iffer's review against another edition
2.0
Eh, this was okay. Plenty of action and steamy scenes if that's what you're looking for. It's not that I expect fancy writing from this genre, but the prose felt clunky and simple. This book didn't seem particularly sensitive, probably because the writing was clunky and in such broad strokes, the way in which it uses Syrian refugees and sexual violence against women as plot drivers felt icky. In addition, little things annoyed me, like the fact that the author feels the need to mention that Justice is "Native American," multiple times, even though it doesn't add to the skimpy plot or characterization in any way. This made it seem like this was merely to convey some sort of "exotic" beauty or take advantage of stereotypes about indigenous women and families (addict Native American father and abused indigenous woman). Once again, whether it was meant that way or not, ick. Using "white privilege" glibly was also annoying, as well as attempting to make the reader sympathize with "reverse sexism" .
Spoiler
to explain Justice's brother's betrayalcritterbee's review against another edition
2.0
I am Justice is a contemporary, dark, fast-paced action romance between a woman warrior heroine and a conflicted ex-soldier hero.
Justice is an adopted member of an enormous, almost exclusively female family/organization that covertly works to rescue women and children caught in human trafficking, and to assassinate the men involved.
Sandresh is a caring ex-soldier who wants a life that involves more than just destruction. He has started a charity of ex-soldiers to help in many ways in many places with many things (it is not exactly described completely in the book). Justice’s powerful family connects with Sandesh’s newly created charity to further their mission against the leaders of one of the largest international human trafficking organizations.
While taking care of business, sparks fly between Justice and Sandresh. Their annoyingly immediate, mutual insta-lust was alternatively allowed free reign and bottled up ‘for the sake of the mission.’
The pov shifted between Justice, Sandresh and one of the villains, ‘BadGuyW’. That is pretty typical for contemporary romances, but being inside W-bad-guy’s mind was not helpful, as it was unbelievable, inconsistent, flabby, and did not inspire sympathy, respect, hatred, or even the feeling that BadGuyW was a real person
As a heroine, Justice is complex, conflicted, caring and (sometimes) competent. She survived a horrific childhood experience, and was rescued and adopted by a family dedicated to protecting and avenging women around the world. She is an angry trained assassin, who trips in the woods, loses her cool at inopportune times, and needs rescuing a few times. Simultaneously reserved, she overshares frequently (although we are always reminded that it is ‘rare’ of her to do so), and dislikes men and thinks they are mostly beasts, while being instantly attracted to and attempting to seduce Sandresh.
The Parish family is said to be powerful, rich, etc, in a very unbelievable way. Likewise, the power of the ‘bad guys’ is stressed and yet remains unbelievable, and their ‘guards’ all resembled cartoon cardboard cut-outs. Although we see the pov of one of the head villains, BadGuyW, it just serves to further confuse his character.
I loved the rescuing theme, and the determination of Justice to save victims. Sandresh’s conflicted-warrior character was interesting.
I did not care for the large amount of unresolved back story, presumably setting up later books in the series.
The chemistry between the main characters is told in a very vulgar, base, masculine manner. The sexy times are extremely descriptive, over the top, very competitive, and repetitive.
As you would imagine in such a dark, cruelly themed book, there is a lot of violence. Graphic violence. Excessive disrespect for humanity, loss of life, and torture. I am not sure how detailed the torture was, because as the descriptions began, I skipped past. What parts I did read were clumsily done; nothing was written on the fascinatingly gripping level of Stephen King.
As I said before, this book is dark. Things that have happened and are happening, both in the book and in the world, are devastating. And though told in the book, I feel that they were more used as story dressing. While people need to be aware that these horrors are happening around the world, the misery was included in the book superficially for background illustration. Likewise, character development was either stilted or unbelievably breakneck.
Overall a noisy, loud, clumsy, drive that never reaches an admirable goal.
*eARC Netgalley*
**edited to remove typo**
ATW 2018 Jordan / Syria
Justice is an adopted member of an enormous, almost exclusively female family/organization that covertly works to rescue women and children caught in human trafficking, and to assassinate the men involved.
