I think words may not be enough to adequately describe everything that I disliked about this book, but I'll try anyway.

Good Lord! What did I just read? Rather, what did I just put myself through, and why??

It was curiosity, only curiosity. And when the killer was revealed, I felt so let down, because WTAF? So disappointed.

I'm not saying that the victim of a serial killer cannot bond with the son of that same serial killer. It's possible. But to instantly fall in love with him? There's no build-up, no slow burn, just 'for better or worse, till death do us part' kind of love instantly.

It's kind of creepy that he was keeping an eye on her for all those years after she survived the attack on her life. He's basically a stalker.

Cain Killion (Cain-evil brother of Abel; 'Kill'-ion-pretty obvious play on words) is the son of famous serial killer Killer Killion, and is an FBI consultant, whose job apparently involves smearing the victims' blood all over himself so that he can experience what went down and how they were killed, and by whom. This is his 'special ability'.

Mercy is the sole survivor of a family that Killion Sr. massacred 20 years ago, and is presently in a psychiatric facility. It is the 20th anniversary of the killings, and it seems that a copycat is re-creating the murders as a kind of homage. They need her help with the case, but she's locked up, so Cain kidnaps her, because she's also being tortured by an evil psychiatrist. She claims that she also has a special ability, which is to 'sense people's vibes'. Isn't that just called intuition?

It's kind of messed-up that Cain calls her 'my Mercy' without ever having even met her. He has been stalking her all these years, and then there's the doctor who's treating her and is also obsessed with her. Though what inspires so much emotion in either of them is a mystery to me, because Mercy is just so...ordinary.

The reader is required to suspend a lot of disbelief while reading this book, because the characters and their actions are not based on any understanding of psychology, and neither is any of what happens in the book based on any understanding of the law.

I did not care one bit about any of the characters. They're just flat and inspired zero emotion in me (except frustration, maybe). The next book in this series ('Blood is Thicker Than') is going to be about Daught(an elusive secret sister of Cain) and Dolan (a detective in this book). Safe to say I won't be reading it because I couldn't care less about either of them. This book generated nil interest in me about their fate.

Consider some of these gems of writing:

'His words sounded sure-footed, but his tone tripped over itself.'

'Mac wasn't a big man. Not a small man either. More average size.'

I could fill a page with these nonsensical sentences, but I don't have the patience.

Add a dose of sexually-charged dialogue at the most inappropriate of times, and that just gives me one more reason to dislike it, as if I didn't enough already.

You've been warned. Read at your own peril.

Thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

DEFYING EVIL is the first instalment in Abbie Roads contemporary, adult BLOOD IS THICKER THAN dark, paranormal, romantic suspense series. This is thirty year old, FBI consultant Cain Killian, and Mercy Ledger’s story line.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there will be triggers for more sensitive readers

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Cain and Mercy DEFYING EVIL follows in the wake of a murder similar to murders committed years before by a serial killer and Cain’s father Adam Killian.With only one known survivor, Cain wants to ask Mercy Ledger about the circumstances of her family’s murder but will quickly discover that all is not well in Mercy’s life. On the run together, Cain and Mercy are at odds with which direction to turn the death of several people connected to our couple’s life reveals a possible copy-cat looking pushing the buttons of Mercy and Cain.

Cain Killian grew up the son of a serial killer, a young man thrown into the pits of his father’s depravity, and as such, Cain has the ability to ‘read’ blood. With his ability, Cain is an asset to the FBI, and is called in when his special circumstances are required. Mercy Ledger lost everything to Adam Killian but in the face of evil, developed her own ability to sense when darkness is near ..but..for all intents and purposes, our couple are more often than not the targets of madmen, leaving one or both fighting for their life, therefore I question Mercy’s true psychic powers.

The relationship between Cain and Mercy begins as a rescue. A close friend is desperate to protect our story line heroine but Cain may be too late when evil has already inflicted the damage to Mercy Ledger. On the run, and in hiding, Cain and Mercy will dance around their attraction but Mercy believes she is not good enough, and Cain struggles with the darkness in his past. The $ex scenes are intimate.

There is a large ensemble cast of dark, questionable and interesting characters including Cain’s mentor/foster father/ friend and FBI agent MacNeil Anderson, agent Dolan Watts, Dr. Payne, and Cain’s father Adam Killian. The requisite evil has many faces.

DEFYING EVIL is a story of power and control, obsession and madness, acceptance and love, all set in the same vein as the author’s BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARE series, where each investigator has some psychic powers. The premise is intriguing, dramatic and edgy; the romance is intense; the characters are broken , abused and desperate.



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First off I have to say this cover is absolutely amazing!!!! This was the first book I have read by Abbie but let me tell you it won't be the last. I absolutely devoured this book. This is definitely a dark thriller and it was insane! I haven't read something like this and I love it. I can't wait to read the next book and to read her other books as well. I HIGHLY recommend this book.


Thank you NetGalley and Abbie Roads for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

I’ve had an itch for a thriller lately, and Defying Evil seemed poised to scratch it. The son of a serial-killer (who now consults for the FBI Will-Graham-style) is confronted with his past when his father’s only surviving victim is pulled into the latest investigation. Mercy, the survivor, is forced to come to terms with her final-girl status as a world of blood and horror envelopes her again. I dove right in.

Roads proposed an excellent mystery - masterpieces carved in blood; images that obsess over Cain and Mercy; an odd symbol they struggle to place. On top of it lies a cruel, fanatic world: full of hybristophilia (a new term I learnt) and sensationalism – everyone we meet is either involved in the case or obsessed, often to the point of arousal, by crime and murder. It’s a harsh meta-commentary on the genre.

Unfortunately, a little too much attention was paid to the romance for my tastes (then again, perhaps I should have taken more note of the ‘Dark Romantic Thriller’ part of the cover, so that’s on me). It dominates the story, and the MCs fall in love almost immediately. Their first conversation, which should be fraught with tension and drama as the victim and the killer’s son reunite… falls flat as both characters immediately talk/think about sex. At multiple points the characters are in grave danger or have undergone an intense threat that sparks at their PTSD… and they talk about breasts. This happens repeatedly.

I began to think that Mercy’s character existed merely to be kidnapped, shortly followed by becoming a focus or a conduit of desire. Moreover, I found it hard to believe that she would be immediately thirsting after a man who looks almost exactly like the one who murdered her family. Any further development of the mystery, any questions we have about the almost-supernatural powers the two have, any deep discussions about the impulses of killers versus the desire to do good - it’s all put aside for hand-holding and sexual frustration. For all the book’s critiques about sensationalizing murders, it seems highly intent on turning fear and trauma into something sexual.

I do think Roads has the potential to write some excellent crime fiction, but forced romance and smut get in the way. Consequently, any commentary on the eroticism of crime is lost. This book needed to weave a stronger thread of mystery (it’s there! It just needs to be more front and center!) and I wanted more exploration of the character’s psyches. Not a comment on how one of them hasn’t had sex is five years in what should have been a page gripping moment.

4/10 stars for its potential.

I had to DNF this one part of the way through. I really enjoyed parts of it but I wasn't able to get into the way I wanted to. I might try to go back to and try it again but for right now I couldn't get into it.


Thank you for the arc!

perfect book for homophobes and big boobs haters!! 🥰✨️🎀

despite the promising and (mostly) well executed dark romance plot, I can't get over the homophobic / transphobic / big-boobs-phobic lines🤢

starting off strong with the first red flag :

"without vomiting or going sissy-prissy crybaby. [...] He might as well have snapped off his stick and stones and started wearing sundresses." 🚨

moving on to the personal attack :

"Her breasts weren't large; Instead, they were perfect." ⚰️ (he calls them "globes" later. I gagged)

followed by the soul wrenching, toe curling line as he sniffs her pubes :

"You smell primal. Like sex and cum." 🚔

and finally, the cherry on top, that achieved to erase any doubt in my mind on whether any queer or lgbtq+ ally person proofread this :

"... wearing one of those hospital smocks that would make the most testosterone-loaded hulk look like a pansy. Knobby knees and skinny calves jutted out from under the gown, and a thick pair of white socks- that had a decidedly feminine flare - covered his feet. [...] "Though I'm hoping this isn't a fashion statement you plan on adopting." / "You don't like my dress? I asked for one with ruffles but this was all they had." " 👹

cue in all the baby and girlish references whenever he mentions his feelings or crying, the man no matter how hot he may be cannot be described as comfortable in his masculinity. the woman MC feels very childish and frighteningly dumb (as in her hugging her man as he's bleeding out, before thinking of maybe calling an ambulance).

dnf at 42%.

i tried so hard. i was so intrigued by the blurb and the beautiful cover, but this fell so flat for me. first, i HATE third person unless it’s necessary. but i overlooked that. the writing, the characters, the weird almost trauma-bonding instalove? no thank you.

i had such high hopes and im very sad to be disappointed

A rare DNF for me. I was already on the brink of quiting with the fat phobia and awkward dialogue/instalove. But the first mention of “girlie parts” and I’m out. 30% was enough for me. Great cover though, really tricked me into thinking this was going to be good.

Honestly I don't even know where to begin with this. I wanted to love it. But it fell flat and was all kinds of weird and creepy (& not in a good way).

