Book Review: Abandoned: Ellie’s Awakening by Shyla Raven
Overall Score
Summary:
4.5
What the Reviewer thought
Ellie’s Awakening is an erotic fiction novel about a young woman who has grown up poor and mentally and verbally abused by her mother. The first chance she has, the mother throws Ellie out of the house. Ellie, despite her rough childhood is still rather naive and innocent. She decides to head into the forest surrounding her town in an effort to find a “distant town where the sun shone brightly all day, and the Villagers were warm and welcoming.” During the course of her travels, she must deal with weather, tiredness, and hunger. She also faces encounters with two different men: one younger man that she has a crush on and one older man who has obvious lustful feelings for her that make her nervous.
This book is well written, especially when you consider that it is in the erotic fiction category. Where many erotic fiction stories fail to develop background, character, or a plot that isn’t solely about the sexual encounters, this book has all three, all of which are done fairly well. In fact, a reader’s biggest complaint is likely that they want more. A bit more development in the background of the characters would enhance the emotional connection to the character, as well as the feeling of suspense over whether or not Ellie will find the town, a savior, or a bad ending.
The story also ends rather abruptly, leaving the reader to make up his or her mind about the “conclusion” of several of the events in the story. Some people enjoy being allowed to decide what happens next, but for some readers–such as me–it simply makes me feel as if the author ran out of time or energy. And when the book is so well written in the first place, it only enhances this feeling. The only thing that makes this ending “acceptable” to me is the hope that the author intends to write sequels to this story.
If you like erotic fiction, especially with a fantasy or historical feel, you will very likely enjoy this book. Those of you who read the erotic fiction more for the sex scenes than the story, however, might be disappointed by how much of the story you have to read before you get any true sexual encounters.
About the Author
Jenah Writer, Blogger, Web/Graphic Designer. I love reading and watching my favorite television shows.
