This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
About The Book
At St. Monarch’s Academy, you’re either a predator, a pawn, or prey. It’s the only neutral territory where heirs of the wealthiest rival crime families learn underworld skills.
Alliances are made. Loyalty is owned. Love is taken.
As the best protector in training, I will be paired with the top assassin.
Because I’m unbeatable, everyone fears me.
Even her, Winter, Mafia Princess of the Hemsley family.
Every time she looks at me with fear in her eyes, desire burns through my body. When she doesn’t back down it only makes exhilaration rush through my veins.
Training with Winter comes at a price. The more time I spend with her, the more I want to claim her for myself.
When blood is shed, it’s up to me to protect Winter, and it places her at my mercy. Perfect for a predator like me.
But there’s a price to pay for my protection, and the only payment I’ll accept is her body, heart, and soul.
“The only payment I’ll accept is your body, heart, and soul.” Never before in my life have I wanted a woman the way I want Winter Hemsley. I want to own her fiery temper. I want to possess her wild spirit. I want to dominate her body, forcing her to submit to me… and only me.
My Review
First Impressions
I was really curious to try out other books by this author as I really had a blast with her Sinners series. And I was still in a page turning mafia mode, so I decided to grab up on Merciless Saints and i can tell you that I absolutely adored it so deeply. This book was so different than anything else that I could have expected from this author. It definitely had a different feel to a romance that your typical mafia romance as it definitely had a more assassin vibe to the story. I found it so intriguing the world building that is built within this story and it definitely is dark and bloody haha so make sure you can handle darker themes with the hero and heroine both being trained assassins. It really has an intense feel to the story that will satisfy suspense fans.
I’m going to claim the payment she owes me once we’re on the island. She will warm my bed during the nights, and in return, I’ll kill her enemies. I will own her body, her broken heart, her unwavering spirit. I’ll help her take her rightful place in her family’s business while satisfying my craving for her.
Summary
Winter is viewed as the “blood princess” and not just because her father is the kingpin of working with blood diamonds in Africa but because she witnessed her mother murdered in front of her eyes and vowed ever since to protect her family which is where the St. Monarch’s Academy comes in. She is now eighteen and she has learned everything that she can, but now she wants the more advanced training and she knows that she will learn from the best at St. Monarch’s Acadey where the most elite of assassins and mafia families alike come together, with no bloodshed to learn how to fight and kill and be the best in the world. There is an instant attraction between Winter and the King of assassins: Damien, who instantly know what is between them is real even knowing that they could be enemies one day, But when the worst happens and they have to rely on each other for survival, they are determined to conquer their enemies and become king and queen but it will come at a price, will the cost be worth it to them both?
“If the marriage is consummated, I won’t stand for a parade of other women through my house.” Ahhh… my princess is possessive. I don’t think she knows what she just gave away with that request. It tells me she cares enough to not want to share me.
What I Loved
Merciless Saints was such a unique story that I had so much fun reading and I just couldn’t seem to get enough. This book completely kicks booty and was so wild and entertaining and I never knew where it was going to go. This is a story that will lead you on a merry chase and you will be more than happy to be along for the adventure, I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this book but I will be honest this story completely blew my expectations out of the water. It had a level of intensity and emotion that I wasn’t ready for. I am telling you to get a box of tissues for this one here because you are going to NEED them and I am not saying that lightly. Whew does this author know to evoke such intense emotion. The romance that builds between our characters is a bit of frenemies. They both are attracted to each other but they are enemies in a way as they could be contracted to kill each other down the road. But we definitely see how their attraction is the real thing and is what will get through the rough stuff is their deep connection. It gets pretty brutal and violent at times, but there are also these small sweet moments that make it all worth it.
“Treat me like your king, and I will make you a queen.” Her eyes search mine for the truth of my words, and when she finds it, she pushes up on her toes, pressing her mouth to mine. Submit to me, and I will burn the world down for you.
What I Struggled With
There is this moment that I struggled with concerning the heroine, where she takes an action that I felt was so unnecessary and just left a bad taste in my mouth.
Overall View
Merciless Saints is a wild and intense story that will grapple with the reader and deliver in its intense levels of emotion and plot building, its a story that will stun you completely in ways that you least expect and more!
Title: Merciless Saints
Author: Michelle Heard
Genre: Dark Romance
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Length: 346 Pages
Book Links
Amazon| Goodreads| LibraryThing| StoryGraph| Literal Club
Book Evaluation
Storytelling Quality: 4.5
Story Itself: 4.5
Character Development: 4
Writing Style: 4.5
World Building 4.5
Feels + The Romantic Heart 4
Pacing 5
Plot 5
Cover Art 5
Ending 4.5
Book Ratings
Overall Rating of the Book
Steam Level
Simmering—soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warm- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
Trigger Warning
Violence, Murder
Series Order
St. Monarchs Academy
Merciless Saints-Pub 2021 #1 in the Series
Cruel Saints-Pub 2021 #2 in the Series
Ruthless Saints-Pub 2021 #3 in the Series
Tears of Betrayal-Pub 2021 #4 in the Series
Tears of Salvation-Pub 2021 #5 in the Series
About The Author
Michelle Heard is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Top 20 bestselling romance author. She writes emotional heart-shattering stories with romance that will leave you smiling with satisfaction. Every book has an unexpected twist that will show the strength of the characters who have to fight for their HEA.
Before becoming an author, Michelle had a career in banking. She lives in South Africa with her son.
And I will be staying away from this one. Sounds like the heroine would only piss me off. Great review, as always! xo