Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Hold by Claire Kent

4 reviews

doahdancer's review

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

For being a short book, the sex scenes made the story drag. I'm normally gung-ho for erotica, but I personally was so intrigued by their interdynamics and the prison politics, I wished that more things had happened that might drag them apart or create more grittiness. Those desires are purely a personal preference, but it's a fact that not much happens than them having sex and Cain building his device.

That said, I loved the premise and read this on the heels of Homestead which was perfect and had the kind of development I wanted for this story.

I plan to pick up the next. Despite not getting what I wanted, this was a short, dramatic, and thrilling read and I like Kent's writing voice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Murder, and Sexual harassment

smuttymcbookface's review

dark medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.25

After reading the kindled series, I decided to try more of Claire Kent's work since I loved it so much. Although Hold was fine, it didn't hold up to her other pieces. There was something inauthentic about the characters, and it really did feel like the lead up to a porno. Although it normally doesn't bug me, I found myself frustrated that the FMC was just coming over and over during sex. It made this monotonous to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Blood

Moderate: Gun violence and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape

lotte5322's review

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape and Vomit

emfass's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

3.25

Read because the Bonkers Romance podcast is my new favorite thing and I immediately want to read every book they've talked about so far.

On the podcast, Jenny mentioned that this book is a great example of tight writing, where there is no extraneous plot info, you get just enough to understand what's going on but then the focus remains tightly on the characters. I guess I can see what she meant, but also I felt the writing was almost...too economical? Like I actually wanted to spend a little more time fleshing out Cain and Riana's relationship. Also I found their dialogue kind of boring, and occasionally inane, and overall I don't think it did much to further their relationship or circumstances.

The premise and plot were indeed bonkers, but my feelings about this book can be summed up as "it was fine" and I think I won't remember much about it in a few weeks time (it's been four days since I finished it and already I'm hazy on most of it).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Sexual violence, and Blood

Minor: Vomit

Many graphic threats of sexual violence; attempted rape; groping