A review by carlaabra
Hooked by Emily McIntire

dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Complicated feelings about this one. I read it and annotated it for a friend’s gift. 

If you like your smut spicy, this has it. Much graphic sex. 

If you like your heroes anti, this has it. Much dark brooding.

However if you like your characters well-rounded and realistic, you will not find it here.

 They’re shallow and basically one, maybe two tropes morphed into their entire personality. Side characters exist purely to further the plot. Two stars purely bc the plot was kind of interesting. 
My final gripe is the kink. It reminded me a lot of 50 shades (which I’ve thankfully only skimmed)- naive vanilla (virgin!) girl, rich kinky guy with violent tendencies (+a tortured childhood). Fine, boring, but fine. The real issue: we’ve got the same shit depictions of BDSM! No ground rules established, stuff just *happens* mid-sex without discussion beforehand and the girl goes along with it (and ofc loves it immediately, bc it’s smut). But cmon. Letting a complete stranger choke you and throw you around? The guy suddenly trying anal even as she’s protesting and unsure about it - worse especially bc she’s a sub with a praise kink and a desire to not disappoint him? PLUS no discussion of protection? This ain’t it chief. That’s not a partner that cares about your well-being or respects your autonomy.
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