Author: J.A. Redmerski
Genre: Thriller, romance
Published on: December 4, 2013 (first edition), self-published
Determined to live a dark life in the company of the assassin who freed her from bondage, Sarai sets out on her own to settle a score with an evil sadist. Unskilled and untrained in the art of killing, the events that unfold leave her hanging precariously on the edge of death when nothing goes as planned.
Sarai’s reckless choices send her on a path she knows she can never turn back from and so she presents Victor with an ultimatum: help her become more like him and give her a fighting chance, or she’ll do it alone no matter the consequences. Knowing that Sarai cannot become what she wants to be overnight, Victor begins to train her and inevitably their complicated relationship heats up.
As Arthur Hamburg’s right-hand man, Willem Stephens, closes in on his crusade to destroy Sarai, she is left with the crushing realization that she may have bitten off more than she can chew. But Sarai, taking on the new and improved role of Izabel Seyfried, still has a set of deadly skills of her own that will prove to be all she needs to secure her place beside Victor.
But there is one test that Izabel must face that has the potential to destroy everything she is working so hard to achieve. One final test that will not only make her question her decision to want this dangerous life, but will make her question everything she has come to trust about Victor Faust.
New Adult romance and dark thrillers are considerably different genres. J.A. Redmerski manages to handle them both with brilliance. Killing Sarai was mind-blowing, and now the author brings the titular character back in Reviving Izabel. This book’s story continues months after the first one ended. Sarai is living with her surrogate mother, Dina, trying to lead a normal life. The endeavor is proving rather difficult. Until some time ago, Sarai was kept captive by Javier, a Mexican cartel lord who dealt in sex trafficking. All those years of suffering left their mark on Sarai. She can barely function in normal society now.
Sarai's still far from well-adjusted despite finding a friend (Dahlia) and a boyfriend (Eric). Unbeknownst to anyone, Sarai hasn't forgot about Victor Faust, the man who freed her from Javier. Victor is a contract killer who grew to care for Sarai in the time they spent together. Because of his dangerous life, he knew he couldn’t keep her close. Victor thought Sarai deserved a chance at a normal life, so he left her with Dina. She has other things in mind, though. Sarai goes after a vile man named Arthur Hamburg, whom she met in the previous book. It doesn't take long for Sarai to realize she's in over her head. She barely escapes with her life thanks to Victor, who returns just in time.
Although happy that they are now reunited, Sarai feels ashamed of what her actions caused. Victor assures her that he’s not angry, and that he’ll try to keep her safe. Victor reveals that he left the Order he used to work for, and that his brother Niklas was assigned to find and kill him. The information shocks Sarai. Victor tells Sarai that he would have come for her, even if she hadn’t failed on her murder attempt.
With no intention of leaving Victor again, Sarai begins training hard to become a formidable killer. She practices Krav Maga, which Victor claims is the best way to learn self-defense fast. Eventually, Victor allows Sarai to go on her first official mission. After that, Sarai gets her first glimpse at the dark side of Fredrik Gustavsson. He’s Victor’s friend, and a skillful interrogator they call The Specialist. Sarai isn’t completely disturbed by Fredrik’s grisly methods, and it worries her a little.
Before Sarai can become a full-blown assassin under Victor’s new Order, she will have to pass a test. And what is coming for her will not be easy. Will Sarai manage to become Izabel Seyfried, or will the life of a killer be too much for her? Personally, I found the test rather harsh. At one point I even thought it would put Sarai off her desire to be a killer. It's not simple to join an organization like Victor's. Sarai will have to prove that she's worthy and a hundred percent loyal. Not even dating the boss means Sarai gets a free pass.
Reviving Izabel was every bit as suspenseful and riveting as the first book. The eponymous protagonist fails to adjust to a normal life, giving in to her darkness. That’s the appeal of this story for me. It wouldn’t have been interesting if Sarai properly adjusted to normal life. I also wonder how the author came up with these books. Getting into the minds of killers—and in the first-person POV—doesn't sound easy. I’ll definitely be reading the next installments of In the Company of Killers. You’ll be hard-pressed to find other books quite like these ones.
My rating: ★★★★★
5 stars - Absolutely must-read. It's outstanding!!!
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