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perryaras's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cala_p's review against another edition
5.0
Bane was the book I looked forward to least of all, considering the characters are not one of the main group. Somehow I think LJ Shen knew that readers would have that thought because she doubled down with this one and made it the most impacting story of the series.
Bane is Edie’s ex and friend. His focus is on surfing and using his business smarts to get into the big leagues like the Hotholes. After they turn him away and send him to another business mogul in the area, Darren, Darren and Bane make a deal: for six million, Bane will revitalize Darren’s stepdaughter, Jesse by being a friend and getting her back out in the world. The stipulation is that Bane can’t touch her.
Jesse’s story is hugely impacting. Her high school boyfriend and his friends gangraped her one night, and her parents swept it under the rug and pretended it never happened. This happened after losing her virginity to said boyfriend, but to both their surprises, she wasn’t a virgin so he used his friends to get back at her. Combine the two together, and she was deemed the town’s wh**e and never wants to go out for anything anymore. Her story is worst since she has a black spot in her memory, of a man in a room, but can’t remember anything about it.
She’s stubborn to keep Bane away and Bane is stubborn to be around her. Soon, he wins and they become friendly, friends, then more.
I loved their relationship. It had such a push-pull to it filled with angst. Bane really worked to keep them apart, until it no longer mattered. The book makes him seem like he’ll be an uncaring a**, but he’s actually super sweet and protective of her.
I would deem this easily one of the best books, probably second to Vicious.
Bane is Edie’s ex and friend. His focus is on surfing and using his business smarts to get into the big leagues like the Hotholes. After they turn him away and send him to another business mogul in the area, Darren, Darren and Bane make a deal: for six million, Bane will revitalize Darren’s stepdaughter, Jesse by being a friend and getting her back out in the world. The stipulation is that Bane can’t touch her.
Jesse’s story is hugely impacting. Her high school boyfriend and his friends gangraped her one night, and her parents swept it under the rug and pretended it never happened. This happened after losing her virginity to said boyfriend, but to both their surprises, she wasn’t a virgin so he used his friends to get back at her. Combine the two together, and she was deemed the town’s wh**e and never wants to go out for anything anymore. Her story is worst since she has a black spot in her memory, of a man in a room, but can’t remember anything about it.
She’s stubborn to keep Bane away and Bane is stubborn to be around her. Soon, he wins and they become friendly, friends, then more.
I loved their relationship. It had such a push-pull to it filled with angst. Bane really worked to keep them apart, until it no longer mattered. The book makes him seem like he’ll be an uncaring a**, but he’s actually super sweet and protective of her.
I would deem this easily one of the best books, probably second to Vicious.
tangochick6969's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars for Roman and his Snowflake, the sword, and the princess!
“Maybe love wasn’t about feeling happy and whole. Maybe love was about breaking so the person you cared for would feel a little more whole.” - Roman "Bane" Protsenko
This was such an emotional, yet perfectly humorous story. The way LJ dealt with the subject content (tw ie. rape), was done in a way that made us as the reader feel everything Jesse felt, from her pain, anger, and anguish.
The things Jesse went through are horrible, but the way she held on to herself and didn't allow anyone to break her spirit no matter how many times she got knocked down was badass. She is probably one of my fav LJ Shen female characters (after Daria and Jude), and the way her personality and wit shone through made the whole book for me.
Bane you gorgeous soul, yes he's a man-whore to the point where it really didn't even matter because this boy gave away his body for free because he didn't believe himself to be worthy of anyone's love due to the way he was born. Bane was funny, arrogant without being a douche, self-assured yet still had bouts of insecurity in himself the way he hid from the world by burying himself into work and women. He and Jesse were kindred spirits, so watching them naturally sizzle and fall together was magical!
I loved how Bane saw her first and fell first, it really cemented their relationship as the more time they spent together, the deal Bane made with Darren might as well have been non-existent, so the way Jesse forgave Bane made her an even better character.
The quote for the entire book is explained perfectly through Jesse's tattoo, the one that steals Bane's attention - “My whole life has been pledged to this meeting with you”
Ps- I thank LJ Shen for providing us with all the Baron Vicious crumbs, he's still a sexy bastard. <3
“Maybe love wasn’t about feeling happy and whole. Maybe love was about breaking so the person you cared for would feel a little more whole.” - Roman "Bane" Protsenko
This was such an emotional, yet perfectly humorous story. The way LJ dealt with the subject content (tw ie. rape), was done in a way that made us as the reader feel everything Jesse felt, from her pain, anger, and anguish.
The things Jesse went through are horrible, but the way she held on to herself and didn't allow anyone to break her spirit no matter how many times she got knocked down was badass. She is probably one of my fav LJ Shen female characters (after Daria and Jude), and the way her personality and wit shone through made the whole book for me.
Bane you gorgeous soul, yes he's a man-whore to the point where it really didn't even matter because this boy gave away his body for free because he didn't believe himself to be worthy of anyone's love due to the way he was born. Bane was funny, arrogant without being a douche, self-assured yet still had bouts of insecurity in himself the way he hid from the world by burying himself into work and women. He and Jesse were kindred spirits, so watching them naturally sizzle and fall together was magical!
I loved how Bane saw her first and fell first, it really cemented their relationship as the more time they spent together, the deal Bane made with Darren might as well have been non-existent, so the way Jesse forgave Bane made her an even better character.
The quote for the entire book is explained perfectly through Jesse's tattoo, the one that steals Bane's attention - “My whole life has been pledged to this meeting with you”
Ps- I thank LJ Shen for providing us with all the Baron Vicious crumbs, he's still a sexy bastard. <3
pause_theframe's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my, this is absolute perfection! I am going to have such book hangover from this read! Bane and Snowflake blew my world apart. Their story is so deep, dark and yet still fully uplifting. I really grabbed hold of me and I could not let go!
I loved the characters, both the good an bad. I found the rubbish people really created the dark space that became Snowflakes life. I hated each one of them for it, but also was pulled toward her even more, as we saw just how strong and resilient she is and continues to become. Watching as her and Bane try to navigate the madness of their lives and friendship, was absolutely wonderful.
The pace was perfect. I found it really just kept rolling forward and the twists that Shen threw in were perfectly timed. It just kept finding myself wholly addicted to the story and really could not put it down. I was always wondering what was coming next and had to know.
Overall, this story was brilliant. I loved every page. Shen has really raised the bar with this read, and the All Saints series continues to be perfection. I LOVED this book!!
I loved the characters, both the good an bad. I found the rubbish people really created the dark space that became Snowflakes life. I hated each one of them for it, but also was pulled toward her even more, as we saw just how strong and resilient she is and continues to become. Watching as her and Bane try to navigate the madness of their lives and friendship, was absolutely wonderful.
The pace was perfect. I found it really just kept rolling forward and the twists that Shen threw in were perfectly timed. It just kept finding myself wholly addicted to the story and really could not put it down. I was always wondering what was coming next and had to know.
Overall, this story was brilliant. I loved every page. Shen has really raised the bar with this read, and the All Saints series continues to be perfection. I LOVED this book!!
chelsea_smuttyreads's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The twists at the end 🤯
1bookobsessionconfessions's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book!
Bane is very hot and not as big of an asshole as he believes. He’s a different kind of”bad boy” I really love hothole Vicious but I think Bane gives him a run for his money!
Jesse is stronger than a lot of romance heroines, it’s very endearing. Sure she has weaknesses and understandably so. She has had bad things happen to her and she has a weird family/Home life.
She’s been screwed over by all the important people in her life.
They have cute banter and some hot scenes that aren’t your typical.
I love that when secrets were spilled and everything came crashing down the characters weren’t being overly dramatic. Refreshing!
Really enjoyed it, even more than I expected to.
Bane is very hot and not as big of an asshole as he believes. He’s a different kind of”bad boy” I really love hothole Vicious but I think Bane gives him a run for his money!
Jesse is stronger than a lot of romance heroines, it’s very endearing. Sure she has weaknesses and understandably so. She has had bad things happen to her and she has a weird family/Home life.
She’s been screwed over by all the important people in her life.
They have cute banter and some hot scenes that aren’t your typical.
I love that when secrets were spilled and everything came crashing down the characters weren’t being overly dramatic. Refreshing!
Really enjoyed it, even more than I expected to.
katielenherr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lmh1491's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0