Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Painted Scars by Neva Altaj

1 review

keiwald's review

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.25

The writing style is lackluster. 
No imagery, so descriptive narrative. Not spicy. 1/5 spice. 

While duel first person perspective, you don't get any emotional insight into the character unless they say "I'm angry" or "im sad". It's all tell, no show. 

I read this because TikTok mentioned
the man orders his men to sit when she walks into the room to midigate her PTSD response to tall men
. That scene is not in the book. The girl tell him she noticed he did that, but as the reader, we were never shown that. Had we seen it, it would have gone a long way into showing his protective and caring nature, but saying it doesn't have the same impact, especially with no other conversation about it.

That's one example, but the whole book is written that way. I am to believe she is a phenomenal artist, but the author describes her work in colors and items. 
A man with megaphone head. Mostly grayscale. 
That tells me nothing! What is the flow? Use words with different connotations! Does the shadows cast across the subjects face, obscuring the lift of his smile? Does the run radiate through the air and toss dancing sparkles through the ocean waves?

The author did not paint a single scene in that book. 

That's before the red flags in the relationships and the
divorcing because of legitimate trauma responses to the mafia life, then getting remarried because she loves him and can over come it

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