Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert

18 reviews

taryn_g's review

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Medical content

Minor: Death of parent

taleofabibliophile's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol

Moderate: Death and Murder

pbeeandj's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

alicelalicon's review

dark tense fast-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

ghostmomxoxo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault and War

justinekorson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Gun violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

whiddengem's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Smutty, fantastical world building. Hint or two of non-monogamy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment

kiwicove's review against another edition

dark emotional 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Abandonment

hanschub's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Toxic relationship

rosemaryandrue's review

adventurous emotional tense medium-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

4.0

Eris must wed Theseus, who made his way into the Thirteen through murder, to keep a closer eye on him. To irk him she takes up with his best friend Pandora; to irk her he takes up with her ex-boyfriend Adonis. But it soon becomes apparent that there’s greater dangers out there than each other.

This is quite a complicated romance – it involves four individuals, but they are not all in a relationship with each other, so this messy polyamorous knot consists of both romance and friendship, most of which must develop from scratch over the course of a single book. I certainly don’t envy the author her balancing act!

Even with this tricky premise, I found myself swept up by the characters and their story. It was fun to see all the relationship dynamics that were on display here and how the knot was eventually swirled together. Of the leads, Eris and Theseus get the most development, probably because it is their power play that drives the plot. Both are important and willing chess pieces in their families’ plans, and both come to realize that there is a life to lead outside them, which was satisfying indeed.

However, I did wish that we got more from Adonis and Pandora. They are also lead characters in this romance and the relationships they have with Eris and Theseus did seem to have equal weight to the other ones in the story. But their character development felt shallower and their stories seemed to play second fiddle to those of Eris and Theseus. I was also confused why it was Pandora who was the fourth member of the romance – I had hoped to get some clarity when I read the book, but Robert did not bring forth any mythological link that explained things to me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual assault