SPARROW by L J SHEN

My Father had sinned but I was to be punished.’

We didn’t really know what to expect when we began reading Sparrow as this is a new Author to us, all we knew was; it was mob related and the synopsis grabbed us. Upon starting we were immediately swept up in this dark and raw passionate story and hated having to stop reading for real life interruptions.

“If I can’t eat it, fuck it or kill it I have no interest in it.” – Troy Brennan

‘Troy Brennan was Boston’s master manipulator, pulling strings like we were all his puppets. He decided who lived and who died, who disappeared and who made a comeback.’

Now, if you want to read about an antihero in the truest sense of the word – then Troy Brennan – the son of Irish mobster Cillian Brennan, is the ONE for you. We hated that we loved him to begin with, but love him we did, from start to finish. He is definitely a firm favourite.

‘I was in love with a murderer who didn’t love me back. It wasn’t fine, wasn’t okay, but it was the ugly, embarrassing, uncomfortable truth. He gave me lies, and I ate them from the palm of his hand. He gave me lies, and for him, I closed my eyes.’

The development of the story and characters was absolutely spot on which meant we believed every single word and behaviour in this fucked up ride of vengeful romance. This is how it’s done and we applaud the Author for staying true to her characters and making us devour Sparrow as we shuddered, commiserated, laughed and loved with our hearts in our mouths one minute followed by them melting into puddles the next.

“Dear future wife…” He smirked in a way that made me want to beg for mercy. “If you think you’re going to give me trouble, think again. I invented trouble. I stir it, I mix it, I fucking fix it. Don’t try my patience, because you’ll discover I have absolutely none.”

Everything begins with vengeance and lies. A list. Death and deceit by force. It certainly got our attention and we were dying to find out the truth behind everyone and everything playing out before our eyes. Love and hate two sides of the same coin being flipped between the fingers of Troy ‘The Fixer’ Brennan.

‘She had a dark little soul, just like mine.’

‘She might be innocent, but she wasn’t stupid. Hardened by her circumstances and toughened by our neighbourhood – Red was no pushover.’

What began as fulfilling promises on the violent and soul-searing quest for a name became so much more as Troy got more than he bargained for in, Sparrow our heroine. She gave as good as she got with her strength and humour, slowly but surely. As we met them they progressed, never changing who they fundamentally were, rather they grew and traits and quirks came to light as familiarity enhanced. Well played, L J Shen. We bloody loved it every step of the way.

‘I was feeding myself even more lies. Because I told myself I didn’t care. While slowly, he crept under my skin. Piercing through layers. Clawing his way deeper into me. And I knew it was only a matter of time before he reached the most dangerous place in my body. My heart.’

As we get both POV’s we truly get the chance to get inside both Troy and Sparrow’s heads, which helped during the more dark, confusing and distressing moments. In fact, we felt the passion and hatred – the frustrations and dejection and the betrayal and compassion. We felt their resolve and what drove them.

‘I hated liking her. In a sense, it was like handing her the keys to the pit of my soul while she was tanked as hell and telling her to drive carefully. No one fucking promised me that she would.’

‘I wanted to kill and kiss the shit out of her in the same breath. It pissed me off and delighted me all at the same time.’

We honestly devoured this book and highly recommend it to readers who love their antiheroes, their strong and sassy heroines. To readers who love a bit of dark humour and thrilling passion in a story with a heavy mob feel. A story that’s brilliantly written and addictive. A story of an unlikely romance rising out of the darkness of Boston’s underworld. If you love these types of books we know you’ll fall in love with Sparrow!

‘Is it possible to feel your heart breaking, even when you’re falling in love?’