You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

Painted Scars by Neva Altaj

11 reviews


Even if the story wasn't super deep and it was 100% insta-love, I still had a pretty good time. The steamy kisses to spice were good too.

Blackmail to love to messy mafia stuff to possessive man who does unhinged things (see 'messy mafia stuff') to broken hearts to forgiveness because love... You can't think too hard about the story or you'll get distracted by how little it actually makes sense or how little of it feels believable. Honestly, the part that felt most jarring was the total 180 that Nina's mom did. Also how much of a deal breaker her mom a d Roman thought him being disabled was/would be - internalized ableism much? Both those character points threw me off a bit, but the rest I was able to pretty easily roll with.

I listened to this book because it was free. Not hooked enough to pay for the others, but if the second or third book come up as free to listen to in the future, I might give them a listen. Sergei sounds so unhinged I am kinda curious about his love story.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional funny medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional funny mysterious sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Loveable characters: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional funny medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A quick novella. Not really enemies to lovers, more like strangers to lovers or forced marriage. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark emotional fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Interesting story with a character dealing with disabilities and it had an interesting  way to deal with ptsd in new relationships. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

The speed of the main couple’s development didn’t read as realistic to me. While there are a number of time jumps, I wish the author had taken a little longer to show how and why these two actually like each other. 

As for the premise… we never actually learn if the fake marriage accomplishes the goal that Roman wanted it to. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
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

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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings