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A review by _ckarys
Shattered Vow by Eva Chase
4.5
SHATTERED VOW is my first book by Eva Chase, but it definitely won’t be the last! If you’re a fan of X-Men but also can’t get enough of romance, I highly recommend this book, and also find it perfect for both veterans and newbies to reverse harem thanks to its slow-burn/forced proximity dynamic.
A strong heroine and a group of men devoted to her are elements I expect to find in this subgenre, but I loved that the heroine was not the only link uniting the men. A lifetime of friendship—and their belief that the heroine, Riva, has betrayed them—added so much more depth to the whole dynamic. Their loyalty toward one another was one of my favorite aspects of the story, and I’ve found this is a key element for my full enjoyment of reverse harems in general. I really appreciated the pacing of the romance as it didn’t feel rushed at all. The author took her time characterizing each character and fleshing out the different relationship dynamics to the point where I feel a deep love for each of them. Of course I have a favorite—it’s Andreas and I won’t be accepting any objections at this time—but I definitely see myself shipping everything and everyone as soon as we get to see more of these micro-relationships at play.
Although the romance was definitely the highlight of the story, I did appreciate that it wasn’t the only focus. The group is involved in a sort of investigation/get-away mission to understand the origins of their strange gifts and the reason why they’ve been locked up and experimented on their entire lives, and I was invested! There is still so much to unpack, and I’m so excited to find out more in the next installments—and to watch Jacob on his knees begging for redemption. If you know, you know.
A strong heroine and a group of men devoted to her are elements I expect to find in this subgenre, but I loved that the heroine was not the only link uniting the men. A lifetime of friendship—and their belief that the heroine, Riva, has betrayed them—added so much more depth to the whole dynamic. Their loyalty toward one another was one of my favorite aspects of the story, and I’ve found this is a key element for my full enjoyment of reverse harems in general. I really appreciated the pacing of the romance as it didn’t feel rushed at all. The author took her time characterizing each character and fleshing out the different relationship dynamics to the point where I feel a deep love for each of them. Of course I have a favorite—it’s Andreas and I won’t be accepting any objections at this time—but I definitely see myself shipping everything and everyone as soon as we get to see more of these micro-relationships at play.
Although the romance was definitely the highlight of the story, I did appreciate that it wasn’t the only focus. The group is involved in a sort of investigation/get-away mission to understand the origins of their strange gifts and the reason why they’ve been locked up and experimented on their entire lives, and I was invested! There is still so much to unpack, and I’m so excited to find out more in the next installments—and to watch Jacob on his knees begging for redemption. If you know, you know.