Having been taught to fight by her father, Faythe learned never to run from conflict as a small child. Moving to a settlement, she also learned to be on guard and used what she learned to protect her younger sister, Chloe. But, when her sister is brutally raped by the founding father’s grandsons, Matt and Pat Downing, Faythe is overcome with guilt, which is soon channeled into a desire for revenge. But Matt and Pat’s parents have ulterior motives and move to turn the settlement against Faythe’s family. Will Faythe get the revenge she so badly wants?
Before I dig into the review, I want to inform you that this book has trigger warnings. They are:
- Rape
- Pedophile
- Torture
- Murder
- Attempted forced abortion
- Domestic violence (sexual, emotional, verbal)
- Attempted rape
- Assault
- Pregnancy due to rape
If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading this book. If you read the book, please be aware that all these are graphic. I don’t get triggered easily, and there were some points in the book where it became too much, and I had to put down my Kindle.
The author took his time building up the storyline and the characters in Assault. As a result of him doing that, the book does start slowly. Usually, I wouldn’t say I like books that stay slow almost the entire book, but it worked with this book.
The main storyline in Assault (I am shortening the title for this review) centers around the main characters and their various backstories. Three storylines start off the book: Faythe’s, the Downings/Martha, and the Native American girl (Nununyi). These storylines are well-written and explain so much about the main characters’ backgrounds. The author merges Faythe and the Downings storylines right after Chloe’s rape but separates Nununyi’s storyline.
Several secondary storylines merge into the main storyline. These secondary storylines add extra depth to the main storylines. They also flesh out the characters in the book, making them more relatable and lifelike.
I liked Faythe but found her character too progressive for when the book was written. She was strong-willed, had a strong temperament, and knew how to fight like a man (thanks to her father). She was a force to be reckoned with, and everyone knew it. She also protected Chloe. So, when Chloe was raped, Faythe blamed herself. She also took it upon herself to go after the Downing twins.
I detested Matt Downing. In every scene he was in, I felt I needed a shower afterward. His fascination with Chloe was awful, seeing how young she was. He was one of the more disgusting characters I have read.
The storyline with Faythe, Chloe, her family, Chloe’s rape, and the Downings had me furious. I couldn’t understand why Faythe and her mother would keep Chloe’s rape secret from her father. When he found out, his reaction was what I hoped it would be and more. I was furious with the Downings because of how they handled things.
The storyline with Nununyi was interesting. I am curious to see where the author will take this storyline and how it will intersect with Faythe’s. Because Nununyi isn’t someone to be messed with. The aftermath of the brawl at the tavern certainly attests to that. Her skill with a bow is unmatched. I do hope she gets to use it against Matt.
The end of Girl With a Knife was a cliffhanger. I was more than a little aggravated with that. I’m not too fond of cliffhangers. I wanted to know what would happen to the Wentworths after what was said in the tavern. I also wanted to know how Nununyi’s storyline would come into play.
I would recommend Assault: Girl With a Knife to anyone over 21. There is violence, language, and sexual situations. Also, see my trigger warning list.
Many thanks to James T. Hogg and All Night Books for allowing me to read and review Assault: Girl With a Knife. All opinions stated in this review are mine.