the_banshee's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Stalking, Murder, and Violence
bettyswanreader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶+
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, Blood, Self harm, Sexual content, Abortion, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Grief, Stalking, Torture, Death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
bookmarkedbymags's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Stalking
beegers_reads's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
3.5
Welcome to darkness my friends. If you like dark romance this is a must read for you. I did this on audio (that’s my good girl, if you know you know) so I feel like it was a bit harder to follow than it would have been if I’d read it. That’s why the 3 stars. I will revisit it and actually read it next time and I’m sure the rating will change.
I love the main characters in this. Humans don’t get much more f*cked up than Aero and by the end of it all Briony as well. I am in love with both of them though.
This is an extreme fictional version of how messed up organized religion can be. Although very dark I’m sure it alludes to potential real life situations. Which is very unnerving and thought provoking if allowing yourself to go down that road. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’ll leave you with is. If you are not squeamish or easily triggered read it!!! CHECK THE WARNINGS FIRST, this is a must.
I love the main characters in this. Humans don’t get much more f*cked up than Aero and by the end of it all Briony as well. I am in love with both of them though.
This is an extreme fictional version of how messed up organized religion can be. Although very dark I’m sure it alludes to potential real life situations. Which is very unnerving and thought provoking if allowing yourself to go down that road. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’ll leave you with is. If you are not squeamish or easily triggered read it!!! CHECK THE WARNINGS FIRST, this is a must.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, Torture, Sexual violence, and Violence
ebancroft's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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
2.0
I feel like I would have enjoyed this book more, if I hadn’t read a lot of this trope before. I’ve read quite a few dark romance, with a stalker plot before, and sadly I’ve read ones that were just better than this.
That isn’t to say this wasn’t a good book, it was well written, the plot was fleshed out, I enjoyed the religion aspect of it which I thought was unique and the characters were devised impeccably. But I just couldn’t shake the feeling of I’ve read this before.
But overall enjoyable and I would probably read this author again.
And with any books of this type I strongly, strongly urge you to read the trigger warnings.
That isn’t to say this wasn’t a good book, it was well written, the plot was fleshed out, I enjoyed the religion aspect of it which I thought was unique and the characters were devised impeccably. But I just couldn’t shake the feeling of I’ve read this before.
But overall enjoyable and I would probably read this author again.
And with any books of this type I strongly, strongly urge you to read the trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Blood, Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Torture
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
gxxbxxty's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Pedophilia, Death, Gaslighting, Stalking, Blood, Gun violence, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, and Infidelity
book_worm_mama_bear's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
I read this book and listen to the audiobook. This is a 5 star book on its own but the audiobook took it to the next level and it was a 10/10. The spice is forsure 5/5 on the spice scale. I highlighted so many things in this book because it had me fully on the edge of my seat and at times when standing weak in the knees. This is not a book that will make you feel good inside. It is not a love story where they live happy ever after. This is a story where what was meant to be good is really evil and the hero is crazy as hell. The audiobook took this book that is filled with emotion and made you feel it. If you loved Haunting and Hunting Adeline I think you will enjoy the pain you will feel from this. If you like books talking about the trauma from religion this book is also for you. If you like a crazy psycho hottie that gives off touch and her die vibes this is for you. Mask kink ✅, stalker ✅, all over pain with your pleasure Aero is your next book boyfriend. I am about to have one hell of a book hangover because nothing out there could come close to this story and these characters . This was forsure top audiobook of 2023 and in the running for best book of 2023.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Violence
This is about sexual abuse from church members.koistyfishy's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
4 Against the Wall Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 (She's fucking hot)
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. I think that's how you start these things. But, oh boy, I enjoyed doing it.
This was a wild ride that was filled with some of the darkest and dirtiest stuff that I have quite probably ever read. There were situations where I just absorbed it through my eyes and just had to remind myself, this is a book...And then there were situations where I was extremely turned on by what I was reading. All I know is that if ANYTHING basically in this book happened in real life those people should all be locked up in prison or in psychiatric facilities.
Quite frankly, everybody in this book needs a shit tonne of therapy because just, WOW. This book is about a girl, Briony that gets "saved", but not in the typical religious sense of her finding God... No, She is saved from God by a new God who is tattooed, obsessed with her and pierced in his nether region. His name is Areo and he also happens to be a murderer and her stalker.
It was quite an interesting take on how her being "saved" and coming into herself meant a lot of cumming and learning who she was by going against everything she grew up to believe. My one criticism of the book and why it is not rated higher is the conflict felt weak. Basically, Briony is this fantastic woman who is shooting the lights out in her community. She's the first woman who is given this prestigious role that's always being given to men and some people don't appreciate that. So these people are basically trying to kill her. I don't really understand why her having this position equates to hiring somebody to murder her and why everybody is going to such excessive lengths to kill her. A lot of that is just brushed past and the reader is just supposed to accept that this is fact. It just felt like the consequences of the conflict weren't strong enough to match.
There were definitely parts of this that I was like, yep, this is definitely a book because
1. She's able to take an eight-inch dick up her ass with nothing but cum and saliva as lube
2. She was able to take that said dick up all the way the "first time"
3. Our dear darling Areo is able to go again IMMEDIATELY after reaching completion a few seconds prior.
Yeah. That shit only happens in books and movies.
Um, I also found it a little bit strange that our very innocent, virginal female main character went so extreme so quickly after her sexual awakening and was doing stuff that, some people only dream of.
If like me trigger warnings are tropes you are in for a wild ride... Here are some of the aspects I made note of:
▶ Stalker Romance
▶ Virgin FMC
▶ Degradation
▶ Praise
▶ Blood play
▶ Knife play
▶ Hand necklaces
▶ "I am your god" now
▶ Primal play
▶ CNC
▶ Confession sex (like in a confessional booth)
▶ BDSM
▶ Anal
▶ Voyeurism
AND my NEW FAVOURITE ACRONYM: BAGGASOMT!!!
Fun Fact: The Term "Against the wall" was used 35 times in some shape or form in this book.
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 (She's fucking hot)
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. I think that's how you start these things. But, oh boy, I enjoyed doing it.
This was a wild ride that was filled with some of the darkest and dirtiest stuff that I have quite probably ever read. There were situations where I just absorbed it through my eyes and just had to remind myself, this is a book...And then there were situations where I was extremely turned on by what I was reading. All I know is that if ANYTHING basically in this book happened in real life those people should all be locked up in prison or in psychiatric facilities.
Quite frankly, everybody in this book needs a shit tonne of therapy because just, WOW. This book is about a girl, Briony that gets "saved", but not in the typical religious sense of her finding God... No, She is saved from God by a new God who is tattooed, obsessed with her and pierced in his nether region. His name is Areo and he also happens to be a murderer and her stalker.
It was quite an interesting take on how her being "saved" and coming into herself meant a lot of cumming and learning who she was by going against everything she grew up to believe. My one criticism of the book and why it is not rated higher is the conflict felt weak. Basically, Briony is this fantastic woman who is shooting the lights out in her community. She's the first woman who is given this prestigious role that's always being given to men and some people don't appreciate that. So these people are basically trying to kill her. I don't really understand why her having this position equates to hiring somebody to murder her and why everybody is going to such excessive lengths to kill her. A lot of that is just brushed past and the reader is just supposed to accept that this is fact. It just felt like the consequences of the conflict weren't strong enough to match.
There were definitely parts of this that I was like, yep, this is definitely a book because
1. She's able to take an eight-inch dick up her ass with nothing but cum and saliva as lube
2. She was able to take that said dick up all the way the "first time"
3. Our dear darling Areo is able to go again IMMEDIATELY after reaching completion a few seconds prior.
Yeah. That shit only happens in books and movies.
Um, I also found it a little bit strange that our very innocent, virginal female main character went so extreme so quickly after her sexual awakening and was doing stuff that, some people only dream of.
If like me trigger warnings are tropes you are in for a wild ride... Here are some of the aspects I made note of:
▶ Stalker Romance
▶ Virgin FMC
▶ Degradation
▶ Praise
▶ Blood play
▶ Knife play
▶ Hand necklaces
▶ "I am your god" now
▶ Primal play
▶ CNC
▶ Confession sex (like in a confessional booth)
▶ BDSM
▶ Anal
▶ Voyeurism
AND my NEW FAVOURITE ACRONYM: BAGGASOMT!!!
Fun Fact: The Term "Against the wall" was used 35 times in some shape or form in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Murder, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Stalking, Religious bigotry, and Rape
Moderate: Child abuse
ten_telegrams's review
challenging
dark
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Violence, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Pedophilia, Murder, Child abuse, Torture, Death, and Blood
nichole6991's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, Blood, and Child abuse