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The Girl in the Box #6
Broken
Sienna Nealon is a broken human being. Her lover is dead, her closest friends have deserted her, and her employers have betrayed her. From the ashes of her desperation, she must master the metahuman powers at her command and finally tame the souls that share her body for one ultimate purpose - revenge against the ones who destroyed her life.
Note: This is book six of the series and may not make sense to new readers. Book one is titled Alone, and is presently available for free in ebook formats.
Note: This is book six of the series and may not make sense to new readers. Book one is titled Alone, and is presently available for free in ebook formats.
154 pages, ebook
First published May 24, 2013
2786 people are currently reading
2031 people want to read
About the author
Robert J. Crane
176 books1,168 followersRobert J. Crane was born and raised on Florida's Space Coast before moving to the upper midwest in search of cooler climates and more palatable beer. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in English Creative Writing. He worked for a year as a substitute teacher and worked in the financial services field for seven years while writing in his spare time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
May 26, 2013
IT WAS EARLY AND IT WAS AWESOME. (Not usually what she said.)
SO. After the end of Omega The Girl in the Box 5 I'm sure we all wanted to beat Robert Crane with a huge spiky fish. You did WHAT to Zack? Oh, you cruel human. YOU HAVE RUINED THE ONLY INNOCENT AND PURE HAPPINESS THAT SIENNA HAD AND DROVE HER BACK INTO THE MENTAL STATE OF A SOCIOPATH?! (I even ranted about it on his blog. I was not happy that it happened, but I understand.) Anyway, have some spoiler-rific, stream-of-consciousness ranting about Broken!
I saw a GR review of Book One and the reviewer kind of wanted Sienna to be a killing machine badass, a la Hanna. IT HAPPENED IN BROKEN. LOVE IT. Also loved Wolfe in this one, which probably makes me the most twisted individual ever to walk this earth. But he's good for her head, especially in the context Winter turned her into. Oh, you needed her to become a ruthless killer? LUCKY FOR YOU, SHE HAS ONE-THIRD OF CERBERUS IN HER HEAD NOW.
Not gonna lie though. As much as I loved Sienna and Zack together, I LOVED the idea of Winter using him as a pawn to get Sienna to stay at the Directorate, and part of me really, really wishes that's all it would have stayed as (at least for now, but I knooooow she needed some sort of resolution to get back on course). Of course, then Sienna really WOULD have lost her humanity, instead of just sometimes listening to Wolfe when she was feeling vengeful. I am so going to need to re-read now and see if I can spot where the turning point happened for Zack, because that's the kind of lunatic I am.
Side note: Was the reference in Family to Zollers telling her not to trust ANYONE about Zack? I mean, we all know Zack spent some quality time with the shrink, and I can only imagine he would have been ranting about the inappropriateness and annoyance of dealing with a stupid teenage girl at the beginning. Or am I overthinking? Naaaaah. NOT TO MENTION, EEEEEEE ZOLLERS RETURNS.
(Yes. Zollers is Neil deGrasse Tyson. Kindly stfu.)
Anyway. When she started killing off M-Squad, all I could think of was a perfect little world in my head where she would go get Reed back, get Scott on the sober train, and the three of them would just create this soul-sucking hurricane of meta-awesome. LET ME DREAM.
But yes. This was fantastic, and I am going to flail myself to death if Sovereign ends up being Odin or Zeus or someone equally as awesome. (But probably not Zeus, unless his idea of "enslaving all humans" means "knocking them up".)
These books just keep getting better. It's sad to think we're 60% through the series D:
October 8, 2016
Oookay, so the dear old telepathic Dr. Zollers happens to be right, after all... Big surprise there.
Now I'm just turning wistful at the dismantling of all the elaborate itty-bitty half-and-untruths as well as outright lies shown in the previous parts.
And, weird enough, it feels as though the universe is trying to tell ME something via my choice in books. Or maybe I'm just that paranoid :).
Q:
— “I get it, you’re all old, you’ve known each other since thousands of years ago. Congrats on being part of the world’s first gentleman’s club—you know, absent any actual gentlemen. And honestly, probably absent any of the other things you’d find in a more modern gentleman’s club, like—”
(c)
Q:
I remembered what had happened, where I was, and the tears streamed down my face as a presence came over me. “I’m sorry, Zack. I’m sorry I couldn’t kill him for you.”
It’s okay. I never wanted you to. I never wanted you to be a killer. I just wanted you to be you. I love you.
“I know,” I said. “I know. I’m sorry I doubted you.”
You have to get up now.
There were sirens in the distance, I could hear them, wailing loud and growing closer. You have to get up, Zack said again. You have to get out of here before they arrive.
“Yes,” I said, “okay.” I dragged myself to my knees, spasms of pain racking me in between the occasional sob. I started toward the fence in the distance, the one I had entered the airport over, and I started running, tuning out the pain. “You’re with me. You’re finally with me.”
Yeah. Sorry it took me so long. I was afraid. Afraid you’d find out what I did. How we started. I was afraid that you’d never forgive me.
“I forgive you,” I sobbed, running through the snowy night. “I forgive you.” I sniffed. “There’s only one person I can’t forgive, and it’s not you.”
I kept running until I got to the fence, and by the time I had cleared it and gotten back to my car, the wind had numbed me, numbed my pain—everything but the little bit still inside, hiding, secreted away with Zack.
(c)
Now I'm just turning wistful at the dismantling of all the elaborate itty-bitty half-and-untruths as well as outright lies shown in the previous parts.
And, weird enough, it feels as though the universe is trying to tell ME something via my choice in books. Or maybe I'm just that paranoid :).
Q:
— “I get it, you’re all old, you’ve known each other since thousands of years ago. Congrats on being part of the world’s first gentleman’s club—you know, absent any actual gentlemen. And honestly, probably absent any of the other things you’d find in a more modern gentleman’s club, like—”
(c)
Q:
I remembered what had happened, where I was, and the tears streamed down my face as a presence came over me. “I’m sorry, Zack. I’m sorry I couldn’t kill him for you.”
It’s okay. I never wanted you to. I never wanted you to be a killer. I just wanted you to be you. I love you.
“I know,” I said. “I know. I’m sorry I doubted you.”
You have to get up now.
There were sirens in the distance, I could hear them, wailing loud and growing closer. You have to get up, Zack said again. You have to get out of here before they arrive.
“Yes,” I said, “okay.” I dragged myself to my knees, spasms of pain racking me in between the occasional sob. I started toward the fence in the distance, the one I had entered the airport over, and I started running, tuning out the pain. “You’re with me. You’re finally with me.”
Yeah. Sorry it took me so long. I was afraid. Afraid you’d find out what I did. How we started. I was afraid that you’d never forgive me.
“I forgive you,” I sobbed, running through the snowy night. “I forgive you.” I sniffed. “There’s only one person I can’t forgive, and it’s not you.”
I kept running until I got to the fence, and by the time I had cleared it and gotten back to my car, the wind had numbed me, numbed my pain—everything but the little bit still inside, hiding, secreted away with Zack.
(c)
March 25, 2025
All I can say is, damn. This book was the shortest kind the series and for a good reason.
Sienna got her lick back, expeditiously! I had to read this right after the last one because I needed resolution 😭 This book is a testament of when you push someone beyond their limits.
Nothing will make me hate Sienna, she is really That Girl!
Sienna got her lick back, expeditiously! I had to read this right after the last one because I needed resolution 😭 This book is a testament of when you push someone beyond their limits.
Nothing will make me hate Sienna, she is really That Girl!
June 11, 2013
Book five was the crescendo and this book is the interim. The one that leads us into the climb towards the finish.
To do that the author has had to be brutal, a different kind of brutal than the end of the last book. This time we see Sienna lose her grip on the one thing that makes her different from Winter, her humanity.
Keeping in mind that she has a lot going on inside her head, literally. How many are in there now? A few more and they can have football matches on a sunny day inside her mind.
Wolfe is getting his own way in the guise of the little helper, Zack hasn't had the guts to speak up and someone really needs to shut up about his scheming sister already.
So here we are on the brink of a new dawning and Sienna is going for total wipeout. Readjusting to the ultimate betrayal and that is only the beginning of the home truths she finds out.
At the beginning of this book I was worried she was going all Bruce Willis Die Hard on us, but then who can blame her. In fact I would probably do the same and enjoy it a little more.
