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Torn (The Blood Lily Chronicles #2)

by Julie Kenner (Goodreads Author)

3.64 of 5 stars 3.64 · rating details · 365 ratings · 37 reviews

Lily is in trouble of the deepest kind. Having been tricked by the forces of evil, she killed what she thought were "demons" at will. Now, she knows better, and with a little help from half-angel, half-demon Deacon Camphire, she must try to take down the bad guys from within as a double agent.

Paperback, 320 pages

Published November 24th 2009 by Ace (first published October 14th 2009)

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Jul 18, 2012 Fangs for the Fantasy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Coming in at 188 pages, Torn is a very short book that somehow still manages to feel extremely long. When we last left Lily, she had discovered that rather than working on the side of the good, she had actually been tricked into opening the 9th gate. If that were the only problem with being fooled that would be bad enough, but her sister Rose's body has been invaded by a demon. Johnson makes it clear that he the price of Rose's freedom is the Oris Clef - the key which throws open all of the gate...more Coming in at 188 pages, Torn is a very short book that somehow still manages to feel extremely long. When we last left Lily, she had discovered that rather than working on the side of the good, she had actually been tricked into opening the 9th gate. If that were the only problem with being fooled that would be bad enough, but her sister Rose's body has been invaded by a demon. Johnson makes it clear that he the price of Rose's freedom is the Oris Clef - the key which throws open all of the gates to hell. Unfortunately another demon faction also wants the key. Deacon Camphire the demon who Lily feels inextricably attracted to wants her to abandon the search for the Oris Clef in favour of finding the one key that will lock all the doors. At stake for him, is the possibility of redemption.

The only thing Lily knows for sure is that she must find a way to save Rose. This is her mantra repeatedly and yet she seems to be quite willing to palm Rose off on others. She feels the urge to hunt a demon, she dumps Rose. She has a mission to go on to retrieve part of the key, she dumps Rose. It's easy to see why Deacon could suggest that maybe Rose is disposable after all.

Lily moves from one location to another attempting to gather the pieces of the key but the archangel Gabriel is stalker her. At first, she assumes that he is a demon because of the tattoos on his face but Deacon explains that he is heaven's warrior. Can Lily save her sister, and stop the gates from being opened -does she even want to?

In the first book of this series, there was a lot of world building that was absent in this story. Unfortunately, without this world building, all that is challenging about this story is erased. One of the prominent challenges in was classism. Though the story itself was not original, I enjoyed the fact that Kenner went of her way to detail how one's class location greatly effects one's life chances. Considerin that this story is extremely erased - no characters of colour, no disabled and no GLBT characters the focus on class at least added a real world element. It was further intriguing because class based issues are something that rarely gets discussing in this genre, making it one of the best things about Tainted. When Kenner stopped discussing class, she effectively got rid of the best thing about this series. Now there is absolutely nothing to differentiate it from all of the other books in this genre.

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May 14, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Really 4.75 Rating,

[SPOILERS INCLUDED] I strongly suggest you read the previous book Tainted before reading this book. This installment picks up immediately where Tainted leaves off. Lily rescues her sister but was too late to protect her from being possessed by her demon rapist, Lucas Johnson. Lily is up to her neck in trouble when Lucas blackmails her to vacate her sister's body. Lily together with Deacon Camphire fight tooth and nail to close the hell gates. Knowing that she's been double cr...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Blood Rose Books rated it 3 of 5 stars

If you have not read the first book in this series Tainted, then this review will have spoilers for the first book. I do have a review of Tainted already on this website, so I would recommend reading that before you read any further on this review. Okay now that you have been warned about possible spoilers.....

Julie Kenner bring us the next installment of the Blood Lily chronicles, where Lily is forced to work for the dark side in order to save the one thing that helps her hold onto the human wo...more If you have not read the first book in this series Tainted, then this review will have spoilers for the first book. I do have a review of Tainted already on this website, so I would recommend reading that before you read any further on this review. Okay now that you have been warned about possible spoilers.....

Julie Kenner bring us the next installment of the Blood Lily chronicles, where Lily is forced to work for the dark side in order to save the one thing that helps her hold onto the human world and her sanity, her sister Rose.

Lily knows that she has screwed up big time. She has not prevented the hell gate from being locked, actually she is the reason why the gate was not locked. She was working for the wrong side, the dark side who had convinced her that they were light. This does not mean that she has given up, but things just got a lot more complicated, especially now that Clarance has assigned Lily a side kick Kiera, who Lily doesn't know if she can trust. Then there is Deacon, who is a Demon who is supposedly working for the light side, but after being betrayed once Lily isn't sure she can trust him, even though she has an attraction to him. And then in the background the man who haunts Lily and Rose, Johnson, who is responsible for all the sorrow, hurt and death in both their lives. Lily is going to need all her whits about her in order to keep going, all she can do is trust her instinct and hope this time she has chosen the right side.

Not going to lie, it has been a bit since I read the first book in the series Tainted. It is just one of those things that you always mean to get around to but never quite do.This is why I appreciated that Kenner did a little bit of a recap of what happened in the first books, just to refresh my memory, nothing long just a page or two (I mean I have read quite a few books since I read the first book, I believe it was over a year ago now).

I really have to admire Lily for always putting her sister first before anything, and really just wanting to protect her, I mean Lily died to protect Rose. There is no greater sacrifice than that. But the question Lily really has to face is the age old philosophy question "Kill one to save Ten" or in this case kill one to save the world and this really becomes the main premise of the book, and what the storyline is focused around and what decision Lily will make.

I liked the introduction of a partner for Lily, Kiera who is another kickass warrior who has the special ability to smell whether an individual is human or demon, and she has no problems taking them out when the time comes. But you feel for Lily because she is always wondering if Kiera is really on her side, and can actually help and trust her. Kiera is very similar to Lily and does speak about how she is Tainted as well before she was brought over to fight for the "light" but the main difference there was that she was "allowed" to keep her own body. But you always have to wonder if Kiera is just another manipulating maneuver from the Dark.

The only thing I wish there was a bit more of is the use and development of all the powers that Lily has acquired from killing Demons. I mean in this book there was very little use of her powers, other than what her blood is able to do. There was very little talk about the blood lust that she had acquired. I guess what I am trying to say I wish there was a little bit more action, there are a few fighting scenes but they never seemed to be with Lily using her powers. I began wonder if Kenner is unsure of how Lily should use all the powers and power that she has acquired, and possible bit off more than she thought when she introduced the concept. I still really like to concept as it is something different I just think that is needs to be developed a bit more.

This book and series would be enjoyed by the individuals who like paranormal books but also those who like paranormal romance. I think that Kenner has done a good job with appealing to individuals who enjoy both of these genres. Yes, there is some romance, sex and tension between Lily and Deacon, that I will admit that I enjoyed, as it was not constant.

I think that this series has developed along really well into the second book, and the stony line is getting better as the books seem to go on. I do wonder what the next book will hold, and I hope I do not wait as long to read the next book as I did to read this one.

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Aug 04, 2011 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

I decided to pick up Torn after blazing through Tainted earlier this week. Torn continues the adventures of demon-hunting, butt-kicking Lily. After the earth-shattering revelations at the end of Tainted, Lily is trying to figure out her next move. This time though, Lily has her sister Rose with her, and it's time to do some serious big sister-ing. Without asking for it yet again, Lily is pulled back into the fight between good and evil and asked to find a hidden relic that would open the first e...more

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Dec 10, 2009 Ria Lize rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: lovers of dark urban fantasy, those who read the Fever series

Recommended to Ria Lize by: some goodreads user. Don't remember who.

A great read. Fast paced and adventurous, this book was hard to put down.

For one, this book has a kick-ass protagonist who can actually do something, has only ONE man in her mind, and even if she does feel something from others, she knew it wasn't real. I like protagonists like that- who are sure of the person they want and don't waver ... Fickle protagonists are the type I want to strangle, so thank God Lily is not one of them.

