So, here's the thing - I've had the hardest time rating this book, so I'll just have to lay it out there. Galen Foley is a fantastic writer and I am a long time fan of her work, but I didn't like this book.
Drake (Westwood) is a broken man. He had been tortured, mentally and physically, traumatized to the point of memory loss and builds an obsessive attachment to protecting "the bad guys". Even after regaining his memory he can't let go of his loyalty to the monsters completely, even as he is bent towards revenge against them. So he was obviously torn - which makes sense. It's like post traumatic stress disorder - reality is hard to fathom.
Even though I understand that, I couldn't stop myself from feeling frustrated. Emily and Drake were going to get away and then Drake was pulled back in. Emily and Drake were going to get away, and then Drake was tempted and pulled back in. Emily was in danger and Drake needed to make a choice between her and "the bad guys", but Drake hesitates until granted "permission" to help her. Emily and Drake were going to have a happily ever after but then Drake decides he wants power instead. I just didn't like any of that regardless of how plausible it could be.
Despite all these setbacks, Emily just goes with it despite her misgivings. It gave me the feeling as though Emily was a doormat and could accept that she would never come first in Drake's life. Or that it didn't matter what Drake did, in the end she loved him too much to care what kind of person he chose to be. I saw Emily, again and again risk herself and let go of her pride for Drake. She made Drake the center of everything and I didn't see Drake do anywhere near enough in reciprocation to deserve that kind of devotion.
I think I'll forever be on the fence about this book. It was very well written, Galen Foley did an outstanding job of showing how it's not an easy road back from hell. But maybe I needed more Drake and Emily happiness instead of Drake tugging Emily along, maybe I needed an Emily and Drake epilogue instead of a preview for the next book, maybe I'm unrealistic on what a hero should be.