It will be interesting to see what really has been the underlying plot of the powers that be and whether that will work out for them they way they think it will. Sienna usually ends up doing the complete opposite from what everyone expects.
More power to her.
Looking forward to the next.
I received a free copy of this book for my review.
To do that the author has had to be brutal, a different kind of brutal than the end of the last book. This time we see Sienna lose her grip on the one thing that makes her different from Winter, her humanity.
Keeping in mind that she has a lot going on inside her head, literally. How many are in there now? A few more and they can have football matches on a sunny day inside her mind.
Wolfe is getting his own way in the guise of the little helper, Zack hasn't had the guts to speak up and someone really needs to shut up about his scheming sister already.
So here we are on the brink of a new dawning and Sienna is going for total wipeout. Readjusting to the ultimate betrayal and that is only the beginning of the home truths she finds out.
At the beginning of this book I was worried she was going all Bruce Willis Die Hard on us, but then who can blame her. In fact I would probably do the same and enjoy it a little more.
It will be interesting to see what really has been the underlying plot of the powers that be and whether that will work out for them they way they think it will. Sienna usually ends up doing the complete opposite from what everyone expects.
More power to her.
Looking forward to the next.
I received a free copy of this book for my review.
March 5, 2015
Okay yes. The last book hurt. But I am so glad that I stuck with this series! (Like I was going to do anything else anyway!?) this book was just as brilliant as all the others. It was well written and full of emotion.
This was a crucial part to the story line where we get to see the more badass side to Siena, where she doesn't take any crap from anyone and where she barely even flinches when she's about to kill someone.
Finally. Finally, some of the people from Directorate got what was coming to them. Thank god she finally stuck up for herself!
10 out of 10! And I'm about to throw myself into the next book:)!
This was a crucial part to the story line where we get to see the more badass side to Siena, where she doesn't take any crap from anyone and where she barely even flinches when she's about to kill someone.
Finally. Finally, some of the people from Directorate got what was coming to them. Thank god she finally stuck up for herself!
10 out of 10! And I'm about to throw myself into the next book:)!
September 17, 2014
Oh good lord. So much deaths. Revenge is at it's best it seems. But I still feel that half the books are unnecessary. To long of a series full of short books.
June 19, 2019
Really not much I can say about this book that isn't said in the synopsis. Sienna is broken. She's been betrayed by everyone she's come to trust and perhaps love. To make matters worse the voices in her head of the two psychopathic killers she's killed along with a couple others she's added along the way keep chattering away and manipulating her. Sienna goes from a young woman that could not kill unless her life or someone else's was threatened to a revenge fueled cold blooded killer intent on seeking retribution against those who have betrayed her and stolen her innocence. The first person she kills is easily the most heartbreaking. Seeking out and killing the M-Squad and Eric Winter while dealing with the personalities in her head is pretty much what this book is all about.
January 11, 2024
The author said the grim ending of the last book is part of a greater plan that would be made better. This one didn't do it much. I get the revenge angle and appreciate it, and she's not mentally alone anymore that's for sure, but it still feels like every headway, relationship, development, of the first four books were made pointless and erased.
Some of the scenes were revenge-worthy, two were sad. I always feel the author expected us to go along with the hatred and making fun of a particular character throughout the series, but not feeling it. The "secret reveal" of Zach wasn't a surprise for me at all as I suspected that for their start since book one. The next book will have to be her starting over I'm thinking.
Some of the scenes were revenge-worthy, two were sad. I always feel the author expected us to go along with the hatred and making fun of a particular character throughout the series, but not feeling it. The "secret reveal" of Zach wasn't a surprise for me at all as I suspected that for their start since book one. The next book will have to be her starting over I'm thinking.
March 31, 2025
This series is like popcorn - I cannot put it down or take a pause. Only nom nom nom my way thru it. What really impresses me about this series is that the protagonist is an 18 year old girl, being written by a man. I know these books aren't recently published, so maybe by now it's been revealed that Crane is actually a lady (though I doubt it) and I just haven't taken the time to research further. But he is doing a credible job with the character, and I appreciate it.
The series really took a completely unexpected left turn that, quite frankly, rocked me. Several "holy shits" were necessary to air aloud as I sat reading alone, looking at my dog wishing she could hold a conversation because the trajectory of this book just blew the F up.
Wow! and I really mean WOW!
The series really took a completely unexpected left turn that, quite frankly, rocked me. Several "holy shits" were necessary to air aloud as I sat reading alone, looking at my dog wishing she could hold a conversation because the trajectory of this book just blew the F up.
Wow! and I really mean WOW!
May 3, 2018
After not having read this series for a long time, it was nice to jump back into the storyline. There always seems to be something happening to Sienna, but I like the way that different characters get thrown into the mix. I also like the different characters that are held within her head. It's a unique idea that I haven't seen in other books where others' consciousnesses are actively present in another's mind. I remember being so upset at the end of Book 5, and it was interesting to see how Sienna dealt with what happened to her.
June 17, 2017
Better and better
These books are getting so much more addictive the more of them I read. I seriously don't want the series to finish. Sienna is all alone now, apart from those few who are inside her mind. She has to make a serious decision, whether to join with omega, or to risk losing her chances of revenge. Even though omega are the enemy it seems a far greater one has arrived and all metas are their target.
These books are getting so much more addictive the more of them I read. I seriously don't want the series to finish. Sienna is all alone now, apart from those few who are inside her mind. She has to make a serious decision, whether to join with omega, or to risk losing her chances of revenge. Even though omega are the enemy it seems a far greater one has arrived and all metas are their target.
September 4, 2018
I enjoyed the book. I was glad the female protagonist did not spend a lot of time being depressed and locked up in her box. Of course that would not have been much of a story anyway. With the support of all the people in her head, she took action. This character sure gets beat up a lot. How much of that can someone stand without getting PTSD?
Each one of these books in the series have been engaging and fast reads. I plan on reading the rest in the series.
Each one of these books in the series have been engaging and fast reads. I plan on reading the rest in the series.
June 28, 2017
A disappointing 3.5 stars, it just doesn't compare to the earlier books in the series.
This book sees Senna seek revenge against her former team mates and we get a bit more of the background to her joining The Directorate.
I feel just like the previous novel it was a place holder and maybe setting up the scene and storyline for the rest of the series, here's hoping
This book sees Senna seek revenge against her former team mates and we get a bit more of the background to her joining The Directorate.
I feel just like the previous novel it was a place holder and maybe setting up the scene and storyline for the rest of the series, here's hoping
April 3, 2019
Decent entry into the ongoing series of Sienna hopefully saving the world from other dangerous meta humans. This time she is killing them though after struggling with using her abilities to kill other metas. She's mostly alone now with living metas, the majority live in her head. Just enough to keep me going in this interesting and creative series.
May 27, 2019
Another suspenseful book!
Hell, this is book six and all I can say is in onto book seven, which I actually already finished. These are great books with characters that draw you into a world of Gods, Goddesses, killers, and more than I can describe. Get your read on and keep going!
Hell, this is book six and all I can say is in onto book seven, which I actually already finished. These are great books with characters that draw you into a world of Gods, Goddesses, killers, and more than I can describe. Get your read on and keep going!
November 3, 2019
4 1/2 Stars
I have finished seven books and part of book eight. I’m stopping here for a break and plan to pick up later.
These books are really good and I love Sienna’s witty remarks. I didn’t realize how long this series was when I started. Serious kudos to the author for remaining consistent through the series to this point.
I have finished seven books and part of book eight. I’m stopping here for a break and plan to pick up later.
These books are really good and I love Sienna’s witty remarks. I didn’t realize how long this series was when I started. Serious kudos to the author for remaining consistent through the series to this point.
December 6, 2019
Sienna is out for revenge over what happened with Zack. The ending of the last book was so awful/depressing & the deathly ramifications are played out in this book. I feel the anger, but I'm saddened she is going after people she considered her friends, especially Parks. I get why but it's hard to read.
July 14, 2021
Well, that overwhelming sadness I felt after reading book 5 was quickly tossed in the trash as I moved into this book. Still not thrilled by what was revealed but I get it.
Although this one definitely saw Sienna take a turn in the direction that was pretty obvious, the story's grip on me held firm—much like the books before it.
Although this one definitely saw Sienna take a turn in the direction that was pretty obvious, the story's grip on me held firm—much like the books before it.
February 25, 2018
Meh
The story continues,shorter book,not as gripping as the others will give book 7 a go but only cos I've spent £20 reading the other books I'm still intrigued to see where Sienna goes from here..
The story continues,shorter book,not as gripping as the others will give book 7 a go but only cos I've spent £20 reading the other books I'm still intrigued to see where Sienna goes from here..
March 14, 2018
This entire series is jaw dropping and keeps you so involved that you can't put them down!!
I have read all of the Girl In the Box books and am almost through the series of The Girl OUT of the Box series...I hate to see the end coming!! :(
I have read all of the Girl In the Box books and am almost through the series of The Girl OUT of the Box series...I hate to see the end coming!! :(
October 28, 2018
Satisfying
Brutal but satisfying. What else is a girl to do but become a bad ass killer to avenge her love. More twists and turns than a roller coaster. Crane never gives up his secrets but I'll keep reading until I discover every last one cheering for Sienna the entire time.
Brutal but satisfying. What else is a girl to do but become a bad ass killer to avenge her love. More twists and turns than a roller coaster. Crane never gives up his secrets but I'll keep reading until I discover every last one cheering for Sienna the entire time.
April 24, 2019
Short and sweet
I overlooked a few tiny errors in giving this installment 4*. I have to say I am very curious about her missing hand which, apparently, Should be of little importance. Did it grow back?
I overlooked a few tiny errors in giving this installment 4*. I have to say I am very curious about her missing hand which, apparently, Should be of little importance. Did it grow back?
May 30, 2019
Broken
Since I had read the previous books in the series I understood what Sienna was doing and why she was killing so many people. If this was my first, I would be totally confused.
Since I had read the previous books in the series I understood what Sienna was doing and why she was killing so many people. If this was my first, I would be totally confused.
January 17, 2021
Sienna is broken!! The proper title for this book. WTF Was winter thinking.. He truly is a cold bastard. Zach is dead, dead at Sienna's hand.. Dr. Zollers was a freaking plant and all hell is about to break loose..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2021
Pretty good
I was disappointed in the progression of the story even though I do feel it’s necessity. I am hoping the next book really plows forward and her path changes in a good way. So much heartache for such a young girl!
I was disappointed in the progression of the story even though I do feel it’s necessity. I am hoping the next book really plows forward and her path changes in a good way. So much heartache for such a young girl!
March 6, 2021
WoW....WoW...WoW!!!!!
what an amazing book!! I have tried to put it down few time and I just cant! Really!, Great story, even better Plot with action packed and emotional rollercoaster that will keep you glue to the book from begging to end!!!!
what an amazing book!! I have tried to put it down few time and I just cant! Really!, Great story, even better Plot with action packed and emotional rollercoaster that will keep you glue to the book from begging to end!!!!
March 10, 2021
This one is a short one
As short as this book was, there’s lots packed into it. Our heroine is betrayed in the cruelest way and still finds the energy to pursue those who did this to her.
I am loving this series so much!
As short as this book was, there’s lots packed into it. Our heroine is betrayed in the cruelest way and still finds the energy to pursue those who did this to her.
I am loving this series so much!
May 3, 2021
Amazing!
Not sure how Sienna will live now. So much has happened and so many deaths that I'm not sure how our heroin will make it without falling apart...? Well onto the next one, see you then.
Not sure how Sienna will live now. So much has happened and so many deaths that I'm not sure how our heroin will make it without falling apart...? Well onto the next one, see you then.
June 1, 2021
The Saga Continues!
Book 6 , like the first five, continues the saga with the same level of quality that its predecessors had. Full of twists and subtle surprises, it holds its own.
Book 6 , like the first five, continues the saga with the same level of quality that its predecessors had. Full of twists and subtle surprises, it holds its own.
March 3, 2022
So many twists
Our girl has been beaten down and changed drastically changed and added to by so many. Eat the friends to be found but the tends are there if she calls on the few that she has.
Our girl has been beaten down and changed drastically changed and added to by so many. Eat the friends to be found but the tends are there if she calls on the few that she has.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews