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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m not mad at it in the slightest, but this is definitely not a story for everyone. That should be unsurprising, since none of Bennett’s are.
However, I really enjoy the dark, demented trip through these Badlands, and can’t wait to go back.
Story was really good, there were a few scenes that made me a tiny bit queasy, but I expect that.
All in all, I’m moving onto the next book with a smile on my face and confusion in my brain.
However, I really enjoy the dark, demented trip through these Badlands, and can’t wait to go back.
Story was really good, there were a few scenes that made me a tiny bit queasy, but I expect that.
All in all, I’m moving onto the next book with a smile on my face and confusion in my brain.
This was the darkest most fucked up disturbing book I’ve ever read and I loved every single second of it!!
Honestly - this author did her thing when it came to horror & gore. The murder scenes were unlike any I’ve read before. Easily the most horrific scenes I’ve read yet & I loved every single second of it.
The romance was a little too quick for my liking given the nature of the book, ideally would have wanted more of a dark beginning to their romance but nonetheless this book had me in a chokehold from prologue to the last word on page 316 (on KU).
Overall, 4 stars! There’s some really great moments that make your jaw drop & make your heart pitter patter. This book is setting the next one up very well.
The romance was a little too quick for my liking given the nature of the book, ideally would have wanted more of a dark beginning to their romance but nonetheless this book had me in a chokehold from prologue to the last word on page 316 (on KU).
Overall, 4 stars! There’s some really great moments that make your jaw drop & make your heart pitter patter. This book is setting the next one up very well.
3.5 stars.
I am definitely confused and disappointed in the cliffhanger (in the fact that there was one). That being said, I couldn’t put this down and headed right into book 2.
I am definitely confused and disappointed in the cliffhanger (in the fact that there was one). That being said, I couldn’t put this down and headed right into book 2.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Natalie is the queen of the macabre.
Unlike many others, I didn't start with the Badlands, but I enjoyed Natalie's other stories (esp the Dahlia ones), that I ended up here. I'm not surprised to know why this is the flagship for her and for so many fans- this book is the perfect manifestation of everything we love about Natalie books.
We have a dark, alpha, aggressive and violent lead in Romero- someone who will do anything, no matter how dark and depraved, to orchestrate the reality for himself and those important to him. We have a heroine who has experienced dark and depraved things- who has been physically and emotionally traumatized, a victim of this post-apocalyptic word over and over again...yet, she's a survivor, and devious and twisted, herself. And, we have an intriguing alternate reality- a world that's bones isn't that radically different from our own but represents what COULD become as the result of both the changes in environment and the dominance of the darker, baser, depraved aspects of humanity taking the reigns.
I loved this story, and I loved this couple. We've got much still to learn about what Romero's master plan is and we have a slew of other interesting characters who clearly need their own stories, but I am HERE FOR IT.
Like all of Natalie's books- this is not your feel good romance. We have characters who love each other and care for each other- but they do very bad things, mostly to others, but sometimes to each other. Darkness and triggers abound!
Unlike many others, I didn't start with the Badlands, but I enjoyed Natalie's other stories (esp the Dahlia ones), that I ended up here. I'm not surprised to know why this is the flagship for her and for so many fans- this book is the perfect manifestation of everything we love about Natalie books.
We have a dark, alpha, aggressive and violent lead in Romero- someone who will do anything, no matter how dark and depraved, to orchestrate the reality for himself and those important to him. We have a heroine who has experienced dark and depraved things- who has been physically and emotionally traumatized, a victim of this post-apocalyptic word over and over again...yet, she's a survivor, and devious and twisted, herself. And, we have an intriguing alternate reality- a world that's bones isn't that radically different from our own but represents what COULD become as the result of both the changes in environment and the dominance of the darker, baser, depraved aspects of humanity taking the reigns.
I loved this story, and I loved this couple. We've got much still to learn about what Romero's master plan is and we have a slew of other interesting characters who clearly need their own stories, but I am HERE FOR IT.
Like all of Natalie's books- this is not your feel good romance. We have characters who love each other and care for each other- but they do very bad things, mostly to others, but sometimes to each other. Darkness and triggers abound!
I pretty much love anything that Natalie Bennett writes. Anyone that follows my reviews is very aware of that fact. I fangirl just about every book she writes and that I get the pleasure of reading and reviewing. And I will again be fangirling over this one. In fact, this may be my favorite Natalie Bennett book TO DATE. It was the same dark and twisted mindf-ckery that Miz Bennett is known for and then some...
~WRITING - PLOT - PACE~
It's always hard for me to review a book like this. I don't want to say too much and spoil anything but I also want to give readers a sample of what to expect. I will say that it was very well written. Like I mentioned, probably my favorite book to date from this author. The pace was fantastic. The plot was engaging and had me hooked from page one. It was dark. It was twisted. It was gritty. It was gross. It was f-cked up. It had twists and turns. Blood and gore. Pleasure and pain. and I LOVED every single minute of it. I really wish I had book two already now because I NEED to know WTF is going down.
~HERO~
Romero...he was the devil himself. A totally sexy as sin psychopath. He owned it. He didn't make any excuses for it. He reveled in it. He claimed Calista as his own right from the start. I loved him. I don't know what that says about me and I don't rightly care (lol). I can't wait until book two to see what he is hiding.
~HEROINE~
Calista...the perfect other half to Romero. Not sure out of these two which was the more f-cked up. Cali was her own brand of psycho. She didn't quite own it as much as Romero. But she was getting there. I loved her character and hope she gets the chance to exact much more revenge in the next book.
~SIDE CHARACTERS~
This one had a good cast of secondary characters. There wasn't a lot of them but the three that feature heavily were all very intriguing. I wouldn't mind seeing each one get a book. Of course, I suppose that depends on what happens to them in book two. They may not even be still breathing by the end of that one.
~HEAT LEVEL~
This one was medium hottish. The sex scenes were hot, and the frequency felt appropriate for the story. This couple had crazy hot on page chemistry and their connection was very insta-lust.
~ANGST LEVEL~
Low. I didn't find this one angsty at all. It really wasn't the type of book that uses angst to move the story along. There also wasn't any OW or OM drama.
~IN THE END~
I loved this one. I have already said that a few times in this review but it was worth mentioning again. I have a thing for dark romances. The darker and twisted they are the more I seem to enjoy them and Natalie Bennett knows her way around twisted for sure. Everything about this one from the writing itself, to the plot, to the character development, was fantastic and shows me that this author just keeps learning and improving with every book that she releases. This one gets TWO huge thumbs up from yours truly.
