ednam0dewannabe's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Stalking, and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, Body horror, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Self harm, Kidnapping, and Death
amanda_reads13's review
- 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
Mara has had a troubled life. She has survived her alcoholic/abusive mother and abusive stepfather. She is on her own in San Francisco trying to get by day to day. She has been through hell. She is very feisty and independent.
Spoiler
As her career takes off, her reliance and dependence on Cole becomes stronger. He is responsible for all of her success and he is the one protecting her from Alister. As their relationship progresses, she begins to change to reflect what Cole wants her to be.Spoiler
Had she never meet him, I doubt she would have ever gone so far as to kill her mother. Before Cole, she was trying to move on with her life and did not want to get revenge on her mom and stepfather.Cole is a sociopath and murderer who cares about nothing other than getting what he wants. He is devoid of empathy, ruthless, and powerful. He and Alister have being in competition with each other since art school. Alister was obsessed with getting Cole's attention and wants him to collaborate on a "project". Mara is the unsuspecting victim that Alister chooses.
Spoiler
He leaves her to die near Cole's dumping ground, knowing that he will find her and hoping that he will kill her. Cole does not want to play this game with Alister. So, being the psycho that he is, when he finds her, he leaves her to die. After learning that Mara managed to survive, he becomes obsessed with her and begins to stalk her. He engrains himself into her life and makes her reliant on him. She becomes the center of his universe and he will stop at nothing to protect her, especially from Alister.Tropes: taboo/dark romance
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Death, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Abandonment, Grief, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Stalking, and Emotional abuse
ktkeps'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Blood, Sexual content, Injury/injury detail, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, and Murder
Minor: Self harm
golden_like_dior's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, Stalking, Self harm, Abandonment, Abortion, Kidnapping, Injury/injury detail, Sexual content, and Violence
runbackwards's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
chelleherrera's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide, and Torture
Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, and Kidnapping
cate929's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Stalking, Torture, and Violence
sam019's review
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Torture