Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Trials

SERIES: Crossing Nüwa #2

AUTHOR: Sean Ian O’Meidhir & Connal Braginsky

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Publications

LENGTH: 190 pages

RELEASE DATE: February 4, 2020 

BLURB:

With the help of technomage and hacker Theo, rare snake shifter Robbie escaped his mother and clan, who planned to use him as breeding stock. While still working to break through the conditioning and mind control of his past, Robbie is enjoying exploring a new relationship with the worldlier Theo.

But their fight isn’t over yet.

A trip to his aunt’s house for Thanksgiving is highjacked by political intrigue, leaving the couple wondering who their friends really are. They cannot help but be drawn into larger plots while trying to find justice for Robbie at his mother’s trial. When clan rivalries turn deadly, they’ll need their allies—and each other—more than ever.

REVIEW:

This was intense. First, let me say, if you have not read book 1, you need to do so or you will be completely lost. This picks up right where book 1 leaves off. It’s an ongoing series. Although the thought of snakes still scares the bejeebus out of me, this is one heck of a series. It’s got everything you need. Good vs evil, creepy characters, good ones, people being betrayed, attempted murder, a bit of mystery, magic and so much more. And in the middle, one young man who has been treated like dirt his whole life, only to find out, he should have been a cherished one.

Robbie has spent most of his life in fear. Until he finally got to break away and get out from under his mother and aunt. Now living with Theo, he’s enjoying life so much. He’s getting to see all the things he’s missed, eating things he never could and reading things that are new to him as well. And let’s not even get started on their new sex life. But what is turning out to be a great new life, is fixing to turn into something bad. They are going back to Robbie’s home for the holidays. He will be around family and such. But it’s now been sprung on him that there will be a trial now, for his aunt and mother as well. And he’s terrified to see them again. Once sentences are passed down, his life is on the line again. But it’s become more than that. Others lives are on the line now too. And none of them may survive. And if they do, what can Robbie do to make everyone leave his friends and family alone?

I thought my heart would break for Robbie in book 1, but man, it’s twice as bad in this one. Just when he finally gets a life of his dreams, people have to come along and mess it up again. Having to face his mother and aunt again is like making him feel like a little kid all over again. They just don’t stop. And it hurts me even more, because him being a rare being of their breed, he was rejoiced by others of their clans. But not those two. They just tortured him to the point of almost no return. It breaks my heart. He’s such a sweet, sweet man. He’s so loving and giving and loves life so much. But everyone seems to want him dead or to take it all away from him. It’s so sad. But the one thing that made me happy, is his one constant has always been Theo. The one who even said he wasn’t a relationship man, now has Robbie living with him and is doing all he can to give Robbie the life he’s always deserved. It’s beautiful. Finally, someone that cares. And unconditionally.

Robbie has a lot to learn still. He still has to learn to fully trust that people have his back. He has to learn that Theo truly loves him for him. And he has to learn that his life will be forever changed because people may try to come after him, yes, but he’s a being to be cherished. Not looked down on. After all he’s been through, it will be a while before he can get some things through his head, but with patience and a lot of love and therapy, he’s getting there, one step at a time.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: 

amazon

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