Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Dark Obsession by Penelope Douglas

13 reviews

faith99's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Gun violence, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Minor: Drug use

dkgreads's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Buckle up, buttercup, because this one’s got a SH*T TON of baggage to unpack. Definitely look at the content warnings before reading. It’s definitely the most emotional book of the series so far. I didn’t think we’d get quite the close up on Damon’s past as we did, but it definitely explains why he is the way he is. Having Winter be blind was a choice. I got annoyed pretty quickly at the amount of times her not being able to see was used as a terror tactic. And I was really curious how the two of them were going to have a happy ending, all things considered. Overall, I liked it more than the second book, but not quite as much as the first.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Medical content, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Blood, Death, Bullying, Kidnapping, Drug use, and Alcohol

fevalente's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Rape, Gaslighting, Cursing, Ableism, Torture, Stalking, Self harm, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Incest, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Death and Animal death

fevalente's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Murder, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Blood, Ableism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Gaslighting, Incest, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Alcoholism

theteamsreader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The best in the series.  A dark, sexy romance that actually IS dark and sexy.  Following the third horseman Damon Torrance as he begins to tear down Winter Ashby's life and family after the incident so many years ago, a surprising backstory and dive into these characters' minds reveals that what's on the surface is not as it seems.  Recommend to anyone with a dark and spicy read in mind with a surprisingly excellent plot, a larger found family than once realised before, and even further surprise in diversity, as to Winter's  character not being limited to her blind disability.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Violence, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm

Minor: Car accident

coligmueller's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Car accident, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Cursing, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Confinement, Incest, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment

queenie_ofthe_void's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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

Easily my favorite of the series so far! My only big problem was I went straight into this after finishing Hideaway and I felt like I was missing something. I know the author likes non linear timelines, but this was even more than that. I felt like I had missed a book. 

But I pushed through and it was still amazing. I loved digging into Damon's history and his relationship with Winter [Corrupt spoilers: even if it was traumatic at times]. Honestly though my favorite plot line was Damon and Will's relationship.

Their initial conforntation by the pool shed was the best scene. It was packed full of every emotion these books bring to the table. Then ending it with a sword cross and finally Will's cutting word... just damn. So good. Chef's Kiss. And finally ending with Damon saving him from drowning, Winter calming his panic attack in the shower, and the amazing three-way. I felt it pack more of an emotional punch than Rika/Michael/Kai.

This book made me so excited to learn more about Will. He's been left on the sidelines for too long and I hope the gang finally steps up to help. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Animal death, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, and Alcohol

mbichaela's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

ENG
i don't think i like the thunder bay world and the toxicity among characters. there were a few scenes i really enjoyed. in my opinion these two are the best couple in the whole series. 

One pain at a time...

She and I...we're alone in the universe. No one was us.

I might kiss you again when we’re older. Just so you know.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Child abuse

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Self harm and Drug use

oliviaskye's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

This book was definitely very intense. Damon, one of the main characters, has a lot of trauma which we get to learn more about in this book. Winter, the other main character, also has trauma from her childhood, and it was interesting to read how both of their past experiences fit in with the other. 

I do HATE the trope where the love interest is to marry the main character's sister, especially when it's clear he doesn't care for the sister at all but is only doing it for a reaction from the MC. It frustrates me way too much and the whole time I'm practically ripping my hair out, but, I really did enjoy Damon and Winter's relationship. I mean, the scene where he goes to Winter's house after he learns that the video has been leaked and she figures out who he really is and she's pissed but Damon just says that he just wanted to hold her one last time...yeah, that lives rent-free in my mind.

I only recommend this book if you are comfortable with dark romances and have checked out the TW's.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship

sierrachenee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

Somehow this series presented me with Damon, a convicted felon, attempted murderer, and just all around screwed up character who terrorized everyone including the girl he loved and by the end of this I am in love with him. 

This book is confusing for my brain but I loved it. I don’t know how some things got redeemed but this book really does make you think. It’s very morally gray in a lot of areas and extremely dark so I would not recommend for everyone. It was so heartbreaking every step of the way. 

Some parts were a bit too much or out of character or tied up too nicely but the good out balances the bad. 

Winter is also my favorite lead women in this series so far. She is blind and I liked that Damon didn’t coddle her like a lot of others did. She was very determined, smart, strong, but also very caring. Their relationship was extremely messed up but they worked so well together. His relationship with Will too is my favorite. 

If there wasn’t more in a series this book would provide me with a major book hangover and I’d be wandering around for a week or two trying to figure out what to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Rape, Murder, Gun violence, Bullying, Pedophilia, Incest, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcohol, Stalking, Addiction, Blood, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Drug use