Review: Shadow Falling (Scorpius Syndrome #2) by Rebecca Zanetti

Shadow Falling

Series: Scorpius Syndrome #2

Author: Rebecca Zanetti

Pages: 400

Release date: 30^th August 2016

Publisher: Kensington Books/Zebra

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis (Goodreads) Before the Scorpius Syndrome tore through North America and nearly wiped out the population, Vivienne Kennedy was the FBI’s best profiler. The bacteria got her anyway. But she survived. She recovered. And when she woke up from a drug-nightmare of captivity, her skills as a hunter of men had gone from merely brilliant to full-on uncanny. Her mysterious rescuer wants her to put them to the test. But no matter how tempting he is, with his angel’s eyes and devil’s tongue, Vinnie knows she shouldn’t trust him.

If the FBI were still around they would rate Raze Shadow as one of the bad guys. His military training can’t wipe out his association with the Mercenaries, the most feared gang in a thousand miles. His loyalties are compromised. He won’t even tell Vinnie his real name. But there’s no FBI in the new America of fear and firepower, only instinct and risk. 

And the way his arms wrap around Vinnie tells its own story. Whatever else Raze is concealing, he can’t hide his desire . . .

Review: 2 out of 5 stars

Shadow Falling is the second book in the Scorpius Syndrome series, I have not read the first book Mercury Striking but I didn’t at any time feel lost.

Every review I have read for this title sings its praise but unfortunately for me I had a few issues but I think I may be in the minority.

My biggest issue is in no shape or form do I condone the barbaric treatment of women, I don’t care in what context it is written – sexual or otherwise but when there is the threat of beating a woman it makes my blood boil; the males in this book were over the top masculine and treated the women terribly, throwing them over their shoulders and using threats to get them to submit, it didn’t work for me at all.

Our MC is Vivienne Kennedy a former FBI profiler but after being infected with the Scorpius syndrome and rescued, she is now residing at Vanguard and helping out as a psychologist/profiler; Vinnie now has a special ability after being infected that I would have liked to have seen explored further but I’m sure it will be touched on in other books.

Raze Shadow is a trained soldier but he has many secrets that he is keeping from the leader of Vanguard and also Vinnie, his past left me curious but it didn't take long to find our what he was hiding and why.

I think if it wasn’t for the romance I would have enjoyed this book a lot more; there are a few plotlines; the first being Raze trying to infiltrate the Mercenaries to get his sister back, another the threat from the president and also the non-infected pures within the Vanguard compound looking to go out on their own to keep the human race around.

I found the world-building to be lacking, I wanted to know more about this dystopian world and the Scorpius virus and the destruction that it causes. I found certain things were glossed over and important information missing.

We meet a few secondary characters, Jax Mercury is the leader of the group, a little untrusting and also barbaric; I did like Lynne Harmony; her mysterious blue heart has me curious and the other infected at vanguard each played an important role. Tace and Sami were great, both wild and mysterious.

Overall, Shadow Falling is a dark dystopian, it’s a kill or be killed kind of book. Despite not loving everything about this, the premise is interesting as was the virus and how it affects people differently. I am not sure if at this stage I will read book 3, Justice Ascending despite my curiosity. I’m not sure if romance and the apocalypse works for me.

Thank you to Kensington Books/Zebra via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Shadow Falling.

About the author: New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner - only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She writes dark paranormals, romantic suspense, and sexy contemporary romances.