Flutter
by Melody Percario
⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Netgalley and OCS Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Flutter” begins with the promise of a classic whodunit and
quickly moves into territory far more complex than the synopsis suggests;
however, the execution often falters. While the concept is intriguing, hinting
at a world that would be an amazing series, the characters and narrative is
difficult to connect with.
Despite the high stakes and the novel’s somber undercurrent,
the protagonists are never quite believable. Their reactions to traumatic events
are not at all how someone would respond e.g. finding people shot and then having
a conversation with the killer like she met him on the street and isn’t scared?
This tendency saps the tension from moments that should be gripping and
immersive. That said, the villain of the story was intriguing and grew throughout the novel enough that I felt empathy for him, and I'd like to see how that is further developed.
The narrative, too, is bogged down. Rather than letting
scenes unfold organically, the story frequently opts to tell rather than show,
diminishing reader engagement and slowing the pace. This is made worse by the
plot’s unlikely scenarios, such as a teenager being assigned an
eighteen-year-old bodyguard who repeatedly leaves her unprotected—especially
when a parent seems unfazed by these lapses. The romance between this so-called protector and Daphne also falls flat (for me).
The connections between events can feel illogical, with “A”
not always leading convincingly to “B.” Greater attention to the logic of
character motivations and reactions would lend the story a much-needed sense of
realism and emotional depth. The last 20% or so leads me to believe that the sequel is one I would want to read, if only to see how Sebastian is developed.
Nevertheless, “Flutter” is not without merit. Its premise is
promising, and the concluding chapters hint at a richer, more dynamic sequel.
With more character development that focuses on emotional depth and believability, this could become the
strong start to a series that its concept deserves.
