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Bad Habits
by Onley James, Neve Wilder
Book safety, tropes and tags down below.
3.5 stars
«Dealing. Stealing. Prostitution. The unholy trinity of the forgotten.»
I liked both main characters a fair amount, but Caspian was quite lovable. I have a bone to pick with Jonah, but I can’t really discuss it without spoiling a whole bunch. Let’s just say I don’t appreciate characters weaponizing another persons feelings. Is that even a thing? A saying? It makes sense in my head, lol. He redeemed himself well enough I guess. He’s not a bad person (you know, except for all the killing and shit). Here’s a spoilery quote for those of you who want an idea of what that’s all about:
«Jonah murmured in a low seductive voice Cas had never heard before. A teasing, smug tone that made Cas furious and horny at the same time. It cemented Cas’s greatest fear. That Jonah had always known how much Cas wanted him, had loved him, and it meant so little that Jonah was willing to use it as a weapon against him.»
«Cas had spent the last five years trying to become a monster, too, trying to teach himself not to care. Some part of Cas thought maybe if he could become a monster like Jonah, maybe Jonah could love him then.»
There was enough action to hold my interest all the way through (which is a damn feat these days, let me tell you), and the spice was good. I really missed a proper conversation between the guys where they talk about what happened five years ago when Cas left. It’s very much glossed over, and I felt kind of robbed of any type of closure. Just a paragraph or two of clear communication would have made this so much better for me. I also wish we got a little more hacking action - considering Caspian is supposed to be the best at it - and a little more background on why Caspian ran away from home in the first place.
I really really disliked the side character Madigan (even though it got the tiniest bit better by the end), so I’m a little scared of reading the second book where he’s one of the MCs.
Overall, it’s Onley James (I don’t really know Neve Wilder’s work), so you know it’ll be entertaining and good. There was a couple of scenes I would’ve preferred not reading, but I’ll mention those in the spoilers down below ⬇️
Book safety
Cheating: No
OM drama: Yes, with Madigan, but in the past (before Cas left). There is also an on-page situation where Jonah receives a bj, which Caspian witnesses.
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Strict top/bottom or vers: Strict
TW/CW
Prostitution, forced prostitution, violence, killing, blood, stapling wounds, mentions of human trafficking, recreational drug use, explicit sexual content, gsw, on-page sex with someone other than the MC (before they get together), injury
Tropes & tags
Guardian-to-stranger-to-lover, age gap, unrequited young love, tattoos, hacker, assassin-for-hire, former sex worker, injured MC
3.5 stars
«Dealing. Stealing. Prostitution. The unholy trinity of the forgotten.»
I liked both main characters a fair amount, but Caspian was quite lovable. I have a bone to pick with Jonah, but I can’t really discuss it without spoiling a whole bunch. Let’s just say I don’t appreciate characters weaponizing another persons feelings. Is that even a thing? A saying? It makes sense in my head, lol. He redeemed himself well enough I guess. He’s not a bad person (you know, except for all the killing and shit). Here’s a spoilery quote for those of you who want an idea of what that’s all about:
Spoiler
«Jonah murmured in a low seductive voice Cas had never heard before. A teasing, smug tone that made Cas furious and horny at the same time. It cemented Cas’s greatest fear. That Jonah had always known how much Cas wanted him, had loved him, and it meant so little that Jonah was willing to use it as a weapon against him.»
«Cas had spent the last five years trying to become a monster, too, trying to teach himself not to care. Some part of Cas thought maybe if he could become a monster like Jonah, maybe Jonah could love him then.»
There was enough action to hold my interest all the way through (which is a damn feat these days, let me tell you), and the spice was good. I really missed a proper conversation between the guys where they talk about what happened five years ago when Cas left. It’s very much glossed over, and I felt kind of robbed of any type of closure. Just a paragraph or two of clear communication would have made this so much better for me. I also wish we got a little more hacking action - considering Caspian is supposed to be the best at it - and a little more background on why Caspian ran away from home in the first place.
I really really disliked the side character Madigan (even though it got the tiniest bit better by the end), so I’m a little scared of reading the second book where he’s one of the MCs.
Overall, it’s Onley James (I don’t really know Neve Wilder’s work), so you know it’ll be entertaining and good. There was a couple of scenes I would’ve preferred not reading, but I’ll mention those in the spoilers down below ⬇️
Book safety
Spoiler
Cheating: No
OM drama: Yes, with Madigan, but in the past (before Cas left). There is also an on-page situation where Jonah receives a bj, which Caspian witnesses.
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Strict top/bottom or vers: Strict
TW/CW
Spoiler
Prostitution, forced prostitution, violence, killing, blood, stapling wounds, mentions of human trafficking, recreational drug use, explicit sexual content, gsw, on-page sex with someone other than the MC (before they get together), injury
Tropes & tags
Spoiler
Guardian-to-stranger-to-lover, age gap, unrequited young love, tattoos, hacker, assassin-for-hire, former sex worker, injured MC