Review: Prepare yourselves for the darkest book of this series!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 17, 2013
We all knew it was coming. Grave Secret was about protecting McQueen's humanity and this installment is all about, well, kissing it good-bye. Unfortunately for her, the process isn't quite as gentle as a peck on the cheek or even optional for that matter. Prepare yourselves for the darkest book of this series! Sierra Dean can write conniving villains with the best of `em but she's truly outdone herself with The Doctor. The nickname doesn't sound too ominous but wait 'til you meet him! Despite this story's somber tone we still get answers to a few longstanding questions and Secret breaks her three month dry spell. But, the real question here is with whom? This is a spoiler-free review so you'll just have to read the book to find out!Secret's crazy mother has made appearances in previous installments but up until this point, her dad's been MIA. His presence in this novel brings some new and shocking info to light; namely, who Sig really is. I for one was dumbfounded but looking back, now that I know, I can see that the signs were there. They were just buried so deep under this series' trademark action that I overlooked them. We also learn that detective Tyler isn't quite who he seems which in turn brings a third player into Secret's already tangled tribunal leader / werewolf queen loyalties. The whole mess seems like it's beyond what one person can handle on their own. However, if there's a character who's proved, time and time again, that she shouldn't be underestimated; it's Secret McQueen.This series has thrown all kinds of crazy at us but those earlier monsters have got nothing on The Doctor. Move over Alexandre Peyton and Mercy McQueen, there's a new psychopath in town! Secret suffers unimaginable hurt as his captive and there were times when I actually feared she'd give up. Fans of this series are probably thinking "yeah right, Secret doesn't quit. Ever." Reality check, everyone has their breaking point and I think McQueen discovers hers in this installment. Dean spares none of the gory details which means that the torture scenes were especially gruesome; McQueen doesn't lose her humanity so much as she has it ripped from her.The love triangle of this series continues to be... frustrating. This is one of those rare occasions where I think I would actually be happy if Secret chose both. We get a lot more Holden time in this installment but, that being said, out of sight doesn't necessarily mean out of mind and in this case, Secret's thoughts turn to Desmond often. He has a few memorable scenes that served as reminders as to why I fell in love with him in the first place. On the other hand, Holden and McQueen may have quite possibly formed an unbreakable bond because of their shared traumatic experience at the hands of The Doctor. At this point, it's still anyone's game but the ending did give me hope that this unlikely love triangle may actually have a future.Secret Unleashed felt like an important cog in the well-oiled machine that is the Secret McQueen series and was another prime example of why Sierra Dean continues to be one of my auto-buy authors. Ooh, and I totally want to visit the Winchester Mansion after reading this book! LOVE!