Freeing Adalyne

I really was excited for the concept of this book: a brutal cult, a love story and an age gap. I loved the beginning of this book. The way it feels and flows the writing really is beautiful. It deals with some heavy topics and I believe it is done respectfully. I was 100% on board with this book and was ready to rate it really high until about half way through when things felt rushed and the main issue of the story got solved really fast. Some parts dragged but I really enjoyed the intimacy this created. I did really enjoy the character development throughout the book. The ending was also beautifully written. The start and the ending of the book felt really fleshed out but the middle felt rushed.

I am really excited for more of this story to see what happens to our female main characters!!

Thank you to the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC! I’m always grateful for the chance to read more sapphic stories early.

This one was a mixed bag for me. I flew through it in under six hours and stayed entertained the whole time, which says a lot. The mix of smut and plot progression was solid (and not always easy to find in WLW romances). I also know I’d probably pick up a sequel because I’m invested in where the characters end up.

That said, some areas felt rushed while others dragged, and the lack of character descriptions made it hard to fully picture them. A few plot choices also felt brushed over when they could have used more weight, which left things feeling a bit chaotic at times. And personally, the teacher–student trope just isn’t my thing.

Overall, a decent and engaging read, but not without its flaws.

I received this book for free in return for writing a honest review.

Freeing Adalyne is the first book in a series by Len Beeson focused on two women, or rather one thirty-something professor and her soon-to-be-legal student. After uncovering signs that Adalyne is abused at home, Jazmin, her professor, takes her under her wing. What was at first just a helping hand becomes a lot more when the only solution to save Adalyne from her family might be to take her for herself.

I expected the couple dynamics to be the main “dark” element of this violence, but I was rather surprised to find them the healthiest thing in a terrible and twisted situation. The budding relationship between Adalyne and Jazmin is a haven of peace and safety from a rather hostile world. Jazmin is very careful to make her classroom a place where Adalyne can eat, talk and live freely, helping her express opinions and eventually challenge the decisions her family made for her. Her character development is a lot more subtle, as the book focuses on Adalyne’s coming-of-age and liberation, but it was still interesting to see her free herself from her coping mechanisms and grow as a person.

For the major part of the book, Adalyne is stuck in the clutches of a terrible family with religious expectations for how she will live her life, and it feels vindicating to see her move from passive acceptance into open rebellion. There are some overly cutesy scenes as Jazmin drags her into the “real world”, but they felt earned from how bleak her earlier life has been. I felt for her throughout the book, although I have to admit I’m not sure I came to see her as a romantic being rather than someone to be protected.

The pacing was interesting, likely due to it being a series: it doesn’t end at the high point of “liberation” as could be expected, but after Adalyne has been saved a first time, has had time to experience the world as a college student, and gets a second “liberation”. I enjoyed seeing the aftermath of the escape. I think the wish fulfillment part of this novel was well-executed and it felt vindicating as a reader. One particularly strange plot point was Aime. It might be due to my lack of familiarity with Len Beeson’s work, but to see the “first autonomous cyborg” as a character was a bit confusing in a mostly-contemporary world.

The writing style didn’t make a specific impact on me, but it was polished and functional. Dialogues felt realistic and to the point, the writing was very fluid, and it took me easily from each plot point to the next.

All in all, it was an interesting romp in a style I don’t read that much. Thanks for the opportunity!

Didn't know what to expect but I loved it. The end was a twist I didn't expect but it came back full circle to freeing her.

Appreciated the different povs and beliefs, especially in the name of love. A good read, I promise!

The synopsis of the book does not prepare you for what you are about to get into! Our two main characters, Adalyne and Jazmin are both living very different lives, and we get to see how their relationship develops once Jazmin starts reaching out to a hurt and abused Adalyne. There were many ups and downs, moments of frustration and moments of adoration, but they all made sense, bringing a very intriguing story to life.

Personally, in the beginning I was a bit skeptical due to the soap opera feeling it gave, but thanks to the writing style I persevered, and thoroughly enjoyed it! I also haven't picked up a dark romance in quite some time, making this read a bit harder to adjust to at times. I did find myself questioning a couple of parts within the story (how does Jazmin have so much money, she's a teacher??), but I am a big fan of how this first book ended, and how the communication between all the characters, not just the protagonists, was approached. It felt at times more realistic than I expected!

Lastly, I'd like to say that the main "problem" in the story felt like it got solved very quickly, which confused me. It threw me off because I reached the end of the 3rd quarter of the book, finding myself concerned with that more could possibly happen... Nonetheless, I found out, and I actually really appreciated the turn of events, and I can't wait to read the next novel!!

PS: Len, I have read the afterword, and I am very glad you said that we can be friends! Looking forward to your next works <3

(Thank you Saphly for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!)