A review by mrxdg
Hunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

 Hunting Adeline leans so heavily into prolonged scenes of rape and torture—comprising nearly 60% of the book—that it drowns out any semblance of a cohesive story. The transition back to the so-called romance feels abrupt and unearned, giving Adeline little time to process her trauma before being thrust back into a dynamic that feels more possessive than emotional. Zade remains a flat character, defined solely by his obsession, while the pacing drags through excessive suffering only to rush toward an unsatisfying resolution. Rather than delivering a gripping dark romance, the book prioritizes shock value over substance, making for an unsettling and exhausting read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism