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now_booking's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Valerie and Dravka’s story returns this series to new earth where Dravka and the other Kraves are still trapped in an exploitative sexual trafficking situation with Valerie’s aunt. Valerie herself has been abused to the point of fear of taking action but is willing to sacrifice herself for the Krave she has loved for years, Dravka. Dravka on his part is unwilling to let Valerie make any more sacrifices for them and has come to the realization that he cannot exist as an exploited being any longer.
I liked the story overall. It does contain lots of potential triggers around sex trafficking and exploitation, physical and emotional abuse as well as cruelty. A good amount of these things are on page so be mindful in approaching this series. I liked the development and revelation (past and present) of Valerie and Dravka’s relationship. If anything , I found that Dravka’s hesitation with Valerie at the beginning of this book had no point and seemed for no reason, lasting for just a couple of pages where in the subsequent scene, he was back to being obsessed with her. Moreover the existence of the tracker in Valerie’s shoulder bothered me especially with how frequently she was going to Evelyn’s house. I didn’t really get the complexity the author was trying to show with the Aunty. It felt a little too unbalanced to me, and like a very deliberate attempt to not make the Aunt all bad- which would have been quite interesting, but then nothing was really done with that character development- the Aunt was still a wicked cartoon villain. I did enjoy this and the side characters overall and look forward to the other two Kraves’ books.
I liked the story overall. It does contain lots of potential triggers around sex trafficking and exploitation, physical and emotional abuse as well as cruelty. A good amount of these things are on page so be mindful in approaching this series. I liked the development and revelation (past and present) of Valerie and Dravka’s relationship. If anything , I found that Dravka’s hesitation with Valerie at the beginning of this book had no point and seemed for no reason, lasting for just a couple of pages where in the subsequent scene, he was back to being obsessed with her. Moreover the existence of the tracker in Valerie’s shoulder bothered me especially with how frequently she was going to Evelyn’s house. I didn’t really get the complexity the author was trying to show with the Aunty. It felt a little too unbalanced to me, and like a very deliberate attempt to not make the Aunt all bad- which would have been quite interesting, but then nothing was really done with that character development- the Aunt was still a wicked cartoon villain. I did enjoy this and the side characters overall and look forward to the other two Kraves’ books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, and Rape