Rebel Revenge Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
Rebel Revenge by Elle Thorpe is the first book in the Saint View Rebels series. It follows Rebel, a young woman whose life has just veered into chaos. After her mother collapses at the altar and dies from poison, her new stepfather dies too — and people start whispering that Rebel is to blame. She inherits half of his estate, and to defend herself against eviction and suspicion, she moves into the home of her new stepbrother Vaughn in Providence, a wealthy and unfamiliar place compared to the rough edges of Saint View. There, she becomes entangled with three men: Fang, a biker enforcer terrified by nothing except what has been done to Rebel; Vaughn, her hostile yet complicated stepbrother and prime suspect; and Kian, Vaughn’s childhood friend with a kind heart and secrets of his own. As Rebel searches for the truth behind the murders and who wants her dead, danger mounts. Secrets are exposed. Loyalties are tested. And every lie uncovered brings more risk. The book mixes romance, suspense, trauma, and vengeance, but keeps the mystery alive. It is dark romance, with a reverse harem / why-choose structure, and it ends on a cliffhanger, setting up the next book in the trilogy.
Why I Love This Book
I love how raw and messy this novel feels. Rebel isn’t perfect. She’s carrying pain, trauma, and doubt, and watching her claw her way back to strength holds me tight in its grip. The emotional stakes are high throughout — loss, betrayal, fear — and Thorpe doesn’t shy from showing how hard it is to heal, especially when danger lurks around every corner.
I also love the tension between the characters. With three men in Rebel’s orbit — Fang, Vaughn, and Kian — there are moments of jealousy, confusion, uncertainty. The “why-choose” situation is set up with care so that I could see the pull each man has for Rebel. Nothing feels forced; each relationship has something unique to offer and something to challenge Rebel in return.
The pacing is another reason this book grabbed me. Even the quieter moments build toward something — a new clue, a reveal, or a danger I didn’t expect. I often found myself reading late because I had to know what comes next. And though some twists are foreshadowed, there are turns I did not see coming.
The way Elle Thorpe integrates suspense with romance works well for me. The threats are real, and I felt Rebel’s fear, anger, confusion. But that doesn’t override the moments of tenderness. Fang’s protectiveness, Kian’s kindness, Vaughn’s struggle — they balance out the dark parts. It’s not just about what happened to Rebel; it’s about how she responds, how she fights for truth and justice, and also for her heart.
Finally, I love the atmosphere. Providence, with million-dollar mansions and ocean views, contrasts sharply with Rebel’s past in Saint View. That contrast shows Rebel’s discomfort, her outsider status, her distrust. Every location and scene feel deliberate. Even when things calm down, I felt the undercurrent of danger. It adds weight to the romance and the revenge plot.
Who Will Like This Book
If you like dark romance, complex characters, and emotional trauma mixed with action, this book will probably pull you in. If you enjoy reverse harem/why-choose dynamics, romantic suspense, and a heroine who is flawed and trying to rebuild, this is for you. If you appreciate tension, secrets, and danger, you’ll like this story.
⚠️ Trigger warning: This book contains many triggers, including murder, loss of family, sexual assault, violent fight scenes, profanity, kidnapping, and strong emotional distress.
Tagged As
dark romance, romantic suspense, reverse harem, why-choose romance, contemporary romance, biker hero, found family, tortured heroine, protective hero, suspense, polyamory, step-siblings, strong heroine, vengeance, enemies to lovers, tragedy, mystery, explicit romance, adult romance, series, cliffhanger, HEA (expected later books)
Steam Level
This book has very steamy and explicit scenes. The romance is passionate, physical, and frequent. It’s not for those wanting soft or fade-to-black romance.
