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Death Trilogy #3
Becoming Death
Samantha’s tired of being the pawn in a game she didn’t realize she was playing. She’s determined to discover the answers she needs to save Austin, and the strength to set them both free. But when all the players are finally revealed, Sam’s left to wonder... Will love conquer all, or will death consume everything in its path?
- GenresParanormal Romance
338 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2014
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51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 14, 2017
Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" Wow! Becoming Death was an awesome wrap-up to my author friend, D. T. Dyllin’s Death Trilogy. In my review of the second book, Embracing Death, I’d expressed concern over whether the story could ever have a happy ending, but I shouldn’t have worried. That’s not to say that this conclusion isn’t still dark, because it is. The author takes the reader on a twisting, turning, action-packed, emotional roller-coaster ride that left me wondering more than once how on earth this was all going to end well. But that ended up being part of the beauty of the story. It kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, always guessing and never really knowing what might happen next. The story was certainly anything but predictable, and that, in my estimation, is a very good thing.
This volume opens with our heroine, Samantha, being taken captive by the powers-that-be who she used to work for, or at least, that’s who she thinks is holding her. Throughout her imprisonment, things happen, but she’s never quite sure if they’re real or if someone is messing with her mind again, implanting memories of things she didn’t actually experience. Then when Austin, the love of her life, finally comes for her, they go on the run. But eventually, they realize that the only way they’re ever going to have any chance at something resembling a normal life is to go after the people they used to work for and take them down – as in kill them all – so there’s no one left who knows anything about the government program that made them into what they are today. However, they quickly discover that someone is one step ahead of them, which might make it impossible to reach their goal. Not to mention, Sam is having strange dreams about people dying and just before they do, they always say, “Fifteen.” It’s all a huge mystery that I really enjoyed unraveling, along with the nail-biting suspense that accompanies it.
Killing everyone associated with the project that completely altered their minds and memories isn’t much of a hardship for Austin and Sam. Their story is so dark and they’re so dark as characters as to pretty much be anti-heroes. Throughout the previous book, Sam was addicted to the high brought on by experiencing death emotions using her empath skills, and she unintentionally dragged Austin into her addiction as well. In some ways, he’s even further gone than Sam is by the time this book opens, and many other empaths who were part of the same program ended up turning into serial killers. As a warning here to sensitive readers, Austin and Sam left a number of bodies in their wake, some of whom arguably deserved it, but a few others who were basically innocent of any wrongdoing. If this would be bothersome, I’d say this book may not be for you. But the saving grace of these characters all throughout is that they can’t really help who they’ve become, and they became who they are as a result of extreme mind control that was inflicted from a very young age on them and others like them who also possessed psychic powers. In addition, even though their kills sometimes seem cold-blooded and they bask in the afterglow of the death emotions they experience by having wild sex, the author still manages to keep their humanity intact. At the core of everything they do and of their very souls is their unshakable love for each other that transcends everything. That’s what made me able to read this dark story, containing elements which in the hands of a less-talented writer would have been a total turn-off, and still feel empathy for the characters and want to root for them despite them sometimes doing bad things.
Throughout this book, Nixon is still there as a strong supporting character and the third point in this ongoing love triangle. It’s been obvious since the end of the first book that Austin and Sam are unbreakable soul mates, and Nixon is the only one who thinks he still has a chance with Sam. I’ve had a roller-coaster relationship with Nixon throughout the series. In book one, I mostly liked him. Even though he stole part of Sam’s life by taking her memories of Austin and making her think she was married to him, it seemed that he did it for a good reason, and I could tell that he genuinely cared about her. Then in book two, it appeared that Nixon had a much stronger connection to the powers-that-be than we first knew about, but at the same time, he was hiding some of his own psychic abilities, while in reality being much more powerful than anyone realized. By the end of that book, it appeared he had devious plans of his own to get Sam away from Austin and take her for himself. To some extent, those plans continue in this book and he does play the antagonist for part of the story. But what made me come back around to liking him again is that we learn the full impact of what was done to him as a child as well and exactly why he’s so obsessed with Sam, something he can’t really control any more than Austin and Sam can control their obsession with death. I couldn’t help feeling sympathetic toward him and his actions in the end were very heroic, so he was also a great character for me.
Overall, Becoming Death and the entire Death Trilogy in general was a phenomenal read. I’d highly recommend it for fans of more plot-driven, action-oriented stories, but at the same time, the author doesn’t skimp on the romance and emotional connection, especially in the first book. It’s absolutely clear that Austin and Sam are made for each other and there is no one else on the planet for either of them, even though many people and forces beyond their control have tried over and over to keep them apart. What was done to them was appalling and the people who took them and other children like them from their families at such a young age were reprehensible. I was very happy with the conclusion and how the author wrapped everything up and resolved their death addiction. I may have gone into the story doubtful of a happy ending, but I definitely got what I was hoping for. It was just a really dark and dangerous road to getting there.
Note: The love scenes are what I would deem steamy (typically a four on my sensuality scale), but most of them occur as a result of the characters experiencing the euphoria associated with them still being alive after someone else dies. Also, one scene contains asphyxiation, giving it a more erotic feel.
"4.5 stars" Wow! Becoming Death was an awesome wrap-up to my author friend, D. T. Dyllin’s Death Trilogy. In my review of the second book, Embracing Death, I’d expressed concern over whether the story could ever have a happy ending, but I shouldn’t have worried. That’s not to say that this conclusion isn’t still dark, because it is. The author takes the reader on a twisting, turning, action-packed, emotional roller-coaster ride that left me wondering more than once how on earth this was all going to end well. But that ended up being part of the beauty of the story. It kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, always guessing and never really knowing what might happen next. The story was certainly anything but predictable, and that, in my estimation, is a very good thing.
This volume opens with our heroine, Samantha, being taken captive by the powers-that-be who she used to work for, or at least, that’s who she thinks is holding her. Throughout her imprisonment, things happen, but she’s never quite sure if they’re real or if someone is messing with her mind again, implanting memories of things she didn’t actually experience. Then when Austin, the love of her life, finally comes for her, they go on the run. But eventually, they realize that the only way they’re ever going to have any chance at something resembling a normal life is to go after the people they used to work for and take them down – as in kill them all – so there’s no one left who knows anything about the government program that made them into what they are today. However, they quickly discover that someone is one step ahead of them, which might make it impossible to reach their goal. Not to mention, Sam is having strange dreams about people dying and just before they do, they always say, “Fifteen.” It’s all a huge mystery that I really enjoyed unraveling, along with the nail-biting suspense that accompanies it.
Killing everyone associated with the project that completely altered their minds and memories isn’t much of a hardship for Austin and Sam. Their story is so dark and they’re so dark as characters as to pretty much be anti-heroes. Throughout the previous book, Sam was addicted to the high brought on by experiencing death emotions using her empath skills, and she unintentionally dragged Austin into her addiction as well. In some ways, he’s even further gone than Sam is by the time this book opens, and many other empaths who were part of the same program ended up turning into serial killers. As a warning here to sensitive readers, Austin and Sam left a number of bodies in their wake, some of whom arguably deserved it, but a few others who were basically innocent of any wrongdoing. If this would be bothersome, I’d say this book may not be for you. But the saving grace of these characters all throughout is that they can’t really help who they’ve become, and they became who they are as a result of extreme mind control that was inflicted from a very young age on them and others like them who also possessed psychic powers. In addition, even though their kills sometimes seem cold-blooded and they bask in the afterglow of the death emotions they experience by having wild sex, the author still manages to keep their humanity intact. At the core of everything they do and of their very souls is their unshakable love for each other that transcends everything. That’s what made me able to read this dark story, containing elements which in the hands of a less-talented writer would have been a total turn-off, and still feel empathy for the characters and want to root for them despite them sometimes doing bad things.
Throughout this book, Nixon is still there as a strong supporting character and the third point in this ongoing love triangle. It’s been obvious since the end of the first book that Austin and Sam are unbreakable soul mates, and Nixon is the only one who thinks he still has a chance with Sam. I’ve had a roller-coaster relationship with Nixon throughout the series. In book one, I mostly liked him. Even though he stole part of Sam’s life by taking her memories of Austin and making her think she was married to him, it seemed that he did it for a good reason, and I could tell that he genuinely cared about her. Then in book two, it appeared that Nixon had a much stronger connection to the powers-that-be than we first knew about, but at the same time, he was hiding some of his own psychic abilities, while in reality being much more powerful than anyone realized. By the end of that book, it appeared he had devious plans of his own to get Sam away from Austin and take her for himself. To some extent, those plans continue in this book and he does play the antagonist for part of the story. But what made me come back around to liking him again is that we learn the full impact of what was done to him as a child as well and exactly why he’s so obsessed with Sam, something he can’t really control any more than Austin and Sam can control their obsession with death. I couldn’t help feeling sympathetic toward him and his actions in the end were very heroic, so he was also a great character for me.
Overall, Becoming Death and the entire Death Trilogy in general was a phenomenal read. I’d highly recommend it for fans of more plot-driven, action-oriented stories, but at the same time, the author doesn’t skimp on the romance and emotional connection, especially in the first book. It’s absolutely clear that Austin and Sam are made for each other and there is no one else on the planet for either of them, even though many people and forces beyond their control have tried over and over to keep them apart. What was done to them was appalling and the people who took them and other children like them from their families at such a young age were reprehensible. I was very happy with the conclusion and how the author wrapped everything up and resolved their death addiction. I may have gone into the story doubtful of a happy ending, but I definitely got what I was hoping for. It was just a really dark and dangerous road to getting there.
Note: The love scenes are what I would deem steamy (typically a four on my sensuality scale), but most of them occur as a result of the characters experiencing the euphoria associated with them still being alive after someone else dies. Also, one scene contains asphyxiation, giving it a more erotic feel.
September 10, 2014
Recently I've had this problem with reading, I've literally struggled to pick up a book and read it, even books that I am enjoying. This however, I told myself I would only read for an hour, instead I ended up reading into the wee small hours of the morning until my eyes closed all by themselves. When I woke in the morning my kindle was tucked up in bed beside me. I then spent the rest of the day cursing my real life jobs because all I wanted to do was sit down and disappear into Sam's world. This book will suck you in. In all the right ways.
One of the things I love about this trilogy is that Sam's story is not told in a straight line. The story unfolds with scenes from Sam's here and now, but also with her memories, ones that she remembers and ones that had previously been locked away. There are several aspects of Sam, Austin and Nixon's past that we don't know about until they themselves learn about it. The things you thought you knew about this threesome may not be the truth...
Dyllin does an amazing job of writing not just Sam's side of the story, but Austin and Nixons too and she does it in a way that pulls you directly into the story with them. And not just for one individual, with the switching of POV's you get to see directly into each of them, experiencing the full weight of the shocking revelations as they happen. And perhaps, softening to certain characters as you fully understand what they have gone through. See why they are they way they are.
This trilogy will have you doubting what you just read, doubting what you thought you knew, it will keep you guessing until the very end and even beyond. One thing is for sure, no one can say this trilogy is predictable.
One of the things I love about this trilogy is that Sam's story is not told in a straight line. The story unfolds with scenes from Sam's here and now, but also with her memories, ones that she remembers and ones that had previously been locked away. There are several aspects of Sam, Austin and Nixon's past that we don't know about until they themselves learn about it. The things you thought you knew about this threesome may not be the truth...
Dyllin does an amazing job of writing not just Sam's side of the story, but Austin and Nixons too and she does it in a way that pulls you directly into the story with them. And not just for one individual, with the switching of POV's you get to see directly into each of them, experiencing the full weight of the shocking revelations as they happen. And perhaps, softening to certain characters as you fully understand what they have gone through. See why they are they way they are.
