Scan barcode
A review by hereiskyra
Shallow River by H.D. Carlton
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Well… this was unlike anything I’ve read before. When the author said this book was her “trauma dump,” she meant it.
I knew before I started that this book was going to contain some kind of depiction of domestic violence but I wasn’t aware it was going to be as intense as it was and that there was going to be 20 other things that would be far more upsetting than just a verbally/physically abusive boyfriend. I mean… WOW that was distressing.
I wouldn’t really call this a romance per se… but it had some solid romance in there (Mako is a king and he deserves all the love). I think a huge chunk of it was really unsettling to read and I actually got a stomach ache at one point. The pure evil that men like Ryan and Billy (and let’s be honest… Matt) possess is something so scary because, well, there are men like that all over the place and we usually don’t know who they are until we’re behind closed doors with them.
The fact that this book had a thriller element (if that’s even the right description) is probably a big reason why I liked it so much. There was so much depth in each character. Rivers ability to persevere after 20+ years of abuse (sexual, mental, physical) and neglect from the people closest to her was unfathomable. I think the sheer strength she displayed is a testament to the real women who are strong but still fall victim to situations just like this and don’t know how to extricate themselves from it.
I felt all of the emotions. I cried in the first 200 pages, I knew at that point there was going to be a rough road ahead. But I’m so glad I finally read it. As uncomfortable as it was at times and as much as the content wasn’t necessarily what I had expected it to be, it feels like an important book and it deserves every bit of praise I’ve heard about it.
Please for the love of all that is holy, check the trigger warnings she provides and take them SERIOUSLY.
Tropes/Themes:
Infidelity
Knife/Bl00d Play
Enemies to Lovers
Boyfriends Brother
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I wouldn’t really call this a romance per se… but it had some solid romance in there (Mako is a king and he deserves all the love). I think a huge chunk of it was really unsettling to read and I actually got a stomach ache at one point. The pure evil that men like Ryan and Billy (and let’s be honest… Matt) possess is something so scary because, well, there are men like that all over the place and we usually don’t know who they are until we’re behind closed doors with them.
The fact that this book had a thriller element (if that’s even the right description) is probably a big reason why I liked it so much. There was so much depth in each character. Rivers ability to persevere after 20+ years of abuse (sexual, mental, physical) and neglect from the people closest to her was unfathomable. I think the sheer strength she displayed is a testament to the real women who are strong but still fall victim to situations just like this and don’t know how to extricate themselves from it.
I felt all of the emotions. I cried in the first 200 pages, I knew at that point there was going to be a rough road ahead. But I’m so glad I finally read it. As uncomfortable as it was at times and as much as the content wasn’t necessarily what I had expected it to be, it feels like an important book and it deserves every bit of praise I’ve heard about it.
Please for the love of all that is holy, check the trigger warnings she provides and take them SERIOUSLY.
Tropes/Themes:
Infidelity
Knife/Bl00d Play
Enemies to Lovers
Boyfriends Brother
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail