Review of Deception's Bastard

[Smmwallace]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Deception's Bastard" by Rebecca E.Dalmeida.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Deception’s Bastard is a dark and captivating novel by Rebecca E. Dalmeida. At five years old, Ryan West just became a big brother to his new baby sister Michelle. Normally, it's an exciting and happy time for a young child in this new role, one filled with fascination and eagerness to help in the newborn's care. Unfortunately, Ryan is anything but normal and starts to exhibit psychopathic behavior. When happiness turns to tragedy, the West family is left in shambles. With his adoptive parents in over their heads and the household in ruins, Ryan grows up unhindered as a narcissistic evil force. When he seeks out his biological parents, Ryan is exposed to a whole new world. One that allows him to be his true self and shine, with no mask to worry about and no fake feelings. Working for the mob, Ryan has found his calling with money, mayhem, and prominence. Still, he wants more, and he wants it all, including Dr. Rachel Deposito, a kind and unassuming pediatric surgeon he meets during a hospital fundraiser. Ryan sees Rachel as his gateway to a new crowd of wealthy and elite benefactors to cull from. Unable to help herself, she falls for Ryan's charm and charisma. All too soon, the mask drops, and she sees the real Ryan behind it. Will Rachel escape his sadistic madness?

This book was fascinating yet horrifying, and not only did I find that I couldn't tear my eyes away, but I also didn't want to! A fitting analogy would be as follows: Reading it was akin to seeing the aftermath of an accident on the freeway. You know you shouldn't gawk as you drive by, but you can't seem to help yourself. You feel compelled to look all the while praying it's not catastrophic. Please understand that I say this as a compliment to the author! Although I couldn't relate to Ryan as a person, his character inadvertently reinforced everything that makes us human, such as compassion, empathy, and love. Ryan West was a chilling character as an adult, but the true horror came from Ryan as a child, and he was terrifying. There were times while reading that I felt uncomfortable because the words I saw on the page didn't mesh with my moral compass. With Ryan being egotistical and calculating, I knew what to expect from his role in the story, everything from selfishness to deceit. What I didn't anticipate, though, was that the author added just enough nuance to his character that time and again, I was fooled into thinking maybe Ryan had changed. It goes without saying that the author did an excellent job with character development.

Dr. Rachel Deposito was the other main character in this startling book, and she started out as a smart, funny, and kind woman with moral values. Once Ryan started manipulating her, she began losing herself as an individual. The author revealed the transition slowly, which made it at once believable and relatable. As the reader, I could picture myself in Rachel's shoes making the same decisions regarding Ryan's character. It helped me understand that it makes no difference how intelligent or careful you are, this scenario could happen to anyone, and that's a scary thought. I loved Dr. Alexandra Endicott, a supporting character who is Rachel's colleague and best friend. Alexi came from a wealthy family with far-reaching connections and was able to help Rachel throughout her ordeal. She displayed strength, power, and the determination to save Rachel from Ryan's control, especially when Rachel couldn't save herself. Alexi was the antithesis to Ryan in that she was just as fierce in protecting Rachel as Ryan was ruthless in destroying her. I enjoyed seeing her fearlessly go head to head with Ryan. I wish I had a friend like her! Without a doubt, she was my favorite character.

There was nothing I disliked about the book. The author’s writing style was easy to follow and had a good flow, making it pleasurable to read. It was professionally edited as I didn't notice any errors. This book was both riveting and difficult to put down! Therefore, I'm pleased to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.

Although it's not a typical horror novel per se with a fantastical monster or boogeyman, it does possess another type of monster, the human kind. Dealing with the depravity that the human mind can display, this book is for mature readers who enjoy dark thrillers. It's also not for the faint of heart, as it contains profanity, violence, and extreme sexual elements.

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Deception's Bastard
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[Oluwole Odugbesan]

The book thought me not to engage in wickedness or atrocities that will make us regret forever.

[Jude Agwude]

Sounds horrifying and interesting, nice

[Victor Kilyungi]

If I couldn't pause in your review, what about the book? I'd love to get my hands on this one. Thank you for your splendid review.

[Raluca_Mihaila]

Fascinating and horrifying seems like a very interesting combo! I would love to discover all its secrets, so thank you for this great introduction!

[Smmwallace]

The book thought me not to engage in wickedness or atrocities that will make us regret forever.

Exactly! Thank you for leaving a comment.

[Smmwallace]

Sounds horrifying and interesting, nice

The book is both for sure! Thank you for leaving a comment. I appreciate it!

[Smmwallace]

If I couldn't pause in your review, what about the book? I'd love to get my hands on this one. Thank you for your splendid review.

Thank you for leaving a comment. It's a great book; you won't be able to put it down!

[Smmwallace]

Fascinating and horrifying seems like a very interesting combo! I would love to discover all its secrets, so thank you for this great introduction!

Give it a go if you get a chance! Thank you for leaving a comment. I really appreciate it!

[Jagiine]

Wow, it sounds like this book covers a lot of twisted terrain. I like that it has a more novel thriller plot. Thanks for the review!

[Smmwallace]

Wow, it sounds like this book covers a lot of twisted terrain. I like that it has a more novel thriller plot. Thanks for the review!

It does! Thanks for leaving your comment. I appreciate it!

[NetMassimo]

This seems like an intense thriller that goes into the dark sides of human being. Thank you for your great review!

[markodim721]

I like the plot of the book and the seemingly impossible mix of people and events. Thanks for the good review.

[Smmwallace]

This seems like an intense thriller that goes into the dark sides of human being. Thank you for your great review!

It does! Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I appreciate it!

[Smmwallace]

I like the plot of the book and the seemingly impossible mix of people and events. Thanks for the good review.

If you get a chance, give it a go! Thank you for leaving your comment. I appreciate it!