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A review by witchy_book_babe
Damnable Grace by Tillie Cole
5.0
I had actually picked up this book last year; only a few chapters in and I didn't think I was going to vibe with AK. I began missing this series though. So, I picked this book up again and am blown away with how many emotions I experienced with this book. AK is the most complex character for me so far, because I was in a constant battle of not liking his mannerisms to loving him and my heart aching for him. I also thoroughly enjoyed his inner psycho, once he let that devil out of it's cage.
This book was full of poetic heartache. There were so many lines that utterly gutted me:
"I had always thought Meister was handsome. Yet it amazed me how a person's polluted soul could seep from their heart and corrupt even the most beautiful features."
"You? I said on a happy sigh. The devil with angel eyes nodded his head and rested his arms on his bent knees. Me," he said..."
"I do not know how to live with all my demons."
"Safe," he managed to push from his throat. "Safe..."
"I think we were meant to find each other, to leave hell together."
Along with the heartbreak that Book 5 brought in spades, I was shocked at how much humor was included. Which, I thoroughly appreciated. Because, I felt that this book may have been the darkest in the series for me personally. I thought that Flame's book (Souls Unfractured), which is my favorite and #3 in this series, was going to hold that title unmatched....but something about AK & Phebe's story just hit me in really tough places. The themes in here deal with Substance & Alcohol addiction, something forced upon character's, and the way that Tillie painted those scenes just obliterated me.
The villains that take place in this story were also another subject that affected me deeply, as I am of mixed origins. Any type of racism written in storylines always affect me on a personal level and in ways that may not affect others who may be able to stomach those types of themes.
This book was not perfect, it did have a surprising amount of grammatical errors which didn't disrupt my reading too much, but it was noted. Again, AK didn't make me fall for him right away. He had to work to gain my loyalty and love for a bit. His entire story is devastating. As a whole, AK made it to my second favorite Hangmen as it stands right now. Phebe, my god Phebe...her story shattered me. I didn't think I would have connected with her at all. But, Tillie surprised me. Her story was extremely difficult, but I did not stop cheering for her. Ultimately, this book at it's core is showcasing the battle that one has to fight when they've abandoned hope. When all seems lost and you've fallen so deep down a hole....that there is always a path back to the light. It will be hard and painful, but you can make it out and survive.
Some honorable mentions need to go to Viking, who was hilarious by the way. Cowboy, who completely caught my eye with his sexy Cajun accent and dripping in Southern Gentleman-ness. And of course, my loves Flame and Maddie, I was so excited to get any bits of them.
This book was full of poetic heartache. There were so many lines that utterly gutted me:
"I had always thought Meister was handsome. Yet it amazed me how a person's polluted soul could seep from their heart and corrupt even the most beautiful features."
"You? I said on a happy sigh. The devil with angel eyes nodded his head and rested his arms on his bent knees. Me," he said..."
"I do not know how to live with all my demons."
"Safe," he managed to push from his throat. "Safe..."
"I think we were meant to find each other, to leave hell together."
Along with the heartbreak that Book 5 brought in spades, I was shocked at how much humor was included. Which, I thoroughly appreciated. Because, I felt that this book may have been the darkest in the series for me personally. I thought that Flame's book (Souls Unfractured), which is my favorite and #3 in this series, was going to hold that title unmatched....but something about AK & Phebe's story just hit me in really tough places. The themes in here deal with Substance & Alcohol addiction, something forced upon character's, and the way that Tillie painted those scenes just obliterated me.
The villains that take place in this story were also another subject that affected me deeply, as I am of mixed origins. Any type of racism written in storylines always affect me on a personal level and in ways that may not affect others who may be able to stomach those types of themes.
This book was not perfect, it did have a surprising amount of grammatical errors which didn't disrupt my reading too much, but it was noted. Again, AK didn't make me fall for him right away. He had to work to gain my loyalty and love for a bit. His entire story is devastating. As a whole, AK made it to my second favorite Hangmen as it stands right now. Phebe, my god Phebe...her story shattered me. I didn't think I would have connected with her at all. But, Tillie surprised me. Her story was extremely difficult, but I did not stop cheering for her. Ultimately, this book at it's core is showcasing the battle that one has to fight when they've abandoned hope. When all seems lost and you've fallen so deep down a hole....that there is always a path back to the light. It will be hard and painful, but you can make it out and survive.
Some honorable mentions need to go to Viking, who was hilarious by the way. Cowboy, who completely caught my eye with his sexy Cajun accent and dripping in Southern Gentleman-ness. And of course, my loves Flame and Maddie, I was so excited to get any bits of them.