Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

There Is No Devil by Sophie Lark

11 reviews

mnap's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I liked this book more than the first one, however I still don’t think this duet is worth all the hype it gets. Like, sure, the mmc is extremely morally gray and quite literally kills someone for the fmc. But it still doesn’t hit like Haunting Adeline does. There’s some aspects that remind me of it, like Mara tuning into Cole’s “dark side”, but other than that there’s not much else. I do like their scenes, and seeing the relationship and character development from book one to book two was nice because it was very clear with the developments. Cole started feeling some stronger emotions towards Mara, whether that be because he had an obsession with her or because he genuinely felt that way with her we don’t know, but I still like how it was pretty clearly stated. Mara’s growth was VERY clear, as she was less timid and scared by things and started to take on the more morally gray concept as well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Murder

allymurphy's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Very enjoyable, almost seems like both books could’ve been one with each being a different part. Finished both in one sitting each

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Grief, Abandonment, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Self harm, and Sexual content

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

dark 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Car accident, Grief, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

ktkeps's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Murder, Child abuse, and Blood

jen1804's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Yesss, I thought this was really good! I adored Mara and Cole’s obsession with each other and how it only grew. I loved Mara’s development into the darkness and the overall air of insanity within this book.
We get more backstory of her childhood trauma too which is harrowing to read, as well as more of Cole’s journey and how he became who he is now. Questions are answered and loose ends are tied up and it was all just very well done.
Both Mara and Cole are deeply fucked up but the dynamic of them now being fucked up together is honestly so powerful, I loved. The lust transforms during this read into love. And the intense (and literal) ‘touch the one I love and you fucking die’ trope is all over this book from both sides, it’s great, I love that their unhinged passion is reciprocated by each other and that they’re a force to be reckoned with.
And the soundtrack whilst reading provided by Lark just transforms the experience! 
Epilogue was kinda insane but it just shows how fucked they both are and Mara’s officially popped all the way off.
Satisfactory ending? Yes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Murder, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug use

annabelle's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense

3.5

I enjoyed this conclusion to Mara and Cole’s story. Definitely liked the first one more, but this was still good. I really loved Mara and Cole’s relationship and seeing them grow together!! They had  many very cute moments together. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Sexual content, and Violence

golden_like_dior's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual content, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Gore, Self harm, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Bullying, and Cursing

naaytaashreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

"I'll make sure you see prison time along with him. You'll be splashed across every fucking paper: the Karla Homolka to his Paul Bernardo."

How do I review a book that I love so much?
If someone were to ask me what I love about this book, I will just say everything.
It seems vague but it's true, everything about this book was perfection.

Sophie Lark's writing really checks off everything.
The world-building of course got more intense with the issue with Shaw.
We were definitely preparing for something to explode.

The character development was done in a way we could see progress, change and questions answered.
We get more storylines of Mara's and Cole's life. 
Their childhood, what happened to them, what makes them who they are and together how they evolved as a couple with their chemistry.
Especially with Mara, we really got to understand her art, what it speaks and the story it relates to her childhood.

The pacing of the plotline was fast but balanced in a way we get enough reading time from both Cole and Mara's perspectives.
It was an easy read although things can get quite intense, dark and spicy spicy.
Overall, it was such a satisfying sequel and the wrap up to the series was a stand up ovation.



"Whatever else I may be, I was never a man who had to tear a woman down to shine bright beside her. If you're not as good as me, then you're no good at all. And when I saw you, Mara ... I thought, this girl is really fucking good. I don't want to hold you down, chop you down, diminish you in any way. I already know I found something special. Now it's time for everyone else to see it."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Blood, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

lousnewchapter's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Suicide

Minor: Domestic abuse and Child abuse

anaya_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

This book had more of a thriller vibe to it and I loved it. Mara is crazy and Cole is a literal psychopath but they are made for each other. Kinda love that they’re obsessed with each other. Once again, check trigger warnings

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, and Violence