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kayla_kamldecker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, and Alcohol
howlinglibraries'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
4.0
This is definitely one of the more spicy books I've read, so if you're looking for a steamy dark romance with a very unique plot, I highly recommend picking this one up!
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Death, Slavery, Trafficking, Grief, and Death of parent
thefox_reads'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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
vidalovesspice'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
2.75
- Spice Lvl - 5 - Ya'll need Jesus after this...and some eye bleach...and mouth wash...
- Female Character - Romina
- 1/5 - soft, bland tofu. But she develops into HORNY, soft tofu. Sis going to horny jail.
- It made me REALLY uncomfortable how infantilized she was the ENTIRE book. I understand she was locked up for 18 years in a tower, but holy shit, it was creepy to read how childish she was.
- Male Characters/Love Interests - Twins: Felix & Corvin Escura & Sonny Santorini
- 3/5 - a point for each guy xD. I did like Corvin the best, but it was like good cop (Felix), bad cop (Corvin), and angry cop (Sonny). They're all going to horny jail.
- Red Flag Rating - 4/5 - coercion, grooming, and conditioning Romina ain't it for me. Definitely not a turn on to take advantage of someone naïve like Romina.
- Stupid Scale
- So Stupid
- Trigger warning - A LOT - death of parents, trauma, murder, death, suicidal thoughts, disembowelments, dismembering, drowning, dubious consent, physical assault (not between MCs), bomb threat, mutilation, child abuse, neglect, Satanic worship, incestuous situation
- Kinks - sexual asphyxiation, choking, unprotected sex, light degradation, blood play, knife play, eating period blood (ya'll need Purell), anal, double penetration, spit roast, MMF, MMMF
I'm going to preface this review by saying dark romance is PROBABLY not for me. I really tried to like this book because I liked what I saw on booktok. It's inspired by Hunchback of Notredame, so I was so in for this tory. I loved what people were saying about it and I was so here for all the spice. I also liked some of the SPICY SPICY quotes in this book. But man, oh man, I just cannot suffer a stupid, boring FMC. I can't do it. Romina was just so boring. The story also left me wanting.
The Good
- MOST of the sex was good. I came for the smut. I stayed for the smut. So it delivered on that. I got what I came for. If you just want a book that is straight up smut, this book is for you.
- The concept was good taking place in a dystopian world.
- I do enjoy a reverse harem story.
- Reesa was also the best character in this. I enjoyed all the scenes she was in. I wish she were the main character, to be honest.
The Bad
- The Story - The story doesn't exist. It begins...it info dumps...and then eventually it ends. Majority of the book is Romina trying to get dick. I wish the beginning wasn't just an info dump of the characters and the dystopian world and it was developed more throughout the story. But I felt like I was just thrown all this info and then a resolution gets tacked on at the very end.
- Romina - Romina reminded me of all those smutty josei manga I would read where the FMC had virtually no personality and she was just there to be a sleeve for the love interest. She would cry out "no no, oh no stop" the whoooole time. She got on my nerves. Not a fan of this kind of character.
- Romina starts off incredibly naive and infantilized. She never really grows out of this. The way she speaks is infantilized. Her wants, needs, and motivation don't exist other than to get dick. Sometimes she gets 1 dick. Sometimes she gets 2 dicks. SOMETIMES she gets 3 dicks. Her entire self discovery and journey as a character is her getting dick.
- I'm also not into romanticizing conditioning someone infantilized like Romina into sex. She's literally conditioned and groomed the same day the 3 Male MCs find her, and she has no idea what's happening. The guys tell her she can do what she wants, but how can she when she's been sheltered all her life, and the first experiences she has getting attention and affection is by being coerced into sex. It's not a kink for me. It was just very uncomfortable.
- Romina is also just incredibly co-dependent, and doesn't show any agency for herself. Instead she bases all her decisions on if it will please the guys. This goes as far as how she dresses. There's one scene where she's given the option to wear red, but because the guys all wear black and they dressed her like she walked out of a Hot Topic, all she wants to wear is black and fishnet stockings. Give me a break. When she's asked a question or her opinion she looks to the guys for approval first. So annoying.
- UNHYGENIC FUCKERY - I don't know what it is about dark romance stories and these germy ass kinks. I wanted to be turned on not get my germaphobia triggered. I'm not a fan of bloodplay, but I understand some people like the idea of contracting hepatitis. Fine, cool. I can get behind that. BUT WHERE I DRAW THE LINE AT IS PERIOD BLOOD. If a character wants to bang during her period, good for her. Power to her. Personally, I'd probably want to die during my period, but hey, different folks. But my issue is the whole period blood licking, consuming, etc. That needs its own trigger warning. I was NOT PREPARED for when
Felix fingerbangs Romina and then sucks on her period blood and then smears it on a grave. Then he takes her hand and walks away. Sir?! I hope you purelled your hands after! And bleached out your damn mouth. I wanted to gag. This ain't it, ya'll. That shit is so dirty and foul. I don't find it sexy for a guy to go "Mmm, that's good uterine lining you're shedding there, pet." I DRAW THE LINE! - Felix, Corvin, and Sonny, honestly, egh. I liked Corvin the best, but to be honest, there's not too much development except them opening up to letting Romina into their Satanic Mean Girls Club.
Was it painful for me to read this? Not really. I actually didn't hate read this until probably 68% of the way. I just think a lot of dark romance is not for me, and while I did enjoy most of the smut minus the period blood nonsense, I just don't like having to deal with stupid, bland ass characters like Romina. Girl gave me nothing. But if you love dark romance, I think you'll enjoy this. Like I said previously, most of the sex scenes are hot. You just need to suspend all your brain cells and carry some bleach with you.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abortion
mothermoth'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
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Torture, and Pandemic/Epidemic
amaranth_wytch's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
2.75
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Incest, Excrement, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
squirrelhippie's review against another edition
3.75
The rest of the book was decent though. I liked the romance and it was certainly a unique storyline. I probably wouldn't re-read it personally, but I don't regret reading it.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
azapolya'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment
joricottone's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Abortion, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail