amanda_reads13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
This is Dean's redemption book. In the past 2 books and in the beginning of this book, he was absolutely horrible. His arc throught this book was pretty well done.
We already know a fair bit about Dean's past coming into this book. As we progress through the book, we get more of an insight into Dean and the childhood he suffered through. He has been abandoned time and time again. Years of heartbreak and rejection has turned him resentful and hateful.
Cat, WTF! She just goes along with Dean's blackmail and allows him to treat her like garbage and degrade her?
Spoiler
How did this go from carrying his books and feeding him grapes, to EVERYTHING that happened in that tower? Cat, where is your self-worth and self-respect? The lines are blurry, did she really consent at first, or did she go along with him out of fear?Ok so, Dean did get better through the book, as he works with Snow and starts to fall for Cat. BUT their relationship is very twisted.
Spoiler
At first it is solely based on Dean dominating and controlling her... *Cough* dog collar *Cough*. Yes, they eventually "fall" for each other, but their relationship is extremely toxic.I enjoyed the Snow/Sasha cameo. I'm pretty sure I know who the spy is...
Tropes: mafia, enemies to lovers, bully
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Bullying, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
sam019's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Torture
marshallreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Grief
ktkeps's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Bullying
psyched_np'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
4.5
Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Murder, and Stalking
shector1's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Torture, Grief, Cursing, Sexual content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Violence
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Misogyny
weelasswithabook's review against another edition
- 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
I'll be honest, I was going to skip this one in the series. I can't express my loathing for Dean in The Heir, so I had no idea how Sophie was going to make me fall for him.
Well, I was proved the fuck wrong because this is my favourite of the series so far 😂
If you know me, you know I love character development. I want in their heads and see why they are how they are. I want to see their vulnerabilities come to the surface and see them soften. I also like seeing someone gradually realising their strength and self worth. This was a prime example of that well executed in both characters.
Bully romance rarely works for me. More often than not, I'm not a fan. But this had just enough of the "bully" aspect to create a negative push and pull between the MCs, instead of causing extreme discomfort. Straddled the line between bully and enemies to lovers, if that makes sense.
I can't sign this off without mentioning the bell tower scenes 👀 10/10 *chefs kiss* round of applause. I love a D/S dynamic, it's my bread and butter 😍
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Bullying
kyeruhh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Death, Violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, and Abandonment
shaipanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Like so fucking dark like all of them are by holy shitttt
Also I’m way too proud that I literally guessed who the spy was from the 1st or maybe it was early in the 2nd book I forget - I thought it was someone else for a minute there cause that other person was also hiding something that you learn later but my original guess which I came back to pretty quickly was right
ALSOOO - Holy shit this was so hotttt like damnn - exponentially better spice and shit even tho I still had some of the same issues with it like no mention of birth control or anything plus with them I wish there was more mention of explicit boundaries and safe words and stuff on page
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment
katsbookedout's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Torture and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide