[Lisa’s Review]: Rage and Ruin (The Harbinger #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Dangerous secrets and forbidden desires lead to shocking consequences… Don’t miss book two of the fantastical Harbinger trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout.

“Jennifer L. Armentrout’s intoxicating new fantasy is her best yet!” — New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter on Storm and Fury

A half human, half angel and her bonded gargoyle protector must work with demons to stop the apocalypse while avoiding falling in love. The Harbinger is coming…but who or what is it? All of humankind may fall if Trinity and Zayne can’t win the race against time as dark forces gather.

As tensions rise, they must stay close together and patrol the DC streets at night, seeking signs of the Harbinger, an entity that is killing Wardens and demons with no seeming rhyme or reason. Forbidden to be with each other, Zayne and Trinity fight their feelings and turn to unusual sources for help—the demon Roth and his cohorts. But as deaths pile up and they uncover a sinister plot involving the local high school and endangering someone dear to Zayne, Trin realizes she is being led…herded…played for some unknown end. As anger builds and feelings spiral out of control, it becomes clear that rage may be the ruin of them all.

I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

It’s no secret that Storm and Fury is one of my favorite JLA books ever. Naturally, the sequel Rage and Ruin was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020. By the time I received my ARC, I had been anxiously waiting for more than fifteen months. I read the entire thing in one sitting, and I regret nothing (except that I now have to wait another twelve months for the sequel).

We dive into the story right after the events of Storm and Fury, so if you have not read that one – abort mission. You need to read that first and then come back for this review.

Zayne is now Trinity’s bonded protector, and while they struggle to figure out what to do with their feelings for each other now that a romantic relationship is expressively forbidden, the mysterious threat of the so-called Harbinger remains. What I love about Jen’s writing is the bond you form with the characters; how you laugh, cry, hope, and fight with them through every page. I said this in a recent review, and it’s the truth: a fantastic plot without an amazing set of characters to back it up is worth nothing – and Rage and Ruin has it all.

The romance is everything you could ever want. Their chemistry is off the charts; the tension feels so real it seems touchable. I had the best time watching Trinity drive Zayne up the wall and the other way around. That they’re bonded now and can pick up on each other emotional states made this even better.

While Zayne and Trin are a match literally made in heaven, both their characters are strong, amazing, and real all on their own. They both come a long way in this one, as a team, as a couple, and on their own as well; Zayne, in particular. He’s no longer the at times blindly obedient Warden we met in the Dark Elements Series. He trusts his instincts and follows his heart; consequences be dammed. I felt like he was a bit lost after losing his father, and lost sight of who he is or rather hadn’t figured it out yet, as he is no longer who he thought he was. It’s fantastic how he sort of finds himself in his protector role, and as Trin’s counterpart in this one.

Then there’s our Trinity, of course. Our badass, amazing, doesn’t-take-shit-from-anyone Trueborn. Her emotional journey is incredible. While dealing with her confusing and super-forbidden feelings for her protector, she also has to deal with the repercussions of saving Zayne’s life at the cost of someones she considered a brother. And on the side, she’s saving the world from an unknown third party that is killing Wardens and Demons and is about to herald the beginning of the end. Her continuous vision loss due to her retinitis pigmentosa doesn’t stop her for one second. I admire her so much I can’t even put it into words.

Throw beloved characters such as Bambi, Peanut, Cayman, Roth, and Layla into the mix, and we have the perfect book. Rage and Ruin delivers one hundred percent on all fronts – so prepare yourselves. To date, there hasn’t been a JLA book that I did not love, and I doubt that will change anytime soon. This thrilling, action-packed, nerve-wracking, and heartfelt tale is every young adult lover’s wet dream and a must-read for everyone.

Pro-Tip: bring tissues.

Lisa

Hi! I’m Lisa. I’m twenty-three, a college student and a book lover. I spend every free minute, and most of my lectures, reading all kinds of books, which is how I ended up here. While I particularly enjoy books of the young and new adult variety, I also love historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, all things romance, and one or the other classic as well. If I’m not reading, I’m either working, sleeping, binge-watching my newest obsession on Netflix, or on my way to Starbucks, to satisfy my slight caffeine addiction.