A review by mockingjayreads
Watercolour Smile by Jane Washington
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.