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Review

3.5 stars

This series completely grabbed me when it was released. I was slightly obsessed with this post-apocalyptic, dystopian world and the hedonistic O’Kane clan existing within its unlawful outskirts. Somehow I missed out on reading the last few books, so I’m on a mission to dive back in and see how it all ends. And I restarted at an interesting point! I’m used to the wildly sexual, ‘anything goes’ mantra of these books, but this one was a first for me – a four-way relationship between Maddox, Dylan, Scarlett and Jade.

Similarly to most of the characters of the series, these four all individually came to sector 4 as an escape from their lives elsewhere. They have found friends and a home, companionship and love (though they haven’t actually said the words). Maddox and Dylan are together, Scarlett and Jade are together, yet they individually fantasize about joining together. When disaster strikes, they find themselves travelling away from sector 4 for diplomatic purposes, and the trauma of it all brings them together in ways they’ve only dreamed about.

“This is what it means to be an O’Kane. No fantasy off-limits if it gets everybody off.”

It’s hot and steamy (of course), but for me, this book was all about the dynamics – seeing how this group comes together, how they inter-relate and how they make a relationship work. They are all incredibly strong characters, but they’re struggling to overcome their pasts, or figure out what their futures hold. But together, they find something truly special. They ‘click’, they make each other want more and truly feel, and for the first time, they each start to consider the possibility of an actual long term relationship.

But to do that, they have to allow themselves to be vulnerable and show their true selves. And can they trust that what they already have is strong enough to open it up to others?

It carried the potential to break a heart. Because there was no coming back from you’re not enough, even if the words were never spoken.

“I don’t want to hurt you by wanting them. That’s the thing that scares me most.”

There’s a lot they have to work through, and each of them have some pretty significant issues to confront. And part of that is giving up control and trusting others, and that spills over to the physical side of their relationship.

“I’m still learning who I want to be. Who I could have been all along. I think we all are, in our own ways. It’s less scary like this. Together.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be sector 4 without the debauchery, and there’s no holding back when it comes to sexy times. We get to see all sorts of things in all sorts of configurations – all of it explicit, intense, and meaningful for all involved as they learn to share their vulnerabilities and let go with each other.

There was nothing as valuable in a dark and broken world as someone who believed in you enough to let themselves be vulnerable.

The foursome are finding their way together, but they’re doing it in challenging times. The sectors are under attack, and with their unique histories, these four are right in the middle of it. Lives are in danger and nobody is safe, and as the sectors finally start to pull together to fight back against Eden, the stage is set for what is sure to be an explosive ending to the series.

This is a great read. It’s exciting and unexpected, and I loved being back with this group of characters. I’m excited to continue on.

3.5 stars.

 

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