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82 Street Vandals #5
Brutal Fighter
Broken dreams.
Broken lives.
Broken bird.
Our feelings for her were like wild animals finally freed from their cage. But my sparrow, she was the most brutal fighter of us all. She’d had to be.
The battles she’s survived, she’s done in silence and alone.
Not anymore.
Never again.
Milo let her go. Jasper took her. Vaughn sheltered her. Liam taught her. Rome connected with her. Doc pushed her away. Freddie went after her. All because we wanted what was best for her.
Me?
I was in this fight. Our promises might lie shattered in the debris of the life we’d thought she had, but we weren’t abandoning them or her.
Oh no, I would never leave her again.
My name is Kellan Traschel, I will be whatever she needs me to be. And if war is what must be waged, then hell was what we would rain down.
BRUTAL FIGHTER is a full length mature college/new adult romance with enemies-to-lovers/love-hate themes. The dark romance aspects of this tale continue. Please be aware some situations may be uncomfortable for readers. Trigger warnings can be found in the foreword should you require them. This is a reverse harem novel, meaning the main character has more than one love interest. This is book five in the series.
Broken lives.
Broken bird.
Our feelings for her were like wild animals finally freed from their cage. But my sparrow, she was the most brutal fighter of us all. She’d had to be.
The battles she’s survived, she’s done in silence and alone.
Not anymore.
Never again.
Milo let her go. Jasper took her. Vaughn sheltered her. Liam taught her. Rome connected with her. Doc pushed her away. Freddie went after her. All because we wanted what was best for her.
Me?
I was in this fight. Our promises might lie shattered in the debris of the life we’d thought she had, but we weren’t abandoning them or her.
Oh no, I would never leave her again.
My name is Kellan Traschel, I will be whatever she needs me to be. And if war is what must be waged, then hell was what we would rain down.
BRUTAL FIGHTER is a full length mature college/new adult romance with enemies-to-lovers/love-hate themes. The dark romance aspects of this tale continue. Please be aware some situations may be uncomfortable for readers. Trigger warnings can be found in the foreword should you require them. This is a reverse harem novel, meaning the main character has more than one love interest. This is book five in the series.
576 pages, Paperback
Published May 6, 2023
550 people are currently reading
703 people want to read
About the author
Heather Long
261 books2,286 followersI love books. Not just a little bit, but a lot. Books were my best friends when I was growing up. Books didn’t care if I was new to a town or to a class. They were always there, my trustiest of companions. Until they turned on me and said I had to write them.
I can tell you that my own personal happily ever after included writing books. I’ve always said that an HEA is a work in progress. It’s true in my marriage, my friendships, and in my career. I am constantly nurturing my muse as we dive into new tales, new tropes, new characters and more.
After seventeen years back in Texas, we relocated to the Pacific Northwest in search of seasons, new experiences, and new geography. I can’t wait to discover what life (and my muse) have in store for me.
Maybe writing was always my destiny and romance my fate. After all, my grandmother wasn’t a fan of picture books and used to read me her Harlequin Romance novels.
Friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, friends to enemies to lovers, you name it, I love them and love to write them. I started with Earth Witches Aren’t Easy, the first in the Chance Monroe trilogy, but my characters and I have traveled a long way since I created that urban fantasy world.
One of the series I hear my readers recommend the most is the Untouchable series followed in quick succession by the Vandals, and that just delights me. No lie, whenever one of my readers brings up my wolves, I do a little a fist pump.
I’m active on social media, and I love hearing from readers. Feel free to tag me with a question about any of my books, or just say hi!
I can tell you that my own personal happily ever after included writing books. I’ve always said that an HEA is a work in progress. It’s true in my marriage, my friendships, and in my career. I am constantly nurturing my muse as we dive into new tales, new tropes, new characters and more.
After seventeen years back in Texas, we relocated to the Pacific Northwest in search of seasons, new experiences, and new geography. I can’t wait to discover what life (and my muse) have in store for me.
Maybe writing was always my destiny and romance my fate. After all, my grandmother wasn’t a fan of picture books and used to read me her Harlequin Romance novels.
Friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, friends to enemies to lovers, you name it, I love them and love to write them. I started with Earth Witches Aren’t Easy, the first in the Chance Monroe trilogy, but my characters and I have traveled a long way since I created that urban fantasy world.
One of the series I hear my readers recommend the most is the Untouchable series followed in quick succession by the Vandals, and that just delights me. No lie, whenever one of my readers brings up my wolves, I do a little a fist pump.
I’m active on social media, and I love hearing from readers. Feel free to tag me with a question about any of my books, or just say hi!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
May 25, 2022
Every time. Everyyyyyy time I read a Vandals book, I let myself forget about how much my heart is going to hurt at the end. And this one is definitely not an exception. No spoilers! But daaaaaaamn.
A lot of this book is focused on Emersyn’s recovery after the events in Dirty Devil and I am here for it. Often times, authors will skim over a character’s trauma once the traumatic event has served its purpose in the plot. I kind of get it, but as someone who has experienced trauma, I prefer when the recovery process is shown. I find the characters more relatable, and it helps with my own healing process to read about characters that I admire going through difficult times and then working on moving past it. It’s hard work, and it takes time. There are setbacks, frustrations, tears. I like that Emersyn, who is a marvelously complex woman, doesn’t have her recovery glossed over. We get to see exactly how strong she is by experiencing her struggles. We get to cheer for her when she gets back to her feet after being knocked down. And we get to cry a little when the guys give her exactly the support that she needs - that every survivor should get.
The plot is fast-paced outside of Emersyn’s struggles. Lots of moving parts, lots of puzzle pieces slowly fitting together. Some questions get answered here, and more crop up by the end. We meet some new faces, get to know some others a bit better, and do a fist pump in the air when some get what they deserve. Definitely had my pulse racing at a few parts, some from anxiety 😅 and some for more … upbeat reasons 🥵🥵🥵
I will be mentally pacing back and forth for the next few months until book six is released, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
A lot of this book is focused on Emersyn’s recovery after the events in Dirty Devil and I am here for it. Often times, authors will skim over a character’s trauma once the traumatic event has served its purpose in the plot. I kind of get it, but as someone who has experienced trauma, I prefer when the recovery process is shown. I find the characters more relatable, and it helps with my own healing process to read about characters that I admire going through difficult times and then working on moving past it. It’s hard work, and it takes time. There are setbacks, frustrations, tears. I like that Emersyn, who is a marvelously complex woman, doesn’t have her recovery glossed over. We get to see exactly how strong she is by experiencing her struggles. We get to cheer for her when she gets back to her feet after being knocked down. And we get to cry a little when the guys give her exactly the support that she needs - that every survivor should get.
The plot is fast-paced outside of Emersyn’s struggles. Lots of moving parts, lots of puzzle pieces slowly fitting together. Some questions get answered here, and more crop up by the end. We meet some new faces, get to know some others a bit better, and do a fist pump in the air when some get what they deserve. Definitely had my pulse racing at a few parts, some from anxiety 😅 and some for more … upbeat reasons 🥵🥵🥵
I will be mentally pacing back and forth for the next few months until book six is released, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
June 5, 2022
BASIC FACTS:
Pages: 511
My rating: 3.5
Genre: RH, contemporary, Gang
Themes: Mental health, torture with meds, Gang/crime
Protagonist Ages: Emersyn is 18, her brother is 25. The ages of the other guys is not mentioned. Doc is much older than Emersyn and the guys
Pacing: good pacing for this story, slow burn
Plot Rating: 3.5
I enjoyed the book, but it took me a while to get through it. I still like the characters in the book, but somehow I felt like the story starts to drag. Basically because I think that Emersyn’s uncle and tormentor is the head of the Royals and the Vandels, Reed and Ezra will figure it out in one of the next books. And I want this guy gone and Emersyn and the guys and Lainey and Milo should get their happy end.
The Characters: Names and descriptions of the persons
Summery: detailed, lot’s of spoiler
June 1, 2022
There’s truly nothing like this series out there- a cornucopia of characters, moments and feeling so uniquely layered and so deftly interwoven that you can’t help but marvel at how seamlessly they capture you. Brutal Fighter unfolds with a series of contrasts that parallels the dichotomy of its characters- the painful and the restorative, the quiet and the loud, the heartbreaking and the swoony. But Brutal Fighter is also a huge turning point for Emersyn, our embattled, enigmatic, and entrancing heroine. And what a beautiful and hopeful turning point it is.
The Vandals are no strangers to pain and trauma. Some of these characters have suffered through unimaginable trauma for years, so much so that it’s become the fabric of their DNA, the thread that ties them all together. Their baggage enables them to see and understand one another in wordless ways, the silent solidarity of pain and adversity. They’ve internalized it and accepted it- let it catalyze them into the crew that they are. Brothers, survivors, brutal fighters. Pain has become their identity. But finding Emersyn changed everything, threw off their equilibrium (as well as her own), and the waters have never quite settled. Secrets, mistruths, painful decisions, and the past have all hindered the solidity of their future.
