Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Kill Switch

The character development of Damon in this book is mad. I’ve gone from despising the sick fuck that is Damon Torrance in book 1, still hating him through book 2 (albeit some crumbs are dropped in preparation for his book), and now after book 3 I see him as my baby who must be protected at all costs.
Damon has obviously committed a lot of really bad shit and we cannot excuse some of his behaviour, but this book does an excellent job of exploring his past trauma and layering the reasons behind his decisions. It is heartbreaking to read at times, nobody deserves the childhood that he had.
I absolutely adore his and Winter’s story, the secrecy of their earlier relationship when Winter didn’t know who he was, because he was scared she would hate him if he revealed his identity which is heartbreaking, but the scenes were so beautiful - the driving of the car, the motorcycle ride. I also love that they have this back story from when they were kids, with the fountain and the tree house and how it all comes full circle when they’re older.
I really loved the internal struggle between Winter and Damon, with the slow burn enemies to lovers and them finally giving into each other. I think it made it spicier at times too. I love that they are both each other’s downfalls and yet each other’s saviours. Damon’s confession of his feelings toward Winter was so beautiful. And the fucking poem behind her name and then his tattoo of the decaying snowflake, omg send help I am dead. And the note he leaves her in fucking braille. Stop it!
The disability of Winter being blind is really beautifully explored in this book actually and I just loved it so freaking much. The descriptions of her listening to the rain, the snow, chef’s kiss, her feeling her sandpaper markers on the floor so that she can still dance and do what she loves. There’s kind of a story within this story of self acceptance and how Winter loves how her other senses are enhanced, she also doesn’t let it stop her from doing anything. There are definitely times when her blindness is taken advantage of don’t get me wrong, but I loved how Winter had people who were there for her and took care of her, being her eyes for her when she needed.
Add to the story how Damon finally gets his group of friends back and my heart is happy, thank god because by the end of book 2 I was feeling sad for him, he needs them! Though perhaps he defo needed to do more grovelling than he did…
I loved the further layers about Damon and Will’s friendship too. I think the scene of the car underwater and Will essentially having a panic attack as it brought back the trauma of drowning in the first book was really beautifully done too, with him being calmed by both Damon and Winter. And Damon’s inner turmoil about what his friend has been through knowing that he’s responsible.
Overall a really good book with some extremely complex themes. It’s not a 5/5 for me but it gets a well rounded 4.
Satisfactory ending? Yes.

Content Warnings

dianasofia8's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.25

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_youfloweryoufeast_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

3 ⭐️

Genre: Dark Romance
Age group : Adult
POV : First person / dual POV
Characters: 3.5/5 ⭐️
Plot: 3.5/5 ⭐️
Setting/Themes: 3/5 ⭐️
Writing: 2/5 ⭐️
Spice : 4 ⭐️

• Please check TWs & CWs
• mature language, sexual scenes, violence, mentions of kidnapping, vandalism, sexual assault, mentions of statutory rape, child abuse, pedophilia, sexual violence murder, attempted murder, guns, substance abuse, mentions of mental illness, slut shaming & more.
• Dark romance (heavy triggers)
• Tropes :Miscommunication, Childhood lovers (but make it dark & gritty)
• HEA

“Nothing was a lie.”

Surprisingly, once I came to terms with the term “dark romance” and got past all the horrible and questionable behaviours, this wasn’t bad. I did quite like the flow of the story, of course it was extremely problematic in a sense. It was Beth toxic too obviously, but I ate After up like nobody’s business so I’m not one to complain.

Winter. I liked winter. A lot. She’s proof that strength and capability is truly in the will of a person. I loved her passion for dance and I truly loved The way she perceived things.

Damon. I hated him in the first 2, now I can’t help but love him. I am an advocate for healing past trauma and not using trauma as an excuse to be a douche but Damon. I can’t even begin. Please be warned that Kill Switch delves into the darker and very detailed parts of Damon’s abuse as a child.

My issues:

- the Misogynist tendencies obviously
- slutshaming
- glorification of trauma (in a sense)

Did I love it? Maybe not, but I did like it.

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coligmueller's review against another edition

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4.5

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queenie_ofthe_void's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.25

Easily my favorite of the series so far! My only big problem was I went straight into this after finishing Hideaway and I felt like I was missing something. I know the author likes non linear timelines, but this was even more than that. I felt like I had missed a book.

But I pushed through and it was still amazing. I loved digging into Damon's history and his relationship with Winter [Corrupt spoilers: even if it was traumatic at times]. Honestly though my favorite plot line was Damon and Will's relationship.

Their initial conforntation by the pool shed was the best scene. It was packed full of every emotion these books bring to the table. Then ending it with a sword cross and finally Will's cutting word... just damn. So good. Chef's Kiss. And finally ending with Damon saving him from drowning, Winter calming his panic attack in the shower, and the amazing three-way. I felt it pack more of an emotional punch than Rika/Michael/Kai.

This book made me so excited to learn more about Will. He's been left on the sidelines for too long and I hope the gang finally steps up to help.

Content Warnings

saff10's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense 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

3.5

Was slow getting through it and the way Winter and Damon’s relationship developed wasn’t great but overall an ok read. All of the description and retelling of Damon’s past was very graphic and not sure if there are enough warnings when it comes to this book. He is by far the most interesting character and has the best character development of the series.

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