The Bastard Heir

The characters were fantastic and the story was interesting and heartbreaking. Three brothers growing up not knowing each other well. An inheritance, a lost love, and a small town that hates them because of their father and grandfather. Loved the story.

I believe the story itself had a lot of potential but fell short. I love a great love story but the plot itself felt like it was building up to be more than we ultimately get. We’re introduced to Callum and have a good understanding of what makes him the way that he is. He is angry and could benefit from expressing himself. He seems to bear the brunt of everyone’s anger and disdain but ends up being the one apologizing for it. When he chooses something for himself because everyone else treats him poorly he is again made out to be the villain. This leads me to Harlow. She lacks depth and is not as well rounded as a character. It is as though everyone tells you she is great but even from her perspective insight I find her to be selfish, lacking accountability in her actions, often victimizing herself and omits truths. Omitting the truth is what ends their relationship and when Callum is in a search for answers she withholds details she does have. I found almost no redeeming qualities outside of what the other characters said you should think or feel about her. The book is pretty tense between the brothers, even Harlow and Callum at some points but especially with any interactions with the town people. I would have thought that we would get some sort of resolve towards the end of the book but all we get is the beginning of something and then .. nothing. It is an incomplete story. I feel we could have delve into the brother’s relationship a bit more and earlier on and found out more of what came of the relationship with the towns people. For some reader that may peak their interest and lead them to the next book, but in my case the book didn’t leave me feeling good throughout reading it and I did not connect to the characters. I enjoy these authors writing so this was not what I expected.