Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Hate

I honestly don’t understand the hype of this book. With that being sad I will finish the series cause maybe, just MAAAYBE it gets better! Spice was on the milder side, but I can imagine it’s because this is going to be a slow buildup for the later books. It was more world building than anything.

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avani_luna_surya's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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annica_fourie's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I had seen this book around before it blew up on Booktok, but I was never really interesred in reading it. Then seeing everyone rave about it, I was more curious, but it still did not seem like something I would enjoy. Boy, was I wrong? I could literally not put this down, and I already want to read the second.

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caitlinemccann's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious

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jojesweden's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-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

4.25

Well, damn if this book isn't really impressive when it comes to making you feel what MK is feeling. I have rarely felt such justified rage in sympathy with a character as I did with MK. Maybe I was just in the right mood, or maybe Ms. James is just really good at that. Either way, I liked it.

There are a few weird details here and there that might be plot holes, or they are purposeful inconsistencies hinting at future twists. Nothing bad enough to judge by yet. Or, well, okay, one thing. You don't have a previously unplanned college up and running 11 months after a civic disturbance that led to large parts of the town burning down. That's just not possible.

I like how MK is a mix of broken and strong. She has every reason to be a puddle of despair after what she has witnessed and been through. Even so, she refuses to take the guys' shit even when it clearly hits her in her most vulnerable places. She's torn down over and over again, and she just keeps getting back to her feet regardless of how much it hurts. Even when she disassociates due to her PTSD or has a panic attack (yes, these are different things and it irritates me how often authors refer to any episodic symptoms of PTSD as "panic attacks"), she comes back swinging a few hours later.

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rosie_books's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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ka_ke's review against another edition

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dark 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? Yes

4.0

Damn. I’m a little disappointed we didn’t get any RH action, but good things come to those who wait. Unlike Penelope Douglas’s Devils Night series, Tate James gives us the perfect mix of dark romance and spice.

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