DAMNABLE GRACE (Hades Hangmen #5) by TILLIE COLE

‘I tipped my head back and looked at the stars. I knew I’d never see them the same again either.’

The Hangmen are BACK and we know we say this often, but it really feels like we’re back with ‘old crazy arsed friends’ every time we get to hang out with them. This time it was AK’s story and we were so excited as we’ve loved the Psycho Trio since day one. Saying that; we love them all, but he’s always intrigued us. We knew there was a deep sorrow in his heart and we finally got to hear him voice it.

“Strangers to our kind of pain, people who have yet to be thrown onto the same rocky road, will not recognize you as a fellow traveller, desperately seeking what lies at the end of the path. Forgiveness. But those of us who have already been walking the road for miles will see you. We will see within you a kindred spirit.”

Once again we have to mention what a talented Author, Tillie Cole is. She can write about such harrowing themes yet there are always moments of pure beauty amidst the horrific. We become completely swept up in her stories; her words carrying us away on a journey that grips our hearts and our very being. It’s the sign of a magnificent Author when you can honestly say that after five books you’ve loved every single one and immediately start counting the days for the next one to drop on your kindle. Redemption, guilt, self-realisation, forgiveness, second chances, hope and persevering and overcoming personal brutality head on – it’s incredible the experiences and life recoveries we live through alongside the characters in this series.

“I’m tired. I’m just so tired of never sleeping. Never closing my eyes because of the shit I see when I do. Of being unable to think of anything in my past because I can’t fucking deal…”

We were gripped from the very first page and were shocked that despite being seasoned dark romance readers we actually found that certain scenes turned our stomachs. There’s fiction and then there’s the so disturbing it’s incomprehensible how someone could ever be okay physically afterwards. We knew Phebe’s story was going to break us, but we were not prepared for the ferocity of torture this poor soul had to live through. Her connection with AK was unquestionable; two souls damaged in life each repressing their true feelings as well as memories putting on a façade to survive. Quiet strength and compassion ran through them both.

‘She didn’t push me. She didn’t ask what I might be hiding. No, she just ripped open my fucking chest, bared my soul, then left it out on display for her ocean-blue eyes to see.’

For us this was a book of two halves. The second being what had us absolutely engrossed as the intensity of the emotion, family and friendships had our hearts overflowing with both sadness and happiness. By the time we turned the last page we had tears running down our cheeks. Oh how we love this group of bikers with all our hearts.

“I watched you, wondering why you portray yourself as two people. Then I believe I found the answer – because you wish to find happiness in the shoes you fill now…Not the shoes you once wore. The ones that caused you pain, blistering both your feet and heart…for good.”

Despite how traumatic this series is from one book to the next, the thread of hope flows from the start with added humour dispersed throughout. Tillie Cole highlights the essence of human traits and strengths though they be extremely magnified and amplified by her words. This is one series where we’ll never fail to anticipate the next book as we care so deeply. We highly recommend this MC series and recommend reading it in order as it’s got a continuous storyline.