kassreads's review against another edition
2.0
leahrebecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
lauraak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
littlev_14's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rita_costa's review against another edition
3.0
Wow. Wasn't this book a whole rollercoaster ride?
I will be honest. I enjoyed reading this book. I really did. A lot of people despise it, but I honestly adored reading it. It definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone, but, at the end of the day, I'm glad it did.
Alright, so, before I even start doing my review, I need to warn possible readers about something. If you're thinking about reading this book: don't expect a normal romance. Like, at all. And I'm being as honest as possible when I say that you need to scrape the idea of a fluffy romance couple out of your brain if you want to get through the first 60% (if not 70%) of this book. I'm a sucker for dark romance, it's my favorite type of book/romance, but this is the darkest story I've ever read.
Here are the things, I think, everyone needs to know before reading this book:
- This story is not made for everyone. You'll probably not feel comfortable while reading it, and that's okay. But do not, ever, recommend this book like it's a walk in the park. It is not. And people need to know that before they read it. The story is heavy and there are things not easy to ignore.
- This is, definitely, an 18+ read. I don't care about whatever people say about them being mature. This story is not for younger people - you'll see why eventually.
- Main trigger warnings: R@pe (attempts, jokes, etc.), Pedophilia/Age gap (16 and 19/20 [only on flashbacks]), SA (excessive groping, certain comments, etc.), and death of a parent. [These are the main ones that I noticed. Please do your research before reading this book.]
- And, lastly. You need a different mentality before going into this book.
It is how it worked for me and how I was able to enjoy the story with almost no problems. The Horsemen throughout the book will be doing the most insane things, and saying things of that sort too. All I did was mainly focus on the characters and see their 'jokes' as jokes, and focus their more questionable actions on how, firstly, Rika (main character) felt about them and, secondly, how the Horsemen are constantly (supposedly) trying to not go 'too far' with her -The most subjective thing I've ever said in my life.
And with that being said, I think it's fair that I finally start this review.
I would like to start with the things that I didn't particularly enjoy or, simply, what made me slow down my reading.
Firstly. How constant r@pe was a theme in this story. Whether as a theme of jokes between some characters, or even as actions, it was just there, all the time. For example, Damon - one of the horsemen. His whole character development is surrounded by his actions and his jokes. Damon makes the most disgusting of jokes and comments about women. Like, my god! He says the most repulsive things I've ever read, but this book gives us a short backstory to him. Did his actions make sense after it? Not really, but kind of? Ugh, I hate saying that. I hate justifying horrible actions and that is why I hate Damon as a character. He is just there to provoke fear onto Rika and to do 1-3 attempts of sexually assaulting (/r@ping) her.
There are other characters that also only serve this purpose to the story and that is why I hate this part of the book. Why does this need to be such a reoccurring theme in the story? Like, why? I got so tired of it so quickly that it was starting to get annoying at some points. So, please, keep that in mind if you want to read this book.
Secondly. Do you know how there are usually 2 or even just 1 main conflict in a story? Yeah, so, this story has many, which I'm not complaining about since it makes sense to the storyline, but what I am complaining about is the final main conflict. I won't be giving any spoilers, but I truly just felt like it was rushed. It made sense to the storyline and to the characters, but there was no tension right before the conflict. No sizzling before the bubbling, you know what I mean? And even though that conflict is one that has you in the chokehold the entire time due to how intense it is, I couldn't just ignore that. It felt so random and so pushed into the story that it didn't feel right. And this is (also) the supposed big, big ending to all the conflicts in the book. So... I don't know, I just feel like it fell kind of short.
And, lastly. I hated the epilogue of this story. Good God. It was interesting, I won't lie. But, like the rest of the book, the chapter was looooong - which I don't hate but it might be a deal-breaker for some. And most of it was just a flashback... I just... I felt betrayed. We did get like a snippet of the main couple being together in the beginning, but, the flashback was so freaking long. If it weren't for the last sentence - which I squealed at - I would've completely hated this (bonus?) ending.
Okay. That list is done, so, I would like to talk about what I liked about the story - which is a lot.
Firstly. This story felt so addicting to read. It had, from the beginning to end, this hold on me and on my mind where I felt like I needed to keep reading this book or else I would go insane. To me, this story is just so well written (except for the things I mentioned) that it just held me there and forced me to keep reading. And I'm glad it did. It was such a slow-burning, but at the same time, a fast story, and I just loved its pace so much.
Secondly. It might be controversial to some readers when I say this, but I felt like this book constantly made me question who to believe in and who to side with, Rika or the Horsemen. And this was during the whole book. And I feel like that is so important and interesting to this story, to just make you stop and think about who is in the right or, at least, who is the lesser wrong. And I loved just jumping from one side to another in this book. It made me feel even more glued to the story. I loved it.
Thirdly. Simply, Michael's and Rika's love for each other. I could write a whole essay on this - a whole 20+ pager. Even though Michael's love only comes later in the story, Rika's love for him just makes everything make so much sense. Her actions, her thought process, everything just made everything in the story be realistic, in a sense. This woman has been in love with this man for so many years and this story was so consistent with that. Because let's be honest here, it wouldn't make sense if she ever went against her feelings and acted differently towards Michael when she has never done that in her childhood/teenagehood, and this story never, ever, did that!
From the way she expects him, the way she thinks about him, to how she tries to hate him, and, especially, to how, no matter what is going on, she will hope he will be there... I just... I love them. Too much, probably.
This book gives us from beginning to end constant information about how their love for each other was born, which was so early in their lives, and how it evolved with them throughout the years. And those particular parts just were so beautiful to read. I loved all of it.
Okay. I'm done with my rant, now.
Fourthly. The importance of friendship in this book is insane to me. I've read another book by Penelope Douglas, and I might think that this is a reoccurring theme. But, seriously, this friendship of the horsemen is pure gold. Even though there are members of the group that I might not particularly, like *cough* Damon *cough*, I just love their friendship so much. Some readers might be holding their heads in despair while reading this, but, seriously, I loved their brotherhood, and how they would never leave their friends behind despite everything. I love them.
Fifthly. This might be controversial, but I couldn't care less. Rika is there for everyone (at least, the main characters) in this story. I love how she just tries to understand everyone's struggles and inner pains, and even tries to fix them!! Like... hello? I love her as the main character. And so, with that, I will say this: The smut part with Spoiler
Michael, Rika, and Kai
Was it absolute filth as smut? Yes. But did it have a meaning of their friendship and, also, Rika's worries about everyone in the group? Yes, I believe it did. So, yeah. I will defend the hell out of this scene in the book.
Sixthly. Just smut. Smut as a whole. Perfection. Delicious. Penelope Douglas will never disappoint me on this and that's a fact.
(This book drips of smut, keep that in mind before reading it).
Seventhly. The way opinions and certain thought processes changed throughout the book in ways that make sense. Nothing felt random or rushed. Every emotion or change of emotions (and even opinions on people), no matter how difficult they were to make/think by the characters themselves, made sense and were well written to the point of not being ever silly or seeming forced into the reader.
Eightly. Just Rika as a whole. I loved her as the main character, as I've said before. She's impulsive, but not too impulsive - her impulses also are understandable in the story. Her love for Michael is absurdly realistic - in my opinion. The way she cares to understand everyone, even those who hate her. The way she tries to make things better for other people. Ugh. I just love her so much. She needs a kiss on the forehead.
Ninethly. Alex. Just Alex. The best character in the whole book. I love her so much.
And, lastly. The full circles in this story. I absolutely adore how every action that is given to us between the main couple was, sooner or later in the story, followed with either a flashback or just a memory to act as a full circle. And I'm talking about even the smallest of things in this story, which are explained and given to us in a way that you don't expect them to be a thing on how Michael and Erika connected. They just all are there and they make the romance so much better. Every little interaction since Rika was born Spoiler
and shown to the family (literally)
And... that's about it. I've talked for way too long. But I don't regret it.
As you can see, I enjoyed reading this story. A lot. And I would recommend it to anyone that feels like they can handle it. This story, again, is not for everyone and I will despise anyone for recommending it randomly to people. It has a lot of triggering things because it is a dark romance. If you don't like dark romances, don't expect the book to be of your liking. And even if you do, expect really dark things to happen so that you're at least prepared when you read it.
I tried my best not to give spoilers about anything, so I hope this review was good, nonetheless.
As always, I will never, ever, judge someone for either despising or finding this book to be their favorite. It has so many good and bad parts that it would just make sense for someone to be on either side of the spectrum. I see myself more in the middle, even though a little tilted off to the liking side.
I hope this review is helpful in any way. I rated this under 4 stars due to comparing to other books I have considered 4 stars - since they are just slightly superior for me. But, as you can see, there are more things that I enjoyed than disliked, therefore, why a higher-than-average rating.
Hope everyone has a great day and has a great continuation of their reading!
bblanka'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
4.5
anab02's review against another edition
2.0
infinitelykaty's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
adrianaarnold's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5