Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - The Annihilator

Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Annihilator by RuNyx

19 reviews

stuckinabook34's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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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cortanasreadingnook's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

I have mixed feelings about reading this, especially since I put it off for so long even though I knew damn well Luna/Lyla was alive. I’ll be taking a break from romance books after this because I actually feel like my mind’s gonna fucking break. I completely understand the readers who didn’t like Dainn, and I wish I could hate him as much as you guys do, but I can’t find it in myself to despise him at all. What he “didn’t do” for the last six years was for everyone’s safety and he was completely honest about it as well.

Please consider the TWs/CWs before reading this. RuNyx went into detail about the brutality of sexual slavery and the exploitation of women and children, so it takes quite an emotional toll on the reader. I also appreciate the fact that Luna/Lyla’s depression was handled with care. I’m glad nobody criticized how depression was expressed through Luna/Lyla’s character. It doesn’t really go away, it’s just there. You can get better, but it stays. You can’t determine when and where you’ll break and it’s scary because it sucks the fucking life out of you, and I know that all too well.
The revelations here were so unexpected though. I don’t know if I want to cry or throw up because why in the everloving fuck did Luna have to experience all of this? I can’t wait for The Syndicater!

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manaledi's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Ah this wasn't it. The first few books in this series had a better balance of plot and romance and a better balance of dark and hope and this was dark without needing to be. I get why this relationship had to close the plot loops and set everything up and also how little room there was to maneuver with how the shadow man only watches and doesn't help but eish.

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bergha1998's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-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

3.75

Don’t skip the TWs on this one, wow it’s sad and difficult. But I loved Lyla as a main character, so strong even through the worst life. The Shadow Man is a lot, but the way he feels about her is pretty cute and obviously OTT.

DARK Romance, Stalking, Emotional, 4 🔥

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sleepingbreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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_angelinasbooks_'s review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-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

I have no words. I almost can’t believe its over (for now)😭. This series consumed so much of me and became so important to me it was almost like it would never end 🥹. It’s honestly in my top 3 favorite series’s ever!! This book was beautiful. It’s a story of healing, strength, taking back your power, discovering yourself, the power of love and the light lighting up the dark. Runyx is my favorite dark romance author because she writes it in just the perfect way. The love is still so heartfelt and soul-deep with every single couple without loosing the fun of possessive men who’d burn the world down for you. With the shadow man and lyla their love is almost transformative. They fit together perfectly all their dark parts fitting together perfectly and creating beautiful light that illuminates them both up inside. Watching his constant protection of her and him always knowing what she needs and helping her heal was beautiful. Lyla is so strong, resilient, courageous and also emotional while the shadow man is obsessive, smart, thoughtful (only for her though) and also emotionless. They are the yin to the others yang. Two extremes made whole together. Their love story isn’t pure or for the faint hearted but it is beautiful and passionate. I loved this book so much. I loved their relationship. I loved Lylas character development and watching her find herself and take back her power. I love the shadow man’s character. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do now that I’ve read the series entirely, probably patiently but eagerly wait for the syndicater to release. I can’t wait. This entire series has a very special place in my heart now and I am so damn excited until we can all go back there and also for everything else RuNyx writes!!

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nidhzinwonderland's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.5

This book was probably the best book in the series in terms of character development, it did a wonderful job of portraying trauma and PTSD and the effects of trafficking.
Even though the theme of human trafficking and the dark underworld was a recurring theme throughout the series, the reason this book was so much harder to read was because it was from the perspective of someone who hadn't just seen or experienced the trauma for a temporary period of time but someone who had lived their entire life knowing that they wouldn't ever know a different one. The effects of what she had been through were so deep rooted within Lyla that even after she got out of that shit hole her mind couldn't fully adapt to the new state of suddenly being free. This book excellently portrays the struggles of a survivor after being liberated and the psychological issues caused by the system of enslavement on a person.
I also felt like this book and the entire series aced their depiction of the characters who are in theory the "saviors" or "good guys". I think most people forget that even though these men have decent morals they're still people who were brought up and are part of the underworld which automatically establishes the fact that they can never be the lay mans definition of "good".
Are they people against the human trade and all for the equal rights of all humans? Yeah sure. But are they people of never killed an innocent person or butchered those they didn't like? Absolutely not.
Unlike the previous book the pacing was on point with this one and the plot was developed systematically and I felt like it wasn't too rushed.
Not going to lie, I found Dain to be a little weird and cringe at times and I didn't really understand his motives even after the full explanation but he was a decent protagonist overall. Layla was a messed up, completely out of her mind, Someone please help the woman out character and I loved that about her.
Honestly I was very excited to read from the pov of the one character who was a constant mystery from book 1, Luna Caine and I'm sooo glad we finally got a glimpse into her life. This book was a great read overall and definitely an asset to the series.
nidhi <3

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