the_restricted_section's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Incest
phrogonalilypad'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? N/A
2.0
I liked it in the beginning. Low-key wish about 3/4 of the way through that it turned into Wendy's villain arc. Towards the end it just got messy. None of the "misunderstandings" were ever addressed by the characters. They just make assumptions and then don't talk or at least you're never shown them resolving that so they can continue their fuckery. Which is something that is indeed done in dark romances, four horsemen for example, addresses when they do fucked shit to her and it's outside of the messed up confines of what the fmc expects. The issue gets addressed. In this book... She just magically doesn't think about the messed up thing he does, that is outside of the confined of the messed up stuff she consented to and made excuses for.
I don't mind me a dark romance I also just didn't think the erotic scenes were that well written the writing was repetitive and towards the end the plotwists just felt messy.
There was a good sense of foreboding for a while but eventually it just left tme thinking "If you're really this ode to control and big boss of this crime world surely,,, surely you'd go about this in a more organized fashion. That's the whole point of organized crime." I know it's just meant to be a dark trashy fun sexy book but it just felt a bit lack on a lot of fronts.
And too she says in the beginning she hopes her readers go in blind but ma'am I really wouldn't recommend surprising people with certain trigger warnings;
Minor Spoiler:
Main mans uncle was a pedo who raped and mutilated him and there are descriptions of the trauma being enacted and the traumas effect on the mmc. I do not think people should be surprised by that kind of situation and a trigger warning for at least that is owed to the reader. It's brought up several times throughout the book. Trigger warnings for that should be on the front page!
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Confinement, Pedophilia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Blood
greenhousepunk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
bookswithbethx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Gore, Car accident, Blood, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexism, Child death, Violence, Torture, Pedophilia, Bullying, Death, and Confinement
letty_y's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse
naechan's review against another edition
2.5
There was an annoying amount of misogyny and women hating, not just from the male characters, but the narrative itself. Wendy is this virginal, innocent and pure creature who is secretly yearning to be fucked hard and that makes her special. Meanwhile all other women in this book are superficial, evil and vapid. They just jealous of her and they don’t act like people at all, but like caricatures of themselves.
It’s not the worst thing I have read, but it feels like wasted potential.
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
audreytwo's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
That said, I loved it. I read it over and over. It's pretty dark at some points, so be warned, but the writing is good and i enjoyed the villain not turning into a hero for once.
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Violence, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
soph22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So, yeah, I didn’t hate it, but it won’t be taking a permanent place on my bookshelf.
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Confinement, Cursing, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Drug use, and Child abuse
britbrit29's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Pedophilia, Blood, Gore, Murder, Drug use, Grief, Torture, Death of parent, Death, Incest, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol
meat_muffin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Gun violence, Incest, Abandonment, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Body horror, Drug use, Torture, Death of parent, Blood, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence