ARC Review: Shadow Falling (The Scorpius Syndrome #2) by Rebecca Zanetti

Title: Shadow Falling
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Series: The Scorpius Syndrome #2

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Before the Scorpius Syndrome tore through North America and nearly wiped out the population, Vivienne Kennedy was the FBI’s best profiler. The bacteria got her anyway. But she survived. She recovered. And when she woke up from a drug-nightmare of captivity, her skills as a hunter of men had gone from merely brilliant to full-on uncanny. Her mysterious rescuer wants her to put them to the test. But no matter how tempting he is, with his angel’s eyes and devil’s tongue, Vinnie knows she shouldn’t trust him.
If the FBI were still around they would rate Raze Shadow as one of the bad guys. His military training can’t wipe out his association with the Mercenaries, the most feared gang in a thousand miles. His loyalties are compromised. He won’t even tell Vinnie his real name. But there’s no FBI in the new America of fear and firepower, only instinct and risk.

And the way his arms wrap around Vinnie tells its own story. Whatever else Raze is concealing, he can’t hide his desire . . .

Shadow Falling was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

The book begins some weeks after the ending of Mercury Striking! Vivienne -aka Vinnie- is struggling to adjust, her nightmares and hallucinations surely do not help her situation. Fortunately, there’s something -someone – who does! Raze Shadow may be Vinnie’s savior but the man is far from a hero, not when he has his own agenda and especially not when his agenda goes against everything Jax Mercury stands for!

There were so many things going on this book! It was insanely good! We have Raze, who has his own agenda. Vinnie, who is trying to remain sane while at the same time trying to fit in this new society. Jax, who is facing some serious inner territory issues while also facing bigger threats from the surrounding gangs and the President himself. Lynn, who is struggling to come up with a cure without a proper lab. The President who is preoccupied with reorganizing the army while looking for opportunities to capture Lynn and Vinnie and so on! The book definitely offers variety!

I adored Raze! He was everything I thought he would be and he definitely lived up to my expectations! I actually really like all of the major characters so far, including those introduced in this book! I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Justice Ascending, Tace and Sami’s book, especially considering Sami’s real identity! I’m also very excited to see what’s going on between Maureen and Greyson, they can deny it all they want but there’s definitely something going on with them and it’s definitely going to be scorching HOT!

*ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Review: Mercury Striking (The Scorpius Syndrome #1) by Rebecca Zanetti

Title: Mercury Striking
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Series: The Scorpius Syndrome #1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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With nothing but rumors to lead her, Lynn Harmony has trekked across a nightmare landscape to find one man—a mysterious, damaged legend who protects the weak and leads the strong. He’s more than muscle and firepower—and in post-plague L.A., he’s her only hope. As the one woman who could cure the disease, Lynn is the single most volatile—and vulnerable—creature in this new and ruthless world. But face to face with Jax Mercury…
Danger has never looked quite so delicious…

Beyond A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! Freaking MIND BLOWING!!!!

A completely new mind blowing series by Rebecca Zanetti! Zanetti has become one of my must-read authors. Her books are super awesome and it’s getting harder and harder to choose a favorite.

Although Mercury Striking is the first book in the Scorpius Syndrome series, there is a prequel novella, Scorpius Rising, that I’d definitely recommend reading before this one. I’m one of those readers who always read series in their order and I wasn’t disappointed. I loved Scorpius Rising as much as I loved Mercury Striking. However, you do not have to read the prequel if you don’t want to. The author does a pretty good job explaining everything in this book as well.

Lynne Harmony, ex director of the Infectious diseases division of the CDC, lives in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. After a bacteria wipes out most of the population, the survivors have no idea who to trust. Those who survive the virus are either been turned into Rippers, pure murderers, or recover with enhanced abilities. Lynne worked around the clock to develop a cure and though she has made some progress she didn’t manage to find one. Unfortunately, along the way she got infected but survived and she’s now on the run. She is still searching for a cure and in particular for a scientific facility that may contain information about the cure. Her search leads her to Los Angeles and straight into Jax Mercury’s region.

Jax Mercury’s life has been hard. Growing up on the streets may have been tough but it shaped Jax and helped him become a soldier in the Special Forces. Jax didn’t ask for his role as a leader of the survivors’ camp in the heart of LA but he will do anything to protect his people. With their supplies running out and no cure, Jaz struggles to find hope for his people. Until Lynne surrenders herself to him. Jax knows that she’s being hunted and it’s not safe to trust her with his people but if there is anyone who can find a cure that’s Lynne and he will do anything to get his hands on that cure.

Mercury striking was a mind blowing book. I don’t how Zanetti always manages to combine the amazing action, the suspense and the romance so well. It worked so great here. Lynne and Jax’s attraction is there from their first encounter. They have been alone for so long and being together that being together make them feel alive again. Jax and Lynne’s journey to find a cure is filled with the violence that comes with living in a post-apocalyptic world, betrayals and loss. Living in a world where you are forced to kill or be killed isn’t easy, especially when you have a whole bunch of people to protect. I loved that Jax doesn’t pretend to be a hero! He’s doing his best to fight and protect his people but there are only so much a person can do.

This was an incredible book. Zanetti has created a realistic post-apocalyptic world with equally realistic characters who struggle to make everything work and I really liked that. Life is hard and unfair and you can either choose to accept that or do something about it. Jax chooses the latter (total badass!!!)!

I really can’t wait to read Raze’s book! He was an enigma and the end didn’t really help. I have so many questions about him and I’m really looking forward for some answers!

*ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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