What do you think?
Rate this book
Breaking Free
Lavinia Markov and her younger siblings, twins Parker and Persephone, were stuck. They weren’t locked or shut out. No. It was worse than that.
At the age of 6, Lavinia and her family were kidnapped by a Soviet organization dubbed “Ivankov.” They trained in ballet, stealth, and combat for over ten years. And they weren’t the only ones. Every day dragged on, never changing. There were rules. There were experiments. And only two friends. Until one day when the Markovs moved. There was hope—finally. Maybe for the rest of their life, they wouldn’t be killers. Maybe they could be free. At least, that's what they hoped for when they met Jesse, Grace, and Liam.
But it would be foolish for Lavinia to think she could escape the nightmares her handlers, past, and own mind had created—even if she could break free. But she would never know…
Unless she tried.
At the age of 6, Lavinia and her family were kidnapped by a Soviet organization dubbed “Ivankov.” They trained in ballet, stealth, and combat for over ten years. And they weren’t the only ones. Every day dragged on, never changing. There were rules. There were experiments. And only two friends. Until one day when the Markovs moved. There was hope—finally. Maybe for the rest of their life, they wouldn’t be killers. Maybe they could be free. At least, that's what they hoped for when they met Jesse, Grace, and Liam.
But it would be foolish for Lavinia to think she could escape the nightmares her handlers, past, and own mind had created—even if she could break free. But she would never know…
Unless she tried.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2022
3 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Larissa Gault
4 books37 followersLarissa Gault published her first two novels, Breaking Free and The Way He Broke Me, at eighteen and nineteen, respectively. She grew up in New England and is currently attending community college before heading to university for creative writing. Her hobbies include collecting antiques, playing the piano, singing on her church’s worship team, cuddling her cat, drinking far too much coffee, listening to true crime podcasts, and of course, co-hosting her own about books. You can find Larissa on Instagram at @larissagault.author to keep up with her latest shenanigans.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 3, 2022
[To get my normal song and dance out the way, I was provided with this book as an arc for free by the author. This does not affect my views, thoughts or feelings on said novel. I intend to provide a fair and balanced review regardless in the most spoiler-free manner possible]
*4.5 stars*
Breaking Free is an amazing debut novel for Gault and it does a service of showing her years of work and dedication to the craft. The world (whilst of course our own) feels very lived in and the worldbuilding for the Masters is extremely interesting (and something I'll touch on again later), down to even slight facial tics being signs of a Master being present. The little details really helped to sell the perception of the characters, another of Gault's strong points.
For such a large case, Gault has managed to balance their page time and their personalities remarkably well. One of the only real exceptions in my opinion is Grace who I think deserved some more page time. Though even in the time she has, she is a stellar character to read. As are all the rest of them, with one of the personal favourites being Anya.
I feel unqualified to comment on family dynamics given I'm the black sheep of my own, but they were very much fun to read.
Lavinia's mental health was a particularly well-handled part for me to read, and her character was overall enjoyable!! A protective older sister type is always fun to read!
There was also a *SURPRISING* amount of representation in this book. I'm not one to go through books with a checklist, because that's stupid and forcing people to write rep isn't good for anyone. But given the lack of rep in a lot of indie books I've read as of late, this was very refreshing. (Sarvesh was a treat and I may or may not ship him and Parker. It'd be sweet, just saying)
Though there are a few things that didn't _quite_ hit the right spot for me, and in the name of fairness I want to mention them, subjective as they are so that I'm not masking my full opinions.
Whether this is from me coming from 1000+ page epics or not, I feel like some of the chapters deserved to be a bit longer. Just to give them room to breathe a little more. (Not the tearjerker chapter, keep that short, that was a chef's kiss)
Another of the minor gripes I have is that the romance did kick off a little too soon for my personal liking. It did give me a little bit of whiplash.
Another aspect, which isn't so much a gripe as it is a wish would be to give more time to developing the concept of the Masters. Not so much that I think they're underdeveloped, but I'd LOVE to see more of them since it's one of my favourite parts of the worldbuilding.
All in all:
If you're looking for something to scratch the need for some spy-fiction from one of the most exciting indie authors currently on the scene, this is one for you.
(Though if you're not a fan of romance, I would have to say it might not be for you due to the heavy emphasis, since I know there are a few people HEAVILY turned off by it. But if Romance IS your thing... Gault will break you anyway)
May 13, 2022
“Life is always going to be a mess, no matter who you are or where you’re going.” - Larissa Gault.
