Book Review: Saving Vengeance by Cece Louise

About the Book:

Title: Saving Vengeance: A Prequel

Author: Cece Louise

Series: The Forest Tales 0.5

Publication Date: October 21, 2021

Synopsis: He wants to save her life, but she wants revenge at any cost.

Forced to choose between loyalty to the king and what is right, Gavin spares an innocent woman’s life, only to discover that saving her won’t be as easy as he thought.

All Laurel wants is revenge on the man who murdered her sister, even if that means sacrificing herself in the process. When a masquerade ball provides the perfect opportunity for her plan, will she succeed?

Or will the price of vengeance be too high?

LINKS:   Goodreads   |    Amazon

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My Review:

A prequel novella, Saving Vengeance focuses on Laurel and Gavin, two supporting characters from Desperate Forest, the first book in The Forest Tales series. I was really eager to read the story since I loved their characters in the first book. Gavin is a Tover knight and works for the loathsome King Abrax. Torn between his duty and his morals, Gavin spares Laurel’s life, even though his king wants Laurel dead. Devastated over the murder of her sister, Laurel swears to avenge her death and kill King Abrax. A masquerade ball at the castle gives Laurel the perfect opportunity to seek vengeance. Will she take her revenge, and at what cost?

The novella is told from both Laurel and Gavin’s points of view, so you get a strong feel for each of the characters. Both of their stories are compelling and engrossing, and through their perspectives, you learn a lot about them, their feelings, the situation in their kingdom, and what brought them both to the woods where they meet Jay. I thought this was really interesting because I always wondered how they all ended up together.

Laurel and Gavin have a strong connection from the start, and I love how their meeting changed the trajectory of both of their lives. It’s so interesting how one interaction, one moment of kindness, can change a person, and that is exactly what happens with Laurel and Gavin. The pair seems so different, but they are alike in many ways. I like how they find something good in the midst of the turmoil, terror, and tragedy.

Something else I really like about the story, and the series as a whole, is the immersive writing. Louise creates such a vivid picture of the setting, and you quickly become immersed in the lives of the characters and the obstacles they face. The dialogue is as strong as the character development and the world-building, and the action and intrigue are fantastic. I’ve enjoyed every story in this series, and Saving Vengeance is no exception.

This is a quick yet layered novella, and though it is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone, as can all of the books in the series. I would definitely recommend the novella, and the whole series, to readers who enjoy clean YA fantasy with great characters, immersive world-building, action and adventure, and romance!

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance.

• The characters.

Favorite Lines:

Don’t let your hatred destroy you.

I saw a light in you that drew me in, the way nothing has before.

My bravest, most selfless actions had been borne out of my weakest and most passive.

Recommendations:

Want to learn more about the author and series? Check out my interview with Cece Louise and my reviews of all three books!

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