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theartsybookwitch's reviews
332 reviews
The Contractor by K.J. Salvatore, Jeanette Rose
tw // breath play, gun play, forced body-modification, dubcon, slave play, kidnapping, blood play, porn no plot
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
“I want to be your first art.”
When Bridget becomes a witness to a murder in the coffee shop she frequents, she gets kidnapped by the hot guy from the counter and gets more than what she asks for. Offering anything for her freedom, what she gets instead is something neither one of them were in for. Near instant turn to pure smut. If they didn't reference it frequently, I would've forgotten she was kidnapped in the first place. I feel like stockholm was definitely in play, but felt more than that, considering how well they cared for each other; how Marco doted on her, cared for her, from the very beginning.
I do wish we got more of a backstory, more details. I wish we got to see a bit of Bridget's life before that day. Even just to see Marco's pov during any part of the story.
If you want a short novella including stockholm and kidnapping, this is the story for you.
When Bridget becomes a witness to a murder in the coffee shop she frequents, she gets kidnapped by the hot guy from the counter and gets more than what she asks for. Offering anything for her freedom, what she gets instead is something neither one of them were in for. Near instant turn to pure smut. If they didn't reference it frequently, I would've forgotten she was kidnapped in the first place. I feel like stockholm was definitely in play, but felt more than that, considering how well they cared for each other; how Marco doted on her, cared for her, from the very beginning.
I do wish we got more of a backstory, more details. I wish we got to see a bit of Bridget's life before that day. Even just to see Marco's pov during any part of the story.
If you want a short novella including stockholm and kidnapping, this is the story for you.
“Wicked girl.”
‘There was something so empowering, having this man-this brutal killer-under my control.”
“I’ll always come for you.”
tw // breath play, gun play, forced body-modification, dubcon, slave play, kidnapping, blood play, porn no plot
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Death
Catch Me When I Fall by Brittany Ann
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Everything about this man was dark, and if I had to guess, his soul was black."
The newest in Brittany Ann's universe Catch Me When I Fall, shows us the story of Grayson and Carrie.
Carrie Hale, a true badass who has to fight for her freedom, is such a powerful character. Seeing her confidence grow in herself after battling everything with those she had trusted gets me all emotional. Escaping a reality that she had to face, and still keeping up her optimism and spirits is something that not a lot of people could do, and I am in awe of how well Carrie is able to.
Now Joseph Grayson. The bounty hunter who gets obsessed with his latest mark. He'll do anything to protect her, even if it's not what the others want. And when he goes through hell and leaves her for months, he always find his way back to her, saving her in the process. You can feel how hurt he is when he hears the heartbreaking news, and you can't help but love him that much more.
Brittany does such a good job at not just creating this world of hers, but making all the characters feel real and relatable.
While CMWIF is a stand alone duology, all of Brittany's books are set in the same universe and characters do cross. However, it's not needed to read them prior to CMWIF.
”To the women who've been told their worth is determined by the number on the scale. Fuck the scale and fuck anyone who has ever told you that. You're beautiful. Every single inch of you.”
🖤 Morally Gray MMC
🩷 Plus Size FMC
🖤 Bounty Hunter x Runaway Widow
🩷 Instalove
🖤 Touch Her and Die
🩷 Found family
🖤 He falls first
🩷 Small Town
tw // sexual assualt, graphic sexual content, mental, physical and emotional abuse, PTSD, anxiety, depression, body shaming, human trafficking, attempted suicide, torture, murder
The newest in Brittany Ann's universe Catch Me When I Fall, shows us the story of Grayson and Carrie.
Carrie Hale, a true badass who has to fight for her freedom, is such a powerful character. Seeing her confidence grow in herself after battling everything with those she had trusted gets me all emotional. Escaping a reality that she had to face, and still keeping up her optimism and spirits is something that not a lot of people could do, and I am in awe of how well Carrie is able to.
Now Joseph Grayson. The bounty hunter who gets obsessed with his latest mark. He'll do anything to protect her, even if it's not what the others want. And when he goes through hell and leaves her for months, he always find his way back to her, saving her in the process. You can feel how hurt he is when he hears the heartbreaking news, and you can't help but love him that much more.
Brittany does such a good job at not just creating this world of hers, but making all the characters feel real and relatable.
While CMWIF is a stand alone duology, all of Brittany's books are set in the same universe and characters do cross. However, it's not needed to read them prior to CMWIF.
”To the women who've been told their worth is determined by the number on the scale. Fuck the scale and fuck anyone who has ever told you that. You're beautiful. Every single inch of you.”
🖤 Morally Gray MMC
🩷 Plus Size FMC
🖤 Bounty Hunter x Runaway Widow
🩷 Instalove
🖤 Touch Her and Die
🩷 Found family
🖤 He falls first
🩷 Small Town
tw // sexual assualt, graphic sexual content, mental, physical and emotional abuse, PTSD, anxiety, depression, body shaming, human trafficking, attempted suicide, torture, murder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Suicide attempt
Gingerbread by Kell Frillman
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
3.0
Kell Frillman's newest novella Gingerbread brings a dark and sickeningly sweet retelling to Hansel and Gretel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Cruel Lies by Heleva Risque
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"I was drunk on her and never wanted to sober up again."
Cruel Lies, the first in Heleva's newest series, Killers of Port Wylde, is a dark romance tale you don't want to miss.
Seven years after a brush with death, Harper comes back face-to-face with her stepbrothers, Angel, Nash, and Rowan. AKA the Skeleton Crew.
Harper, already a badass, down on her luck, get thrown a curveball, and comes out the other side strong as hell. She's so powerful in her own right, and is even a mechanic? GIRLBOSS.
And the boys? All three boys are dealing with trauma in their own ways, and seeing how well they protect each other? I love them all so much.
