Scan barcode
A review by kfriend
Their Reign by Natasha Knight, A. Zavarelli
5.0
Heart-achingly angsty, deliciously intense, and epically romantic- the finale to the Rite Trilogy enchants and consumes. What an emotionally gripping and beautifully penned conclusion to this mesmerizing love story, a total addiction from start to finish! Judge and Mercedes own my whole heart- hands down one of my favorite duos from the two queens of dark romantic suspense storytelling.
I went into this series loathing and distrusting our heroine- a pseudo villainess in another trilogy I adore. But Mercedes has captured my entire heart, she’s consumed my soul completely. Hers is so much more than a story of survival. So much more than a dark and deliciously twisted love story. This is Mercedes' story of redemption- about a wounded and lost girl shrouded in an act of bravado and steel finding TRUE inner strength, finding her true power, her true self- and it comes from the most radical and complicated act of all. Self-forgiveness, and self-love. Mercedes can only crawl out of the darkness once she has the courage to pave the path to her own redeeming moments. And pave them she does. It's by far one of the most compelling character arcs this amazing duo has written. To transform Mercedes so completely, while still holding onto the very fabric of her character. She faces her demons, embraces her flaws, and fights for the life she wants. All because of her love for a man who can’t seem to fully love her back. Mercedes finds her equilibrium, loving the monster in her while also finding the woman. And the woman is so much stronger than she knew.
But Judge has a parallel journey- just as impactful and moving as Mercedes. While Mercedes' trauma has manifested in a wildness he set out to squelch, he’s veiled his in stoic duty. But, she’s unhinged him completely. Just as he’s cracked her in two. He too is confronting his own monster, the part of himself he’s buried deep under his facade of control and order. Judge has to find the bravery to risk his heart, to risk his emotional safety, one he’s worked hard to protect. And when we see his true heart- it’s breathtaking. This is a man so giving, so radiantly loving, so GOOD, and in Mercedes eyes, he finally sees his worth.
Both of these characters have fought so hard to find their own worthiness, to carve a place for themselves in a world that has dedicated so much of their identity. They so handily break down one another’s walls. This finale is really about healing and redemption through the courage of vulnerability- the bravery it takes to love another fully, and the bravery it takes to find love for yourself. Mercedes sees the good in the man who fails to see it in himself. Judge sees the gentleness and tenderness in a woman who’s masked pain in iron. And that TERRIFIES them both so completely. And what a riveting journey it is watching them fight themselves, fight each other, fight the whole world to accept what they already knew- their love is indomitable. And they are truly worthy of it. Of each other. Of happiness and healing. Of FORGIVENESS.
Hands down a favorite series from this duo- the redemption, the dark romance, and the complex character journeys are total chefs kiss. I was sad to turn the final page, but oh so in love.
I went into this series loathing and distrusting our heroine- a pseudo villainess in another trilogy I adore. But Mercedes has captured my entire heart, she’s consumed my soul completely. Hers is so much more than a story of survival. So much more than a dark and deliciously twisted love story. This is Mercedes' story of redemption- about a wounded and lost girl shrouded in an act of bravado and steel finding TRUE inner strength, finding her true power, her true self- and it comes from the most radical and complicated act of all. Self-forgiveness, and self-love. Mercedes can only crawl out of the darkness once she has the courage to pave the path to her own redeeming moments. And pave them she does. It's by far one of the most compelling character arcs this amazing duo has written. To transform Mercedes so completely, while still holding onto the very fabric of her character. She faces her demons, embraces her flaws, and fights for the life she wants. All because of her love for a man who can’t seem to fully love her back. Mercedes finds her equilibrium, loving the monster in her while also finding the woman. And the woman is so much stronger than she knew.
But Judge has a parallel journey- just as impactful and moving as Mercedes. While Mercedes' trauma has manifested in a wildness he set out to squelch, he’s veiled his in stoic duty. But, she’s unhinged him completely. Just as he’s cracked her in two. He too is confronting his own monster, the part of himself he’s buried deep under his facade of control and order. Judge has to find the bravery to risk his heart, to risk his emotional safety, one he’s worked hard to protect. And when we see his true heart- it’s breathtaking. This is a man so giving, so radiantly loving, so GOOD, and in Mercedes eyes, he finally sees his worth.
Both of these characters have fought so hard to find their own worthiness, to carve a place for themselves in a world that has dedicated so much of their identity. They so handily break down one another’s walls. This finale is really about healing and redemption through the courage of vulnerability- the bravery it takes to love another fully, and the bravery it takes to find love for yourself. Mercedes sees the good in the man who fails to see it in himself. Judge sees the gentleness and tenderness in a woman who’s masked pain in iron. And that TERRIFIES them both so completely. And what a riveting journey it is watching them fight themselves, fight each other, fight the whole world to accept what they already knew- their love is indomitable. And they are truly worthy of it. Of each other. Of happiness and healing. Of FORGIVENESS.
Hands down a favorite series from this duo- the redemption, the dark romance, and the complex character journeys are total chefs kiss. I was sad to turn the final page, but oh so in love.