Bane (Sinners of Saint, 4)

Um, wow. Just wow. As in the Holy Grail of Wowza. This book has ruined me for everything: favorite sinner from Todos Santos, favorite angst read, favorite book boyfriend & girlfriend, favorite LJ Shen read...I just, WOW. I keep on saying how ready I am for this, how I have prepared myself already, how I can't wait for this book to hit me but NOTHING will really brace me for this read's impact and aftermath. Bane and Jesse and LJ Shen's power...their power practically leaks out off my e-reader. JFC!!! (And gdi amazon is making it hard for me to lay my review down eloquently!!! I need all the !!!s and curses to comfortably express my thoughts and feelings!!!) Bane (Not just Bane-Roman but also Bane-the whole read) is everything I have ever wanted in a romantic literary. The savageness, the raw sensuality, the complex feelings...my thirst has been quenched. I just...I'm a mess right now. I still don't know what to say; I often find myself just staring off at space because thoughts are running amok inside my mind. But I'm going to die trying to give this review justice in turn for the soul-wrenching, breath-stopping and heart-breaking read that is Bane. The writing has been flawless. I have said this one before countless times and I'm saying it again: I FREAKING LOVE L.J. SHEN'S BRAND OF ANGST AND ROMANCE. She has a way of writing these stories about not-so-gentlemen men and the strong women behind them. And I think her heroes were one of the only few prickly and rakish and kind of contemptible men I am freaking in love with; the rest of those so-called bad guys I just barely tolerate. The plot is dynamic and vivid. The ride started out as if in a trance, a beautiful prologue. It feels like the calm before the storm-and it really is. The whole ride after that has just gone adventurous in a turbulent way. Every chapter is escalating into something badder and bigger. And it all leads to serving justice; a silver platter full of mf rightful punishment to those who wronged them (mostly, Jesse. Only God knows how much she deserves those things and more). The characters, mainly Roman, Jesse, Gail, Roman's mom, Mrs. Belfort and Hannah have been compelling, complex and beautiful in every freaking sense. Gail is the badass best girl friend Jesse has been needing of all her life. I'm so glad she has been there for Jesse esp when the latter doesn't have anyone else during her toughest times. Mrs. Belfort and Hannah have been Jesse's guardian all this time. I'm so glad they have been there, too, when Jesse's mother is too much of a selfish B to ever be a mother. Sonya aka Mamul is the epitome of tough single mom and as Jesse has said, also responsible for Bane's huge af personality. I'm glad I'm able to get to know her better during this read. I'm even happier that Jesse has found a mother in her, too. Such great women in one frame. Roman 'Bane' Protsenko. Oh, Bane. He's just my ideal depiction and embodiment of a bad boy. Savage af to everyone except for his mom and Jesse; he's such a marshmallow to them instead...but don't tell him I've said that. But back to Bane. I can say, looking at the mirror and meeting my eyes without flinching type, that I never truly have a favorite sinner. I mean, I may rank Dean and Trent a bit higher than Vic and Jaime. But Bane, jfc Bane-he can easily dethrone the HotHoles anytime, anywhere. He's like all four HotHoles in one man. Of course, that's not to say this hero is faultless. In fact, I have never seen a hero more mindful of his sins than Bane. And he embraces all his faults-he's down-to-earth actually (one just has to peel his layers off of him). He has no qualms using his charms and advantages full-on. But at the same time this man knows where he has come from and where he belongs. He has no desire to associate himself with useless things and shallow people. And the most man he has ever done is to break away from his sidelines, cutting off his connections to his clienteles in respect to what he has with Jesse. And in the end? The timing isn't right but the thought that he's decided once and for all to come clean? I personally think that's the closest one to being a real man. /cries in the corner because Bane may have ruined me for any man irl And Jesse. Beautiful in all that matters. I am disgusted and angry and freaking frustrated on her behalf. There's no doubt in me whatsoever that this woman (yes, she's a full grown woman despite her physical age) has decided to just break it off with everybody and has sworn off men forever. No man really deserved her, no one but Bane. And I just want to hug and give love and support all women who has been wronged just like her. A real queen fixes another queen's crown and all that jazz. And though she's become a shell, I have seen through the chapters her progress and development when Bane coaxed her out of it. And she's even more beautiful. Vibrant. Sassy. And when she is able to stand for herself, to right all the wrong things done to her? I personally feel empowered, too. I can't sit still. I have been shaking in excitement for her to deliver lawful vengeance to those despicable people. And it has been more than satisfactory!!! (I do have a vindictive streak, sue me!) I can't, you guys. I can't. How can one book devastate and inspire me simultaneously? I can't! And now I don't know what to read after this. Just so unfair if nothing else can come to this level. And it's just the 5th month of 2018. Send help???

Takeaway: what some of the other books lacked, was a thorough story, with full context and built-out psychology of the characters — that also made sense and was engaging — i.e. all the character development, humor and love story that made sense for the narrative. Then weaving all of that together to land it. As much as I was entertained on some level by the other three books, which had some fun and intriguing components— there were points where those needed balls got dropped. This book, painted Roman and Jesse’s story and chemistry, with such tangibility that you really did feel like you knew them better than the other couples. And trust me when I say that I love Dean. But that story got cut short and didn’t follow through with itself. But this not only followed through with it, it also wove together pieces that were outside of the main two characters. Like Sonya and Jesse. Which was not short changed! Sonya and Hale. (Need a novella!) one of the biggest compliments I can say, is that most writers tend to castrate the male character and make them too sweet. We fall in love with the as$hole and then all of a sudden he’s too sugary and a golden retriever that is just overwhelming suffocating. She managed to keep Roman as still Bane, and that was one of the strongest angles that I’ve seen done with a male character in quite a bit of books that I read. ! I would have liked to have seen more Edie and would’ve enjoyed seeing vicious come back around since we started the story with him in this book and the series. And there are some other threads that could have been cleaned up, but I think the message is to say that this is her strongest story that I’ve read. And there are definitely a number of quotes that I’ve highlighted and written down. Also, the spice was the strongest of the four books. You could just feel the chemistry— it was high!!!. It was just enough and absolutely .🙌🏼🔥 I will be reading the children’s stories eventually.

If there is one book worth reading by this author, it would be this one. It is the only one with real substance, that doesn't sugarcoat things and treats real issues. It is a Snow White retelling with a raw and angty topic, deprecating humor and amazing characters. It's not a full 5-star read though due to the "too perfect" ending. But we get great characterization and development arcs and hard topics (rape, abuse, bullying).

PLEASE READ TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING THIS BOOK This book had so much TW and a really sensible theme so please read the trigger warnings the author states before reading it. It was a good book, I enjoyed it but for me it had a really slow pace, not in romance but the book in general, it took me soo much to read it even though I wanted to finish it quick. It was nice to see the way the FMC grows from everything she went through and the way she was barely living to the way she ended. Also the way the MMC falls in love it’s really cute and nice. The thing, for me was the story could had been better if it was shorter, the chapters are waaaay to long for me but this story may be for someone else. I really don’t think this book was necessary Mainly because the main for this story was to see Vicious successor and I think I was expecting exactly that but it really took a 180° turn. Still, just for the feeling of ending this series was good and enjoyable just don’t think I will remember it next year. So for anyone who wants to get the feeling of ending the series, yeah it’s ok to read it.

Sometimes in life we come across stories that we will never forget. It will grip you. Command your attention. Dominate your thoughts. It will stay with you for forever. That’s Bane, without a doubt. I was torn between wanting to devour this and wanting to savour every sentence, every single word as slowly as possible. L.J. Shen blew me away with Vicious. Everything about it - the story, the characters and her flawless writing - is perfect. When Ms Shen said Bane is different, that it is darker than anything she’s written, she wasn’t lying. It is dark, heavy and emotionally raw. It is soul igniting and heart destroying. I honestly never thought I could love anyone or anything as much as I love Vicious. As soon as you read the prologue, your jaw will drop. Your heart will ache. It will ignite itself. Explode. It is raw, real and confronting. Goosebumps will trail down your arms. It will leave you hypnotised. That’s when you know you have an amazing story right before you. Ms Shen reached brand new heights with this latest release. And it’s earned a very close, well deserved spot in my heart right next to Vicious. When Bane was introduced to us in Scandalous, I was intrigued straight away. Who was this bad boy? What made Bane savage, vicious and seeming dangerous? What made him different from our four beloved HotHoles? Bane is, without doubt, an egotistical and savage man. He’s sexy, dangerous, a criminal mastermind and habitual pothead. A con artist, a thief, a liar. Self-serving. Conniving. When you live in Todos Santos, what’d you expect? Bane does what he wants, as well as who he wants, when he wants for a hefty price and motive behind it. He doesn’t care about meeting society’s exceptions or maintaining an upstanding reputation. He is unapologetically himself. He is the perfect anti-hero. But when fate puts Bane down an interesting path, he finally finds something to genuinely care about. It’s in the form of Jesse Carter, a broken and damaged and sheltered girl. I adore Jesse. It is often difficult for me to fall in love with heroines, because they lack complexity and personality. I love when my heroines have sass, quick wit, strength, intelligence and independence. When they bring down the biggest and baddest alpha males to their knees. Jesse fits that criteria. Her bravery and perseverance is awe-inspiring after everything she’s been through and experienced. It is harrowing and difficult, the things she’s lived through, but she’s earned nothing but respect and admiration from me. To live through that kind of hard life, yet still leave the other end of the tunnel determined to win yourself back is extraordinary. She may be cracked around the edges, a little broken on the inside, but she isn’t irreparable. She’s still a gorgeous and wonderful character, inside and outside. She’s a queen, not a damsel in distress. While Bane might have reignited her spark, adding splashes of colour back into her dark life, she isn’t weak. She's her own saviour. While her demons surround her, she’s determined to bring justice and sweet revenge to those who wronged her. Bane is everything. Perfection. It is also so much more. It is darker and grittier than anything Ms Shen has written, and the message she inserts into this twisted, beautiful story is clear. Bane and Jesse, despite the demons that follow them, despite the darkness that surrounds them, are determined to create something for themselves. And the way this unfurls, the way Bane and Jesse transform is done so beautifully. I cannot find fault with this story - at all. Ms Shen has managed to deliver an emotionally raw, heart wrenching story with hope and love weaved throughout. It gives a good message that, even in dark times, light is always there. Watching. Waiting. Sometimes we have to find it ourselves. Other times we need that gentle push from someone else. I’m so, so pleased Ms Shen wrote Bane. Thank you so, so much for delivering this masterpiece. It is beautiful. Heart warming. Heart wrenching. Confronting and inspiring.

Together with Vicious Bane is my favorite book in this series. It’s emotional, heartbreaking and amazing. We all need a Bane in our lives.

“But every snowflake that’s lucky enough to settle on the ground is destined to be blemished by dirt. Snowflakes teach us the lesson that if you live long enough, you will eventually get soiled.” Everybody knows that my love for LJ Shen is unconditional - She is an extraordinary writer that produces immaculate prose that will stay with you ad vitam eternam. However, I have to admit that she knocked me sideways with Bane . What I Love about the story was the characters … but Jesse stole the show for me. “Everything around her faded, like a poem with burned edges. She was the lyrics inside it, so focused and sharp. I pushed my shoulder against her door, moving into her room, and it nearly knocked the hell out of my breath.” It is remarkable how fully LJ Shen is able to project herself into the minds of the character she describes. Jesse is broken and rebuilt, and while learning to embrace a power of survival she never knew she had hidden within her heart. To say that her life is complex is an understatement. She struggles to find strength in the aftermath of what happened to her. “He was cracking my heart with every touch, shattering it with every smile, and it didn’t make any sense, because how could he break something that was already broken?” Nothing makes sense anymore, and she knows she’s supposed to tell the truth and make it right but she can’t. So she buries it instead. And she buries the way she used to be until she meets Bane. “You can’t be afraid of love, my dear. It’s like being afraid of death. It is inevitable.” Bane…what can I say apart from that he is the epitome of beauty. Everybody knows him and about him- he is feared and worshipped, loved and alone. However, Bane hasn't lost his soul entirely, or his heart. His morality is compromised until he cannot look in the mirror without flinching… Jesse is his downfall and his rebirth at the same time. “We weren’t a boy and a girl. We were two lonely, fucked-up souls.” The characters are so perfectly crafted, so authentically vivid, that the story grabs hold and never let go. Snowflake and Roman’s story is so moving, raw and gripping ... And yet it has some intensely funny and witty moments, too. For me it difficult to put into words how much I am blown away by the story. I could not put it down. I think it may be easy for us readers to sit back and feel that we know what Jesse should have or should not have done, or how she should or should not act. It is not black and white, it is more than that... her story is a reminder that there is no right or wrong way to behave or move forward after what happened to her… “ Maybe that was the difference between Bane and all the others. I didn’t want him. I needed him to remind me how to breathe.” “The best stories have truth in them” and yes,< b>Bane is a fictional story, but for me it is more than a book, more than a beginning and an end. Indeed, if it feels realistic, if I can picture these events taking place in real life, or if it exposes something about human nature and the world we live in along the way, then it’s a golden truth. Jesse’s relationship with Mrs B for me was real. Jesse’s relationship with Shadow was real. Bane’s pain and inner struggles were real. Bane’s respect and love for his mother was real. Their story is not only eye-opening, insightful and relatable, it’s also very… heartening. Why? It is quite simple because the author with her words conveyed a powerful message that whatever ails your soul, you’ll get through it. “What’s the antonym of hate?” From the STUNNING cover to the very last page, this story's impact resonates long after you finish it.