DEEP REDEMPTION (Hades Hangmen #4) by TILLIE COLE

“A pure soul always finds love. Even through hate, they will always find the ability to claim love.”

How is it possible to still be completely and utterly compelled by a series, by characters that have become like family and a world so at odds with itself? How can you still be as consumed and addicted by the end of book four and experience every emotion all over again, as if new, despite a continuing storyline which develops into something you never saw coming rather something more sinister and heart-breaking? How can you still be surprised by twists and revelations? Tillie Cole tells a tale that is so overwhelmingly disturbing yet has such strong elements of realism. A harrowing realism we know is a possibility in the society we live in, a misguided and destructive element of human behaviour and extreme beliefs tweaked to fit.

“You have been perfectly created for a single sinful purpose- to tempt pure and God-fearing men. Your name is nothing, just as you are nothing.”

Once again Tillie Cole shows us her unique and masterful story-telling. Her vivid imagery and extreme depth of character once more astounds us. Whilst you could argue that many of her characters possess a similar emotional aspect and character detail you cannot argue that they each bring something so different to this epic journey.

‘The pure prophet with the conflicted heart. A heart I believed could be saved. Even if mine was already damned.’

As each book comes to be, you’re taken deeper and deeper into the world of the Hangmen and Zion and you sit and read with tears in your eyes and a pain so deep in your heart you’re left wondering when will it all end. Where will it all end?

“You arrived when I needed a friend most. Someone to trust, when I believed there was no one out there that I could ever let in again.”

After everything that has come to pass in this series we knew this was going to be a hard one to read emotionally, after all this is Cain. Cain who’s stood for everything we’ve hated and despaired at. A man who’s brought evil and forces hands, people and devastation. We knew where we started with him and we knew how we’ve felt throughout so far.

“I’m lonely,” I said brokenly. “I’m so damn lonely that I can barely breathe.”

A gifted storyteller takes a much hated character and shows you a man riddled with moral imperfections and unjust behaviour- then she shows you his heart. The heart is what truly tells a story with every beat. We knew part of his journey and the tragic shadow of a man that he is and Deep Redemption truly was- a redemption. So much so we were left feeling incredibly torn on what we’ve stood for and those we’ve loved, and faltered at the words we had to swallow, as moments of raw passion and horrific violence played out. For a moment we came to love what we hated and we came to hate what we’d once loved. But we understood. It had to be.

‘I wanted so badly to be the man she believed me to be.’

Love, hate forgiveness. Power, violence and despair. A brotherhood, a sisterhood and family bonds. Everything is tested as we follow a man truly struggling to find himself- his place in a world. A man who expects nothing and demands nothing in return. A man plagued by guilt and abhorrence of who he is and what he’s stood for.  A man who can never be free no matter his atonement. That is until he’s shown the way and somewhat powered by a healing heart- a soft hand hiding strength, understanding, compassion and ultimately a pure love- reaching for his. A woman with her own demons, trials and injustice. A woman who stands up to be counted and perseveres, though afraid, and who loves under adverse and hostile conditions. A woman who brings a voice to others.

‘I loved that man. I loved him with a breathless, soul-shattering intensity.’