Erryn reviews ‘Illusion (Fire and Brimstone Scroll Book 3)’ by Nikole Knight. This book was released on June 26, 2020 and is 369 pgs long. The audiobook version of this story was released January 10, 2022 narrated by Kirt Graves and is 11 hrs and 40 mins. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Why I read this book: I’m addicted to this series.
Riley’s Guardians are breaking apart, and he fears he can’t put them back together again.
A hybrid born of an Angel-Fallen union, Riley Shepard is an anomaly coveted by both sides of an ancient war. But he doesn’t want to fight their war; he has his own battles to face. As his family fractures, bonds are tested, and forbidden feelings threaten to tear his heart into bloody thirds.
When the next attack comes – not from the outside but from within – is he strong enough to separate truth from lies, allies from enemies, reality from fantasy? How can Riley know what’s true, when he doesn’t even know what’s real?
Life isn’t simple, love is complicated, and reality is terrifyingly blurry.
Illusion is the third book in the slow-burn harem/poly romance series, Fire & Brimstone, featuring hurt/comfort and broken but brave guardian angels; the first spicy taste of love, and an unlikely hero who learns to embrace his deepest desires.
Trigger warnings include: aftermath and non-graphic mentions of sexual assault, self-destructive behavior, and situations of mental instability.
Buy Links: Audible | Amazon | Add to Goodreads
My Review:
Riley’s life is complicated. As an anomaly whom everyone wants a piece of, he struggles. He has his protectors, sure, but even they can’t agree on how to care for him. He just wants to finish college and to keep the peace in the house. Oh, and NOT fall in love with the guardians who would give their lives for him.
Sometimes, school is the easiest part of his world. When his old foster mother reappears, things get much worse. He’s declared mentally unstable, and his world begins to crumble. It seems as if even his guardians aren’t going to be able to rescue him. But, as they have his entire life, they step up. And if that foster mother might’ve finally gotten what she deserved? I would be okay with that. Those stories of abuse still haunt me.
This isn’t an easy book – none have been so far. Riley’s early lessons of the deviancy of homosexuality have had a profound impact, and the rules about how guardians interact with their charges leaves him even more confused. He’s attracted to the three men in his life tasked with caring for him. But the rules say he can’t have them in that way.
By the end of the book there is a potential work-around, but there are far too many open questions. I know the series continues, and I can’t wait for the next audio to come out. Especially because Kirt Graves is such a great narrator. He’s perfect for the angsty and still young Riley. He does the other characters well also, but his Riley sticks with me. Can’t wait for more.
My Rating:
8.5/10 Pots of Gold (85% Recommended) – Compares to 4.25/5 Stars
Nikole Knight is a born and bred Hoosier living in a top-secret location in Europe. She’s the lone female in the house, unless you count the dog, and she writes love in all its forms. When she’s not racing after a half-naked toddler or arguing with a child’s logic, Nikole can be found in her writing nook, typing away as her fingers turn to nubs.
Rainbow Gold Reviews 