I was sent an ARC of this book in March, and from the start I knew it was going to be a challenge as this isn’t my preferred genre, and I knew many elements would be foreign to me, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it so immensely consumable. From the first line, I was gripped, and subsequently not let go of until the last page—which is everything you want from a novel.
Breaking Free is an excellent debut from a promising young author. Following themes of family, love, and the importance of togetherness in the most dire of situations, Gault showcases an incredibly careful, real insight into trauma and mental illness through multiple characters and points of view. Her ability—especially at such a young age—to create such engaging, vivid and personal characters is astounding, and I was genuinely blown away by the attention to detail in terms of world-building and the very developed science fiction elements; everything felt so real, the environments so lived in, the twists so unpredictable, and the circumstances so unjustly cruel.
Personally, I prefer longer, quieter novels, so it’s only natural that I found this to be a little too fast-paced and action heavy for my liking, and as a die-hard lover of slow burn romance, the combination of the former and the pace in which the forefront romance develops just ever so slightly knocks a star off for me unfortunately. But the good far outweighs the bad, by a landslide in fact.
It is clear from the very beginning the amount of love, care and craftsmanship that has been put into Breaking Free, bleeding quality, emotion and intense desperation. There is so much to love in this debut: lack of ignorance regarding the serious topics raised—something that I don’t find nearly enough of in other books—fearless humour in even the darkest moments. Even the antagonists at play, while horrible people, were incredibly alluring; I wanted to know more, I wanted to know their stories, which goes to show just how saturated Gault’s writing is. Every scene—while some were a little more drawn out than others—felt totally applicable, and I found it surprisingly easy to envision myself right there with the characters. This was an excellent first novel, an excellent read, and if you *are* the target audience, and sci-fi, action and fast-paced romance *is* your thing, here’s one to add to the basket.
Gault is an expert at storytelling, beautifully gifted, and the best part? This isn't the end.
I was sent an ARC of this book in March, and from the start I knew it was going to be a challenge as this isn’t my preferred genre, and I knew many elements would be foreign to me, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it so immensely consumable. From the first line, I was gripped, and subsequently not let go of until the last page—which is everything you want from a novel.
Breaking Free is an excellent debut from a promising young author. Following themes of family, love, and the importance of togetherness in the most dire of situations, Gault showcases an incredibly careful, real insight into trauma and mental illness through multiple characters and points of view. Her ability—especially at such a young age—to create such engaging, vivid and personal characters is astounding, and I was genuinely blown away by the attention to detail in terms of world-building and the very developed science fiction elements; everything felt so real, the environments so lived in, the twists so unpredictable, and the circumstances so unjustly cruel.
Personally, I prefer longer, quieter novels, so it’s only natural that I found this to be a little too fast-paced and action heavy for my liking, and as a die-hard lover of slow burn romance, the combination of the former and the pace in which the forefront romance develops just ever so slightly knocks a star off for me unfortunately. But the good far outweighs the bad, by a landslide in fact.
It is clear from the very beginning the amount of love, care and craftsmanship that has been put into Breaking Free, bleeding quality, emotion and intense desperation. There is so much to love in this debut: lack of ignorance regarding the serious topics raised—something that I don’t find nearly enough of in other books—fearless humour in even the darkest moments. Even the antagonists at play, while horrible people, were incredibly alluring; I wanted to know more, I wanted to know their stories, which goes to show just how saturated Gault’s writing is. Every scene—while some were a little more drawn out than others—felt totally applicable, and I found it surprisingly easy to envision myself right there with the characters. This was an excellent first novel, an excellent read, and if you *are* the target audience, and sci-fi, action and fast-paced romance *is* your thing, here’s one to add to the basket.
Gault is an expert at storytelling, beautifully gifted, and the best part? This isn't the end.
June 24, 2022
I am going to start this review with this. I hardly ever cry or even fight tears while reading. I had the honor of reading Breaking Free 2 1/2 times before publication and I fought tears during the same scene EVERY SINGLE TIME. (You will know the scene when you get to it.)
Why should you read Breaking Free? Well, if you love spies and forbidden romance then this is the book for you! Not only that, but the sibling and found family relationships are top tier! (I am a sucker for all things protective siblings and when I tell you Lavinia brought the protective fire to my veins—) Not to mention that I found myself laughing out loud at several points and feeling the emotions the characters were feeling. The character cast is OUTSTANDING, Larissa has done a fantastic job of juggling a large cast whilst still differentiating each and every one of them! I absolutely cannot wait to find out what happens in book two, and look forward to being reunited with this amazing cast.
Breaking Free follows Lavinia Markov, her siblings and their friends as she tries to break herself free from the grasp Ivankov. (An underground Russian spy organization) We watch as she and her friends struggle to find themselves again and grow closer together through their trials. At the end of the day, we must ask a simple yet gut wrenching question. Will Lavinia and her siblings be able to break free from the clutches of Ivankov, or will they pay the heavy price that comes with trying?
Why should you read Breaking Free? Well, if you love spies and forbidden romance then this is the book for you! Not only that, but the sibling and found family relationships are top tier! (I am a sucker for all things protective siblings and when I tell you Lavinia brought the protective fire to my veins—) Not to mention that I found myself laughing out loud at several points and feeling the emotions the characters were feeling. The character cast is OUTSTANDING, Larissa has done a fantastic job of juggling a large cast whilst still differentiating each and every one of them! I absolutely cannot wait to find out what happens in book two, and look forward to being reunited with this amazing cast.
Breaking Free follows Lavinia Markov, her siblings and their friends as she tries to break herself free from the grasp Ivankov. (An underground Russian spy organization) We watch as she and her friends struggle to find themselves again and grow closer together through their trials. At the end of the day, we must ask a simple yet gut wrenching question. Will Lavinia and her siblings be able to break free from the clutches of Ivankov, or will they pay the heavy price that comes with trying?
April 29, 2023
Holy. Cow. I was expecting to enjoy this book thoroughly, but I did NOT expect to enjoy it THIS much. Above and beyond my expectations, honestly.
✨ Characters ✨
(Don’t get me wrong, love Lavinia, as she’s the MC and all)
BUT MY FAVORITES are as follows:
1) Parker Markov. HELP ME. PARKER IS SO CUTE. Like, again, could he kill me? Absolutely. BUT HE- I- LORD. The RINGS. The HAIR. The EYES.
2) Jesse Price. This 👏🏼 man 👏🏼 I would fight Lavinia for him, absolutely not caring that she would destroy me. Jesse Price is AMAZING. The looks? The personality? Hello?? He’s incredible.
3) Sarvesh Kuhn. OH MY GOD SARVESH >>>>>> ENOUGH SAID, I’D TAKE A BULLET FOR HIM.
✨ Plot ✨
I finished this book in literally one week 🤭
Gault provides an action-packed, page-turner, with plenty of fluff to break up the angst. Character dynamics are on point.
✨ Conclusion ✨
This goes in my top 5 favorite reads of the year, tbh. I am so glad I convinced my library to get this. I will be buying my own copy, and I will make sure both the library and I get book 2 when it releases. ❤️
- Maddy
✨ Characters ✨
(Don’t get me wrong, love Lavinia, as she’s the MC and all)
BUT MY FAVORITES are as follows:
1) Parker Markov. HELP ME. PARKER IS SO CUTE. Like, again, could he kill me? Absolutely. BUT HE- I- LORD. The RINGS. The HAIR. The EYES.
2) Jesse Price. This 👏🏼 man 👏🏼 I would fight Lavinia for him, absolutely not caring that she would destroy me. Jesse Price is AMAZING. The looks? The personality? Hello?? He’s incredible.
3) Sarvesh Kuhn. OH MY GOD SARVESH >>>>>> ENOUGH SAID, I’D TAKE A BULLET FOR HIM.
✨ Plot ✨
I finished this book in literally one week 🤭
Gault provides an action-packed, page-turner, with plenty of fluff to break up the angst. Character dynamics are on point.
✨ Conclusion ✨
This goes in my top 5 favorite reads of the year, tbh. I am so glad I convinced my library to get this. I will be buying my own copy, and I will make sure both the library and I get book 2 when it releases. ❤️
- Maddy
November 28, 2022
Welp, this was delightful. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the writing style. *But* I still really enjoyed the story and there are people out there who would definitely cry over this book. All in all, would recommend :)
July 23, 2022
I was given the opportunity to watch in part as Breaking Free was in its finishing stages, and had the privilege to read it as an ARC copy, which every moment was incredible to experience. Every excerpt, little scene, up to the whole ARC that I read, I became more enthralled with the world of Breaking Free.
To say that reading Breaking Free left me speechless is an understatement. I was speechless, crying, and spamming Larissa’s DMs all at the same time. This book simultaneously filled empty holes inside my soul and ripped my heart to shreds. From the fast-paced action to the slow and tender domestic scenes, there was not a single part of this entire book that I was not completely in love with. The chemistry in relationships, the dynamics between characters, the witty dialogue, and the absolutely haunting repetition, all left me hanging and starving for more. My favorite characters are Lavinia and Jesse – though if you get me talking too much about them I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop, so you better just go read it for yourself. Now forgive me as I go re-read my favorite chapters and start crying all over again because I can’t help but get sucked into this book every time I pick it up.
To say that reading Breaking Free left me speechless is an understatement. I was speechless, crying, and spamming Larissa’s DMs all at the same time. This book simultaneously filled empty holes inside my soul and ripped my heart to shreds. From the fast-paced action to the slow and tender domestic scenes, there was not a single part of this entire book that I was not completely in love with. The chemistry in relationships, the dynamics between characters, the witty dialogue, and the absolutely haunting repetition, all left me hanging and starving for more. My favorite characters are Lavinia and Jesse – though if you get me talking too much about them I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop, so you better just go read it for yourself. Now forgive me as I go re-read my favorite chapters and start crying all over again because I can’t help but get sucked into this book every time I pick it up.
October 2, 2022
Wowzas. I knew that this books was going to be good but WOW.
This books was seriously everything you want in a good read. It was action packed, fast paced and full of plot twists and romance. There was never a dull moment! The world building was absolutely exceptional, and I truly felt that these characters and the world they are in were real.
I will certainly be recommending this book to everyone I know!!
This books was seriously everything you want in a good read. It was action packed, fast paced and full of plot twists and romance. There was never a dull moment! The world building was absolutely exceptional, and I truly felt that these characters and the world they are in were real.
I will certainly be recommending this book to everyone I know!!
July 2, 2022
Breaking Free by Larissa Gault is a YA supernatural sci-fi about secret agents, siblings, and love!
It follows an array of amazing characters that each brings so much to the story! I love multi-POV stories, so this was perfect for me!
I highly recommend it if you're a frequent reader of young adult fantasy, sci-fi, or realistic fiction!
Breaking Free is not only filled with exciting action, but it also focuses on important topics, and Larissa's writing ties it all together beautifully!
If you're in the mood for an exciting read that still manages to discuss important topics, I highly recommend giving Breaking Free a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
It follows an array of amazing characters that each brings so much to the story! I love multi-POV stories, so this was perfect for me!
I highly recommend it if you're a frequent reader of young adult fantasy, sci-fi, or realistic fiction!
Breaking Free is not only filled with exciting action, but it also focuses on important topics, and Larissa's writing ties it all together beautifully!
If you're in the mood for an exciting read that still manages to discuss important topics, I highly recommend giving Breaking Free a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
November 13, 2022
First of all, I applaud any indie writer who is able to get their book baby published into the world. The amount of work ethic and dedication that must be put into that is incredibly admirable. I don't read spy books often, but I'd heard a lot of great things about this book, so I decided to give it a shot!
The worldbuilding was my favorite part of the book. You can tell how much thought was put into the setting, whether it be within the Ivankov organization or the magic system that's utilized throughout the novel. It was so unique, being tied to the real world, but having aspects of fiction. I really loved it. When something new would be revealed, I'd get extremely excited to learn more about the world.
In terms of characters, Parker is my FAVORITE. He's just so sweet in the mess of everything going on, and I can really tell there's so much potential for character development here. A lot of the cast are very quick with wit, words, and sarcasm - which is very fun - but having Parker as a sort of outlier really helped him stand out to me.
The biggest thing for me, I think, was the structuring/organization of the writing. Gault has such pretty prose when it comes to descriptions and emotion. Sometimes, though, it was hard to tell what exactly was going on, and I needed to read back once or twice just to make sure I understood what was happening. The pacing also felt a little fast at times, especially as characters were building relationships - but that could also be a personal preference kind of thing when it comes to romance. In the novel POVs are also switched frequently, and I'd often have remind myself who's POV I was reading. Of course, I don't read multiple POVs often, so it may just be that.
Overall, it's a great start for a debut novel, and I wish Gault the best as she continues this series!
The worldbuilding was my favorite part of the book. You can tell how much thought was put into the setting, whether it be within the Ivankov organization or the magic system that's utilized throughout the novel. It was so unique, being tied to the real world, but having aspects of fiction. I really loved it. When something new would be revealed, I'd get extremely excited to learn more about the world.
In terms of characters, Parker is my FAVORITE. He's just so sweet in the mess of everything going on, and I can really tell there's so much potential for character development here. A lot of the cast are very quick with wit, words, and sarcasm - which is very fun - but having Parker as a sort of outlier really helped him stand out to me.
The biggest thing for me, I think, was the structuring/organization of the writing. Gault has such pretty prose when it comes to descriptions and emotion. Sometimes, though, it was hard to tell what exactly was going on, and I needed to read back once or twice just to make sure I understood what was happening. The pacing also felt a little fast at times, especially as characters were building relationships - but that could also be a personal preference kind of thing when it comes to romance. In the novel POVs are also switched frequently, and I'd often have remind myself who's POV I was reading. Of course, I don't read multiple POVs often, so it may just be that.
Overall, it's a great start for a debut novel, and I wish Gault the best as she continues this series!
November 12, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! It reminded me somewhat of Black Widow (because ya know, Russian spy organization…ballet…etc.).
The character dynamics are everything. There is, of course, a strong romance element - but unlike in most other YA books, the romance relationships do not completely overshadow all other relationships. The friend/found family themes are very strong, as well as sibling relationships. I loved that about it. The romance is fast-burn, which is personally not my favorite trope, but that is entirely personal preference. If you like fast burn, you’ll probably like Breaking Free ☺️ I also adore the theme of unconditional love in the romance relationships.
The beginning didn’t seem very plot-heavy, (not a bad thing), but the plot showed up more towards the end. I will admit, I was frequently confused during the last third of the book…but I am easily confused XD
The end was sad, but not how I expected it to be. Again, not a bad thing, just an observation.
On cleanness/content: I really really love how there is a content guide page at the beginning of the book! As it says, there is violence and mental health struggles, but it’s not quite as intense as I expected. There is some…idk if it’s spice…maybe call it suggestive content? Which is also clearly stated in the content guide; there’s just more of it than I expected. But then again, I usually read really light romance XD
All in all, a very solid book that I enjoyed reading!!
The character dynamics are everything. There is, of course, a strong romance element - but unlike in most other YA books, the romance relationships do not completely overshadow all other relationships. The friend/found family themes are very strong, as well as sibling relationships. I loved that about it. The romance is fast-burn, which is personally not my favorite trope, but that is entirely personal preference. If you like fast burn, you’ll probably like Breaking Free ☺️ I also adore the theme of unconditional love in the romance relationships.
The beginning didn’t seem very plot-heavy, (not a bad thing), but the plot showed up more towards the end. I will admit, I was frequently confused during the last third of the book…but I am easily confused XD
The end was sad, but not how I expected it to be. Again, not a bad thing, just an observation.
On cleanness/content: I really really love how there is a content guide page at the beginning of the book! As it says, there is violence and mental health struggles, but it’s not quite as intense as I expected. There is some…idk if it’s spice…maybe call it suggestive content? Which is also clearly stated in the content guide; there’s just more of it than I expected. But then again, I usually read really light romance XD
All in all, a very solid book that I enjoyed reading!!
July 14, 2023
As someone who doesn't really read this genre a lot, this book was very intriguing and I can't wait to read book 2 in the series!
My favorite characters are definitely Anastasia, Alek, Persephone and Parker.
Anastasia's hints are her backstory and her character development were definitely my favorite parts and what kept me going a whole lot while reading. Definitely encouraged me to finish this book!
I can't wait to get to know Alek more, he's a very interesting character from whenever he was mentioned in the story.
Parker and Persephone and more of my guilty pleasure favorites. I love their characters a whole lot and their dynamic.
The sibling relationships were definitely more genuine in this book which makes sense and was rightly written with what they go through. A normal sibling relationship would definitely be more different but in their situation, they're all they have so it makes sense that they'd be more caring and thoughtful of one another.
I'm very curious if the Price siblings will be returning in the series (well the two of them that are left 😔) with the hint that their memory might come back, possibly?
Anyways, I need to finish this review, thanks to that last paragraph I have to mark it as potential spoilers lol and I can't wait to read book 2 and when the other books come out those as well
My favorite characters are definitely Anastasia, Alek, Persephone and Parker.
Anastasia's hints are her backstory and her character development were definitely my favorite parts and what kept me going a whole lot while reading. Definitely encouraged me to finish this book!
I can't wait to get to know Alek more, he's a very interesting character from whenever he was mentioned in the story.
Parker and Persephone and more of my guilty pleasure favorites. I love their characters a whole lot and their dynamic.
The sibling relationships were definitely more genuine in this book which makes sense and was rightly written with what they go through. A normal sibling relationship would definitely be more different but in their situation, they're all they have so it makes sense that they'd be more caring and thoughtful of one another.
I'm very curious if the Price siblings will be returning in the series (well the two of them that are left 😔) with the hint that their memory might come back, possibly?
Anyways, I need to finish this review, thanks to that last paragraph I have to mark it as potential spoilers lol and I can't wait to read book 2 and when the other books come out those as well
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2022
I beta read this book and even in the early stages it was so real and raw and quite an emotional rollercoaster. I love the aspects of the close knit family members and sibling dynamics. and that ending… this book is super romantic and sweet but also devastating! read it at your own risk (your heart might break)
June 19, 2022
This was exactly the kind of book I love to read. Exciting, fast-placed, and filled with plot twists and romance in between. I always feel bad finishing books fast, but I couldn’t help it because it was impossible to put down. I can’t wait for book two!
July 19, 2022
Since I’d talked with Larissa here and there (after meeting her on Insta) before I found out she was debuting a novel, I then greatly anticipated Breaking Free’s release. If I had known how much I ended up enjoying this book, I would have been waaay more excited than I already was prior to its release. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a while, and one of my new favorites. Each chapter is written in first-person perspective, and I appreciate that not only does Larissa keep the story interesting by switching the points of views, but each character has their own unique voice. The pacing was just right for the story and it kept me on my toes. Stories where characters have powers easily grab my interest, so I like the fact this plot device was introduced almost immediately. I loved the sibling dynamics and they felt realistic. The ship Lavesse? My heart. I mentally screamed over them, both in their cute and difficult moments. I laughed. I cried. The end left me anticipating the next book, but also anxious of what’s to come in this so far awesome series.
December 18, 2022
A solid 4.5 star read.
Let me preface this review by saying that I am in shock and heartbroken and amazed at the same time. But really, how can I expect anything else from a book by Larissa Gault.
It was so good. There were so many quotes in it that I just wanted to snap a picture of and carry around with me forever and ever.
The characters were my favorite part. A good author creates characters you can care about, and Larissa did this BRILLIANTLY. I loved (or violently, passionately, hated—depending on who we're talking about) every single character, and I laughed, raged, and cried along with them.
While there were a few sections I wished hadn't moved as fast as they did, it made sense for the plot. The book definitely took place over a long period of time, and a lot of character development had to happen in a limited number of pages.
Overall, this was an emotional, beautifully written masterpiece that tugged at, violently yanked, ripped apart, and incinerated my heartstrings.
Let me preface this review by saying that I am in shock and heartbroken and amazed at the same time. But really, how can I expect anything else from a book by Larissa Gault.
It was so good. There were so many quotes in it that I just wanted to snap a picture of and carry around with me forever and ever.
The characters were my favorite part. A good author creates characters you can care about, and Larissa did this BRILLIANTLY. I loved (or violently, passionately, hated—depending on who we're talking about) every single character, and I laughed, raged, and cried along with them.
While there were a few sections I wished hadn't moved as fast as they did, it made sense for the plot. The book definitely took place over a long period of time, and a lot of character development had to happen in a limited number of pages.
Overall, this was an emotional, beautifully written masterpiece that tugged at, violently yanked, ripped apart, and incinerated my heartstrings.
January 10, 2023
I loved this book from the dedication to the epilogue. Every character, twist, and kiss had me wanting to read more. Gault did such an amazing job with each and every character as well as the plot. If you love indie authors, secret agents, forbidden romance, strong family bonds, and relatable characters then this book is for you!
The only reason I gave 4 instead of 5 stars is I didn't quite feel the tension throughout the whole book. I do plan a reread this year though
The only reason I gave 4 instead of 5 stars is I didn't quite feel the tension throughout the whole book. I do plan a reread this year though
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews