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deathmetalheron's review against another edition
- 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
1.75
But the delivery of many of these aspects is disappointingly subpar. The characters go through humiliation parade after parade. The garnish of shipping and naval vernacular immediately gives way to crude words for sexual interaction, the transition between the two being jarring at best and non-existent at worse.
The height of this book comes at Bennett's capture by Ashley Cutler--the dynamics indicated before suggest a conflict between Bennett as a character and her struggle between two loves. I daresay the second fifth to quarter of this book is pretty much phenomenal.
You could see it in my reading journal, but at the halfway point this book goes from a high tension pirate romance to an absolute slog. Some critical decision are made of Ashley's character that really draw the line and make him seem a bit more manipulative and Bennett (who's been characterized as being headstrong and skeptical) brushes them off. I get this is the appeal of a captor-captive romance but the characterization is quite literally strewn off the deck into the sea, NSFW
The final act is an absolute slog where Bennett is NSFW
Even during the good times, the way sexual interaction is written is hysterical and I saved numerous quotes. In a better story, they would be a fun aspect to giggle about and another layer to add to the story's atmosphere, but given the dark humiliating train to the end they come across as severely out of place and way too lighthearted. I was really hoping this book would be it, but MAN it was not.
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Torture, Rape, Kidnapping, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Colonisation, Racism, Slavery, Alcohol, and Infidelity
oharamboure's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Slavery and Racism
kafflyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
Moderate: Slavery and Racism
direguard's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Racism, Death of parent, Suicide, and Infertility
Minor: Vomit, Classism, Excrement, Medical content, and Colonisation
mimi30's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicide, Sexual content, Rape, Violence, Child abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Torture, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Misogyny, Colonisation, Racism, Slavery, Infertility, and Pedophilia
whathollyread's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I absolutely loved the author’s dedication to writing in the narrator’s voice for her time period and adding in all the nautical terms (like we knew what any of it meant). Speaking of the narrator, Bennett, I loved the strength of this woman! She was strong and I loved her inner dialogue and her will to live through every horrendous thing that happened to her.
I’m not going to get into all the issues with this book (e.g. white savior, rape, rape-ish behavior that is quickly forgiven…), because I read other reviews that I think do it better justice.
At the end of the day this book… it didn’t steam roll - I need a boat metaphor- maybe it gave a big heave ho over my heart.
Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Confinement, Slavery, Trafficking, Torture, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Death of parent, Racism, Vomit, Grief, Gore, Death, Classism, and Sexual violence
gougoulf's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Colonisation, Death, Trafficking, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Gore, Infertility, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Cursing, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and War
katkinslee's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
This is a dark romance so some questionable stuff happens but for the most part I really enjoyed the romantic interests.
Trigger warnings for sure!!
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual violence, Gore, Vomit, Torture, Suicide attempt, Racism, Rape, Blood, Violence, Murder, Misogyny, and Kidnapping
gwynn0715's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Slavery, Torture, and Racism
my_corner_of_the_library's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Is this my favorite book of all time with absolutely no criticism? Not at all. But, did I love every page and did it fill my need for such a book? YES.
So what did I love? A strong, sassy, MC who is fierce and not afraid to be the badass she is. A tall dark and handsome love interest that is smooth talking with eyes for only our MC and will slay the world to get her back. A loyal crew that is more like friends that stand by our MC through the worst of times without question. A second love interest that is poised and beautiful that falls apart for no one else.
What didn’t I love? Well…
I hate talking bad about this book, but there were things I wasn’t a fan of. The biggest one would be Bennet’s time on the HMS Blitz. I was so looking forward to watching how Bennet navigated being part of ship that wasn’t hers and had such a different culture, but instead we spent literally the entire time in the bedroom obsessing over sex. Now I am as horny as the next smut reader, but it just seemed like too much and really started to feel repetitive and like I was missing out on any plot during that time.
Also…I understand this was a smutty book, and I went into it with the expectations of there being a lot…but the entire plot revolved around sex, and by the end it started to feel like too much. How is it possible that throughout the entire time of this book and every situation Bennet found herself in the one and only focus and solution to any problem was sex?
Need information? Seduce, repeatedly.
Get captured? Immediate SA attempt.
Saved from SA attempt and need an escape plan? Seduce
Taken to another ship? Repeatedly assaulted.
Saved from ship? Reward with sex.
Need another escape plan? Sex.
And that’s like…only half the book. I just felt that there could have been some other focus in the book instead of everything revolving around sex.
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Blood, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Homophobia, and Trafficking