Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton

22 reviews

booktheshelves's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • 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

4.75

I was hesitant to read this because I’d heard it was DARK. And they were not wrong… However, I still loved it. I remember starting this book in late 2023, and putting it down because I was freaked out by the house Addie lives in 😆

So, I read this and Hunting back to back. So doing a review for the first book will require me to pick through my memory bank, which is legit terrible. I forget major things about books right after I read them. My star ratings are based on “vibes”, if you will. Very in the moment, mood reader I am (oh hello Master Yoda). 

Anyway, Haunting was everything I was expecting and also… not. I don’t know why I thought it just *couldn't* be as hot as everyone was saying. I was wrong. It was. Now I understand the whole daddy Zade thing. He’s hot. And f*cked. Addie was hard to like at first, but I grew to really enjoy her character as her development progressed. I kinda thought her being an author was a little corny, but it actually worked. 

This book was spooky, which I’m not super into. I know it’s a dark romance, blah blah, but like, I just don’t like ghosts. So there’s that. 

The human trafficking themes literally ripped me up. It was so hard to read about. I know that it’s not exactly real life average human trafficking because usually it’s a family member doing the trafficking, not some elaborate government scheme, BUT, I think a lot of the elements here do really exist. It’s evil and horrid. Zade can justify killing child rapists any-day in my head. 

Spiceeeee was spicin’. Lemme just say: gun, belt, rose, knife, more belt, cliff (and this is both books). Need I say more. No, I need not. 

Anywayyy, 4.75 for the whole duet. Hunting is wayyyyy dark and crazy traumatizing. I don’t think my brain will ever be the same. But it added needed depth I think. Honestly coulda done without the side character Sibby. Hated Sydney. Rio was cool. Hated every trafficker’s guts and wanted them to die. Anyway, that’s all for now. 

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kealeighsbooknook's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I loved this book it was my second dark romance and I think I have fell in love the the genre so dark but thrilling and the spice is 5* the detail and the hunger from the characters I love the plot and how I can become to like the characters you really shouldn’t. I can’t believe I enjoyed it I wasn’t sure at the start but I was addicted and couldn’t put it down. Zade is my book boyfriend. And I just loved Adeline and how it links with satans affair 5 star read. 

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c_e_w's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced
  • 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? It's complicated

0.5


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its_nikita's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • 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

3.0


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booksnart2023's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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

5.0


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destinynichole11's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • 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

4.25


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darcynewtonn's review against another edition

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dark funny 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

4.75

While I'm still relatively new to reading dark romance or just reading in general, I can confidently say this is one of my favourite books and will remain a favourite. 

If you're reading this review i'm going to assume you have a basic understanding of the book because let's be honest here... what dark romance readers haven't heard of Haunting Adeline? Exactly 

When I went into this book i'd tried not to research it on booktok as I wanted the book experience without a swayed opinion. This is something I highly recommend doing as it allowed me to enjoy the true content of the book without knowing any spoilers and I think it just made it that little bit better. Admittedly any spoilers put onto TikTok would probably be removed due to inappropriate content so there isn't really much you can research on this book, but anyway, don't.  

Yes Zade may be a little effed up, however I still can't help falling in love with him... and I sort of wouldn't mind having my own sexy stalker to throw my life into the air... is that bad? Probably, but hey if you're reading this then you probably got something a little loose up there too so you can't really judge me.

The only true warning I can give is, even if you're into dark erotic scenes, some parts of this book do get deathly dark *literally*. Me and my sister very much read the same books however we have an ever so slightly different reaction to gruesome details and this is one I know she would not enjoy. So please understand the sheer depth of what you are about to read. It is graphic and it is very easy to visualise. 

One piece of information I do need to give on Hunting Adeline is that it is substantially darker and sadder reading the... situation?... thats going on. If you do plan on reading Hunting Adeline I strongly suggest you read the duet back to back with as little break in-between as possible, it makes the second book slightly less dark, not much, but slightly. 

Overall this book was fabulous and I really did enjoy reading it, especially chapter 30 ;). 
I've recommended it to numerous friends even though I think that's a slightly cruel thing to do but I really hope more people can love this book how I did. 

If you've made it to the end of this review, do send me a friend request as I love connecting with people who are just as mentally messed as me. 

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wrensreadingroom's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0


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bookrach's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad 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

This series will stay with me and haunt my dreams and nightmares until i finish the entirety of H.D.Carltons wicked collections.
Her writing is sublime. Her brain is dark, but god, these books are incredible. 
This absolutely is a love story, despite what she says.
Reading the triggers prior is a must.

The books were previously banned due to the triggers - but the scenes detailed (in depth) will be happening somewhere, to someone in our world. We deserve to be uncomfortable and shocked. I am so thankful i have never been exposed to a world this dark, but i am well aware this could be someones' past, present, or future.

I hope to god there is a Zane out there fighting for them.

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a_libra_library's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

2.0


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