Guess who’s trying to finish not only this book, but also the final book in the trilogy this weekend? And Empire of Lust, the last standalone in the Empire series? Yep… me.
It’s Friday morning, and I’m determined to make it back to The Legacy of Gods by Monday. I don’t want to skip a single book because I really want to be able to proudly say that I’ve read every book Rina Kent has written this summer.
I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, so I went into this one with high hopes. That said… I still don’t think Adrian and Lia needed three books.
Tempted by Deception picks up immediately after the shocking ending of Vow of Deception. As Lia struggles to piece together the missing fragments of her past, the line between truth and lies becomes even blurrier. Secrets surrounding Adrian, his late wife, and the dangerous people around them slowly come to light, forcing Lia to question everything she thought she knew. Filled with psychological twists, emotional tension, obsessive romance, and plenty of suspense, this second installment answers some long-awaited questions while introducing even more shocking revelations.
Now for my thoughts…
I really didn’t like that most of this book takes place in the past. I know the backstory is important, but dedicating almost an entire book to it? Yeah… not my thing. I like stories that keep moving forward, and this honestly made the pacing feel much slower.
That being said, if I were Lia, I would’ve gone on that date with Adrian even if he hadn’t invited me. 😠The man is just… ridiculously hot. But at the same time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was rereading the first book. Did anyone else feel that way?
I also appreciate that Rina Kent touches on mental health. As someone who recovered from anxiety myself, I know how painful it is to feel lost or out of place. But in dark romance, I personally don’t want pages and pages focused on depression. I come for the obsession, the chaos, the danger, and the action.
And that ending… I honestly didn’t love it. I’m still not convinced this story needed to be a trilogy. But am I opening the third book immediately after finishing this one?
Absolutely.
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