After being thrown into an elaborate death trap, former Untouchable, Tessa of the Sapphire Ward, managed a narrow escape. However, not everyone made it out alive, and now she must learn how to bear the weight of the loss and heal from the Labyrinth. Finding herself in an alliance with a secret society outside of the walls of Radiance, she is finally safe. But safety lies. Tessa forms her own agenda and will do whatever it takes to get what she wants, even if it means throwing her newfound safety away.
She will not be tamed.
In the second installment of the Untouchable Trilogy, Tessa of the Sapphire Ward returns for another gut-wrenching and heart-twisting tale.
ok not to brag or anything but mc pending really outdid herself with this one. miss ma’am really said “i’m gonna write a book that is so devastating yet so delicious that everyone’s gonna keep coming back for more” and called it a day.
rewind to the ending of untouchable—the first book, please don’t read the rest of this if you haven’t read it, though tbh i don’t know what you’re doing HERE if that’s the case. anyway i digress—we have several big things. lots of people are dead. krystal (forgive me mother mc if i spelled it wrong), our boi nurse (or so it seems….if you don’t know what i’m talking about it means you skipped the epilogue. shame on u), and unfortunately not drina aka donkey head.
also at the end of untouchy, there is a plane ride in which beck and ehrys have many secrets that tessa does not know. i would like to take this moment to scream at mc for doing this to our homegirl as she does not deserve to have the slow burn angst reveal HOWEVER it is done masterfully in untamable. the reveal (my lips are sealed as to when it happens) is quite frankly the most genius thing and i aspire to have that ability to make my characters feel so real to an audience. honestly i was so mad for these characters sakes and mad at mc in the best way and it was just SO FREAKING GOOD. ugh. anyway—
this book made me want to scream and cry (which i did). there’s more romance in this than untouchy which is the best thing ever. it’s still squeaky clean btw!!! hashtag that nosy broom iykyk. there are new characters that i absolutely adore (which i’ll save for the end of the review bc honestly who am i if i don’t talk about hot fictional men??????? idk) and even though there’s a lot, mc makes them super easy to keep track of. she MASTERS a big cast with beautiful diversity and representation honestly i just love Piper so much.
here’s the part of the review where i talk tropes and such: classic grumpy and sunshine via beck and ehrys. they’re so freaking cute. we have even MORE found family, if you can believe it, and a platonic grumpy and grumpy that makes me giggle at every page. there is at least 2 (real or not) Dads TM who want nothing but the best for their children. if you’re missing tiny from untouchy look no further because you will have a bada$$ blind woman in this book. also a super smart young tween girl who is undoubtedly neurodivergent in some way and we love her. also a deaf queen (not the actual queen, don’t worry; we hate her here). speaking of the queen, did i mention this book makes me want to scream????? anyway. there’s some miscommunication in here but i almost ALWAYS hate that trope and avoid it with a burning passion but for mc, i gave it a try. and boy was i not disappointed!!!!!
now if you haven’t been convinced by the characters, the romance, or the thousands of other things that make this book so fabulous, let me present: the WORLDBUILDING. sci fi and dystopian schtuff are my favorites, but often, they can feel just as heavy on descriptions as yer average fantasy novel. this book does NOT have that effect. most of this book is an entirely different setting that untouchy (i cannots say where) and yet mc makes it all as clear as day. the different settings are probably my favorite thing, besides the characters :)))
now, for the grand finale of this review: my favorite character, Zari Askivarr. he’s a stud, truly. but before i start sounding like a grandmother or a cougar with that adjective, lemme tell you a few things about him. he’s got a big family. twin sister. adores all the kiddos around him, despite being a chronic grump. he’s been romantically alone for all his life, as his family likes to remind him (especially his savage of a mom), and yet he is such a sweet and caring guy. he lives alone in a little cottage in such a springy area (iykyk) with a piano that he often sits at with a cup of coffee (latte, specifically) while composing sad music for rainy days. if that’s not enough maybe his hair (that he dyes; chef’s kiss) or eyebrow slit or his constant use of an olive green jacket that will make you swoon. don’t mistake me, i mean “you” as in the GENERAL you, not YOU YOU because as everyone else knows, Zari Askivarr is mine and mine alone. i have proof that i’m the first in line so don’t test me on that.
now go forth and buy yourself a copy and if you already have one, PICK THE THING UP AND READ. make sure you have a few business days off and tissues, tho, ‘cause you’re gonna need it 🤠
Untamable truly passed my expectations. Sequels can be tricky to write—particularly when your debut novel has as strong of an ending as Untouchable! But MC Pending absolutely nailed it with Untamable—I couldn’t pick a favorite between the two if I tried.
Her character cast is hilarious and yet real and relatable. I laughed… and cried while reading Untamable, and I am sure you will too!