It's refreshing at how Heleva deals with mental health and trauma, and how it's represented throughout Harper and the boys.
Highly recommended for any dark romance reader, but please head the TWs before delving into Cruel Lies and the prequel, Cruel Vows.
tropes // MMMF, stepbrothers (plural), mental health rep, assassins
tw //sexual content, death, blood, torture, panic attacks, cutting,
Cruel Lies, the first in Heleva's newest series, Killers of Port Wylde, is a dark romance tale you don't want to miss.
Seven years after a brush with death, Harper comes back face-to-face with her stepbrothers, Angel, Nash, and Rowan. AKA the Skeleton Crew.
Harper, already a badass, down on her luck, get thrown a curveball, and comes out the other side strong as hell. She's so powerful in her own right, and is even a mechanic? GIRLBOSS.
And the boys? All three boys are dealing with trauma in their own ways, and seeing how well they protect each other? I love them all so much.
It's refreshing at how Heleva deals with mental health and trauma, and how it's represented throughout Harper and the boys.
Highly recommended for any dark romance reader, but please head the TWs before delving into Cruel Lies and the prequel, Cruel Vows.
tropes // MMMF, stepbrothers (plural), mental health rep, assassins
tw //
Dead of Summer by A.J. Merlin
Dead of Summer has everything you could want; enemies to lovers, dark romance, summer camp, teen slasher, serial killer, and more. This definitely makes it into my top reads for the year.
Please note of the TWs before heading into this, and enjoy your stay at Camp Crestview.
tropes // enemies to lovers, dark romance, takes care of her, touch her and die, summer camp, possessive hero, smut, LGBT+ rep, final girl rep
tw // blood, death, gore, alcohol,
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
" 'Summer, you're going to be the death of me here.' "
A.J. Merlin's newest summer camp slasher is HERE with Dead of Summer.
Summer, a camp counselor at Camp Crestview for three years, can deal with rowdy kids. But when faced with a serial killer? Making a deal with the devil, the week Summer had planned takes a dark turn when his demands start escalating.
Kayde and Summer's story was absolutely AMAZING, and the way he took care of her FROM THE BEGINNING, despite knowing that she was still scared of him? *chefs kiss*
A.J. Merlin's newest summer camp slasher is HERE with Dead of Summer.
Summer, a camp counselor at Camp Crestview for three years, can deal with rowdy kids. But when faced with a serial killer? Making a deal with the devil, the week Summer had planned takes a dark turn when his demands start escalating.
Kayde and Summer's story was absolutely AMAZING, and the way he took care of her FROM THE BEGINNING, despite knowing that she was still scared of him? *chefs kiss*
“All mine, for the rest of your life. I don’t really believe in an afterlife, by the way. But if there is one, you’re mine there as well.”
“What if we go to separate places in the afterlife?” I ask, scoffing a low laugh “Last I checked, heaven isn’t for murderers.”
“Then I’ll just have to drag you down to hell with me.”
Dead of Summer has everything you could want; enemies to lovers, dark romance, summer camp, teen slasher, serial killer, and more. This definitely makes it into my top reads for the year.
Please note of the TWs before heading into this, and enjoy your stay at Camp Crestview.
tropes // enemies to lovers, dark romance, takes care of her, touch her and die, summer camp, possessive hero, smut, LGBT+ rep, final girl rep
tw // blood, death, gore, alcohol,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Freaky Folklore: Terrifying Tales of the World's Most Elusive Monsters and Enigmatic Cryptids by Darkness Prevails
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Freaky Folklore, a book for the cryptozoologist lovers, filled with artwork and fantastical stories, shares the stories and facts of the cryptids around the world.
There was a lot of variety in the cryptids they shared, ranging from America's Wendigo to Europe's El Cucuy to werewolves. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the mini stories accompanied with each creature, and learning about the many cryptids I never even knew about. While they did stick to mostly the Americas, it was entertaining to venture across the world.
I would've loved to more of the facts surrounding each creature, and/or even longer stories. Their narrative and stories helps readers delve into the world, and the artwork is incredible.
Thank you to NetGalley, Darkness Prevails, and Carman Carrion for this eARC.
There was a lot of variety in the cryptids they shared, ranging from America's Wendigo to Europe's El Cucuy to werewolves. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the mini stories accompanied with each creature, and learning about the many cryptids I never even knew about. While they did stick to mostly the Americas, it was entertaining to venture across the world.
I would've loved to more of the facts surrounding each creature, and/or even longer stories. Their narrative and stories helps readers delve into the world, and the artwork is incredible.
Thank you to NetGalley, Darkness Prevails, and Carman Carrion for this eARC.
The Maiden and The Unseen by Jeanette Rose, Alexis Rune
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There is something so poetic about the God of the Underworld being nervous about the Goddess of Spring, don't you think?"
Hades. The God of the Underworld.
Persephone. The Goddess of Spring.
The first in Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune's new <i>Fate and Love</i> series.
I absolutely LOVE Hades and Persephone and this is no exception. The way Rose and Rune combine their romance with a modern spin and still be a tragedy is amazing. I fell in love with not just their writing styles, but the characters, the direction, EVERYTHING.
I would've loved to see more of the other Gods and Goddesses, and especially more of the brothers.
I cannot wait to see where their relationship and their future goes.
Hades. The God of the Underworld.
Persephone. The Goddess of Spring.
The first in Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune's new <i>Fate and Love</i> series.
I absolutely LOVE Hades and Persephone and this is no exception. The way Rose and Rune combine their romance with a modern spin and still be a tragedy is amazing. I fell in love with not just their writing styles, but the characters, the direction, EVERYTHING.
I would've loved to see more of the other Gods and Goddesses, and especially more of the brothers.
I cannot wait to see where their relationship and their future goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Stalking