Review: Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

THE STORY

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before. Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her. A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

MY THOUGHTS

The Basics

There's no doubt in my mind that Jessica Shirvington is  a gifted writer. She has such a way with gripping, descriptive prose that is also simple to follow but with maximum dramatic impact. Shirvington's writing brings to life Violet's story, a newly actualized half angel in a world where dark and light are warring. Violet has never known her mother and he father is distant to put it kindly. Struggling to move on from a traumatic incident in her past, Violet looks to Lincoln, her friend, martial arts trainer and big time secret crush for support and comfort. But when Lincoln turns out to be keeping secrets from her, Violet no longer knows where to turn. I was predisposed to fall in love with Lincoln from the outset. That is my pattern. But for some reason, maybe it was his lack of page time, I couldn't really make the connect. Truth be told, in spite of the gorgeous writing, I couldn't really connect with any of the characters or their struggle and the only thing that really kept me reading was the flow of the words.

The Rant

Couldn't you see this coming? I think I could have loved the world of Embrace. I still keep trying to look for ways to forgive it. Let's face it, I have a soft spot for Australian authors. But no matter how I try to dress it up, make excuses for it, I just couldn't overlook the fact that Violet is not much more than a spoiled, selfish, poor little rich girl. Maybe I could have even forgiven that had it not been for the fatal flaw in this book. LOOK AWAY NOW if you don't want to read a massive spoiler. 

So Violet is deeply upset with Lincoln for keeping the secret about her true identity from her. She believes that he has used his knowledge to get to know her and feels betrayed. Fair enough. I concede this point. She pointedly ignores him (as much as she can when the plot device of their partnership keeps pulling them together) and makes friends with another angel named Pheonix who just happens to show up at the most opportune time and you guessed it, he's super hot. What's wrong with that you ask? Nothing under normal circumstances. Except that Pheonix has a special power of his own and he uses it to his full advantage. And Violet allows him to do so. With encouragement I might add. 

     You see, Pheonix has the ability to influence emotions. Violet knows this and yet she always wonders why she feels so drawn to him. FACE PALM! He uses this ability to get Violet to lose her virginity to him. Then she finds out that he's known about her all along. That he's the son of one of the most evil angels ever to walk the heavens. That he's been using her. So at this point I was expecting Violent to go mental and really give him a piece of her mind...and yet nothing. Lincoln is exiled for trying to protect her. Pheonix does a psychic rohypnol thing on her and she's fine with it. GAME OVER. 

     I want to shake and slap Violet over and over at this point. Remember said traumatic incident that is the catalyst for Violet's entire self defense kick? What happened to that? Is it suddenly okay for guys to take advantage of you because they're hot? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

     There are many other small things that I took issue with throughout this book but they pale in comparison to the above. I've overlooked many flaws in this book and others, but I have to check out when it gets all date rape approving. Had it not been for the great writing, I wouldn't have been able to finish this book.

The Apology

I keep promising to try and be more professional in my reviews. I want to be better. But these plots keep sucking me back in. I need a 12 step plan. Or I'll just stop reading/reviewing books that aggravate me so much.

THE RATING:

2/5