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itmakessenseincontext's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As in the most well written.
I loved how it was structured, and how JLA explored mental health, trauma, recovery, and worthiness through Casteel, and I felt myself relating to him a lot in this book, and I was in tears a few times because certain passages felt like a callout. In a good way, because it made me think about how I treat myself, and why certain passages were triggering for me.
If you are just here for more or Poppy and Cas and finding out what happens next you won't enjoy it, and I think that's why people dislike it. But if you approach it as a look into Casteel's mind, vulnerability, trauma, and healing its a wonderfully well written book, and an enjoyable read.
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Body horror, Confinement, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Addiction
I really want to emphasise the Mental Illness, Self Harm, and Suicide trigger warnings. I dont know if I was just really vulnerable while reading, but these topics hit me very hard, and I'm normally able to deal with them very well. They are addressed with care and sensitivity, but if you have gone through this they will be extremely relatable, at least they were for meabicaro17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Gore, Death, Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Medical content, Bullying, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Religious bigotry, Violence, Classism, Stalking, Child abuse, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Child death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
potalian's review
3.75
Graphic: Self harm, Grief, Kidnapping, War, Murder, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Body horror, and Torture
marinamierel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
we needed this. We definitely needed this. Cas ✨ his POV omg✨
I loved going back to the first time they met… loved to read about all the new characters again for the first time and learning so much about Cas and his thoughts and trauma and story❤️🩹
it is a 4.75⭐️ read for me because this spinoff was way too good for me but I still love them and I still want to read about them and of course this is still my favorite series of all time💛
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Torture, and Violence
ka_ke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Gore, Sexual content, Classism, Gaslighting, Blood, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, and Cursing
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
stardust_heidi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I did find a lot of the repeated scenes quite tedious, even if they were from Casteel's POV. We already know most of those scenes intimately, and while yes, they were all from Poppy's perspective before, I don't know that ALL of them needed to be from Cas's POV. I did enjoy a few of the big ones, like the craven attack/night on the rise and then after Poppy stabs him in New Haven. Those were great.
The moments I enjoyed the most were the new scenes, especially those with Kieran. I loved experiencing their bond from Casteel's perspective and how Kieran just kind of *knew* things were different about Poppy from the beginning. It also opened up a whole avenue of questions I'd silently pondered to myself before and blew them out in the open -- especially during the explicit scenes with Cas and Kieran. Hot damn.
But that last chapter. Holy. Fuck. I think Emil said it best: "What in the fuckity fuck?" Lmao.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Violence, Death, Grief, Blood, Gore, Murder, Sexual content, Torture, Child death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Self harm and Sexual assault
crinkledmochi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The ending tho?!??
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, and Grief
midnacine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Torture, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Kidnapping, Self harm, Grief, Sexual assault, and Body horror
Minor: Rape, Death of parent, and Stalking
zia_c's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
However, I must admit, my feelings about this book are a bit complicated. There were elements that I liked, but at the same time, there were reasons that left me dissatisfied throughout the story.
Firstly, I found the writing style juvenile, and I couldn't help but wonder why the series wasn't receiving more attentive editing. It was a bit disappointing in that regard.
Another aspect that bothered me was Cas's constant use of the word "GODS" in practically every other sentence. 🙄 It began to wear on me after a while, and I wished for a bit more variety in his expressions.
As for the unconventional relationship dynamics, I surprisingly accepted the peculiar threesome from the previous book, but this installment seemed to push it further, and I found myself questioning the direction the author took. Weren't Cas and Kieran depicted as close as brothers in previous books? Why were we now being served with intimate imaginings between the male leads?
Additionally, the constant sharing on both physical and emotional levels clashed with the portrayal of "Heartmate bonds" as unique and exquisite. It felt contradictory and almost like a diversion from the main plot.
I'm not particularly excited about the upcoming novella from Ms. Willa's erotic perspective, as I feel it might divert further from the main storyline. I would have preferred to delve into the main book first, but it seems that will have to wait.
In conclusion, if the author doesn't rein in some of the rampant storylines, I might just take matters into my own hands and pen my version of these captivating characters.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Body horror, Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Outing, and Sexual content