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jayarna's review
4.0
This series is one of the most addictive things I've ever read. That's all. Onto the next.
edit: My (non-spoiler) review for the whole series is below.
I have been putting off rating this series because I have vast, complex feelings about it. I have never read a reverse harem and I had no idea what to expect - but it certainly wasn't this. I went in completely blind on the recommendation of a friend and I just let myself experience the story organically. I was delighted to discover this is a blend of my favourite genres - mystery, fantasy and romance.
I want to start off with the negatives, so we can get them out of the way.
The prose At times, especially in the beginning, this series is juvenile. You can argue that Seph is young and so we experience that viewpoint, but Washington sometimes writes clunky, melodramatic lines that do not need to be there. It's so interesting to analyse her as an author. She is a skilled storyteller, yet her skill with writing and prose does not always measure up. It is not often that an author can tell an amazing story with somewhat lacking prose, so at times it was jarring. It has that fanfic feel - really, I think what she lacks is an editor. I hope she has one now or gets tradtionally published or whatnot because she would be a force to be reckoned with in the YA market.
The ending. It's rushed and left me wanting more, however, after a few days the entire series as a whole is what stuck in my mind so I'm not too bothered.
Seph: God Seph drove me mad. She is strong and stubborn and willing to sacrifice a lot for those she loves. However, at times she is drowning in martyrdom. She refuses to listen to people and for a good part of the series is so shy that she rarely talks or does much and this makes her a frustrating, quite a passive character to follow at times. She can even switch between passive and active very quickly, which I don't think was done the best. It feels jarring and out of character at times.
The good:
The growth. As I mentioned, Seph is frustrating, especially in the first book, but by the fourth, she is a pleasure to be in the perspective of. I love her and who she becomes. She loses her addictive and dependant, sulking nature, and becomes someone who draws strength from those around her but also gives that strength back to them. I loved the journey she goes on.
The relationships. Page time for each of the boys was so well balanced. I thought I would favour one but i totally didn't. (okay, maybe Miro, hehe) They all grew into themselves as well and just gave Seph everything she needed. I cared about each of them so desperately, and that's kind of amazing. I usually have a type, but I loved them all so much. I won't talk to much about it because I don't want to spoil anything, but just know this is one of my personal standouts.
The intrigue It never stopped. I was always desperate to know more. The sexual and romantic tension was there for me, and so I couldn't decide whether I wanted plot or character scenes more - and there's plenty of both! There's so much information for Seph to learn and discover and Washington is amazing at slowly feeding you information to not overwhelm you but keep you reading.
The worldbuilding. I don't think it ever feels like Washington's world gets too big for her. She is wonderful at not telling you too much unnecessary information, while the world feelsfleshed out and real
The plotting. This series was planned, making it a joy to read. There are so many elements of foreshadowing and plot points that resurface later. The mystery is so satisfying and layered. i was so caught up in the world and the story, the vibes and this story, and I know that's due to Washington's skilled plotting and reveals.
Every one of these books does not reach 5 stars indivdually for me, but as a series, it is something I won't forget, and it certainly is one of my favourites. 5 stars for sure a whole, and something I'm excited to reread one day.
edit: My (non-spoiler) review for the whole series is below.
I have been putting off rating this series because I have vast, complex feelings about it. I have never read a reverse harem and I had no idea what to expect - but it certainly wasn't this. I went in completely blind on the recommendation of a friend and I just let myself experience the story organically. I was delighted to discover this is a blend of my favourite genres - mystery, fantasy and romance.
I want to start off with the negatives, so we can get them out of the way.
The prose At times, especially in the beginning, this series is juvenile. You can argue that Seph is young and so we experience that viewpoint, but Washington sometimes writes clunky, melodramatic lines that do not need to be there. It's so interesting to analyse her as an author. She is a skilled storyteller, yet her skill with writing and prose does not always measure up. It is not often that an author can tell an amazing story with somewhat lacking prose, so at times it was jarring. It has that fanfic feel - really, I think what she lacks is an editor. I hope she has one now or gets tradtionally published or whatnot because she would be a force to be reckoned with in the YA market.
The ending. It's rushed and left me wanting more, however, after a few days the entire series as a whole is what stuck in my mind so I'm not too bothered.
Seph: God Seph drove me mad. She is strong and stubborn and willing to sacrifice a lot for those she loves. However, at times she is drowning in martyrdom. She refuses to listen to people and for a good part of the series is so shy that she rarely talks or does much and this makes her a frustrating, quite a passive character to follow at times. She can even switch between passive and active very quickly, which I don't think was done the best. It feels jarring and out of character at times.
