bookishlynomes's review against another edition
4.0
Where do I even begin with Reparation of Sin?
Boy, oh boy! This book picks up from the almighty cliffhanger that was Requiem of the Soul's ending. If you thought Requiem was a rollercoaster of emotion, get ready for Reparation!
In Reparation of Sin, readers discover that both Santiago and Ivy have just as many enemies as they do allies waiting in the wings... and no-one can be trusted.
What I really loved about this story was the constant intrigue and mystery. Even after reading this book, I still have no idea who is/are the villain/s. I'm usually pretty good at guessing how storylines will unfold but Knight and Zavarelli really hit this series out of the park with the level of stealth and secrecy happening. This dynamic writing duo really emphasise the SECRET in Secret Society.
This book also shows readers a little more about some of those side characters we love (to hate *cough* Mercedes *cough*
Boy, oh boy! This book picks up from the almighty cliffhanger that was Requiem of the Soul's ending. If you thought Requiem was a rollercoaster of emotion, get ready for Reparation!
In Reparation of Sin, readers discover that both Santiago and Ivy have just as many enemies as they do allies waiting in the wings... and no-one can be trusted.
What I really loved about this story was the constant intrigue and mystery. Even after reading this book, I still have no idea who is/are the villain/s. I'm usually pretty good at guessing how storylines will unfold but Knight and Zavarelli really hit this series out of the park with the level of stealth and secrecy happening. This dynamic writing duo really emphasise the SECRET in Secret Society.
This book also shows readers a little more about some of those side characters we love (to hate *cough* Mercedes *cough*
annica_reads_books's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book so quickly! Our main characters are very stubborn and don’t always learn from their mistakes, but I’m hoping that they do in book 3 of the series. I’m really enjoying the plot and overall story of this book and I’m definitely continuing on to book 3. Book 3 will have my review of the trilogy as a whole.
earthtonadia's review against another edition
4.0
I am so pissed at Santiago. He refuses to listen to Ivy when she tries to explain that she wasn’t the one that kissed him with poison on her lips. He treats her as a criminal, locking her up and being an ass. Then he finds out that she didn’t do it, and he doesn’t even apologize??? And when she burns the sheet from when they consummated their marriage and accidentally burned portraits of his dead father and brother, he gets so angry and locks her up again?? I know he’s tortured and views her as the enemy but give her the courtesy of explaining herself once in a while.
The rest of the book was alright. Seeing Santiago start to feel a shred of humanity is nice but I’m still not a fan of him. Ivy is breaking my heart and I’m waiting for him to apologize to her.
Merged review:
I am so pissed at Santiago. He refuses to listen to Ivy when she tries to explain that she wasn’t the one that kissed him with poison on her lips. He treats her as a criminal, locking her up and being an ass. Then he finds out that she didn’t do it, and he doesn’t even apologize??? And when she burns the sheet from when they consummated their marriage and accidentally burned portraits of his dead father and brother, he gets so angry and locks her up again?? I know he’s tortured and views her as the enemy but give her the courtesy of explaining herself once in a while.
The rest of the book was alright. Seeing Santiago start to feel a shred of humanity is nice but I’m still not a fan of him. Ivy is breaking my heart and I’m waiting for him to apologize to her.
The rest of the book was alright. Seeing Santiago start to feel a shred of humanity is nice but I’m still not a fan of him. Ivy is breaking my heart and I’m waiting for him to apologize to her.
Merged review:
I am so pissed at Santiago. He refuses to listen to Ivy when she tries to explain that she wasn’t the one that kissed him with poison on her lips. He treats her as a criminal, locking her up and being an ass. Then he finds out that she didn’t do it, and he doesn’t even apologize??? And when she burns the sheet from when they consummated their marriage and accidentally burned portraits of his dead father and brother, he gets so angry and locks her up again?? I know he’s tortured and views her as the enemy but give her the courtesy of explaining herself once in a while.
The rest of the book was alright. Seeing Santiago start to feel a shred of humanity is nice but I’m still not a fan of him. Ivy is breaking my heart and I’m waiting for him to apologize to her.
kfriend's review
5.0
THIS is why these two authors are my dark romance literary dream team. Betrayal and vengeance, complicated characters, emotional turbulence, secrets and suspense, and all the plot twists- everything I love about dark romantic suspense. And Requiem takes everything I loved about book one and amplifies it- everything is more intense, more passionate, more emotional, and more deliciously dark. From the riveting for chapter to the jaw dropping last, my heart was in my throat.
I was floored by the finale of Requiem, and Reparation dives right back into this intriguing, intoxicating, and twisted Society world as we try to figure out just what happened at the party, and WHO is responsible. All signs point to our embattled heroine, who just was starting to find some emotional footing with our malicious and manipulative anti-hero. But, all the chemistry is now poisoned by mistrust and deception. And let’s just say things get messy real fast. Tons of emotional turbulence, and so much suspense. Book one introduced us to all the key players, and how all the players interact with each other. But in this book we’re digging deeper- the pieces are the board, and now it’s time to figure out the players motivations. Who is playing whom...and why?
If you thought Santiago was cold and cruel in book one, you better brace yourself. This is a man who’s spent year’s hardening his heart, building armored walls to keep him from letting others in. And nothing ires him more than the inch he gave Ivy, and the fact that it hurts that she potentially betrayed him. So he UNLEASHES- we see the best and worst of this man, his vitriolic bitterness and his obstinate blindness as well as his woundedness, his tender heart. Somehow AZ and NK make a man whose actions are truly deplorable, a man who enrages me, and they make him empathetic. Reparation treats us to the careful dismantling of this man’s walls- we get inside his heart. And, while we don’t find softness, we do find emotion, and we find dark beauty. We find his humanity - and now he just has to figure out how to lean into without losing his dark essence. And Ivy- Ivy seems to be the key, she somehow inspires the best in him, somehow unlocks parts of his being that others can't, but she also inspires the worst in him, too. There were a few scenes where I thought Santi was crossing a line I could never forgive- but like Ivy, I can’t make my heart stop beating for him.
Poor Ivy. I said that so many times in this book. Good lord does this woman go through it- I felt my heartbreak for her so often. She’s completely powerless, desperate and close to irreparable broken in so many places. At times she made me want to shake her, but mostly I just wanted to hug her. Because her heart never stops trying to find good in others- and she never stops trying. She finds small ways to find power in the most powerless of places, and
The chemistry is this story- OH LAWD. I feel like I have a concussion from the emotional whiplash. These two are so hot and cold, so much push and pull. Everytime these two start to find any sort of stability with each other, any sort of emotional trust or vulnerability, new obstacles or new truths come to light, and the fragile hold they have on each other crumbles and has to be rebuilt. This is romantic chaos- beautifully done. Individually they are both emotional powderkegs just waiting to combust. They are both so painfully lonely, isolated in their own worlds, and both vibrating with tensions that come from years of pain, emotional repression, distrust, and resentment towards others in their world. Santiago has been consumed by hate and revenge, and Ivy has suffered within the patriarchal confines of their corrupt world. They are so carefully knitted up, until each other- both inspiring emotional, need, and conflicting feelings in one another neither was expected. And now, in book 2, we get to dig even deeper into their dynamics. And my goodness is it transfixing. Together, they are somehow both toxic and volatile while also being restorative and sweet. Having never experienced intense and complicated emotions like these before, they both make misguided mistakes to protect themselves or hurt the other- leaving us broken and bruised and desperate.
Of course, just when we find hope, things run way off course. Huge revelations, huge twists, and a heart stopping cliffhanger leave us twisted and broken over these two. And so we wait- for what I know will be an epic finale to this dark and wickedly entertaining trilogy. I AM HOOKED! AND I DESPERATELY NEED THE CONCLUSION!
Merged review:
THIS is why these two authors are my dark romance literary dream team. Betrayal and vengeance, complicated characters, emotional turbulence, secrets and suspense, and all the plot twists- everything I love about dark romantic suspense. And Requiem takes everything I loved about book one and amplifies it- everything is more intense, more passionate, more emotional, and more deliciously dark. From the riveting for chapter to the jaw dropping last, my heart was in my throat.
I was floored by the finale of Requiem, and Reparation dives right back into this intriguing, intoxicating, and twisted Society world as we try to figure out just what happened at the party, and WHO is responsible. All signs point to our embattled heroine, who just was starting to find some emotional footing with our malicious and manipulative anti-hero. But, all the chemistry is now poisoned by mistrust and deception. And let’s just say things get messy real fast. Tons of emotional turbulence, and so much suspense. Book one introduced us to all the key players, and how all the players interact with each other. But in this book we’re digging deeper- the pieces are the board, and now it’s time to figure out the players motivations. Who is playing whom...and why?
If you thought Santiago was cold and cruel in book one, you better brace yourself. This is a man who’s spent year’s hardening his heart, building armored walls to keep him from letting others in. And nothing ires him more than the inch he gave Ivy, and the fact that it hurts that she potentially betrayed him. So he UNLEASHES- we see the best and worst of this man, his vitriolic bitterness and his obstinate blindness as well as his woundedness, his tender heart. Somehow AZ and NK make a man whose actions are truly deplorable, a man who enrages me, and they make him empathetic. Reparation treats us to the careful dismantling of this man’s walls- we get inside his heart. And, while we don’t find softness, we do find emotion, and we find dark beauty. We find his humanity - and now he just has to figure out how to lean into without losing his dark essence. And Ivy- Ivy seems to be the key, she somehow inspires the best in him, somehow unlocks parts of his being that others can't, but she also inspires the worst in him, too. There were a few scenes where I thought Santi was crossing a line I could never forgive- but like Ivy, I can’t make my heart stop beating for him.
Poor Ivy. I said that so many times in this book. Good lord does this woman go through it- I felt my heartbreak for her so often. She’s completely powerless, desperate and close to irreparable broken in so many places. At times she made me want to shake her, but mostly I just wanted to hug her. Because her heart never stops trying to find good in others- and she never stops trying. She finds small ways to find power in the most powerless of places, and
The chemistry is this story- OH LAWD. I feel like I have a concussion from the emotional whiplash. These two are so hot and cold, so much push and pull. Everytime these two start to find any sort of stability with each other, any sort of emotional trust or vulnerability, new obstacles or new truths come to light, and the fragile hold they have on each other crumbles and has to be rebuilt. This is romantic chaos- beautifully done. Individually they are both emotional powderkegs just waiting to combust. They are both so painfully lonely, isolated in their own worlds, and both vibrating with tensions that come from years of pain, emotional repression, distrust, and resentment towards others in their world. Santiago has been consumed by hate and revenge, and Ivy has suffered within the patriarchal confines of their corrupt world. They are so carefully knitted up, until each other- both inspiring emotional, need, and conflicting feelings in one another neither was expected. And now, in book 2, we get to dig even deeper into their dynamics. And my goodness is it transfixing. Together, they are somehow both toxic and volatile while also being restorative and sweet. Having never experienced intense and complicated emotions like these before, they both make misguided mistakes to protect themselves or hurt the other- leaving us broken and bruised and desperate.
Of course, just when we find hope, things run way off course. Huge revelations, huge twists, and a heart stopping cliffhanger leave us twisted and broken over these two. And so we wait- for what I know will be an epic finale to this dark and wickedly entertaining trilogy. I AM HOOKED! AND I DESPERATELY NEED THE CONCLUSION!
I was floored by the finale of Requiem, and Reparation dives right back into this intriguing, intoxicating, and twisted Society world as we try to figure out just what happened at the party, and WHO is responsible. All signs point to our embattled heroine, who just was starting to find some emotional footing with our malicious and manipulative anti-hero. But, all the chemistry is now poisoned by mistrust and deception. And let’s just say things get messy real fast. Tons of emotional turbulence, and so much suspense. Book one introduced us to all the key players, and how all the players interact with each other. But in this book we’re digging deeper- the pieces are the board, and now it’s time to figure out the players motivations. Who is playing whom...and why?
If you thought Santiago was cold and cruel in book one, you better brace yourself. This is a man who’s spent year’s hardening his heart, building armored walls to keep him from letting others in. And nothing ires him more than the inch he gave Ivy, and the fact that it hurts that she potentially betrayed him. So he UNLEASHES- we see the best and worst of this man, his vitriolic bitterness and his obstinate blindness as well as his woundedness, his tender heart. Somehow AZ and NK make a man whose actions are truly deplorable, a man who enrages me, and they make him empathetic. Reparation treats us to the careful dismantling of this man’s walls- we get inside his heart. And, while we don’t find softness, we do find emotion, and we find dark beauty. We find his humanity - and now he just has to figure out how to lean into without losing his dark essence. And Ivy- Ivy seems to be the key, she somehow inspires the best in him, somehow unlocks parts of his being that others can't, but she also inspires the worst in him, too. There were a few scenes where I thought Santi was crossing a line I could never forgive- but like Ivy, I can’t make my heart stop beating for him.
Poor Ivy. I said that so many times in this book. Good lord does this woman go through it- I felt my heartbreak for her so often. She’s completely powerless, desperate and close to irreparable broken in so many places. At times she made me want to shake her, but mostly I just wanted to hug her. Because her heart never stops trying to find good in others- and she never stops trying. She finds small ways to find power in the most powerless of places, and
The chemistry is this story- OH LAWD. I feel like I have a concussion from the emotional whiplash. These two are so hot and cold, so much push and pull. Everytime these two start to find any sort of stability with each other, any sort of emotional trust or vulnerability, new obstacles or new truths come to light, and the fragile hold they have on each other crumbles and has to be rebuilt. This is romantic chaos- beautifully done. Individually they are both emotional powderkegs just waiting to combust. They are both so painfully lonely, isolated in their own worlds, and both vibrating with tensions that come from years of pain, emotional repression, distrust, and resentment towards others in their world. Santiago has been consumed by hate and revenge, and Ivy has suffered within the patriarchal confines of their corrupt world. They are so carefully knitted up, until each other- both inspiring emotional, need, and conflicting feelings in one another neither was expected. And now, in book 2, we get to dig even deeper into their dynamics. And my goodness is it transfixing. Together, they are somehow both toxic and volatile while also being restorative and sweet. Having never experienced intense and complicated emotions like these before, they both make misguided mistakes to protect themselves or hurt the other- leaving us broken and bruised and desperate.
Of course, just when we find hope, things run way off course. Huge revelations, huge twists, and a heart stopping cliffhanger leave us twisted and broken over these two. And so we wait- for what I know will be an epic finale to this dark and wickedly entertaining trilogy. I AM HOOKED! AND I DESPERATELY NEED THE CONCLUSION!
Merged review:
THIS is why these two authors are my dark romance literary dream team. Betrayal and vengeance, complicated characters, emotional turbulence, secrets and suspense, and all the plot twists- everything I love about dark romantic suspense. And Requiem takes everything I loved about book one and amplifies it- everything is more intense, more passionate, more emotional, and more deliciously dark. From the riveting for chapter to the jaw dropping last, my heart was in my throat.
I was floored by the finale of Requiem, and Reparation dives right back into this intriguing, intoxicating, and twisted Society world as we try to figure out just what happened at the party, and WHO is responsible. All signs point to our embattled heroine, who just was starting to find some emotional footing with our malicious and manipulative anti-hero. But, all the chemistry is now poisoned by mistrust and deception. And let’s just say things get messy real fast. Tons of emotional turbulence, and so much suspense. Book one introduced us to all the key players, and how all the players interact with each other. But in this book we’re digging deeper- the pieces are the board, and now it’s time to figure out the players motivations. Who is playing whom...and why?
If you thought Santiago was cold and cruel in book one, you better brace yourself. This is a man who’s spent year’s hardening his heart, building armored walls to keep him from letting others in. And nothing ires him more than the inch he gave Ivy, and the fact that it hurts that she potentially betrayed him. So he UNLEASHES- we see the best and worst of this man, his vitriolic bitterness and his obstinate blindness as well as his woundedness, his tender heart. Somehow AZ and NK make a man whose actions are truly deplorable, a man who enrages me, and they make him empathetic. Reparation treats us to the careful dismantling of this man’s walls- we get inside his heart. And, while we don’t find softness, we do find emotion, and we find dark beauty. We find his humanity - and now he just has to figure out how to lean into without losing his dark essence. And Ivy- Ivy seems to be the key, she somehow inspires the best in him, somehow unlocks parts of his being that others can't, but she also inspires the worst in him, too. There were a few scenes where I thought Santi was crossing a line I could never forgive- but like Ivy, I can’t make my heart stop beating for him.
Poor Ivy. I said that so many times in this book. Good lord does this woman go through it- I felt my heartbreak for her so often. She’s completely powerless, desperate and close to irreparable broken in so many places. At times she made me want to shake her, but mostly I just wanted to hug her. Because her heart never stops trying to find good in others- and she never stops trying. She finds small ways to find power in the most powerless of places, and
The chemistry is this story- OH LAWD. I feel like I have a concussion from the emotional whiplash. These two are so hot and cold, so much push and pull. Everytime these two start to find any sort of stability with each other, any sort of emotional trust or vulnerability, new obstacles or new truths come to light, and the fragile hold they have on each other crumbles and has to be rebuilt. This is romantic chaos- beautifully done. Individually they are both emotional powderkegs just waiting to combust. They are both so painfully lonely, isolated in their own worlds, and both vibrating with tensions that come from years of pain, emotional repression, distrust, and resentment towards others in their world. Santiago has been consumed by hate and revenge, and Ivy has suffered within the patriarchal confines of their corrupt world. They are so carefully knitted up, until each other- both inspiring emotional, need, and conflicting feelings in one another neither was expected. And now, in book 2, we get to dig even deeper into their dynamics. And my goodness is it transfixing. Together, they are somehow both toxic and volatile while also being restorative and sweet. Having never experienced intense and complicated emotions like these before, they both make misguided mistakes to protect themselves or hurt the other- leaving us broken and bruised and desperate.
Of course, just when we find hope, things run way off course. Huge revelations, huge twists, and a heart stopping cliffhanger leave us twisted and broken over these two. And so we wait- for what I know will be an epic finale to this dark and wickedly entertaining trilogy. I AM HOOKED! AND I DESPERATELY NEED THE CONCLUSION!
cj_454's review
4.0
Continuation of the first and I couldnt put it down! Santiago still wants revenge, but the need for it becomes less. He is still so angry and the way he treats Ivy is almost too much. These authors do such a good job of having our anti-hero walk a fine line between being too much and what he does being acceptable. I think because Ivy stands up to him or at least takes what he gives her without backing down, it doesnt make you feel as bad, by enjoying it too!
We get a little more of what really happened all those years ago and realise there is so much more to the story.
This just keeps getting better
We get a little more of what really happened all those years ago and realise there is so much more to the story.
This just keeps getting better
lucy_qhuay's review
3.0
Fuck this! Santiago was even more unbearable than in the first book. I hated how he always thought the worst about Ivy, being her judge, jury and executioner. On the other hand, Ivy was way too understanding and loving. The physical abuse and the humiliation here was through the roof, which disgusted me. If it was me in Ivy's place I would sure be guilty of trying (and succeding) to kill my husband.
Merged review:
Fuck this! Santiago was even more unbearable than in the first book. I hated how he always thought the worst about Ivy, being her judge, jury and executioner. On the other hand, Ivy was way too understanding and loving. The physical abuse and the humiliation here was through the roof, which disgusted me. If it was me in Ivy's place I would sure be guilty of trying (and succeding) to kill my husband.
smithrachaelynn's review
4.0
LOVED this story. Omg. So good and loved watching Santiago wrestle with himself about who to trust. I cannot wait for the third installment of this series.
avid_read's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0