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poppy_ascher's reviews
11 reviews
Black Knight by Rina Kent
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
You would think by book 4 in this series I would have gotten over Kent’s desire to protect their readers. Nope. Not at all. However, I will say it was appreciated in this particular book because this book is emotionally intense, particularly if you have a personal history with severe mental illness that includes suicidal ideation, self harm and eating disorders. Extra warning if you were an individual who experiences these things whilst also having to live with a real shitty mother.
Again, there was that reiteration of the fact this series is a bully romance but less in your face, or buried among Kimberly’s mental illnesses and Xavier’s addiction.
Again, there was that reiteration of the fact this series is a bully romance but less in your face, or buried among Kimberly’s mental illnesses and Xavier’s addiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Steel Princess by Rina Kent
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Aiden and Elsa’s relationship grows with Elsa’s determination to remember her past and not be a pawn in Aiden and his father’s game.
Which I would have enjoyed more if, yet again, Kent moved out of their pernicious and oppressive need to protect readers from the realities of Elsa’s inability to trust & Aiden’s inability to not be a dick. Alas, Kent remains steadfast in their inexplicable need to reiterate that this is a bully romance, and surprise! There are bullies in the story! Consequently, the characters appear very two dimensional and seem stuck in this repetitive holding pattern for 200+ pages. Only within the last couple of characters do we see a progression within the plot.
Which I would have enjoyed more if, yet again, Kent moved out of their pernicious and oppressive need to protect readers from the realities of Elsa’s inability to trust & Aiden’s inability to not be a dick. Alas, Kent remains steadfast in their inexplicable need to reiterate that this is a bully romance, and surprise! There are bullies in the story! Consequently, the characters appear very two dimensional and seem stuck in this repetitive holding pattern for 200+ pages. Only within the last couple of characters do we see a progression within the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping
Deviant King by Rina Kent
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Read this during an extreme bout of insomnia. Kent writes in British English, something I had to remind myself during the occasional British colloquialism, otherwise very easy to follow and digest.
I was not a fan of; the repetitiveness of certain words and emotional approaches to complex themes. A habit I can only surmise as a coping mechanism and consistency. for example; the repetition of the fact this is a bulky romance. We know. There was zero need to bring it up repeatedly to reaffirm there are bully main characters. However, it came across as unimaginative and pervasive sense of comfort from Kent. Almost like an oppressive desire to protect the reader from fully immersing oneself into the story.
I was not a fan of; the repetitiveness of certain words and emotional approaches to complex themes. A habit I can only surmise as a coping mechanism and consistency. for example; the repetition of the fact this is a bulky romance. We know. There was zero need to bring it up repeatedly to reaffirm there are bully main characters. However, it came across as unimaginative and pervasive sense of comfort from Kent. Almost like an oppressive desire to protect the reader from fully immersing oneself into the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Medical content, Death of parent, and Classism
Cataclysm by Sarah Bailey
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
The rollercoaster whirlwind emotional journey of Scarlett Nyx and her horsemen has come to a violent and satisfying conclusion. All the answers we sought since Carnage will be answered.
I binged this series in 24 hours, and I have been unable to engage in a series since genuinely. Sarah destroys us all with her characters, their flaws and their strengths. How she manages to spin genuine humanity into her characters defines her growth as a writer.
If you thought the sex scenes in the previous books could not be topped, you would be gravely mistaken. Also, we all get the incredible and satisfying resolution to #StuartAndMasonMustDie -- I may have highlighted those passages for when I need to fulfil some homicidal desires, because of the pacing, the emotion, urgh it's everything.
I binged this series in 24 hours, and I have been unable to engage in a series since genuinely. Sarah destroys us all with her characters, their flaws and their strengths. How she manages to spin genuine humanity into her characters defines her growth as a writer.
If you thought the sex scenes in the previous books could not be topped, you would be gravely mistaken. Also, we all get the incredible and satisfying resolution to #StuartAndMasonMustDie -- I may have highlighted those passages for when I need to fulfil some homicidal desires, because of the pacing, the emotion, urgh it's everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Death of parent
Sell My Soul by Jade West
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
This series is flat and has a high stereotypical and superficial take on Sadomasochistic relationships. And I am aware that it was intentional, and that's fine, but it felt like West took on every cliche of S&M and sex trafficking and created this series.
The absolute lack of a trigger warning is egregious, and I believe Jade West knows better. The "trigger warning" was "AS always, this is a Jade West novel. You have been warned." WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?! This is my first Jade West novel, and that trigger warning tells me nothing. I am aware that Amazon tends to censor books if you put a trigger warning, but if West had put some indication where I could find one on their site, for example, in their warning, it would be something other than "you've been warned"—warned of what?
Do better. With that said, the following triggers for this series:
- S&M
- Sex work under the guise of trafficking
- violence
- kidnapping
- abuse
The absolute lack of a trigger warning is egregious, and I believe Jade West knows better. The "trigger warning" was "AS always, this is a Jade West novel. You have been warned." WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?! This is my first Jade West novel, and that trigger warning tells me nothing. I am aware that Amazon tends to censor books if you put a trigger warning, but if West had put some indication where I could find one on their site, for example, in their warning, it would be something other than "you've been warned"—warned of what?
