I’m a motherless son to a father who hates me. Fury has lived and breathed in my black heart for so long, it’s a part of my soul now. The only thing that’s ever mattered to me is protecting my twin sister, Sabella, from my father’s temper.So when the chance to join a secret society presents itself, there’s no question I’ll do whatever it takes to become a member and earn my place in the ranks of … the ranks of only the most Elite.
With a taste for the deviant, I’m drawn to the darkest of desires, and no one ever leaves my bed unscathed.
My task: seduce Patience Noelle, St. Augustine’s sweetheart and the mayor’s beloved daughter—then break her heart.
Sinning is what I live for, and deviance is my passion. Failing has never been an option.
But what happens when my sin becomes my curse—when destroying the only woman I’ve ever wanted is my key to protecting my sister?
Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak…they’re for The Elite.
This isn’t just my chance, it’s my legacy and reckoning.
I am Samuel Gunner.
I am Wrath.
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This book felt like it went from nothing to everything FAST. In all the books I’ve read so far, the mains are transitioning into their college years, so this time period is already crazy, but add in the Elite Seven business and woo! In this installment, Sam has suffered years of abuse and has been working like crazy to protect his sister. Basically he uses his fists as an answer to any and all problems, but also his key to entering The Elite.
The cool thing about this installment is that I got the opportunity to see the characters through a different lens – seeing Wrath and the side characters through another author gave a different take on things. Sam was a little much to take. While I totally understand why he has so much anger, it was difficult to really find a connection to him. I will say that this was a hot read and I’m still anticipating what’s to come.
Wrath, Wrath, Wrath. Let me start this review off by saying that I haven’t read anything by Claire until I picked up this beauty. And now I need to read all things by her! Wrath was exceptionally written about a boy he was raised in hate and has so much of that poison in his heart…It was sad and the ending has me on the edge of my seat. I need the next book like yesterday!! I have to know what happened! These books just keep getting better and better.
My rating: 4.5
Samuel Gunner grew up way too early suffering at both the hands and words of not only his father but also grandparents and nannies. The one bright spot keeping him going is his twin sister, Sabella, who he vowed to protect and always take care of. Not wanting her life to be tarnished, Sam became the black sheep of the family, making sure the spotlight was on him for Sabella to stay under everyone’s radar. Learing about The Elite became his new focus, becoming The Machine and wreaking havoc to gain their attention. Now only one task stands in the way of Sam finally getting out from his family and that’s to seduce the mayor’s daughter and break her heart. Simple enough for someone who does that on a daily basis but nothing is ever coincidence with The Elite. Because Patience is not only an old friend who knows about the abuse, but Sam is also the one person she despises with everything she has.
Wow was this a story to sink into. Wrath is the third book of The Elite Seven series and further down the twisted rabbit hole of this secret society. Once again the alure of power and privilege grabs hold of another, basically turning Sam into a completely different person to make his endgame happen. Everything he endured was so horrific and made my heart hurt knowing that he’s forever tarnished. What was different about Wrath though was this book was all in his POV. There really wasn’t much of Patience beyond the bedroom so I didn’t connect with her character at all. I do hope for more from these two because of how the story played out to continue into the next. I am both creeped out and very curious about Sebastian since his character was everywhere but in a weird way, especially towards the end and his behavior completely flipped. Besides not feeling much beyond lust between Sam and Patience I absolutely did love this book, the drama fueled my need to keep reading and I can’t even imagine what will happen next but I’m more than ready to find out.
Oh my damn. Oh my damn. Oh my damn. That’s all I keep saying after finishing this book.
THIS is what I have been waiting for in this series!! Claire definitely took this series to the next level.
Wrath is the third book The Elite Seven series. While each book is about one particular brother, there is an underlying plot playing out in every book so it is best to read them all in order. And this book truly needs to be before reading the next book, which is Envy.
Wrath is my favorite book so far in this series. I really enjoyed getting to know who Wrath (Samuel) is and his past. Claire does a great job of fleshing out the details and making it all flow perfectly from the first two books into the next one along with adding new twists to the main plot.
