier books. The one we swore we’d never like... and then promptly threw our morals into the trash for. This man is a walking, talking red flag, and I would absolutely make awful decisions for him. LISTEN, I know. He’s toxic af and a walking red flag but he was my favorite Horseman from book 1 and I refuse to deny my heart and my heart chose Damon so SUE ME. Damon is one of the most well-crafted characters that I’ve ever read. He has explanations but not excuses for why he is the way he is. If you can look me in the face and say you can go through the same trauma that Damon went through and come out of it mentally sane, I will laugh in your face because absolutely not, you liar. Damon has issues and he knows that he isn’t a good person, he isn’t healthy, and he never tries to pretend otherwise. Even in the flashbacks where he’s pretending to be Winter’s mysterious stranger, he never denies who he is. He tells her outright that he wants to hurt her and you know what? We stan a man who can be honest about what he wants.
Despite being desperate for revenge against Winter for sending him to prison and essentially ruining his life, he cannot deny this innate urge to protect her, keep her safe, hold her close. He still loves her. I don’t think he ever stopped and even though in the beginning he was definitely scary and a danger to her, he really did everything to stay close to her. Although… making her father flee the country, marrying her sister, and taking control of her family’s finances and house so she essentially belongs to him was a weird way to go about it but like pop off, I guess.
Damon is also fiercely loyal and loves his friends more than anything. He is willing to do whatever it takes to keep them because he’s just so terrified of being alone and unloved. WHILE HE WENT ABOUT IT THE WRONG WAY… Damon really felt he had no other option to keep his friend group the way they always were. He’s a little damaged okay?
FMC: Winter Ashby. Our FMC is the girl responsible for sending Damon to prison. After an incident with Damon as a child, she is blind and yet she doesn’t let that stop her. She is independent, she is badass, and she doesn’t take Damon’s shit lying down. The girl can fight for herself and I admire that. She’s a dancer and she’s not my favorite of the Horsemen’s girls but I still loved her so much.
She’s really struggling with her feelings because she really did fall in love with Damon when she thought he was just a mysterious stranger and was betrayed and heartbroken when she learned that her mystery man was actually the person she hated most in the entire world… BUT! The forced proximity and memories really helped push them together and even she wasn’t able to deny the magnetic pull between them.
Side Characters:
The Horsemen. Oooh boy. Alright Michael and Kai are reluctantly accepting Damon back into their group because of their girls. Banks is literally his sister and Rika… is… too… BUT THEY DON’T KNOW THAT YET! Rika just doesn’t blame him anymore and they’re like kinda lowkey working together, exchanging information. Damon’s best friend Will, however… My sweet baby Will. He is ruined. Betrayed in the worst way because Damon literally tried to kill him and he can’t just forgive that. He’s engaging in some very unhealthy habits and on a path to self destruction and I can tell it hurts Damon to be the cause of his best friend’s suffering. They share a *delicious* scene in the pool house though 👀👀👀
The Ashby family. I hate them :) Respectfully. Winter’s sister is a horrible person and so irrelevant that I don’t even remember her name. Winter’s mother was just as bad, only because she didn’t say or do anything. Agreed to the marriage despite what happened to Winter. All she wanted was money and status and frankly, it’s disgusting.
Antagonist(s): I mean… technically Damon is the antagonist for like… half of this book but the REAL antagonist. Is Damon’s terrible father, Gabriel Torrance. What a disgusting creature. Ashamed of his son, not for his actions, but because he got caught and arrested, he allows Damon to return home(after the kill order is rescinded by the Horseman…) only if he plays nice… by plays nice he means produce heirs for the Torrance name. God I hate him.
