genuinely this series is ruining me in a way no book has done before. it feels like i’m 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. it’s gut wrenching. when people say that they stare blankly at the wall after finishing a book, this is what this book does.
“To the women forced toward rage: cheers to the great escape. May all the devils on earth burn.”
I’m crying. I’m an actual, full blown mess after reading this book. I don’t even want to think about it. A book had never had the ability to emotionally destroy me as much as this series is. My heart actually ACHES. Like, genuinely - it’s broken like a wound that will not heal.
The amount of tears this book has made me shed is surely unhealthy. I honestly feel as if I’ve lost a piece of my soul after reading this book. I honestly didn’t think it could get worse but oh boy, it did. It sure did.
The sheer amount of strength that the characters have displayed is unworldly. Their fight against trafficking, at sacrificing chances at their own freedom to fight the organisation that took so much from them kills me. My heart is aching and bleeding for these characters. This series is tearing my heart out of my chest, stomping on it until it’s a mess of unrecognisable pieces that will not heal until I see these characters get the happiness they deserve.
I have never felt so emotionally attached to characters as I have with the characters in this book, not only from book one, but also new characters that were introduced in this book - the Ravens. Gosh, the found family in this book guts me. The trauma these individuals have gone through, and are still going through, makes me sob. Oh, how my heart aches. The pain in this book was so incredibly raw.
I cried throughout the duration of this book, but gosh, the 200 page mark destroyed me completely. I feel so empty. I knew something was going to happen, but nothing could have prepared me for what did and what came after.
I honestly don’t know what to do, how to feel, what to feel. This series is cutting me so deep, I know I’m not gonna be the same person after this is done. Please, please check the trigger warnings for this series as it is extremely dark, and tells the story of some of the most depraved individuals and organisations, and a gut-wrenching and harrowing story of survival and the fight against trafficking.
The ending of this book has completely ruined me. The last line gave me chills. I’m genuinely terrified to read book 3.
3.5 stars- preferred the first one but the ending of this one was really good. Story is becoming more fleshed out and lowkey can’t wait for the next one ahahah. Loved that we got Rafe’s backstory and his POV. Also didn’t notice any grammar mistakes which was good. Think this series is acc really good for an independent author. Thought this book was really emotional as well!
This book obliterated me not once but twice. This series is no picnic but the amount of times I cried in this one was embarrassing. I just don’t know how much more pain both the characters and I could take. The ending is devastating.
Dark doesn’t cut it. I didn’t know what kind of a story this would be as I mostly got dragged in by the TW page. Go figure.
I’m reviewing both book 1 and 2 in this post…but damn if this story wasn’t extremely soul crushing, yet liberating. It’s not happy. It’s not peaceful. It’s not sweet. Yes there is love but it’s deeply rooted in traumatic life events. It’s trauma bonding at its lowest. Dark and mesmerizing. It’s not overly detailed with the SA scenes, but paints enough of a picture to leave you thoroughly infuriated and often sick to your stomach with their entire situation. As you should be. One word. Haldon. Well done at making me hate a character so thoroughly that my fists clenched and teeth gritted, with every page turned. Just the name is enough to have a colorful stream of expletives leave your mouth at any given moment. Swift death is a kindness in their world, and not granted to those staring down the reaper and begging for death. Creed was born from pain and soul crushing despair. I fully expect them to seek justice and revenge but also wreak havoc in book 3, and I can’t wait for the conclusion of this story.
This book is a devastating exploration of the cruelty, the damage, and the quiet, stubborn fight to survive unspeakable horrors. Written with haunting precision, it tells a story that is as brutal as it is beautiful.
It’s a story about healing, but not the gentle kind. It’s about the kind that comes through breaking, through confronting the parts of yourself shaped by pain and learning how to live with them. The characters don’t find comfort in each other—they find understanding and peace in space. And in that understanding, something dangerous takes root. Clarity
Another empire, this one built on shared wounds, fractured trust, and the slow, reluctant realization that healing doesn’t always look like light—it can look like choosing to stay, to fight, to feel, even when it hurts.
