Synopsis

Marzal – an exiled daughter with a plan for her return.
Rayn – a rebel blacksmith with a blade of blood.
Elena – a gentle midwife with a fiercely protected secret.

Each young woman wants peace for their country, but in times of war, not everyone fights by the same rules. As their countries burn around them, and the stakes of victory rise, each woman will have to decide how far she is willing to go for peace.

But the desire for revenge also burns deep…

Review

This book is the perfect revenge thriller and I absolutely adored it. However, I mistakenly believed it to be a series and I am now bereft and devastated (for multiple reasons you will understand if you’ve read it).

In Black Heat we have three very different women, all with ulterior motives, troubled backgrounds and a quest for revenge. Each woman has their own voice, personality and storyline, ensuring you are invested in all three before their lives converge at the end, with shocking consequences.

What I loved is that each woman is unique; we have Marzal the Princess, Rayn the Blacksmith and Elena the Midwife. They’ve all seen terrible things, but they have come out of it stronger, determined to fight for what they believe is right and have their revenge on those who have wronged them.

Hogan does not shy away from trauma and brutality, but it’s handled so well that it never feels glorified or underdone. We cannot help but root for these morally grey characters and cheer them on.

However, as someone who got Rayn in the quiz, I was a little upset with her naivety towards the end. Come on Rayn, you know better than that! That said, I did like the development of Marzal, who surprised me by her malice, although I approved wholeheartedly of her actions.

And no Bex, I still haven’t forgiven you for what you did!

Thanks to Orion Books and Nina Douglas PR for my proof copy. Opinions my own.