Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Bully by Sophie Lark

5 reviews

amanda_reads13's review against another edition

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fast-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

3.0

Dean knows Cat's secret and is using it to manipulate and control her.

This is Dean's redemption book. In the past 2 books and in the beginning of this book, he was absolutely horrible. His arc throught this book was pretty well done. 

We already know a fair bit about Dean's past coming into this book. As we progress through the book, we get more of an insight into Dean and the childhood he suffered through. He has been abandoned time and time again. Years of heartbreak and rejection has turned him resentful and hateful. 

Cat, WTF! She just goes along with Dean's blackmail and allows him to treat her like garbage and degrade her?
SpoilerHow did this go from carrying his books and feeding him grapes, to EVERYTHING that happened in that tower? Cat, where is your self-worth and self-respect? The lines are blurry, did she really consent at first, or did she go along with him out of fear?


Ok so, Dean did get better through the book, as he works with Snow and starts to fall for Cat. BUT their relationship is very twisted.
SpoilerAt first it is solely based on Dean dominating and controlling her... *Cough* dog collar *Cough*. Yes, they eventually "fall" for each other, but their relationship is extremely toxic.


I enjoyed the Snow/Sasha cameo. I'm pretty sure I know who the spy is...

Tropes: mafia, enemies to lovers, bully

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sam019's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love this series - one of my new favourites for sure! When I began reading Sophie Lark's Underworld series, I DNF'D at the second book. Then I read her Brutal Birthright series and enjoyed it. Now, reading the Kingmakers series I'm absolutely in love. I love this series so much it's got everything Iove: academia, castles, new countries, intricate and dark romances, found family, etc. I will definitely be re-reading this series as I'm sure I'll pick up more details the next time around. I'm thinking of even going back and trying to read the Underworld series again because I love how all of these characters are interconnected! I'm going to be in such a reading slump after thks series is over... 

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marshallreads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0


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psyched_np's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.5


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shaipanda's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced
  • 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

BROOO OMG IM SO GLAD I KEPT READING LIKE WTF KENDRA_READS was 1000% righttttt like wtf this is so gooddd
Like so fucking dark like all of them are by holy shitttt
Also I’m way too proud that I literally guessed who the spy was from the 1st or maybe it was early in the 2nd book I forget - I thought it was someone else for a minute there cause that other person was also hiding something that you learn later but my original guess which I came back to pretty quickly was right 
ALSOOO - Holy shit this was so hotttt like damnn - exponentially better spice and shit even tho I still had some of the same issues with it like no mention of birth control or anything plus with them I wish there was more mention of explicit boundaries and safe words and stuff on page 

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