Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Corrupt by Penelope Douglas

113 reviews

ninasmilliondreams's review against another edition

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

1.0

Rika girl get up!!!!! 



(I am genuinely baffled at how this book resolved (???) the conflict. Michael didn’t even apologise and yet they just went back to fucking as if nothing happened. He literally destroyed her life and he was the one who came up with the plan!! And suddenly they love each other?? What!?? I do love my book boyfriends a bit toxic but this was downright abuse. The male protagonists were so rapey, sexist and disgusting and I just don’t understand how Rika wanted anything to do with them after everything)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Animal death and Death of parent

justinewalker's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I think this just wasn’t my cup of tea, but if you like dark romance I recommend giving it a try at least! I personally didn’t like certain characters to an extent that they made the whole book worse to read, but other parts and characters I did enjoy. All the side characters are quite flat imo. The flipping between past and present really worked for me, though I can see it not working for others.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, and Murder

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

chels984's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

ohshebookish's review against another edition

dark emotional 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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow wow wow! This was my first foray into dark romance and it was sooo good! Penelope Douglas weaves such an intricate story of love, hate, revenge, and obsession. This book sucks you in from the beginning and keeps you wanting more because the story is so addicting. The dual pov and flashback between the past and the present are written in a way to keep you on the edge of your seat and to keep you guessing. You're trying to figure out what Rika did wrong, you're trying to figure out if Michael loves or hates her, you're trying to figure out what the guys are planning, and that's not even the half of it. The plot twist!? I did not see it coming at all! I was floored. Penelope definitely kept me on my toes.

The characters were written with so much depth. Each character made you feel something different, and you felt it hard. They all had their own struggles that were like little threads, that intertwined their stories into one. Michael was dark and broody, and reading his inner struggle with his pressing feelings for Rika vs. his loyalty to his friends was so interesting. I loved seeing Rika accept and lean into her dark side. I was rooting for her! I really liked Kai and I was kinda rooting for a poly relationship with him, Michael and Rika. That one scene though 🤭 I did not like Damon and definitely wouldn't trust him farther than I could throw him. He deserved jail and should've stayed there. I'm interested to see what his book will be about though. 

I am so glad that I got this book through a bookstagram traveling book group. I devoured it! The scenes were detailed, the plot was well written, and the spice was definitely spicing. I can't wait to read the other guys stories and see what our Horsemen are up to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction

han_olenik's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death and Gun violence

kimberlym716's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

pascalelf's review against another edition

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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

kristianna17's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, 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