Villains by Necessity

Something Wicked #2

by Elisse Hay

I follow the rules when they’re fair, but since when has love ever been fair?

There’s a power vacuum triggering issues between the magi and vampires that’s threatening to unleash a nightmare. Vampires, witches, and fae I can fight. That’s all in a day’s work. But my enemies’ choice of weapon is the most terrifying of all—love.

I’m paid to guide the magickal members of our community. I won't have an obsession-fuelled team of witches running an abusive, Cupid-esque racket. And I definitely won’t let my client be drawn back into their horrific web.

One thing’s for sure, love has a dark underside, and it's coming for my client—but first, it’ll have to go through me.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampires, Shapeshifters

366 pages, Hardcover

Published May 24, 2024

About the author

Elisse lives on the unceded land of the Kulin Nation in Australia. She has become the cat lady everybody promised she could be; her next goal is swamp hag.

Reviews

[charlene ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars  

★★★★★

☞ Trigger warnings: **contains spoilers**
alcohol consumption, anxiety disorders & anxiety attacks, blood & gore depiction, body horror, building collapse, burns, captivity & confinement, dead bodies & body parts, death of a friend (mentioned), decapitation, depression, fire, grief & loss depiction, gun violence, home invasion, hospitalisation, hostage situation, kidnapping, knife violence, loss of limb, massacre, medical treatment & procedures, mental illness, mind control & possession, misogyny, murder & attempted murder, nightmares, organised crime, panic attacks, paralysis, physical injuries, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, scars, sexual harassment, slut-shaming, workplace harassment.


Something Wicked series reviews:
#1     Foul is Fair: ★★★★★
#2     Villains by Necessity: ★★★★☆
#3     Met by Moonlight: currently reading


✿  My review is also posted right here on my blog  ✿
✿  My review for book 1 - Foul is Fair is right here and on my blog  ✿

**I was provided with an ARC from City Owl Press for an honest review**

Aurora is finding her footing in this new city, with a boyfriend she loves and friends she cannot live without. Her boss still has a stick up his arse but we can't have it all right?

After the Foul is Fair, the city is suffering from a power vacuum. The vampires and the fae are scheming but Aurora has her hands full with a clients abusive ex trying to commit the crimes of kidnapping, bodily harm and murder. Things start to connect, and everyone is at risk from all sides.

Something happens in the first 20% that truly ruined my week. It broke me down. I was sucker punched. I was led to the slaughter. It tore my heart out and made me crumble into a little ball. I wanted to scream the All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) because of this book. It was a heartbreaking read. As the book progressed, and as Aurora was dealing with her complicated emotions and her trauma, I felt like there was a missed opportunity for Aurora to heal from the experience. I was holding my breath for the rest of the book, waiting for something. I got desperate. I wanted a call, a final conversation, anything. I felt left in the cold, still reeling, with no resolution.

Aside from how this book dropkicked me deeper into my depression cycle, Villains by Necessity is almost double the length of Foul is Fair and you can feel all those extra pages. I kept thinking every big action scene was the climax action scene and then it just kept going... and going. By the time the end rolled around I was tired, I was drained, and unfortunately I was uncomfortable.

The uncomfortable feeling wasn't sudden. It was was a growing sense of unease around the men of this book. Firstly, lets tackle Beo. What can I say that remains spoiler free but encompasses my feelings. In a nutshell, I feel personally betrayed by that man. I understand his reasoning to an extent but I simply cannot forgive nor forget. It felt abrupt and it felt unnecessary and total against his character.

"We're all aresholes. You happen to be a specific flavour of areshole that I object to."

Speaking of people acting out, wtf is going on with Arthur. He was an entire arsehole now he's not? I feel like it overcorrected. The growth felt clunky, and instant. It wasn't earned. It was making solid ground but ultimately found hollow. Maybe the hollowness is because Beo was Arther's juxtaposition, and Taig doesn't fill that role. Taig filled no voids for me. Taig is the wettest blanket in comparison to Beo. There is nothing exceptional about this man. I have had sour cream spicier than this man. If Taig is endgame I will walk off a bridge. DEM MANS A COP FOR CHRIST SAKE. What happened to ACAB? As a black woman, I tend to steer clear of any books with a cop or sheriff romance subplot. To sneak one in feels dirty. I have to pray for forgiveness to my ancestors now.

Regardless of the men, the female friendships were solid. They felt real, heartwarming and supportive. Girls are the ones who will stick with you through thick and thin, and men come and go. To see a real support system that tells you to cut your shit or that they love you in every way possible brought me to my knees. I love it here and I wish all the girls and the they's have such a loving group of people. Highlight of the book.

"Anyone else would've just been like 'oh yeah life's good, saw a movie last week,' No, you're all like 'I cut a witch's throat'. Jesus, I love you."

Aurora was on a self-destructive warparth. No one was safe from the consequences of her risk-taking behaviours. Her trauma and recent romance battles equate to a high amount of questionable choices and very many near death experiences.

"You're chaos, Rory."

Lastly, the mystery. It was fine. I was as interested as last book. Aurora's personal life was too commanding to focus on the on going mystery. It wasn't necessarily a straight forward mystery, with everything being connected loosely.


Overall, I am currently unsure if I will continue the series. I feel happy ending it here but I want to feel enticed to read the next book, not forced. I need some insights on where it is going before I jump in.

I would like to also shout out to the author who started the book with an acknowledgment of country that Australians use as to pay respect to the traditional custodians of the land.

This story was written on the Wadawurrung lands of the Kulin Nation and is set in the lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation. I pay respect to First Nation Elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded.

Would I recommend this book?
Yes but I enjoyed Foul is Fair more.

Will I re-read this book? 
I have read Book 1 and Book 2. I am unsure if I will continue after that which bums me out because I loved book 1 so much and felt the potential of the series.


✧ June 15th ✧

i feel like I have went through the five stages of grief like three times.
i feel wrung out. i was left a little hallow without a satisfactory ending (boneless if you will *wink wink*… starts sobbing)

review to come

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[Witchetty Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well slap me over the face with a bin chicken and give me all the hook turns, That was a wild ride. You bet I drank as much coffee as our badass FMC Rory. I am a slow ass reader, but I read this in one day! I wanted more I needed answers! This urban fantasy is darker than the first and I enjoyed every second of the ride. Not even mad at who someone may have got with, spoiler free of course but I was mad that didn’t happen in book one. I LOVE how real Elisse writing is, the way she relates this world to our world. Even the real feeling of trauma and ways the world is run. The inclusive touch and sensitivity on topics. It was a must read and a great urban fantasy. Well I wish I could add more to this review but like Rory I need a nap, some junk food and butt loads of brew.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was lucky to automatically get a free ARC when purchasing book one.

[JW USA · Rating 2 out of 5]

Switches main lead

That was very unexpected. The rift and the world for much darker than book 1. Beo abandons Rory. There is a lot of angst and violence. I am a bit in shock at how different this was from book 1. I found the book traumatic and won’t be continuing. If you like dark then this will work for you.

[Mitra | myfictionalmusings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Villains by Necessity is the second book in Something Wicked series, this fast-paced urban fantasy romance features a flawed yet badass and sassy witch Rory as its protagonist. The first book, 'Foul is Fair,' introduced us to Rory, who embarks on a new job as a social worker for supernaturals, aiming to escape her tragic and traumatized past. 'Villains by Necessity,' the second book, is equally captivating, continuing the story immediately after the events of the first book. It is advisable to read the first book for the full understanding of the journey ahead. Once immersed in this installment, prepare to be consumed by the dynamic energy, intricate relationships, magical elements, and intense battles that unfold. This series is an exhilarating adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Rory is faced with a new challenge—fighting against the manipulative and abusive tactics of a group of witches who use love as their weapon of choice. As a guide for the magickal community, Rory is determined to protect her client from being ensnared in the dangerous web of these love-driven abusive racket.
What truly captivated me was Elisse's authentic writing style and her ability to draw parallels between the fictional world and our own, particularly in addressing issues of trauma and societal structures. Elisse Hay continues to deliver an empowering feminist storyline, which is a refreshing aspect of the genre. The book stands out by avoiding toxic romance tropes and instead portraying realistically complex relationships between mature individuals with their own baggage. The inclusivity and sensitivity displayed in the narrative are commendable. Overall, this book is a must-read for urban fantasy fans.

[Alex]

DNFed on p. 104 out of 423 (24%)

I just don't understand why the author turned all of the men into such pricks. The entire first book was setting up a romance, and then the second they get together, the man turns into this gross possessive misogynist like?? And now the FMC lowkey has a wandering eye bc of course she does I guess. Yeah I'm bummed bc the mystery component is interesting and the FMC was really cool but they took everything I liked about the characters in book 1 and randomly changed them.

[Annettesbookbanter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3 for me.

Villains by Necessity is the 2nd book in the Something Wicked series and after reading the first book I was really excited for this one. The chapters were again relatively short and it was fast-paced with plenty of action. However I didn't find myself as compelled to continue reading this was compared to the first. The book is again written from the FMC POV.

I feel that this one didn't flow as well and was therefore not as easy read. It was also definitely darker than the first book. Whilst I liked the main storyline overall, I did't get some of the plot choices and also felt like a lot of the character decisions didn't align with who the characters were shown to be in the first book. The FMC seemed to be all over the place and whilst I understand that part of that was because of what happens with her relationship, it felt a little too erratic. I did however enjoyed Arthur's character development and somewhat redemption arc. As a personal preference I am not loving the direction of the relationships that are happening in this book but who knows that might change after reading the next book.

Whilst I definitely think the first book was better, it is still a good urban fantasy read especially if you like a crime/mystery vibe with witches, werewolves, vampires and more.

I am apart of the Books and Bitches ARC Team and received a copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review. 

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Something Wicked series continues to deliver high quality urban fantasy that pushes genre conventions in the best kind of ways. In Villains by Necessity Rory’s story takes a darker turn that I was not expecting. Although the book isn’t exceptionally long I feel like so much happens in the story that the characters we start the book with are not the same at the end of it. The whole gang from book one returns in this book and there are several new and interesting characters. The empowering feminist narrative continues in this book and that is one of the excellent ways that Elisse Hay refreshes the genre. I also love the lack of toxic paranormal romance style relationships in favour of realistically complicated romance between grown ups that each have a lot of baggage. I liked this even more than the first book and will be on the lookout for the next book in the series. I would recommend this to anyone that loves urban fantasy, especially if you’re ready for a new take on the genre.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Something Wicked series continues to deliver high quality urban fantasy that pushes genre conventions in the best kind of ways. In Villains by Necessity Rory’s story takes a darker turn that I was not expecting. Although the book isn’t exceptionally long I feel like so much happens in the story that the characters we start the book with are not the same at the end of it. The whole gang from book one returns in this book and there are several new and interesting characters. The empowering feminist narrative continues in this book and that is one of the excellent ways that Elisse Hay refreshes the genre. I also love the lack of toxic paranormal romance style relationships in favour of realistically complicated romance between grown ups that each have a lot of baggage. I liked this even more than the first book and will be on the lookout for the next book in the series. I would recommend this to anyone that loves urban fantasy, especially if you’re ready for a new take on the genre.

[Jessica Kane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️
I received an ARC copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

The amount of times while reading this that I got cravings for coffee and hot chips was insane 😂

This continues on from book 1 but oh god did this book take me on a wild roller coaster ride. This series is an urban fantasy series that follows our main FMC Rory through her life and new job.

Just as in book 1 the mystery and crime solving in this book is too tier! The plot had me hooked the entire time! There was a little bit of spice in this book but a lot of tension 🥵

There is a change on who the love interest is from book 1 to this one, which I was so shocked about and a little upset over but by the end of book I was glad for the change and can’t wait to see the story continue in the book!

I definitely recommend this book and series! Do check trigger warnings before reading.

[CB · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t remember much about the first book but I remember I liked it enough to go onto the next book in the series. I’m questioning my memory of that though, because I really didn’t enjoy this one at all. Almost all the characters were unlikeable especially the heroine, who was harsh, chaotic, a constant self-imposed martyr, and whose emotions bounced all over the place to the point they made no sense to me. Not helping the situation was the jarring writing by the author - I would read sections and then have to go back and try to reread it again, sometimes more than once, to try to decipher what just happened. At some point I gave up on doing that though because it shouldn’t be that hard. Just an absolute mess.

[Sammysreads]

This book ramps up a notch with the action and seemingly never ending workplace politics, red tape and drama. Rory is balancing her life as a social worker for the supernatural citizens, which is getting more dangerous by the day, and her complicated love life. I must admit there were times in the book I was completely blind sighted with the way some of the storylines went and I am so very curious to see how they play out in the next book.

