thebookdisciple
Written on Aug 1, 2017
Full disclosure: I started Enrage by reading the end. I needed to know. I am in Rachel's reader group and knew something BAD was going to happen. I mean, the next book is called Eulogy for God's sake. And, I am still a bit teary eyed from Elude. So, yeah, judge me if you want, but I read the end first so I could prepare myself. Still fucking hurt. Damn you Rachel Van Dyken!
Spoilers are coming. They are marked, so unless you, like me, need to know, click at your own risk.
A quick run down of how we got to Enrage: Dante is Val's brother (Val is one of my favorite characters!). He is angry and bitter about everything but especially El. Poor, sweet, victim El. She has been abused and used and the last thing she needs is Dante's anger directed at her. But, thats exactly what happens. I wanted to nut punch him for this alone. But, he does redeem himself. Both of them have been transplanted to Chicago to live with the Abandonado's and attend Eagle Elite.
El (Elenor) Petrov is the enemy in Dante's eyes. She was married (against her will) to a monster in the Russia mob. Now she is a ward of the Italians. She has been a pawn in the game of the mafia for so long she doesn't know what a normal life is like. But, there are still plenty of secrets about her own identity she learns along the way.
Dante used to be a normal kid. He likes the movie Newsies and he used to draw. Now, he is a killer. He is learning the ways of the Italian mafia so he can take his place in the family. He welcomes the pain and anger and feeds off it. He swears he hates all the bosses, but he doesn't really...He is at Eagle Elite trying to take back power from the Russians.
In previous books, the conflict had been between the families or from smaller uprisings within the families. Since Elude though, the antagonists have been the Russians. Enrage blends the threats together. The Russians/Petrov are causing problems at Eagle Elite; Mil is up to something and it causes problems with the families. Being back at Eagle Elite gives Enrage a bit of that Elect feel-the powerful students punishing others, the violence, the terror. It reminded me how much I enjoyed the series when the characters were at EE. Now, they seem so old, when in reality, they are only in their mid-twenties. It was nice to harken back to the way the series began, but with a Russian twist.
I was getting a bit tired of the 'She's too good for me' speech Dante kept giving. I think it drug on a bit long and I was thrilled when he finally got over it. However, it was a good 75% into the book before he got over it. I wanted someone to fight FOR El. She had been an object, a 'prize', for so long, I wanted someone to make her feel more. I knew Dante would if he would just get over himself!
Aside from the Dante/El romance, the story played out in a way I never expected. And trust me, I tried to guess. I tried to think of every possible way RVD could take the plot of Enrage and still never imagined this. So, kudos for keeping me always on my toes and giving me a book that kept me up all night, with tears streaming down my face the whole time.
Now, those of you who need spoilers, I will tell you how it ends: Mil dies. Chase is heartbroken of course. She got in way over her head with the Russians. So, Eulogy will be the second chance for Chase. You get the idea from VERY early on that Mil is up to something and it became clear that she was going to die (either by the bosses hands or from whatever she had gotten herself into!
- POV: multiple 1st
- Tears: oh sweet Jesus yes
- Trope: mafia, bad boy
- Triggers: El was a sex slave. The encounters are not described, but El is dealing with the PTSD.
- Series/Standalone: series (could you read this as a stand alone? Sure, but you would be a bit overwhelmed by all the back characters and quite frankly, the series is so good, you will want to read it all anyway.)
- Cliffhanger: kind of....I mean, it certainly doesn't end on a happy note and you are left wondering what will become of a certain person
- HEA: yes for Dante and El
Cole by Tijan, Nico by Sarah Castille, Enforcer by Katana Collins ...then you will probably like Enrage!
See full review on The Book Disciple