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A review by aingealwroth
Sutton Asylum by Kinsley Kincaid
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Lower rating because this wasn't as good as I was hoping it would be. More "Purge" movies and less Harley Quinn romance, in my opinion.
Yes, this is a taboo relationship dark romance, but it didn't have as much actual relationship as I was hoping for. We don't see the two mains get together or their fight to be together, we're sort of dropped into a "they've been together 4+ years" story space that feels odd for a romance.
There is equal parts spice and torture, which is substantially more detailed on the gore than I was expecting. It ends up feeling like erotica of both kinds with only the smallest sliver of plot oriented around setting up the second book. Additionally, the couple is portrayed as being the 'King and Queen' of the asylum, but other than threatening the loudest and being popular, they have no power. Not even like "stuck in prison, have the trade network and dirt on everyone" power.
TLDR: While this is decent, I would have liked it better if we got more of an actual dark romance with a little less "Harley Quinn escapes Arkham Asylum the bloodiest way possible" wish fulfillment.
((Note for ebook: If you get the digital book from the author's site, which is one of the only ways to get it, the 'watermark' will be VERY distracting and there are no returns so be careful.))
Yes, this is a taboo relationship dark romance, but it didn't have as much actual relationship as I was hoping for. We don't see the two mains get together or their fight to be together, we're sort of dropped into a "they've been together 4+ years" story space that feels odd for a romance.
There is equal parts spice and torture, which is substantially more detailed on the gore than I was expecting. It ends up feeling like erotica of both kinds with only the smallest sliver of plot oriented around setting up the second book. Additionally, the couple is portrayed as being the 'King and Queen' of the asylum, but other than threatening the loudest and being popular, they have no power. Not even like "stuck in prison, have the trade network and dirt on everyone" power.
TLDR: While this is decent, I would have liked it better if we got more of an actual dark romance with a little less "Harley Quinn escapes Arkham Asylum the bloodiest way possible" wish fulfillment.
((Note for ebook: If you get the digital book from the author's site, which is one of the only ways to get it, the 'watermark' will be VERY distracting and there are no returns so be careful.))
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder