Heather T. (magicmama) - reviewed on 1/11/2012 + 18 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 11

I wanted to like this book. I really did. It has so many fans and glowing reviews. But after 3/4 of the book, I wasn't left with an understanding of why it has been so well received. Instead, I was scratching my head. I have a love for emotionally charged BDSM romantic fiction, Fifty Shades of Grey was not was I was looking for. To be quite honest, I found it boring and the narrator was so very annoying.

The author obviously has talent and a love of words, many, many words, some of which are misused and redundant. This book could have used a very thorough edit. It's overwritten, the protagonist is the epitome of a Mary Sue and the pacing drags. I found myself skimming to get to the meat of the story, hoping Ms. James would finally alleviate the boredom and give me something, anything, to keep me reading. Unfortunately, that never happened.

I know this book started its life as Twilight fanfic and it really shows. Ana was very similar to Bella -- banal, flaky and irritating with her endless maudlin ruminating. Christian was very like Edward if you simply changed vampire to dominant. He was also creepy, controlling and immature. Sound familiar?

As I said, I really wanted to like this and I'm disappointed I didn't.

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