A sexy angel. A bad boy demon. Cass is in love with heaven and hell.
Cassia is a foster kid. She has a plan; graduate high school, then pack her bags and leave her tragic past behind her. Yet on her first day of senior year, she meets two very different guys… biker Thames, who possess a fiery temper, and Cairo, football captain and handsome hero.
As Cass grows closer to the two boys, she finds herself caught in a love triangle, trapped in a world of angels and demons fighting for the souls of mankind... and hunted by a monster straight out of the underworld.
Will Cass taste forbidden fruit? What if YOU were in love with heaven and hell?
Find out by one-clicking today!
Fans of USA TODAY Bestselling Author Megan Linski’s Shifter Prophecy series will enjoy Torrent, a young adult paranormal romance featuring action, adventure, and a story of true love.
Megan Linski lives in Michigan. She is the author of more than fifty fantasy and paranormal novels which feature themes of friendship, community, and healthy romantic relationships. She has over fifteen years of experience writing books alongside working as a journalist and editor. She graduated from the University of Iowa, where she studied Creative Writing.
Her passions include ice skating and horseback riding. In her free time she enjoys dancing in the snow and drinking fancy coffee while at her natural habitat, the mall.
Megan advocates for the rights of the disabled, and is an activist for mental health awareness.
Megan co-writes the Hidden Legends Universe with Alicia Rades. She also writes under the pen name of Natalie Erin for the Creatures of the Lands series, co-authored by Krisen Lison.
Awards Megan has won include;
Best Fantasy Book of the Year 2019 by Once Upon a Book
Best Co-Authored Book of the Year 2022 by Once Upon a Book
Author of the Year 2022 by Once Upon a Book
Keynote Speaker at Once Upon a Book 2023
Best Book Friends (Ava and Kallie) 2023 by Once Upon a Book
Featured in the FOX Teen Choice Awards Gift Baskets
Two-time Reader's Favorite Five Star Read (Bronze Medal Finalist)
I wavered between giving this book three and four stars. When I first started reading some of the things I will mention (which inevitably became the reason I gave it three stars) really bothered me, and yet I couldn't stop reading. I devoured the entire book in two sittings.
Pros? •The book had a very Twilight vibe about it, and even if there's a small guilty part of you that still loves Twilight you'll eat this right up. 😂😍 •The characters, specifically the boys Thames and Cairo, are really interesting. I found myself wanting to dive into their backgrounds and learn more about them, and I'm kind of curious where they'll end up in the future. •It's very angsty cheesy, but for me that's a pro. I absolutely have a guilty pleasure for ridiculous drama and drawn out love triangles. •It's a fast paced overall enjoyable read.
Cons? •There were a lot of Twilight scenarios-Cairo followed her a lot and managed to save her life because of it, several times. Thames was the unnaturally warm best friend who also had feelings for her and rode a motorcycle... etc. Very trope-filled, and not always uniquely. •I feel like the book would have gained a lot from a third person viewpoint. The tenses switched a lot and went from her discussing her feelings to describing how she looked when she almost died. •Again against the first person perspective, she did a lot of telling rather than showing. We learned that she was affected by things in her past, and that she had trouble warming up to people, but that didn't seem to be how her character actually acted. I feel like in third person this would have worked well, but in first I found myself questioning her motives and emotions. Also a lot of her character quirks were explained, rather than simply shown through the emotions she was feeling. •There was a really interesting plot happening under the love triangle, but we really didn't see most of it until the end of the book. I would have loved to have seen it more spread out instead of popped into the end. Megan clearly has some wonderful ideas.
Overall I would absolutely suggest giving it a read. The book was gripping even despite the issues I mentioned and I genuinely enjoyed the frustration I felt with some of Cassia's choices 😂 Because really. Thames 😉😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thank you to Megan Linski and Gryfyn Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for review! All opinions are my own.
Yup, that's right, another Megan Linski book. Honestly, I don't know how she does it. At this point, I'm pretty convinced that she's a writing wizard sent to Earth to bring us amazing book after amazing book. Seriously, she has some crazy talent. So strap in and prepare for my review gush about her newest book, Torrent.
Plot: Cassia is a foster kid, bouncing from home to home after losing her mother as a kid. Now, in the town of Heaven, Michigan with her new foster mother, she hopes to start a new life. Her plan is to graduate high school, pack her bags, and leave her past behind her. But fate has other plans. On her first day of school, she meets two very different people- hot-headed Thames and calm and cool Cairo. There's more to these boys than meets the eye and their differences are more than they appear on the surface. Cassia is soon thrust into a world full of angels and demons and a holy war that has nothing to do with her. Torn between Cairo and Thames in a love triangle that could become fatal, will Cassia reach out to what's forbidden or will her romance end in tragedy?
Fair warning, my reviews on Megan Linski books tend to be more me blabbering on about how much I loved the book and her writing. This will probably be no different. I've been on a roll reading her Shifter Prophecy series, all caught up in a romance involving a vampire and a wolf and their incredibly convoluted love story. When I saw an ARC copy of Torrent sitting in my inbox, I quite literally pounced. All I saw about the book was, "What if you were in love with heaven and hell?" and I was sold. It doesn't take much when it comes to a Megan Linski book, to be quite honest. She consistently puts out books that just speak to me on different levels and I've never been disappointed by her work. Torrent is no exception. The plot follows Cassia as she tries to navigate not only a new home and foster mother, but a new school, and her growing feelings for two boys that aren't exactly human, but there is so much more to this book than you think there is, and I loved every bit of it. From the battle between angels and demons, to Cassia's crazy "love triangle," and most importantly, Cassia herself, Torrent hooked me and didn't let go until the last page.
This book starts off feeling a bit like Twilight (which hit me right in the nostalgia feels and had me impatiently turning pages on my Kindle to read more, no shame) with the new girl in school meeting the mysterious bad boy. Except there's two boys, and only one of them is "bad." There's secrets, and romance, and more secrets and it all comes together to create an addictive story that will have you aggressively turning the pages for more. Seriously, it's addictive. Everything unfolds so well and does a great job at keeping the reader interested while not giving away all of the important details all at once. One of the best points of the story? The romance isn't insta-love! It builds up slowly (with both boys) and you feel rather satisfied when they finally step up and reveal their feelings. I'm generally not a fan of love triangles, and was hesitant at the thought of reading about another one, but I think I can safely say that this isn't a love triangle. It's complicated, but definitely makes more sense once you read it. Also, I loved how clever Megan Linski was making the setting in Heaven, Michigan. All of the clever points to her for that. Torrent is just an incredibly easy and satisfying read that is sure to please fans of the paranormal romance genre. Step aside, Fallen, because Torrent is here to slay!
Characters: Cassia was such a great character to follow. There was a deeper level to her than I initially thought and when I learned about her past and why she was so eager to leave it behind, I honestly wanted to crawl between the pages and hug her. She had a rough life with all of her foster homes, and her most recent one (before coming to Heaven, Michigan) was the worst. Watching her try to adapt to a home/foster parent that actually loved and cared for her was so sad because she truly didn't understand what was happening. She didn't get that her foster mom actually loved her and wanted to take care of her and have her stay and it absolutely broke my heart to see that. But in spite of her terrible past, she was so strong. Cassia didn't take crap from anyone, angels and demons included. She stood up for herself and called people out on their nonsense and I couldn't get enough of her sassy attitude. There was also something about her that I kind of called from the beginning, but it was still cool finding it out at the end! Cassia was just fabulous and so real and I truly think anyone who reads Torrent will end up with a soft spot for her.
Very quickly, I want to touch on the boys of the book. Cairo and Thames were about as opposite as you can get, but I loved both of them. It's pretty obvious who is who, but you almost want things to be flipped around as far as who is who. I know, confusing again, but it'll make sense if you read the book! I found myself immediately drawn to Thames, but I wasn't surprised about that as the bad boys are generally the ones I gravitate towards. I think what I liked most about them was that their personalities matched who they were perfectly. Also, they were both so protective of Cassia and cared for her so much and while it was great to see them "fighting" over her (and I know Cassia was all about it as well) it was also great to see them work together to keep her safe. I really hope there is a sequel to this book because I could seriously use another book all about these characters!
