flowerysong reviewed Devil Take Me by Rhys Ford
Review of 'Devil Take Me' on 'Goodreads'
I don't think I can give this a rating, it's all over the place tonally and has two stories that I hated. (CW: rape)
[a: Jordan L. Hawk|6519692|Jordan L. Hawk|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521548404p2/6519692.jpg] - Infernal Affairs
It's nice to see enby representation, but I couldn't stand Chess. The world was interesting, but the story felt rushed and predictable. 3 stars.
[a: TA Moore|3103649|T.A. Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1538260873p2/3103649.jpg] - Collared
Very dark and pessimistic, but in a well written and engaging way. 4 stars.
[a: Ginn Hale|756861|Ginn Hale|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1293647192p2/756861.jpg] - Counterfeit Viscount
The standout of this anthology. A sordid tale of revenge and romance set in the fictional city of Crowncross, which felt very like an alternate London with a mix of Victorian and post-WWI sensibilities. 4 stars, and the last worthwhile story in this anthology.
[a: C.S. Poe|13832392|C.S. Poe|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1537378902p2/13832392.jpg] - 11:59
Inconsistently applied premise, sketchy writing, ambivalent-to-nonexistent romance. 2 stars.
[a: Rhys Ford|4968409|Rhys Ford|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1308678470p2/4968409.jpg] - Wonderland City …
I don't think I can give this a rating, it's all over the place tonally and has two stories that I hated. (CW: rape)
[a: Jordan L. Hawk|6519692|Jordan L. Hawk|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521548404p2/6519692.jpg] - Infernal Affairs
It's nice to see enby representation, but I couldn't stand Chess. The world was interesting, but the story felt rushed and predictable. 3 stars.
[a: TA Moore|3103649|T.A. Moore|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1538260873p2/3103649.jpg] - Collared
Very dark and pessimistic, but in a well written and engaging way. 4 stars.
[a: Ginn Hale|756861|Ginn Hale|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1293647192p2/756861.jpg] - Counterfeit Viscount
The standout of this anthology. A sordid tale of revenge and romance set in the fictional city of Crowncross, which felt very like an alternate London with a mix of Victorian and post-WWI sensibilities. 4 stars, and the last worthwhile story in this anthology.
[a: C.S. Poe|13832392|C.S. Poe|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1537378902p2/13832392.jpg] - 11:59
Inconsistently applied premise, sketchy writing, ambivalent-to-nonexistent romance. 2 stars.
[a: Rhys Ford|4968409|Rhys Ford|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1308678470p2/4968409.jpg] - Wonderland City
Unengaging take on a grim and gritty Wonderland. DNF.
[a: Jordan Castillo Price|268722|Jordan Castillo Price|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1325364144p2/268722.jpg] - Dark Favors
I'd like to talk about the problems I had with the worldbuilding and the ending, but that would be giving this piece of trash more consideration than it deserves. While a couple of the other stories dipped into areas of dubious consent, that's somewhat expected when you're dealing with demonic pacts. Less expected is one romantic lead raping the other at gunpoint, and I really only finished the story to see if it was ever acknowledged. It wasn't. 0 stars.