The good:
The growth. As I mentioned, Seph is frustrating, especially in the first book, but by the fourth, she is a pleasure to be in the perspective of. I love her and who she becomes. She loses her addictive and dependant, sulking nature, and becomes someone who draws strength from those around her but also gives that strength back to them. I loved the journey she goes on.
The relationships. Page time for each of the boys was so well balanced. I thought I would favour one but i totally didn't. (okay, maybe Miro, hehe) They all grew into themselves as well and just gave Seph everything she needed. I cared about each of them so desperately, and that's kind of amazing. I usually have a type, but I loved them all so much. I won't talk to much about it because I don't want to spoil anything, but just know this is one of my personal standouts.
The intrigue It never stopped. I was always desperate to know more. The sexual and romantic tension was there for me, and so I couldn't decide whether I wanted plot or character scenes more - and there's plenty of both! There's so much information for Seph to learn and discover and Washington is amazing at slowly feeding you information to not overwhelm you but keep you reading.
The worldbuilding. I don't think it ever feels like Washington's world gets too big for her. She is wonderful at not telling you too much unnecessary information, while the world feelsfleshed out and real
The plotting. This series was planned, making it a joy to read. There are so many elements of foreshadowing and plot points that resurface later. The mystery is so satisfying and layered. i was so caught up in the world and the story, the vibes and this story, and I know that's due to Washington's skilled plotting and reveals.
Every one of these books does not reach 5 stars indivdually for me, but as a series, it is something I won't forget, and it certainly is one of my favourites. 5 stars for sure a whole, and something I'm excited to reread one day.
duvyna's review
2.0
Watercolor Smile was a bit all over the place. Lots of plot holes, lack of common sense, and to many random things going on that never really tied together well. I don’t feel like the plot really advanced much at all. Seraph is still not being told important facts about her abilities and Seraph is going in circles over boyfriend drama and the one she likes the best is fairly mentally disturbed…. Really could benefit from a editor.
n0wimn0thing's review against another edition
3.0
Weak compared to the first book, having a hard time finding the desire to finish this series
boluvsmikayla's review
3.0
I didn't really care for this book that much. I feel like if you are going to do a series of four books, you need to introduce new problems and not just focus on one problem or dilemma in the whole series. That is what made it boring and repetitive to me. I really was excited after the first book, but found the second book to be lacking.
crobbo_x's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ridreads's review
4.0
I really enjoyed the book and the story is really unique and interesting. Seraph really starts to come into her own in this book and starts to find her own strength. Her relationships with the other main characters don’t really develop or strengthen much in this book, BUT her relationship with Silas really evolves and ends with a crazy cliffhanger of information. The one thing I didn’t like is how Cabe and Noah forget about their bond and start acting like total jerks. I get that it furthers the story and leads to the kidnapping and explosive power. The last quarter of the book felt rushed with a lot jammed into the last bit. Excited to read the next book and to see how the relationships evolve!
talya_'s review
5.0
After finishing this book I'm almost at a loss for words. Because it was everything I could have hoped for and more.
And also because it ripped my heart out a few times and, as if that wasn't enough, shoved it in an incinerator, sending me in a cycle of never ending pain.
You don't do that to someone's heart.
And now I have a Silas-size hole in said damaged heart, in my aching head, and in my wounded soul. It's a pretty big hole in case you're wondering.
Anyway.
I'm not gonna lie-- underneath the excitement and anticipation I had for this book was an undercurrent of fear and slight apprehension. Why? Because sequels have a tendency of disappointing me and making me less excited for any upcoming books. But I shouldn't have worried. This book was better than I thought and hoped it would be. It had more action, more excitement, and more suspense than the last book, but more confusion too. Charcoal Tears left me with a lot of questions (and, I am not ashamed to admit, in a constant state of Silas withdrawal, leading me to listen to Protocol every day with an aching heart. True story.) And even though I hoped for some light to be shed on some of the events that occurred, only few of my questions were answered. A few. Possibly less. While that would normally irk me, it really works here. It creates an atmosphere of suspense and anticipation, and for once you're actually feeling what the main character is, you're not sitting there wanting to slap her upside the head for being clueless and dumb. When Seph is confused, we're confused too. We realize things when she does, and we feel the same things she does when she's with Silas. You all know the feelings I'm talking about.
Back to the point. This book was well written, captivating, and absolutely breathtaking. As in you're left gasping for breath because why, Jane Washington, would you do that to me. Honestly. But despite having my heart ripped out, I can still acknowledge the genius that this book is (let's all take a second to appreciate the titles.)
Now trying to once again get back on track.
This book takes off right away and doesn't slow down. I love that there wasn't too much backtracking to the first book because info dump recaps are usually annoying and take up too much time. So if you don't remember much of Charcoal Tears then it'd be best to reread that before reading this one. Cuz you're just going to end up confused.
I love the friendship dynamics between Seph and the boys, even if their friendships aren't exactly clear or defined yet. And her interactions with Silas? They're honestly the most tension-filled interactions ever. They're amazing. I like how other characters like Clarin and Poison are in the book more so we see how they fit into Seraph's life.
There are also some pretty shocking things that happen in this book so brace yourself. Before you know it you'll find yourself roaring in anger or drowning in tears. Or just sitting there with a terrified dear in headlights look frozen on your face, cuz I'm pretty sure that's what I look liked 52% of the time. As I said before, there's a lot more action that happens in this book, especially in the second half. So word of advice? Read slowly and carefully. Soak in every word because if you miss even a single one you'll be on the next page feeling like a few IQ points have dropped off because you don't understand what's going on. It can get a bit confusing at times but it's better than being spoon-fed every detail like we don't have brains of our own.
All in all, there are no disappointments here...well. Other than the fact that the third book isn't already out yet. I like suspense, but jeez, not THAT much suspense. I just finished this book and I'm already dying. It's not fair to end books with cliffhangers, cuz oh, did I forget to mention? It has a cliffhanger. A full on "to be continued."
Brace yourselves.
And also because it ripped my heart out a few times and, as if that wasn't enough, shoved it in an incinerator, sending me in a cycle of never ending pain.
You don't do that to someone's heart.
And now I have a Silas-size hole in said damaged heart, in my aching head, and in my wounded soul. It's a pretty big hole in case you're wondering.
Anyway.
I'm not gonna lie-- underneath the excitement and anticipation I had for this book was an undercurrent of fear and slight apprehension. Why? Because sequels have a tendency of disappointing me and making me less excited for any upcoming books. But I shouldn't have worried. This book was better than I thought and hoped it would be. It had more action, more excitement, and more suspense than the last book, but more confusion too. Charcoal Tears left me with a lot of questions (and, I am not ashamed to admit, in a constant state of Silas withdrawal, leading me to listen to Protocol every day with an aching heart. True story.) And even though I hoped for some light to be shed on some of the events that occurred, only few of my questions were answered. A few. Possibly less. While that would normally irk me, it really works here. It creates an atmosphere of suspense and anticipation, and for once you're actually feeling what the main character is, you're not sitting there wanting to slap her upside the head for being clueless and dumb. When Seph is confused, we're confused too. We realize things when she does, and we feel the same things she does when she's with Silas. You all know the feelings I'm talking about.
Back to the point. This book was well written, captivating, and absolutely breathtaking. As in you're left gasping for breath because why, Jane Washington, would you do that to me. Honestly. But despite having my heart ripped out, I can still acknowledge the genius that this book is (let's all take a second to appreciate the titles.)
Now trying to once again get back on track.
This book takes off right away and doesn't slow down. I love that there wasn't too much backtracking to the first book because info dump recaps are usually annoying and take up too much time. So if you don't remember much of Charcoal Tears then it'd be best to reread that before reading this one. Cuz you're just going to end up confused.
I love the friendship dynamics between Seph and the boys, even if their friendships aren't exactly clear or defined yet. And her interactions with Silas? They're honestly the most tension-filled interactions ever.
Spoiler
As in sexual tension in case you didn't get that.There are also some pretty shocking things that happen in this book so brace yourself. Before you know it you'll find yourself roaring in anger or drowning in tears. Or just sitting there with a terrified dear in headlights look frozen on your face, cuz I'm pretty sure that's what I look liked 52% of the time. As I said before, there's a lot more action that happens in this book, especially in the second half. So word of advice? Read slowly and carefully. Soak in every word because if you miss even a single one you'll be on the next page feeling like a few IQ points have dropped off because you don't understand what's going on. It can get a bit confusing at times but it's better than being spoon-fed every detail like we don't have brains of our own.
All in all, there are no disappointments here...well. Other than the fact that the third book isn't already out yet. I like suspense, but jeez, not THAT much suspense. I just finished this book and I'm already dying. It's not fair to end books with cliffhangers, cuz oh, did I forget to mention? It has a cliffhanger. A full on "to be continued."
Brace yourselves.