Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

19 reviews

michelleub's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

I’m not sure if this book was better than the first or just the same. But it was actually good. You know what it was better. The tension at the ends really was captivating. I need to know what happens to the characters next. Cassie, Deans and Micheals relationship gets a bigger role in this book but because I’m a romance girly I can’t say that I’m annoyed. The plot with Deans Das was a great way for us to get to know him better, I just wish we could also get to know the others better, I would love to get to know their backstory. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Torture, Stalking, Murder, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Death of parent

mollyb13's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

Another fast-paced thriller that I could NOT put down! I love that we have all of the characters from the first book involved again. I so wish I could have had these books to read when I was 15-20ish years old though because I would have been completely obsessed - sign me up for the Naturals program! But at my current age, I mostly find myself siding with the adults in the book and find that when Cassie thinks she is always better than the trained adults working a case I can't help but roll my eyes. It is still an extremely fun read that I highly recommend, just be ready to remind yourself that it is a fictional YA series (where the YA really shines through). I will definitely be continuing the series!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Death, Murder, and Blood

tiana_king's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence

milpeaches's review against another edition

mysterious 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

4.0

Very fun read, lots of suspense but time jumps were strange. For example, there would be a scene where certain individuals were in a car together travelling but instead of using that for a plot device, Barnes used a time jump to skip over the potential that was there. Aside from missed opportunities,. very enjoyable!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Stalking, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment

Minor: Gun violence and Blood

asipofcozy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

That was definitely a wild ride. Within one day I finished around 95% of the book, but unfortunately my body needed the necessity of sleep! 

There were a few things that I was able to guess early on and yet still a lot of mystery towards the end that kept me enraptured.

My biggest complaint, and one I have with any book with this trop is the love triangle. Honestly not for it and this series would be okay without any romance. However, it's YA so can't expect it to be romance free. However, my most hated trope is the love triangle and I just was "nope" the entire time. So, please be no more in the next two books.

This isn't by any means the top of the line thriller out there. There definitely could be more action in some places, more character development, more mystery. However, it was just as addictive as the first book and that's what was important to me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Blood, Gore, Murder, and Kidnapping

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

madisongilbert's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

In the words of Lady Gaga, “Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Blood, and Violence

samflowerv6's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

I really love this series. The chapters go by so fast. JLB is a boss at mysterious fast paced stories. I was wrong with who I thought was the unsub and that’s rare for me. I love all the naturals lia, Sloane, Michael! I LOVE YOU MICHAEL! But Cassie and Dean are just so good together. The slow burn was slow burning and I loved every minute of it. Cassie is such a good main character

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Torture, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Stalking, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Body horror, Death, and Violence

abcangelcake's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Blood, Child abuse, Violence, Torture, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Death of parent

ashleynp24's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.25

I liked the building of relationships of the main characters. The plot took a lot of fun twists and turns and didn’t end the way I expected. I enjoyed that I couldn’t figure out the ending upon first glance. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, Death, Stalking, Gore, and Blood

vj_thompson's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Just as good as the first one. There was something missing for me which was the further development of the romance. Sorry, I’m a romance girly at heart 💜 I still loved the twists and figuring out who the serial killer was.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Blood, Toxic relationship, and Gore

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Grief

Minor: Bullying and Medical content