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A review by theeditorreads
Empire High Betrayal by Ivy Smoak
5.0
Empire High Betrayal can be said to be kind of a conclusion to Brooklyn and Matthew's story. There is so much joy to be had, all for the heartbreak at the end. There will be a Book Four, though.
Warning: This is a series where the books are in continuation. If you haven't read the previous book, then there may be SPOILERS in the review.
Synopsis:
Brooklyn Pruitt and Matthew Caldwell are officially a couple now. But Isabella is still after her life, their lives. There's a new side to Richard Pruitt, or so Brooklyn believes of her father.
She still is in the dark about what her father does for a living, though. But, everyone being shit scared of him surprises her. Will she finally be able to clear all the air, with herself, and with others, as to whom she would choose? And which family she would ultimately be loyal to?
Review:
Brooklyn comes out as more endearing in this one as she fights her uncertainties and tries to finally stand up for herself. It was kind of given though, the way her crazy half-sister treated her!
Empire High Betrayal continues the narrative from Brooklyn's first-person perspective. But we get Matthew's point of view too. Though it all feels too late.
It has too many laugh-out-loud moments, sexy times, and horrific ones as well. I don't know what I was expecting Brooklyn's father did for a living, but I honestly never expected that!
There is this uncertainty throughout the story, of something epically bad about to happen, but it didn't take away from the sweetness that was Matt and Brooklyn's relationship.
And in the author's own words, or should I say through Brooklyn's words... "All of it was hauntingly beautiful." The Halloween decorations. The author let her imagination run a riot in that one scene!
It was lovely seeing the Caldwells in their home setup though. Compared to the Pruitt's, or I would rather not compare them, they're such a lovely family. There is so much toxicity in the other families that the Caldwells felt like a breath of fresh air.
The ending felt so final. Oh no... I've not cried buckets while reading the ending of a book like this. Not in a long, long time. But I still want to hold on to hope. I mean, with her father being who he is, how can anyone be sure about Brooklyn at the end.
The title fits perfectly, it is the biggest betrayal that anyone can feel in their lives. And while the author promises a happy ever after in the near future in the next and final book of this series, I'm feeling devastated...
I hope that there is some form of punishment for the one who betrayed because it would all seem to be for nothing then. As much as I would like to say that I am not the kind of person, like Brooklyn, who wants revenge, here I definitely want to see that person burning in hell for what they did.
The author was just setting us up, the readers, for a big heartbreak. A much as I loved Brooklyn's character going through so many shades, immensely happy at her finally standing up to Isabella, and her and Matt's sweetness all throughout the book, it was only the feeling of helpless that I was left with, in the end.
And the author's note at the end just cemented the fact that there is no coming back from what happened. It just makes me feel all the sadder. I was #TeamMatt from the beginning, I still am, but I want more of Brooklyn and Matt, I always will want more of them.
I just realised, after re-reading my reviews of the previous books, about how perceptive I was that there literally seemed to be no hope, in the previous books, in this one, and the series. It's only the writing that made me go back, again and again.
If not for Ivy Smoak's powerfully emotional writing, her beautiful words flowing through my senses, hugging me through the depth of their sadness, I would rather not have read this series. Because I take back my words from the first book's review, that not that one only, but this entire series is tinged with misery. But, it does have its beautiful moments too.
And as happy as I am that I was introduced to Ms Smoak's writing this year, I don't think I could live with this much heartbreak. But I will keep on going back to her books, I surely will.
Now I understand why my fellow Smoak readers are always torn between loving and hating the author. Loving her for her writing and hating for the way the story might turn out.
P.S. The only solace I found was in the Reading Order of Ivy Smoak's books once I realised the sequence of events after this one ended. And I am glad that I chanced upon her books when I did, and am reading them in the order of events that occur. Sigh!
Thank you to InkSlinger PR for an e-ARC of the book.
My review of the books in the Empire High Series is as follows:
Empire High Untouchables | Empire High Elite | Empire High Betrayal
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings
Warning: This is a series where the books are in continuation. If you haven't read the previous book, then there may be SPOILERS in the review.
Synopsis:
Brooklyn Pruitt and Matthew Caldwell are officially a couple now. But Isabella is still after her life, their lives. There's a new side to Richard Pruitt, or so Brooklyn believes of her father.
She still is in the dark about what her father does for a living, though. But, everyone being shit scared of him surprises her. Will she finally be able to clear all the air, with herself, and with others, as to whom she would choose? And which family she would ultimately be loyal to?
Review:
Brooklyn comes out as more endearing in this one as she fights her uncertainties and tries to finally stand up for herself. It was kind of given though, the way her crazy half-sister treated her!
Empire High Betrayal continues the narrative from Brooklyn's first-person perspective. But we get Matthew's point of view too. Though it all feels too late.
It has too many laugh-out-loud moments, sexy times, and horrific ones as well. I don't know what I was expecting Brooklyn's father did for a living, but I honestly never expected that!
There is this uncertainty throughout the story, of something epically bad about to happen, but it didn't take away from the sweetness that was Matt and Brooklyn's relationship.
And in the author's own words, or should I say through Brooklyn's words... "All of it was hauntingly beautiful." The Halloween decorations. The author let her imagination run a riot in that one scene!
It was lovely seeing the Caldwells in their home setup though. Compared to the Pruitt's, or I would rather not compare them, they're such a lovely family. There is so much toxicity in the other families that the Caldwells felt like a breath of fresh air.
The ending felt so final. Oh no... I've not cried buckets while reading the ending of a book like this. Not in a long, long time. But I still want to hold on to hope. I mean, with her father being who he is, how can anyone be sure about Brooklyn at the end.
The title fits perfectly, it is the biggest betrayal that anyone can feel in their lives. And while the author promises a happy ever after in the near future in the next and final book of this series, I'm feeling devastated...
I hope that there is some form of punishment for the one who betrayed because it would all seem to be for nothing then. As much as I would like to say that I am not the kind of person, like Brooklyn, who wants revenge, here I definitely want to see that person burning in hell for what they did.
The author was just setting us up, the readers, for a big heartbreak. A much as I loved Brooklyn's character going through so many shades, immensely happy at her finally standing up to Isabella, and her and Matt's sweetness all throughout the book, it was only the feeling of helpless that I was left with, in the end.
And the author's note at the end just cemented the fact that there is no coming back from what happened. It just makes me feel all the sadder. I was #TeamMatt from the beginning, I still am, but I want more of Brooklyn and Matt, I always will want more of them.
I just realised, after re-reading my reviews of the previous books, about how perceptive I was that there literally seemed to be no hope, in the previous books, in this one, and the series. It's only the writing that made me go back, again and again.
If not for Ivy Smoak's powerfully emotional writing, her beautiful words flowing through my senses, hugging me through the depth of their sadness, I would rather not have read this series. Because I take back my words from the first book's review, that not that one only, but this entire series is tinged with misery. But, it does have its beautiful moments too.
And as happy as I am that I was introduced to Ms Smoak's writing this year, I don't think I could live with this much heartbreak. But I will keep on going back to her books, I surely will.
Now I understand why my fellow Smoak readers are always torn between loving and hating the author. Loving her for her writing and hating for the way the story might turn out.
P.S. The only solace I found was in the Reading Order of Ivy Smoak's books once I realised the sequence of events after this one ended. And I am glad that I chanced upon her books when I did, and am reading them in the order of events that occur. Sigh!
Thank you to InkSlinger PR for an e-ARC of the book.
My review of the books in the Empire High Series is as follows:
Empire High Untouchables | Empire High Elite | Empire High Betrayal
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings