Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - God of Pain

The first half of the book seams a bit rushed between Annika and Creighton
The plot is very good though.

- secret society
- friends to lovers to enemies to lovers (yes)
- grumpy (him) / sunshine (her)
- mafia
- college romance
- Dom/sub

Content Warnings

djm_chal's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

Most of this book felt like watching a car crash, not enjoyable but unable to look away. There were points when I thought it wasn't horrible or that it might be getting better but would soon make me cringe again. Some things about this book just gave me the ick. I've DNF'ed books for way less in the past, but my curiosity got the best of me, and it was not worth it in the end.

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abreese's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one (it just felt more developed and had a more nuanced approach to trauma shaping a person) but the ending felt like it dragged a little.

I also wish it had been made a little clearer that Creigh was running away from everything just as much an Anika was especially regarding the escape to the island. But that’s just a little nitpick frustration I had as a reader that made my faith start to waver.

Overall though I really enjoyed it!

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britbrit29's review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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amanda_reads13's review against another edition

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Annika is Creighton's obsession. He isn't about to let her go, until a secret from the past may rip them both to shreds.

Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, BDSM, sadism/masochism

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zia_c's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

1 star for my man Adrian Volkov ❤️🥰✨

Content Warnings

anouverlinden_'s review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Honestly, Creighton makes Killian look good (and there is nothing good about that man). Also what kind of name is Creighton?

SPOILERS

I don't know where to start except that I absolutely hated every single thing about this continuation of words, apparently called a book/ story. I am familiar with Kent's work and how 'problematic' it is because it is written under the genre drak romance (which honestly, is a whole other discussion) but this topped the cake. Somehow, Kent makes her villains (the male love interests) have some 'redeeming' qualities in the sense that they realize they love the girl and somehow, someway kind of abandon their problematic behaviors (towards the girl) but Creighton didn't have any of that, at all. And most of the time her works are at the very least entertaining to read, apart from how problematic it is, but this, THIS WASN'T EVEN ENTERTAINING LIKE WHYYYY??????

First of all, why did Annika have to be 17? What was the need for her to be 17 (going 18 but that doesn't change anything imo). Writing a dark, problematic romance about a minor? I-
No, but seriously. I know Kent always writes her characters young (20ish), which I already find very young, but 17???? And Annika, the whole time, is like 'I'm not a little girl anymore!' or 'I'm already 18' which makes it worse because you're nowhere near adult or fully grown up at 18, you're brain isn't even developed until 25. I just found it a very problematic decision on Kent's part to make her a minor and to have Creighton, who is 20, do these fucked up things to her. I can go on and on about this but i will just repeat myself, why did she have to be a minor?

Also, I found Annika jut annoying. I hated reading from her perspective (as much as from Creighton's) and I just disliked her very much. and why did Kent find it necessary to make her obsessed with Tchaikovsky? what did the man do to end up in this monstrosity of a book? Didn't he suffer enough in his lifetime that even in his dead he has to suffer? He didn't compose Swan Lake to be the obsession of some 17 year old character in a dark sex romance. And the fact Annika/ Kent couldn't even name another piece by him aside from Swan Lake shows how much research was done on Tchaikovksy. I am bitter about this because Tchaikovsky is a literal genius when it comes to composing and this book just ughhhh. I shouldn't be but I'm mad about it. It was probably also the only Russian composer they could think of because Annika is kind of Russian? I will not apologize for my anger about this issue, but I won't forget about the attempt to ruin Tchaikovsky for me.

And yeah as much as I dislike Annika I despise Creighton. I did not understand his reasoning, but I do understand he read a little bit too much Fifty Shades of Grey because he copied Christian so flawlessly it was scary. BAd childhood at three years old and remembers it until 20, while still growing up in a loving (?- I mean he had Aiden as a father so idk) family, screams Christian Grey. And at first he didn't want anything to do with Annika because he likes to be a grumpy asshole alone, but then suddenly he must cause her pain, he HAS to 'abuse' her. I'm assuming this case of 'BDSM' is also not align with how it is in real life jsut as FSoG. and he had these urges for a 17 year old, disgusting if you ask me. Ultimately he is disgusting and his need to inflict pain on a minor is worrying in the least. Like she can't say anything he doesn't want to hear or he fucks her, hits her.... most of the time against her will. That is how it always goes, she doesn't want it but he continues because he is *the man*, and then she is like 'oh but I like it', justifying his assault actions. ew

Also, when she shot Creighton, suddenly everyone hates her. Like she was protecting her brother??? But no, it's her fault that Creighton stabbed her brother and it is her fault wanting to protect her LITERAL BROTHER from some crazy guy. Everyone turns on her as if they wouldn't protect their family????? Goddam everyone pissed me off in this book. These goddam kids, cause they're still kids. I HATE IT

and he didn't even need to do anything to win her back???? Like he kidnaps her to some remote island for them to live their until they die but his motives are to take revenge on her. She expresses multiple times she wants to leave and when she does his reaction is to fuck her againts her will???? and this is supposed to be sexy? when her dad comes to save her he is like 'oh but like I love you' and she 'ooohhhh I also still love you' ????????? how what why??

don't read this.

Content Warnings

agoraphobic_crawfish's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

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