An incredible slow burn with serial killing vigilantes… what more could we want? Rating: 4/5

In chaos we reign

Both Charlie and Damon grew up to realize that the people that were meant to protect them did nothing but steal from them—their youth, their innocence, and their very trust in human connection.

But they never let the darkness they carry within stop them from being a bright spot for others. Through humor and a bit of bloody justice, they try to be the light for others they never had.

And there’s no better way to keep your heart and soul safe than swearing off any sort of relationships. A good mutually beneficial fucking? Sign them up. Love and trusting someone with the darkest parts of you? No, thank you.

What they don’t expect is to feel a spark ignite when they meet for the first time. They form a bond based on light-hearted fun and sexy banter, but are too afraid to let anything beyond friendship blossom.

Before they know it that little spark grows into a blaze, illuminating their lives in vibrant color and making them second guess everything they once felt about relationships.

Can two broken people come together to learn to hope again? Trust again? Love again? Or will the demons from their past thrust them into darkness once and for all?

That Emerald Vow is a stand-alone sequel, and book two in The Crimson Creed trilogy.

This can be read as a standalone, but is recommended to read after finishing These Crimson Bonds. Please read the trigger warnings that can be found on author website and in the authors note in the beginning of the book as needed.

Purchase: Amazon

This has:
🖤 he falls first
✨ slow burn
🖤 found family
✨ touch her and die
🖤 female serial killing vigilantes
✨ he would burn the world down for her

I am a sucker for a book with a resilient main character, and both Charlie and Damon were the epitome of that. Both characters came from really damaging, broken homes and have a ton of childhood trauma. Despite how dark their histories are, neither let themselves drown in it. I feel like Annie did an amazing job at writing the mental health and abuse in a realistic way, without making it their entire personality.

In That Emerald Vow, both Charlie and Damon are vigilantes, but neither knows that they share that in common. Charlie and her best friend Lily met in college and are both rape survivors. They have made it their mission to take down predators – and torture them a bit while they do it. Think Dexter, but make it girl power. Charlie and his best friend Adrian are also vigilantes working against a criminal organization called X – but working against them from the inside. It was fun reading about both groups taking down the bad guys, and I really enjoyed the scene that resulted in both groups showing up at the same place for a takedown.

There was also a really great insight into the “grey” area of abuse – and what that can mean for survivors. I think Annie did a beautiful job of highlighting how much people can struggle after an assault that feels like it falls in that “grey area”, and she articulated the confusion that can happen around that perfectly.

“It took me a long time to come to terms with that night being non-consensual. I felt like a hollow shell, but refused to acknowledge it. It was not what I expected rape to feel like because I had experienced that with my uncle. There was a pleading and screaming and sobbing. But this “gray” area, I called it – I wasn’t sure how to processed. Because the truth is, there is no gray area. I want it or I don’t. And I am allowed to change my mind at any point.“

The sexual tension between Charlie and Damon was perfect. I love a good slow burn, especially when he falls first, and I felt like the banter was perfectly done. I loved that Damon respects that Charlie needs more time to warm up to a relationship, but still makes their time together special without crossing any lines. He’s constantly showing up for her in the way she needs, and planning things for them to do because SHE will enjoy it, not just him. There’s a scene where they go go-kart driving and they’re having this flirty, sexual banter over the headset comms and when they finish the race they find out the comms play over the speakers for everyone to hear. 😂

I have not read the first book in The Crimson Creed yet (though now I’m dying to) and I did not feel like I was missing any crucial information. This can definitely be read as a standalone and enjoyed fully. And boyyyyy did I eat this book UP! lol. I had the full spectrum of emotions from start to finish. I felt seen by the mental health aspects, and I was kicking my feet giggling over the romance parts. The revenge, serial killing parts weren’t so gory and graphic that they were hard to stomach, either. This ended on an intense “who did this to you?!” cliffhanger and I can’t wait to get my hands into the next book!

Favorite quotes:

“‘One of us is chaotic. Now, two of us together?” He winks at me. ‘Imagine the anarchy both of both of us against the world. What do you say, Charlie?’ ‘In chaos we reign, baby’, I say.”

“Soulmates aren’t just the romantic partners they talk about in all those movies and books. Soulmates are also those friendships that set your soul on fire.”

“Everyone has their baggage and trauma they carry, and it helps no one to see whose is heavier. All of it is valid. Your pain. My pain. Everyone’s pain.”

Rating:

About The Author:

Annie Gray was born and raised in the heart of the Big Apple, New York City. As a licensed master of social work, Annie spends her days supervising a dedicated team of social workers, providing essential support to at-risk individuals in her community. Her vibrant surroundings and deep understanding of human nature and emotions have played a significant role in shaping her unique storytelling style.

When she’s not penning her next gripping tale, you’ll often find Annie with her head buried in a book, gathered around her loved ones for intense board/card game sessions, or exploring her creativity with different mediums of art.

This is just the beginning of Annie Gray’s literary journey. Stay tuned for so many more morally gray characters coming to your shelves soon.

Connect With Annie: Website | Goodreads | Instagram | TikTok