Taken by Lies (Truth or Lies, #1) by Ella Miles Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Lured by Lies on my blog, here. That review covers about the first third of Taken by Lies. Trigger warnings include violence, torture, sexual assault, gun violence, and kidnapping.

Going from Lured by Lies into Taken by Lies somewhat feels as though you are reading a new book in a different series. The writing has improved drastically, and the characterization of Enzo and Kai has skyrocketed -- we learn so much more about the two in this book, and get a much closer look at what they have both been through. The jump in the books takes Enzo and Kai from being teenagers to adults, and the content certainly reflects that. 

Kai really tries to heal and get better after being beaten for years on end, and Enzo is trying to help her become "unbroken" despite the fact that he is the one that put her in that situation. With a dual POV, we see how both characters are trying to move on from that moment on the yacht years ago, and move forward in a life where both of them must deal with each other.

Enzo and Zade from Haunting Adeline would be best friends, I just know it. Both of these characters are off their rockers but still have this deep feeling to protect the women that they quite literally put in the dangerous situations that they were in. Enzo knew exactly what he was doing when he literally SOLD HER to someone and then acts absolutely shocked that she does not want to be touched. Now personally, I would not stay with the man who sold me into years of torture just to find out why he did it.. girl, run!

They continue their game of truth or lies throughout the book in order to get answers from one another, but there is always an ulterior motive with what truths and lies they reveal. Kai or Enzo may set up their options in order to rig the game so that one or the other may intentionally win, in order to serve their own agenda. Also, Enzo says some of the most out of pocket things I have ever read in my life -- I know that he is trying to keep the distance between him and Kai, but boy, there are certainly other ways to go.

The little twist towards the end of the book... the way I SHOT up from laying down while reading that chapter. I certainly did not expect that to be a major plot point in the book, and it made the concept so much more intriguing. Enzo knows everything that goes on in Miami, and with Kai being on a yacht for years with no other interaction or contact besides literally being tortured, he has the upper hand when it comes to the facts. And of course we end on a cliffhanger, so I will eventually keep reading the rest of this series until I get all of the answers to my questions.

I have to say that I definitely enjoyed this book more than the prequel novella, and that may be because there was so much going on in the prequel that I could not get a good grasp on the set up for the series. With Enzo and Kai no longer being teenagers in this book, the maturity was upgraded and we saw actually conflict and development with the characters. For fans of the Cat and Mouse Duet by H.D. Carlton, this series will definitely push boundaries.

You can add Taken by Lies on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Lured by Lies (Truth or Lies, #0.5) by Ella Miles Review

This is a spoiler-free review! Lured by Lies should be read prior to reading Taken by Lies.

Enzo is seventeen and Kai is sixteen in this prequel novella, where Enzo is living in luxury as he prepares to take over the family business and Kai is struggling to get her next meal without owing another debt. We are giving a little bit of background on our main characters in this novella that will hopefully be beneficial as the series continues.

The way that these teenagers talk to each other... why do they think that they are in some action movie where there will be dramatic pauses and people with cower when they speak? If a seventeen-year-old boy talked to a sixteen-year-old me the way that Enzo speaks to Kai, I would literally laugh in his face. I understand that they both live in a different circumstance -- Enzo, being raised as a killer, and Kai, being raised just to survive -- but it was getting truly annoying by the end of the novella.

Am I supposed to be shaking in my boots when Enzo acts like he is a certified killer? Yes, he has actually killed people, but almost every word out of his mouth feels embarrassing rather than intimidating, as if he is playing a character in a high school play rather than on the hunt to kill someone. And with Kai -- the way she acts just seems completely inaccurate to how anyone would act if they found out that they were in danger, especially from the boy she has had two interactions with in the past twenty four hours.

Enzo is always one step ahead when it comes to Kai's plans. She thinks that she can outsmart him with all of her actions, but he is able to anticipate nearly every single one of her next moves. Which is to be expected, because she is literally a sixteen-year-old girl and he is this "villain" that men twice his age will listen to. Honestly, Kai's survival instincts are minimal at best, and I was more concerned about the fact that she cannot keep her mouth shut when necessary than the fact that Enzo is walking around town guns blazing.

I have to say that this novella did not leave me as excited as I thought I would be to continue with the series. The writing seems a little out of touch for teenagers, but the first book in the series takes place three years later, so I have hope they grow into their character traits and get a better dialogue between them. Lured by Lies is a very quick read -- it took be less than thirty minutes in total to read -- and definitely touches on some more dark topics, which the author does mention that trigger warnings should be checked before proceeding with the series.

You can add Lured by Lies on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!