FLESH INTO FIRE (Original Sin #3) & PASSION RISING (Original Sin #4) by J A HUSS & JOHNATHAN McCLAIN

“SPOILER FREE”

‘We are connected by something more powerful than shared sorrow. And every moment we’ve spent apart has been valuable. Necessary. Critical.’

‘Our bodies back together. His arms around me. My back pressed against his chest. Our hearts beating. Keeping time. Becoming what we were always meant to be.’

We decided to read Flesh into Fire and Passion Rising in one hit as we just couldn’t face another cliff-hanger involving our beloved couple, Maddie and Tyler. Now that all four books are out you don’t have to worry about this, so if you’ve not started this series yet, what’re you waiting for? There’s no excuse now because this writing duo nailed it, best we’ve read in a while and our favourite writing duo to date!

‘Thank you, angel. Thank you for everything. I’m sorry it all worked out this way. But it’s OK. I love you. I’ll see you again.’

This is one of those series’ that’ll hit you, grab you and stay with you long after reading. You’ll both laugh and cry, be gripped by the suspense and get very hot under the collar from the passion. You’ll fall in love with Maddie and Tyler who each begin their very own unique personal journey in book one which we felt every bit the part of as they grew tremendously and moved from a dark existence into the light. They both made important self-realisations as we moved through the books that would calm their inner storm, quieten their inner demons and removing the self-imposed pain.  Grief and self-blame is a heavy burden to shoulder as both Maggie and Tyler realise when their fractured souls begin a journey of healing through remembrance and shared memories. Whilst each have their own strengths which build through this series, together they are stronger and this unconventional romance will steal your heart for so many reasons.

‘We’ve been through more in the last two months than most people endure in a lifetime and we’re still here and still able to tell the tale. Not that we will.’

Maddie is just becoming stronger and stronger, coming into her own realising that she can change her life. Taking risks by making things right whilst at the same time opening her heart to new opportunities and above all love. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing her grow and realising what a fierce and lovable quirky woman she truly is.

‘I realize that life with Tyler Morgan will never be boring. That much seems incredibly evident. But life is unpredictable no matter what we do to try to put rules in place to keep it from feeling that way. At least with Tyler the unpredictability doesn’t seem scary. With him, as much as is possible, the unpredictability feels safe.’

Tyler has to be one of our favourite heroes. Broken, frivolous with his life, reacting with his heart with no thought of consequence. His inner monologue wins hands down as one of the most entertaining we’ve read. He’s a complex character, quite philosophical and once again his growth through this series was so well written.

‘…for a long time I was in pain, but didn’t show it. What was actually pain got masked by shit that made it look different. On my best days it was just, like, ennui or lethargy or whatever. Just a listless kind of boredom that projected to the world that I didn’t care. Most of the time, it was just me looking like an asshole. But I never let the actual pain show through. Anger’s funny that way. It’s almost never a sincere emotion. It’s usually a secondary emotion. A defence mechanism that kicks in to cover fear, or sorrow, or pain, or anxiety. In my case, all of the above.’

Flesh into Fire was a more introspective instalment in this series despite the adrenaline fuelled moments. We felt it to be a build up to the final crescendo where Maddie and Tyler self-analysed and had to work through not only their own individual issues yet also them as a couple. The beginnings of the end of one era if you will in order to begin anew.  There were revelations, drama, passion and conflict as our couple needed to find their place. But first the obstacles needed to be dealt with.

‘Every twenty-four hours there’s a new opportunity for a fresh start.’

Passion Rising was our favourite book in this series for so many reasons. The most important was the intensity of emotion we experienced alongside Maddie and Tyler. They were both tested to the max physically and emotionally as they reached the end of an arduous and violent journey.  Like a phoenix rising out of the fire both Maddie and Tyler shed the past in order to live a future on their terms, realising what makes up ‘their happy’, deciding what love truly means.

‘We will hold each other forever and then some. We don’t have to say it. We don’t have to say a word. It simply is. I love her. She loves me. And we will hold each other. Now and always. We will never let go.’

The writing of JA Huss and Johnathan McClain was stellar, it had such depth, was truly flawless and had us laughing, crying and gripping our kindles. It was compelling and thrilling. It was dark yet had such tremendous moments of humour which broke up the dark with rays of lightness. We are exhausted but in that wonderful way when you know you’ve just read a series that will forever be in your heart. We truly hope this author duo will write together again and we’ll be first in line waiting. Do yourselves a favour and pick this series up. You won’t regret it!