Redhead Haze's Reviews > The Reckoning

“Fucking Vegas,” I muttered, half a smirk tugging at my lips.
“Fucking Vegas,” he agreed.

This series is killing me. I've read this book in ONE DAMNED DAY, and I swear it's eating me alive. From all that romance, plots, mystery and teasing, to the POV's that again were shared between Tory, Darcy, the Heirs and Orion to that heart stopping ending... it will murder me, it simply will.

“I'm gonna lose my mind over you,”

》》The Plot《《

After the attack against Zodiac Academy, Fae must do what Fae do best: move on and show no weakness. Which means that, with the upcoming Reckoning, the Hell Week is about to start for all freshmen. Each one of them has to go through trials for each of the elements they possess before taking the final test, while also going through the week where all older students are allowed and encouraged to rain down hell over their heads.

“Caleb’s just trying to get into my pants again.”
“How hard are you going to make him work for it?”
“He took part in the whole throwing us in a pit business. So I’m thinking I’m done with him,” I said dismissively.
“Yeah, you totally should be,” she agreed. “But that look in your eye says you’re not.”
“That’s just the part of my brain which is blinded by his hotness. I refuse to listen to her because she’s a slut. The sensible part of my brain says hell no and I’ll be keeping company with her and her chastity belt from now on.”

》》The Characters《《

DAMN. I LOVE THEM TO THE MOON AND BACK. Especially since the Moon gave us such entertaining scenes here. But anyway, the relationships in this book? AMAZING.

✅ the Heirs

"Seth bounded out of the chair and leapt on Darius like he’d just declared his undying love for him instead of offering a consolation hug. He jumped into Darius’s arms and knocked him back onto the bed where they fell on top of Cal who got dragged into the hug too."

I want to hate them, I do, but I just can't. I love Darius and Caleb without question,  Max hasn't really appeared enough to make him the cherry of my pie but I adore him and Seth was so cuddly and simply cute that my poor heart just keeps forgetting what an ass he can be.

✅ Darcy and Orion

“That almost sounds like fun,” I teased.
“Yes, well I can be fun sometimes. Especially when I'm not wearing this suit.”
I stared at him and his eyes widened as he realised what he'd said.
“I meant when I'm not working,” he said quickly.

They are without any doubt my favorite couple. All hail the new king and queen of my heart, because sweet biting vampires, there's not a single part of their relationship that didn’t make me fangirl dangerously loud.

From texting on the Atlas ...

Lance:
I’ll make it worth your while if you pass The Reckoning today.
#motivation #seemeafterclass
Darcy:
I can’t believe you just hashtagged me!
Lance:
I can’t believe you’re not in my bed right now.
#missyourpeach
 
.... to utterly adorable moments....

“Hm...you’re missing something though.”
“What?” I frowned.
He reached behind his seat and produced the crown he’d won at the fair, placing it on my head. I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt.
“Better”
“If you go around placing crowns on my head, you’re going to be in trouble,” I teased and his mouth skewed.
“Well let’s not tell anyone then,” he said, leaning in to kiss my neck.

... to giving us the best possessiveness ever ...

"Seeing another guy's hands on you makes me want to rip out their eyes so they never get to look at you again."

... to actually giving us the spice we've been craving ...

for safety reasons I will not be inserting any quote here, I wouldn’t want any of you to turn into a jelly while reading my review,  but damn, I'll say this again: where can I get a Lance Orion?!? Please, he can be my birthday gift for my entirelife.

.... to amazing teasing ....

“You drive a hard bargain, Mr Orion.”
“I can drive an even harder one if you want?”
“Very tempting, but I'm not sure five minutes is long enough for your hard bargain."

... and to simply being relationship goals.

Lance:
I guess you’re about to go back to radio silence so for what it’s worth…
In Solaria blue means royal.
And to me, blue means you.

I loved them a lot, I love their relationship with all the ups and downs, I absolutely fangirled at every scene, from Darcy showing up unexpectedly, to that car scene and to their entire interaction.

✅ Tory and Caleb

“I have a bit of a weakness for assholes,” I admitted slowly. “But I’m used to them lying about what they are. At least you own it.”
“I do,” Caleb said with a smirk, his hand travelling up my neck ever so slowly. “I’m an honest to god asshole. Do you want to keep playing with me, Tory?”
“Maybe,” I breathed because in that moment I didn’t even know anymore.

I love Caleb. I've said this before and I'll say this again. And I do enjoy their scenes but again, I know Tory and Darius are endgame. It can't be any other way and I just want it to happen because their slow burn romance makes me go crazy. The thing is, I think Caleb might have actual feelings for that badass Vega and I just don't want my golden-bad-boy-turned-sweet-for-her to be heart broken.

"He was the perfect escape from the mayhem of everything else that was going on in my life. And I was more than happy to lose myself with him for a little while."

I mean, they certainly have a lot of chemistry and I did enjoy their scenes, which were teasing and hot at times, but sometimes actually cute. And again, I love them separately a lot and I just want for them to end up on good terms and not have this entire thing go up in flames.

"Darius caught my hand and pulled me upright, before throwing his arm around my shoulders as he held his Atlas in front of us and took a picture while pressing a kiss to the top of my head. I couldn’t help but laugh as he took the picture which he instantly sent on to Caleb."

But you know what I love? This competition and banter between Caleb and Darius over Tory.

✅ Tory and Darius

“There are countless people who would say I’m not allowed to want you,” Darius breathed. “But you make me want to burn the whole world down so that I can claim you for my own.”
“Then we should burn it down,” I agreed.

They will kill me. I've never read such a slow burn romance in my entire life. By the time these two will finally kiss, Darcy and Orion will have grandchildren.

“I should go,” I breathed.
“Stay,” he replied instantly.
“I have my Air Trial tomorrow,” I said. “I really need to get some sleep and-”
“So sleep here. Like last night. We don’t have to do anything else.”
“I have a perfectly good bed downstairs. Why would you want me to stay?”
“Because it feels right,” he breathed.

The scene where he took her to her room to take care of her after she got drunk? The motorcycle race? Priceless. Amazing. I'm rooting for these two sooooo hard, my heart will explode.

“I’ve been watching you,” he said slowly.
“Why?” I asked slowly, needing his answer like I needed to draw breath.
“Because that’s what I do,” he said slowly. “I watch you and hunger for you and ache for you. It torments me like I torment you.”

You know who else was tormented here? ME. The tension and the undeniable connection is murdering me slowly.

✅ Darius and Orion

“You took Tory Vega home?” I questioned, putting my Atlas down and doing up my shirt. “Are you screwing her?” Please say yes so I can tell you about Darcy.

The best bromance ever. There's not even a competition here.

》》Conclusion《《

I'm still so overwhelmed by this book that I don't know what more to say: How exciting it is to finally have the Orders of the twins? How much I love Geraldine and Xavier as side characters? How happy I am for Sophia's relationship and the way she seems to turn a little badass too? How annoying Hat Boy Diego is becoming? How much I hate Lionel? How frustrating that ending was, leaving me craving for more?

I simply have no words. It's a masterpiece that breakes and mends my heart with every new chapter.

"Caleb stepped up beside him and they both started smiling. Like actually smiling.
Before I answered, Seth broke into song, cracking out the Backstreet Boys classic, I Want It That Way.
Caleb picked up the next line on cue and Seth started clicking his fingers to the beat.
They both started dancing, sashaying their way toward us and I stared on in surprise. Seth looked to Caleb and they both belted out the last line of the chorus together with their hands on their hearts. "

Also this scene?!?! I guess you never really know what to expect...