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Mercenary Librarians #2
The Devil You Know
The Mercenary Librarians and the Silver Devils are back in The Devil You Know, the next installment of USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Kit Rocha's post-apocalyptic action/romance, with hints of Orphan Black and the Avengers Maya has had a price on her head from the day she escaped the TechCorps. Genetically engineered for genius and trained for revolution, there's only one thing she can't do--forget. Gray has finally broken free of the Protectorate, but he can't escape the time bomb in his head. His body is rejecting his modifications, and his months are numbered. When Maya's team uncovers an operation trading in genetically enhanced children, she'll do anything to stop them. Even risk falling back into the hands of the TechCorps. And Gray has found a purpose for his final days: keeping Maya safe.
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First published August 31, 2021
150 people are currently reading
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About the author
Kit Rocha
70 books2,651 followersOnce upon a time, two best friends decided to write paranormal romance. And while that was awesome, they also sometimes wanted to write insanely dirty stuff that wasn’t paranormal at all. This is that stuff.
Kit Rocha is the dystopian-erotic-romance writing alter-ego of writing duo Moira Rogers.
Kit Rocha is the dystopian-erotic-romance writing alter-ego of writing duo Moira Rogers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
October 12, 2021
This gave me nearly exactly what I wanted. I cannot wait for the next in the series.
July 9, 2021
Kit Rocha’s pragmatic, chaotic optimists have gotten me through the last few years. I’m going to need a bunch of you to buy Deal With the Devil and The Devil You Know, or request that your library buy them, so that I get more of these post-apocalyptic do-gooding murder ladies and sourdough making supersoldier daddies to help me hold onto hope amid the rising tide of authoritarianism, the crumbling wall between church and state, and the increased concentration of wealth into a few hands. I find myself attracted to books where the characters must struggle for the right to make their own choices and determine their own futures, and the protagonists survive and thrive. I’ve reread Martha Well’s Murderbot Diaries, and Kit Rocha’s books on a constant loop because they articulate my anxieties and then give me the inspiration to keep fighting. If I were a trope, I would be the grumpy one and this book would be the sunshine one.
The Mercenary Librarians do more than make sure their community gets books, education, entertainment, and a safe place to go during times of need and extreme weather. They also save children being trafficked, give people alternatives to being ground under the heel of corporations, and will sit on you until you choose hope over despair. TechCorps and the other corporate entities that control the East Coast in the post-apocalypse want to make themselves the only choice for survival. A desperate, dependent populace is more likely to allow TechCorps to modify them to best suit TechCorps needs. The Mercenary Librarians are working to provide options, to give people the freedom to make choices and be human beings, not malleable, replaceable resources.
Deal With the Devil established the outline of this found family. Like a sexy superpowered Brady Bunch, Nina and Knox’s blended family can do more good together than they could alone. Nina is the heart of the group, the love that binds everyone together. Knox and the Silver Devils have taken to domesticity like a duck who can kill you 10 ways takes to water. One of the great joys of reading Kit Rocha is that the books build on one another. Though the focus may shift to other characters, the world, the family, and the community are integral to the story. Characters adopted into the family in this book will continue to grow and develop through subsequent books.
Maya doesn’t have the physical abilities of the others, but she holds her own among the murder ladies and supersoldiers. Her enhanced brain means she remembers everything she hears, reads, learns, experiences. Sensory overload is a danger for her, but she’s learned to live life and take care of herself. Grey is dying. As the Silver Devils sniper, he is used to keeping a distance and watching the action. Grey wants to use the time he has remaining with Maya and making sure she is safer when he is no longer there to protect her. Grey’s impending death acts as a catalyst for two very careful people to take chances. The romance is slow, careful, and sweet. There are no big betrayals, only a recalibration of expectations.
The Devil You Know is not as adventure heavy as Deal With the Devil. It feels like the turning point though. Maya has thought of herself as a refugee, fighting to make a bright corner in an overlooked part of Atlanta. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that bigger changes need to happen and the Mercenary Librarians will be at the heart of it.
The Mercenary Librarians do more than make sure their community gets books, education, entertainment, and a safe place to go during times of need and extreme weather. They also save children being trafficked, give people alternatives to being ground under the heel of corporations, and will sit on you until you choose hope over despair. TechCorps and the other corporate entities that control the East Coast in the post-apocalypse want to make themselves the only choice for survival. A desperate, dependent populace is more likely to allow TechCorps to modify them to best suit TechCorps needs. The Mercenary Librarians are working to provide options, to give people the freedom to make choices and be human beings, not malleable, replaceable resources.
Deal With the Devil established the outline of this found family. Like a sexy superpowered Brady Bunch, Nina and Knox’s blended family can do more good together than they could alone. Nina is the heart of the group, the love that binds everyone together. Knox and the Silver Devils have taken to domesticity like a duck who can kill you 10 ways takes to water. One of the great joys of reading Kit Rocha is that the books build on one another. Though the focus may shift to other characters, the world, the family, and the community are integral to the story. Characters adopted into the family in this book will continue to grow and develop through subsequent books.
Maya doesn’t have the physical abilities of the others, but she holds her own among the murder ladies and supersoldiers. Her enhanced brain means she remembers everything she hears, reads, learns, experiences. Sensory overload is a danger for her, but she’s learned to live life and take care of herself. Grey is dying. As the Silver Devils sniper, he is used to keeping a distance and watching the action. Grey wants to use the time he has remaining with Maya and making sure she is safer when he is no longer there to protect her. Grey’s impending death acts as a catalyst for two very careful people to take chances. The romance is slow, careful, and sweet. There are no big betrayals, only a recalibration of expectations.
The Devil You Know is not as adventure heavy as Deal With the Devil. It feels like the turning point though. Maya has thought of herself as a refugee, fighting to make a bright corner in an overlooked part of Atlanta. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that bigger changes need to happen and the Mercenary Librarians will be at the heart of it.
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June 29, 2021I'm so sad to be doing this but ugh this was not it. This is so different from the first book which I adored. I adored the pace and the plot and the romance so very much in Deal with the Devil. But The Devil You Know has a very slow pace, nothing really is happening and I got to 60% of the book and I couldn't tell you one thing that had happened that was important. Nothing action-y happening in that 60%, no fights, no nothing.
The romance development is a slow-burn which I enjoyed tbh what I was seeing of the romance was amazing and I love Maya and Gray. But if that was paired up with a plot around it that gave you stuff happening, that'd have been perfect. But because everything was slow, I couldn't read anything. Reading one chapter was already too much!!!! I'm so sad because I loved the first book so much but oh my god this needed a little bit of something else.
Maybe I'll return to read the rest of the book when book 3 is out. I'm interested in all the other characters, but yeah I can't continue this one because I'm not enjoying it and I'm just forcing myself to finish it to star other books.
The romance development is a slow-burn which I enjoyed tbh what I was seeing of the romance was amazing and I love Maya and Gray. But if that was paired up with a plot around it that gave you stuff happening, that'd have been perfect. But because everything was slow, I couldn't read anything. Reading one chapter was already too much!!!! I'm so sad because I loved the first book so much but oh my god this needed a little bit of something else.
Maybe I'll return to read the rest of the book when book 3 is out. I'm interested in all the other characters, but yeah I can't continue this one because I'm not enjoying it and I'm just forcing myself to finish it to star other books.
September 12, 2021
I think the thing I love (and often need) in this series is that it manages to be some of the most hopeful dystopian fiction I’ve ever read? Even in absolutely despairing situations, with circumstances that threaten to overwhelm this little motley crew of misfits, this found family is always going to look out for each other first in the midst of everything blowing up around them. It’s the kind of optimism that keeps me coming back for more as a reader and leaves me absolutely hungry for the next book. Maya and Gray’s relationship is markedly different from Nina and Knox’s, that simmering slow burn that ultimately crescendoes to something as soulful as it is HOT, and I’m already looking toward the potential sequel bait of Ava and Mace. Kit Rocha can never steer me wrong.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 18, 2021
5 stars - Post-apocalyptic/Dystopian/Sci-Fi Romance
September 29, 2023
***3.5***
This was a solid book 2, with great overall story, but it wasn't my favorite just because the FMC was a little tiresome. She's a bit too much of that super precious heroine type, which I generally deeply dislike. Maya wasn't that bad, though, because she wasn't the helpless damsel those characters tend to be. And she's very sweet, so it's impossible to not like her. It just got exhausting constantly dealing with her sensory overload. But part of her arc in this book is realizing how much she was brainwashed to be afraid of the sensory overload, so that TechCorps could keep her controlled. They make super-abled people (to use as their pawns), but they fear them, so they do a lot of programming on these people to make them flawed. Maya had to work past that, and it all made sense. It was just tiresome.
And - probably because of that obstacle - the pacing felt reaaaaaaaaally slow at time. There were long stretches when very little happened other than wallowing with Maya.
Also, I love Ava and my heart breaks for her. I liked seeing her with Mace, I feel like these broken people could maybe find strength together. And Ava trying to comfort Maya... I cried.
I'm excited to see what happens next - the events of this book are going to leave a huge ripple!
This was a solid book 2, with great overall story, but it wasn't my favorite just because the FMC was a little tiresome. She's a bit too much of that super precious heroine type, which I generally deeply dislike. Maya wasn't that bad, though, because she wasn't the helpless damsel those characters tend to be. And she's very sweet, so it's impossible to not like her. It just got exhausting constantly dealing with her sensory overload. But part of her arc in this book is realizing how much she was brainwashed to be afraid of the sensory overload, so that TechCorps could keep her controlled. They make super-abled people (to use as their pawns), but they fear them, so they do a lot of programming on these people to make them flawed. Maya had to work past that, and it all made sense. It was just tiresome.
And - probably because of that obstacle - the pacing felt reaaaaaaaaally slow at time. There were long stretches when very little happened other than wallowing with Maya.
Also, I love Ava and my heart breaks for her. I liked seeing her with Mace, I feel like these broken people could maybe find strength together. And Ava trying to comfort Maya... I cried.
I'm excited to see what happens next - the events of this book are going to leave a huge ripple!
October 9, 2021
I liked this installment better than Deal with the Devil. The plot was better and included a few new players. I didn't mind the multiple perspectives. Maya and Gray dancing around each other wouldn't have been enough, although I did enjoy how Gray helped Maya tap into unknown skills.
I think if readers enjoy Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series they may enjoy Kit Rocha's Mercenary Librarian series. They have similarities, but don't expect any changelings or shifters. The prose isn't as flowery as Ms. Singh either. I'm hoping the next book, featuring Dani and Rafe, has more action. Also, if you're worried this series is as smex-heavy as Kit Rocha's Beyond series put your mind at ease. There is a sexy time in "The Devil You Know" but nothing kinky.
library eloan
I think if readers enjoy Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series they may enjoy Kit Rocha's Mercenary Librarian series. They have similarities, but don't expect any changelings or shifters. The prose isn't as flowery as Ms. Singh either. I'm hoping the next book, featuring Dani and Rafe, has more action. Also, if you're worried this series is as smex-heavy as Kit Rocha's Beyond series put your mind at ease. There is a sexy time in "The Devil You Know" but nothing kinky.
library eloan
dnf
December 12, 2023DNF @ 21%
March 4, 2022
I jumped right into this one after reading the first. I also thoroughly enjoyed this one. It is a bit repetitive and our motley crew is growing. The people are probably all still too good to be true. Again, I wish the bad guys were too bad to be true, but I just don't think so.
This installment continued all the things I enjoyed about the first. My only caveat is the interludes get a bit confusing with the terminology and I can't always make out to whom they refer and why.
My biggest disappointment is the next is not available until August. Oh well. We all make sacrifices.
This installment continued all the things I enjoyed about the first. My only caveat is the interludes get a bit confusing with the terminology and I can't always make out to whom they refer and why.
My biggest disappointment is the next is not available until August. Oh well. We all make sacrifices.
September 11, 2021
Unpopular opinion: I liked this book less than the first book in the series.
I was disappointed that the first book didn't have more of the mercenary librarians; I mean: books, printing, acquiring books by shooting your way through whatever enemy lines might try to stop them.
If you are looking for a romance story set in a dystopian USA, go for it. But it was not my cup of tea.
I was disappointed that the first book didn't have more of the mercenary librarians; I mean: books, printing, acquiring books by shooting your way through whatever enemy lines might try to stop them.
If you are looking for a romance story set in a dystopian USA, go for it. But it was not my cup of tea.
July 6, 2023
Another great entry. Drawing me further in. Excited to see how they take down the bad guys.
4 stars
1.5 on the spice scale
4 stars
1.5 on the spice scale
April 16, 2024
These books are everything I love about reading. Believable, strong, nuanced characters with robust personalities. An amazing plot that is exciting and enticing and impossible to predict. And hotties falling in love. This is what I wish more romance were like! Can't wait for book 3!
January 27, 2024
Maya used to be Marjorie Chevalier, but had to change her identity after she escaped the evil super scientists at TechCorps, where she was trained as a data courier (basically a human hard drive), with her senses specially enhanced to remember flawlessly everything she hears, reads, sees, hears and experiences. She used to work for one of the Vice Presidents of TechCorps who was secretly orchestrating a rebellion, However, her boss (also the only maternal figure Maya ever knew) was caught and executed, and Maya had to be smuggled to safety.
She found that safety with Nina, now one of the sisters she never had. Along with the lethal Dani, they have been working to help the residents of post-apocalyptic Atlanta by passing on free information (books, videos, music) and technical know-how. They also occasionally go off on adventures to recover more books and resources. After the events of the previous books, their little found family has expanded a lot, with the former supersoldiers from the Silver Devils squad having settled down in a warehouse next to the librarians' headquarters. The group is hired to retrieve what turns out to be a genetically modified child, and it turns out that Rainbow (which is the name the child chooses for herself) is not the only one. Since Maya doesn't have super speed or strength, she stays back home holding the fort, accompanied by Grey, the former sniper of the Silver Devils, who can't be trusted on a tense mission since his body might betray him.
All the Silver Devils have technical implants that have enhanced their senses. Supersoldiers like them don't normally have a very long lifespan, but in rare cases, their bodies might start rejecting the implant after decades of being used to them. This is what is happening to Grey now. He can suddenly be struck with seizures and an operation to replace the implant has a less than 5% chance of survival, even if they could find a surgeon skilled enough to perform the operation. So Grey is accepting that he doesn't have long to live. One of the things he wants to do with his final days is make sure Maya has the skills and confidence to defend herself and keep herself safe. She's always been told that she needs to be careful not to overload her brain, or she can pretty much short-circuit, but Grey suspects that she's limiting herself out of fears told to her to control her and keep her from reaching her full potential. He shows her that not only is she an absolute wizard with all things technical, but her perfect recall is a superpower in itself, if not as physically intimidating as those of her chosen sisters.
There is a very strong attraction between Maya and Grey, however, the only man Maya ever loved before was literally tortured to death in front of her in an attempt to get her to reveal the secrets buried in her brain after her boss was executed. She's also prone to sensory overload and doesn't really know how she'd react in a physically overwhelming situation, like having sex. Letting herself fall for a man who's dying is bound to lead to heartbreak, but not acting on the attraction before it's too late might be a bigger mistake than keeping her distance.
While Maya and the Silver Devils all had very skillful people hiding their tracks and faking their deaths (complete with falsified bodies with their DNA planted), Tobias Richter, the VP of Security at TechCorps is a ruthless and deeply driven man, convinced (rightly so) that he can find them if he searches hard enough. When a video from a farmer's market surfaces, proving to him that his quarries are still alive, Maya and Grey's days together might be numbered sooner than they think.
I enjoyed Deal with the Devil, which introduced the world and all these characters to each other. Now the super soldiers and the high-tech murder ladies all live together as a big, ruthlessly efficient, and deadly family, doing their best to right wrongs and improve their local community. Maya has always felt like the weakest of the group, and the lies to her by her former boss to keep her from showing too much of her excellence to Tech Corps means she hasn't been able to reach her true potential until Grey comes along and makes her see how truly remarkable she is, even in a dangerous situation. She's not just brains and perfect recall. Their romance develops slowly since Grey is likely to die soon, and Maya has some understandable emotional scars from her first and only romantic relationship so far.
The villain in this book is a complete psycho, and once he discovers that Maya and the Silver Devils are alive, he lures them into a trap to get his clutches on Maya. Of course, Maya is no longer a delicate flower raised in a sheltered environment and beats Tobias Richter at his own game. Things look dicey for Grey for a while (who to be fair already thought he was dying, so wanted to save Maya with the grandest of gestures), but this is a romance, and our brave, self-sacrificing hero doesn't actually end the book dead.
By the end of this book, our altruistic heroes and heroines have some difficult choices to make. Their attempts to stay hidden from TechCorps have clearly failed, and a confrontation is inevitable. Are they ready to go to war?
Judging a book by its cover: This is about as generic as covers go. Nothing about this says post-apocalyptic action adventure with kick-ass murder ladies and supersoldier dudes.
She found that safety with Nina, now one of the sisters she never had. Along with the lethal Dani, they have been working to help the residents of post-apocalyptic Atlanta by passing on free information (books, videos, music) and technical know-how. They also occasionally go off on adventures to recover more books and resources. After the events of the previous books, their little found family has expanded a lot, with the former supersoldiers from the Silver Devils squad having settled down in a warehouse next to the librarians' headquarters. The group is hired to retrieve what turns out to be a genetically modified child, and it turns out that Rainbow (which is the name the child chooses for herself) is not the only one. Since Maya doesn't have super speed or strength, she stays back home holding the fort, accompanied by Grey, the former sniper of the Silver Devils, who can't be trusted on a tense mission since his body might betray him.
All the Silver Devils have technical implants that have enhanced their senses. Supersoldiers like them don't normally have a very long lifespan, but in rare cases, their bodies might start rejecting the implant after decades of being used to them. This is what is happening to Grey now. He can suddenly be struck with seizures and an operation to replace the implant has a less than 5% chance of survival, even if they could find a surgeon skilled enough to perform the operation. So Grey is accepting that he doesn't have long to live. One of the things he wants to do with his final days is make sure Maya has the skills and confidence to defend herself and keep herself safe. She's always been told that she needs to be careful not to overload her brain, or she can pretty much short-circuit, but Grey suspects that she's limiting herself out of fears told to her to control her and keep her from reaching her full potential. He shows her that not only is she an absolute wizard with all things technical, but her perfect recall is a superpower in itself, if not as physically intimidating as those of her chosen sisters.
There is a very strong attraction between Maya and Grey, however, the only man Maya ever loved before was literally tortured to death in front of her in an attempt to get her to reveal the secrets buried in her brain after her boss was executed. She's also prone to sensory overload and doesn't really know how she'd react in a physically overwhelming situation, like having sex. Letting herself fall for a man who's dying is bound to lead to heartbreak, but not acting on the attraction before it's too late might be a bigger mistake than keeping her distance.
While Maya and the Silver Devils all had very skillful people hiding their tracks and faking their deaths (complete with falsified bodies with their DNA planted), Tobias Richter, the VP of Security at TechCorps is a ruthless and deeply driven man, convinced (rightly so) that he can find them if he searches hard enough. When a video from a farmer's market surfaces, proving to him that his quarries are still alive, Maya and Grey's days together might be numbered sooner than they think.
I enjoyed Deal with the Devil, which introduced the world and all these characters to each other. Now the super soldiers and the high-tech murder ladies all live together as a big, ruthlessly efficient, and deadly family, doing their best to right wrongs and improve their local community. Maya has always felt like the weakest of the group, and the lies to her by her former boss to keep her from showing too much of her excellence to Tech Corps means she hasn't been able to reach her true potential until Grey comes along and makes her see how truly remarkable she is, even in a dangerous situation. She's not just brains and perfect recall. Their romance develops slowly since Grey is likely to die soon, and Maya has some understandable emotional scars from her first and only romantic relationship so far.
The villain in this book is a complete psycho, and once he discovers that Maya and the Silver Devils are alive, he lures them into a trap to get his clutches on Maya. Of course, Maya is no longer a delicate flower raised in a sheltered environment and beats Tobias Richter at his own game. Things look dicey for Grey for a while (who to be fair already thought he was dying, so wanted to save Maya with the grandest of gestures), but this is a romance, and our brave, self-sacrificing hero doesn't actually end the book dead.
By the end of this book, our altruistic heroes and heroines have some difficult choices to make. Their attempts to stay hidden from TechCorps have clearly failed, and a confrontation is inevitable. Are they ready to go to war?
Judging a book by its cover: This is about as generic as covers go. Nothing about this says post-apocalyptic action adventure with kick-ass murder ladies and supersoldier dudes.
September 6, 2021
Definitely don’t start this series here: if you haven’t read it already, go back and read Deal With The Devil first, because if you try to dive in here you’re going to be pretty confused about who’s who and what’s going on. There’s a good-sized core cast and the authors don’t really re-introduce them, instead diving pretty much straight into the action.
This book focuses on Maya, the savant trained to be a walking memory bank, and Grey, the sniper. We got to learn some more about Maya’s background, but I did finish the book thinking that Grey was still something of a cipher; he was still just a ‘team player’ and I wanted more of him as an individual.
The world-building in this series is truly excellent, and while it’s a dystopian future, what I’m enjoying about the series is that each book builds more hope that things are going to change. The crew get to take down a Big Bad here, though a post-epilogue stinger hints that the Big Bad may have actually been replaced by something worse, which will be fascinating in the next book - presumably Rafe and Dani’s story.
I do feel like this one focussed a bit too much on the action and not quite enough on the romance. I do love the whole world and the overarching plot as the crew try to take down TechCorp, but I wanted more of those squishy feelings, especially Grey’s. I’m still thoroughly invested in the plot and I’m keen to keep reading - I think we might have got some hints that Ava will be getting a story after Dani’s, which would be awesome, because Ava is absolutely my favourite character in this series so far. I’ll give this four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
This book focuses on Maya, the savant trained to be a walking memory bank, and Grey, the sniper. We got to learn some more about Maya’s background, but I did finish the book thinking that Grey was still something of a cipher; he was still just a ‘team player’ and I wanted more of him as an individual.
The world-building in this series is truly excellent, and while it’s a dystopian future, what I’m enjoying about the series is that each book builds more hope that things are going to change. The crew get to take down a Big Bad here, though a post-epilogue stinger hints that the Big Bad may have actually been replaced by something worse, which will be fascinating in the next book - presumably Rafe and Dani’s story.
I do feel like this one focussed a bit too much on the action and not quite enough on the romance. I do love the whole world and the overarching plot as the crew try to take down TechCorp, but I wanted more of those squishy feelings, especially Grey’s. I’m still thoroughly invested in the plot and I’m keen to keep reading - I think we might have got some hints that Ava will be getting a story after Dani’s, which would be awesome, because Ava is absolutely my favourite character in this series so far. I’ll give this four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
August 28, 2021
Hoo-boy! This is one dangerous, messed up world that I love to spend literary time in. Sure, sure, the dangerous part of it is THROUGH THE ROOF and the people in charge are not good people, but change is in the air, my friends, and I AM HERE FOR IT.
As one of the three women working on bringing hope to their little slice of their city, Maya is in a dangerous position. She's not a fighter (or so she thinks) and the only way she can remain safe is if the people she escaped from think she's dead. But she's not one to sit idly by when the team uncovers genetically enhanced children being trafficked right under their noses. So she buckles down and starts stretching her wings (and abilities) to help guide that change I mentioned above.
Meanwhile, Gray is...well, he's not in a good place. He's on the not-so-slow road to an early demise as his body rejects his implants. He knows the score and he knows there's not much that can be done for him. Yeah, our boy is in a bad place, but he's also not willing to sit idly by, wallowing, and let things happen around him. Those sparks between him and Maya? Yeaaaaah. They're FANTASTIC!
Secrets, lies, truth, betrayal, and new allies. Am I excited for those allies? I SURE AM. Maya, Nina, and Dani have become so much more than three women fighting to build a better future for those in their neighborhood. They're on the cusp of revolution and their actions are going to affect so many people down the road. (After a long, bloody battle, if I had to guess.) The Silver Devils might have started their relationship with the ladies for questionable reasons, but THINGS ARE HAPPENING and I couldn't be happier!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
As one of the three women working on bringing hope to their little slice of their city, Maya is in a dangerous position. She's not a fighter (or so she thinks) and the only way she can remain safe is if the people she escaped from think she's dead. But she's not one to sit idly by when the team uncovers genetically enhanced children being trafficked right under their noses. So she buckles down and starts stretching her wings (and abilities) to help guide that change I mentioned above.
Meanwhile, Gray is...well, he's not in a good place. He's on the not-so-slow road to an early demise as his body rejects his implants. He knows the score and he knows there's not much that can be done for him. Yeah, our boy is in a bad place, but he's also not willing to sit idly by, wallowing, and let things happen around him. Those sparks between him and Maya? Yeaaaaah. They're FANTASTIC!
Secrets, lies, truth, betrayal, and new allies. Am I excited for those allies? I SURE AM. Maya, Nina, and Dani have become so much more than three women fighting to build a better future for those in their neighborhood. They're on the cusp of revolution and their actions are going to affect so many people down the road. (After a long, bloody battle, if I had to guess.) The Silver Devils might have started their relationship with the ladies for questionable reasons, but THINGS ARE HAPPENING and I couldn't be happier!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
October 23, 2021
3.5/5 stars
I did like this, but it felt a lot busier than the first and stumbled in the way second books can when the world expands more. It picked up more towards the end, and I'm very excited for Rafe and Dani and what's been set up for the next book.
I did like this, but it felt a lot busier than the first and stumbled in the way second books can when the world expands more. It picked up more towards the end, and I'm very excited for Rafe and Dani and what's been set up for the next book.
September 8, 2021
So, I probably should have reread book one before jumping into this one cold because I did not remember enough of the world building to skate by and find it as immersive as I know I found the first one. Very much liked the romance, like some of what seems to be being set up for future installments. I just need to remember to reread before reading book three.
January 10, 2022
Love the adventure and characters in this future post-apoc world. Usually I don't enjoy (depressing) stories based in an environment like this but these people get stuff done! Hope we don't have to wait too long for the next book.
