lea_talisa's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Okay so I liked this but it was really fucking dark. I mean for real take the trigger warnings seriously most of them indeed are graphic.
First of all: There will be spoilers in this review but ONLY one’s that present major triggers. I won’t spoil anything further than what the author herself mentiones as triggers in the very beginning of the book.
Though it absolutely shattered my heart, I loved the first chapters about Scar’s childhood. It gave you a really good understanding of the character he would become later on.
In the first chapters in the present i didn’t really like how fast Irina’s and Scar’s “relationship” progressed. The past scenes were all so detailed and took the time they needed but I feel like the beginning of the present story was a bit rushed at times.
Also I did not like how extremely controlling Scar was and how Irina hardly ever protested against it even a little bit? That’s something I just can’t find myself ever coming to terms with.
This book deals with serious trauma and severe ptsd from sexual assault, rape and other horrifying things. The coping mechanism are absolutely not healthy and feature graphic suicidal thoughts, self harm and a suicide attempt.
In this story of two traumatized people trying to heal and live together, we witness several traumatic events and the healing process afterwards.
It’s a lot about both of the characters, but especially Irina, finding back to themselves and to life through each other.
This being the first book I’ve read in this series it’s distracting for me that a lot of other couples and names are randomly mentioned. I guess if you read the whole series it’s a very nice touch that the characters reappear, but reading it as a stand-alone I found it to be a little annoying.
Quotes:
“You can’t fix me, Scar!” -“Watch me.”
„A woman's weight, whether she was "too skinny" or "too fat," should never be a topic of conversation for anyone.
Especially not someone with a penis.“
„She owned her imperfections, all the broken pieces that made her who she was.
And she rose from the flames.“
Quotes:
“You can’t fix me, Scar!” -“Watch me.”
„A woman's weight, whether she was "too skinny" or "too fat," should never be a topic of conversation for anyone.
Especially not someone with a penis.“
„She owned her imperfections, all the broken pieces that made her who she was.
And she rose from the flames.“
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Murder, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Torture, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Mental illness, Gun violence, Eating disorder, Death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Stalking, Abandonment, Addiction, Trafficking, and Grief
gingerbreadwoman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, and Violence
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