ARROW TO THE SOUL (No Mercy #2) by LEA GRIFFITH

Gitte: This second series instalment right here confirms why Lea Griffith has become one of my all-time favourite Authors. This lady is in a class of her own. She is PURE CLASS! Her writing is magnificent, it’s stunningly beautiful, poetic and evocative. Lea turns me inside out as I weep, suffer, rejoice and feel every single emotion possibly known to a reader. From page one till the last I feel so incredibly spoilt as everything I experience and feel as I’m reading is pure perfection. Her words flow beautifully from the pages into my heart. It feels so graceful and pure; passionate and lyrical. My mind doesn’t register the fact that I’m reading; rather it’s as if I’m watching from the wings, feeling like a voyeur, as tragedy, horror, love and hope plays out before my eyes.

‘She walks in darkness but is afraid of it.’

“With pain you know you’re alive.”

We continue to follow the ‘sisters’ footsteps in ridding the world of the malevolence and horrific tragedy’s that were created and carried out by Joseph Bombardier and the evil that surrounds him. The mystery and intrigue deepens as the story continues and we learn more of the appalling past of the ‘sisters’ as well as the members of Trident. We’re getting closer and closer to the end and the puzzle pieces are slowly slotting into place. My attention was firmly held every step of the way as I inhaled one word after the next; the words imprinting on my mind and in my heart. I felt dizzy and exhausted by the time I’d finished.

There’s pedestals and then there’s Lea Griffith. I want to shout from the top of the tallest building to go read her books because you’ll experience journeys of the heart and soul which are hard to rival such is the intensity and power of this Author’s creations. Wow….I’m unable to, in any way, do justice to how fantastic this series is and how thankful I am to have experienced the works of this Author. Once again, Lea blew my mind and I can’t wait for book #3!!

You agree don’t you Jenny?

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Jenny:  First things first Gitte, I want to yell to everyone –  READ THIS SERIES!!!!!  At one point in this book I stopped reading, put my Kindle down, sat back in my chair and reflected….. astounded at the sheer brilliance and talent of an author who can bring a story such as this to life.

How does one capture that imagination and present it with such flawless, lyrical prose and such beautiful vivid imagery? Lea Griffith had me believing in her story and I shared every heart stopping scene, every second of anguish, every thread of hope and every haunting, gripping, pulsating moment with her characters. The world in the No Mercy series is described so vividly yet this never overpowers nor  does it halt the flow of the story, in fact, every word demands attention and her settings almost fantasy like.

“That one has nothing – no soul, no conscience. Hell, she has a heart because she’s alive, but even that’s a dead thing in her chest.”

The passion, longing and potency of the relationship between Arrow and Adam enthralled me, the bond between the sisters captivated me and as Arrow’s horrendous and tragic story unfolded, I ached with her, I wept with her and I hoped with her.

In short, I was entranced, enthralled, moved…..hell, this book, and Bullet to the Heart before it, OWN me heart and soul. I wanted to savor and treasure every beautifully written word so as to do this story the justice is so richly deserves.  Each book is like a puzzle piece coming together and each revelation is devoured as we wait for more, being deliciously teased as we go. So yes Gitte, I absolutely loved this book. Magnificent!

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Gitte: This is the emotional story of Arrow and her life will make your heart literally ache in despair and shock, as you learn what this girl has had to endure and what she’s been created to achieve. You’ll be rocked to the core at the atrocities yet marvel at the bravery, the heart felt emotion and the kick arse ability of this warrior girl. A girl borne to bring death; live death; a supposedly soul less creature according to herself, who lives and fights in the dark.

“I am nobody, Mr. Collins. A killer born in darkness, never to know the light. The shadow I cast blends into the black because light does not touch one such as me. It skirts around me, avoiding me at all costs, because I am a light eater…a death-bringer. I don’t bring the light. I destroy it.” – Arrow

A girl refusing to break and who unknowingly seeks light and love knowing nothing but hate, pain and revenge. She will make you cry yet she’ll also make you proud. Her story is veiled in mythical depictions and intrigue; her story is epic with no boundaries.

‘…Arrow was not whole. She had a heart, recognized it was so because she felt it beat, heard the blood rushing through her veins because it contracted within her chest. But she had no soul. The simple truth was she’d been born without one, and the lack of it allowed her to do what she did – mete out death.’

And what about Adam, this man was so powerful and a true warrior counterpart; the light to Arrow’s darkness.

“I had thought to taste you again, Mr. Collins, so I could remember that in the midst of death, there might be a reason to live.” – Arrow

The fighting scenes between Arrow and Adam were superb, so sensual and passionate; so very kick arse! We fell in love with Adam didn’t we J?!

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Jenny: Oh absolutely Gitte. The passion felt between Adam and Arrow was palpable yet so moving and beautiful.  Every ounce of torment experienced by Adam deep was felt deep in my soul.

Adam Collins, the loyal, astute, razor sharp former soldier who is a born protector – a natural warrior whose biggest battle will be waged trying to protect Arrow and fight his feelings for a woman who disgusts him yet intrigues him. Hating himself and Arrow for what she invokes in him. How could he experience the depth of feelings he had for this cold and calculating soul less killer?

‘..he’d not ever seen anything quite so lovely in his thirty-two years, but she was death.’
‘Killer, his mind whispered. Want, demanded his body.’ – Adam

Adam was able to see inside Arrow, to see the broken and vulnerable woman underneath the cold exterior. He felt the beating heart beneath the blackness and she called to him like no other. Having previously given his heart to another, Adam was torn between the space in his heart reserved for Aziveh and the thoughts of Arrow constantly occupying his mind. The conflict he felt over his longing and need for Arrow could be felt in every pore.

“You’re warning me away from a woman who disgusts me.”….”But I’m drawn to her like I’ve never been to anyone else. I don’t understand it.” – Adam

Adam had served in Afghanistan is a natural born protector and now serves Trident with his friend Rand. These men have stared death and evil in the face and their need to protect runs deep…death and killing come as part of that.  Arrow is committed to her sisters and they share an unbreakable bond, fuelled by a joint need for revenge..at all costs. Worlds collide, loyalties are tested and in amongst the suspense and drama there is the simmering passion between a man and a woman who alternate between love, lust and hate.

“What is it you would give me?” – Arrow
“Pleasure such as you’ve never known. Because that’s what it will be, Saya.” – Adam
“I’m nothing more than a killer, Mr Collins, and I’ve never known pleasure.” – Arrow

The bond between Arrow and her sisters would never waiver, the loyalty and dedication between Adam and Trident was a cemented bond. Arrow and Adam are two brave souls, each with a purpose, and each with a goal that will not be compromised despite the feelings that rage between them. It all makes for a gripping and heart wrenching read.

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G&J: Lea Griffith wowed us with Bullet to the Heart and she has completely rocked our world in Arrow to the Soul. One can only surmise the journey she will take us on when she brings us Bone and Blade’s stories.  And we CAN’T WAIT! This is what makes reading a passion for us. To experience something so powerful that it can move us to the point of tears when discussing it long after closing the book, to know that on some level this book has somehow reached into our souls….that is the stuff book dreams are made of.

To be back with Bullet and Rand was mesmerizing and they too, brought us to our knees:

“I told you Mr. Beckett…I told you what would happen. You are mine now and nothing touches what is mine….My sisters hold my loyalty. But you, Mr. Beckett, you hold my heart.” – Bullet.

So put the children to bed, pour a wine, order some take out and prepare to become immersed in a story that is as gruesome as it is beautiful, as hopeless as it is hopeful.

Be prepared to have your reading world turned on its head as you enter the world of The Trident and The Sisters where love, revenge, passion, suspense and drama will consume every part of you until the very last page.

“And now, Saya, do you know what you taste of?…..Now you taste of me.” – Adam

Prepare yourself to be bewitched by writing that is vivid, powerful and engrossing. Prepare to fall in love with this book!

In the words of Bullet…….. “vous êtes mon coeur. Toujours”…This book and this series are in our hearts forever!