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katiebella_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
2βοΈ
As a child, she was kidnapped, raped, and left for dead. As an adult, she is out for vengeance against those who hurt her and those who failed to save her.
As a boy, he was kidnapped and forced to listen to the little girl in the room next to him being hurt. He thought she had died. As a man, he has sworn to destroy those who facilitated her death.
My Thoughts
The opening chapter of this book is DARK. I don't think I was mentally prepared for just how dark. Check your triggers. The chapter is the attempted rape and murder of a child. It doesn't go into detail, but you know it is happening. You also know this isn't the first time.
The book graphics are gorgeous. I couldn't get enough of them. Every chapters first page was black overlayed with a grey picture and white words. Whoever they used as a male photo model looked like a young Chris Pratt. By the end, I was seeing his face as Sev ( the MMC POV)
The romance was underwhelming and predictable. He walks into a bakery, steadying her from falling, and surprise, she is practically drooling at his hotness! The instant attraction diminishes the build-up and angst I've come to expect from a dark romance. It was sort of a turn-off.
It's smutty. I'll give the book that. The problem is the sex scenes feel like they are written by a man who doesn't quite understand how a woman's body works. This would be bearable if it HAD been written by a man. It's written by a woman FOR women. She should know better or have at least read more spice before trying to write it. It made me uncomfortable to read. The author has a weird obsession with nipples.
You can tell the author is self-published and unpolished. It's a dark mafia romance, wrapped up in a Sweeny Todd/Hamlet/Medusa rewrite. I had such high hopes for it, but it feels like a "booktok made me buy it" regret.
The "Sweeny Todd" rewrite part is basically he's a barber who murders with a razor, and she's a baker. The "Medusa" rewrite is basically a scorned woman's vengeance. The "Hamlet" is he's after his uncle for the murder of his father. This isn't so much a rewrite as a play on themes. Easy to spot in the first few chapters.
It's not well written and way too long. It feels more like fanfiction or wattpad. The characters are fleshed out and likable, but their speech...... no one talks like that. It's the way a teen in middle school would write a story. The whole thing is disjointed. I had to constantly reread sentences to make them make sense.
The Tale had just enough plot to keep me reading, but it felt more like I hate read it just to find out what happened.
The ending was lackluster and anticlimactic. I wish I had saved my time and money on this one.
As a child, she was kidnapped, raped, and left for dead. As an adult, she is out for vengeance against those who hurt her and those who failed to save her.
As a boy, he was kidnapped and forced to listen to the little girl in the room next to him being hurt. He thought she had died. As a man, he has sworn to destroy those who facilitated her death.
My Thoughts
The opening chapter of this book is DARK. I don't think I was mentally prepared for just how dark. Check your triggers. The chapter is the attempted rape and murder of a child. It doesn't go into detail, but you know it is happening. You also know this isn't the first time.
The book graphics are gorgeous. I couldn't get enough of them. Every chapters first page was black overlayed with a grey picture and white words. Whoever they used as a male photo model looked like a young Chris Pratt. By the end, I was seeing his face as Sev ( the MMC POV)
The romance was underwhelming and predictable. He walks into a bakery, steadying her from falling, and surprise, she is practically drooling at his hotness! The instant attraction diminishes the build-up and angst I've come to expect from a dark romance. It was sort of a turn-off.
It's smutty. I'll give the book that. The problem is the sex scenes feel like they are written by a man who doesn't quite understand how a woman's body works. This would be bearable if it HAD been written by a man. It's written by a woman FOR women. She should know better or have at least read more spice before trying to write it. It made me uncomfortable to read. The author has a weird obsession with nipples.
You can tell the author is self-published and unpolished. It's a dark mafia romance, wrapped up in a Sweeny Todd/Hamlet/Medusa rewrite. I had such high hopes for it, but it feels like a "booktok made me buy it" regret.
The "Sweeny Todd" rewrite part is basically he's a barber who murders with a razor, and she's a baker. The "Medusa" rewrite is basically a scorned woman's vengeance. The "Hamlet" is he's after his uncle for the murder of his father. This isn't so much a rewrite as a play on themes. Easy to spot in the first few chapters.
It's not well written and way too long. It feels more like fanfiction or wattpad. The characters are fleshed out and likable, but their speech...... no one talks like that. It's the way a teen in middle school would write a story. The whole thing is disjointed. I had to constantly reread sentences to make them make sense.
The Tale had just enough plot to keep me reading, but it felt more like I hate read it just to find out what happened.
The ending was lackluster and anticlimactic. I wish I had saved my time and money on this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
hanreadssbooks's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Car accident, and Pregnancy
dharshi_1's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
π· Book 3 in the Tattered Curtain series π·
βοΈThis is the retelling of Medusa Sweeney Todd βοΈ
βThis is the first time I read her book and I never disappoint π. This is the story of Talia and Severino both having a traumatic past and seeking revenge. Their worlds are interconnected by a hidden identity. How will they overcome their devils from the past ? How did they seek revenge? Will the haunting dreams let them sleep peacefully?
β I love the Talia's character . She is a strong girl , her character has different layers and finally she is the survivor.
β Sever has the guilt over the years because he can't save the one who is helping him . But when He and Talia cross paths each other he doesn't have the nightmares β¨. He is obsessed with her
β Both loves the Tattoos . And obsessed with the tulips π·
βHe gives the nickname for her "VIPERA" π€π€
βBoth having the same style of πͺπ©Έ
βI hate the character of Trudy for her behaviour she is nothing but a gold digger π‘... And Claudie for being the traitor πͺ
β If you love the dark , mafia romance read this book.
Tropes :
Dark , Mafia , Soulmates , Who did this to you ? , Revenge π, Retelling
βοΈThis is the retelling of Medusa Sweeney Todd βοΈ
βThis is the first time I read her book and I never disappoint π. This is the story of Talia and Severino both having a traumatic past and seeking revenge. Their worlds are interconnected by a hidden identity. How will they overcome their devils from the past ? How did they seek revenge? Will the haunting dreams let them sleep peacefully?
β I love the Talia's character . She is a strong girl , her character has different layers and finally she is the survivor.
β Sever has the guilt over the years because he can't save the one who is helping him . But when He and Talia cross paths each other he doesn't have the nightmares β¨. He is obsessed with her
β Both loves the Tattoos . And obsessed with the tulips π·
βHe gives the nickname for her "VIPERA" π€π€
βBoth having the same style of πͺπ©Έ
βI hate the character of Trudy for her behaviour she is nothing but a gold digger π‘... And Claudie for being the traitor πͺ
β If you love the dark , mafia romance read this book.
Tropes :
Dark , Mafia , Soulmates , Who did this to you ? , Revenge π, Retelling
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder