Reviewed by Cheryl
TITLE: Avenger of Sins
SERIES: Spectr Series 3, #6
AUTHOR: Jordan L Hawk
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 141 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2024
BLURB:
John Starkweather has one chance to stop a series of murders by the rogue telepath Ryan. Though only the drakul Gray and Night are safe from Ryan’s mental manipulation, John knows it’s up to him to capture his former friend—and fellow victim—before anyone else dies.
But outwitting a telepath isn’t an easy task. In order to bring Ryan in, John will have to confront the darkest parts of their shared past. Because before all is said and done, John and Ryan find themselves confronting an even greater evil: one that will swallow them up body and soul.
REVIEW:
As usual, the author has managed to keep their eye on the long game and a tight rein on the overarching story, while making this book a self-contained jewel in its own right. Too often in long series, the story becomes stretched and thin, relying on clumsy twists and unrelated new strands. That is very much not the case with this series. John’s story is twisting, for sure, but every new clue, ever new turn, every new surprise slots into place and makes perfect sense.
I particularly like that we get to see the POV of the “villain” of the piece, Ryan. I think this enriches the story no end. Is Ryan a villain? Is he guilty, and if so, how much and of what? Who actually are the bad guys and where should our sympathies lie?
As usual the author’s character-driven approach is spot on. The characters, from main to background, are well drawn, rounded and fleshed out. Even the villains are human, mostly, even when possessed by demons.
If there is anything to complain of, it would be that the final climax was a little “deus ex machina-ish”. It was completely out of the realms of possibility, though, and it was exciting and pretty close to perfect.
One thing I did like, however, was the amount of detail the author puts into every scene. The characters are places carefully within a world that is so rich in detail that the reader can practically smell the roses.
I adored this book. I’m still madly in love with Caleb, and the others aren’t so bad either. The author is a true master of their craft and this series absolutely still has what it takes to thrill and satisfy. Whilst it is not my favourite of this series, that is only because I have so many favourites in this series I just don’t have room for another one.
RATING: 
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