Review: Crushed by Eliza Crewe

Crushed

Author: Eliza Crewe
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Series: Soul Eaters #2
Pages: Paperback, 368 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: August 5th 2014

Summary:

Meda Melange has officially hung up her monstrous mantle and planted her feet firmly on the holy and righteous path of a Crusader-in-training. Or, at least, she’s willing to give it a shot. It helps that the Crusaders are the only thing standing between her and the demon hordes who want her dead.

The problem is, the only people less convinced than Meda of her new-found role as Good Girl are the very Crusaders she’s trying to join. So when a devilishly handsome half-demon boy offers escape, how’s a girl supposed to say “no?”

After all, everyone knows a good girl’s greatest weakness is a bad boy.

Cover Art: Dominic Harman

Review:


What a delightful read! It is such a pleasure to read about a protagonist who isn’t a Mary Sue or a TSTL dimwit or someone who’s the special snowflake leading a rebellion or hiding as a lost princess. Meda is one of a kind. She’s special, but for reasons. She isn’t your typical goody miss shoes. She is a badass and one who doesn’t fall for bad boys at first glance getting all mushy and gushy soon after.

Before I go raving about how fabulous she is, a little backdrop on the story. Crushed picks off a few weeks (?) later from where we left off in the first book. Meda is being treated as more of an outcast in school and because of her status as a beacon, other chapters of the Crusaders are after her. She tries to be good for Jo, she tries not to sneak out, she tries not to punch the living shit out of Isaiah and his cronies, she even wears a pink t-shirt (whaaaa..!!); her restraint is definitely commendable, but in return she only has to face more malice from her fellow mates and suspicion from the elders. Her only hope through all this is her friendship with Jo and her promise to try to be more of a Crusader. However, our dear little Jo, the sanctimonious bitch that she is, doesn’t trust her enough, doesn’t give her enough credit and that’s when Meda decides she’s had a truckload of all the Crusader bullshit and goes out to play play play .

I would have you know that I don’t really dislike Jo. She’s another badass and her relationship with Meda is nothing short of perfect. They bitch, banter, fight, want to rip each other’s heads off but at the end of the day, would stay loyal to each other to the point of sacrificing their own lives. Speaking of which, kudos to Ms. Crewe for handling the romance aspect of the book so well. Armand is a well-rounded character, predictable yet charming. You know he’s the alluring bad-boy waiting to be your next mistake; the kind where you wouldn’t resist or hesitate too long before making it. Color me surprised though, when Meda doesn’t fall for his charisma even if she’s a bit dazzled by it. (She has a working set of eyes and hormones after all!)

There is action in this book and more soul eating and Meda exploring her magic a bit (view spoiler). The writing style is as engrossing as the first book and the fierceness with which Meda deals with everything thrown her way is just fascinating. It’s one of those books you wouldn’t wanna put down and even if you have to, you’d itch to pick it up again. The ending was a little predictable and kinda dull as compared to the rest of the book and I’m not sure where the series is headed now. Nevertheless, I’m pretty sure I’ll be counting down the days till the third one’s out.



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