A review by reka111
Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

It's not the bad memories that tear a person apart. It's the good ones.

I can't even get words easily. I needed this book incredibly badly — it threw me into a slump and pulled me out of it at the same time. I liked it terribly, everything, it wasn't and wouldn't be a 5 star book for me, but I'm silently putting it out that way.  I've changed my mind. It was a five star book. 

Cassie has improved tremendously since the previous book, somehow getting stronger, taking care of much more, and doing less of what she needed so much already. She's not the kind of protagonist who wants to break out of her cage, and she's not the typical "I know everything better", she has flaws, she has bad moments, but all of these things are necessary, even for her, these makes her so human. 

Michael, Dean, Sloane, and Lia form a family around Cassie, not just a team. Each has its moments, each important in its own way, Lia with her strength, Sloane with her wit, Michael with her cheerfulness, Dean, well, he's always been important in every way. I have come to love each of them very much, and I am eager to see where the thread of fate will take them. 

Veronica (Sterling) stole my heart, really. She is full of strength, endurance and precision, which is in her is sincerely worthy of attention. She has so many wounds — still bleeding — and so many scars — already healed — that it is incredible from her past, and she has not given up for a moment. She sacrificed everything she had for them, she gave everything to give them a chance. She may have been strict, she may have surrounded herself with walls, but she genuinely cared about them.

I literally sobbed like a baby when she cried when she was captured. She had to relive the same nightmare she went through five years ago. And yet, after everything, all she wanted  was to protect Cassie, she could have given her life for her. And that Dean — my sweet Dean — had to burn that R into her flesh is downright criminal. Anyway, in the end, when she got rid of Briggs' stuff is just cheff kiss, slay queen.

My poor Briggs is so tired of them already haha. As much joy as they bring him, as much trouble they cause for him. He's always there when it's needed, listening to them — unlike some, I don't look at you, Director Sterling — and trying his best to protect them. 

I really liked the plot, it was fast-paced and unpredictable — there were parts I could foresee — full of twists and turns, I loved every minute of it. The pace was right, I think, although I'm still not really at peace with the wording. The moment before the end was well sprinkled with a burst of emotion, I was rotting from them all along. I'm glad that this is how the book ended, and they got a chance at the end.