It was temptation that broke the sinner.People say I have everything. They’re wrong. I may have looks, money, and privilege, but I don’t have the one thing that really matters, the one thing I crave: a woman with eyes only for me. I’m searching for my woman—one who will fall to her knees because I’m her king. She’ll wear the crown of my tarnished name, and long for me when I’m not near. And when … I’m not near. And when I am close, she’ll be naked across my lap, feeling the sting of my palm across her milky skin.
You could say I’m a sinner because I’d do anything to have the perfect woman—compliant to my every need and whim—and I’m envious of every couple who walks around naive to the luxury they have.
That’s why I joined The Elite, the most prestigious brotherhood in the south.
It’s the one place that will give me what I cannot have.
Only…the task assigned to me is too much for my jealous eyes.
Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak…they’re for The Elite.
Those who envy have no peace.
My name is Sabastian Westbrook.
I am Envy.
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Quote: It’s funny how people think that unknown evils lurk at night, but it’s the ones that blend in during the light of day you should really be worried about.
Me.
WHAT. A. MIND. F*CK! I finished Envy the same night I started it and JESUS! I’m still mindblown.
Quote: Flames of a Mustang flare in my vision… the sounds of screaming echoes in my ears.
Not for the first time.
I have been hard core loving the Elite Seven series books and of the four books released at this point, Envy is the one that has sent me on a tailspin. It’s dark and disturbing. Twisted in a way that I never anticipated, and I couldn’t. put. it. down!
QUOTE: We’re the guys who play God without permission…
Envy is Sebastian Westbrook’s story. After the loss of his parents at a young age, Sebastian is raised by his aunt and uncle… who have ties to organized crime. And Sebastian wants what he’s never had, someone to love him above all else; someone to call his own. He fixates on his fellow Elite Wrath’s twin sister Sabella. Without question this book is as unpredictable as they come and will lead you on a journey that is nothing short of a complete mindfuck. I can honestly tell you that I was stunned by this book.
Quote: Envy is the art of taking on another’s blessing instead of your own.
The Elite Seven Series are not what I would consider standalone novels. To grasp the full scope of events taking places within each individual novel, one must read the books in order. With the release of each new book, I am picking out critical details from one book to the next.
The Elite Seven Series reading order:
Lust (#1) by Ker Dukey
Pride (#2) by J.D. Hollyfield
Wrath (#3) by Claire C. Riley
Envy (#4) by M.N. Forgy
Greed (#5) by Amo Jones
Gluttony (#6) by K Webster
Sloth (#7) by Giana Darling
Envy is the first book I have read by M.N. Forgy and I am sitting stunned, two days after I finished the novel. Putting words together to impart a review was a challenge because I am still wrapping my head around this one. Envy is dark, gritty and completely twisted—more so than the previous books released in this series. Since these are all dark romances, that surprised me. Yet, Envy was perhaps the least romance driven of the series. I loved the story, truly. But I also didn’t like the other woman drama and the way the book retells events from a previous book within the series. Part of me thinks this book is going to be the story arc that changes everything for the members of the Elite. But the other side of me wars with the storyline of Envy… And without posting spoilers, I can say no more. Regardless, I think this book needs to be read. I enjoyed it. It’s a quick, fast paced book. It’s written entirely from Sebastian’s POV and of the characters we have gotten to know so far, Sebastian is straight up maniacal. M.N. Forgy refers to his Joker smile several times, and that’s exactly how I pictured him as I read. Up next will be Greed by Amo Jones—who happens to be one of my favorite authors—so I am absolutely on pins and needles waiting for the next ARC to hit my kindle so I can review it for my blog. If you haven’t started reading the Elite Seven books, you have NO idea how much you are missing out! Stop reading whatever’s on your kindle and start reading the Elite… NOW!!!
Quotes:
I want to walk in there, drop my pants, and watch the girls drop to their knees, ready to please me. I’d be their God, and in return, they’d obey and love me like a woman should.
—
If I get her, I get everything. I mean, I have everything… but a woman at my side is something I can’t lock down. They just don’t seem to love me the way I need them to. They ruin everything.
—
You never know who you’ll need at your disposal the day the devil comes knocking for souls, and making friends with everyone gives me a goddamn army.
—
I have everything in life— riches, health, happiness— but I don’t have the one thing I long for: a woman to be madly in love with me—a woman who would drop to her knees and wear a black crown marred from my family name just to be close to me. I’ll whisper the terrible things I’ve done, and she’ll love me anyway.
I wasn’t sure what to think about this book until I got about halfway through, then I couldn’t stop reading it. Sebastian is NOT a likeable character at all. Is he redeemable? That remains to be seen, but likeable? That is best left to the discretion of the reader. He is also, so far, the most terrifying. Evil wrapped in a pretty package. He teeters on the edge of sanity throughout the book that no amount of therapy will heal. Out of all of the sins so far, he is the best at living up to his alter ego. It completely fueled his reasons for wanting to be in the Elite in the first place. They have it all, he wants it all. the irony being he doesn’t realize how many would want to be him instead. The one thing he craves is love, at least that’s what he says. But his reasons are totally selfish. His idea of love becomes an obsession that wrecks whatever shred of morality that he may have left. He’s like the line in the Ariana Grande song, “Seven Rings” “I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it” That’s his credo. By the end of the book, I still wasn’t sold on him, but I don’t think he was ever really meant to be a likeable character. I wondered several times what the point of his story was, aside from him being in the Elite, then the ending happened. Things are starting to make sense and fall in to place in some areas, and falling apart in others. For me, it felt that this book was a turning point to the series. It gave us more background to some of the subplots going on in the previous stories, but I think it is building a finale that is going to leave us gobsmacked. so thank you M.N. Forgy for writing such a jerk, but making him so fascinating I didn’t want to give up on him, and by the end, was left almost feeling sorry for him. I cannot wait for more from this series.
Ummmmm WTF did I just read?! I mean that in the best possible way!
I’m not even sure what to say. I do not want to give away anything. If you’ve been reading this series you know with every book comes more twist and turns.
Damn, bring on the next book! I can’t wait to see what comes next after this crazy ride.
Thanks for the ARC.
Wow this one is really messed up. Sebastian’s mind works completely different from anyone else. Traumatized as a kid and damaged is an accurate description for him. He is dangerous and hard core. Someone to be wary of since he does not have a conscious and is full of himself. He is a menace and dangerous all by himself and doesn’t need anyone to push him or manipulate him to do the wrong thing. All of this makes his actions in the story worrisome. But even with all that against him you can not hate him. With the bad decisions surrounding him you can still recognize that he does have the best intentions. He just grew up with bad role models and still has an innocence to him that makes him vulnerable. Which is what Lilian plans to take advantage of. The plot keeps twisting, players are at a disadvantage and power is shifting. Can’t wait for this 7 guys to get some answers and most of all, to get some leverage.
What in the actual heck did I just read? This series hasn’t been romance focused from the off – they have each had a little romance thrown in, but it was never the focus – but this was on a different level. I am not sure how I feel about anything I read in this book. I was partially disappointed, because I didn’t learn anything new about The Elite, and partly fascinated by how unwell Sebastian was.
Sebastian was at the very least a sociopath, at most he was criminally insane and wholly disconnected with reality. He was obsessive and terrifying in a way I didn’t expect after what we’d seen of him in the other books. It was that apparent mask in combination with his actions and thoughts in Envy that made me sure of his sociopathic state. As much as the others nebulously identified with their sins, Sebastian embodied envy. He couldn’t appreciate anything he had because he was too busy desiring what others possessed.
I was disappointed with this book, though, because it didn’t develop my understanding of The Elite any further. There was something I had already suspected confirmed in Envy, but nothing new. All of the Elite interactions had already been hashed out in the previous novels, so it felt repetitive by the time we read it here.
I wish this book had been a little more involved. I felt like everything was very much limited to surface details when we could have got a much more intense and fulfilling story had it been longer and really delved into Sebastian’s mental deficiencies. Envy had the potential for excellency but ended up falling short because it felt so rushed.
Envy is the fourth book in the Elite Seven series. Each book in the series is written by a different author, about a different sin, with different characters, but to get the complete picture of what is going on at St. Augustine’s with The Elite, the series will need to be read in its entirety.
What just happened?!! This should be Evil instead of Envy. WTF happened to the sort of nice Sebastian? This took such a shocking dark twist in the Elite Seven brotherhood that I’m not sure it can be rectified in future stories. It’s a page turner while Sebastian true side is revealed and it took a tragic turn that was heartbreaking and so so ugly. I didn’t like it at all or where Sebastian ended up. But maybe his true love is nurse Nori. I liked her and her care for Sebastian. There are so many questions. Will the Elite take care of Sebastian’s devastating act? How will the brothers react? Did Sebastian really do what it seems like he did or is something else really going on? Will he be saved from his current situation? We saw more of evil Lillian and her powerful brother, Mr. Benedict, the real force behind the Elite. I really hope Sebastian can be redeemed in the next story. So far Envy is the worse of the seven Deadly Sins. I’m on pins and needles for the next installment in the series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC. 3.5 stars
Um wtf did I just read?! That was my first reaction after reading Envy.
It’s not that I didn’t like Envy because I did, I just could not believe what actually happened in it. Sebastian is definitely envious. He wants the one thing he doesn’t have – a woman to be madly in love with him.
“I have everything in life–riches, health, happiness–but I don’t have the one thing I long for: a woman to be madly in love with me–a woman who would drop to her knees and wear a black crown marred from my family name just to be close to me. I’ll whisper the terrible things I’ve done, and she’ll love me anyway.”
Um yeah…
I can’t say I like Sebastian all that much. He’s not just envious, he’s needy, he’s possessive, he’s creepy, and inside he’s like a hurt little boy who wants things he and throws tantrums when he doesn’t get them. Yikes. And yet, there’s something inherently readable about his story. It’s by no means a romance or a love story, but it is interesting and entertaining. Envy is by far the most fitting of the series – where the main lead truly embodies his sin. The secret society aspect isn’t expanded upon a lot here, but the ending certainly gives the impression that the next story will delve much more into The Elite Seven society. I hope so, because the secret society portion is what I’m really interested in knowing more about. I said in my review of Wrath that I’m not reading this series for the romance, and Envy makes me all the more glad of that, because the romance is nil here. But for what Envy is, it’s pretty good. It’s edgy, more than a little creepy, and the cliffhanger just made me want more!
Wow the 4th in the series and my god, its hotting up.
What can I say about Sebastian,…..delusional, self consumed who thinks he’s entitled to everything and everyone, psychotic disorder springs to mind too.
The things that runs through his mind, what he thinks is acceptable is incomprehensible to anyone who is classed as “normal” because seb is anything but.
I was left in shock, this book will leave you wondering wtaf just happened and how am I going to wait for the next one.
So many questions left u answered.what a story told by an amazing author
Bring…it..on
Envy.
How can we overcome such a strong feeling that it can be the driving force to achieve great achievements, or to be the overthrow of someone?
Sebastian Westbrook was chosen to be Envy in The Elite Seven, but before that he was a person. Someone with strong feelings, and who wanted a single thing in life, and since he never had it, he lived under the sign of Envy.
This is another strong book within the series. Erotic scenes, quarrels, contradictory feelings, regrets.
And will the friendship among them be able to overcome the rules within the infamous club?
Be prepared for the best or the worst.
Wow… Wrath is a true clusterf#ck. All the other guys have been vicious and mean and have lived up to their sin BUT Wrath/Sebastian is really the first guy that WAS THE SIN! Does that make sense? He was brutal and mean, just so cruel. Honestly, there’s this quote in this book that is so much Sebastian that I can’t even think of any other way to describe him when M.N. Forgy perfected it herself… “He’s super sweet, but I get this Ted Bundy feeling around him, you know?” That is Sebastian, and he lives up to that sentence.
I liked the darkness and the fury in Wrath. Forgy pulls no punches in this story. I’m shocked that I had such a hard time getting into this story. I don’t know why. I do wish it had more of the romance aspect in it. I just needed a bit of redemptive quality is him. I didn’t really get that. He seems to not really care about his aloft, callousness. What is really odd is that while those are the parts that don’t sit quite well are also the parts that my sick heart couldn’t get enough off. I know, I know, I’m coming off confused. I love me a good sick and twisted man… I just wish there was some redemptive qualities there!
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
WWWHHHAAATTTT!
What in the what’s hell were those last few chapters I couldn’t read them quick enough!!!
This has been the best book so far in this series, that was some twisty shit happening in there!
I didn’t see some of that stuff happening in the slightest i thought I know what was happening but yip yip got it!
I DIDN’T
What in the fresh hell is going to happen next
5 wtf have I just read stars *****
Envy = Sebastian Westbrook = uncontrollable, delusional psychopath
that about sums him up I could think of many others but I’ll just leave that as is lol.
I am completely lost for words,and wow i didnt see any of that coming this book as messed with my head in the best.possible way, it’s a fantastically written continuation of the elite 7 series.
During envy we gain answers to questions from previous books but are left with so many more and oh god I have no idea how this is all going to play out, I got to admit after how wrath ended I expected Sebastian to be bad but I was not prepared for that !!!!
Next up is greed and I can’t wait !!!!!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.
People say I have everything. They’re wrong. I may have looks, money, and privilege, but I don’t have the one thing that really matters, the one thing I crave: a woman with eyes only for me. I’m searching for my woman-one who will fall to her knees because I’m her King. She’ll wear the crown of my tarnished name, and long for me when I’m not near And when I am close, she’ll be naked across my lap feeling the sting of my palm across her milky skin. You could say I’m a sinner because I’d do anything to have the perfect woman-compliant to my every need and whim-and I’m envious of every couple who walks around naive to the luxury they have. That’s why I joined The Elite, the most prestigious brotherhood in the south. It’s the one place that wil give me what I cannot have. Only….the task assigned to me is to much for my jealous eyes. Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak…they’re for The Elite. Those who envy have no peace. My name is Sabastian Westbrook. I am Envy.
This is the fourth book in The Elite Series. You need to read the first three book Lust, Pride, and Wrath before you attempt to read this one. I really really knew after the last book that this one was going to be something that would blow my mind and have me in all kinds of knots. I was not wrong and M.N. Forgy delivered in spades. Envy is a man possessed. He is consumed and really really obsessed. He is vastly different from the other characters in this series but I have been looking so forward to his book. After the ending of Wrath I just wanted answers and I wanted them yesterday. I have to warn you too that if your looking for a romance like the last books your not going to get it. You are going to get a story though that I couldn’t put down. Hold on though for once again the ending is going to blow you away.
“Let’s just say there is the man I am, and the one I wish I was.”
Sebastian Westbrook is not your average Joe. In fact, I thought something was super creepy about him when he was introduced in Wrath. Sebastian was the epitome of envy. He saught, he wanted and he KILLED. This guy was a serious psychopath. But again I am just floored how M.N. wrote this book. Again we get questions answered but she moves the story forward with Sebastian. This book is so necessary and on point. It was a major factor in the series. We begin to see another aspect and it is startling.
Was there sex in this book? Hell yes. Violence, rage and the elite brothers developed as men. In each installment you get a different view point on the most critical element in the last story. It usually starts with the conclusion and or hook of the last book. You are totally off guard. Additionally because different authors are telling this story each book is pivotal, unique and mind blowing. I truly hope authors do more collabs like this it’s amazing from the reader perspective. Each installment is fresh and new.
The other critical point is each character is developed by the sin they posses. This process is ingenious and clever. You learn how and what the author means by the sin of the character. That element in each books is fabulous. I never thought envy would be portrayed as Sebastian but it was gritty, dark and perfect.
What in the fuck did I just read?
I don’t even know what to tell you. This just took the series in a totally different direction for me.
I had a hard time connecting to Sebastian. I felt like I had this perception of how he would act or who he would be…and he wasn’t. I can’t say much without giving away any of the story, but Envy seriously fucked with my head
I will say that some of the questions I’ve had for the entire series were answered in Envy. And then new questions were born.
I need Greed STAT.
I’m completely surprised by the story described in Envy. I completely didn’t expect such a turn of events, seriously. I can’t even say that I like the main character because in my opinion Sebastian Westbrook has a decent mental disorder. And yet, I liked this story. This read kept me under constant suspense and I couldn’t predict what would happen next.
Envy is a very dangerous feeling. Sebastian Westbrook knows it well and will not rest until he gets what he wants. Are there any limits? Not for this guy. That’s why he became a member of Elite Seven. Therefore, he will do everything to gain the unconditional love of the sweet Sabella, in who he sees his other half. However, no one is able to force the other person to love. What will happen when you refuse an envious person?
Shock. With this one word I can describe the read that Envy was. M. N. Forgy shook me completely. Nothing in this book was predictable and to this moment I feel a slight confusion. Although I didn’t like the main character, I have to rate this book high because without any doubt the author kept my interest from the beginning to the very end. Not only that, I couldn’t put this book down for fear that I would miss something! I’m floored.
Envy AKA Sebastian Westbrook sure lived up to his Sin name! This novel for me had felt different to the other books in the series so far and that is because of who Sebastian’s character is. He is a young man so self consumed, obsessive and has an innate need to have what isn’t his. He doesn’t understand why he isn’t the desired person at the moment in time and will do whatever it takes to change that.
Sebastian is a darker more sinister character he doesn’t seem to have a sense of remorse or regret towards the person he is affecting, the only emotions he expresses are the anger, jealously and longing for something or someone he can’t or doesn’t have and the grief he feels over his lack of perceived misfortune.
Envy had the same layout as the other books in that it provides us with a back story on Sebastian, how he came to be at St Augustine and how he inserts himself into the Elite. Next we move onto he version of the days so far after meeting his 7 brothers before getting up to date with the events leading up to and slightly behind that epic cliffhanger in the previous book Wrath! Sebastian’s obsession with Wrath’s sister Sab is creepy and it’s here you realise how borderline psycho Sebastian really is.
Envy was full of twists and turns and Sebastian kept me surprised at just how far he goes to get what he wants. Another element that is back with a vengeance is non other than Lillian. Seeing how she has had a hand in more than I thought up to now was interesting. The plot continues to thicken and bring on Greed!
3.5 Stars
I started Envy with low expectations because of my disappointment in the previous books but that changed after reading and loving the prologue and beginning.
Sebastian had intrigued me from the very first book and his madness definitely exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed being in his head sometimes but after a while he just sounded annoying. His sin as envy, however, was portrayed really well! I also got to understand Lillian more through Sebastian since they share the same sin.
Most importantly, I truly appreciated how different this book was than the others. It’s the most dark and twisted one yet! I think I enjoyed Envy more because it didn’t have a HEA, it wasn’t a romance and the way it ended was perfect.
Things are getting increasingly more interesting with the Elite for sure and I can’t wait for the next three books!
I’m speachless…. breathless…. I’ve FORGOT MY NAME !!! MN Forgy turned my world upside down. I didn’t read her books before, but obviously I heard here or there about her, that she crossed every possible line in books…. and Lord forgive me because this dirty writting capitaved dark part of my bookish heart.
ENVY is pure example for that…. I didn’t expect this kind of story, and definetely I DIDN’T expect this kind of hero like Sebastian Westbrook…HE IS EVERYTHING WHAT I HATE in my BBFs. He’s like envy… Rotten inside, making Your worst fears come true when You don’t expect any hit from “life”. I have big problem with his character, HOWEVER! MrsForgy writting style rewarded me Srbastian’s ugly behavior. I still want to know more!!!
After reading Envy I’m VERY interested what will happen next… I have feeling that more sercrets are still to find out, that it was discovered in previous books.
Dear authors, give me more !!!! I’m ready !
5 CRAZY DARK STARS!! Envy is crazy, dark, sexy and dangerous. Sebastian is crazy about Sabella and being part of the elite, he will do whatever it takes. I was glued to this book, it was so dark and mesmerizing. This series has been phenomenal, you definitely need to read these books.