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
bookswithbethx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Gore, Car accident, Blood, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexism, Child death, Violence, Torture, Pedophilia, Bullying, Death, and Confinement
naechan's review against another edition
2.5
Spoiler
she's rightfully suspicious when he randomly shows up at her workplace after they met only once without her giving him the address.There was an annoying amount of misogyny and women hating, not just from the male characters, but the narrative itself. Wendy is this virginal, innocent and pure creature who is secretly yearning to be fucked hard and that makes her special. Meanwhile all other women in this book are superficial, evil and vapid. They just jealous of her and they don’t act like people at all, but like caricatures of themselves.
It’s not the worst thing I have read, but it feels like wasted potential.
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Blood, Abandonment, Alcohol, Car accident, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Addiction, Confinement, Misogyny, Bullying, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Vomit, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual content, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
4.5
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: Sexual content, Sexism, Blood, Murder, Sexual violence, Death, Violence, Gore, Torture, and Gun violence
Minor: Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Death of parent
dlsmk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexism, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Grief, and Violence
melaniegrace91's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Gore, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Death, Blood, Abandonment, Murder, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, and Cursing
masucolmusings's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
the smut was pretty good! feeling weird how the girl doesn’t know her worth until she gets with the guy! and the guy is literally horrible which i guess is the point but man. if i saw him in real life i think i would run (so unfortunate that he’s hot…) i did not see the twists at the end and i thought the book set them up pretty well. 3/5 for the spice and suspense
Graphic: Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual content, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Blood, Cursing, Death, and Death of parent
mitrosec's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
With that said, I understand he is a villain and thoroughly enjoyed the book. Although, as a lesbian reading about his perceptions of women made me sick to my stomach.
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Confinement, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit, Torture, Violence, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Sexism
eagleshouse'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? Yes
1.25
I'm sorry but if this is their idea of good smut/relationships, then I am so sorry for straight women.
Graphic: Addiction, Physical abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual content, Misogyny, Gun violence, Gore, Blood, Sexism, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Confinement, Drug use, Grief, Stalking, Drug abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Incest, Car accident, Child abuse, and Toxic friendship