Scan barcode
A review by literally_laura
Devious Ingenues by Casia Courtier, Marie Sterling, K.L. Bone, J.V. Stanley, Krystle Able, Mila Waters, Natalie-Nicole Bates
4.0
Since this is a collection of multiple authors, I'm going to review first the overall book and then each author. I can't promise the individual authors won't include spoilers, so be careful how far you read.
Overall, this was a fun and dramatic idea. Myrna is the current holder of a prestigious title won during a competition sponsored by a film studio and magazine. It's been a year and time for a new winner. Despite having made a name for herself that is unlikely to fade, she isn't interested in anyone else winning the title and becoming the next new thing. She is willing to do anything to keep anyone she decides doesn't meet her impossible standards from winning. Each subsequent story is one of the contestants point of view.
The first "story" is Myrna herself. It's a bit bland for my taste, but it kinda has to be to lay the groundwork for the rest. A lot of information comes in a short space. Timelines are a continuous issue throughout the book,and it starts here. A year isn't a believable length for everything that she claims to have happened since she won, including a lengthy honeymoon.
Next is Anna. I really enjoyed her story. She is ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes to shake off the blemish her father's highly publicized incarceration has put on her name. Lacking morals, but desperate and ambitious. There were a couple scene changes with no gap between paragraphs. It was a bit confusing but soon sorted out. Her struggle between her personal ambition and her feelings toward Courtney (romantic or just platonic? Could be either way) felt very real.
Next up, Rosemarie or just Rose. Unfortunately, this story was COMPLETELY unbelievable and a badly played advertisement for a new series the author has coming out. Poor Rose, an innocent and wholesome farm girl, is drugged and sold by Myrna to a man who rapes and brutalizes her. She escapes with the help of one of her guards, who she falls in love with THE NEXT DAY, after completely forgiving both her rapist and the woman who drugged her. *Cue eyeroll*
Next, Virginia. As a character and a story in general, I liked Virginia. Again, innocent small town girl. She gets tricked into coming and replacing a contestant that vanished (because they very closely resemble each other). Swept up in the chaos and glamour, she goes along with everything only a little reluctantly. Now, the negative. I don't think this story was proofread AT ALL. Besides the frequent punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors, the amount of time she had been married before becoming a widow was changed at least 3 times. At the longest, it was 2 years. This doesn't mesh with the claim that her husband joined the military after pearl harbor and served for 2 years... And the story takes place in 47. Referred to "Hollywood Land" a minimum of 20 times, once 5 times on a single page. "Hollywoodland", as the sign originally read, referred to a single neighborhood and not the area as a whole. While it was poorly edited and researched, the writing itself had merit.
Next- Carolyn/Margaret. I think this one was actually my favorite. There are some continuity errors with previous stories, but that's kinda the nature of this type of work and not the fault of any one author. I loved the interaction between characters, and the shy relationship forming was sweet and realistic.
Next, Sandra. Her asshole cousin helps her escape from overprotective parents and right into the arms of a "madam". Despite pissing me off personally (trigger warning to what is essentially rape) I felt this story developed logically and enjoyed the writing style.
Finally, Jenna. Plot twist! I devoured this story, with it's spooky paranormal slant and final plot twist at the end that both broke my heart and made me cackle with malicious glee. A very unexpected ending and worth the read just for that.
Overall, this was a fun and dramatic idea. Myrna is the current holder of a prestigious title won during a competition sponsored by a film studio and magazine. It's been a year and time for a new winner. Despite having made a name for herself that is unlikely to fade, she isn't interested in anyone else winning the title and becoming the next new thing. She is willing to do anything to keep anyone she decides doesn't meet her impossible standards from winning. Each subsequent story is one of the contestants point of view.
The first "story" is Myrna herself. It's a bit bland for my taste, but it kinda has to be to lay the groundwork for the rest. A lot of information comes in a short space. Timelines are a continuous issue throughout the book,and it starts here. A year isn't a believable length for everything that she claims to have happened since she won, including a lengthy honeymoon.
Next is Anna. I really enjoyed her story. She is ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes to shake off the blemish her father's highly publicized incarceration has put on her name. Lacking morals, but desperate and ambitious. There were a couple scene changes with no gap between paragraphs. It was a bit confusing but soon sorted out. Her struggle between her personal ambition and her feelings toward Courtney (romantic or just platonic? Could be either way) felt very real.
Next up, Rosemarie or just Rose. Unfortunately, this story was COMPLETELY unbelievable and a badly played advertisement for a new series the author has coming out. Poor Rose, an innocent and wholesome farm girl, is drugged and sold by Myrna to a man who rapes and brutalizes her. She escapes with the help of one of her guards, who she falls in love with THE NEXT DAY, after completely forgiving both her rapist and the woman who drugged her. *Cue eyeroll*
Next, Virginia. As a character and a story in general, I liked Virginia. Again, innocent small town girl. She gets tricked into coming and replacing a contestant that vanished (because they very closely resemble each other). Swept up in the chaos and glamour, she goes along with everything only a little reluctantly. Now, the negative. I don't think this story was proofread AT ALL. Besides the frequent punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors, the amount of time she had been married before becoming a widow was changed at least 3 times. At the longest, it was 2 years. This doesn't mesh with the claim that her husband joined the military after pearl harbor and served for 2 years... And the story takes place in 47. Referred to "Hollywood Land" a minimum of 20 times, once 5 times on a single page. "Hollywoodland", as the sign originally read, referred to a single neighborhood and not the area as a whole. While it was poorly edited and researched, the writing itself had merit.
Next- Carolyn/Margaret. I think this one was actually my favorite. There are some continuity errors with previous stories, but that's kinda the nature of this type of work and not the fault of any one author. I loved the interaction between characters, and the shy relationship forming was sweet and realistic.
Next, Sandra. Her asshole cousin helps her escape from overprotective parents and right into the arms of a "madam". Despite pissing me off personally (trigger warning to what is essentially rape) I felt this story developed logically and enjoyed the writing style.
Finally, Jenna. Plot twist! I devoured this story, with it's spooky paranormal slant and final plot twist at the end that both broke my heart and made me cackle with malicious glee. A very unexpected ending and worth the read just for that.