Alison Gaylin: The Collective

In the Collective, Alison Gaylin shows the lengths that grieving parents will go to, to make sure those who hurt their loved ones suffer:

Camille, is angry, grieving, mother, who for the past 5 years has had to watch the person who raped and murdered her daughter go free, have a clean record and have the world act like he was never involved in the crime, all because he had the money to get away with it. Camille has had enough, she is determined to show the world what type of "man" he truly is. Camille's actions bring her to the attention of a secret group on the dark web, one that makes sure those who got away from crimes are punished. Camille feels a sisterhood, a kinship to all those in the collective and if she can help even in small ways to bring justice to other mother's out there, she will do it. But the longer Camille is part of the Collective the more she learns not just about herself but the Collective as well and it will have her questioning everything.

This is the first book that I have read by Gaylin and it will not be the last. I do not know if I am the first one to say this but this book is what I wanted Kill for Me Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh to be (yes that very hyped book from last year), yep I said it. I found that this book had more depth, more emotion and even though it is more of a slow burn thriller at times i just felt connected to Camille that I was reading as fast as I could. Gaylin does such a great job in pulling the reader in. This made me invested in Camille right from the beginning, I wanted to know how far she would go, what limits the Collective would push her to and then thinking what would be my limit? Would I go this far? 

Personally, I cannot blame Camille for what she wants to happen to her daughter’s rapist and murderer. I think any parent would have many of the same feelings that she expresses throughout the book. Gaylin makes Camille feel like a real person and her honesty of what she wants is not sugar coated at all and it is dark at times. I like how Gaylin showed the decline in Camille's mental state throughout the beginning of the book and how helping the Collective seems to help her in some way. Although as you read further into the books there is a secondary plot that unfolds, this book is very much driven by Camille and her story.

That Ending.....now that is an ending. Way to go Gaylin. 

I really enjoyed this book, I like that Gaylin was able to make me feel so connected to Camille and at times takes the story in a way that I did not fully expect. I look forward to reading another book by Gaylin.

Enjoy!!!

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Sabaa Tahir: A Torch Against the night

In the second book in her Ember in the Ashes Series, Sabaa Tahir, the Main Characters are running for their lives as Dark forces continue to stalk them:

Elias and Laia are running for their lives and they are running from someone who know Elias better than anyone, so they have to be more cunning, more secretive, more fierce in order to escape, in order to prevent the continued genocide of the Scholars. But unhuman dark forces chase after them, death stalks them and there are those who would do anything to break them apart.

I don't think it needs to be said but I will say it anyways, you will need to read the first book An Ember in the Ashes before reading this book as this book starts up right after the first book left off. The first book also sets up the characters, relationship and how we got to this place in the story.

I'm obsessed with this series so far. I love that this book picked up right where the first ended as it not only ended on a cliff hanger but so much chaos as well. I did not want to put this book down and would have read it in one day if I could have. The stakes were even higher in the book due to the event of the first books and you feel these stakes in all of the POV. This book will give you a spectrum of feelings from Triumph to heartbreak several times within the book, but it never slows down (Tahir knows what she is doing with pacing).

I loved that there are still three POV in this book and that Helene is now getting more chapters. Her POV is much different from the other two as she is not where she want to be and not whom she wants to be with but she does her duty any way. The obstacles that are placed in her way along her journey in this book are devastating and heartbreaking at times. Unlike the first book I feel like we really get to know Helene as a character. 

I don't think I can say enough how much I have enjoyed this book and this series so far. I am invested in all the characters and was to see where Tahir takes each other their stories as we well as the world they live in. Cannot wait to read the next book in this series and I cannot recommend enough starting this series. You will not be disappointed.

Enjoy!!!!

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