Reviews with content warning for Torture - Corrupt

Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Corrupt by Penelope Douglas

31 reviews

readwithames's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

3.0

Listen.. this series was so hyped, I got behind the whole she's forbidden blah blah.. I was so excited and in the end, it felt like a let down? I almost had fun reading this to the end.

What pissed me off was the constant boys terrorizing

and the basic assaulting of

her and the 'love interest' Michael just standing and watching it happen!! I understand it's dark romance and I really am a dark romance lover but this was dark in a different way. Maybe because some of the terrorizing that occurred I could relate so hard to and it made me SICK.

Also chapter 25? What the fuck. I'm so annoyed it's written into the plot? Idc that it was written. I just think it was NOT needed.

It was a threesome between her, Michael, and Kai. If you don't think about who and why it happened the way it did, it was hot. Like out of everyone- it's your "BEST FRIEND'S" GIRL???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME. However, I'm confused on WHY it had to happen. I understand she was trying to help Kai because of his issue but it was so unwarranted for! IT MADE ZERO SENSE. I'm just angry about it. Because I thought these men were possessive and I know this attribute can still happen in RH/why choose. Also, I understand that threesomes or whatever can happen in this book as well, it's just... idk. DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE! Now my friend told me this shit happens constantly in the other books too between the group. Like *face palm*. I want the possessiveness to stay between the MMC AND FMC!!!

I think overall a lot of plots/dialogue written into this book was a big WHAT THE FUCK. Also what the fuck is up with PD's obsession with writing in/about minors? I mean when "things start happening", it's not until Erika is of age but just the overall atmosphere of minors. It's a weird ass energy.

↪ 𝕸𝖎𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖊𝖑
I don't understand the people who love him or ship him and Erika because he's a POS. I try to understand the reasoning behind his actions as his character and it just makes sense because he's so ???? Idek. Questionable as hell.

IMO, He's a 'hands-off'/'my hands are tied' type of energy. Like everything that happened between him and Erika? It's like all he did/said was "yoU LiK3 f3@R" then would instill fear into her... but when it started it go real bad- it's like he watched to see how bad it could go before stepping in. BUT AT THAT POINT, THE BAD IS BAD NO????

↪ 𝓔𝓻𝓲𝓴𝓪
Everyone is pissed about Erika but honestly, I loved her. Justice for her and I'm SO ANGRY for her- I NEED A FULL VENGENCE PLAN IN PLACE NOW. Because

fuck Michael and the guys. The way they just terrorize her after thinking she leaked the videos to the press about their little night of fun but it was that fucktwat Trevor. They want revenge TO THE POINT OF WANTING TO ASSULT HER. If it wasn't for Damon's big ol' mouth and Erika continuing to scream at them- Michael would have let it happen!!! IDGAF! He was hellbent as well for them and the plan. BTW HE COULD HAVE ASKED HER THAT FUCKING NIGHT IF SHE LEAK IT. SHE WAS STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS FUCKING FACE. OH I AM SO ANNOYED AND FUCK TREVOR. He deserved WAY WORSE.

Justice for her!!! And the fact that they just have a party after the attempted assault like what the fuck? I would have run after that because fuck the guys and them telling me to stay.
I would have not let Michael have a piece of me because he can WORK FOR THAT SHIT. She needed to give a run for his money; He needed to grovel!!!! . I'm angry if you can't tell. I just know she just wanted to be loved and deserves so much better than Michael! Maybe I'll change my mind when I get to see their future in novellas or in the next books IDK. All I know is I'm PISSED now.

Anyways, I feel like I was constantly trying to understand the actions/dialogue behind the plot and I get that. And I get it's them or whatever. I was still intrigued by the book and wanted to find out what happened. But OMG am I irritated. The way I feel so betrayed. UGH!

Side note: Before starting this, I thought I would love Damon but omg they all were so questionable in this- I JUST ?! I smell a redemption arc??? Will I jump into book two??? Questionable as well.

Content Warnings

alybookishqueendom's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense

4.75

reread; january 2024 | 4,75 stars

upon rereading, i would rate it a 4,75 stars. i absolutely love it but it was missing something for it to fully be a five stars. i think i found one part a bit too long and it got to me a little but it's an absolute guilty pleasure to read.

are the characters all fucked in the head? yes. is the plot chaotic? of course! BUT THAT'S WHAT IT'S MEANT TO BE! chaotic, dark, fun and sexy as fuck.

double point of views, past and present timelines and good spice. honestly, if you love dark romances and need a distraction from your life this is it. you just want to know what will happen next and let's just say that penelope douglas knows how to write smut scenes 🥵.

