Introducing "Besieged," the gripping third novella in the pulse-pounding series by acclaimed author Joan De La Haye. Prepare for a thrilling continuation of Joanna's journey, where danger lurks at every corner, and trust becomes a luxury she can't afford.
Having survived the treacherous wilderness of Siberia, Joanna is thrust into a new battle, fighting on multiple fronts. Shadows threaten her from within the safety of her Patron's inner sanctum, while relentless attacks orchestrated by enemies seeking her demise keep her on constant alert. Her resilience is put to the ultimate test.
In "Besieged," Joanna grapples with the looming spectre of war and the ever-present threat of assassination. As the stakes escalate, she must navigate a treacherous landscape of deceit and betrayal, where allies may become adversaries and enemies may hide in plain sight. With danger closing in from all sides, Joanna must summon her wit, strength, and resourcefulness to protect not only herself but also those she holds dear.
In this fight to the death, where rules no longer apply, Joanna confronts the darkest corners of her own psyche. The line between friend and foe blurs, forcing her to make gut-wrenching choices that could alter the course of her life forever. Failure is not an option, and she must dig deep to find the resilience and determination needed to survive.
"Besieged" is a relentless rollercoaster of suspense and adrenaline, a must-read for fans of gripping thrillers and dystopian sagas. Joan De La Haye weaves a tale of unyielding tension, intricate plotting, and unexpected twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the final page.
Can Joanna outmanoeuvre her enemies and save herself and those closest to her? Will she maintain her composure and keep her head in a battle with no rules? Join Joanna on her harrowing journey in "Besieged," where survival is not guaranteed, and the price of victory may exceed her wildest imagination.
I write dark and twisted thrillers featuring dangerous women, cold-blooded assassins, and survivors who turn the tables—violently. If you like fiction that pushes boundaries and heroines who don’t play nice, you’re in the right place.
When it comes to thrillers, I enjoy the unrestrained escapism of the genre. I firmly believe you need to go all out. Action/adventure stories should be fuelled by one hundred percent pure adrenaline. It should leave you breathless and always hungry for more. The Race by Joan De La Haye does exactly that. Published as part of an ongoing collection of short novels, each new episode is worth waiting for.
Joanna Parypinki is settling into her life as part of the global conspiracy that is The Race. Wars are fought, economies are covertly manipulated, and billions of people are managed based on the outcome of this gruelling trial by combat*. Her patron, the enigmatic Von Zimmer, has grand plans regarding his place in the global pecking order. He is finally starting to reveal exactly what those plans are, needless to say Joanna features heavily.
There is a growing sense of urgency to the plot. Different patrons are drawing their own plans against Von Zimmer. You get the distinct impression that everything could kick off at a moment’s notice. The good news is that Joanna is starting to take it all in her stride. The life of a runner is chaotic at best and you have to learn how to act and react instantly. Joanna has come a long way from the mild-mannered character we first met in book one, but I suspect there is still a way for her to go. Other than her mysterious benefactor, who can she trust? Are Von Zimmer’s staff all they seem to be and do they all have Joanna’s best interests at heart?
I love the premise of these novels; there is something wonderfully larger than life about it all. Sitting somewhere between The Running Man, a Bond movie and Spartacus, each new episode of Joanna’s adventures ramps up the action. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, once the series is complete I would love to see a collected edition. The individual books are a short, sharp treat but I’m not sure my delicate constitution can deal with the cliff-hangers or having to wait to discover what happens next.
*For the curious amongst you I don’t think I would fair terribly well in The Race. I’m not sure the outfits would suit, or indeed fit, me. My distinct lack of any martial skill would also ensure a bloody death within a matter of minutes, if not seconds.
This series is good. It’s no great work of literature, and it’s a little pulpy. But it’s good.
In fact, I’d like to see Netflix or ShowMax or someone make limit series out of it. I’d watch that.
The series is about a random woman from Johannesburg, South Africa, who gets kidnapped by a mysterious Organisation, and forced to fight to the death. As it goes on, she learns more about this Organisation and the weird traditions and games they play.
It almost reminds me of movies like Hard Target (the 90s movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme), but not really because over time, she becomes a willing participant in these games.
I think if you enjoy stories like that, you’ll like this one. Joan De La Haye has a way with words, and she’s really developing her voice and coming into her own.