Broken Knight

Oh my goodness, this one HURT. I haven't cried so hard while reading a book since The Time Traveler's Wife. It's been a long ass time since a book moved me to literal tears (and Knight would be proud of my correct use of the word here even as he mocked me into oblivion). I was ready for a fantastic love/hate relationship and steaminess and angsty feels, but I was NOT at all prepared for some of the bigger events of the book having to do with characters from the original series. This could be read as a stand-alone, yes, but reading this after several years and even more books surrounding this wide, beloved cast of characters makes it SO much more impactful. I'd have to go back and read them all from the beginning, starting with my OTP show more Vicious, but Broken Knight might actually be my favorite out of all of them. It's that damn good. show less

So many tears

I had a feeling going into this book that I would need tissues. Boy howdy did I ever. In all my years of reading and pursuing my degree in literature, there are only a select few books that have moved me in this way; to have that maelstrom of emotions happen in which I can laugh, feel anger, joy, love, sadness, heartbreak, confusion, and finally hope. This book... this book was one of those. Would it stand with the tried and true literary works from the Canon? Maybe not on its own but it would come close. I can say this because I have grown with this family and cast of characters. I have felt every triumph and setback. I watched from the beginning as every character whether it be from the original cast of characters to the show more hotholes 2.0 as they became the people that they are now. Which, when I think about it seems weird because these are fictional characters that only live in the imagination and on paper. But fear not, these characters are REAL and that is what makes this book, in particular, a masterpiece.

The author made me cry, literally. I had to stop more times than I can count in a particular part of the story because I couldn't see to read and it was virtually impossible to catch my breath let alone see through my fogged up glasses. It is because of this that the author's ability to leave me savoring this visceral and often time painful gamut of emotions that I both cursed her and wanted to hug her for giving me something so beautiful because it altered the very template of who I am. I won't lie, this hurt. A LOT. The destruction, the heartbreak, the sense of powerlessness that came from these pages were sublime.

I won't give the story away because that would be unfair. Everyone that reads this needs to go into this with the same hope knowing that no matter what this author poured her heart out and that the characters had a specific plan set forth on how it would play out. After reading this book, I have a new appreciation for the sun rising tomorrow.

Well done to this author. This book has attained my rare unicorn book status that I call mellifluously sublime. I highlighted more times than I could count but I will hold off on showing those highlights until later when more people have read this so as not to spoil anything. Instead, I will just say that it was poetry. I am spellbound. show less

So many tears

I had a feeling going into this book that I would need tissues. Boy howdy did I ever. In all my years of reading and pursuing my degree in literature, there are only a select few books that have moved me in this way; to have that maelstrom of emotions happen in which I can laugh, feel anger, joy, love, sadness, heartbreak, confusion, and finally hope. This book... this book was one of those. Would it stand with the tried and true literary works from the Canon? Maybe not on its own but it would come close. I can say this because I have grown with this family and cast of characters. I have felt every triumph and setback. I watched from the beginning as every character whether it be from the original cast of characters to the show more hotholes 2.0 as they became the people that they are now. Which, when I think about it seems weird because these are fictional characters that only live in the imagination and on paper. But fear not, these characters are REAL and that is what makes this book, in particular, a masterpiece.

The author made me cry, literally. I had to stop more times than I can count in a particular part of the story because I couldn't see to read and it was virtually impossible to catch my breath let alone see through my fogged up glasses. It is because of this that the author's ability to leave me savoring this visceral and often time painful gamut of emotions that I both cursed her and wanted to hug her for giving me something so beautiful because it altered the very template of who I am. I won't lie, this hurt. A LOT. The destruction, the heartbreak, the sense of powerlessness that came from these pages were sublime.

I won't give the story away because that would be unfair. Everyone that reads this needs to go into this with the same hope knowing that no matter what this author poured her heart out and that the characters had a specific plan set forth on how it would play out. After reading this book, I have a new appreciation for the sun rising tomorrow.

Well done to this author. This book has attained my rare unicorn book status that I call mellifluously sublime. I highlighted more times than I could count but I will hold off on showing those highlights until later when more people have read this so as not to spoil anything. Instead, I will just say that it was poetry. I am spellbound. show less

This series can do no wrong.

Seriously, it is always a great read. Long story, with a bit of really good erotic romance towards the last quarter, and always an emotional tie to the characters who are all going through something that gets in their way of love. Of course there is a HEA (but there are some major tears along the way).

The book follows the LJ Shen "Sinners of Saint" and "All Saints High", formula of guy and girl meeting as children and either through a love/hate or friends to enemies or enemies to lovers kind of way get together. There are a couple of seriously steamy sex scenes that are not too much but just enough to remind you that this is a New Adult book.

One think I do have to say is that I kind of got tired of the back show more and forth and "Three's Company" style of misunderstandings. So much back and forth. So much angst in this one. It took a while to get where we all knew it would go. I also didn't like the way Knight treated both Poppy and Luna in the book, he was a toxic guy who went to great lengths to hurt Luna while doing everything he can to tell her that he wasn't going to be with her. Meanwhile he treated Poppy like a doormat acting like he was with her but only having eyes on Luna. Oh well. Still loved the book.

I am now looking forward to what is shaping up to be Vaughn's story next. show less

Liked this book a bit more than I thought I would. MCs have insane chemistry but were holding themselves back from putting everything out there for various reasons for the longest time--guess that makes it a bit of a slow burn? Appreciated that while author brought back hints of their parents and Todos Santos I enjoyed in the original All Saints books, but gave their kids their own unique personalities and challenges to overcome. Especially loved seeing the female MC grow into her own and her love interest Knight learn to respect that.

Where is the 10+ stars when you need them? This book deserves them all. Broken Knight broke me and now LJ Shen has set herself for a big challenge, how to surpass her own bar, when she set her so high with this one. I am sure she will and so I am just as afraid to find out as excited for the next one. Knight and Luna story has all the emotions rolled into one story and all of them to the top. I have no idea how to put into words all the emotions I felt while reading and while listening the audiobook, because yes I had to do both on a binge to get myself sorted out, which I am still debating if I am. A masterpiece, phenomenal, heart wrenching, romance, must read top favorite list 2019 book!

2.5 stars
I have really really mixed feelings about this book. Up till about 30% of the book, all I felt was apathy (and that was the last thing I expect when starting a novel by Shen, generally). Then some frustration. And in the latter half, the book seemed to redeem itself somewhat. Reallllyyyyy loved Knight throughout the book, loved the Cole family dynamic quite a bit as well. However, Luna felt a bit muh... And Knight and Cole's relationship - well, let me just say that it could've been written way better imo. I somehow never felt very invested in Luna and Knights relationship much, especially in the middle. Well, like I said, mixed feelings.