kaiiyo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Wonderful characters and beautifully evocative writing
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, and Murder
Minor: Classism
maeverose's review against another edition
TL;DR: I love the concept of this book so much, I really liked the romance, the writing style is hit and miss for me, why does everyone have to interrupt each other in every conversati—
The Romance
Spoiler
I liked the progression of Emmett’s feelings for Lucian. The way it was written I genuinely wasn’t sure how that was gonna go at first. The slow progression of hate to attraction without Emmett even seeming to recognize it as attraction at first. Idk I just liked that. And the dance scene !! I almost wish they explored how Emmett being a binder effects their relationship being as Lucian hates binders, but also I don’t like relationship angst so I don’t entirely mind that it was kinda just dropped.Writing
Plot Structure
Spoiler
I really like how we start out following Emmett after he’s been bound, then the way he eventually finds out, immediately leading into part two which is entirely just his memory. I definitely liked part three the least, but I think part three had to have been from Lucian’s pov or it wouldn’t’ve worked. And I definitely didn’t mind it. I think it could grow on me after a re read. Overall I just think the way the plot was structured was really smart.Dislikes
There was also a plot point that was just dropped that I felt needed more explanation.
Spoiler
When Emmett used that weird voice to tell off the people who wanted to burn Seredith’s house down, it was only brought up again once. When Emmett brought it up to Seredith she basically told him ‘that was nothing’. But it definitely seemed like something..? He seemed almost possessed to me.Alta annoyed me a bit but maybe that’s a me problem…
Graphic: Alcohol, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Homophobia, Murder, and Vomit
Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Ableism, Blood, and Incest
Minor: Fatphobia, Slavery, Abandonment, and Cursing
There is one use of the slur for Romani people. Does the dog die:Spoiler
Yes. The dog is killed, rather violentlyelphayes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'd have liked more focus on the MC and his craft, maybe more focus on how he learned to do it and finish a book etc. It kind of jumped from his sole life story to sudden romance, and was a bit jarring. Given the plot it does make sense but I think it could have been done a little better.
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Pedophilia, Murder, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Sexual assault, Vomit, Alcoholism, and Sexual violence
Minor: Sexual content and Child death
jenn_bookstitcher's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, and Animal cruelty
katkinslee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Incest, Infidelity, Animal death, Misogyny, and Rape
anapthine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Biphobia, Bullying, Vomit, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual harassment, Death, Sexism, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Moderate: Physical abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Blood, Classism, Deadnaming, Death, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Blood, and Confinement
alymac42's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Classism, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Outing, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Vomit, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
bemaline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Moderate: Blood, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Misogyny, Animal death, Bullying, Dementia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Vomit, Classism, Alcohol, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, and Violence
tamsynh's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Vomit