A review by twistykris
American Queen by Sierra Simone

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

4.0

My first Sierra Simone book and it the spice was 10/10. There were moments I really loved (anything with Embry; he deserves all the happiness). And I went into this expecting a sort of mmf love-triangle that ends up being a love-triad, which genuinely brought me to tears at the end. And the ENDING?! I saw *something* coming, but my jaw dropped nonetheless.

The audiobook was enjoyable to listen to and I think Stephanie Rose did a great job with all of the characters (though I wish she gave a liiiittle more emotion with Ash. There were times he would "moan" or "whisper" something and she would read it as plain text, for example). 

I have a some issues however (which I will put in spoilers):
  •  
    The adult/ minor relationship was very uncomfy for me: Greer is 16, Ash is 26 when they meet. They make out and she writes sexual emails to him [and he jerks off to them], but they don't have any sexual contact until she is of-age, but still.. ick.
  •  
    Ash is kind of a jerk. I understand he's a dom, but I really don't like how he treated most of the characters.
  •  
    Greer is a doormat to everyone. Ash, her "best friend"/ cousin, her grandfather. I just wanted her to grow a backbone at some point and I felt like she didn't really grow as a character all that much.
     
  •  
    What the fuck was with the whole Merlin thing??? It was hinted at that there was some mystical, magical thing happening and then it was like "lul nope he's just a regular guy who acts foreboding and weird."
     
  •  
    The accidental incest was gross and unnecessary IMO.
     

I will be continuing the series, if only to see what happens.
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