Renegade

Ripper #2

by Amy Carol Reeves

Brimming with romance and danger, the suspenseful Ripper series continues

The Conclave—a secret group with twisted ideals and freakish practices—has been wiped out, thanks to Arabella Sharp. Now there’s a new malevolence afoot. Fishermen are getting killed, their partially devoured bodies washing up on the shores of Scotland. Is the Ripper responsible? Or have the Conclave’s sinister experiments left behind something more monstrous? Abbie fears the worst when her beloved Dr. William Siddal vanishes. To save the man she loves, Abbie must comply with the Ripper’s dreadful orders—and put her own life in grave danger.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery

360 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

Amy Carol Reeves has a PhD in nineteenth-century British literature and finds joy in teaching classes and writing. She has published several academic articles as well as a young adult book trilogy. She lives in Indiana with her three children. You can find her on Instagram at amycarolreeves or on her website at amycarolreeves.com.

Reviews

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: This is a great book filled with action, romance and suspense.

Opening Sentence: She strayed further from her home than she had in years.

The Review:

Abbie Sharp survived her run in with the Conclave, but there are still a few members left and they would like nothing better than to see her suffer for what she did to the rest of their group. Things have been quiet for months now and Abbie is just waiting for something to happen. She is happily dating William and getting ready to start applying to med school. She hasn’t had any visions and her work at Whitechapel Hospital is going very well. Then she gets a mysterious vision of a monstrous girl that seemed to be the mythological lamia (a human that is part dragon and part human). After that things just start to fall apart in Abbie’s life. She starts to see dead people and vicious murders start to happen again in the city. To top it all off she has a major falling out with William and she doesn’t know if he is really the right guy for her anymore. Shortly after their breakup William disappears. Abbie isn’t sure what she feels for William but she has to find him and she needs Simon’s help. Is the mysterious Ripper behind the gruesome murders and Williams kidnapping? Will Abbie be able to save William before it too late? Will Abbie be able to figure out where her heart truly lies and what boy she is destined to be with?

We get to see inside the head of the beautiful Arabella Sharp once again and I loved it. She is such a strong independent character and she really is very relatable. We get to see a new side to Abbie in this book. We learn a lot more about her past and the horrors she went through when her mother passed away. We also get to see her be more vulnerable and open up a lot more. She has a very hard time trusting people, but throughout the book we see her grow and learn that nothing is a guarantee and that sometimes you have to just have faith that things will work out in the end.

Simon St. John is in this book a lot more than the last one and I really enjoyed getting to know him better. He really opens up to Abbie in this book and you learn why he is always distant and keeps people at arm’s length. Because things with William are unsure Abbie and Simon really get to have a chance at a relationship. Abbie really opens herself up to the possibility of a future with Simon and they really are perfect for each other in so many ways, but the question still remains can Abbie love him as more than a friend. Simon is such a gorgeous good guy and at times I really wish that Abbie and him would end up together.

Then there is the beautiful William Siddal. He is a total jerk but a very attractive one. He has an attitude but he really does care about Abbie. He really pushes her buttons but he is good for her and makes her better. Of course he isn’t perfect he has a past and Abbie really doesn’t know if she can trust him with her heart. In the end I do feel that William is the best choice for Abbie but I really love both guys and it is so hard to choose one.

Amy Carol Reeves did it again. I really enjoyed Ripper and Renegade is a great addition to the series. The flow was great with lots of action and romance. There are some intense moments in the book but once again nothing too scary. The characters really grew in this book and I grew to love them even more. There is a little bit more of a cliffhanger in this book but it’s a bearable one. I can’t wait to read the next installment, but unfortunately at the moment there is no release date available. I would highly recommend this series to anyone that likes YA Paranormal or mystery books.

Notable Scene:

I stopped, frozen when I saw a figure blocking my path ahead. It was not Max, but a woman. She was not the darkhaired woman I had seen earlier—this one was older, around forty years of age. She wore a heavy wool black dress. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a knot at the back of her head. She looked dignified, attractive, as if she might have been one of Grandmother’s guests at a cribbage game.

But I did not continue forward. I stayed where I was. The woman walked toward me, sharp leaf shadows cutting across her white face—her mouth smeared with blood.

The giggle from behind me rang out.

They were closing in on me.

I ran down a path to my right, praying that it would take me toward the entrance.

It did. I saw the open gates ahead.

A man stood in front of the gates. When he saw me, he began walking towards me. He was tall, older. He wore some kind of uniform, probably a constable.

“Help!” I yelled, running toward him. He turned to me. It was then that I saw a thick drop of blood slide down his chin.

I ran, panicked now, down yet another path, my heart pounded vigorously. I had no idea what I was going to do. Christabel screamed in my arms. The tombs, monuments, offered many hiding places, but they were useless to me if the child continued to cry.

I heard crashing through the branches behind me.

I had to face my pursuers. I had to fight them, even though I knew now that I had at least three pursuers. I had no idea how to defend myself with the child in my arms. So I continued running deeper into the cemetery. We would be trapped soon.

I felt my elbow grasped in a painful tight grip.

Nearly, dropping Christabel, I swung around to kick the person away.

“No!” I yelled loudly.

FTC Advisory: Flux Publishing provided me with a copy of Renegade. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Renegade is book #2 in the Ripper series. Its dark themes play with your mind! The cover depicts the 'feel' of this book perfectly! I swear I heard that ominous background music, you know the piece, the one that lets you know something BIG is going to happen!

With cleverly woven tidbits and background information from book 1 (Ripper), the author has set the reader up for another eerie journey through the damp fog and dark nights of horror!

Arabella Sharp, a young nurse, is the strong main character, stalked, both mentally and physically by Max, the sole remaining member of a sinister group known as the Conclave. After all, it was Arabella who killed the other members. To taunt her, Max assures that bodies show up in a graveyard, with the Ripper's signature, while more bodies are washing up on the shores of a small fishing village, along with tales of a mythical water beast being seen. Is there a connection?

Two young doctors vie for Arabella's affections, one, Simon is loyal, strong, a pillar to lean on and he loves Arabella. William is more cavalier, more of a 'bad boy' and currently her love interest, until he breaks Arabella's heart.

The mystery surrounding many satellite characters adds to the intrigue, there is hidden information about them, teasers that I'm sure will play big in the next book! The reality of the sea monster becomes a sad tale in itself. The brutal games played by Max make your skin crawl. Arabella is flawed and she knows it, but, her skills, strength and intelligence are remarkable! No teen angst, no whining, no shrinking violet in this girl! A great YA roll model!

I wasn't drawn in until about, oh, maybe page 5 when the story suddenly grabbed me by the throat and held tight! Renegade is intense, dark, and filled with mystery!

This ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Flux in exchange for an honest review!

For more reviews visit http://tometender.blogspot.com/

[Majanka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/mini-rev...

I loved the first book in this series, but the sequel, “Renegade”, did not convince me. Abbie’s dark visions, and her continuous hunt for Max, were the most intriguing things about the book. I wasn’t so fond of the whole Conclave thing, felt too much like a conspiracy theory. But the major downside of this story is how Abbie, previously a strong, independent character, loses her entire personality when William is around, like she turns into a ragdoll. An okay read for people wanting to continue the series.

[Mara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cover Blurb: Yes or No? I don't like the character impersonator, despite its being a side profile. But the rest of the cover is rather exciting, especially with the ghostly face in the background.

Characters: In Ripper, I thought Abbie was an acceptable protagonist. She was practical, she didn't have an Attitude, she wasn't squeamish, and her emotions didn't get the better of her. At first, Abbie maintains this agreeable persona for the majority of Renegade. Until she has a falling-out with William her fiance. Before you know it, Abbie is bursting into tears every other page, flipflopping between her feelings for William and Simon, and not being very rational at all. I didn't dislike Abbie, but I got a little tired of her after a while. My good opinion of William was totally destroyed in this installment. When it's revealed that William has slept with a woman he always regarded as a mother figure, as well as another random young woman, any regard I had for him disappeared. His spiral into excessive drinking, careless attitude, and bad temper only furthered it, and he became a complete lout in my eyes. Nothing he did redeemed him. His pleas of "I was a young man" didn't stir me; that excuse is utter garbage. Men can control themselves as much as women, and it reveals a major flaw in his character. Simon, however, remained very likable, with his dependable temper, and caring, quiet personality. Then there's Seraphina - the lamia - and Max. I didn't care about Seraphina; I didn't pity her, empathize with her, or even dislike her. I simply did not care. And while Max is somewhat threatening, there is still something about him that doesn't quite meet the "awesomely creepy villain" criteria.

The Romance: "Indeed, my love for [William] was like a poison in my own blood." Abbie, page 327 In Ripper, the love triangle was not annoying. Abbie clearly felt for William and regarded Simon as a friend. But in Renegade, when Abbie's trust in William is tested, she begins to wonder if she has feelings for Simon after all. In all honesty, I couldn't understand her dilemma. As soon as I discovered that someone I loved had a past like William's, all love for him would vanish, because clearly he isn't the man I thought he was. William is a lout, undependable, untrustworthy. Simon is the exact opposite, and a gentleman with a future ahead of him that won't be drowned in drinking and women. How can Abbie have a hard time choosing? She even admits more than once that Simon makes her feel safe; that she can talk to him about a lot of things that she can't with William. I am so tired of the safe, dependable love interest being painted as boring and too good. Guys that make you feel scared aren't a good choice for marriage; safe and dependable is.

Plot: It is 1889, and Abbie hasn't heard from Max the "Ripper" in a long while. But she knows that he's out there somewhere, just waiting to come for her, in vengeance for destroying the Conclave and his chance at immortality. In the meanwhile, Abbie has continued to work at the Whitechapel Hospital, assisting Simon and her fiance William. But then she begins to have strange visions of a lamia woman, and bodies begin to appear on the coast of Scotland. Abbie doesn't know how, but Max is responsible. She doesn't know what to do; William doesn't believe her visions are real, and when she discovers his less-than-shining past, she breaks off their engagement. Midst emotional turmoil, Abbie must stop Max from whatever dastardly plan he has, before it's too late. Renegade is sloooooow. When we're not following Abbie's narration, we follow Seraphina the lamia's story, and one would think that that would offer some action. No; instead, Seraphina's part is spent rehashing her feelings of jealousy and loneliness and her uncontrollable desire to eat people. When she's not doing that, she's painting or ripping dresses to shreds when she transforms or remembering past events. Nothing happens. Meanwhile, Abbie is struggling with her feelings for William and Simon, she has visions that don't tell her anything, she breaks down crying, she wanders the streets alone at night (which no Victorian woman would do), and then she finally figures out what's going on. Sort of. But the revelation is pretty unsurprising, because the Reader knows it already due to following Seraphina's narration. There's a brief moment of excitement when the dead start resurrecting and chomping on grave robbers. Yep, there's zombies! I was indignant about this, of course; what are zombies doing in Renegade? But it was a little exciting. Except those events take backseat very quickly - mostly because it's a setup for Book Three and therefore not this book's main focus. Sadly. Zombies might have been more interesting for once.

Believability: There were not many historical inaccuracies, but the ones that were there bothered me like a thorn in my toe. Inaccuracy Number One: Abbie would not call the butler by his Christian name. It is too familiar an address, and also disrespectful of the butler. Inaccuracy Number Two: butlers do not cook! That would be left to the maid, but Abbie's grandmother would more than likely have a cook. Inaccuracy Number Three: crinolines were well out of fashion by 1889. Inaccuracy Number Four: in Britain, "pants" are underwear. It is not a term interchangeable with "trousers." Inaccuracy Number Five: rain wouldn't ruin a revolver. Revolvers are not like flintlocks; they still work in the wet. Oh yes, we're also subjected to a rushed blood transfusion that miraculously works. I'm sorry, but that part was almost as ridiculous as a brain surgery during an alien attack in space.

Writing Style: First person, past tense. Seraphina's narrations are in third person, past tense, and they often interrupt Abbie's narration very abruptly. The historical tone was completely lacking in the narration - the dialogue and just basic style was had too modern of a structure. The Author was also too preoccupied with describing bare breasts as often as she possibly could, as well as describing Simon's angelic looks. He started to sound like Edward Cullen!! And that almost ruined his entire character for me.

Content: None.

Conclusion: William is kidnapped. Abbie and Simon must rescue him by traveling to Scotland and slaying the lamia. But the lamia isn't going to be so easy to defeat (even though she actually is). Armed with nothing more than a couple of knives, a sword, and revolvers that somehow got ruined by a bit of rain, they go into the lamia's lair, like Perseus on his way to defeat Medusa. Except Medusa was much more terrifying. Sophia's final showdown with Serphina just wasn't thrilling. It almost bordered on downright dull, actually. Maybe it's because Renegade didn't actually have to do with the Ripper. Maybe it's because the Author ruined William and therefore the love triangle. It could be a combination of both - and a few other niggles - that made Renegade not nearly as good as Ripper. I enjoyed at first, until I realized that it wasn't going anywhere and Abbie became rather vexing. It just didn't work for me.

Recommended Audience: Girl-read, fifteen-and-up, fans of historical paranormal.

[Ame · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow middle for the series, however Max being a devilish handsome villain makes up for it, and the tie ins from the first book carry us on to the final book of the series

[Deneé · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted at Novel Reveries

Arabella Sharp is tormented. Tormented by her past, her visions, her paramours and of course, tormented by Max. She only thinks the Conclave is done, but it may be just beginning. Max still persistently pursues Abbie, albeit from a distance, as he tries once again to get her to join him in taking the elixir and becoming immortal. He has a new plan, Seraphina, and it looks like a new pawn as well, William.

"There couldn't be a hell, because if there was one, I would be burning in it already." (loc. 2129)

Although I found the story interesting, it seems to deviate a lot from the first book. I felt like it was a completely different book, or series, as it really doesn't have anything ripper-related. In the first book, I became very fond of Abbie and her revolutionary ways towards women's' liberation and standards, but in this book I found her weak and diminished. This, I have resolved, is because of her crippling love propelled actions and decisions. I personally would have nothing to do with William, especially with the way he transformed, it's quite dangerous. Yet Abbie has another courter, Simon, who is sensitive, well-recieved and tame. Guess who she keeps getting drawn back into. William. This not only made him distasteful, in my eyes, but I was also rooting against him the entire book. Perhaps this is the authors plan? For all I know he could be possessed, or turning into an immortal vampire of some such. I'll have to find out in the next book.

Love triangle aside, with the story starting off a bit slow, I was very pleased to have the plot pick up more after Part Two. I enjoyed Seraphina as an antagonist and wish she had more power and that her wrath with Abbie lasted longer. Maybe even have her side with Abbie to go against Max, since he has enraged them both. The mysterious plights of William kept me a little more interested in the story as well, because you get a sense that he has something to do with the cemetery murders and will play a very important part in Max's plan. I feel like Max is more after William than Abbie, and that this ploy is foreshadowing the next book, which I wouldn't mind reading as well.

