Book Review: Severed Heart by Kate Stewart
The next novel in the spinoff series for Flock, Severed Heart follows Tyler’s love story as he and Delphine fight for the lives they deserve. Check out my full review of Severed Heart by Kate Stewart below!
Book Information
Tyler has loved his best friend’s aunt, Delphine for as long as he can remember. Even with a huge age gap, Tyler can’t find it in himself to stop loving her. Delphine is broken, a raging alcoholic, and the worst aunt she could’ve possibly been to her nephews. But Tyler, her nephews’ best friend, is slowly showing her how to heal. It feels wrong, but Delphine can’t stop herself from loving him even if she won’t allow herself to have him. Through the years, they both grow up and heal, trying to find love in the most unexpected place possible.
Review | Heidi Dischler
Y’all. I really didn’t enjoy this book that much. I liked getting to know Tyler. I liked Delphine’s backstory more than anything. Other than that, though? There were multiple things I just couldn’t get past.
First, the age gap. I get it. They never truly crossed the line until Tyler was a legal adult. Even then, it was Tyler crossing the line, but GUYS. I just can’t. It felt so odd and wrong that I couldn’t get past it no matter how much chemistry the author wrote between these two characters (their love story really is sweet).
Second. This novel was hecka long. Like, I listened to the audiobook (a 24 hour audiobook, mind you), and it was TWELVE hours too long if not more than that. There was not enough happening in this book to justify it being a twenty-four hour audiobook. Come at me for it, but I don’t care. No romance novel should be that long.
Third. I think we the people would’ve appreciated Sean’s book first. No hate to Tyler, but he wasn’t the raven I wanted to see more of. Not to mention, Birds of a Feather is about Tyler, too!! Like what the heck.
Okay, I’m done ranting for the most part. So, what’s good about this book? The romance really is strong. Tyler and Delphine have a great pull towards each other throughout the whole novel. You also get to see a lot of the behind the scenes from the original trilogy (which I know super fans really enjoyed). Not only that, but there’s a good bit of representation for domestic violence, PTSD, and other disorders that get a lot of love and attention in this book. I think Kate Stewart did a great job of keeping those at the forefront of those characters without letting them take over the character or letting the character glide past it without truly showing the healing that goes into overcoming it. You do get to see more of Dom, Sean, and Tobias, but it honestly isn’t enough to justify the TWENTY-FOUR HOUR AUDIOBOOK.
Overall, this book was filled with passionate and steamy moments. The leads had all the chemistry that makes up a good romance novel. My problems? The age gap. The length of this novel (way too long). And, last thing, the main character isn’t the one I really wanted to read about. Give me Sean. That is all. 2.5 out of 5 rounded up to 3 for social platforms.
Source: Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley
(P.S. You can read this book for free by signing up for a free trial of Audible, which gives you two free audiobooks of your choice!)
