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A review by bookishlyjae
Bloodshed by Molly Doyle
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Since this book is marketed as being set BETWEEN the two novellas, as in after Scream For Us, I expected this novel to pick up after the events of that book. It doesn't. Most of the scenes are directly copied from the novella and only sometimes expanded in the novel.
There were some new scenes that allowed the reader to understand the motivations and characterizations of the masked men.Like Ghost's reaction to the bullying seemed over the top in the novella, but made a bit more sense in the novel because of Ghost's past.)
A lot of the spice is repeated from the novella. But there are additional scenes as well that kept the spice new enough to be enjoyable and enticing.
There was more of a plot in this book but it still wasn't a main focus. It definitely took a backseat to the spice and was kind of shoved in between those scenes. Going back and forth between spice and a horror-based plot was a very jarring experience.
It felt like the book didn't know what genre it wanted to be. It tried to be erotica, dark romance, and horror, which seems like a good and effective blend, but in practice it felt like the author failed to make it any one of them. The erotic scenes were well written but like I said before just felt jarring. The dark romance didn't feel fleshed out enough. Nor, did the horror aspects. Nothing really worked. It felt like this whole book was just fluff meant to build up to the next one in the series.
I gave the novella 4.5 stars because it did what it set out to do and did it well: erotica that fulfilled the characters' darkest fantasies. Bloodshed just didn't do that for me.
What I liked about this book: the idea of the plot (not the execution), the backstories, the new understanding of the characters, the chemistry, the spice.
But the bad definitely outweighs the good, so I'm giving this book 2.5 stars. The extra half star is because the backstory was a very much needed improvement for the novella.
TLDR: Don't read this book. It's not worth it. Just stick to the novella (Scream For Us).
There were some new scenes that allowed the reader to understand the motivations and characterizations of the masked men.
A lot of the spice is repeated from the novella. But there are additional scenes as well that kept the spice new enough to be enjoyable and enticing.
There was more of a plot in this book but it still wasn't a main focus. It definitely took a backseat to the spice and was kind of shoved in between those scenes. Going back and forth between spice and a horror-based plot was a very jarring experience.
It felt like the book didn't know what genre it wanted to be. It tried to be erotica, dark romance, and horror, which seems like a good and effective blend, but in practice it felt like the author failed to make it any one of them. The erotic scenes were well written but like I said before just felt jarring. The dark romance didn't feel fleshed out enough. Nor, did the horror aspects. Nothing really worked. It felt like this whole book was just fluff meant to build up to the next one in the series.
I gave the novella 4.5 stars because it did what it set out to do and did it well: erotica that fulfilled the characters' darkest fantasies. Bloodshed just didn't do that for me.
What I liked about this book: the idea of the plot (not the execution), the backstories, the new understanding of the characters, the chemistry, the spice.
But the bad definitely outweighs the good, so I'm giving this book 2.5 stars. The extra half star is because the backstory was a very much needed improvement for the novella.
TLDR: Don't read this book. It's not worth it. Just stick to the novella (Scream For Us).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Self harm, and Stalking
Minor: Bullying