Do better. With that said, the following triggers for this series:
- S&M
- Sex work under the guise of trafficking
- violence
- kidnapping
- abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use
Corrode by Sarah Bailey
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.5
Y'all, I have never cried as much with a book as I have with Corrode. Within this book, so many questions are answered, and yes, the first eight chapters are emotionally rough. We see more of West's trauma regarding Scarlett's kidnapping and eventual disappearance.
Sarah did not disappoint us with the smut or the spice. Triple the innuendo, sex and love. Not to mention devoted violence from the Horsemen to show how much they love Scar.
The cliffhanger in this book isn't as brutal Chaos, but no less devasting.
Also fuck, Stuart and Mason and I now have deep and extraordinarily detailed fantasies about their deaths, especially after chapter 28. Like fuuuuuuuuuuck Stuart.
Take a couple of days to recover, you will need it. And a cocktail or mocktail. Maybe some comfort food.
Sarah did not disappoint us with the smut or the spice. Triple the innuendo, sex and love. Not to mention devoted violence from the Horsemen to show how much they love Scar.
The cliffhanger in this book isn't as brutal Chaos, but no less devasting.
Also fuck, Stuart and Mason and I now have deep and extraordinarily detailed fantasies about their deaths, especially after chapter 28. Like fuuuuuuuuuuck Stuart.
Take a couple of days to recover, you will need it. And a cocktail or mocktail. Maybe some comfort food.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Stone Cold Queen by Lucy Smoke
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Stone Cold Queen picks up where Pretty Little Savage ends. Ava has been hurt in a pretty horrific way that makes all women identifying people wince in empathy.
A lot of Ava’s and Dean’s growth as individuals and as a couple happen in this book, however it was Ava’s friendship with Riley that really drew me in. Two young women who have seen some shit, and highly mistrustful of people as result, trying to be there for each other in the only way they know.
However the first 22 chapters is lasered focused Ava and Dean’s relationship, but there are moments of growth of Ava’s friendships with Abel and Brax that make me smile.
Without spoiling it but fuuuuuuck Corina.
A lot of Ava’s and Dean’s growth as individuals and as a couple happen in this book, however it was Ava’s friendship with Riley that really drew me in. Two young women who have seen some shit, and highly mistrustful of people as result, trying to be there for each other in the only way they know.
However the first 22 chapters is lasered focused Ava and Dean’s relationship, but there are moments of growth of Ava’s friendships with Abel and Brax that make me smile.
Without spoiling it but fuuuuuuck Corina.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Pretty Little Savage by Lucy Smoke
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Alright, so I’ve already the next two books; “Stone Cold Queen” and “Natural Born Killers” - so I’ll try giving a review without spoilers.
Right so, I’ve been rereading the books to get ready for the start of Abel’s story in “Wicked Heathens” and I found myself with a bunch of questions that weren’t specifically answered or were answered in a very round about way in books 2 & 3. And I’ve spent the vast majority of my day trying to figure it all out that I feel like that dude from the Office with all the red string on the wall.
A lot of information regarding character and the world building of Eastpoint, and this corrupt world of money and power is thrown in 410 pages. Ava’s growth as a person starts, obviously, in PLS but only once Ava is forced to confront her bullshit which happens in the last 6 chapters. Otherwise her tough girl attitude becomes grating and irritating.
Right so, I’ve been rereading the books to get ready for the start of Abel’s story in “Wicked Heathens” and I found myself with a bunch of questions that weren’t specifically answered or were answered in a very round about way in books 2 & 3. And I’ve spent the vast majority of my day trying to figure it all out that I feel like that dude from the Office with all the red string on the wall.
A lot of information regarding character and the world building of Eastpoint, and this corrupt world of money and power is thrown in 410 pages. Ava’s growth as a person starts, obviously, in PLS but only once Ava is forced to confront her bullshit which happens in the last 6 chapters. Otherwise her tough girl attitude becomes grating and irritating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Carnage by Sarah Bailey
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
4.5
Carnage is book one of the Four Horsemen series. And very much alike to Deceived, Sarah spends much of this book world building (financiers of contemporary London) and relationship building (the Four Horsemen and FMC).
The love interest of the four horsemen is Scarlett, a childhood friend of the four horsemen, but Scarlett doesn't remember. Without going into spoiler territory; will Scarlett remember? Will Scarlett pay the price for safety?
The love interest of the four horsemen is Scarlett, a childhood friend of the four horsemen, but Scarlett doesn't remember. Without going into spoiler territory; will Scarlett remember? Will Scarlett pay the price for safety?
Chaos by Sarah Bailey
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Sarah, if you ever read this, please know I'm so mad at you!