After the heartwrenching journey they’ve each been on, Heather gives us a brief reprieve of peace and healing. Narratively, this story feels entirely different, at least at first. Heather narrows the focus, hones in on the interpersonal, and quiets the nose. Set entirely in the present for the first time, our story’s beginning almost feels like a meditation. A melancholic one, one heavy with unspoken feelings and questions. It’s somehow both serene and foreboding, a veritable calm before the storm. It feels intimate- as the group rebounds and recovers from the events in the prior book. Emersyn is back in their care, but the question of the impact of her most recent suffering lingers like smog in their air. And as the narrative is stripped down, so are the characters- because Brutal Fighter is a turning point. There’s a reason we aren’t exploring flashbacks or mired in immediate action- Brutal Fighter is about the Vandals moving forward, together and facing the interpersonal obstacles among them before they face their shared enemies. Brutal Fighter is about the power that comes from facing your pain- the power of vulnerability. Most importantly, Emersyn’s.
Emersyn is one of the most interesting heroine’s I’ve ever read- a captivating and fearless survivor who has suffered greatly at the hands of those that should love and protect her. Trust isn’t just foreign to her, it’s almost unimaginable. But we’ve gradually seen her lean into connection with each of the Vandals, but Emersyn has never been truly vulnerable, she’s never surrendered to her trust. Until now. Now we see Emersyn find the the greatest courage of all is not facing the monsters that haunt her, it’s not surviving the gruesome and deplorable acts she’s been made to suffer. Her courage comes from opening her heart in spite of it, from surviving without losing the essence of her humanity. And it’s the key to her need for belonging. And that means learning into her pain and brokenness, that means she has to stop hiding parts of herself. NOT just from the Vandals. No, she also needs to stop hiding from herself. It’s a choice, over and over again, to trust in another, to bare your soul, to expose your fractures and scars, and Emersyn is finally ready to make that choice. In a series of beautiful, quiet, and meaningful moments, we see her in Brutal Fighter fight for her own vitality, for her own future, by leaning into small moments with her guys. And I was mesmerized and captivated by the magic of it all.
And Kellan. Just Kellan. He’s been my favorite from the beginning, he spoke to my soul. Emersyn’s safety net that lost her trust by his well-meaning and protective duplicity. But he finds the trust again. And now I know why he felt so compelling to me. The way he centers Emersyn, the way he accepts her and encourages her and catalyzes her vulnerability- well, it’s everything I’ve been waiting for. Each character plays a role, each relationship has it’s own unique purpose and power. Each is so beautifully crafted, but Kellan healed my heart in this book- he wrapped it in a warm and safe embrace, making space for me to breathe out my own pain into the air. And good things are indeed worth the wait….wink wink.
Of course, Heather certainly bursts our intimate bubble, and Brutal Fighter ends in a barrage of action and danger and a hell of a twist ending. The Vandals internal demons aren’t just waiting for them- so are their real life monsters. But, the wounds are exposed, little by little. Heather has stripped them all bare, now comes the true testament of the resilience and love of the Vandals, because together and broken they are much stronger than they would be separate and whole. Darkness and pain, it’s universal. Broken isn’t bad- no, not atll. Their brokenness is the key to their power.
The Vandals are no strangers to pain and trauma. Some of these characters have suffered through unimaginable trauma for years, so much so that it’s become the fabric of their DNA, the thread that ties them all together. Their baggage enables them to see and understand one another in wordless ways, the silent solidarity of pain and adversity. They’ve internalized it and accepted it- let it catalyze them into the crew that they are. Brothers, survivors, brutal fighters. Pain has become their identity. But finding Emersyn changed everything, threw off their equilibrium (as well as her own), and the waters have never quite settled. Secrets, mistruths, painful decisions, and the past have all hindered the solidity of their future.
After the heartwrenching journey they’ve each been on, Heather gives us a brief reprieve of peace and healing. Narratively, this story feels entirely different, at least at first. Heather narrows the focus, hones in on the interpersonal, and quiets the nose. Set entirely in the present for the first time, our story’s beginning almost feels like a meditation. A melancholic one, one heavy with unspoken feelings and questions. It’s somehow both serene and foreboding, a veritable calm before the storm. It feels intimate- as the group rebounds and recovers from the events in the prior book. Emersyn is back in their care, but the question of the impact of her most recent suffering lingers like smog in their air. And as the narrative is stripped down, so are the characters- because Brutal Fighter is a turning point. There’s a reason we aren’t exploring flashbacks or mired in immediate action- Brutal Fighter is about the Vandals moving forward, together and facing the interpersonal obstacles among them before they face their shared enemies. Brutal Fighter is about the power that comes from facing your pain- the power of vulnerability. Most importantly, Emersyn’s.
Emersyn is one of the most interesting heroine’s I’ve ever read- a captivating and fearless survivor who has suffered greatly at the hands of those that should love and protect her. Trust isn’t just foreign to her, it’s almost unimaginable. But we’ve gradually seen her lean into connection with each of the Vandals, but Emersyn has never been truly vulnerable, she’s never surrendered to her trust. Until now. Now we see Emersyn find the the greatest courage of all is not facing the monsters that haunt her, it’s not surviving the gruesome and deplorable acts she’s been made to suffer. Her courage comes from opening her heart in spite of it, from surviving without losing the essence of her humanity. And it’s the key to her need for belonging. And that means learning into her pain and brokenness, that means she has to stop hiding parts of herself. NOT just from the Vandals. No, she also needs to stop hiding from herself. It’s a choice, over and over again, to trust in another, to bare your soul, to expose your fractures and scars, and Emersyn is finally ready to make that choice. In a series of beautiful, quiet, and meaningful moments, we see her in Brutal Fighter fight for her own vitality, for her own future, by leaning into small moments with her guys. And I was mesmerized and captivated by the magic of it all.
And Kellan. Just Kellan. He’s been my favorite from the beginning, he spoke to my soul. Emersyn’s safety net that lost her trust by his well-meaning and protective duplicity. But he finds the trust again. And now I know why he felt so compelling to me. The way he centers Emersyn, the way he accepts her and encourages her and catalyzes her vulnerability- well, it’s everything I’ve been waiting for. Each character plays a role, each relationship has it’s own unique purpose and power. Each is so beautifully crafted, but Kellan healed my heart in this book- he wrapped it in a warm and safe embrace, making space for me to breathe out my own pain into the air. And good things are indeed worth the wait….wink wink.
Of course, Heather certainly bursts our intimate bubble, and Brutal Fighter ends in a barrage of action and danger and a hell of a twist ending. The Vandals internal demons aren’t just waiting for them- so are their real life monsters. But, the wounds are exposed, little by little. Heather has stripped them all bare, now comes the true testament of the resilience and love of the Vandals, because together and broken they are much stronger than they would be separate and whole. Darkness and pain, it’s universal. Broken isn’t bad- no, not atll. Their brokenness is the key to their power.
May 29, 2022
Brutal Fighter by Heather long is a reverse harem romance. This is the fifth book in the 82 Street Vandals series.
I absolutely love this series! Heather does an amazing job pulling me in from the first chapter and keeping me hooked until the very end. I am loving the relationship between Emersyn and the Vandals.
I really enjoyed getting Emersyn, Kellan, Doc, Vaughn, Liam, Jasper, Rome, Liam, and Freddie's point of views throughout the book. It really brought the story to life.
The book ends on another cliffhanger, which isn't a surprise since Heather warned us it would happen. I can't wait for the next book in the series Dangerous Renegade to be released on September 6, 2022.
I would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves dark romances, enemies-to-lovers romance, new adult romances, reverse harems, or romantic suspense.
I absolutely love this series! Heather does an amazing job pulling me in from the first chapter and keeping me hooked until the very end. I am loving the relationship between Emersyn and the Vandals.
I really enjoyed getting Emersyn, Kellan, Doc, Vaughn, Liam, Jasper, Rome, Liam, and Freddie's point of views throughout the book. It really brought the story to life.
The book ends on another cliffhanger, which isn't a surprise since Heather warned us it would happen. I can't wait for the next book in the series Dangerous Renegade to be released on September 6, 2022.
I would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves dark romances, enemies-to-lovers romance, new adult romances, reverse harems, or romantic suspense.
May 31, 2022
This is book five in the 82 Street Vandals series and is dark. Make sure to read the trigger warning.
I am seriously in love with this series!! Honestly. If you have not yet started it, what in the heck are you waiting for?! You NEED this book in your life!!
Emersyn and her men are finally becoming closer. More secrets are revealed and they’re finally talking to each other (not 100%, but it’s a start.)
I really hope Doc and Emersyn can talk through their issues. I love them together and I really hope they kiss and make up soon lol.
