Reviews

Painted Scars by Neva Altaj

l1l1thmaes_'s review

4.0

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️.95
• Read it in a day and it literally felt like an upgraded version of Michelle Heard books
• This couple dynamic bright me so much joy, especially the “petting” bit
• The awareness level that these characters had of the stupidity that was going on is amazing and I love how they just went with it
• Nina took everything surprisingly well, which was unexpected, but a pleasant surprise
• I’m honestly a little bit upset that she left him after he killed her sexual assaulter that just is something that happens in mafia romance books, and she was just very surprised and upset about that (which is valid in a way) but then again also promised him that she wouldn’t leave him
• I don’t really like how they got together so fast, because unlike most people, I believe both of the parties should’ve apologized to each other, and just had a talk, but that didn’t really happen, which sort of took the rank for me
• The little gestures that Roman made towards Nina to make her feel so comfortable we’re just so cute and so sweet and I love that about them because they were just so natural yet it easily transitioned into the whole mafia romance scenarios
• I really liked the instance where Kostya just plopped onto the chair because he didn’t want to spook her, it just shows how much they respect and care
• The writing was beautifully done, and this author is generally aware of Russian culture, which just sort of makes the whole thing so nice
• I am a little bit disappointed with the grammar, but I cannot blame this author and if there is an editor, she needs to fire them, but she herself is not to blame for it, and, again, I do love the writing style
• I love how the woman also just stands up for the guy and it’s a two-way jealousy thing because I genuinely feel like it really puts forward the woman’s feelings and makes her more human when she is like protective and jealous and feeling real emotions and I mean genuinely feeling
• BTW, I just want to put in how I love that he described his future wife as “one of those emo kids”
• Now this is something from the next book, but I have to put this in because I realize that it was also in this book (just more subtle) because it shows that they find the fact that their husbands are so jealous and overprotective kind of strange, while it also makes them feel loved and cared for which makes them feel embarrassed as well
   I really like this because it shows the fact that while we as women feel the need to put our foot down and just put single, no nuance boundaries out there and when someone steps over them and we like it, we feel ashamed because “we aren’t supposed to feel like that”, this makes me so sad because you should feel happy and empowered to have someone who cared for you so much stand by your side, the same way you would stand by their’s (with consent)

marisbookss's review

1.0

dnf at 80% I should’ve trusted my gut and given up at 20% because what is this??

bbiebxlle's review

dark fast-paced

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

4.0

natalie_book1's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.5

This is some wattpad shit. The special scenes tho 10/10

anthea7's review

dark tense medium-paced

2.0

smokingsoothesthesoul's review

dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

3.75

it was good just very idk

karenlprieto's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.5

irene_a's review

lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

faerie_reader's review

fast-paced

4.0

gracealice22's review

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

“At that moment Nina raises her head, our gazes connect, and she smiles at me. It’s like the sun has suddenly broken through the dark clouds, hitting me with its warmth, and I find myself wishing this was real and not just an act.”