And so many glaring plot holes. Like are the two protagonists "powers" supernatural? How did the murderer give his son & his only surviving victim their abilities?
And how did the psychiatrist manage to essentially kidnap Mercy from her home and keep her locked up in a mental institution with absolutely no cause for it? So many plot holes.

And as for the Cains acronym. KKK? I mean I don't think I need to explain why that's all shades of wrong.

I'm giving two stars, only cause I liked Mac. He seemed decent.

Defying Evil by Abbie Roads

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An engaging story featuring MMC, Cain, who is a serial killers son with special abilities that allow him to solve crimes and FMC Mercy, who is the surviving victim of his serial killer father. When a crime with similarities to hers comes across his desk, Cain has to see if she knows anything that could help. They have an instant attraction to each other that they fight throughout the book. Abby Roads delivers a dark romance thriller that captures your attention and doesn’t let go. So many twists and turns it will keep you on the edge of your seat! You won’t regret picking this one up! Thank you NetGalley and Abby Roads for the chance to read and leave it honest review.

Cain Killion, the son of a notorious serial killer, possesses a supernatural ability that enables him to unravel murder cases. However, one particularly challenging case brings him back to Mercy, a woman with a unique gift of her own. Mercy is not only the sole survivor of one of Cain's father's heinous crimes, but she also has an extraordinary ability. As they join forces to solve a series of gruesome murders, their bond deepens, and Cain is driven not only by a desire to unearth the truth but also to protect Mercy from the relentless torment that haunts her.

“Defying Evil” by Abbie Roads was a really good book. I loved the cover, and it was the initial reason I opened the book to begin with. The passionate relationship between Cain and Mercy is super sexy and steamy. I liked how vivid the scenes descriptions were because I could picture it perfectly. The blood and gore in the story were repulsive but also alluring. I would love to read more books like this. 4 out of 5 stars.

I wanted to love this book from the second I saw the cover. The plot sounded amazing too: son of a serial killer and the sole surviving victim of his father’s killing spree are reunited 20 years later when a copycat killer emerges. And let’s take a second to ogle the cover again.

On the surface this is exactly the type of book I would devour. However, I’ve learned that the instant attraction, love each other after a couple hours AND say it is my yuck. Where is the tension? This guys father murdered her family. Sure, he’s not his father and all that nonsense but trauma like that is not easily overlooked.

Plus, if I’m forced to read “girlie parts” multiple times to describe how attracted she is to her nightmare’s son the book instantly lost me. Saying “girlie parts” zero times is the appropriate number.

This book had so much potential to be dark, moody and engrossing. It fell flat from the character and relationship building. And was also marred by some truly awful descriptions i.e. “fart in a tornado”.

Absolutely wow!!
Mercy is the only surviving victim of a serial killer and Cain is the son of such killer.
Loads of danger, drama and many intense moments as they work out their relationship. Initially he scares her severely. But that eventually goes as they get to know each other.
So well written, this author had me so engrossed in the book and wouldn't let go.
This is a first from this author for me but not the last. Fantastic book!!

5 stars! - I’ve been needing a book that I can’t put down, and this book definitely satisfied my craving.

OMG!!!!! So so so good! I adore Cain and Mercy, and the plot was amazing. I NEED to read Dolan’s and Daught’s book. It is very difficult for a book to make me cry…but this book did it. Definitely recommend!

Thank you Net Galley, the author and the publisher for the free digital copy <3

jeeeezzzzzuzzzzz! What a f*cking book! I've read some pretty twisted books before and i'm gonna have to file this one up there with them. The mind of Ms. Roads is a very devious one indeed. I absolutely LOVED all the characters in this book: the good, the bad and the downright evil. Abbie has a way of writing her characters so that you are right there with them and in their head. Cain is a truly remarkable man, even with all the horrors he's been through to experience even a fraction of the emotions he feels is truly incredible. I really really connected with his character. He has so many different layers, his complexity is really fantastic to read. What can I say about Mercy, she is just such a great character. A truly strong, resilient woman. I loved experiencing her growth through the book and especially her love.
I can't wait to read the next instalment, as much as I wanted to throat punch Dolan a few times I am beyond curious to see where his & Daught's story goes. She intrigues the hell out of me....WHO.IS.DAUGHT. I can't wait to find out!
Thanks for writing such an intricately evil book. I'm a fan for life.

Loved this book, Abbie Roads sent this one out of the park for a home run.The twist and turns left you guessing and wanting more. I said wow I did not see that coming many times. Give it a chance, great book.

“Defying Evil” is not just a title, but a daring defiance to find hope amidst despair, making it a resonant read in a world that constantly juggles between fear and hope.

The cover alone is a journey into the eerie essence of the tale, a beautiful facade to a darkly thrilling narrative.

——-
When Love Dares to Defy Evil
——-
Who knew that the offspring of a serial killer and the sole survivor of his father’s cruel spree would make for such a compelling duo? In "Defying Evil," Cain Killion and Mercy Ledger are thrown together in a narrative that’s as dark as a moonless night. This isn't your average meet-cute, unless your idea of romance involves navigating a past splattered with blood and terror.

As Cain and Mercy tread the dangerous waters of fear, obsession, and the ghosts of a haunting past, they find an unexpected bond blossoming amidst the gloom.

They are more than just characters; they are survivors with a story that echoes the eerie tunes of reality. As the story unfolds, we see them evolve from being haunted by their past to finding a bizarre solace in each other’s presence.

Their chemistry is as real as the chills running down your spine, providing a glimpse of hope in a world tainted by a nightmarish reality.

——-
Painting the Dark with Words
——-

Abbie Roads vivid imagery in portraying dark scenes is both a curse and a blessing—unsettling yet utterly captivating. The narrative pace doesn’t skip a beat, propelling us through the gloomy tale with a morbid curiosity to unveil what lies in the shadows.

I guess you could say she has a writing style that’s as sharp as the killer’s blade. (Not gonna lie, pretty proud of that metaphor and had to put it in here somewhere!)

Hits and Misses: Every Rose has its Thorn
The fiery attraction between Cain and Mercy is a slow burn that keeps you rooting for them, despite the unconventional foundation of their relationship. However, the hinted kidnapping plot is like a ghost that never quite materializes, that does “technically” happen, but not how the description leads you to believe. And the spicy expectations set by the dialog between Cain & Mercy could use a little more fire to match the characters’ burning angst.

——-
Not for the Vanilla-Hearted
——-

This book is a tale laden with bloody crime scenes that’s bound to send shivers down the most hardened of spines. I suggest it only for those who find beauty in the macabre, who can stomach the vile yet are romantics at heart.

If Karin Slaughter and Chelsea Cain had a book baby, “Defying Evil” could very well be the dark offspring.

A solid four stars for a narrative that’s as engaging as it is chilling. It’s a darkly romantic thrill ride that keeps you on the edge, right till the end.

If diving into the human psyche and exploring the grey area between love and fear intrigues you, this book is your next read. A cautionary note: this narrative is an adults-only ride through a chilling narrative filled with explicit encounters and grisly details.

It’s a grim yet fascinating exploration of how even in the direst circumstances, humanity finds a way to seek companionship, solace, and survival.

A big shoutout to Netgalley and Abbie Roads for this advanced copy that led me through a darkly thrilling story.

Story: 📖📖
Spice:🌶️

If I’m drafting up my review of any book I read mid-book…it’s usually not a good thing.

Now, as some of the other readers said I loved the synopsis! I thought oh great! Woman escapes serial killer but falls in love with serial killers son. What could go wrong? Quite a bit.

I found that the scenarios surrounding the intimacy of these two felt so haphazardly forced that it took me out of the story several times. I never like to ask the question of “Wait, how did we get here again?” While I’m reading a book because I feel like things should make sense. There are a lot of these moments. Being violated and then a few hours later you’re sexually frustrated… it feels very let’s hurry up and get to the spicy scenes.

Just because it’s insta-love doesn’t mean there cant be a build up. It doesn’t mean you don’t DEVELOP their relationship.

Lines like:

Cain cleared his throat. “Who I suck face with is none of your business.” His tone was light and distracted. His gaze slipped down to her lips, with a future promise that warmed her girlie parts, before traveling back up to her eyes.

Take me out of the story and make me want to turn off my Kindle and give up. Isn’t there a murder investigation going on? Is this how the author perceives a conversation between two ADULT “FBI Agents” to act.

Anyway if you like books that give off Dexter vibes this might be on for you.

Interesting idea but felt the delivery was a bit tedious. The fact that Mercy was always trying to dip on Cain was an irritant. I also didn’t really buy into the addition of Dolan/daughter felt too late to add someone. I’d have to read it again to see if any clues for Daught stood out but just not interested. I had high hopes on this one.

As if the cover wasn’t beautiful enough, the story was just as intriguing. This story was so full of details that you could picture everything that happened as if you were in it. But it was also so disturbing how the victims were killed and it made me shake my head more than once.

I enjoyed that while this was a thriller, the dark romance played a huge part in it as well. Cain (MMC/serial killer’s son) and Mercy (FMC/victim) both have traumatic backgrounds and I think you need to understand that to see why they are instantly attracted to one another. I hated that both of them kept trying to deny their attraction to one another because they each felt like they would only bring harm to each other, but was so happy that they fought till the end against a common villain, Cain’s father.

There were so many plot twists that left you guessing and it made me just want to keep reading to finish it.

Overall I truly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the sequel!

Thank you NetGalley and Abbie Roads for this ARC!