The Merciless II: The Exorcism of Sofia Flores (The Merciless #2)
Author: Danielle Vega
Published: 2016
On Goodreads
My Rating:
Rated P for perilous penance taken to a psychotically dark place.
We don’t kill our own…
Sofia is still trying to process what happened to her and three friends when they tried to perform an exorcism. Ever since, Sofia has been haunted. Then, when Sofia is sent away to St. Mary’s, a creepy Catholic boarding school, she notices that everyone there is repenting for something. But what really catches her eye is Jude, for whom she can’t help her attraction. As she feels she can confide in him about what happened to her, he comes to believe she is possessed by the devil and an exorcism is the only thing that can save her.
The Merciless Reviews
Okay, so I made a deal with myself that I couldn’t do reviews until I got my Goodreads under control. It took a little longer than I expected, but I’m here and ready with a review!
Vega didn’t take any pause before diving back into the deep dark hellishness of the first book. There was almost nothing left for Sofia after the exorcism went wrong. Then tragedy struck her so fast, taking her mother from her and plunging her life even further into unspeakable horror. Sofia thought it was over but it was far from it. The carnage was only just beginning. This time around it was Sofia who was given an exorcism and she was caught between surviving, fighting, and wondering if she deserved it.
And it followed her right into a Catholic boarding school where new characters had no idea what was coming. A part of me was, “I feel the cliché” but a much bigger part was “YESSS!! Perfection!”. This really was such a perfect setting for book two. The perfect playground for a demon stalking a teenage girl. It was here that it was believed that bad kids god repent and become good kids but penance for this was steep. Dark and chilling already, Vega really gave that horror movie beauty with this school.
Not going to lie, I am extra salty that Charlie wasn’t in this one. The chemistry between Sofia and Charlie was off the charts and I’m bummed it wasn’t further explored. Even as Jude encroached in on Sofia, I couldn’t stop thinking of Charlie. I just have the feels for those two. Cue my sigh as I hope for his return at some point. And you know what? After Jude tried to exorcise Sofia, I’m definitely holding out for Charlie. That was some seriously dark and scary shit. Bat shit, and yet, I couldn’t stop reading. LOL.
Speaking of return, Brooklyn’s was shocking and epic! Vega’s talent with the plot twist. is, as always, phenomenal. I ate up every bit, especially when Brooklyn solidified that she was there because Sofia had committed an unspeakable act. She is the monster that haunts and taunts you when she’s not even there. And the final showdown between them? Badass! And with a twist that I never saw coming at the end. I was left me guessing what the third book will bring.
Overall
Just like the first book, I couldn’t put this one down. I loved that while it still propelled into the next chapter, it fell on the last book immediately, keeping on with the main premise. Vega kept the same level of intensity from start to finish. Why isn’t this a TV series already!?
Quotables:
“Bad things keep happening to me. I think there’s something…wrong with me.” (Sofia, p. 214)
“…When someone does something unforgiveable, a demon attaches itself to them…” (p. 287)
More to come soon…
-K.
Song Today? Take Me to Church by Hozier.
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The Scarlet Reader 
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