This story doesn’t promise redemption or easy answers. Instead, it shows that healing is messy, nonlinear, and often intertwined with darkness. And sometimes, love isn’t what saves you—it’s what teaches you how to survive yourself.
A major step down from the previous book. The pacing was all over the place - crucial scenes got rushed while things that had already been addressed multiple times kept getting drawn out even further.
Still absolutely baffled by how the FMC's platonic relationship with Alexander ended up better developed and more carefully written than anything she had with Rafe.
Also - called the death of *that* MMC back in book one. I even told my fiancé that the way he was being written felt like he was just a stepping stone in the FMC's character development, so the moment itself didn't exactly shock me.
Also, with all the other deaths of people close to the FMC, that particular one started to feel unnecessary on top of everything else. Very Divergent of them.
Such a shame, because this series had so much potential.
Alexander orchestrated a legal marriage to Arden so she could inherit his billions and his “Creed” legacy after his death. By giving her his name, he provided her with the ultimate “great escape”—the financial and legal power to protect herself and the other brothers. As the story unfolds, we learn that Florence, the ASL teacher, is Alexander’s sister, and the group manages to set some things right, though they suffer a great loss: Thorne.
I loved that in this book we got to know more about Rafe, since we also get his POV, as well as Thorne’s. All in all, this one felt more emotional and sensitive.
If the book 1 destroyed me. I already expected that this one will destroy me all over again. And it didn't even hesitate in trying to do so at all. I read the half of this in public and did not even care with the tears that stinging just around the corner at all. I love the characters with all my heart and it actually make me more attached and heartbroken at the same time. I will missed the fact that they are complete. Still. Despite the fact that is heart wrenching, I can say that this whole trilogy is just one of my comfort reads. Will definitely read them all over again when I finally have the chance to own the physical copy of them in the near future.
I loved this book the same way I love the first I can’t wait to read the next one right after this!! odessa Harlow is an amazing author the way they write is beautiful and powerful. the themes in this book are dark, but in a way that makes you really think about the world we live in the things described in this book are someone’s reality and it breaks your heart. Again I’ve never cried so much while reading a book you cry for the characters on their behalf. I can’t wait to read the next book
Still such beautiful writing, loved getting Rafe’s POV and backstory, loved the development the story is taking. So gut wrenching, I was crying for half this book literally unable to see through my tears. Ugh having to wait for the next book is going to be torture.
I was too shocked at what happened to thorn, I really had the hope all 4 of them were gonna make it out, like surely this authors is not going to let one of them not make it after all they had been through together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The feelings that I have toward these books is indescribable. It just makes me want to cry. The love these characters have for each other, the horrible and immense pain they’re feeling, the tragic situations they’ve found themselves in, I just want to cry for them. I couldn’t put it down and I am looking forward to reading whatever this author puts out. She has been added to my auto buy list
WHAT FUCKING WITCHCRAFT how the hell am I supposed to read anything after this literal masterpiece and HOW THE FUCK did she do this to me in only 166 pages. I’m a MESS😭 Give me book 3 NOW. I am sooo ready to watch arden RAGE👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽WELL DONE
Her books are dark but they are dark for a different reason. They truly make you think about the world we live in and if we are certain that the world she creates and the ones in which we live are that much different.
+5 ⭐️ Tengo los ojos tan hinchados de llorar que ni siquiera se si escribiré esto bien… Wow que libro tan trágico pero con un significado muy importante, lo amé tanto❤️🩹 Vamos por el último y de seguro lloraré más jajaja
Jesus, another blinder. When I first started this series I wasn’t sure I’d like it. The jumps in time and numbness. I was wrong. The depth and intensity of this story so far is immense.
Such beautiful writing. I can’t wait to see where Arden’s rage goes now. Odessa made me feel things I didn’t realize I could about fictional characters, oh my goodness.