Take a photo of a barcode or cover
haley_j_casey 's review for:
Shattered Promises
by Jessica Sorensen
Sooooooo. I skimmed the last 40% of this book because wow. A long time ago I read the YA version of this story, so when I scooped up a version with older, reimagined, potentially sexy characters, I expected good things. Not great things, but entertaining ones. And let me say for the record that I don't love giving bad reviews, because I know authors work hard. But I also have so many problems with this book that I have to share. It was too complicated, tried to introduced too many fantasy elements that didn't seem to fit together at all, and I disliked both of the main characters: Gemma and Alex.
So, let's start with the complications. Gemma has inside of her the power of a fallen star. She's been being kept hidden because no one knows what to do with the power, and she's finally finding out the truth. Fine. Great, even. Not so great? The thing about her emotions getting turned back on for no apparent reason out of the blue. The part where other dimensions seem to exist, and magic and witches are real, and there are vampires and Immortals and Death Walkers (ice zombies?) and werewolves and faeries and the Underworld and castles and Forseers and tattoos that magically appear, as well as a sword that supposedly kills immortal things but which no one ever uses. This is way too much stuff to be a coherent book!
The only worthwhile thing about vampires being in this book (for no reason) was that it gave us Laylen, the only character I could stand, and even he didn't do much. He just didn't take people's shit and was literally the only person in the story to stand up for himself.
And on that note, let's move on to the characters:
Let's go minor character first. Aislin. Alex's sister, whose only worthwhile quality was that she was a witch, and that was just for plot purposes, not character development. (Although let's not forget she helps Gemma find a tight, black, leather outfit to wear to Las Vegas, because what would a story be without our main female character dressing outside her comfort zone so that everyone has a chance to gape at her beauty, which she doesn't know she possesses?) Otherwise, Aislin hangs around, used to date Laylen, doesn't contribute much help, and honest to God says like three words to Gemma the whole book even though they are frequently in the same car/room.
And then, of course, we have Gemma. Our main character. Queen of repetition and moody outbursts and innocence who, again, contributes very little to the plot despite being its focal point.
SHE LITERALLY DOES NOTHING. Her main emotion is instant attraction to both Alex and Laylen, guilt when she feels attraction to Laylen over Alex, and anger at Alex because he is also moody. She gets pulled around and occasionally sees something weird, and otherwise she makes out with Alex. She's erratic and irritating, frustrated and frustrating, and she brings nothing to the table despite having not one but two magicky things about her. She honestly just seems to exist to be the person asking questions so that the readers get an explanation of the world.
And then? ALEX.
If there was a gold standard for douchey, bordering-on-rapey, alpha male, this man would be it. He is the moodiest person in the entire universe, treats Gemma like trash unless he's turned on (sometimes because he's turned on), is domineering and rude to absolutely everyone, lies to Gemma on the regular, but it's okay, because he feels the same electricity as Gemma when they touch, which means they're in love. Also they were friends when they were kids, so nothing creepy here, folks!
"If it wasn't for the flow of electricity, I'd think he's the mirage because Alex is not affectionate. Hot, intense, irrational, maybe even a little bipolar—yes. Loving and caring—no.
THESE ARE THE THOUGHTS OF THE MAIN CHARACTER 75% OF THE WAY THROUGH THE BOOK? What? That is not attractive, that does not make me like Alex! That is terrible!
And the worst part is that every time Gemma wants to get away from him instead of hearing him out, he literally and physically forces her into a position where she can't leave. That is not hot, that is rapey and abusive. There are multiple instances where he literally will not let her leave until he's said what he wants to, and this always either involves putting her in his lap or forcing her down and staying on top of her. And she's always like, "I guess I'll listen, sigh."
"...fury flashes in his eyes. Before I can react, he picks me up, lays me on the couch and encloses his body over mine. He situates his elbows next to my head and presses his chest close to mine so my hands are caged."
(This is his reaction to Gemma telling him she knows he lied, which he did.)
STRUGGLE, GIRL, GET OUT OF THERE.
He's honestly terrible, and at no point was I attracted to him. It was awful.
I know alpha males are very in when it comes to NA books. And sometimes it works. But only when the girl also has a chance to tell him off, to stand up for herself, and when he learns a little respect, NONE of which happens in this book.
Authors who think this is an okay portrayal of a relationship?
And don't worry, everyone! It also ends in a cliffhanger! So your dissatisfaction can be never-ending.
So, let's start with the complications. Gemma has inside of her the power of a fallen star. She's been being kept hidden because no one knows what to do with the power, and she's finally finding out the truth. Fine. Great, even. Not so great? The thing about her emotions getting turned back on for no apparent reason out of the blue. The part where other dimensions seem to exist, and magic and witches are real, and there are vampires and Immortals and Death Walkers (ice zombies?) and werewolves and faeries and the Underworld and castles and Forseers and tattoos that magically appear, as well as a sword that supposedly kills immortal things but which no one ever uses. This is way too much stuff to be a coherent book!
The only worthwhile thing about vampires being in this book (for no reason) was that it gave us Laylen, the only character I could stand, and even he didn't do much. He just didn't take people's shit and was literally the only person in the story to stand up for himself.
And on that note, let's move on to the characters:
Let's go minor character first. Aislin. Alex's sister, whose only worthwhile quality was that she was a witch, and that was just for plot purposes, not character development. (Although let's not forget she helps Gemma find a tight, black, leather outfit to wear to Las Vegas, because what would a story be without our main female character dressing outside her comfort zone so that everyone has a chance to gape at her beauty, which she doesn't know she possesses?) Otherwise, Aislin hangs around, used to date Laylen, doesn't contribute much help, and honest to God says like three words to Gemma the whole book even though they are frequently in the same car/room.
And then, of course, we have Gemma. Our main character. Queen of repetition and moody outbursts and innocence who, again, contributes very little to the plot despite being its focal point.
SHE LITERALLY DOES NOTHING. Her main emotion is instant attraction to both Alex and Laylen, guilt when she feels attraction to Laylen over Alex, and anger at Alex because he is also moody. She gets pulled around and occasionally sees something weird, and otherwise she makes out with Alex. She's erratic and irritating, frustrated and frustrating, and she brings nothing to the table despite having not one but two magicky things about her. She honestly just seems to exist to be the person asking questions so that the readers get an explanation of the world.
And then? ALEX.
If there was a gold standard for douchey, bordering-on-rapey, alpha male, this man would be it. He is the moodiest person in the entire universe, treats Gemma like trash unless he's turned on (sometimes because he's turned on), is domineering and rude to absolutely everyone, lies to Gemma on the regular, but it's okay, because he feels the same electricity as Gemma when they touch, which means they're in love. Also they were friends when they were kids, so nothing creepy here, folks!
"If it wasn't for the flow of electricity, I'd think he's the mirage because Alex is not affectionate. Hot, intense, irrational, maybe even a little bipolar—yes. Loving and caring—no.
THESE ARE THE THOUGHTS OF THE MAIN CHARACTER 75% OF THE WAY THROUGH THE BOOK? What? That is not attractive, that does not make me like Alex! That is terrible!
And the worst part is that every time Gemma wants to get away from him instead of hearing him out, he literally and physically forces her into a position where she can't leave. That is not hot, that is rapey and abusive. There are multiple instances where he literally will not let her leave until he's said what he wants to, and this always either involves putting her in his lap or forcing her down and staying on top of her. And she's always like, "I guess I'll listen, sigh."
"...fury flashes in his eyes. Before I can react, he picks me up, lays me on the couch and encloses his body over mine. He situates his elbows next to my head and presses his chest close to mine so my hands are caged."
(This is his reaction to Gemma telling him she knows he lied, which he did.)
STRUGGLE, GIRL, GET OUT OF THERE.
He's honestly terrible, and at no point was I attracted to him. It was awful.
I know alpha males are very in when it comes to NA books. And sometimes it works. But only when the girl also has a chance to tell him off, to stand up for herself, and when he learns a little respect, NONE of which happens in this book.
Authors who think this is an okay portrayal of a relationship?
And don't worry, everyone! It also ends in a cliffhanger! So your dissatisfaction can be never-ending.