Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
While I liked this story (and yes, it's very, very dark), something about it was lacking for me. I understand wanting to build tension and create the drama, but all of the discussion and alluding to what had happened/was going to happen got frustrating. There were many times I went back to re-read, thinking I'd missed something. There's foreshadowing, then there's whatever happened in this book. I also really wanted the FMC to see some form of tenderness. I understand her character is not about that, but I felt like she deserved it.
Overall, however, I liked the push/pull between these two characters. The backstories were intense, creating this epic moment at the end that I was not expecting. Seeing how the first book tied into this one in brief moments has me ready to move on to book 3 to see if we will see more of these two!
Overall, however, I liked the push/pull between these two characters. The backstories were intense, creating this epic moment at the end that I was not expecting. Seeing how the first book tied into this one in brief moments has me ready to move on to book 3 to see if we will see more of these two!
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
By far one of the most intense books i‘ve ever read! Especially after the ritual. I was sure I was going to rate this less than the ritual but it kept getting better! Shantel left us with no break to breathe….
2 ⭐️’s
The first book was SO much better than this one.
I wasn’t really into the forced… romance.
Elli was annoying.
Sin made dumb decisions.
Plot was mad stupid.
There were TWO epilogues????
Not much else to say about this one either.
Still gonna try book three. Hopefully it’s better than this one.
Won’t be reading again.
Reallllllyyyy hoping my luck with books gets better. Im tired of 2-star reads.
The first book was SO much better than this one.
I wasn’t really into the forced… romance.
Elli was annoying.
Sin made dumb decisions.
Plot was mad stupid.
There were TWO epilogues????
Not much else to say about this one either.
Still gonna try book three. Hopefully it’s better than this one.
Won’t be reading again.
Reallllllyyyy hoping my luck with books gets better. Im tired of 2-star reads.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
I DNFed this book last year and I agreed to book buddy read this book. This book was INTENSE. There were times I had to put it down for awhile. I felt so bad for Elli and what she went through. I love that Sin was trying to always be there and protect her. Were there a few moments where I was like Sin you dumb motherfucker? Absolutely. I think this book was more worse but who knows? This can be not as bad as the other ones I don’t know. Overall, if I was going to recommend this book, I would have to warn them if they already read the ritual and wanted to read the series
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought Ryat was my favorite .... I think Sin has officially pushed him into second place.
Don't get me wrong, Sin did so many horrible things to Ellie knowing what she had already been through and the connection she had to him. However, there was a bigger picture at play in their situation.
The fact that every single decision Sin made was to rid Ellies life of the evil that had sunk its teeth into her... I have no words. Every move made, every conversation had, every phone call, every life taken ... was for her. to benefit her. to protect her. While doing all of that, he still tried his best to protect her from herself as well. From her self destruction that stemmed from her feelings of unworthineas and shame of allowing men to treat her and use her however they wanted from childhood on.
The light that this story shed on the world of grooming .... was so spot on and realistic. The fact that she was groomed by her step dad. The fact that her mom was too busy with her own life and career that she was essentially abandoned by her. The fact that her mother was too fucking stupid and self absorbed to understand that her daughter had been groomed, taken advantage of, drugged, and roped by her step father and all of his friends ... was infuriating. Yet, so many times in those real world situations, mothers/family members blame the child in saying "they threw themselves at so and so" or "they were asking for it with their behavior" or "they liked it and wanted it" The world of grooming is devastating and I appreciate the way that shantel handled such a subject foe Ellies story. Even down to the long term implications and consequences that occur to victims of grooming, molestation, rape .... sexual abuse. Ellie started recreational drug use by the age of 12. She was exposed to sex at a young age due to her mother's job as a sex counselor in their home. She harmed herself. She had noone in her corner and took attention from anyone that would give it. She was not raised with The appropriate tools to recognize unsafe situations with an adult regardless of how it was presented to her.
Sin loved every broken part of Ellie. Their whole story was the definition of for better or worse. The definition of "I see your demons and I accept them and take them on for myself". The definition of supporting the one you love through their mental health struggles. What it's like to love someone in addiction.
Ellington deserved everything good in the world and Sin was put in her life not to give it to her, but to show her that she deserved it and had the strength to take it and embrace the good. That the bad didn't define who she was or her worth.
This was not Sin's story. This was Ellington's
I loved every second of it.
Don't get me wrong, Sin did so many horrible things to Ellie knowing what she had already been through and the connection she had to him. However, there was a bigger picture at play in their situation.
The fact that every single decision Sin made was to rid Ellies life of the evil that had sunk its teeth into her... I have no words. Every move made, every conversation had, every phone call, every life taken ... was for her. to benefit her. to protect her. While doing all of that, he still tried his best to protect her from herself as well. From her self destruction that stemmed from her feelings of unworthineas and shame of allowing men to treat her and use her however they wanted from childhood on.
The light that this story shed on the world of grooming .... was so spot on and realistic. The fact that she was groomed by her step dad. The fact that her mom was too busy with her own life and career that she was essentially abandoned by her. The fact that her mother was too fucking stupid and self absorbed to understand that her daughter had been groomed, taken advantage of, drugged, and roped by her step father and all of his friends ... was infuriating. Yet, so many times in those real world situations, mothers/family members blame the child in saying "they threw themselves at so and so" or "they were asking for it with their behavior" or "they liked it and wanted it" The world of grooming is devastating and I appreciate the way that shantel handled such a subject foe Ellies story. Even down to the long term implications and consequences that occur to victims of grooming, molestation, rape .... sexual abuse. Ellie started recreational drug use by the age of 12. She was exposed to sex at a young age due to her mother's job as a sex counselor in their home. She harmed herself. She had noone in her corner and took attention from anyone that would give it. She was not raised with The appropriate tools to recognize unsafe situations with an adult regardless of how it was presented to her.
Sin loved every broken part of Ellie. Their whole story was the definition of for better or worse. The definition of "I see your demons and I accept them and take them on for myself". The definition of supporting the one you love through their mental health struggles. What it's like to love someone in addiction.
Ellington deserved everything good in the world and Sin was put in her life not to give it to her, but to show her that she deserved it and had the strength to take it and embrace the good. That the bad didn't define who she was or her worth.
This was not Sin's story. This was Ellington's
I loved every second of it.