The Liberator By: Victoria Scott Review

The Liberator (Dante Walker #2)
Author: Victoria Scott
Pages: 350
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Rating: 4/5

Bad boy, meet bad girl.                                                                           
Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn't like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.                                                                
When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.                                                                                                                                       
With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.

     The Liberator by Victoria Scott is the second instalment in the Dante Walker series. After reading The Collector I, like many, was excited to see what was next for Dante and Charlie. I zipped through The Liberator in less than a day and I definitely can say I loved it more than The Collector!

     Dante Walker has been given another chance at life-- however it's a life that comes with conditions. Now, instead of being a collector, Dante will now join sides with the Big Guy and become a liberator. Although he has another opportunity to be with his love, Charlie, life as a liberator does not come easily for Dante. His struggle to find himself while also dealing with his first mission as a liberator leaves him wondering how a guy like him that is so bad, can ever be even slightly good. 

     I'll be the first one to say that I wasn't a huge Dante Walker fan while reading The Collector, specifically during the beginning of the novel (although, he did start to grow on me towards the end). However, The Liberator has officially converted me into a Dante Walker fangirl! Dante is still all kinds of bad, but his position as liberator and his relationship with Charlie makes it so he's a bit more vulnerable and open in this sequel. I'm one of those girls who loves a bad boy with a tortured soul and Dante definitely falls into that category....the sisterly relationship he builds with Aspen, the devoted love he has for Charlie and his gradual acceptance towards feeling things for others made me like him a whole lot more.

    With my feelings for Dante turning more positive, I had a much easier time believing in Charlie and Dante's relationship even though I still feel like it's lacking a little something. They lean on each other during tough times, and have a fair share of absolutely adorable (and sometimes even sexy) moments together. It's still very odd for me to read about a relationship solely from a male's POV, but Dante's utter determination to protect Charlie and the fact that Charlie is such a constant presence in Dante's mind, made me excited eveytime to see the next Dante-Charlie moment. Who knew Dante Walker could be such a romantic? 

     Charlie definitely becomes a more confident character in The Liberator. Although she at first tries to mold herself into someone more like Dante, she quickly realizes that she can't be anyone else but herself. By the middle of the novel it's apparent that even though she is still the quirky character we loved from The Collector, she's got this new found spark in her that makes her shine. In addition to Charlie, the new character introduced named Aspen, brings in that kick-ass female character into the plot. Aspen's got her own dark past and because of that, Dante and her build a strong relationship that is no way romantic, but in many ways like a brother and sister. Aspen's involvement in the grand scheme of things is unknown to Dante for a majority of the novel but once her role is revealed, it's clear she will be playing a large part in the third and final Dante Walker novel. 

     I know the synopsis scared a lot of fans into thinking Aspen's entrance might mean full on #TeamAspen VS. #TeamCharlie war, but thankfully there is no reason to worry because there is no love triangle. So if you haven't read The Liberator yet, go into it without being too wary of Aspen, because my personal worry about Aspen's possible interference with Dante and Charlie kept me from wanting to find out more about her for a good portion of the book.

Favourite Quotes...

I care because Charlie taught me how to care. And now I have to do what is right.

Even if it means leaving her.

Even if it means I may never return.

~~~~~

Charlie hands over her phone, and then Red turns to Aspen and Max. "Phones," she demands.

I can't help but laugh when Aspen and Max look equally shocked.

"How on earth did you bug my phone?" Aspen asks with a note of approval.

At the same time, Max says, "Woman, you're so hot."

Overall...

     Overall, I really enjoyed The Liberator! The ending might not end with a cliffhanger but it sure does build up your excitement for the next book by finishing a few puzzle pieces to the plot that make the ending of The Liberator have lots of drama. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one! Have you read The Liberator? What makes Dante such a hot character to you? Be sure to let me know in the comments below! Keep Reading!

Your Y.A. Bookworm,

Caitlin <3