Review: Exodus by Kate Stewart

Exodus by Kate Stewart
Published by KLS PRESS LLC on July 31, 2020
Pages: 452
Format: ARC
Genres: Romantic Suspense


Amazon

Can you live a lie?

It’s a ghost town, this place that haunts me, the one that made me.

It’s clear to me that I’ll never outgrow Triple Falls or outlive the time I spent
here.

I can still feel them all, my boys of summer.

Even when I’d sensed the danger, I gave in.

I didn’t heed a single warning. I let my sickness, my love, both rule and ruin
me. I played my part, eyes wide open, tempting fate until it delivered.

There was never going to be an escape.

All of us are to blame for what happened. All of us serving our own
sentences. We were careless and reckless, thinking our youth made us
indestructible, exempt from our sins, and it cost us all.

I’m done pretending I didn’t leave the largest part of me between these
hills and valleys, between the sea of trees that hold my secrets.

It’s the reason I’m back. To make peace with my fate.

And if I can’t grieve enough to cure myself in my time here, I’ll remain sick.

That will be my curse.

But it’s time to confess, to myself more so than any other, that I’d hindered
my chances because of the way I was built, and because of the men who built me.

At this point, I just want to make peace with who I am, no matter what
ending I get.

Because I can no longer live a lie.

Oh man. Exodus, the conclusion of The Ravenhood Duet, is every bit the dark and twisted rollercoaster it is billed to be. Full disclosure: dark romances are hit or miss for me. I connect with some more easily than others. This one left me feeling too raw, too mentally and emotionally exhausted — with not enough payoff.

I understood Cecilia’s history and what motivates her to seek love in unhealthy ways. I’ve heard authors complain that female protagonists are held to higher standards of perfection than their male counterparts. I think that is often true, but in this case Cecilia’s flaws amplify her big heart. I didn’t begrudge her chosen path of self-destruction. I got it. However, the back and forth between her determination to stand up for herself only to easily allow herself to be debased became so repetitive and painful that it eventually robbed me of sympathy. Even the parts that are meant to be joyful I found to be bittersweet.

The book is on the long side, but I was nonetheless sucked into this messed up suspenseful tale and found it difficult to put down. There is no denying Kate Stewart’s talent and imagination. Even though it wasn’t as satisfying as I hoped, she has penned a creative and addictive story brought to life by unique characters.

*I received an early copy of this book to voluntarily read.*

 

The Ravehood Duet is now complete!

FLOCK: http://mybook.to/FlockKateStewart

EXODUS: http://mybook.to/ExodusKateStewart

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