by Sarah Irene (link)
Genre cest, suspense, drama, romance
Pairings Isaac/OFC, Zac/OMC, Zaylor
Length prologue and 51 chapters
Status Completed (with unfinished sequel)
While I did read a few chapters of this story when it was new, I managed to get behind quickly and never caught up. What better time than now? A tale of kidnapping and child sex abuse isn’t for everyone, but you can’t deny that it provides a unique backdrop for a Zaylor story.
The prologue is longer than I would suggest can really be called a prologue, but it’s full of bittersweet detail that only an older Taylor, looking back on Zac’s disappearance and the moments before their reunion, can provide. For that reason, it actually works and gives the reader something to wait for as they read about Zac’s ordeal. Thankfully, most of that is glossed over, although the transition back to Taylor’s point of view still seems a bit abrupt and it’s hard to picture the Zac of the previous chapters as “Devon,” the name he’s chosen to go by.
When the truth of Zac’s identity is revealed, it’s perhaps not as much of a shock as I expected–instead, the primary emotion is relief. From there, I worry that the story could devolve into just domestic drama, and while there certainly are a few fairly pointless chapters of fluff and smut, Zac’s past looms large through the whole story, especially after he realizes that Devon isn’t actually dead. Again, I worry about their reunion, fearing a love triangle, but Sarah doesn’t let things go that far before ending the story.
Of course, And I Waited does have a sequel that I expect would have gone into that territory, but as it barely got off the ground, I’m happy to stop reading here and enjoy the hopeful, bittersweet ending of the first story. While there are a few grammatical errors and awkward turns of phrase, they’re not particularly numerous, and the plot is quite tight and focused, making And I Waited a standout amongst Sarah’s stories.
Review by Bethany (website)