Oh, and I'm forever team Thassia.
Writing: I say it in every review I do of a Megan Linski book but I loved the writing. There's just something about her writing that's so easy to sit down and read. It's descriptive and really gives you the ability to picture the world that she's created, but you never feel like you're being bombarded with information. It flows so well and there's always something about it that will give you the feels. With Torrent, there's an underlying story about a girl that's trying to move on from your past and discovering the person that you are. The romance feels authentic and not like insta-love and the interactions between all of the characters feel genuine and not like things are forced together. Megan Linski has a great way of creating a world and making it feel real, no matter what it's about. Torrent is a beautiful story about personal growth, acceptance, love, and fighting demons to keep the world safe. Hey, it is paranormal romance after all!
Torrent is a fantastic new paranormal romance that is sure to instantly capture everyone's attention. Readers will love the romance between Cassia, Cairo, and Thames and the writing will effortlessly draw you in to their world. With memorable characters, beautiful writing, and an ending that will leave you begging for a sequel, Torrent is a book that can't be missed!
It felt rushed. Kept comparing to other books in the genre. Felt others did it better. I liked the characters, but would’ve liked more of them in book 1
'I don't have to be alone anymore, I have a home, a family and best of all, I have Cairo, he is all I've ever wanted. In him, I have found my own personal heaven' I LOVE THIS STORY SOO MUCH!! IT WAS SOO BEAUTIFUL!!!ROMANTIC AND CAPTIVATING!! Cassia wants to escape her past, she is a foster child. Isolde is her new foster mother in Michigan. At Heaven highschool she meets bad boy Thames. They become friends amost immediately, by he acts strange: moter accident, attacked by dogs, a invisible force attacked her, he heals instantly, is a lone wolf. In all these events Cassia is saved by Cairo, he is the golden boy, quarterback and an absolute sweetheart to her, they develop feelings real fast. But he doesn't let many people in, dissapears occasionally, always in the right place to save/ help her and he has a stange job. Many times He is surrounded by a halo of light Thames is more like a friend to her while Cario is stealing her heart, they have a Special bond!! Isolde tells her the boys are half brothers!! She becomes friends woth Sydnee, Emalee: gossip girls) Both boys deny that something weird is happening, and tell her its too 'dangerous ' until Thames accidentally reveals Cairo is leaving in a mansion, she goes to visit him but she finds a warehouse/ compound in the neighbourhood: people are training!!! She is almost caught and almost faints, Cairo leads her to his home andtakes care of her for she is sick, soo sweet!! She finds a mysterious book: its about demons and angels!!! She finds out Thames is half-demon and Cairo half nephilim/angel!! She confronts thames and he tells: his father was in love with his mom, but he has to leave and she fell in love with Cairo's dad who disappeared too!! Cairo tells her the nepilim hunts demons so its to dangerous for him to get attached to someone... Thames has made an oath: he will never hurt a human, Many romantic scenes, he shows her his wings, they talk about her dream job: pilot for she loves flying, about her foster life, about his family and brother's relationship, he asks her to prom and, gives her his jersey for the game and gave her his jacket to let her think of him!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE CAIRO AND CASSIA TOGETHER!!! I have always known Thames is better as a friend.. although he is love with her too... thye hang out together but he and his brother are rivals... the try to get along for ger: bowling scene and when the 'dog' attacked they fought together in their true form!!! and caisio saved cassia again and Thames kept her warm after frostbite!! Cairo and cassia are the cutest, they go on dates all the time!! Thames distances himself... One time Isolde informs her she has to speak in court against Eric, her previous 'foster parent' she explodes and ran way into the woods, a tree is falling and Cairo saved her just in time!! In an emotional scene she opens up about hi.: he abused and raped her for months!!!! And sold her out to his friends after he got borded!! She escaped and was placed in court as the enemy and that it was her fault!!! Even with evidence: MISCARRIAGE!!! she was held responsible to get him in jail so he can't hurt anyone else!! I HAVE NO WORDS!!!! Cassia seeks Thames to mend their friendship and he tells her he loves her, she tells him she is torn and isn't going into a relationship 'about eric, ask Cairo' later Isolde tells her Eric is killed!! Thames murdered him! She is grateful but cairo warns them about the council: thames broke the law and is going to be killed!!! OMG NOWAY!! cairo wanted to kill him to but he knows it was not his place to do it Thames takes her skydiving!! It is a beautiful scene, they kiss but she doesn't feel the same... It's her birthday and Cairo takes her FLYING INTO THE HEAVENS!!! SO BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL AND ROMANTIC!!! he gives her a necklace woth angelwings!!! thames confesses he is going to hide... the skydiving was this goodbye present!!! Soooo sad!! Cassia is kidnapped!! By Thames's FATHER!! A demon!! He attacked her in the forest, spied on her and sent the hellhounds!! He wants to kill her for Thames is delusional to be in love and he wants him to join him, at the last moment Cairo in angel form Flies in and fights Alexandero, he is severely injured and Thames cames to help in his ultimate demon form!! They fight!! And just when he is going to kill Cairo Cassia TRANSFORMS INTO A NEPLILIM!! With black wings, (apparently her mother ran way with an angel) she blasts Alexandero and kills him!!! She slayed the demon!! The council arrived with as head Athias (the nicest) and they propose to train her, she agrees if they let Thames go!! If not she is going for euthanasie and so is cairo!!! The council votes in favor but thames is now banished!!! TEARFUL GOODBYE!!! Cassia and Cairo have graduated and she received a college application for pilot from council Athias!! She is training and Cairo and her fly together to the heavens!!! I TRULY LOVE THEM!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The storyline of this book is so intriguing that I couldn't wait to read/listen to it. I admit at times I wanted to shake Cassia and the boys and tell them to grow up already, and then I remembered that they are teens. It has enough mystery and intrigue to keep you turning the pages
Note: I received an ARC copy of Torrent in exchange for a 100% honest review.
Torrent, the latest release from Megan Linski, tells the story of Cassia who moves to a new town and soon finds herself in love with two very different men. Sounds like your typical love triangle, right? But this is not just any ordinary love story. The twist is that one of them is an angel and the other is a demon, meaning that Cassia is literally torn between choosing Heaven and Hell. Coincidentally this all takes place in Heaven, Michigan which is a clever connection as well as a prelude to elements in the story. (Linski, who is from Michigan embellishes the story with things that give a nod to Michiganders, which I thought was fun as I am a Michigander as well).
The novel begins with Cassia arriving in Heaven from Ann Arbor, Michigan and going through all that a teenager does when they arrive in a new town. I was excited about reading a novel with a fresh, original idea but as I was reading through the first five chapters I noticed that it was extremely similar to that of Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. For example, there are mysterious characters, one character is isolated at school, two guys in love with the same girl, one pops up conveniently when Cassia is in trouble…you get the picture. Even though it reads very similar to Twilight in the beginning, it soon begins to take on its own identity and can easily be differentiated from other teen paranormal romance novels.
I did find that the love triangle plot line was very strong in the beginning but drifted off towards the end. By the end it became very apparent who was going to reign supreme. I wish that some characters had been more developed than they were. I also felt that some scenes were solved too quickly, especially the climatic ending. However, the visual elements of the book were very well described and I got a clear scene of the locations and the actions taking place.
The other thing I really liked about the novel was the thread of suspense that not only flowed throughout the chapters but also hooked them together. I often found myself wanting to only read one chapter at a time but read several because each one ended in a cliffhanger. It is extremely rare for me to finish a book within a few days. This one I finished that quickly, simply because couldn’t put it down. I also liked that a lot of the mystery was revealed at the end and too much wasn’t given away too soon.
In conclusion, Torrent was a quick and fun read. It takes elements from other bestselling paranormal and teen romance novels and creates something new and different to add to an exhausted genre. If you enjoyed Twilight, Beautiful Creatures and/or Alora then you’ll love Torrent.
I picked up this book on recommendation from a friend when I asked for a short romantic spec-fic book -- and this didn't disappoint!
This book took me back to my Wattpad reading days, where stories were so angsty, so corny (in the best way), and just all-around so fun to read. You can tell the author truly just loves these characters and this story and had a lot of fun writing it.
