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30something_reads'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? It's complicated
4.0
But I keep thinking that the biggest reason for that is because this audiobook is masterful. Truly, the duet narration coupled with the stellar narrators themselves really makes this shine.
If I were to have just picked this up as a physical book for the first time, I do not think the experience would have been as good. Fine, sure. But not great.
I mostly contribute that to some of the dialogue. I think it works when you get to hear it in Joe Arden's smoky Irish accent or Lucy River's stressed out rambling. But had I been reading it with my eyeballs, I probably would have been rolling them A LOT.
This was absolutely dark and twisted- moments that made me shriek out loud in shock. (which is funny when you're making dinner and your partner freaks out because they thought you hurt yourself.) The humor is definitely not for everyone but I was amused.
Overall, it's hard to separate my rating of the contents of the book versus the audiobook experience. This is 100% a book that I would only recommend via audio. So, IDK. Audiobook- absolutely a 5 star experience. The book itself? Maybe 3.5 stars?
And what a saucy little epilogue. Definitely makes you want to read the next one. (but most certainly via audiobook.)
Graphic: Cannibalism, Sexual content, Body horror, Murder, Blood, Torture, and Gore
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Medical content, Child abuse, Stalking, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
cclift1114's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
On a side note, if you’re an audiobook listener, I’d highly recommend listening to this one. From all the audiobooks I’ve listened to, this one was unique because not only did they have two narrators for the MC’s, they were simultaneously narrating instead of just having the male narrator do everything in the chapter for Rowan and the female narrator for Sloan. So if you’re someone that doesn’t care for men try to do women’s voices or vice versa, you won’t have that with this book. Rowan’s narrator handles all his dialogue and Sloane’s all of hers. And the narrators are also just talented.
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, Violence, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Mental illness and Vomit
marissareuther's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gore, Murder, Violence, Death, Torture, Cannibalism, Cursing, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Child abuse, Addiction, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Rape, and Alcohol
midnight_library'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Death, Murder, Blood, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Violence
mzquirk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Also....it had me at a man with an Irish accent. *faint*
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Cursing
Moderate: Body horror, Cannibalism, Torture, Blood, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Excrement, and Vomit
karly_rose_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I recently read The Mindf*ck Series by S.T. Abby and asked fellow readers for recommendations with other bad*ss, unhinged FMCs and this came highly recommended. It absolutely lived up to the hype—Sloane (Blackbird) is, in fact, an unhinged bad b*tch. Also, I didn't know a MMC could be a golden retriever and a serial killer, but Brynne Weaver managed to accomplish that. This duo is everything.
From the witty banter to the questionable moments that had no right making me laugh out loud, this book was an addictive, fun read. It is also a slow burn BUT the spice scenes are SPICIN and worth the wait. The chemistry between these characters is *chefs kiss.*
The only reasons I didn't give this a true 5/5 but it is very close is due to the timeline feeling sped once the characters "unite" years later, which gave me a bit of character whiplash. HOWEVER, I am extremely excited to read Leather & Lark and am hoping I can get approved as an ARC reader.
Tropes (if you're curious):
🔪 Dark romantic comedy
🔪 Slow burn
🔪 Friends to lovers
🔪 He falls first
🔪 Touch him/her and die
🔪 Forced proximity
🔪 One bed
This book is told in first person and has dual POV with the FMC and MMC.
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Cursing, Blood, Confinement, Body horror, and Cannibalism
Minor: Stalking, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Vomit, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, and Incest
lunalorenne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
poetsofsweetpea's review against another edition
- 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
I enjoyed the narration of this book. it's definitely dark and too spicy for me. It was somehow still fun and enjoyable. A good time.
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Violence, Death of parent, Gore, Sexual content, Child abuse, Confinement, Medical trauma, Blood, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
airwreckah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Torture, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
auri_underthing'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
3.75
It was all going so great until
I liked the comedic moments though.
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gore, Blood, Torture, and Cannibalism
Minor: Child abuse