Tara Dawn is so good at writing dark and thrilling suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat and leaves you emotionally wrecked. After reading Snap, I knew that she was just getting warmed up with the twisted and mind-blowing storyline she began weaving in book 1 of the series. Taint picks up right where Snap left off, with Hazel's life hanging in the balance after Phil's brutal attack. With Phil on the loose, Cash and Hazel's relationship heating up, and the altered version of Snap causing destruction in its path, expect one hell of a roller coaster ride with this book.
The author has created a fantastic cast of characters in this series. The characters are all so well-written and intriguing. Hazel is surrounded by a great group of friends who have become family to her. They try their best to help her through the chaos that her life has become, and we are given additional POVs in this installment, which I loved. Hazel herself is such an incredibly strong woman. She has been through so much, but refuses to be broken. Phil's obsession with her has caused her so much pain, both psychologically and physically, and it is a wonder that she is still sane after what he put her through. It is the inner pain that she struggles to recover from, as she tries to heal from his latest vicious attack.
"They say tears are supposed to heal. That allowing yourself to feel and cry mends you back together somehow. If only tears could flush out the memories as they fall."
There to help Hazel pick up the pieces is Cash, who is as sexy and dominating as ever. Cash is the perfect male character in my eyes. He is just the right mix of good and bad, darkness and light, and I loved the way he was with Hazel. He refuses to allow her to push him away, as he realizes that he is feeling things for Hazel that he never expected to. I was so glad that he finally opened up to her and they began to break down each other's walls. I loved how protective he was of her, and was happy to see their relationship kicked up a notch as they both let each other in. He found as much solace in her as she did in him.
“She calms my inner demons when she’s around. Her nearness, her smile, and her touch make me whole instead of fractured.”
And then there is Phil- as twisted, violent, and volatile as ever. He is by far one of the sickest characters I have encountered, which is a testament to this author's fantastic writing abilities. He is a villain that you hate but can't help but be intrigued by. His desperation to get his hands on both Snap and Hazel make for some incredibly suspenseful moments in the book, and I was equal parts nervous and fascinated to see what was coming next.
“This is my chance to make her mine, to bend her to my will and make her realize she was meant to be here with me. I’ll convince her of it, even if I have to break her to do it.”
I seriously could not put this book down, not knowing what would happen next and who would become the next casualty in this twisted game. Poor Hazel is hit with one thing after another in this book. This author sure knows how to torture her characters. We were hit with a couple of shockers that I did not see coming, and I love reading stories like this that keep me hanging on to every word.
“None of us will ever be the same when this is over, and some of us probably won’t be around to see the end.”
The novel moved at a fast pace , was incredibly suspenseful, and had just the right blend of intrigue and romance. We were left with an ending that had me screaming at my Kindle, and I cannot wait for the final book in this series to come out. There are so many things that I want to see play out. Tara Dawn has created a fantastic dark series with the Snap Trilogy, and the final book will surely be an amazing conclusion to this series.