Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Corrupt by Penelope Douglas

41 reviews

one_more_chapter96's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Fairly well written and an interesting plot with a lot of dark elements emotionally/psychologically. I liked the points where Rika and the Horsemen worked together and were bonding, and I loved the elements of Kai & Michael. The push and pull with Michael was hot but a bit frustrating at times with him being so emotionally constipated. Overall an easy read with a suspenseful and spicy plot.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

dark tense 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

2.5

Three years ago, 3/4 horsemen were arrested and thrown in jail. Now they are out to get revenge on Erika (Rika), the woman they blame. 

We flipflop between the present and 3 years ago. It is within those snippets of the past that we learn about the men's motivation. They believe that Rika is responsible for 3/4 of them ending up in jail.

For some stupid reason, they film their "pranks" and two videos get released.

I felt as though the characters were lacking depth. We don't really get much background information on the men and an idea of what is motivating their behaviour. These men are cruel and horrible to everyone, especially women. There was so much potential to demonstrate the depth of these characters, it comes out in the very end when we get a flashback in the epilogue of

Michael taking care of Rika when she was 13

. We needed more of this depth to really connect to and want to understand these me. Unfortunately, what we get is a bunch of impulsive and misogynistic men who try to justify horrible and abusive behaviour. 

We get a snippet of why Damon is the way he is within the last chapters of the book. We learn why he is so angry that Rika has "invaded" the group of men, and his fear of his brotherhood being ripped from him. But his character does not have any growth at all and these limited glimpses into his past do not redeem him.

his mother was abusing and raping him as a child.

 

Rika was incredibly naive and annoying. She is not the strong woman that she thinks she is. She is impulsive and seems to have no survival instincts. She is incredibly immature and throws tantrums when she can't get her way (ie. Running into the gentleman's club when she wasn't allowed in). She is determined to live her life on her own and by her own rules, but panics the second her money is gone, because she is actually completely incapable of providing for herself. Plus, she forgave these men WAY too quickly.

I did really like Alex. She was unapologetically herself and had no shame about what she had to do to pay her bills.

(escorting)

. She owns her life/decisions and was a complete badass. I think her character really highlighted all of the weaknesses in Rika. 

Overall, the plot was interesting and there was a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the characters were lacking depth and I just couldn't get past the their lack of growth. The sauna scene (iykyk), was very spicy, but otherwise the romance fell flat and was not really believable. 

Tropes: found family, revenge, brotherhood

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

chloeolevia's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, and Violence

hapalyn's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This book is generally very taboo, blurs the lines of consent a lot (I do NOT recommend to anyone who is disturbed by sexual assault scenes or threats of sexual assault several times). I went into it looking for a darker but good plotline. The plotline is interesting enough; I’m curious to see where it goes from here. The town certainly feels atmospheric. I wasn’t a fan of the romance and scenes like that. Ironically, I may be one of the few people just interested in the plot. Definitely look at trigger warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Child abuse, Gun violence, Rape, and Fire/Fire injury

annick's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

1.25

This has promise. And some of the middle act was appealing. But I got bored. And lost interest in the “capital D” drama. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Violence

Minor: Child abuse

mayllomi's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

well can't say it's a good book but it's enjoyable if you accept a bunch of things just don't make sense
and the mystery part was interesting enough 
I had to roll my eyes every time a bunch of fucking 19/22 year olds were soo powerful and untouchable though lol feels ridiculous 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, and Death of parent

carley4's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Incest, Rape, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

riosblu's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I’m conflicted. Screw men, but can I have some more of them? So many emotions, so much anger at ignorant entitled men but I couldn’t put the book down. Would I recommend this to everyone? No, but the people I would recommend it to already know who they are. To them I say, stay toxic and enjoy the shit show, I sure did.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Animal death, Police brutality, and Car accident

notamouse's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.25

🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, and Death of parent

minabee's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Child abuse, Incest, and Rape