Reviews

The Merciless IV: Last Rites by Danielle Vega

magyklyxdelish's review against another edition

3.0

While I’m sad the Merciless series has come to an end, I like where it ended up. I truly enjoyed the ride the author took us on. These were some crazy and unique stories.

This one was probably my least favorite of all of them. But that’s not to say I didn’t like it, just that it had a lot to live up to. I didn’t find myself as attached to Berkely as I was to Sofia and Brooklyn.

However this was a good installment to the series and provides a fitting end.

darquedreamer's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

robinsversion's review

3.5

Glad to have experienced this series, but I’m also glad to be done with it.

morgie_corgie's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

mithridatic's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

alleyali's review

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

thetinyasian's review against another edition

3.0

Slow, didn't really get to the good horror gore stuff until a third of the way through the book, quite predictable if you've read the rest of the series, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Interesting to see this side of Sofia

em_harring's review against another edition

2.0

I am thrilled to be done with this series, lol.

This, arguably, has the best writing of the four books and the gore near the end was pretty good. I'll also give credit that it doesn't follow the exact same formula of the last three. It's close, but just different enough to feel like its own story.

That said––there were a host of things that annoyed me about this iteration. I didn't love the way Vega portrayed Italy or its people, even though technically I think she made the city up, it's not great.

Spoiler

And it's odd to me that Vega used the name Lucia for the girl who was sacrificed in the city's legend when like...Saint Lucia is a pretty big deal so like...context?

; I didn't love the main characters or her friends; once the twist was revealed the rest of the book and the mc's actions made little sense; and the comparison to the Amanda Knox case was cheap and unnecessary.

hitbooksnotgirlz's review against another edition

5.0

The fourth novel follows up where the second left off. Sofia is back, and some fresh faces are introduced. This was an excellent way to cap off the Merciless series! It was a total fucking bloodbath, as expected. Literary torture porn meets teenage drama. Amazing! I’m sad it’s over.

shespeakslyrics's review against another edition

3.0

I've enjoyed this series. It is a quick guilty pleasure read. Fast paced and it doesn't take itself too seriously. You don't go in expecting a masterpiece but it always seems to deliver on it's promise to find the darkness and wickedness that can linger beneath it's characters. I could see where it was heading early on but it's okay, I still gobbled it up. Sad that there won't be any more in the series.