Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A decent vampire romance with a complex plot. Gender nonconforming readers should be aware that Armentrout inexplicably uses the terms “fe/male” as signifiers of gender. Also, there is a dubious consent kissing scene early in the novel, which I will not mark as a spoiler because I would have liked to know it was there myself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Kidnapping
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, War
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read the acknowledgements.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Sexual assault
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, Classism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, War, Classism
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Death of parent, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's entertaining enough, but it is very trope heavy, to the point that the plot only really starts getting important about 70% of the way through. Most of the book is filler and drags out because it focuses primarily on the romance, which would be okay, except nothing too substantial happens for upwards of 400 pages. The twist was really predictable so Poppy looked like an absolute idiot.
On Poppy: her character started out strong and then became whiney and moronic at the twist, which was really disappointing. She's written to be a badass, independent woman, and at times she is. Other times, she cannot think for herself, relies heavily on others (especially the hot guy she met like 2 weeks ago) and is excessively horny, not always at appropriate times too (and for like, no good reason). I like Poppy, but at the same time, I also don't. She's very slow on figuring things out, to the point I got second-hand embarrassment for her. Poppy is compelling, but also stupid. It is a very weird combination at times.
On Hawke: yeah whatever. He's a hot guy with a tragic backstory. Nothing too interesting or unique so far. He's funny though, so he is at least interesting to read. He also gets horny at bad times, like when Poppy is in pain, or sad, angry, or upset. Very gross tbh.
The action scenes were amazing but the book lacks setting descriptions so you kind of have no idea where they are a lot of the time. Also, the first 150 pages were the most confusing beginning of any book I've read. The reader gets dumped with info but not the information that actually makes sense for what is happening at that moment in the book so it is very, very confusing.
It's just the first book though so things usually improve. Don't know how there is going to be anything other than a second book because the plot already seems stretched thin for no reason other than wasting time.
On Poppy: her character started out strong and then became whiney and moronic at the twist, which was really disappointing. She's written to be a badass, independent woman, and at times she is. Other times, she cannot think for herself, relies heavily on others (especially the hot guy she met like 2 weeks ago) and is excessively horny, not always at appropriate times too (and for like, no good reason). I like Poppy, but at the same time, I also don't. She's very slow on figuring things out, to the point I got second-hand embarrassment for her. Poppy is compelling, but also stupid. It is a very weird combination at times.
On Hawke: yeah whatever. He's a hot guy with a tragic backstory. Nothing too interesting or unique so far. He's funny though, so he is at least interesting to read. He also gets horny at bad times, like when Poppy is in pain, or sad, angry, or upset. Very gross tbh.
The action scenes were amazing but the book lacks setting descriptions so you kind of have no idea where they are a lot of the time. Also, the first 150 pages were the most confusing beginning of any book I've read. The reader gets dumped with info but not the information that actually makes sense for what is happening at that moment in the book so it is very, very confusing.
It's just the first book though so things usually improve. Don't know how there is going to be anything other than a second book because the plot already seems stretched thin for no reason other than wasting time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I legit don't want to label this as too many things 'cause I don't want to give anything away! Totally blew me away. The only reason I didn't give it five (it is really like 4.5) is because I wanted the dual POV - but Poppy honestly is so engaging I barely even noticed that! Totally going down a rabbit hole.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
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
The only reason this book didn't get a 5Star is because I am not sure how the rest of the series is going to play out. We have been told it is going to be 6/7books and I am wondering how the lacing is going to work.so I knocked half a star off as I am not jumping to read the next book.
That does not mean that I have lost interest or I am not intrigued because I am, but I feel that for the time being, for me, it has ended nicely that I can leave it for a while and then go back (this is coming from someone who hates to read unfinished series due to not having patience to wait for the next books to come out so this is a purely bias opinion)
It does start of slightly slow but I believe this is due to all the information that the reader needed to understand the back story etc,but it does pick up!
this series has a badass curvy woman as the protagonist that is snarky and doesn't like being told what to do. Of course here is also a beautiful male counter part that I believe most woman (and men) would throw themselves at. There are also plenty of side characters that you can't help but love.
It is a story that deals with a lot of different themes and I love nothing better that power hungry abusing individuals get what the deserve.
It should possibly come with a few content warnings such as abuse, torture (in my opinion), violence etc but I do not believe that any of them are graphic enough that it should cause distress but if you have experienced any you may want to be careful!
As I said at the begining, the pacing of this book certainly picked up and if has left me wondering how we are going to get 6/7 books out of this series but I am excited to find out and I am in it for the journey.
That does not mean that I have lost interest or I am not intrigued because I am, but I feel that for the time being, for me, it has ended nicely that I can leave it for a while and then go back (this is coming from someone who hates to read unfinished series due to not having patience to wait for the next books to come out so this is a purely bias opinion)
It does start of slightly slow but I believe this is due to all the information that the reader needed to understand the back story etc,but it does pick up!
this series has a badass curvy woman as the protagonist that is snarky and doesn't like being told what to do. Of course here is also a beautiful male counter part that I believe most woman (and men) would throw themselves at. There are also plenty of side characters that you can't help but love.
It is a story that deals with a lot of different themes and I love nothing better that power hungry abusing individuals get what the deserve.
It should possibly come with a few content warnings such as abuse, torture (in my opinion), violence etc but I do not believe that any of them are graphic enough that it should cause distress but if you have experienced any you may want to be careful!
As I said at the begining, the pacing of this book certainly picked up and if has left me wondering how we are going to get 6/7 books out of this series but I am excited to find out and I am in it for the journey.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, War
Minor: Death of parent