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jayarna's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars.
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.
crobbo_x's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ridreads's review
4.0
Lots of questions finally get answered in this book! The story really jumps forward with a lot of big revelations and setups for the “final fight” to happen in book 4. I do think though that a lot of the drama is very surface level and could be solved with better communication. Yes, sure the majority of the main characters are only 18 and Silas is a psychopath (though he is my favorite psychopath), BUT Miro should be better at facilitating conversation and navigating the group dynamics. He’s old enough and -allegedly- mature enough that he should see through some of the drama!!
talya_'s review
4.0
Upon finishing this book, I was left with a strange feeling of "Huh?" so I had to go back and read it a second time before being able to collect my thoughts enough to write a review. So here I am. Still not exactly sure what to say about the book as a whole, because I'm still thinking about my precious Silas. I have a lot to say about him, but I'll save that for later.
So the book begins with poor Silas still with Weston, and Noah and Cabe still with a huge chunk of their memory missing. Since Silas was gone, and Noah and Cabe unaware of the bond, who do you think was around the most?
That's right. Miro.
Sigh.
I'm just not a fan of him and Seph at all. Student-teacher relationships are creepy as hell (at least to me), and even though him and Seraph have a complicated relationship, it still makes me uncomfortable. Okay, not uncomfortable, it makes me mad. CUZ SILAS IS SERAPH'S MAN.
So anyway, Miro and Seph are around each other a lot which is slightly annoying. Cuz Silas and Seph are meant to be. But I suppose I'll eventually have to accept reality. Which is that it's hard for an atma to have a platonic relationship with one pair, let alone two. So Noah, Cabe, Silas, and Miro are all kind of Seraph's boyfriends which is strange and confusing, especially since it's hard to sort out feelings that are there because of the bond with her personal romantic feelings. If you ask me, I think she likes Silas romantically and is just attracted to others because of the bond, but I also think Noah likes Seraph. In which case, Noah, buddy, you need to back off. I like Noah of course, but not when he's encroaching on Silas's territory.
I do kind of miss her having a more platonic relationship with the guys, though. (The guys minus Silas, because how many times do I have to say it? He's her man.) Part of what made me like the first book so much was seeing how she could be friends with a bunch of hot, amazing guys, because in most books, the male characters are always attracted to the main character. But the whole 4-boyfriends thing makes sense because it's the main focus of the series so it doesn't really bother me.
Besides the reverse-harem-like relationship in the book, we learn a lot more and a lot of questions that we've had since book one are answered. We learn who the Messenger is, we learn more about Seraph's past, more about Weston, Jayden, and some other characters as well. Some of the things that happened I did NOT see coming.
Another twist was learning that Seraph stole Silas and Miro from their atma, and that she stole Noah and Cabe too. I definitely wasn't expecting that. And learning that she's the product of some mad scientist experiment? Is Jane Washington the queen of plot twists, or what?
Also. SILAS ALMOST KILLED CABE?!!!!! It was so unexpected and crazy that I don't even know what to think. I still love Silas and I can't bring myself to judge him at all or even be disappointed in him (love is blinding), but at the same time, I mean, hello. He almost killed him, his brothers, and Seraph at the same time. No one in the book really mentioned or made a big deal out of it which I'm kind of grateful for because I would've thrown my kindle across the room if any of them turned on him. But maybe the situation will cause Silas to be less sociopathic? I mean I like Silas just the way he is, but he's often too busy fighting to make out with Seraph. Priorites, people.
I will admit that this book didn't capture me as much as the first two, but it was still enjoyable. The biggest thing missing from the book was probably Silas. (Am I mentioning him too much in this review? Probably.) He wasn't in the book too much for obvious reasons, so something was just missing. I hope he's present more in the next book because he's such an enigma and I really want to know more about him. I'd also like him to make out with Seraph more, but that's beside the point.
(Or maybe it isn't...?)
But anyway, I liked the book and I like that we finally got answers. I also love that Seraph is growing as a character. She's more confident in herself and her abilities, and she's stronger than she was before. More willing to do things like sacrifice herself for Silas, which I definitely approve of. Seph is becoming less of a timid, shy person, and she's actually more badass and fierce than what we've seen before. I approve.
So the book begins with poor Silas still with Weston, and Noah and Cabe still with a huge chunk of their memory missing. Since Silas was gone, and Noah and Cabe unaware of the bond, who do you think was around the most?
That's right. Miro.
Sigh.
I'm just not a fan of him and Seph at all. Student-teacher relationships are creepy as hell (at least to me), and even though him and Seraph have a complicated relationship, it still makes me uncomfortable. Okay, not uncomfortable, it makes me mad. CUZ SILAS IS SERAPH'S MAN
Spoiler
AND WHO DOES MIRO THINK HE IS KISSING HER AND WHO DOES SERAPH THINK SHE IS LIKING THE KISS?! SILAS IS BUSY GETTING TORTURED AND YOU TWO ARE BUSY FUSING LIPS, WHAT THE HELL, YOU INSENSITIVE BEASTS!So anyway, Miro and Seph are around each other a lot which is slightly annoying. Cuz Silas and Seph are meant to be. But I suppose I'll eventually have to accept reality. Which is that it's hard for an atma to have a platonic relationship with one pair, let alone two. So Noah, Cabe, Silas, and Miro are all kind of Seraph's boyfriends which is strange and confusing, especially since it's hard to sort out feelings that are there because of the bond with her personal romantic feelings. If you ask me, I think she likes Silas romantically and is just attracted to others because of the bond, but I also think Noah likes Seraph. In which case, Noah, buddy, you need to back off. I like Noah of course, but not when he's encroaching on Silas's territory.
I do kind of miss her having a more platonic relationship with the guys, though. (The guys minus Silas, because how many times do I have to say it? He's her man.) Part of what made me like the first book so much was seeing how she could be friends with a bunch of hot, amazing guys, because in most books, the male characters are always attracted to the main character. But the whole 4-boyfriends thing makes sense because it's the main focus of the series so it doesn't really bother me.
Besides the reverse-harem-like relationship in the book, we learn a lot more and a lot of questions that we've had since book one are answered. We learn who the Messenger is, we learn more about Seraph's past, more about Weston, Jayden, and some other characters as well. Some of the things that happened I did NOT see coming.
Spoiler
Like Danny being Seraph's twin. Well, okay, I kind of saw it coming because I accidentally spoiled myself. (As soon as I got the ebook, I did a search for Silas's name and then saw a sentence about Danny being the Messenger, so I pretty much spoiled myself for the entire book.) But it's unpredictable just because previously, Danny seemed to be romantically interested in Seph, and didn't he kiss her too?! Not what I would expect from a twin, so I didn't expect him to be the Messenger, so that was a nice twist.Another twist was learning that Seraph stole Silas and Miro from their atma, and that she stole Noah and Cabe too. I definitely wasn't expecting that. And learning that she's the product of some mad scientist experiment? Is Jane Washington the queen of plot twists, or what?
Also. SILAS ALMOST KILLED CABE?!!!!! It was so unexpected and crazy that I don't even know what to think. I still love Silas and I can't bring myself to judge him at all or even be disappointed in him (love is blinding), but at the same time, I mean, hello. He almost killed him, his brothers, and Seraph at the same time. No one in the book really mentioned or made a big deal out of it which I'm kind of grateful for because I would've thrown my kindle across the room if any of them turned on him. But maybe the situation will cause Silas to be less sociopathic? I mean I like Silas just the way he is, but he's often too busy fighting to make out with Seraph. Priorites, people.
I will admit that this book didn't capture me as much as the first two, but it was still enjoyable. The biggest thing missing from the book was probably Silas. (Am I mentioning him too much in this review? Probably.) He wasn't in the book too much for obvious reasons, so something was just missing. I hope he's present more in the next book because he's such an enigma and I really want to know more about him. I'd also like him to make out with Seraph more, but that's beside the point.
(Or maybe it isn't...?)
But anyway, I liked the book and I like that we finally got answers. I also love that Seraph is growing as a character. She's more confident in herself and her abilities, and she's stronger than she was before. More willing to do things like sacrifice herself for Silas, which I definitely approve of. Seph is becoming less of a timid, shy person, and she's actually more badass and fierce than what we've seen before. I approve.
ameserole's review
3.0
Lead Heart is the third installment of this series. Not a whole lot happened other than Noah and Cabe getting their memories back. I honestly have no idea who to trust at this point and I'm also kind of annoyed that it took this long for a certain bond to form as well. I also either want more romance or action to happen because there's only one more book left.
It pains me to say this but having the ending being the best part of each book is starting to get on my nerves. Because that means nothing really happens for most of the book and the only thing that is getting me to dive into the next one is because of the freaking cliffhangers. I feel betrayed right now and I'm just going to jump into the last one with zero expectations.
No idea if I will like it or not but I just want all the answers, romance, and action that makes me heart content. If not, I will riot or something. Maybe take a nap if I'm being honest here.
It pains me to say this but having the ending being the best part of each book is starting to get on my nerves. Because that means nothing really happens for most of the book and the only thing that is getting me to dive into the next one is because of the freaking cliffhangers. I feel betrayed right now and I'm just going to jump into the last one with zero expectations.
No idea if I will like it or not but I just want all the answers, romance, and action that makes me heart content. If not, I will riot or something. Maybe take a nap if I'm being honest here.
cierra_mccauley_cierrascorner's review
5.0
Another 5star read
I absolutely can't get enough of this series! It just grips you and pulls you in, consumes your mind. And leaves you wanting more! I love the reverse Harlem. Each characters is unique and I love them so much individually as well as I love how in sync they are with each other when they are together.
I absolutely can't get enough of this series! It just grips you and pulls you in, consumes your mind. And leaves you wanting more! I love the reverse Harlem. Each characters is unique and I love them so much individually as well as I love how in sync they are with each other when they are together.
romancebookloverinseattle's review
4.0
Really sucked me in!
Been binging this series- it’s completely sucked me in. I like that we get more of everything in this book. The only thing is I wish things with at least one of the guys was on more definite footing in terms of the romantic aspect. I also had a slight issue with one sentence- I’m not sure it was intended how it sounded but abuse survivors can not control what occurs to them and there was a line in here that sort of disturbed me because it implied they do have control. I’m sure that wasn’t the intention but it really pulled me from the story and annoyed me. Either way I’m jumping right into the final book!
Been binging this series- it’s completely sucked me in. I like that we get more of everything in this book. The only thing is I wish things with at least one of the guys was on more definite footing in terms of the romantic aspect. I also had a slight issue with one sentence- I’m not sure it was intended how it sounded but abuse survivors can not control what occurs to them and there was a line in here that sort of disturbed me because it implied they do have control. I’m sure that wasn’t the intention but it really pulled me from the story and annoyed me. Either way I’m jumping right into the final book!