Wrath felt much more mature than the previous two books, which for me, is a huge plus. I was beginning to wonder if these were just romantic stories with a small storyline of suspense about each sin. But Claire definitely proved that as each sin is unraveled, there is more depth to the story that first realized.
I am definitely looking forward to Envy as this is the first time where I truly sense how each book is pieced together in a certain way.
The Elite Seven – a secret society originated in 1942. The Elite is for life. Where sacrifices must be made to show your dedication to the organization. A brotherhood forged with initiations where your sin is a reflection or version of your abilities and personality. Seven brothers, Seven sins: Lust, Sloth, Gluttony, Pride, Envy, Greed, and Wrath.
WRATH: I am Samuel Gunner. I am Wrath. And pain is my specialty. Unloved, unwanted and angry all the time. Few can escape his wrath, and The Elite will be instrumental in reigning down vengeance on the father who lacked as a parent. His task, to destroy a woman, but with Patience comes peace and calm that smothers the rage. When his need for revenge starts to waiver and he changes his mind, he puts both his sister and the only woman he has ever wanted in danger. Can he protect them both?
This is the third vice in a series of cardinal sins. I found that the character depicted the likeness of his sin, and enjoyed the part that Wrath plays in the progression towards the next installment. I did find the story a bit drawn out and a little lengthy, and found my interest wane a little towards the middle of the story. BUT let me tell you, it picked right back up at the end with a detonation that threw me into a shocked and paralyzed state!
4* Ferocious Stars
In this 3rd story about the Elite 7, we get to read Samuel’s story. What do we learn early on about Samuel, his sister, and their family situation? I can already see what would help form Samuel’s ability to be Wrath so well. Who is Patience Noelle? Who is her father and what does he do? Why is Sam’s relationship strained with Sabella and Maxwell? Boy, does Sam really live up to his name in this book!!! You will have to read to see what happens. I am angry with Sebastian, so much…. See why!
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin’ With M. Brennan.
QUOTE:
Anything was better than living that life— a life of being unloved and unwanted by everyone who was supposed to care about you.
Wow, Holy Shit, what a rollercoaster Wrath was. This is my first book by Claire C. Riley, but I am a total dark romance junkie, so when I had the chance to review the Elite Seven Series for my blog, I jumped at it. And I can honestly tell you I wish I had taken that leap sooner to read a book by this author because this story left me stunned. One of the things I love most about the ability to self-publish is how many new author’s I’ve had the chance to discover… and now that I have had the chance to have experienced Claire’s storytelling. I was in NO WAY prepared for this book. As a matter of fact, everything I thought I knew or expected went completely out the window… the story was progressive and fresh. Dark, sexy and very original. I was riveted. Wrath is a truly outstanding read athough after reading the conclusion, I do have a few unanswered questions that balances out with the fact that it’s safe to say that I have NO CLUE what to expect with the rest of this series! The unpredictability of this series is a true selling point for me. Wrath was set to a faster pace, and I would tell you it’s perfect because I wasn’t sure how much more I could take at a couple moments in this particular story. This one reads as less of a romance in my opinion that the prior two, that might have something to do with the way the story ends. Not only is Wrath sinfully delicious its emotionally disturbing. This story should likely come with a trigger warning and there was nothing ‘lite’ or ‘sweet’ about the third book in the Elite Seven series. Although, truth be told, I personally find trigger warnings more intriguing, so that would have moved it up my list (not down). I loved how sexy the story was. Wrath is told completely from Sam—the protagonists—perspective. Reader will undertake a journey that is darker than the previous books in the series. And yet somehow I found myself more emotionally invested with this story than I have with the previous books. The books in the Elite Seven Series are not standalonds and must be read in order. Five stars for Wrath!
Quotes:
Lucky for me, I know more than he thinks I do, and all this, the fights, getting noticed, was my plan… I was going to rock the foundations he built his future on … I can screw my father over with the help of The Elite. Take him down and destroy him if I’m part of them— and he’d be powerless to stop me. He would see he doubted me all my life, but he was wrong. So, I’ve worked and researched and fought to make myself known … The Elite is for the strong, not the weak. The important, not the unnoticed. And I’ve made sure I’m both of these things.
