pandaheads2 's review for:

Hunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

---

This was less of a dark romance and more of just a dark story with a romance in the background. I kept reading because although the abuse is graphic, I think the author did an excellent job of exploring trauma and how one reacts to it both during, and after. Trauma can certainly change a person but watching the fmc slowly come to terms with her experience and become stronger, while still having moments of weakness was refreshing. Far too often fmcs are written to instantly get over a trauma and move on as if nothing had ever happened. It was empowering to walk along with the fmc while she came to terms with her experiences and how she wanted to live moving forward.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit

Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol