Author: Jessalyn Thorn

Series: The Redeemed

First Published: 24 February 2024

“All things demand balance, mi amor. Even the elements themselves.”  

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank so much Jessalyn and the team over Valentine PR for sending a copy my way!

Death is just the beginning.
Welcome to your afterlife.

I’ve spent my entire life in the shadows. Alone. Abandoned. Afraid. The years of mindless abuse didn’t matter to me as long as I kept my sister safe.

Until that night, when everything changed as I bled to death in the darkness. My fight was over.

Then I woke up.
Terrified, scarred… but alive.

Forced back into a body I’ve spent years longing to escape, I’m initiated into the world’s best kept secret. The undead society of The Redeemed.

A motley collection of lost causes resurrected by a mysterious force, these impossible creatures have spent a millennium hiding their wealth and power.

But with enemies circling and a civil war brewing, this strange new world is teetering on the verge of collapse.

They say I’m their saviour. The ultimate weapon. All I want is to run, but I can’t abandon the two halves of my soul that claimed me the moment our eyes locked.

I’m the key to ending it all.
If I live long enough to tell the tale.

If You Break is a strong start to a new series. This is one of the most interesting paranormal worlds I’ve read. We have a secret world of people who are brought back to life after they’ve died, and some have some powers. We also have an angsty, slow-burn MMF romance that I’m hooked on. Also, we have some political intrigue, which I adore.

Lexi’s life is cut short in a bloody murder at the hands of her abuser. She thought the fight for her life was over until she woke up. The Redeemed, a hidden society of undead people, find Lexi. They claim this unseen force called the Vitae has brought her back to life. Not only has the Vitae brought Lexi back to life, but they also gave her the gift of manipulating fire. One of the Redeemer Elders, Ravius, wants to use her power to help save his people and keep his brother, Caine, in line. All Lexi cares about is escaping and finding her sister, Evie, who’s been left alone. Things get complicated when she is soul-bound to not one by two men – Daniel and Valentine. With a Civil War brewing, Lexi must decide whether she will stay and fight or abandon the Redeemers and find her sister.

Put simply, Lexi is a survivor. She’s spent her life fending for herself and her little sister, Evie. Their mother took off and their dad spent his days drinking. On top of this, Lexi has spent years being horrifically abused. She never said anything because her abuser would stop providing food and the necessities she needed for her sister. My heart broke at the sheer amount of pain and torment that was thrown at her. She’s murdered horrifically and somehow is reborn to be one of the most powerful Redeemers to exist in years. I enjoyed watching Lexi find friends and a safe space for one in her life. She’s determined not to be used as a toy for powerful men in her second life. I loved seeing that she knows her worth and is willing to negotiate if it means getting to see her sister again.

Lexi has two soul bonds, Daniel and Valentine. Daniel, while not magically skilled, has spent his life as a double agent to try and keep Caine in line. He’s cold, distant and doesn’t trust anyone. Honestly, Daniel is the epitome of the broody hero. After his wife is murdered, Daniel tries hard to push Lexi away like he has with everyone. And then we have Valentine. He is one of the Elders and looks after the Spanish Redeemers. He is smooth, suave and deadly. He finds Lexi through their shared dreams and will not let anything get in between them. To add to all the drama, Daniel and Valentine used to be close friends as they fought side by side to keep the Redeemers safe from prosecution until Daniel found out Valentine also had a relationship with his dead wife. Thankfully, they decide to tolerate each other for Lexi’s sake. I’m interested to see how their relationship will progress in the sequel. 

Romance in here is a slow burn. Lexi and Daniel seem to hate each other on sight. Both are shocked when they become soul bonded. In this world, it is painful for a soul-bonded pair to separate for long periods and distances. Knowing this doesn’t stop Daniel from leaving Lexi to head back to Caine. So, they didn’t get off to a great start. Then, once they were slowly getting to know each other, Valentine showed up and threw another spanner in the works. We do get a handful of steamy scenes between Daniel and Lexi. I think this was the perfect amount of spice given the tension in their relationship and what’s going on in the plot. So far, I love the dynamic and can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.

This is one of the most interesting paranormal worlds I’ve read. And I think is the first book I’ve read where people are brought back from the dead. I am fascinated by the politics of this world. In the 1800s, The Redeemers signed accords with world leaders to protect their people, but they must live in secret. As we are moving into a Civil War, I’m interested to see if we will learn more about the history and of their magic.

So, in short, I adored If You Break and cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel. If you love a dark paranormal romance with interesting world-building and politics, this one is for you!