Amy Carol Reeves' writing style is wonderful. Her word choices and syntax feel historically accurate and makes reading the book enjoyable as she takes her readers into the dark depths of murder and revenge as it spans not only Whitechapel and it's surrounding locations, but social classes as well. The author brings us into a new, paranormal and mythological, view of The Ripper and how as an organization, it spans even greater than what is humanly perceivable.

From the day I happened across the first book, Ripper, in my local library last year, to now finishing the second book, Renegade, I have no regrets. This is an interesting take on Jack the Ripper and I have enjoyed the vision that Reeves has set before us. I look forward to the third book of the series as this one guides us through the understanding that Max is not to be underestimated in who he will use, and what he will do to obtain the elixir and to have Arabella Sharp all to himself.

"Reason could not persuade me that I had not fallen into a web, some terrible game." (loc. 943)

First Line: "She strayed further from her home than she had in years." (loc. 24)
Last Line: "'He is doing dark deeds, dark and terrible deeds.'" (loc. 3190)
----------
Review of Ripper (Ripper #1)

Galley provided by NetGalley via Flux books

*Quotes are from uncorrected advanced galleys and may change before going to press. Please refer to the final printed book for official quotes.

[Merin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as a heads-up, I am going to try to keep this review as spoiler-free as I can for both Renegade and Ripper, although the summary hints at the happenings in the first book.

After the rather heart-pounding, breathless events at the close of Ripper, I was super excited to read Renegade and see just where Abbie's journey would take her next. The villain of these books is perfectly twisted and dark, with a major creep factor that - particularly in the first book - makes your skin crawl, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen when he and Abbie came face-to-face again. And while you certainly do see this villain in Renegade, Abbie's biggest concern is her visions of a mythological creature known as a lamia, and her turbulent romantic relationship with William.

As the romantic aspect of this story was played up more and more, I became concerned that it would color my opinion of the story. I wanted more Ripper action, more Abbie being strong-willed and kick-ass, and was afraid her mooning over William and their spat close to the beginning would temper exactly what I loved so much about her in the first book. I am happy to report, therefore, that this wasn't really the case; Abbie remained just as strong and stubborn as ever. I love that she is definitely bucking societal trends in wanting to go to medical school and continuing to volunteer at the hospital. She is just so absolutely full of spunk and life that you can't help but love her!

Normally I don't go for love triangles at all, and I do have to say that this one did annoy me just a tad, but I did enjoy watching Abbie come to terms with her feelings for both William and Simon, and her thought process as she tried to figure out what she wanted. While I don't necessarily "ship" her with one of the other, I do have to admit to a fondness for Simon over William, simply because of his steadfast approach and his willingness to believe and lend a hand whenever Abbie needed it. Sometimes it's the strong, sturdy ones who are the most swoon-worthy, and to me, that's Simon to a tee. I loved that we got more information about his life, and his background, and what makes him so somber and still and quiet. I am definitely looking forward to more of him!

I do want to mention that your understanding and enjoyment of Renegade is very contingent on your having read Ripper. There are a lot of references throughout to characters introduced and situations that happened in the first book, so much so that you will be completely and utterly lost without that background. Just something to keep in mind if this review makes you curious!

Renegade is a really good continuation of Abbie's story. The stakes are really being raised, and she's really having to dig deep and confront quite a lot of darkness. There are a lot of questions raised at the end of the second book, and I can't wait to see how they're all going to be answered in the final installment. If you're looking for a really well done Jack the Ripper story with a wonderful female lead character, do check these books out!

An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

***

To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

[Mari - loves to read · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading Amy Carol Reeves' Ripper novels. I love the setting and the overall gothic feel the author creates from London in the 1880's with a sprinkle of the supernatural. It is also interesting to travel back in time to an era when girls weren't supposed to want anything for themselves, other than a nice home, and certainly not should they ever fancy themselves becoming a physician.


There will be spoilers - continue on at own risk!


"The End Is the Beginning Is the End"
We're picking up almost where the first book ended. One of the members of the cruel and twisted Conclave is still out there somewhere and of course he is after Abbie Sharp and her friend. This time there are cruel murders in London, again, people being resurrected and suspiciously sounding like vamps. However things get lost and Abbie keeps having these visions of a creature that is half woman, half large reptile. Not a good sign! The rest is up to you to find out, I will not reveal the whole caboodle.

Some pet peeves - and start spoilers
Why does the girl, almost without exception, choose the guy who is an ass over the good guy?! Some bad guys(and girls) are nice and just bad by reputation and if you've tried being with them once and it doesn't really work out that well then why o' why try again?

Old affair out in broad daylight
In this case the love interest confesses as to have had a partner earlier in his life, after Abbie picks up some vibes when she and Mr.Lovely visits this past flame, an older woman, and her husband for dinner. Abbie reacts to this, no wonder really it must feel weird to discover such a thing in that kind of setting and I would think that had made anyone a bit insecure. Also Abbie is no more than seventeen, she is supposed to react to these sort of things with a bit of a hormonal outburst. It will pass, but that was not the issue for me here. My problem was the way the boy/man behaved after the relationship went down the drain after this. He behaved like an ass and turned to the bottle instead of trying to win Abbies trust and be the best man that he could be for her and make her see that the past was the past. Instead he welled in self pity, very charming! How can a girl resist such a behavior? Read with dripping sarcasm on tongue.

Chemistry with a capital C
When Dr. Charming makes Abbie's heart beat faster, and the chemistry actually makes my own heart beat a bit faster and the butterflies in my stomach start to dance, she gives it a thought about five seconds and decides no I'll go hook up with "Mr. pity party" over there. Please Mrs. Reeves don't let it end like this, I am begging you!

Historical
I love the historical setting and all the bits and bobs of history that lies hidden in the inky lines. Some historical figures has been written into the story and others are mentioned so I've taken my sweet time with this novel as I wanted to find out more about the real characters(Google, Wikipedia etc). This is not necessary, I am just that kind of curious girl. I have to say that as a bonus I discovered what is thought to be the first modern vampire story; The Vampyre by John William Polidori. It was a short little thing and I will try and review it shortly.

Little clues and pieces of read string are strewn throughout the story making it possible to write some dark and intriguing stories in future novels in this series. I am sticking with it and looking forward to what comes next for Abbie and co.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Genre* Historical, Paranormal
*Rating* 3.0

*First Thoughts*

Renegade is the sequel to Ripper and takes place in 1889 London as well as Scotland. 17 year old Arabella (Abbie) Sharp is a survivor of sorts after she defeated the Conclave, a group of immortal men that have been pursuing not only her, but her mother Caroline as well.

Abbie is an intelligent, smart, and intriguing character who is suffering from guilty feelings over her actions against the Conclave after they threatened her friends Dr. William Sidal and Dr. Simon St. John. She understands that she can't get too comfortable with her life or her feelings toward her paramore Dr. William Sidal because the Conclave's assassin, Max, is still on the loose and has his sights set on making Abbie his own no matter who gets in the way. He even goes as far as planting suggestive thoughts into her dreams which has her running around London without any sort of protection.

Abbie, besides worrying about Max and his machinations or if Inspector Abberline will find out what she really did in killing the members of the Conclave, is attempting to become a doctor. She works as a nurse at Whitechapel Hospital waiting until she is able to apply to the London School for Women. She's also having vivid dreams about a supernatural creature that looks exactly as her mother did in a painting that was done by Abbie's father Dante Gabriel Rossetti and given to her by Max.

Here's my thoughts about Renegade. First, I actually liked the addition of Seraphina, the lamia who was created by the Conclave and given immortality, to the story and was actually more interested in her thoughts and actions than I was, at times, with Abbie's. Abbie has some romance issues as well as a feeling as though she is the only person in the world that is able to stop the Conclave and Max in particular. She claims to love William, and yet, Simon is absolutely perfect for her in every single way possible which is shown clearly to me when William dives off the deep end and disappears and Simon drops everything in order to accompany her to Scotland.

I would really love to get in the head of Max, the Conclaves assassin and find out what makes him tick. I know that he had something to do with Abbie's mother. I know that he wants Abbie for his immortal mate but what is his purpose in doing so? There are a few surprises at the end of Renegade that obviously will be transferred to the next book. I want to know who the stranger is that has been following Simon and Abbie around. I want to know what is going to happen to William now that it appears he's become yet another target of the Conclave's machinations. Lastly, I want to know if Inspector Abberline will finally join Abbie in her attempt to stop Max once and for-all.

In closing, although the story was interesting at a whole, it wasn't Ripper. I found myself struggling at times to get into this story even though Abbie is clearly able to handle herself in dangerous situations. I thought the tale of Seraphina was sad at times. To understand everything that she's had to go through for 80 years, was a wee bit disheartening. I'm actually glad that part of the story was told in her POV and we see just how she has had to cope with losing her humanity, and everyone she ever loved.

*Recvd from Flux via Netgalley 11/08/2012* Expected publication: April 2013 by Flux

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!
http://myguiltyobsession.blogspot.com...

One of the things I like most about this series is the strong female character that is Abbie. She isn't some damsel in distress (that is quite common to the era of this book) that needs to be saving, in fact, during Ripper (the first book in the series), the girl kicked butt and took names and that doesn't chance in Renegade. Once again we get the strong, intelligent and fierce girl that loves with her whole being and wants to do right by everyone. The girl like no other. She defies the laws and restrictions of what it means to be a women in her time and doesn't take no for an answer.

What first drew me to this series was the author's ability to blend the paranormal with a very realistic historic feel that is old world London in the 1800's. Really the mixing of the two was pretty flawless. I got both the paranormal I seem to crave along with the regency era I most adore.

Throw in a little love triangle, a notorious murderer still on the lose, a legend about a monster that seems to be real and a secret Conclave that might very well still be alive and you have one heck of a story line.

And I am happy to say that Reeves pulled it off again. She seamlessly blended the two genres and created something heart pounding and page turning. Full of mystery and intrigue, the inner workings of a mad man, that although I hate to admit it, I am fascinated by and a cast full of characters that are truly unforgettable.

I loved Abbie even more. She is still that headstrong stubborn girl we got in Ripper but now even more fierce and determined to do what needs to be done. She is one tough cookie!

Simon, ah Simon, how I love him. Once again, I fear that I may be falling in love with the wrong guy and will get my heart broken from it. I can't help it though. He is strong, patient, kind, caring and truly loves Abbie. He is everything she should be wanting in a companion. He would let her do what she wants most in life and would never stand in her way. He would support her faithfully and yet, and yet her heart belongs to another.

I am so thrilled with the way this one played through. Even though I love Simon so much, I can't help but love William as well. He is sort of a bad boy for his time. A little reckless, makes stupid mistakes and is even a jerk at times but you can't help but see that he does love Abbie. Their love is slightly destructive and probably not at all healthy but there you have it.

I love that we saw more of Richard in this one as well. There is so much to that sneaky butler. I really hope eventually Reeves will give us his full story.

And then we have Max. The mysterious, evil Max. I really hope we get his story. I know he is out there doing nothing but bad and I want to know what the little fiend is up to.

The ending left me wanting more. Not only do we get a mysterious letter addressed to Max but also the added mystery of one of the Queen's elite too.

I can't wait to see what Reeves has in store for the rest of the series. I am just as pleased with this sequel as I was with the first and I know that it will continue to get better and better as it goes.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arabella Sharp has gotten rid of The Conclave and thought that would be the end of those things. She thought her life would get back to normal or as normal as it could. However bodies begin to show up that have the mark of the Ripper and bodies of fisherman begin to wash up along with tales of a strange creature. Arabella is also struggling to decide between William and Simon. Will things ever become sane for her again.

Arabella is a different character. She has visions and works as a nurse and she just knows more trouble is to come. She won't back down from what she believes and will do whatever she can to solve a mystery. Often she rushes into things without thinking. Simon is a great guy even if he is quiet. You get to see why he is so quiet and puts a wall up between people. I really liked him. William I did not care for one bit. He seemed like a jerk who for the most part only cared for his self. A few times I think he is treated unfairly by Arabella but for the most part I did not care for him. Seraphina is a character I really liked a lot. I think besides Simon she is my favorite. Yes she does awful things but she has a bad past. You get to see different sides of her.

I have not read the first book in thus series and was just a little confused at first. However I do believe this book can be read as it's own story as the only thing I feel I missed to do with this story is Arabella and Williams relationship. What I didn't like about this story is bad to say is the main character Arabella. She got on my nerves a lot. At times I wanted to smack her and say look in front of you at what is there. I was glad she and William had problems but I think at times she needed to rethink why she was giving him such a hard time. I guess you can say the love situation is the reason I didn't love it. The plot with the murders, bodies and creatures I loved. Any time an author write a creature that is evil but you still feel for it is awesome for me. I loved the action and some of the characters. I would love to see more of some of them and yes I would like to know if Arabella ever wises up.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

[Brenna Tkalcich · Rating 5 out of 5]

reviously, I have read and reviewed “Ripper”, the first in Amy Carol Reeves's Ripper trilogy. Honestly, I couldn't wait to pick up and devour “Renegade”.

If you haven't read the first one (and my review, which was a dead giveaway that it was a must read), STOP. Go back in time, erase what you did instead of reading “Ripper”, and read it. Trust me, the Time Lords will understand.

Here's the thing: Reeves writes these as young adult books, but they would be just as at home in the regency section of historical fiction, or next to Robert Parker's inimitable Spenser series. Take a moment and hear me out. Arabella Sharp, our young heroine, is a young Spenser with a varied past that gives her advantages that her own family can't quite accept as anything other than failings. Simon St. John, a doctor she works with, is her Hawk; ok, that is stretching it a bit as Spenser and Hawk have a “bromance” and not a romance (and because I steer clear of Spenser fanfiction because I don't want to be scarred like that), but he also has a stable of mysterious skills that make him indispensable – but he is deep enough that if Reeves wrote a novella or St. John-centric series, he could stand alone, easily. William Siddal, Abbie's (Arabella's) paramour is Susan (forgive me, but this works) – skilled, counter-balanced to Abbie's and Simon's personalities, and without him, the trilogy would be flat.

In this second entry in the trilogy, things are static, on the surface. Abbie is still working at the hospital and planning a medical career as such was allowed women at the time. Whitechapel Hospital has undergone some changes, and sadly (but needfully), it is not a main set-piece for this novel. Strange things are happening again, and foes thought disappeared are raising their heads and the stakes in this penultimate volume. Children snatched, corpses cannibalized, and more visions – which Abbie had hoped were through at the end of the first novel – dictate that the trio must continue their vigilance, lest they themselves fall prey...

[Kara-karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the previous book in the series, Ripper, and I really enjoyed this book as well. It was very atmospheric and full of interesting historical details amid dark psychic visions and bloody mysteries left in Conclave's demise.

I applaud heroines like Arabella. She is a warrior, fierce and stubborn. She is not a damsel in distress and her every action only proves it again and again. She is actually the character who does all the dirty work in both books. In that trait she is very similar to Ripper - she has an innate talent for killing, and she fights dirty.