That being said, I noticed the word 'love' was never used between Li...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Alexandria rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was extremely disappointing. Especially when compared to its predecessor. It wasn't bad, but lacking in all areas. The characters were mediocre, the storyline was bland and failed to excite me at any point, and the storytelling was barely palatable. I have certainly read worse, its just that I had high expectations from reading the previous novel. There were times throughout the story where I hated Lily. She contradicts herself and her feelings at times. She's straddling the fence of g...more

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Dec 18, 2009 Marsha rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Adult

I enjoyed both books 1 and 2 of the Blood Lily Chronicles. However, I must say, I am not sure what it is about this author that is bothering me. Lily is a street smart young woman trying her best to do what is right by her sister (left in her care/ their mother is dead). She faces challenges head on and is strong and nobody's fool. She has all of the qualities I like in an herione and that is my dilemna, what is bothering me? Well, I think I have finally figured it out. As much as Ms. Kenner tri...more

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May 10, 2011 Tally Song rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: any paranormal action adventure junkie

Recommended to Tally by: took a chance

Shelves: vamps-werewolves-and-witches-oh-my

Book two in the Blood Lily Chronicles was out of this world. Very rarely am I ever surprised at a plot twist but I never saw this one coming!Our girl is for sure in dangerous game and the odds are stacked impossibly high against her.

Deacon starts heating up the night with his sexy mysterious presence and all become much more clear about who he is and what side he is on.
I love how Kenner keeps this story fast paced and does not take three or four books to deliver the answers to the must know or...more

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Dec 23, 2009 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's hard to review Torn without spoiling the big twist in the previous book, Tainted! So, I'll just say that Torn follows the further adventures of Lily Carlyle, now Alice Purdue, as she attempts to keep demons from overrunning the Earth. Meanwhile, her thorny relationship with Deacon continues, her handlers have teamed her up with a partner, and now Lily has custody of her traumatized little sister, Rose.

Rose is now facing a violation that might well be worse than what she suffered in the prev...more

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Jan 22, 2010 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars

If you enjoyed Tainted you will find Torn to be fun and asatisfying. This series is nothing especially unique but it is entertaining. The characters are interesting and you want to see how she's going to end it. The cliffhangers at the end of books 1 & 2 are rather frustrating to me, but I think its intentionally done. Some very satisfying action and resolutions in this one. Looking forward to the final book, though I'm not rushing out to get it either.

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Mar 17, 2010 Tara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, things-that-go-grr-arg-in-the-night, urban-fantasy, angels-or-demons

This is the second book in the Blood Lily Trilogy. I needed a trilogy for 2 different challenges and I have pretty much liked everything I've read by Julie Kenner. However I'm not loving this series. I don't feel a real connection to the characters.

Lily, the main character is in someone else's body, you find that out in the first 10 pages of the first book so this isn't a secret. What's weird is that she's claimed some of Alice's (her new body's) friends. Plus she is trying to hang on to her ol...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Mareike rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gelesen-2012, tauschliste

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. !! Achtung, es können Spoiler enthalten sein !!

Es hätte so gut werden können. Wurde es aber nicht. Nach dem ersten Band Erwachen war ich von der Reihe durchaus angetan und ich kann noch gar nicht fassen, wie man eine Fortsetzung so in den Sand setzen kann. Leider konnte Zerrissen nur bedingt an den guten Einstieg anknüpfen, so dass ich einfach enttäuscht bin. Der Beginn der Geschichte war dabei durchaus noch ansprechend. Ohne große Einleitung war man direkt wieder mitten im Geschehen. Nachdem Li...more !! Achtung, es können Spoiler enthalten sein !!

Es hätte so gut werden können. Wurde es aber nicht. Nach dem ersten Band Erwachen war ich von der Reihe durchaus angetan und ich kann noch gar nicht fassen, wie man eine Fortsetzung so in den Sand setzen kann. Leider konnte Zerrissen nur bedingt an den guten Einstieg anknüpfen, so dass ich einfach enttäuscht bin. Der Beginn der Geschichte war dabei durchaus noch ansprechend. Ohne große Einleitung war man direkt wieder mitten im Geschehen. Nachdem Lily erfahren hat, dass sie für das Böse gearbeitet hat will sie nun mit allen Mitteln verhindern, dass die geöffnete Pforte auch von Dämonen genutzt werden kann. An dieser Stelle beginnen dann auch erstmal einige Wiederholungen aus dem ersten Band, so dass man auch weiß, wie alles zusammenhängt. Ich hatte den ersten Band vor etwa einem Jahr gelesen, so dass es für mich kein Problem war. Direkt hintereinander könnte das zweite Buch allerdings erstmal langweilig werden.

