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mitslits's review
The only thing I have to say about this: good Lord, I still have two of them left.
cascadesofbooks's review
3.0
Okay, I am 100% totally ashamed to say that I enjoyed the second half of this book. 150% ashamed. The writing is still terrible, terrible, but there are far less references to Ana's inner goddess, far less thesaurus-humping, and far, far less stalking -- though that may be due to the fact that Ana has grown a spine! Holy cow, she knows how to say NO? Who knew? Characters were more consistent as well. There were some moments where I was actually SURPRISED, which is crazy considering how much foreshadowing was over-used in the past book. Oh, and his psychiatrist actually defended BDSM as a lifestyle, saying it had nothing do with sadism. And, James incorporated BDSM elements into their vanilla relationship, rather than acting like Christian would suddenly become a different person "now that he's in love."
Wow, James, you may actually learn to research and write yet. Overall, it started to feel like I was watching a telenovela, making it a decent beach read. Dare I say that James' is growing from an author that is 6 years old to an author that is 12 years old?
Still, clearly not an award winner. Far longer than it needed to be. Lots of bad analogies and over-descriptions. But I guess that's pretty common in fan fiction. If you decide to read it, be aware that the first 40% of the book is far, far worse than the second half. The second half just felt like a bad romance novel, rather than THE WORST BOOK EVER WRITTEN. The first half feels like Fifty Shades of Grey and may make you want to stab your eyes out. Perseverance wins with this book.
Because, even if it doesn't get better, you too may get the Stockholm Syndrome, after reading 1000 pages about the same two characters. In that case, it may be that the writing actually IS just as HORRIFIC as the first one, and that I have simply become immune with my imagination kicking in as a survivor instinct. Thus, I stick by my first line in that I am absolutely, positively, horrifically ashamed about this two star review. Even more, I am frightened that I may become SUCH a prisoner that I give the third book three stars. If that happens, I give my friends full permission to host whatever intervention is deemed necessary.
P.S. Tips for enjoyment, from me to you:
1. Skim the sex scenes. They are badly written, and use too many words like "apex." With skimming, they become tolerable. Especially since James writes less BDSM, which she appears to know little about, and more vanilla sex, which most people can imagine after reading a dozen romance novels, even if they've had little experience.
2. Ignore the "inner goddess." If you see words that even remotely look like "inner goddess," skip the next four lines.
3. Drink wine beforehand. Or stay up too late. Anything that makes your head a little drowsy, your brain a little tired. If you can slip back in time a little, perhaps back to when you were an adolescent, back when you thought this was trashy, back when you too felt awkward and just wanted to be adored, then you may be able to understand the enjoyment.
Wow, James, you may actually learn to research and write yet. Overall, it started to feel like I was watching a telenovela, making it a decent beach read. Dare I say that James' is growing from an author that is 6 years old to an author that is 12 years old?
Still, clearly not an award winner. Far longer than it needed to be. Lots of bad analogies and over-descriptions. But I guess that's pretty common in fan fiction. If you decide to read it, be aware that the first 40% of the book is far, far worse than the second half. The second half just felt like a bad romance novel, rather than THE WORST BOOK EVER WRITTEN. The first half feels like Fifty Shades of Grey and may make you want to stab your eyes out. Perseverance wins with this book.
Because, even if it doesn't get better, you too may get the Stockholm Syndrome, after reading 1000 pages about the same two characters. In that case, it may be that the writing actually IS just as HORRIFIC as the first one, and that I have simply become immune with my imagination kicking in as a survivor instinct. Thus, I stick by my first line in that I am absolutely, positively, horrifically ashamed about this two star review. Even more, I am frightened that I may become SUCH a prisoner that I give the third book three stars. If that happens, I give my friends full permission to host whatever intervention is deemed necessary.
P.S. Tips for enjoyment, from me to you:
1. Skim the sex scenes. They are badly written, and use too many words like "apex." With skimming, they become tolerable. Especially since James writes less BDSM, which she appears to know little about, and more vanilla sex, which most people can imagine after reading a dozen romance novels, even if they've had little experience.
2. Ignore the "inner goddess." If you see words that even remotely look like "inner goddess," skip the next four lines.
3. Drink wine beforehand. Or stay up too late. Anything that makes your head a little drowsy, your brain a little tired. If you can slip back in time a little, perhaps back to when you were an adolescent, back when you thought this was trashy, back when you too felt awkward and just wanted to be adored, then you may be able to understand the enjoyment.
caveatlectors's review
5.0
I think that every book in this series keeps getting better and better. The intensity of feelings becomes more moving and raw. I love reading about Grey and Steele during their moments.
littlejanelle's review
1.0
Where to begin?
I'll be honest, this is better than the first book. That said, it's not good enough to earn it above one star, like I gave the first book, and not good enough to make it worth suffering through the first book--or even these 500-some pages.
The writing and plotting are slightly better, but they're still pretty bad. James is still stuck on repetition--the word that comes to mind this time is "gah" because it's the most recent one that popped up way too many times and got really annoying, especially considering the fact that it was used numerous times during sex scenes. "Gah" is not an effective way for your protagonist to express her reactions to the intensity of an explicit sex scene, nor do I think it's realistic.
As for the plot, it's full of romance-novel cliches, which would be acceptable if this book had any redeeming qualities. But instead, we're stuck with nothing but haphazard events to make us worry for the future of Christian and Ana--the problem is that, once again, Christian and Ana are a godawful couple who shouldn't be together, between their mutual communication and jealousy issues and Christian's abusive tendencies. And although those abusive tendencies have toned down and we seemed to be progressing toward a reformed Christian, they are still alive and well. He still talks about wanting to hit Ana when he gets angry with her--note that this is not in a sexual context but because she's doing things he doesn't like, such as rolling her eyes--and he still exerts ridiculous control over her. We start with him buying the company she gets a job with and near the end, we get a scene where the couple gets into a spat over the dress Ana choose to wear out to run errands because Christian thinks it's too short and she should change.
And much like the first book, the research James claims she did seems to be limited to Googling sex toys. This time, not only do we have the misrepresentation of BDSM through Christian, but we also have an ethically questionable therapist in Dr. Flynn, who not only disregards confidentiality and discusses Christian's history and issues with Ana openly but kicks Christian out of the room to do so.
I've read a lot of books and disliked a few, but this series is by far the worst. Similarly, I've read plenty of books with unhealthy relationships, but again, this is by far the worst.
I'll be honest, this is better than the first book. That said, it's not good enough to earn it above one star, like I gave the first book, and not good enough to make it worth suffering through the first book--or even these 500-some pages.
The writing and plotting are slightly better, but they're still pretty bad. James is still stuck on repetition--the word that comes to mind this time is "gah" because it's the most recent one that popped up way too many times and got really annoying, especially considering the fact that it was used numerous times during sex scenes. "Gah" is not an effective way for your protagonist to express her reactions to the intensity of an explicit sex scene, nor do I think it's realistic.
As for the plot, it's full of romance-novel cliches, which would be acceptable if this book had any redeeming qualities. But instead, we're stuck with nothing but haphazard events to make us worry for the future of Christian and Ana--the problem is that, once again, Christian and Ana are a godawful couple who shouldn't be together, between their mutual communication and jealousy issues and Christian's abusive tendencies. And although those abusive tendencies have toned down and we seemed to be progressing toward a reformed Christian, they are still alive and well. He still talks about wanting to hit Ana when he gets angry with her--note that this is not in a sexual context but because she's doing things he doesn't like, such as rolling her eyes--and he still exerts ridiculous control over her. We start with him buying the company she gets a job with and near the end, we get a scene where the couple gets into a spat over the dress Ana choose to wear out to run errands because Christian thinks it's too short and she should change.
And much like the first book, the research James claims she did seems to be limited to Googling sex toys. This time, not only do we have the misrepresentation of BDSM through Christian, but we also have an ethically questionable therapist in Dr. Flynn, who not only disregards confidentiality and discusses Christian's history and issues with Ana openly but kicks Christian out of the room to do so.
I've read a lot of books and disliked a few, but this series is by far the worst. Similarly, I've read plenty of books with unhealthy relationships, but again, this is by far the worst.
singerofstories's review
3.0
I don't like how this book makes me feel - creeping into my mind, stalking me everywhere I go. I cannot look at tea, wine, ties, satin, audi's or saab's, the word "fifty", men in suits, men with broad shoulders, men in general....I can't look at any of these without thinking of the book. I felt this way (somewhat) after reading "The Hunger Games" but that was more of a "down-with-the-capital!!!" kind of thing; an "if-it-was-me-I'd-die-in-the-games-do-I'd-better-get-in-shape" thing. This is a relentless "I-want-men-and-money-and-sex" thing. Its exciting....but its too much for me! I am addicted to their love and the story (despite the sheer ridiculousness of it) but I have to slow down the reading because it consumes me TOO much.
And yes, the sex was better in the first one. I can't believe they both get off multiple times every time. Christian is still hot & exciting. I loved learning more of his story and seeing him come so far. I am captivated, but I pretty much hate it. The perfect love-hate relationship.
And yes, the sex was better in the first one. I can't believe they both get off multiple times every time. Christian is still hot & exciting. I loved learning more of his story and seeing him come so far. I am captivated, but I pretty much hate it. The perfect love-hate relationship.
erina's review
5.0
WOW! Very few books keep me up all night reading because I simply cannot stop. I love the characters and they grew on me more and more. Both Ana and Christian developed as characters and exhibited some real growth and I became very invested in their relationship. The sex was fantastic, but honestly I found myself reading it quickly because I wanted to get back to more of the actual story (although sex and story are not easily separated in this book). I starter to reread the series the second I was done it, which is pretty much unheard of for me. I'm really sad the series is over and I will miss Ana and Christian. I want more!!!
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