This is a review for the second book in a series. There will be no spoilers for this book, but there might be some for the first book. You have been warned!
Read my review of book one, Deal With The Devil.
The Devil You Know by Kit Rocha
Publication Date: August 31, 2021
Summary from NetGalley:
Maya has had a price on her head from the day she escaped the TechCorps. Genetically engineered for genius and trained for revolution, there’s only one thing she can’t do—forget.
Gray has finally broken free of the Protectorate, but he can’t escape the time bomb in his head. His body is rejecting his modifications, and his months are numbered.
When Maya’s team uncovers an operation trading in genetically enhanced children, she’ll do anything to stop them. Even risk falling back into the hands of the TechCorps.
And Gray has found a purpose for his final days: keeping Maya safe.
ARC provided by Macmillan Tor/Forge via NetGalley for an honest review.
Confession:
This is such a fun and entertaining read! There is perhaps a tad less action and fighting in this one than the first, but it is still full of heart and steamy romance, along with great characters and a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
As with the first book almost all of the characters have a chapter or two from their perspectives, but there are two characters who are the focus of the romance and so they carry the majority of the narration. In this story we hear from Maya and Gray. I was very happy that this book focused on these two as they were my favorites from book one. Maya was genetically enhanced to have a memory superior to normal humans. She remembers everything like it just happened. Gray was modified to have super strength and is an incredible marksman. But personality wise, they are both the sweetest and the most insecure of the group. Their romance was just so sweet and wonderful, that I was smiling when ever the two of the were together.
All of the characters from the first book are here in the second one and it is such fun to see these two groups working together to help not just each other but the community at large. They’re there to help anyone who needs it, and not always by using force or their knowledge of killing and fighting, but sometimes it is just by providing food, books and medical help.
The thing that really sells this series is the found families and the sense of community amongst the Librarians and the Silver Devils, and the people surrounding them. This is a New Orleans like no other with a governing body that has corporate greed at its center. I love watching this group get back at the Protectorate and prove once again that morals and kindness do count.
This is a spin off series though, so as with the first book, I still felt at times that I was missing something. This was mostly when there were little memos that came from the Protectorate and had to do with things that I didn’t completely understand. But this may have more to do with the fact that they often referred to the characters in the story with their number designations and I couldn’t keep those straight, so I was often at a loss as to who they were referring to. But this was definitely a minor issue and did not detract from the story as a whole.
I just love the mix of steamy romance with a dystopian setting! All of the characters are truly great and are fun to spend time with. There is definitely a little bit of everything in these books, action, romance and a found family that is just adorable with their love for each other.
Confessions of a Serial Reader 