Review: Across The Divide (Collector #3) by Stacey Marie Brown

Title: Across The Divide

Series: Collector #3
Author: Stacey Marie Brown
Publisher: Stacey Marie Brown
Published: December 9, 2015
Pages: 384
Genres: New Adult, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Source: Ebook
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The hunter is now the hunted. 

Zoey Daniels is becoming the very thing she once despised. Fae. After Zoey and Ryker finally found their way to each other they are torn apart by an ex-girlfriend, a stone, and mortality. Ryker’s powers have fully adapted to Zoey, slowly killing him. 

Now the mysterious feared demon, Vadik, has discovered their location in Peru and has taken Ryker and sold Zoey back to DMG. The very place which gave her life now might take it away. Or someone she loves… Dr. Rapava is so obsessed with building an army against the fae he will do anything to control Zoey and her new found powers. 

Zoey’s has to become an unfeeling brainwashed soldier to survive. But when her survival depends on torturing one to keep another alive, she is forced to make the ultimate sacrifice. 

And neither choice is one she can live with.

Goodreads / Amazon

MY REVIEW

DISCLAIMER: This review MAY contain spoilers. 

This book was so damn emotional! Every facet of this book is dripping with emotion. The setting, the plot, the characters, and the romance are chock full of seething emotion. Not that the first two books weren't, but this one was emotional on a much deeper level. Gutteral emotion pours through this book. This book is different from the first two books in other ways as well. The main characters and love interests in this series are separated for almost the entire book. During the time that they are apart, they are both hostages of separate and then the same negative force. They are being tortured and manipulated while they worry over their loved ones. And on Zoey's part, she has to watch and worry over her sister and friend since they are both being held and abused by the same negative force that she is. There is so much pain, anxiety, anguish, sorrow, and through the cracks a small sliver of hope in this book. I almost didn't like that Zoey and Ryker were separated for almost the entire book because they are golden together. Their chemistry is undeniably addictive to read and experience. But this book needed that separation. It built some really powerful emotions in the series and within the characters themselves. This book was really heart wrenching. 

Most of the book takes place within the walls of the DMG, where fae, humans, and animals are being tortured, killed, and experimented on. The world-building in this book really reflects these conditions. It was eerily vivid reading about this place. It makes your heart hurt in the deepest way while you take in the horror of this place. I would honestly say that this book should almost have a trigger warning for those that are sensitive to abuse issues. This book really heavied my heart because of how real this place felt to me. 

The plot is very strong in this book. You get a very clear picture of the issues that the characters are facing and what obstacles they have to face to overcome them and make it through to the other side. There are many different ways things can go for them, and most don't look good. Everyone is an enemy and trust is scarce. I can honestly say that the big plot twist was unexpected. This book is charged with so much emotion that you can't help but keep reading. This is another book that I finished in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. Apart from the survival parts of the plot, there are also things about Zoey and Ryker that were unexpected developments. We find out who Ryker's parents are. Things get more intense with the promise Zoey made Ryker make-- to kill her so that he can get his magic back since she knew she was already dying. This plot point is very strong. 

The character growth in this book is some of the best that I have read. It's really phenomenal. The characters are experiencing some of the cruelest and horrific treatment throughout the entire book and it really affects their identities. The emotions laced through the characters in this book reshape them. I loved the growing friendship between Zoey and Croyden. I actually think that he fell in love with her. It isn't actually said in the book, but definitely hinted at. I think that their friendship has awoken something in each of them since they were both loners that never let anyone in. 

The romance is very different in this book. There are a couple of sexual scenes in the book, but they are not real. They are just dreams, or the two main characters connecting their consciousness in dreams. A time that they escape in their minds to each other to find comfort during times when they are being tortured. At the end of the book, Ryker ends up at DMG. He turned himself into them because he knew that Zoey was there. Inside, they blackmail Zoey into torturing him by holding her sister's safety over her. So she does it. This scenario alone is full of so much emotion that I can't see straight. This situation and the other things that they have both went through alone really bring a desperation to the romance. So just because there weren't kissing scenes or even scenes where the main characters were together, it doesn't mean that the romance took a hit. If anything, it is stronger.

Overall, this book exhausted my emotions. I don't know how it is possible for a book to make your chest ache this much continuously throughout the entire book. Usually, it is just a scene or two that will wrench you, but this book has visceral emotion coated throughout. This book does have sensitive and horrific content from beginning to end. This book is definitely not for the faint of heart, but it is definitely worth the read. The series as a whole is incredible. It's been a while since a new series has made me feel so much so deeply. This is my new favorite series and I am going to have a fantastic time going through Stacey Marie Brown's backlist of books when I finish this series. Please give this series a try because you won't be sorry.

Check out my reviews for the other books in this series!

City in Embers (Collector #1)

Find my review here.

The Barrier Between (Collector #2)

Find my review here.

This book was pretty emotionally exhausting. There was so much trauma in this book that my heart was constantly aching. Which isn't a bad thing. This story is told so beautifully. What was the last book that left you a hot mess because of all the feels? Feel free to share your recent TBR additions.