Book: For the sake of Flags by Camilla Evergreen
Reviewed by Anonymous
Rating: 4/5
In honor of Flag Day, the most romantic holiday of the year, this book asks what would you do if the person you loved was trapped inside their own mind?
On the surface, there are a lot of things wrong with Malcolm and Azalea and their relationship in general. Malcolm is a clear villain, who enjoys playing with Azalea's emotions. He clearly has very few boundaries, and the money and power to allow him to do as he pleases. Azalea is frantically trying to survive with a brain that tells her she is constantly in mortal peril. Malcolm's antics over the years have driven her into a state of hatred to the point of agreeing to murder him-while refusing to take money for it.
This book is full of tension and heat- it explores the line between hate and love. Malcolm is selfishly motivated in pushing Azalea beyond her comfort zone. Yet once he pushes and gets a reaction, he always stops before going too far.
While the romance is top notch- and Flag Day worthy (I mean, how much more romantic can you get than a game of marriage chicken?)- I really enjoyed the psychological aspects of this book. Azalea's clear germaphobia becomes a bigger villain than Malcolm can ever hope to be. While he may delight in the sadistic nature of her torture a BIT more than is comfortable, everything he does is to bring them closer and bring his dove more out of the cage of her own making.
I recommend this book for anyone who is obsessed with the villains. Anyone who likes their romance a little unconventional. And anyone who enjoys exploring the different ways people experience the world. And maybe anyone who likes a little choking between lovers.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.