THE BOOKS DESK · REVIEW
Pretty Savage: The Order, Book Two — Defy
4 stars · Dark, addictive, dramatic, spicy, and gloriously messy.
Okayyyy, Pretty Savage came to cause problems. 😮💨 After the first book, I already knew this world was messy, dark, dangerous, and filled with people who desperately need therapy but would probably threaten the therapist instead—and somehow book two manages to turn the chaos up another level. There is so much happening here: secrets, power plays, betrayals, shifting loyalties, obsession, and that constant feeling that absolutely no one should be trusted. I spent a ridiculous amount of this book side-eyeing everybody.
What really worked for me was how much more intense everything feels this time around. The relationships are messier, the stakes feel higher, and the characters are forced into situations where you start seeing completely different sides of them. I LOVE when a dark romance actually gives me a story outside of the romance, and this series has enough mystery and danger running underneath everything that I genuinely wanted answers. Every time I thought I understood where something was headed, another little piece of information would drop and I’d immediately start rearranging my theories.
And obviously… the romance. 👀 The chemistry is still chemistry-ing, the possessiveness is possessive-ing, and these people continue making decisions that would have me calling several authorities in real life. In a book, though?
Carry on. 😂
I also really enjoyed the darker atmosphere of this one. There is something delicious about a secretive, powerful world where everyone has an agenda and affection can be just as dangerous as hatred. The tension between wanting someone, needing them, protecting them, and wondering whether you can actually trust them gave the relationships much more weight than pure spice alone would have. And when the emotional moments hit, they HIT.
The reason I’m landing at four instead of five is that there were stretches where the pacing didn’t completely work for me. With this much intrigue happening, I occasionally wanted things to move faster or give me a little more payoff instead of continuing to pile another mystery on top. A few moments also leaned more dramatic than I personally needed. BUT—and this is a very important but—I was still completely invested and absolutely wanted to know what happened next.
Because apparently I enjoy stress as a recreational activity.
★★★★ 4 stars. Dark, addictive, dramatic, spicy, and gloriously messy. Pretty Savage gave me enough answers to keep me satisfied and enough new chaos to keep me hooked. At this point, I’m invested in these disasters and their terrible life choices, so obviously I’m continuing the series. 🖤💜
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