An Editor Read “Flutter” So You Don’t Have To.

Hello! This is u/XusBookReviews review of a new book and what I thought of it. This book was provided by NetGalley and the author. However, because of the issues I had with this book, there are *unmarked spoilers* contained within. Please read on at your own risk and STOP after the plot description if you think this book might be in your wheelhouse. Thank you!

As a reminder, I’m not reviewing if I *liked* the book, but what I would say if one of my clients turned this in for a professional opinion. Let’s get started!

Book Details:

Title: Flutter by Melody Percario
Series Name: Soulbound (Book 1)
Page Count: Unknown, as the paper copy has not yet been widely published.
Publish Date: July 8^(th), 2025 (Not Out Yet! Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!)
Publisher: OCS Publishing

Publisher’s Plot Description:  "The question isn’t why he’s killing them, but why he’s keeping her alive. Seventeen-year-old Daphne Pencast saw the gruesome beginning: her teacher’s body, broken and bloodied beneath the cemetery trees. Now the attacks are growing more violent, and every victim seems to have one thing in common: her. With rumors of a serial killer sweeping the town, Daphne’s father—the mayor—locks down the streets and surrounds her with guards. Isolated and restless, she turns to Gabriel, an old crush now acting as her bodyguard. But as the killer draws closer, Gabriel starts to feel more like a warden than a protector.

And then there’s the Poppy Killer. Untraceable. Unstoppable. Always one step ahead. He kills without mercy—except when it comes to her. Determined to uncover the truth, Daphne digs into Gilia Dune’s dark past. But the more she uncovers, the more twisted the truth becomes. Because this killer might not be entirely human… and he might not be the real monster after all. As the killer’s obsession tightens around her, Daphne must decide who to trust: The boy who swore to keep her safe—Or the killer who refuses to let her go. "

Fantasy Style: Low Fantasy

Spice Level: 1/5 – this, though not labeled as such, a YA novel. Lots of flirting, but stops at kissing.

My Means of Reading: Kindle Paperwhite (Kindle Unlimited version).

Review TLDR: This book…is going to be polarizing. I don’t recommend buying outright when it comes out. Maybe wait and see if Kindle Unlimited picks it up.

Overall:  My TLDR may seem harsh, but please understand this: its writing is inconsistent in quality, has characters whose motivations and actions do not match, and is low-key a rip-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.* I’m sorry to say that this is only my third official online review, but the first book I just cannot recommend to anyone who isn’t interested in a strange, oddly written act of plot plagiarism.

*The book is set in Southern California, the FMC has two friends (one is a boy and the other a girl), her one female friend is a member of an ethnic minority (and pretty clearly bi), the so-called baddie is actually, get this, an angel who has a self-appointed mission to destroy the other vamp-I mean, his own kind, and his plan is dependent on recruiting her to his cause. You know, because she is special. He totally doesn’t have a crush on this underage girl he has been stalking for a while. You know, because that would be creepy.

Pacing: Actually, this is the only part of this book I think holds up. The author goes for a break-neck pace with one major event happening right after another, but the writing supports this with events that drive the plot forward quickly and with purpose. Odd that one of the hardest parts of writing seems to come so naturally to Ms. Percario. If anything, it suffers a bit from the fast pace as the reader isn’t given enough time to digest any of the plot points and so it can get a bit confusing to digest what happens when and how.

Character Development: None to speak of. The characters begin the plot with one personality and end it with the same personality. Which is to say, everyone acts like a Marvel character who thinks its okay to make bad jokes over their friends/family/fellow townsfolk who are dying in front of them. No, I am not kidding. At first, I thought the author might have been setting the main character up to be the villain when she started making “aren’t I just so clever” style quips over the body someone she knows (who, again, is dying in front of her). These are not “I’m giggling because I’m traumatized and this is how I’m coping” type jokes. They make the jokes before they even call 911. But, sadly...no. She is not the villain. She’s just a psychopath in need of a serious smack upside the head. The other characters are no better.

Plot Problems: Normally I wouldn’t list this in such a blatant manner, but this plot has holes in it so large I could drive a Stryker through ‘em. First, the bodyguard character is an 18 YO male former classmate of the FMC. I say again, a teenage boy has been assigned as the sole protector, with access to the FMC’s bedroom day and night sans her father’s supervision, for this teenaged girl. No father who does not have burning aspirations of becoming a grandfather in the next 10 months would allow this. Next, the bodyguard does not actually do a good job and the FMC is constantly being put in danger…while he kindly finds reasons to fuck-off so the FMC can be in danger/alone with the serial killer. At least one other character comments on this serious lack of talent in his one job, but I don’t know if self-awareness of a plot hole makes it less of one. At no point is he actually punished for being so bad at his job. I have more examples, but I think the point is made.

Filler/Padding: There is some light padding, but mostly for setting up the next relevant scene – so, again I have to note that the aspect of writing that other authors normally struggle with is actually this book’s strong point. If you’re into the story (which I will admit, once I gave up reading as an editor and just as someone trying to finish the book, I actually did start to enjoy a bit) you will appreciate the author’s skill at keeping the tension high and the FMC moving.

Obvious Errors an Author/Editor Should Have Caught: a few minor mistakes, such as sentences that are not capitalized and should be, words missing in the middle of sentences, the occasional mention of a drought immediately followed by mentions of recent rain, etc. As this book is still yet to be published, I cannot comment too harshly on this. It’s likely it’s still being reviewed for such things.

That's a wrap on this one. Thank you again for reading! I think I will have to bump these up to twice a week with the amount I read - I've already read a few books I won't have time to put to this format unless y'all literally want a review every other day.  

Previously Reviewed: One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

Next Review Is: When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker - this one is by popular request and boy howdy, have I heard things. Let's do this.