A review by the_book_bear
The Wicked and the Willing by Lianyu Tan

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Really strong atmospheric start. I found myself less gripped as we reached the middle. I didn’t love the pick-your-own-ending. I would have understood from the character’s POV why she might have picked to stay in the abusive relationship, and maybe dark romances just aren’t for me, but I don’t get why anyone reading it would want to pick one of the two possible endings. I did love how it was a world I have never read about before (1920s Singapore) and the writing was good, so I do intend to read the author’s other books. MASSIVE trigger warning for SA in the present and past.