These Ruthless Deeds brings us back to an intriguing world set in Victorian London, where there is more than just society rules to worry about. All of our favorite characters from These Vicious Masks return, determined to live more honorable lives after the destruction of their previous actions.

Although each power is slowly reintroduced, I recommend re-reading These Vicious Masks or checking out a recap. The beginning will be less confusing as the story picks up where the previous book left off. Evelyn and Miss Grey are continuing their search in looking for other gifted people.

Their current rescue attempt of a young telekinetic quickly goes horribly wrong. Evelyn and her friends soon find themselves inside the Society of Aberrations being offered a proposal they might not be able to refuse. A new element is introduced into this already intriguing story as we learn more about the Society, who are they?

As well as the Society, there are a lot of new characters introduced as the story continues! We see familiar faces as well, such as Evelyn, Mr. Kent, Mr. Braddock, Mae, and more. I didn’t think it was possible for me to love them more than I already did, but I fell even harder for these lovable characters! Evelyn is still a brave heroine, but more flawed as she deals with her grief. Mr. Kent is still charming as ever, and Mr. Braddock is still amazingly brooding. Also, there are plenty of swoony moments in this book! I continuously questioned what team am I even on here?

The new characters are just as great! The cast of characters are incredibly diverse, and you’ll be able to connect with at least one of them. I won’t spoil their powers, but they all bring something new and fun to the story.

As the story continues, the Society slowly gains their trust but just as they do they begin to discover more about the people they work for. Once again, the family/society drama mixes well with all the action! There is plenty of drama in London’s society, but the action takes up more pages this time around! I couldn’t stop turning the pages as it continued revealing all this death and destruction. Probably makes me a little bit evil? I have no regrets, though.

I may love These Ruthless Deeds a little bit more than These Vicious Masks. The writing from Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas continues to grow and be brilliant! They make such a great team. I always find problems within two authors writing a story, but these two obviously share one brilliant mind. The outcome of their writing is amazing. I must know all their secrets!

As the story wraps up with one crazy final act, readers will be left on the edge of their seat until it’s all over. If you found the ending of the previous book brutal, just you wait! My jaw was left wide open. If you loved These Vicious Masks then check out the sequel, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed! There are plenty of plot twists, revelations, and fun throughout the pages! These Ruthless Deeds felt more its own outside of the X-Men and Jane Austen inspiration, too.

If you haven’t checked out this series then I highly recommend it to fans of fantasy or historical fiction! You’ll instantly fall in love with these lovable characters and their journey!

Rating: 5 Stars

I have been waiting for this book since the end of These Vicious Masks (review) last year. It had been a while for me and many books in between so I went back and read my old review and skimmed the end again to make sure I had all my facts straight. It was so easy to dive back into this world of powers and upper England society. We start out running, Evelyn still in pain over losing her sister Rose, is working to find other gifted people like herself and keep them safe starting with a telekinetic her old tutor knows. Things don’t go smoothly and they come face to face with the Society of Aberrations, the same society that the evil doctor worked for. Not a great first impression. They try to convince Evelyn and her friends that the doctor was rogue and they were really all about what she is, finding and helping those like them and making the world better. They offer much from repairing her reputation, restoring her family’s fortunes, and the like she wants to believe them. To be part of something so good, but she is still leery that it is too good to be true and there must be something more sinister beneath the surface.

Evelyn has really embraced her abilities and the whole new world of powers as a whole. She is trying to be the best that she can be, what she things Rose would have wanted her to do. She is still grieving but still things around her keep moving. She is unable to tell everyone about her ability or what really happened to Rose or risk being thrown in the asylum. She is a strong character who really moves forward with gusto. She doesn’t always make the smartest choices, there is one in particular that has serious consequences I still haven’t recovered from I don’t approve of but she is true to who she is at each step. She grows throughout the series thus far but doesn’t magically change into a different person it’s a development that I like. Mr. Kent, the good friend who has feelings for her is so much fun to read. I love when they are together their banter is just so on point. He has some of the best lines and moments throughout the book and constantly had me laughing. On the flip side of the romantic feelings we have dark and moody Mr. Braddock who has a horrible ability in making those he is near or touch ill or die. Yep not a winner on powers. He is such a good guy with a good heart who is plagued by this power and the devastation it causes. I like him well enough but I do prefer Mr. Kent. We also get to meet several others with different powers which was pretty fun seeing how they came into play. Some we love others we don’t care so much for.

