writewithapendragon's reviews
256 reviews

Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content

To Marry a Prince by A.C. Arthur
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.

Honestly life’s too short to read romance with banking drama.

Hooked by Emily McIntire

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was a very good example of a dark romance, and it made some use of the names and characters from the source (Peter Pan), but it deviated too much from the original for my taste.  Steamy romance and very well written, met all my expectations for the genre. While there are plenty of dark elements, the book overall uses those for atmosphere more than plot or character. I definitely applaud the author for including those dark elements without using them gratuitously.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Body horror, and Murder

Moderate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Grief, Infidelity, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Blood, Murder, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders

Their Vicious Darling by Nikki St. Crowe

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Feels like the most plot-heavy of the series, lightest on erotica but moves so fast you almost don’t notice!
Note on incest:

the twins have sex together but not with each other.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Alcohol, Blood, and Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Medical content, Death, Cursing, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

Minor: Kidnapping, Gore, Incest, and Death

Content warnings are genre-typical for dark romance.

Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian

emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I think I expected it to be more erotic than romantic, but it was a lovely romance novel for a relaxing weekend with low stakes and sweet characters.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content, Classism, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Addiction

Minor: Chronic illness, Outing, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual content, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Drug use, Kidnapping, Ableism, Medical content, and Terminal illness

A lot of the content warnings are genre-typical and/or occur off the page. Sexual content gets explicit but never lasts more than a couple pages.

The Fae Princes by Nikki St. Crowe

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Note on incest:

the twins have sex together but not with each other.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, Murder, Death of parent, Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War

The Dark One by Nikki St. Crowe

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Most content warnings are genre-typical for dark romance. Note on incest:

the twins have sex together but not with each other.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical content, Violence, War, Sexual content, Stalking, and Alcohol

Minor: Incest

The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Note on incest:

the twins have sex together but not with each other.

King Dork by Frank Portman
Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.

I can understand why this book is so critically lauded—it’s a great modern version of Catcher In the Rye. Unreliable narrator, unique and interesting perspective, authentic voice and believable characters.
Sometimes, that authenticity is just a lot, and even with ~modern sensibilities~ I don’t think the book needed any/nearly as many casual slurs. I would  recommend this book to others with recommendation to check for triggers, but it is simply not my jam right now. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Bullying, Drug use, Violence, Car accident, Sexual content, Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

Slurs used for all sorts of thing. Use of the word R*tarted used in excess.

The Future of Us by Jay Asher, Carolyn Mackler

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0