The Innocent

Milayna #3

by Michelle K. Pickett

A year ago, eighteen year-old Milayna fought Azazel, Hell’s angel, for her soul. She thought she’d seen the last of him, but he's back, and he's brought his friends with him. The Four Brothers want Milayna’s life, and they have wicked powers to use to take it.

While Milayna struggles against the Four Brothers, she also has to fight Azazel for her younger brother's soul. Ben is at a crucial point in his life—a time when he is weakest to Azazel and his powers. Milayna has to shield her brother from Azazel until Ben reaches the age of accountability and enters a period of safety from Azazel and his soul-sucking demons.

As if having four demon brothers out to end her life and Hell's angel out to steal her brother's soul wasn't enough, Milayna is still reeling from the disappearance of Chay. Can she find him in time to save their relationship? Or will the constant struggle with Hell and all its evil send her seeking comfort in the arms of Xavier?

Genres: Paranormal

Paperback

First published November 3, 2015

About the author

Note: Though Michelle's blog entries are cross posted here, she does not frequent Goodreads regularly. The best way to contact her is through her Website or via Email. She can also be found on Twitter and Instagram. She'd love to hear from you, but Michelle's Goodreads Email is NOT monitored.

Michelle is an award-winning YA author... but if you ask her who she really is, she'll answer, "I'm the wife of an amazing man, mom of four awesome kids, a reader of words, and writer of stories. I love candles and books, think garden gnomes are creepy and M&Ms are the perfect food (especially peanut butter). I live and write in Texas, but was born and raised in Flint, Michigan and will always think of the Great Lakes state as home."

Reviews

[Elen Tabita Bertoldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say I loved the first book and was a little upset with some events in the second book and in this third book I suffered along with Milayna with all her visions about Chay whereabouts and now new visions with her brother that’s turning in the age where he no longer has protection against the demons.

There’s so many thing happening, with common visions of small events to visions that were created by the hobgoblins and the new threat that is coming, Milayna can’t get a rest and what once was her support and comfort is now another reason for sadness and worry.

I didn’t like Xavier that much in the previous book and the whole conversation with Azazel in the last fight makes me even more suspicious about Xavier coming to earth and his “perfect” timing in coming right before the whole problem with Milayna’s assassin. The phrase in the previous book kept coming into my mind “Abaddon didn’t pick him, he picked the other one.”

Chay is stubborn in his resolve to stay away to keep Milayna’s safe, but the only thing he was doing was weakening the group and making Milayna’s suffer with his “I love you but I can’t stay with you”.
Honestly, I was pretty much hoping for a new love interest altogether. Xavier was too insistent and Chay certainly was just stringing her when his resolve broke and the getting away.

Milayna certainly deserved much better than either one. She truly went all the way with being a demi-angel and also a sort of guardian to her little brother. She had to learn to be strong without Chay’s help and that made her much admirable in my eyes, except for her really weak spot for Chay in making excuses for his behavior.

I like that there’s more action and saving the world and the people in this book, but because of the romance conflict that for me was kind of irritating I’m lowering the rating a little.

[Maribel Platypire Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***

​In all honesty, this one fell a little flat for me. I did, for the most part, enjoy reading most of it, but there were times where some the more dramatic scenes lacked a bit of flair and excitement. For example, there was one scene closer to the end that should have provoked shock and outrage, but it didn't exactly translate over that well to me. I think this may be because the characters themselves didn't react all that much to this betrayal and failed to show those feelings to the reader.

Now on to the parts I enjoyed: I like that this book involves Milayna's brother Ben. Not that I wanted bad things to happen to him or anything, but because we rarely read about him at all in the first two books. We see a lot more of his relationship with Milayna and other characters, as well as how seriously Milayna takes her role in protecting him until he reaches the age of accountability.

Also, I'm glad Chay is back in this book because I hate Xavier. There was one part where he acts like Milayna owes him her love or affection or something and I just wanted to be her for a second just so I could punch him in the face. Ugh.

Overall, I think this book could have showed more excitement and suspense, and while it isn't my favorite of the series, I did like reading the conclusion to what started off as a great series.

3 Platypires!