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A review by vrstal
Be Mine, Vicious Valentine by April Jade
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
3/5.
<b>Content Warnings for book:</b> Murder, parental abuse, stalking, violence and gore
<b>Kink:</b> Daddy kink
The writing, especially in Sebastian’s point of view, is very dramatic and overwrought. I believe it definitely fit his perspective and his teenage angst, but it sometimes made the environment feel too surreal and obscured by the flowery descriptions that I couldn’t get a concrete sense of what was happening. It’s a bit easier to understand in Roman’s point of view, but kudos to the author to clearly defining their voices.
I really wanted to like this book more but I think the author went a little too heavy with the metaphors and poetic writing. I’ve read and loved <i>Mad Love</i> and while it’s amazingly OTT and fun, this didn’t have as much of that. I believe when it’s said these characters are devoted to each other but I just wish there was a little more to it? Maybe it was just the length and not getting so much time to feel the ins and outs of the relationship as much as I’d like. Don’t get me wrong, the entirety of this book is about them.
I just don’t know how to put my finger on what didn’t work for me exactly, but I certainly enjoyed the concept and tropes behind it. I’ll definitely be reading more from April Jade, because she writes my favorite sorts of stuff and has a ton of potential to continually improve.
I think the epilogue was honestly kind of cute. Realistic? No, but I loved how hopeful and healing it was.
<b>Content Warnings for book:</b> Murder, parental abuse, stalking, violence and gore
<b>Kink:</b> Daddy kink
The writing, especially in Sebastian’s point of view, is very dramatic and overwrought. I believe it definitely fit his perspective and his teenage angst, but it sometimes made the environment feel too surreal and obscured by the flowery descriptions that I couldn’t get a concrete sense of what was happening. It’s a bit easier to understand in Roman’s point of view, but kudos to the author to clearly defining their voices.
I really wanted to like this book more but I think the author went a little too heavy with the metaphors and poetic writing. I’ve read and loved <i>Mad Love</i> and while it’s amazingly OTT and fun, this didn’t have as much of that. I believe when it’s said these characters are devoted to each other but I just wish there was a little more to it? Maybe it was just the length and not getting so much time to feel the ins and outs of the relationship as much as I’d like. Don’t get me wrong, the entirety of this book is about them.
I just don’t know how to put my finger on what didn’t work for me exactly, but I certainly enjoyed the concept and tropes behind it. I’ll definitely be reading more from April Jade, because she writes my favorite sorts of stuff and has a ton of potential to continually improve.
I think the epilogue was honestly kind of cute. Realistic? No, but I loved how hopeful and healing it was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Stalking
Counselor/client relationship in a school setting