Heather Long killed it with that cliffhanger. I NEED to know what happens next. I hope book 6 comes soon as I have to know what happens next!!
I am seriously in love with this series!! Honestly. If you have not yet started it, what in the heck are you waiting for?! You NEED this book in your life!!
Emersyn and her men are finally becoming closer. More secrets are revealed and they’re finally talking to each other (not 100%, but it’s a start.)
I really hope Doc and Emersyn can talk through their issues. I love them together and I really hope they kiss and make up soon lol.
Heather Long killed it with that cliffhanger. I NEED to know what happens next. I hope book 6 comes soon as I have to know what happens next!!
Read
June 12, 2022Just going to be continuously screaming until book 6 comes out 🥲
June 11, 2022
This book had such good highs and such awful lows. Some parts were so sweet or so exhilarating that it kept me reading for them, but then others would just drag on and on, and a lot of that has to do with Emersyn herself. I have no respect for characters that force everyone around them to walk on eggshells around them. Any mention of Emersyn in this book--even worse than in the first 4 books--was just constant wariness from everyone around her and that got old a few chapters in. They speak proudly of how strong she is but she very rarely shows it (though a few parts were amazing). What a hassle to put up with her honestly. And then she has to repeat the same conversations of worthiness, shame, fears, triggers, trust, etc. with all seven of them separately, and we have to read them each time. It's so repetitive and annoying.
I skimmed so much of this book because of that, but I was also looking for the other parts of story I wish we saw more of. It was awesome seeing the guys deal with the many threats around them, especially the glimpses of how hard and efficiently they hit back when threatened. Liam is definitely the guy you want on your team. It was also great seeing the tentative and slow trust building between Emersyn's guys and Lainey's guys. Can't wait for more of that in the next book. I just hope it drags less than the first five have. I can't handle rehashing things that we've gone over multiple times in the first 5 books.
I skimmed so much of this book because of that, but I was also looking for the other parts of story I wish we saw more of. It was awesome seeing the guys deal with the many threats around them, especially the glimpses of how hard and efficiently they hit back when threatened. Liam is definitely the guy you want on your team. It was also great seeing the tentative and slow trust building between Emersyn's guys and Lainey's guys. Can't wait for more of that in the next book. I just hope it drags less than the first five have. I can't handle rehashing things that we've gone over multiple times in the first 5 books.
August 25, 2025
Just OMG. I just can’t even. This book was amazing. Truly absolutely freaking perfection. I absolutely need more and can’t wait. I love all these characters and how they interact and the relationships that are developing. The ending? Not to bad a cliffhanger and I absolutely can’t wait for the next book. I’m slowly going to be dying waiting for the next book. This series? My absolute favorite from this author.
May 31, 2022
LOVE LOVE LOVE this book so much!!!
OH FUDGE NO! That ending! Gah my heart can't take this... The cliffhanger anxiety is real and is already sending my mind spiralling with who, what, how.
I need the next book with a passion.
Heather is a fantastic author who manages to not just make you fall for one character but for you to love them all, even the amazing side characters. My favourites change so fast, within pages that it is just too hard to even try to pick #whychoose. Loving all these characters the way that I do, that ending has definitely left me panicking for what will come next.
After seeing Emersyn, there way we did in book 4, it was amazing to read her whilst navigating her path of recovery, overcoming what happened showing her inner strength, but also showing how much she fits in with the vandals and that she, herself is a fighter. Honestly, I am so emotionally invested in this series and these characters that it's not even funny. They feel so very real to me.
"Head up. Wings Out. Broken isn't bad"
So many moments and words resonated with me so much especially between them all with Emersyn and Freddie. This book gave me ALL THE FEELS. Powerful. This book is powerful, just as much and maybe a little bit more than the others.
In between books, I'd already been sitting here every couple of days thinking about the next book, online after this one though that it will be so much worse.It is simply amazing. If you haven't already started this series then definitely do so. It is one of the best RHs and some of the best writing that I've ever read. This author is a one click for me and she does not disappoint. A must read!
OH FUDGE NO! That ending! Gah my heart can't take this... The cliffhanger anxiety is real and is already sending my mind spiralling with who, what, how.
I need the next book with a passion.
Heather is a fantastic author who manages to not just make you fall for one character but for you to love them all, even the amazing side characters. My favourites change so fast, within pages that it is just too hard to even try to pick #whychoose. Loving all these characters the way that I do, that ending has definitely left me panicking for what will come next.
After seeing Emersyn, there way we did in book 4, it was amazing to read her whilst navigating her path of recovery, overcoming what happened showing her inner strength, but also showing how much she fits in with the vandals and that she, herself is a fighter. Honestly, I am so emotionally invested in this series and these characters that it's not even funny. They feel so very real to me.
"Head up. Wings Out. Broken isn't bad"
So many moments and words resonated with me so much especially between them all with Emersyn and Freddie. This book gave me ALL THE FEELS. Powerful. This book is powerful, just as much and maybe a little bit more than the others.
In between books, I'd already been sitting here every couple of days thinking about the next book, online after this one though that it will be so much worse.It is simply amazing. If you haven't already started this series then definitely do so. It is one of the best RHs and some of the best writing that I've ever read. This author is a one click for me and she does not disappoint. A must read!
May 29, 2022
Oh Heather Long has done it once again. I just want to wrap Emersyn and the Vandals -Milo, Doc and Liam included- up in cotton wool and keep them safe from harms way, these guys have been through it allllll.
Emersyn and her Vandals are the definition of chosen family for me, and that no matter what life cards you were originally dealt with, you can shuffle and trade them for something beautiful.
I absolutely love each relationship she has with the guys, they’re all so unique and at different stages. It’s amazing to watch them all overcome their individual trauma and grow closer together and trust one another, especially when trusting isn’t exactly in their first nature.
Although the darker times are definitely here, I had a lot of laughs throughout! I absolutely love Rome and Liam so much, their personalities are addictive and Emersyn is one lucky sandwich filling!
I was nervous for the last 5% of the book, wondering what was coming… and oh Heather didn’t disappoint because that ending.. I’m just telling myself they’re absolutely fine until September comes for Dangerous Renegade!
Emersyn and her Vandals are the definition of chosen family for me, and that no matter what life cards you were originally dealt with, you can shuffle and trade them for something beautiful.
I absolutely love each relationship she has with the guys, they’re all so unique and at different stages. It’s amazing to watch them all overcome their individual trauma and grow closer together and trust one another, especially when trusting isn’t exactly in their first nature.
Although the darker times are definitely here, I had a lot of laughs throughout! I absolutely love Rome and Liam so much, their personalities are addictive and Emersyn is one lucky sandwich filling!
I was nervous for the last 5% of the book, wondering what was coming… and oh Heather didn’t disappoint because that ending.. I’m just telling myself they’re absolutely fine until September comes for Dangerous Renegade!
May 31, 2022
This series continues to blow me away, and with each book I become even more connected to these characters and further invested in their story. Heather's writing is powerful and emotive, so much so you can feel every ounce of passion, longing and heartache.
In Brutal Fighter, Emersyn is back with her Vandals and this is the first book that takes place entirely in the present, without any flashbacks to the past. I think this is a good framing for Emersyn's story from this point on-- these characters are moving forward with their lives and doing it together. I'm absolutely obsessed with the Vandals and continue to be impressed at how well developed each main character is despite having so many. This book also brings the heat and there are a lot of smexy times with Emersyn and her guys.
The plot continues to intrigue and the alternating POV keeps things moving forward at the perfect pace. Some surprising moments are revealed with just enough action to keep us on our toes. In true Heather fashion, she's left us on a brutal cliffhanger that nearly had me throwing my kindle across the room!
If you haven't yet started this series and enjoy RH romance with layered, complex characters and an intricate and engaging plot, I encourage you to pick up book one Savage Vandals ASAP!
In Brutal Fighter, Emersyn is back with her Vandals and this is the first book that takes place entirely in the present, without any flashbacks to the past. I think this is a good framing for Emersyn's story from this point on-- these characters are moving forward with their lives and doing it together. I'm absolutely obsessed with the Vandals and continue to be impressed at how well developed each main character is despite having so many. This book also brings the heat and there are a lot of smexy times with Emersyn and her guys.
The plot continues to intrigue and the alternating POV keeps things moving forward at the perfect pace. Some surprising moments are revealed with just enough action to keep us on our toes. In true Heather fashion, she's left us on a brutal cliffhanger that nearly had me throwing my kindle across the room!
If you haven't yet started this series and enjoy RH romance with layered, complex characters and an intricate and engaging plot, I encourage you to pick up book one Savage Vandals ASAP!
December 16, 2023
ROME SUPREMACY 🧎♀️
i know i shouldn’t have favorites but rome is the only one i feel like who hasn’t done my girl wrong EVER 🤣 like man has literally been obsessed with her for so long.
im loving the development but i felt like freddy and doc were kinda left out on this book … especially after the last book i very much missed seeing freddy and his unhinged-ness.
loving milo and “ivy’s” relationship growth 🫶🏽
sometimes it does feel like the series is dragging but i really do love all the characters so i’m not exactly mad about it ….
BUT THE ENDING?! WHY. WHYYYYYY.
i know i shouldn’t have favorites but rome is the only one i feel like who hasn’t done my girl wrong EVER 🤣 like man has literally been obsessed with her for so long.
im loving the development but i felt like freddy and doc were kinda left out on this book … especially after the last book i very much missed seeing freddy and his unhinged-ness.
loving milo and “ivy’s” relationship growth 🫶🏽
sometimes it does feel like the series is dragging but i really do love all the characters so i’m not exactly mad about it ….
BUT THE ENDING?! WHY. WHYYYYYY.
May 28, 2022
Brutal Fighter picks up right where book 4 left off jumping right into the action. The Vandals have various pressure coming at them from all sides stretching them thin as they try to navigate who is behind it all. Bullets fly, things happen I'm not going to spoil for you and the cliffy is heart-stopping. Can't we have the next book yet? Pretty please?
June 20, 2022
And she's done it again
Love the writing, the characters and the story. Can't get enough of this series , it's wrapped around me like Emersyn in her silks.
The next book in the series was pre ordered before I'd even finished this one
Love the writing, the characters and the story. Can't get enough of this series , it's wrapped around me like Emersyn in her silks.
The next book in the series was pre ordered before I'd even finished this one
February 23, 2023
Good! I'm still really enjoying this series.
May 25, 2023
I'm seriously loving this series. All the characters - their interactions and how everything is just so intertwined - are amazing. I usually get bored with longer series, but this one has held my interest!
June 5, 2022
My heart hurts, but in a good way.
The end just about killed me but I can't wait for the next book.
I love how the characters grow and you get to know them more and more through each book.
The way Heather Long writes characters is utterly fantastic. The depth, the inner dialogues, the way they interact and the loyalty, love and affection is palpable.
The end just about killed me but I can't wait for the next book.
I love how the characters grow and you get to know them more and more through each book.
The way Heather Long writes characters is utterly fantastic. The depth, the inner dialogues, the way they interact and the loyalty, love and affection is palpable.
January 13, 2026
I have read this series many times.
However, whenever I re-read it, I can never finish it. It’s not just because it’s a long book series, but because I am starting to realise how not a lot happens.
I won’t change my rating of the book, because I loved it the first time around, and it serves as an easy read with intrigue and drama.
But I will mention some issues I have had since reading it again.
Everyone is to careful with their words. This was not an issue with me before book four, cause they had a lot of trust issues, and conversations about who belonged where. But after what happened in book four they are all on the same page, and want to be together.
They keep talking about how Emersyn is a part of them, and she is strong enough to handle anything, but they keep shielding her from everything. And I know this keeps happening in the series because I have read the whole thing.
And also, whenever they do tell her anything, it is only parts of it, and like they are putting rose tinted glasses around it.
When we read the first book the whole story surrounded Emersyn. She was always a part of the plot. Now she is still a part of the plot, but more in the sense that her name keeps popping up everywhere, and the guys are trying to solve all of it for her. She is just there doing fun stuff, or to talk about her trauma, whilst they are moving the actual plot forwards. This I do not like since she is supposedly at the centre of it.
Every time she asks them about what is happening, or what they are doing - like when they are going on a “run” with one of the trucks, they say they won’t lie if she wants to know. But then she will say “but you don’t want me to know”, and when they say yes, she tells them she won’t ask.
I feel like the author is doing this to show how she trusts them, but it just leaves her on the outside.
And she will parry this situations with her own situations with one of the guys. Like they will ask her about trouble in one of her relationships with the others, and she will say that she doesn’t want to share it, and they will say she doesn’t have to tell them.
Does any of that make sense?
I also feel like they never have deep conversations as a group. It is always one on one which leads to repetitiveness. It’s causing me to skip through a lot during the re-reads.
But the thing that definitely bothers me the most is that it feels like Emersyn goes through a lot of the whole series thinking they are so close and know each other so well, but at the same time it feels like they have an entirely separate life. And she is just the warmth they keep coming home to after a stressful day of shooting people, and finding out who is trying to kill them.
She is a part of some of the drama, like a shooting episode, where she actually saved the day, and she does in some ways get involved in the actual plot. But it feels more like that is the story happening to her, and not because of her.
People will find my rating of this book soooo confusing when I have this many issues with it. But like i said, I loved it the first time I read it, and even in this review I haven’t only reflected upon this book specifically, but the entire series.
However, whenever I re-read it, I can never finish it. It’s not just because it’s a long book series, but because I am starting to realise how not a lot happens.
I won’t change my rating of the book, because I loved it the first time around, and it serves as an easy read with intrigue and drama.
But I will mention some issues I have had since reading it again.
Everyone is to careful with their words. This was not an issue with me before book four, cause they had a lot of trust issues, and conversations about who belonged where. But after what happened in book four they are all on the same page, and want to be together.
They keep talking about how Emersyn is a part of them, and she is strong enough to handle anything, but they keep shielding her from everything. And I know this keeps happening in the series because I have read the whole thing.
And also, whenever they do tell her anything, it is only parts of it, and like they are putting rose tinted glasses around it.
When we read the first book the whole story surrounded Emersyn. She was always a part of the plot. Now she is still a part of the plot, but more in the sense that her name keeps popping up everywhere, and the guys are trying to solve all of it for her. She is just there doing fun stuff, or to talk about her trauma, whilst they are moving the actual plot forwards. This I do not like since she is supposedly at the centre of it.
Every time she asks them about what is happening, or what they are doing - like when they are going on a “run” with one of the trucks, they say they won’t lie if she wants to know. But then she will say “but you don’t want me to know”, and when they say yes, she tells them she won’t ask.
I feel like the author is doing this to show how she trusts them, but it just leaves her on the outside.
And she will parry this situations with her own situations with one of the guys. Like they will ask her about trouble in one of her relationships with the others, and she will say that she doesn’t want to share it, and they will say she doesn’t have to tell them.
Does any of that make sense?
I also feel like they never have deep conversations as a group. It is always one on one which leads to repetitiveness. It’s causing me to skip through a lot during the re-reads.
But the thing that definitely bothers me the most is that it feels like Emersyn goes through a lot of the whole series thinking they are so close and know each other so well, but at the same time it feels like they have an entirely separate life. And she is just the warmth they keep coming home to after a stressful day of shooting people, and finding out who is trying to kill them.
She is a part of some of the drama, like a shooting episode, where she actually saved the day, and she does in some ways get involved in the actual plot. But it feels more like that is the story happening to her, and not because of her.
People will find my rating of this book soooo confusing when I have this many issues with it. But like i said, I loved it the first time I read it, and even in this review I haven’t only reflected upon this book specifically, but the entire series.
June 26, 2023
I got to 48% and gave up. I've totally lost interest and no longer care. The story is far too slow and hardly progresses at all. Most of these books just comprise of a lot of filler and the series would have benefitted from being shorter. I will not be continuing on with the series. 🫢😴
March 16, 2025
Oh man Emeerson and the boys just can't catch a break. Things are getting worse and a war is on the horizon. New enemies come out to play and new allies are found. Love Emerson and her strength as she deals with her demons in this new life she has chosen.
June 2, 2022
Book 5 in the series and definitely the best so far, in my opinion.
This book is long (more than 500 pages), but it didn’t feel that way to me as I was reading it. In fact, as I neared the end of the book I was honestly shocked that I was almost done.
In this book we really are dealing with the aftermath of what Emersyn went through in the last books, what Freddie went through, and trying to navigate this new world where Em is officially a vandal and Milo is clearly in love with Lainey.
This book exceeds the others for a few reasons for me.
-We have a lot of action in this book. I feel like in the last books they did feel long at points and we had times where nothing was happening but we were just left with questions. This book doesn’t do that.
-The characters & the way they’re interwoven into this story. Em’s got a lot of men. A LOT of them; I’m talking seven. Add onto that her brother Milo, her best friend Lainey, her two goons Adam and Ezra, and all of the other smaller characters… It could be so easy to be overwhelmed. But I don’t think that happens in this book with our main characters, and I’m excited to say that I feel we were able to see growth in her relationship with all of her men in one way or another. It’s hard enough to have a harem of three or four guys and make your reader care about them, but Long did a good job of including all seven to some degree. It’s really hard to make time for all of these men, but she pushed to Mae it happen.
-I loved the way that all of the guys tried to gently coax and help Em with her trauma. None of them ignored or gave up on trying to figure out exactly what she went through, and I genuinely loved the love and effort made on their part. Em has been hurt and used so many times that she needs this. I do wish we could have seen her open up more about everything she’s gone through, because she’s still keeping it secret and it’s a lot for one person to carry on their own as she has. I’m hoping we’ll see her open up about it in book 6 because I need my girl to release these burdens.
-The guys in general. I love every guy in this harem and the different roles they play. I specifically still love Freddie’s crazy ass & Rome’s role as the most perfect Prince Charming MF ever. All the guys have distinct personalities which is *chefs kiss*.
The biggest thing I didn’t like about the book was the ending. I knew going into this that it would end in a cliffhanger; any good book in a series does before getting to the final book. You need something to keep the readers hooked and want more, and nobody wants to read a boring ending that goes into a boring beginning for the next book. That being said, I feel like it was a little rushed. Of course, we know people are after Em. But the way it happened was so sudden and so out of left field that it felt a little lazy to me, for lack of a better way of putting it. I think it could have been done better.
We also end with a lot of unanswered questions, which is a little frustrating considering this is a 500+ page book, and I think we could have alleviated some of the unknown by this point.
But all in all, I really did love this book and would recommend. 4/5
This book is long (more than 500 pages), but it didn’t feel that way to me as I was reading it. In fact, as I neared the end of the book I was honestly shocked that I was almost done.
In this book we really are dealing with the aftermath of what Emersyn went through in the last books, what Freddie went through, and trying to navigate this new world where Em is officially a vandal and Milo is clearly in love with Lainey.
This book exceeds the others for a few reasons for me.
-We have a lot of action in this book. I feel like in the last books they did feel long at points and we had times where nothing was happening but we were just left with questions. This book doesn’t do that.
-The characters & the way they’re interwoven into this story. Em’s got a lot of men. A LOT of them; I’m talking seven. Add onto that her brother Milo, her best friend Lainey, her two goons Adam and Ezra, and all of the other smaller characters… It could be so easy to be overwhelmed. But I don’t think that happens in this book with our main characters, and I’m excited to say that I feel we were able to see growth in her relationship with all of her men in one way or another. It’s hard enough to have a harem of three or four guys and make your reader care about them, but Long did a good job of including all seven to some degree. It’s really hard to make time for all of these men, but she pushed to Mae it happen.
-I loved the way that all of the guys tried to gently coax and help Em with her trauma. None of them ignored or gave up on trying to figure out exactly what she went through, and I genuinely loved the love and effort made on their part. Em has been hurt and used so many times that she needs this. I do wish we could have seen her open up more about everything she’s gone through, because she’s still keeping it secret and it’s a lot for one person to carry on their own as she has. I’m hoping we’ll see her open up about it in book 6 because I need my girl to release these burdens.
-The guys in general. I love every guy in this harem and the different roles they play. I specifically still love Freddie’s crazy ass & Rome’s role as the most perfect Prince Charming MF ever. All the guys have distinct personalities which is *chefs kiss*.
The biggest thing I didn’t like about the book was the ending. I knew going into this that it would end in a cliffhanger; any good book in a series does before getting to the final book. You need something to keep the readers hooked and want more, and nobody wants to read a boring ending that goes into a boring beginning for the next book. That being said, I feel like it was a little rushed. Of course, we know people are after Em. But the way it happened was so sudden and so out of left field that it felt a little lazy to me, for lack of a better way of putting it. I think it could have been done better.
We also end with a lot of unanswered questions, which is a little frustrating considering this is a 500+ page book, and I think we could have alleviated some of the unknown by this point.
But all in all, I really did love this book and would recommend. 4/5
June 9, 2022
Heather Long has done it again!
Rome, Liam, Jasper, Kellan, Vaughn, Milo and Doc deal with the fall out from Pinetree as they work together to help Freddie but more so Emersyn deal with the trauma that she endured.
Emersyn gives as good as she gets as Milo finally accepts Emersyn as part of his life and his world, she is now a Vandal. I love how there brother/ sister relationship is developing, as they continue to forge there bond and get to know one an other a lot better.
Rome, Liam, Jasper, Kellan, Vaughn, Milo and Doc know that they each betrayed Emersyn's trust, doing what she did, was to save them, only hurting them more in the process, but Emersyn and the Vandals are slowly rebuilding there trust within themselves and with each other.
The Vandals know that Emersyn shared with Freddie some of her dark truths, truths that he'll protect, they don't like the fact that Emersyn is keeping secrets from them, as they are keeping secrets from her too, we can see that they are helping her through her trauma, learning her triggers, and how to avoid them, what she likes and doesn't like, they come to a compromise sharing with her only what she needs to know, but the most pivotal moments were when Emersyn shared some of her dark truths, truths that are met with compassion, love and understanding, no judgement whatsoever.
The developing relationship between Milo and Lainey was fun to watch and one I'm definitely looking forward to watching unfold, but with Ezra and Adam in the mix who knows.
In-between all that is going on the Vandals work with and along side Emersyn to give her the skills she needs to not only defend and protect herself, but to use when the need arises, and when the Vandals clean house with the 19 Diamonds, there clubhouse is also put in the firing line, but in the end they come out on top.
This book had it all drama, action, mystery, madness, mayhem, murder, twists, turns, trust, truths, adrenaline seeking suspense, excitement, betrayal, trauma, intrigue, revenge, vengeance, violence, friendship, loyalty, but also love, the love each of the Vandal’s have for Emersyn, a love they will fight for til their last breath. There are moments that will make you laugh, cry and bang your head against the wall saying what!
Please head the trigger warnings for this book, they are intense, but are what shape our characters, telling the readers who they are flaws and all, that they are in fact humans who all feel but handle what happened to them differently.
And those s*x scenes were f*****g erotic, daring, the explicit language and dirty talk was filthy, downright wicked, sensually dirty, twisted, forbidden, emotional, wrong, intense, obsessive, daring, explosive, physical, provocative, possessive, controlling, oh so steamy, deliciously wicked, dirty, hot, beautiful, dark, naughty, raw, rough, powerful, passionate, wet, dominating, and wild
The different POV’s told a compelling story, capturing me from the beginning right til the end, this author knows how to write, am very much looking forward to Dangerous Renegade Book 6.
However..... there’s a lot to be desired with that ending though and with another story to tell, who knows how it will all play out…
Rome, Liam, Jasper, Kellan, Vaughn, Milo and Doc deal with the fall out from Pinetree as they work together to help Freddie but more so Emersyn deal with the trauma that she endured.
Emersyn gives as good as she gets as Milo finally accepts Emersyn as part of his life and his world, she is now a Vandal. I love how there brother/ sister relationship is developing, as they continue to forge there bond and get to know one an other a lot better.
Rome, Liam, Jasper, Kellan, Vaughn, Milo and Doc know that they each betrayed Emersyn's trust, doing what she did, was to save them, only hurting them more in the process, but Emersyn and the Vandals are slowly rebuilding there trust within themselves and with each other.
The Vandals know that Emersyn shared with Freddie some of her dark truths, truths that he'll protect, they don't like the fact that Emersyn is keeping secrets from them, as they are keeping secrets from her too, we can see that they are helping her through her trauma, learning her triggers, and how to avoid them, what she likes and doesn't like, they come to a compromise sharing with her only what she needs to know, but the most pivotal moments were when Emersyn shared some of her dark truths, truths that are met with compassion, love and understanding, no judgement whatsoever.
The developing relationship between Milo and Lainey was fun to watch and one I'm definitely looking forward to watching unfold, but with Ezra and Adam in the mix who knows.
In-between all that is going on the Vandals work with and along side Emersyn to give her the skills she needs to not only defend and protect herself, but to use when the need arises, and when the Vandals clean house with the 19 Diamonds, there clubhouse is also put in the firing line, but in the end they come out on top.
This book had it all drama, action, mystery, madness, mayhem, murder, twists, turns, trust, truths, adrenaline seeking suspense, excitement, betrayal, trauma, intrigue, revenge, vengeance, violence, friendship, loyalty, but also love, the love each of the Vandal’s have for Emersyn, a love they will fight for til their last breath. There are moments that will make you laugh, cry and bang your head against the wall saying what!
Please head the trigger warnings for this book, they are intense, but are what shape our characters, telling the readers who they are flaws and all, that they are in fact humans who all feel but handle what happened to them differently.
And those s*x scenes were f*****g erotic, daring, the explicit language and dirty talk was filthy, downright wicked, sensually dirty, twisted, forbidden, emotional, wrong, intense, obsessive, daring, explosive, physical, provocative, possessive, controlling, oh so steamy, deliciously wicked, dirty, hot, beautiful, dark, naughty, raw, rough, powerful, passionate, wet, dominating, and wild
The different POV’s told a compelling story, capturing me from the beginning right til the end, this author knows how to write, am very much looking forward to Dangerous Renegade Book 6.
However..... there’s a lot to be desired with that ending though and with another story to tell, who knows how it will all play out…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2022
Brutal Fighter is the 5th book in the 82nd Street Vandals series and absolutely must be read in order. Now I usually start from the beginning and go to the end with my review but this time I'm swapping it up. That ending. Oh my, on all that is holy Heather why????? That ending just shattered me. How in the world am I supposed to wait until September to find out what happens next? So.Freaking.Good.
Ok so this book. Y'all know that I fell so freaking hard for Freddie in Dirty Devil. It is absolutely my favorite book of the series. I'd say it's my favorite book by Heather. The amount of raw emotion it drew out of you just can't be topped. So I was a little scared for myself that I would not be as invested in this next book. I was so wrong. Freddie is still 100% my favorite. This book wasn't as much for me on the emotions but it had so much else going on. It definitely had the emotions in there as well, how could it not. There was never a dull moment in this book though.
So after DD they are all back at the clubhouse. Emerson and Freddie are dealing with the trauma they experienced at Pinetree. The guys are all trying to find their footing with Em again. They want to give her the space she needs but they also want to protect and comfort her. It's a fine line they have to balance. We also have a lot more Lainey time. Lainey with Em and Lainey with Milo. Loved that. However, they don't have all the time in the world to focus on Em. Life still goes on and things are starting to unravel. Someone seems to have it out for the Vandals and there is still the issue with the trucks being jacked. All of this has to be addressed as well as them taking care of Em. So yea, a lot is happening.
We also see some more of Ezra and Adam in this one and I love the animosity they all have with each other. And yet at the end of the day, the still have the same goal. Keep Lainey and Em safe. Interesting to see their interactions in this book. There is also a little Cardinal Sins crossover happening here and I love that. It makes me so happy when those little snippits and hints from other books play into a series. Makes me miss those other worlds a little less.
Ok I feel like I'm rambling here so let's wrap it up. Speaking of, yes we definitely have some sexy times in this book. In the absolute best of ways too. With all of her trauma, knowing that she can trust these guys in such an intimate way. Just amazing. Everything about this book and this whole series is just amazing. I will be on the edge of my seat waiting for Dangerous Renegade to come out.
Ok so this book. Y'all know that I fell so freaking hard for Freddie in Dirty Devil. It is absolutely my favorite book of the series. I'd say it's my favorite book by Heather. The amount of raw emotion it drew out of you just can't be topped. So I was a little scared for myself that I would not be as invested in this next book. I was so wrong. Freddie is still 100% my favorite. This book wasn't as much for me on the emotions but it had so much else going on. It definitely had the emotions in there as well, how could it not. There was never a dull moment in this book though.
So after DD they are all back at the clubhouse. Emerson and Freddie are dealing with the trauma they experienced at Pinetree. The guys are all trying to find their footing with Em again. They want to give her the space she needs but they also want to protect and comfort her. It's a fine line they have to balance. We also have a lot more Lainey time. Lainey with Em and Lainey with Milo. Loved that. However, they don't have all the time in the world to focus on Em. Life still goes on and things are starting to unravel. Someone seems to have it out for the Vandals and there is still the issue with the trucks being jacked. All of this has to be addressed as well as them taking care of Em. So yea, a lot is happening.
We also see some more of Ezra and Adam in this one and I love the animosity they all have with each other. And yet at the end of the day, the still have the same goal. Keep Lainey and Em safe. Interesting to see their interactions in this book. There is also a little Cardinal Sins crossover happening here and I love that. It makes me so happy when those little snippits and hints from other books play into a series. Makes me miss those other worlds a little less.
Ok I feel like I'm rambling here so let's wrap it up. Speaking of, yes we definitely have some sexy times in this book. In the absolute best of ways too. With all of her trauma, knowing that she can trust these guys in such an intimate way. Just amazing. Everything about this book and this whole series is just amazing. I will be on the edge of my seat waiting for Dangerous Renegade to come out.
June 5, 2022
….The Scars tell us we survived….Don’t Forget that….
Brutal Fighter picks up where Dirty Devil ended, and as readers of this amazing series know, there are some scars left on ALL of the Vandals that need to be “worked on” because as Doc reminds us, Scars have a purpose and we can work on them and help ourselves come to a place to understand how and why they exist and come back even stronger than we were before.
Brutal Fighter is where we watch Emersyn begin the hard work on mending her broken wings and repairing her scars, by physical and mental. She can and will do this. She has so many people on her side that she has no way to go from rock bottom but to the top, again. She’s got this and the Vandals will not let her fall again.
Brutal Fighter is “Kestral’s or Kellan’s” book and it is so good. He takes on the mantle of leadership from Milo, so that Milo can work on some things that he’s struggling with after being in prison. His truths, will be revealed, I’m sure in a series to come (Hello Lainey :) I love him with Emersyn’s BFF and I love watching him be the big brother he always wanted to be. My heart breaks for the future truths that Milo will learn as those secrets will not remain secret for long. But anyways…Kellan. He’s kicking some serious butt and taking names in this book and I love it! Figuring out the trucking issue, figuring out the mystery of who is moving skin through Braxton Harbor, as well and facing that monster and taking down the 19 Diamonds. He’s organized some serious pay back, but the questions that come with what’s left over……those I want to know.
Adam and Ezra show up in this book is so many ways, I do love when they tell the Vandals that Emersyn belongs to “them”, but concede later on, that she can belong to herself, but they will be there for her always….all because of my new favorite bestie written by Heather Long…Lainey :) I cannot WAIT for her story.
Liam, Rome, Jasper, Vaughn….all continue to remain as sexy and brody as alwasy, but Freddie, I’m worried about him….in my opinion he’s Emersyn’s male Lainey, and he’s going through some things, I can tell….we need to get the newest Cleary back on track.
That said, this book gives the readers SOME answers to the mysteries that are facing Emersyn, and the Vandals and in other ways, gives us SO Many more questions and theories, OH the theories. I love seeing what people come up with, but I cannot wait to see what Heather reveals as the truths in the coming books.
Brutal Fighter picks up where Dirty Devil ended, and as readers of this amazing series know, there are some scars left on ALL of the Vandals that need to be “worked on” because as Doc reminds us, Scars have a purpose and we can work on them and help ourselves come to a place to understand how and why they exist and come back even stronger than we were before.
Brutal Fighter is where we watch Emersyn begin the hard work on mending her broken wings and repairing her scars, by physical and mental. She can and will do this. She has so many people on her side that she has no way to go from rock bottom but to the top, again. She’s got this and the Vandals will not let her fall again.
Brutal Fighter is “Kestral’s or Kellan’s” book and it is so good. He takes on the mantle of leadership from Milo, so that Milo can work on some things that he’s struggling with after being in prison. His truths, will be revealed, I’m sure in a series to come (Hello Lainey :) I love him with Emersyn’s BFF and I love watching him be the big brother he always wanted to be. My heart breaks for the future truths that Milo will learn as those secrets will not remain secret for long. But anyways…Kellan. He’s kicking some serious butt and taking names in this book and I love it! Figuring out the trucking issue, figuring out the mystery of who is moving skin through Braxton Harbor, as well and facing that monster and taking down the 19 Diamonds. He’s organized some serious pay back, but the questions that come with what’s left over……those I want to know.
Adam and Ezra show up in this book is so many ways, I do love when they tell the Vandals that Emersyn belongs to “them”, but concede later on, that she can belong to herself, but they will be there for her always….all because of my new favorite bestie written by Heather Long…Lainey :) I cannot WAIT for her story.
Liam, Rome, Jasper, Vaughn….all continue to remain as sexy and brody as alwasy, but Freddie, I’m worried about him….in my opinion he’s Emersyn’s male Lainey, and he’s going through some things, I can tell….we need to get the newest Cleary back on track.
That said, this book gives the readers SOME answers to the mysteries that are facing Emersyn, and the Vandals and in other ways, gives us SO Many more questions and theories, OH the theories. I love seeing what people come up with, but I cannot wait to see what Heather reveals as the truths in the coming books.
June 1, 2022
"Hellspawn... you have always belonged."
To say that I've been anticipating this book is putting it mildly.
I'm absolutely obsessed with Em and her Vandals. So much that I continue to allow these cliffhangers to live rent free in my head as I wait for each book to release. But, that's half the fun.
We all know where we ended up in the last book and we pick right back up.
Em's back and her men have never been happier... even with the lingering scars and tears that seem to follow her around. I loved that Lainey was there when she came back and that she was able to support Em through the really tough parts. The ones that are hard to share with the men who want nothing more than to protect you. Their friendship is one of my favorite parts of this series... because it's a real friendship. One that has stood the test of time.
There's no rest for the Vandals. The drama seems to be piling in from all corners of their world... but it never prevents them from putting Em and her healing front and center. There nothing they wouldn't do for her and it makes me love them even more. Yes, their over protective, bossy and sometimes super frustrating-- because they care about her. I won't go into the spoilers but the action packed scenes in this book are amazing, especially since our leading lady gets to be the baddie that we know her to be. Kel does an amazing job planning and moving things into place, I know it irked Milo, but him stepping to the side was one of the best decisions he has made in all of this.
My favorite part about this series has always been about how seamlessly Em fits in with the guys. How she seems to fill all the little cracks in each of their relationships with each other, how she seems to fill their individual cracks. RH allows us the opportunity to not choose a favorite... but anyone can tell you the Twins have always been in the lead for me. Because their dynamic is my favorite. The fierceness with which they love and protect each other is everything... and I love that Em gets to feel that after so many years of being on her own. The scenes in this book with the three of them are some of my favorites. Moments in serious situations where I was laughing out loud.
You know there's a cliffhanger. And, while I screamed the first time I read it. Cursing Heather's name up and down, it makes perfect sense. All I can say? Y'all aren't ready for my leading Men to burn this city to the G R O U N D.
To say that I've been anticipating this book is putting it mildly.
I'm absolutely obsessed with Em and her Vandals. So much that I continue to allow these cliffhangers to live rent free in my head as I wait for each book to release. But, that's half the fun.
We all know where we ended up in the last book and we pick right back up.
Em's back and her men have never been happier... even with the lingering scars and tears that seem to follow her around. I loved that Lainey was there when she came back and that she was able to support Em through the really tough parts. The ones that are hard to share with the men who want nothing more than to protect you. Their friendship is one of my favorite parts of this series... because it's a real friendship. One that has stood the test of time.
There's no rest for the Vandals. The drama seems to be piling in from all corners of their world... but it never prevents them from putting Em and her healing front and center. There nothing they wouldn't do for her and it makes me love them even more. Yes, their over protective, bossy and sometimes super frustrating-- because they care about her. I won't go into the spoilers but the action packed scenes in this book are amazing, especially since our leading lady gets to be the baddie that we know her to be. Kel does an amazing job planning and moving things into place, I know it irked Milo, but him stepping to the side was one of the best decisions he has made in all of this.
My favorite part about this series has always been about how seamlessly Em fits in with the guys. How she seems to fill all the little cracks in each of their relationships with each other, how she seems to fill their individual cracks. RH allows us the opportunity to not choose a favorite... but anyone can tell you the Twins have always been in the lead for me. Because their dynamic is my favorite. The fierceness with which they love and protect each other is everything... and I love that Em gets to feel that after so many years of being on her own. The scenes in this book with the three of them are some of my favorites. Moments in serious situations where I was laughing out loud.
You know there's a cliffhanger. And, while I screamed the first time I read it. Cursing Heather's name up and down, it makes perfect sense. All I can say? Y'all aren't ready for my leading Men to burn this city to the G R O U N D.
June 5, 2022
6/5⭐ Brutal Fighter brings us to the midpoint of the Vandal series. Book 5 of a nine book series. Coming off of pinetree in book 4 in returning back to their true home.
This book sees the characters now at War on multiple friends and putting pieces together. We've got reveals and characters working together and sharing information. This book we get to see a bit from each of the guys I feel like they get mostly equal time with a little more focus on Kellan kind of coming into his new leadership role. It's very satisfying to see where his character is taken.
Heather long does a fantastic job of not saying well that storyline is over we're moving on. Pine tree is not forgotten what everyone has been through is not forgotten. She does a fantastic job of having her characters deal with trauma in their lives well still trying to move on and push forward. It's incredibly realistic and I always have to remark about how well done the Freddy storyline with his addiction is done just because he was the hero and save the day doesn't mean he won't still struggle. And the way that the other vandals handle it. I absolutely love the way that, that is written. And the way in which they care for each other.
This is not just a story full of suspense, secret plots twists and turns dark humor and romance. Balanced with characters living their everyday dealing with extreme circumstances. It is these things but it is also an extremely beautiful tale of multiple characters who are extremely well-developed. Who are layered full complete, complete people. It is their tale of found Family dealing with trauma at an early age losing their families and coming together. Going through trauma and coming together. Trying to build something. I really don't have the words to say how amazing that this series is in this book is but it is just top- not storytelling and writing.
All the clues that are left in there the stories that are weaved and just the story over all that is being told is beautiful and entertaining and you're invested in it this is a very special series and an amazing book and I can't recommend it enough. This is one of my absolute favorite series. And it really is on another level. There are some theories that just blow your mind and this is one of them and author Heather long continues to blow my mind with her stories and the way she tells them.
This book sees the characters now at War on multiple friends and putting pieces together. We've got reveals and characters working together and sharing information. This book we get to see a bit from each of the guys I feel like they get mostly equal time with a little more focus on Kellan kind of coming into his new leadership role. It's very satisfying to see where his character is taken.
Heather long does a fantastic job of not saying well that storyline is over we're moving on. Pine tree is not forgotten what everyone has been through is not forgotten. She does a fantastic job of having her characters deal with trauma in their lives well still trying to move on and push forward. It's incredibly realistic and I always have to remark about how well done the Freddy storyline with his addiction is done just because he was the hero and save the day doesn't mean he won't still struggle. And the way that the other vandals handle it. I absolutely love the way that, that is written. And the way in which they care for each other.
This is not just a story full of suspense, secret plots twists and turns dark humor and romance. Balanced with characters living their everyday dealing with extreme circumstances. It is these things but it is also an extremely beautiful tale of multiple characters who are extremely well-developed. Who are layered full complete, complete people. It is their tale of found Family dealing with trauma at an early age losing their families and coming together. Going through trauma and coming together. Trying to build something. I really don't have the words to say how amazing that this series is in this book is but it is just top- not storytelling and writing.
All the clues that are left in there the stories that are weaved and just the story over all that is being told is beautiful and entertaining and you're invested in it this is a very special series and an amazing book and I can't recommend it enough. This is one of my absolute favorite series. And it really is on another level. There are some theories that just blow your mind and this is one of them and author Heather long continues to blow my mind with her stories and the way she tells them.
June 5, 2022
We are back in Braxton Harbor for book 5 of our beloved 82nd Street Vandals, and every time we get a new book to this series I just have to put life on pause when I start reading, because this group consumes me entirely.
Swear I say this with each time but I LOVE how Heather misses nothing about the lives of Emersyn and her Vandals. From every low-key moment and their down time, right up to the gang wars that they're no strangers too. This whole series is the gift that keeps on giving and you really do just feel like you're right there with them the whole time, fully immersed in their world and their battles.
I feel like this was the book where s**t is getting real. The action and adrenaline pumping situations the guys got themselves in had me damn near holding my breath. I love how this story is coming together, this plot is so intricate and intelligent that it continuously has me in a state of surprise. Oh speaking of.... that change in dynamic internally with the Vandals?! Wasnt expecting it, and LOVED it. 👏🏻
I utterly adore Emersyn, I just want to her best friend tbh ... and totally abuse that friendship just nuzzle a bit closer up to Rome 😌 god damn I love that guy, like full blown, head over heels type of love. 🥰 OK but yeah Emersyn is such a queen, how she's healing and bouncing back from everything that happened to her in book 4 is incredible, obvs the guys all do their bit to heal her but really "boo boo's a badass" as Freddie would say!
Words can't do justice to how much I love those Vandals, how much I want to be praised by Kellan, get bear hugged by Vaughn, laugh with Freddie, be a filling in a Rome and Liam sandwich, be nurtured by Doc and be protected by Jasper and Milo. It's one big old messed up family but it's just so perfect! *Chefs kiss*
Side note.... and you'll know to expect this, hell I even knew to expect it but HEATHER! THAT ENDING IS NOT OK! My heart hurts so freaking much right now and I have to live like this until September! 😭 I'll just keep telling myself it's all OK to get my through it until I can sink my claws into Dangerous Renegade!
Swear I say this with each time but I LOVE how Heather misses nothing about the lives of Emersyn and her Vandals. From every low-key moment and their down time, right up to the gang wars that they're no strangers too. This whole series is the gift that keeps on giving and you really do just feel like you're right there with them the whole time, fully immersed in their world and their battles.
I feel like this was the book where s**t is getting real. The action and adrenaline pumping situations the guys got themselves in had me damn near holding my breath. I love how this story is coming together, this plot is so intricate and intelligent that it continuously has me in a state of surprise. Oh speaking of.... that change in dynamic internally with the Vandals?! Wasnt expecting it, and LOVED it. 👏🏻
I utterly adore Emersyn, I just want to her best friend tbh ... and totally abuse that friendship just nuzzle a bit closer up to Rome 😌 god damn I love that guy, like full blown, head over heels type of love. 🥰 OK but yeah Emersyn is such a queen, how she's healing and bouncing back from everything that happened to her in book 4 is incredible, obvs the guys all do their bit to heal her but really "boo boo's a badass" as Freddie would say!
Words can't do justice to how much I love those Vandals, how much I want to be praised by Kellan, get bear hugged by Vaughn, laugh with Freddie, be a filling in a Rome and Liam sandwich, be nurtured by Doc and be protected by Jasper and Milo. It's one big old messed up family but it's just so perfect! *Chefs kiss*
Side note.... and you'll know to expect this, hell I even knew to expect it but HEATHER! THAT ENDING IS NOT OK! My heart hurts so freaking much right now and I have to live like this until September! 😭 I'll just keep telling myself it's all OK to get my through it until I can sink my claws into Dangerous Renegade!
June 16, 2023
Nine books is a lot and so I am only going to write a series review not an individual review for each book. The series started out with 5 stars but then it got boring and did not have enough interesting things to keep my attention. Books 6-8 can be completely skipped. I read them but after reading them I felt they could have been skipped.
There were a lot of things that happened thought the series that were not needed the most annoying one being her mother. Throwing her mother's rescue and recovery in the book was way too much I didn't care enough about the mother for it to be worth reading. Also when I read RH I expect each guy to be completely unique and distinct and have different personalities so they don’t blend together. In this series, the guys all blend together. There was only one of her guys who stood out and had a completely unique personality and he became by far hands down my favorite guy Rome. I also loved how unique Freddy was but I considered him a friend in books 1-5 so I don’t consider him one of her guys. The biggest problem red flag with this aeries was how long it took the guys to realize who her abuser was and for them to take nine books before they get rid of her abuser is way way way too long. When he was not gone and still a problem in book four I lost a lot of respect for the guys.
I would give books 2-5 and book 9 ⭐️5 stars. But when you add in all the filler things that happened thought the series that were not needed it becomes a 3-star series that being said ai am a sucker for unique nicknames and tattoos. Both of which the book has lots of so I am putting the series at ⭐️ 4 stars. The reason it gained a star was because each guy had a truly unique and beautiful different nickname for the heroine. The other reason for gaining a star was how much detail the author goes into describing each of Romes's art pieces and the guys and the heroine's tattoos. The author did a great job painting the picture in my mind so I can give the series ⭐️4 stars!
There were a lot of things that happened thought the series that were not needed the most annoying one being her mother. Throwing her mother's rescue and recovery in the book was way too much I didn't care enough about the mother for it to be worth reading. Also when I read RH I expect each guy to be completely unique and distinct and have different personalities so they don’t blend together. In this series, the guys all blend together. There was only one of her guys who stood out and had a completely unique personality and he became by far hands down my favorite guy Rome. I also loved how unique Freddy was but I considered him a friend in books 1-5 so I don’t consider him one of her guys. The biggest problem red flag with this aeries was how long it took the guys to realize who her abuser was and for them to take nine books before they get rid of her abuser is way way way too long. When he was not gone and still a problem in book four I lost a lot of respect for the guys.
I would give books 2-5 and book 9 ⭐️5 stars. But when you add in all the filler things that happened thought the series that were not needed it becomes a 3-star series that being said ai am a sucker for unique nicknames and tattoos. Both of which the book has lots of so I am putting the series at ⭐️ 4 stars. The reason it gained a star was because each guy had a truly unique and beautiful different nickname for the heroine. The other reason for gaining a star was how much detail the author goes into describing each of Romes's art pieces and the guys and the heroine's tattoos. The author did a great job painting the picture in my mind so I can give the series ⭐️4 stars!
June 1, 2022
Heather, Heather, Heather, I don't think my heart has yet begun to heal from how completely you shattered it. This book takes a deep dive into trauma, its affects and how it has united the Vandals in an unbreakable bond and now this bond is cemented with Emersyn.
Emersyn is beyond broken by everything she survived in the last book, the physical and the mental. She is nothing but a survived but has previously been ablento compartmentalise her trauma and carries on but in this book she shatters. This book marks a turning point as her struggle drowns her but not just because of what happened but for the monumental step she takes, she becomes vulnerable. She opens herself to trust, bring her raw and painfully broken self forwards and trusts the guys to be there for her. Freddie said it all Boo Boo is a bada$$.
The vandals really bring their a game, well most of them a certain brother and doc are still a work in progress but things are heading in a positive direction. I loved how we got to see relationship progression and a deeper understanding of each other. Rome, be still my heart that boy is all things sweet and fluffy hidden in the dark, he gets Emersyn on a level no one else does. Kellan we get to see the depth of his feelings for Emersyn, why he acted like he did in the beginning and it warmed my heart. Kellan grounds Emersyn pulls her back from the brink.
I the deep emotional dive created emotions so vivid, you feel everything they did as they relive their history. Their palpable and shared pain binds these guys in an irrevocable bond, that is their heart and strength.
This epic climax of this book will leave you bereft of emotion as you're left numb with the though of is history repeating.
Emersyn is beyond broken by everything she survived in the last book, the physical and the mental. She is nothing but a survived but has previously been ablento compartmentalise her trauma and carries on but in this book she shatters. This book marks a turning point as her struggle drowns her but not just because of what happened but for the monumental step she takes, she becomes vulnerable. She opens herself to trust, bring her raw and painfully broken self forwards and trusts the guys to be there for her. Freddie said it all Boo Boo is a bada$$.
The vandals really bring their a game, well most of them a certain brother and doc are still a work in progress but things are heading in a positive direction. I loved how we got to see relationship progression and a deeper understanding of each other. Rome, be still my heart that boy is all things sweet and fluffy hidden in the dark, he gets Emersyn on a level no one else does. Kellan we get to see the depth of his feelings for Emersyn, why he acted like he did in the beginning and it warmed my heart. Kellan grounds Emersyn pulls her back from the brink.
I the deep emotional dive created emotions so vivid, you feel everything they did as they relive their history. Their palpable and shared pain binds these guys in an irrevocable bond, that is their heart and strength.
This epic climax of this book will leave you bereft of emotion as you're left numb with the though of is history repeating.
June 2, 2022
“Broken isn't bad"
I absolutely love these characters, their unique relationship with each other and individually with Emersyn, their layered and complex past and presents, their individual trauma and the universe this author has created. Even though this is a long series, and we are only halfway to the finish line, these characters have so much to tell that they certainly deserve the 9 books they are getting. The book and series have a lot of moving parts and pieces that are starting to fit together, but while some questions get answered, more also gets asked.
It is also the first book in the series with absolutely no flashback chapters. While I did enjoy these scenes from their childhood, getting to know how their bonds and brotherhood/family started, it also fits the story well as this as well as the ending from the previous book feels like a turning point for the series. Emersyn finally get to show the guys that she is as much a fighter as the rest of the Vandal family and why she fits in so perfectly with them.
The first half of the book was a bit slow paced as it was very much focusing on Emersyns trauma and recovery, and I was missing some main characters present in the story and their POV. The second half of the book certainly made up for the missing elements in the first half and picked up the pace while still focusing on Emersyn’s recuperation.
The only thing I was missing from this book was that I wanted Milo and Emersyn to bond more. Instead, I felt like Milo was more interested in his own love interest than in Emersyn. So, I’m crossing my fingers for more brother and sister bonding between these two in the future books.
This is absolutely one of my favorite reserve harem stories of all of them out there and I’ll be counting down the 3 months till Dangerous Renegade gets here, because I need more Vandals! So, if you want an intricate, powerful, action-packed emotional story with a family that defies blood but also a story with trauma, pain, darkness, and recovery together with great writing? Then go start this amazing series today!
I absolutely love these characters, their unique relationship with each other and individually with Emersyn, their layered and complex past and presents, their individual trauma and the universe this author has created. Even though this is a long series, and we are only halfway to the finish line, these characters have so much to tell that they certainly deserve the 9 books they are getting. The book and series have a lot of moving parts and pieces that are starting to fit together, but while some questions get answered, more also gets asked.
It is also the first book in the series with absolutely no flashback chapters. While I did enjoy these scenes from their childhood, getting to know how their bonds and brotherhood/family started, it also fits the story well as this as well as the ending from the previous book feels like a turning point for the series. Emersyn finally get to show the guys that she is as much a fighter as the rest of the Vandal family and why she fits in so perfectly with them.
The first half of the book was a bit slow paced as it was very much focusing on Emersyns trauma and recovery, and I was missing some main characters present in the story and their POV. The second half of the book certainly made up for the missing elements in the first half and picked up the pace while still focusing on Emersyn’s recuperation.
The only thing I was missing from this book was that I wanted Milo and Emersyn to bond more. Instead, I felt like Milo was more interested in his own love interest than in Emersyn. So, I’m crossing my fingers for more brother and sister bonding between these two in the future books.
This is absolutely one of my favorite reserve harem stories of all of them out there and I’ll be counting down the 3 months till Dangerous Renegade gets here, because I need more Vandals! So, if you want an intricate, powerful, action-packed emotional story with a family that defies blood but also a story with trauma, pain, darkness, and recovery together with great writing? Then go start this amazing series today!
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