rika is a little annoying sometimes with how naive she is but gosh honestly the rest of her personality just makes you love her anyways and michael is just trying so hard to be hard and strong and big meany alpha but he is so soft for her. he's just not big in showing any kind of emotions except for lust and challenge and mean 😂 honestly, i still love him. if i am being honest it would annoy the fuck out of me going out with this type of man but damn does this man knows how to dirty talk 🫣. i know they wont be my favorite couple out of the series but it's a good ass first book to get to know everyone and to just escape into rich people drama ahaha.

first read; may 2021 | 5 stars

THIS IS EVERYTHING

Content Warnings

jade_pnl_read's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

samflowerv6's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

Unpopular opinion... I loved this book. Everyone seems to hate Michael but I really didn't. Michael and Rika were so high stakes and complicated. I really enjoyed the mystery, secrets, devils night antics and even the horsemen in all their mean bad boy glory. I found all the characters so interesting and Michael was fucked up but I couldn't help loving him. Also, maybe I just like hot guys who are a bit evil? Seems to be my type. I am a seasoned dark romance girly but this was super solid. I would definitely say it's taboo at times but what can I say, I ate it up. Even Damon, who is such an asshole..... i was having so much fun. I know it's problematic and all the men are straight up terrible. I think I have bad taste. Whatever bad things people say, are mostly right but..... I like messed up people and dark romance. I do wish Michael groveled though, Rika forgave him too easy. They should have all begged on their hands and knees. The catacombs, the mask scene and the sauna... I was sweating. RIKA SAID LETS GO TO PARIS. Rika is so real though with being in love with an asshole for her whole life and being blinded by hotness. I did like the ending and they honestly fit. I did expect her to have more of a backbone and was disappointed with her not making the boys beg but at every turn.. she folded. But this was all kinds of fucked up. Check trigger warnings. I feel mildly shameful for how much I enjoyed this. I love these freaks.

And it was October 30, the night before Halloween. Devil’s Night.

Damon Torrance, Kai Mori, Will Grayson III, and—I locked my gaze on the blood red mask covering the face of the one always in the lead a little more than the others—Michael Crist, Trevor’s older brother.

“It’s just you, Little Monster. Own it or it will own you.”

“Run all you want, Little Monster,” he said, sounding like a threat. “We’re faster.”

They were here. The Four Horsemen. They were Thunder Bay’s favorite sons, and they’d gone to high school here, graduating when I was a freshman.

As individuals we had weaknesses, but as the Horsemen we were invincible. We each brought something different to the table, and where one lacked, the others stepped in.

Three years ago, curious little Erika Fane wanted to play with the boys, so we indulged her, and she betrayed us.

“Trevor’s not my boyfriend.”
“Too bad. I like playing with shit that’s not mine.”

That’s what I admired about the Four Horsemen. They were always in control and always visible.

“You robbed your own fucking store, Rika!” Will laughed and grabbed fistfuls of my sweatshirt, shouting into my face. “You’re the fucking king, baby!”

Will started singing, then slid out of his seat, and I shook with laughter as he straddled me, giving me a lap dance to the music.

“When we used to wear the masks,” Michael said, dropping his voice to a near whisper, “you liked it, didn’t you?

“So you like the mask. You’re pretty fucking sick, aren’t you?” he teased.

“Such a beautiful little monster,” he whispered

“Because you’ve corrupted her nice and good. She’s a force now, and it won’t be long before she’s brave enough to demand what she wants. If you don’t give it to her, she’ll find someone else who will.”

THE KAI AND MICHAEL SANDWICH CHANGED LIVES!

Alexa play Monster by Skillet

Content Warnings

han_olenik's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Content Warnings

perksofem_'s review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The first half of the book basically every single character annoyed me but once I got to the mid way point after pushing myself to continue it got better. This is definitely for those who love a dark romance book. I'm still tipping my toe in the genre which is probably why I didn't devour this like so much of booktok has said. I still haven't decided if I want to continue the series but if I do I might just read Kai's story and that's it.

Content Warnings

sissi27's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

I don’t get how the author messed up to give Ricka or Micheal any personality in the span of 500 pages.
Some of the scenes were so disturbing and the lack of trigger warnings confuses me.
Other than that, the only redeemable characters were Will, Alex and Noah but he vanished for the entire novel after being mentioned for maybe 10 pages.
The epilogue was also one of the worst I read in a book because it made me hate Micheal even more. Speaking about him, the only thing he was doing in the whole damn book was gritting his teeth, slamming her against a wall or yanking Ricka’s hair in order to make out with her. How can anyone be that horny and unwell to enjoy this sort of treatment?

I hated how Ricka was underage (16) in the flashbacks and Micheal was 20! I couldn’t see past the inappropriate age difference

Content Warnings