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆:

✨️Sassy, badass female main characters

✨️Top notch friendships

✨️Non stop action

✨️Coffee and hot chips

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took me a bit longer to get into than the first one, and I was not expecting my heart to be ripped out so that slowed me down. But this is a beautifully written series and sometimes you just need to trust the author. I should have known better since this series bucks most of the typical urban fantasy conventions and all for the better. There is a lot going on in this book, but what makes it stand out is the depth and heart in this book - we see a main character who is flawed and more uniquely needs time to heal (both emotionally and physically). The world building is rich and complex and I can't wait for the next book.

All that said, this is in a series and will not standalone, please read Fair is Four first before diving in.

[Avo_in_bookland (Narelle) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Villains by Necessity is the second book in the Something Wicked Series.

This book is an awesome and it was a wild ride. So many twists that I totally did not see coming. Following on from Book 1 and dealing with all the Fall out Rory must move forward and face new Enemies and Challenges. And not only in her work life but also her personal and love life.

With the Introduction of many more mythical creatures including Vampires, faeries and Angels there is a great opportunity to get to know some of the other characters more in depth in Villains by Necessity. Getting to know Arthur and Taig in a more intimate level.

Absolutely love reading this Series and I’m so beyond excited to read book 3.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a flawed, but strong female witch lead, this is non-stop, fast paced, action packed urban fantasy. Book one of Something Wicked, ‘Foul is Fair’, was brilliant fantasy and introduced us to Rory starting a job as a social worker for supernaturals trying to leave her violent and crushing past life behind. Villains by Necessity, book two is equally good with a story line that starts immediately after book one - so read that first to truly understand where you are being taken. Then open this book and get lost in the energy, relationships, magic and battles. This is adrenaline rush fiction! Rory might suggest having some good coffee to drink while you read, I would probably suggest something stronger to calm the nerves. Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

in the face of epic dangers, love alone is not enough

angels, faeries, witches, vampires and so much power clash with politics, rules and the drive to control

not a one woman show, nor a one witch show

intense drama, action, crushed hearts, minds and souls and flickers of hope and friendships that are another kind of love

great reading for fans of paranormal adventure and romance or thriller elements

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read the first book in this series about a year ago, so I was very excited to see the second book. I dived in immediately, and I remembered why I had loved it. Rory really shows some of her deep-seated anxieties in this one, and we partly go on a voyage of discovery with her. Add to that, we see lots of non-stop action, different sides to characters we either knew and loved or knew and hated, and we are treated to some great plot. This book isn’t perfect, but it is so much fun. I absolutely adore this series, and I can’t wait for the next one! Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters from book one return in this book with a few added characters. Realistic complicated romance between adults. Rory discovers a real deep seated anxiety. Adult baggage without the phony complications you find in other stories. It was a nice urban fantasy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[tburbr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second installment of Something Wicked was well written and kept my attention thanks to the endearing characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[beautiful A Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the second book !
You could pick the book up and it’s characters and please them anywhere in the world and you’d still have a great story , I love the FMC
Love the fact it’s in Australia

[SHK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

So much going on in this book, intense, in a good way. Can't what to see where this series goes next!

[Readingwithkatiejane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first in this series around a year ago and eagerly awaited this book. It was really good, not a perfect book I do not think but I really did enjoy it a lot and read it in one sitting. I am already excited for the next in the series!

[Marisa Valle · Rating 2 out of 5]

OMG, what the heck happened?! This sequel was so disappointing. Seemed like a completely different person wrote this. The first one was a little dark but it was also funny and had some good relationship stuff going on. This sequel was totally dark and actually depressed me. The plot didn't make much sense and it just wasn't interesting. The characters were unrecognizable. Suddenly Beo becomes an A-hole. Spoilers ahead.


Beo had professed his deep feelings for Rory in the first book and now he doesn't hesitate to leave her while she's recuperating in a hospital without the benefit of talking to her in person. His reasons don't make sense either. He knew who she was and what she did and his absence was not going to make things any safer for her so I'm completely baffled. How could he abandon the one person that was "in his bones"? This completely ruined the first book for me and their relationship in general because he obviously didn't really mean what he told her.

Rory turned into a manipulative basket case who was willing to screw any attractive guy who showed the slightest interest in her. Not sure if I would have preferred her chasing after Beo. Don't really like the Detective for her but maybe she will eventually hook up with new vampire who seems totally gross. The only way that I would consider continuing to read this series is if Beo returns and tries to win Rory back. However, not sure if even that will save this series. It's a shame because the first book was sooo good and had so much potential.

[Leanne ~ Tales From The Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with this one, my fave character was just gone. She went from loving to slutty, perhaps she was just lost. My head was spinning with all that was going on. This story was a lot darker than the first. I loved that it was set in my home town and the lingo was familiar.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two of the Something Wicked series and the main character is Caretaker Rory (Aurora) Gold, who took on this new role hoping to be out her life as part of a Retrieval Team, which was extremely dangerous and had led to her losing those she worked with and cared for. As a Caretaker, she is looking after those in the supernatural society who need guidance or looking after. Her current charge is witch Deirdre, who is being hunted by her ex-boyfriend Tobias, who seems to have an unhealthy obsession with her. Rory’s recent takedown of the High Wizard has left a power vacuum and is causing problems between the magi and vampires. Now there are rogue lycan and vampire attacks throughout the city and even sightings of fae. Rory has trouble each time she uses magic or force against the enemy, as only certain types and levels are allowed, the rest are considered illegal and cause her issues with the police department and those higher up. She gets caught up in a bit of a romantic mess, when one of the wizards, Arthur, is shot with an arrow laced with a love potion and the first person he sees and his target is Rory!

When more attacks come, she soon finds out there is far more involved in the love obsession with Deidre. Her own love life starts to falter as Beo is making a huge decision without her. Rory has lots of training fighting against all sorts of supernatural beings and has lots of advanced spell work in her head, which she will need if she wants to stay in one piece. Others don’t seem to be able to handle her placing herself in danger all the time and one of the police superiors, Clint, seems to have it out for her and tries arresting her on various charges as often as he can, clearly wanting her out! Another Taig, seems to be quite aloof but does speak up on her behalf at least, against Clint. Rory only wants to protect people and do what is right, never mind the rules and even on suspension, she will still do everything she can to stop the bad guys. It seems those she is fighting against are using love against them and higher powers have possessed the initial wizard and witches to pervert the real meaning of love for their own satisfaction. Bodies will fall and battles will be numerous, as Rory decides to take down those responsible to stop the horror once and for all.

A slow read and took quite a while to get through for me. There are plenty of moments of excitement and magical battles, as Rory has to face off against vampires, lycans, fae, wizards, witches and more. On top of that there is all the departmental politics that try to hamper her and at times also blame her for doing more than was legal. She loved Beo, but then used the hated Arthur to release a bit of an itch after he was hit by the love potion and acting unlike his normal self, while then starting to fall for Taig, so a bit confusing at times. Enjoyable overall, but probably a bit too long for what should have been covered. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

3 ½ to 4 stars

[Grace H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book, which made me run for the second but I was bitterly disappointed. Contrary to what a lot of people said, I appreciate the story being told in a single POV considering there are a lot of secondary characters so a second POV would be a bit useless.

The one thing that I absolutely love and forgot to mention was the very solid support system our FMC has going on. From a childhood bestie, to her family and a colleague turned sister. Nothing short of 5🌟

On the flip side 😅 there was a lot I didn’t like and because I have no idea where to start. I’ll start with our FMC.


NOT to down on her overarching message of female empowerment and standing up for yourself especially in professional environments, but it felt a bit overdone. However coming from how the author did whatever she did in the first 25% of the book, her lack of trust in others is fully understandable. Like any human being, asking for help isn’t a weakness.

Knowing how to apologise isn’t a weakness and that’s another thing the FMC failed to do quite frequently. What made the whole apology thing worse is how she expected others to apologise to her, yet there were instances where she was on the same side of hypocritical.

Another thing that irked me was how she couldn’t be content in singleness. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking time to acknowledge the hurt you’ve been through and processing everything without using people and dragging them around. Coupled with unnecessary and unpalatable steamy scenes, it’s a recipe for disaster.

The last thing is how it seems like she’s not capable of fighting or doing anything worthwhile without her being angry. She was set up to be this wonderful FMC from the previous book and I was expecting more character development, but that was clearly a miss.

The fight scenes were quite difficult to read as well. It was an issue I had with the first book, but I could let it go because certain things were explained later on in the story. This time round I couldn’t look past it especially as they play a significant role in this book. They were choppy and it was hard to get an understanding of what was really happening so instead of amping my curiosity, I was put off because I couldn’t get a gist of who was doing what and where and why, considering a plethora of who’s were brought in towards the end.

