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Retribution
Shiloh has done a lot of stupid things in her life.
Rejoining the Celsus Dios Order—a secret society that controls the world’s rich and powerful—to rescue her brother was one of them.
But agreeing to work with the Network, a crime syndicate, to kidnap the son of the CDO’s president might be at the top of her list.
Injured, alone, and haunted by the threat of her deadly genetic mutation, Shiloh is left with no choice but to join forces with the Network in exchange for their help in finding Samuel. However, their intentions are surprising when she learns that the Network’s leader is being held hostage by the CDO.
Kidnapping Grey Hyland to trade for the Network’s leader was never part of Shiloh’s plan, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Or so she tells herself.
Despite being faced with her deadly fate, Shiloh vows to do whatever it takes to get the Network’s leader back, but she quickly learns there’s a fine line between stupidity and bravery.
Rejoining the Celsus Dios Order—a secret society that controls the world’s rich and powerful—to rescue her brother was one of them.
But agreeing to work with the Network, a crime syndicate, to kidnap the son of the CDO’s president might be at the top of her list.
Injured, alone, and haunted by the threat of her deadly genetic mutation, Shiloh is left with no choice but to join forces with the Network in exchange for their help in finding Samuel. However, their intentions are surprising when she learns that the Network’s leader is being held hostage by the CDO.
Kidnapping Grey Hyland to trade for the Network’s leader was never part of Shiloh’s plan, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Or so she tells herself.
Despite being faced with her deadly fate, Shiloh vows to do whatever it takes to get the Network’s leader back, but she quickly learns there’s a fine line between stupidity and bravery.
355 pages, Paperback
Published March 5, 2025
2 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 29, 2025
5 stars, what a beautiful, devastating masterpiece 😭😭😭 Rtc when I can form words
March 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s not a question of how many stars (obviously five!) to give ‘Retribution’, it is how to put all my excitement and love for this book into a cohesive review! Because, wow!—I am left breathless like I just went on an adrenaline-pumping, fast-paced ride.
.
The first thing I feel should be said about ‘Retribution’ is that it is a sequel that looses none of what made the first book, ‘Initiation’ so amazing. If anything it multiplies it.
So, if you’ve read Book 1# and loved the quotable sarcasm and heart-piercing truths, then get out your highlighter (or if you’re like me and afraid to put a mark on a new page, a notepad and pen.). The writing style is perfect—through the spectrum of humor, hurt, hope, and healing.
.
Moving on to the next point. The characters. I can’t keep my mouth shut about them any longer. The main character, Shiloh Weiss, is sarcastic, determined, and sincere—and her relationship with coffee is 100% relatable! Haha. Seriously, it can be hard to find realistic and interesting female protagonists, but Shiloh defies the odds!
Also really love Shiloh and Samuel being, well, brother and sister. The sibling relationship of these two has won a place in my heart.
That said, Raven Markov does an amazing job of writing character interactions in general. It was great to have Grey back again, as well as getting to know Dylan!
.
Last but not least, one of the greatest joys to me about ‘Retribution’ is that it is dystopian with a focus on trusting God. The truth is what gives all of the above things backbone.
.
(Oh, and because I like to leave helpful notes for future readers—this book is 100% clean. Yay!)
It’s not a question of how many stars (obviously five!) to give ‘Retribution’, it is how to put all my excitement and love for this book into a cohesive review! Because, wow!—I am left breathless like I just went on an adrenaline-pumping, fast-paced ride.
.
The first thing I feel should be said about ‘Retribution’ is that it is a sequel that looses none of what made the first book, ‘Initiation’ so amazing. If anything it multiplies it.
So, if you’ve read Book 1# and loved the quotable sarcasm and heart-piercing truths, then get out your highlighter (or if you’re like me and afraid to put a mark on a new page, a notepad and pen.). The writing style is perfect—through the spectrum of humor, hurt, hope, and healing.
.
Moving on to the next point. The characters. I can’t keep my mouth shut about them any longer. The main character, Shiloh Weiss, is sarcastic, determined, and sincere—and her relationship with coffee is 100% relatable! Haha. Seriously, it can be hard to find realistic and interesting female protagonists, but Shiloh defies the odds!
Also really love Shiloh and Samuel being, well, brother and sister. The sibling relationship of these two has won a place in my heart.
That said, Raven Markov does an amazing job of writing character interactions in general. It was great to have Grey back again, as well as getting to know Dylan!
.
Last but not least, one of the greatest joys to me about ‘Retribution’ is that it is dystopian with a focus on trusting God. The truth is what gives all of the above things backbone.
.
(Oh, and because I like to leave helpful notes for future readers—this book is 100% clean. Yay!)
March 26, 2025
I’m going to keep this short and sweet. If you’re looking at this, you either already read this book or you just finished Initiation. If the latter is the case… what are you doing here? Go read Retribution!!!
My favorite parts include all the faith moments (oh how I wish I could blurt out the specific moments, but I’m trying to keep this spoiler free).
Lastly— that last page.
Just you wait.
It’s one of my favorite last pages in all of fiction. Right up there with Project Hail Mary and The Name of the Wind. The wording, the scene, *chefs kiss.*
Now what are you still doing here? Either go read this book or tell someone about it!
My favorite parts include all the faith moments (oh how I wish I could blurt out the specific moments, but I’m trying to keep this spoiler free).
Lastly— that last page.
Just you wait.
It’s one of my favorite last pages in all of fiction. Right up there with Project Hail Mary and The Name of the Wind. The wording, the scene, *chefs kiss.*
Now what are you still doing here? Either go read this book or tell someone about it!
March 30, 2025
Speechless. 😶
I finished this the day I started it, but didn’t have time to do it justice in a review until now.
Can I do it justice? Hmmm . . . that might be impossible.
I absolutely loved this book. Bought it in hard copy before I was finished with the first book because I knew I would love it, and I was not disappointed.
Well, disappointed it ended so soon. 😂 But the story is amazing. I loved the faith aspects, the way Shiloh and Samuel—and Grey—are similar but different, the drama and intrigue, the clandestine politics of the Network and the CDO . . . everything about it is SO well done!
Raven’s writing style is easy to follow, absorbing, and real, so it’s easy to get caught up in the story and watch it play out in your mind like a movie.
I *don’t* get emotionally invested in what I read generally (thinker personality more than a feeler), but this one had me rooting for the characters, excited when things were looking up, tense when things were going south, and giggling with the humor.
Puns? Dry wit? Niche jokes? (Violinists must read) 😍 Can it get any better?
Content warnings: violence, gun violence, all the other stuff that goes with a high-stakes clandestine game of cat and mouse. Not too graphic, not gory; clean.
Oh, and a cliffhanger. That’s the most important content warning. I hope book 3 comes quickly. 😒😂 I’m going to need a boxed set of these eventually.
I gotta go get coffee. ☕️
I finished this the day I started it, but didn’t have time to do it justice in a review until now.
Can I do it justice? Hmmm . . . that might be impossible.
I absolutely loved this book. Bought it in hard copy before I was finished with the first book because I knew I would love it, and I was not disappointed.
Well, disappointed it ended so soon. 😂 But the story is amazing. I loved the faith aspects, the way Shiloh and Samuel—and Grey—are similar but different, the drama and intrigue, the clandestine politics of the Network and the CDO . . . everything about it is SO well done!
Raven’s writing style is easy to follow, absorbing, and real, so it’s easy to get caught up in the story and watch it play out in your mind like a movie.
I *don’t* get emotionally invested in what I read generally (thinker personality more than a feeler), but this one had me rooting for the characters, excited when things were looking up, tense when things were going south, and giggling with the humor.
Puns? Dry wit? Niche jokes? (Violinists must read) 😍 Can it get any better?
Content warnings: violence, gun violence, all the other stuff that goes with a high-stakes clandestine game of cat and mouse. Not too graphic, not gory; clean.
Oh, and a cliffhanger. That’s the most important content warning. I hope book 3 comes quickly. 😒😂 I’m going to need a boxed set of these eventually.
I gotta go get coffee. ☕️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2025
Can I give this ten stars?? Oh, man. This book was so good. I loved Initiation (book 1). Retribution carried the story forward with such poetry, I am just reeling. I loved Shiloh and Samuel right off the bat at the beginning of the story, and everything they went through in this book only added to the permanent place they have in my heart. And then we can add Dylan and Grey to that, because they brought their own complicated lovableness. Raven knocked this sequel out of the park. I loved the humor. I loved the heartache. The tension. The conflict. All of it. This is probably my most unhinged review I've ever left, but I don't care. So there you have it. I loved this book 1000000%!
May 7, 2025
I loved "Iniation" but this book raised the tension even more and I could hardly put it down. I can't stop thinking about that ending. It was such a surprise and I can't wait to read book 3. I enjoyed the character enteractions in this book and found a particular pairing to be so fun to read when they were together. I also enjoyed the realistic relationship conflicts like when Shiloh and Samuel are bickering too. I found the characters believable and they felt very realistic but likable.
September 30, 2025
I liked this even better than the 1st in the series.
I even liked the ending much better.
AND
I am about to read the 3rd in the series.
I even liked the ending much better.
AND
I am about to read the 3rd in the series.
October 28, 2025
Another epic addition to Raven Markov's series. I am officially hooked! I would have read it in one sitting if I had the time. Shiloh and Samuel's story is very gripping, and the supporting cast are equally lovable...well, the good ones anyway. Once again Grey continues to intrigue me. I'm hoping that Shiloh and him will end up together. Fingers cross. Now I'm on to the next book!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews