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bookish08's review against another edition
2.0
THIS IS NOT A STAND ALONE BOOK.
To be clear, I read the other 3 books and loved them so I’m not a hater. However, this book was not good. First, it was soooo confusing and, like I said, I’ve read the other 3 books. If someone who hasn’t tried to read this, they’d be so lost. Second, the FMC and MMC are bleh. Ashtyn’s whole personality is sex. Like I get it, it’s a smutty book but there is absolutely no depth to this chick at all to make her likable. Also, there was nothing about Saint that made him desirable. The whole book was degradation with no point/plot. There was virtually zero meaningful conversations. So many things going on with no real lead up/reason or conclusions. Such a missed opportunity to explore more impactful interactions between Ashtyn/Kash/Haidyn that would have solidified a reason for their friendship years later. I could go on but other reviews have covered so many of the same things I feel about this book. All in all, it felt like there was never any real plot idea for the story and something was just thrown together to cash in on the hype of the other 3 books. Such a disservice to her readers/fans. At this point, I don’t know if I’ll read the other Spade brother’s books.
To be clear, I read the other 3 books and loved them so I’m not a hater. However, this book was not good. First, it was soooo confusing and, like I said, I’ve read the other 3 books. If someone who hasn’t tried to read this, they’d be so lost. Second, the FMC and MMC are bleh. Ashtyn’s whole personality is sex. Like I get it, it’s a smutty book but there is absolutely no depth to this chick at all to make her likable. Also, there was nothing about Saint that made him desirable. The whole book was degradation with no point/plot. There was virtually zero meaningful conversations. So many things going on with no real lead up/reason or conclusions. Such a missed opportunity to explore more impactful interactions between Ashtyn/Kash/Haidyn that would have solidified a reason for their friendship years later. I could go on but other reviews have covered so many of the same things I feel about this book. All in all, it felt like there was never any real plot idea for the story and something was just thrown together to cash in on the hype of the other 3 books. Such a disservice to her readers/fans. At this point, I don’t know if I’ll read the other Spade brother’s books.
kipani83's review against another edition
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This book definitely had me pulling out notes from previous books in the L.O.R.D.s series. I enjoyed how this was broken into two parts. The first part gave all the needed history regarding Ashtyn and Saint. Then part two seems to connect us right where The Sacrifice left us.
I loved the connection but I’m still so confused. Let’s start with what happened to Ash’s Dad was he ever found? Haidyn and Adam had been in contact this whole time!?! Why did Haidyn leave? Is Adam now back as a spade brother since Haidyn left? Who is Benny/ACE??? Was he the one that was there during the spade brothers being trained cause how did he know Carnage? Then he followed her out to Vegas like what?
Who was the woman who trained the spade brothers when the dads died. It couldn’t be Laura the therapist right!?! She was brought in for being pregnant by Lincoln. Just too many questions. Hopefully Madness will bring this back full circle.
I loved the connection but I’m still so confused. Let’s start with what happened to Ash’s Dad was he ever found? Haidyn and Adam had been in contact this whole time!?! Why did Haidyn leave? Is Adam now back as a spade brother since Haidyn left? Who is Benny/ACE??? Was he the one that was there during the spade brothers being trained cause how did he know Carnage? Then he followed her out to Vegas like what?
Who was the woman who trained the spade brothers when the dads died. It couldn’t be Laura the therapist right!?! She was brought in for being pregnant by Lincoln. Just too many questions. Hopefully Madness will bring this back full circle.
jadahawkins's review against another edition
4.0
More like 3.5 starts. I absolutely ate this book up. It was a lot spicier than I anticipated so I had to take breaks from time to time. I will say the first half got me. Loved the first 50% of the book. But once there was about 20% left of the book I just felt like it was all over the place and kind of rushed to solve the plot of the story ya know. And even then, I still have soooo many questions… Overall, loved Saint and Ashtyn’s story and I’m looking forward to reading about the other Spade brothers.
brandy_ritch's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
bellapetramala's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
echoc_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mreagor's review against another edition
4.0
"Carnage" by Shantel Tessier is a whirlwind of emotions and plot twists that had me gripped from start to finish. The complexity of Saint and Ashtyn's story was both enthralling and at times, exasperating. Tessier has a knack for tying up loose ends, answering lingering questions from previous books in a way that feels both satisfying and natural. However, Ashtyn's character, along with the other women in the series, provoked a strong reaction in me—I found myself frustrated with their actions, almost to the point of wanting to leap into the pages and shake some sense into them.
The 'spice' levels were off the charts, leading me to skip ahead in search of the core storyline, which thankfully, picked up significantly around Chapter 50. The subplots involving Kashton and Jasmine, and the enigmatic Hayiden, added layers of intrigue and depth to the narrative. Hayiden's murky affection and the genuine compassion he showed towards Ashtyn highlighted the dark reality of their world—one marked by a legacy of slavery and entrapment. Saint's unwavering love for Ashtyn, though sometimes bordering on foolishness, was the kind of devoted affection that makes for a compelling romance. Yet, it was tragic that Ashtyn seemed unaware of what true love felt like.
And as for Ms. Laura, her machinations were nothing short of diabolical, leaving me eager for the Spade brothers to serve her just desserts. My rating of four stars is a testament to the last 50 chapters, where the story came together beautifully, despite the earlier frustrations. As for Adam, his story remains a tantalizing mystery—I'm left yearning for more, curious about the events that unfolded during those five elusive years. Tessier has certainly set the stage for another deep dive into this darkly captivating world.
The 'spice' levels were off the charts, leading me to skip ahead in search of the core storyline, which thankfully, picked up significantly around Chapter 50. The subplots involving Kashton and Jasmine, and the enigmatic Hayiden, added layers of intrigue and depth to the narrative. Hayiden's murky affection and the genuine compassion he showed towards Ashtyn highlighted the dark reality of their world—one marked by a legacy of slavery and entrapment. Saint's unwavering love for Ashtyn, though sometimes bordering on foolishness, was the kind of devoted affection that makes for a compelling romance. Yet, it was tragic that Ashtyn seemed unaware of what true love felt like.
And as for Ms. Laura, her machinations were nothing short of diabolical, leaving me eager for the Spade brothers to serve her just desserts. My rating of four stars is a testament to the last 50 chapters, where the story came together beautifully, despite the earlier frustrations. As for Adam, his story remains a tantalizing mystery—I'm left yearning for more, curious about the events that unfolded during those five elusive years. Tessier has certainly set the stage for another deep dive into this darkly captivating world.
lady_icarus's review against another edition
This is the second time I'm reading it. Tyson and Ryat are still my favorites, but I liked this one.