If you are not Sarah, feel free to use this review from a former Mental Health Professional and someone with experience with (dissociative) amnesia to determine if the Four Horsemen is the series for you. I empathized with Scarlett and her reticence to unlock her memories. I have a disorder called "Dissociative Amnesia," which is brought on by trauma. It is not unusual for me to lose chunks of time - whether it be hours or days and, at one point, a year. Unlocking one's memories is a terrifying experience, and the desire to unlock those memories is often at war (hehe) with the terror of what those memories may be. Chaos and Carnage will cause many potentially uncomfortable feelings if you experience dissociative amnesia or object permanence due to other mental health-related concerns, such as ADHD.
Chaos picks up on the cliffhanger from Carnage, book one of the Four Horsemen. If you have not read Carnage, I highly recommend you do -- otherwise, you will be incredibly lost and deeply emotionally scarred. Just like anal -- you have to prepare yourself emotionally. And, if you are like me with a heart condition, you may want to prepare yourself physically. Otherwise, there will be awkward conversations when your heart device alerts medical professionals.
Yes, this has happened more than once, anyway, back to the review.
We see a deeper character development between Scarlett and the four horsemen without giving away spoilers, with Chaos focusing on West. We learn all the heartbreak and pain West experiences from 10 years ago before Scarlett's accident. Sarah's writing is so incredibly flawless that you feel like a voyeur watching the emotional chaos. Still, you cannot help to feel the secondary and mirror-like emotions the characters experience. Fellow empaths, beware!! Also, when did I become interested in voyeurism???
I digress...
Much of the novel takes place at Fortuity, specifically the bedrooms of the four horsemen. A lot of spice (thank fuck) that truly did not disappoint. Especially if you are into group activities.
I had many questions going into this book from Carnage:
1. Does Mason die?!(fuck, I hope he does. Soon. Swarmy fuckwit)
2. Does Scarlett find out the truth?
3. Do the horsemen, in some way, reveal their feelings about Scar to Scar?yes
And, while yes, Sarah answered some questions -- it also led me to more questions!
1. Maam, who permitted you to destroy me emotionally?! (Never thought I'd consent to have my heart shattered, but alas, here we are)
2.Are the Carver's really Scarlett's adoptive parents or did they say they were? Since you know Scarlett was a minor when her accident happened - did the Carver's adopt her when she was in a coma?...
3.what was on the memory stick?!
4. what the absolute fuck, West?!
5. Please, for love, all things bloody; will I get a blood bath?! (because reasons...)
Chaos does not disappoint, and now I shall have to wait another torturous 6 weeks for Corrode to be released on October 8, 2021. And they said that anticipation is the key to all pleasure...
They weren't wrong...
If you are not Sarah, feel free to use this review from a former Mental Health Professional and someone with experience with (dissociative) amnesia to determine if the Four Horsemen is the series for you. I empathized with Scarlett and her reticence to unlock her memories. I have a disorder called "Dissociative Amnesia," which is brought on by trauma. It is not unusual for me to lose chunks of time - whether it be hours or days and, at one point, a year. Unlocking one's memories is a terrifying experience, and the desire to unlock those memories is often at war (hehe) with the terror of what those memories may be. Chaos and Carnage will cause many potentially uncomfortable feelings if you experience dissociative amnesia or object permanence due to other mental health-related concerns, such as ADHD.
Chaos picks up on the cliffhanger from Carnage, book one of the Four Horsemen. If you have not read Carnage, I highly recommend you do -- otherwise, you will be incredibly lost and deeply emotionally scarred. Just like anal -- you have to prepare yourself emotionally. And, if you are like me with a heart condition, you may want to prepare yourself physically. Otherwise, there will be awkward conversations when your heart device alerts medical professionals.
Yes, this has happened more than once, anyway, back to the review.
We see a deeper character development between Scarlett and the four horsemen without giving away spoilers, with Chaos focusing on West. We learn all the heartbreak and pain West experiences from 10 years ago before Scarlett's accident. Sarah's writing is so incredibly flawless that you feel like a voyeur watching the emotional chaos. Still, you cannot help to feel the secondary and mirror-like emotions the characters experience. Fellow empaths, beware!! Also, when did I become interested in voyeurism???
I digress...
Much of the novel takes place at Fortuity, specifically the bedrooms of the four horsemen. A lot of spice (thank fuck) that truly did not disappoint. Especially if you are into group activities.
I had many questions going into this book from Carnage:
1. Does Mason die?!
2. Does Scarlett find out the truth?
3. Do the horsemen, in some way, reveal their feelings about Scar to Scar?
And, while yes, Sarah answered some questions -- it also led me to more questions!
1. Maam, who permitted you to destroy me emotionally?! (Never thought I'd consent to have my heart shattered, but alas, here we are)
2.
3.
4. what the absolute fuck, West?!
5. Please, for love, all things bloody; will I get a blood bath?! (because reasons...)
Chaos does not disappoint, and now I shall have to wait another torturous 6 weeks for Corrode to be released on October 8, 2021. And they said that anticipation is the key to all pleasure...
They weren't wrong...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence