*takes a deep breath*
This was one LONG and wild ride. Now .. by the title "the COMPLETE 24690 series", I knew it would be a longer book. Because it was multiple books in 1, right? Despite the speed at which I was turning pages ... the speed in which the % towards completion was at a snail crawl. I was baffled. What in Sam Hill? How long is this dang thing?
For all you kindle users out there .. the very last page .. VERY last page of this book is "Loc 20387 of 20394". That's what my kindle stated. It was only when I finally completed this series .. did I really go back to Amazon to see how many books was in this series. It was a total of 7.
7 books in 1.
But now onto the real review:
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The writer did an amazing job with this series. It played like a movie behind my mind as I was reading it. In fact, during the entirety of the story ... flashes of songs crept up into mind. Like a soundtrack.
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
They livin' it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
Bring your alibis
...."Relax", said the night man
"We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave"
- The Eagles
But in this case ... It's welcome to Whitlock. And yes, you would/could check out any time you like (by your own hand or by others) but you can never leave.
As the story opens, the stage is set with an incident .. which leads us to be introduced to our initial main characters:
Bram Whitlock
West Harper
slave 24690
The dynamics of this trio unfolds itself during the majority of the first book. We come to discover hints of their personalities, and who they are to one another as well as where the initial incident leaves our characters.
side note: I enjoy reading dark to pitch black reads. I was told this was probably going to lead towards the pitch black realm. It wasn't until I was about 2/3 of the way through the first book when it started to really get dark. So, for those who are curious ... the first 2/3 of the book did seem a bit slow going. Once the story does get going, it does become pitch black.
Whitlock is a fortress. A fortress hidden in the mountains, housing the unimaginable. By the end of book 1, you find yourself unsure of how you feel about our ... beauty and her 2 beasts. Is everything as it seems? What is really going on? What is truth? what is the lie? How far can our poor slave 24690 be pushed until she breaks?
It's true, we're all a little insane
But it's so clear
Now that I'm unchained
Fear is only in our minds
Taking over all the time
...You know you live to break me
Don't deny sweet sacrifice
- Evanescence
and that cliffhanger at the end of book 1!! holy smokes, it pulls you in. You're caught in the web of Whitlock.
Oh I've gotta save my blood
From all that you've broken
And pack up these pieces of me
It's too late now to stop the process
This was your choice - you let it in
This double life you lead is eating you up from within
A thousand shards of glass you pushed beneath my skin
And left me lying there to bleed
- Apocolyptica
Book 2 continues right where book 1 left off. We are now given a glimpse of ... The white room and the red lights. By this point I'm sure most readers are rooting for our dear slave 24690. This fire that burns bright amidst the darkness that wants to swallow you whole.
The red lights. The red lights. Have you ever imagined such a madhouse? so much red...
I need to find my sanctuary,
Some place safe.
Gotta' get this outta' me,
this is my escape.
And I... think about it all the time.
I'm volatile and afraid to cry.
But I'm... still not comfortable in my skin.
And the anesthetics, slowly... wearing thin.
And I, need to talk to... someone new.
I need a different, latitude.
And I'm... in this void all alone.
Feeling needy. Hungry to grow,
but I'm... suffocating,
Can't come down.
And... there's no way out...
There's no way out!
- OTEP
Eleven.
Remember this number as it will come to play, time and time again. It becomes such a deeply rooted number as well as such a freeing number. Eleven will open doors to some of the past. Eleven will also help close some doors to the past.
Have you ever witness two dogs fighting over a female in heat? Have you ever had to break up this vicious squabble? I have, personally, and everyone's at stake because blood will be spilled .. whether you are part of it or not. You will be sucked into the vortex if you are close enough.
For some, the darkness that surrounds Whitlock is maddening. For others ... It's the white.
Have you ever played chess? typically white on one side, black on the other. A game of the mind. Tactics. Strategies. Out maneuvering your opponent. Being one step ahead means you get one step closer to check mate. The most dangerous piece and the most powerful piece on the board is usually ... the queen.
The end of book 2 shows us a glimpse of what we thought was impossible.
You belong to me,
My snow white queen.
There's nowhere to run, so let's just get it over.
Soon I know you'll see,
You're just like me.
Don't scream anymore my love, 'cause all I want is you.
- Evanescence
Now book 3. I didn't see this coming. I said, "what is happening here?" " who are these individuals?"
By now you should know that the slaves come from somewhere. Book 3 gives us a glimpse of the process. Book 3 is a story about Charlee. You will come to find later exactly why this story was important.
This is me for forever
One of the lost ones
The one without a name
Without an honest heart as compass
...Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I'd give my everything
- Nightwish
Book 5 is where our initial story continues. You didn't think that was the end of slave 24690's story did you? of course not. Our queen of the chessboard is not done yet ... because where one game ends .. another is bound to begin. Only this time, players have to up the stakes.
And she's a killer
And she's a keeper ...
Am i blurry
In your vision
Was i just
A poor decision
Cut me open
With precision
& we'll finger
The incision
Tell me what have i done
(quid pro quo)
To watch you lose
Control
...You want to
See me burn
I am LIVING FIRE!
You will know me
By the scars I bare
- OTEP
Oh, I like this shade of red on you. All the pawns on this current game board start to become "collateral damage in a lover's war". But I'll let you read and enjoy how this queen takes pawns. But by the end of this book, our game is just about at a checkmate.
Book 6 is a bonus short story. More red lights.
The Final book, book 7 is titled : BLACK OUT. Ominous isn't it? This is where it becomes a straight up mad house. You don't know what's going on. Shoot, even the characters don't know what's going on. "Betrayal. Power. The two went hand-in-hand at this fortress. Once you threw in love, you had the holy trinity for impending doom."
Who's still in the game? who are the new players? how many chess games are being played at once? Strategies need to be reassessed, tactics need to be reworked, plan b, plan c ... Hope flickering and Hope dying. You really cannot predict the outcome of this black out. Who do you trust? Where do loyalties lie? loyalties can easily be turned. Those you thought you knew..
and that new major player in the game ..
Master of puppets I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Just call my name, 'cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
- Metallica
Just when you think it's the end of our beloved slave..
One misstep, you're mine
And you better stay clever if you wanna survive
Once you cross the line
You'll be wishing you would listen when you meet your demise
Your heart hits like a drum
The hunt has just begun
- Ruelle
This entire series all the way to this point becomes a series of whiplashes. Even when the story comes close to and end .. you think you know, you think you see..but you don't. Players are unearthed. The author does an amazing job in keeping you reeled in on this rollercoaster of death and destruction ... keeping you yearning for another go.