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A review by alecashlark
Illicit by Alessandra Hazard
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Characters: ⭐⭐⭐ | Romance: ⭐⭐⭐ | Plot: ⭐⭐⭐ | Final Rating: 3.5 Stars
Illicit is an ultra-fast paced, low angst pseudo-taboo romance that features a virgin omega and a virile alpha (I’m sorry, that’s the best I can do with what I’ve been given. LMAO.) and ends with a happily-ever-after. Recommended to those looking for a quick, smutty read.
Review
The writing style, all in its own, the story aside, is one of the best I’ve read. It’s shiny smooth and effortlessly fast-paced, with the point of view so deeply seated into the narration that the entire story is experienced through the characters. I don’t think there’s a sentence here that’s not colored by the characters’ emotion, thoughts, and opinion. It’s done so well that it’s easy to connect with Liam and Jon despite them being flat characters.
The main characters here can only exist in the book. Well-rounded characters make it possible for readers to imagine said characters outside of the story, but that’s not the case here. I can’t imagine Liam other than as an insecure omega. I can’t even imagine Jon as an operative, and that’s what he is! When a good book ends, the reader can almost automatically create in their mind, in general terms, to a certain extent, their own version of what’s going to happen next to the characters. (It’s the reason why good stories with well-developed characters have fan-fictions.) But here, once the story is done, the characters are gone. I can’t really imagine how happily they’re going to live ever after.
The romance is without those specific, little things that give it substance. Even Liam himself doesn’t really know what he misses about Jon after they are separated later in the story. He only says, “I need him. I miss him.” Liam longs for Jon only in general terms. This is because there’s no or not enough intimate and charged moments, or sweet and fun banter, or an exchange of small secrets between the characters, those little things that make a romance solid and memorable. In fact, there’s really not enough conversation between the main characters, just a lot of quick, desperate fucking.
The plot’s sole purpose here is to make the pseudo-taboo romance possible and it manifests in the form of an uninteresting, unconvincing storyline. There’s no real surprise, no real twist in the turn of events. In fact, the plot is so unremarkable I shouldn’t even be talking about it.
But despite all of those underwhelming parts of the book, I do enjoy reading Illicit. I laugh out loud at the characters’ tragic/comedic situation and fan myself during the page-meltingly hot scenes. It’s Alessandra Hazard’s magic, I guess.
Quotes
It was impossible to make himself fall in love with someone—just as it was impossible to stop loving someone.
Respect is earned, not given.
Jon lost the battle with himself: he leaned in and pecked the corner of that full, scowling mouth.
“Jon!” Liam hissed, his blush deepening. “Everyone’s looking at us!”
“How do you know that?” Jon said with a teasing grin, tapping him on the nose. “You haven’t looked away from me.”