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originalbooknerd 's review for:
Rebels & Rejects
by R.A. Smyth
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐ & ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐ - ๐ญ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ #1 - ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐
Author: R.A. Smyth
Couple: Red with Oliver and Cain
Tropes: why choose, dark romance, enemy to lovers, mercenary FMC, morally gray MCs, RH, gang romance
Review: Rebels and Rejects is the beginning of Cainโs and Oliverโs story who are briefly introduced in R.A. Smythโs Pacific Prep series and the wait was worth it! This first book introduces two of the four men in REdโs harem and we begin to learn the twisted backstory of the infamous Rebels Reject gang in Black Creek. The way Smyth developed the plot lines of the characters intersecting in this book was intense and I loved getting to see all the facets of who Red was when she becomes entrenched in the Rebels.
Book 1 deals mostly with the Rejects and Red moving on from her intense dislike of gang life. Her character begins to grow in this book but mainly shows us how layered she is. I loved how she was a fierce FMC who could go head to head with Cain and then soften herself for Oliver. However, the best thing about her to me in this book was her relationship with her brother Luc. Smyth really spent time delving into the bond they had and made a point to expand on why she was so protective of him which gave us insight into why she was hesitant to trust Cain and Oliver.
Oliver and Cain cannot be more different as characters. I enjoyed the ying and yang vibes that had since Oliver was the sunnier and more optimistic leader and Cain was the silent, broody and quick to anger one. When Red sends their carefully laid plans into chaos, I enjoyed how Oliver was the one who tried to keep the peace between them. Even though Oliver is the one who is more open in this book, Cain was the one who led the show for me. I LOVED how he and Red were like different sides of the same coin and how combative and volatile they were together. I also enjoyed how she broke down his wallsโฆor began to.
The three of them are explosive to say the least and Red keeps her cards close to her chest still at the end. The tension she and Oliver have upon meeting spurs them on to grow closer but also pushes them to define what they are sooner. Cain and her are filled with angst and chemistry from the initial meeting they have and it only overflows from there.
Rating: 4/5, a dark and thrilling start to Redโs story!