When Ben Corbin’s uncle is murdered, he comes into possession of information about the man responsible for the death of his mother and father. A man his uncle appeared to be hunting. Now Ben wants to finish what his uncle began.
Jacob Moser fell into a cycle of drugs and abuse. His will broken, his life destroyed, he had no hope of survival. But the man who saved him is no angel; rather, the … angel; rather, the remnants left behind when all the complexities of what makes a person human are stripped away, leaving the darkest parts of a man.
Marcel Serghi lives by the rules of his House. Rules ingrained in him as a child under the most brutal conditions meant to hone him into a perfect killer. And throughout his life, he has made vicious enemies. Now innocent lives have been swept up into a storm of revenge against him.
But Marcel isn’t going to save them.
He’s going to change them.
Because life is a gift.
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Despite the ambiguous blurb, I knew this would be epic. Adrienne Wilder writes intense plot driven stories with complicated characters worthy of love and redemption. This time was no different. It’s unclear at first who all the MCs are, but what is evident is that Marcel is at the heart of the matter and the characters circling around him showcase his character at different angles – savior, protector, killer and lover. Each of them – Jacob, Ben, Sam and Yvette by their words and actions show his true self. I like Marcel a lot. He is a complete surprise for me here. He might be the anti hero of the story but in everything he does despite the manner he does it in he makes such a difference in people’s lives. I can’t say more, it would be a spoiler.
The story is tight. Every event leads to another, characters converge and the seeming lack of feelings has the opposite effect that shows how sometimes people feel too much. I loved how it all came back to Marcel, how he was not what he at first seemed, how tidbits here and there showed a wider bigger picture that I have yet to see. I loved the knowing and not knowing at the same time. It reads easily almost in one breath, so good. There is steam, angst and danger that make this an irresistible story for me.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What made be want to read this book was the summary. I was not disappointed at all once I started it.
First off, I’d recommend this to anyone who loves a good plot, a nice mystery and really complex characters. However, if the idea of adults with huge age gaps participating in sex and at times of dubious consent in nature, then this book will not be for you. Please keep that in mind if ever you wish to read this.
Opening Move is the first book in the House of Sicarii series. The opening scenes of the book is something I wouldn’t call terribly exciting. I’d even say it is your typical opener for a crime/thriller story. However, as you delve deeper into the plot, you are reeled in by the various events happening as seen through the eyes of the characters – Sam, Jacob, Marcel, Yvette, and Ben.
The heart of this story as presented is Marcel. We see facets of his personality through those people whose lives he has touched one way or another. He is a protector, savior, lover and killer all into one. The layer of mystery surrounding this character is one of the highlights of this book and I do look forward to the succeeding ones to unravel that mystery.
Each event is weaved nicely into the next and the storytelling is tight. The characters’ motivations though at first glance is clear gets muddled up as the book goes on. There is so many shades of grey.
A tiny criticism that I have though is that the shifting POVs can be a bit confusing and jarring at times especially if the person reading it is not used to such transitioning. I am able to follow along easily since I am used to such things, but I think for some it might pose just a wee bit of problem especially when this transition throws the reader at times in a different scenario that might at first not be related to something that happened previously.
Another one would be that I feel like the women in this story feels so one dimensional as opposed to the male characters. They read like they are just there for plot devise purposes. Yes even Yvette who is the main antagonist so far in this book. This might change once I read the rest of the series but we will see.
Anyway, by the end of book 1, the reader is presented with a complex story with high stakes that each character is forced to confront. Every individual action done has an equal consequence that alters the lives entangled in it.
There is so much going on in this opening salvo for this series – Love, Betrayal, Revenge, Pain, Fear, Loyalty – there is just a lot. I am looking forward to the rest of the House of Sicarii.
I’d give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
Ok so this is a super angsty, suspenseful story, epically woven with danger. Going into it I knew there would be more stories. There are 3 main characters Ben, Jacob, and Marcel. Each path or choice leads into another path/choice. So many twists and turns. Definitely recommend reading all in order to get the full effect of the storyline. This wasn’t meant to be a standalone, can’t wait to read what’s next.
I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
3.75 stars– SICARII part 1 by Adrienne Wilder is a contemporary, adult, dark, erotic psychological thriller focusing on Ben Corbin, Jacob Moser and Marcel Serghi.
DEFINITION: In ancient times, in Judaism, the Sicarii were assassins and murderers who carried a dagger known as the sica.
WARNING: SICARII part 1 contains graphic scenes of M/M sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers.
Told from three third person perspectives (Ben, Jacob and Marcel) SICARII part one introduces the players and sets the premise that follows a betrayal and vendetta in the world of the SICARII. Marcel Serghi is a member of the House Sicarii; an assassin who has disobeyed the laws of their covenant and as such finds himself the target of a woman seeking vengeance for someone she lost. Marcel is no longer the assassin of memory but a man who is much more. With former rent-boy (aka male prostitute) Jacob Moser as his part-time companion and sexual partner, Marcel bides his time knowing someone will come seeking revenge, and that someone has come looking for justice, at a cost to his own family and the people he loves. Enter Ben Corbin, a twenty-something young man who has last everyone and everything, and with one final act of rebellion, Ben sets out to take down the man he believes killed the only family he has ever known.
We are introduced to Marcel’s young neighbor, high school teen Sam Waters who is struggling with his sexual identity. Sam has been bullied most of his life, and Marcel Serghi sees something in Sam that calls to his heart. Building up Sam’s confidence, Marcel sets up a series of tasks for the young boy but his reasons and determinations have yet to be revealed.
SICARII part one is a story of betrayal, vengeance, power and control; of obedience and resignation; of family, love, and eroticism; of loss, lessons, deception, acknowledgement and acceptance. A complex and original story line, SICARII part one is compelling and dramatic that barely touches the surface of Marcel Serghi’s dark and dangerous history.
Part I of Sacarii is a type of introduction to this suspenseful, and somewhat, other, storyline. The Sacarii seem to be one in a number of alluded to secret societies that keep the world in check.
There is a weaving of seemingly separate lives being drawn together toward one Sacarii, Marcel. People in his personal orbit seem to be drawn to him, even knowing what he is and what he has done. Some fear him, some are angry, while one young innocent doesn’t seem to be quite caught up in Marcel’s world as of now; just Marcel doing something nice, but for what purpose, I haven’t determined.
We get a good building point of the characters’ backgrounds, but this was never meant to be a standalone. I really did not know exactly how to review this on its own, as I felt like just turning the page, or opening the next book, would have kept the story going just that much faster. I would definitely recommend having the three parts of this trilogy ready, because when one book ends, it’s time to start the next. I am very much looking forward to seeing what happens next.