Blossoms & Flutters: Black Iris by Leah Raeder
- By Leah Raeder
- Editions: audiobook, ebook, paperback
- Expected publication: April 28th 2015 by Atria
- Genre: New Adult Romantic Suspense
- Source: NetGalley
- In a Flutter: Dark and Twisted!
It only took one moment of weakness for Laney Keating’s world to fall apart. One stupid gesture for a hopeless crush. Then the rumors began. Slut, they called her. Queer. Psycho. Mentally ill, messed up, so messed up even her own mother decided she wasn’t worth sticking around for.
If Laney could erase that whole year, she would. College is her chance to start with a clean slate.
She’s not looking for new friends, but they find her: charming, handsome Armin, the only guy patient enough to work through her thorny defenses—and fiery, filterless Blythe, the bad girl and partner in crime who has thorns of her own.
But Laney knows nothing good ever lasts. When a ghost from her past resurfaces—the bully who broke her down completely—she decides it’s time to live up to her own legend. And Armin and Blythe are going to help.
Which was the plan all along.
Because the rumors are true. Every single one. And Laney is going to show them just how true.
She’s going to show them all.
~ Goodreads
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: This story took place in Naperville and Chicago, Illinois. A lot of the scenes take place in the city, in a night club and the main character’s apartments. The characters were in college but in my opinion it wasn’t a run of the mill college new adult story.
Characters: The main characters were Laney, Armin, and Blythe. All of them are pretty messed up in their own way. Laney, mostly due to her mother and bullies. Blythe just has something inside her to make her the way that she is. And Armin mostly blames Blythe and a little bit of Laney for the way that he is. Laney was a super complex character and the whole story revolved around her and how everyone and thing kind of gets swept up into her tornado.
Plot: In my opinion this was a mind fuck story. It had me guessing till the end and asking what the hell is really going on?!? It was pretty confusing! One step forward, in terms of getting a new piece of the puzzle, turned out to be three steps back because the puzzle piece didn’t quite fit right. I can’t say that I was completely mind fucked at the climax but the story definitely had me unable to walk away because I wanted to know what the end game was. I think the story kind of slowly twists up your insides and then leaves you left reeling with all chips falling where they may.
Writing: The story was told from Laney’s first person point of view as well as past and present points of view. The past and present points of view, for me, was really hard to keep track of because there were about three to four story time lines in the book. They ended up coming together in the end but I kind of just had to go with the flow and just pay attention to whether it said in the chapter’s titles Last Year or This Year. Also, I do believe the majority of the story was overly wordy. Everything was very descriptive and described in metaphors and similes. It’s not my favorite and don’t usually read stories like that but every once in a while I’ll pick one up.
Curb Appeal: The cover was definitely pretty but what really hooked me was the blurb! Holy hell when I first read it I was instantly intrigued! I really like “bad” people and Laney was the anti-heroine that really hit the spot. *winks* She was pretty unapologetic and mostly owned up to what she did and I liked it!
Ultimately: I’m kind of pissed that I can’t tell you everything I want to because it would ruin the story!! All I can say is that it was something different and I enjoyed it! When the blurb says dark and sexy, it really means it. I hope you will come on this ride and find out why love, sex, revenge, and acceptance can turn even the most sane person insane!
