New Release Review: Rogue by Karen Lynch

After months of anticipation, countless theories posted in online groups, and many messages begging Karen Lynch for a sneak peek at Rogue, I am thrilled to announce that yes, the conclusion of the Relentless series has arrived! I read this book twice in a week — twice! in a week! — and can say without a doubt that it’s one of my favorites. I loved this trilogy and I highly implore you to check out the series, Relentless, book 1, is currently free for the ebook on all major retailers!

Be sure to read to the bottom for an exclusive giveaway for a signed copy of Rogue (Relentless #3) by Karen Lynch!

 

Rogue (Relentless #3)

by Karen Lynch
Published by: Karen Lynch
on October 27, 2015
Genres: Young Adult
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Sara Grey is done hiding and done being afraid. The Master thinks he has her running scared, but she’s taking matters into her own hands and taking her life back. With the help of her friends, she sets out to find the one person who can answer her questions about her past, and who may be able to lead them to the Master.

On her journey, Sara faces new challenges and dangers, and learns that the world of good and evil is not as clear cut as she had believed. She makes new friends, unexpected allies, and reconnects with people from her past. As her powers continue to change and grow, she transforms from a struggling girl into a strong young warrior.

But at what cost? How much is Sara willing to sacrifice in her need for independence and her quest for the truth? And will her newfound strength be enough to save her and the people she loves when she finally comes face-to-face with her powerful nemesis? Nothing could have prepared her for what is to come, and it will take everything in her to survive the final test of courage and love.

 

Review:

[book rating=5/5]

“If anyone can attract a horde of vampires, it’s Sara.”

May contain minor spoilers for previous books in series

Rogue has been at the top of my “most-anticipated reads of 2015” list since, well, January of 2015. I tore through Relentless and Refuge, then re-read them several times (which I rarely do now that I’m an adult…I don’t have time to read much, let alone re-read) in preparation for Rogue.

I finished Rogue and all I could think was, Wow. Wow! What an ending to an amazing series. What a fantastic way to wrap up an incredible journey. I love losing myself in the world that Karen Lynch creates. Picking up this book was like reconnecting with old friends, and within a few sentences I had a grin on my face from the characters’ trademark witticisms and quirks. Rogue is the perfect conclusion to this series, and isn’t one of those books that is just leaving the room open for a spinoff so things aren’t done as well as they could have been, as seems the case in many series nowadays. The plot is strong, the action is pretty much nonstop, and the snark is on full display.

Sara Grey is one of the best heroines I’ve read; she is introspective, kind, and loyal. She is far stronger than anyone gives her credit for and she constantly surprises people with that strength, which makes for some very fun situations in Rogue. I loved watching her growth through the series and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as she truly came into her own in this book. I also love that Sara always sees the goodness in people underneath their surfaces and she isn’t willing to judge someone based on how scary they look or how scary someone else thinks they are. She forms her own opinions and often changes the minds of other characters, too.

And Nikolas? Phew. Where do I start with Nikolas? I say start, because I refuse to think of this as the end of my time with Nikolas. He is smart and loyal and frustratingly overprotective, but his growth mirrors Sara’s, which makes sense because they couldn’t work as a couple if he didn’t change, too. It’s refreshing to see an alpha male evolve. There are some beautiful, truly tender scenes between Sara and Nikolas in Rogue, and I was thrilled with the outcome of their relationship.

I think my favorite parts of Karen’s books have always been the supporting characters because, as much as I ‘ship Sara and Nikolas – and don’t get me wrong, I adore them, they are the best book couple out there, in my opinion – I am over the moon about the other characters (with Desmund and Remy being my favorites!). When they are all together, the grin on my face is just stupid. There were several laugh-out-loud moments in Rogue that stemmed from the supporting cast. It’s as if Karen knows that, while Sara and Nikolas are the core of her books, the best material results from the group dynamics, and she doesn’t disappoint readers in that sense at all. I hate when authors take an amazing group of characters and disperse them. Why ruin a good thing? And, anytime that Karen introduces a new supporting character, the addition blends seamlessly into the group, as though they have been with us on the entire journey. They are truly a family, supporting one another without question.

I’m sad that Rogue is the last book in the series. I actually cried when I finished it because, as much as it was amazing, it was the last book. And it was perfect. I liked it…a lot. (You’ll understand that reference after you read the story!)

Rogue: 5/5 stars. One of my favorites. Funny, sweet, layered, emotional, grin-inducing, tender, action-packed, and amazing.

Quotes:

An ache settled in my chest when I thought about Nikolas. Already, I missed him and I wondered how long it would be before I saw him again. In the back of my mind, a sad voice whispered, Solmi.

“Ah, hell!”
“What is it?” My head whipped around, expecting to see a pair of headlights closing in on us.
“I forgot my damn sword.”

“Can you take him?” I asked Jordan, knowing she was itching for a vampire kill. But he wasn’t as young as most of the vampires she had killed.

“Probably,” she replied without her usual cockiness.
“Go for it. I’ve got your back.”
She smiled and started forward. “I know you do.”

 

Author Bio: Karen Lynch

Karen Lynch grew up in Newfoundland, Canada – a place rich in colorful people and folklore to which she attributes her love of the supernatural and her vivid imagination. She moved to Charlotte, North Carolina years ago and was immediately charmed by the southern people but she says she will always be a newfie.

Though she loves supernatural fiction, she has a soft spot for Charlotte Brontë and Jane Austin. She is a fan of classic rock, country and classical music but her favorite music is the sound of a good thunderstorm or a howling blizzard. Two of her favorite past times are baking artisan breads for her friends and spending quality time with her two German Shepherds.

A voracious reader, she fell in love with books and writing at an early age and it grew into a lifelong passion. Relentless is her first published work and she hopes it is the first of many.

Author Links:

Website   **   Amazon   **  Facebook   **   Twitter  **   Goodreads

Giveaway:

BookCrushin is such a huge fan of this series we want to giveaway a signed paperback copy of Rogue by Karen Lynch to one lucky winner! Open internationally. Just enter on the rafflecopter – first entry is freebie just for stopping by, the other entries we want you to help us promote the book, follow us on social media, etc., we will validate entries, one winner will be chosen up to 72 hours after giveaway closes in 7 days on 11/6/15 12AM EST. Winner will be contacted by email & has 72 hours to claim prize. We will give the winner a timeline of when to expect the prize, as Karen so graciously offered to sign the paperback it will take some time to coordinate that too! So be patient, please!

Good Luck!
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