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steen19's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
It’s Hogwarts, but for mafia children. I know other people have said it, but it’s totally true. Students get sorted by heir, accountant, enforcer, etc. and they also have school-wide competitions. It’s on a secluded island, and family rivalries still carry weight. We’re following the second generation: the kids of the Brutal Birthright series.
As always, Sophie Lark’s writing is so dramatic and over the top in the most addictive way. Once I start one of her books, I know it’s going to take over my thoughts for the week.
The *only* thing I didn’t love was the odd sexual tension between cousins. They’re not blood related, but were raised as cousins. That was uncomfy and I had to just pretend they weren’t related.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
piabartolini's review against another edition
4.5
I have complex feelings about this book.
The good - Leo and Anna are a lovely couple and their dynamic is sweet and sexy and hot, especially by the end. Leo’s growth in this story is compelling and you can’t help cheering for him.
The bad - Dean, as an antihero, I like. He has traits to commend him as far as villains go, and complexity I enjoyed. But his myopic fixation and refusal to intelligently view a situation with others that he doesn’t actually personally understand was frustrating to read. And the way he basicallyrapes someone, twice over, without even that female character’s perspective admitting it as such, was frustrating to read.
Sexual assault discourse ahead
I think sexual assault has to be handled a certain way in stories, even dark romances - there is ground work and prep for the reader, either by us expecting a truly bad character to do it, or in the victim internal struggles with what happened to them. But somehow The Heir didn’t have that build up - it felt very abrupt and violent and as a reader we didn’t get a good wind up OR emotional cool down in those encounters. That almost throwaway insertion jarred me far more than the actual subject matter.
It was an excellent book overall and one I’d highly recommend, but I’d love it if there were trigger warnings in the front cover. This is the third or fourth book by Sophie that has really jumped straight into very difficult content and I adore that she takes it on, but stylistically would have appreciated a list to read through to mentally prepare, especially over such a common trigger as rape and attempted rape of a main character.
The good - Leo and Anna are a lovely couple and their dynamic is sweet and sexy and hot, especially by the end. Leo’s growth in this story is compelling and you can’t help cheering for him.
The bad - Dean, as an antihero, I like. He has traits to commend him as far as villains go, and complexity I enjoyed. But his myopic fixation and refusal to intelligently view a situation with others that he doesn’t actually personally understand was frustrating to read. And the way he basically
Sexual assault discourse ahead
It was an excellent book overall and one I’d highly recommend, but I’d love it if there were trigger warnings in the front cover. This is the third or fourth book by Sophie that has really jumped straight into very difficult content and I adore that she takes it on, but stylistically would have appreciated a list to read through to mentally prepare, especially over such a common trigger as
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse
psyched_np's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
valeria_gzz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
3.0
I did not like the Hogwarts type aspect of this book. It would’ve been fine if it was a little shorter but it wasn’t so I didn’t like that part. I didn’t like the 3 pov’s too much either though I can see why it was done (so we can get to know Dean better before his book). I’m hoping I’ll like Zoe and Miles’ book better
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
psydneigh's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. They felt like young adults. I kinda wish they were in their 20s but its college. I get it. Now I really could've done without the tearing in the sex scene Jesus. Not needed. I also wish Sophie Lark would discuss contraception more in here books because I can't tell if they are risking it for the biscuit or if she's on the pill and there are no worries.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment