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River Styx Heathens #1
Wrath of an Exile
In Ponderosa Springs, this version of Romeo and Juliet isn’t a tragedy. It’s war.
Jude Sinclair is West Trinity Falls’ favorite exiled loner.
Cocky. Insufferably hot. Family foe.
Raised across the tracks in a rival town, he reeks of trouble. Which is the one thing I’ve always had a problem avoiding and now that he’s just down the hall, it’s harder to resist the pull.
My father made one rule when Jude moved in, never trust a Sinclair.
The last thing I need is for my new foster brother to make me question my loyalty with his filthy smirks and poet tongue. But with every forbidden kiss and secret hookup, I quickly find myself faced with two options.
Betray my family? Or betray my heart?
Jude Sinclair is West Trinity Falls’ favorite exiled loner.
Cocky. Insufferably hot. Family foe.
Raised across the tracks in a rival town, he reeks of trouble. Which is the one thing I’ve always had a problem avoiding and now that he’s just down the hall, it’s harder to resist the pull.
My father made one rule when Jude moved in, never trust a Sinclair.
The last thing I need is for my new foster brother to make me question my loyalty with his filthy smirks and poet tongue. But with every forbidden kiss and secret hookup, I quickly find myself faced with two options.
Betray my family? Or betray my heart?
About the author
Monty Jay
18 books2,322 followersMonty Jay is a dark romance author with titles published in multiple countries. Their books are for hopeless romantics with wicked hearts looking for their next morally grey hero. They call the Appalachian mountains home, along with their two furry friends, Poe and Maeve. When they aren’t writing you can find them reading anything Stephen King, in a tattoo chair or binging a new true crime documentary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 598 reviews
November 2, 2024
Monty Jay does it again, I DEVOURED THIS!! This is how you do a second gen series! I don’t know what I was even expecting but this far exceeded any of my expectations. I could not stop giggling and kicking my feet!! I absolutely loved The Hollow Boys series so getting to see those characters 20 years later was everything I wanted and MORE!
There’s just something about seeing your favorite dark romance boy boyfriends all grown up that will get me EVERY GOD DAMN TIME!! The truths we burn was my favorite book in the Hollow Boys series and Rook Van Doren as a DADDY?!!! Oh my god I actually couldn’t handle it… somehow this man got even better with age and I’m not even surprised. Like of course he’s just as possessive and obsessive and has his wife’s name tattooed on his knuckles 🤭🤭🤭
Okay now getting into this book…. JUDE AND PHI HAVE MY WHOLE HEART!! Monty Jays writing never fails to blow me away with how poetic her words can be, which is rare to find in dark romance. I swear I highlighted this whole book.
JUDE SINCLAIR!! The mouth on this man, absolute filth. He is such a tortured, misunderstood, traumatized soul which I’m guilty of being a sucker for. There’s just something about the ones I’m convinced I can fix…. I fold every goddamn time. Did I mention this man writes poetry??? POETRY!!!
Seraphina Van Doren is absolutely her fathers daughter god I LOVED HER!! It was giving bad bitch who takes no shit from slimy men energy in like the absolute best way. Her energy this entire book made me wish she was real so we could be besties. Her story also absolutely broke my heart at the same time. I felt her pain on such a personal level which is why I think this book also really resonated with me.
Jude and Phi together…. I’m sweating just thinking about it. The hatred they have for eachother in the beginning had no business being so hot.
In this book you get:
- TRUE enemies to lovers
- Forbidden romance
- Forced proximity
- Foster siblings…
- Entirely unhinged FMC and MMC
- Found family
Was it perfect? No! The ending was a bit rushed and I wish it was more of a slow burn but I still absolutely loved this and had the best time! Such an easy fun vibes read for the dark romance girlies!
Thank you so so much to Monty Jay and her team for gifting me an arc copy of this book ♥️♥️
Quotes:
“But for her? I’d kneel. I’d grovel like Prometheus, chained to the rock, enduring agony every day for a stolen fire I was never meant to touch. I’d suffer, I’d bleed, I’d pray to gods I’ve long since forsaken, if only for the hope that she was okay.”
“She’s chaos and ruin, broken glass turned into art. There’s a violence to her beauty, a savage grace that makes you want to reach out, even though you know you’ll bleed for it.”
“Phi is everything I’m not, but in all the ways that count, she feels familiar, like I’ve known her all my life. A constant beat in a song that never changes, even when the rest of the world goes off-key. There’s a rhythm to our chaos, a twisted comfort in knowing that, beneath the pain, we understand each other in ways no one else could.”
“There’s something ferociously beautiful about Seraphina Van Doren. It isn’t the delicate kind of beauty that hangs in museums or graces the pages of art books, the kind that leaves you in breathless awe. No, it’s a raw, untamed beauty that makes you understand why a single face could launch a thousand ships into battle.”
There’s just something about seeing your favorite dark romance boy boyfriends all grown up that will get me EVERY GOD DAMN TIME!! The truths we burn was my favorite book in the Hollow Boys series and Rook Van Doren as a DADDY?!!! Oh my god I actually couldn’t handle it… somehow this man got even better with age and I’m not even surprised. Like of course he’s just as possessive and obsessive and has his wife’s name tattooed on his knuckles 🤭🤭🤭
Okay now getting into this book…. JUDE AND PHI HAVE MY WHOLE HEART!! Monty Jays writing never fails to blow me away with how poetic her words can be, which is rare to find in dark romance. I swear I highlighted this whole book.
JUDE SINCLAIR!! The mouth on this man, absolute filth. He is such a tortured, misunderstood, traumatized soul which I’m guilty of being a sucker for. There’s just something about the ones I’m convinced I can fix…. I fold every goddamn time. Did I mention this man writes poetry??? POETRY!!!
Seraphina Van Doren is absolutely her fathers daughter god I LOVED HER!! It was giving bad bitch who takes no shit from slimy men energy in like the absolute best way. Her energy this entire book made me wish she was real so we could be besties. Her story also absolutely broke my heart at the same time. I felt her pain on such a personal level which is why I think this book also really resonated with me.
Jude and Phi together…. I’m sweating just thinking about it. The hatred they have for eachother in the beginning had no business being so hot.
In this book you get:
- TRUE enemies to lovers
- Forbidden romance
- Forced proximity
- Foster siblings…
- Entirely unhinged FMC and MMC
- Found family
Was it perfect? No! The ending was a bit rushed and I wish it was more of a slow burn but I still absolutely loved this and had the best time! Such an easy fun vibes read for the dark romance girlies!
Thank you so so much to Monty Jay and her team for gifting me an arc copy of this book ♥️♥️
Quotes:
“But for her? I’d kneel. I’d grovel like Prometheus, chained to the rock, enduring agony every day for a stolen fire I was never meant to touch. I’d suffer, I’d bleed, I’d pray to gods I’ve long since forsaken, if only for the hope that she was okay.”
“She’s chaos and ruin, broken glass turned into art. There’s a violence to her beauty, a savage grace that makes you want to reach out, even though you know you’ll bleed for it.”
“Phi is everything I’m not, but in all the ways that count, she feels familiar, like I’ve known her all my life. A constant beat in a song that never changes, even when the rest of the world goes off-key. There’s a rhythm to our chaos, a twisted comfort in knowing that, beneath the pain, we understand each other in ways no one else could.”
“There’s something ferociously beautiful about Seraphina Van Doren. It isn’t the delicate kind of beauty that hangs in museums or graces the pages of art books, the kind that leaves you in breathless awe. No, it’s a raw, untamed beauty that makes you understand why a single face could launch a thousand ships into battle.”
October 29, 2024
♾️
I AM FUCKING SPEECHLESS. This truly exceeded my expectations and more. I am a Hollow Boys stan and at this point I have a feeling that Hollow Boys ran so that The River Styx Heathens could SPRINT. 👏👏👏
Monty Jay is a freaking poet. The way that she writes is mind blowing to me. I am left with chills and tears down my face from the descriptions in this book.
I will say, there are some tough topics for me because of personal reasons but the way Monty poured her entire soul into this SHOWS and it was done so beautifully. The parts that made me emotional hurt so bad but also healed me all at the same time. 😭😭
Ok, so... Phi and Jade. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? How were they even more perfect than I envisioned. I am IN LOVE with both characters. They are absolutely perfect.. to the point that I need more of them.
I know this is said to be a standalone but I totally recommend reading Hollow Boys Series first to get the FULL experience!!! The way I was giggling and so happy with all of the Hollow Boys in this and all the sibling relationships. My heart simply couldn't handle it all.
Lastly, I am so excited for the next book. I can already tell - It will be another emotional one for me.
Some random notes:
-Phi and the Rubik Cube. YESSSS QUEEN. I love her
-Jade spitting {blood} into Phi's mouth and saying "now, swallow" I AM DEAD. GOODNIGHT
-The coffin talk about Lyra. HAHAHA
-19% in & have full blown tears over the descriptions
-THE NICKNAME GEEKS!!
-"when there's smoke, there's fire" 🥹🥹
-"get your girl" "GOT HER"!!!!! stfu!
173 highlights but here are some of my favorites:
"How long do you think it'll take before you give in and let me fuck those pretty little lies out of your mouth, sweetheart?"
"I'm the only one allowed to hate you."
"Give me all your pain, all your hurt, every ounce of that rage in your vicious fucking heart. I can take it."
"Our universe, Loner."
"Our universe, Geeks."
"There she is. There is my sun. Now my morning can start."
-dark romance
-college
-second gen
-enemies to lovers
-foster siblings
-forbidden
-forced proximity
-possessive mmc
-feisty / badass fmc
**character driven!
I AM FUCKING SPEECHLESS. This truly exceeded my expectations and more. I am a Hollow Boys stan and at this point I have a feeling that Hollow Boys ran so that The River Styx Heathens could SPRINT. 👏👏👏
Monty Jay is a freaking poet. The way that she writes is mind blowing to me. I am left with chills and tears down my face from the descriptions in this book.
I will say, there are some tough topics for me because of personal reasons but the way Monty poured her entire soul into this SHOWS and it was done so beautifully. The parts that made me emotional hurt so bad but also healed me all at the same time. 😭😭
Ok, so... Phi and Jade. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? How were they even more perfect than I envisioned. I am IN LOVE with both characters. They are absolutely perfect.. to the point that I need more of them.
I know this is said to be a standalone but I totally recommend reading Hollow Boys Series first to get the FULL experience!!! The way I was giggling and so happy with all of the Hollow Boys in this and all the sibling relationships. My heart simply couldn't handle it all.
Lastly, I am so excited for the next book. I can already tell - It will be another emotional one for me.
Some random notes:
-Phi and the Rubik Cube. YESSSS QUEEN. I love her
-Jade spitting {blood} into Phi's mouth and saying "now, swallow" I AM DEAD. GOODNIGHT
-The coffin talk about Lyra. HAHAHA
-19% in & have full blown tears over the descriptions
-THE NICKNAME GEEKS!!
-"when there's smoke, there's fire" 🥹🥹
-"get your girl" "GOT HER"!!!!! stfu!
173 highlights but here are some of my favorites:
"How long do you think it'll take before you give in and let me fuck those pretty little lies out of your mouth, sweetheart?"
"I'm the only one allowed to hate you."
"Give me all your pain, all your hurt, every ounce of that rage in your vicious fucking heart. I can take it."
"Our universe, Loner."
"Our universe, Geeks."
"There she is. There is my sun. Now my morning can start."
-dark romance
-college
-second gen
-enemies to lovers
-foster siblings
-forbidden
-forced proximity
-possessive mmc
-feisty / badass fmc
**character driven!
Want to read
October 31, 2024• EzraAndy will be having book 2 omg 😭 i thought we'll have to wait sm for his book because he was giving MAJOR psychotic/dark vibes ksbsjsjs
"Dad, what are you doing—"
"Calling your uncles." OH THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD!! 🤭
so when I mentioned in The Truths We Burn that Rook burned the side of Sage's shitty ex-fiancé's face, never once did I think about the day Rook's daughter would fall in love with the shitty fiancé's son! 😭
It's childhood enemies to lovers, so hear me screaming! 🤾🏌️♀️🤾
"Dad, what are you doing—"
"Calling your uncles." OH THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD!! 🤭
so when I mentioned in The Truths We Burn that Rook burned the side of Sage's shitty ex-fiancé's face, never once did I think about the day Rook's daughter would fall in love with the shitty fiancé's son! 😭
It's childhood enemies to lovers, so hear me screaming! 🤾🏌️♀️🤾
November 2, 2024
Oh god I inhaled this, Saturday came and Saturday went in a flash of an eye, I was so absorbed in this I didn’t even notice.
Once started
I couldn’t put it down..
This has definitely made me want to go back and read the hollow boys all over again..
Once started
I couldn’t put it down..
This has definitely made me want to go back and read the hollow boys all over again..
November 1, 2024
3.75 ★ (SOME SPOILERS)
oh boy I have a lot of thoughts, bare with me guys😅
main thoughts:
So I was very excited for this book, but I got a bit nervous because I didn't realize that jude would end up being her foster brother technically during this book and I was scared, but after finishing I can tell you guys that while that is not a trope I enjoy I kinda just ignored it in this book because to me I don’t even think it should have happened. I think it was used more to have a different vibe or something new than her other books. I’m not really sure cause it didn’t make sense to me. I had to not get a ick because of it sometimes, but most of the book I was able to stomach it and it didn’t even register that he was suppose to be her foster brother especially cause it didn’t even happen right away, it happened way later In the book. I promise I’m not sick guys I just think it could have been written worse and I’m glad I was still able to tolerate it. Although I won’t be trying to come across another book with this trope if I don’t have to.
⇩
That rant aside this book was actually really entertaining even though it was all vibes and not really any plot, definitely more character based than anything. I loved getting some hollow boys crumbs because I missed my babies so so much🥹 It was wild to imagine them being older but it was also so cute seeing them be parents and I loved the little bit of scenes we did get with them because if was iconic af.
I do think there were a couple flaws with this book as a whole which might either cause people to rate this book lower or hate it idk🥲 First off being that I don’t remember Sage loving Easton as much as she did in this book. Unless I just forgot what happened during the hollow boy series, someone correct me if I’m wrong,but it was not my favorite thing ever. What really annoyed me though which made me lower my rating a bit cause I was going to give this four stars. Was the fact that the ending felt way too rushed and I felt like we didn’t get any questions answered or a good conclusion. Like what do you mean only rook and alistair know about jude and phi and no one else? We also didn’t even get to see their reactions to it at all. Not to mention the whole main problem of jude and phi not being able to hook up was because it would be betrayal to her parents, but somehow that went completely out the window. Same with phi’s very sad secret about her being raped like I was expecting her to confess that it happened so that she can start healing and being herself, but only Jude knows so no one else knows and rook himself doesn’t even know which makes me sad😔 like sis I get you don't want to hurt him with that burden, but he's your father and he should know, especially when he's ending up hurt regardless. But besides that I didn’t really have too much other problems these were just the main ones.
characters:
Seraphina (phi): I think she was a badass and really brave, but sometimes she irritated me (a little) most of all I just felt sad for her because her backstory is pretty heart wrenching and she deserves way better. I’m glad she got to be more real around Jude but I wish she would fully release herself from the mask she has on especially around her family. I do have a soft spot for her in my heart and I do want to give her the biggest hug ever🫂
Jude: I never thought I would become a softie for a sinclair, but here we are😭🤭 I loved him idc what you say. His backstory was also heart wrenching and I felt for him too. He's definitely complicated but so is phi. I liked seeing him start to improve at the end though, he was everything and the writer in me loves that he was poet.
romance:
The love between jude and phi is very very messy and yet I was caught in it like a net😭 For some reason I couldn’t stop reading about the train wreck of their relationship especially when they hated each other at the beginning. I loved witnessing the hate for each other dissolve and them finding each other and how connected they were. I do wish that there were more soft and sweeter moments between them because I know that we missed a lot and I feel like it would have been beneficial for us readers to see that. Their relationship definitely felt more like lust at times, but I could see the raw connection flowing through. I just think some sweet moments would have helped instead of smut during certain chapters. Although I do love them as messy and crazy as they are, they definitely are perfect for each other imo🫶
quotes I love:🖤
”I’m lost.
Lost in the shattered pieces of her, in the jagged edges she tries to hide, in the chaos that lives just beneath her skin. And I want to drown in it. I want to feel every bit of that pain that comes with touching her.”
”Yeah.” Phi gives a little nod. “Our universe, Loner.”
“Our universe, Geeks.”
“I think our love is like that. It’s not poetic; it’s cosmic. We are messy, raw, like a collision that should’ve destroyed us both. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe love isn’t meant to be easy. Maybe it’s meant to be this—two people desperately trying to find each other across the chaos, across the darkness, across everything that should’ve kept us apart. So, I am not a poet, Jude. But I am yours. For however long our particles keep dancing”
“I’m always fucking seeing you, Phi. In every room, no matter how much I want to ignore you, you burn too fucking bright. You’re the goddamn sun, and I hate that I can’t stop looking at you”
”Dad, what are you doing?”
“Calling your uncles.”
ˋ°•*⁀➷
extra:
I love my girl monty jay I do and her writing is beautiful I just wish she could have gave us those things we’re missing. I would have enjoyed this book even more then. But regardless I was still entertained and had fun. But please remember guys to search up tws before reading cause this book is not for everyone that’s for sure.
and yes I will be reading the next book ofc😭
pre review:
umm I may have enjoyed this more then I was expecting but there's also some flaws I need to talk about😅 rtc
pre read:
So for some reason I didn’t realize that the male love interest is her foster brother😭 but I was so excited to read this so hopefully I don’t hate it because of that, but I need crumbs from my favorite hollow boys couples🤭
also pls don't hate cause I know its controversial and I'm not even sure if it's my cup of tea, but I wanna give it a chance still
oh boy I have a lot of thoughts, bare with me guys😅
main thoughts:
So I was very excited for this book, but I got a bit nervous because I didn't realize that jude would end up being her foster brother technically during this book and I was scared, but after finishing I can tell you guys that while that is not a trope I enjoy I kinda just ignored it in this book because to me I don’t even think it should have happened. I think it was used more to have a different vibe or something new than her other books. I’m not really sure cause it didn’t make sense to me. I had to not get a ick because of it sometimes, but most of the book I was able to stomach it and it didn’t even register that he was suppose to be her foster brother especially cause it didn’t even happen right away, it happened way later In the book. I promise I’m not sick guys I just think it could have been written worse and I’m glad I was still able to tolerate it. Although I won’t be trying to come across another book with this trope if I don’t have to.
⇩
That rant aside this book was actually really entertaining even though it was all vibes and not really any plot, definitely more character based than anything. I loved getting some hollow boys crumbs because I missed my babies so so much🥹 It was wild to imagine them being older but it was also so cute seeing them be parents and I loved the little bit of scenes we did get with them because if was iconic af.
I do think there were a couple flaws with this book as a whole which might either cause people to rate this book lower or hate it idk🥲 First off being that I don’t remember Sage loving Easton as much as she did in this book. Unless I just forgot what happened during the hollow boy series, someone correct me if I’m wrong,but it was not my favorite thing ever. What really annoyed me though which made me lower my rating a bit cause I was going to give this four stars. Was the fact that the ending felt way too rushed and I felt like we didn’t get any questions answered or a good conclusion. Like what do you mean only rook and alistair know about jude and phi and no one else? We also didn’t even get to see their reactions to it at all. Not to mention the whole main problem of jude and phi not being able to hook up was because it would be betrayal to her parents, but somehow that went completely out the window. Same with phi’s very sad secret about her being raped like I was expecting her to confess that it happened so that she can start healing and being herself, but only Jude knows so no one else knows and rook himself doesn’t even know which makes me sad😔 like sis I get you don't want to hurt him with that burden, but he's your father and he should know, especially when he's ending up hurt regardless. But besides that I didn’t really have too much other problems these were just the main ones.
characters:
Seraphina (phi): I think she was a badass and really brave, but sometimes she irritated me (a little) most of all I just felt sad for her because her backstory is pretty heart wrenching and she deserves way better. I’m glad she got to be more real around Jude but I wish she would fully release herself from the mask she has on especially around her family. I do have a soft spot for her in my heart and I do want to give her the biggest hug ever🫂
Jude: I never thought I would become a softie for a sinclair, but here we are😭🤭 I loved him idc what you say. His backstory was also heart wrenching and I felt for him too. He's definitely complicated but so is phi. I liked seeing him start to improve at the end though, he was everything and the writer in me loves that he was poet.
romance:
The love between jude and phi is very very messy and yet I was caught in it like a net😭 For some reason I couldn’t stop reading about the train wreck of their relationship especially when they hated each other at the beginning. I loved witnessing the hate for each other dissolve and them finding each other and how connected they were. I do wish that there were more soft and sweeter moments between them because I know that we missed a lot and I feel like it would have been beneficial for us readers to see that. Their relationship definitely felt more like lust at times, but I could see the raw connection flowing through. I just think some sweet moments would have helped instead of smut during certain chapters. Although I do love them as messy and crazy as they are, they definitely are perfect for each other imo🫶
quotes I love:🖤
”I’m lost.
Lost in the shattered pieces of her, in the jagged edges she tries to hide, in the chaos that lives just beneath her skin. And I want to drown in it. I want to feel every bit of that pain that comes with touching her.”
”Yeah.” Phi gives a little nod. “Our universe, Loner.”
“Our universe, Geeks.”
“I think our love is like that. It’s not poetic; it’s cosmic. We are messy, raw, like a collision that should’ve destroyed us both. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe love isn’t meant to be easy. Maybe it’s meant to be this—two people desperately trying to find each other across the chaos, across the darkness, across everything that should’ve kept us apart. So, I am not a poet, Jude. But I am yours. For however long our particles keep dancing”
“I’m always fucking seeing you, Phi. In every room, no matter how much I want to ignore you, you burn too fucking bright. You’re the goddamn sun, and I hate that I can’t stop looking at you”
”Dad, what are you doing?”
“Calling your uncles.”
ˋ°•*⁀➷
extra:
I love my girl monty jay I do and her writing is beautiful I just wish she could have gave us those things we’re missing. I would have enjoyed this book even more then. But regardless I was still entertained and had fun. But please remember guys to search up tws before reading cause this book is not for everyone that’s for sure.
and yes I will be reading the next book ofc😭
pre review:
umm I may have enjoyed this more then I was expecting but there's also some flaws I need to talk about😅 rtc
pre read:
So for some reason I didn’t realize that the male love interest is her foster brother😭 but I was so excited to read this so hopefully I don’t hate it because of that, but I need crumbs from my favorite hollow boys couples🤭
also pls don't hate cause I know its controversial and I'm not even sure if it's my cup of tea, but I wanna give it a chance still
November 1, 2024
the hollow boys crumbs 🥹 rook & phi banter. monty i love you so much. when rook burnt easton’s face in truths we burn, i was cheering for him. but this book just made me feel SO bad for him. i did not think that was possible. my highest rated book from hollow boys was the truths we burn, makes sense why i rated this a 5 too. jude my guy just made it to my top2 monty men. (you’re right 1st is obv my baby rook)
October 30, 2024
This will have spoilers. Read at your own risk!
I really don’t know what happened with this one. I loved all of the Hollow Boys. Silascoraline and Rooksage are my favorites. I loved the found family and everything. HOWEVER, this book ruined so much. We have unwanted trauma, victim blaming and sympathizing with an assaulter.
Both characters have trauma from their past. Jude was physically abused by Easton (the same Easton who attempted to rape Sage and made a joke saying he wanted to rape Rosie). Yet he continued to blame rooksage for everything Easton did. Sage (my sweet girl) wanted to help Jude for Easton because of the friend Easton once was. Now here’s my issue. Did Monty forget their characters? Sage never liked Easton. NEVER. She always thought he was gross and was only with him to protect Rosie. So why are you writing A VICTIM OF EASTON to sympathize with him because of how he never was?
Seraphina. Her past I felt bad for. However, I don’t understand the fixation I guess with giving another female main character trauma of rape. It was not needed one bit. You can write second generation characters with no trauma it’s possible. Here’s my main issue. Seraphina thought Jude knew about her rape yet in chapter 4 they were sleeping together but she still hated him and thought he knew? Where was that thought process? Seraphina also being completely disrespectful to Rook when all he did was love and protect her is gross, I’m sorry. I know we saw her feel bad about that yet there was no need for it.
This was all over the place and you can tell the author was trying to do something different which is fine but you also are adding trauma to every other second generation character when again IT IS NOT NEEDED. Nora is a ballerina and has been one for 22 years yet now she’s not anymore. Ezra is a drug addict. Like why are we adding this in?
The complete disregard for a victim of rape or attempted rape isn’t the move and that’s all I felt while reading and talking about this. I understand bringing light to child abuse and how that affects a person yet completely shifting that blame onto someone else and not the abuser is wild to me. I don’t know if I’ll read the others. I still love the hollow boys, but it just didn’t feel like this book was edited properly.
I really don’t know what happened with this one. I loved all of the Hollow Boys. Silascoraline and Rooksage are my favorites. I loved the found family and everything. HOWEVER, this book ruined so much. We have unwanted trauma, victim blaming and sympathizing with an assaulter.
Both characters have trauma from their past. Jude was physically abused by Easton (the same Easton who attempted to rape Sage and made a joke saying he wanted to rape Rosie). Yet he continued to blame rooksage for everything Easton did. Sage (my sweet girl) wanted to help Jude for Easton because of the friend Easton once was. Now here’s my issue. Did Monty forget their characters? Sage never liked Easton. NEVER. She always thought he was gross and was only with him to protect Rosie. So why are you writing A VICTIM OF EASTON to sympathize with him because of how he never was?
Seraphina. Her past I felt bad for. However, I don’t understand the fixation I guess with giving another female main character trauma of rape. It was not needed one bit. You can write second generation characters with no trauma it’s possible. Here’s my main issue. Seraphina thought Jude knew about her rape yet in chapter 4 they were sleeping together but she still hated him and thought he knew? Where was that thought process? Seraphina also being completely disrespectful to Rook when all he did was love and protect her is gross, I’m sorry. I know we saw her feel bad about that yet there was no need for it.
This was all over the place and you can tell the author was trying to do something different which is fine but you also are adding trauma to every other second generation character when again IT IS NOT NEEDED. Nora is a ballerina and has been one for 22 years yet now she’s not anymore. Ezra is a drug addict. Like why are we adding this in?
The complete disregard for a victim of rape or attempted rape isn’t the move and that’s all I felt while reading and talking about this. I understand bringing light to child abuse and how that affects a person yet completely shifting that blame onto someone else and not the abuser is wild to me. I don’t know if I’ll read the others. I still love the hollow boys, but it just didn’t feel like this book was edited properly.
October 28, 2024
Not to be dramatic, but this was infinity stars. ♾️
November 7, 2024
my star crossed lovers | “A tragic ending we can’t rewrite. Two reckless souls drawn together, not in spite of the danger, but because of it. The poison we know is killing us, yet tastes too sweet to stop drinking”
November 6, 2024
Woww WOW
This was everything I needed and MORE 😮💨
I absolutely loved how the Hollow Boys characters didn’t feel like they were just cameos but full on characters throughout this 🥹 watching all their interactions literally felt like coming home after a long day, I love & miss them all so much!
Monty Jays writing is impeccable yet again in this, the way she describes Jude and Phi’s thoughts and feelings is unmatched. She’s such a bloody good writer ❤️
Onto Jude & Seraphina, I mean where do I even start. Their romance has elements of forbidden love, forced proximity ‘foster siblings’ rivals etc it was SO good. I love their personalities the poet & the science geek and how the pacing of their relationship develops perfectly throughout the story. I loved Seraphina from the start, I find her so funny & relatable, Jude is one of those characters that once you fall in love with him there’s no going back 🫶🏽 I love how he handled himself through the story, in fact every single interaction between them had me giggling and squealing
I also love meeting all the other second gen kids, and already getting a glimpse into their relationships and personalities ❤️
This was everything I needed and MORE 😮💨
I absolutely loved how the Hollow Boys characters didn’t feel like they were just cameos but full on characters throughout this 🥹 watching all their interactions literally felt like coming home after a long day, I love & miss them all so much!
Monty Jays writing is impeccable yet again in this, the way she describes Jude and Phi’s thoughts and feelings is unmatched. She’s such a bloody good writer ❤️
Onto Jude & Seraphina, I mean where do I even start. Their romance has elements of forbidden love, forced proximity ‘foster siblings’ rivals etc it was SO good. I love their personalities the poet & the science geek and how the pacing of their relationship develops perfectly throughout the story. I loved Seraphina from the start, I find her so funny & relatable, Jude is one of those characters that once you fall in love with him there’s no going back 🫶🏽 I love how he handled himself through the story, in fact every single interaction between them had me giggling and squealing
I also love meeting all the other second gen kids, and already getting a glimpse into their relationships and personalities ❤️
October 29, 2024
5 stars🌟 “Our pain feels a lot like distant twin flames. Our scars might be different, etched by different hands, but they burn the same”
Monty Jay really said let me drop a second gen series that’s gonna be just as DAMN GOOD as the first one. As soon as it was over I was missing this world and these characters.
Phi and Jude give you that soulmate feeling, they balance each other perfectly. It was like they were polar opposites but also a mirror of each other.
The enemies to lovers was nailed here. If I could show the perfect example of “hate to love” tension it would this. The spice was absolutely immaculate, I had to physically put the book down and slap a hand to my mouth. The mouth on Jude was POETIC FILTH and I was addicted.
Phi such a badass fmc, she could be completely falling apart on the inside but on the outside she would be swinging fists like it was nobody’s business.
Also, the hollow boys featuring in this was EVERYTHING. The way I fancied Rook Van Doren all over again reading this was unhealthy.
As soon as the next book in this series drops I���ll be turning the world on DND.
Monty Jay really said let me drop a second gen series that’s gonna be just as DAMN GOOD as the first one. As soon as it was over I was missing this world and these characters.
Phi and Jude give you that soulmate feeling, they balance each other perfectly. It was like they were polar opposites but also a mirror of each other.
The enemies to lovers was nailed here. If I could show the perfect example of “hate to love” tension it would this. The spice was absolutely immaculate, I had to physically put the book down and slap a hand to my mouth. The mouth on Jude was POETIC FILTH and I was addicted.
Phi such a badass fmc, she could be completely falling apart on the inside but on the outside she would be swinging fists like it was nobody’s business.
Also, the hollow boys featuring in this was EVERYTHING. The way I fancied Rook Van Doren all over again reading this was unhealthy.
As soon as the next book in this series drops I���ll be turning the world on DND.
October 31, 2024
Honestly, I found Seraphina annoying as fuck, a true SPOILED brat in every sense of the word. Rook always did EVERYTHING for her and she had THE COURAGE to tell him if “he wanted a reward” for adopting her. Exactly that.
Well, I think RookSage should have left her in an abandoned dump. “Oh, but her trauma” I’m sorry about her trauma, but her being an insufferable annoying BITCH has nothing to do with trauma. She had no fucking right to be mean with the man who raised her with all love in the world. UNGRATEFUL BITCH!!!!!!!
Reign (my golden baby) was absolutely right in everything he said about her and he should’ve said more.
And Jude, quite the opposite, is WONDERFUL!!! He’s a total sweetheart!!!! I cried a lot with his childhood memories and my hatred for that motherfucker Easton only increased. I just need to protect Jude from all the evil in the world (Seraphina). I loved the way he was written and I really liked his personality. I loved everything about him. He’s perfect. P-E-R-F-E-C-T.
About RookSage: MY BABIES!!!! Sage, increasingly beautiful, smart, incredible, didn't give up on helping Jude even though he did everything he could trying to stop her. And Rook comforting Jude after he said he had no one? BROKE me, teared me into pieces, I cried a fucking river. Their relationship will definitely only get better and I hope MJ writes more about it. It’s a need, really. 😭
About Allistair trying to help Jude since he was a child, it didn't surprise me at all, I knew he would try to help, it's a shame that that fucker Easton didn't let him (apart from the monetary help).
Anyway, I hope Jude has all the happiness in the world and that his relationship with the HB continues to improve because he deserves to have a family that loves and cherishes him!!!! I love you Jude!!!!!! My precious boy 🩷🩷🫶🏻🫶🏻😭😭😭💕💕
PS: AND ROOK AS A DAD???? OMG 🥵🥵 MY FAVORITE DILF!!!!!
PS2: ANDYEZRA!!!! OH MY GOOOOOOOODNESS!!!!!!! THEY WILL SERVEEEEEEE
Three stars because of Jude, RookSage and the other characters. Seraphina who?
Well, I think RookSage should have left her in an abandoned dump. “Oh, but her trauma” I’m sorry about her trauma, but her being an insufferable annoying BITCH has nothing to do with trauma. She had no fucking right to be mean with the man who raised her with all love in the world. UNGRATEFUL BITCH!!!!!!!
Reign (my golden baby) was absolutely right in everything he said about her and he should’ve said more.
And Jude, quite the opposite, is WONDERFUL!!! He’s a total sweetheart!!!! I cried a lot with his childhood memories and my hatred for that motherfucker Easton only increased. I just need to protect Jude from all the evil in the world (Seraphina). I loved the way he was written and I really liked his personality. I loved everything about him. He’s perfect. P-E-R-F-E-C-T.
About RookSage: MY BABIES!!!! Sage, increasingly beautiful, smart, incredible, didn't give up on helping Jude even though he did everything he could trying to stop her. And Rook comforting Jude after he said he had no one? BROKE me, teared me into pieces, I cried a fucking river. Their relationship will definitely only get better and I hope MJ writes more about it. It’s a need, really. 😭
About Allistair trying to help Jude since he was a child, it didn't surprise me at all, I knew he would try to help, it's a shame that that fucker Easton didn't let him (apart from the monetary help).
Anyway, I hope Jude has all the happiness in the world and that his relationship with the HB continues to improve because he deserves to have a family that loves and cherishes him!!!! I love you Jude!!!!!! My precious boy 🩷🩷🫶🏻🫶🏻😭😭😭💕💕
PS: AND ROOK AS A DAD???? OMG 🥵🥵 MY FAVORITE DILF!!!!!
PS2: ANDYEZRA!!!! OH MY GOOOOOOOODNESS!!!!!!! THEY WILL SERVEEEEEEE
Three stars because of Jude, RookSage and the other characters. Seraphina who?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2024
my family ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️
October 28, 2024
i hope authors know sometimes not writing second gen is okay
November 1, 2024
This book was dark romance poetry.
I couldn’t put it down!!
What a way to start the next gen series.
Seeing the originals as fathers and mothers was honestly the biggest treat. Like, as if I could love Rook any more!!
Phi and Jude, have their own traumas they are living with, the last thing they count on is finding a peace in each other. The enemy.
4.5⭐️
3.75🌶️
I couldn’t put it down!!
What a way to start the next gen series.
Seeing the originals as fathers and mothers was honestly the biggest treat. Like, as if I could love Rook any more!!
Phi and Jude, have their own traumas they are living with, the last thing they count on is finding a peace in each other. The enemy.
4.5⭐️
3.75🌶️
November 7, 2024
GIVE THIS TO ME RIGHT NOW
THE CRUMBS THO UGHHHHHHHHHHH IM FERAL
THE CRUMBS THO UGHHHHHHHHHHH IM FERAL
October 29, 2024
jude sinclair needs to put that pen down, omg.
October 27, 2024
*i received an arc*
WE’RE BACK IN PONDEROSA SPRINGS BITCHES!!!
ohmygod. i adored them sososo much!!
where to start 😣
SRV HEARTS EJS!!!!
seraphina rose van doren • the vicious queen of disaster who’s secretly a nerdy whovian fan. I LOVE THAT. cherry red hair and a tramp stamp!!! shes iconic ❤️❤️❤️ i love that we got a scene where phi was jealous and not the other way around. also when she yaps about her nerdy interests and jude just listens to her 🤭
e jude sinclair • the broody exiled loner who secretly writes poetry. his back story was sad and I’m quite grateful that he obtains a few father figures towards the end. eyebrow AND tongue piercing!! i loved that he called her geeks, it was so fucking cute. he definitely reminded me of rook a lot (even the hollow boys think so).
phinajude • i loved them together so much. they created their own universe 😭😭 they were so soft with each other. when she punched a guy because he hit jude 😸😸 AND HE KILLED SOMEONE TO PROTECT HER!!!
RSH characters • OH MY GOD i need andyezra asap!! im already so in love with them. atlas?? omg what a cutie, he was so funny and def not how i was expecting him to be, i love his and phinas relationship and i can’t wait for to see who his love interest is. reign…hm. he’s probably my least favourite so far? like i still like him and i get the whole speech he gave phi but it made me upset with him 😔 also i think his love interest might be ever? (we meet her at the motel for like a second). NORA!!! SHES 6’0??? that is no tiny dancer im telling u. i thought she was gonna be all sweet (she is) but she’s also so violent lmao. also I’m still not sure wether or not there’s actually gonna be a teacher x student book but her love interest is gonna have to be tall if he’s calling her tiny 😭😭 i can’t wait for everyone else’s books!!!
THB characters • seeing my bebs all grown up is crazy. the only thing i hate abt second gen series is that the couples from the first gen are not immortalised 💔💔
fave quotes / scenes •
“Go get your girl.” “Got her.” 😭😭😭
“He lifts the dart he’s been holding, revealing the writing along the white paper: SRV HEARTS EJS in neat, looping script.”
“More than that? I fucking hate when people touch him.” “Whatever I need to do to deflect from the fact the only reason I’m barreling toward this fight is to protect Jude” “but I can’t be sure because in the next breath, Ryker’s fist collides with my not-really-my-boyfriend’s gut, and my vision blazes red. This is gonna hurt like a bitch.”
“If you tell anyone I wrote this, I will actually kill you.” “Your secret’s safe with me, baby. No one gets to know how sweet you are for me.” All of her secrets are with me.
“It’s as if the atoms making up every inch of his soul once belonged to the same distant star that birthed me. Like particles that drifted apart billions of years ago have found a way to reunite in the form of two people.
Nothing anyone could’ve done would have been able to keep us from each other. Not even us.”
“Phi feels like the first breath of air after years of drowning. I’m pretty sure the gods created her with me in mind. Not as my match but as my opposite. ”
“Yesterday, I had to wake her up early so she could sneak back into her room, and you’d have thought I was trying to start World War III. She threw a pillow at me, grumbled something about “cruel and unusual punishment,” and pulled the covers back over her head.”
ANYWAYS i love them and can’t wait for the rest of the series!! thankyou mj for cooking again 🩷🩷
WE’RE BACK IN PONDEROSA SPRINGS BITCHES!!!
ohmygod. i adored them sososo much!!
where to start 😣
SRV HEARTS EJS!!!!
seraphina rose van doren • the vicious queen of disaster who’s secretly a nerdy whovian fan. I LOVE THAT. cherry red hair and a tramp stamp!!! shes iconic ❤️❤️❤️ i love that we got a scene where phi was jealous and not the other way around. also when she yaps about her nerdy interests and jude just listens to her 🤭
e jude sinclair • the broody exiled loner who secretly writes poetry. his back story was sad and I’m quite grateful that he obtains a few father figures towards the end. eyebrow AND tongue piercing!! i loved that he called her geeks, it was so fucking cute. he definitely reminded me of rook a lot (even the hollow boys think so).
phinajude • i loved them together so much. they created their own universe 😭😭 they were so soft with each other. when she punched a guy because he hit jude 😸😸 AND HE KILLED SOMEONE TO PROTECT HER!!!
RSH characters • OH MY GOD i need andyezra asap!! im already so in love with them. atlas?? omg what a cutie, he was so funny and def not how i was expecting him to be, i love his and phinas relationship and i can’t wait for to see who his love interest is. reign…hm. he’s probably my least favourite so far? like i still like him and i get the whole speech he gave phi but it made me upset with him 😔 also i think his love interest might be ever? (we meet her at the motel for like a second). NORA!!! SHES 6’0??? that is no tiny dancer im telling u. i thought she was gonna be all sweet (she is) but she’s also so violent lmao. also I’m still not sure wether or not there’s actually gonna be a teacher x student book but her love interest is gonna have to be tall if he’s calling her tiny 😭😭 i can’t wait for everyone else’s books!!!
THB characters • seeing my bebs all grown up is crazy. the only thing i hate abt second gen series is that the couples from the first gen are not immortalised 💔💔
fave quotes / scenes •
“Go get your girl.” “Got her.” 😭😭😭
“He lifts the dart he’s been holding, revealing the writing along the white paper: SRV HEARTS EJS in neat, looping script.”
“More than that? I fucking hate when people touch him.” “Whatever I need to do to deflect from the fact the only reason I’m barreling toward this fight is to protect Jude” “but I can’t be sure because in the next breath, Ryker’s fist collides with my not-really-my-boyfriend’s gut, and my vision blazes red. This is gonna hurt like a bitch.”
“If you tell anyone I wrote this, I will actually kill you.” “Your secret’s safe with me, baby. No one gets to know how sweet you are for me.” All of her secrets are with me.
“It’s as if the atoms making up every inch of his soul once belonged to the same distant star that birthed me. Like particles that drifted apart billions of years ago have found a way to reunite in the form of two people.
Nothing anyone could’ve done would have been able to keep us from each other. Not even us.”
“Phi feels like the first breath of air after years of drowning. I’m pretty sure the gods created her with me in mind. Not as my match but as my opposite. ”
“Yesterday, I had to wake her up early so she could sneak back into her room, and you’d have thought I was trying to start World War III. She threw a pillow at me, grumbled something about “cruel and unusual punishment,” and pulled the covers back over her head.”
ANYWAYS i love them and can’t wait for the rest of the series!! thankyou mj for cooking again 🩷🩷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2024
despise whenever authors use sa as a storyline esp when it feels like it's done as punishment for the parents. hb & co brought down a sex trafficking ring, in turn rooksages daughter is assaulted in the prologue? no one other than jude found out as well feels so cheap, the ending in general was but it seems as tho phi was sa'ed for shock value only.
moving forward.... liked the kids and all their relationships, it was super cute. but i am staying skeptical bc 2nd gens always end up declining with that, i did love 1st gens involvement in the story a lot as well.
the van dorens 🫂🫂 love me a messy dysfunctional family. rooksage as parents were so cute, how they managed to have those 3 all around the same time idddk.
nora reign & atlas were my favs as expected and seated for them in book2...as intriguing as andyezra seemed, ny expectations are low considering there's yet to be a 2nd gen inner group couple that i've liked.
serial killer selling houses okay 😭😭 and everyone calling rook "the judge" very unserious.
jude put the pen down, it's not for you. and no reaction to judephi's relationship is crazy, mind you the whole book judephi call phi a traitor for sleeping with jude so.....(?)
also i know this is set in oregon but please put the pot down.
moving forward.... liked the kids and all their relationships, it was super cute. but i am staying skeptical bc 2nd gens always end up declining with that, i did love 1st gens involvement in the story a lot as well.
the van dorens 🫂🫂 love me a messy dysfunctional family. rooksage as parents were so cute, how they managed to have those 3 all around the same time idddk.
nora reign & atlas were my favs as expected and seated for them in book2...as intriguing as andyezra seemed, ny expectations are low considering there's yet to be a 2nd gen inner group couple that i've liked.
serial killer selling houses okay 😭😭 and everyone calling rook "the judge" very unserious.
jude put the pen down, it's not for you. and no reaction to judephi's relationship is crazy, mind you the whole book judephi call phi a traitor for sleeping with jude so.....(?)
also i know this is set in oregon but please put the pot down.
October 30, 2024
♾️/5;
I do not know how I can write a review on this book because I feel like my words would not do it justice. I cannot encompass in a matter of words what this story is about. there is just no way. this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. OF THE YEAR. first off, completely blew me away. congrats monty. it is very hard for second-generation books to be written and for them to actually stick and I feel so nostalgic after reading about phi and jude.
first of all, seeing rook as a father and a husband. I think that made my whole year. seeing all of them being fathers and seeing the girls being mothers and wives like I could not have asked for anything better. it was so amazing to read about everyone and see where everyone's lives led them. they will always have a special place in my heart.
Jude, ugh my poet, my moon. he truly is the gift that keeps on giving. a romantic who grew up in a home with no love. my heart truly goes out to him. he deserves the world. listen we all know the Sinclair name but we ride at dawn for Jude. just reading his past and what he went through and then the scene with him and rook....iykyk I was crying my eyeballs out. I loved everything about him. my little poet. all he wanted was to be loved and to be chosen and im so happy he got everything he wanted.
Phi, little firefly, vixen, fire child ugh she is a mini Sage and I LOVE MAMA SAGE. seeing her as a mother and her being with rook...I love them your honor. seraphina was adopted when she was very young so she was raised with everyone. by the time she turned 14, a part of her died making her who she is now. I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what happened to her and then I found out. my poor baby she has felt so alone for such a long time and then Jude happened.
jude and phi are the textbook definition of Romeo and Juliet. they are star crossed-lovers. they are people who should not be remotely together not even in the same room as one another. but lines become blurry. walls are ripped apart. secrets are shared. ugh I loved them so so much. I cried so many times and I highlighted the shit out of the book I can't tell you how many highlight notes I have. the banter. the spice. the found family. seeing everyone again and just being in Ponderosa Springs was everything I wanted.
this book quite literally altered my brain chemistry. I have not felt this deeply about a book since I read MPU: Into the Dark earlier this year. I will say it again, Monty has a way of gripping you from the get. her writing is so lyrical and poetic I am always amazed at how these words come out of her brain. this is her world we are just living in it. congrats monty <3
highlights:
"how's the weather, my fire child?"
"cloudy, by the sun's in the forecast."
"how's our universe, baby?"
"better with you in it."
I just watch her. Because Seraphina Van Doren was made to be watched
Tropes:
- college romance
- dark romance
- star-crossed lovers
- enemies to lovers
- foster siblings
- found family
- bad boy x even badder girl
I do not know how I can write a review on this book because I feel like my words would not do it justice. I cannot encompass in a matter of words what this story is about. there is just no way. this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. OF THE YEAR. first off, completely blew me away. congrats monty. it is very hard for second-generation books to be written and for them to actually stick and I feel so nostalgic after reading about phi and jude.
first of all, seeing rook as a father and a husband. I think that made my whole year. seeing all of them being fathers and seeing the girls being mothers and wives like I could not have asked for anything better. it was so amazing to read about everyone and see where everyone's lives led them. they will always have a special place in my heart.
Jude, ugh my poet, my moon. he truly is the gift that keeps on giving. a romantic who grew up in a home with no love. my heart truly goes out to him. he deserves the world. listen we all know the Sinclair name but we ride at dawn for Jude. just reading his past and what he went through and then the scene with him and rook....iykyk I was crying my eyeballs out. I loved everything about him. my little poet. all he wanted was to be loved and to be chosen and im so happy he got everything he wanted.
Phi, little firefly, vixen, fire child ugh she is a mini Sage and I LOVE MAMA SAGE. seeing her as a mother and her being with rook...I love them your honor. seraphina was adopted when she was very young so she was raised with everyone. by the time she turned 14, a part of her died making her who she is now. I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what happened to her and then I found out. my poor baby she has felt so alone for such a long time and then Jude happened.
jude and phi are the textbook definition of Romeo and Juliet. they are star crossed-lovers. they are people who should not be remotely together not even in the same room as one another. but lines become blurry. walls are ripped apart. secrets are shared. ugh I loved them so so much. I cried so many times and I highlighted the shit out of the book I can't tell you how many highlight notes I have. the banter. the spice. the found family. seeing everyone again and just being in Ponderosa Springs was everything I wanted.
this book quite literally altered my brain chemistry. I have not felt this deeply about a book since I read MPU: Into the Dark earlier this year. I will say it again, Monty has a way of gripping you from the get. her writing is so lyrical and poetic I am always amazed at how these words come out of her brain. this is her world we are just living in it. congrats monty <3
highlights:
"how's the weather, my fire child?"
"cloudy, by the sun's in the forecast."
"how's our universe, baby?"
"better with you in it."
I just watch her. Because Seraphina Van Doren was made to be watched
Tropes:
- college romance
- dark romance
- star-crossed lovers
- enemies to lovers
- foster siblings
- found family
- bad boy x even badder girl
October 29, 2024
give me this book NOOOWWW, so excited to see Rook reaction when his daughter tells him who is her boyfriend 🤭🤭
November 2, 2024
“We are messy, raw, like a collision that should’ve destroyed us both. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe love isn’t meant to be easy."
4/5⭐️ and 2.5/5🌶️ on the spicy scale. I was so happy to read about the second gen and it was definitely worth the wait. Just when you think things can't get darker, they absolutely do in this book and I binged it in one sitting because I was hooked.
Seraphina, better known as Phi, is Rook's daughter and she has a such fiery personality and is so sassy which I adore. She is harbouring a huge secret that has made her withdraw from her family and push them away so they don't get hurt by the trauma and guilt she is carrying. She tries to act indifferent with everyone around her but that is where Jude Sinclair steps into the picture and forces her to confront the demons she has been fighting.
Jude has long been suffering because of the last name he carries. Everyone shuns him away and always compared him to his father. Jude hated that with his whole being and just wants to start afresh in a place no one knows him. But when Phi accuses him of something he is not a part of, he becomes riled up and plans to make her regret getting his attention.
Every interaction with Phi and Jude was so tension filled. The way their banter and antics kept going back and forth was so entertaining and I loved every moment of it. One thing that made me melt was when Jude made Phi finally understand that she was not alone especially with him and in their universe. The soft spot he had for her was truly heartwarming and vice versa. These two were meant to be star-crossed lovers and it was worth it till the end.
Another aspect which I liked was seeing the Hollow Boys as fathers and uncles. They truly are such great dads and it was such a treat to see that they have not changed their ways at all.
The only gripe I had was with the pacing towards the end. It was slightly rushed and I was expecting more closure for Phi especially. But overall, this was a fun read and I am looking forward to more of the second gen ✨
4/5⭐️ and 2.5/5🌶️ on the spicy scale. I was so happy to read about the second gen and it was definitely worth the wait. Just when you think things can't get darker, they absolutely do in this book and I binged it in one sitting because I was hooked.
Seraphina, better known as Phi, is Rook's daughter and she has a such fiery personality and is so sassy which I adore. She is harbouring a huge secret that has made her withdraw from her family and push them away so they don't get hurt by the trauma and guilt she is carrying. She tries to act indifferent with everyone around her but that is where Jude Sinclair steps into the picture and forces her to confront the demons she has been fighting.
Jude has long been suffering because of the last name he carries. Everyone shuns him away and always compared him to his father. Jude hated that with his whole being and just wants to start afresh in a place no one knows him. But when Phi accuses him of something he is not a part of, he becomes riled up and plans to make her regret getting his attention.
Every interaction with Phi and Jude was so tension filled. The way their banter and antics kept going back and forth was so entertaining and I loved every moment of it. One thing that made me melt was when Jude made Phi finally understand that she was not alone especially with him and in their universe. The soft spot he had for her was truly heartwarming and vice versa. These two were meant to be star-crossed lovers and it was worth it till the end.
Another aspect which I liked was seeing the Hollow Boys as fathers and uncles. They truly are such great dads and it was such a treat to see that they have not changed their ways at all.
The only gripe I had was with the pacing towards the end. It was slightly rushed and I was expecting more closure for Phi especially. But overall, this was a fun read and I am looking forward to more of the second gen ✨
October 31, 2024
I have been so excited for this book and it did not disappoint. I love love Jude and Phi and they were so cute. I love second gen books and knowing Judes backstory and why both families were enemies. Both characters go through a lot emotionally and there’s a grittiness to their love and what they have gone through.
I love the found family and how close the second gen characters are and i like how Jude and Phi were able to shine. The enemies to lovers vibes was so good and the hate smut scenes were 🔥🔥🔥. I wish we had more scenes between Phi and her parents but overall this was good and im excited for the next book!
I love the found family and how close the second gen characters are and i like how Jude and Phi were able to shine. The enemies to lovers vibes was so good and the hate smut scenes were 🔥🔥🔥. I wish we had more scenes between Phi and her parents but overall this was good and im excited for the next book!
November 2, 2024
4.75! This book is far from perfect don’t get me wrong but I loved every second of it. Seeing the hollow boys back in their elements to me was like giving drugs to a junky.
October 31, 2024
3.5★
Read this book if you need a reminder that nothing, i mean NOTHING can beat hot-angry-hate fuck.
Read this book if you want to experience poetic writing which can drown you with its words.
Read this book if you want to feel the angst, the forbidden desire and vulnerability in its rawest form.
I’m still trying to process The Hollow Boys and The Lonar Society has all grown up and are all parents and uncles with graying hairs😭 Thank You MJ for fulfilling my DILF Silas dream, can’t wait for more Daddy Hawthorne moments in Nora’s book.
The main highlights of the book, i loved.
● Phi & Jude, Geeks & Loner, His vicious puppet & Her angry puppeteer. They were the perfect opposite of each other, like Jude has said, like the sun and the moon, and they fell for each other hard. Their journey of transformation from Sworn Enemies to Star-crossed Lovers was beautiful.
Oh Mercy, to be loved by Jude Sinclair.
● Hollow Boys breadcrumbs >>
“Watch your fucking mouth when you’re speaking to my wife.”
Even after years, RVD never fails to made me swoon 🫠
“Sorry to burst your bubble, but she isn’t a vampire. And if she was, I’d be one too. Whatever your aunt Lyra is, I am.”
My Thatcher-Lyra Heart ❤️🔥
And most importantly, my favourite man (i just know already Hawthornes are going to be my favourite family too)
She presses a kiss to my forehead, soft and reassuring, the way she always does, the way the Hawthornes always do—like they know the exact moment when the world gets a little too heavy. Her dad does the same thing whenever he sees me, as if with each press of lips to skin, Silas is stitching me back together.
● Jude’s poetry,
I was born a romantic in a house that never knew love.
THIS IS SO WHOLESOME 🥹💘🫶
Prometheus knew the weight of chains,
But mine were forged by blood and name,
Bound not to rocks but to a place
Where love was given in the shape of pain.
Tbh i wanted the ending to be much more deep than the rushed superficial version we got. It was underwhelming. The Capulets and Montagues may have been Shakespeare’s famous foes, but in Ponderosa Springs? It was the Van Dorens and Sinclairs. The way everyone was acting like Van Doren-Sinclair pairing being no big deal was just...odd, considering throughout the book the consequences of them being secret was highlighted.
AND JUSTICE FOR EASTON !! I cried. I sobbed. I broke for him. He didn’t deserved any of that. I wished. I prayed. I wanted a happy ending for him but instead I got death. Are you kidding me? Was’t the amount of torture he has endured since the hollow boys enough?? I’m not justifying his actions, I am just telling that HE WAS JUST A BOY, HE WAS ALSO A PRODUCT OF HIS PARENTS DEEDS, the sufferings he got was heartbreaking for me. Not gonna recover from this.
___________________
Pre-read
I GOT THE ARC OH MY GOD I GOT THE ARC FUCKK
(i knew it from Feb already it’s still less believable)
p.s. lemme process the fact that we are getting father ROOK VAN DOREN 🤰🤰
Read this book if you need a reminder that nothing, i mean NOTHING can beat hot-angry-hate fuck.
Read this book if you want to experience poetic writing which can drown you with its words.
Read this book if you want to feel the angst, the forbidden desire and vulnerability in its rawest form.
I’m still trying to process The Hollow Boys and The Lonar Society has all grown up and are all parents and uncles with graying hairs😭 Thank You MJ for fulfilling my DILF Silas dream, can’t wait for more Daddy Hawthorne moments in Nora’s book.
The main highlights of the book, i loved.
● Phi & Jude, Geeks & Loner, His vicious puppet & Her angry puppeteer. They were the perfect opposite of each other, like Jude has said, like the sun and the moon, and they fell for each other hard. Their journey of transformation from Sworn Enemies to Star-crossed Lovers was beautiful.
“You’ll carry my bruises for a goddamn lifetime.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s a promise.”
Oh Mercy, to be loved by Jude Sinclair.
I’m a poet. A shitty one, but still. But right now, not a single one feels right for her. I have words, I do. Just…none worthy of her.
She talks, and I listen. It’s as simple—and complicated—as that. I don’t care what she’s saying; I just care that she’s saying it.
● Hollow Boys breadcrumbs >>
“Watch your fucking mouth when you’re speaking to my wife.”
Even after years, RVD never fails to made me swoon 🫠
“Sorry to burst your bubble, but she isn’t a vampire. And if she was, I’d be one too. Whatever your aunt Lyra is, I am.”
My Thatcher-Lyra Heart ❤️🔥
And most importantly, my favourite man (i just know already Hawthornes are going to be my favourite family too)
She presses a kiss to my forehead, soft and reassuring, the way she always does, the way the Hawthornes always do—like they know the exact moment when the world gets a little too heavy. Her dad does the same thing whenever he sees me, as if with each press of lips to skin, Silas is stitching me back together.
● Jude’s poetry,
I was born a romantic in a house that never knew love.
THIS IS SO WHOLESOME 🥹💘🫶
Prometheus knew the weight of chains,
But mine were forged by blood and name,
Bound not to rocks but to a place
Where love was given in the shape of pain.
Tbh i wanted the ending to be much more deep than the rushed superficial version we got. It was underwhelming. The Capulets and Montagues may have been Shakespeare’s famous foes, but in Ponderosa Springs? It was the Van Dorens and Sinclairs. The way everyone was acting like Van Doren-Sinclair pairing being no big deal was just...odd, considering throughout the book the consequences of them being secret was highlighted.
AND JUSTICE FOR EASTON !! I cried. I sobbed. I broke for him. He didn’t deserved any of that. I wished. I prayed. I wanted a happy ending for him but instead I got death. Are you kidding me? Was’t the amount of torture he has endured since the hollow boys enough?? I’m not justifying his actions, I am just telling that HE WAS JUST A BOY, HE WAS ALSO A PRODUCT OF HIS PARENTS DEEDS, the sufferings he got was heartbreaking for me. Not gonna recover from this.
___________________
Pre-read
I GOT THE ARC OH MY GOD I GOT THE ARC FUCKK
(i knew it from Feb already it’s still less believable)
p.s. lemme process the fact that we are getting father ROOK VAN DOREN 🤰🤰
November 5, 2024
4★ okay i’ve decided to settle on 4 stars because this book was actually a really run and enjoyable read and i finished it in 2 days so that says something😭
i absolutely LOVED phi and jude’s dynamic they were such a hot couple. the way phi is a mixture of rook and sage together, BADASS🤭 jude was just everything and more i mean he’s a literal poet?🙂↕️
however, i feel like some parts of this book were kinda rushed and i didn’t get that feeling of being completely fulfilled at the end of a book ya know like something is just missing?
either way i can’t WAIT to read about andyezra, their crumbs were everything and their dynamic is lowkey giving joeyaoife so ik for a fact their book is about to break my heart into pieces💔
“Andy and Ez love each other. I stopped questioning it a while ago. I didn’t have much of a choice after I heard him drunkenly serenade her in the back of my car with the Fray’s “Look After You.” need them like yesterday😩
i absolutely LOVED phi and jude’s dynamic they were such a hot couple. the way phi is a mixture of rook and sage together, BADASS🤭 jude was just everything and more i mean he’s a literal poet?🙂↕️
however, i feel like some parts of this book were kinda rushed and i didn’t get that feeling of being completely fulfilled at the end of a book ya know like something is just missing?
either way i can’t WAIT to read about andyezra, their crumbs were everything and their dynamic is lowkey giving joeyaoife so ik for a fact their book is about to break my heart into pieces💔
“Andy and Ez love each other. I stopped questioning it a while ago. I didn’t have much of a choice after I heard him drunkenly serenade her in the back of my car with the Fray’s “Look After You.” need them like yesterday😩
November 2, 2024
I’m giving this a solid 4⭐️
Phi’s fiery personality is everything I love—she’s fierce on the outside but such a softie at heart. Jude Saintclaire completely won me over. I didn’t expect to ever like a Saintclaire, but he’s definitely the exception, and I adore him.
The whole experience was so enjoyable, especially getting glimpses of the parents. Although I missed seeing my favorite character, I’m okay with it because what we got was fantastic! And now, I’m officially obsessed with Ezra and Andy—they’re going to be my personality next year, even with just the crumbs we got of them.
I’m also super intrigued by Nora and Reign’s friendship; I can’t wait to see how that develops! This book truly left me wanting more.
Phi’s fiery personality is everything I love—she’s fierce on the outside but such a softie at heart. Jude Saintclaire completely won me over. I didn’t expect to ever like a Saintclaire, but he’s definitely the exception, and I adore him.
The whole experience was so enjoyable, especially getting glimpses of the parents. Although I missed seeing my favorite character, I’m okay with it because what we got was fantastic! And now, I’m officially obsessed with Ezra and Andy—they’re going to be my personality next year, even with just the crumbs we got of them.
I’m also super intrigued by Nora and Reign’s friendship; I can’t wait to see how that develops! This book truly left me wanting more.
Read
October 31, 2024arc review
Honestly, I don't even know where to start and since this was an arc read which I'm grateful for, I'll refrain for giving this a ranting.
I felt this book was all over the place, with a lot of things that didn't make sense at all to me... RookSage are my favorite couple from the first gen, so I was really looking forward to this. Unfortunately, it felt like there was too much and not enough at the same time?
Anyway, I really hope the next books are better for me.
Honestly, I don't even know where to start and since this was an arc read which I'm grateful for, I'll refrain for giving this a ranting.
I felt this book was all over the place, with a lot of things that didn't make sense at all to me... RookSage are my favorite couple from the first gen, so I was really looking forward to this. Unfortunately, it felt like there was too much and not enough at the same time?
Anyway, I really hope the next books are better for me.
October 30, 2024
3.5/5
just give me andyezra’s book already!! it was a very good introduction to a series. i really enjoyed judephi and the found family was the best thing ever
just give me andyezra’s book already!! it was a very good introduction to a series. i really enjoyed judephi and the found family was the best thing ever
October 31, 2024
my new obsession
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