Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Ghost Bird #12

Love's Cruel Redemption

Rate this book
From USA TODAY Bestselling Author, C. L. Stone, read Love's Cruel Redemption, the much-anticipated twelfth book in The Academy Ghost Bird Series.

Sang’s life was on pause after the dramatic break with her real family. Now she’s back in the game, returning to Ashley Waters to appear like a normal student. However, returning to school hasn’t made her life any easier. When it comes to the Academy and her role in the secret organization, there’s no such thing as normal.

When Kota’s mother catches Sang and the guys in the complex web of lies they’ve woven, everything starts to unravel: Their relationships, their ties to the Academy. Everything’s under risk of exposure.

Nathan struggles most with his conscience and lying to Erica Lee, the woman who supported him when his own mother was never there, doesn’t seem like the right thing to do. She’s his family and Nathan knows you shouldn’t lie to family. But he also knows the truth could hurt her: It could put Erica in danger. And it could force Kota to make a choice he should never have to: his mother and sister, or his team—his chosen family.

With Ashley Waters High School under attack and the principal now missing, the Academy needs to maintain its cover more than ever. It’s a bad time for Erica to start discovering what the Academy is really all about.

But to protect them all, Nathan’s willing to take the heat. He’ll do it for Sang, as well as Kota, Victor, Silas, Gabriel, Luke, North, and the rest of the team. He may be their only chance at survival.

But Sang, who committed to be all in with her team, isn’t about to let Nathan go down alone.

The Academy: Family First

507 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 28, 2018

555 people are currently reading
2067 people want to read

About the author

C.L. Stone

58 books4,351 followers
C. L. Stone likes :chocolate_bar: and #findingburiedtreasure. Her books are about :revolving_hearts: and @dark_themes and #chocolatechippancakes.

If lots of book boyfriends scare you...run. Run now.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
1,860 (55%)
4 stars
953 (28%)
3 stars
423 (12%)
2 stars
108 (3%)
1 star
28 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
Profile Image for Pao.
140 reviews48 followers
May 30, 2018
Is a truth universally known that when you finish a good book, you just have no idea how to write a decent review about it.


Not gonna write one because I simply don't have the words to express everything. If you're reading this, you probably are already a fan of the series and either you've read the book, are about to or you were wandering and found yourself here.

Academy books never disappoint.

******************
Update 3/02/18

I literally was saying only god knows when this book is getting released and I come and find we have a cover, a blurb and a release date. Looks like all the praying worked lol

**********
Prayer circle that we don't have to wait another year for this book.


After that teaser? No.

Just don't.

Please don't C.L. Stone!
Profile Image for Kristine.
3,424 reviews52 followers
May 29, 2018
Well, I think that I am finally going to quit this series. This is book 12 and the way the books are progressing, it will be 10 years before we see any real resolution. If she was putting out a book every couple of months, that’s one thing – but at this rate…it’s really not worth it.

And now - the books. I’m not really sure what happened and when it happened, but this series has just gotten completely crazy. At the beginning of the series, even though it was ABOUT kids, it didn’t seem so immature. Now, on the other hand – it just seems so childish. The plot line is just too over the top, and there is absolutely NO character development. We do not see ANYTHING from Sang, if she has an original thought in her head, we do not see it. And the romances, to me there is not a spark with any of them. I know this is a YA book, but these guys are all teenagers. How realistic is it that they sleep in the same bed with her, take baths together and yet do not seem to want anything more than kisses from her.

This book to me was just a lot of garbage. It actually annoyed me when I was reading it and when that happens, that is my key that I’m done.
Profile Image for Willow Lock.
3 reviews
June 20, 2017
Well, I've just finished the eleventh book in this series, Black and Green. Don't worry, I won't spoil, however I know this book is going to give us a whirlwind of emotions due to the teaser the author gave us. Incredibly excited, and I know it will be amazing.
Profile Image for Briana.
14 reviews38 followers
May 31, 2018
I read the teaser in Black and Green. Omg! What a cliffhanger! I'm so excited for this book!

UPDATE:
Finished! I flew through this book! It was a good read, I was pretty much sucked into it. Lol. But it’s a little bit slow for my taste. I understand all the guys and Sang are coming to terms with their relationship but it feels like they’re going in circles a bit and the build up with the teaser was for not. Still excited for the next one though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lina.
98 reviews42 followers
June 17, 2018
Can #KissOwen please be a thing?

___

EDIT: (06/17/18 - post-reading): I LOVED THAT VERY, VERY MUCH. Especially the part where

My only wish is for more FLUFFY GOOD TIMES, PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

Oh, and for everyone to maybe, hopefully stop hating on Nathan. He's not my favorite Academy boy (that spot is reserved solely for Victor Morgan), but he's a sweetheart and he means well and he loves Sang and he's also SIXTEEN. So, you know, since no sixteen-year-old is perfect, I think it's safe to say that the poor boy is doing alright.

xo
LINA
Profile Image for Sydney Sage.
12 reviews21 followers
July 3, 2017
How dare she put a cliff hanger!
If I have to wait a year for this one Im gonna be so mad! Like someone gonna have to hold me back mad!!!
Profile Image for Autumn Miller ~ autumnbookreads.
1,262 reviews607 followers
January 9, 2019
3.5 Stars
MAJOR SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
After months of waiting... the next book in The Ghost Bird series is finally here. I have been waiting for what seems like forever to read this book and I have been counting down the days until its release. Let me start off by saying that I binge read the first eleven books so to wait as long as I did for this one, I built it up a lot in my head and I had a lot of high expectations. So what naturally comes with having these high expectations, is disappointment.
I had read the teaser chapters months ago and I was really excited to read this book. I was scared, confused, and extremely worried after reading the teaser and I think that is what made me so eager to read this installment. I was desperate to know what the "two fights" were about and what caused Nathan to feel like he screwed up so badly. I was really concerned about that standing of the group and I was scared that they were going to break apart.
I don't know what I disliked about this book, I just know that it didn't live up to my expectations. I think that what turned me off the most was the fact that it was Nathan's book. I like him the least out of the boys and I just didn't enjoy getting a second book for him (especially considering that Mr. Blackbourne hasn't even gotten one book yet). While I didn't enjoy Nathan's plot line, I can see why it was necessary. He was struggling the most with the idea of them all sharing Sang and he needed to come to terms with his feelings about the situation.
What I did not appreciate was how Nathan handled most of the stuff that went down in this book. One of the most annoying plot lines for me is miscommunication and I feel like this book had a lot of it. Nathan created a lot of unnecessary problems because he didn't talk to his team when he should have. He also didn't put his trust in them to help him sort through what was happening. The whole ending could have been avoided.
The ~A~ chapter of the book was one of the most exciting things to happen. We finally know who Volto is... or so we think. I don't know if I necessarily believe that Kota's mom is Volto. There are just some things about it that don't add up for me. If Ms. Lee is Volto, someone must be helping her because there is NO way she could do all of this herself. What motive could she possibly have for trying to split Sang from the group but being all supportive to her face? It just doesn't fit for me. It also begs the question: Is Jessica in on it? I don't want to think that Jessica is apart of all of this... but I don't want to believe that Ms. Lee is either. I guess I'll find out more in the next book.
The teaser chapter for Unsung Requiem was... interesting. It makes me wonder if the next book is going to be Victor's book two or not. I am also extremely concerned about this Mr. Buble. Sang and the group really don't need any other adults trying to tell her what to do and the fact that he is Academy worries me. Is part of his job going to be to assess whether Sang should be allowed to stay in their group? Is it part of his job to determine if Sang gets to become apart of the Academy at all? I have no clue what is going to happen in the next book with Mr. Buble... all I know, is that there is no possible way that it can be good.
SIDE NOTE: My absolute favorite part of this book was the scene where Sang wakes up in bed with Mr. Blackbourne. I was squealing so loud when that happened and I was just so happy that something (no matter how small) happened between him and Sang. It was adorable and I enjoyed every second of it. Hopefully, there will be more moments like that in the future between the two of them. A girl can hope.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. There were parts that I really enjoyed and adored. There were also parts that I extremely disliked and that is why I couldn't give it a higher rating. It doesn't matter though. At the end of the day, I will be right back here in who knows how many months to read the next one. How could I not?
Profile Image for Meghan.
8 reviews1 follower
May 28, 2018
So, I bought it and just finished it. Mixed feelings. The book itself was, of course, well written and the story pulls you in like always. Which is why I gave it 5 stars. I do love the writing style, and the story telling. I adore the characters.
However, I am so very tired of “two steps forward, one step back”. I read either in C.L. Stone’s newsletter or blog post, that there will be 20 books in this series, and Owen’s will be the last one. Also stated, was that there would only be one Ghost bird book a year, because also writing Scarab beetle. So with 8 books left, we are looking at 8 more years before we get some sort of resolution??? And even then it’s all slow-burn bc it’s been stated that nothing will happen until the spin off series set in the future that advances everyone’s ages. So- could be 10 more years before we get MORE?! I just don’t know that I’m willing to keep investing myself into something that we can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel for almost ten more years- real time!
92 reviews
May 30, 2018
What a disappointment.

I love this series... but Love’s Cruel Redemption was a very hard read for me.... Hard as in- I could hardly force myself to finish it. I found the story line boring and the whole book lacked any romance -something I never would expect in book 12 of a series. I found myself just skipping paragraphs so I could finish the dang thing. The whole school storyline with the teacher and principle was anticlimactic, Sang kissed a few boys (big whoop), no crazy Sorenson family drama... I was very surprised by how now that all are on board for a relationship- nothing happens between her and the guys. Usually the story and interactions between Sang and the guys suck you in... but this book just was not interesting for me. Very disappointed after waiting and thinking there was gonna be more drama or romance... nothing happens. I get it- this is a YA- but come on...

Obviously I will still continue reading the series because I feel I’ve invested too much time... but this book could have been sooo much better.

This one was a complete miss for me- and that is wording it nicely. Read only if you like storylines that are boring, rh romances that have zero spark and if you enjoy an anticlimactic book in a series that will leave you disappointed.
Profile Image for Noël.
81 reviews2 followers
June 27, 2021
12 book. TWELVE BOOKS, and it’s only been, what, 6 months in book time? TWELVE BOOKS AND NOT A SINGLE THING HAS PROGRESSED. I am so beyond infuriated. Like there is slow burn, and then there is dragging out a paragraph into a whole god damn book. TWELVE. BOOKS. AND ITS NOT EVEN FINISHED YET?!?!!!!??!!!!???!!!?
I’m so beyond done with this shiit arse series.

UPDATE: *15 minutes later* Well the next book is only like a month away… I might as well read it…
Profile Image for teeg ✮.
162 reviews23 followers
April 3, 2019
why do I always act like I don't have to read these books right when they're released, I am totally kicking myself because THIS WAS CRAZY

nathan my dude, I don't hate you anymore okay, I got over it, but also plz step back in the next couple books because I need some Owen time, or North, or literally anyone else. Owen really has been robbed of all the love and I need it to happen for him.

Also Sang, my girl, you were pretty cool in this book, like not the worst. You confuse me because you can be such a baddie (i.e. yelling at North and trying to beat him up while in your underwear in front of all of the other boys) but sometimes you literally can't do anything.
overall, C.L. Stone you and these characters are still the loml so plz release the next asap
Profile Image for Geet.
142 reviews
July 28, 2018
I glad something important happened in this book but i don't like the idea of waiting 8 more years to see the end . Owen's book will be the last one :( That's insane . I wish i hadn't find this series . Who knows we will be alive by that time😂😂😂😂 I think i have to live with that 😕
Profile Image for Megan (BookWifeReviews).
1,564 reviews54 followers
May 29, 2018
i liked this one a lot better than the last one. I still there there is a lot of unnecessary drama and so so much stress but I still really enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Matilde Damkier.
412 reviews34 followers
May 28, 2018
By now, I guess most of the people reading this series has had to face this dreaded task: having to trudge through a whole book focusing on your least-favorite Academy boy.
It wasn't fun, but I got through it. I didn't like Nathan going into this book and it didn't really change my mind about him.
However, that's done and dusted. I like the series and I'm still on board with it - and now I can cross my fingers and hope that we won't be focusing on Nathan for another eight books at least.

If you like Nathan, this book will probably be just fine for you. But I do have one non-Nathan-related critique of it: the cliffhanger.
The cliffhanger introduces a new Voltro suspect and can I just say: really???? This suspect seems extremly unlikely and so farfetched as to be ridiculous. I am not a fan.
Profile Image for Eleanor St Clair.
18 reviews26 followers
Want to read
March 23, 2018
Eep, a blurb! I had no idea Nathan would be turning up at the other team's house because of that. I thought he had been jealous or couldn't cope. And a release date! Yay!


So we have a title and nothing else, just that teaser from the last book.



Seriously, when is this going to be a thing? I feel this book is going to be the make or break of the group. Or maybe the group is going to break in this book for a couple of books before getting back together? Aaaah! I must know. This is the issue with reading series that haven't been finished yet.
Profile Image for Marguerite (M).
767 reviews653 followers
Want to read
March 2, 2018
Are you seeing what i'm seeing?
A cover.
And a date.

My fix's finally on the way.
Profile Image for Searcy.
382 reviews70 followers
June 15, 2018
3.5 stars
(overall this was 5 stars, but several parts were uber annoying and there were a number of ridiculously illogical plot points so I had to deduct)


LOVE'S CRUEL REDEMPTION was both one of the best and one of the most frustrating of the books in the GHOST BIRD series. It was wonderful because there was finally a lot of real progress made on many fronts - relationship, Ashley Waters, and Volto. It was also action-packed and exciting. Tense. Suspenseful. Engaging.

And it utterly sucked because it was full of contrived plot points that made no sense within the established logic of the series and the characters. They only existed to force the plot in various directions. It was particularly frustrating because the same thing could have easily been achieved in ways that would have made sense and been believable.

It was also, for me, cruel and unusual punishment to be stuck in Nathan's head for half of this book when he is the one character I really don't like. Gah! Why was there another Nathan POV book? Didn't he have a book already? Granted, this one was a bit different than his earlier book because it was dual POV throughout - alternating chapters between Nathan and Sang. (Sang's were in first person, per usual, and Nathan's were in third person.) Regardless, that predisposed me to be cranky while reading LOVE'S CRUEL REDEMPTION.

Overall, I love the realism of the entire GHOST BIRD series. I mean, sure, in the scheme of what might realistically happen in the real world - it's pretty unbelievable. The whole concept of an RH with one girl and NINE guys... yeah. But once you accept the basic premise, I love how GHOST BIRD believably explores the way something like that could happen. And more particularly, how something like that might work when the majority of the players are underage and still dealing with parental and other authority figures impacting their lives and their decisions. Don't get me wrong - all of those impacts can be hellaciously frustrating at times. But I do love feeling like this could really be happening.

My biggest frustration though?

The cliffhanger ending! When I know we won't being seeing book 13 for about a year. *sigh*

UPDATE PROGRESS NOTES:
97.0% "Whoa. The thought had crossed my mind early on, but I completely dismissed it when Volto got so extreme. I sure hope this isn't true, because if it is, she is seriously crazy. It would explain a lot though..."

96.0% "Continuity issue. Just a page earlier it said Victor and Luke headed to Victor's house. It was only Nathan and Sang in Kota's car. So not sure why it is now saying Victor headed to Nathan's house after getting out of Kota's car."

92.0% "Uh... Why do they need to do a search for Nathan? Didn't they replace the GPS in his car after Volto removed it? Shouldn't they be able to just track the car? Another logic flaw here..."

87.0% "WHY THE FRACK ARE YOU DOING THIS NATHAN? YOU ARE A FOOL."

84.0% "Wow! First time this 'radiated' thing was used correctly! NICE! (and finally)"

79.0% "Seriously. This is the dumbest and most contrived plot point of the entire series. Many other times they have stayed AWAY from the Lee house when there is danger to protect Erica and Jessica, to not bring it to their home. And the one time they have proof there is a real threat, they go straight there? But with only Nathan and no working cell phones to protect them? It is ridiculous!"

77.0% "Hendricks and Volto are both problems. Two of them being together is no proof against being taken. Mr. Blackbourne has just decreed new protocols to stay in public areas/together. And yet he sends Nathan and Sang off alone without a real plan where to go? Why not keep them with the group? Why not send them with Victor to his safe house? Why not send Kota with them if they are going to the Lees? IT. MAKES. NO. SENSE!"

75.0% "You know, it just occurred to me... Why doesn't the team have keys to the school, given their mission there and that they keep keys to just about everything else? That seems a big oversight. Especially with all the cameras and stuff they plant!"

75.0% "Honestly, Jasmine, Lavender? That sounds more like a feminine scent than a male one."

68.0% "Holy crow Sang, SHUT UP! You and your constantly hovering angsty thoughts. DRIVES. ME. NUTS!"

66.0% "Oh MAN this is going to backfire. There is no way Danielle is doing this out of the goodness of her own heart. She doesn't HAVE goodness. And Nathan knows she is manipulative. God he is an idiot. Did I ever mention I don't like Nathan? *sigh*"

61.0% "*giddy laugh* Okay, THAT was certainly unexpected. How on earth do they swing this? And how does this keep Sang off the official radar!? Wow..."

50.0% "Come on Sang, tell them Volto warned you not to come into school today!!!!"

48.0% "And it is another patently absurd plot device since Nathan would NOT have just dropped the phone. Nor have gotten out of the car without it even if he had. *sigh*"

48.0% "Oh fracking shite. Seriously? Another stupid cell phone handling that results in Sang's cell phone being taken. AGAIN? Come ON!"

48.0% "Holy crow. This really bugs me. They never finish conversations. If Jessica had made that reference to me with all that was going on, I would be ASKING her what she meant! So dumb. Kind of like Sang not following up with Wil just because Dr. Green arrived and distracted her. Really bugs me."

45.0% "Soooo smooth Sang. Sheesh."

43.0% "This is definitely the most exciting and tension-filled installment in GHOST BIRD to date! But because it is, I am finding the alternating POV's oh so very frustrating!"

42.0% "Oh man, really? What the hell are the chances of that!?"

40.0% "Uh...seems a little odd for Wil to have been working both at the cell phone store AND here at the grocery store, doesn't it? Not suspicious at all!"

37.0% "I'm not entirely sure why the team doesn't feel/know this is a setup. Hadn't Mr. Hendricks made it clear before when Sang was listening at the coffee shop that everything was done and all they had to do now was wait?"

35.0% "That is worrisome. If Luke could hear their quiet talking in the security trailer from outside with the door closed, it is NOT very soundproof. Which is a real problem for using it as a base of operations IMO...."

33.0% "Seems like a slight continuity issue. I could have sworn in the last book, when they got the security trailer, that people walked into the trailer and could see Gabe sleeping on a cot while Mr. Blackbourne was standing at desks and it sounded like all one space apart from the bathroom and a closet. This makes it sound like two main spaces."

33.0% "Letting Danielle play you all like this is bad bad bad news. You are better off getting her wired so you can monitor her and Marie discussing what is going on. And GET THEM OUT OF YOUR SPACE! Too much they can find out. And you are already letting them know WAY too much."

31.0% "Uh... does this seem like a setup to anyone else? Kind of feeling like Mr. Hendricks has their number and is playing them now."

30.0% "I don't get why they would need to physically follow her. Why not just follow her with the cameras? This seems like another illogical plot device just to make the next thing happen."

24.0% "It is always odd to me that the first thing the team does when entering their office or Music Room B at the HS isn't sweeping for bugs. Because if I were Mr. Hendricks trying to learn what they are up to, in addition to having them followed, I would be trying to record or listen in on the spaces I know they congregate and are likely to say things I want to hear. Strange that they never have..."

21.0% "Holy crow, Danielle is awful. But then so is Marie. They should have gotten way away from that mess ages ago :/"

17.0% "Argh! Has everyone not read Sang's journal letter to Sean yet?? And if not, then why the hell not? What are they all waiting on? Why the hell are they not having a family meeting to try to list potential issues and get ahead of some of this nonsense. They are not in school right now, but they are just drifting along and seem to be reacting to everything instead of getting proactive. Very frustrating."

14.0% "LMAO and then there are the times when they act like young teenagers. Especially when the three amigos get together. This whole bath bomb/spa day scene is hilarious. I love Luke and Gabriel :) (And North walking in on the three of them had me in stitches)"

12.0% "Luke is really going to be the saving grace for this whole relationship dynamic for the group. As immature and silly as he can be in some ways, he is emotionally very mature in terms of the group dynamic."

9.0% "And frack. This book is starting off utterly sucky. Why can't we possibly be given even a partial book to enjoy what is going on? Why, the second things start to improve, does more drama and crap have to happen to derail everything? And why is it ALL relationship/family crap nonstop the last few books with next to nothing about the mysteries and suspense of the Ashley Waters and Volto missions? *growl*"

3.0% "Man, I hate stories that start this way. With some super dramatic event occurring in the first chapter and then the next chapter goes back in time to show you how they got to that event. It feels like such a cheap way to generate tension or try to hook the reader."

1.0% "Woohoo! Re-read complete and now I get to enjoy the new installment. Happy happy camper here :)"
Profile Image for Anna.
733 reviews70 followers
May 30, 2018
The moment I realized that Love's Cruel Redemption came out I was like "I don't care about anything else, I'm putting every other book on hold and reading this baby".
I forgot how easy it was to read these books. The story flows so effortlessly. Like, at no point at all did I struggle with getting into the story or staying focused - I just was.
I loved that Sang was more involved in the Academy business and that the guys finally started to view her as a full member of the team.
The fallout between the guys was inevitable, so I'm glad that's done and over with and we can finally focus on something else. Like Volto! Man, we are now so much closer to being able to uncover his identity. I mean, we now definitely know who it isn't! And halfway though the book I got this crazy idea about who it might be, only to realize in the end that my idea might not have been all that crazy! Like, Holy hell that turn of events would've been mind blowing !

In other words, it was one hell of a ride.
And now I have a not so sudden urge to reread all the other books all over again.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,277 reviews57 followers
July 19, 2018
I was really hoping that this installment of the series would be focused on Mr. Blackbourne since he is the only guy in the group that we haven't spent a whole lot of time getting to know, but alas, that is not the case. Nathan's POV joined Sang's and we struggled through his indecisiveness about the plan to keep the group together and his lack of confidence in Sang's feelings for him. In other plotlines, things at school start to get crazy! By the end of the book, there are a few characters in custody but they aren't talking and the money is still missing.

I'm still loving the series. Yes, I was disappointed about not getting more Blackbourne, but I'll live. I'm sure whenever we get his story it will be awesome. I'm happy we finally got a bit of progress with the Hendricks plotline and the guys have a goal to work toward in how they will start to solve some of the problems with being Sang's harem. The next book looks like it will have Victor as a focus. Hopefully, some of his home life problems will get solved. I just wish the book was out already; I hate waiting!
Profile Image for Victoria Roy.
271 reviews1 follower
June 5, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this book. First of all, for a book that comes out once a year there was a lot of errors in it. There are authors who put out 4 books the same size as this in a year and there are less errors. I expect more polish for such a wait. On to the story itself...
Sang. I am probably one of the few people who like Sang. Sang reminds me so much of myself that its sometimes painful to read about her. HOWEVER - she has had less and less of a personality lately. In this book she is incredibly bland and has no real redeeming qualities really. Also - they are going to involve her in missions now that she is somewhat official and NOT give her any training? UGH. SO DUMB. For 'super smart academy' guys this is such a dumb move.
9 guys might be too much for this series really. There are times that we hardly see any of the characters. We have scenes that do nothing but seem to exist just to give characters 'screen time'. I love these scenes because some of the characters that are pushed to the background have so much more life and depth than the characters that have been pushed to the forefront lately.
The storyline gets wrapped up sorta sloppily. For a story that has been going on for several books now it just seemed so anticlimactic.
Relationships. I have loved this series despite it being 'slow burn'. I really felt that it didn't need to move any faster. However, since they have been trying to start this relationship it feels like it has taken 20 steps back. They were more forward and handsy before they entered the relationship. Its minorly frustrating for me. I understand that a few of the characters are having issues with the relationship. I love that bit of drama despite how frustrating it is. Its more real. BUT for those that don't have an issue with the relationship it feels that even they have backed off more which is really unrealistic to me and frustrating to read.
The book seemed to travel in circles for a while there. There was the whole school plot going on that after a while I didn't really care about anymore. Its been dragged out and dragged out and it never really seemed to escalate to a point where I was excited to read anymore. I wanted to read more Sorenson drama. Something to break out of the loop that seemed to exist throughout this book because sometimes I felt like I was reading the same chapter over again.
Profile Image for Cera.
102 reviews55 followers
January 16, 2024
I totally love this series so much!! It’s so fun and cute!!

So this is the twelfth book in this series, so if you haven’t read the other ones yet, OMG!! GO READ THEM!!! If you continue, Watch out for SPOILERS!!

*

*

*

*

*

*

*


So sad this is the last Ghost Bird series book until the author comes out with the next one! I am so attached to these characters and invested in their lives. I love reading about them and really want to know if their plan to be all together works out.

Evil Henricks disappears and Mr Blackbourne takes over as Principal of the school! Sang gets appointed his assistant in the office and together they are combing Henricks files for evidence of the missing money. Sang and Mr Blackbourne have some cute little moments. Aww!

Even with Henricks and McCoy being big problems, now there is a bigger problem with kids getting sick!

This book has a lot of angst around Nathan and Kota’s Mom possibly discovering that all the guys are dating Sang. We got a lot of Nathan’s perspective, which I loved! Especially when the guys and Sang are on their mission stalking out the school and Nathan goes after Volto!

Nathan also gets a lot of heat from the other guys because he’s questioning whether Sang is in this because she wants to really or if she’s feeling pressured to be by the guys. He’s worried about her because he knows how sheltered she was in her abusive home and how much she wished she was like normal kids then.

But it’s so obvious that Sang loves all of them and goes through so much to keep them together. She doesn’t want normal now, she wants them!

The end is so crazy and so much action that I won’t spoil it for you!

And when Nathan runs off after Danielle causes a fight with the guys over Sang, Sang is off after him! Loved that!

I can’t wait for the next book because I want to see more of their plan and their affections grow!!

Soon, C.L. Stone? Soon?
41 reviews
May 31, 2018
Okay.. So, im a bit disappointed. I did enjoy this book as i did the others but at the same time i felt like there wasnt much growth. It just felt like the same problems kept occuring with the same people in the group and we're just going around in circles. I surely hope this book is the end of that issue (the relationship not the academy).
I was also a bit disappointed that this wasnt Mr. Blackbourne's book. As a matter of fact the book seemed to just circulate around Nathan and Kota and the issue. We didnt have much development with the other guys.
By the way, am I the only one that thoroughly over Nathan? Crap on a stick he's so annoying.
Profile Image for Sam.
775 reviews20 followers
June 8, 2018
A very high 4 stars. Read this in one sitting. This is hands down the most addicting series I’ve ever read, and for that reason it’s also the most irritating. I’ve reviewed this before, but it has taken the author 4, 5 (?) years to write these books that only have spanned over a 6 month time period. Stuff needs to start happening! Can I demand that this author lock herself/himself in a room for 30 days and knock out another one without me waiting another whole year to see what happens next? Don’t even get me started on her other RH series the scarab beetle or whatever it’s called. Lord. Take my money and give me more of this ridiculous series.
Profile Image for The Romance Book Disciple (Samantha).
2,119 reviews360 followers
September 27, 2020
Loved the increase in danger and action! Loved the further developing relationships. Super curious about who is Volto (and the person hinted to is not quite who I thought it was, but I was close...). Not sure I will be able to wait another year for the next book though! That is the hardest part.

Reread: now its been over 2 years and we don't have the next book yet. Its so difficult. I understand author's not being able to write, and I want to be empathetic. But, its frustrating to get into a series that seems to be languishing. I think this is why I usually don't read books until the series is complete.
Profile Image for Katrina.
316 reviews2 followers
June 4, 2018
I’m addicted to these books

I wish I wasn’t because I’ll probably be ready to retire or quite possibly dead before this series concludes. I really don’t like Nathan so the stuff that happens to him in this book is quite funny. I’m really not buying Owens promotion at 19. It’s getting silly. I think we finally know who Volto is - I was hoping it was Nathan (yes I hate him that much) I’m only in it for the Blackborne bits at this point. But those of you who like the others? You are out of luck. Nathan and a little bit of Kota. The rest of the boys are pretty scarce.
Profile Image for Casie.
439 reviews24 followers
May 28, 2018
Omfg!

This books was absolutely insane! It was a rollercoaster of crazy and I enjoyed every word of the ride! This is my favorite book in the series in a long time. So and so obviously well written! Thank you so much!
Profile Image for Bethany.
97 reviews
January 7, 2019
When I first found these books I did not know what to except, finally finished the first book back in October, I really found myself stuck in this universe and couldn't put it down. Immediately I loved it and rushed to get books 2, 3 and 4. After three days of finishing them, I decided to get books 5-8 and by the time at the start of November came, I found myself lost when I was just finishing book 12, Love's Cruel Redemption. 12 books in less than 9 days, I honestly have not fell in love with a series of books and its characters so much as this one. In the book when Nathan kissed Sang and Jessica saw it, OMG. I was laughing and crying but also feeling sorry for her when she told her mother about this and Kota, when he had to pretend about be angry about it. The ending of the book was unbelievable, the best cliff-hanger ever! But could this mysterious Volto really be Erica? If it is true, why would Erica want to harm any of the boys, particularly her own son and Sang? What does she have against the Academy and why see them as dangerous?
However, after again re-reading the book again a few nights ago, it could be clear that this could be blackmail and that Erica could be getting blamed for something she may not have done, she may have been approached to help with the virus situation in T.H.P.O.S leading to First Kiss, but I can't see how she would have known that they were at the school so late and how she would have known that Victor and Sang went to the Spa in Drop Of Doubt and how she was at the hospital.

Really psyched for Unsang Requirum. Please don't be long!
Profile Image for Rochelle Hurson.
57 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2018
Progressing

Another great book from CL Stone. Sang is becoming much more confident and it is good to see how relationships are developing. I like that some of the old, long running issues are starting to clear up and there is more progression with everything. And I finally don't dislike Nathan. A lot of action in this instalment and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The only thing i would say negatively is that I was disappointed with the editing. There were words missing at times or the wrong word inserted. Misspellings and even a name wrong. I know CL has gotten better editors so it was a shame to see they aren't up to point. However this didn't stop my enjoyment of the story and as always I'm looking forward to the next book!
Profile Image for Bella Suarez-Ramirez.
512 reviews5 followers
May 28, 2018
Cruel redemption

So what can I say... love this series from the very beginning. This book is different from the rest in which we finally see some progression within the dynamics that is Sang and her guys. As a team and family and even though there are doubts they seam to finally finalize with what their feeling are towards one another. I like the mystery of this story line and the ending was like unbelievable and puts a whole new twist to what I thought and brand new perspective to see where CL is going with in this series. Only problem I have is how long these books in this series take to come out. But I did enjoyed this read and will continue to wait painfully for the next one probably till next year to come out, just to see where the author will finally take this series. Enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.