Hello friends! It has been so, so long since I appeared here, but I decided to take a much-needed break from everything back in January. Now it’s already creeping toward the end of the year, and while I have not been reading as much or as well, it finally feels like the right time to come back. It feels good to sit down in front of my computer and open my blog again. I had not looked at it at all during my break -mostly because it started to feel a little stifling- but now that I’m back, I’m excited to share new reviews of books, pens, movies, and anime or manga.
To kick-start my brain, I thought I’d start with a semi-recent read of mine.
This one is Desperate Measures by Katee Robert, the first in her Wicked Villains series. It’s basically an adult dark romance twist on Aladdin. After the Sultan’s sudden death, Princess Jasmine is left without protection and quickly finds herself in the clutches of Jafar, her father’s ambitious right-hand man. There’s no magic lamp or flying carpet here; just a dangerous city full of crime bosses, backroom deals, and a princess forced to decide whether to fight for power or surrender to Jafar’s control.
I honestly tried to like this book. I really did. Unfortunately, it ended up being a “meh” read in almost every way. It’s a retelling of Aladdin, which I like -not love, but like- ever since I was a kid. As you can guess from the name of the series, it isn’t about Aladdin himself. Instead, the story focuses on Jafar and Jasmine. After the death of Jasmine’s father, our sheltered and “unaware of the world around her” princess finds herself under Jafar’s control.
On paper, that setup sounds promising. A darker spin on a familiar tale, plenty of tension, and a chance to really dive into the villain’s mind. But aside from the steamy scenes and the charged moments between our princess and her captor, the book never lives up to its potential. We barely get a glimpse of Jafar’s past or what drives him. The supposed political power plays around the throne are mentioned but never fleshed out. And then there’s Ali, who’s presented as a major rival only to fade into a weak distraction, clearly there just to make Jafar look more appealing.
The character growth is just as thin. Yes, Jafar makes small efforts to understand Jasmine, and yes, Jasmine tries -barely- to grow a backbone. But it never feels earned. The world around them, with its underground clubs, criminal deals, and quick flashes of danger, could have added real weight to the story, yet it stays on the surface. It ends up feeling like a mindless read that delivers the heat but not much else.
The only character who stuck with me was Meg, who breezes in with a sharp attitude and a hint of mystery. I found myself wishing the next book would focus on her instead of anyone else.
If you’re looking for a quick, steamy dark romance to fill an afternoon and you don’t mind a paper-thin plot, this could scratch that itch. Just don’t expect more than surface-level drama and some heated scenes. For me, it was a solid 2⭐ read.
Until next time, take care, friends! 🤍
Luster of Books 