August 28, 2021
I received an advance copy from Tor via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
Content notes:
WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT ENDING?!? Full review closer to release.
Full review:
The Devil You Know is one of my most anticipated 2021 releases, and it did not disappoint!
Maya may not have super strength like Nina or being a former supersoldier like Dani, but she has forks and she’s not afraid to stab people with them! I love how we see her show her strength and capability in so many ways outside strength or violence. I also love how she takes care of her community and the ways she uses knowledge to build the community to be stronger.
Gray is the sniper for the Silver Devils, but he’s also a squishy marshmallow - at least where Maya is concerned. He recognizes her strength and capability, and helps her cultivate her strengths to be a greater asset. He is also dying as his body rejects the implant he has that gives him many of his superhuman capabilities, so he’s trying his hardest both to not fall for Maya and not have Maya fall for him.
The Deal with the Devil was a Roadtrip adventure, and I really enjoyed how The Devil You Know was more focused on community and the home Nina and family has built. There are so many excellent moments throughout this book that continue to highlight how exemplar Kit Rocha is at building found/chosen family and showcasing the strength of those bonds. The epigraphs throughout were also excellent and added so much mystery and intrigue to the story. And I still have questions!! Rocha is for sure going to need to write more books in this series - I need to see Conall get his HEA, especially as he keeps getting hurt! I also want all the information on Ava because she intrigues me to no end.
All in all, this book is as excellent and did a wonderful job continuing the Mercenary Librarians series, and leaves me eagerly awaiting more of this chosen family and the ways their little community creates big, positive changes in their world!
Content notes:
WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT ENDING?!? Full review closer to release.
Full review:
The Devil You Know is one of my most anticipated 2021 releases, and it did not disappoint!
Maya may not have super strength like Nina or being a former supersoldier like Dani, but she has forks and she’s not afraid to stab people with them! I love how we see her show her strength and capability in so many ways outside strength or violence. I also love how she takes care of her community and the ways she uses knowledge to build the community to be stronger.
Gray is the sniper for the Silver Devils, but he’s also a squishy marshmallow - at least where Maya is concerned. He recognizes her strength and capability, and helps her cultivate her strengths to be a greater asset. He is also dying as his body rejects the implant he has that gives him many of his superhuman capabilities, so he’s trying his hardest both to not fall for Maya and not have Maya fall for him.
The Deal with the Devil was a Roadtrip adventure, and I really enjoyed how The Devil You Know was more focused on community and the home Nina and family has built. There are so many excellent moments throughout this book that continue to highlight how exemplar Kit Rocha is at building found/chosen family and showcasing the strength of those bonds. The epigraphs throughout were also excellent and added so much mystery and intrigue to the story. And I still have questions!! Rocha is for sure going to need to write more books in this series - I need to see Conall get his HEA, especially as he keeps getting hurt! I also want all the information on Ava because she intrigues me to no end.
All in all, this book is as excellent and did a wonderful job continuing the Mercenary Librarians series, and leaves me eagerly awaiting more of this chosen family and the ways their little community creates big, positive changes in their world!
August 29, 2021
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
There aren’t many dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels that have the right amount of romance to satisfy me. But this amazing series by Kit Rocha provides me with everything I’m looking for. The balance between action, romance and suspense is perfect. And especially the characters play a big part in making me love this series.
Maya and Gray are the main characters in The Devil You Know. Maya is a data courier, which means she remembers everything she ever seen or heard. Which has it good and bad sides. One particular bad guy would love to pick her brains and discover all the secrets she holds. Gray is a one of the best snipers, however he’s having pretty extreme health problems. I really enjoyed seeing Maya and Gray grow closer together. Their relationship was very special and I loved the scenes that was just the two of them.
If you’ve read the previous book you know that Maya’s and Gray’s group are now working together. In this book they discover something and they can’t turn a blind eye and start a rescue mission. However, it’s very secret so they need to meet with all their contacts to get information. We meet old and new characters in this book and I loved the intricate world-building and great plot that Kit Rocha have come up with again. I have fallen even more in love with the characters in this book and can’t wait to see what will happen next. I’m pretty vague in this review because I don’t want to spoil anything.
There aren’t many dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels that have the right amount of romance to satisfy me. But this amazing series by Kit Rocha provides me with everything I’m looking for. The balance between action, romance and suspense is perfect. And especially the characters play a big part in making me love this series.
Maya and Gray are the main characters in The Devil You Know. Maya is a data courier, which means she remembers everything she ever seen or heard. Which has it good and bad sides. One particular bad guy would love to pick her brains and discover all the secrets she holds. Gray is a one of the best snipers, however he’s having pretty extreme health problems. I really enjoyed seeing Maya and Gray grow closer together. Their relationship was very special and I loved the scenes that was just the two of them.
If you’ve read the previous book you know that Maya’s and Gray’s group are now working together. In this book they discover something and they can’t turn a blind eye and start a rescue mission. However, it’s very secret so they need to meet with all their contacts to get information. We meet old and new characters in this book and I loved the intricate world-building and great plot that Kit Rocha have come up with again. I have fallen even more in love with the characters in this book and can’t wait to see what will happen next. I’m pretty vague in this review because I don’t want to spoil anything.
June 6, 2022
So freaking good. I need SO MANY MORE BOOKS!!!
RTC
RTC
September 27, 2021
This series is so good! Kit Rocha’s world-building is always so fascinating. Maya and Gray had such promising chemistry in the first book and it was great to watch their relationship unfold. It’s more of a slow burn—Maya has sensory overload concerns (not sure if she’s neurodiverse but she could be read her that way)—and the development really intensified their chemistry. It paid off for me!
Maya realizing she had a superpower was my favorite part of this story. Her brain is magnificent! She was such a badass. I loved that Gray was the one who recognized she had it in her and figured out how she should train. It was also fun to see more focus on librarianship, since it was barely present in the first book.
I wish we’d gotten more of Maya and Gray together. There was a lot of plot happening and it was necessary but it took away from the focus on the romance. It’s not that there were too many external conflicts but that there wasn’t enough recovery from each big thing.
I didn’t like the inclusion of a villain POV. Villain POVs are cheap shortcuts and unnecessary 99% of the time, including here. There was only one chapter like that but still. It added nothing to the story and put a big dent in my enjoyment.
The found family element is one of my favorite parts of Rocha’s books. The introduction of Rainbow is really promising and I adored watching her develop relationships with the crew. I super enjoyed Conall’s crush on Max and I hope we get that story. The last interstitial shows the set up for the next book and I need it right now!
Character notes: Maya is a 24 year old data courier, librarian, repair person, and polyglot with brown skin. Gray is a white sniper and supersoldier in his mid to late 30s. This is set in Atlanta.
Content notes: dying MMC , seizures, on page torture of MC, abduction of MCs, secondary character shot (recovers), violence, murder, attempted murder of MMC, sensory overload (FMC), psychological warfare, rescued child, TechCorps clones children to traffick them, past torture and murder of FMC’s boyfriend in front of her, past murder of FMC’s guardian, tinnitus (shock response), societal poverty and starvation, on page sex, orgy in background of scene, alcohol, ableist language, MMC grew up in orphanage and aged out of system, minor character plans to get an abortion (birth control implant was faulty), reference to past nightmares and panic attack, reference to past kidnapping (secondary character)
Maya realizing she had a superpower was my favorite part of this story. Her brain is magnificent! She was such a badass. I loved that Gray was the one who recognized she had it in her and figured out how she should train. It was also fun to see more focus on librarianship, since it was barely present in the first book.
I wish we’d gotten more of Maya and Gray together. There was a lot of plot happening and it was necessary but it took away from the focus on the romance. It’s not that there were too many external conflicts but that there wasn’t enough recovery from each big thing.
I didn’t like the inclusion of a villain POV. Villain POVs are cheap shortcuts and unnecessary 99% of the time, including here. There was only one chapter like that but still. It added nothing to the story and put a big dent in my enjoyment.
The found family element is one of my favorite parts of Rocha’s books. The introduction of Rainbow is really promising and I adored watching her develop relationships with the crew. I super enjoyed Conall’s crush on Max and I hope we get that story. The last interstitial shows the set up for the next book and I need it right now!
Character notes: Maya is a 24 year old data courier, librarian, repair person, and polyglot with brown skin. Gray is a white sniper and supersoldier in his mid to late 30s. This is set in Atlanta.
Content notes: dying MMC , seizures, on page torture of MC, abduction of MCs, secondary character shot (recovers), violence, murder, attempted murder of MMC, sensory overload (FMC), psychological warfare, rescued child, TechCorps clones children to traffick them, past torture and murder of FMC’s boyfriend in front of her, past murder of FMC’s guardian, tinnitus (shock response), societal poverty and starvation, on page sex, orgy in background of scene, alcohol, ableist language, MMC grew up in orphanage and aged out of system, minor character plans to get an abortion (birth control implant was faulty), reference to past nightmares and panic attack, reference to past kidnapping (secondary character)
May 12, 2022
The Librarians (Maya, Nina, and Dani) and the Silver Devils (Gray, Conall, Knox, and Garrett) are working together after they joined forces in The Deal With the Devil. They’ve got a secure building and are overhauling it as they help the community, build hospital beds, and take on missions..
Their latest mission goes sideways when they retrieve a young girl instead of their intended package. They soon realize the young girl is a modified clone and that actual children are being kidnapped. The enemy is on the move and they prepare to intercept when one of their own collapses. While the rest of the team goes ahead, Maya stays back with Gray.
This is part of a trilogy and has an overall story arc, but each book has its own side romance and mission. This book belongs to Gray and Maya. I adore Maya. She has been through a lot, but has spunk. She is walking encyclopedia. Seriously. She has an eidetic memory and is the team’s mechanical and programming genius. While she wants to help save the children, she also wants to help Gray. It seems his body is rejecting his implant. The outlook isn’t good, but Maya is determined to beat the odds.
Our story is set in Atlanta in the year 2081. TechCorps is abducting and cloning children for nefarious purposes. Much of the story is told from Maya’s point of view. We spend time within the compound and surrounding neighborhood. It gave us a sense of their world and daily life between missions.
The suspense came from the romance and Gray’s illness. Don’t get me wrong, we see plenty of battle, torture and villains, but this wasn’t as nomadic as book one. Gray is a good guy, a little shy but loyal to the core. He is second in command to Knox and quite smitten with Maya. Through him we see a growth in Maya as she overcomes some of her fears, learns to trust and stretches her abilities.
The tale can be dark and gritty. In their search for the children, they expose themselves to TechCorps, who takes some of them hostage. We learn quite a lot about Maya’s past and I was sweating bullets the entire time. I loved seeing the teams work together and the trust Maya and Gray have in each other tugged at my heartstrings.
I enjoyed the camaraderie between the Librarians and the Silver Devils. They have become quite the unit. We get to see them rely on each other, mourn, tease and break bread together. It’s them against the machine and I loved spending time with them again.
We got to know some key secondary characters as this writing duo fleshed out the world. I was so excited this finally came out on audio. The books are published through Tor, but we waited almost a year for the audiobook release. I stubbornly waited, and it paid off.
Lidia Dornet narrates and did a stellar job giving voice to Maya. She captured her personality, fears, and unique skills. Her male voices are well developed and her villain voices will make you shiver.
Because this is a trilogy I recommend listening in order. While each story deals with a current mission and romance, the overall story arc and spoilers make starting from the beginning the best way to enjoy this post-apocalyptic world.
Fans of science fiction, romantic fantasy and post-apocalyptic worlds will want to grab their earbuds and listen to the Mercenary Librarians. Kit Rocha is the pen name for Bree Bridges and Donna Herren. Fans of Ilona Andrews will want to try this duo. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Their latest mission goes sideways when they retrieve a young girl instead of their intended package. They soon realize the young girl is a modified clone and that actual children are being kidnapped. The enemy is on the move and they prepare to intercept when one of their own collapses. While the rest of the team goes ahead, Maya stays back with Gray.
This is part of a trilogy and has an overall story arc, but each book has its own side romance and mission. This book belongs to Gray and Maya. I adore Maya. She has been through a lot, but has spunk. She is walking encyclopedia. Seriously. She has an eidetic memory and is the team’s mechanical and programming genius. While she wants to help save the children, she also wants to help Gray. It seems his body is rejecting his implant. The outlook isn’t good, but Maya is determined to beat the odds.
Our story is set in Atlanta in the year 2081. TechCorps is abducting and cloning children for nefarious purposes. Much of the story is told from Maya’s point of view. We spend time within the compound and surrounding neighborhood. It gave us a sense of their world and daily life between missions.
The suspense came from the romance and Gray’s illness. Don’t get me wrong, we see plenty of battle, torture and villains, but this wasn’t as nomadic as book one. Gray is a good guy, a little shy but loyal to the core. He is second in command to Knox and quite smitten with Maya. Through him we see a growth in Maya as she overcomes some of her fears, learns to trust and stretches her abilities.
The tale can be dark and gritty. In their search for the children, they expose themselves to TechCorps, who takes some of them hostage. We learn quite a lot about Maya’s past and I was sweating bullets the entire time. I loved seeing the teams work together and the trust Maya and Gray have in each other tugged at my heartstrings.
