Exodus (The Ravenhood)

I may have turned the last page on this book last night, but it absolutely finished me 🥲. I don’t even know where to begin—this book took me on an emotional rollercoaster, one I’d willingly ride all over again.Kate Stewart’s writing is nothing short of masterful. She draws you in with beautifully crafted characters and moments of joy—witty banter, lighthearted scenes—but just when you start to feel comfortable, she pulls the rug out from under you. Her ability to captivate and devastate in equal measure is unparalleled.Cecelia’s character growth in Exodus is breathtaking. In Flock, she was young and naive, but in this book, she’s pushed to grow in ways that break and rebuild her. By the end of Part 1, Cecelia is no longer the same person—and honestly, neither was I. The book’s structure makes perfect sense because the emotional shift between Parts 1 and 2 is monumental. While Part 1 kept me on edge, Part 2 had me in a puddle of tears.Then there’s The Frenchman. I’ll admit it—I disliked him for most of the book. He’s a villain, or at least he wants us to see him that way, and he plays the role so well. But somewhere along the way, my feelings shifted, which is a testament to how expertly Kate Stewart develops her characters.If you’re someone who loves morally gray, rebellious characters who live life brutally and without regret, Exodus is an absolute must-read. It’s raw, emotional, and unforgettable—one of the few contemporary romances I’ll recommend without hesitation.

I’m still having a hard time finding the words to accurately express what this book did to me...“I know for sure that humility has changed me in a major way. And these lessons I haven’t taken for granted, even if I’ve been taken for granted in the process.”I think we can all agree that book 1 was a life-lessons masterclass. There were so many outstanding lessons presented in so many beautiful ways. The wool was pulled from Cecelia’s eyes allowing her to see life on a different level. Yet in book 2, Cecelia STILL makes shallow, ignorant comments leaving “The Frenchman” (for those who haven’t read the book) with the opportunity to embarrass her and leave her feeling stupid.I guess I understand the intent—to set up a situation that allows “The Frenchman” to impart lessons or wisdom on her— but really.. at times even I was embarrassed for her considering all she learned from the boys in book 1.Cecelia entertaining her attraction to “The Frenchman” early on made me resent her character for a few chapters. I effortlessly fell in love with Sean & Dom *swoon* in book 1 and without an inkling as to where they are or when they’re coming back.. it just felt like betrayal, which made it hard for me to get on board. It was difficult for me to even enjoy reading the first scene of what was, no doubt, unbridled passion between Cecelia and “The Frenchman”.—If it weren’t for the lingering presence of Sean & Dom in the background it would be easy to root for “The Frenchman”, but this early on.. its impossible.“I found my truth in love just seconds before it was ripped from me.”—Ok I get it. It played out perfectly. I finally submit to their love only to be completely crushed by it 😩. This is literal word voodoo, Kate Stewart!! What have you done to me?!5 minutes later.. (Spongebob style)—> Gutted... Complete and utter devastation... I’ve heard writers describe the characters they write as being a part of them; admitting how difficult and sometimes heartbreaking it is when their stories come to an end..I don’t know what that feels like from a writer/creators point of view, all I know is I’m sitting on my bed surrounded by tissues in complete shock. —>Kate! I have to know.. did you sob writing that scene as hard as I just did reading it??? Practical magic. That’s what you’ve done here. Look it up people. It’s imbedded in the entire series and Kate, you’re a genius.“We had our song, and it’s time to take us off pause and let the rest of our story play out.”“Because loving you made me sick as f*** and losing you twice has made me terminal. I don’t want to live out any ending that doesn’t include you.”Tissues. Get lots of tissues. I started bawling about halfway through the book and hardly stopped. I’m so conflicted with this book. It made me *feel* on a subatomic level.—In a lot of ways I hate the way this story ultimately played out, (I’m selfish like that), but in many other ways... it was beautiful. Life isn’t alway pretty and love doesn’t always end up looking the way we think it should. Kate Stewart did a phenomenal job giving us a passionate love story while dousing us in reality.“If you leave, I’ll come after you. If you change your mind, I’ll change it back. I’ll fight so f*****g hard for you every single day, so you never question if you made the right choice.”Hated that we didn’t get to see more of how Cecelia’s HEA played out and absolutely HATED the epilogue (no Kate, I refuse to entertain it), but this duet is why I love reading and why I love Kate Stewart. I’ll still be processing this story and these character for days to come.

Well. What a ride this book is. This series is so good. I highly recommend reading this. Exodus continues on from Flock of course. Cecelia and Tobias. Love that name by the way, Tobias. He is a such a force. But I won’t say too much. Don’t want to give anything away. Just a little bit of it is predictable but lots not. Lots of surprises. And it also rips your heart out. Have tissues at the ready.The only thing I was disappointed in was the ending. Not the bonus chapter but the ending of the book. Again, I will not say anything, don’t want to spoil and maybe you will get why I was a bit disappointed.And again, I highly, highly recommend. This series is the bomb! Onto The Finish Line!Enjoy!