Born of Vengeance (The League #12)

Florian?!

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Born of Vengeance
Sherrilyn Kenyon
The League, book twelve
(Nemesis Rising, book ten)
ebook, 417 pages
Published February 7th 2017 by St. Martin's Press
ASIN B01J1EGWWK


A fate worse than death . . .

Bastien Cabarro survived the brutal slaughter of his entire family only to have his wife pin their murders on him. Made Ravin by The League, he is now a target for their assassins-in-training to hunt and kill. The average life expectancy for such beings is six weeks. But defying the odds is what this Gyron Force officer does best, and Bastien won’t rest until he lays his betrayers in their graves.

Ten years later, he has one chance to balance the scales of justice, provided he relies on his former wingman— the very sister of the woman who testified against him. Major Ember Wyldestarrin joined the outlaw Tavali the day Kirovar fell into the hands of a tyrant, and she and her team were left on an outpost to die under the barrage of enemy fire. The last thing she wants is to be involved in politics again. But if she doesn’t bring Bastien in, her sister will pay the ultimate price. Now she has to find some way to betray her former wingman before he catches on and kills her. Even so, treachery doesn’t come easy to a woman who took a loyalty oath to protect her homeworld and comrades-in-arms, especially when Bastien means more to her than just another partner.

Yet as she tries to do right for her family, she learns that Bastien doesn’t just hold the key to the fate of Kirovar, he is vital to The Sentella-League war, and to The Tavali. If she hands him over, three nations fall. If she doesn’t, her entire family dies. Their fates are all in her hands, and time for all of them is quickly running out.

I admit it. I was warned. But despite this installment being a copy/paste filler that feels like a half-ass slap in the face, none of that quite pissed me off as much as the leading male- Bastien.

The story begins in the prologue with a fast paced meeting of our two protagonists as Bastien shows up when Ember needs someone most and saves the life of her sister, Alura. (Saving that witch will prove to be his first of many mistakes.) And from that moment, and throughout the entire book, we're scene jumping.

First to where Bastien proposes marriage to Ember after a yearlong romance only to be turned down outright. And here he does the one thing that will f*ck his life over for years to come. Bastien retaliates.

Now you'll find out in good time why Ember refused his proposal but so many years will pass first. And Bastien will make one stupid decision after another in this time. He'll even marry her sister. Is this suppose to be some ridiculous nod to the Ross and Rachel fiasco. Where is your loyalty? Where is your honor?!

So many (hell, nearly ALL) of Kenyon's characters are tortured souls who are victims of things beyond their control whether it be their parentage, their race, being in the wrong place/wrong time in the heart of political chaos, but Bastien is simply a victim of himself. Ends up in a manipulated marriage, accused of murdering his entire family, stripped of his royal titles, outcast from his people, marked Ravin... And  he's eyeing Nykyrian's daughter, Thia. And Jayne. *facepalm*

No, Ember. No. I want better for you, girl. 

3 out of 5 stars.

Available in ebook | audiobook | hardcover | paperback | Or check your local library. 

Previously in the League: Nemesis Rising



Previously in The League (2nd Generation): Nemesis Legacy