RIOT HOUSE is a 137,000-word standalone book in the Crooked Sinners Series and does not end on a cliffhanger. Future books in the series will feature other characters. This book contains dark content that may be considered a trigger for some readers, and as such is recommended for readers 17+
They might be richer than gods, but they’re morally bankrupt.
As far as the boys who run America’s most … run America’s most exclusive international academy are concerned, I’m an unwelcome interloper, an inconvenience, and they’re determined to make my life a living hell.
When Wren Jacobi sets eyes on Wolf Hall Academy’s newest inductee, all he sees is an easy mark. A reserved little girl with a target painted on her back. He knows nothing of my troubled past, though. Nothing of my mother’s suspicious death, or the horrific treatment I’ve had to endure at the hands of my psychotic father. And he has no idea of the lengths that I, unassuming little Elodie Stillwater, will go to in order to break the savage beast who dreams of breaking me first.
There’s a wolf stalking the forests that surround my new school.
Little does he know…
There are far scarier predators lurking out there in the dark.
more
“Only a stupid, foolish girl with no common sense or care for her own well-being would take a gift offered by Wren Jacobi. I know this. So why do I reach out and take the book from him? And why can’t I break eye contact with him…?”
5 Riot House Stars!!! Ummm… I’ve been rendered speechless, this book was EVERYTHING!
Elodie has been shipped off from Israel to a boarding school in the US. And while she is sad to leave her friends behind, she’s thrilled to be away from her psychotic father. She’s a sarcastic girl, who takes zero from anyone. And dares anyone to challenge her. Wren is the typical hot, rich jerk that no girl can seem to stay away from. He lives in the Riot House off campus with his two friends. And they get a kick out of torturing and plotting evils plans on poor unsuspecting people. Andt he minute Wren sees Elodie, he makes her his new target. The minute these two lock eyes, the intensity is there and neither can deny it. The push and pull between them is so good, but it confuses them both.
This bully romance isn’t your typical bully romance, it has dark parts, emotional parts and lets face it so much sexiness!! Callie Hart definitely knows how to toe the line of dark, she throws in just enough to keep people going and I love it!!
Wow! This book immediately sucked me in right from the start and I didn’t put it down until it ended ! This story was intense, steamy and suspenseful and I absolutely fell in love with all the characters in this book ! The twists and turns in this book definitely kept me intrigued and turning page after page to find out what was going on at Wolf hall ! I’m now highly invested in these characters and can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for us with these riot house boys ! This is another must read from Callie Hart and if you’ve never read anything by her than this is the perfect start ! This is a high school bully romance with some dark elements and you can expect the amazing plot twist that you come to expect from this author ! Definite 5 stars from me and definitely recommend!
***I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book ***
Callie Hart to save the day! I have been in the most atrocious book slump the last two months and Wren and Elodie jolted me right out of it! Gah, I loved this book so much!
“Wren was never innocent. He came out of the womb corrupt and depraved, I’m certain of it.”
Riot House had me hooked from the first page. I love Callie’s writing. The whole feel of Riot House was awesome. It’s dark and twisty, with a little bit of mystery mixed in to keep you thinking what the F is going on. I loved these characters. Wren and Elodie, and the sexual tension between them. A+. Oh my gosh these two were great. Both flawed and dark in their own ways, but perfect for each other in the way that they are exactly what each of them needs.
“Of all my sins and misdeeds, making you fall in love with me will be the worst.”
I really loved the plot and story itself as well. It’s just enough to keep you on the edge of your seat while reading. I didn’t want this book to end. Both Wren and Elodie have dark pasts that have forged them into the people that they are. I loved Elodie so much. her strength is admirable. And Wren, damn you just can’t help but to love him. Especially when he’s with Elodie. By the end of the book these two together had a huge smile on my face.
“I’ve always been a depraved and dirty thing, Elodie Stillwater, but the idea of you has corrupted me to the point of insanity.”
I am so looking forward to the other guys in Riot House getting their books. I’m intrigued by both of them, but especially Pax. Just do yourself a favor and read Riot House. It does not disappoint. Five amazing cups of coffee from me!
*ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Callie Hart has done it again! Enemies to lovers is my favorite genre and this one was sooooo good! I love the connection between Wren and Elodie. Wren was swoon worthy for sure! Must read!!!
Elodie is pulled from her home in Tel Aviv and is forced to attend Wolf Hall Academy in New Hampshire to finish out the second half of her senior year of high school. When she arrives to Wolf Hall she receives a less than warm welcome from Wren, who she later learns rules the school. Wren is fascinated with Elodie and his only desire is to break her down but as he gets closer to her he learns that he doesn’t want to break her anymore, he wants to claim, protect and treasure her.
