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A review by risseandshine
Corrupt by Penelope Douglas
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have been corrupted and I don’t regret a single second of it.
This first book of the Devil’s Night series stars Rika Fane and Michael Crist, one fourth of the Horsemen who are infamously known for wreaking havoc during Devil’s Night. Rika dated Michael’s brother but her eyes have always been on Michael with all his mysteriousness and terrifying vibe. One night when they were in high school, something unfortunate happened that caused Michael’s friends to get imprisoned and all signs pointed to Rika as the culprit. Told in alternating timelines, the past conveniently catches up with the present as attraction gets set aside and revenge takes its place...or so they thought.
This was one hell of a story that tied my brain cells in knots. Until now, I haven’t untied them yet. I also don’t know if I want to.
For one, this book has ZERO morally upright characters. Rika is a wealthy heiress to a jewelry company and is the typical quiet and timid girl. She seems naive on the surface but looking deeper, she is really a girl clamoring to show that she is more mature than she looks. She may be seen as “good” but I don’t suppose a girl who is drawn to mischief can be considered an angel. Michael is rich, powerful, and an overall unlikeable character. It doesn’t seem like it but he is, in fact, very similar to Rika in that he seeks to be understood for his unconventional wants and desires. He is driven by resentment and revenge and he doesn’t care about consequences. The rest of the Horsemen, even though they piqued my interest, aren’t the most honorable characters out there, either.
But you know what? My brain didn’t seem to care. It got caught up in the darkness and decided to bask in it.
What I loved most about this book is the fact that it made me think. My moral compass was telling me to hate it but the way it was written made me pause and reassess character decisions and motives until I understood all sides. For instance, I can’t even tell you how many times I wanted to push Michael off a cliff one minute, then the next I wanted to protect him at all costs because I got to be in his head during a particular scene and that somehow justified his motives. My thoughts were being pulled towards different directions and I loved the challenge that gave me.
As for the romance, I’d say I rooted for Rika and Michael’s relationship for the most part. I admit that I found it quite unbelievable and lust-driven at first, but the writing helped it evolve into one that is anchored in a deep “like attracts like” type of connection.
With all that said, I’d like to give huge props to the incredible writing in this book because it definitely made the entire story. It had the unique ability to take a completely bonkers scene into something so beautiful (see chapter 25). And shoutout to that epilogue! It turned my view of this book completely on its head and I was absolutely mind blown!
I only have one reason for deducting a star from my rating and that is the length. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good chunky romance book. I just don’t want to feel it, and there were significant parts in this story where I surely did.
Still, I get the hype now. It’s not my favorite, but I think it’s well-deserved.
.
.
.
.
.
tw: death, murder, blood, sexual assault, animal cruelty/death
This first book of the Devil’s Night series stars Rika Fane and Michael Crist, one fourth of the Horsemen who are infamously known for wreaking havoc during Devil’s Night. Rika dated Michael’s brother but her eyes have always been on Michael with all his mysteriousness and terrifying vibe. One night when they were in high school, something unfortunate happened that caused Michael’s friends to get imprisoned and all signs pointed to Rika as the culprit. Told in alternating timelines, the past conveniently catches up with the present as attraction gets set aside and revenge takes its place...or so they thought.
This was one hell of a story that tied my brain cells in knots. Until now, I haven’t untied them yet. I also don’t know if I want to.
For one, this book has ZERO morally upright characters. Rika is a wealthy heiress to a jewelry company and is the typical quiet and timid girl. She seems naive on the surface but looking deeper, she is really a girl clamoring to show that she is more mature than she looks. She may be seen as “good” but I don’t suppose a girl who is drawn to mischief can be considered an angel. Michael is rich, powerful, and an overall unlikeable character. It doesn’t seem like it but he is, in fact, very similar to Rika in that he seeks to be understood for his unconventional wants and desires. He is driven by resentment and revenge and he doesn’t care about consequences. The rest of the Horsemen, even though they piqued my interest, aren’t the most honorable characters out there, either.
But you know what? My brain didn’t seem to care. It got caught up in the darkness and decided to bask in it.
What I loved most about this book is the fact that it made me think. My moral compass was telling me to hate it but the way it was written made me pause and reassess character decisions and motives until I understood all sides. For instance, I can’t even tell you how many times I wanted to push Michael off a cliff one minute, then the next I wanted to protect him at all costs because I got to be in his head during a particular scene and that somehow justified his motives. My thoughts were being pulled towards different directions and I loved the challenge that gave me.
As for the romance, I’d say I rooted for Rika and Michael’s relationship for the most part. I admit that I found it quite unbelievable and lust-driven at first, but the writing helped it evolve into one that is anchored in a deep “like attracts like” type of connection.
With all that said, I’d like to give huge props to the incredible writing in this book because it definitely made the entire story. It had the unique ability to take a completely bonkers scene into something so beautiful (see chapter 25). And shoutout to that epilogue! It turned my view of this book completely on its head and I was absolutely mind blown!
I only have one reason for deducting a star from my rating and that is the length. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good chunky romance book. I just don’t want to feel it, and there were significant parts in this story where I surely did.
Still, I get the hype now. It’s not my favorite, but I think it’s well-deserved.
.
.
.
.
.
tw: death, murder, blood, sexual assault, animal cruelty/death
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Animal death, and Sexual assault