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Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️'s Reviews > Vicious
Vicious (Sinners of Saint, #1)
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Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️'s review
bookshelves: 3-stars, alpha-male, enemies-to-lovers, love-to-hate-and-hate-to-love, loved-you-since-childhood, revenge-plots
Feb 13, 2019
bookshelves: 3-stars, alpha-male, enemies-to-lovers, love-to-hate-and-hate-to-love, loved-you-since-childhood, revenge-plots
3 - 3.5 Stars
This was my second L.J. Shen book and, while I think I rated this one higher than the first book I read, it still didn't quite hit 4 stars for me. Which is annoying, because I really want to like her books more.
I really like Shen's writing and, in both books I have read, she has displayed the ability to write characters with a lot of chemistry and believable push/pull.
She was even able to pull off flashbacks here that didn't make me want to cut a bitch; and those who have followed my reviews for a while know I am not a huge fan of flashbacks.
However.
I just felt like something was missing here for me and I can't quite put my finger on what exactly that missing thing is. Something in the execution of the events in the present portions of the book...not quite sure. But whatevs.
I will probably attempt the next book in the series (not the novella prequel, but Dean's book) as, like I said, I really do want to love a Shen book. I feel like I'm soclose.
This was my second L.J. Shen book and, while I think I rated this one higher than the first book I read, it still didn't quite hit 4 stars for me. Which is annoying, because I really want to like her books more.
I really like Shen's writing and, in both books I have read, she has displayed the ability to write characters with a lot of chemistry and believable push/pull.
She was even able to pull off flashbacks here that didn't make me want to cut a bitch; and those who have followed my reviews for a while know I am not a huge fan of flashbacks.
However.
I just felt like something was missing here for me and I can't quite put my finger on what exactly that missing thing is. Something in the execution of the events in the present portions of the book...not quite sure. But whatevs.
I will probably attempt the next book in the series (not the novella prequel, but Dean's book) as, like I said, I really do want to love a Shen book. I feel like I'm soclose.
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Reading Progress
December 29, 2016
– Shelved
December 29, 2016
– Shelved as:
to-read
June 26, 2017
– Shelved as:
on-hold
February 6, 2019
–
Started Reading
February 13, 2019
– Shelved as:
3-stars
February 13, 2019
– Shelved as:
alpha-male
February 13, 2019
– Shelved as:
enemies-to-lovers
February 13, 2019
– Shelved as:
loved-you-since-childhood
February 13, 2019
– Shelved as:
love-to-hate-and-hate-to-love
February 13, 2019
– Shelved as:
revenge-plots
February 13, 2019
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-45 of 45 (45 new)
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message 1:
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Coco.V
(new)
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rated it 4 stars
Jun 14, 2017 07:12AM
Enjoy, Val! :)
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Coco.V wrote: "Enjoy, Val! :)"Thanks Coco :)
The description made me cringe but also... intrigued me :D Is it good so far?
Ceki wrote: "The description made me cringe but also... intrigued me :D Is it good so far?"Haven't quite started it yet! I'm sorry lol
message 5:
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V. A Court of Wings and Ruin is NEW ADULT/EROTICA but ŷ editors won't tell you to include it in the choice awards
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added it
I'm avoiding this one because OW and OM but heard great things about it, hope you enjoy it more.
Veronica PARENTAL GUIDANCE ALERT: A Court of Mist and Fury is an EROTICA/NEW ADULT but most booktubers won't tell you wrote: "I'm avoiding this one because OW and OM but heard great things about it, hope you enjoy it more."Awwww, bummer...
not sure where the rating is coming from on this one, 52% and I am out......my advise is to keep it on hold.If you have read this author before and can recommend another I would be willing to give her another try, but very skeptical.
Christina wrote: "not sure where the rating is coming from on this one, 52% and I am out......my advise is to keep it on hold.If you have read this author before and can recommend another I would be willing to give..."
Actually, I haven't had much luck with this author.
I liked this series but there were things I didn't like that kept it from being a 5 star series for me. The 3 and 4th ones are much better imo then the first 2 (and the novella). My favorite book of hers is Midnight Blue, highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already)
MIA wrote: "I liked this series but there were things I didn't like that kept it from being a 5 star series for me. The 3 and 4th ones are much better imo then the first 2 (and the novella). My favorite book ..."
I'll have to try that one, thanks MIA :)
I really enjoyed Scandalous and Bane. Vicious is in my honest opinion the weakest book of the series and I don’t see why people are so in love with that asshat 🤷🏼♀�
I love your reviews. Thanks for always being honest and awesome. Also, flashbacks make me stabby too haha.
Kim wrote: "I really enjoyed Scandalous and Bane. Vicious is in my honest opinion the weakest book of the series and I don’t see why people are so in love with that asshat 🤷🏼♀�"This makes me hopeful for the next books, thanks Kim.
Kate wrote: "I love your reviews. Thanks for always being honest and awesome. Also, flashbacks make me stabby too haha."
SUPER stabby! lol And thanks Kate!
