This book comes with a content warning in the forward, please heed the authors advice.
Book 9 picks up where book 8 ended, and I’ll admit, I held off writing this review so I could come to terms with the conclusion of Emersyn’s story. I have read this entire series, right from book 1. The character development of Emersyn, especially the Vandals - Rome, Liam, Jasper, Freddie, Kellan, Vaughan, Mickey, and Milo, has been magnanimous.
It all ends here, or does it?
Emersyn and Milo find themselves in a situation perpetrated by Emersyn’s uncle Bradley. Between life and death, Emersyn makes a choice, one she doesn’t regret, and when the Vandals realise that they didn’t make it to there rendezvous point, discovering a traitor from within, do they spring into action, coming to the aid of both Emersyn and Milo. It leaves an indelible impression on all of them.
Reginald Sharpe pays his dues, only for Emersyn to come face to face with her biological father, Jeff Hardigan, aka Julias King. He attempts to insert himself into her life, but the Vandal’s, more so Milo’s protective instincts, kick in, keeping as much distance from him as possible. Emersyn uses her voice, she won’t be denied, she has a fire inside of her, only when Julius compares her to her biological mother, does she not bat an eye at the reference.
Plans are made, reinforcements called in as they pool their resources together for a fight they may not come back from.
A surprise, one Emersyn didn’t see coming, a joint proposal from Liam, Rome, Jasper, Freddie, Kellan, Vaughan and Mickey leaves her overwhelmed with emotion, each pouring there love, and heartfelt thoughts into words, as they share with her, how much she means to all of them. Which leads to a court house wedding like no other.
And then it finally comes down to the moment they have all been waiting for, where Emersyn returns home, home to where it all began. Emersyn comes face to face with her past as it collides with her present. Where the Vandal’s watch her fight her thoughts, feelings, and emotions, knowing what she endured within these walls. But they remind her that she is not alone, that they stand with her, and will be with her right til the very end.
And in the end, they raise it all to the ground, Emersyn’s past now cinders and ash, her uncle Bradley now a distant memory. But for Emersyn and the Vandals, what comes next is healing, as they decompress from everything they have been through.
Mickey is finally able to grieve for his sister, Ms. Stephanie and Liam, his father.
From pain comes rebirth, as the Vandal’s rebuild. Kellan’s automative work shop. Doc turns his sisters place into a safe house. Emersyn is going back on tour. Then, he opens her own dance school and finally Vaughn’s new tattoo parlour.
And the moment we have all been waiting for as we finally get that long awaited group scene between Emersyn, Rome, Liam, Jasper, Kellan, Vaughn, and Mickey. And boy do they show her a very good time. But the bittersweet moment goes to Freddie as he finally gets his moment with Emersyn, as he puts aside his own doubts and fears, does he allow himself to experience something so profound, in return does Emersyn show Freddie what it feels like to be loved by her.
Long live Emersyn and The Vandals.
And with that ending as bittersweet as it was, it is our sincerest hope that there will be future stories, stories waiting to be told about our other beloved characters, and for that I cannot wait to see where they go.
Highly recommend both the author and the book!
I received an ARC. Therefore, I am leaving a voluntary review.