If I do continue reading this series it will be more so for the overarching plot, but I would need a break beforehand.

[Sarah Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Something Wicked series starts off immediately after book 1. Rory and Arthur are leaving the site of the “incident” and Arthur is shot with an arrow with a love potion. Now she has a love sick puppy on top of all her other problems. And she definitely has problems. Someone is after Deirdre and they’re dealing with vampires, Lycans, faeries and more. Rory can’t ever catch a break and barely gets to rest. It is seriously one thing after another.
And one of those “things” was an absolute shock to me. I mean stuck with me as much as it stuck with Rory! I spent the rest of the book waiting for this be a mistake and hoping it wasn’t really happening.
There are so many dangerous situations that Rory’s old Retrieval team is even brought in. There are rumblings of a new vampire coming to town while trying to find and eliminate the ones already causing the trouble. Some of this book is definitely not for the squeamish.
Most of the book I felt sorry for Rory with having deal with Arthur, Beo, Deidre, Taig, Clint plus the bad guys. She’s still processing her trauma and adding to it. But she makes some bad decisions in her poor mindset. There were times I wanted to shake her and ask what she was thinking, both personally and professionally. She really is doing the best she can though and is absolutely willing to push herself to the limits to save those she’s sworn to protect.
I really liked the first book, but I like this book even more. It was definitely more raw and emotional. You get a deeper look into Rory’s mind and traumas. But not all emotions are horrible. Arthur goes through some changes in his mindset and starts to see things from different perspectives. I will definitely be reading the next book.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our heroine is ready for just about anything until a coven of witches turn love into a weapon. That's just wrong and our heroine is not going to stand still for that. Not one little bit.

This is book two of the series, but it works fine as a standalone. You will be missing a bit of background, but that is all.

This is an urban fantasy series with witches, shifters and the like. The story itself is well written and easy to read with a well developed setting that is fun to explore. The characters are also well developed and lots of fun. I love our heroine who is tough and smart, just the way I like them. The story moves at a rapid pace with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting. Overall, this was a addition to the series and I definitely look forward to seeing more.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.

[Wandering Bear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book one took me a bit to get into, and sadly, I seemed to have found the same with book two. Again, I persisted as I wanted to find out what happens.

This one is a little darker than book one and I was surprised at the change of love interest in the story. It threw me for a six, that’s for sure.

I have found that I need the other character POV’s rather than just Rory’s, to get a better feel for who they are and what they are feeling. It might help me understand more.

Normally these type of stories suck me in, but this series isn’t quite doing it for me. Again, this could simply be my current mindset as I know others with similar tastes in genre to me, who have absolutely devoured this story and given it solid 5 stars.

I’m still going to read book 3 though, because I can’t just leave it as is.

3/5 ⭐

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anastasiia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the writing definitely took a dive here. There were entire sections that made absolutely no sense — I kept flipping back, rereading like a detective trying to piece together the meaning behind the chaotic jumps. Spoiler: it didn’t help. This book desperately needs an editor.

BUT, if we pretend for a second that the writing wasn’t a mess, the plot itself is actually pretty cool and entertaining. Rory is a hot mess in the best way — making all sorts of questionable life choices. I mean, that whole shenanigans with Arthur? Honestly, relatable. I didn’t even mind. And then the sudden switcheroo with Beo and Taig? Well, damn, I didn’t see that coming, but it weirdly works. It makes Rory feel more human — for lack of a better word.

I thought I knew exactly where this story was going, but colour me impressed. It surprised me.

That said, I really wanted to rate it higher, but in good faith, I can't give it more than 3 stars with writing like that.

[Kristie-Anne Bridges · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've found that this is a series that I don't feel the need to binge read. I do enjoy it, but it doesn't draw me where I have to know what happens next, like other books I've read. I'm not sure if this is because it is only from the MFC POV, so the story is very one dimensional. But I do think that the author is excellent at showing & telling us what is happening!!!

In saying that, I am invested in these characters & looking forward to seeing where they go in the next book.

Some of the tropes/themes in this book are:

*Supernatural
*Urban Fantasy
*MFC POV Only
*Angsty MFC
*Trauma
*PTSD (they aren't acknowledging they have it)

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.