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A review by elderlyemo
Credence by Penelope Douglas
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Where do I even start with this one?
This is my third Penelope Douglas book so far and it's the lowest rated, despite it generally being the highest rated (and at the very least, most viral) book in general. I knew a fair amount about this book going into it but I had a hard time really attaching myself to any of the characters because all of them were pretty poorly developed and when I did feel like I was gaining insight into one or any of them, they had a complete personality bypass and changed, only to revert back to their original selves when the plot needed them too.
I also understand that this story is full of taboo and that's how we like it, but there were somethings in this story that just didn't need to be there. I also think the person she ends up with at the end makes absolutely no sense and the justification of ones personal trauma being used as a weapon to hurt another person just really disappointed me.
There were the bones (no pun intended) of a great, sick love story here but it focused too much on trying to be a million things at once that in the end it didn't really succeed in being anything at all. I love PD's writing style, and Jake and Noah's characters were almost good at some points, my heart cracked for Tiernan a time or to too, but it was like I was being lured in under the false pretence that any of these people cared about each other only to have the rug pulled out from under us when I realised that none of them did and they all probably needed some time ALONE on that mountain to figure out their own stuff before attempting to love or seduce anyone.
None of the more obvious things about this story disturbed me but when Tiernan said "I feel like this is the only time you like me" to one of the dudes in this book referring to snoo snoo - I wanted to throw the book across the room. AND THAT'S THE ONE SHE ENDS UP WITH?
No thank you Penelope.
No thank you.
This is my third Penelope Douglas book so far and it's the lowest rated, despite it generally being the highest rated (and at the very least, most viral) book in general. I knew a fair amount about this book going into it but I had a hard time really attaching myself to any of the characters because all of them were pretty poorly developed and when I did feel like I was gaining insight into one or any of them, they had a complete personality bypass and changed, only to revert back to their original selves when the plot needed them too.
I also understand that this story is full of taboo and that's how we like it, but there were somethings in this story that just didn't need to be there. I also think the person she ends up with at the end makes absolutely no sense and the justification of ones personal trauma being used as a weapon to hurt another person just really disappointed me.
There were the bones (no pun intended) of a great, sick love story here but it focused too much on trying to be a million things at once that in the end it didn't really succeed in being anything at all. I love PD's writing style, and Jake and Noah's characters were almost good at some points, my heart cracked for Tiernan a time or to too, but it was like I was being lured in under the false pretence that any of these people cared about each other only to have the rug pulled out from under us when I realised that none of them did and they all probably needed some time ALONE on that mountain to figure out their own stuff before attempting to love or seduce anyone.
None of the more obvious things about this story disturbed me but when Tiernan said "I feel like this is the only time you like me" to one of the dudes in this book referring to snoo snoo - I wanted to throw the book across the room. AND THAT'S THE ONE SHE ENDS UP WITH?
No thank you Penelope.
No thank you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content