A review by cielosiluminado
The Truths We Burn by Monty Jay

dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

the sequel. i wasn't sure what i was expecting with this book but it completely surprised me, in a very good way.

the overall hollow boys plot line took a bit more of a back seat in this book compared to The Lies we Steal and this felt more like the story of rook and sage. which is not a bad thing!

There are only two people who can look the pits of hell in the eyes and not flinch.
Those in Hell and those who already made their way out.

this book has two acts; act I being when they're 18 and still in high school, pre-rosie's death, and act II is a year later, when they're 19 at hollow heights university, post-rosie's death where everyone is out for vengeance.

Criminally insane and psychotically hot … Fun to look at , but under no circumstances do you touch.

rook and sage. my babies. the enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-and-AGAIN-to-lovers plot in this book was so fucking good!

They’d ripped her wings from her back, but she replaced them with ashes and eternal wings made of the hottest blue flame.
And in order for her to fly, I’m going to cut the chains keeping her rooted to the ground.

sage donahue, ponderosa springs' sweetheart. usually i'm not a fan of queen bees, cheerleaders, etc. but her character pleasantly surprised me with her depth and backstory; it showed how full of strength, resilience, and power she is. she was so broken and felt so alone to the point where she believed she had to hide behind masks to protect herself. she hurt people through her words when she was hurt as long as she kept up the façade. her having to break the heart of the boy she loved to protect her twin sister, only for that twin sister to meet her untimely demise shortly after, was devastating. but from the ashes, she rose. she survived. sage became a phoenix.

A scorned angel, filled with so much anger and hatred, but on the inside, he’s still that same angel. One that had lost everything when he was cast out of heaven...

rook van doren, my baby boy. the devil. always hiding pain through goofiness jokes. i wasn't sure what i was expecting with this arsonist who is also addicted to pain. the way he let people hurt him as long as he felt pain to atone for his "sins", which he constantly blames himself for, that aren't even his fault...! heartbreaking. a self-described masochist fell in love and he fell hard. became such a softie for her but unfortunately sage broke his heart, and trust, and it almost ruined him; but he also survived. by burning shit down, putting walls up, and seeking even more pain through self-harm.

“I’m keeping you.”
“You’ve always had me, Rook. Always.”

when sage came back to ponderosa springs, rook was still torn between believing her or not, because he just couldn't resist her. the amount of pain they both went through and how they both remained in pain for over a year without forgetting about each other or their love... *chefs kiss*

We are the star-crossed lovers who were doomed from the start, and here we stand.
Hand in hand.
All the dead poets who wrote of sweet, gentle love cry out in disgust at our sick, twisted version of the emotion.
But it’s us.
And we are the eternal flame.
Forever.

these two are pure fire. their immediate, intense chemistry — hate or lust — is so powerful and so dang hot. their relationship showed their softer sides, how their damaged pieces fit together. their love was strong, endless, enduring. even with all the shit in their lives, the way they loved each other was romantic.

She had never been the innocent Eve in the garden.
She had always been my Lilith.
My equal.
My queen.
A phoenix.

i'm not religious, but i can appreciate and applaud the well use of the literary allusions throughout the book - the fall of Lucifer, his wife Lilith, The Crucible, Dante's Inferno, etc. all beautifully written.
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