Reviews

Whispers and the Roars by K Webster

foreverburningred's review against another edition

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5.0

"I love you at your best and I love you at your worst."
This book was incredibly fascinating, yet unusual in every way. For about half of the book I had no idea what was going on. I read part of the synopsis which said to go in blind so I immediately quit reading it and started the book. Once I realized what was actually happening, everything made perfect sense. This was a heartbreaking story, but also a beautiful one. It shows just how strong love can be when it's real, and unconditional. I loved it. Every part of it.

sabrinabean's review against another edition

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dark 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

3.0

lauraannamaria's review

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

eriiinncole's review

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challenging dark emotional informative sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lackof_shelf_control's review against another edition

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4.0

ā€¼ļøTW: strong sexual themes and violenceā€¼ļø

This book was DARK. Multiple POVs and short chapters. Very bingeable. A friend recommended it to me and as I was reading it I couldnā€™t figure out why because it was very much a dark romance book (which we all know is NOT my jam). I did speed read through all the sex scenes, but once the plot unfolded I understood why šŸ¤ÆšŸ¤ÆšŸ¤Æ. This isnā€™t a thriller or mystery, but a deeply sad fictional tale of child abuse and trauma, but it was SO well done. At times I felt uneasy with the topics and usually am not triggered by much, so please proceed with caution! However, this is one of those books that if you can handle reading it - I highly suggest. It is one of those books that will sit with me for years to come.Ā 

leaps's review against another edition

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5.0

After reading some one rating books i thought this was going to be another of those but boy was i wrong. Got hooked on it from the first chapter and could not stop reading.
Although very confusing and weird at times I love the mental health aspect and how the author explains it and the way it manifests in Kady, times i could realte to that and I've never been able to do that before.

What the fuck is that twist? I NEVER expected that. Now I want to read it again from the start to the twist just to see if I can see some clues.

Could not out this book down. Finished it in one sitting.

sleepycheeks's review against another edition

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5.0

was a bit confused in the beginning, rightly so. just, wait for it.. Also yeo is the best book bf

amandatyas's review against another edition

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3.0

Hard to read. But that ending!! Itā€™s been a while since I was truly surprised at a twist

reading_with_2_book_lovers's review against another edition

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5.0

k webster doesn't disappoint once again, i went into this book a bit "oh what am i going to read" but by 10% in i was hooked.
haven't read a book from the fabulous author i haven't devoured yet.
great job Miss Webster.
Definitely reccomend everyone reading this book.
i voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book

kfriend's review against another edition

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4.0

Whispers and Roars is the type of story that reminds me just how much I love K Webster and her wicked mind- how creative, innovative, and original she is as an author. Always playing outside of trope, giving us provocative and interesting, challenging our psyche and our comfort, and pushing boundaries- K Websterā€™s stories are always provocative and psychologically intense, and this story is a perfect encapsulation of her dark, perverse story telling- with, of course, a twist.

And, this is also a reminder about why I know that K Webster is also not for everyone- this story isnā€™t her darkest or most taboo in my opinion, but it has all the hallmarks of her storytelling that make her work perhaps not for everyone- the components that some find triggering. So, take note if this applies to you.

On the surface, this seems like another dark contemporary- where our heroine Kady, broken by trauma, finds connection in childhood friend Yeo- in their second chance to connect after Yeo has gone away to school. The characters here are fascinating. Yeo is perhaps K Websterā€™s dreamiest man- patient, kind, supportive- he rolls with the punches here in a way that is admirable. And Kady clearly has some personal issues- rooted in her past, exacerbated by all those around her. Parts of her life and experience are just heart shattering (and will be triggering to many), but sheā€™s also clearly a survivor with a big heart- and the love of Yeo and her friend Bones sustain her despite the pain caused by other characters.

Outside of that, I wonā€™t say much. K Webster and those recommending this book recommend going in blind. But, Iā€™ll be honest- I didnā€™t. Perhaps hypocritical since Iā€™m not going to provide spoilers here even though I myself sought them out- but I want you to decide that for yourself. For me, I love K Websterā€™s dark mind- I donā€™t have many triggers, but I also know to expect the unexpected with her and that she will challenge my little societal contrived conception of romance. I like the challenge- in fact thats why I seek her out- she asks us to lean into our darkness, depravity, dysfunction. She asks us to find resonance and beauty in the dark and disturbing, in the wrong and taboo. And I dig it- but I also like to know what Iā€™m getting myself into with her so I can my mind right to lean into her themes- so here, I did. And while I wonā€™t spoil you to anything else, just know that K Webster is suverting herself here. She lulls you into the safety of her own dark romantic paradigm- so much so that you think you know exactly where this is going, and then she shatters it. And how brilliant is that? An author that has created such a deep set niche for herself, such a unique voice, that she can use her own self-created trope to subvert our expectations and shock us. Cause there is a SHOCK, and Iā€™m not sure I would have seen it coming.

This story is definitely different, again even from K Websterā€™s own cannon. And thatā€™s what I love to see an author doing- pushing not only the boundaries of the genre, but the boundaries of their own imagination, to dig into the psychology of love and connection. Something especially compelling with how proflicially K Webster writes. No matter what - she asks us to examine what unsettles us, make space for it in our hearts- and this is another success at that, just not how I anticipated