MC Pending did it again. She ripped out my heart, stomped on it, and sprinkled sarcasm on it. This book was an EMOTIONAL roller coaster. I went from swooning to crying to laughing to wanting to scream. It was amazing.
The characters were definitely my favorite part. Tessa..oh my gosh the sass is just so perfect. But I love her story of almost in a way “discovering” emotions. And Beck!! He’s probably my favorite character in the whole thing. He is literally a golden retriever. (I mean he has a pet duckling.)
And the plot!! What the heck man, it was amazing. I was never bored or like “okay chip chop let’s keep it moving.” In fact, almost the opposite. I didn’t want it to end because it was just THAT perfect.
I especially loved the last few chapters where there wasn’t a pressing issue, and you just got to see that character happy for just the tiniest bit of time. And since neither of the books starts happy or ends happy (cliffhangers people, cliffhangers) it was nice to have some happy times for just a little bit.
I’m guessing I shouldn’t start yet another review with incomprehensible screams. But that ending - 😩
Anywho this was a fantastic book and I loved it and I read it really quickly and Zari is v kewl and so is Nurse obviously and also Goose!
It wasn’t super plot heavy but that’s okay because I’m more of a characters person anyway and tHe cHAracters. Are. Amazing. So yes, we love this book very much 😌
Uhh cleanness: there’s like two or three curse words I think. (Mild spoilers here idk) There is some kissing too but it’s not like too super detailed I guess idk
Okay… this book was amazing! It fits well next to Untouchable in a thrilling sequel full of heartbreak, found family and attempted healing that may have to do with slight homicide. But, we support Tessa, okay? Anyways. All of the new characters were so cool! I loved every single one of them (especially Zari *cough*) and that ending had me screaming so many questions at the book Can’t wait for book three!
Untamable was absolutely amazing. MC Pending really kept me on the edge of my seat, and I never fell out of love with Tessa. The ending really had me, and it didn’t end like I thought it would.
This was truly amazing writing and I can’t wait for the next book.
4.5* *minor spoilers if you haven’t read the others* I'm scared. And I need book three as of yesterday. The only reason why this book is a 4.5 is because it wasn’t as fast-paced as Untouchable, and it felt a bit repetitive at times. Other than that, it was PHENOMENAL. The plot was still enjoyable and easy to read. I finished it in about two days. The ending shocked me. I have a billion questions that I need answered. I’m glad we saw some lighter moments in the story as well. It was quite scary for me, though. I knew something awful was going to happen since everything was too perfect. 🤣 I really enjoy Tessa’s voice. I’m glad there’s some playfulness and sass to her. It makes her a fun character to read through. I also adore that she’s flawed and that she’s realistic. It’s refreshing to see a main character who struggles with impatience, anger, and impulsiveness. Beck is adorable. I love that he has a pet duck named Goose. All of Pending’s characters are sweet, dynamic, and lovable. I’m glad we see some comebacks of my favorite characters. Ayden continues to be the love of my life. HELLO, HE’S SO SWEET. You cannot tell me he’s not amazing after pages 381 and 382. Plus the hair scene, and HE BRINGS HER LOLLIPOPS???? All of their scenes were so sweet. Ayden and Tessa balance each other out very well, and they make a great pair. I love the friendships Tessa made with all the new characters, even though one is making me question his alliances and how much I like him. I’m glad we got to see some bonding between Drina and Tessa. I’m hoping for a redemption arc. I adore Tessa and Krystal’s friendship! I forgot how much I miss them. I could go on about how much I love all the characters. I’m thrilled about book three.
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! I was so excited to get Untamable in the mail and sat down to read it the next day. This is such an amazing sequel to Untouchable and MC Pending has such an incredible writing style that keeps you engaged the entire time. Not to mention that there is such a large cast of characters and yet you feel like you know each of them. 100000/10 recommend this book
A breathtaking sequel to my favorite book (although now it may be second favorite...) that made me want to scream, cry, laugh, and squeal throughout the entirety of the book, for various reasons. Reading this book hurt, but also brought the most joy I've experienced in a while. The characters are insanely relatable, and I can't help but feel at home while reading Untouchable and Untamable. Definitely 1000/10, and I want to know where to find a guy like Nurse, so if anyone knows, please tell!
This book was SO amazing I don’t even have enough words to describe how much I loved it! The plot was easy to follow but still surprising and action packed and THE CLIFF HANGER! I don’t even know what to do with the cliff hanger, it so terrible!! I need book 3😫
This book was soooo good! I enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed the first novel in the series! I love Tessa! And Nurse! I am excited to read book three!!
MC did a spectacular job at creating a HUGE cast of characters that each get a special place and awesome traits. And the plot, my guy, was so freaking good. I read this basically in one night and the amount of times I almost squealed because of certain parts that were absolutely beautiful.
(I’m like low key confused on a few things that are necessary for the next book—like the epilogue (MC WHAT WAS THAT???))
I LOVED TESSA IN THIS ONE! She was hilarious but also an incredibly well-rounded character. Also, not gonna lie, even though Beau is married and is old, I kinda simped for him
And Zari…
But anywhooo, I loved the deaf and sign language representation!! Zofe was probably one of the coolest new characters, along with Nahira, Piper, Wren, and Milla!!!
TESSA AND NURSE AHHHHHHH IM SO HAPPY THAT THEY WERE TOGETHER FOR LIKE A SPLIT SECOND! They were so cute together
Also, Goose was literally one of my favorite parts. I loved every scene with him and the fact that Beck basically adopted him—yes.
A majority of my almost squeals almost always had to do with something extremely cute happening, especially when it came to Goose.
Alright, I’ll stop gushing. This book was so good and I’m so hyped for the next one, although Imma keep praying that that thing that’s hinted at in the epilogue doesn’t come true, or else I’m gonna sob like a baby.
Ps. Can I just say that this entire scene: “What did you just call me?” Drina gasps. “Your mom.” “What?” “Your mom.” “You can’t just say ‘your mom’ when you don’t want to answer me.” “Hmm. Actually, yes, I can.” “No, you can’t.” “Your mom.” Brought me so much joy you cannot even imagine
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The first book in this series, Untouchable, was the most fun book I’ve probably ever read. I can firmly say that Untamable lives up to that level of fun! I could not stop reading.
The MC, Tessa, provides a hilarious running commentary on everything that happens, and the author writes it brilliantly. I laughed so many times reading this book.
Honestly, I love this book. That’s what my heart says, but it was incredibly difficult for me to review because I essentially have 2 conflicting views: my head and my heart.
Untamable does have pacing issues. It kicks off really well with some intense action, which is great, but it slows down from there. The parts of the book that are most important feel rushed, even to the point that I had to reread them to figure out what was happening. The parts that are less important feel slower and are covered in more depth.
What’s interesting is that I didn’t notice the pacing issues until I was nearly at the end. That is because the narration is so amazing. But I can see that if a reader didn’t find the narration as engaging as I did, the flow of the story may be distracting.
Overall, this book feels like a standard middle book of a trilogy. It connects really well to the first book, establishes some great new characters, develops existing characters, and sets up well for (what I truly believed will be) an amazing third book. The narration is amazing and engaging, and that more than covers for the pacing issues.
I definitely recommend, and I’m really excited for the final book in the series!
It's worth every star. Honestly, if I could give it 10 I would.
MC absolutely DELIVERS with this sequel. I know I said Untouchable was amazing, but this book was absolutely JUST as amazing. I loved the cast, and the personalities of all the characters. The banter and humor interjected throughout kept me holding in laughter (because my family was there and if I laughed too much they might question my sanity).
Also, a cErtAin pArt just made me combust. For spoilery reasons I cannot disclose-
Who am I kidding
Anywayssss, this book was phenomenal. Tessa is a fantastic lead with a strong voice that portrayed her emotions with gutting honesty. I almost cried.
Once.
Okay maybe more than once.
But who's keeping track?
To end this review, I will leave my closing statement here: Untamable was a fantastic ride, and I cannot wait for the next book. Well done, MC. Well done.
Untamable by MC Pending is book two in the Untouchable trilogy. Like book one, it is written a fun and upbeat tone. But don't let that deceive you; Untamable is 426 pages of emotional damage. The whole time I was reading, I was torn between being impressed at how well the characters' loss was portrayed and furious that the characters were going through it. I will say that Untamable has a slower start than Untouchable, but it's a lot of fun to see these characters explore new worlds. And don't worry, when things get going they get going. The latter part of the book is fast-paced, leading you to a classic book two ending (AKA a massive bombshell of a cliffhanger).
I loved every second of this! It was very chaotic and entertaining, definitely goes above and beyond Untouchable which is always good! I see the improvement from the first book to the second book. Hope to read the third whenever it comes out; I have many questions. Where are the Untouchables?? What's up with Queen Rienna?? I love the cliffhangers and how they aren't so dreadfully needing to be answered right away aka I'm fine with waiting and theorizing what's going to be answered and revealed in book 3! Great writing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Oh. My. Gosh. I thought Untouchable was amazing— Untamable 100% went up and over my standards!! The twists, turns, and character transformations as well as some new characters (Zari hehe) and Goose omg makes this book one of the best. Pls read it so we can fangirl together over Nurse and others hehe.
oh my goodness gracious. this.book. my new favourite book. i love this series, and every time a new book comes out, i’m shook. 10/10. 5 stars. amazing. mc never fails to make me feel 30 different emotions at once.
I read this in one sitting. It was so good and fun and may or may not have forced me to confront some of my own feelings like Tessa's. All the characters in this book are so fun though!!!
I recommend this book 10/10! I loved it so much and wish I could read it for the first time all over again! It was a great sequel and I cannot wait for the next book!