Review: Vicious by L.J. Shen
Vicious by L.J. Shen Series: Sinners of Saint #1
on December 27th 2016
Genres: Romance, Dark
Pages: 326
Format: Kindle, Paperback
Buy on Amazon US, Buy on Amazon UK
Emilia
They say love and hate are the same feelings experienced under different circumstances, and it’s true. The man who comes to me in my dreams also haunts me in my nightmares. He is a brilliant lawyer. A skilled criminal. A beautiful liar. A bully and a savior, a monster and a lover. Ten years ago, he made me run away from the small town where we lived. Now, he came for me in New York, and he isn’t leaving until he takes me with him.
Vicious
She is a starving artist. Pretty and evasive like cherry blossom. Ten years ago, she barged into my life unannounced and turned everything upside down. She paid the price. Emilia LeBlanc is completely off-limits, my best friend’s ex-girlfriend. The woman who knows my darkest secret, and the daughter of the cheap Help we hired to take care of our estate. That should deter me from chasing her, but it doesn’t. So she hates me. Big fucking deal. She better get used to me.
5+++ stars!! A read to remember.
A warning to all : This book will claim you.
The story, the characters, everything was perfectly flawed and devastatingly messed up. These things all added to perfection. I am sure Vicious is one of my favourite books of the year and the year just began.
“My Grandma once told me that love and hate are the same feelings experienced under different circumstances. The passion is the same. The pain is the same. That weird thing that bubbles in your chest? Same. I didn’t believe her unit I met Baron Spencer and he became my nightmare.
Then my nightmare became my reality.” ~ Emilia
Vicious – the man, not the title – is one mucked up human being. From the beginning he meets Emilia LeBlanc, he hates her. He has his reasons… somewhat valid reasons, but he tries to ruin her life at eighteen. Which he does, as we see Millie barely surviving New York at the beginning of the book.
“Haven’t you heard?… I like to fight. I like the pain. Maybe because it makes it so much easier for me to come to terms with the fact that I’m going to kill you one day…” ~ Vicious
The book goes through their journey both when they were eighteen to ten years later, when they meet again and Vicious has an offer Millie can’t refuse. Their story is one of many twist and turns with man “ohhhs” and “ahhhs” as you go through it with them.
You get to see the two fight both their attraction and love for each other and it is beautiful and painful at the same time. Hidden in all his roughness due to what has happened in his past, Vicious does have a good side. He lets it affect his relationship and love for Millie and it makes you want to scream at him that he is losing the best part of his life, her. Millie – selfless, beautiful, caring Millie – has always loved Vicious, but she’s been hurt by him a lot and she has created barriers over her heart to keep him away. However, as the book progresses, you see those barriers are torn down and something form between them. It’s messy and take a long-freaking time, but that’s the beauty of them.
“I was her black. And she was my pink” ~ Vicious
Something LJ Shen used really well was the metaphor of the cherry blossom. It is one that definitely describes life and it is so beautiful as its message comes and goes throughout the book.
“Grandma said that the cherry blossom was life. Sweet and beautiful, but so darn short. Too short not to do what you wanna do. Too short to not spend it with the people… you love” – Emilia
Strong, well defined characters in this book help to create a plot which is both intense and perfect. If you are wanting something different, this is the book. This enemies-to-lovers book is not your normal, easy ride. With a messed up story which is so very Vicious and Millie, you will enjoy every second. Perfect. Arghh. Take a read!!
5+++ stars
About L.J. Shen
“L.J. Shen is a #1 Best-selling author of contemporary romance books. She lives in California with her husband, son and lazy cat.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading a good book with a glass of wine and catching up on her favorite HBO and Netflix shows.”
Some titles she has written include: Tyed, Blood to Dust, Vicious, and Sparrow
She is an extremely talented author, writing romance novels with twists. Check her out on Goodreads and her other social media.
