Reviews tagging 'Violence'

When Heroes Fall by Giana Darling

7 reviews

mamacita88's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Infertility, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Blood, and Abandonment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Vomit, Trafficking, and Religious bigotry

embelle's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

2.5

This was my book club’s pick this month…Though it wasn’t my favorite book of this genre, I was intrigued enough to pick up the second book in the duology. The book was fast paced and I was wanting to know what happened next, even if many of the characters themselves were not the best. Be prepared for almost every possible trigger warning. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

secondhandbookshelves's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.5

This was a buddy read and I waffled the entire time between liking and hating the two main characters.

This probably isn't a spoiler, but hey, let's mark it like one anyway since it talks about how the characters change during the story. (I refuse to say character development)

at first I adored Elena, strong, unflappable, smart lady that she is, and was annoyed with the buffoon who got such marvelous advice as "I say, have fun with the girl. Hell, make her cry, get her to quit, whatever you want." who then proceeded to announce (frequently) how much he would like to break her, corrupt her, destroy her, and f*ck with her. Also, this quote from his point of view: "I knew with the right training and a patient master, she would be glorious." 
And immediately after that he talks for half a page about how he will force her to be his.
Big no from me 🚩🚩

Then around the halfway mark Elena had turned into a simp who could only think about being with HIM and actively goes about destroying the life shes been working for and building since age 11.....
And he suddenly was a poet who desires nothing more than her to be safe and loved and healed from her past. 

In conclusion, they're both idiots and may they be happy in book two which I will not read 👍🏻

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Torture, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury

hartjechimene's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

• 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence and Sexual violence

rickireadss's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.5

this was SO GOOD!!! the beginning was slower in the fact that not a lot happened & it was a bunch of info-dump but i enjoyed that. the banter between dante and elena >>>>> UNMATCHED. i have so much of it highlighted on my kindle because AH-MAZING. i absolutely loved them both so much. the last like 30% - ACTION PACKED. literally all the vibes i want in a mafia romance omfg. i am so excited to pick up the next one because omfg that ending had me melting 😌

⚠️: infidelity (not between the mcs), murder, violence, gun violence, grooming, adult/minor relationship, abuse, domestic abuse, child abuse, death of parent, torture, kidnapping, blood, infertility, miscarriage, sexual assault, trafficking

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Torture, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Blood, Trafficking, and Kidnapping

loket's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Murder

ananis98's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have to admit it took a while for me to get into this book, but it grew on me. At first I didn’t like the dynamic between Dante and Elena and I felt like he was manipulating her and moving her on his own chess board just like everyone else in his life.

Elena is so strong-willed and determined that you just have to tip your hat to her, she’s a shark and she’s not afraid to bite the heads off anyone who stands in her way. Her unfortunate family situation and health issues just cemented her into the ice queen every attorney fears.

Dante’s brand of anti-hero was a lot more hard to swallow and even though he made his way into Elena’s heart eventually, I still feel like he was slightly imbalanced. He was the ruthless capo with no remorse for playing anyone, but he had a side of feminism and strong morals for the less fortunate. The author tried to paint him as the heartless Don and the Don with a heart of gold at the same time. Towards the end of the book it balanced out, but in the beginning he just came out as a conning asshole.

Yara was to be admired as a lawyer and a headstrong woman with balls of steel, but she grated on my nerves big time. She blindsided Elena time and again, then expected her to be a good soldier and roll with the punches. As for Cosima, she just annoyed me because she threw her sister into the deep end without her knowing all the facts and when directly asked what happened she deflected and never actually answered.

One thing Giana does excellently is the found family trope. Elena found herself surrounded by Dante’s soldati as they welcomed her into their folds and protected her as their own. Not because she means something to their boss, but because she instilled respect in them and managed to hold her own against the threats she faced. Just like the Fallen Men MC, the family they created makes you want to be a part of it and stand tall within their ranks.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Slavery