Take a photo of a barcode or cover
kxmjxxnx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Credence is another Dark Romance novel by Penelope Douglas and once again, she managed to make me fall in love with the characters, the peak and the cabin, the atmosphere and the storyline.
She created a very calm and relaxing mood throughout the book, probably due to the snow and the winter vibes. The characters were complex, lovable and realistic with their own individual flaws, character traits and passions, which resulted in me instantly liking all of the Van der Bergs, Mirai and of course Tiernan.
The plot offered unexpected turns, thus creating suspense in just the right amount and the right moments within the story, so that it didn’t feel forced or rushed, but rather very natural for all of it to unfold the way it did.
Chapel Peak is a place I would love to stay at, if only it was real. It felt like a dreamy place, with small town vibes, as if it could be anywhere (given there are snowy mountains of course).
All in all, I have to admit that in the beginning it took me a while to get into the story, just because it wasn’t clear which of the guys was the main love interest for our Tiernan, which confused me quite a bit until the plot started to develop into a bit more.
Would definitely recommend this, especially to everyone who loves complicated characters with a lot of personality. And of course to everyone who loves dark romance.
“pain always reminds us that we’re alive. And the fear along with it that we want to stay that way.
“Credence. It means ‘belief as to the truth of something.’ ”
“ ‘It was time’, he said.”
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
velmad's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Fantastic book, while as taboo as they come. The underlying theme of grief and abandonment was compelling and emotional.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
aussierach2002's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
allisonbraun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Incest, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
nstinch54's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Drug abuse and Pregnancy
jls6283's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
I didn’t hate it, but I kind of hate that I didn’t hate it. 😂
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
jesscheung's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Abandonment
Moderate: Pregnancy
just_kt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
However, the story itself is incredibly polarizing. The book is mainly a series of time jumps and sex scenes, with very little actual plot development, plot devices come out of the blue and almost feel they were added as an afterthought. While Tiernan’s journey of self-discovery is central to the story, her character arc often takes a backseat to the shock factor of the relationships. The emotional depth and growth I was hoping for felt overshadowed by the novel’s focus on taboo elements rather than meaningful storytelling.
While I appreciate the bold themes and exploration of trauma and loneliness, the pacing felt rushed, and the ending left much to be desired. If you’re looking for a structured plot with strong character development, this may not be the best fit. However, if you enjoy dark, boundary-pushing romances and don’t mind a story that leans heavily on steamy scenes, Credence might still be worth a read.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Misogyny, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
baleighbugg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Drug abuse, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
georgialouise1997's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I honestly think I read things which I’ll need to talk to a therapist about. Traumatised…
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Don’t do it to yourself