Book two is by far set at a faster pace and it really drives you through your reading in the best way. They are constantly on the move between secret missions, training, snooping, and even the society obligations. There is never a dull moment and the dialogue is on point. The constant game of who can you trust really keeps the suspense high. At one point I stopped and made a note to myself where I was at and my prediction about it being important and this whole theory from one little part so I could see if I was right. I was in part but I went deep in my own thought process there and I look back and love that it made me so curious. I’m still holding out that part of it will play in later.


I really enjoyed this installment and all the action packed feels. I can’t wait for the next book in the series because the ending...well it left me with those feels. Like TONS of them. Like I re-read the ending several times hoping to see something that could fix what broke my heart but so far not looking good. But we shall see.


Until next time…

After reading These Vicious Masks, I was totally hooked on this series. These Ruthless Deeds, the second installment, did not disappoint any of my expectations. All of my favorite characters were back and I loved this fast-paced, fun read.

While the first book was more focused on an investigation, These Ruthless Deeds was about Evelyn and her friends finding their place in their world. The middle of the book floundered somewhat due to the introduction to the Society. Between Evelyn's introduction to them and her unearthing of a secret, not a whole lot happens. Some of the tensions present in the first book had disappeared, potentially due to the lack of semi-illicit activities and adventures that marked Evelyn's search for her sister in the first book.

One of the things I loved about this book was the development of the romance. It was full of delicious miscommunications, misunderstandings, and pride. While I am still very much rooting for Sebastian, I did gain a greater appreciation for Mr. Kent. The darker side of all of the character's powers were explored, which allowed for the relationships for the characters to deepen and develop further.

The world-building in this series continued to be good (although not great). Some questions were answered in this installment and additional questions were raised, hopefully to be answered in the future. Additionally, it was very interesting to see the new powers that were introduced. This book had a wonderful exploration of morality, I continually questioned whether certain characters were heroes or villains. As the book progressed, it became steadily darker. It addressed the question of "what happens if you do the right thing for the wrong reasons?"

Overall, this was a very action-driven, fast-paced, fun read. I cannot wait for the third installment in this series (particularly after that ending). I would recommend this book, and series, for fans of young adult historical fantasy.

I really liked the first book in this series but in this book I had a really hard time remembering characters from the previous book. I think that may be a sign of having a few too many characters and those characters not being very important. The main characters themselves are fine and pretty well-developed. At the very least, they seem like they probably have depth even if that depth is not explored to the fullest (*ahem* Mr. Kent *ahem*). In the last book I was pretty torn between our main character’s two love interests, but in this book I found myself firmly rooting for one in particular. I won’t name names or spoil whether or not Evelyn ends up with him though. As I said in my previous review, I hate love triangles, but this one was okay. Not GREAT, but okay.

The plot fit together really nicely. I remember from the last book I enjoyed that Evelyn had to stop her investigation every once in a while to participate in society. For some reason that just seemed humorous and realistic to me. In this book, there are still some obligations that Evelyn has to meet, but for the most part the book is focused on the other part of her life. This just means that the book is a little more action-packed and mostly occurs at night. Evelyn as a character was pretty much the same as she was in the first book, but I did feel that she made some really annoying decisions at times. Mostly what I wanted from her was just some transparency. It felt like that was really lacking between characters and that always frustrates me to no end.

The last part of the plot was…interesting. It was unpredicted, I’ll say that. I felt that the first book had this really powerful conclusion that I didn’t necessarily agree with, but appreciated nonetheless. But then this book comes in and basically reverses that really powerful conclusion but then it also has its own huge ending. All of that serves to almost cheapen the ending for me. I feel like the third book is going to come along and be like, “JK we’ve actually found out a way for none of that to have happened.” In the end, I guess we’ll just have to see what the next book has in store.

Overall, I really did like this book. I appreciate that the authors aren’t afraid to make big moves. I like the main cast of characters that we have and as I get to know secondary characters, I start to appreciate them more as well. I would definitely recommend this book for people who are fans of both Jane Austen and X-Men.

Overall Rating: 4
Language: Mild
Violence: Moderate
Smoking/Drinking: Mild
Sexual Content: Mild

Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There’s a good chance you’ve seen me tweeting, blogging, or otherwise pushing These Vicious Masks. It was one of my favorite books of 2016, an unexpected delight and a thoroughly entertaining read. I could barely stand the wait for These Ruthless Deeds, which is why I stalked the ARC like a absolute predator. It worked.

And, predictably, I adored this book. Evelyn is still her smart and snarky self, but it’s tempered by sadness after SPOILER her sister’s death at the end of the last book. END SPOILER So much of what I adored about These Vicious Masks was present in These Ruthless Deeds: superpowers! Victorian manners! Brooding boys who SPOILER the authors treat absolutely terribly—my poor heart! END SPOILER I’m steering this Evelyn-and-Sebastian ship, but my goodness was Mr. Kent charming. This book was tenser, darker, bloodier—and Mr. Kent was the perfect lightness and humor.

Like the first book, this was just so much fun to read. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to wait for Book Three, especially after that ending. SPOILER Do the authors hate Sebastian? I suspect so. They are vicious to this poor boy, and that ending just about broke my heart. Can’t a guy get a break? END SPOILER

Highly recommended to anyone who adored These Vicious Masks. And if you haven’t read that book, get thyself to a bookstore ASAP.

Oh man I loved this second book in the series. I hope to see more books from these two authors in the future.

Holy crap. I did not expect to love this so much. I mean wow.. if you haven't tried this series... you're missing out.

Basically if you're a fan of any of the following, you need to pick this up:

1. Historical fiction with a magic twist
2. A touch of Steampunk
3. Hilarious and vibrant characters
4. Humor and wit woven into every page
5. A loveable and flawed MC (seriously, Evelyn has to be an all time favorite MC for me.)
6. Ships that drive you nuts and make you want to slam your head into a wall because of the sheer PAIN of shipping everyone and not knowing how you feel and ugh.

"Mr. Kent never hid his worse qualities. He wore them like badges."


I really loved the first book 'These Vicious Masks' despite being a little disappointed in the ending. I was just a bit wary about the direction of the plot from the ending and I wasn't sure I'd come into this with the same enthusiasm. But wow, I'm so glad I continued on.

The beginning was a bit slow, and to be honest, I was lost for the first few chapters. It has been over a year since I read the first installment and I couldn't remember who everyone was - so I ended up having to go back and skim parts. I recommend that the first book be pretty fresh in your head.

But things pick up quickly (of course, when Mr. Kent arrives.)

Mr. Kent raised his brows. "What are they asking?"
"For me to heal a little girl."
"My God, the brutes, the monsters," he mocked.


Okay, I'm going to stop there and rave about Mr. Kent. He's by far my favorite character in the series. Every. Single. Line. Everything that comes out of his mouth is two parts brilliance and three parts hilarious. He's full of witty little mumblings and I can't help but adore him to pieces. I love the guy so much and I'm over here thinking... Evelyn... girl.... open your eyes.


Mr. Kent nodded soberly. “I do. Before I met you, I went to brothels, gambling halls, scandalous music halls, all sorts of indecent places.”

“And let me guess, ever since you met me, you’ve changed?”

He shook his head. “No, I just want to do these indecent things with you.”


UGH YOU GUYS I LOVE MR KENT.

Okay, okay, moving along...

I thought the plot was actually quite fun, but what really made the book was the writing and the characters. Just like the first book (and maybe even more so)... this one was down right hysterical and a blast to read. I was cackling my way through the entire book.

This picks up a little while after the first book ends. Evelyn is basically recruited by 'The Society of Aberrations' which is basically a secret branch of government for the 'gifted'. She's naturally concerned that it is corrupt and questions everything... and if you know Evelyn at all, you can pretty much guess she stirs up trouble. She goes off searching for Mr. Braddock, and things start to get a little crazy.

That about all I'm going to say in leu of not spoiling much, but lets just say the plot has lots of crazy twists and turns. I was worried about it being just another one of those 'rebelling against a corrupt secret government branch' type books but really it was so much more. And you know what? I honestly think that even if you aren't into the actual plot itself, you'll still have a blast just because of the writing.

AND THEN THE END HAPPENED AND IM SITTING HERE LIKE... WHAT IN THE BLOODY UNIVERSE AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW??

Like okay... this book is clearly meant to be quite humorous but DO NOT BE DECEIVED. I had so many feels and emotions the whole time... first regarding Evelyn and the whole struggle with Mr. Braddock... and then of course serious Mr. Kent feels... BUT THEN THE END WHAAAAT AHHHH.

So now, I'm an emotional mess. The ending actually made me tear up. What in the crap. I did not expect to be this emotionally invested.

Well done, Kelly and Tarun. This book (and the series for that matter) gets a glowing recommendation from me. It was an absolute delight of a read. And the covers of both books are exquisite. Really, I can't rave enough about my experience and THANK YOU for such an awesome ride. Also if you could write the next book REALLY fast that would be great. Because I need closure.

**Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. All quotes taken from this ARC may be subject to change in the final copy.**

I absolutely adored the first book in this series, so I was beyond excited to start reading These Ruthless Deeds. And it was a pretty great sequel, if not but a little predictable.

Here's the thing: the prologue made things so obvious to me. I like when a prologue teases things to come, but I still want to be relatively surprised when it comes to fruition. So, maybe skip that? Also, it was ridiculously easy for me to guess who the mysterious villain was, despite the red herrings. I almost wanted to be wrong because of how sure I was.

Still, there's never a dull moment for these 19th century would-be superheroes. Evelyn is being forced back into her role as debutante, but she still flouts decorum at every turn, especially in her duties for the Society. I love that this girl questions everything, even when everyone else is basically telling her to let it be. Evelyn is a true heroine, even if things don't always rarely go accordingly to plan.

There weren't nearly enough swoons for me in this sequel, though there are all manner of declarations of love. But, seriously, one kiss? Ugh, and the love triangle...don't get me started on it. Because I legitimately like both guys. I think I'm probably pulling for the one who won't make the cut, but that's my cross to bear.

Oy, and then that ending! It basically took everything awful that happened in book one and multiplied it by 100 to leave us with the most maddening ending ever. I kind of wanted to throw the book while simultaneously wanting to re-read it ten more times while I wait for the next book. So, while I didn't like this sequel quite as much as the first book, I maintain that any book that can make me want to cause bodily harm after reading it has effectively done its job. ;0)

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading These Vicious Masks last year, and found the combination of teenagers with extraordinary powers (like the X-Men) placed in Victorian England to be highly original.

These Ruthless Deeds is a young adult novel written by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas. It begins not too long after the events in These Vicious Masks, and protagonist Evelyn is still processing what happened at the end of the first book in the series. However, she is preoccupied by her family’s move to London for the “Little Season” and everything that entails. She learns more about a shadowy organization that oversees “Aberrants”: what is her place is supposed to be within the group and what are the group’s true intentions? The love triangle from the first book returns in a sequel; what good is a YA novel if there are not at least two gentlemen vying for the attention of the plucky protagonist?

These Ruthless Deeds is a nice follow-up to its predecessor. The authors continue to build upon the world they established in the first book, with the addition of interesting new characters with extraordinary abilities. There is an element of mystery as Evelyn and her friends try to figure out who is in charge of the shady society handling “Aberrants”.

I would definitely recommend These Ruthless Deeds. You definitely have to read These Vicious Masks first. Shanker and Zekas are talented writers who work well together. This is a well-rounded book with highly developed elements of fantasy and clever dialogue. There’s another cliffhanger at the end of this book, which makes me wonder if there are more books ahead. I’m looking forward to more from Shanker and Zekas- either a third book in the series or a new collaboration between the two authors.

Early last year, These Vicious Masks was a surprise hit for me and many other YA readers; it was an excellent series beginning with imagination and originality. Though verging on the shorter side, it and its sequel have managed to be great mixes of the supernatural and the historical with fast-paced and twisty plots. They are not perfect, but they are very entertaining. Like These Vicious Masks before it, These Ruthless Deeds was a fun, funny, actiontastic romp of a read, featuring some truly excellent and memorable characters. For the second time in two years, dual authors Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas have concocted a whirlwind plot for their intrepid cast to weather to various degrees of success.

There's imagination aplenty to be found in this sequel; these two authors have a unique version of history/the world and use that vision creatively and expansively. The action may be somewhat toned down in Evelyn's second novel, but there's plenty afoot to keep her and the characters busy and readers invested. Evelyn remains a lively and interesting point of view for both her station and her abilities; a strong main character with power and relateability. She has changed a lot over the course of both novels; she's accepted herself and her power, but that doesn't mean her character evolution is complete. The romance(s) of the previous novel are once again on display here, though less overt and less central to the main plot of the story and to Evelyn herself.

I enjoyed Evelyn and Mr. Kent as always, but there were several new characters introduced and older characters that were used less. I appreciated the various new angles introduced with the Society of Aberrations but some of the cast camaraderie from book one was lost because of it. I really missed the humor in These Ruthless Deeds. Book one was hilarious -- I lol'd THREE TIMES in the first 100 pages -- and there's very little of that in these three hundred and twenty pages. There's very little of substance happening here at all, tbh. I enjoyed it overall because of the affection I have for the characters. The plot was admittedly minimal and feels inconsequential at the close of the story. Sequel syndrome strikes again!

Though it was not a perfect sequel, These Ruthless Deeds is still a fun and imaginative read for fans of the first novel. It suffers a bit for being the bridge book in a series of three, but readers who enjoy secret societies, powers, and/or Regency historical reads will find a new niche read.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

These Ruthless Deeds by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas
Book Two of the These Vicious Masks series
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Publication Date: March 14, 2017
Rating: 2 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

England, 1883. Still recovering from a devastating loss, Evelyn is determined to use her powers to save other gifted people from those who would harm them. But when her rescue of a young telekinetic girl goes terribly wrong, Evelyn finds herself indebted to a secret society devoted to recruiting and protecting people like Evelyn and her friends.

As she follows the Society’s orders, healing the sick and embarking on perilous recruitment missions, Evelyn sees her problems disappear. Her reputation is repaired, her friends are provided for, and her parents are newly wealthy. She reunites with the dashing Mr. Kent and recovers the reclusive Mr. Braddock (who has much less to brood over now that the Society can help him to control his dangerous power). But Evelyn can’t help fearing the Society is more sinister than it appears...

What I Liked:

I think I expected too much from this series. I was so excited to read These Vicious Masks, and when I read it in 2015, I found that I didn't totally love it. But I was cautiously optimistic and immediately pounced on this book when I saw it on NetGalley. And yet... this one was even more disappointing than These Vicious Masks. It was so up-and-down, and while there were some aspects that were okay, there were more that I didn't enjoy. Overall I'm giving the book two stars but I'm honestly struggling to come up with positives..

Evelyn and her other gifted friends want to use their powers for good and find other gifted people. When they get caught trying to rescue a young girl with telekinetic powers, they are rescued by the Society of Aberrations. Several members of the Society try to convince Evelyn that they are doing good work, despite everything in the past. While some of Evelyn's friends decide to join, Evelyn does not, at first. How does she know that the Society is truly reformed? Who can she trust? Even in entering a tentative partnership with the Society, Evelyn doesn't trust anyone. Meanwhile, she has more than enough going on in terms of society, balls, her Little Season, and a potential marriage proposal. But it's all going to come down to the ball her family is throwing her - when two worlds collide, there is bound to be disaster.

Things I liked... hmm. I feel like I'm going to write my review in a bit of a cyclical way. You'll find more information in the next section (because I disliked more than I liked). But there were some things I liked - it's just that I also disliked those things too.

For example: I'm really glad that love triangle gets cleared up, by the end of this book. I hate love triangles, and this one was ridiculous and poorly written. So yay for Evelyn making a choice, Sebastian making a choice, and Mr. Kent making a choice, by the end of the book. BUT, the fact that the love triangle is in this book at all is a strike against the book. See what I mean? A thing I liked but overall, disliked.

I'm honestly sturggling to come up with things I liked about this book, so I'm going to move on.

What I Did Not Like:

I didn't like Evelyn's decision-making. I didn't like the love triangle. I didn't like the pacing. I didn't like the plot. I didn't like the ending.

Basically there was very little that didn't go wrong for me. I'll start with Evelyn. Her decision-making, from the start of this book, is terrible. I feel like she got stupider instead of smarter? It's like she's going backwards in the series, in terms of character development. She acts selfishly for the entire book, by stringing Mr. Kent along, or not voicing her feelings to Sebastian, or pushing Mae at Sebastian (for selfish, stupid reasons), or by saving the life of one person at the end of the book instead of _____ (leaving that blank because of spoilers). Evelyn is incredibly selfish; what's sad is that she thinks she is considering everyone and thinking of everyone, but she is only ever thinking of herself. Finding Sebastian? Finding Mr. Hale? The big plan at the climax, in which she invited all of her friends to help her? It's like Evelyn does not learn.

Also, at other times, it's like she didn't know how to open her mouth and say no. No, Mr. Kent, I don't want your affections or for you to kiss me. No, Mother, I don't want to spend time with Lady Atherton. No, Mother, I don't want to be courted by Lord Atherton (this is not part of the romance, trust me. More of a nuisance than anything else). Evelyn is supposedly feisty and outspoken, but it's like she bit off her tongue when her voice mattered most.

I hate love triangles. I worried about the development of a love triangle in this series, given what I read in These Vicious Masks. Mr. Kent is the childhood friend, the flirt and charmer, the one has been in love with Evelyn for years and even proposed to her before. Sebastian is the handsome, brooding, dangerous young man who is tortured about his particular power. I don't really have anything against Mr. Kent, but I hate him as a love interest. He's so hilarious and quite the flirt, but he's all wrong for Evelyn. I dislike how Evelyn doesn't refuse his attention and even tries to force herself to fall for him (which doesn't work). I don't like it when the heroine lets someone kiss her and clearly doesn't want the experience, but lets it happen anyway.

Also, can we talk about how clearly Sebastian is endgame, but it's not Sebastian that kisses Evelyn (or that Evelyn kisses) in this book? Um, Swoon Reads? Why are you so disappointing? I swear, every single Swoon Reads book has made me complain about the complete lack of swoon in their books. "Regular" non-Swoon-Reads YA books have more swoon than this imprint's books? This is a problem? I'm so over it.

To begin with, I don't find love triangles swoony. I find books even less swoony when the MAIN COUPLE NEVER KISSES IN THE BOOK. Especially given the massive amounts of NO SWOON in These Vicious Masks (yes, that sentence doesn't quite make sense).

The pacing - gosh this book was so boring. I honestly don't even remember what happened in the first 75% of the book. Things only started "happening" as Evelyn's grand ball drew closer. Pretty much everything in the first half of the book (or 75% of the book, really) didn't matter or didn't stick because it didn't matter. Like you could read the last 25% of the book with no problem, and find out all you need to know about the book. Sequel slump, anyone?

This kind of goes along with the plot - I felt like nothing was really happening, in the first half of the book. The story moved too slowly and when things did happen, the scenes were boring. I was very, very bored, while reading this book. It's so short and yet it took me three times as long to read this book as it did to read Traitor to the Throne. You all know how long that book is, right? I could barely keep my eyes open (in terms of These Ruthless Deeds).

That ending! What the heck! It's all kind of maniacal and brutal! I obviously can't say anything specific about it but goodness! The authors went all out. The only good thing I will say about the ending in general is that the love triangle is a done deal, and hopefully it will never plague the series again.

A final note - the authors do a poor job of bringing readers back into the story. You know how authors will do that mini info-dump in the first chapter that summarizes the previous book, so you're not totally lost? That didn't happen in this book (or simply was not effective). I barely remembered anything from These Vicious Masks, and really had a hard time getting into this one. Maybe reread book one before reading this book.

Would I Recommend It:

After reading this book, I actually no longer recommended this series. I can't even recommend the book, if you've read These Vicious Masks. This series just isn't impressive, the romance isn't swoony, nothing about this series is swoony or action-packed like X-Men. Where is that comparison even coming from? Maybe try this series when all of the books are published. This book suffers from a really bad case of sequel slump but maybe book three will knock the series out of the park.

Rating:

2.5 stars -> rounded down to 2 stars. Initially I gave this book 3 stars but I started trying to think of things I liked about the book... and could barely come up with one. Honestly this book was more of an ordeal than anything else but I'm glad I read it. I'll definitely be reading book three because I need to know what happens next. But I'll also definitely survive if I never read book three.

I adored the first book and the second novel is a great follow-up. The dialogue is witty and sharp, and Evelyn is a great character. The setting of Victorian England is a great change of pace to the novels currently flooding the market in young adult literature. The protagonist was predictable, so that was my only complaint. It was a quick read and I will definitely recommend it to my students. I can’t wait for the next book.

Thank you for the advanced copy.

What a great second book in this series. Second novels in a series can be tough and not always the best of a series but I felt this definitely didn't fall into second book syndrome. Anyone who read the first book would highly enjoy this one and I can't wait to read the final book of the series.

I was a huge fan of the first book and I was stupid excited to get to this one.

I've loved Evelyn from the beginning. She's sassy and stubborn and it's so much fun to be in her head. There's huge cast of characters this time and while I did lose track of who was who {excluding the core group}, it was still enjoyable reading everyone's powers in action.

The plot is fast paced and there are lots of action scenes. The ending is exasperating and satisfying and absolutely maddening. I need book 3 RTFN.

**Huge thanks to Swoon Reads and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**

I received an ARC from the publisher in return for a fair review.

This book starts up soon after the first left off. Evelyn is still mourning the loss of her sister, while trying to decide what to do next. While gathering her group of friends together and going on a daring rescue of another young woman with powers, Evelyn and her friends are "captured" by the Society they wish to avoid. Soon, though, they are working with those they had despised to find others who can help in their cause.

There are plenty of twists and turns in this one, along lots of action full of gruesome injuries and death. I'm not sure where this will go from here, but now that the elusive head of the Society has been revealed, I can only assume that book three will be an awesome adventure in tracking down those who have committed the atrocities and bringing them to justice.

Recommended for fans of alternative histories and novels full of characters with special abilities and knowledge.

If These Vicious Masks was an impressive novel, These Ruthless Deeds is an exceptional one. I don’t think it is possible for me to fault the novel in anyway. The storyline is fast and intriguing, the characters lovable and entertaining, and the writing flawless. I think I spot a new favourite series on the horizon!

Evelyn Wyndham is still recovering from a devastating loss, but she is determined to use her newfound powers to help other gifted people. Accompanied by her former governess, the dashing Mr. Kent, and a loyal gifted teenager, Evelyn and her friends attempt to save a telekinetic girl, but find themselves indebted to the secret society that kidnapped her sister. The Society of Aberrations convinces Evelyn that they had nothing to do with what happened to her sister, and that they are want only to recruit and protect other gifted individuals. As Evelyn begins to work for the Society by healing the sick and embarking on dangerous missions, she finds that her problems have disappeared. Her tattered reputation is repaired, her parents suddenly become wealthy, and her friends are protected. But Evelyn is still suspicious, even more so when she begins questioning the Society and their rules, and they respond through violent means.

These Ruthless Deeds ups the tension and drama by a tenfold. The plot was engaging and well-thought out, to the point that I was perched on the edge of my seat as I devoured the novel in one sitting. What stood out immediately was the growth of world-building. The Society of Aberrations described the long history of gifted individuals and how they secretly work for the British government and had been for centuries. I loved learning about the Society, their history, and the hierarchy within the organisation. Shanker and Zekas were so thorough in the development of their fantasy world; it was beyond impressive and left me wanting to know more.

We were introduced to a lot of new characters in These Ruthless Deeds, as well as encountering many beloved ones from These Vicious Masks. I will admit to something embarrassing: I squealed like a fan-girl when Mr. Kent came onto the page. I think it is safe to say I have dubbed him a book boyfriend – he has now joined the same league as Rhys from ACOTAR and Jace from the Mortal Instruments. Mr. Kent was a remarkable character: incredibly funny, charming, and so loyal to Evelyn. Even during the tense fighting scenes, he still managed to leave me in stitches.

Mr. Braddock was a delight, albeit a big brooding one. The chemistry between him and Evelyn was so tangible, I almost blushed (and that is saying something when the book is set in Victorian London and the most a couple can do is hold hands). I felt so much for Sebastian, and I want him to get his deserved happy ending, but, like in These Vicious Masks, I was once again torn between the two alluring love interests. Who do I prefer, Sebastian or Nicholas? I don’t know.

I said, I DON’T KNOW. Please don’t make me choose!!

You can expect Evelyn to have one hell of a decision on her hands regarding her romantic life, which took a backseat to the issues surrounding the clandestine Society. Evelyn is fast becoming one of my favourite female YA characters, and an exceptional role model. For a woman trapped within the constraints of Victorian society, Evelyn frequently spoke her mind and was unabashedly independent. She was strong, touchingly kind, and highly spirited; she adored her family and, even when she disagreed with her marriage-minded mother, Evelyn still attempted to do right by them. Evelyn’s character developed steadily and admirably from a headstrong girl to a powerful, gifted woman. I am still in awe of her character.

As I read the novel, I, along with many other readers, thought I knew where the story was going, but I was so wrong and you will be, too. The last quarter of the book, specifically the last five or so chapters, featured some of the most shocking and incredible scenes I have ever read, especially in YA fiction. Can someone inform Swoon Reads that the ending of this book is not very … swoony? Do they know what they published? I mean, the book is glorious, but not at all like the few other Swoon Reads books I have read. I must be honest, I am glad that’s the case, because the book is so refreshing and unique compared to many other YA books being published at the moment.

These Ruthless Deeds is everything the title suggests: it is ruthless, but the synergy between Shanker and Zekas allows the novel to be so much more. It is a romance, a suspense, a comedy, a fantasy, an adventure … it is everything I love in YA books and more and I cannot wait for the third and final book in this amazing series.

The second book in a planned trilogy can be hit or miss. In this instance, this one was undeniable and most definitely A HIT!! What an utterly fantastic installment of a truly wonderful series. The pacing is spot on and the authors have readers constantly on the edge of their seats. Additionally, this one felt a little darker than the first novel and I loved that the authors weren't afraid to address some of those darker elements in their story. It added a depth and layers that made this more than just a supernatural tale, but one about ethics and facing our own demons. I am beyond thrilled to add this to our YA collection and am anxiously awaiting the final book in what is surely a standout trilogy!

This was an excellent sequel and did not suffer from 2nd book syndrome. It had all the elements of the first book but got even better.

First, this novel is the sequel to These Vicious Masks.

Second, the amount of feels in this single book is staggering. Between the feels and the pacing (it's frenzied), the ending left this reader gobsmacked.

action action action feels action feels feels FEELS action action FEELS

I’ve been simmering for a few hours, post-reading, and I am still unsure of my thoughts. The fighting and scheming and emotions were the main focus and the story did not move forward too much. This book felt different from the first. The laughs were fewer too.

That said, I really like the writing---the world and the characters are so vivid. Evelyn is a fighter. Braddock and Kent are dreamy, swoon-worthy Victorians guys. I must see how this all ends. I already moved the third book onto my to-read shelf.

For fans of Dark Days Pact, A Shadow Bright & Burning, and Clockwork Angel.

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas was one of my favorite books that I read last year. The sequel, These Ruthless Deeds, is even better. I love, love, loved it, and am eagerly anticipating the next in the series!