This was my first Callie Hart book and it was not at all what I expected. I was prepared for a lot of mean and vicious bullying tactics but I got the exact opposite. It was very clear from the beginning that was what Wren’s plan was but the more that he got to know her he realized that he didn’t want to do that and instead he turned into a sweet and protective guy who would do just about anything to protect and fight for and cherish Elodie. Wren and Elodie are so beautifully broken but perfect together. For all that she had been through her strength was pretty darn impressive and commendable. Wren the boy who didn’t realize that all he wanted and needed was to be loved and Elodie was the perfect girl for him.
This book was the exact opposite of what I first thought it was going to be. There was so much going on with Wolf Hall that added a whole other level of angst and suspense aside from the Wren and Elodie drama and I am here for it. Can’t wait to read about all of that drama in future books. So even though it wasn’t what I was expecting I still loved this book and recommend it to everyone.
4.5/5 Stars
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions in my review are my own.
When I first started this book I honestly didn’t know if this was going to be a story that I meshed well with. I am glad that I kept reading though because I was pleasantly impressed with this story.
I think that what felt lacking in the beginning was the pace of the story. It was just a little too slow for my taste. The overall story kept the same pace but once the plot twists started appearing I was a goner. I was hooked onto the pages like my life depended on it. This story definitely had a lot of drama but everything falls together nicely in the story. I enjoyed the storytelling. Again, a bit slow but with a writing voice that was very relatable and easy to get into.
I really liked these characters. I wasn’t sure about Wren at first but damn, did he sure grow on me. I really loved his personality. All the pieces that we pick up through the story that make up who he is. We caught glimpses of the real Wren more and more and the story progressed. Both Wren and Elodie had some great depth and character development. I loved how relatable their characters were and how distinct their personalities were. I also very much adored the secondary cast of characters and I hope that we get to see more of them in future books in this series.
The romance in this book was an enemies-to-lovers trope that I think that author pulled off convincingly. Wren and Elodie certainly didn’t care for one another at the start but slowly getting to know the other turns their feelings into something else entirely. Even when they were hating on each other there was always a heated connection between the two of them. When the two of them were together there were always sparks of some kind. And some of the things that Wren does for Elodie were just romantic af. I loved his protective vibe once he realizes how he feels about her.
Overall, this was a book that kept me on the edge of my seat with anticipation. The plot twists and secrets were riveting and I couldn’t get enough. These characters really worked themselves into my heart. This is an awesome start to a series and I can’t even fathom where Carrie Hart takes us next. I can’t wait for more!
Be still my heart! A tortured artist who loves poetry. A broken girl who just wants to be free. A love story that defies the odds. This is only a sampling of what you get when you dive into this book.
We meet Elodie who has been shipped off to the Northeast from everything she has ever known to start her senior year of school at Wolf Hall Academy. This is the elite of the elite. Wren Jacobi is one of the three most wanted boys in school. He has a dark past, but sees the same darkness in Elodie. What starts out as a war between two people turns into those two people taking on the school.
Warning: this book is long, you will get sicked in, and house hold chores will. It get done. There is no cliff hanger! I am so excited to see what happens with the other students from Wolf Hall!
This is a YA bully romance story, full of drama, angst, and romance, Wren and Elodie’s story is one you don’t want to miss if you are a fan of this trope as I am. There are twists and turns you didn’t see coming having you reading through it all, I can’t wait to read the next in the series. The cover is fantastic and so Wren, so great choice Callie definitely worth the change.
I’m so torn with this book. On one hand I loved the last 40% of it, on the other I was a bit bored of the first 60%. I’ve been raking my brain trying to figure out what to rate this book.
The cover is amazing and it really grabs your attention. The blurb is had me desperatley wanting more of this story. I’ve been patiently waiting for this book since the author first announced this book.
I found the story really long and it seemed longer then it needed to be. I think if it had of been cut down then it would of got a higher rating from me. I just felt bored with the first 60%, not a lot happened and it was drawn out.
At about the 60% mark is when the story takes the twist I was hoping for throughout the story. This was when I sat down and needed to finish the book to find out what would happen. The story had me gripped to the pages.
A few things that bothered me:
Wren’s past wasn’t really explained properly. We had snippets here and there but that was it. He was meant to have done bad things but again we don’t really hear about that.
There were a few plot holes that didn’t wrap up at the end and I suspect they wont get sorted because the next books will be about the other Riot House boys? (Correct me if I’m wrong?)
The ‘bad guy’ was predictable. There was a line dropped early on by Wren which gave it away.
I wanted more details on Elodie’s past as well. We got some details but I just felt like we needed more of it.
I’m excited to read the next books in the series. Espcially Dashiel’s book!!
Riot House is book 1 in the Crooked Sinners series by Callie Hart. The story looks at Wren Jacobi and Elodie Stillwater. Elodie is new to Wolf Hall Academy, having been moved from Israel by her military father. She comes to school carrying a lot of secrets and hoping that she can make it through the next few months before leaving and becoming independent of her father. She’s reserved, quiet and has a history to her that she doesn’t share with others.
Enter Wren Jacobi, one of the Gods of Wolf Hall Academy. He is obsessed with Elodie, even before she comes to his school. He and his two best friends Pax and Dashiell, rule the school, but each have secrets of their own. Wren at the beginning almost wants to destroy Elodie, but his obsession with her comes full circle when things start happening to her at school and the more, he finds out about her. She intrigues him and haunts him, even in his dreams. Wren is an intriguing character because he doesn’t talk to much, he thinks about things on such a deep intrinsic level which leaves you breathless and he has such creativity in him, that when he does talk or we read about his Art, it is like we are experiencing it in real time.
This book is a slow burn as we watch the development of a relationship, from enemies, to friends to lovers. The story is intricately written, with twist and turns, steamy scenes, intricate relationships which are intriguing as much as they are quite puzzling. You never quite get to know the characters 100%, mainly due to the secrets and life experiences that they all seem to have.
The book is also filled with flashbacks and hidden pieces of Elodie’s past which are pieced together in a heart-breaking way whilst high-lighting the lengths people will go to too protect one of their own. This book is a roller-coaster ride for the psyche. I hope you’re ready for the rest of the series!
ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review
More of my reviews can be found on my blog: https://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
I don’t have the words to express how engrossed I was in this book.
I was consumed immediately by the possibilities surrounding Elodie Stillwater’s life before she moved to New Hampshire to attend Wolf Hall Academy and also the secrets buried among the students at Wolf Hall Academy.
Upon arriving at the academy the first person Elodie meets is Wren Jacobi, who is a bit of a mystery himself. He gives off this dark and dangerous vibe immediately…which of course is basically like a beacon to all of us readers. Hahaha! Regardless of his hostility towards her and her determination to steer clear of him; naturally they both gravitate towards each other and just can’t seem to stay away. I love how they connect on a deep level; almost like their broken souls thrive from being near the other but they both have secrets and secrets never stay buried! .
When I read the 10 chapters that were included in the Bully Me anthology a couple months ago I felt like it moved kinda slow. Even though I was entertained, I felt it was missing that punch that I like at the beginning of a novel to keep me reading. However, when the full version of this book came out I started it all over again because the author had added some things to it that immediately piqued my interest. Things I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO KNOW! I needed to know what happened and who did it!
Let me tell you what, the things revealed had my head spinning…there might have been some tears and a whole lot of anger!
I feel like the author did a fantastic job setting up the scene for future novels with some of the background characters from Riot House. I absolutely can’t wait for Pax & Dash’s stories and I’m hoping that Carina & Mercy appear somewhere in them! I loved their characters almost immediately.
Overall this book held my attention, evoked emotions which are important to me when reading and made me want more. I can’t wait to see what Callie has in store for us next in this world.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.
Elodie has been dumped at Wolf Hall Academy, and while some kids would be upset at being forgotten, she’s okay with going to boarding school since her father totally keeps her under his thumb. Wren is one of the leaders of the Academy, but has depth underneath all the surface junk. The moment he comes across Elodie, she become his target, and he does his best to torment her, but try as he may, he cannot break her. What he didn’t think about happening was the obsession becoming something more dangerous like feelings, especially since she stands up to him & his Riot House boys. They have a pull towards each other, and while they’re both fighting it at first with everything they have, it soon turns into a secret thing between them. However, dangerous things are at play, things which provide twists & turns to get the f-bombs dropping, but I still feel like I was left with a lot of questions about Wren’s past, which is what kept me from the perfect rating. Maybe they’ll be answered in future books, but don’t take my word for it, hit those one click buttons for yourselves! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Riot House by Callie Hart is the first book in her brand new Crooked Sinners series. A stunning introduction to a new world of wealthy rich kids at the prestigious and remote Wolf Hall Academy. While we are introduced to may characters in this book, we are focused on the story of Elodie Stillwater and Wren Jacobi. Elodie is the new student, recently transferred in from Tel Aviv, and happy to finally be thousands of miles away from her tyrant of a father, Colonel Stillwater. However, Wren ahs his sights set on tormenting the new girl and things definitely start out that way. With the old walls of the academy holding tight to secrets, with Wren never quite seeming like someone that can be trusted and with Elodie cautious about trusting anyone too much and determined to rely on her own self for all things, this books evolves quickly into a tumultuous bed of secrets and lies and past-misdeeds. With Wren and Elodie learning more about each other and their relationship rapidly metamorphosing from hate to love but still, there’s doubt. Well-written, well-paced, another stellar story from Callie Hart with the refreshing change that this story does not end on a wicked cliffhanger and that the next book moves on to a different member of the Riot house group. Enjoy!
Every single one of Callie Hart’s gritty and dark worlds lure me in with their complex settings and bevy of main and supporting characters who have so many layers that it’s impossible to completely know any of them until every trait has been unearthed and every question as to the reasons they do what they do and say what they say is answered.
In Hart’s newest release, she introduces readers to Wolf Hall, an exclusive international academy in New Hampshire, and the rich and entitled students who walk its hallways and seem to call all the shots when it comes to anything and everything that happens at Wolf Hall as well as Riot House – the home of three princes of the school – that sits at the bottom of the hill.
Wren Jacobi appears to have everything he could ever want and the fact that he walks around Wolf Hall like he runs it seems to give him power over everyone, meaning that he can do whatever he wants, offering his own not so warm welcome for new students, including Elodie Stillwater.
Wren may see Elodie as an easy mark, as someone he can play with without repercussion, but he would be underestimating who she truly is and what she’s made of. There’s a resilience to her, despite her outward appearance and demeanor, that allows her to stand tall and weather the storm, no matter if it comes from her peers or someone who holds authority over her.
It’s interesting to see how Wren and Elodie go from adversaries to a secret couple and what the different stages of their relationship look like, but because there is so much more going on than these two sparking a connection, contending with those obstacles amidst figuring out what they truly mean to each other becomes quite the interesting game of cat and mouse.
I do have to say that the story felt a bit too long; creating the foundation for the world and its characters took up a good majority of the first half of the book, and I found myself skimming parts of it, eager to get to the twists and turns as well as the revelations that I knew were coming, and once they started, the pace of the story picked up and how everything played out in the end kept my attention and answered the questions as it came to its resolution.
Despite the slow start, I enjoyed the non-linear plot line and the fact that certain conversations and situations had me second-guessing how everything would play out, which is exactly what keeps me intrigued as the story line continues to be fleshed out.
4 Poison Apples
My Rating: ***
Type: Standalone
Genre: YA Romance, Romantic Suspense
Narration: Dual POV
Primary Characters: Wren and Elodie
Source: Courtesy of Author/ Publisher – ARC
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book in exchange for honest review.
This is my first read from Callie Hart. I’m not sure if my mood and mind just wasn’t in it or if it was the book itself. I didn’t hate this book but I also didn’t like it. It felt like, book dragged for a long while. 400+ Pages felt too much.
Book starts with Elodie entering Wolf Hall as a new lateral entry student. It’s a high-profile academy where high profile people have dumped their kids. Elodie’s old man is military coronel posted in Israel and she is happy to get back to US just to be away from him.
Wren and Elodie has their own set of problems and they both deal with it differently. Wren is reclusive even though he has two best friends, whom he calls his family, he still prefers to be lonely and they stay out of academy campus in a house called “Riot House”. Elodie has lived under her military father’s absolute rule for years and being out is good reprieve for her. She is strong and it’s a welcome reprieve. Wren develops an obsession on her and tries to break her and make her his own. It’s not easy as Elodie is careful with boys like Wren and doesn’t trust anyone easily.
Author has tried to make Wren character cold and cruel, but I felt him honest and warm. The best part of the entire book was climax, I didn’t expect that at all. Writing style was good but plot dragged too much for my taste.
Reasons to rate low.
We got little burst of mystery, twist & turns woven into the plot here and there but there were so very few of those moments and they were spread too far apart to keep me invested in the long run. At certain parts I literally felt like skimming pages. There were several scenes which didn’t make sense in the entire plot. Like sending Morse code signal as PWC and entering the house in maze at cold midnight just to speak with her was too much.
Secondary Characters – Carina and Dash were warming. Pax was extremely intriguing. Mercy was ok, I didn’t understand the hype of her entry when she came back even though I understood it at the end, still I felt her character was over hyped to create intrigue than necessary. Fitz opening scene was good buttttt, I would leave it here for you to read and know.
Overall, if you are into YA slow paced romances with nice climax then pick this up. It was an ok one time read for me. Pick up and judge yourself.
Check out complete review here :https://meander23.com/2020/05/04/riot-house-crooked-sinners-1-by-callie-hart/
Check out other reviews here – https://meander23.com
Its been a while since I read Callie’s books and this one has become one of my favourites from her.
Once I started this I was completely hooked and didn’t want to put it down. Callie wove a brilliant tale with some simply brilliant twists and turns!!
Wren Jacobi is the complete opposite of Elodie Stillwater. He is the king of the Riot House, he’s dark and twisted and someone you should probably run from but there is something about him that draws you in. Elodie is a new student, she lead a sheltered life under the protection of her Military father. The chemistry between these two is electric and off the charts hot.
I can’t wait to see what Callie brings us next with this series
“There’s a very real danger that he’ll hold his cup to my lips, and I’ll drink down his poison like I’m dying and he’s the cure.”
That was epic! Riot House lived up to my preconceived expectations and gave me a whole lot more than I ever could of imagined. Ms Hart is the master when it comes to writing dark literature. She has my head spinning, I’m going in one direction only to be twisted around and be standing on unknown ground. The suspense was riveting, I kept reading into the wee hours as the sun began to rise. What a deliciously decadent story based on the mysteriously, privileged high school students of Wolf Hall. I feel there are lots of hidden stories to be told about these unique and carefree students.
Elodie is the daughter of Colonel Stillwater, who is almost a bloody dictator. Being shipped off to a new school, on another continent, miles away from him appears like a reward in itself. Being the new girl in the middle of the school term isn’t easy though. Arriving in the dead of night, will give her time to settle in before she has to meet anyone. However she has her very own welcoming party, he’s dark, broody and very intriguing. His name is Wren Jacobi, warned to avoid him at all costs, as if that’s not a glowing beacon to guide you right back to him.
Wren has been eagerly awaiting Elodie’s arrival, there is something drawing him to her. He toys with her, like a cat with a mouse, she is almost on his hook but something or someone fills her head with past info on him and she runs off again. Riot House is an aptly named house down the hill, where he lives with his two best mates Pax and a Dash. During a discussion with them he lays claim to her, as if she has no say in the matter. However there is a lot more to the petite French girl than meets the eye, he may get more than he bargained for.
4.5 Stars
Wolf Hall Academy is your typical boarding school, the kids are spoiled, overly entitled and impossible to like… but for the most part… harmless. But newcomer Elodie Stillwater’s arrival is about to upend it all…
Wren Jacobi is rich, gorgeous, and wildly unpredictable… and he makes no secret to just how much he hates Elodie at first sight…
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Riot House is the dangerously sexy and secret riddled story of Elodie and Wren, two students who are about to change the landscape of Wolf Hall Academy… forever. With a sizzling attraction and a simmering disdain, Wren is prepared to ruin Elodie in every possible way… that is, if he can get close enough to her to even try…
I was not expecting the magnitude of this book, at all! Elodie and Wren’s relationship starts out with a mutual animosity and some delightfully abrasive interactions, but the truth of their attraction can only keep them away from each other for so long. Elodie has been warned about Wren and his friends, who lord over the school from their perch at the illustrious and forbidden Riot House, but now that she is finally out from under her father’s thumb, Elodie is done playing things safe…
I absolutely loved Elodie! She was smart, tough AF, and has overcome a lot to get to this point in her life… and she is not about to let some petty kids at her new school take her down in any way, shape, or form. Wren was deeply troubled in his own mind, but at the same time, the perfect match for Elodie. Misjudging her sweet and innocent persona, he soon finds that she won’t be so easy to manipulate, after all…
I enjoyed where this book was going, it was interesting and engaging, and maybe a little slow moving. I was prepared to call it a night and finish reading the rest of it in the morning… and then BOOM… I stayed up reading until three, and I don’t regret one second of it… because seriously… THIS is an ending that you WILL NOT see coming…
I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.
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First, HAVE YOU SEEN THIS COVER!?!YUM!
Secondly, I loved this book! I need a WREN for myself! I loved the different twists and turns through out this book. It had alot of surprises that I didn’t see coming. I loved how Elodie was a badass and didn’t take any shit! Definitely recommend reading this book!
Wren and Elodie’s story is fan-freaking-tastic!!!
Elodie gets transferred into a new high school in the middle of her senior year. The first person she meets is Wren; a gruff, handsome jerk. Wren decided before Elodie even set foot in his school that he was going to break her and his friends, Pax and Dashiell, are so looking forward to him taking her down. This book is awesome, the characters are wonderful and the storyline is intriguing. There’s a mystery that surrounds Elodie’s new school and there is a twist to the plot you won’t see coming. This is an excellent read and I highly recommend it! I’m hoping Dashiell and Pax get their own stories, cause I’m sure they would be fantastic as well!!