I was recently lucky enough to win a giveaway on Instagram that included a copy of Avidian, by Ashley R. O’Donovan.
I can see the dead. They tell me their secrets. But this time, their secrets might get me killed.
My name is Kat Sinclair, and the Volkov family owns me. People like me, born with special abilities, are called Avids. But my gift doesn’t spare me from the demands of Marco Volkov, the ruthless family patriarch who keeps me in line with the ever-present threat of violence.
When a grisly double murder involving a family nephew and a cook shakes the household, I’m forced to uncover the truth. The whispers of the dead reveal more than I bargained for, unearthing secrets that could destroy the Volkovs—and me.
But I met a charming stranger who might be able to help. Except he doesn’t know about my gift, my scars, or the dark past I can’t escape. But in his eyes, I see something I thought I’d lost long ago—hope.
If I want to escape, I’ll have to play along. But this murder might be hiding something even more dangerous. If I’m not careful, I’ll be the next one the dead are whispering about.
I didn’t particularly care for this book. However, I’m pretty certain it’s just a case of the wrong book for the wrong reader. My main complaint is that I never trusted the main male character (MMC); therefore, I could never trust the developing relationship. This is essentially insta-love, and for me, O’Donovan never managed to bridge the gap between the MMC and the female lead, who meet in questionable circumstances and then fall in love. I don’t feel the reader is given any reason to believe the FMC would trust the MMC, especially how strongly the FFC emphasizes that she can’t trust anyone.
The whole thing also just felt inconsistent to me. We’re given a wretched post-apocalyptic world, but the reader never feels it at all. The FMC is enslaved, but her internal monologue is all about strength and agency. Which, yeah, I don’t want a doormat. However, her internal self doesn’t align with the self she describes to the reader, given the circumstances she’s supposed to have endured. Mostly, I feel like O’Donovan wanted a gritty, dark, and dangerous world, but then wimped out on actually writing it or allowing her character to live it. The FMC emerges far too untarnished to have lived the life we’re told she does.
Lastly, I wanted so, so, so much more of the paranormal/fantasy aspect of this plot. It’s 
sprinkled throughout, but mostly this is a contemporary romance. I frequently forgot that some of the characters have magic powers. And I was waiting for that last chapter plot twist from very, very early on.
Having said all of that, the writing is good, and there’s a cute ghost dog in it. If you’re a reader who would rather stories with darker themes not actually get dark, this is likely a good read for you.
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