Readers Challenge 2020 | Story Review | ✔️

Loving Minuet | growingupinsane

⇷ picked from reading list three: stories with less than 10,000 reads ⇸

♧

Dedicated to growingupinsane

‖

Three words to describe Loving Minuet: strangerstofriendstolovers, celestial, and artistry

Did I makeup a new word for the first one? Yes I did. Just imagine I say it really fast like supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. 🎶 😉

↪ Summary:

After breaking up with her boyfriend slash best friend slash muse, Nouvel Knox thinks chasing her dreams of becoming an artist and opening her own gallery are impossible fantasies now. Not to mention finding love again which is off the list

But life is a package of unexpected surprises. Things flip when she meets Dominic O'Brian, a spirit trapped between the two worlds seeking death, who promises to help her with her art in exchange for something-- freeing him from his comatose body.

With wanting more than what she bargains for, can Nouvel keep her part of the deal and bruise her heart? Or will she find a way to save the man she learns to love?

⤇ First element I adore: poetic phrases.

Hands down, I'm in love with the first sentences of every chapter. The reason being is the poetic phrases, the way the words ebb and flow with one each other. It's magnificent. It's almost like a dance: waltz. As a reader, I'm teleported into the story's setting and narrative. For example, chapter one begins with, "Art is not something that can be forced, in whatever form it may be." It sets the entire tone and mood especially after the prologue. The beginning of the chapters are effortless. It's so smooth and graceful, the pace is a middle one where the reader feels welcomed. Plus the readers start to learn about the characters, Nouvel, one of our main characters, is a painter. She's trying to find inspiration . . . a muse. Which the poetic phrases create a new masterpiece in the chapters as a whole and as an individual being. The phrases compliment the story's narrative and characters' personalities.

⤇Second element I adore: quotes.

Another thing I fan-girl about are the quotes. It's a helpful and powerful tool for setting up the story's organization. The quotes give cues to the readers on what to expect without revealing the plot. Example from chapter three, " 'She's mad but she's magic. There's no lie in her fire.' - Charles Bukowski." When I read it, I instantly thought, "What's going to happen? It's about Nouvel, why would she be mad? She has fire -- maybe she has passion." As the reader, I'm there with the narrative. The questions get me interested and wanting to know what'll happen with Nouvel and when she meets up with Dominic. @growingupinsane writing style matches with the quotes. The word choices, sentence structure, and plot pacing is so effortless. Nouvel's internal conflicts with her past romantic relationship, family, and friends adds to the whole being too.

*I ship Nouvel and Dominic so hard! 🛳

⤇Third element I adore: third person limited, fluid.

Can we take a moment and talk about the prologue? Yes?! Excellent! The fascinating part is the prologue focuses on our second main character, Dominic. The readers are met with one of his lowest points; his girlfriend's cheated on him . . . and he had no idea . . . and he proposed to her. He had it in his mind that their relationship met one thing and it turns out she was already moving on. We feel his frustration. Grief. And sadness. The entire prologue is in his point of view, we see what he sees, experiences his conflict, and literal collision: "Darkness overtook him -- he sank into it. And when he woke up after what felt like an eternity, he was no more himself."

In the next chapter, we're introduced to Nouvel. With the point of view being third person limited, the narrative is fluid. We're moved around in a gentle rhythm. Plus the narrative creates tension because we, the readers, know what is going on while Nouvel has no idea that Dominic is dead. Or another fact that we know that Nouvel is thinking about Dominic when he has no idea about. The point of view is spot on, I believe it's one of the best elements.

⟿ Conclusion.

Overall, the three elements above are just a taste of this story. I highly recommend this story for readers who enjoy supernatural, ghost romance stories and also about self love. This paranormal love story is effortless and lovely.

I giggle when I read the tropes like how Dominic appears 'cold, lifeless,' and Nouvel even uses the term 'vampire' later on to tease Dominic. This tension whether or not Dominic and Nouvel will be on the same page is so high! The slow burn. Oh, the nice steady pace, I enjoy every minute of it. Will Nouvel learn the truth or not? If so, when will she learn? Will she ever find out? Will Dominic tell Nouvel? Will Dominic wake up?

Please go check out this story! There's an external link at the bottom of this page, it'll take you straight to the story. 📖 Those questions will be answered. 😉

What did you read from the reading list three: stories with less than 10,000 reads? I love to hear your thoughts and encouragement, which story did you dive into?

In the header, it's inspired fan art for this amazing story! I adore Minuet and the banner within the story, I wanted to join the party too. 😊

Thank you for checking out this review. Stay safe! And have fun reading and writing! 📚

😘