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bethlovescake's review
dark
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I would like to mention right from the get go that I didn’t even read the synopsis of the book when I bought it as I just saw it as the next one in the series. I read this after the first book in the Damienverse series, Sam, because of this I did believe there would be a supernatural element to the story even if it was a slight hint. This wasn’t the case and if I had known that I probably wouldn’t have read the book.
However with that being said I’m glad I read it, it was a very interesting and gripping read. There were twists in the book I wasn’t expecting and it definitely held you in suspense similarly to Sam. I was surprised by how far the characters went with their dark actions. All in all I enjoyed the writing quality, style and pace but the subject matter the novel was based on wouldn’t be something I would search for specifically for casual reading. Probably because real life horror scares me more than fictional as it feels a bit too close to home for me to enjoy with a cup of tea, unless I’m mentally prepared for it.
However with that being said I’m glad I read it, it was a very interesting and gripping read. There were twists in the book I wasn’t expecting and it definitely held you in suspense similarly to Sam. I was surprised by how far the characters went with their dark actions. All in all I enjoyed the writing quality, style and pace but the subject matter the novel was based on wouldn’t be something I would search for specifically for casual reading. Probably because real life horror scares me more than fictional as it feels a bit too close to home for me to enjoy with a cup of tea, unless I’m mentally prepared for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Blood, Bullying, and Violence
The explicit parts are mainly in the last 3rd of the book and more moderate or minor to start with. Its somewhat based on a true story, which makes the violence more emotional. There is also home invasion but that wasn't on the list for me to add.catsy2022's review
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Rating: C+
ASBO was actually not that good. Andrew is a normal frumpy man with a wife and a 14yo daughter living in a middle-class neighbourhood. He owns a Mercedes. One day he's walking to the fish and chips shop when he's accosted by a group of teens led by Frankie, a young thug who has just been released from Juvenile Detention.
Things escalate as Frankie and Andrew keep meeting, but Andrew can't figure out why he's being targeted.
This story featured a lot of different perspectives. It was a tense story with constant torture, drug use, sexual content and violence. It felt like something almost supernatural was going on, with how erratic and psychotic Frankie was. There were lots of different elements in play and some sad moments; I think there was also some commentary on the state of Britain somehow (lol).
I think this story was a decent part of IRW's library, but I didn't feel shaken by any character deaths - more by their actions.
ASBO was actually not that good. Andrew is a normal frumpy man with a wife and a 14yo daughter living in a middle-class neighbourhood. He owns a Mercedes. One day he's walking to the fish and chips shop when he's accosted by a group of teens led by Frankie, a young thug who has just been released from Juvenile Detention.
Things escalate as Frankie and Andrew keep meeting, but Andrew can't figure out why he's being targeted.
This story featured a lot of different perspectives. It was a tense story with constant torture, drug use, sexual content and violence. It felt like something almost supernatural was going on, with how erratic and psychotic Frankie was. There were lots of different elements in play and some sad moments; I think there was also some commentary on the state of Britain somehow (lol).
I think this story was a decent part of IRW's library, but I didn't feel shaken by any character deaths - more by their actions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Medical content, and Vomit
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