In Renegade, Arabella tries to come back to normal life after what happened to the Conclave, however life gives her a blow after blow. She finds out something about William that makes her doubt him to the points of breaking all ties, and she still has this weird connection to Simon, whom I admit I favour much more.

Then when William disappears, it's up to Arabella to find him with the help of Simon, and to vanquish the creature who guards him.

Now that creature's thoughts is what perhaps slowed down the book for me and diminished my pleasure of reading. She has perhaps third of the book to herself, while she reminisces about her past and does her dirty deeds. However I found her so unexciting, I kept wanting to get back to Arabella...

There are also two major plots in the book: Arabella and Ripper's connection, and mysterious cannibalistic murders in London. Now this I suspect has something to do with vampirism, and reminded me strongly of Bram Stoker's Dracula, but unfortunately that threat disappears without any sort of conclusion. I suspect it will renew itself in the next book.

All in all, it's a pretty good book despite some structural misgivings. Recommended.

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review Courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

The Ripper is still on the loose in RENEGADE, the second book in the increasingly ominous Ripper series. The creepiness factor of Max (aka the Ripper) is at an all time high as he stalks Arabella. The mind games Max sadistically plays by subtly threatening her family put him at the top of the list of disturbing bad guys in urban fantasy.

Along with the mental and physical danger Arabella is in, she also contends with rampant dark visions of the future. The imagery in these visions is very frightening and only adds to the foreboding atmosphere that oozes out of RENEGADE. There was also more detail about what she went through with her mother’s death which we only got a taste of in RIPPER.

Since Arabella is a woman ahead of her time with a strong independent streak, I was surprised by her reaction to William in RENEGADE. While a touch of romance is not at all an odd thing for a strong woman, Arabella seems to lose all reason and strength when it comes to dealing with Will. I was appalled by William’s downward spiral and his actions later in the book, and let down by Arabella’s lack of intelligence when it came to their relationship. The bigger focus on this lackluster romance was tedious and really unnecessary to the far more exciting Ripper plot.

While the romance was the real casualty, RENEGADE delivers a solid blend of gothic mystery with paranormal elements and a delightful sense of foreboding . With the Ripper still on the lose, I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the Ripper series.

Sexual Content: kissing

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars. I really enjoyed the first one in this series which had the Ripper mystery with paranormal elements - psychic powers, visions and an immortality elixir and a very strong heroine. Unfortunately this one doesn't live up to it. I found the supernatural element in this one over done and heavy handed, the constant POV of Seraphina boring and pointless and the mustache twirling evil of Max also over done but the thing that bugged me most was that Abbie's strength & brains and everything that made her so likable seem to have all dribbled out of her head as a result of her 'love'for the assholish, weak, dissmissive William. Even knowing of the supernatural and conclave from the previous book her dismisses Abbie's experiences, Abbi herself hesitates to tell him of her visions but has no problem taking them to the supportive reliable, kind and dedicated Simon who listens to her and helps her. For awhile it seemed a though she may come to her senses and move forward with Simon but no it seems that her strength and good sense (which is what I liked about her in book 1) have deserted her. She cannot be with the good, decent, reliable man she has a connection with she must choose the unreliable weak drunk who dismisses her and got lost in drink and other women when they broke up abandoning his work as a Dr and all his patients because her feeling for him are more violent and her feeling for Simon to temperate. WTF? I am so disgusted by the fact that the author took a strong and awesome heroine and turned her into a brainless nitwit driven by hormones that I wont bother with the rest of this series.

[Adrienne Amborski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment in the Ripper series, Renegade continues the paranormal adventures of Abbie Sharp, a young woman of Victorian England. The first novel, Ripper, introduces the character of the Ripper who commits the infamous the crimes of Jack of the Ripper during the late 1800s. Although in Ripper, Abbie destroyed the Conclave, a group of learned men striving for immortality at any costs, she once again is stalked by the lone survivor, Max (also known as the Ripper.) Ghastly apparitions and visions of a lamia, a half human female and half dragon sea monster, haunt Abbie and force her to confront the reality that she is still not safe from the Ripper’s advances. Uncommon of the era, Abbie resumes pursuing a medical degree and continues to be romantically torn between two young physicians, Dr. William Siddal and Dr. Simon St. John . After a disagreement, William and Abbie’s relationship is broken and William disappears. Created by the Conclave before their demise, the lamia is holding William prisoner in her lair on the Orkney Isles under Max’s orders. In an attempt to rescue William, Abbie and Simon travel under the guise of a married couple to the Orkney Isles.
Due to the complexity of the characters’ background and plot, Renegade should be read following Ripper to be fully appreciated. Departing from the Jack the Ripper theme, Reeves continues to build a rich storyline blending history and paranormal elements together for an enjoyable read.

[A Book Vacation · Rating 2 out of 5]

To see my full review:

http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...

I’m sorry to say that this second novel in the series just didn’t do anything for me. Abbie is extremely wishy-washy, and her issues with William drove me a bit nutty. I understand the idea of purity, but quite honestly, you can’t hold people accountable for their past relationships, and when Abbie starts doing this, I lost a bit of respect for her. Add in her inability to do anything for herself, and her constant bad decision-making, and I was less than pleased with her character, overall.

Likewise, William jumps off the deep end in this novel, and his turn to alcohol and women made me lose all respect for him. Maybe Abbie had a point that she couldn’t trust him, but still, she made that call prior to any of his indiscretions, and his indiscretions stemmed from jealousy and misery (not condoning it, but), so I still don’t see how she could make that call prior to the fact.

I truly felt like too much of this novel focused on Abbie’s inability to make good decisions and not enough on the monster that skulks through the waters. I liked how we progressively learned more about this entity at the beginning of the chapters, but I also felt like it was drawn out and the in-between information concerning Abbie didn’t keep my attention well enough for me to really enjoy this novel. Two stars.

[Katie]

I read part of this book thanks to Net Galley.

This book fell victim to my habit of deciding to read books in a series when I haven't read the first one. Although I enjoyed the narrator's voice, I found I couldn't read past the fifth chapter. This time around, I had missed too much by not having read the first book and I couldn't really piece together the parts of the story and the characters' connections without having their backstory to hand. This is actually a good sign for this book, as it proves the author isn't re-hashing needless back-stories, which is something that can become irritating if you've already been through those stories once before.

The book does take a little while to get started and has a tendency to flick the reader into the past with very little warning. At times, it was a little difficult to reconcile what was past and what was present, although I suspect much of this was due to not having read the previous book.

I do intend to search out the first book in this series, which means I will probably return to this book with a better understanding of what has befallen the characters in the past. The world Amy Carol Reeves has created for her characters is wonderfully dark and evocative and I would like to have a chance to explore it properly.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book more or less started were Ripper left of.
Abbie has destroyed the conclave members with only Max still alive.

Abbie starts having visions of a mythical creature a Lamia, and visions of her mothers death and what happened.

She also starts to see dead people walking and killing people in the graveyard who stop chasing her when William appears, after William is taken by Max Abbie and Simon go to find him and confront the Lamia and a new puzzle concerning Max needing William alive.

This book was fast paced and straight into the action from the beginning to the end, I did enjoy the adding of the mystery with William and why does Max want him?
I felt that this book was just a teaser to what is to come and set a atmosphere which it did a really good job of it.

I would like a little less focus on the love triangle of Abbie, Simon and William.
It seemed to not really fit at times but in the case ofthis book it was needed.

I'm just eger for the next 1 to see what Max has planned

[Della · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not make it through this book fast enough. That might sound like a good thing but I was actually looking forward to not having to read it anymore. I loved the first book in the series, Ripper, and was really looking forward to this one but it was a major let down. The character chemistry wasn’t there; the author seemed to be searching for the story herself. It felt like she was just throwing things together and hoping it would make it work. It did not. I did feel sorry for the Lamia but felt that more could have been done with her. There’s not much more I can say about this one other than, don’t waste your time. 2 stars if that.

[star_fire13 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so that first page in the end made perfect sense lol

That was a pretty fast and easy read. The book flowed really well. I pretty much powered through it without noticing.

I really don't like William. He's a douchebag. Simon is way better lol

I want to know who this "him" is from "Keep him alive". I don't think it's William. I think maybe William wrote the letter. Or is in on it somehow. He just seems really nefarious to me lol

ALSO what's with Richard and the order of the Queen and that whole thing??

Max needs to be stopped. I wonder what exactly his plan is...?

[MaggieReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was better than the first. Okay, especially in the romance department. This is the book where I basically fell in love with Simon and, you know what, I just don't understand Abbie's romantic choices at this point. Also, I LOVED Seraphina. Poor, poor Seraphina. TRYONG SO HARD NOT TO GIVE SPOILERS HERE. Seraphina was easily the most interesting character in this novel, although the main character Abbie did become more complex and relatable. I cannot wait for the next book.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was curious as to what the other two books in this trilogy would contain, and I'm happy to say that I did like the direction it went. I got a bit frustrated because I wanted things to move along a bit quicker, especially at the end. I was a bit heartbroken by the lamia, and I am looking forward to seeing what the last book will bring.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book filled with action, romance and suspense. This is the second book in a really great series and I can't wait to see what Amy Carol Reeves comes up with next. For the full review go to Dark Faerie Tales: http://darkfaerietales.com/early-revi...

[Corynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can officially say that I've read two fantasy books now! The second one is only more intense then Ripper, the story line just as addicting. Ms. Reeves is a suspense master! Can't wait for the third book!

[Lianne Mei · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would have been a lot better without the love triangle. Found Abbie to be super annoying in this book and it lacked the fun interesting spin on Jack the Ripper. Loved the first book more than this one. Hope the next one is better.

[Irene Bebisheva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery, romance a bit of thrill and adrenaline rush. Great thing in perfect mix. At first a bit upset of love triangle in the beginning. But on the first chapters. End is great and want to read the finale

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series. Arabella Sharp is a great character, a woman ahead of her time.

[Jennavier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the voice, liked the setting, detested the love triangle. You win some, you lose some. Struggled on stars but settled on four, even though it's not quite there.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped to. I felt like the plot progressed way to slowly. I did enjoy the ending however. But this book did fall short of my expectations.