When Damon not only doesn’t deliver but begins a relationship with Winter, Gabriel gets… a little mad. Kidnaps Damon, allows him to get stabbed(father of the freaking year 🙄), kidnaps Winter and Michael after they break Damon out. Not to mention, Gabriel was completely aware of everything Damon’s mom was doing to him and let it happen because he thought he was doing him a favor. OH! And that isn’t even Damon’s real mother because Damon is the result of Gabriel assaulting Rika’s mom and taking him from her, the day he was born. YEAH HE SUCKS. Honestly, he got off easy. Dagger to the gut definitely could’ve been more brutal and violent… 😇
📈 Pacing
The pacing of the Devil’s Night series is truly unique because you’re constantly flickering back and forth between the past and present but you never really get the full answer about why the characters are acting a specific way in the present until almost halfway through the book. So I will admit that the pacing is a little confusing. But I personally love it. I have a lot of fun reading the story being like “why tf are they so angry?” and then get my answer a few chapters later when we flash back to the past and I’m like “oh that’s why. Crashout valid.” It never really disrupts the flow of the story for me and it adds an element of mystery without leaving you lost.
Nothing really dragged too much. Especially in the latter half of the book. Things go hard and fast and you’re actually sitting there like “wait wait WAIT IM NOT READY” Even the spice wasn’t dragged out and I stand by the argument that EVERYTHING WAS NECESSARY. Yes, even that scene in the basement of St. Killians. Will needed that and Damon loves Will almost as much as he loves Winter(I actually believe that Damon and Will are absolutely soul mates. Like they are each other’s other half and they need each other more than anyone else but I digress… for now 😑)
🔥 Romance and Spice
Was this book spicy? Yes. Douglas loves her group sex scenes and I can see how that’s a bit much for others. Not me! Proud sinful degenerate here 🙌 But Damon has a really really dark past that’s recounted through flashbacks and his sexual tastes are less about the act itself and more about the mental game. It’s a lot of manipulation and control games for him which feels more spicy than the actual… act. Especially when it comes to Winter. Their scenes can feel a little like a mental game at first. Damon using his control and power he holds over her to make him submit to her and Winter uses her sexuality to mess with him. It’s a game neither wants to lose. Once their relationship progresses, it becomes less about the mental game and then just becomes pure spice and *chef’s kiss* it’s delicious. His relationship with Will also gets a little spicy. It’s less of a romance and more of using sex as a grounding technique which is beautiful but SPICY.
Damon’s romantic dynamic with Winter? I was FERAL for it. They’ve got that whole enemies-to-lovers thing going on, except it’s not “haha they're enemies” it’s “this man is actually scary and dangerous around her" where you're genuinely worried for Winter being locked up in a house with him and yet you still desperately want to see what happens when they’re alone.
I can admit this is where the book lost me a little because while the dynamic was tense and fiery and I couldn’t stop reading it. It felt very toxic at times. Not even like dark romance toxic but like… yikes toxic. Damon literally takes control of her whole life so she belongs to him and in the past, Winter was terrible to Damon. Blaming him for something that wasn’t even his fault and the only way he could get close to her was to literally pretend to be a mysterious stranger and the second they actually fall in love and Damon’s secret is revealed, she’s awful to him. Sent his ass to jail for god’s sake. Idk it just kind of rubbed me the wrong way at first. But I was still feral for it so maybe I’m the toxic one 🤷
🎭 Plot & Climax
The romance was definitely the main plot here so I don’t have much to say other than what I’ve already said… BUT. Here’s a few things that really stuck out to me:
1. Damon growing and changing as a person. Trying to make amends with his friends and even getting them all involved with a little business scheme. And the big mission at the end to go after Gabriel where they don their masks and cause mayhem like the Devil’s Night celebrations from their past.
2. Damon and Rika’s relationship changing throughout the book. They go from reluctant business partners to lowkey each other’s biggest supporter(that still fight but baby steps)
3. Literally everything about Damon’s father. The conflict with him. The massive reveal about Damon’s true parentage.
4. Every single scene with Will breaking my heart into a thousand pieces. He’s not okay, guys. He’s spiraling, self destructing. I don’t know how he’s ever going to heal.
5. THE GRASS MAZE AND THE FOUNTAIN?? 😭
6. Damon Torrance. That is all.
❤️ Overall Vibes
This is easily my favorite of the Devil’s Night series. I was disturbed, I cried, I screamed. I love Damon. It was almost perfect and I had so much fun reading this… If y’all need me I will be trying to emotionally recover from the ride because I am emotionally EXHAUSTED
Damon Torrance is proof that fictional men are where my feminism, self-respect and standards go to die.
Listen, I'm not colorblind. I can see the walking red flag... I just don't care and I happily charge at it like a raging bull
and I'm not sorry.
Would I Recommend?
✔️Yes, if you love obsession, danger, and messy, morally-black MMCs.
❌ No, if you need a healthy romance.
Genre: Dark Romance
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Revenge
Trigger Warnings: Flashbacks depict child sexual abuse. The present depicts psychological and emotional abuse and manipulation. Sexual content(questionable consent at times in my opinion) References to self harm, suicidal thoughts, and mental health issues- specifically panic attacks. Mentions of addiction(not the main characters of this book) Violence and death and MORE. Please please PLEASE check your triggers on the author's site and other reviewers.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Rae’s Rating: 💀💀💀💀.5
⚠️⚠️⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️⚠️⚠️
💀 Rae’s Rambles
If you’ve read the rest of the Devil’s Night series, you already know Douglas doesn’t shy away from pushing boundaries, but Kill Switch turns that dial up to eleven. SO HERES YOUR SECOND WARNING TO CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS ⚠️⚠️⚠️
The pacing is relentless. There’s no “warming up” period. You’re thrown into intensity right away, and it doesn’t let up. Before, we only heard the horrors of Damon's past through other characters' perspectives but to actually be in Damon's head while it was happening? I'll be honest, I had to put my kindle down a few times because I actually felt sick to my stomach.
The characters are incredible. I loved Winter but I truly believe that Damon Torrance is the most well-crafted character I've ever read. He's got the horrible traumatic past, the actual effect that had on his psyche, explanations but not justifications for his actions. He doesn't go from a red flag to an immediate perfect boyfriend/husband either. He has his anxieties, trust issues, questionable reactions and behaviors. He's flawed and toxic and I can't help but love him.
✨ Characters
Despite being desperate for revenge against Winter for sending him to prison and essentially ruining his life, he cannot deny this innate urge to protect her, keep her safe, hold her close. He still loves her. I don’t think he ever stopped and even though in the beginning he was definitely scary and a danger to her, he really did everything to stay close to her. Although… making her father flee the country, marrying her sister, and taking control of her family’s finances and house so she essentially belongs to him was a weird way to go about it but like pop off, I guess.
Damon is also fiercely loyal and loves his friends more than anything. He is willing to do whatever it takes to keep them because he’s just so terrified of being alone and unloved. WHILE HE WENT ABOUT IT THE WRONG WAY… Damon really felt he had no other option to keep his friend group the way they always were. He’s a little damaged okay?
FMC: Winter Ashby. Our FMC is the girl responsible for sending Damon to prison. After an incident with Damon as a child, she is blind and yet she doesn’t let that stop her. She is independent, she is badass, and she doesn’t take Damon’s shit lying down. The girl can fight for herself and I admire that. She’s a dancer and she’s not my favorite of the Horsemen’s girls but I still loved her so much.
She’s really struggling with her feelings because she really did fall in love with Damon when she thought he was just a mysterious stranger and was betrayed and heartbroken when she learned that her mystery man was actually the person she hated most in the entire world… BUT! The forced proximity and memories really helped push them together and even she wasn’t able to deny the magnetic pull between them.
Side Characters:
The Horsemen. Oooh boy. Alright Michael and Kai are reluctantly accepting Damon back into their group because of their girls. Banks is literally his sister and Rika… is… too… BUT THEY DON’T KNOW THAT YET! Rika just doesn’t blame him anymore and they’re like kinda lowkey working together, exchanging information. Damon’s best friend Will, however… My sweet baby Will. He is ruined. Betrayed in the worst way because Damon literally tried to kill him and he can’t just forgive that. He’s engaging in some very unhealthy habits and on a path to self destruction and I can tell it hurts Damon to be the cause of his best friend’s suffering. They share a *delicious* scene in the pool house though 👀👀👀
The Ashby family. I hate them :) Respectfully. Winter’s sister is a horrible person and so irrelevant that I don’t even remember her name. Winter’s mother was just as bad, only because she didn’t say or do anything. Agreed to the marriage despite what happened to Winter. All she wanted was money and status and frankly, it’s disgusting.
