phrogonalilypad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
I liked it in the beginning. Low-key wish about 3/4 of the way through that it turned into Wendy's villain arc. Towards the end it just got messy. None of the "misunderstandings" were ever addressed by the characters. They just make assumptions and then don't talk or at least you're never shown them resolving that so they can continue their fuckery. Which is something that is indeed done in dark romances, four horsemen for example, addresses when they do fucked shit to her and it's outside of the messed up confines of what the fmc expects. The issue gets addressed. In this book... She just magically doesn't think about the messed up thing he does, that is outside of the confined of the messed up stuff she consented to and made excuses for.
I don't mind me a dark romance I also just didn't think the erotic scenes were that well written the writing was repetitive and towards the end the plotwists just felt messy.
There was a good sense of foreboding for a while but eventually it just left tme thinking "If you're really this ode to control and big boss of this crime world surely,,, surely you'd go about this in a more organized fashion. That's the whole point of organized crime." I know it's just meant to be a dark trashy fun sexy book but it just felt a bit lack on a lot of fronts.
And too she says in the beginning she hopes her readers go in blind but ma'am I really wouldn't recommend surprising people with certain trigger warnings;
Minor Spoiler:
Main mans uncle was a pedo who raped and mutilated him and there are descriptions of the trauma being enacted and the traumas effect on the mmc. I do not think people should be surprised by that kind of situation and a trigger warning for at least that is owed to the reader. It's brought up several times throughout the book. Trigger warnings for that should be on the front page!
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Confinement, Pedophilia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Blood
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
4.25
Mention of: child abuse, death of a parent[s], neglect, corruption, and implied pedophilia and child SA.
Yes, just yes. Hook is one of those villains whose violence feels completely justified. 😌 I also loved seeing Wendy evolve and grow confident in herself and her own mind.
Ngl definitely saw the twists coming but they were still fun when revealed.
I will definitely be reading the other books in this series 💜
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Death, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Gore, Blood, and Torture
selestre's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Blood, Murder, and Sexual content
Minor: Car accident, Torture, Drug use, Vomit, Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Violence, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
c_c_celeste'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Gore, Blood, Torture, Body horror, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Death
peeshy'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
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Car accident, Physical abuse, Murder, Cursing, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Grief, Drug use, Blood, Addiction, and Drug abuse
kamkam360's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Body horror, Drug use, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence
audreytwo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
That said, I loved it. I read it over and over. It's pretty dark at some points, so be warned, but the writing is good and i enjoyed the villain not turning into a hero for once.
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Violence, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
mirandamess139's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Gun violence and Murder
soph22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So, yeah, I didn’t hate it, but it won’t be taking a permanent place on my bookshelf.
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Confinement, Cursing, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Drug use, and Child abuse
atravellingpenguin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Kidnapping, Torture, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Rape, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Drug use, and Bullying