Origins by Lyla Oweds – A Second Look Review

Posted January 23, 2021 by Booksandblurbs in PNR, Reverse Harem, Reviews / 0 Comments

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Origins

(The Grimm Cases – Book 1)

by Lyla Oweds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Slow Burn Academy PNR RH, YA
Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited

Origins first reviewed in 2019 – this is a reread review as I noticed Book 5 out there, and I need the refresh!

Down & Dirty

An intriguing start to a new series that brings the mystery with plenty of Supernatural Flair. Free on Kindle Unlimited.

What is it about?

(Blurb from GoodReads)

The things I see aren’t for the faint of heart.

And I am no longer willing to ignore them. Not even when my family, and my best friend, tell me to keep quiet about what’s happening. They say people will think I’m crazy.

Maybe I am.

But the spirit haunting my professor’s house is definitely trying to tell me something, and I’m the only one who can see it.

The one person who can help me is my best friend’s brother. But I don’t know if I can trust him or his friends. Or if I can step outside the protective bubble I’ve built around myself.

At this point it’s a toss up: the ghosts will kill me or my panic attacks will.

Either way, I figure I’m going to die.

Thoughts on Origins

Intriguing

This book was nothing like I expected, yet somehow a splendid blend of mystery and paranormal.

Bianca, the FMC, annoyed the crap out of me… at first. Yet I kept reading because my curiosity was piqued and I wanted to know more. As I read, I realized Bianca wasn’t as clueless as I first pegged her, at least not deliberately.

She’s an abused woman, who doesn’t know she was abused – and truly had no idea who she is, or WHAT she is. She’s naive and sheltered, through no fault of her own. Painfully innocent, her story is somehow engrossing, and the story being presented is finding solid foundation.

Second Look Review:

Ok, looking back on this book after a reread, and having just finished Book 5…. I am still a bit confused, but less so. Things DO become clearer, but it takes time to get there. This also appears to be a series that will run a decent length, offering plenty of time and chances to bond with this intriguing group. Yet it is also a detail filled series, with subtle info drops that pull the narrative together – details that can be hard to recall between publications. In other words, you may end up reading this series over and over again just for a refresh when new books are put out. Or at least, I will.

Pros:

The mystery here. Who is Bianca? Who is Finn? Who are the guys? And how does it all come together?
World building is scant, but it feels more like a plot point with it subtly.
Bianca. I didn’t like her, then I came to love her.

Cons:

It just ends. Suddenly. Bam!
The ‘keeping secrets for your own good’ trope. Cliche.

Perspective

First Person, Single POV

Ending Type

Cliffhanger? Sudden.

Rating

This is PG… but I am going to hedge and say it will be R in the future. (Looking back after reading Book 5, I have to amend this to say it will be R far, far into the future. Book 5 is still tame.)

Romantic Dynamic

MMMMF

Character Age Range

17 (She is not really sure, but it looks that way) to early 20’s.

Verdict

4 out of 5 Stars

You’ll end this book with a lot more questions than answers, but it is a worthwhile ride. Intriguing and unique, this sets up a series that is sure to entertain. Free on Kindle Unlimited.