Showdown by Ted Dekker

Reseña en español completa

August 12, 2014

Tricia Nelson

This book was really a good read. A plot-driven story with really interesting characters. If you liked this author's winter series you will like this one a lot. I just finished and quickly opened up goodreads to find out when the next one in the series comes out, because this book ends with a serious if not altogether unexpected cliff-hanger. This book has the reader thinking about the complexities of love, and family relationships. Can't wait to read the next one!

September 23, 2019

Maria

I can honestly say I didn't know I could love this book as much as I did. Yes, this book contained loads of smut and very sexually graphic scenes but it didn't take away from the fact that this book was written from the heart, to illustrate a beautiful, yet heart-breaking story. I don't remember the last time I was so enveloped in a story. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about how intense this book was and gripping.

I think that any book that can bring forth so much raw emotion and feelings is one of a kind. And this book did just that, for me. I felt one with Angela, write of the bat and it felt like I was feeling exactly what she was feeling at each moment. This was in part because of how good the writing was. I still can't get over the emotional roller coaster that this book took me on.

I loved that Angela was written so realistically, all her actions stemming from who she was as a person, deep inside. Her reaction to being abducted and the rather fast adaptation she made into the life of “luxurious slavery” depicted the realistic ways in which humans adapt to real life situations, especially when they involve life and death aspects to them or need-for-survival aspects. In order to survive, Angela had to adapt to her life as a slave and she did, even gaining something out of it, her self confidence. It was as if she found herself through the whole experience and realized who she was as a person, at her very core. It was extremely painful to read some parts, especially those that showed her being forced to mature into a woman sexually but it was also an eye-opener because it depicted something that goes on in real life, even today. Although this book was a work of fiction, it's not as far of from the truth as we would like to believe.

This book definitely had the “anti-hero” in the form of Colin and he came to life before my eyes. So complicated, and full of demons, Colin was perfect for the story. The author also touched upon his humanity, or what makes us humans, because she showed Colin also adapting to his circumstances, particularly when he enters Paradise in order to try to find Angela. At the core all human beings have desires, even if those desires are so dark and almost inhuman in every sense of the word. I loved how he was torn between knowing what was right but also giving into what he knew was wrong but felt so right and good. During his experience at Paradise, he battled a lot of inner turmoil and demons that prompted him to act on his instincts and to forget that this place was actually as bad as he knew deep down it was. He definitely enjoyed many aspects of this evil place.

And the dynamic between him and Angela, my gosh- no words can describe the chemistry I felt between these two characters. Each an individual but deeply affected by the other. So much raw passion, I'm not a big fan of a book having so much smut all throughout but this smut I couldn't get enough of. It was like one of those guilty pleasures you know you shouldn't be doing but you can't help yourself because the pleasure that it brings is worth it. This was how this book was to me.

And for the first time, I can say that the ending was perfect, even if it did end up on a pretty positive note. All I can say is that the two characters deserved it, especially after the emotional roller coaster they sent me on for most of this book and what they'd gone through. Field is my new favorite author now because this book has turned me into a believer and made me fall in love with something completely new and alien to me.

I just need to say, this book blew my socks off. There is nothing I dislike about this book and I am very sad that it's the only book about Colin and Angela, although I'll be glad to take the happy ending and run with it. I think if it didn't end well I'd be depressed for days. Ain't that the truth. This book is for anyone who is open to something new, a new experience and isn't uncomfortable with venturing out of their comfort zone, into new territory. It definitely was out of my comfort zone but I'm so glad I decided to give it a try. Definitely one of those books that will leave an everlasting impression on me. Without any doubt.