Reviews with content warning for Blood - Knockout

Reviews tagging 'Blood'

purplepenning's review

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

Ah, Imogen — "a vigilante with a penchant for chemistry and explosives… Perhaps she'd get herself a dog to carry about in her carpetbag. She could call it something delightful. Like Pyroglycerine."

Love these characters but the story was a little slow, repetitive, and predictable for me.

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bibliomania_express's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

Knockout by Sarah MacLean is the third entry in the Hell's Belles series, and it brings all the banter, charm, danger, and romance you could want. I adored Tommy and Imogen, who have been dancing around each other since book one. Tommy is a detective, torn between law and justice, and trying ever so hard to resist our explosive Imogen because he's low-born. Imogen, meanwhile, has never felt good enough, considered too odd by Society, including her brother. But that doesn't stop her from hunting down a bomber and fighting for what she wants.

The banter between Tommy and Imogen is top notch, and I laughed out loud numerous times. I also liked that this book delves into the meaning of justice and how it intersects with class and gender in different ways. While MacLean's books always feel bright and boisterous, she doesn't shy away from digging into the dark underbelly in a way that reflects our modern landscape.

I had a lot of fun with this book. I did guess the bad guy, but only because a lack of options coupled with the necessary enotional impact made it obvious. I do think the end reveal was a bit rushed.

I'm very intrigued by the final pages and what they hint at for Duchess's book.

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uranaishi's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

3.75

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katelynnelawson's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

Tommy, a detective, and Imogen, a vigilante and part of the Hell’s Belles, have been circling one another since they met fourteen months ago. Both are investigating a series of explosions in the East End targeting vulnerable women pushing back against society. They’ve been attracted to one another from the get-go, but Imogen is unsure whether she can trust someone who works for the corrupt police, especially as she grows certain they are tied to the crimes. When Imogen realizes that putting herself on the marriage mart (temporarily) could help the Belles get to the root of who is committing these atrocious crimes, Tommy offers his services to her brother to be her guard. Imogen is often in dangerous situations due to the nature of her connection with the Belles and her love of explosions, and while she can hold her own, Tommy has rescued her a time or three. Guarding her will also serve as an opportunity to find out what she knows that Tommy doesn’t. While Tommy doesn’t make the best guard (Imogen does what Imogen wants), the close proximity has these two with their hands and mouths all over one another. And when ultimately they realize their feelings are the real thing, Tommy struggles with accepting that as someone working class, he is worthy of the upper class woman he views as a goddess. But when Imogen steps up and saves Tommy when his own men turn on him, the two learn to fully trust not only each other but that the love between them can withstand anything.

This is a beautiful and sexy story that had me in my emotions. I love how much this series shows found family, even with people like Tommy who have a close family of their own. There is always room to welcome more love in your life and you are always worthy of it. I also thought the discussion about the corruption in politics and the justice system feels timelessly relevant, and about how even good people in these sectors are complicit. Tommy’s deep belief in justice shifting its meaning over the course of the book was interesting. And Imogen is so cool! She’s fearless, intelligent, and has a big heart. Any girl who has ever felt like “too much” will see themselves in her and it’s heartwarming to see her with friends and a love match that like her just as she is - or want even more from her!

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