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adawgwithablog's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gypsydawn's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting
This was a dark read, but not nearly as dark as some and far from morbid. It borders on sadistic, but with none of those labels attributed to the main male characters, though Dell, our FMC, May mentally dub at least 2 of the quad as such. It’s the other men in her life, the ones that have control and use it, that earn that title.... and when the world becomes a little clearer, the circumstances in which they’ve earned it are horrific.
When I first read this book, I wrote a review that left much to be desired - as at the time I wasn't really sure if I liked the series. Now, looking back from the perspective of a finished series and a reread, I have to confess that I rather liked this series a lot - perhaps even loved it. It's uncomfortable though - almost every dang bit of it, and I am not ashamed to say I cried more than once. This first book is one of the more difficult offerings, as you don't have a firm grasp on who Dell is, or who the Sun God's are to her - yet. That will come. Take a deep breath, and give it a shot.
Please be aware there IS RAPE IN THIS BOOK! In fact, the opening scene features a group of men raping Dell... though the construct is utilized not as a way to glorify rape, but as a vessel to showcase how mundane and fucking normal such an event is on this twisted and screwed up world. None of the main male characters rape, or even allude to, raping her, so there is that... not that it makes it any better. Just be aware of what you are getting into before you dive in.
~Dell is amusing.
~There is something compelling about the narrative, a feeling that you have to keep reading, even if you don’t want to.
~No major transition issues.
~FMC rambles..... and it’s not pretty.
~Dell’s lady bits basically talk.... a lot. Her vagina deserves her own name and character profile for the number of times she took over the narrative and tried to influence Dell.
~World building is sorely lacking.
~Still have no clue what is really going on.
~Too short.
First Person, Single POV
Cliffhanger
NC-17 (18+ only)
MMMMF - slow burn
When I first reviewed this book, I had only read it once and the series was still stewing to completion. Now, I have been blessed with Dell's full story, and I know how it ends... and I honestly encourage you to give this tale a shot. It deserves every trigger warning imaginable and a whole host of cringes, but it's a worth while dive
This was a dark read, but not nearly as dark as some and far from morbid. It borders on sadistic, but with none of those labels attributed to the main male characters, though Dell, our FMC, May mentally dub at least 2 of the quad as such. It’s the other men in her life, the ones that have control and use it, that earn that title.... and when the world becomes a little clearer, the circumstances in which they’ve earned it are horrific.
Update:
When I first read this book, I wrote a review that left much to be desired - as at the time I wasn't really sure if I liked the series. Now, looking back from the perspective of a finished series and a reread, I have to confess that I rather liked this series a lot - perhaps even loved it. It's uncomfortable though - almost every dang bit of it, and I am not ashamed to say I cried more than once. This first book is one of the more difficult offerings, as you don't have a firm grasp on who Dell is, or who the Sun God's are to her - yet. That will come. Take a deep breath, and give it a shot.
Please be aware there IS RAPE IN THIS BOOK! In fact, the opening scene features a group of men raping Dell... though the construct is utilized not as a way to glorify rape, but as a vessel to showcase how mundane and fucking normal such an event is on this twisted and screwed up world. None of the main male characters rape, or even allude to, raping her, so there is that... not that it makes it any better. Just be aware of what you are getting into before you dive in.
Pros:
~Dell is amusing.
~There is something compelling about the narrative, a feeling that you have to keep reading, even if you don’t want to.
~No major transition issues.
Cons:
~FMC rambles..... and it’s not pretty.
~Dell’s lady bits basically talk.... a lot. Her vagina deserves her own name and character profile for the number of times she took over the narrative and tried to influence Dell.
~World building is sorely lacking.
~Still have no clue what is really going on.
~Too short.
Perspective:
First Person, Single POV
Ending Type:
Cliffhanger
Rating:
NC-17 (18+ only)
Romantic Dynamic:
MMMMF - slow burn
My Final Verdict on A Token's Worth
When I first reviewed this book, I had only read it once and the series was still stewing to completion. Now, I have been blessed with Dell's full story, and I know how it ends... and I honestly encourage you to give this tale a shot. It deserves every trigger warning imaginable and a whole host of cringes, but it's a worth while dive
thedailykaylee's review against another edition
5.0
Amazingly dark
Wow, just wow. The emotion, the pain. The author really knows how to put you into the main characters shoes and feel everything that she feels. Yes this story is dark, yes it deals with rape and abuse but wow. This first book hooked me from the very beginning. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for us next
Wow, just wow. The emotion, the pain. The author really knows how to put you into the main characters shoes and feel everything that she feels. Yes this story is dark, yes it deals with rape and abuse but wow. This first book hooked me from the very beginning. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for us next
redamancyreads's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first time dipping my pinky toe into the whole "dark" subgenre of RH. I didn't know if it was going to be too much for me, if I could handle it, or if it would straight up scare the bejizzles out of me and make me run and hide.
Happy to report that after the first chapter, I straight up canon balled into this bitch.
IT. IS. SO. GOOD!
I loved the world building, character building, the inner vagina conversations (like, whoa don't get me started on THAT hilarity!) I loved it all. Except that it ended and I couldn't read more of the story.
This is the kind of story that doesn't have you reading the first half of the book to build up the character history or the world around them. It doesn't hold your hand and guide you through the inner workings of the characters lives.
It shoves you into their lives from the beginning. I don't like being pushed, I mean, who does? But in this case..push me again S.A. Parker! Push me agaaaaaaaaaaaaaain!
Now with saying that, I also need you to know that you're not going to be thrown into their lives with a whole "what the eff is going on? I don't know what's going on!" the author does a phenomenal job of giving you just the right amount of background information without drowning you in it.
Freaking high five to her because it's not easy to do that! From my reading experience anyway!
SO! If you are 1) new to the whole "dark" subgenre of RH (or any main genre), give this a try. PLEASE! 2) if you want to laugh and squirm in delight, give this a try. PLEASE! 3) ....just freaking read this okay?
Happy to report that after the first chapter, I straight up canon balled into this bitch.
IT. IS. SO. GOOD!
I loved the world building, character building, the inner vagina conversations (like, whoa don't get me started on THAT hilarity!) I loved it all. Except that it ended and I couldn't read more of the story.
This is the kind of story that doesn't have you reading the first half of the book to build up the character history or the world around them. It doesn't hold your hand and guide you through the inner workings of the characters lives.
It shoves you into their lives from the beginning. I don't like being pushed, I mean, who does? But in this case..push me again S.A. Parker! Push me agaaaaaaaaaaaaaain!
Now with saying that, I also need you to know that you're not going to be thrown into their lives with a whole "what the eff is going on? I don't know what's going on!" the author does a phenomenal job of giving you just the right amount of background information without drowning you in it.
Freaking high five to her because it's not easy to do that! From my reading experience anyway!
SO! If you are 1) new to the whole "dark" subgenre of RH (or any main genre), give this a try. PLEASE! 2) if you want to laugh and squirm in delight, give this a try. PLEASE! 3) ....just freaking read this okay?
works4books's review against another edition
5.0
Welcome Sarah Parker in her debut series. I absolutely love, love, love this book! It is book 1 of a series and holy shit it’s a crazy ride. Dell lives in a world were women have no value but merely exist for men’s pleasure and play toys and for only the price of a token.
The life she lives day to day makes you wonder why she even would want to wake up after she falls asleep. She at some point reaches that feeling but for some reason couldn’t end it until she finds the words to bring four gods (that are HOT AF) appear demanding she seals the deal. Dell is shown that the cruel life she has lived is not all there is but at what price? and at what price of others?
This book will test your boundaries, make you fall in love with the MC, because she’s Sassy AF and a badass, plus she is hilarious. You will even have hard time deciding which God is going to be your new book boyfriend( but you won’t be able to not want one of these men!) hell you may build you new harem with all of them. Sol is mine ladies, find your own! Come and join Dell in her life full of some epic fuckery😘
The life she lives day to day makes you wonder why she even would want to wake up after she falls asleep. She at some point reaches that feeling but for some reason couldn’t end it until she finds the words to bring four gods (that are HOT AF) appear demanding she seals the deal. Dell is shown that the cruel life she has lived is not all there is but at what price? and at what price of others?
This book will test your boundaries, make you fall in love with the MC, because she’s Sassy AF and a badass, plus she is hilarious. You will even have hard time deciding which God is going to be your new book boyfriend( but you won’t be able to not want one of these men!) hell you may build you new harem with all of them. Sol is mine ladies, find your own! Come and join Dell in her life full of some epic fuckery😘
onepageatatime's review against another edition
4.0
So definitely read the trigger warnings listed in the description and if your okay with them then you need to read this book! This book is harsh and brutal and dark.. Dell is such a dynamic character and her men OMG! This book is a little quirky and Dells internal monologues are a little weird but after a few chapters you get used to it.
ash_chooses_pikachu's review
1.0
DNF @ 54%
The hell did I just read? This book felt like a wannabe-dark-romance, but it missed the mark by miles. The heroine felt like a Willa Knight ripoff. The way the book kept blowing off rape, gangrape, forced hysterectomy, suicide (and who knows what else, as this was only from the 1st half), just didn't sit well with me. The whole talking-to-her-vagina felt too much like the inner goddess bullshit from 50 shades. I could have liked this book if it had handled the dark matters properly, but I was getting friggin whiplash as the heroine would mention something dark happening to her and in the next instant reference her stupid vagina looking at a guy (like, WHAT?). It's like, the second something deep, dark and meaningful was happening, there would be some stupid reference and it would ruin the moment instantly.
Another issue I had with the book were the weirdly modern references that the heroine/heroes would make. They would use words and phrases that should not be possible in the environment/medieval-fantasy-land they lived in. Such as-
Seriously? Quality control check? Filing system? PG rating? How on earth does a courtesan who was brought up by a pimp since 4 yrs of age or medieval gods in faeryland or whatever use terms like these? This completely ruined the vibe for me, as it was not consistent with her background at ALL. I am guessing frigging faery don't have hollywood and rotten tomato ratings, for goodness sake.
So basically these are the reasons I just couldn't deal with this book after 54%.
The hell did I just read? This book felt like a wannabe-dark-romance, but it missed the mark by miles. The heroine felt like a Willa Knight ripoff. The way the book kept blowing off rape, gangrape, forced hysterectomy, suicide (and who knows what else, as this was only from the 1st half), just didn't sit well with me. The whole talking-to-her-vagina felt too much like the inner goddess bullshit from 50 shades. I could have liked this book if it had handled the dark matters properly, but I was getting friggin whiplash as the heroine would mention something dark happening to her and in the next instant reference her stupid vagina looking at a guy (like, WHAT?). It's like, the second something deep, dark and meaningful was happening, there would be some stupid reference and it would ruin the moment instantly.
Another issue I had with the book were the weirdly modern references that the heroine/heroes would make. They would use words and phrases that should not be possible in the environment/medieval-fantasy-land they lived in. Such as-
Dusk arches a perfect golden brow. “Just say the word and I’m more than happy to do a quality control check on just how functional your body still is.”
My mind’s like a great big filing system. I forget nothing. Nothing. Sometimes, no … most of the time, it’s a curse. One I’m not sure how to cope with.
“Then we fell asleep practising some very PG skin to skin, and he tried to pry into my head while I was sleeping, which I didn’t fucking appreciate. Then he lost his shit, went all freaky Fae on me, and left. End of story.”
Seriously? Quality control check? Filing system? PG rating? How on earth does a courtesan who was brought up by a pimp since 4 yrs of age or medieval gods in faeryland or whatever use terms like these? This completely ruined the vibe for me, as it was not consistent with her background at ALL. I am guessing frigging faery don't have hollywood and rotten tomato ratings, for goodness sake.
So basically these are the reasons I just couldn't deal with this book after 54%.
mmegan19's review
5.0
Well…
This was a completely unexpected book! I’m shook. Nothing went the way I thought it would, the Sun Gods are an enigma and Dell is both relatable and crass. Loved it. Book two here I come.
This was a completely unexpected book! I’m shook. Nothing went the way I thought it would, the Sun Gods are an enigma and Dell is both relatable and crass. Loved it. Book two here I come.
rawlsreads's review
4.0
I'm conflicted by this book. This was recommended to me by the wonderful [a:Mila Sin|21140297|Mila Sin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1612112184p2/21140297.jpg], so I thought it was worth a shot even though it's a shade darker than when I normally read. I don't think I was in the right headspace to fully enjoy it though.
The world is dark, so very dark. Women are seen as no better than cattle and raped on the regular and just have to deal with it. I think what got me so down besides the dark topic, was that the world-building was too slow. I wanted the Sun Gods to give us more information about what the before times were like and a glimmer of hope that we could get there again. I'm sure the rest of the series will tackle this topic and expand it.
There's definitely a good story in here and lots of places SA can take it! I've read some more reviews and people love Dell's journey, you just have to commit some time to get there.
The FMC!
Dell is a highly flawed and traumatized heroine. She's been through so much in a world that's so broken. We meet her right as she's about to throw herself off of a cliff. Instead, she somehow summons the four Sun Gods who make a bargain with her in exchange for more power. She has a constant dialogue with her vagina, which is hilarious and over the top!
I think what bothers me about her at least in book 1 is that she's just plodding along (fair enough because her life is crap) but I want some type of character development and ideally coming to grips with her trama. Again I think this will be explored more in the series, but for the first book, it's slow.
The Guys!
Day, Night, Dawn and Dusk - we only get a small taste of all the guys here in book 1 but oh boy are they intriguing. They've been alive for ages and are jaded by the whole thing - plus with their powers dwindling they are just looking for a way forward. Each has their own personality and quirks.
The Smut!
Not much smut in here as it's a slowww burn, and she has to get over her trauma, but there are tastes of what's to come.
The world is dark, so very dark. Women are seen as no better than cattle and raped on the regular and just have to deal with it. I think what got me so down besides the dark topic, was that the world-building was too slow. I wanted the Sun Gods to give us more information about what the before times were like and a glimmer of hope that we could get there again. I'm sure the rest of the series will tackle this topic and expand it.
There's definitely a good story in here and lots of places SA can take it! I've read some more reviews and people love Dell's journey, you just have to commit some time to get there.
The FMC!
Dell is a highly flawed and traumatized heroine. She's been through so much in a world that's so broken. We meet her right as she's about to throw herself off of a cliff. Instead, she somehow summons the four Sun Gods who make a bargain with her in exchange for more power. She has a constant dialogue with her vagina, which is hilarious and over the top!
I think what bothers me about her at least in book 1 is that she's just plodding along (fair enough because her life is crap) but I want some type of character development and ideally coming to grips with her trama. Again I think this will be explored more in the series, but for the first book, it's slow.
The Guys!
Day, Night, Dawn and Dusk - we only get a small taste of all the guys here in book 1 but oh boy are they intriguing. They've been alive for ages and are jaded by the whole thing - plus with their powers dwindling they are just looking for a way forward. Each has their own personality and quirks.
The Smut!
Not much smut in here as it's a slowww burn, and she has to get over her trauma, but there are tastes of what's to come.
erkietheturkey's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail