Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Sugar and Skulls by L.M. Terry

7 reviews

roksyreads's review

dark sad medium-paced

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

1.5

 I’ll preface this by saying I’m a fan of dark romance and have read some very dark novels and enjoyed them. Whilst there are some aspects that are intriguing and hit hard emotionally, enough to keep me hopeful of a solid finish, I unfortunately have very little to say that’s positive about this novel. The story is repetitive, haphazard, and at times forced. There are too many POVs, most of which sound exactly the same, and with minimal character development outside of the FMC. Note also that the FMC is a teenager: she’s 17 for 70% of the novel. Despite all attempts to age her up—mostly by putting her through numerous traumatic events*—she’s childish and petulant. And no, not in a cute, playful way. Add in numerous “when she’s 18” lines from not one, but two, significantly older MMCs, and it kills the “romance”. I won’t be continuing with the series, nor will I be reading any other work from the author. 

 

* be aware of regular, detailed descriptions on-page with no CWs in the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Trafficking and Abortion

booktallie's review

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

dakota_'s review

dark emotional

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

tguccione's review

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

r0si3_'s review

challenging dark fast-paced

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

TW: grooming of a minor, forced birth (not mc)

This is one of the worst books I've ever. The trigger warnings were not adequate. I wish I DNRd it but I forced myself to read it out of spite and honestly hope. 

This book was my Roko's Basilisk. I was on a romance novel binge to just read fun stuff. And I've read "dark" romances before and do enjoy them. The writing style felt a tad repetitive and surface level and at the end. There were a few lines where I could feel the author digging for some good quotes to encompass what the characters were feeling, but idk. Everyone felt the same. 

Dirk meets Jesse at TEN which is bad enough, but then you later find out that HE KIDNAPPED HER MOTHER TO PREVENT AN ABORTION AND THEN NAMED HER!!!! He also insists that therapy takes so long because counselors get paid by the session and therefore have no stake in healing so HE KIDNAPS HER AND FORCED HER TO TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING AND THATS SUPPOSED TO FIX HER????

I Really didn't want to leave a review. But I don't understand how this book has so many raving reviews. If you have any doubts at all, just put the book down. I'm still shell-shocked I read this. The high ratings have left me with little faith in trusting reviews to find good romance novels. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Medical trauma

bookish_robin's review

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Drug abuse

Minor: Trafficking and Abortion

becxreadz's review

challenging dark tense fast-paced

4.0

Liked
*Chemistry between the characters
*Waited til she was 18 to move forward with their sexual relationship
*The good hearted guy who's morally Grey
*Family relationships

Disliked
*The 16 year age gap and his history with the love interest
*ends with marriage and a baby

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, and Murder