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koistyfishy's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I feel almost dirty giving this book the 3 Star rating because I know that it's entirely me and my expectations that's the problem and not the book.
I thought before reading this that there were only two directions a book could take when the plotline is rewritten from the perspective of new characters. The first is perfect, it gives the reader a whole new outlook on the story while keeping it fresh and exciting. The second is the road "not" worth taking - the added "nuggets" of insight into the new perspective are not worth reading 400pg worth of a new book. I am surprised to say there is now a third direction - where you get a 50:50 mismatch of the two. On the one hand, you're left breathless and on the other, still trying to reach that release that never comes.
I think I had psyched myself up too much for expecting a perfect retelling as I really LIKED the first book. It was such a perfect and great balance between the sex and plot and the plot KEPT ME SOOO HOOKED! But for Revenge, I found myself not really caring about almost anything. The plot felt very repetitive, and not just because we were repeating the same timeline but because a lot of the kink, characterisation and "smart mouth" dialogue was just almost rinsing and repeating Leon and Rae. While I really did enjoy the banter and sex, I guess I wanted more "newness" or aspects uncovered in the plot, but these were never delivered. I already knew what was gonna happen, every twist and turn was already done and mapped out and there was nothing amazing added (besides an epic nightclub)
I have absolutely no connection with Juniper, she is so one-dimensional and driven by "one thing and one thing only" and that is her anger which is her major motivation for revenge. I understand that she has been through a lot and she has had so much thrown upon her and while there are glimpses of those scars and the damage that was done; besides her being afraid and then being angry, there’s nothing really in between her personality. She also never really works through her anger much, besides through bloody stabby stab-stab and "spank me harder" Daddy, often both at the same time. I am not here to judge a girl on her therapy being "painful pleasure" but I wanted more of an emotional working through her damage. Hence why I AM THE PROBLEM, as this would be amazing if you are happy to read about a girl who just wants that hard physical pounding that almost miraculously solves her trauma because she had a couple of intense demonic-induced orgasms
Zain is something. While I was ridiculously attracted to his cocky mouth and I really want to run my tongue over his snake eyes. The only thing he has going for him is that cocky mouth, and without it, he is a total Leon carbon copy. Same kinks, same possessive traits that make them tick, same sexy drive to put a piercing into their lady and I’ve seen that already in Her Soul to Take so seeing it all again didn’t really do it for me
These books can be read out of order, and I feel if I had read this one first, I'd have probably liked this one more and not enjoyed Her Soul to Take. They are just very much the same and because I have already got that enjoyment from before; I’ve been there and done that, so I didn’t need to do it again. I might have set unattainable expectations by wanting a deeper story because of the same timeline... But I know I AM THE PROBLEM.
So I would recommend this IF you’re going into this for the dark demonic-inspired story with a fair few dirty scenes. This does cover more of the demonic lore and less of the witchcraft side so if you have read neither - toss a coin because both Zane and Leon will take you on a fun ride the first time!
I thought before reading this that there were only two directions a book could take when the plotline is rewritten from the perspective of new characters. The first is perfect, it gives the reader a whole new outlook on the story while keeping it fresh and exciting. The second is the road "not" worth taking - the added "nuggets" of insight into the new perspective are not worth reading 400pg worth of a new book. I am surprised to say there is now a third direction - where you get a 50:50 mismatch of the two. On the one hand, you're left breathless and on the other, still trying to reach that release that never comes.
I think I had psyched myself up too much for expecting a perfect retelling as I really LIKED the first book. It was such a perfect and great balance between the sex and plot and the plot KEPT ME SOOO HOOKED! But for Revenge, I found myself not really caring about almost anything. The plot felt very repetitive, and not just because we were repeating the same timeline but because a lot of the kink, characterisation and "smart mouth" dialogue was just almost rinsing and repeating Leon and Rae. While I really did enjoy the banter and sex, I guess I wanted more "newness" or aspects uncovered in the plot, but these were never delivered. I already knew what was gonna happen, every twist and turn was already done and mapped out and there was nothing amazing added (besides an epic nightclub)
I have absolutely no connection with Juniper, she is so one-dimensional and driven by "one thing and one thing only" and that is her anger which is her major motivation for revenge. I understand that she has been through a lot and she has had so much thrown upon her and while there are glimpses of those scars and the damage that was done; besides her being afraid and then being angry, there’s nothing really in between her personality. She also never really works through her anger much, besides through bloody stabby stab-stab and "spank me harder" Daddy, often both at the same time. I am not here to judge a girl on her therapy being "painful pleasure" but I wanted more of an emotional working through her damage. Hence why I AM THE PROBLEM, as this would be amazing if you are happy to read about a girl who just wants that hard physical pounding that almost miraculously solves her trauma because she had a couple of intense demonic-induced orgasms
Zain is something. While I was ridiculously attracted to his cocky mouth and I really want to run my tongue over his snake eyes. The only thing he has going for him is that cocky mouth, and without it, he is a total Leon carbon copy. Same kinks, same possessive traits that make them tick, same sexy drive to put a piercing into their lady and I’ve seen that already in Her Soul to Take so seeing it all again didn’t really do it for me
These books can be read out of order, and I feel if I had read this one first, I'd have probably liked this one more and not enjoyed Her Soul to Take. They are just very much the same and because I have already got that enjoyment from before; I’ve been there and done that, so I didn’t need to do it again. I might have set unattainable expectations by wanting a deeper story because of the same timeline... But I know I AM THE PROBLEM.
So I would recommend this IF you’re going into this for the dark demonic-inspired story with a fair few dirty scenes. This does cover more of the demonic lore and less of the witchcraft side so if you have read neither - toss a coin because both Zane and Leon will take you on a fun ride the first time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Physical abuse, Torture, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Vomit and Alcohol
heybethrenee's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
3.5
Wow. I’ve read dark romance before but this was a WHOLE another level. I really did enjoy Zane and Junipers dynamic tho and Harley did a great job of including it in the trilogy but also making it a stand alone. Like I wasn’t bored with any of the repetition of information or plot points which was awesome
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, and Alcohol
canascorner's review against another edition
dark
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
5.0
Checkkkk the TWs. Also this book was far spicier than I was prepared for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Grief, and Toxic friendship