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A review by anastashamarie
Hooked by Emily McIntire
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Finally a hyped KU book that didn't totally let me down. Definitely check trigger warnings for this one, because it's DARK. (Includes graphic violence and child abuse, amid all the other typical adult romance warnings.)
Things this book did well: Applied Peter Pan references in a fun way with a dark twist. Fairly enjoyable characters like the sassy FMC, broody MMC whose own issues got in his way. Clean and consistent writing style.
Things that could be improved: Repetition--this story is basically just repeating scenes of angst, flirtation, violence, and hand necklaces, with each instance of those 4 categories does not provide anything very different than the earlier scenes of the same category. Very rushed conclusion that felt like the author was just trying to tie up loose ends. Characters ignoring obvious red flags or clues just for the sake of the story. No real processing of that same rushed ending, just a HEA epilogue.
Things that just aren't to my taste:
pregnancy trope, bastard son reveal(s) (I'm sorry, this is so over done), general lack of female characters, happy ending in a book that otherwise wasn't pointing to one.
I enjoyed this enough that I'll pick up other works by this author, but only if they're on KU; I wouldn't go out of my way to buy them. If dark romance is your thing, then it's probably worth a read. Definitely not for all audiences though.
Things this book did well: Applied Peter Pan references in a fun way with a dark twist. Fairly enjoyable characters like the sassy FMC, broody MMC whose own issues got in his way. Clean and consistent writing style.
Things that could be improved: Repetition--this story is basically just repeating scenes of angst, flirtation, violence, and hand necklaces, with each instance of those 4 categories does not provide anything very different than the earlier scenes of the same category. Very rushed conclusion that felt like the author was just trying to tie up loose ends. Characters ignoring obvious red flags or clues just for the sake of the story. No real processing of that same rushed ending, just a HEA epilogue.
Things that just aren't to my taste:
I enjoyed this enough that I'll pick up other works by this author, but only if they're on KU; I wouldn't go out of my way to buy them. If dark romance is your thing, then it's probably worth a read. Definitely not for all audiences though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Gore, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual content, Abandonment, Gun violence, Child abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Stalking, and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol
Author provides content warnings at the beginning of the book. Please be advised that this is a very dark novel