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The Merciless #4
The Merciless IV: Last Rites
The fourth book of the scream-worthy cult series The Merciless combines Stephen King-level terror with true crime stories like the Amanda Knox case.The ropes tighten on Berkley Hubbard's wrists. Blood drips down her fingers and lands with a smack on the cold floor of the church basement. She's trapped, bound, and petrified by fear. A knife punctures her fragile skin as Berkley's captors search for the mark of the devil on her body. They say they want to save her--drive the devil away and cleanse her soul--but will she make it out alive?When Berkley arrived in Italy a week ago, the last thing she expected was that she'd end up fighting for her life. After spending six months at the Institute, confined to a room with the dangerous-yet-alluring Sofia Flores, Berkley was certain that a vacation in Italy with her two best friends would be the perfect getaway. But Berkley is hiding a terrible secret, one that threatens to undo everything. As she's forced to face her wicked past, she learns that the devil is always watching, and no one is coming to save her.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2018
67 people are currently reading
3683 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Vega
16 books1,791 followersDanielle Vega is the author of THE MERCILESS and SURVIVE THE NIGHT. She's also the author of BURNING, under the name Danielle Rollins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
May 31, 2020
This series is just so damn addictive! I’ve just finished reading it and I already want to start it again. Each book on its own is bloody brilliant and together as a whole this series is just outstanding. It’s dark and it’s gory and disgusting and horrifying and I damn well adored every single (very bloody) second of it. This final book brings mixed emotions for me though. I couldn’t have loved the book more but I’m also devastated that this series is over! I could read dozens more books in the Merciless series and I would die happy. This book in particular was my favourite out of the series I think, it was such a stunning conclusion to the story and it couldn’t have been more perfect. If you’re a horror fan and the mix of Mean Girls and The Exorcist sounds good then this series is MADE for you!
March 1, 2019
Wow, so this was better than the third one by a lot, but was still a bit of a hot mess. Still, it was more in sync with the other novels, being "The Merciless," and "The Merciless II: The Exorcism of Sofia Flores." If I would have known, I would have skipped the third altogether. It didn't really help my understanding of the series.
Something that I have noted throughout the series, however is that the injuries, torture, abuse, what have you; doesn't seem to hold a consistent pattern. It drives me crazy. A really serious injury that no one can come back from, or many of them will be described, only for that person to go on like nothing is wrong. Going through a fire, being cut up like a butchered pig, losing lots of blood, singed hair, and yet minutes later that character is talking about romancing it up with some guy-- like anyone would even recognize her at that point!? Come. On.! Yes there is a point where she is healed bc of some supernatural event but the author never says when or even if she is. Are we supposed to guess? Fill in the blanks?
Yet...She continues to say the character hobbles around hurt and confused and in pain. Yep. Plop.
This series can be good, but at times retarded. And I mean the actual definition : slow and/or hindered. It seems like the author gets so carried away describing blood and injuries that she later forgets to be consistent.
I mean, I once again refer to the third one where the character and her clothing were all cut up but she just takes a shower and throws her clothes in the wash. All better!
This one comes in after being missing all night, supposedly all cut up with her face swollen and with burns, covered in mud, blood, smoke, with her clothes ripped up and her friends are like durf!
K..the underlying story was freaky, but recycled very much from the others. It was still entertaining to a point.
Why the Dickens did I read it, then?
You get to a point in something where you just want to see it through. Like, ye Olds ' Dawson's Creek'. Oh, how much I wanted to give up after a while. Alas, I watched it until the last idiot episode. Yeah. I didn't ship those two at the end. Preposterous.
I hope these improve, bc DC didn't.
Something that I have noted throughout the series, however is that the injuries, torture, abuse, what have you; doesn't seem to hold a consistent pattern. It drives me crazy. A really serious injury that no one can come back from, or many of them will be described, only for that person to go on like nothing is wrong. Going through a fire, being cut up like a butchered pig, losing lots of blood, singed hair, and yet minutes later that character is talking about romancing it up with some guy-- like anyone would even recognize her at that point!? Come. On.! Yes there is a point where she is healed bc of some supernatural event but the author never says when or even if she is. Are we supposed to guess? Fill in the blanks?
Yet...She continues to say the character hobbles around hurt and confused and in pain. Yep. Plop.
This series can be good, but at times retarded. And I mean the actual definition : slow and/or hindered. It seems like the author gets so carried away describing blood and injuries that she later forgets to be consistent.
I mean, I once again refer to the third one where the character and her clothing were all cut up but she just takes a shower and throws her clothes in the wash. All better!
This one comes in after being missing all night, supposedly all cut up with her face swollen and with burns, covered in mud, blood, smoke, with her clothes ripped up and her friends are like durf!
K..the underlying story was freaky, but recycled very much from the others. It was still entertaining to a point.
Why the Dickens did I read it, then?
You get to a point in something where you just want to see it through. Like, ye Olds ' Dawson's Creek'. Oh, how much I wanted to give up after a while. Alas, I watched it until the last idiot episode. Yeah. I didn't ship those two at the end. Preposterous.
I hope these improve, bc DC didn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2018
A solid 4 stars for me. I’ve enjoyed the Merciless series and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. The Merciless: Last Rites is a YA horror book that centers around Berkley. The book goes back and forth between her time at a mental health facility (after a serious breakdown) and her time after-visiting her friends in Italy. Without giving anything away, creepy/disturbing stuff happens to Berkley while she’s in Italy-very creepy. Recommended to readers that enjoy YA/horror books.
February 2, 2021
We are at the final book - I made it! This one brings in a new character and mostly takes place in Italy but does have flashbacks to her time spent in a mental hospital (this is where the book connects it to the other books). I liked that we got a new character and went to a different country completely - it gave it a little something different. I wouldn't go as far as saying in breathed new life into the series, but it was something new at least.
The characters are all pretty cookie cutter and like the third story - it does take awhile to really get moving into terms of horror. However, the horror does come and it's decently gory and horrific. Something pretty awful happens to our main and I did really like the revenge aspect of it all. It felt fairly well balanced and I'm all about shit people getting what is coming to them.
Honestly though, thank god this series is finished. It really outlived its welcome!
The characters are all pretty cookie cutter and like the third story - it does take awhile to really get moving into terms of horror. However, the horror does come and it's decently gory and horrific. Something pretty awful happens to our main and I did really like the revenge aspect of it all. It felt fairly well balanced and I'm all about shit people getting what is coming to them.
Honestly though, thank god this series is finished. It really outlived its welcome!
March 1, 2020
4.0 Stars
This was such an addicting companion novel to the original Merciless novel. I often struggle with young adult horror novels, but this series appears to be the exception. Sure, there is plenty of teen drama with mean girls, yet these books never shy away from the adult themes of horror. Just like the first novel, this sequel is absolutely bloody and brutal. The story followed a similar formula to the first book, which made it a bit predictable, but that did not stop me from loving the novel. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys reading gruesome horror books that explore that nasty side of female friendship.
This was such an addicting companion novel to the original Merciless novel. I often struggle with young adult horror novels, but this series appears to be the exception. Sure, there is plenty of teen drama with mean girls, yet these books never shy away from the adult themes of horror. Just like the first novel, this sequel is absolutely bloody and brutal. The story followed a similar formula to the first book, which made it a bit predictable, but that did not stop me from loving the novel. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys reading gruesome horror books that explore that nasty side of female friendship.
January 22, 2019
I was really torn between 3 and 4 stars, so I guess this is more of a 3.5
I’d say maybe the last half of the book was 5 stars and delivered the gritty style horror I’ve come to expect from the series.
The first half though had a lot of false starts and was more of a ‘slow burn’ style than I prefer
I’d say maybe the last half of the book was 5 stars and delivered the gritty style horror I’ve come to expect from the series.
The first half though had a lot of false starts and was more of a ‘slow burn’ style than I prefer
November 27, 2018
Read more of my reviews at Cornerfolds.com!
The Merciless series is one of my absolute favorite horror series with book 1 being my favorite, followed by 3, now book 4, and finally 2. These books are always good for a bit of anxiety filled horror reading, but this book was quite a bit different than the others in the series and not in a bad way.
The Merciless IV follows Berkley to Italy on a vacation with her best friends. She has recently been released from a mental institution and is just looking for a fun summer trip. Unfortunately, her "friends" think she's crazy and handle her with kid gloves. This becomes even more unfortunate when it means her friends don't believe her when she tells them things are going wrong.
This book took quite awhile to get to the horror, but I did enjoy following Berkley around Italy and her summer fling boyfriend was definitely swoon-worthy. Honestly I would read a whole book about their summer romance. There was a twist I did NOT see coming, which is exactly what I've come to expect from Vega. I know this is called Last Rites, but I really hope there are more Merciless books to come!
The Merciless series is one of my absolute favorite horror series with book 1 being my favorite, followed by 3, now book 4, and finally 2. These books are always good for a bit of anxiety filled horror reading, but this book was quite a bit different than the others in the series and not in a bad way.
The Merciless IV follows Berkley to Italy on a vacation with her best friends. She has recently been released from a mental institution and is just looking for a fun summer trip. Unfortunately, her "friends" think she's crazy and handle her with kid gloves. This becomes even more unfortunate when it means her friends don't believe her when she tells them things are going wrong.
This book took quite awhile to get to the horror, but I did enjoy following Berkley around Italy and her summer fling boyfriend was definitely swoon-worthy. Honestly I would read a whole book about their summer romance. There was a twist I did NOT see coming, which is exactly what I've come to expect from Vega. I know this is called Last Rites, but I really hope there are more Merciless books to come!
September 16, 2020
If you’re planning on reading this series, I recommend only reading the first book and skipping the rest. After the first one, the books become so unrealistic and far-fetched. The books try so hard to be gory that they end up lacking a strong plot and complex characters. The plot of this book was all over the place. The characters seemed like exact copies of the characters from the first book. The writing and descriptions were amazing, but the story was just lacking.
August 7, 2018
That ending tho
April 20, 2021
Star Rating: —> 3.5 Stars
The best of the 4 merciless books, for sure. But, thats just a slightly less than meh, had my heart beating out of my chest a few times, but again, otherwise rather meh.
I do recommend this one for those who can't handle a huge scare, but want to read something scary.
The best of the 4 merciless books, for sure. But, thats just a slightly less than meh, had my heart beating out of my chest a few times, but again, otherwise rather meh.
I do recommend this one for those who can't handle a huge scare, but want to read something scary.
June 10, 2018
Of all of the Merciless books this one definitely kept me the most interested. The first half was a bit slow, but it was giving us a ton of background on Berkeley and what she has been through. We have flashbacks to her being in the Institute with Sofia Flores and now with her friends in Italy. The flashbacks seemed to be the most important even if it was only breadcrumbs each time. I also feel like of all of the Merciless books this one had the most interesting storyline in my opinion.
September 1, 2022
The Merciless IV: Last Rites (The Merciless #4) by Danielle Vega is a solid fourth and final installment of this series. This one just isn't quite as good as the previous three, but if you've enjoyed the series it's still definitely worth picking up. I do appreciate how it the true crime with the paranormal horror elements.
September 12, 2018
"They didn’t bring me down here to hit me a few times, scare me away from their boyfriends. They brought me here to sacrifice me."
The Merciless is one of my favorites and I’m sad to see it come to an end. I’ve always looked forward to read something that will make me extremely uncomfortable and creep me out. Danielle Vega has this Poe way of expressing the horror inside and brings it out in the most promising of ways.
Last Rites starts off differently than the other three in this series. But it slowly catches up to the others and I tore through the last hundred pages to see that earth-shattering end.
This one takes us on an adventure outside of the country but evil still lurks behind every dark corner. It switches from the before and after of Berkeley. How everything awful is happening in her life and we are all trying to figure out why?
These books are the answer to our ya horror problems. There is nothing in this genre like these books. They are so skin-crawlingly creepy that I got my husband to read them. If you’re looking for something to keep you up at night to where you have to sleep with the lights on, then give there a chance. The Queen Of Horror does not disappoint.
The Merciless is one of my favorites and I’m sad to see it come to an end. I’ve always looked forward to read something that will make me extremely uncomfortable and creep me out. Danielle Vega has this Poe way of expressing the horror inside and brings it out in the most promising of ways.
Last Rites starts off differently than the other three in this series. But it slowly catches up to the others and I tore through the last hundred pages to see that earth-shattering end.
This one takes us on an adventure outside of the country but evil still lurks behind every dark corner. It switches from the before and after of Berkeley. How everything awful is happening in her life and we are all trying to figure out why?
These books are the answer to our ya horror problems. There is nothing in this genre like these books. They are so skin-crawlingly creepy that I got my husband to read them. If you’re looking for something to keep you up at night to where you have to sleep with the lights on, then give there a chance. The Queen Of Horror does not disappoint.
September 21, 2020
Nope.
This last book in the Merciless series was so completely not for me. Everything in here was such a stretch.
The first three books were fun, the characters were ridiculous at times but there was still grounding factors to the characters and the main character in each book wasn't an annoying preppy drama queen which made me root for her somewhat. Here, in The Merciless IV: Last Rites everything derailed.
At the end of a whole entire series (that isn't a companion series, these are supposed to be read together, in order) we are introduced to a whole new main character. WHY?!?!?!? The whole time I was reading this it felt so disjointed. There were the briefest glimpses of one of the characters from the previous books but she had little to no relevance to the story. I felt like Vega just put her in there so that there was a connection at all. Everything else that happened could have happened without the character from the first books.
As I said above, there were preppy, over the top characters in all three books before but the main character was always a little more down to earth. Here, in the last installment, the main character was such a ridiculously spoiled, stuck up, head-in-the-clouds type that it was painful to read. Her interactions with the other characters was painful because of her personality. I didn't ever want anything good to happen to her because she was so annoying and terrible.
Each book was pretty formulaic. The set up was pretty much the same. By the fourth book I wasn't having a good time with the layout anymore, probably because by the fourth time you've read basically the same thing it's not new or thrilling anymore. Plus, it's clear that there are a finite number of ways for Vega to describe blood splattering and by book four I was getting tired of reading the same description again and again.
In the first three books there was some mention of underage drinking and sex as is life with most older teens (17+) but here there was too much alcohol and drug usage that was not censored at all. The sexual references I felt were too strong as well. Most if not all young adults are aware of what goes on at some parties but I kind of hate how the drug use was portrayed as fun and necessary for the girls to even have fun. They were not having fun if they weren't drunk or high. Really, they were drunk or high for over half of the book. To me, that just isn't tasteful writing. I would rather have spend more time developing the characters than just watch them get intoxicated.
Anyway, the last book in this series sucked. I don't hate the first three but I could have been better off if I had never picked up this one.
This last book in the Merciless series was so completely not for me. Everything in here was such a stretch.
The first three books were fun, the characters were ridiculous at times but there was still grounding factors to the characters and the main character in each book wasn't an annoying preppy drama queen which made me root for her somewhat. Here, in The Merciless IV: Last Rites everything derailed.
At the end of a whole entire series (that isn't a companion series, these are supposed to be read together, in order) we are introduced to a whole new main character. WHY?!?!?!? The whole time I was reading this it felt so disjointed. There were the briefest glimpses of one of the characters from the previous books but she had little to no relevance to the story. I felt like Vega just put her in there so that there was a connection at all. Everything else that happened could have happened without the character from the first books.
As I said above, there were preppy, over the top characters in all three books before but the main character was always a little more down to earth. Here, in the last installment, the main character was such a ridiculously spoiled, stuck up, head-in-the-clouds type that it was painful to read. Her interactions with the other characters was painful because of her personality. I didn't ever want anything good to happen to her because she was so annoying and terrible.
Each book was pretty formulaic. The set up was pretty much the same. By the fourth book I wasn't having a good time with the layout anymore, probably because by the fourth time you've read basically the same thing it's not new or thrilling anymore. Plus, it's clear that there are a finite number of ways for Vega to describe blood splattering and by book four I was getting tired of reading the same description again and again.
In the first three books there was some mention of underage drinking and sex as is life with most older teens (17+) but here there was too much alcohol and drug usage that was not censored at all. The sexual references I felt were too strong as well. Most if not all young adults are aware of what goes on at some parties but I kind of hate how the drug use was portrayed as fun and necessary for the girls to even have fun. They were not having fun if they weren't drunk or high. Really, they were drunk or high for over half of the book. To me, that just isn't tasteful writing. I would rather have spend more time developing the characters than just watch them get intoxicated.
Anyway, the last book in this series sucked. I don't hate the first three but I could have been better off if I had never picked up this one.
August 22, 2018
This story continues to be amazing! The characters and the plots are what really makes the reader super invested. Continuing to read this series is interesting because I have never been one to like horror. This series started me reading a new genre and I can’t be more excited. Vega knows how to hook a reader and knows what to say to keep them reading.
Longer review to come soon!
Longer review to come soon!
September 6, 2018
I have loved every single book in The Merciless series. I have always thought that Vega is such a talented writer and has such a knack for the horror genre. I have given every other book in this series a five star rating, so imagine my disappointment when this was only a three star read for me. I wasn't a fan of most of the new characters that Vega threw into this book and I thought that writing this novel in a before and after style really took me out of what was going on in the novel. I almost wish that this had been two books instead of one, having the before parts be one book and the after parts another. I did enjoy what Vega was doing with this book and I did read it quickly, it just didn't live up to the standards of the other three books. The epilogue was done beautifully though and left me satisfied with the finalization of this world.
Longer review coming soon
Longer review coming soon
January 26, 2019
3.25 stars
This was definitely a bit slower to get going in terms of the horror elements of the story but overall it was pretty similar to the previous books in its cheesy gory horror style which I enjoyed.
Ending felt like it was supposed to be a twist ending but if you had read the previous 3 books it was pretty obvious where we were headed.
This was definitely a bit slower to get going in terms of the horror elements of the story but overall it was pretty similar to the previous books in its cheesy gory horror style which I enjoyed.
Ending felt like it was supposed to be a twist ending but if you had read the previous 3 books it was pretty obvious where we were headed.
June 28, 2018
oooooooohhhhhh baby what a fantastic way to close out a fantastic series. rtc!
February 13, 2019
This was an interesting ending kind of not an ending it could technically continue on but I get the premise. Berkley is dealing with a lot, I will say these books always make you question who is the really evil person. I mean all of them are mean and evil but you never know which one the demon is hiding in until its to late. Dunn dun dunnnnnn. Most people say these are really scary to me they are not but that is because I don't think there has been a horror book that I have read that has made me stay awake because I was worried something was going to get me like it does sometimes with a movie. I will say some people got what they deserved in the long run so props for that. I feel like this is one series I will probably go back and reread only because I want to read the 3rd book first and then 1,2, and 4 to kind of get a better story a more fluid one. Maybe connect something that I hadn't thought about before.
July 18, 2018
I JUST LOVE THIS SERIES. Every year I waited for the next book in the series to come out and I always finish reading it in a matter of days.
The story is about a girl named Berkley who goes and visits her friends who are in an art program in Italy. While she is there, she meets a local boy named Giovanni and, of course, there is an instant attraction between them. In all of The Merciless series (and all of Danielle Vega/Rollins’s books in general) when we’re introduced to the love interest is usually when the story begins to go downhill.
Sure enough, it does.
As is all of the previous books in the series, Last Rites grabs your attention from the first chapter and doesn’t let go until the final pages... This book really tied all the other novels together for me as well!
Love love love!
The story is about a girl named Berkley who goes and visits her friends who are in an art program in Italy. While she is there, she meets a local boy named Giovanni and, of course, there is an instant attraction between them. In all of The Merciless series (and all of Danielle Vega/Rollins’s books in general) when we’re introduced to the love interest is usually when the story begins to go downhill.
Sure enough, it does.
As is all of the previous books in the series, Last Rites grabs your attention from the first chapter and doesn’t let go until the final pages... This book really tied all the other novels together for me as well!
Love love love!
March 5, 2021
This one was fun. I enjoyed the Italy vibes and it felt more realistic I guess. I don’t know I just have a hard time thinking there are so many people around who just perform exorcisms on the regular like it’s their go-to. Then again I realize this is a YA and just for fun. As always I need to view it from a younger person’s perspective. The whole series was fun.
October 3, 2020
Danielle Vega's The Merciless series reaches a chilling conclusion with The Merciless IV: Last Rites. In this final creeptacular tale we learn why we should always be good and follow the rules, because holy cow this book got downright chilling! I will again advise that this series is not for the faint of heart, it takes some seriously dark turns.
Berkley Hubbard just got out of the hospital and is ready to spend two weeks of her summer with her friends in Italy where they are already at, as they are participating in a college-related program for the summer. The story gets told in a semi-back and forth matter from her time in the hospital and her current adventures in Italy. While in the hospital she ends up rooming with one, Sofia Flores.Things start off nice and well during her stay at the hospital, but then she's forced to stay longer than intended when certain things come to light. Berkley had an "episode" at a club one night shortly after her best friend committed suicide. Her parents wanting the best for her, send her to the hospital so the doctors can help her.
But now that she's free, she wants to enjoy her freedom. She ends up meeting a cute boy at a club and goes to different events with her friends. Yet, she can't help but feeling like her friends don't really want her there at all. There's something very strange about the quiet little Italian town that they are staying in too. There is of course, a legend to the story about a young girl who was sacrificed for the "good of the town."
Berkley's vacation ends up taking a seriously bad as the book's description will tell you. Yet, even knowing these things and really how this entire series has run, the turn of events are ultimately pretty shocking! I mean this ending, holy cow, what just happened?! I mean I'm still kind of baffled by how things twisted and turned into what they did! This is a seriously twisted read that even if you read carefully, you still might be able to catch what happens! I was happily reading and being shocked by event after event and then THAT ending happened and I was seriously blown out of the water!
This was definitely a fast paced read! I loved how quickly it read honestly. When you're dealing with horror you really want things to move along asap because you're dying to know the outcome. As I mentioned already, this one gets seriously sinister too! It almost makes you wonder at times what kind of person are you when you react to events post sinister ones! Sorry for the vagueness, trying to emphasize how truly twisted this read was without getting into too many details!
The ending was seriously of ye old classic horror. I won't dive into more than that, and it may not even really be the classic horror you know. I'm just thinking of the very, very few that I ever saw and how those ended in certain ways! Lol.
I'm kind of sad that this series is over already. It makes me wonder what direction it would have taken next. It doesn't end in a way that leaves you hanging. Oh now, this series is definitely done, but it has one of those endings that gives you "hope" for future adventures. But if you've made it this far into the series, then you know that you really don't want any future adventures for anyone involved!
Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars
Berkley Hubbard just got out of the hospital and is ready to spend two weeks of her summer with her friends in Italy where they are already at, as they are participating in a college-related program for the summer. The story gets told in a semi-back and forth matter from her time in the hospital and her current adventures in Italy. While in the hospital she ends up rooming with one, Sofia Flores.Things start off nice and well during her stay at the hospital, but then she's forced to stay longer than intended when certain things come to light. Berkley had an "episode" at a club one night shortly after her best friend committed suicide. Her parents wanting the best for her, send her to the hospital so the doctors can help her.
But now that she's free, she wants to enjoy her freedom. She ends up meeting a cute boy at a club and goes to different events with her friends. Yet, she can't help but feeling like her friends don't really want her there at all. There's something very strange about the quiet little Italian town that they are staying in too. There is of course, a legend to the story about a young girl who was sacrificed for the "good of the town."
Berkley's vacation ends up taking a seriously bad as the book's description will tell you. Yet, even knowing these things and really how this entire series has run, the turn of events are ultimately pretty shocking! I mean this ending, holy cow, what just happened?! I mean I'm still kind of baffled by how things twisted and turned into what they did! This is a seriously twisted read that even if you read carefully, you still might be able to catch what happens! I was happily reading and being shocked by event after event and then THAT ending happened and I was seriously blown out of the water!
This was definitely a fast paced read! I loved how quickly it read honestly. When you're dealing with horror you really want things to move along asap because you're dying to know the outcome. As I mentioned already, this one gets seriously sinister too! It almost makes you wonder at times what kind of person are you when you react to events post sinister ones! Sorry for the vagueness, trying to emphasize how truly twisted this read was without getting into too many details!
The ending was seriously of ye old classic horror. I won't dive into more than that, and it may not even really be the classic horror you know. I'm just thinking of the very, very few that I ever saw and how those ended in certain ways! Lol.
I'm kind of sad that this series is over already. It makes me wonder what direction it would have taken next. It doesn't end in a way that leaves you hanging. Oh now, this series is definitely done, but it has one of those endings that gives you "hope" for future adventures. But if you've made it this far into the series, then you know that you really don't want any future adventures for anyone involved!
Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars
January 27, 2025
3.5 - this was a great way to wrap up the series. I found the characters a little flat in this one, but enjoyed the before/after timeline to help piece it all together. These books have been addictive & easy to read. I found the new setting fun. Sad the series is over now.
January 12, 2020
Výborné zakončení. Merciless v podstatě splňuje to, co čekám od YA hororu. První půlka byla sice trochu pomalejší, ale atmoška Itálie to vynahradila. A samozřejmě setkání Berk a Sofie. Konec? Docela masakr. Palec nahoru za grafické mučení jako obvykle!
4/5*
4/5*
November 8, 2024
God DAMN THAT PLOT TWIST
February 22, 2021
The fourth novel follows up where the second left off. Sofia is back, and some fresh faces are introduced. This was an excellent way to cap off the Merciless series! It was a total fucking bloodbath, as expected. Literary torture porn meets teenage drama. Amazing! I’m sad it’s over.
August 23, 2018
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more!
*4.5 star rating*
The Merciless series is my absolute love and treasure; each book keeps impressing me and scaring me to the point that I silently tell myself that I will never turn my lights off at night and will never watch a horror movie again. Let's just say that I never fulfill those promises I made for myself and I keep being addicted to the horror genre. As each of the other books, I was completely obsessed and terrified both at the same time. I was unable to stop reading once I flipped to the first page; Italy is the best setting ever for these kinds of books.
Last Rites introduces us to a new character in this saga: Berkley, a NYU student visiting Italy while her two friends attend a summer art program in a small town. Prior to her entering Italy, she had a major panic attack leaving her in an Institute, rooming with Sofia Flores. Once Berkley heads to Italy, she suspects that everything is good and no one remembers her dark past where she betrayed her best friend, however, strangers see her as a devil and will do whatever it takes to prove so. These 'strangers' capture Berkley and search for the devil's mark on her body, seeking the spot where Berkley is unable to bleed from.
As you can already tell from the summary, this is messed up. There are points during the reading experience where you suspect that the story is a normal, YA contemporary novel, however, things always suddenly take a turn and leave you guessing. That's the best way to describe Danielle Vega's writing; she makes readers think that she is weaving an innocent story set in an innocent setting (such as Italy - who would suspect that an exorcism is on the agenda?)
This book left me in shock, as the ending was unbelievable. It had both closure and opening, leaving the possibility for this series to continue (which I hope it will), but closure in the sense that if Danielle Vega feels that this must come to an end, it can. I just want to pray to the book gods that it doesn't end here. I feel that there's so much more that can happen. More chances for readers to be terrified and more chances to see our favourite character, Sofia Flores.
*4.5 star rating*
The Merciless series is my absolute love and treasure; each book keeps impressing me and scaring me to the point that I silently tell myself that I will never turn my lights off at night and will never watch a horror movie again. Let's just say that I never fulfill those promises I made for myself and I keep being addicted to the horror genre. As each of the other books, I was completely obsessed and terrified both at the same time. I was unable to stop reading once I flipped to the first page; Italy is the best setting ever for these kinds of books.
Last Rites introduces us to a new character in this saga: Berkley, a NYU student visiting Italy while her two friends attend a summer art program in a small town. Prior to her entering Italy, she had a major panic attack leaving her in an Institute, rooming with Sofia Flores. Once Berkley heads to Italy, she suspects that everything is good and no one remembers her dark past where she betrayed her best friend, however, strangers see her as a devil and will do whatever it takes to prove so. These 'strangers' capture Berkley and search for the devil's mark on her body, seeking the spot where Berkley is unable to bleed from.
As you can already tell from the summary, this is messed up. There are points during the reading experience where you suspect that the story is a normal, YA contemporary novel, however, things always suddenly take a turn and leave you guessing. That's the best way to describe Danielle Vega's writing; she makes readers think that she is weaving an innocent story set in an innocent setting (such as Italy - who would suspect that an exorcism is on the agenda?)
This book left me in shock, as the ending was unbelievable. It had both closure and opening, leaving the possibility for this series to continue (which I hope it will), but closure in the sense that if Danielle Vega feels that this must come to an end, it can. I just want to pray to the book gods that it doesn't end here. I feel that there's so much more that can happen. More chances for readers to be terrified and more chances to see our favourite character, Sofia Flores.
May 25, 2020
Well, what a journey. It didn't take the route that I was expecting it to, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I wasn't a fan of the "stereotype" of how Italians are supposed to look like and some sentences were just cringe-worthy to me. Seriously, who comes up to someone and just says "bella." And, "I'm not like other girls," c'mon, this book came out in 2019, shouldn't we be over that by now?
One thing that I've noticed about these books is that the "devil" isn't really making the killing unless they're inhumanly tortured and forced to fight back. Berkley didn't show any sign of being a diavoletta (boy, I hated that nickname). All she did was literally just hang out and casually kiss some Italian guy, whom she did not know had a "girlfriend." For the girls to think she was possessed purely because of that, I don't know, seems a little bit too close to slut-shaming, in my opinion. They physically injured her, cut her skin, almost drowned her, filled her mouth with mud, and tried to burn her alive. I'm sorry, but I don't blame her for doing whatever it took to save herself. So, really, if only these people obsessed with "Christianity" and saving and purifying a soul didn't do anything, I don't think all these deaths would've had happened.
At first, I wasn't sure if having a new protagonist at this point in the story would've been a good idea. However, it did work, especially the plot-twist at the end. I truly enjoyed how the chapter would alternate from the present time (Berkley in Italy with her friends, who by the way sucked), and the past (Berkley in the mental hospital with Sofia). It made the storytelling more dynamic and exciting to read, and it was also very fast-paced, which I liked.
Again, these books got me thinking more than they were supposed to. Lol But I was honestly surprised by how much I liked the conclusion, and I was pretty gratified with this final book. I might be the only one in this, but I was actually rooting for the devil. Haha
One thing that I've noticed about these books is that the "devil" isn't really making the killing unless they're inhumanly tortured and forced to fight back. Berkley didn't show any sign of being a diavoletta (boy, I hated that nickname). All she did was literally just hang out and casually kiss some Italian guy, whom she did not know had a "girlfriend." For the girls to think she was possessed purely because of that, I don't know, seems a little bit too close to slut-shaming, in my opinion. They physically injured her, cut her skin, almost drowned her, filled her mouth with mud, and tried to burn her alive. I'm sorry, but I don't blame her for doing whatever it took to save herself. So, really, if only these people obsessed with "Christianity" and saving and purifying a soul didn't do anything, I don't think all these deaths would've had happened.
At first, I wasn't sure if having a new protagonist at this point in the story would've been a good idea. However, it did work, especially the plot-twist at the end. I truly enjoyed how the chapter would alternate from the present time (Berkley in Italy with her friends, who by the way sucked), and the past (Berkley in the mental hospital with Sofia). It made the storytelling more dynamic and exciting to read, and it was also very fast-paced, which I liked.
Again, these books got me thinking more than they were supposed to. Lol But I was honestly surprised by how much I liked the conclusion, and I was pretty gratified with this final book. I might be the only one in this, but I was actually rooting for the devil. Haha
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2018
I would say that the first book is one of my favorites. It is really suspenseful, effective horror (in my personal opinion) and should have been a stand alone. This book and the 3rd book are not needed in this series. This 'final chapter' probably has a moral or something but I just can't put my finger on it... **SPOILERS BELOW**
Vega has a tendency to repeat herself A LOT when it comes to the verbiage of bodily functions. I get it, she "has an acid rising in her throat", get her some Zantac STAT. It wouldn't be that bad but over the course of 4 books I noticed this annoying trend in her writing.
She also does a lot of girl-on-girl hate where the main character hangs out with friends even through the "friends" are actually terrible people who are so self-absorbed they have no idea that they are doing anything bad at all. There is always a guy introduced who has cheated on the main character with one of her friends or something and then the females exact revenge ON EACH OTHER in violent ways instead of exacting revenge on the guy.
A few lines flat out made me cringe, but no more than this one: -main character is in the trunk of the car- "I'm not claustrophobic - not technically. But the small, enclosed space makes me feel trapped."... UHHH WHO WOULDN'T FEEL THAT WAY IF YOU WERE KIDNAPPED AND SHOVED IN A TRUNK? There are other lines that are also weird like that but I digress.
If you're gonna read anything in this series, read the first and leave it at that.
Vega has a tendency to repeat herself A LOT when it comes to the verbiage of bodily functions. I get it, she "has an acid rising in her throat", get her some Zantac STAT. It wouldn't be that bad but over the course of 4 books I noticed this annoying trend in her writing.
She also does a lot of girl-on-girl hate where the main character hangs out with friends even through the "friends" are actually terrible people who are so self-absorbed they have no idea that they are doing anything bad at all. There is always a guy introduced who has cheated on the main character with one of her friends or something and then the females exact revenge ON EACH OTHER in violent ways instead of exacting revenge on the guy.
A few lines flat out made me cringe, but no more than this one: -main character is in the trunk of the car- "I'm not claustrophobic - not technically. But the small, enclosed space makes me feel trapped."... UHHH WHO WOULDN'T FEEL THAT WAY IF YOU WERE KIDNAPPED AND SHOVED IN A TRUNK? There are other lines that are also weird like that but I digress.
If you're gonna read anything in this series, read the first and leave it at that.
July 8, 2018
3.5*
I'm so sad I didn't love this one like I did the other books in the series, it just seemed slow to me and I found myself not really enjoying the story as much.
The ending to me was the best part cause it was giving me the horror and gore that was continous throughout the other books, but only really appeared in the last hundred pages of this book.
I'm so sad I didn't love this one like I did the other books in the series, it just seemed slow to me and I found myself not really enjoying the story as much.
The ending to me was the best part cause it was giving me the horror and gore that was continous throughout the other books, but only really appeared in the last hundred pages of this book.
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