Elita ₊✩ˎˊ˗'s Reviews > Violet Grenade

Content warning: bullying, ableism (r-word is used), abandonment, sexual assault, drug use, fat shaming, slut shaming, child abuse, murder (happened in past), alcohol addiction, torture, kidnapping, arson, gun violence, mentions death of a loved one

Dislikes:

🁺 The pacing. This was SO slow. If the pacing were any slower, it’d be going backward. This was my only issue with this book, but because it made me not want to read (unheard of), it gets docked two stars for this alone womp womp

🁺 Skinny shaming on the very first page.

“I have a little meat on my bones like a real woman.”

Things like this piss me off. I don’t like the implication that skinny women are somehow less valid in their femininity because they don’t have big boobs or a butt. This perpetuates harmful stereotypes about women’s bodies and reinforces the idea that their worth is tied to physical appearance. Are skinny women not “real women”? Do they need to pack on some pounds to earn their stripes? This quote suggests that unless you resemble a curvy goddess straight out of an art history textbook, you’re somehow lacking in authenticity. Kindly, you can F right off with this idea. Women come in all shapes and sizes. And guess what? They’re all real! 🤯 Thank you for coming to my TED Talk *takes a bow*

Likes:

🁺 Cain. He’s your typical quiet, tortured love interest who turns out to be playful once you get to know him. I will fall for this type of character every time.

🁺 Domino. My caring and guarded girly pop who would risk everything for those she loves.

🁺 Cain and Domino as a couple. It’s cliche, but I love when two tortured, lonely souls find each other and provide each other with security & comfort. It was heartwarming to watch them be playful and sweet with each other after all the trauma they had faced. I also love how protective he was of her and how they don’t judge each other for their rocky pasts. It was such a healthy relationship. The wholesome romance was a nice balance from the dark plot.

It takes every ounce of courage I have to—gently, slowly—take his heavy arm and wrap it around my body like a blanket made of steel. Several minutes pass before he moves a touch closer.

When I wake in the morning, Cain is watching me. He realizes I’ve caught him in the act and slams his lids closed.
“Creeper.”
He grins with one corner of his mouth but keeps his eyes closed.

Cain bounds on top of me, pins my wrist above my head. “Do you have any final words before I inflict punishment?”
“It wasn’t me.”
Cain laughs. “I believe it was.”
My head cranes backward as Cain tickles me, running his fingers up my sides.

“I will stay with you. As long as you want me.”
“Forever.

🁺 Poppet. The sweetest, most outgoing gal. My favorite side character for sure.

🁺 The eerie sense you get while reading. The author did a great job of building up suspense. There are so many suspicious things happening and it’s fun waiting for the shoe to drop. It had me on the edge of my seat.

🁺 The last third of the book was so good!! It was action-packed, romantic and lots of secrets were being revealed.