amandaventure 's review for:

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout
2.0

So I read this because it was a prequel to the Dark Elements series by Jennifer Armentrout. I've been meaning to read the series for quite some time but just never got around to it. So I figured I should just start at the definite beginning to get a feel for the series. I have to admit, I really hope the rest of the series isn't like this heaping load of sexism. Am I alone here? I see so many reviews here just "swooning" over the romance. The romance was fine... but what about literally everything else?

Jasmine is the "heroine" here. I'm using the term "heroine" loosely because she, frankly, sucked. She starts off wanting independence from a society that basically considers females as brood mares. Women are supposed to stay home and raise babies while the men folk go out and save the day. This doesn't take place in the past where that kind of thinking was common. IT TAKES PLACE IN MODERN TIMES! What. In. The. Actual. Fuck? But ok... Jasmine is different right? She wants to be a warrior and independent! She's someone I can root for, right? NO. In the end she basically just gives up all her aspirations for a man because she loves him. What. In. The. Actual. Fuck? Seriously. she just accepts Dez's claim to be her mate and says she's had enough experiences in the outside world. UGH... barf forever! I will still try out the Dark Elements series just to see if it gets any better. Layla can't suck more than Jasmine right?

However, besides the crippling sexism, the romance was actually pretty sweet. Here's one line from Dez that was actually pretty wonderfully romancy:

"I loved you the night you brought me pudding and stayed with me until I fell asleep. That was eleven years ago and my love for you has never faded, Jas. Not for one second."