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violetends'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
3.25
I do very much enjoy this whole concept of hot stories about Disney characters in an absurd enemies-to-lovers somewhat real-world mafia drama that mostly takes place inside a sex club. The plot is not great and maybe I noticed this time for the first time, how cringe it actually is. Maybe the third novel also just has the thinnest plot of them all. Maybe I was regularly too uncomfortable about the very serious overtones of past abuse and violence within a romantic relationship which constitutes one of the main themes in this novel and quite frankly made it difficult for me to not continue pondering about during the still very much well-written smutty scenes.
I liked Hook and I am very grateful for the realism with which Tink and her trauma are portrayed. She is complicated and fragile while simultaneously being very tough and walled-off and I appreciate this depiction so so much.
There is no question I will continue this series soon. I adore it way too much. However, I am a little more weary and hope that the next books in the series will be less heavy from trauma-related topics and more silly mafia-drama again (even though I really do not enjoy this part, I am just here for the well-written kink, but honestly I do prefer those cringy cute power-politics amongst gang leaders scenes over the heaviness that weighed on A Worthy Opponent.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement and Physical abuse
bangiebangs's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I especially loved that Tink is a plus sized woman, and this is all described beautifully. In fact, I do adore Katee Roberts for that as well, for the representation of different kinds of bodies. Doesn't happen enough!
Also has some well-executed tropes (enemies to lovers, forced marriage).
5/5 for spice again, I smiled a lot reading this, though will say that a serious CN applies for an abusive ex (physical and psychological abuse, physical violence and kidnapping...)
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
sorryiloveyou's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Pra ser sincera, todos esses seguem uma formulinha muito parecida, então é impossível não comparar. Em todos os vilões são extremamente "flat", sem profundidade nenhuma, e eu entendo porque não é o foco da autora. Mas, nossa, se o Peter Pan tivesse mais profundidade... Esse seria um 3 ou até 3.5 pra mim.
Em compensação, Hook e Tink foram meus protagonistas favoritos até agora. O casal com a melhor química e com as melhores cenas até agora.
Óbvio que a paixão repentina me incomodou um pouco. Tudo bem, eles se conhecem a anos blah blah blah. Mas, todo o enredo se passa em tipo uma semana, no terceiro dia a Tink já estava completamente apaixonada sonhando em casar e ter filhos do NADA... Fez eu me perder um pouco no final.
A Tink foi a heroína com mais personalidade e que mais me agradou por alguns motivos. 1. Por ela ser confiante em seu corpo e deixar explícito que esse é o corpo dela querem os outros gostem ou não; 2. Pela maneira que seu abuso foi representado, mesmo que de forma sutil (já que, novamente, não é o foco do livro) e como isso a tornou mais forte e ao mesmo tempo ainda vulnerável afinal é um trauma e 3. Porque ela tem atitude e personalidade, apesar de não mostrar muito nesse livro, sabemos que Tink é mais do que a sub num relacionamento ou uma tralhadora do Underworld, a gente conhece outros aspectos de sua história que a torna mais completa do que Jasmine e Meg, na minha opinião.
Hook foi o melhor interesse romântico até agora. Eu gostei do Jafar, Hades e Hércules me irritaram um pouco, mas o Hook... Simplesmente o maioral. A motivação dele é idêntica a dos seus antecessores, se vingar, usar a heroína como uma peça de um jogo maior, se aproximar da heroína, conquistar territórios, acabar com o vilão etc etc, mas por Hook ser o personagem com a personalidade mais agradável até agora, é muito fácil ignorar que a história está se repetindo em muitas maneiras.
Alguns aspectos que não estou afim de aprofundar muito, mas me incomodou: 1. o fivesome ser só uma maneira de introduzir os próximos personagens, apenas Gaeton (ou Gaston), Tink e o Hook pareciam estar na cena, os outros dois? Enfim; 2. O jeito que trataram o "problema" do Gaeton, gente sexo não resolve tudo fodase se o livro é erotica; 3. Quando o Hook fala: "I want to strip her down, clasp a collar around her throat, brand her ass - do whatever it takes to ensure she'll never leave me" e basicamente nada do que ele quer fazer garantiria que ela iria se apaixonar e querer ficar com ele. Dom/Sub ≠ real life (com todo o respeito aos adeptos da prática); 4. E como já mencionando anteriormente (e irei bater nessa tecla sempre), custa nada botar umas pagininhas a mais e tratar o vilão com mais profundidade!!!
Enfim, acredito que esse é o que eu mais gostei até agora, mas ao mesmo tempo senti muita falta de algumas coisas para que eu REALMENTE gostasse da história. Foi ótimo para passar o tempo, li super rápido.
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
bzliz'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
2.5
Additional content warning for past toxic relationship and domestic abuse.
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
kiahmarieee's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, and Kidnapping
flyingryndeer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
izzyf16's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Gun violence
doggipet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Pregnancy
booksandteatime's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Violence
olivialandryxo's review
- 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
My favorite in the series so far! I loved Tink, I loved her friendships with the other Underworld women, and I even grew to quite like Hook. I enjoyed seeing their relationship progress. There were even some especially amusing scenes that made me cackle/snort out loud, so props to Katee for that. She’s quickly rising up on my list of favorite romance authors. <3
If I had one complaint, it would be that this story seemed way too similar to that of the first book, Desperate Measures. The girl’s inner battle of simultaneously hating and being horny for the guy. The guy falling in love with the girl even though he thinks he’s awful, doesn’t deserve her, etc. And the whole shtick with Tink, Hook and Pan felt incredibly reminiscent of the one in DM with Jasmine, Jafar and Ali, right down to the way the final showdown unfolded. So, not the biggest fan of that. I’m really not into authors recycling plots. ://
[Update: yes, technically, this is true, but I don’t care anymore. This has become one of those books where I just love it, even if it has flaws.]
Ending this with my favorite quote:
‘She was earlier, yes.’”
Representation:
- full cast of queer polyamorous and/or polysexual characters (one protagonist is also a POC, and there are Black side characters)
- FMM side throuple
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism
Contains multiple graphic sex scenes + BDSM. All abuse occurred prior to the story but is referenced throughout, moreso in the second half, but never in explicit detail. Tink has a couple of fairly severe panic attacks.