I enjoyed the camaraderie between the Librarians and the Silver Devils. They have become quite the unit. We get to see them rely on each other, mourn, tease and break bread together. It’s them against the machine and I loved spending time with them again.
We got to know some key secondary characters as this writing duo fleshed out the world. I was so excited this finally came out on audio. The books are published through Tor, but we waited almost a year for the audiobook release. I stubbornly waited, and it paid off.
Lidia Dornet narrates and did a stellar job giving voice to Maya. She captured her personality, fears, and unique skills. Her male voices are well developed and her villain voices will make you shiver.
Because this is a trilogy I recommend listening in order. While each story deals with a current mission and romance, the overall story arc and spoilers make starting from the beginning the best way to enjoy this post-apocalyptic world.
Fans of science fiction, romantic fantasy and post-apocalyptic worlds will want to grab their earbuds and listen to the Mercenary Librarians. Kit Rocha is the pen name for Bree Bridges and Donna Herren. Fans of Ilona Andrews will want to try this duo. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
May 8, 2023
* You need to read the previous book to fully understand the story in this entry.
Maya is a data courier, her mind will remember everything she hears, but she has been free from the evil TechCorp for years. However, she has to stay hidden, her mind being the price the TechCorp CEO wants most. With her romance to Silver Devil Gray slowly blossoming, she and her friends become aware of an hidden operation who is smuggling supersoldier children. Maya and Gray want to roll up that operation, but it might put them straight into the TechCorps scope.
Pro's:
+ The second half of this book is quite exciting, the fighting scenes are absolutely superb. The flow is great and these superhuman characters definitely make the fights more epic. The dynamics between the characters also adds a lot, their growing bonds really show.
+ This post-apocalyptic vibe is just so good. In this book we delve a bit deeper in the world and it all just works so well together. The enhancements and the cloning, it all seems something that could really be in our future.
Con's:
- The first half of the book was very slow and boring and I feel like Maya and Gray didn't really deserve that. There was a lot of explanation, but it felt like a bit much seeing that not everything was clear by the end of the book.
Even though this was a fun read, I felt it was a bit hard to get through the first part of the book. It was slow and the step to the second part, where the pace is much higher was a bit harsh. However, the world-building was perfect again and we learned a lot more about the motives and the inner structure of the TechCorp. I really want to see where this goes, not so much for the romances, but the underlying story is actually really awesome and good. I'm really looking forward to the next book, this can only get more epic.
Maya is a data courier, her mind will remember everything she hears, but she has been free from the evil TechCorp for years. However, she has to stay hidden, her mind being the price the TechCorp CEO wants most. With her romance to Silver Devil Gray slowly blossoming, she and her friends become aware of an hidden operation who is smuggling supersoldier children. Maya and Gray want to roll up that operation, but it might put them straight into the TechCorps scope.
Pro's:
+ The second half of this book is quite exciting, the fighting scenes are absolutely superb. The flow is great and these superhuman characters definitely make the fights more epic. The dynamics between the characters also adds a lot, their growing bonds really show.
+ This post-apocalyptic vibe is just so good. In this book we delve a bit deeper in the world and it all just works so well together. The enhancements and the cloning, it all seems something that could really be in our future.
Con's:
- The first half of the book was very slow and boring and I feel like Maya and Gray didn't really deserve that. There was a lot of explanation, but it felt like a bit much seeing that not everything was clear by the end of the book.
Even though this was a fun read, I felt it was a bit hard to get through the first part of the book. It was slow and the step to the second part, where the pace is much higher was a bit harsh. However, the world-building was perfect again and we learned a lot more about the motives and the inner structure of the TechCorp. I really want to see where this goes, not so much for the romances, but the underlying story is actually really awesome and good. I'm really looking forward to the next book, this can only get more epic.
August 29, 2021
arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This second book in the Mercenary Librarians series was definitely a lot slower plot wise and even relationship wise than the first book but I still ended up really loving it! I’m not usually one for slowburn romances and plot but this one was just so sweet that I couldn’t help but adore it.
My favourite parts of the book were every moment Gray and Maya had together of course— they’re literally one of the most adorable and perfect couples that I have read about in awhile— but those specific moments where Gray helps train Maya and really shows her that she can do more. That she’s more than capable of being a “superhero” like the rest of the gang are. The two of them really brought out the best in each other and I loved that so much.
I was getting kind of bored with how slow the plot was moving because at 60% not much had occurred when I immediately regretted my words when some plot did come into play. Stressful, stressful plot! It made me curious for the next books for sure after a couple of incidents happened near the end.
Overall, I had a great time with this as I expected to, I love Kit Rocha’s writing and characters so much. If you’ve read the first book, hold onto your seat because this second book packs a punch by the end! I cannot wait for the third book!
4/5⭐️
TW: death, murder, attempted murder, strangulation, torture, blood, gore, violence, sexually explicit scenes, gun/knife violence, surgery/medical procedures, kidnapping.
This second book in the Mercenary Librarians series was definitely a lot slower plot wise and even relationship wise than the first book but I still ended up really loving it! I’m not usually one for slowburn romances and plot but this one was just so sweet that I couldn’t help but adore it.
My favourite parts of the book were every moment Gray and Maya had together of course— they’re literally one of the most adorable and perfect couples that I have read about in awhile— but those specific moments where Gray helps train Maya and really shows her that she can do more. That she’s more than capable of being a “superhero” like the rest of the gang are. The two of them really brought out the best in each other and I loved that so much.
I was getting kind of bored with how slow the plot was moving because at 60% not much had occurred when I immediately regretted my words when some plot did come into play. Stressful, stressful plot! It made me curious for the next books for sure after a couple of incidents happened near the end.
Overall, I had a great time with this as I expected to, I love Kit Rocha’s writing and characters so much. If you’ve read the first book, hold onto your seat because this second book packs a punch by the end! I cannot wait for the third book!
4/5⭐️
TW: death, murder, attempted murder, strangulation, torture, blood, gore, violence, sexually explicit scenes, gun/knife violence, surgery/medical procedures, kidnapping.
August 24, 2025
Wrap me up in shades of Gray. Please!
I knew, shortly after Gray rescued Maya from the underground fight club in Deal with the Devil, that he was my kinda brooding book boyfriend… but I wasn’t prepared for how thoroughly entranced I would be by him in this second installment.
The overarching peril of the world Maya and Gray, along with their rag-tag chosen family, inhabit continues to throw obstacles at them. But it’s Maya’s past and Gray’s future which provide the biggest hurdles. For her part, Maya has to keep her emotions and her physical contact locked down, else she threatens to overload her TechCorps altered brain. But how can she with Gray chipping away at her defenses with his quiet, steady resolve and his deep-blue-ocean eyes? And how can Gray endanger Maya, when he knows his days are numbered? Death is coming for him at any moment and when it does he knows it will break Maya, heart & soul.
Watching these two dance around their obvious attraction was a delicious torment. But when they both decide to throw caution to the wind and love one another in any way they can for however long they have… it’s tender and brutal and beautiful. I wanted so much more!
There were some great surprises and revelations, more characters introduced, new family members embraced, and secrets galore! With only one more book left in this trilogy I’m finding myself a little sad. I want to spend more time with the Mercenary Librarians and their Silver Devils. Can’t wait to see how everything wraps up!
I knew, shortly after Gray rescued Maya from the underground fight club in Deal with the Devil, that he was my kinda brooding book boyfriend… but I wasn’t prepared for how thoroughly entranced I would be by him in this second installment.
The overarching peril of the world Maya and Gray, along with their rag-tag chosen family, inhabit continues to throw obstacles at them. But it’s Maya’s past and Gray’s future which provide the biggest hurdles. For her part, Maya has to keep her emotions and her physical contact locked down, else she threatens to overload her TechCorps altered brain. But how can she with Gray chipping away at her defenses with his quiet, steady resolve and his deep-blue-ocean eyes? And how can Gray endanger Maya, when he knows his days are numbered? Death is coming for him at any moment and when it does he knows it will break Maya, heart & soul.
Watching these two dance around their obvious attraction was a delicious torment. But when they both decide to throw caution to the wind and love one another in any way they can for however long they have… it’s tender and brutal and beautiful. I wanted so much more!
There were some great surprises and revelations, more characters introduced, new family members embraced, and secrets galore! With only one more book left in this trilogy I’m finding myself a little sad. I want to spend more time with the Mercenary Librarians and their Silver Devils. Can’t wait to see how everything wraps up!
July 17, 2021
I have been so impressed by this writing duo and this book didn’t disappoint. I adore that it is set in a dystopian world were ordinary people are fighting to simply survive and yes often that’s in spite of the big , greedy tech giant in charge. Maya was a huge part of that, she’s now just quietly helping those who need it but with the recent arrival of an elite team on the run Maya’s focus is suddenly very confused. She trusts Nina and knows that she has no doubt about the guys but can Maya trust herself as her past comes charging back to haunt her ?
Ok if you have read the Beyond series then you full well know that the creative endeavours here are raw, visceral and unafraid to be brutally honest. This particular book is a romance between Maya and Grey but I loved that diversity was a part of it. Nothing is thrust down an unsuspecting readers throat but characters who are perhaps unconventional or even downright upfront about their sexuality appear adding richness without taking up story.
This mainly was about Maya coming to terms with everything that she could possibly be . I particularly liked seeing Ava start to feel and yes I do believe that she can ! Grey has his own issues, not to mention a blast from the past but my lips are sealed. I thoroughly enjoyed being back in this world and although the romance wasn’t particularly as intense as I wanted this book was definitely a page turner and I am already desperate to get back to this world.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Ok if you have read the Beyond series then you full well know that the creative endeavours here are raw, visceral and unafraid to be brutally honest. This particular book is a romance between Maya and Grey but I loved that diversity was a part of it. Nothing is thrust down an unsuspecting readers throat but characters who are perhaps unconventional or even downright upfront about their sexuality appear adding richness without taking up story.
This mainly was about Maya coming to terms with everything that she could possibly be . I particularly liked seeing Ava start to feel and yes I do believe that she can ! Grey has his own issues, not to mention a blast from the past but my lips are sealed. I thoroughly enjoyed being back in this world and although the romance wasn’t particularly as intense as I wanted this book was definitely a page turner and I am already desperate to get back to this world.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
February 3, 2022
Okay I am SO into this series!!! This is the second - it's a post-apocolyptic near future, so very sci fi but not an unrecognizable world. The premise is basically two teams coming together, fighting crime and distributing books (Mercenary Librarians!!) and taking down bad guys. Also they have special powers. And they fall in love!
This one is about Maya, raised to be a data courier - meaning, created to have perfect recall so she can keep the secrets the state doesn't want to commit to paper. She was a little naive for me, and her romance with Grey was very sweet. Definitely a slow burn! I wanted a little bit more depth from their interactions together, but the real strength of this series so far is that their relationship is only half the book. In this case I loved that: the other half is cool high stakes adventures and getting to know all the other characters.
Now I'm sad I have to wait for the next one to be published.
This one is about Maya, raised to be a data courier - meaning, created to have perfect recall so she can keep the secrets the state doesn't want to commit to paper. She was a little naive for me, and her romance with Grey was very sweet. Definitely a slow burn! I wanted a little bit more depth from their interactions together, but the real strength of this series so far is that their relationship is only half the book. In this case I loved that: the other half is cool high stakes adventures and getting to know all the other characters.
Now I'm sad I have to wait for the next one to be published.
May 11, 2022
I was so so on the first book, I feel like this one is better, but not much. I wonder if maybe this series isn't for me, despite how much I love the author's Beyond series and other books.
I liked Maya's spot in the community, like how she took to Rainbow. Was sort of invested in her relationship with Gray, was horrified by what they all found out was happening with kids. Yet was bored, to the point where I almost dnf'ed the book a couple times. I'm glad things ended the way they did for Maya, glad that she can help her community more and hope there are more answers for her in the other things that were left for her.
I liked Maya's spot in the community, like how she took to Rainbow. Was sort of invested in her relationship with Gray, was horrified by what they all found out was happening with kids. Yet was bored, to the point where I almost dnf'ed the book a couple times. I'm glad things ended the way they did for Maya, glad that she can help her community more and hope there are more answers for her in the other things that were left for her.
October 12, 2021
Okay so I did enjoy this in the end, but wow were the first 10 chapters or so a hard slog. I kept picking this up and down because you just get thrown back into the world, and it took me a long time to get my footing.
Between that and the slow burn, this actually feels more like a placeholder book to set up the wider story that will obviously happen in book three. Which is a shame because I liked the romance and all the relationships in this. But if I were to compare this to say, the Psy-Changeling series, those all have the romance as the main point of each book, with the wider story around it, whereas this felt like that dynamic flipped.
Between that and the slow burn, this actually feels more like a placeholder book to set up the wider story that will obviously happen in book three. Which is a shame because I liked the romance and all the relationships in this. But if I were to compare this to say, the Psy-Changeling series, those all have the romance as the main point of each book, with the wider story around it, whereas this felt like that dynamic flipped.
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