Review: Shadow of Wrath by L.W. Patricks

Synopsis:

In the Arena, you're either a killer or a victim.

If survival meant murdering an innocent person in cold blood every week, could you do it? Are you able to stick the knife into your opponent's heart while they look at you with fear in their eyes? Life in the Arena turns everyone into sinners.

When a starving and homeless boy is kidnapped and brought to a modern-day gladiator arena, hidden deep within the abandoned city of Bimini, he is forced to fight for his life. The crude death matches are a source of enjoyment for Ryker, who resides over the Arena as its vicious master. Given the name Dog, the street boy must find a way to survive, even if it means murdering other innocent kids in combat at the expense of his humanity. With every dead body he leaves behind in the pit, the blood and the violence threatens to wake a beast inside him.

Allegra, a slave girl in the pits and a victim of Ryker's constant abuse, is his only key to salvation. She has lost everything already -- her family, her innocence, and her dignity -- while her will to live hangs on by a thin thread. Can she save Dog's humanity before she too succumbs to the horrors of the Arena? With death casting it's long shadow over everyone, how can anyone survive?

A tale about survival, tragedy, and human perseverance, SHADOW OF WRATH allows us a glimpse into the world of the Sins of the 7.

If you love Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner, you'll love SHADOW OF WRATH.

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Website

My Review

Okay, I am just going to dive right in with this one. 

Wow, wow, WOW! To say that Shadow of Wrath shocked the hell out of me would be the understatement of the year! Let me see if I can explain some of this.

First, you have Dog, yes that is his name; a boy stolen from the streets forced into a life of fighting. But fighting is nothing new for Dog. He lives on the streets where he fights for his life every day. So, when he show's up in Ryker's arena he does what he has to do, he fights. Dog is unlike any fighter that has ever appeared in the arena. He is quick, lethal and absolutely remorseless. His motto: kill them, before they kill me. His parting gift to his opponents: A quick death. That is all he can give them. 

Second, you have Allegra, a slave girl and acting doctor who endures Ryker's abuse and sexual advancements in the hopes of keeping herself and the boys alive. She knows where her future is--it is as a sex slave. When she is old enough she knows that Ryker will sell her to the highest bidder, solidifying her fate and her future. 

Thrid, you have Ryker, the abuser, the dictator, the evil spawn of satan--however you choose to look at him; that snatches boys off the streets and brings them to his arena where they put on a show of death for paying customers. Because to Ryker, that's what this is, a show. Everyone fights and everyone fights to the death. If you win, you get to eat and you get rewarded with a tattoo to symbolize your win. Forever emblazing your heinous act on your body. There is no escape and there is only one rule: Fight or Die! 

When Dog enters Ryker's Gladiator style arena, he instantly becomes a sensation for his ruthless killing and soon he finds himself Ryker's champion. He is undefeated, cold and heartless. Or so it seems. But every night Dog is haunted by the ghosts of the boys he kills and every night he is haunted with the fact that he has to go out and do it again. But Dog is smart and cunning and soon Ryker struggles to control his champion as Dog lashes out and begins to weaken the hold that Ryker has on his arena. 

Soon things are in disarray and all hell breaks loose. And what happens when all is said and done will take a part of your soul. L.W. Patricks will have you in tears and in so much shock that you won't even know if you will be able to go on. I know I wondered if I could. It is not everyday that an author does what L.W. Patricks did in Shadow of Wrath.

Shadow of Wrath is literally the story of the underdog. It is a brutal, raw and incredibly powerful read. It will have you gaping in horror, shock, sadness, and disbelief, but it also will make you cheer and shout out hell yeah! I never saw the ending coming and I can't wait to see what else L.W. Patricks has in store. 

"There's no dignity in that name," Jacob protested. "I'll give it dignity," Dog said. (Kindle, loc. 896).

I know it seems odd that I wold pick a moment like this, but the reason I did is because I think that this brief moment really shows what kind of person Dog really is and what kind of champion he will become!