Shadow Man:
Is it possible to maybe like the secondary characters better than the original trilogy in which they appeared, because A&J are like a twister that'll tear through your heart with their pain and self hatred in their quest to find each other. This duet is interconnected with the Santiago trilogy, so reading that beforehand will give some context. In Dante Santiago's and his second in command Joseph Grayson's war to end a sex trafficking ring, Anna was collateral damage. Her suffering during her kidnapping is horrific, and when everyone she cares about is ripped from her, she turns to self destruction, medicating with cocaine to forget how broken and alone she is. Though she can't see past her trauma, her Shadow is always near to rescue her and show her the truth. The first half of this story shows her crushed and fractured spirit, but the second half shows Anna in her reawakening. When she encounters a dangerous situation again, rather than feeling impotent, Anna reaches for power and fires bullets, rage, and frustration at those who prey on the helpless and troubled. Anna's transformation from helpless victim to empowered warrior is complete in that moment, and Joseph, who's been trailing Anna and standing in the shadows to wait for this reemergence, is there to support her in this new role. I love how protective and strong he is; he has his own demons but wants to help Anna kill hers. Joseph feels guilt, worry, and heartache at what Anna went through, but even despite her trauma, he's still there to show her that there's humanity left in her and that she isn't entirely lost to the darkness. I'm waiting to see how Anna builds the next phase of her life now that there's a renewed purpose in her again.
TW for violence, mentions of sex trafficking and abuse, drug use, and all that. It's a dark romance, so know that if it's not your thing.
Reckless Woman:
Reckless Woman is the second book in the Grayson Duet, and you're in for a thrilling, emotional, and bloody ride! Joseph and Anna are back, but while the dust may have settled around them and they've found a respite from the danger, there’s still their emotional healing and developing relationship to nurture. They both want to move forward, but Joseph‘s still buried in grief and sadness of his youth and early adult life, even though his Luna‘s trying to show him a path out the darkness. She yearns for the story of his past, for him to be as vulnerable as he’s seen her but Joseph’s been silenced and half dead for so long, he doesn’t know how. His emotional side is still underdeveloped, but what I do find interesting is how Joseph’s stepping out of Dante’s shadow. While he’s always been second to Dante, he’s now challenging him and asserting his dominance. Interspersed in all this is mystery and action as everyone comes together to bring down a sex trafficking ring. Old and new friendships (Rick, Roman, Vi!!!) are formed and tested, old enemies resurrected, and new families formed.
Anna & Joseph are the true main characters in this duet, and for that I wanted to see so much MORE of them. CW was not kidding when she said she put them through the ringer, and they suffered even more trauma here! But their quest to heal themselves and their relationship kinda took a backseat to the larger storyline towards the end, and I just kept wishing for MORE. Theirs is a love story that’s rough and tragic, and CW writes it in a way that’s unapologetically painful and honest, but so hard to tear your eyes away.
The writing is absolutely incredible; it's poetic and poignant and laid bare the visceral feelings of torment, betrayal, and fear. There are parts that are uncomfortable to read, and there are parts that show healing and love, and this is a true testament of the author’s story weaving abilities. This was a fabulous ending to the larger Santiago storyline, but I think I’ll always wait and want for more of Anna and Joseph.