Sandresh is a caring ex-soldier who wants a life that involves more than just destruction. He has started a charity of ex-soldiers to help in many ways in many places with many things (it is not exactly described completely in the book). Justice’s powerful family connects with Sandesh’s newly created charity to further their mission against the leaders of one of the largest international human trafficking organizations.
While taking care of business, sparks fly between Justice and Sandresh. Their annoyingly immediate, mutual insta-lust was alternatively allowed free reign and bottled up ‘for the sake of the mission.’
The pov shifted between Justice, Sandresh and one of the villains, ‘BadGuyW’. That is pretty typical for contemporary romances, but being inside W-bad-guy’s mind was not helpful, as it was unbelievable, inconsistent, flabby, and did not inspire sympathy, respect, hatred, or even the feeling that BadGuyW was a real person
As a heroine, Justice is complex, conflicted, caring and (sometimes) competent. She survived a horrific childhood experience, and was rescued and adopted by a family dedicated to protecting and avenging women around the world. She is an angry trained assassin, who trips in the woods, loses her cool at inopportune times, and needs rescuing a few times. Simultaneously reserved, she overshares frequently (although we are always reminded that it is ‘rare’ of her to do so), and dislikes men and thinks they are mostly beasts, while being instantly attracted to and attempting to seduce Sandresh.
The Parish family is said to be powerful, rich, etc, in a very unbelievable way. Likewise, the power of the ‘bad guys’ is stressed and yet remains unbelievable, and their ‘guards’ all resembled cartoon cardboard cut-outs. Although we see the pov of one of the head villains, BadGuyW, it just serves to further confuse his character.
I loved the rescuing theme, and the determination of Justice to save victims. Sandresh’s conflicted-warrior character was interesting.
I did not care for the large amount of unresolved back story, presumably setting up later books in the series.
Spoiler
At the ending, the token male in the organization was one of the traitors, because of his bruised male ego. That was a bit lazy and tired.The chemistry between the main characters is told in a very vulgar, base, masculine manner. The sexy times are extremely descriptive, over the top, very competitive, and repetitive.
As you would imagine in such a dark, cruelly themed book, there is a lot of violence. Graphic violence. Excessive disrespect for humanity, loss of life, and torture. I am not sure how detailed the torture was, because as the descriptions began, I skipped past. What parts I did read were clumsily done; nothing was written on the fascinatingly gripping level of Stephen King.
As I said before, this book is dark. Things that have happened and are happening, both in the book and in the world, are devastating. And though told in the book, I feel that they were more used as story dressing. While people need to be aware that these horrors are happening around the world, the misery was included in the book superficially for background illustration. Likewise, character development was either stilted or unbelievably breakneck.
Overall a noisy, loud, clumsy, drive that never reaches an admirable goal.
*eARC Netgalley*
**edited to remove typo**
ATW 2018 Jordan / Syria
bananatricky's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 37%
I think I was misled by the cover into thinking this was Urban Fantasy.
Justice is an operative for a secret group called the League which avenges abused women. The League is unusual in that it is also a family, of adopted children who have all suffered some form of abuse. Justice saw her own sister Hope murdered in front of her eyes and is determined to avenge her murder.
Whilst chasing the brothers who murdered her sister, who are now trafficking women in Syria, Justice discovers that there is a spy in her small team, someone feeding information about the League to their mortal enemies so she goes on the latest mission alone and in secret, piggy-backing off a new charity being run by former special forces operatives.
Maybe I wasn't in the right mood but this just felt cliche-ridden. I'm fairly sure I know who the spy is, Justice seems fine with killing bad guys, until she kills one of the men who killed her sister, then she starts to feel remorse - WTF? She's a caricature and unlikable. Also, in two missions she has screwed up twice - not much of a super secret operative!
It's an easy read but I felt it was too predictable, I'd read something similar many times before and I had a sneaking suspicion that the ex-army guy would end up saving poor little Justice who would degenerate into a hapless girl. I could be wrong but it had that feel.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I think I was misled by the cover into thinking this was Urban Fantasy.
Justice is an operative for a secret group called the League which avenges abused women. The League is unusual in that it is also a family, of adopted children who have all suffered some form of abuse. Justice saw her own sister Hope murdered in front of her eyes and is determined to avenge her murder.
Whilst chasing the brothers who murdered her sister, who are now trafficking women in Syria, Justice discovers that there is a spy in her small team, someone feeding information about the League to their mortal enemies so she goes on the latest mission alone and in secret, piggy-backing off a new charity being run by former special forces operatives.
Maybe I wasn't in the right mood but this just felt cliche-ridden. I'm fairly sure I know who the spy is, Justice seems fine with killing bad guys, until she kills one of the men who killed her sister, then she starts to feel remorse - WTF? She's a caricature and unlikable. Also, in two missions she has screwed up twice - not much of a super secret operative!
It's an easy read but I felt it was too predictable, I'd read something similar many times before and I had a sneaking suspicion that the ex-army guy would end up saving poor little Justice who would degenerate into a hapless girl. I could be wrong but it had that feel.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
jcb820's review against another edition
1.0
I gave up on this about 1/3rd of the way in. Not a likeable character in sight, motivations constantly turning on a dime rather than evolving, poorly written action scenes, and a futuristic element that came straight out of left field. I think the best thing about this book is the cover- I just wished what was inside the book lived up to it.
carolmia's review against another edition
3.0
This is a fast-paced romantic thriller.
Justice belongs to a powerful organization that focuses on eliminating sex-trafficking rings. She is an undercover, trained assassin on a mission.
Sandesh is an ex-special forces devoted to advancing his charitable foundation. He starts working with the Justice's family organization and soon their lives become entangled.
The story is action packed. I found the characters to be likeable but too compulsive at times. The romance was developed too fast too soon. Generally, I prefer romances to grow at a lower pace or what some people call a "slow burn".
The story is told from alternating points of view and dealt with dark matters such as rape, sex trafficking, and torture.
I recommend the book to readers of romantic suspense.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley
Justice belongs to a powerful organization that focuses on eliminating sex-trafficking rings. She is an undercover, trained assassin on a mission.
Sandesh is an ex-special forces devoted to advancing his charitable foundation. He starts working with the Justice's family organization and soon their lives become entangled.
The story is action packed. I found the characters to be likeable but too compulsive at times. The romance was developed too fast too soon. Generally, I prefer romances to grow at a lower pace or what some people call a "slow burn".
The story is told from alternating points of view and dealt with dark matters such as rape, sex trafficking, and torture.
I recommend the book to readers of romantic suspense.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley
midnightbookgirl's review against another edition
2.0
Not a fan, but the ideas behind the book were enough to keep me reading... although I did skim some.
prgchrqltma's review against another edition
12.27.19 I will have to try again with this when I'm in a romantic suspense mood, and I should read instead of listen. I can't really listen to suspense, and this had children and sex trafficking, too.
thebookdisciple's review against another edition
3.0
I am Justice is a new series by a new to me author, Diana Munoz Stewart. There were some great things about the book. First, I loved that its a group of vigilante sisters. These ladies are badass. Any book that features women who are just as deadly as men is a plus in my book! I also thought the focus on stopping human trafficking was brilliant. This is a very real issue in today's world. Finally, the diversity in the book was much appreciated. I loved getting to read about characters from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The action was on point, but the book felt lacking somehow. Justice felt robotic at times and I had a hard time connecting with her. I couldn't really believe the romance either because she seemed so mechanical.
Despite my struggles with Justice, I think the series has potential. I will probably keep reading to see where Stewart takes these characters!
Link live on blog on 5/30
The action was on point, but the book felt lacking somehow. Justice felt robotic at times and I had a hard time connecting with her. I couldn't really believe the romance either because she seemed so mechanical.
Despite my struggles with Justice, I think the series has potential. I will probably keep reading to see where Stewart takes these characters!
Link live on blog on 5/30