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A review by kfriend
The Penitent by Natasha Knight, A. Zavarelli
5.0
Transfixing, intense, and magnetically entertaining! The writing duo of Natasha Knight and A. Zavarelli never fail to capture me completely. From the first world to the last, The Penitent had me on the edge of my seat. The twists and betrayal, the secrets and suspense, the heart stopping romantic tension, and yes, the MAGIC. All work together to create a dark and delicious elixir that swallowed me whole. The Sacrifice Duet has been a whirlwind of curses and cures, vengeance and passion, and heartache and healing. Perhaps one of the most creatively unique and certainly one of the swooniest stories from this writing duo, this addition to the Society World is beautifully breathtaking and absolutely addictive.
After the jaw dropping cliffie, I was desperate for answers. And answers we get. This story unfolds fast and furiously, picking up right where book 1 left us…with Willow in the dangerous clutches of her heretical stalker after (seemingly) being betrayed by her forced husband. My heart was in my throat as we saw the brutality and uncertainty poor Willow faces- this girl is such a survivor. But fortunately Azrael is hunting for his WIldblood…this time for a far more romantic reason. From there a dramatic and intense story unfolds- one of passion and danger, one where all the secrets come to light…but also one where root blooms from the rotten roots of the Wildblood curse.
I just live for the Society world stories, and I really adored the magical/mystical element to this duet with the witchy legend catalyzing years of animosity and sacrifice. The tension of the occult with religious militancy created the perfect backbone for a vendetta that spans generations, as well as the perfect presence of danger and chaos. The action and the romance were perfectly meted in this duet finale…and the romance is just somehow so utterly dreamy despite the nefarious beginnings between Azrael and his stolen Wildblood witch. Somewhere along the way the sacrifice becomes his heart and soul, and the man who already struggled with the tensions between his humanity and duty finds himself at a crossroads..and at the mercy of the inevitability of a curse.
Azrael. A man whose namesake is a fallen angel of doom. A man whose sole life purpose was to save his family by being the bringer of death. His legacy. What a transformation. I am so in love with this man. Unlike some other Society anti-heroes, Azrael always had a ray of light within him. He was always good and noble in his heart, but he was burdened, almost broken, by a curse that haunts him, quite literally at times. The way this man loves..well that is truly his penitence. I just LOVED how AZ/NK evolved him, the choices and decisions he makes leading up to the breathtaking final moments. How a fallen angel of intended destruction finds the courage to be a beautiful man.
And Willow. This girl is power and resilience and ferocity. She oozes charisma and compassion, while also being fearless in the face of such harrowing odds. My heart broke for how epically powerless she continued to be, but then marveled at how she was able to find power even in her most desperate moments, as she saw her power came from her heart, her love and kindness. It’s a power that ultimately inspired a love that rivaled darkness. I am so in love with everything about her beautiful spirit. And her chemistry with Azrael- I mean SWOON. Heart and heat combined for the most delectable potion. The way they show up for each other and SEE one another radiates from the pages. They are both so tragically lonely, both stoic and altruistic for their families. That magic is in how their emotional chaos transforms to the only stability, safety, and PEACE these two have known….ironically, in the arms of the enemy, the one person who could destroy the other. I love when a toxic love finds a path to something substantial…and in this case, something powerfully restorative to them both.
A riveting and deftly woven finale- and one that I hope has promise for more to come! (cough…Raven…cough). Entertaining and intoxicating, but at its core the Sacrifice duet is about the power of pure and enduring love. How in the face of sacrifice and darkness, love still can more than blossom or survive, how love can save.
After the jaw dropping cliffie, I was desperate for answers. And answers we get. This story unfolds fast and furiously, picking up right where book 1 left us…with Willow in the dangerous clutches of her heretical stalker after (seemingly) being betrayed by her forced husband. My heart was in my throat as we saw the brutality and uncertainty poor Willow faces- this girl is such a survivor. But fortunately Azrael is hunting for his WIldblood…this time for a far more romantic reason. From there a dramatic and intense story unfolds- one of passion and danger, one where all the secrets come to light…but also one where root blooms from the rotten roots of the Wildblood curse.
I just live for the Society world stories, and I really adored the magical/mystical element to this duet with the witchy legend catalyzing years of animosity and sacrifice. The tension of the occult with religious militancy created the perfect backbone for a vendetta that spans generations, as well as the perfect presence of danger and chaos. The action and the romance were perfectly meted in this duet finale…and the romance is just somehow so utterly dreamy despite the nefarious beginnings between Azrael and his stolen Wildblood witch. Somewhere along the way the sacrifice becomes his heart and soul, and the man who already struggled with the tensions between his humanity and duty finds himself at a crossroads..and at the mercy of the inevitability of a curse.
Azrael. A man whose namesake is a fallen angel of doom. A man whose sole life purpose was to save his family by being the bringer of death. His legacy. What a transformation. I am so in love with this man. Unlike some other Society anti-heroes, Azrael always had a ray of light within him. He was always good and noble in his heart, but he was burdened, almost broken, by a curse that haunts him, quite literally at times. The way this man loves..well that is truly his penitence. I just LOVED how AZ/NK evolved him, the choices and decisions he makes leading up to the breathtaking final moments. How a fallen angel of intended destruction finds the courage to be a beautiful man.
And Willow. This girl is power and resilience and ferocity. She oozes charisma and compassion, while also being fearless in the face of such harrowing odds. My heart broke for how epically powerless she continued to be, but then marveled at how she was able to find power even in her most desperate moments, as she saw her power came from her heart, her love and kindness. It’s a power that ultimately inspired a love that rivaled darkness. I am so in love with everything about her beautiful spirit. And her chemistry with Azrael- I mean SWOON. Heart and heat combined for the most delectable potion. The way they show up for each other and SEE one another radiates from the pages. They are both so tragically lonely, both stoic and altruistic for their families. That magic is in how their emotional chaos transforms to the only stability, safety, and PEACE these two have known….ironically, in the arms of the enemy, the one person who could destroy the other. I love when a toxic love finds a path to something substantial…and in this case, something powerfully restorative to them both.
A riveting and deftly woven finale- and one that I hope has promise for more to come! (cough…Raven…cough). Entertaining and intoxicating, but at its core the Sacrifice duet is about the power of pure and enduring love. How in the face of sacrifice and darkness, love still can more than blossom or survive, how love can save.