Madame X (Madame X #1) by Jasinda Wilder

Title: Madame X
Series: Madame X
Author: Jasinda Wilder
Genres: Romance/Drama/Dark/Adult

Maturity Rating: 17+
*WARNING: TRAUMA TRIGGERS* 

Overall Rating:

My Quickie Synopsis: Madame X lives in a plush world of sophistication where she caters to only the privileged and most elite of society-but it's not in the way that you might expect. She's a mistress in the art of class, confidence and control; her job is to impart this knowledge to the entitled yet thoroughly ignorant sons of her clientele. However, her carefully constructed reality and identity threaten to come crumbling down when a few chance encounters force her to question her lifestyle and circumstances.

Micro Review: I typically don't like doing micro reviews because I feel that they do a disservice to the book and author. That being said, I also realize that most people don't give two flying craps about technicalities. I get it and I can appreciate it. So, I'll try the condensed version out for a while. We'll see how long it lasts!
On to the juicy bits though-
Madame X is probably going to be unlike anything you've read in a while and I say that purely from the standpoint of the writing style. There are certain aspects of the story told in a kind of diary-style second person; it takes a while to get used to, but it certainly adds a richness to the story. On top of that, I can't think of many authors that would be brave enough to tackle that point of view and then go on to excel with it.
That's just the tip of the iceberg here; the most compelling aspects of the book are the characters themselves. The titular character, Madame X, is a veritably complex woman and you can't help but to feel an emotional connection to her the deeper you find yourself immersed in her world. The supporting cast of characters each come with their own skeletons and emotional baggage, and X's interactions with each of them spark a slow shift in her perspective. These interactions alone will probably have you reading all night just to see what X will get herself into next.

You're hurting my heart, X!

I will say that I personally was disappointed with a few of X's choices, but the fact of the matter is that everything made perfect sense, And honestly, as a reader, you can't really ask for anything more. There are several difficult topics explored within Madame X, and each one is handled with a certain poise alongside a dose of harsh reality that you just don't see as often in modern romance novels. Don't get me wrong; there's plenty of romantic fantasy to be had within the story, but it's grounded by the heavier issues that Ms. Wilder introduces in a seamless way.
In line with the majority of reviews that are already out regarding this book, I too do not want to give too much away. It's a book that has to be experienced with a fresh pair of eyes.

My Icing on Top:
It's really rare for me to rate a book at five stars. This is only the second book I've rated as such for books I've read in 2015. To put that in a bit of perspective, I've rated 83 books this year. I know that this book won't be for everyone, as the subject matter is on the graphic side; however, if you're up for reading a superb modern drama with a twist of dark romance and plenty of thought provoking moments, please pick up Madame X the next chance that you get.

Check out my informal review on goodreads!

As always, happy reading!

-K

Micro Burst Reviews

Hello everyone! It's time to get back into the swing of things. The new website is still underway, but should be up soon! In the meantime, I'll be posting a few micro burst reviews. As you can imagine, life gets busy, but never too busy to the point where I'm not reading at least a few books a week.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the books I'll be posting reviews of in the upcoming weeks!

Madame X by Jasinda Wilder-

Trigger alert! This book is graphic my friends and it certainly needs a warning label as such. But what a fantastic read! The characters are phenomenal and are sure to keep you locked in to the story-line. Can't wait for my full review? Read my quickie Goodreads review here! 

The Dark Ones by Rachel Van Dyken-

This is the first book in a new paranormal series by Rachel Van Dyken. There's a ton of potential here, but it is a short read clocking in at only 268 pages. The story isn't particularly novel in its presentation, but it is enjoyable nonetheless and serves as a great introductory tale.

Bound by Duty by Stormy Smith-

I liked this book, but I do feel that the romance was a bit forced and the story line was a bit predictable. Whether logical or not, I do have high hopes for the next books in this series, as the first book does have good bones. Can't wait for my full review? Read my quickie Goodreads review here! 

Queen of the Deep by Kay Kenyon-

Queen of the Deep is a book I received courtesy of NetGalley. This was definitely a weird read for me. I say that in the most positive way though! The story was quite different than most of what I had been reading at the time, however, it needed to spend just a little more time in the development tank. Can't wait for my full review? Read my quickie Goodreads review here!

I look forward to posting more about these books as well as a few others in the near future! In the meantime, happy reading!

-K