—
She may be a task, but there’s no denying the way my body comes to life at the feel of her pressed against me.
—
We were just kids the first time we kissed, but we’re not kids anymore. And I’m more than ready to show her the man that I’ve become.
—
She submits to me willingly, simply, almost desperately, and I take her, body and mind, making them both mine. I brand them with my own fucked up version of love. Because I don’t love like most. I love darkly, cruelly, and brutally, or not at all.
This was my first time reading Claire Riley (or actually even hearing her name to be honest). After reading this, however, I would be happy to read something by her again.
The story was fantastic, the characters were well-developed, and I loved how it was written.
I’d recommend it!
DREAMY’S REVIEW
MY JAW IS DROPPED.
OPEN. WIDE.
NOT CLOSING.
EYES BLINKING.
WAITING.
IMPATIENTLY WAITING.
THE VERY LAST FEW PAGES, THAT FUCKING ENDING.
I CAN’T. I CAN’T. I CAN’T.
WHERE IS THE REST?! I NEED THE REST!
*****
My first Claire C Riley book and she didn’t disappoint!
She brought so much emotion, an interesting backstory, a strong hero, a sweet heroine, a second chance romance, and a super angry Wrath by the last page!
This series just gets better and better.
*****
Samuel Gunner.
He is so intense. His characters has layers. He is an unapologetic asshole. He has such a strong front with an equally strong attitude. You don’t fuck with him.
I. LOVED. HIM.
I could never fault him for his actions, even when it seemed out of line. When you read his backstory, you understand why and you’ll understand why he IS Wrath.
“I’m a cannon set loose upon the world, filled with anger and demons.”
Patience Noelle.
She’s sweet, lovable, and has such a good heart. She didn’t get much page time, but I loved her character. I loved her boldness when it came to Samuel and I also saw her vulnerability. I loved how they shared a connection at such an early young age and you could see how much it blossomed even as time passed, and the hurt and angry was still very much present.
But their emotion connection was very much strong, very much present, very much emotionally charged.
“Love is confusing. Blinding and breaking bad much as it is all-consuming. Painful and beautiful in equal measures. It breaks us apart before putting us back together. And that’s how I feel about Patience.”
*****
The Elite Seven is digging deeper and deeper and I’m right there with them. The bond better the brothers…
“We’re in this together—whatever the fuck this is.”
Samuel’s journey to embodying his sin, Wrath, stayed true through and through until the very last page. This story shook me to the core!
I am BEGGING for the next book! The epilogue was brutal af and I need to know what happened to Sab, Patience, Wrath, Envy, and the rest of the boys. NEED!
ENVY, MARCH 25th, HURRY UP! PLEASE!!!!!
I. NEED. ANSWERS.
I. NEED. MORE.
FIVE ‘GET HIM OUT’ STARS:
Oh my goodness! Oh dang! Holy mother of all evil! This series!!! I haven’t read this author but WOW!! I have no words right now to describe what I feel! I am all in with this series and each man grabs your heart and doesn’t necessarily make you swoon but makes you feel it in your soul!
Sam is hard, angry and ready to make things happen for himself. He is a big temptation and I loved watching him during the entire time! He made choices that made me sick to my stomach and hurt for more than one person! I have such an awful feeling about the next book and what’s to come. You see some pretty crazy stuff happen during this book that could be traumatic for most to read and while we might be able to get over it, these characters won’t.
I am in awe of how these stories are progressing! They are getting more aggressive and dark, twisted and going a way most authors won’t even consider. I have to say I don’t know which sin I’m in love wit more yet but Wrath is sexy as hell and could be more in the future! I couldn’t put this book down for even family time but that ending has me crying out for more!! Wow. I’m excited and I feel like I should be guilty about that but I am no where near guilty but giddy!
Wrath. Fury. Hate. Rage. Indignation. Vengeance.
All of these terms personify who Samuel Gunner is, not only what drives him but what makes him, him. Sam’s extreme anger stems from his abysmal family life and his father’s abuse and while I wouldn’t necessarily call it his coping mechanism since it has pretty much infiltrated every aspect of his personality and his life, it’s something that keeps him going…that keeps him angling for any advantage he can get in life to get himself and his sister out of their hellish circumstances. It’s why becoming a member of The Elite is his end game, and he’ll do anything and everything to make that happen.
Holy Shit! Sam is quite the wicked alpha male – one who thrives in darkness and deviant behavior, and Claire C. Riley offers up that setting for Sam to revel in and boy, does he, so much so that it’s difficult for him to find his way out into the light, even if he has a reason or two to do so.
Wrath is quite the mindfuck; I’m still reeling from the ending and I truly don’t know what to do with the jumbled mess that’s in my head; I’m just glad that I don’t have too long to wait for the next installment, which is ENVY, to see what The Elite has in store for those who are willing to do its bidding, damning the consequences or the repercussions of their actions.
I do wish that some of the more pivotal scenes in Wrath were fleshed out a bit more. I wanted to understand the intricacies of the actions taken and the repercussions of them, and I just didn’t feel like I got all the details I would have liked to in order to get a clear picture of everything.
Claire C. Riley is a new-to-me author one who probably would have never been on my radar if not for The Elite Seven series, so not only am I enjoying these dark reads, but I’m also being introduced to authors whose other stories I’ll definitely be checking out in the near future.
Book Four is Sabastian Westbrook’s story and because its theme is jealousy, I can only imagine the maelstrom characters and readers are headed, but as disturbed as it may be, I can’t wait to find out.
4 Poison Apples
Wrath!!! He is INTENSE!!! He has not had a good childhood and has never felt wanted. He uses women and he does anything he has to in order to protect his sister. Book 3 of this Elite Series has very similar story lines in each book which sometimes is a bit repetitive but I still am loving this series. Patience is so strong, she has a fire in her and this mixes dangerously with Wrath. She can give it as much as she can take it and Wrath ends up wanting all of her and not just for one night. The heat between the two is scorching and I did love most of the hotter scenes in the story. The twists and turns by the end of the book had me guessing and I liked the way it ended. Bring on book 4.
This series is fan flipping tactic!! This third book was so dark and intense!! I just can’t get enough. This is Samual’s story his task just like the others who want to enter the Elite is not as easy as it seems. Samuel hasn’t had the best life and he is tasked with breaking a woman’s heart. Not so easily done. This book is raw and gritty and just so good.
This is book three in The Elite Seven series. Make sure you read the previous books Lust and Pride before you read Wrath.
As much as I loved the first book the more I read this series the more invested I am in the series. Like seriously these characters are awesome.
Now we have Wrath, Samuels, story. He will do whatever he has to to be one of the Elite. It is everything he wants.
I absolutely loved this story. I couldn’t read it fast enough.
I cannot wait for the next book Envy. I highly recommend this series.
And let’s go for another life story in The Elite Seven, this time with Wrath.
Samuel Gunner was chosen perfectly to represent one of the sins, the wrath.
Coming from a wealthy family didn’t make his life any easier, on the opposite.
He has been abused for years – he took on the responsibility of looking after his twin sister – and all that suffering shaped his character in wrath.
The character then uses not only the physical force (fights/fists) to overflow all his repressed feeling, but also sex. Too much sex.
So get ready for many, many hot scenes.
But the most interesting is the name of the character that makes romantic pair with Wrath. Patience.
I think so far in the series, this book was the most surprised. The reader never knows what may come next, and their own feelings come to the surface.
Wrath is not for sensitive readers.
3,5 stars
Wrath by Claire C. Riley is angst, darkness and sexiness personified! It is absolutely incredible! This was my first book of the author’s that I had read, and it has definitely made me want to read more of her work.
This book, no, Samuel Gunner, is the personification of angst. His character and his sexy alphaness, definitely sets you on fire. His intensity can be felt through the book and definitely gets your blood pumping. If you’ve read the previous novels of the series, then you get the gist of what it is all about, and it is intense. There is a lot going on and will definitely leave you on the edge of your seat.
It is also incredibly dark, especially towards the end where it tends to get more and more dramatic. This book is not for the faint of hearts, and it definitely leave you feeling uncomfortable when it gets to the nitty gritty.
PS: Sammy is HOT! Hot with a capital ‘h’. Samuel in the bedroom, is a lot more different than Samuel outside of it. A lot more in control. And as I’ve said before, it is hot!
Wrath is a book that will test limits, will push your buttons and make you uncomfortable at certain times. But it will consume you, and once you start it, you will not want to put it down.
Whoa! This series just gets better and better! Wrath is the third book in the Elite series and boy does the sin of wrath fit Samuel Gunner to a T! Sam is carrying around so much anger and has for many years. He needs the Elite to help him, and his twin, break free from his father. His task involves Patience, a girl from is childhood. A girl who, other than his sister, he really cared about. This is the Elite, you know things are about to messy!! This book is intense, raw, gritty and OMG it is hot AF!!
Dark, Dominant and Dirty. These books keep on getting more and more twisted. I don’t know how much more my heart can take.
Samuel Gunner aka Wrath craves dominance. He fights hard and f*cks even harder. He wants to be in a position of power and the way to get that is through The Elite. He hates his father and he craves to destroy him. There is only one person he loves and that is his twin sister, Sabella. She is the only one he would try until Patience. She is his balm. He is corrupt. His so dark. His heart is black. He is wicked and she is the only one that soothes him but she is still his first task. Break her heart and secure his place in the Elite.
This book had less Lillian which is such a damn blessing. Wrath is told only in Sam’s POV. We get a first row ticket to his man whore ways. It took me a long time to feel anything for him. He was quite free with his very large ‘appendage’ and other body parts. I also don’t like when woman are submissive but everything in this book just worked. It was dirty. It was tragic. I need to brace myself for whats to come. Bring on Envy…
Twisted and intense, this series has captured my attention as each installment leaves me wanting more.
Wrath is book 3 of the Sin Series and it must be followed in order. This installment focused on Samuel Gunner aka Wrath, and after the ending in book 2, Pride, Wrath couldn’t arrive fast enough.
Samuel aka Wrath is tormented with demons from his past and present. His task makes him question more than his sins, setting the stage of what the “frackity frack” is really going on.
Wrath has some serious seductive and sexy moves with Patience which had me seeing an all new side of him. This added some heart to his story but had me scratching my head thinking…how old is he?
New twists and developments added another dimension to the story as I was intrigued by learning more insight about the characters’ sins making me wonder where this series is really going.
Can Wrath trust his brotherhood or are they part of the task?
Is Patience part of the plan or the sin?
While the storyline follows the seven sinners and their sinful “task”, this installment read like a standalone. I was disappointed that the story was somewhat slow paced in the begging and I didn’t really get a meaning of Wrath’s sin. In addition, I felt there were some elements of the storyline that were not very believable, and not developed enough.
Nonetheless, I’m so invested in reading this series that I couldn’t put this book down and towards the end of the story, there are some new developments that tie in with book 2 that were simply jaw dropping.
Cannot wait for Envy!!
3.5 stars!
Wrath is hands down my favourite book in the series so far, Lust and Pride were fantastic; but this novel just edged it with the multitude of emotions I felt whilst reading Samuel Gunner’s story. The twists and turns regarding the Elite just keep coming and this aspect of the story is just so addictive. I loved Claire’s writing, the heat was off the charts hot! Pacing was great, I really enjoyed Wrath’s inner musings and the level of details she put in when it came to his emotions towards his parents. Towards the end of the book there is a confrontation with his father, an unintentional heart to heart, which was so poignant and shows how well Claire had portrayed the strained relationship between father and son! That ending though OMG……. it was one thing after another and I wanted to shout at my kindle at a certain character “What have you done!!!!!”
Wrath was a perfect 5 stars from me for the plot points, the chemistry, the descriptive way she built Samuel’s character so that I was just thrust into his world and it left me craving more. Bring on Envy!!