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taryn_g's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Child death, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, War, Kidnapping, and Confinement
Minor: Misogyny
kaydie96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I also appreciate how it was a bit of a breather. There’s so much that happens in this series CONSTANTLY so just getting to experience this walk down memory lane was much needed.
Graphic: Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Cursing, Torture, Blood, Child death, Murder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, War, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Body shaming, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence
stardust_heidi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I did find a lot of the repeated scenes quite tedious, even if they were from Casteel's POV. We already know most of those scenes intimately, and while yes, they were all from Poppy's perspective before, I don't know that ALL of them needed to be from Cas's POV. I did enjoy a few of the big ones, like the craven attack/night on the rise and then after Poppy stabs him in New Haven. Those were great.
The moments I enjoyed the most were the new scenes, especially those with Kieran. I loved experiencing their bond from Casteel's perspective and how Kieran just kind of *knew* things were different about Poppy from the beginning. It also opened up a whole avenue of questions I'd silently pondered to myself before and blew them out in the open -- especially during the explicit scenes with Cas and Kieran. Hot damn.
But that last chapter. Holy. Fuck. I think Emil said it best: "What in the fuckity fuck?" Lmao.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Violence, Death, Grief, Blood, Gore, Murder, Sexual content, Torture, Child death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Self harm and Sexual assault
krisalexcole's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Torture, Self harm, and Physical abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Kidnapping, Medical content, War, Child death, and Confinement
crinkledmochi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The ending tho?!??
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, and Grief
tguccione's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Violence, Torture, and Kidnapping
Minor: Confinement, Sexual assault, and Self harm
zia_c's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
However, I must admit, my feelings about this book are a bit complicated. There were elements that I liked, but at the same time, there were reasons that left me dissatisfied throughout the story.
Firstly, I found the writing style juvenile, and I couldn't help but wonder why the series wasn't receiving more attentive editing. It was a bit disappointing in that regard.
Another aspect that bothered me was Cas's constant use of the word "GODS" in practically every other sentence. 🙄 It began to wear on me after a while, and I wished for a bit more variety in his expressions.
As for the unconventional relationship dynamics, I surprisingly accepted the peculiar threesome from the previous book, but this installment seemed to push it further, and I found myself questioning the direction the author took. Weren't Cas and Kieran depicted as close as brothers in previous books? Why were we now being served with intimate imaginings between the male leads?
Additionally, the constant sharing on both physical and emotional levels clashed with the portrayal of "Heartmate bonds" as unique and exquisite. It felt contradictory and almost like a diversion from the main plot.
I'm not particularly excited about the upcoming novella from Ms. Willa's erotic perspective, as I feel it might divert further from the main storyline. I would have preferred to delve into the main book first, but it seems that will have to wait.
In conclusion, if the author doesn't rein in some of the rampant storylines, I might just take matters into my own hands and pen my version of these captivating characters.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Body horror, Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Outing, and Sexual content