War Paint by Sarah Black | Dreamspinner Press

3.5 Dysfunctional Symbiosis stars
By HEChapter
on May 16, 2018 10:05
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ THREE & 1/2-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
Not a lot to see on this cover. A portion of a person is shown, from behind, with an aerosol can in hand. Other than the bluish cloud mixed with the title, there's no other indication that the can is spray paint and there's no graffiti in the background to indicate that the subject is a tagger or an artist. If I'd not been presented with the synopsis, I may have passed this one up while skimming through covers for my next read.

> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Alternating third-person

I'm not sure what it was about this story that made it so difficult for me to read. The sections were marked off by strange little titles telling the reader who is doing what.
Eli continually mentally (and occasionally verbally) calls Ben "Bison" due to his appearance. Ben thinks of Eli as "a boy". Then there was "the Manatee".
The dynamics of their relationship made no sense to me. I did not feel the insta-love that the author was trying to sell, instead, I felt there was a co-dependency borne of circumstances of brokenness. Conversations felt cold and disjointed. Ben has a dog, but would that not complicate the life of a poor, traveling artist? And if he's commissioned worldwide, wouldn't he be paid better?
As the story continued, I still struggled to feel the bond, the love they seemed to find for one another. If felt more like a dysfunctional symbiosis than romance. The conclusion was not solid nor satisfying, I felt cheated at the end with the way it left things.
Overall, it should not have taken me three days to read less than 100 pages but sadly, my struggle was real with this one. I truly hope other readers have a better experience with it.
.
Rating: [PG-13] ~ Score: 3.725 ~ Stars: 3.5 - 4
==========================
⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐

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- 3.5 Dysfunctional Symbiosis stars
- By HEChapter
  on May 16, 2018 10:05
- ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ THREE & 1/2-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
  
  > > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
  Not a lot to see on this cover. A portion of a person is shown, from behind, with an aerosol can in hand. Other than the bluish cloud mixed with the title, there's no other indication that the can is spray paint and there's no graffiti in the background to indicate that the subject is a tagger or an artist. If I'd not been presented with the synopsis, I may have passed this one up while skimming through covers for my next read.
  
  > > Looking Deeper < <
  POV ~> Alternating third-person
  
  I'm not sure what it was about this story that made it so difficult for me to read. The sections were marked off by strange little titles telling the reader who is doing what.
  Eli continually mentally (and occasionally verbally) calls Ben "Bison" due to his appearance. Ben thinks of Eli as "a boy". Then there was "the Manatee".
  The dynamics of their relationship made no sense to me. I did not feel the insta-love that the author was trying to sell, instead, I felt there was a co-dependency borne of circumstances of brokenness. Conversations felt cold and disjointed. Ben has a dog, but would that not complicate the life of a poor, traveling artist? And if he's commissioned worldwide, wouldn't he be paid better?
  As the story continued, I still struggled to feel the bond, the love they seemed to find for one another. If felt more like a dysfunctional symbiosis than romance. The conclusion was not solid nor satisfying, I felt cheated at the end with the way it left things.
  Overall, it should not have taken me three days to read less than 100 pages but sadly, my struggle was real with this one. I truly hope other readers have a better experience with it.
  .
  Rating: [PG-13] ~ Score: 3.725 ~ Stars: 3.5 - 4
  ==========================
  ⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐

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