I found it hard to get into this book and to get a grasp of what it's about. It starts off floral and poetic, in an almost incomprehensible language, but after a few pages, it completely changes to a very simple style.

For the most part, this novel read like a first draft written by an adolescent and, in places, it was quite chauvinistic. But there are sections where the prose is beautiful, too.

I think this author has great potential, but he definitely needs the help of a good editor to make this novel better.

The story of Nathan, the main character, is torturous and, indeed, baffling. Aside from his struggle with mental health and drugs putting him in a precarious position, the curse that his mother revealed to him aggravated his situation. It's heartbreaking to know what Nathan went through but his choices led him to his demise. The novel is an interesting take on human struggles.

Are Curses real? Can one person or group condemn an entire family lineage? If we know of a curse, does our knowledge become self-actuating? What of those who are unaware? Is the curse still active?


APRICUS is a contemporary fantasy whose fulcrum is a curse leveled long, long ago, and its effects.

I did not finish this book unfortunately. I was about 50 pages into it and seemed that I could not get along to finishing it. I may give it another try later on but there was too much focus on what seemed to be everything but the main plot line.

There were a few lovely meandering passages, disjointed tapestries of words gathered in this book where I thought the author's voice would be better suited for poems rather than a novel.

I'm not sure exactly what genre this type of story falls under or who the ideal reader would be. This book clearly wasn't written for me and near the end, I realized that I had absolutely no connection to any of the characters nor the storyline, it all felt one-dimensional. A perplexing story indeed.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Violina Books for an advanced copy of Apricus for my unbiased evaluation. 2.5 stars

Title: Apricus A Perplexing Story

Author: Jordan Violina

Available -December, 9th 2021

https://www.jordanviolina.com/

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“If the winds of life caused him to stumble, drops of bliss spill from the bottle.”

Apricus is a story filled with silent struggles. Wether it be addiction, mental health, infertility, family structure, or the characters over all moral fiber. Apicus really offers a realistic outlook on external forces and the individuals respond and justifications. The author gives us a deep look into how devastating loss can be and what mental health struggles really look like, and how it affected the main character and those around him. The book offers up so many twists and turns . We are given a plethora of possibilities and outcomes to wish on for Nathan through out.

“I forgot to tell you that I saw her in the mall pushing a stroller. She’s gotta baby now.”

When we are introduced to Nathan, he has not yet decided to enter the space program at Intelup, But with the loss of his friends he decides to follow his dream and apply. He is accepted and begins the career, marking one of the more positive points in the story.

Around the same time in his grief, it is explained by Nathan’s mother that the family losses loved ones due to a gypsies curse. Keeping this in the back of his mind the story continues on. Nathan has a very active social life, as well as dating life. He has a strict rule not to date married women, as a few seem to seek him out. We soon meet his friend Matteo, and are taken on a journey of partying, travel, and misfortune.

“A place where depression is just a word for being too weak to face reality or deal with it.”

Will Nathan get a chance to be the father, that he thinks he should be? Is there a gypsy curse? Will Nathan find love, and overal happiness in the end?

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I gave this book 🌟🌟🌟

Overall I found the book to have a slow beginning in a very fast ending. Giving plenty of time to get to know the main character, but also to see patterns develop, caused by the characters reactions. Bringing the readers realistic hopes up, but not always to a happy outcome.

I would have loved more description and internal dialogue from the main character. I struggled to understand his decisions and conclusions at times, and would have enjoyed more insight.

I did however appreciate the two or three subtle messages that are also included in the story. The ending definitely leaves you pondering what is important and what is not.

A lot more interesting then I thought it would be, I honestly enjoyed this a lot, the book itself solidified that I should keep a watch out for Violinia and their works!