codecat's review
- 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
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, and Slavery
Moderate: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Classism, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
ggcd1981's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Spoiler
Durante esse processo os dois personagens desenvolvem sentimentos um pelo outro. Isso foi muito interessante para mim mas criou a falsa expectativa de que eu estava lendo um romance dark. A segunda metade do livro deixa claro que esse não era o caso. Após Alex finalmente perceber que se apaixonou por Elisha isso o leva a liberar o rapaz do contrato deixando que ele mantenha os benefícios financeiros, porém o jovem já não sabe mais funcionar sozinho sem Alex para dar ordens. Elisha acaba por tentar o suicídio sem sucesso. A família Bishop descobre a situação o que leva os pais de Alex a processar Elisha por acreditarem que ele seduziu intencionalmente seu filho para proveito financeiro. A segunda metade do livro foca então nesse processo jurídico e no distanciamento e recuperação de Elisha. O processo legal foi com certeza a parte menos interessante de Docile e infelizmente isso ocupou bastante tempo. Quanto ao distanciamento de Alex e Elisha não apreciei muito pois estava apegada ao casal juntos, mesmo que tóxico e disfuncional. A recuperação de Elisha acredito que foi válido mostrar em página e gostei até certo ponto, mas como essa recuperação envolveu nenhuma terapia e mais situações e experiências sexuais com um parceiro não envolvido emocionalmente (um personagem chamado Onyx que já era parte de outra relação poliamorosa) essa recuperação me pareceu um tanto improvisada, sem trabalho emocional mais profundo e mais focada em aspectos sexuais. O livro termina com Elisha, após a recuperação da sua mãe e a vitória judicial ambas as quais devido ao trabalho de Alex e o depoimento sincero do mesmo no tribunal, dando a Alex a esperança de um relacionamento no futuro dessa vez como iguais, o que é um final positivo ao meu ver.Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Slavery, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Classism, Confinement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Rape, Abandonment, Drug use, Dementia, and Domestic abuse
written_between_the_stars's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
In many ways Docile did exactly what it promised to do. It's a trope many of us probably read once or twice in a fanfaction before. And it's one of my favorites (if done right). I was honestly surprised to find out Docile was published traditionally, and so recently too. Daring titles like this get rare in trad pub and I'm not sure if three years later it would still be published as it is.
I can't lie the first half of the book infuriated me at times and all I wanted was to jump inside the story and shake the characters until they snapped out of their behavior. I couldn't predict where the story was going at all or imagine many endings that would've satisfied me. Elisha was at points so submissive and Alex SUCH an oblivious prick, I struggled to root for either or see a possible redemption arc.
One of my favorite series of all time is the Captive Prince trilogy by C. S. Pacat and I have to admit I'd pay LOTS of money to read a snipped of the the characters meeting. It would take Laurent of Vere probably less than a minute and two sentences to make Alexander Bishop cry and break down in on public.
During my read and comparing the protagonists I realized I only like to read about bratty subs that fight back, if not externally than at least internally (like Damon).
Alex's behavior is so ignorant and horrible at times, while Elisha is brainwashed into only existing to make him happy. I worried this dynamic wouldn't be explored properly and in the worst case romanticized. (There's enemies to lovers and then there's THIS).
In the end we - thankfully - get a story that deep dives into the psychological aftermath of breaking a person and I think that was the only and necessary decision to make and direction to go
Spoiler
in the second half. If Elisha & Alex simply would've gotten together with little struggle (as it seemed at points in the first half, you got me there K. M. props to you) this book would've been highly problematic (and I don't throw those words around easily).The system of Docile is interesting as well as scary, which is exactly the point K. M. Szpara wanted to deliver. It doesn't romanticizes it's heavy themes but shows a dystopian world that - I'm sure - many would read as a modern psychological horror story. (I'll just categorize the book as dystopian horror for myself).
I'm not sure if the execution was 100% on point though and wish the author would've explored different aspects of the system. I think the concept had lots of potential that wasn't completely exhausted. Again, in many ways Docile reads like a Fanfiction you discover at 3AM. Unputdownable. Thrilling. But slightly rocky. You wake up dizzy and confused the next morning, wondering what the fuck you read.
In my opinion the book could've done more and while the entire second half
Spoiler
and the court sectionI also think Docile would've benefited from a trim. This novel easily could've been 300 pages instead of 500. Was it still incredible fast to read? Yes. But still. Like I said, I searched for exactly this trope and wanted to read a book with "bad" and adult queer characters. It did what it promised. But I wish it would've done more with less... I think if Docile were a bit sharper, shorter and nailed the message/horror and characters a bit better, this easily could've been a new favorite and five star read.
In the end, it scratched the right parts of my brain but I'm not mind blown by the story and the second half dragged out and steered in all sorts of directions. There was no real structure to the book (why I think it ended up being this long). Definitely an interesting read though and if you've never read anything with that trope it might be more surprising and shocking to you than it was for me.
Graphic: Alcohol, Rape, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Classism, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Body horror, Bullying, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
ceplunk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Trafficking, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Confinement, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
sorbeth's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide
tome's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Addiction, Medical content, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Abandonment, Cursing, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
carolined314's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Torture, Sexual assault, Confinement, and Classism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Dementia, Drug use, Grief, Dysphoria, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Excrement
lamegod's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Confinement, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Rape, Classism, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Torture, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Drug use, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Cursing, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Medical content
shock_adelica's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Self harm, Classism, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
val_readsbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Dementia, Self harm, Rape, Mental illness, Bullying, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Suicide attempt, Slavery, Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment
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