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A review by angelofthetardis
Crossed by Emily McIntire
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
After a couple of very similar settings, we get something a bit different with this twisted telling of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'. The fanatical priest with a sordid secret meets the struggling exotic dancer trying to dig her way out of the mess her mother left behind... Will his faith in the Almighty sustain him, or fall to the temptation of sweet sin?
So yeah, first and foremost this probably ticks a few more trigger/content warning boxes than the previous books in the series. It certainly felt darker than some of the others, particularly since the juxtaposition of Cade's day job compared to his nighttime activities is so stark. Although you do jump into the action very quickly, it is a little unsettling simply because your expectations of the characters based on stereotypes are the reverse of the other books - you'd expect the MMC to be the 'innocent' one here. As a result, I found Cade's struggle between his faith and his desire very engaging as it kept this feeling going even after it became clear that the author was sticking with her usual formula.
The story also felt more grounded than the others. For once, neither of the main protagonists were filthy rich and their lives generally were more relatable. They're certainly no more 'normal' than any of the others, but they had more depth to them. Introducing Quinten as the younger brother with developmental disabilities was a beautiful touch, and he gives the reader a character to truly root for. Weirdly, the story acts as a great social commentary on how hard it must be to have a child with special needs when you simply can't afford all of the extra necessities, and makes you think about just what those necessities are. It also means that you feel as Amaya and Cade do when he is forgotten, which is a great way into their wider mindsets. Plus, the extended epilogue to this one really rounds his story out nicely.
As with the last book though, the added darkness to Cade's character didn't seem strictly necessary. He could still have been the stormy priest struggling with his inner demons and just as dark a character without him getting his hands dirty. Again, I think the author knows what works for her and is blindly sticking with it, rather than exploring alternative ways to tell the story she wants to tell. And while the morally upright to morally grey arc for Amaya works well in the main story, I'm not sold on the ambiguous ending where it's intimated that perhaps she's followed Cade down the darker path. It just doesn't fit her character in my opinion.
The "adult" content in this one give the story much more of a slow burn to it. And actually, while it's still a big part of the story, it came across as more of a physical expression of feelings (or repression thereof) rather than just being there for the 18 rating.
These books are good, don't get me wrong, but having read all five in a very short space of time I can confidently say that was a mistake. These are standalone books that you slot in between other reads, or to get you out of your own head when you're distracted, not a series to be binge-read. I'll definitely be reading them again in future, but probably not for a little while.
So yeah, first and foremost this probably ticks a few more trigger/content warning boxes than the previous books in the series. It certainly felt darker than some of the others, particularly since the juxtaposition of Cade's day job compared to his nighttime activities is so stark. Although you do jump into the action very quickly, it is a little unsettling simply because your expectations of the characters based on stereotypes are the reverse of the other books - you'd expect the MMC to be the 'innocent' one here. As a result, I found Cade's struggle between his faith and his desire very engaging as it kept this feeling going even after it became clear that the author was sticking with her usual formula.
The story also felt more grounded than the others. For once, neither of the main protagonists were filthy rich and their lives generally were more relatable. They're certainly no more 'normal' than any of the others, but they had more depth to them. Introducing Quinten as the younger brother with developmental disabilities was a beautiful touch, and he gives the reader a character to truly root for. Weirdly, the story acts as a great social commentary on how hard it must be to have a child with special needs when you simply can't afford all of the extra necessities, and makes you think about just what those necessities are. It also means that you feel as Amaya and Cade do when he is forgotten, which is a great way into their wider mindsets. Plus, the extended epilogue to this one really rounds his story out nicely.
As with the last book though, the added darkness to Cade's character didn't seem strictly necessary. He could still have been the stormy priest struggling with his inner demons and just as dark a character without him getting his hands dirty. Again, I think the author knows what works for her and is blindly sticking with it, rather than exploring alternative ways to tell the story she wants to tell. And while the morally upright to morally grey arc for Amaya works well in the main story, I'm not sold on the ambiguous ending where it's intimated that perhaps she's followed Cade down the darker path. It just doesn't fit her character in my opinion.
The "adult" content in this one give the story much more of a slow burn to it. And actually, while it's still a big part of the story, it came across as more of a physical expression of feelings (or repression thereof) rather than just being there for the 18 rating.
These books are good, don't get me wrong, but having read all five in a very short space of time I can confidently say that was a mistake. These are standalone books that you slot in between other reads, or to get you out of your own head when you're distracted, not a series to be binge-read. I'll definitely be reading them again in future, but probably not for a little while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Rape, Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Ableism, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment