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psychnp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This reads as a romance in a fantasy setting, I typically enjoy when romance is a subplot rather than the focus.
If you're a romance reader who enjoys spice I'd say this will be a 5 star read for you.
That being said - I still enjoyed it greatly, what plot there was outside of the relationship was excellent and I hope we get more of it in the rest of the series.
Graphic: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Sexism, Violence, and Alcohol
cheerydeery'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
4.0
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
enzopudge'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
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
smartcookiesca'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
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Vomit
poetsofsweetpea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Infidelity, and Dysphoria
readyforit'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? No
4.25
This book is an urban romantasy set in our modern world but with an unknown other fae world. Callie is a human with siren powers who we learn has 322 debts to repay to The Bargainer (aka the fae king of the night realm aka aka rhysand 2.0). The story flips back and forth between Callie’s teenage years (about 7 years ago) when she made the bargains and present day, when The Bargainer has finally come to collect. Des is a possessive, obsessive, desperate man who would crawl home to her. I love how he’s only soft for her🥹 Callie is another one of those copy-paste badass FMC who is sassy and can fight and get shit done. You know her, you either love or hate her.
This book has a lot of similar elements to ACOTAR. If you hated how much world-building was in ACOTAR, you’ll probably enjoy this more since the world-building is minimal and woven into the flashbacks. I think it was a bit misleading of the author to write that the bargainer had “something else in mind” for Callie to repay her debts, which is honestly a really good premise for a spicy book, but didn’t deliver. Whoever rated it a 4/5🌶️ is out of their mind lmao.
I’ve read a lot of criticism about how des grooms Callie, and I think if that is a trigger for you, just skip this book. I don’t think des uses grooming techniques to form a relationship with Callie. I think they were two lonely people, one a human teenager and one the equivalent of a fae adolescent or young adult (idk he’s like 200 something), who formed a deep friendship that evolved into something more. He technically waited until she was 23 to come back to be with her and still gives her a choice. If every relationship between a human teenager and supernatural 100+ yo MMC is grooming then we also have to criticize twilight, the vampire diaries, ACOTAR, etc. It’s important to remember that this is 1. Fantasy and 2. Fiction.
Overall, I really liked the book but I don’t think I’ll reread unless the rest of the series really grips me. I felt like the first part of the book was very good and then the climax was a little lacking. I assume the villain will show back up later in the series.
I also listened to the audiobook and the narrator is pretty good! I would’ve liked it better if they hired a male narrator to do a duet for des’ lines but he doesn’t get a pov so I understand why they didn’t.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
Rape and CSA is mentioned but in the past and nondescriptnovaxnovels's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
HOLY COW. I did not expect this book to blow me away!! From the very first line of the book I was super invested. I looooved the nods to SJM. It gave ACOTAR vibes without feeling like a copycat moment. Sure, there were some similarities, but I kinda loved it? The only reason I’m not doing 5 stars is because I found the 16-year-old bits of the story to be a bit … creepy. (SPOILERS) - he falls first, KNOWS they’re soulmates when she’s 16. Yeah he doesn’t act on it then, but the feeling that he would have just gave me a bit of a bad vibe. BUT, I am willing to absolutely blow past that because of how much I adored the plot. The mystery and the general spooky factor = happy reader. Not to mention that absolute perfection that was the longing, the tension, the DESIRE. I MELTED (The Harry potter movies. Need I say more???)
Also, I hope it was intentional but the little Gatsby reference just made my heart soar.
I absolutely can’t wait to start the next book and see where it all goes.
Trigger warnings: mentions of sexual assault and rape (past and present, not directly depicted on page but strong descriptions and emotional relivings)
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
avialaeleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Also the surprise soulmates thing was a nice touch. Did not see that one coming. I also like that we get that bad boy, broken girl trope as well as strangers to friends to enemies to lovers thing that they have going on.
Also the banter, really great made me laugh a lot and pause my audiobook to really make sure that I heard the narrator correctly. Both of them have some great one liners. And there were also moments that I was truly sad and also those that I wanted to hit them both upside the head cause they were both being idiots.
I'm really interested in seeing where the rest of this series goes.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
samdreckman'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail