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kellyyoungbl's review against another edition
4.0
Weak MC, but an interesting story
The writing was good and the story wasunique, but I just did not like Shauna at all. She was a weak MC and did not have redeeming qualities.
The writing was good and the story wasunique, but I just did not like Shauna at all. She was a weak MC and did not have redeeming qualities.
mxsallybend's review against another edition
4.0
Darkroom is an outright tale of horror, complete with a viciously sadistic (and religiously disturbed) villain. Victor believes himself to be an instrument of divine Vengeance, living for the torture and murder of women. Something about Shauna, however, calls to him. No longer content with dominating her physically through torture, he also craves the emotional dominance that comes with being her saviour . . . from himself. Here, rather than wanting to see ourselves in Shauna's place, it's much easier to sympathise with her - from a safe distance, of course.
Like [b:Exploits|9803045|Exploits|Poppet & Gemma Rice|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M3fiMqGcL._SL75_.jpg|14693266] and [b:Seithe|9920514|Seithe|Poppet & Gemma Rice|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293488175s/9920514.jpg|14813228], Darkroom deals with power relationships, but in a different way. In [b:Exploits|9803045|Exploits|Poppet & Gemma Rice|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M3fiMqGcL._SL75_.jpg|14693266], it was cruel and unhealthy, but still close enough to ‘normal’ to seem realistic. In [b:Seithe|9920514|Seithe|Poppet & Gemma Rice|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293488175s/9920514.jpg|14813228], the obsession here goes both ways (creating an artificial sense of equality), and the supernatural element makes it seem so much more acceptable. In Darkroom, we’re back to a one-sided relationship, but one that goes beyond cruel and unhealthy into sadistic and dangerous.
If you’ve yet to experience her unique style, her flair for language, and her psychological mastery, I urge you to give her a read. She’ll challenge you as much as she entertains you, and she’ll never make you feel safe within the story, but she’ll ensure you come out the other side. Whether or not you come out unscathed, unchanged, is entirely up to you.
Like [b:Exploits|9803045|Exploits|Poppet & Gemma Rice|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M3fiMqGcL._SL75_.jpg|14693266] and [b:Seithe|9920514|Seithe|Poppet & Gemma Rice|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293488175s/9920514.jpg|14813228], Darkroom deals with power relationships, but in a different way. In [b:Exploits|9803045|Exploits|Poppet & Gemma Rice|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M3fiMqGcL._SL75_.jpg|14693266], it was cruel and unhealthy, but still close enough to ‘normal’ to seem realistic. In [b:Seithe|9920514|Seithe|Poppet & Gemma Rice|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293488175s/9920514.jpg|14813228], the obsession here goes both ways (creating an artificial sense of equality), and the supernatural element makes it seem so much more acceptable. In Darkroom, we’re back to a one-sided relationship, but one that goes beyond cruel and unhealthy into sadistic and dangerous.
If you’ve yet to experience her unique style, her flair for language, and her psychological mastery, I urge you to give her a read. She’ll challenge you as much as she entertains you, and she’ll never make you feel safe within the story, but she’ll ensure you come out the other side. Whether or not you come out unscathed, unchanged, is entirely up to you.
deviousdelver's review
3.0
I'm mainly rating this a three star due to the fact that I thought the writing got better as the book went on (bar the grammar errors which I could subjectively look past) Almost as if the author was learning to write during the process of writing this book.
The premise I adore and think it's a really strong plot for a book. In execution...well it's mixed.
There are parts of this book that are very well executed in making Victor seem incredibly deranged yet intruiging at the same time. On the other hand, its a bit of a bad sign when the main character, who goes through ridiculous amounts of brutal torture, and yet I find myself not really caring about her struggle.
As I write this I believe most of my issues come from the main character feeling blander than a plank of wood. And I get it, I assume it's for the reader to project themselves into but it doesn't really leave room for me to feel invested in her struggles.
Other than that I believe that the writing is decently well put together but I'm not a fan of the sentences that consistently stop and start.
The reason I won't rank it lower than a three is due to the fact I'm genuinely interested in reading the next book to find out what happened with Victor, something I didn't expect to be so invested in!
The premise I adore and think it's a really strong plot for a book. In execution...well it's mixed.
There are parts of this book that are very well executed in making Victor seem incredibly deranged yet intruiging at the same time. On the other hand, its a bit of a bad sign when the main character, who goes through ridiculous amounts of brutal torture, and yet I find myself not really caring about her struggle.
As I write this I believe most of my issues come from the main character feeling blander than a plank of wood. And I get it, I assume it's for the reader to project themselves into but it doesn't really leave room for me to feel invested in her struggles.
Other than that I believe that the writing is decently well put together but I'm not a fan of the sentences that consistently stop and start.
The reason I won't rank it lower than a three is due to the fact I'm genuinely interested in reading the next book to find out what happened with Victor, something I didn't expect to be so invested in!
treetx's review
5.0
Deeply emotional, sometimes twisted and disturbing, but Poppet writes with so much intensity you can't put it down. The book takes you through so many twists and turns. Keeping up with the mental cruelty that's inflicted is often difficult. Poppet's writing flows through the book like waves. Building, building, and then it all comes together. This is not my usual style to read, but I just could not put it down! Great job Poppet!
kindlefreak's review
4.0
I've read a few dark books, but this is DARK! A psychological roller coaster with many twists, this at times was horrific and disturbing, but a book that kept me captivated to the end. I'm not going to go into the ins and out of the story as don't want to spoil the ride that you will begin when starting this series, but it's certainly a book that should be on your TBR list, if this is a genre that you enjoy.
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