A review by labraden
The Damaged by Tijan

tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Bailey's goals are finally coming to fruition as she starts grad school, but being known as Peter Francis's daughter and being flanked by bodyguards isn't what she originally envisioned in her dreams. Even though she makes a few friends in her classes, Bailey can't help but feel like an outsider. Acting like she has things together is the only way she knows to make the people she loves stop worrying about her, but on the inside, she is beginning to crumble. It doesn't help that Kash is frequently gone as he is gearing up for battle with his grandfather and won't let Bailey in on his plans.

Most of the conflict in The Damaged centers around Bailey's emotional issues and the people around her that want to capitalize on her insecurities. Even though both Bailey's and Kash's perspectives are included in this novel, the romance between them seems muted because they are apart so often. The part of the story that involves Kash's grandfather takes place mostly off page, making that part of the plot difficult to follow. Unfortunately, as in [b:The Insiders|54860180|The Insiders (The Insiders Trilogy, #1)|Tijan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602969904l/54860180._SY75_.jpg|85599799], new adult drama often takes center stage. Overall, The Damaged offers a well written narrative that could have been so much better with story lines that are more fleshed out.