Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Sable Peak by Devney Perry

6 reviews

abidavisf's review against another edition

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hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

I love Vera and Mateo as characters but, sadly, for me, Sable Peak fell flat. Both characters gave so much in the previous books: mystery and heartache from Vera, humour and kindness from Mateo.

I expected Mateo in this book to be fast-paced and cheeky. Instead, he felt slow and unimpassioned, even in the scenes where he was doing something he really loved.

Each of Mateo’s siblings, in their own books, painted such mystery about him, and yet the real Mateo was bland. I doubt that he actually would be bland. We just didn’t get to see anything from him. How were his first two years as a single dad? What kind of life did he live before (besides working for his siblings)? What was he like in school? Griffin had said in his book that Mateo was similar to him but… how? He’d seemed really close to Eloise in her book but where was she during Sable Peak? He’d always been the quiet one in his siblings’ tales and, in his moment in the limelight, he stayed that way. The more I think about it as I write this review, the more disappointed I am.

Vera, as much as my heart aches for her, held so much more potential in my mind. Her inner turmoil felt skated over. So much of the book was reserved for her crushing on Mateo that there was very little of her actually processing her life and learning how to fit back into society, even though that was a much larger part of her life than a crush. It felt like the strength and bravery she showed for going back to the ‘real world’ was glossed over in place of a man and was, frankly, disappointing.

After such a strong series in terms of original plots and heart-wrenching twists, what should have been the most emotional of them all felt muted. All of Vera’s story was told in Crimson River. Her story in Sable Peak was just how her life could revolve around a man. After everything she went through, she deserved more. I love Mateo, but this book wasn’t it for me. Allie held the book together by being adorable, but even she deserved more. How did they explain Vera to her? Does she know about Cormac? So much was left unsaid.

I wanted to give this 3 stars because I finished it but, honestly, it was only my hope that the book would improve that kept me going and my fondness for the other characters. A disappointing end to The Edens.

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megankyle's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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ecravens's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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andeng's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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hazelgirl21's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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amanda_reads13's review against another edition

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

3.0

After 4 years on the run with her father, Vera is now chasing a stable life. Mateo has never really showed interest in her, but that doesn't deter her crush. Mateo is in over his head as he becomes a single father. He doesn't really see Vera until she makes it impossible for him not to. 

This book is pretty much a continuation of Crimson River. We pick up after Vance and Vera have moved to Montana. During part one of the book, we follow Vera as she pines for Mateo and learns to reintegrate into a "normal" life. Part two jumps between Vera and Mateo's POVs as we follow their budding romance. 

I liked that we didn't jump 2 years ahead and we got snippets of Vera and the Edens of that time. BUT I WISH we got Mateo's POV during that first part. I have SO many questions about him. What happened in Alaska? How was he feeling when he found out he was a dad? What happened over those 2 years to him? This was less Mateo's book and more Vera's. I WANTED MORE MATEO! 

Vera is understandably traumatized from her past. We learn more about her story and exactly what she went through on that night. I WISH that therapy would have been included in her journey. She tries to wall of and hide from her past, but she can never escape it. It haunts her. 

I have loved Mateo throughout the series and I was really looking forward to HIS book. What we do get of him, shows that he is an amazing dad to Allie, a supportive partner to Vera, and he is struggling to find his place and his path. Unfortunately, we don't really get much of him outside of his new relationship with Vera. I really wanted his story and I'm a bit disappointed. 

Their relationship doesn't really make much sense to me, yes Vera has been pining forever, but once Mateo finds out about her feelings their relationship goes from 0-100 in an instant. He goes from not really noticing her to being possessive in no time. 

Pretty much we get - Vera pining for Mateo, Vera searching for her father, and Vera ignoring her trauma. 

Tropes: she falls first, traumatized past, unrequited love, small town, single parent 

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