Reviews with content warning for Death - Dreadful: A Dark Retelling

Reviews tagging 'Death'

Dreadful: A Dark Retelling by Greer Rivers

4 reviews

ingrid6's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No

1.0

Content Warnings

kearstenkeepsreading's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Another great book in the Tattered Curtain series! I was immediately drawn into this world of of revenge and was instantly rooting for both MC’s.

You have Talia who is set in taking her revenge on those who murdered her parents and almost killed her. And then there is Severino, who is also out for revenge for his own family and the little girl that saved him when he was a boy.

The world building was amazing from the barber shop to the bakery to the theater and everything in between it was as if I was there! As per the other books in the series the side characters were fleshed out and played integral parts throughout the story. Also the chemistry between Talia and Sev was off the charts from the moment they met(again). That just continued to build especially with the mistaken/hidden identity aspect of the story.

Truly a great read but be sure to check trigger warnings as it is a dark romance!

Content Warnings

erinmd156's review

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Content Warnings

jaynellewags's review

Go to review page

challenging 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? No

4.5

Thank you to the author for a eARC of this book. I was so excited when I was asked if I wanted an early copy to review... yes, yes I do.

Rating: 4.5

CW- there are quite a few since this is a dark romance so please check those for this book
Tropes: Revenge, hidden identity, mafia, enemies to lovers, morally grey MMC/FMC

This has components of Sweeney Todd, Hamlet, and Medusa woven throughout the story.

I have enjoyed the first two books in this series so much, and this one did not disappoint. Greer does such a good job of adding in easter eggs from the musicals and giving us little twists. Sweeney Todd is one of my favorite musicals... actually all three books are my top three musicals... so I really enjoy those aspects of the story. Mafia romances are one of my favorite romance books because I love me a morally grey MC- bonus points if both of the main characters are like that.

Talia wants revenge on the Family that has wronged her, and Sever wants revenge on his Family that has wronged him.

The book starts out in a flash back that hurt my soul and made me want to take revenge on some book characters... but I won't spoil it for you. We then flash forward to present day where Talia works as a costume designer and at her grandparents bakery. Sever is a guard dog for his uncle who is the local boss.

One day Sever wants to make his cousin happy so he goes to the local bakery that makes pistachio cannoli's and he sees her, Talia. He is immediately obsessed and starts using the CCTV in the North End to keep track of her.

Thoughts:
I loved every minute of this book. The back and forth between Talia and Sever... like will she kill him, will she not was entertaining for me. I enjoyed all the easter eggs from Sweeney Todd- it is one of my favorite's.
The scene with Percy and Sever... while very dark was perfect for the situation that had occurred. So many people get away with doing whatever they want, and morally grey, slightly unhinged MMC's get to enact the revenge I am sure so many people wish they could.
Talia's grandparents were so sweet and cute. I loved how much they cared for her and their relationship with each other was one of the sweetest things in the book.
Sever wanting to protect Talia but also respecting that she was strong enough to defend herself was something that added a lot to this mafia romance. There are times that the FMCs are like damsels in distress and that is not always something I enjoy. I liked that Talia was a badass and strong in her own right- Sever was there to help if needed but she didn't need a man to do all her dirty work.
I absolutely despised Sever's mom. The way she is done is fantastic but oh my goodness do I hate her.

I am excited to see what this author does next and which story she will make dark next.

Content Warnings

More...