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smartcookiesca's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
dwarrowdams's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Really liked this in terms of the relationship and the plot. Certain aspects felt rushed or like they could’ve used more setup, but this was a fun read that was hard to put down.
The disability rep with Hephaestus/Theseus was well done: it was clear that his mobility impairment is part of who he is and affects his daily life, but it never felt like he was a token disabled character.
The disability rep with Hephaestus/Theseus was well done: it was clear that his mobility impairment is part of who he is and affects his daily life, but it never felt like he was a token disabled character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Pedophilia
mrsmishler's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Gun violence and Murder
Minor: Pedophilia
ambenicole418's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.0
I’m a little disappointed with this book because I really thought I was gonna love this one just as much as I loved book 2 in this series. I mean the main plot of both books is that the main male love interest is seen as a weapon by his parent/parental figure, he falls in love, and then he has to confront the parent to break free from their hold. So, really when you think about it Cruel Seduction is basically just Electric Idol, but make it polyamorous lol. However, the reason I ended up not enjoying this installment in the series as much as I enjoyed Electric Idol is pretty much the same reason I didn’t really enjoy Neon Gods, the ending was anticlimactic. I was so hyped for the final confrontation between Theseus and Minos where Theseus would finally choose himself, do what’s best for him, and stand against Minos, but the actual confrontation only lasts about 2 pages and basically NOTHING happens. There’s no big fight. There’s no power struggle. There’s nothing! Theseus basically just walks in, says he wants to live his own life without being a pawn, and then leaves. Honestly, it was incredibly disappointing.
That being said at the end of the day this is an erotica and I have to say I did enjoy the relationship. Based on the synopsis, I thought this was going to be a wlwlmlm romance but it’s actually a wlw plus a wlmlm romance since Pandora and Eris’s romance is separate from Eris’s romance with Adonis and Theseus. That didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the romance though. I actually liked how all 4 of them got along, supported each other, and were intimate (non romantically) with each other even though Pandora wasn’t romantically interested in Adonis or Theseus. I also really liked Eris, Adonis, and Theseus as a throuple. Honestly, I kind of wish the book was longer, so we could get more Eris x Adonis x Theseus and Eris x Pandora scenes because there were times where the romance felt a little rushed, especially between Adonis and Theseus. They knew each other for like 2 days, had sex once, and suddenly they were SUPER into each other. It was definitely a little instalovey in that aspect but I’m gonna give the book a break since this relatively short book technically had to develop 2 relationships at the same time, a couple and a throuple.
On the the topic of Eris and Adonis though…..<B>SPOILERS</B> Eris is a much better person than me because I would not have let Adonis get away with the things he did in this book. Adonis supposedly was in love with Eris and yet he JUMPED at the first opportunity to HAVE SEX WITH HER HUSBAND and help him better his public image just to spite her knowing full well that Theseus is a MURDERER and an enemy of the whole city! The thing that really got me though was when the book tried to convince us that what Eris did with Pandora was the same thing as what Adonis was doing with Theseus because it really wasn’t! Eris started talking to Pandora to spite her literal enemy and her falling for Pandora had nothing to do with Adonis. She didn’t set out to hurt the person she was supposed to be in love with. Whereas Adonis’s entire relationship with Theseus is based on him just wanting to get back at Eris for marrying Theseus. Then he had the gall and audacity to say to Eris’s face that he wouldn’t hurt Theseus for her. But clearly he had no qualms about hurting Eris knowing that hurting her and her public image would serve Theseus! Idk personally, me and Adonis would’ve had to scrap for that but that’s just me 🤷🏽♀️.
That being said at the end of the day this is an erotica and I have to say I did enjoy the relationship. Based on the synopsis, I thought this was going to be a wlwlmlm romance but it’s actually a wlw plus a wlmlm romance since Pandora and Eris’s romance is separate from Eris’s romance with Adonis and Theseus. That didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the romance though. I actually liked how all 4 of them got along, supported each other, and were intimate (non romantically) with each other even though Pandora wasn’t romantically interested in Adonis or Theseus. I also really liked Eris, Adonis, and Theseus as a throuple. Honestly, I kind of wish the book was longer, so we could get more Eris x Adonis x Theseus and Eris x Pandora scenes because there were times where the romance felt a little rushed, especially between Adonis and Theseus. They knew each other for like 2 days, had sex once, and suddenly they were SUPER into each other. It was definitely a little instalovey in that aspect but I’m gonna give the book a break since this relatively short book technically had to develop 2 relationships at the same time, a couple and a throuple.
On the the topic of Eris and Adonis though…..<B>SPOILERS</B> Eris is a much better person than me because I would not have let Adonis get away with the things he did in this book. Adonis supposedly was in love with Eris and yet he JUMPED at the first opportunity to HAVE SEX WITH HER HUSBAND and help him better his public image just to spite her knowing full well that Theseus is a MURDERER and an enemy of the whole city! The thing that really got me though was when the book tried to convince us that what Eris did with Pandora was the same thing as what Adonis was doing with Theseus because it really wasn’t! Eris started talking to Pandora to spite her literal enemy and her falling for Pandora had nothing to do with Adonis. She didn’t set out to hurt the person she was supposed to be in love with. Whereas Adonis’s entire relationship with Theseus is based on him just wanting to get back at Eris for marrying Theseus. Then he had the gall and audacity to say to Eris’s face that he wouldn’t hurt Theseus for her. But clearly he had no qualms about hurting Eris knowing that hurting her and her public image would serve Theseus! Idk personally, me and Adonis would’ve had to scrap for that but that’s just me 🤷🏽♀️.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Gun violence and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
ka_ke's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Um, where is my super spicy foursome scene? Did I miss a chapter? Talk about a clit tease!
We did get some spicy action between Eris, Adonis & Theseus, but I think Pandora was underused here.
The idea of both giving up their positions of power to keep their new found-family safe is cute considering the original circumstances. I do think having 4 perspectives was unnecessary and perhaps even forced.
We did get some spicy action between Eris, Adonis & Theseus, but I think Pandora was underused here.
The idea of both giving up their positions of power to keep their new found-family safe is cute considering the original circumstances. I do think having 4 perspectives was unnecessary and perhaps even forced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Medical content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Murder, and Sexual harassment
frantically's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
3.25
I struggled getting into this because GOD(s) there's so many people and so many names and so much politics, we've really come far since Neon Gods 💀 It did pick up after the 50% mark and I loved all the relationships! I wish we could've spent more time with Pandora & Aphrodite, as other reviewers have said, sometimes there was just wayyy more focus on the guys and their relationships. There's loads of drama and ensuing protectiveness, especially towards the end. The ending itself was quite abrupt but I think we can just come to expect that from this series! There've definitely been better installments but still a fun read and still loving this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Medical content, and Abandonment