This trilogy will have you doubting what you just read, doubting what you thought you knew, it will keep you guessing until the very end and even beyond. One thing is for sure, no one can say this trilogy is predictable.
June 22, 2017
Becoming Death is book three in this trilogy created by the talented D.T. Dyllin, if you haven't read the previous books you shouldn't read this review.
Becoming Death is the book where we finally learn the truth. It's the book that brings all the answers for the tricky web created around Sam and her love ones.
Sam will finally discovered why she and Austin have been chased, what do they really want with them and their powers. Of course, super incredible secrets will be revealed. So as you see... action and suspense are always present.
One of the good things about these books is the darkness in them. This one doesn't dissapoint when we talk about the deepness of the emotions. When dealing with death you can expect dark characters who explore the different shades of it and forgetting their humanity.
Another typical occurence in this trilogy is how complex and intricate is the past and its consequences. In this installment little by little everything comes clear and every loose end is resolved.
Again we have the flashbacks from the past, a good resource to refresh the previous events and stay tunned with what is happening.
The book alternates POV between Sam, Austin and Nixon, which is great because it allows to have a look at the bigger picture. We can understand the choices each character makes.
I was sort of expecting surprises that blow up my mind, however, there are no words to describe some of the shit that happens here. The author created such a solid and intriguing world where you never know what's next.
Of course romance is present. The relationship between Sam and Austin is so strong that you could read only about it leaving the rest of the story aside. Their passion is a force to recon and the tension between them and Nixon is incredible.
I have to say that I love the sense of danger present during the book, the feeling of being on the edge of falling into abyss. Sam is a great character and I'm happy about the great book she has to end the trilogy.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange of an honest review. ***
Becoming Death is the book where we finally learn the truth. It's the book that brings all the answers for the tricky web created around Sam and her love ones.
Sam will finally discovered why she and Austin have been chased, what do they really want with them and their powers. Of course, super incredible secrets will be revealed. So as you see... action and suspense are always present.
One of the good things about these books is the darkness in them. This one doesn't dissapoint when we talk about the deepness of the emotions. When dealing with death you can expect dark characters who explore the different shades of it and forgetting their humanity.
Another typical occurence in this trilogy is how complex and intricate is the past and its consequences. In this installment little by little everything comes clear and every loose end is resolved.
Again we have the flashbacks from the past, a good resource to refresh the previous events and stay tunned with what is happening.
The book alternates POV between Sam, Austin and Nixon, which is great because it allows to have a look at the bigger picture. We can understand the choices each character makes.
I was sort of expecting surprises that blow up my mind, however, there are no words to describe some of the shit that happens here. The author created such a solid and intriguing world where you never know what's next.
Of course romance is present. The relationship between Sam and Austin is so strong that you could read only about it leaving the rest of the story aside. Their passion is a force to recon and the tension between them and Nixon is incredible.
I have to say that I love the sense of danger present during the book, the feeling of being on the edge of falling into abyss. Sam is a great character and I'm happy about the great book she has to end the trilogy.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange of an honest review. ***
January 20, 2015
Becoming Death is book three in this trilogy created by the talented D.T. Dyllin, if you haven't read the previous books you shouldn't read this review.
Becoming Death is the book where we finally learn the truth. It's the book that brings all the answers for the tricky web created around Sam and her love ones.
Sam will finally discovered why she and Austin have been chased, what do they really want with them and their powers. Of course, super incredible secrets will be revealed. So as you see... action and suspense are always present.
One of the good things about these books is the darkness in them. This one doesn't dissapoint when we talk about the deepness of the emotions. When dealing with death you can expect dark characters who explore the different shades of it and forgetting their humanity.
Another typical occurence in this trilogy is how complex and intricate is the past and its consequences. In this installment little by little everything comes clear and every loose end is resolved.
Again we have the flashbacks from the past, a good resource to refresh the previous events and stay tunned with what is happening.
The book alternates POV between Sam, Austin and Nixon, which is great because it allows to have a look at the bigger picture. We can understand the choices each character makes.
I was sort of expecting surprises that blow up my mind, however, there are no words to describe some of the shit that happens here. The author created such a solid and intriguing world where you never know what's next.
Of course romance is present. The relationship between Sam and Austin is so strong that you could read only about it leaving the rest of the story aside. Their passion is a force to recon and the tension between them and Nixon is incredible.
I have to say that I love the sense of danger present during the book, the feeling of being on the edge of falling into abyss. Sam is a great character and I'm happy about the great book she has to end the trilogy.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange of an honest review. ***
Becoming Death is the book where we finally learn the truth. It's the book that brings all the answers for the tricky web created around Sam and her love ones.
Sam will finally discovered why she and Austin have been chased, what do they really want with them and their powers. Of course, super incredible secrets will be revealed. So as you see... action and suspense are always present.
One of the good things about these books is the darkness in them. This one doesn't dissapoint when we talk about the deepness of the emotions. When dealing with death you can expect dark characters who explore the different shades of it and forgetting their humanity.
Another typical occurence in this trilogy is how complex and intricate is the past and its consequences. In this installment little by little everything comes clear and every loose end is resolved.
Again we have the flashbacks from the past, a good resource to refresh the previous events and stay tunned with what is happening.
The book alternates POV between Sam, Austin and Nixon, which is great because it allows to have a look at the bigger picture. We can understand the choices each character makes.
I was sort of expecting surprises that blow up my mind, however, there are no words to describe some of the shit that happens here. The author created such a solid and intriguing world where you never know what's next.
Of course romance is present. The relationship between Sam and Austin is so strong that you could read only about it leaving the rest of the story aside. Their passion is a force to recon and the tension between them and Nixon is incredible.
I have to say that I love the sense of danger present during the book, the feeling of being on the edge of falling into abyss. Sam is a great character and I'm happy about the great book she has to end the trilogy.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange of an honest review. ***
November 5, 2014
Sam and Austin's gift is spiralling out of control, the powers that be all want a piece of them no matter the cost. Sam thinks she's gone insane and has no idea what's real or not anymore....being kidnapped, shot at and chased will probably do that to a person lol.
I'm chuckling right now because it becomes a who's rescuing who hahaha, i don't think they know themselves lol. Nothing is what it seems. This book will play with your mind even more than the last book... *snickers at what's in store for the reader* Nixon keeps suprising me, he really knows how to keep secrets and hold them close. By this point in the book i was Omg! Holy ... !!! Over and over, the twists and turns will blow your mind! As the game changes sam and austin have to adapt, have to react. What happens will astound you, but most of all you will think you know what's going on but it will suprise you... Oh boy will it suprise you! Sacrifices and betrayal abound, they cant trust anyone. All the players are assembled in this final end game.. New and old enemies. New and old friends... Not telling which is which hahaha. Nixon does something borderline heroic... Saving many. I honestly did not think he had it in him but what i can tell you is up is not always up and things are never what they seem *chuckles evily*
Continue the journey... If you DARE
I'm chuckling right now because it becomes a who's rescuing who hahaha, i don't think they know themselves lol. Nothing is what it seems. This book will play with your mind even more than the last book... *snickers at what's in store for the reader* Nixon keeps suprising me, he really knows how to keep secrets and hold them close. By this point in the book i was Omg! Holy ... !!! Over and over, the twists and turns will blow your mind! As the game changes sam and austin have to adapt, have to react. What happens will astound you, but most of all you will think you know what's going on but it will suprise you... Oh boy will it suprise you! Sacrifices and betrayal abound, they cant trust anyone. All the players are assembled in this final end game.. New and old enemies. New and old friends... Not telling which is which hahaha. Nixon does something borderline heroic... Saving many. I honestly did not think he had it in him but what i can tell you is up is not always up and things are never what they seem *chuckles evily*
Continue the journey... If you DARE
October 7, 2014
As always... I wrote it so 5 stars! ;)
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