Series Name:
The Harbinger, # 2
Review By Veronica
Rage and Ruin will have you staying up in the wee hours of the night just so you can find out what will happen next.
Favourite Quote:
I began to reach for my phone while praying that it hadn’t been damaged in the fall, because that would suck. I needed light. I needed to be able to see—
A soft thump echoed not far from me. I stilled, trying not to breathe too heavily or too deeply as I stared into nothing. What was that—
Another barely audible sound caught my attention. A softer thud and then one more, a sound that reminded me of…
Realization kicked in, and my stomach dropped as my grace burned in my core.
I wasn’t alone.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Dangerous secrets and forbidden desires lead to shocking consequences…
Half-angel Trinity and her bonded gargoyle protector, Zayne, have been working with demons to stop the apocalypse while avoiding falling in love. The Harbinger is coming…but who or what is it? All of humankind may fall if Trinity and Zayne can’t win the race against time as dark forces gather.
As tensions rise, they must stay close together and patrol the DC streets at night, seeking signs of the Harbinger, an entity that is killing Wardens and demons with no seeming rhyme or reason. Forbidden to be with each other, Zayne and Trinity fight their feelings and turn to unusual sources for help—the demon Roth and his cohorts. But as deaths pile up and they uncover a sinister plot involving the local high school and endangering someone dear to Zayne, Trin realizes she is being led…herded…played for some unknown end. As anger builds and feelings spiral out of control, it becomes clear that rage may be the ruin of them all.
I LOVED Storm and Fury, and I really couldn’t wait to see what would happen next in the series. I am happy to say that this book doesn’t suffer from that dreaded second-book syndrome. I enjoyed this book as much as the first one. It was fun, witty, fast-paced, and had plenty of exciting twists and turns. Rage and Ruin pick up right after the first book. Trinity and Zayne are trying to navigate their new relationship as Trueblood and protector while at the same time trying to find out who the Harbinger is and what their plans are. One of the things that I love about this book is the witty banter and pop culture references. It reminds me of the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Funny enough, there are references to a high school in this book as a hell mouth. People either like or dislike the dialogue, especially when it comes to Trinity. I personally enjoyed it. Yes, it can seem childish at times, but Trinity just turned 18, so in my mind, she still is a teenager, and it’s okay if she doesn’t always react to situations as an adult. Hell, if I had to deal with everything she was dealing with in this book, I would probably be crying most of the time.
The story itself is developing at a fast pace, and the world is expanding in fun and interesting ways. There really are two stories happening in this book. You have a more romantic story that focuses on the relationship between Trinity and Zayne, which is full of lots of drama and even a bit of spice. Then you have this darker paranormal urban fantasy story that focuses on this mysterious Harbinger trying to bring about the end of the world. As always, Jennifer does an excellent job at bringing these stories together to create one thrilling and entertaining reading experience. I loved the paranormal aspects of this book. I love the whole gargoyle element, and learning more about their history was fun. It’s a great world to explore and be in.
Rage and Ruin has more of a romantic element to it than its predecessor. The developing relationship between Trinity and Zayne is a large focus of this story. If you are a fan of bodyguards and opposites attract tropes, then you will love the romance in this book. I enjoyed their relationship. The chemistry between them is evident, and I devoured those scenes when it was just the two of them. There is plenty of drama, jealousy, miscommunications, and forbidden lust. There are spicy moments in this book. It’s tame compared to Jennifer’s adult books, but there are a few sex scenes. I would consider this book to be a new adult read rather than YA. If you are a fan of Zayne, you will fall more in love with his character in this book. He really is just utterly perfect and one of the main reasons why I love this series so much.
I must warn you this book ends with a gut-wrenching cliffhanger that will have you racing out to get the third book in the series.
Rage and Ruin is an addictive spell-binding urban fantasy story.