I hope you have better luck with this series than I did. I don't think I got passed this book lol.
message 16:
by
Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️
(last edited Feb 13, 2019 11:10AM)
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
Bookreader87(Amanda) wrote: "I hope you have better luck with this series than I did. I don't think I got passed this book lol."Thank you :)
Felt the same way about this book, didn’t particularly enjoy it. However! I just finished the 2nd book in the series and it is MILES better than the first one. Would recommend giving it a go!
I had a hard time judging this one as it really depended on the mood I was in when I finished it. Lucky I was in a good mood, otherwise I really would have given it a low grade since the hero was such an ANTIhero and never switched. But I was in awe of how the author made such an asshole hero compelling
Lovely honest review, Val! I agree with you on this one. Ruckus is better though :)
Hanna wrote: "Felt the same way about this book, didn’t particularly enjoy it. However! I just finished the 2nd book in the series and it is MILES better than the first one. Would recommend giving it a go!"Reading it now...hoping it picks up...
I adore L.J. Shen's writing but this series was something else. It just went downhill for me. Ruckus was bloody boring and the subsequent books that followed went down such a bizarre path that my mind branded the series as disgusting.
Samira wrote: "I adore L.J. Shen's writing but this series was something else. It just went downhill for me. Ruckus was bloody boring and the subsequent books that followed went down such a bizarre path that my m..."Yeah, I DNF’d Ruckus and it sounds like I made the right choice for myself.
Great review Val. I agree, I love LJ Shen and I have read all her books but 2. This book and another one are my lowest rated.
message 24:
by
Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️
(last edited Feb 14, 2019 09:08AM)
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
Leigh wrote: "Great review Val. I agree, I love LJ Shen and I have read all her books but 2. This book and another one are my lowest rated."Thanks Leigh. I can't figure out why she doesn't work for me. I feel like we should be a match made in heaven. And you and Bev (the two people I am usually most in line with, reading-taste-wise) both love her stuff, so it annoys me to no end that it's not working for me. Lol
It fact, it was your review/rating of Ruckus that made me decide to go ahead and try it. So bummed I didn't love it :(
I have a hard time with her books also. I’ve tried 3 different ones and I can’t connect with her either. I don’t know why.
Have you read Dirty Headlines by L. J. Shen?
Mamacita wants a Bedtime Story wrote: "Lol!"😜
Val Shameless ⚓️ Steamy Reads ⚓️ wrote: "Leigh wrote: "Great review Val. I agree, I love LJ Shen and I have read all her books but 2. This book and another one are my lowest rated."Thanks Leigh. I can't figure out why she doesn't work fo..."
Your right you didn't love Sparrow either and that's one of my favorites. I won't even bother to tell you that I LOVED The Kiss Thief lol.
Leigh wrote: "Val Shameless ⚓️ Steamy Reads ⚓️ wrote: "Leigh wrote: "Great review Val. I agree, I love LJ Shen and I have read all her books but 2. This book and another one are my lowest rated."Thanks Leigh. I..."
I have that on my kindle...but I think I should read sometime in between before tackling another Shen...
Val Shameless ⚓️ Steamy Reads ⚓️ wrote: "Leigh wrote: "Val Shameless ⚓️ Steamy Reads ⚓️ wrote: "Leigh wrote: "Great review Val. I agree, I love LJ Shen and I have read all her books but 2. This book and another one are my lowest rated."T..."
Good luck, I hate when I want to love an author and they just don't work for me :(
I can’t seem to make the jump from so so liking to love with her books, either. So much possibility but I always feel a bit flat after finishing her stories.
Leigh wrote: "Val Shameless ⚓️ Steamy Reads ⚓️ wrote: "Leigh wrote: "Val Shameless ⚓️ Steamy Reads ⚓️ wrote: "Leigh wrote: "Great review Val. I agree, I love LJ Shen and I have read all her books but 2. This boo..."<3
Jen wrote: "I can’t seem to make the jump from so so liking to love with her books, either. So much possibility but I always feel a bit flat after finishing her stories."Me too Jen.
Elle wrote: "Nicely said, Val! :D"Thanks Elle :)
This book wasn’t my favorite either. But I do recommend Scandalous, which is a part of the Sinners of Saints series as well. I enjoyed it a lot 😄
Well will see, Kristy. Taking a break from this series for now :)
The Kiss Thief was wonderful ..... Easy 5 stars
Terrific review Val! :)
Surprised this was a sold 5* for me . Each to their own though, i've found some of her more recent books a bit meh .
Aisling Zena wrote: "Terrific review Val! :)"Braveheart wrote: "The Kiss Thief was wonderful ..... Easy 5 stars"
Thanks Aisling :)
Ana O wrote: "DAT COVER. He is so pretty I can't even..."Yeah, she always has some really good covers...
Oh I loved this book!! I love Shen! Try dirty headlines, it’s standalone. I absolutely loved the main characters! I haven’t read blood to dust but heard good things about it so will read soon! Also check out the villain! 😊
Reka wrote: "Oh I loved this book!! I love Shen! Try dirty headlines, it’s standalone. I absolutely loved the main characters! I haven’t read blood to dust but heard good things about it so will read soon! Also..."I’ve read enough LJ Shen to know she’s just not for me, but thanks!
