Reviews with content warning for Gun violence - Archer's Voice

Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

244 reviews

meg_'s review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

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

2.0

This was my first fiction read of the year and I truly disliked it so much, which was very disappointing. The writing itself felt really juvenile. There was a lot of telling rather than showing what was happening or how the characters were feeling. The plot itself was so disjointed and just absolutely wild that I had to suspend my disbelief significantly to continue reading, which I just don't think should be the case when it comes to a romance book.

The other piece that I found to be one of the main factors that I disliked was how infantalized Archer was throughout the series. Not only from how Bree treated him but how the entire community treated him. I don't have too many more thoughts other than that I felt like this read like a 15 year old wrote it and I really am sad I paid money to purchase it lol.

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tcgav's review against another edition

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Genuinely I’m so confused as to how this book has over 4 stars, and was probably the most recommended book to me ever!

My main issue is the author telling everything literally rather than showing. The writing is bad.

Other than that:
Weird infantilizing of the mute character even within sexually explicit scenes which feels particularly gross for me. Language at times was terribly ableist and weird, especially describing the MFC’s love for the MMC. Feels way too contrived to have

brothers fighting over a single girl in both generations

. The way what I see as non-consent (intoxicated, inexperience, character is mute) is handled is gross. How does someone own a town?? Everyone states the MMC is supposed to be so sweet and lovely but his jealousy and inability to trust the MFC when she says she will do something or feels a certain way (despite her literally never having lied to him) is gross and not in line with a sweet, lovely, MMC. His virginity also like goes beyond virginity into borderline not knowing about sex at all which just comes across again as infantilizing and gross. There are just an ungodly amount of explicit scenes with nothing of substance or interest in between.

I am the target audience for this book like everyone recommended it to me for a sweet MMC and disability representation but it’s just so poorly executed in every way in my opinion, I couldn’t even finish it.

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cameronjmiller24's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

It was a good read. Romance was good. IMO fairly safe plot twists but worth the read for the romance

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eafitzmaurice's review against another edition

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5.0

I loved this book. Bree’s love and patience with Archer is what I believe love should be. She truly embodied the aspect that love and relationships are teamwork.

I also loved that Archer stepped away to grow. He recognized that he couldn’t lean on Bree to become who he needed to be and that was beautiful.

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kelseamae's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

2.75

Did you like Twilight, New Moon? No? Then you'll also not like Archer's Voice!
About half way through you'll start to realise Archer suffers from chronic Edward Cullen Syndrome - and he's down bad.

Spoilers ahead!!

This book is about 100 pages too long and at times felt like I was trudging through mud towards a finish line I was no longer excited to reach. On other occasions, mainly Archer's POV, the writing felt purposeful and was striking that emotional chord just right. Then, we'd be back with Bree and I'd stagger through pages of her fawning over Archer's washboard abs and wish for Sheridan to focus on the narrative she started 4 pages ago.

Dialogue was clunky and awkward one moment, then poetic and stood off the page the next. I was often off-put and took a red pen to multiple pages. I get the impression it was neglected by its editors somewhere in the middle where things get mundane and swimmy.

I'm personally afflicted by a debilitating case of lesbianism. All the talk of masculine scents and that bit in the bonus epilogue about cavemen near enough made me gag. I did speak to my own mother about this and turns out it's a me issue. Unsurprising.

What this book lacks in its external world building is not made up for by Bree and Archer's relationship, in my opinion. Somewhere towards the end, Bree mentions having "best friends" in town, implying a closeness with Melanie and Liza. Besides Liza's presence serving the story zilch, as an audience we're privy to them hanging out, what, 3(?) times the entire story. Yes, I know they often came to visit the diner but I genuinely liked them and thought they could have been incorporated much more effectively. Give me a dog walk with Melanie as Bree confides in her about kissing Travis or teaches her a phrase in sign language or something. Anything. They just sort of... existed.

Same with Natalie and Jordan. This is when my frustration with Sheridan's writing was reaching its peak. Why on Earth introduce us to Natalie, Avery and Jordan in Bree's first chapter and then proceed to feed us one liners about Natalie until they meet up for Bree to head back to Ohio. I was perplexed. I liked Natalie. Her "Hey babes" were keeping me going for the short while she was in Pelion. I can't help but think Sheridan forgot about them until she rememebered Bree is victim to an unsolved robbery gone awry and realised that storyline needed a resolution.

Archer Hale disappearing for 3 months to find himself was necessary and I enjoyed it as a twist. Him getting shot by Bree's ab*ser however... no. Hasn't the poor man been through enough? It felt like a means to an end and, yes, I'm angry about it. And right after Anne almost pops her cloggs? I don't have the words to explain the frustration I felt.

Would I recommend it? Potentially, to someone who loves YA romance with an interest in more mature themes. I'll never pick this book up again except to prove to my book group that the creases in the spine are from actually reading the book and not throwing it at a wall repeatedly.

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keycha88cruz's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is beautiful. It shows the effects of tragedy to a better in different levels not just physical but emotionally. It makes you think about what’s underneath someone’s silence and people’s triggers. I could not put it down the whole time I read it. Highly recommend it.

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destinynichole11's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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racquelmae's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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celery09's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

This book is insanely boring, basic, with characters that I did not connect too and plot lines that either are cut way too short after so much build up, or are completely shoved under the rug. Bree is written like Sheridan wants us to see how selfless she is and how much she just wants Archer to have a good life, and while that may be true, she comes off as selfish in my eyes.

Archer leaves to improve himself and there is no point in her inner monologue does she come to an understanding of why he rightfully left to go make a life for himself. She only whines about he’s gone, even though she saw the signs and CHOSE to ignore them.

Archer is also written to be like the peak of masculinity. “Fierce male instinct” and “supremely male” are words that are used to describe him that make me cringe. I like that she tried to blend sensitivity and masculinity together, as it should be, but why choose those lines specifically?

The weaving plot lines were built up so much, but when it came to the end of these honestly boring conflicts, they were very anti-climactic or solved way too quickly or at the wrong time. They also taught Bree nothing.

Victoria Hale’s “evil” plot was just Sheridan complaining how mauve of a bitch she was, no humanity shown clearly. The murderer/rapist thing was scattered throughout, and Bree did not grow from her trauma or grief, it was just used to give Bree a sad backstory so that Sheridan could relate her to Archer. Archer’s conflict was interesting, but the miscommunication troupes gave me whiplash.

I just wouldn’t waste your time.

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liferhi_inspired's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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