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A review by ellelainey
Chasing Howe by J.F. Miev
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
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Chasing Howe
Forging the Stars, 01
J.F. Miev
★★★★☆
346 Pages
3rd person, dual character POV
Themes: Sci-Fi, enemies-to-lovers, MM, slow burn, pining, obsession, vengeance/justice, undercover, false identity, grief, power dynamics, forced proximity, prisoner x warden
Triggers: grief, off-page death of a spouse, violence, mentions of off-page childhood trauma, depression, obsessive behaviour, implied eating and sleeping disorder, anxiety, voyeurism, uncomfortable with physical intimacy
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Chasing Howe is the first in the Forging the Stars duology, and it's a good introduction to the story that will develop in the second book. Overall, it was a really interesting concept and a good plot at the core, but it had a few issues and stumbled along the way towards the good parts. I'd say that the story didn't pick up and really hold my interest until 45-50%.
My first issue is that the book began – somewhat inexplicably – with EIGHT PAGES of story that came BEFORE the contents page. I have no idea why this was done. It reminded me of old Mills & Boon novels, which used to give you a page snippet of the story before you ever got to the title page. Or years ago when Sierra Riley used to include the only sex scene of the book at the start, then you'd turn the page and the two characters hadn't even met yet. That's what this felt like. And, honestly – it wasn't necessary. The EXACT SAME chapter is actually the first chapter of the book, so I have no idea why the author/publisher would include it before the contents, then have us read it again as the first chapter. It was very confusing.
The beginning was EXCEPTIONALLY slow paced. I really struggled to keep going with the book, up to around 40%, where things started coming together. If I'd been reading it for myself, I probably would have DNF'd before then, but because I was reviewing I kept going and I'm glad I did. It DID pick up later, but it took a long time to get to the point. I easily could have cut the first half of the book in half or even less.
The plot itself was really interesting. Aiden's fiancee, Claudia, was murdered two years ago, but instead of her killer, Darren Howe, being put to death – as is usual in this world, for the crime – he's been sent to prison for 50 years. Aiden can't understand why there's a discrepancy with the expected sentence, and why he's been shut out of the investigation, the trial, and isn't allowed to see or know about any of the investigation. He decides to investigate himself, with the help of a PI. In the course of this investigation, he gets a job as the new replacement warden to the Horizons prison, where Darren is incarcerated. He intends to get answers as to why Claudia was murdered and why Darren escaped a death sentence, but what he finds is only more questions...
This part of the plot was INCREDIBLE. I loved every part of it, from the littering of hints and clues throughout, to the way that Aiden and Darren kept circling each other's orbits without actually getting together too quickly. The slow burn was just right, considering Aiden's mental struggle and the awkward situation of him being the 'warden' and Darren being a prisoner.
However, I found their flirtations a little awkward. Sometimes they would have 'banter' with each other, but it felt drifting and stilted, like it was unnatural. They also made more out of looks and exchanges than I would have read into them. They thought each other were far more flirty and seductive than it came across in the text, e.g.
“Darren licked his lips, feeling his expression turn impish. “May I speak freely?”
“You may, though I was of the impression you already were.”
Darren’s dick jerked in his pants. That mouth. “I think you are an arrogant smartass that likes to get off by feeling superior.””
For me, this doesn't feel like the “that mouth” comment is really appropriate; Aiden wasn't particularly snarky or provocative, to warrant it. This kind of thing happened a lot. I think there was a little too much emphasis on how obsessed and attracted they were to each other, with little instances like this meant to reinforce that feeling, but it just didn't feel natural. Which was a shame, because I really liked both characters and they had great chemistry together.
For me, their BEST chemistry was when the author wasn't trying to prove they were into each other. Darren was mouthy, flirty and inappropriate most of the time. Aiden was conflicted, because he shouldn't like Darren but he couldn't resist; was disgusted by his own thoughts over Darren, and that this was the man who murdered his fiancee. I LOVED that conflict and I could see how well matched they were when it wasn't forced.
Personally, I found some of the phrasing...odd. It didn't always read well, in places, and it didn't feel like an editing issue. Sometimes it felt like the author wasn't a native English writer – though I don't know if that's the case, only the phrasing was off in a way that I've seen happen with writers who don't have English as their first language. Everything was understandable, but the formatting of the phrases was all wrong.
I also feel like the sex scene – there was only one, but it was pretty detailed – was very rushed and not really logical. I had a hard time picturing what was going on because there was lots of movement, lots of aggressive adjustments and rearrangements that didn't always flow well, to show what was happening.
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OVERALL
While I had some issues with the execution – word/phrase choices, the slow pacing at the beginning – I really did enjoy the book. It all came together in the end to create an intriguing and clever plot, with interesting characters. I really liked Darren and Aiden, both individually as well as as a potential, future couple. I also liked the secondary cast – the inmates, the prison guards, particularly Nyle and Bea. I liked how well they'd been fleshed out, each with their own part to play and personalities.
I hesitated over my review rating, between a 3.5 – which I would give a good plot with great potential that wasn't quite pulled off brilliantly – and a 4. In the end, I went with the 4, because I finished the book and I'm eager to read the next one, and even the backstory.
I'm looking forward to Book 2, but I'm also eager to read Star Heist, which is a backstory to Book 1. However, I'll wait until I've finished Book 2 before I delve into Star Heist, just in case there's some minor spoilers to how the series ends.
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Favourite Quote
“when he met those potent eyes and found in them the suppressed, haunted want that spoke to his soul without being asked to, he knew he’d lost the fight. He couldn’t just walk away, not when he saw in this man a kindred soul, someone who offered him what he had been searching for without even knowing it.”