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Burning Ivy is a dark romance with some intriguing elements, but it struggles with pacing, character consistency, and flow.
The introduction set a humorous tone, though perhaps unintentionally—there were so many references to eyebrows in the first scene that I couldn’t help but laugh at the mental image. The story starts with an immediate "alpha-hole" male lead, which I enjoyed. His possessiveness and jealousy checked all the boxes for classic dark romance tropes, and the neurodivergent representation was a refreshing addition.
Unfortunately, the book's execution left much to be desired. The dialogue often felt disjointed, and the metaphors were either misplaced or didn’t flow naturally within the narrative. The female main character (FMC) came across as emotionally unstable, with whiplash-inducing mood swings and tantrums that made it hard to connect with her. Her trust in the male characters, especially the secondary ones, developed too quickly, with little relationship-building to back it up.
The pacing was one of the book's biggest issues. At 36%, almost nothing had happened, and by the halfway mark, the plot finally began to pick up. However, even when the story gained momentum, there were unrealistic moments—particularly at the 80% mark—where the FMC’s decisions didn’t align with the urgency or logic of the situation. A tighter edit could have cut out the weaker sections, shortening the unnecessarily long runtime for a dark romance.
Another issue was the handling of BDSM. The scenes lacked essential responsible conversations about boundaries, subspace, and preparation, which felt like a missed opportunity to explore this dynamic authentically. The lack of groundwork made these moments feel rushed and superficial.
That said, there were a few redeeming aspects. The mystery surrounding Liam delivered a twist that, while initially frustrating, became more impactful later. Still, the book didn’t fully recover for me, as I found myself skimming by the end due to its drawn-out nature.
Overall, Burning Ivy has potential but is bogged down by uneven pacing, inconsistent characterization, and underdeveloped plotlines. A thorough edit and more focus on character development could have elevated this story into something truly gripping.
Tropes
🖤Marriage of convenience
🖤Mafia and Secret Society
🖤 JP/OTT MMC
🖤 Strong FMC
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Action/Suspense
🖤 Touch her and die
🖤 Praise
🖤 He’s been watching her
A big thank you to Hambright PR for the ARC.