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zasou_reads's review against another edition
2.5
This is book 1 in the Sick World series, and it's unlike anything I've ever read. First, the fact that it's advertised as a dark is preposterous. Please check the trigger warnings before going into this one, because it's really dark. But this is not a romance. The plot is much more based on the fighting world and the children camp and the past of the MCs. There are some spicy scenes (MM, MFMM, MF), but there is no real romance anywhere in there. I really enjoyed it up until around the 30% mark, where I felt things were really dragging and very repetitive, and I ended up skmming most of the middle part.
cala_p's review against another edition
4.0
ARC received from the author. Voluntarily reviewing and all opinions are objective and my own.
What did I just read? J.A. Huss blew it out of the water with this one! Filled with the same sense of darkness as the rest of her books, related to the same world, but so different. So intense.
This is a very character-driven story and I felt like even toward the end, I could never get enough of Cort. He’s a fascinating character. Anya too actually. Coming from such a dark past, but with an interesting present, Cort opts to keep her. Every fight he wins, he wins a woman, and though his father typically takes them, this one he fights to keep, as it is his final fight. She is forced to go with him as he trains the next line of recruits, and learns to survive.
It’s a romance book, and the romance is great, but J.A. huss really focused on the intense connection between Cort and Anya, as well as the other characters with this one. Combine it with the plot of underground fighting, human trafficking, and surviving, the author created something I really hope to see more of.
So after this great review, why four stars? I found that there are times where the narrative gets a tad slow and I find myself bored.
1bookobsessionconfessions's review against another edition
5.0
I was immediately pulled into this story.
The characters “got to me” right away.. I was instantly intrigued. Then, I was emotionally invested.
It’s a very interesting storyline. It has a really unique vibe.
It is gritty, suspenseful, heartbreaking and deeply emotional.
AND- a reminder of the strength of the human spirit. The desire to survive. It hit a lot of emotions for me.
There’s a lot of “unpleasant “ things happening. And, what I mean is that there are seriously depraved and morally corrupt things going on.
-It made the moments of human connection and joy really hit me in the emotions.
The small things were that much more beautiful and filled with warm feelings.
The main characters are stuck in a world they didn’t have a choice in.
There’s a few unexpected “reveals” that added to my enjoyment. They play out subtly, but are a major part of the story as a whole.
The dark aspects...
They aren’t over described or used as a sensational tool.
They are there, they did affect me.
The story exists and was great because of the darkness surrounding the characters.
I adored the characters and their story! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
kaydanielsromance's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn't even sure what tropes to list this under because I can't say I've read a book like this before. It was completely unique, in the best way, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it now that I've finished it.
Cort, known as Sick Heart, and Anya both live in this sick world where they have been desensitized to the evil in the world. Cort is a slave and has fighting as an underground fighter for twenty-two years and Anya too is a slave, but she is a sex slave.
One would ask, how can this become a romance story when the topic itself is one of horror, but I have to say this story centered around Cort and Anya, who were already adults, and it was told in such a way that I was drawn into their story and the trials they were going through. The fact that human trafficking was the reason they were together didn't even register, if that helps.
The story contains twists, a few steamy moments, but ultimately it was the slow falling between Cort and Anya that kept me turning the pages. Their inner change and trust that grew through trials and tribulations and it was very engaging.
If you like a book that is different, and really makes you think about the world you live in, because honestly this is a topic that is currently happening and yet I loved that under such a dark topic a little love and light could be found. This book was so good and I'm really looking forward to what’s coming next.
Cort, known as Sick Heart, and Anya both live in this sick world where they have been desensitized to the evil in the world. Cort is a slave and has fighting as an underground fighter for twenty-two years and Anya too is a slave, but she is a sex slave.
One would ask, how can this become a romance story when the topic itself is one of horror, but I have to say this story centered around Cort and Anya, who were already adults, and it was told in such a way that I was drawn into their story and the trials they were going through. The fact that human trafficking was the reason they were together didn't even register, if that helps.
The story contains twists, a few steamy moments, but ultimately it was the slow falling between Cort and Anya that kept me turning the pages. Their inner change and trust that grew through trials and tribulations and it was very engaging.
If you like a book that is different, and really makes you think about the world you live in, because honestly this is a topic that is currently happening and yet I loved that under such a dark topic a little love and light could be found. This book was so good and I'm really looking forward to what’s coming next.
denisebaer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
3.0
This was probably one of the hardest books I’ve read. For decades, I read mostly literary fiction, and many of those stories were based on traumatic situations and characters. This isn’t a “sweet love story adrift in an ocean of evil” like the author wants the reader to believe. It’s deceiving no matter how many times she follows it up with “descriptions of deeply disturbing situations”. It’s a story about human trafficking and breeding for money. A story of hope, will, and survival. Majority of the book is about fighting for survival. The importance of how the strong will survive, like social order was important in Lord of the Flies.
So, I’m not quite sure where this falls into the romance category other than a HEA. The story isn’t focused on Anya and Cort’s romantic relationship. At least, that isn’t the story I read. It focuses on the horrors of what they went through, along with a lot of other characters. They’re connection to how they all come from the sick atrocities of humanity. I read dark romance, but I will say child human trafficking and breeding children for money is a hard pill to swallow. Unfortunately, it’s real.
What I liked about it was the character development. Huss did a good job developing the characters and showing growth. I felt for Cort. Out of all the characters, even Anya, he had more heart than anyone, so sick heart is more of an oxymoron when it comes to him. I also found the setting to differ from than anything I’ve ever read. It takes place on rigs in the middle of the ocean.
What I disliked about it was the slow pace, repetition, glorification, and the quick end to the evil. I trudged through the first half of the book, because much of it was repetitive. Yes, they’re skipping rope. Yes, he’s toughening her up. Yes, the scenes are to add to the development, except many of them were simply repeats. Repeated thoughts. Repeated memories. The reason I kept reading was because Huss’s writing kept me interested to find out. I also don’t like how the marketing glorifies this as a sweet love story in a dark world. That’s what you can say about mafia romance, but not human trafficking, which this story relies heavily on. The demise of the two evil characters went swift. Huss drilled in all the atrocities these two evil killers had done for years, so I would have thought there’d be a little more than how it ended.
I probably won’t read another book of hers because (the tirade at the back of the book pushed me over that ledge), but I would suggest this book to anyone looking for a dark literary story. This isn’t romance. I’m not of the generation who expects and wants a list of trigger warnings, but in this case, human trafficking and breeding and run do warrant one.
caylamangrum's review against another edition
5.0
Probably my favorite dark romance of all time. I know it’s not a true “romance” per se, but the storyline is so captivating. This story is devastatingly beautiful.
The characters communicate through ASL, which is an element I have yet to come across in my reading.
Read TW for sure, but it’s not as bad as some of the other books I’ve read.
The characters communicate through ASL, which is an element I have yet to come across in my reading.
Read TW for sure, but it’s not as bad as some of the other books I’ve read.
djl456's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
amber_warden's review against another edition
Extended drug use
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Violence, and Trafficking
xxbooksilovexx's review against another edition
5.0
Wow wow wow. As always, Julie never disappoints. I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. It has a totally different feel than Julie's other books. It created this whole world that I couldn't even imagine. Cort & Anya story was a rough one but oh so amazing. A Must read for any JA Huss fan!