Antagonist(s): I mean… technically Damon is the antagonist for like… half of this book but the REAL antagonist. Is Damon’s terrible father, Gabriel Torrance. What a disgusting creature. Ashamed of his son, not for his actions, but because he got caught and arrested, he allows Damon to return home(after the kill order is rescinded by the Horseman…) only if he plays nice… by plays nice he means produce heirs for the Torrance name. God I hate him.
When Damon not only doesn’t deliver but begins a relationship with Winter, Gabriel gets… a little mad. Kidnaps Damon, allows him to get stabbed(father of the freaking year 🙄), kidnaps Winter and Michael after they break Damon out. Not to mention, Gabriel was completely aware of everything Damon’s mom was doing to him and let it happen because he thought he was doing him a favor. OH! And that isn’t even Damon’s real mother because Damon is the result of Gabriel assaulting Rika’s mom and taking him from her, the day he was born. YEAH HE SUCKS. Honestly, he got off easy. Dagger to the gut definitely could’ve been more brutal and violent… 😇
📈 Pacing
Nothing really dragged too much. Especially in the latter half of the book. Things go hard and fast and you’re actually sitting there like “wait wait WAIT IM NOT READY” Even the spice wasn’t dragged out and I stand by the argument that EVERYTHING WAS NECESSARY. Yes, even that scene in the basement of St. Killians. Will needed that and Damon loves Will almost as much as he loves Winter(I actually believe that Damon and Will are absolutely soul mates. Like they are each other’s other half and they need each other more than anyone else but I digress… for now 😑)
🔥 Romance and Spice
Damon’s romantic dynamic with Winter? I was FERAL for it. They’ve got that whole enemies-to-lovers thing going on, except it’s not “haha they're enemies” it’s “this man is actually scary and dangerous around her" where you're genuinely worried for Winter being locked up in a house with him and yet you still desperately want to see what happens when they’re alone.
I can admit this is where the book lost me a little because while the dynamic was tense and fiery and I couldn’t stop reading it. It felt very toxic at times. Not even like dark romance toxic but like… yikes toxic. Damon literally takes control of her whole life so she belongs to him and in the past, Winter was terrible to Damon. Blaming him for something that wasn’t even his fault and the only way he could get close to her was to literally pretend to be a mysterious stranger and the second they actually fall in love and Damon’s secret is revealed, she’s awful to him. Sent his ass to jail for god’s sake. Idk it just kind of rubbed me the wrong way at first. But I was still feral for it so maybe I’m the toxic one 🤷
🎭 Plot & Climax
1. Damon growing and changing as a person. Trying to make amends with his friends and even getting them all involved with a little business scheme. And the big mission at the end to go after Gabriel where they don their masks and cause mayhem like the Devil’s Night celebrations from their past.
2. Damon and Rika’s relationship changing throughout the book. They go from reluctant business partners to lowkey each other’s biggest supporter(that still fight but baby steps)
3. Literally everything about Damon’s father. The conflict with him. The massive reveal about Damon’s true parentage.
4. Every single scene with Will breaking my heart into a thousand pieces. He’s not okay, guys. He’s spiraling, self destructing. I don’t know how he’s ever going to heal.
5. THE GRASS MAZE AND THE FOUNTAIN?? 😭
6. Damon Torrance. That is all.
❤️ Overall Vibes
This is easily my favorite of the Devil’s Night series. I was disturbed, I cried, I screamed. I love Damon. It was almost perfect and I had so much fun reading this… If y’all need me I will be trying to emotionally recover from the ride because I am emotionally EXHAUSTED
Damon Torrance is proof that fictional men are where my feminism, self-respect and standards go to die.
Listen, I'm not colorblind. I can see the walking red flag... I just don't care and I happily charge at it like a raging bull
and I'm not sorry.
Would I Recommend?
✔️Yes, if you love obsession, danger, and messy, morally-black MMCs.
❌ No, if you need a healthy romance.
This was definitely my favorite book in the series. Damon’s redemption is literally unmatched. Be prepared to cry though. His story is so heartbreaking…
I loved the flashbacks between Damon and Winter and it is for those moments that perhaps I did not let myself be discouraged while reading.
The problem, in my opinion, are the taboo scenes that the author often likes to add and which continue to be meaningless, as I had already noticed with Corrupt, it seems that Douglas adds them without a real purpose, they do not influence the plot, they seem to be placed there only to impress the reader and underline the dark romance, which is unnecessary judging by the numerous themes dealt with and the characteristics of the characters. At a certain point it becomes uncomfortable but despite this, the author's style is always pleasant and captivating. It's a book with flaws but full of twists and turns and exciting moments, I just wish she didn't always try to unbalance an already perfect story.
Judging by the reviews read, these are personal tastes and different points of view so do not be discouraged and give this book an opportunity because it truly deserves it, perhaps you will find pleasant the same things that I did not like.
The problem, in my opinion, are the taboo scenes that the author often likes to add and which continue to be meaningless, as I had already noticed with Corrupt, it seems that Douglas adds them without a real purpose, they do not influence the plot, they seem to be placed there only to impress the reader and underline the dark romance, which is unnecessary judging by the numerous themes dealt with and the characteristics of the characters. At a certain point it becomes uncomfortable but despite this, the author's style is always pleasant and captivating. It's a book with flaws but full of twists and turns and exciting moments, I just wish she didn't always try to unbalance an already perfect story.
Judging by the reviews read, these are personal tastes and different points of view so do not be discouraged and give this book an opportunity because it truly deserves it, perhaps you will find pleasant the same things that I did not like.
Who do you think you are Ms. Douglas?!?!?!
Listen, it's no secret that Michael is one of my least favorite characters. I remember when I first read Corrupt and was so pissed. I swore the only person I hated more was Damon. I am a very headstrong person. I finished Corrupt and the two following books and still think Michael is a bitch boy. This book though! I'm so mad because now I love Damon. How?!?!?!?!? How could you do this to me?!?!?! Why can I not keep my disdain for him?!? Life is so unfair! This book was well written and literally covered every single base. It was remarkable how well she handles so many sensitive topics without excusing them or agreeing with them. This book and the two following it are perfect examples of an author telling a story without falling victim to the negativity in the story. Both Winter and Damon are dynamic characters. I not only cared about them but I respected them, which is hard to do when you're just reading a book. I loved the twists and turns of this book. I honestly never saw how things would be handled but this book is the truth!
Listen, it's no secret that Michael is one of my least favorite characters. I remember when I first read Corrupt and was so pissed. I swore the only person I hated more was Damon. I am a very headstrong person. I finished Corrupt and the two following books and still think Michael is a bitch boy. This book though! I'm so mad because now I love Damon. How?!?!?!?!? How could you do this to me?!?!?! Why can I not keep my disdain for him?!? Life is so unfair! This book was well written and literally covered every single base. It was remarkable how well she handles so many sensitive topics without excusing them or agreeing with them. This book and the two following it are perfect examples of an author telling a story without falling victim to the negativity in the story. Both Winter and Damon are dynamic characters. I not only cared about them but I respected them, which is hard to do when you're just reading a book. I loved the twists and turns of this book. I honestly never saw how things would be handled but this book is the truth!
Y'all I ATE MY WORDS with this one. I thought I could never love Damon but boy was I wrong. Damon has been through so many traumatic experiences in his life and that is why he is the way he is. Is it an excuse? No. But it's a reason and that's what allowed me to get passed his shitty behavior in the previous books. All Damon ever wanted was to feel loved and safe, and he never had that except with his friends and now Winter. I knew Damon was better than his behavior in the other books and this book really brought out what I know he could be. I loved hearing his internal dialogue throughout the book and even the internal dialogue of past events (like devil's night with Rika). I knew he wasn't a monster and I am so happy with the way he grows in this book. I liked how Penelope was able to showcase Damon's kindness and loyalty while also staying true to his harder nature. I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him everything will be okay, I cried many times while reading this book and my heart warmed reading this book as well. I'm excited to see glimpses of Damon and Winter in the next book and I am so happy for them. Damon is my favorite horsemen as of right now, we will see if Will surpasses him. Damon's story was incredibly heartbreaking but it was an important story to tell. I love him and want nothing more than to be able to heal that sweet little boy who hid in that fountain.