Schade war vor allem, dass sich so wenig Spannung aufgebaut hat und die Charaktere teilweise sehr unglaubwürdig reagierten. Lily erkannte ich fast nicht wieder. Im ersten Buch ging es doch darum ihre Schwester zu beschützen und nun nimmt sie die 14-jährige mit in einen Nachtclub? Und während Lily sich dort betrinkt und einen Dämon tötet sitzt die Kleine in einer Ecke und nippt an ihrer Cola. Zu allem Überfluss wird Rose dann auch noch mit zum Tätowierer genommen, wo sie dann ein nettes kleines Tattoo bekommt. Ich wiederhole, Rose ist 14 Jahre alt! Ich verstehe es nicht. Genauso unverständlich ist für mich die Reaktion von Rachel, der Schwester von Alice. (Alice ist im ersten Band gestorben und Lily bekam ihren Körper für einen Neuanfang.) Nun erzählt Lily Rachel sämtliche Fakten und die akzeptiert die ganze Geschichte praktisch sofort. Wenn ich erzählt bekommen würde, dass meine Schwester lange tot ist und ihr Körper von einer anderen getöteten Dämonenjägerin benutzt wird, würde ich anders reagieren - vor allem, wenn sie dabei vor mir steht.

Da Zerrissen deutlich kürzer als Erwachen ist, hatte ich erwartet, dass die Handlung mehr gestrafft wird, aber es gab statt dessen einfach weniger Handlung. In der zweiten Hälfte des Romans wird es besser, weil endlich der Hauptstrang fortgeführt wird. In den Passagen, in denen Lily sich jeweils auf die Suche macht kommt auch Spannung auf. Das "große Finale", auf das das gesamte Buch über hingearbeitet wird ist dann allerdings innerhalb von ein paar Seiten vorbei und ich frage mich nun wirklich, ob ich mir den dritten Band noch kaufen soll. Es ist wirklich schade, weil die Geschichte so viel Potential hat und das absolut nicht rüber gebracht worden ist.

Bewertung
Durchschnittliche Unterhaltung und wenige Überraschungen hat Zerrissen zu bieten. Leider gelang das Anknüpfen an Erwachen nicht. Mit den Wiederholungen und den unglaubwürdigen Charakteren nimmt das Lesevergnügen enorm ab. Empfehlen kann ich das Buch daher nicht. (less)

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Mar 07, 2011 Patrick rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-series, reviewed

As a follow-up to Julie Kenner’s fast-paced and entertaining book, Tainted, the following book, Torn, is a big disappointment.

The first major difference is the number of chapters. Torn only consists of 28 chapters, while Tainted boasts 43. Turned has even less. (By the way, I’m not saying this is a bad thing. Just pointing it out.)
While Tainted only took me two or three days to finish, Torn took far longer partly due to that fact that I didn’t find it interesting. Tainted had a number of battl...more

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Aug 29, 2010 Steph rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, series-ended, author-웃

Torn {3.5★} picks up where Tainted left off. As we saw in the first book, Lily Carlyle, in the body of Alice Purdue, is trying to lock the doors to Hell keeping the demons from overtaking the Earth.

With all the twists and turns in the series, I will keep my review short to avoid any spoilers for this one or the previous book.

In Torn, we find her battling to protect her little sister, Rose, from a demon from their past, one she thought was long gone. She continues to feel a strong attraction to...more

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Feb 07, 2010 Jeanette Stingley rated it 5 of 5 stars

After reading Tainted Book 1, I couldn’t wait for Torn to be released! I really enjoy the character Lily in these books. She is easy to connect to. You can feel all of her emotions like you are right there in the action with her and the other characters she interacts with.

In Torn, Lily realizes she has been working for the demons instead of trying to stop them. She is sent on a mission to collect 3 pieces of a key that will lock the 9th gate of Hell and prevent millions of demons from taking ove...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Kcgood rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: done-series

More intense and complex than the first one in the series, but still a quick recreational book. The heroine has more depth this time and her boyfriend has more redeeming qualities; sometimes, you like him considerably more than you like her. There were fewer plot holes in this one, with one glaring exception: if you want to be a "good guy" and you meet an actual angel, it seems logical to consider cooperating at some point. Overall, if you made it through the first book, you'll probably enjoy th...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After reading "Tainted" this book did not disappoint. Kenner is an artist, using eher words to paint a world that you fall into. Writing in the first person, she is skillful with her dialect. Her writing truly puts you inside the main character's head, written as thoughts--not just changing "she" to "I." And her descriptive prose is beautiful. She knows how to use a thesaurus without going overboard.

I am captivated by the main male character. He is intriguing, being both dark and light, good and...more

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Aug 06, 2010 Bethany C rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have to say first of all, that I enjoyed Tainted a little more than this one. I thought Lily had changed a little bit- I didn't really remember the cheesy one-liners she threw out here and there that didn't really work for me. However, I've come to believe that the author has a knack for really great endings. I think I wasn't 100% invested until around page 197 (not that I was hating it or anything.) Then I couldn't read fast enough. I also think it's fun for the reader to have to constantly g...more

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Aug 29, 2010 Doris rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was a good read, with an ending that satisfied, but it didn't truly envelop me the way it should. Maybe its because all the characters have their hidden agendas, and no one is quite honest, or maybe its because Lily wants Deacon but doesn't love him, or maybe its because many of the peripheral characters are either pathetic or apathetic. It was a good continuation, but not great.

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Jan 07, 2010 Darcy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

This one picked up right where the last one left off. Lily ends up not being able to give up her sister who is further tormented by Lucas. Only this time instead of raping and beating her on the outside he has managed to possess part of her doing his damage from the inside. Lily fights with Deacon to keep Rose with her as they learn some information Lucas, neither sure if they can trust it.

Lily, still reeling from learning that the side she thought she was working for (good) wasn't correct. Dec...more

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Mar 17, 2010 Lori Whitwam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

This series isn't working for me as well as her "demon-hunting soccer mom" series. It's good... I'll keep reading it, but it's not knocking my socks off. You know how in a book you like to get enough information to make a few assumptions as to what's going on and what will happen? And then when the author throws you a twist, proving your supposition wrong, it's a good thing? Like, "Wow, I didn't see that coming!" My problem is when there is so much conflicting, confusing information that you can...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Pete Garza rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After I read the first book, I just had to find this next one. I really don't know what else to say, but Julie Kenner is an awesome writer. I Highly recommend her books.As for Torn, Well I refuse to give the story away.

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Sep 18, 2010 Danielle rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a fast paced and adventurous book that I could not put down.

Lily is in trouble of the deepest kind. Having been tricked by the forces of evil , now she knows better. Having help from her temptation, Deacon Camphire, she must try to take the dark forces by becoming a double agent.

From the first book I loved how Lily was compassionate and determained to protect her and those she cares about at all costs. Now I have to say Deacon is my new favorite good/bad demon.

I would recommend reading...more

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Jan 21, 2010 Sooz Acuna rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am looking forward to the next book. This one was good, but she kept worrying about what to do and saving her sister. At points, it distracted me from the story.

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Jul 30, 2011 Leslie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just can't stop reading this series!! I am lucky to already have the next in the series-i can't wait to see what happens next!

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Sep 09, 2010 Lisa O. rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the second book in the Blood Lily Chronicles even more than the first. Although the overall plotline mostly encompassed Lily's struggle to save her sister, it was a fast paced, action packed book. It was definitely a middle book, no conclusion to the series and the end leaves you hanging. But it did wrap up the side story about Rose nicely. I love the dark humor and sarcasm in this series. It's refreshing to have a main character that's not all warm and fuzzy. She's in a constant battl...more

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Jan 19, 2010 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

An entertaining enough sequel to the demon slayer who is infatuated with a demon (who may be attempting redemption) book.

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Sep 04, 2010 Kathy Davie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Yeah, okay, Deacon's hot in every way! And Lily is definitely torn in many directions. The intensity ratchets up!

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Aug 18, 2011 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm still not sure how I feel about these books. The writing is sub-par, but the concepts are fascinating to me. I'll go ahead and read the third book (since I have it) but I still am stuck firmly on the fence.

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Nov 13, 2012 Cheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, paranormal

I did not like this as well as Tainted, but it was still interesting.

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“Distract him? What the hell was I supposed to do? Strip naked and do the hula?” — 6 people liked it

“No, I wanna go kick puppies," she retorted.” — 3 people liked it

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Torn (The Blood Lily Chronicles #2)

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