Reviews with content warning for Self harm - Her Soul to Take

This was a re-read in preparation for reading the third and final book in the series. But I hadn’t reviewed it last time I read it. Raelynn is a fun FMC - a curious, independent young woman interested in all things spooky. I like to think there is some resemblance to an idealized version of my younger self, right down her identifying with Velma. Although some of her choices are a bit puzzling, they are explained in the final act. Though this book is a FM pairing, both MCs are bi and mention previous same-gender relationships, so it was nice to see that representation.

Leon as a MMC quickly morphs from a (let’s face it: attractive) cocky a-hole to a character whose trauma makes him sympathetic. And he is seggsy as all get out, especially as protective as he is of Rae. Plus, the cat loves him, so what is not to like? Their physical dynamic and those scenes are really spicy. And even if one’s own kinks don’t necessarily go quite so far in that particular direction, it was still hot and I found I could relate to Raelynn’s wanting to feel safe. And the book definitely had me rethinking my position on certain piercings.

The villains were a bit flat but they served their purpose. I would not have minded more development of the friendship between Inaya and Raelynn, or of Raelynn’s parents, which would have put this at a higher rating for me. But overall, it’s well-written, well paced, with sexually diverse, relatable characters, and a good quality and quantity of spice.

Content Warnings

pixelited's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

This was the first smut book I read, and, to me, that was all it really was. The characters weren’t particularly written to be interesting, moreso just to fit the tropes they needed to fit into. The storyline was good, but it was pretty easy to guess what would happen next.
However, I have to say that the description of the creatures featured in the book were really well-written. The horror aspect was well-described and thinking about how the creatures looked genuinely did send shivers down my spine. Overall, just taking the book for what it was, I did enjoy it and will probably read the rest of the trilogy.

Content Warnings

charlottx's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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? N/A

4.5

I really enjoyed this book but not just for the NSFW content the story was great and the horror elements added a wonderful extra layer to the story. I loved the plot and the story flowed really well. Just what I needed for a fast fun read.

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