ilovebooks937's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, 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
lauralouise93's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Drug use, Murder, and Sexual violence
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
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
4.25
Mention of: child abuse, death of a parent[s], neglect, corruption, and implied pedophilia and child SA.
Yes, just yes. Hook is one of those villains whose violence feels completely justified. 😌 I also loved seeing Wendy evolve and grow confident in herself and her own mind.
Ngl definitely saw the twists coming but they were still fun when revealed.
I will definitely be reading the other books in this series 💜
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Death, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Gore, Blood, and Torture
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
peeshy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Car accident, Physical abuse, Murder, Cursing, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Grief, Drug use, Blood, Addiction, and Drug abuse
atravellingpenguin's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Kidnapping, Torture, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Rape, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Drug use, and Bullying
paperbackmystique_and_co's review against another edition
- 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
The plot was at times a little lacking for me for one I didn't understand how we went from not knowing who James was to suddenly after losing her virginity to him and a couple of orgasms Wendy was instantly inlove.
Apart from the breath play and the VERY subtle hinting towards child abuse, there wasn't really any aspect of it that I would deem it a dark romance.
I also don't know how Hook couldn't see who was the person messing with his business when I picked up on it almost immediately - I'd actually hoped it would be wrong about Schmee but unfortunately all of the signs were there but clearly not obvious enough for our MMC.
I gave this 3/5 stars based on the fact that I didn't enjoy that Wendy fell so hard and so quick that it didn't make sense and also because it's labeled dark romance but was more spice than anything else.
That being said, I look forward to seeing if the rest of the series redeems itself.
Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence
Minor: Child abuse
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