I'm a sucker for dumb love triangles, so I was immediately drawn into the premise. The main character is a foster child who moves to a new town only to gain the attention of both an angel and a demon. It has a lot of Twilight vibes, if you're into reliving that experience.
The one thing I truly didn't like was a plot point towards the end, so I don't want to say too much for the sake of spoilers. A character I liked made a questionable decision and it was weirdly glossed over? I thought things could have been handled better, but it's not the worst thing either.
Is this a work of great literary merit? No. There was a lot of melodrama. But is it hella fun? YUP. I needed this as a palate cleanser after a semester of reading stuffy high-brow books.
Verdict: recommend if you want to relive Twilight with a less problematic romance but an even angstier love triangle. #teamThames
This is a new to me author and I don't know why I haven't run into her before, but I am glad that I did. She has earned a new follow with amazing story.
The characters were phenomenal. I fell in love with each of them as I read more of the book. I got so caught up in the story with Cassia, Cairo, and Thames and was completely in a trance with story. I was just in awe with these characters and at times became speechless. I could feel a connection with Cassia and this author did a fantastic job with bringing the feelers to life in this story.
The story-line was a refreshing new look on the Paranormal and was an absolutely magnificent story. It was unique and magical with a shocking turn of events that I never saw coming. I highly recommend this read.
Angels, Demons and magic. A story delivered with a bang as always with Megan's work. Can't wait for more of this series.
Cassia can't wait till she turns eighteen and can walk away from all the hurt that happened in her life. Her newest foster parent is a woman called Isolde. She seems nice but that could be a cover. She will have to watch out for now. But she is a well come change though, a very big change from her last foster parent. She asked the social worker for a change in scenery and her social worker delivered. She now lives in Heaven Michigan. Her first day in school should be easy right and what happened in the woods last night? Something is going on and she will stop at nothing to find out what it is....But how will she handle the truth once she does?
I had been sitting on a copy of this for awhile now. I wish I had read it sooner. It was so much better than I was expecting. I haven't been really into paranormal lately. It was fast paced and I really enjoyed the characters. I'm so glad that I have an ARC for the next book already. I'm definitely looking forward to reading it.
Best angel and demon book I've read so far. I love that it takes place in the Upper Peninsula. Its like what Twilight should have been. Except the characters aren't dumb. :) Already downloaded the second book.
A free audiobook on Spotify so I thought, why not. Not for me, sorry. I don't even think it's fair to give stars but I'll say these few things.
The concept of immortality is a febrile approach for any author to approach, to touch it at all. Kinda far-fetched that a council that's considered centuries and centuries old is going to be any bit of befuddled at the myriad behaviors and choices of mortal beings after dealing with thousands of years of them, especially an adolescent one. I might just be a downer but, like, hey, you know?
Also, the cover art for this type of story: is it typical? I know they're considering the integrity of how the series should be presented but for what it's worth, this novel was a basic approach to founding a series from an origin perspective but, as an audiobook, was kind of a slog. In print, I probably would've Pacman-crunched through it in maybe a couple days. This was in my Spotify library for close to two months.
I rarely DNF. I'm still at that stage where even things not quite my neck of the woods heeds at least an iota. (I took up this title because I was writing a character that writes this brand of fiction, as well as consumes it.) Suffice it to say, wound up falling asleep through a couple chapters and wasn't up for going back. Got the gist of where it was going anyway. Good luck with this one.
It was no fault of her own on how she ended up in the foster care system. She never knew her father, and her mother died when she was five. From there, Cassia moved from family to family. She wised up and made a plan. She was going to ride the system out and get good grades for college instead of emancipating herself and having to struggle to finish high school. So now she has moved to the upper peninsula of Michigan to a small town to ride out her foster time and get the best grades she can. But there is something strange going on in this town. She keeps seeing flashes of light, and this light has saved her life more than once. And then, to top it all off, she finds herself attracted to two man-boy-god-like fellow students at her new school.
The physical world-building will have you wondering. The ethereal world-building adds to the storyline. The character’s interaction seems a bit mild between the two MLs but believable. The character’s history is in bits and pieces at first, but put together, and you have a reason for their motivations.
The author gives us an interesting world in microcosm. I give it four stars out of five stars.
It was a couple of years ago, I got this book because it was free, and I liked the cover. Somehow after doom scrolling through my Kindle library, I decided to finally read it and mad that it took me so long to pick it up!
It's not THE best book ever about angels and demons mingling around humans without raising any suspicions. I loved the characters and sometimes it was moving too fast, cheesy moments and even some cliché, but you know what somehow that's what made the story so much better. There are moments where you can tell the author is a fan of Twilight because she took the inspiration and somehow did so good incorporating them!
🪽 I won't complain about my life been shitty because everything Cassia has been through and still is able to think about her future, that girl is strong. 🪽 Cassia will move to a smalltown called (wait for it!) Heaven and during the first day of high school her attention will be for two hot boys Cairo and Thames. Of course they are total opposites, but you can't forget how hot they are. 🪽 Cairo and Thames can shine by themselves, there's cheese moments and others that are very dramatic that fit so well with the story. 🪽 There's time you will roll your eyes and want to slap them in the face but then you remember they are in high school, and they are acting appropriately to their ages. 🪽 For some reason I like the Reverse Harem trope but the way this is written I didn't want it to really happen 😅. Can't complain though! 🪽 I think this is the first time that I'm fully disgusting with a food combination, Cassia apparently liker peanut butter in her pizza 🤮. 🪽 I want to huge Thames so much, I hope the next book is about him 😭!
Cassia has always wanted to be a pilot. But her dark past still stands in the way. Her chances deteriorate when she meets a ruffian, Thames. His brother, Cairo, is captain of the high school football team. The three form a love triangle in a world of angels and demons fighting over souls.
This Paranormal Angel Romance is exquisite. The trio wants the right to choose their paths more than anything else. But ancient beings attempt to dictate their paths. The end is fantastic for each of the main characters.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Happily Ever After. Romantic. Scary. Tragic. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Witty. Wonderful characters.
The mystery surrounding Cassia and the two handsome guys in school kept me intrigued and listening to the audiobook. I enjoyed the supernatural elements and it was interesting to see how the author weaved it into the storyline. There was a trope that I’m not a fan of, but the author did a fabulous job taking care of the trope satisfying all parties. I’d recommend this book to someone who enjoys reading YA & UF.
This is a great love triangle among the new girl and two unsuspecting boys. I do love all the twists and turns in this story and the backstory in my opinion is given in the right opportune moments. They all have secrets, and I agree with whom she ends up with and how she came to this conclusion. I don't want to give anything away about these characters, most definitely worth the read and listen too!
I listened to this as a free audiobook, but the remainder are only paid and this series is not available on Kindle Unlimited. I will not be spending money to continue the series. The writing was Okay, but there was nothing I really loved and I don't feel invested in any of the characters.
Torrent by Megan Linski and narrated by Candace Joice is a great pairing. Ms. Linski's story is unique in its heroes and troubles. Ms. Joice has done a wonderful job with her talent and making sure that each character has its own voice. Would I listen to this book again? yes Would I recommend this book to others? yes
While I enjoyed the likability of the characters the story was a painfully predictable. The build up to the main climax was drawn out and the ending was meh at best. Not a terrible read but the story line had the potential to have been so much better.
I listened to the audio book version of this while commuting to work everyday and while doing other jobs. It’s was good, very YA and reminded me of a combination of hush hush and torment. Easy breezy and entertaining if not a little simple. The friendships in the story didn’t really get explored, and I would say the development of characters and relationships a bit flat and shallow. Very YA
Not rating since I did not finish. This book is very “Twlight-like”. I know it’s a YA book, but it feels geared towards middle schoolers. I couldn’t get into at all due to the juvenile feel to it. Reads MUCh younger than a YA book.
It was a good book to listen to while doing stuff. It kept me interested but at parts it was lacking. The characters were irritating at times and the plot felt like it was lacking at times.
I listened to the audiobook of this one. Wasn’t my favorite set of characters and the story was a bit boring at times, but still kept my attention and got me through the day.