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A review by thewordslinger
Crown of Crimson by Karina Halle
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I don't think I have ever read a story before that was <i>quite</i> so utterly devoid of emotional connection between the main characters. Death's and Hanna's relationship is based PURELY on lust and sex.
In book 1, Death announces that Hanna will marry him, doesn't give her an option, doesn't propose, nothing even remotely romantic. And though Hanna's ideologically against it, she goes along with it, doesn't fight.
Which was odd. But whatever fine, she'd proposed the deal and it could be seen as fulfilling it regardless of how she felt about it.
In this book. On her wedding day, Hanna is 'rescued' by Rasmus. She actively makes the choice to go with him.
In retaliation, when Death finally gets her back, he marries her (again, without giving her an option) and then tosses her down an oubliette to rot.
And when she finally gets out she goes to find him with the intent to yell at him and ends up letting him fuck her instead. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the last of that would-be argument.
Hands up, who here would let a guy just fuck their way out of throwing you down an well and leaving you forever?
No one? Shocking.
So, needless to say, there's nothing...absolutely <i>nothing</i> to tie these two together beyond sex.
This woman's allowing this dude to torment and abuse her, to lock her up and dictate every action and decision. Why? Because he's got a big dick.
It's revolting.
I get an enemies to lovers relationship. I get a dark morally-gray MMC. I get this being a dark romance. But I need the ROMANCE aspect to at least be written on the walls somewhere.
There is none.
At the end of the book, Hanna admits that she loves Death (Only God knows why) and he doesn't say it back. Just asks her to fuck him (which, obviously, she does).
It's sad, actually. Because I'm genuinely invested in the plot. I loved the training and watching Hanna's powers emerge. The mystery surrounding Hanna's parentage and the prophesies was interesting. I loved hearing the lore and seeing more of the world and the gods and beings that reside in it. The story is good. It's the relationship I'm not at all invested in.
And because it's Karina Halle, there's so much sex in here (including a VERY odd menage et trois with Death, Death's shadow self and Hanna). Emotionless, empty, meaningless sex with people who have every right to distrust and hate each other.
Just ew.
In book 1, Death announces that Hanna will marry him, doesn't give her an option, doesn't propose, nothing even remotely romantic. And though Hanna's ideologically against it, she goes along with it, doesn't fight.
Which was odd. But whatever fine, she'd proposed the deal and it could be seen as fulfilling it regardless of how she felt about it.
In this book. On her wedding day, Hanna is 'rescued' by Rasmus. She actively makes the choice to go with him.
In retaliation, when Death finally gets her back, he marries her (again, without giving her an option) and then tosses her down an oubliette to rot.
And when she finally gets out she goes to find him with the intent to yell at him and ends up letting him fuck her instead. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the last of that would-be argument.
Hands up, who here would let a guy just fuck their way out of throwing you down an well and leaving you forever?
No one? Shocking.
So, needless to say, there's nothing...absolutely <i>nothing</i> to tie these two together beyond sex.
This woman's allowing this dude to torment and abuse her, to lock her up and dictate every action and decision. Why? Because he's got a big dick.
It's revolting.
I get an enemies to lovers relationship. I get a dark morally-gray MMC. I get this being a dark romance. But I need the ROMANCE aspect to at least be written on the walls somewhere.
There is none.
At the end of the book, Hanna admits that she loves Death (Only God knows why) and he doesn't say it back. Just asks her to fuck him (which, obviously, she does).
It's sad, actually. Because I'm genuinely invested in the plot. I loved the training and watching Hanna's powers emerge. The mystery surrounding Hanna's parentage and the prophesies was interesting. I loved hearing the lore and seeing more of the world and the gods and beings that reside in it. The story is good. It's the relationship I'm not at all invested in.
And because it's Karina Halle, there's so much sex in here (including a VERY odd menage et trois with Death, Death's shadow self and Hanna). Emotionless, empty, meaningless sex with people who have every right to distrust and hate each other.
Just ew.